Colossians 2:18a “Take care that no one keeps defrauding you of your prize by delighting in humilityand the worship of angels”
Take that phrase, ‘delight in humility’? How do we ‘delight in humility’? It’s an attribute, it is part of our personality (hopefully). If we focus on it enough to be delighting in it, doesn’t that contradict what humility is? Rendering it moot?
Yes.
Other translations besides the NASB which I use, is KJV- “voluntary humility” or NKJV which says- “false humility”. The idea is, that the humility Paul warns about isn’t a genuine attribute in the person, but a false display. A performance.
It means “to indulge himself in a humility of his own imposing” says Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
False teachers love to tell you about their allegedly holy attributes. But doesn’t telling you about their humility contradict what humility is? Rendering it moot?
Yes.
This is where I warn us all again, don’t assess a teacher solely by what she says. Watch what she does. And vice versa. Both must match up- what they say and what they do.
*Genuine* humility, that is
Others who are more subtle don’t outright tell you that they are humble, but perform it. How?
“The meaning is, that they would not announce their opinions with dogmatic certainty, but they would put on the appearance of great modesty. In this way, they would become really more dangerous – for no false teachers are so dangerous as those who assume the aspect of great humility, and who manifest great reverence for divine things. ]They] had pleasure in attempting, to search into the hidden and abstruse things of religion. They were desirous of appearing to do this with an humble spirit – even with the modesty of an angel – but still they had pleasure in that profound and dangerous kind of inquiry.” ~Barnes’ Notes on Colossians 2:18.
Matthew Henry explains one method the false ones use to display their false humility, Colossians 2:18,
“v. 18. It looked like a piece of modesty to make use of the mediation of angels, as conscious to ourselves of our unworthiness to speak immediately to God; but, though it has a show of humility, it is a voluntary, not a commanded humility; and therefore it is not acceptable, yea, it is not warrantable: it is taking that honour which is due to Christ only and giving it to a creature.“
What they are really saying is, “I am smarter than God. He commanded us to come boldly to the throne. But instead, I will go poorly thru an angel, saint, or Virgin Mary…” It is outright disobedience, but couched in humble terms that are not genuine. Don’t be fooled. Be vigilant. If someone keeps telling you how humble they are, it’s a first clue. If someone says ‘we can’t know the Bible for sure, let’s not be arrogant in interpreting it’ it’s a clue.
More on this idea of false humility in subsequent blogs.
The word hypocrite means “from Greek hypokritēs actor, hypocrite, from hypokrinesthai, 13th century. 1: a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion 2: a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings.” Source Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary.
Did you know that Moses was a hypocrite? The most humble man on earth? (Numbers 12:3). The one God called His friend? (Exodus 33:11).
Now it came about in those days, when Moses had grown up, that he went out to his fellow Hebrews and looked at their hard labors; and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his fellow Hebrews. So he looked this way and that, and when he saw that there was no one around, he struck and killed the Egyptian, and hid his body in the sand. Now he went out the next day, and behold, two Hebrews were fighting with each other; and he said to the offender, “Why are you striking your companion?” But he said, “Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and said, “Surely the matter has become known!” (Exodus 2:11-14).
I think it’s safe to say that according to the definition of hypocrite, Moses briefly was “a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings.” He murdered a man and hid it, therefore Moses had no leg to stand on when he rebuked the other men of beating a third guy. ‘You rebuke us of striking a man when you just killed one?!’ They were right. Moses did not have the moral ground here.
How about Lot? Called righteous (2 Peter 2:7), Lot begged the homosexual men at his door not to act wickedly-
But Lot went out to them at the doorway, and shut the door behind him, 7and said, “Please, my brothers, do not act wickedly. 8Now look, I have two daughters who have not had relations with any man; please let me bring them out to you, and do to them whatever you like; only do not do anything to these men, because they have come under the shelter of my roof.” 9But they said, “Get out of the way!” They also said, “This one came in as a foreigner, and already he is acting like a judge; now we will treat you worse than them!” So they pressed hard against Lot and moved forward to break the door. (Genesis 19:6-9).
Lot might have been (nominally) righteous, agonized in his spirit for the perversity around him, but he also loved living the comfortable, carnal life in Sodom. These homosexual men tolerated Lot until he rebuked them personally, and they flung Lot’s own hypocrisy right back at him. ‘You live the carnal life here in Sodom, enjoying its pleasures and then try to rebuke us?!’ In addition, out of one side of his mouth Lot called them wicked for wanting to fornicate outside of marriage with men, but then offered them his daughters for fornication outside of marriage. BOTH acts are “wicked.” Lot did not have any moral ground to stand on.
Often, other people see our sins and foibles much earlier and clearly than we see ourselves. 1700s Scottish poet Robert Burns famously wrote “To a Louse“. He was in church one Sunday and the upper class lady in front of him, decked out in her Sunday best, and wearing a hat, did not know that a louse was crawling around in her hair and on her bonnet. She was attracting stares and thinking they were approving stares she tossed her head with pride. She didn’t see that she had vermin on her which she could not see, but others could. He ends his poem thus (translated),
O would some Power the gift to give us To see ourselves as others see us! It would from many a blunder free us, And foolish notion: What airs in dress and gait would leave us, And even devotion!
Yes, to see ourselves as others see us, would free us from many a blunder. But God DID gives us a mirror, the Bible. If we look in it, we see ourselves both as we are (sinning vermin) and as He sees us (righteous stumbling sheep). We do need constant reminding of our fleshly estate so that we persist in slaying our fleshly sin. The lesson here today is two-fold and simple-
1.Don’t be a hypocrite, live as you say and speak. We should not put on one face for the outside world and another private one. God sees both faces. And many times, others see the gap between what we say and what we do and rightly assess us as hypocrites. Our job is to kill sin so that gap shrinks over time.
2.Read the Bible to constantly remind us of our gracious God who lifts us up and transforms us from vermin to brethren.
Everyone is a victim these days. ‘Someone did this to me,’ or ‘Someone did that to me’. People use victimhood as a reason or cover for their poor actions. You would not believe how many Youtube police action videos where the person stopped for traffic violations uses PTSD as a reason they were speeding/weaving/eluding.
If someone is easily offended or had something minor happen to them, again the victimhood comes out. ‘You would not believe who cut in front of me at the grocery store!’ “I can’t get over that text she sent me!’ They milk their pity to anyone who would listen. I know people like that. I’m sure you do too.
Even if someone had a violent crime done to them or a legitimate complaint, some people tend to milk it and point to their emotional or physical wounds for far too long after or use it as a justification for things they shouldn’t.
You know who never pitied Himself? Jesus. We cannot imagine Him saying anything like, ‘When I was in the desert 40 days, all alone, that ole devil harassed me to no end! It was so aggravating!’
He never complained about the thousands of people who only followed Him for the freebies but quit Him when the freebies dried up.
He never pouted to the disciples that ‘After all I did for Judas, he betrayed me!’
I recently wrote about emotions that Jesus experienced. As the God-Man, He felt and displayed emotions. “Jesus wept” (John 11:35), is the shortest verse in the Bible but packs a punch. For example, in that scene, He is looking at the tomb of his friend Lazarus. He wept visibly.
Our Lord’s weeping reveals the humanity of the Saviour. He has entered into all of our experiences and knows how we feel. In fact, being the perfect God-Man, Jesus experienced these things in a deeper way than we do. His tears also assure us of His sympathy; He is indeed “a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3). Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary.
Today we look at emotions Jesus never displayed.
Jesus was empathetic toward others, ministering to the physical and spiritual pain they experienced.
Jesus suffered more than any person born on this earth then or now. His suffering on the cross was monumental and incomprehensible, yet He ministered to His own mother by ensuring she had a place to live and would be taken care of by John.
But none of Jesus’ emotions were never sinful. Evoking pity from others is a self-centered act, designed to bring attention and favor upon one’s self. Jesus is our model. He only sought the good and uplifting of the frail sheep. He sympathized with us in our weakness, ministered to physical and spiritual needs.
Self-pity is oft-putting. Sure, we can mourn for a bit, we can grieve for the wrong done to us, briefly. But don’t camp on it. And certainly don’t make it a lifestyle or a constant topic of conversation.
I learned this lesson in reverse when I lived on a sailboat for 2 years. We sailed from Maine to Florida, crossed the Gulf Stream, and continued down to the Tropics. Then came back up. We thought ourselves pretty good sailors, navigating without incident and arriving at Georgetown Bahamas. But you know what? Along the way we saw people in smaller boats doing the same thing. We saw a grandmother rowing! Then we saw a a couple in their kayaks! So, we dispensed with the smugness and private boasting, because firstly, people were accomplishing the same thing as us except in a more challenging way, and secondly, we are all enjoying the same sunset.
So in reverse-reverse, if I decide to pity myself, I know there are people out there who have experienced things that are worse, more chronic, more evil. Who am I to try and garner pity? My wounds feel bad to me, but are much lighter than others’. Let me minister to them.
Jesus Himself endured all, for us. Let me hand my wounds over to Him and go on with life with joy. Then I am better able to help others. I pray you are able to do the same.
Anger: Mark 3:5, After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.
He was angry at hypocrites, namely, the Pharisees, and He overturned the tables and cleansed the temple. His anger wasn’t a wild, uncontrolled anger tough, it was a righteous anger.
Compassion: Now Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I feel compassion for the people, because they have remained with Me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.” Matthew 15:32
Mark 1:42, Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out with His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”
Sorrow: And when Jesus saw that [the Rich Young Ruler rejected Him] he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! KJV, Luke 18:24.
Exasperation/Frustration: And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.” Matthew 17:17
Matthew 8:26, He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.
Tiredness/Exhaustion, John 4:6, and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, tired from His journey, was just sitting by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
Love: Looking at him, Jesus showed love to him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Mark 10:21
Joy: At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for doing so was well pleasing in Your sight. Luke 10:21.
Jesus felt joy in serving His Father: Hebrews 12:2, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Marveled: And He was amazed at their [Nazarenes] unbelief. Mark 6:6.
In Matthew 8:10 Jesus said, Now when Jesus heard this, He was amazed and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.”
Emotions never recorded: Jesus is never astonished. Why? He can’t be. He knows the end from the beginning. Nothing surprises him or startles Him. We never read of Him feeling sorry for Himself. More on that tomorrow.
We are grateful to a Savior who at all points felt the pressure of temptation, yet never sinned in thought, word, or deed. He knows and understands when we feel anger, frustration, sorrow. He rejoices with us when we triumph over sin or feel joyous empathy for another. He is a good, good God.
We humans feel, we are emotional beings. Monitor what you feel today, and think about why. Is our anger righteous or sinful? Were we feeling sorry for ourselves for a selfish reason, or are we legitimately down, yet trusting the Lord? Emotions are part of who we are, but they don’t have to lead us. In fact, our emotions should not lead us. Jesus felt emotions, but the right ones at the right time. let us do our best to copy His model.
Today we have a scene in Luke. There was a centurion, not named, who had a slave who this centurion regarded highly. The centurion is only known by his profession, but his words are recorded. Further the centurion, a gentile no less, was commended by Jesus for his “great faith.”
Jesus Christ was very ready to show kindness to the centurion. He presently went with them (v. 6), though he was a Gentile; for is he the Saviour of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, Rom. 3:29. The centurion did not think himself worthy to visit Christ (v. 7), yet Christ thought him worthy to be visited by him; for those that humble themselves shall be exalted. (Source: Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible).
A Roman Centurio on a portrait medaillon of his grave, 2nd century A.D. from Flavia Solva. CC Wikipedia
We read actually of four centurion in the Bible.
Cornelius, a god-fearing centurion who Peter baptizes and is the pivot point of the beginning of the spread of the gospel to Gentiles (Acts 10–11).
A centurion who was present at Jesus’ crucifixion and identified Jesus as the Son of God, Mark 15:39 and Matthew 27:54, as innocent as per Luke 23:47.
A centurion whose slave Jesus heals from a distance, Jesus praises his faith (Matthew 8:5–13; Luke 7:2–10).
Julius of the Imperial Regiment to whom Paul was turned over, (Acts 27:1) and who “treated Paul with consideration and allowed him to go to his friends and receive care”. v. 3
Roman centurion were known as brutal military men in battle. They lived an orderly lifestyle. They were also known as ingenious engineers, fearless leaders, intelligent and brave.
AI generated illustration of a Roman Centurion
A Roman centurion carried the following equipment: a short sword called a Gladius as well as two spears called Pilum (plural, Pila). Body armor was fashioned from leather and a metal, usually bronze and iron. Metal hoops were tied to a leather harness, resembling later metal armor. He had a helmet called a galea topped with a crest, made of horsehair and sometimes dyed red. He had a shield called a scuta, which was large and heavy. His cape was held together across his neck by a brooch.
This shield is the only known surviving example of the examples known as a scutum. It was found at Dura Europos. Roman soldiers used round, oval, and rectangular shields as military evolution progressed. Source Wiki, CC
What was life like for a centurion?
A centurion was a soldier, but not just any soldier. He was a lifetime soldier, this was his life’s profession. He advanced through the ranks, accumulating authority along the way. A centuria was the smallest unit of a Roman legion. A legion was usually composed of 6,000 soldiers. Each legion was segmented into 10 cohorts, with each cohort containing 6 centuria. The centurion commanded about 100 men. If you wonder about the word centuria of 100 soldiers, and ‘century’ meaning 100, this is where we get the word from.
Here is a picture of it. All the soldiers in the illustration are a legion. Each colored column of men is a cohort. Each of the 6 squares in the cohort contain 1 centuria, with a centurion leading it. Source. The initials CT on the left mean Centurion. O is Optio, the centurion’s second in command.
The red box indicates the men a centurion would command.
Pause for a minute to think of the poor demon possessed Gadarene man in Mark 5:8-9. When Jesus asked the demon’s name, he said we are many, our name is legion. So that is about how many demons possessed the poor man!
The three main categories of ranks in a Roman legion were centurions, tribunes who commanded the cohort and were above a centurion, and prefects. Prefects administered things like a quartermaster does in our terms, but could command if senior officials were absent. The Legion Legate was the commander of the whole legion. We read of tribunes in the Bible. In some versions Acts 21 mentions it was a Tribune of a cohort who arrested Paul at the temple in Acts 21.
So the centurion has authority over 100 men. He himself is under authority to the Tribune who commands the cohort, and above him was the Legate who commanded the legion. See, I told you the life of a Roman was under layers of orderly hierarchical authority.
So when the Centurion said to Jesus, “For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under myself; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.'” (Luke 7:8). The centurion was saying he possesses authority to command men, and he is also under authority and must obey commands of those above him.
Centurions were paid more than a regular solider. Career opportunities to advance in rank awaited him, based on performance. They were supposed to be strict toward the men below them, and responsible for training them in the military arts, the success of which, the entire cohort and then the legion depended upon when action came their way.
From scripture we know that centurions helped maintain peace- they quelled riots and protected citizens (Acts 21:32 ESV). They accompanied prisoners, such as Centurion Julius sailing with Paul for Italy. They oversaw execution of criminals (Acts 23:47). This centurion who had asked for his slave to be healed, was the same one who built the city’s synagogue. (Luke 7:5). Idle soldiers tend to get into trouble, so, often the Roman army would have the soldiers build or repair buildings or roads in between battles. This kept the men in shape, in addition to the centurion training the men.
God used a centurion as the pivot in His plan to bring Jews and Gentiles together into one body under His New Testament Gospel. Cornelius the centurion of the Italian band is considered to be the first pagan convert after the Resurrection. (Some say it was the Ethiopian eunuch, but I side with Cornelius). He had been a God-fearer, the name Jews gave to Gentiles who worshiped Yahweh and held to the food laws. Cornelius was “a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews” (Acts 10:22).
The Lord graciously converted this centurion. He then brought Peter to Cornelius. The societal laws were now moot (Peter said it would have been unlawful to go to a Gentile’s house, but could go to Cornelius as per the vision, Acts 10:28), and that the food laws were now moot (Acts 10:11).
A Roman centurion living in Judea converted to the God of Israel! We serve a great, GREAT God.
A study of angels is called Angelology, and it is a legitimate field of study in theology. See link below for more on what angelology is. Angels are powerful created beings with God-given powers to be used for God’s glory and within limits. The angels that fell into sin and followed Lucifer are the demons, and their powers are used for ill and evil, but also within God’s limits.
But there are two weird areas of study within this fascinating field. As if studying the ‘normal’ angels isn’t deep enough, we have two scenarios in the Bible that are perplexing and amazing. In Genesis 6:2 we have a short verse telling us that some fallen angels did not keep their estate and took human wives, all they wanted. Peter and Jude tell us these particular beings are locked up now. (2 Peter 2:4-7, Jude 1:6). These are somehow tied to the Nephilim, some say, and defining the Nephilim has been a controversial and unsettled fringe branch of angelology for a long time.
The other scenario are the living beings with four faces (Ezekiel 1:4-14, which may or may not be the same as the ones described in Revelation 4:6–9), the creatures called seraphim with 6 wings, (Isaiah 6:2) and these wheels within wheels with eyes all around that Spurgeon tells about.
As Shakespeare said in the play Hamlet, ‘There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, / Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.’
Certainly, God is above our ways and His mind is incredible, and ‘wondrous strange’ to our way of thinking. But let’s turn to Spurgeon’s fascination of the beings that are wheels within wheels with eyes all around. Spurgeon sees these creatures as angels of a sort, and the very visible mechanism of the Providence of God. Ezekiel 1:15-19-
As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. 16 This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. 17 As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went. 18 Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around. 19 When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose.
Sermon- God’s Providence, October 15, 1908, Scripture: Ezekiel 1:15-19, Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
I like Spurgeon’s transparency here:
The meaning of the passage, “In heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven,” surely is that every Christian has a guardian angel, who flies about him, and holds the shield of God over his brow, keeps his foot lest he should dash it against a stone, guards him, controls him, manages him, injects thoughts into his mind, restrains his evil desire and is the minister and servant of the Holy Ghost, to keep him from sin, and lead him to righteousness. Whether I am right or wrong, I leave you to judge; but perhaps I have more angelology in me than most people have. I know my imagination has sometimes been so powerful that, when I have been alone at night, I could almost fancy that I saw an angel fly by me, when I have been out preaching the Word. However, I take it that the text teaches us that angels have very much to do with God’s Providence, for it says,
“And when the living creatures went the wheels went by them, and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.” Let us bless God that he has made angels ministering spirits to minister unto them that are heirs of salvation.
Yes, we praise God for His messengering-ministering agents.
EPrata photo
He has several points in his sermon. Firstly Spurgeon explains why he sees providence as a wheel. Next he points out that The Providence of God is in some mysterious way connected with angels. Third, the creatures with four faces indicate that Providence is universal (north, south, east, west). Fourth, Providence is uniform (the creatures had four faces but one likeness). next, Providence is intricate.
Here, I stopped reading the sermon for a moment so as to ponder this truth. I often muse about God in his Infinite, creative, and powerful mind. His creation is amazing. His creatures are tremendously varied and adapted to the many habitats He created. He forms each person in the womb and gives them a unique blend of personality, talents, appearance. Then uses each person, each creature, each circumstance on earth among all 8 billion people simultaneously to bring about His will. He does this every minute of every day. His providence is intricate, yet powerful. Delicate, yet inflexible. He is God.
Spurgeon preaches a while on how Providence is always correct, and concludes that Providence is AMAZING.
“These living creatures I believe to be angels, and the text teaches us that there is a connection between Providence and angelic agency. I do not know how to explain it, I cannot tell how it is; but I believe angels have a great deal to do with the affairs of this world. An angel cut off the hosts of Sennacherib, and it is still my firm belief that angels are sent forth, somehow or other, to accomplish the everlasting purpose of God.”
John MacArthur preached about angels in his 2-part series God’s Invisible Army. In part 2, MacArthur noted that angels were a part of the giving of the Law. They can control natural elements. (Revelation 8 and 9). They can physically restrain evildoers (Genesis 19).
Angels are part of the creation of God, they are created beings. They do His will, even the fallen ones. Providence IS amazing, yet the God OF Providence is even more so. Worship Him today.
I’m taking an online course on discipling and mentoring with Harry Walls out of The Master’s Seminary. It’s full of rich truths. Allow me to share what I am learning from Him.
prayer and Bible reading AKA devotions. The elixir of life
Devotions: Why?
Why should we do devotions? Loving God with all our heart, mind, strength, soul can’t be accomplished without taking TIME, and quality time at that, to get to know Him. Daily time for God alone. Commit to God!
Jesus’ summary of the greatest commandment in the New Testament was to love God with all your soul, strength, mind, and heart. And secondly, to love our neighbor as ourselves. We love God by engaging with Him.
Love is relational. God created man so He would engage in a love relationship with us. Not that He needed to, He was perfectly satisfied with the intra-Trinitarian love among the three Persons of the Godhead. But he wanted to extend that love to humankind.
In return, we take time for God in our devotions, which is our relational time for God alone. Every relationship requires undivided and undistracted time alone with the person we love. In marriage, some spouses prioritize ‘date night’ so they can reconnect and nurture each other. Children always want to have some alone time with their parents, where the parent is focused and connected with them. It’s impossible to develop a loving, relational, thriving relationship without taking time for it.
And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ (Matthew 22:37).
The word all in the verse means as we would recognize, whole, complete, entire. Loving God supremely, with our very life.
Devotions: When?
In so doing, we choose our BEST time, the supreme time to be alone with God. For many of us, that means the morning. We are fresher. The mundane, worldly distractions haven’t divided our attention yet. We can be more focused. If we are to love God with all we’ve got, we love Him with the BEST we’ve got. If the time you take isn’t in the morning, then choose the BEST time relationally for you to meet with God alone.
Prioritize that time, protect it. Whether early, late, or midday, your devotional time should be at the same time each day. Carving out a protected time displays intention and value, which in turn shows an intentionality of prioritizing the relationship you’re nurturing.
So set the best time, the same time, and an amount of time. A little is better than nothing. But do it. Missing too many alone times with family or friends, they will let you know they feel undervalued or not prioritized. The relationship will wither.
EPrata photo
But don’t just take my word for it. Let’s turn to the scriptures to see our models regarding devotional time spent with God:
Choose a private, quiet, secluded place. As Jesus did,
Yet, “And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and prayed there for a time. (Mark 1:35).
Luke 4:42, Now when day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place;
Luke 5:16, But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray
Slipping away to the wilderness (or other translations, ‘lonely places’) didn’t mean Jesus hopped into his car and comfortably drove to the trails at the park. He walked, hiked, took time before he got to the place where He was going to take time. He went to lengths to ensure that his prayer-devotional life would be undistracted.
Grace, by Eric Enstrom. Photograph, 1918
Being busy was not an excuse. Jesus was the busiest man alive during His ministry on earth. David was busy. During his life he was either a King or a fugitive. But he prayed (hear my voice) and then ‘watched’ (watching out to see what God would say). Sometimes that time would be early:
Psalm 5:3, In the morning, Lord, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will present my prayer to You and be on the watch.
Sometimes it would be late: When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, Psalm 63:6.
Sometimes it was all day long! Psalm 119:97, How I love Your Law! It is my meditation all the day.
Jesus is our model for humans ought to live. His time for meeting with God was usually before the day started. Job rose early and offered sacrifices. (Job 1:5). Luke 21:38 says the people who wanted to hear Jesus at the temple “would get up very early in the morning to come to Him in the temple to listen to Him.”
It’s not just learning, it’s relating. You need Bible, pen, paper, or journal, place. It is an opportunity to be with the best Person ever. Pursue this with a positive expectation. An encounter with perfection yields satisfaction. Feast on the perfections of our Creator and Savior!
Devotions: What?
EPrata photo
What do we do during devotions?
1.Devotional reading. Let God talk about Himself. Relationship is communication. Devotional Bible reading, What does what I read teach me about my God, my Savior, my Friend. He will reveal what he wants to reveal about Himself. Read the scripture for self-revelation. Ask Him to reveal God to you.
1.Daily devotional reading is listening to God talk to you about Himself. Not audibly! Do not expect that. As you read devotionally, keep asking, “God what are you revealing to me about Yourself?” For example, in the scene in Genesis 14:17-24, Melchizedek, Abram, Cherdorlaomer (Kerd-or-lay-omer), you see the term “Most High several times. And Abram said he would not take booty from Cherdorlaomer, not a whisker of it. And he gave a tenth to Melchizedek. So in a devotional reading of this passage you could pray, ‘O Lord, you are most high and most deserving. High and lifted up you are, and worth all my devotion, attention, and love. Let not one iota of pollution enter into my mind, let nothing unworthy be mixed in with worship…’ and so on
2.Respond-Talk to God about what He has revealed to you. This is devotional praying. Pray back in praise and worship.
3.Let God talk to you for you and about you. Not audibly! Do not expect that. It’s reading for inspiration, direction, for transformation. ‘God, please feed my soul with fresh bread, more necessary that my food’. Look for personal encouragement from God’s word. As you read the Bible, look for affirming and encouraging words for your soul. ‘Soul food’ nourishment.
4.Look for life guidance from God too. Not just inspiration, not just encouragement and affirmation, but direction in life. Proverbs 8 speaks about wisdom, acquiring it and using it. Wisdom from God will guide us in life. His wisdom is in His book- the Bible. Wisdom for life guidance from other people is fine, but it’s filtered through a finite mind. Wisdom from God is gained from His word and the Spirit’s application and illumination of it to us. God will guide us- from His word.
Meet with Him daily.
I’m not super spiritual. I fail at this myself. I’m home on school break, I have no family nearby, no children, no work tasks, no appointments, and no intrusions. I still fail sometimes to meet with God in the ways described above! I read the Bible, but sometimes distractedly. I pray, but sometimes not for long. I meditate on God, but not praying God’s promises or scriptures. This just goes to show me that our flesh is indeed strong. We still mutiny against meeting with God in prayer, His word, and private meditations.
Even though God is the best person anywhere, even though it’s always profitable to meet with Him, even though it reaps glorious benefits, even though it’s our chief end in life to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever, we still don’t love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength.
Let’s make a pact, sister, for you and me to do our best to apply the devotional principles outlined above, summarized from the good teacher Harry Walls from The Master’s Seminary, and do our utmost to love Jesus as He deserves – AND as He has commanded.
EPrata photo
Further Resources
Devotionals the produce aren’t the same as doing devotional Bible reading. But here are some great devotionals for feasting on during your day:
The Valley of Vision. A selection of petitions and meditations in the Puritan tradition.
Love Came Down at Christmas: Daily Readings for Advent by Sinclair Ferguson
The Dawn of Redeeming Grace: A Daily Advent Devotional by Sinclair Ferguson
A Basket of Summer Fruit: Sweet vignettes and Bible expositions bearing the author’s love for Christ, by Susannah Spurgeon
Drawing Near: Daily Readings for a Deeper Faith by John MacArthur
The Private Key to Heaven, by Thomas Brooks. Book presents twenty arguments for private prayer. Drawing from examples in Scripture and history, Brooks exhorts God’s people to more faithfulness in this spiritual discipline and means of grace. His application is filled with poignant rebuke, specific directions, and refutation of objections to private prayer. FREE at Chapel Library as ebook, snail mail freely sent to you, or download.
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite, in whom there is no deceit!” 48Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. 49Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel!” John 1:47-49
This is another one of those moments where the narrative is short on details but long on valuable lessons for us. It’s like the gap in the conversation in John 3:2 and 3:3, between where Nicodemus says ‘You must be from God…right?’ and Jesus replies ‘You must be born again’. Wait, wut?
Barnes’ Notes did a good job of commenting on the Nathanael-Jesus conversation. There is a gap between where Jesus says ‘here comes a man with no deceit’, and Nathanael proclaiming Jesus ‘the Son of God and the King of Israel’. There are things we can learn nonetheless about this interaction.
EPrata photo
Barnes’ Notes: “When thou wast under the fig-tree – It is evident that it was from something that had occurred under the fig-tree that Jesus judged of his character. What that was is not recorded. It is not improbable that Nathanael was accustomed to retire to the shade of a certain tree, perhaps in his garden or in a grove, for the purpose of meditation and prayer. The Jews were much in the habit of selecting such places for private devotion, and in such scenes of stillness and retirement there is something especially favorable for meditation and prayer. Our Saviour also worshipped in such places. Compare John 18:2; Luke 6:12. In that place of retirement it is not improbable that Nathanael was engaged in private devotion.”
Barnes’ Notes: “I saw thee – It is clear, from the narrative, that Jesus did not mean to say that he was bodily present with Nathanael and saw him; but he knew his thoughts, his desires, his secret feelings and wishes. In this sense Nathanael understood him. We may learn:
that Jesus sees what is done in secret, and is therefore divine.
that he sees us when we little think of it.
that he sees us especially in our private devotions, hears our prayers, and marks our meditations. And,
that he judges of our character chiefly by our private devotions. Those are secret; the world sees them not; and in our closets we show what we are. How does it become us, therefore, that our secret prayers and meditations should be without “guile” and hypocrisy, and such as Jesus will approve! ~end Barnes’ Notes
We know that Jesus knows our hearts. We know we should do our devotions. But when it’s put it together like that, that He knows our character through our devotions, it brings things home a bit more, doesn’t it?
I’ll post tomorrow more about devotions. For today, we can learn from Nathanael. Put yourself in his shoes. The region is abuzz with news of a man who preaches with authority. Phillip goes to Nathanael and says “He is Here! The Messiah! He’s from Nazareth!” And the first thing Nathanael says is ‘He can’t be, Nazareth is such a backwater, nothing good ever comes from there!’ But then this man says something to you that only you knew. The private devotions of your heart, your unguarded moment, your pouring out of what was never said openly. Under the fig tree.
Nathanael instantly knew Jesus was the One. That was all the ‘evidence’ Nathanael needed. Whatever conversation Nathanael had with Jesus under the fig tree in prayer, now continued in person.
What a blessing!! Keep in mind, sisters, our prayers, devotions, conversations with Jesus are with a real person, who really hears, who is here with you, even unto the end of the age. Someday abruptly, whether when we’re gathered to Him in the air or exhale our last and pick up in heaven the next second, we too, will continue our devotions with Him in physical person. What a day that will be.
I was reading a commentary on Genesis, focusing on the outcry of Sodom. It was written by John Phillips, called “Exploring Genesis”. It’s a new-to-me commentary. So far it’s not only been solid in doctrine but it is an absorbing read, not just for reference.
Mr Phillips has pointed out some things about the hospitality of Abraham and Lot. I’ll summarize in my own words.
In the biblical Eastern lands, which many call Oriental, hospitality was woven into the fabric of the culture with hard unwritten rules. A man’s reputation rested by how well he hosted guests.
In New Testament times, there are biblical rules about hosting. In fact, a widow was not allowed to be on the list to receive food support if she had not “shown hospitality to strangers.” (1 Timothy 5:10). Jesus rebuked the Pharisee hosts, saying that they had failed in hosting duties- “When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet… you gave Me no kiss…you did not anoint My head“, (Luke 7:44-46). One of the qualifications to be an overseer is that he is a hospitable person. (1 Timothy 3:2).
Genesis 18 has the story of Abraham and Lot’s visitations from heaven before the destruction of Sodom.
At the cusp of the destruction of four of the Cities of the Plain, (Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim), three men appeared at Abraham’s tent. Several things should be noted. First, it seems that as Abraham was relaxing during the heat of the day at the opening of his tent, the three men were not there, then suddenly they were. Abraham didn’t see them from a distance far off, he looked and suddenly they were “standing opposite him”.
Next, see how Abraham began hosting briskly. He didn’t linger, delay, or in any way demonstrate the was reluctant to host.
Verse 2: When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them Verse 6a: So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah Verse 6b: “Quickly, prepare…“ Verse 7: Abraham also ran to the herd
He fed them, standing by while they ate. Picture a waiter, at attention near your table, and that was Abraham’s attitude, he didn’t sit with them. He stood, ready to serve.
A normal practice in Bible lands at that time was when the host saw visitors approaching, they stand by their house door or tent flap and await the guest’s arrival. That Abraham rushed to greet them and then bowed, indicated Abraham somehow intuited that these three were not normal men, but the Lord and heavenly visitors. The other two were angels who later went on to Sodom and spoke with Lot. So not only was Abraham a good host but had spiritual insight and worshiped.
Now let’s compare Lot’s hospitality. Genesis 19 has the scene.
Lot was sitting by the Gate. I’ll write another essay later about what that meant and what it entailed. Suffice to say now that being an elder by the gate meant you were a city official doing official things for the city such as administering, judging, ambassadorial greetings, security, etc.
Abraham’s honor at his war-time success likely dribbled onto Lot, and Lot ate it up. So Lot was an elder at the gate, now fully embedded in the city’s life. He was participating in the city. He had even allowed his daughters to marry its unholy citizens. Lot saw the two men (angels) approaching and did the expected as an elder would do, he greeted them and bowed.
However they were not as cordial with Lot as they had been with Abraham and later, Sarah. No conversation, no meal, no chit chat, not as friendly and pleasant with Lot. Lot extended his hospitality to them, saying in verse 2, “Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant’s house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.“
The angels curtly replied, ‘Nah, we’re good. We’ll stay in the park.’
This bears thinking about for a moment. Some commenters say that declining an offer of hospitality was expected at first pass, a sign of modesty not to be too forward. Others say the angels were testing the sincerity of Lot’s offer. But I compare the scene with Abraham. In a theophany (incarnated appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament), Jesus came to Abraham. The three stayed a while, had a meal, calmly discussed things. They invited Sarah to join.
But Jesus did not accompany the angels to Sodom. The angels demurred at an invitation to stay with Lot. They did not inquire after Mrs. Lot as they had for Sarah. Their initial preference was to stay in the park. It was only Lot ‘strongly urging’ them that the angels agreed to lodge in Lot’s house.
BTW this is the first mention in the Bible of a house. Lot had one. Abraham, spiritually and materially rich, had a tent.
Lot brought them to his house, but the description of the food Lot put out was not lovingly described as it was for Abraham’s feast, which had included cold milk, tender meat, fine flour bread-cakes. All that is described is that Lot offered a slab of unleavened tasteless bread.
There are many scenes within these scenes that could be pondered. I’ll finish with a direct quote from “Exploring Genesis” by John Phillips-
“Abraham’s haste and humility teach us the much-neglected lesson of reverence in the presence of God. It was not a matter of forced or artificial posturing. It was a question of spiritual intuition, an overwhelming sense of the presence of God.”
“God took Abraham into His confidence and revealed to His servant a new line of truth-apocalyptic truth, truth concerning the impending overthrow of an utterly vile civilization. The revelation of that truth was an interesting test of Abraham’s growth in grace and of his increase in the knowledge of God.”
“How does a faithful, maturing, obedient child of God react to the truth that a holocaust of judgment is about to engulf a world of vile and godless men? Jonah, faced with apocalyptic truth, was glad. He pondered the impending doom of Nineveh with glee, determined to do nothing to stay its fall, careless of the thousands of little children who lived within its walls. Jesus, faced with apocalyptic truth, was moved to tears. … And He wept, wept for the city whose sins called for vengeance so thorough and so complete. Faced with apocalyptic truth, Abraham prayed.”
And we should do the same. Weep and pray for those caught in sin, pray for their repentance and turning from their immoral ways. Bow with reverence to the One who carries justice and mercy in His bosom. Pray for patience to see which will emerge on behalf of our sinning friends, family, co-workers, and pray for peace with the result, whichever it may be. For Jesus is the Lord of glory.
the-end-time.org 
.jpg){kind=link}