Times like these can be a bit hard.  Times not like these can be a bit hard.  We all go through good times and bad times and sometimes it feels like we’re going through them alone.  Of course, we could spend time talking about how we’re not alone, and we would be right.  But that’s not my point right now.  Today’s point is to make sure we let each other know we aren’t alone.

I Thessalonians 3:6-7 “But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith.”

Paul was going through a lot and it wasn’t always sunshine and roses.  He was beaten, robbed, threatened, shipwrecked, imprisoned, et cetera (not to minimize any of it).  But when Timothy came to Paul, he brought the good news of their faith and love along with the encouragement of knowing his brothers and sisters remembered him and missed seeing him.  Knowing his Christian family cared for him and remembered him fondly he was comforted.

Hardly anything beats having our brothers, sisters, friends, or family around to help us when things aren’t good.  But even when we are hundreds of miles apart, we can still remind each other that we are thinking of each other and longing to be together. 

Make sure to let each other know, however we can, that we “remember each other kindly and long to see each other”. It really means more than we know to people who need it.  Let ‘em know.

If you can’t tell, I’ve got a love/hate relationship with social media.  It’s great to keep up with old friends who don’t live locally or to stay involved with professional or hobby groups.

There is a danger to it though.  It gives us a way to express ourselves to the entire world almost instantaneously.  Our immediate thoughts can be sent to the four corners of the world at the click of a button.  Do you see the problem yet or do we need to remember that sometimes our immediate thoughts shouldn’t be broadcast?

Sometimes they are inappropriate or inconsiderate while other times they may be unhelpful or hurtful.

More often than not these days we receive or even express things that need not be said or even shouldn’t be said.  Our news feeds are full of vitriol and hate in quantities we have rarely seen in history.  Mostly because the moment we get angry, we respond.  To the entire world.

In a time where it is so easy to express ourselves, we need to be more vigilant about what we are expressing and how we are expressing it.  Be slow to speak, think it through before we do.

James 1:19 “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;”

Or, to take a note from Hamilton’s Aaron Burr, “Talk less” if need be.

Ecclesiastes 10:14. “A fool multiplies words, …”

It was time.  The couch was worn and looking a bit like a rented mule.  So, we stop in at the furniture store and pick out a new one.  Then came the usual because-of-COVID reason for a delayed delivery.  “Mid-January,” she said. “Great!” we replied.  The delivery time was perfect.  A few things needed to be done to the living room before delivery and five to six weeks was more than enough time.

Cue the call on Friday last week.  “Your sectional is in the warehouse.  Would you like it delivered tomorrow?”

No!  It’s too early!  We aren’t ready!

Ever been caught like that?  Maybe it was something good that happened before you expected it.  Or something not-so-good that you weren’t prepared for? Either way, preparedness is the key.

I Thessalonians 5:2-3 “For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”

Things are great.  Things are smooth.  Everything is as we expect it.  Right up until it’s not.  Then we’re stuck in the lurch wishing we’d prepared better.

Are we prepared spiritually?  Are we ready for the Lord’s return?  Will we be scrambling to make things right when there isn’t time?  Or do we prepare now?  God is very clear that we are to be ready now.  Are we?

The good news for my living room is that I could schedule the delivery of our new furniture for the next week and I had time to compact the work we needed to do into the weekend.  What a luxury!  A luxury not afforded when the Lord decides it’s time to call us to judgement.  

We cast our votes this week.  How awesome is it to live where we get a voice in our government!  It is a blessing a large part of the world does not enjoy.  Maybe the guy we voted for won, maybe he did not.  The important thing for the Christian is to remember that our allegiance is to the kingdom of God.  As citizens of a heavenly kingdom we have responsibilities no matter who sits behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.  According to God these people are indeed our Governor, President, or possibly even our King, should a strange woman lying in a pond distributing swords deem them to be. 

Regardless of whether we agree with or approve of their political position, personal lifestyle, or what color they wear on game day we owe them a few things.

· Subjection – Romans13:1 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.  For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”

· Taxes – Romans13:6 “For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.”

· Honor and Respect – Romans13:7 “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”

· Prayers – I Timothy2:1-2 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
honesty.”

It is just as important that we treat each other, and everyone else, with respect regardless of how they cast their votes.  Pursue peace with all men or the Hebrew writer warns us our relationship with God is in danger.

Hebrews 12:14 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”

A continuous news cycle and social media has all but killed the art of conversation and debate.  Our exchanges over politics, religion, or any other subject has been reduced to a quick-witted soundbite, or meme.  If you can get the last word in and drop a mic you win.  Or so the world would have us believe.  We see it coming from our friends, co-workers, and even from our government leaders.  We’ll see more and more of it as political candidates vie for our votes in fifteen to thirty second ads.  Do we ever catch ourselves doing the same?  It’s an easy trap to fall into.

God gives us advice on how to communicate effectively.  In Ecclesiastes 4 we learn there is a time to speak and a time to be quiet. The first step is to know which of those times we’re facing.  And then, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.” (Proverbs 15:1-2).  Speak rationally and gently on a subject.  And don’t talk foolishly.  It never works the way we think it will. “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.” (Proverbs 23:9). 

So then what do we do when the other person doesn’t listen?  Jesus tells us we aren’t supposed to worry about it.  When Jesus sent out the twelve, he told them if the people they approached wouldn’t listen just to walk away and furthermore, “shake off the dust “of their house or town.  In other words, leave it behind and don’t let it dirty up your next conversation. Don’t take offense, they aren’t rejecting us, they’re rejecting Him.

Matthew 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men:  They make wide their phylacteries and enlarge the borders of their garments.

Phylactery n. small leather box containing Hebrew text, worn by Jewish men during prayer

Phylacteries were small leather boxes that men would put bits of scripture in and wear on leather headbands that would wrap around their heads so that the box hung between their eyes.  Another box was attached to the back of their right hands.  This was done in order to be in strict compliance with what GOD told them in Deuteronomy 6:8.

Deuteronomy 6:8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between their eyes.

I am convinced that we need to wear Phylacteries today…

We should wear the word of GOD on our hands. This way the word will affect everything we touch.  If we carry the word and attach it to our hands, we will be able to avoid those works of the flesh Paul was talking about.  The word will cause us not to want to have anything to do with those works.  Carrying the word with us will be contagious. If we attach the word, it will affect everything we do.  Everything we do will speak to the glory of GOD.

We should wear the word of GOD before our eyes as frontlets.  This way the word will affect everything we see.  James compared the word to a glass that shows us what we truly look like.  In this same manner we can use this glass to see what the world truly looks like.  (James 2:23-25) Do we see the depravity of the world?  The word will help us.  Do we see the immorality of the world?  The word will help us.  Do we see the world as an OK place and nothing to be concerned about?  The word will help us.  Do we not see the people in the world for the lost souls that they are?  The word will help us.  Do we not see through the false teachings and teachers?  The word will help us.

Are we wearing the word on our hands and before our eyes?

Are we letting the word affect our works?

Are we letting the word bring everything into proper focus?

It is vital that we carry the word in our hearts so that it does all these things.  And just how do we carry the word with us?  Study…

II Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto GOD, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Zookeepers and snake handlers will tell you that an individual should never grab a snake by its tail because it can coil around in a split second and deliver a vicious bite. The correct method is to control it by its head so that it can’t bite.

In contrast, picking up a snake by its tail is exactly what God told Moses to do in Exodus 4:1-5. Moses must have encountered snakes in the Midian desert and knew this was unwise.

What was God trying to teach Moses? God not only wanted him to realize His power, but to also be willing to be used as His messenger to Pharaoh (Exodus 4:21-23). There was little difference between throwing the rod to the ground and taking the snake by its tail. Both were acts of obedience to the Lord. The lesson was that God had the ability to use whatever means He wanted in order to validate His message to the people through Moses.

Today, what is in our hands? In a sense, our spiritual lives are in our hands because we choose whether we’ll squander the hours, days, weeks, months, and years in our own pursuits or if we’ll live an obedient life that’s useful to Almighty God (Joshua 24:14-15, Joshua 24:31).

If we will trust and obediently do what He asks, the Lord will mightily accomplish His will in us and through us.

Just before Jesus ascended back to the Father he told his disciples to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you….” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Generally speaking, we’ve become very comfortable with “Stay and let people come to you…” model of discipleship.  The American dream has helped foster our sense of personal comfort and self-centered advancement.  After all, if we work hard and put in the effort we can succeed and have our part of the dream.  Shouldn’t others have to put in the work too if they want the gospel?

God doesn’t call us to be comfortable or to realize the American dream.  He calls us to glorify him through our obedience, love, and leading others to him.  That’s why he said, “Go”.

The early church seemed to stagnate when they stayed in Jerusalem and thrived when they were persecuted to the point of going into the world. We’ve recently been dealt a hand of cards that forced us out of the building and into the world.  How did we use the opportunity?  How will we continue to use it?  I can’t wait to have everyone back together to fellowship and worship all in the same place.  But I also must be careful to not forsake the command to “Go”.  

What are we waiting for? Go!

Matthew 5:13 “Ye are the salt of the earth…”

This must have amazed the people who heard it. They were not among the world’s powerful or elite, or in any way in a position to think of themselves as able to impact the world.  However, Jesus knew something about both the world and them that is not always readily apparent.

The statement reveals something about God’s people.

To understand what Jesus reveals about God’s people, now we must understand some things about salt.  Salt is a preservative – rubbed into meat, for example, it prevents the meat from decaying, and keeps it good to eat.  Salt is an antiseptic – dissolved in a glass of water, it helps kill the germs that cause a sore throat.  Salt is a seasoning agent – sprinkled on bland food, it helps to enhance the flavor. 

When we make the application of this image of salt to the people to whom Jesus spoke, it becomes clearer what Jesus wanted his disciples to do. 

We are to function as a preservative in the world.  This applies specifically to the tendency of the world toward the rottenness of sin.  We do this by being different from the world in which we live.  I think you see this effect when a godly man or woman makes his or her presence known to the world.  Often, the fact that a godly person is present stops the trend toward sin and worse sin.

We are to function as an antiseptic in the world.  I think you see this effect when our involvement in life not only stops the trend toward sin but turns the trend back toward God.  We do this when we have opportunity to help set the pace and the agenda by which the world lives.

We are to be a seasoning agent in the world.  This applies to the fact that without God, life becomes dull and bland and causes people to seek the ever-elusive thrill.  Without God, man is on a never-ending quest for meaning and satisfaction.  You see the salt-effect in the changed lives, values, meaning and purpose in God’s people.  We do this by helping people see there is an alternative to the constant downward spiral of despair.

We are called to change the world in which we live.  We do it by being different from that which is normally found in the world.  We do it by practicing the life of God in the midst of a sinful world.  Here is where we need to begin making some real examination of ourselves.  Is there a clear distinction between your life and that of the people who live around you?  Are you indifferent to the condition of the world and to your responsibility to affect your part of the world for good?

Matthew 5:13 “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”

Robert Frost said the best way out is through. The Stoics believe the obstacle is the way. 

It’s been a trying time for most of us these past few weeks.  It will continue to be for a little while longer it seems. We face troubles and bad situations every day.  Some days are harder than others.  Some days I dare say we don’t even notice the troubles for their lightness.  Right now, most of us face a strange trial that mostly tries our patience and our ability to let go of our normal lives for a little while.  Some of us face financial shortages or a career crisis as the markets take a temporary dive.

There’s truth in both the earlier ideas. We’ve got to go through it. We don’t get a choice. The path is before us and we have got to take it.  The choice we have is how we get through it.  Do we do it with grace, patience, strength, and wisdom?  Do we try to drown out the frustration with alcohol or other vices?

It’s okay to struggle with this.  Everyone struggles.  The victory is beyond the struggle; it’s on the other side of the obstacle. Be sure to take a step back and get a full picture of the obstacle.  I assure you, Jesus assures us, it’s not as bad as you think, and the reward is greater than you can imagine.

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (II Corinthians
4:17-18)