All in the Family

All in the Family
by Charles R. Swindoll

Read Acts 23:11-22

Not one assassin but forty of them! Forty determined terrorists, operating under cover of secrecy. All of them vowing, “We will not eat or drink until we’ve killed him.” The plan was treacherous and set in motion by those who wanted him dead. What they hadn’t counted on was an unlikely ally for Paul. His nephew had overheard everything and made tracks to warn his uncle.

Remarkably, Paul’s nephew plays a major role in his survival. He is not mentioned by name, and we never hear of him again. Then how did he know about the ambush? Only God knows.

Meanwhile, the Roman commander was feeling relieved, proud of his wise handling of the situation. His musings were interrupted by a reluctant knock at the door. The news couldn’t be good. One of his centurions reports that the young man with him has some important information about a conspiracy to kill Paul. The Roman commander wasn’t about to let some scrappy band of fanatics spoil his plan to bring Paul safely to Rome. So he pulled out all the stops.

Uniformed, armed, and trained soldiers. Four hundred and seventy-two to forty rag-tag conspirators. Nice odds. Talk about overkill. The guy would not be outdone. He made sure no one could get to Paul. Remember God’s promise? “You must witness at Rome.” This is just part of that divine plan. It was as if God said, “I know what I am doing. I will escort you down to Caesarea by the Sea with full protection. You are in My hand.” A massive official escort—that would work just fine.

What a comforting story. Despite the odds stacked against him, Paul was never removed from God’s protective hand. And neither are you.

Are you feeling alone, mistreated, misunderstood, forsaken? Remember this true account. God is at work. He’s there, working behind the scenes. He’ll work it out. He has a plan. Just when you’re convinced the bottom is about to drop out from under you, He steps in and lifts you to safety. For Paul, he used an unlikely and virtually anonymous ally, a nameless nephew who comes out of the shadows at precisely the right time. God’s timing is always perfectly synchronized with His will. Remember that. And be comforted.

(Excerpted from Charles R. Swindoll, Great Days with the Great Lives (Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2005). Copyright © 2005 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.)

Heard at Wal Mart

Philippians 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind.

Today I had a few errands to run, including a trip to Wal Mart. To my pleasant surprise, shortly after entering the store I ran into three members of my church family. We had a very pleasant little conversation that included each of us making mention of our choir leader. For you that don’t know him, Bro. Buddy Merritt is one of the kindest, humblest folks I know and his love for our Lord just, well, radiates about him.

Anyway, the four of us agreed that more than once Buddy has stood and spoken almost verbatim what was on our own heart during his testamony. One of us even joked that it was kind of amazing how that could be; and that we ought to be more apt to get up and say what God has put on our heart as soon as He does so!

After leaving the store, on my way home in my truck I was thinking about our conversation and those thoughts led me to this conclusion: We are all different in how we express our love and our praise for God. But for four different people, five including Bro. Buddy, to get the same praise-filled thoughts, at times simultaneously, demonstrates that, even in our different ways and with our different “styles” of expression, we are truly in one mind and of one accord. Yes, I may say it differently than you, you may have more emotion than I, but we are still worshipping Him Who is worthy in “Spirit and truth”, just as He desires us to.

Still Useful

Psalm 1:3

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither

I remember seeing a rather strange sight once while walking in the woods. An old, gnarled tree had been broken, likely by a storm of some sort. But new, green shoots were still proceeding from it. The large broken section was also supporting a fallen tree.

As we age, our thoughts as to future usefulness to the Lord often occur. Like that tree, no matter how broken or useless we perceive ourselves to be, God can find a purpose and a use for us. Perhaps He will send forth “green shoots” of new learning in our lives or maybe use us to support another who is weak or in a season of turmoil. If we are only willing to see the new opportunity that God has made in our life and be obedient to go in His new direction, we, regardless of age or other conditions, will always have some work for our King.

One thing is needful.

[There are] many that say, Who will show us [any] good? LORD, lift thou upon us the light of thy countenance. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time when their grain and their wine increased.

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so my soul panteth after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God.–O God, thou [art] my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.

I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.–Lord, evermore give us this bread.–Mary . . . sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.–One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

Lu 10:42 Ps 4:6,7 Ps 42:1,2 63:1 Joh 6:35,34 Lu 10:39 Ps 27:4

Where shall wisdom be found?

I personally love the old Daily Light for the Daily Path devotional. The way the Scriptures are woven together are so beautiful. And they fit so perfectly it is another example of how the Bible, though written with different “pens”, truly has but one Author. I hope you enjoy this selection:

Where shall wisdom be found?

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.–Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.–The only wise God.–Be not wise in thine own eyes.

Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I [am] a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I [am] a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I [am] with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give [it] you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.–All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Job 28:12 Jas 1:5,6 Pr 3:5,6 1Ti 1:17 Pr 3:7 Jer 1:6-8 Joh 16:23,24 Mt 21:22

Daily Light

Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Ye cannot serve God and mammon.–When ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things [is] death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will [my] Father honour.–Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.

O LORD our God, [other] lords beside thee have had dominion over us: [but] by thee only will we make mention of thy name.–I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

Ro 6:18 Mt 6:24 Ro 6:20-22 Ro 10:4 Joh 12:26 Mt 11:29,30 Isa 26:13 Ps 119:32

Pray for Our Leaders

I am sure you are aware the Bible teaches us to pray for our leaders. In this piece from C.H. Spurgeon he extols us to do the same. But in a way I hadn’t really thought of before (third paragraph).

Clearly Supernatural

In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them. (Zechariah 12:8)

One of the best methods of the Lord’s defending His people is to make them strong in inward might. Men are better than walls, and faith is stronger than castles.

The Lord can take the feeblest among us and make him like David, the champion of Israel. Lord, do this with me! Infuse Thy power into me, and fill me with sacred courage that I may face the giant with sling and stone, confident in God.

The Lord can make His greatest champions far mightier than they are: David can be as God, as the angel of Jehovah. This would be a marvelous development, but it is possible, or it would not be spoken of. O Lord, work with the best of our leaders! Show us what Thou art able to do–namely, to raise Thy faithful servants to a height of grace and holiness which shall be clearly supernatural!

Lord, dwell in Thy saints, and they shall be as God; put Thy might into them, and they shall be as the living creatures who dwell in the presence of Jehovah. Fulfill this promise to Thine entire church in this our day, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Daily Light

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.–Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed [thereto] according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee.

My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food].–I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies [are] my meditation.–If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Joh 17:17 15:3 Col 3:16 Ps 119:9,10 Pr 2:10,11 Job 23:11,12 Ps 119:99 Joh 8:31,32

Daily Light

Christ . . . loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.

Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.–Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.– Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.–Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.– Thy word hath quickened me.

The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD [are] right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD [is] pure, enlightening the eyes.

Eph 5:25,26,2 1Pe 1:23 Joh 17:17 3:5 Tit 3:5 Ps 119:50 19:7,8

Spurgeon on Luke 6:12

“And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”-Luke 6:12

If ever one of woman born might have lived without prayer, it was our spotless, perfect a Lord, and yet none was ever so much in supplication as He! Such was His love to His Father, that He loved much to be in communion with Him: such His love for His people, that He desired to be much in intercession for them.The fact of this eminent prayerfulness of Jesus is a lesson for us-He hath given us an example that we may follow in His steps. The time He chose was admirable, it was the hour of silence, when the crowd would not disturb Him; the time of inaction, when all but Himself had ceased to labour; and the season when slumber made men forget their woes, and cease their applications to Him for relief. While others found rest in sleep, He refreshed Himself with prayer. The place was also well selected. He was alone where none would intrude, where none could observe: thus was He free from Pharisaic ostentation and vulgar interruption. Those dark and silent hills were a fit oratory for the Son of God. Heaven and earth in midnight stillness heard the groans and sighs of the mysterious Being in whom both worlds were blended. The continuance of His pleadings is remarkable; the long watches were not too long; the cold wind did not chill His devotions; the grim darkness did not darken His faith, or loneliness check His importunity. We cannot watch with Him one hour, but He watched for us whole nights. The occasion for this prayer is notable; it was after His enemies had been enraged-prayer was His refuge and solace; it was before He sent forth the twelve apostles-prayer was the gate of His enterprise, the herald of His new work. Should we not learn from Jesus to resort to special prayer when we are under peculiar trial, or contemplate fresh endeavours for the Master’s glory? Lord Jesus, teach us to pray.