October 3, 2010

1 Kings 5

Do you suppose that Hiram was a believer? He willingly was an ally of David. Do you suppose his friendship was just shrewd politics? Or do you suppose that he saw the work of the Lord in David? When Solomon informed Hiram of the decision to build a temple for the Lord, was his joy because of the spiritual decision Solomon had made, or was it because of the business deal was to his advantage? Hiram indeed rejoiced and blessed the name of the Lord indicating that he knew the covenant name of the Lord. Or was Hiram’s blessing of Solomon simply shrewd business dealings? I tend to think that Hiram saw the glory of the Lord in David and in Solomon. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john


Ephesians 5:15-33

The glory of any groom is seen in his bride. The glory of the Lord Jesus Christ is seen in His bride, the Church. I am somewhat a student of church history. When think of the first two statements of this paragraph, at first I shudder. But then I remember the parable of the tares that our Lord told. I remember that when the bride is presented to Christ it will not be the church that we see in history. It will be the church of true believers of history who have had their dross and impurities removed. Is there anything in church history that might give us a partial glimpse of the glory of Christ’s bride? Oh yes, It was the true church that brought an end to slavery in Rome—without a war. It was the true church that reduced the pagan idolatry of Rome without resorting to law. It is the true church through out the ages that brought hospitals and schools to needy areas without government funds. It is the true church through out the ages that has raised the level of women from chattel to companion. It is Christ through the church that has turned the waste of alcoholic bottles of alcoholics into milk for their children. That change is produced when the church presents the true gospel of Jesus Christ to those in bondage of alcohol and drugs and they believe and are set free. I could go on and on about the good that the church has done. Is it the church? It is Christ through the church! When the church does anything worthy of glory, it is because of Christ!

Let me give one more example. In January of 1956 five missionaries were speared to death by the Auca Indians in the jungle of Ecuador, while they were in the process of sharing the love of Christ to them. A widow and sister of the two of the murdered missionaries returned to the same people to keep sharing the love of Christ with them. Because of that act of love and forgiveness, a majority of the tribe came to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. An anthropologist went in and interviewed the tribal members. As a result of his survey, he found that 60% of all adult deaths before the missionaries came were the result of homicide. After many in the tribe trusted Christ, homicide in the tribe almost disappeared. Many of those men who had speared the missionaries to death, baptized the children of the missionaries they had murdered—at the request of the children! That is the work of Christ! Only he can bring love and forgiveness like that. But it is glory that is seen in the church! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John