Author: BTP

“Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with the all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the Lord” (Haggai 1:12).

Here we find that some of the Jews had come back to the land of Israel, after being taken into captivity to Babylon, but sadly, it seems that they had gotten careless, and neglected what was due to the Lord. Because of this, the Lord had sent the prophet Haggai to speak to them about it.

Thankfully the leaders and the people listened to the voice of the Lord through Haggai, and confessed that they had sinned. Evidently the people had spent all their time building their own houses, and neglected looking after the house of the Lord.

However, it is always good to repent, and to recognize when we have done wrong. Instead of making excuses and defending themselves, the people admitted their sin, and if we read in other parts of the Bible, such as the book of Ezra, we will find that the people began again to build the house of the Lord. As a result, the Lord blessed them, and the king of Persia at that time (Darius Hystaspes) gave them a great deal of help too. The Lord honors those who honor Him!

“And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go” (Exodus 5:2).

In our verse today, we find another man who did not want to hear the voice of the Lord. He was Pharaoh, the powerful king of Egypt. The Israelites had been his slaves for quite a few years, and he did not want them to go away. When Moses and Aaron spoke to him about the Lord God of Israel, he proudly said, “I know not the Lord.” Probably this was true, but then the Lord began to show his power to Pharaoh.

Pharaoh had magicians who worked miracles on a small scale using Satan’s power, and probably Pharaoh was quite impressed with them. But God’s power was greater, and by doing miracles through Moses and Aaron, the Lord gradually showed Pharaoh that Jehovah was the only true God.

If you read on in the book of Exodus, you will find out that Pharaoh never did obey the voice of the Lord, and he eventually perished in the Red Sea. Again, it is important not to disregard the voice of the Lord.

“And they [Adam and Eve] heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8).

Especially in the Old Testament, there were a number of times when people actually heard the voice of the Lord. Sometimes they welcomed it, while at other times they did not want to hear it. However, whenever the Lord speaks to us, it is important to listen carefully, and not to disregard what the Lord is saying.

Here we find Adam and Eve hiding in the Garden of Eden, and not wanting to hear the voice of the Lord. Why was that? Quite possibly the Lord had come down to visit them before, and they had not hid themselves. But now they were hiding, because they had disobeyed the one commandment that the Lord God had given them.

As Christians, we sometimes do wrong things, and if we do not immediately confess that sin to the Lord, we also will not want to be in the Lord’s presence. Adam and Eve did obtain forgiveness, but they had brought sin into the world. As we well know, they were driven out of the Garden of Eden for their sin.

“If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha” (1 Corinthians 16:22).

This is a very strongly worded verse, and we might wonder why it is included right at the end of an epistle written to a Christian assembly. The words “anathema maranatha” mean “accursed at His coming.” Were there some in the assembly at Corinth that did not love the Lord Jesus Christ?

Sadly, it seems that there may well have been those in Corinth who were putting on a good outward show, but who were not real believers. They discounted the Apostle Paul, and wanted to “take over” the assembly there. Sadly, some of the true believers in Corinth were being strongly influenced by these men, and thought that they were very spiritual.

Paul points out the seriousness of pretending in God’s presence, and uses some strong words to show us what will happen when the Lord executes judgment. How awful it is to think of some who pretended to be true believers, yet in a coming day will be proven never to have been truly saved! All this is a warning for us too, for if we have grown up in a Christian home, we can easily say the right words, and act in the right way, yet not be truly saved.

“Ye know the household of Stephanas…and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints” (1 Corinthians 16:15).

You all know that in a general way, it is not good to be addicted to anything. Many people are addicted to tobacco, alcohol, and drugs, and they cannot get free of them. But here in our verse today is an addiction that is good for us to have. Here was a household that was addicted to serving their fellow believers.

To be addicted to something means that we cannot stay away from it. The compulsion is so strong that we are continually going back to it. In natural things this is bad, but in this case, it was a good thing. To serve others is a wonderful way to honor the Lord, and here was a household that was continually serving fellow believers. They were evidently one of the early families to be saved in the region of Achaia, which was an area composed of nearly all of Greece. The Word of God takes special note of them. They are a good example for us.

“Watch you, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).

The Corinthians were generally an intelligent and gifted group of believers, yet the Apostle Paul spoke to them as if they were really babies in Christ. Earlier in this same book, Paul tells them that they were acting like spiritual babies. They were not using their gifts and their knowledge in the right way, for they were using their spiritual gifts to “show off.” They were proud of their knowledge, and instead of using their gifts for the Lord, they were using them to make themselves look good.

At the end of the epistle, Paul reminds them to “quit you like men.” That means, in simple terms, to “grow up,” and to act in a mature way. A mature Christian uses what he or she has for the Lord’s glory, and not simply to show off, so that other people can see it.

Even though we are young, we can act in a mature way. This does not mean that we try to act as if we were forty, when we are only twenty. It simply means that we act for the Lord’s glory, and for the blessing of others, rather than trying to get people to look at us, and be impressed with us.

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

In the Old Testament, the Jews had to give a tenth of their income to the Lord, but we have no such rule in Christianity. It is left up to our hearts, to give what we wish. However, let us ask ourselves, “Would we give the Lord less under Christianity than they were compelled to give under the law?”

The real answer to the question, “How much shall we give?” is found in our second verse. What kind of gift did God give us? He gave His Son! We cannot put a value on what it meant to God to give His Son to die for us. When we consider how much God gave in order that we might be saved, then surely it will touch our hearts to give generously. It is our appreciation of Christ that will make us want to give as much as we are able, for the Lord’s work, and the benefit of others.

“Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him” (1 Corinthians 16:2).

“But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16).

At other times in this calendar, we have emphasized the importance of remembering what the Lord Jesus did for us on Calvary’s cross. How important it is for us to give Him the honor, praise, and thanksgiving, of which He is so worthy!

However, as we see today, there is another sacrifice that is also important. The Lord values what we give in the way of money, and that is why a collection box is passed around after we remember the Lord. Today’s verse encourages us to put aside something from what we have gotten during the week, to give to the Lord. That money can be used to help those who are poor, and also to support the work of the Lord. Our second verse today says that God is “well pleased” with such sacrifices. Do you set aside something from what you have earned during the week, to give to the Lord?

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

As Christians, you and I can be thankful that we do not have the outlook of those in this world. Yes, we can enjoy good food when the Lord gives it to us, but we do not take on the attitude of this world—just enjoying all the pleasure we can, because we might die at any moment.

No, God has assured us that He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ has won the victory over death for us, and we do not have to fear death. On the other hand, anything we suffer for Christ down here will be richly rewarded. It is well worthwhile to give up the “pleasures of sin,” since they are only “for a season” (Hebrews 11:25). But what is done for the Lord will abide forever.

“Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die” (1 Corinthians 15:32).

This is the attitude of many unbelievers in this world today, as they see the world situation getting worse and worse, and with no hope that it will improve. As I write this in June, 2024, Russia is fighting in the Ukraine, and threatening Europe. China is threatening to invade Taiwan. Israel is fighting in Gaza, vowing to eliminate the Hamas organization. Many people are taking sides, some supporting Hamas, others supporting the Jews. Hunger, economic instability, weak governments, and other factors are making men’s hearts “fail them for fear”—see Luke 21:26. Many feel that a nuclear war could easily start.

As a result of all this, some are just enjoying the moment, and having as much fun as they can, for they realize that they could die at any time. But we, as believers, have a better hope, and one that is sure.