Blessed Is The Man Who Has Realized His Own Utter Helplessness

 For my Sabbath Thought this week, I wanted to continue reviewing Christ’s instructions to His disciples found in the Beatitudes.

Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the Poor in Spirit is a most important point to consider in light of the time we are in.

It seems a surprising way to begin talking about happiness by saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit." There are two ways in which we can come at the meaning of this word poor.

As we have them the beatitudes are in Greek, and the word that is used for poor is the word ptochos. In Greek there are two words for poor. There is the word penes. Penes describes a man who has to work for his living; it is defined by the Greeks as describing the man who is autodiakonos, that is, the man who serves his own needs with his own hands. Penes describes the working man, the man who has nothing superfluous, the man who is not rich, but who is not destitute either.

But, as we have seen, it is not penes that is used in this beatitude, it is ptochos, which describes absolute and abject poverty. It is connected with the root ptossein, which means to crouch or to cower; and it describes the poverty which is beaten to its knees.

As it has been said, penes describes the man who has nothing superfluous; ptochos describes the man who has nothing at all. So, this beatitude becomes even more surprising. Blessed is the man who is abjectly and completely poverty-stricken. Blessed is the man who is absolutely destitute.

So, in Hebrew the word poor was used to describe the humble and the helpless man who put his whole trust in God. It is thus that the Psalmist uses the word, when he writes, "This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles" (Ps 34:6). It is in fact true that in the Psalms the poor man, in this sense of the term, is the good man who is dear to God. "The hope of the poor shall not perish forever" (Ps 9:18). God delivers the poor (Ps 35:10). "In thy goodness, O God, thou didst provide for the needy" (Ps 68:10). "He shall defend the cause of the poor of the people" (Ps 72:4). "He raises up the needy out of affliction, and makes their families like flocks" (Ps 107:41). "I will satisfy her poor with bread" (Ps 132:15). In all these cases the poor man is the humble, helpless man who has put his trust in God.

Let us now take the two sides, the Greek and the Aramaic, and put them together.

Ptochos describes the man who is absolutely destitute, the man who has nothing at all; 'aniy and 'ebyown describe the poor, and humble, and helpless man who has put his whole trust in God. Therefore, "Blessed are the poor in spirit" means: Blessed is the man who has realized his own utter helplessness, and who has put his whole trust in God.

If a man has realized his own utter helplessness, and has put his whole trust in God, there will enter into his life two things which are opposite sides of the same thing. He will become completely detached from things, for he will know that things have not got it in them to bring happiness or security; and he will become completely attached to God, for he will know that God alone can bring him help, and hope, and strength. The man who is poor in spirit is the man who has realized that things mean nothing, and that God means everything.

This verse is describing the Pharisaic pride in one’s own virtue with which Jesus was so often confronted and which has all too often made its appearance in later times. “This is the man to whom I will look,” the Lord says, “he that is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word” (Isa. 66;2). These are the poor in spirit.”

Christ is describing a radical reversal of the world’s values. We must be careful not to think that this beatitude calls actual material poverty a good thing. Poverty is not a good thing. Jesus would never have called blessed a state where people live in slums and have not enough to eat, and where health rots because conditions are all against it. That kind of poverty it is the aim of the Christian gospel to remove. The poverty which is blessed is the poverty of spirit, when a man realizes his own utter lack of resources to meet life, and finds his help and strength in God.

Of these lowly people Jesus says, theirs is the kingdom of heaven. We should understand this in the sense of consequence rather than reward. In no sense do they merit the kingdom, but being what they are they possess it. We should understand this in the sense “theirs alone.” Those who are not poor in spirit can never have membership in the kingdom.

If we take the two petitions of the Lord's Prayer and set them together:

• Thy Kingdom come.

• Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.

we get the definition: The Kingdom of God is a society where God's will is perfectly done in earth as it is in heaven. That means that only he who does God's will is a citizen of the Kingdom; and we can only do God's will when we realize our own utter helplessness, our own utter ignorance, our own utter inability to cope with life, and when we put our whole trust in God. Obedience is always founded on trust. The Kingdom of God is the possession of the poor in spirit, because the poor in spirit have realized their own utter helplessness without God, and have learned to trust and obey.

So then, the first beatitude means:

O the bliss of the man who has realized his own utter helplessness, and who has put his whole trust in God, for thus alone he can render to God that perfect obedience which will make him a citizen of the kingdom of heaven! 

(from The Daily Study Bible, by William Barclay: First Edition. Biblesoft Formatted Electronic Database Copyright © 2015 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved and The Gospel according to Matthew, by Leon Morris, Copyright 1992 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. All rights reserved.)

Enjoy the Sabbath!

Gary Smith

O the Blessedness of...

I have been going through the Gospels as part of my personal Bible study. In going through Matthew 5, 6, and 7, I came across interesting commentary from two sources: The Gospel according to Matthew by Leon Morris and The Daily Study Bible by William Barclay. I felt both sources would be worth considering as part of our Sabbath Thoughts for a few weeks.

Blessed - Various expressions are used by translators for the word blessed. Words like “fortunate” (Anchor Bible) or “happy” (Jerusalem Bible) are how the translators of those works chose to express the Greek word “makarios”. But translating Makarios as happy or fortunate is basically a human way of conveying the meaning and misses the deeper religious meaning.

Fortunate - One of the meanings of fortunate is lucky. The word lucky conveys the idea of things for no apparent reason broke your way. There is nothing to it.

Happy - A word we can understand based on the first 3 letters of the word: hap. The root “hap” which means chance. Human happiness is something which is dependent on the chances and the changes of life, something which life may give and which life may also destroy.

So what is “the deeper religious meaning”? Let’s look at 2 general facts.

(1) It can be seen that every one of the beatitudes has precisely the same form. As they are commonly printed in our Bibles, each one of them in the King James Version has the word “are” printed in italic, or sloping, type. When a word appears in italics in the King James Version it means that in the Greek, or in the Hebrew, there is no equivalent word. Therefore, the word added in italics or sloping type was added to bring out the meaning of the sentence.

This is to say that in the beatitudes there is no verb, there is no word “are”. Why should that be? Jesus did not speak the beatitudes in Greek; he spoke them in Aramaic, which was the language Hebrew people spoke in Jesus day.

Aramaic and Hebrew have a very common kind of expression, which is in fact an exclamation and which means, "O the blessedness of . . ." The expression ('ashere in the Hebrew) is very common in the Old Testament. For instance, the first Psalm begins in the Hebrew: "O the blessedness of the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly" (Ps 1:1). This is the form that Jesus first spoke in the beatitudes. The beatitudes are not simple statements; they are exclamations: "O the blessedness of the poor in spirit!"

What is most important, is that the beatitudes are not pious hopes of what shall be. They are not glowing, nebulous prophecies of some future bliss. They are congratulations on what is the blessedness which belongs to the Christian. It is not a blessedness which is postponed to some future world of glory. It is a blessedness which exists here and now. It is not something into which the Christian will enter. It is something into which he has entered.

True, it will find its fulness in the time after Christ’s return. But for Christians, it is a present reality to be enjoyed here and now.

The beatitudes in effect say, "O the bliss of being a Christian! O the joy of following Christ! O the sheer happiness of knowing Jesus Christ as Master, Savior and Lord!" The very form of the beatitudes is the statement of the joyous thrill and the radiant gladness of the Christian life.

(2) The word blessed which is used in each of the beatitudes is a very special word. It is the Greek word makarios. Makarios is the word which specially describes the gods. In Christianity there is a godlike joy.

The meaning of makarios can best be seen from one particular usage of it. The Greeks always called Cyprus he makaria which means The Happy Isle. They did so because they believed that Cyprus was so lovely, so rich, and so fertile an island that a man would never need to go beyond its coastline to find the perfectly happy life. It had such a climate, such flowers and fruits and trees, such minerals, such natural resources that it contained within itself all the materials for perfect happiness.

Makarios then describes that joy which has its secret within itself. That joy which is serene and untouchable, and self-contained. That joy which is completely independent of all the chances and the changes of life.

The English word happiness gives its own case away. It contains the root “hap” which means chance. Human happiness is something which is dependent on the chances and the changes of life; something which life may give and which life may also destroy.

The Christian blessedness is completely untouchable and unassailable. "No one," said Jesus, "will take your joy from you" (John 16:22). The beatitudes speak of that joy which helps us through our pain. That joy which sorrow, loss, pain and grief are powerless to touch. That joy which shines through tears, and which nothing in life or death can take away.

The world can win its joys, and the world can equally as well lose its joys. A change in fortune, a collapse in health, the failure of a plan, the disappointment of an ambition, even a change in the weather can take away the fickle joy the world can give. But the Christian has the serene and untouchable joy which comes from walking for ever in the company and in the presence of Jesus Christ.

The greatness of the beatitudes is that they are not wistful glimpses of some future beauty. They are not even golden promises of some distant glory. They are triumphant shouts of bliss for a permanent joy that nothing in the world can ever take away.

(From The Daily Study Bible, by William Barclay: First Edition. Biblesoft Formatted Electronic Database Copyright © 2015 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Have a pleasant Sabbath evening,

Gary Smith

Certainty and Reassurance in Uncertain Times

Happy Sabbath to all!

I wanted to put together some personal reflections concerning the unusual time we are in.

Viruses have come and gone in the past. There has been sickness and sadly death, but we have never, in my 68 years, had a shut down like we have with the current plague.

It is hard to imagine how quickly we arrived where we are at today.

Consider that the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit 29,551.42 on Feb. 12, 2020. The world was fairly stable on that day. The COVID-19 virus was in the news, but it was primarily on the other side of the world.

Six weeks later the Dow Jones Average closed at 21,413.44. A most significant drop in 6 weeks. When you consider a 30% drop in that economic barometer that is an indication of a lot wealth that is gone. Will the stock market come back over time?

Companies are closing, laying off, cutting salaries and people are worried about how they will survive economically after we get past the impact of the virus. Which companies will survive the carnage and who will have jobs?

Huge stimulus bills have been passed. One bill was 2 trillion. What will be the long-term impact of such a huge spending bill? Will that 2 trillion solve our woes or will more be needed? What will the tax bill be after this is over?

Will the virus burn out with the heat of summer? Or will it come back in a more virulent form at some point in the future.

It is amazing how quickly governments have intervened to take control or try to take control of the situation. Is this the shape of things to come as to how the sinister forces at the end of the age will impose their authority over nations and people?

Most astounding of all, in my opinion, we may not have much of a baseball season if we have one at all.

The bottom line is there is currently a lot of uncertainty. None of us knows exactly what lies on the other side of the COVID-19 virus. At present, uncertainty is a worldwide condition. Uncertainty is fundamental to the world in which we live apart from God and it always will be.

But we through God and His word can see beyond all of the current upheaval and uncertainty. God offers us certainty and stability.

Consider the Sabbath. It comes every seventh day. That is a certainty. We are reassured by the Sabbath that God’s plan to usher in a time of rest is coming.

Consider the Passover. The Passover comes every year and, at that memorial, we renew our covenant with God and Jesus Christ. We are reassured that we are forgiven of our sins and stand justly before God.

Additionally, as we keep the Days of Unleavened Bread, we are assured that just as God intervened to save Israel out of Egypt, God is going to save us from this uncertain world and just as He led Israel to the promised land He will lead us to the eternal life in His kingdom.

Consider Paul’s reassurance in Romans 8:38-39: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Enjoy the certainty and reassurance of God’s Sabbath’s and Holy Days.

Gary Smith

Astros Loss Is But For a Moment

It was my hope that the Houston Astros would make it to the World Series and then win it all. Sadly, that didn’t happen. I am here writing a Sabbath Thought to reflect on that outcome.

Although the Houston baseball team did not win, the sun rose and it appears to be a clear, cool day ahead. In other words, life goes on. There will be more sporting events ahead and sometimes my team will win and sometimes lose. But win or lose life goes on.

From a human perspective I’m disappointed. But to take it too seriously indicates a lack of spiritual maturity. I know this because in the past when my favorite team would lose, I was so emotionally invested that it would take some time to get past the loss. Some losses are clearly etched in my mind because of the self-induced trauma of the loss.

What does God think about the Astros loss? I don’t think He cares overmuch. It’s not that God does not enjoy a good game, but God always has the big picture in mind.

The picture God always has in mind is expressed in Hebrews 2:10, “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” God never deviates from this goal. Is it our goal as well?

It is the goal that was moved forward by the Son of God, Jesus Christ, coming in the flesh and dying for the sins of all mankind. Additionally, it is moved forward every day by Jesus Christ living in us through the Holy Spirit, (Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”)

As human beings we can focus on the temporary (work, games and entertainment) of all kinds. The temporary is unavoidable in this life, but does the temporary we choose to be involved in contribute to that which will become permanent in our lives? We clearly have to make wise choice to pursue eternal life. There is nothing more permanent than eternity.

Hebrews 13:8 tells us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” The Father has the same quality. And it is God’s purpose that we will become like God and Jesus Christ, “the same, yesterday, today, and forever.” God is seeking to establish in those He has called permanence. In other words, He is seeking to establish holy, righteous character in our lives. Character that will always meditate on that which right, good and permanent, will always speak in a way that is permanent and will always act in a way that is permanent.

The World Series is over and we move on to one championship event after another. We can root for our team, but we need to realize that sports and so many other things are temporary. We must never forget that the temporary in whatever form it comes can be a snare to us.

God is well aware of how we can lose sight of what is really important and permanent. That is why He warns us about our priorities.

God points to what is really permanent when He instructs us to keep the Sabbath. The Sabbath points to a coming Kingdom that will be permanent. It will be led by the one who is the same, yesterday, and forever.

Yes, the Astros losing may be disappointing. But what is truly important and permanent is the goal that we must all diligently pursue.

Have a good Sabbath,

Gary Smith

What Is the Condition of Your Wall?

As we take time to observe God’s Sabbath, I thought it might prove helpful to continue the study of walls in the Sabbath Thought for this week.

Let’s begin with a question. What is the state of your wall? Do we realize that God has assigned us to build a wall and to keep it up?

Notice the words of God in Ezekiel 22:25-30: The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain. Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, "Thus says the Lord GOD," when the LORD had not spoken. The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it. . . .

Do we have a wall to keep the enemies of God's way out of our lives and homes? Have we set boundaries against the world, or have we torn down the wall? If we have a wall, are we leaving the gates open and unguarded? Are we willing to fight to defend our families and our church? Or do we just let the enemy stream in unchallenged? Are we willing to stand up to the world?

This particular wall is not one of brick and stone, but a spiritual wall anchored by God, designed to keep spiritual problems out.

1 Timothy 5:8 says that if we fail to provide for the needs of our loved ones—both physically and spiritually—we are worse than an unbeliever! Have we done anything to protect our families—or has worldliness hurdled our puny walls, totally pervading every aspect of our lives?

Satan hates walls. "Let's all be one happy family," he whispers in our ears. "Walls are for the immature. You're spiritually mature now, so you can handle immorality without a problem." Don't fall for this line.

God Himself teaches us through His example to erect impregnable bulwarks against Satan. He placed cherubim with flaming swords at the entrance to the Garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of  life (Genesis 3:24), and even New Jerusalem will have towering walls and gates (Revelation 21:12, 14). In type, the church is to be a wall (Song of Songs 8:10), within which peace dwells and righteousness flourishes. God supplies this spiritual wall to those who seek His Way, His providence and His will. The work of rebuilding our personal wall is the effort we put into seeking a strong relationship with Him, and He then provides the defenses for us. God becomes our wall.

David understands this perfectly. He often praises God as his rock, his high tower, his fortress, his wall. "I will love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; . . . my stronghold" (Psalm 18:1-2). For a child of God, no other wall can effectively protect us from spiritual assaults: "He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved".

God puts a wall around His people to keep Satan at bay, as in the example of Job. Satan complains, "Have You not made a hedge [wall] around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side?" (Job 1:10). Only after God removed the wall could Satan attack Job—and he wasted no time doing so! Surely, we see the lesson in this.

If we reject God, break down the wall or neglect our relationship with Him, what happens? "Whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent" (Ecclesiastes 10:8). The Bible depicts Satan as a serpent. Many brethren have allowed their walls to crumble, and Satan has struck.

Sometimes God Himself tears down our walls because of our sins (Isaiah 5:4-5). As Paul puts it, He delivers us to Satan for the destruction of our flesh in the hope we will repent (1 Corinthians 5:5).

What is the condition of our wall? Is it broken down or in need of repair?

The surest way to restore the wall is through sincere and complete repentance. Playing at the repair job, daubing bits of untempered mortar here and there, will only increase God's wrath (Ezekiel 13:8-16). Such a wall, lacking God, gives the impression of security but crumbles at the smallest enemy strike. We must be totally committed to restoring our neglected relationship with God, thus restoring God's presence as the wall.

As you keep the Sabbath day, consider what is the condition of my wall? Upon assessment, if your wall is need of repair, seek God’s help to restore it fully.

Have a pleasant Sabbath,

Gary Smith

Preparing For a Future That Currently Doesn’t Exist

 Last week, we had 2 mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and in Dayton, Ohio. The week before we had the same in Gilroy, California. This seems to be a trend in our society which I think all of us as God’s people look forward to ending with the coming of God’s kingdom.

Melissa MacKenzie, in an article entitled, “The Common Thread Binding These Mass Murders,” (The American Spectator, August 5, 2019), wrote of the shootings, “And none of this is a surprise. After every heinous murderous act, the media spins it and blames. It’s easier than admitting that the culture that they shape is spewing these monsters out at an alarming rate and something more than politics is to blame. In fact, these death eating humans seem to be a product of a culture that is at the same time wealthier, more technologically advanced, and scientifically sophisticated while being morally lost and spiritually empty.

The most important words from the El Paso killer’s writings are in this line:

... My whole life I have been preparing for a future that currently doesn’t exist.”

In focusing on the quote from the El Paso killer, “My whole life I have been preparing for a future that currently doesn’t exist,” one can only detect despair and hopelessness.

The encouraging thing that we can grasp onto in these tumultuous times is we have a sure hope, in the midst of a troubled world. We are preparing for a future which is certain to come into existence.

Note what the writer of Hebrews had to say in regard to the hope we have as followers of Jesus Christ,

• “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end” (Hebrews 6:11)
• “That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil” (Hebrews 6:18- 19).

We have “fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.” We have hope in God’s promise to be with us now and hope that “a future” is to come in which mass shootings will be eradicated as righteousness will prevail under the rule of Jesus Christ.

God has given us the Sabbath as a weekly reminder that a rest is here for us now and will be available to all peoples after the return of the Lamb of God.

God has given us the fall Holy Days to remind us that Christ will return, set up His kingdom, Satan will be removed, God’s Spirit will be poured out on all people, and the way will be open to all mankind to become a part of the family of God.

Interestingly, as Christians we are preparing for a world that does not now exist. We can only see it in faith. Looking forward to the hope that is promised, we go about preparing each and every day we live.

Looking once again at the despairing quote from the article, “My whole life I have been preparing for a future that currently doesn’t exist” we know this young man, most likely, had no idea what God had prepared for him and all mankind.

Paul addressed this lack of crucial knowledge in 1 Corinthians 2:7-10, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”

God has revealed through His Spirit and His word that there is hope for this young man. There is coming a day when he will rise from the grave in the second resurrection and his eyes will be opened to God, God’s forgiveness, and the opportunity to be a part of eternity.

He never had a clue in this present life, but he will come to see what we see in hope at the present time.

While tragedy in many different forms goes on day after day, we have hope in God as anchor to our souls.

Rejoice in God’s Rest,

Gary Smith

Poor Richard's Misunderstanding of God's Judgment

As you will probably be reading this around the Sabbath, I thought I would share an interesting observation made by Benjamin Franklin about God’s judgment and the Sabbath.

Franklin’s observation was made during a trip to the continent (Europe) in the summer of 1761.

“Franklin noted with pleasure that the observance of religion was not as strict as in America, especially when it came to observing Sundays as the Sabbath. “In the afternoon both high and low went to the play or the opera, where there was plenty of singing, fiddling and dancing,” he reported to a Connecticut friend. “I looked around for God’s judgments but saw no signs of them.” He concluded, with a touch of amusement, that this provided evidence that the Lord did not care so much about preventing pleasure on the Sabbath as the strict Puritans would have people believe. The happiness and prosperity in Flanders he wrote, “would almost make one suspect that the Deity is not angry at that offense as a New England justice.”
“Benjamin Franklin: An American Life", by Walter Isaacson, pp. 199-200).

Is Benjamin Franklin correct in his assessment of God not making observable judgments about Sabbath-breaking? First of all, Sunday isn’t the Sabbath, so indulging in various amusements would not be in violation of the Sabbath.

Most sadly neither the religious Puritans nor the people of Flanders knew of the need to observe the 7th Day Sabbath. They were all following the tradition handed down to one generation to another for nearly 1700 years: that the Sabbath was on Sunday.

Was God judging this matter? Absolutely. Not keeping the Sabbath is sin and just because God does not take action does not mean God does not take notice. On the contrary, God tells us that we will all have to give account to God for our actions (Romans 14:12).

The saddest conclusion about Benjamin Franklin and God’s judgment is that since there do not appear to be any observable sanctions from the throne of heaven, then everything is OK with God. This is a wrong conclusion reached by Benjamin Franklin in this instance and by mankind in general throughout the ages.

The breaking of the Sabbath is sin. Even if there is no immediate punishment for this sin, it has been noted by God and there will be a day of reckoning.

Benjamin Franklin was a wise man in his own way, but the proper understanding of God’s judgment is given by Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes 8:11-13
11. Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
12. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him.
13 But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

In other words, just because God does not execute the sentence against sinners immediately, this does not mean there will not be judgment at a future time.

As we well know, keeping the Sabbath is essential to our relationship with God and always will be.

Rejoice in the Sabbath Day,

Gary Smith

Biblical Principles in the Political World

We, as church members, have been able to go up to the Feast of Tabernacles once again in 2018. It is a time characterized by humility, service, patience, cooperation, giving, thoughtfulness, and sacrifice. Above all the truth of God’s soon coming Kingdom has been expounded. We have been reminded by the speakers of the righteous reign of Jesus Christ on earth and all of the wonderful things that will flow from God’s rule.

In returning home, if we tuned in to the news, in whatever format, we find strife, conflict, and a complete lack of civility in all too many situations. It is hurtful to see people raging at one another over things that could be settled peacefully if God and His word prevailed.

Let’s imagine God and His word being the foundational principle on which we decided who would be a justice of the Supreme Court.

The strife that unfolded in the selection process of a judge to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Anthony Kennedy was based upon a false premise. The false premise is that the right to have an abortion is a court ruling that must be defended no matter how down and dirty the opponents of the nominee have to go to defeat him.

If all parties accepted God and His word as the final arbiter, then the abortion issue would not be an issue at all. They would be led to see that life begins at conception. The miraculous cell splitting process that begins to unfold in the womb is the beginning of a human life. From God’s standpoint all human beings are precious because they all have the potential to be part of the family of God (Hebrew 2:10). From God’s point of view the Sixth Commandment, “You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13) would be the guiding principle.

A couple of other biblical principles which would have been helpful in sorting out the nomination process:

• The 9th Commandment, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Exodus 20:16)
• 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

Sadly, we don’t see the application of biblical principles in the political world. As a result, we will continue to see strife and conflict on regular display.

The good news is that we are nearing the end of the time when raw, carnal nature will be on display on the nightly news. We have been reminded by going up to the Feast that Christ will return to this earth and judge in righteousness and equity for all.

Rejoice this Sabbath in the rest that is sure to come through the return of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:11).

Gary Smith

If You Diligently Heed the Voice of the LORD Your God

As a minister, one of my duties is to visit the sick and as request is made to anoint as instructed in James 5:14. Last week, I went to Texas Medical Center in order to visit with a lady from the Houston congregation who had undergone surgery.

In going to the Medical Center, I was amazed at how much it had expanded since I moved to Houston in 2011.

Here are a few facts about the Medical Center: The Texas Medical Center (TMC) is a 2.1-square-mile medical district and neighborhood in south-central Houston. Over sixty medical institutions, largely concentrated in a triangular area between Brays Bayou, Rice University, and Hermann Park, are members of the Texas Medical Center Corporation—a non-profit umbrella organization—which constitutes the largest medical complex in the world. The TMC has an extremely high density of clinical facilities for patient care, basic science, and translational research. Finally, the Texas Medical Center employs over 106,000 people, hosts 10 million patient encounters annually, and has a gross domestic product of US$25 billion.

It is a truly amazing facility. A number of members have sought treatment there and have received excellent medical care.

From the first time I visited the medical complex, I have been overwhelmed by the concentration of buildings and the bustling nature of the services offered there.

My most significant conclusion about my visit to the Medical Center last week is that the facility is full of people with a whole variety of ailments.

Why so many sick and injured people? I think it is reflective of the fact that we live in a world that is sick on many levels and sadly that is not going to change much until we turn back to God and live by His word.

God’s blessing on a people who live by His word is spelled out in Exodus 15:26 “If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”

While medical science can address our ailments and offer some relief and healing, they do not through medical procedures address the core issue which is moral.

If our society would “do what is right in His (God’s) sight” and “give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes”, then we will not be plagued by the sicknesses and diseases all too common in the 21st century.

God promises us that there is a world that is coming that will be healthy and massive medical center will no longer be necessary.

As we keep the Sabbath, we can rejoice that there is a rest to come.

Gary Smith

Sin Lies at the Door for All of Us

As the Sabbath begins, we can rejoice in the peace, purpose, and hope that God gives to us. Sadly, remembering our Creator and being reminded of the plan of God does not block out everything from a week that has come to an end.

This week a young man went into a Florida school and opened fire killing and wounding students and faculty.

One of the sad things about the event is that people had noticed and reported warning signs about the nineteen-year old shooter. The young man had been expelled from school, and surely the faculty of the school had issued warnings about the destructive path the young man had been on.

It is a strange quirk of human nature that human beings all too often fail to heed warnings of danger. The failure to listen to wise counsel leads all too often to serious consequences.

To me this coincides with the biblical example found in the story of Cain and Abel.

The two sons of Adam and Eve came to God with offerings. God recognized Abel’s offering because it met the criteria that God had apparently established. Cain’s offering did not meet the standard God had established. Note Genesis 4:5, “He (God) did not respect Cain and his offering.” Not only did God not respect Cain’s offering but He did not respect Cain because of his wrong attitude.

Did Cain have a wrong attitude? We only have to look at the end of Genesis 4:5 where we find Cain filled with anger and “his countenance fell” over God’s rejection of his offering. If you had been on the scene of this event, Cain’s wrong attitude would have been clearly visible.

Did God recognize the problem? We only have to look at Genesis 4:6-7 where God addresses Cain’s wrong attitude, “So the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."”

God pointed out that Cain was being ruled by sin and if he did not change his line of thinking there would be a terrible outcome. God counseled Cain to recognize his wrong mindset and rule over it. God knew the potential that could unfold if Cain did not reverse his course. Sadly, Cain did not heed God’s counsel. He allowed anger to rule and explode into the murder of his brother.

As we look at the all too common atrocities in our world, we are not going to end their occurrence until we recognize that “sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you and you should rule over it.” Until men and women recognize sin lurking at the door and take measures to reject the sinful mindset, evil of all kinds will continue.

Unfortunately, how many people are self-aware enough to reject sin? Even if the majority of the world’s population are oblivious to the need to rule over sin, we in the church know this to be a crucial aspect of the Christian life.

As the Passover draws close, we need to recognize that “sin lies at the door” for all of us. Do we recognize the pulls and pressures of sin? Do we seek to repent of those sins that still plague us? Do we beseech God for His help to rule over sin?

As we ready ourselves to come before God at Passover, is our attitude like that of Abel: humble, faithful, obedient, offering the first and best? Or is our attitude like Cain: prideful, disobedient, offering that which is blemished?

Where we stand in regard to the Passover is a most worthwhile consideration for the Sabbath.

Have a pleasant and profitable Sabbath,

Gary Smith

Remember That Time That Guy in the Bible Interpreted That Dream? Both of Them?

For your consideration this Sabbath, I’d like to hearken back to the time of the prophet Daniel. We were asked to write down, as part of the Scripture Writing, Daniel 2:21, “And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” In writing down the verse for the day, I looked at the verses before and after.

Daniel 2:21 is recorded in the context of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The king had the dream and he sought for it to be interpreted. The Chaldeans, astrologers, and magicians were asked to supply the details of the dream and the interpretation. The king was not going to tell them the dream out of fear they would make up an answer of some kind. The penalty for not revealing the details of the dream and the interpretation was death.

The response of those tasked with interpreting dreams was to express the impossibility of such a task, “The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, "There is not a man on earth who can tell the king's matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh." (Daniel 2:10-11).

There was panic among the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans. They were all in fear of the death penalty being imposed for their failure to fulfill the king’s request. They knew that they had no way to discern the dream nor interpret it.

The king’s guard, Arioch was sent out to execute the wise men of Babylon. In the process of carrying out the king’s command, he came to Daniel. He was told of the king’s demand and he went before Nebuchadnezzar to request time to interpret the dream.

Where did Daniel go for a solution? He went to God, who, “… reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.” Daniel knew that he had no special skill to answer King Nebuchadnezzar, but God knew the dream and its interpretation. In other words, Daniel knew God could shine His light on what was in the darkness for physical human beings.

My thought, as I looked at this scenario playing out, was to consider the possibility that Daniel was aware of a similar situation almost 1000 years in the past? Daniel was well aware of the scriptures, since they had been in the possession of the children of Israel since the time of Moses. Was Daniel encouraged in his dire situation by the example of Joseph interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams recorded in the book of Genesis?

The Bible doesn’t tell us that Daniel drew encouragement from God revealing the Pharaoh’s dream and meaning to Joseph. But we can surmise, if Daniel remembered the biblical record, then Joseph’s experience could translate to his own time and situation.

The related experiences of Daniel and Joseph provide us just one example of why familiarity with the Bible record is so important to our everyday lives.

Have a pleasant Sabbath day,

Gary Smith

The Whirlwind of the Sexual Revolution

We are currently being made aware of one sexual scandal after another. We learn of new scandals among legislative leaders and entertainment icons. Should we be surprised at mass of revelations of sexual impropriety? Not really.

The prophet Hosea said a long time ago, "They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind.” Mankind sows the wind when sin becomes a way of life. Sin may not be punished immediately so man continues to sin. If sin is punished, it is not that bad of a punishment, so man continues in sin. Eventually, a tipping point is reached and a harvest is reaped that comes in like a whirlwind.

What is unfolding before our eyes with the downfall of large numbers of men in power is the byproduct of the sexual revolution which began in the 1960’s.

In the 1960’s an all-out assault on sexual mores was undertaken. The sexual revolution was sold in our society as a good thing. Sexual freedom would allow people to remove the shackles of repressive, puritanical morality and experience freedom. People are sexual beings, and they need to explore their sexuality when they feel ready, without fear of guilt or shame.

This theme has been drummed into our heads continually, especially in movies and on television. Think of shows like Friends or Sex in the City, which casually promote the idea that you can have sex with multiple partners with no effect on a future marriage relationship.

A culture was built as a consequence of the sexual revolution. The revolution has been in progress for more than 40 years. Now that the whirlwind is hitting, people in favor of that revolution are shocked that there are casualties.

The reality is that when you remove the moral fences around human nature, human nature runs wild. The revolutionaries told men and women it was perfectly acceptable to pursue sexual fulfillment with abandon. With no limits, what is coming out, in our time, regarding sexual immorality should not be a surprise.

We as a society used to have standards of behavior in regard to sexual morality. However, the societal revolutionaries destroyed decent behavior among men.

Once you have torn down the wall of sexual boundaries, can that moral wall be re-established? It can be re-established if men and women are willing to turn back to the biblical standards that guided our nation throughout most American history.

Imagine if we turned back to a one sentence guideline: You shall not commit adultery. Putting this one boundary back in place limits sexual interactions between men and women to marriage only. If this limit were heeded, there would be no sexual harassment since men and women would be dedicated to their spouse or the one who will become their spouse.

It would be wonderful to see a return to the morality God revealed in His word.

The good news is there is coming a time when that will be a reality. As Christians our hope is that day will come soon.

Enjoy God’s Sabbath day,

Gary Smith

Consider Where Our Minds Are Set

Last Wednesday night was a late night for many living in and around Houston. Why? Because the Astros were in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the 56th season of Major League Baseball in Houston, there’s no need for the Astros or their fans to shrug their shoulders, drop their heads and mutter, “Wait till next year.”

With the final out of the game, my wife and I jumped for joy over the victory. Being baseball fans, we have done the same in 1988 as the Dodgers beat the Oakland A’s on a Kirk Gibson home run, and in 1990 as the Cincinnati Reds topped the Oakland A’s.

We’ve also endured the crushing loss of the Texas Rangers (our favorite baseball team) to the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2011 World Series. They had three chances to win it all and failed. It was agonizing for us. It is still a bad memory.

In the exhilaration of victory and the agony of defeat, what does it all mean in the greater scheme of things? In actuality, not much.

There will be another baseball season in 2018 and another World Series. Hopefully there will also be an Astros victory, but life, with all of its good and evil continues on.

For example, a large number of victims of the Hurricane Harvey flooding continue to struggle with getting their lives back in order. As stated in the previous paragraph, good and evil continue on relentlessly.

Baseball is entertainment and while it offers us the joy of a victory at times, we still have to get up, go to work, and deal with everyday life. Most importantly, as Christians, we must never allow entertainment or temporary things to divert us from the ultimate purpose for which we have been given life by our Creator.

Is watching a baseball game wrong in God’s sight? Watching the World Series is not a bad thing as long as we keep our priorities straight. Paul tells us what is important in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things
which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

The World Series is something that we can see in this visible world and it is temporary. We must keep this in mind as we go through life as Christians.

We realize that there are things that are of far greater value than a ball game. In fact, the things that really matter are eternal.

While the 2017 World Series clash between Houston and LA was quite the exciting drama, it is still something temporary and of far less value than eternity.

Where must we focus? “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2)

As we observe the Sabbath, we might consider where our minds are set.

Have a pleasant Sabbath,

Gary Smith

Why We Should Care About Natural Disasters

Here in Houston we have been through Hurricane Harvey. For some of us, the hurricane has passed. We are dry and getting on with our lives.

But for several in our congregation they are still in various stages of dealing with the after effects of the storm. They are dealing with minor to major flood losses. They still need our help to one extent or another. So, we cannot just move on with our lives just yet.

More than that another hurricane, Irma, is raging the Caribbean and a threat to the islands and the mainland of the United States. If Hurricane Irma was not enough to worry about, we also have Hurricane Jose building up steam. While Jose is a long ways out, it is a threat of which it would wise to be mindful.

If hurricanes were not enough to worry about, we also have wildfires raging in Montana and Idaho. As of today, about 118,000 acres have been blackened. This pushes the current wildfire into the category of a mega-fire. Wildfires are not only being battled in Montana, but in California and in the Province of Victoria in Canada.

For us living in Houston, we’ve got our problems to worry about so who cares about disasters going on in other areas?

My point is we should care about suffering and loss going on elsewhere even if we did not suffer loss from Harvey.

From my perspective going through the experience of Hurricane Harvey heightened my sense of empathy and compassion for those going through disasters in faraway locations. Suffering faraway may not impact me directly, but I understand a little bit better what they are going through. Frankly, I don’t want anyone to go through a Harvey.

We have the perfect example of Jesus Christ in regard to man’s suffering. Jesus is far from the suffering that goes on all around this globe and as a spirit being why should He care? Thankfully, He does care and cared enough to become a human being in order to better understand the suffering that goes with being a human being.

Paul wrote of Christ’s experience in Hebrews 4:15-16, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time
of need.”

Jesus Christ through His human experience understands the ups and downs of human life. He can sympathize with the weakness of mankind and extend mercy and grace to mankind even if they don’t deserve it.

We live in a time when there are a multitude of disasters unfolding or about to unfold. We know what it is to suffer through a disaster. Hopefully, our experience has helped us to be more sympathetic toward those who are suffering.

My hope and prayer is that God would be merciful toward those who could be impacted by the hurricanes, wildfires and other natural disasters. If we cannot help directly, we all have the opportunity to go before the throne of grace to beseech God to help those who are in fear and suffering.

Enjoy the Sabbath rest and pray that all will be able to enjoy the rest that God provides soon.

Gary Smith

Comfort Your Hearts

Heresy is a most hurtful cancer that can ravage a church congregation. One of Paul’s purposes in writing to the Colossian church was to address the false teachings that had infected a portion of the people there. In his letter he admonished the hearers to "see to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ" (2:8).

Right teaching is essential to keeping God’s people on the right track. Paul recognized that sending a letter was helpful, but there was more that was needed. Paul saw that he needed to send someone to the Colossians to help them in addressing the spiritual challenges they were having.

Paul chose to send a man named Tychicus. Why would Paul choose to send this particular man? He speaks of this elder as “a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord (Colossian 4:7).

Paul referred to him as a “brother” indicating a closeness and a bond that had developed in his work as an apostle. He knew the character of the man he had designated to travel from Rome to Colossae. Paul also notes that he was a “faithful minister and fellow servant”. Paul, with these words, expresses that Tychicus has been trained in the faith and has proven that he would adhere to the faith in working with the Colossian church. In other words, he had great confidence in Tychicus being able to point the Colossians toward sound biblical teaching which would give them stability.

Finally, he points to Tychicus as being a servant to the people of God. Service is the hallmark of minister and Tychicus had obviously displayed that in working for Paul.

So Paul was sending Tychicus to the Colossians to relay to them what was happening with Paul in Rome and to find out how the Colossians were doing.

Additionally, Tychicus was to do something most important for the Colossian Christians. “I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts” (Colossians 4:8). Tychicus was to learn their “circumstances” and to “comfort” their hearts.

Being a part of a congregation in which there is heresy is anything but comfortable. It creates division and stress for the membership. Additionally, if the false teaching is not eradicated, it will inevitably lead to division.

Paul tasked Tychicus with comforting the hearts of the Colossian church members. He would do this by encouraging them, teaching them the truth, and refuting the errors that were being propagated in their midst.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 states, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” Our God is a “comforter” and He works in us through the Holy Spirit to become men and women who can comfort and encourage others.

Paul had seen Tychicus grow as a Christian and a minister. Knowing his qualities allowed Paul to confidently send this faithful man to provide comfort and encouragement to the Colossians.

Hopefully, we are becoming men and women who can comfort and encourage the hearts of others in the congregation.

Have a pleasant Sabbath,

Gary Smith

The "Success Sequence" - It's Biblical!

Sociologists apply themselves to looking at social trends in
order to understand more fully the human condition.

One societal trend that has been noted recently is “The
Success Sequence.” I came across this subject in reading a
National Review article of July 5 entitled, “What If Major
Causes of Poverty Are Behavioral?”

He points out that the major cause of poverty plaguing one
generation after another is “family disintegration.” He says,
“Some cause of this remain unclear, but something now seems
indisputable: Among today’s young adults, the “success
sequence” is insurance against poverty.” He then cites the
study that supports this conclusion.

The success sequence is defined in the study is: get at least a
high-school diploma, then get a job, then get married, and only
then have children. “Wang and Wilcox, who did the study,
“focusing on Millennials 28 to 34, the oldest members of the
nation’s largest generation, have found that only 3 percent
who follow this sequence are poor.” In other words, if a
young person wants to avoid poverty and be successful follow
this sequence.

Sadly, this sequence for success is being followed less and less
in 21st century America. To make sure this sequence
continues, Mr. Will advocates promoting this sequence in
various ways to ensure that we do not substitute supposed new
realities in old principles that worked well.

The question is where did these old principles that worked
well in America for most of its existence come from? Mr. Will
does not explain.

Another author, Melissa Mackenzie, addressed the success
sequence on July 6, 2017 in a piece, in the American
Spectator, entitled, “Church, Family Millennials, and the
Success Sequence.”

She agrees with George Will’s data, but she concludes the
values of “success sequence” have a very definite Christian
origin.

She writes, “Parents who believe that education, selfsufficiency,
and marriage before children are going to raise
their kids with those beliefs and more importantly, choose
environments that support those beliefs and strengthen those
beliefs. Their beliefs drive their reasoning which drives their
decisions.”

Ms. Mackenzie asks, “What institution reinforces lifeaffirming
beliefs and gives social and economic support to
people beyond their families? The State? No. The Church.”
We would agree because we know that the success sequence is
biblical and would be part of what the church would promote
for its young people.”

She further states, “The “old principles” that Will alludes to
are taught in church. Don’t fornicate or adulterate. Take care
of your children (I Timothy 5:8). Get married (I Corinthians
7:9). Work hard (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Don’t get divorced
(Matthew 5:31). Care for widows and orphans (James 1:27).
Take care of the hungry and needy (Matthew 25:35-45). How
quaint, right?”

The sociological study that points to the “success sequence” is
a recipe for a better life for all who follow the sequence.

As of July 2017, we find a diminishing number of young
people following this prescription primarily because of the
breakdown of the family and the trend away from church
attendance and adherence to biblical values.

As the Sabbath draws near, we can know that there is time
coming when the “success sequence” will be a worldwide
standard.

Have a pleasant Sabbath,

Gary Smith

Pass It On

We are a week from Pentecost so it would seem appropriate to address this week’s Sabbath Thought to a topic that relates to that Holy Day.

In the example of Paul and Timothy we have a wonderful example of how the legacy of the truth is passed along to others.

On Paul’s first journey to spread the gospel of the Kingdom of God one of the locations that he visited was the area of Galatia. Three of the cities in this region were Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium. There Paul came upon a young man named Timothy.

Luke wrote of this encounter in Acts 16:1-3, “Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium.” Timothy stood out in a positive way that Paul could clearly see.

How was it that Timothy became a disciple and showed his maturity by being recognized by the brethren? Paul mentions the origin of Timothy’s faith in 2 Timothy 1:5, “. . . when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.” Timothy became a disciple as a result of the teaching and example of his grandmother and his mother. They paved the way for Paul to find a young man who was already progressing in God’s way of life and was capable of serving with Paul in his ministry.

Paul continued to help Timothy develop as a disciple and servant in the church by taking him under his wing. 2 Timothy 3:10 “But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra — what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

In essence, we are being told that Paul took what he had learned from Jesus Christ, from the word of God, and from his own experiences and passed them on to Timothy.

Hopefully, we as members of the church can make the same type of contribution Paul, Lois and Eunice made to Timothy. We have learned God’s ways from family, friends, and most importantly the Bible. Will we make the effort to pass what we have learned along to the next generation? It is a crucial role God has called upon us to play.

Have a most pleasant Sabbath,

Gary Smith

Hey Maggot!

Maggots. Few things trigger revulsion like the sight of
maggots writhing through rotting food or decomposing road
kill. While they perform a need function in helping in the
decomposition of dead things, they still leave a negative
impression.

Why begin a Sabbath thought with something repulsive such
as maggots?

We find the answer in Job 25 in a comment to Job by Bildad
the Shuhite. Job in the chapter contends that he is righteous.
Bildad doesn’t accept Job’s contention. He says, “How then
can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who
is born of a woman? If even the moon does not shine, and the
stars are not pure in His sight, how much less man, who is a
maggot, and a son of man, who is a worm?" (Job 25:4-6).

Bildad's view of God's dominion and majesty in the heavens
causes him to devalue mortal man as a maggot or a worm. His
conclusion is that man is so disgustingly sinful, like maggots,
in God’s sight there is no possibility of self-justification like
Job.

While Bildad is right in making the point that human beings of
themselves, corrupt and impure, are morally unworthy to have
anything to do with God, he is wrong in making it seem that
mankind is essentially worthless in God's eyes.

However, as we consider Passover, we are reminded that man
has great value in God’s sight. Mankind has value in God’s
sight not because they are righteous and deserving of God’s
positive valuation. God looks positively on men and women
because each one of them has the potential to become a part of
the family of God.

Men and women have the potential to become spirit beings,
living forever, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (1
Corinthians 5:7).

The Apostle John was inspired to express our value to God in
John 3:14-17, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal
life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish
but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into
the world to condemn the world, but that the world through
Him might be saved.”

It is true that by our sinful conduct we are no better than
maggots or worms. But through looking to the Lamb of God,
sacrificed for the sins of the world, we can be cleansed of all
unrighteousness and mature to the very stature of Jesus Christ.

Thank God for His grace and mercy in sending his Son to die
for our sins.

Have a most enjoyable Sabbath.

Gary Smith

God's Law Never Takes A Holiday

As the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread get closer, we
seek to examine ourselves in preparation for reconfirming our
commitment to God’s working in us.

God’s law is fundamental to self-examination, but what is the
state of law in America today? Writer Victor Davis Hanson
addresses this question in article published in National Review
Online (http://www.nationalreview.com/article/446014/).

In the article, he points out:

•A federal law states that the president can by
proclamation “suspend the entry of all aliens or any
class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or
impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may
deem to be appropriate.” Yet a federal judge ruled
that President Trump cannot do what the law allows
in temporarily suspending immigration from
countries previously singled out by the Obama
administration for their laxity in vetting their
emigrants.

• Some 500 “sanctuary” cities and counties have
decided for political reasons that federal immigration
law does not fully apply within their jurisdictions.
They have done so with impunity, believing that
illegal immigration is a winning political issue given
changing demography. In a way, they have already
legally seceded from the union and provided other
cities with a model of how to ignore any federal law
they do not like.

• There is a federal law that forbids the IRS from
unfairly targeting private groups or individuals on the
basis of their politics. Lois Lerner, an IRS director,
did just that but faced no legal consequences.

• There are statutes that prevent federal intelligence
and investigatory agencies from leaking classified
documents. No matter. For the last six months, the
media have trafficked in reports that Trump is under
some sort of investigation by government agencies
for allegedly colluding with the Russians. That
narrative is usually based on information from
“unnamed sources” affiliated with the FBI, NSA, or
CIA. No one has been punished for such leaking.

• The logic seems also to be that we need only follow
the laws that we like — and assume that law
enforcement must make the necessary adjustments.

In light of this pattern should we be surprised that Christ said,
“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will
grow cold” (Matthew 24:12).

Mr. Hanson lays out for us the outcome of lawlessness. “The
same thing happens when the law goes on a vacation. Rules
are unenforced or politicized. Citizens quickly lose faith in the
legal system. Anarchy follows — ensuring that there can be
neither prosperity nor security. The United States is
descending into such an abyss, as politics now seem to govern
whether existing laws are enforced.”

The bottom line for us as Christians is that God’s law always
has and always will apply. In fact, it is the standard by which
must evaluate ourselves.

We made a commitment at baptism to live by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). It doesn’t
matter whether we like the law or not. All of God’s laws are
always applicable.

As we prepare to participate in Passover and the Days of
Unleavened Bread, we renew our dedication to keeping God’s
law. For God’s people, law never takes a holiday.

Have a pleasant Sabbath,

Gary Smith

That Which Is Right In Our Own Eyes

As part of reading through the Bible, the portion that I read on Thursday morning was Judges 17-21. It is a sad section of scripture which I would like to consider for this week’s Sabbath Thought.

Chapter 17 begins with the theft and return of a significant amount of money. When the money is returned, a portion of the money “was dedicated to the Lord” and was used to pay a craftsman to make a carved image and a molded image. The thief, Micah, then sets up a shrine containing the carved and molded images, household gods, an ephod, possibly a garment placed on one of the images, and the setting apart of one of Micah’s sons as family priest. What is described in the first five verses of the chapter is wrong on many levels.

The next statement says everything that needs to be said about what has happened so far. Judges 17:6 tells us, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Why would what happens in the first five verses of the chapter be summarized in this fashion?

During the time of the judges in Israel, there was no physical king in Israel. But Israel did have a king ruling over them whether they knew it or not. The king that was to rule in the nation was God. The judges that God raised up were not kings. Instead they were viceroys ruling over Israel as God determined. As judges, they were always to look to God, the King, for how to proceed.

As one considers the terrible events of Judges 17 through 21, we find idolatry established in a household, a man setting up his own priesthood, the tribe of Dan establishing their own idolatrous religion, sexual perversion, murder, and vicious warfare causing the death of thousands and the near extinction of the tribe of Benjamin.

What we are being told is that there are serious consequences that unfold as people live as if there is no “king”. The King who rules heaven and earth is always on His throne and to live as if He does not exist is a path that only ends on disaster.

When an individual or a nation lives as if there is no king, to whom they are accountable, the only path left for them to follow is that of doing “what was right in their own eyes.” Judges 17-21 was written to illustrate for us the outcome of living in that way. Clearly, living by what is right in our own eyes only leads to disaster.

As we assess our world today, we are following the very same path. Spiritually speaking, is the God of Bible the King to whom everyone looks for how to live? Can we expect anything but the same result as that which happened in the time of the Judges?

God does not want His people to live as if He did not exist. He does exist and wants us always to walk humbly before Him (Isaiah 66:1-2).

To help us to stay on the right path, God established the Sabbath day. Note what God tells His people in Exodus 31, "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: 'Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. . . .Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.'" (Exodus 31:13, 16-17).

The Sabbath is essential to our living in acknowledgement of God as our King and our avoiding “doing that which is right in our own eyes.”

Have a pleasant Sabbath,

Gary Smith