Lord’s Day, Vol. 6 No. 23
(1) Daily Devotion
Since 1 January 2018, the church has begun on the study on the Book of Proverbs both on our Sunday sermon and with the daily devotional “Go for the Life that Wins! – … let us run the race with patience… Looking unto Jesus …” by Denis Gibson. It is my prayer that we will take time for daily devotion to cultivate a vibrant spiritual life according to the will of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
This is the excerpt of today’s devotion:
“God’s Labour Laws (Proverbs 12:11)
It has become fashionable to criticise the so-called Protestant work-ethic in the interest of a socialist utopia. This work-ethic, however, goes away back long before Protestantism. The Hebrews were taught that hard work, honestly done, would yield its own rewards. Warnings abound about the folly of reckless money-speculations. Don’t go the get-rich-quick route that is today making us nations of gamblers. It is no blessing to be freed from the law of labour, nor does God free man from that law. It is not labour itself that is the curse of the Fall; it is sin! Man was to cultivate Eden as God’s happy co-worker. Rather, we should see work as a blessed condition of life. Remember the admonition of Martin Luther on work, “A dairymaid can milk cows to the glory of God.
(1) ”The Devoted: Be Busy! Be Blest! He that tills (works) his land shall be satisfied with bread.God has so framed the Law of Labour, that, while there is a division of labour, He has enjoined labour upon all. Christianity was meant to hallow life in all its phases – in business, in labour, in recreation. There is an old saying that the Sabbath of the Christian is a life-long Sabbath, an everyday Sabbath, a perpetual serving of God. It is a labour both earthly, for the body’s need, and heavenly, for the soul’s good. Remember, however, the earthly seed-corn will produce only earthly results. Only heavenly seed-corn, supplied by the heavenly husbandman, will provide the heavenly Bread of Life.
Jesus said to Nicodemus, That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I say unto thee, ye must be born again (Jn. 3:6-7). If you are devoted in both sowings, God will give you the increase in the fruits of the earth and in the fruits of Heaven. Thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands, and be received into everlasting habitations (Ps. 128:2; Lu. 16:9).
(2) The Destitute: Be Lazy! Be Left! He that follows vain persons is void of understanding.Idleness is the sin of Sodom and her daughters. In the beehive, nature condemns drones. They are done to death by the worker bees!
The verb followeth is an intensive form. It comes from the root to pursue. It refers to those who are eagerly pursuing vain persons or things. If vain persons are meant here, then keeping bad company is involved. This is rank folly for vanity means to be empty, and that, in turn, leads to destitution, left without bread. It describes one who is void of understanding.
This is the Hebrew idiom meaning lacking heart. He is without wisdom. He may have the energy but lacks discernment. If it is vain things that are meant, then it suggests useless, idle occupations.
The man who frittered away his time on useless projects and vain enterprises eventually frittered away his life” (Alden). Let us avoid the folly of the idler as the very nursery of vice and misery. Do they not thereby lose their self-respect, the “very gold of humanity”? That is too high a price to pay; it may last for all eternity!”
(2) Family Bible Camp 2018
We shall have our 5thFamily Bible Camp from 13 – 16 June at the Amara Sanctuary Hotel in Sentosa. Let the words of the psalmist be our prayer as we prepare for our time together:
Psalm 33:20-22 (KJV) 20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. 22 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
The theme of our camp is “By Prayer and Supplication” (Philippians 4:6). The Apostle Paul exhorts us:
Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV) 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
May the Lord quieten and bless our hearts as we prepare to come before Him to seek His face. Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee