Jesus said in John 7:17, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” The first “will” in this verse conveys the idea of desire; thus, Jesus is affirming if a man desires or wills to do God’s will, then he will know what God’s will is.

There are many today who say that the Bible cannot be understood. They point to the great variety of conflicting ideas people have about certain Bible subjects in order to try to prove their point. Though many very educated people differ in their views of certain scriptures, Jesus’ words still ring true. A person who has a desire and determination to do what is right will be able to know what is right. The problem of conflict is not with the Bible, but with the hearts of those who interpret the Bible.

In Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the sower, He describes the good ground in Luke 8:15: “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” Jesus points out those who hear God’s word and keep it have honest and good hearts. Honesty is essential for arriving at the true meaning of God’s word. Sadly, it is sometimes the case that people dismiss the Bible as confusing because they do not want to do what it says. They are looking in the Bible for something that will justify how they live rather than looking for how they should live. Their motives are not pure and honest; therefore they do not properly interpret God’s word. If a man studies the Scriptures with any other motive than to know God and to be able to carry out His will, then there is no telling how many absurd conclusions he may dream up in order to satisfy himself.

You can understand the Bible. Paul expected those in Ephesus to whom he wrote to be able to understand, “How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)” (Ephesians 3:3-4). Jesus expected men in the first century to understand what Daniel had to say concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)” (Matthew 24:15). God expects us to read and understand His will, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).

–Mark Day

In Matthew 11:11 Jesus portrayed the wonderful blessings of the kingdom, declaring, “Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” To be in the kingdom is a great thing. Of all the great personages throughout the Bible such as Abraham, Moses, etc., at that time none had arisen greater than John the Baptist. In fact, Jesus remarked that there had not been a man born of woman (by normal birth – not like the miraculous conception of Jesus) who was greater than John. Yet, the blessings available to Christians today (who are in the kingdom) make the least in the kingdom of heaven greater than John.

Instead of appreciating this truth, the disciples of Jesus were often involved in disputes regarding who would be greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Mark 9:33-35). On one occasion they asked Jesus, “who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1). Our Lord called a little child and set him in the midst of the disciples to teach them that they must be converted and become as little children; the one who humbles himself as a little child is greatest in the kingdom (Matthew 18:2-4). The disciples had not learned the attitude of humility they were to have. Their inclination to pursue the course of pride would creep up again. In the shadow of the cross, when Jesus ate His final Passover supper with the disciples, He revealed to them how one of them would betray Him (Luke 22:21). Their inquiry regarding the identity of the betrayer led to strife among them concerning who should be regarded as the greatest (Luke 22:23-24). Jesus reiterates His teaching about the greatest being servant of all (Luke 22:26-27). He even took this occasion to wash His disciples feet, even the feet of Judas who would soon betray Him (John 13:4-5). Jesus was truly great because He was consumed with serving others. He not only washed the feet of His disciples, but in a few short hours He would give His life for all mankind. Jesus did not live His life here on earth to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for others (Mark 10:45).

As Christians, do we follow our Lord’s example? Jesus showed the way to be the greatest in the kingdom is to be the greatest servant in the kingdom. Colossians 3:12 exhorts, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.” Regrettably, members of the church often become discouraged if others do not praise them for being great. Many are busy “tooting” their own horns. But the greatest servant is so busy serving that he does not think or care about being regarded as great in the eyes of men.

John pointed men to Christ instead of drawing men to himself (John 1:27; 3:26-29). His attitude regarding Christ was, “He must increase, and I must decrease” (John 3:30). As members of the church, we are a part of God’s kingdom with blessings that make us greater than John the Baptist. Do we appreciate our blessings and live accordingly? Or are we like the disciples who, while the Lord is giving everything to them, can only think on how much better they are than everyone else?

–Mark Day

“Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.” Psalm 8:2

Our Vacation Bible School theme this week is how God uses little things. God is able to use those people that the world views as weak and insignificant to accomplish great things. He does this because He is so great and mighty. 1 Corinthians 1:27 says, “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” The nature of the church, the kingdom, is “like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof” Matthew 13:31-32. The world tends to think the mighty people who are the strongest and most intelligent will overcome, but God uses people like Paul, who said of his thorn in the flesh, “I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).
Think of the baby boy that was placed in the Nile and discovered by Pharaoh’s daughter (Exodus 2:1-10). Would anyone but God have known that this infant would one day grow to be a great leader to deliver the Hebrews from their mighty Egyptian oppressors? Think of the young shepherd boy who was not old enough to serve as a soldier (1 Samuel 17:28). Would anyone but God have predicted that he would defeat Goliath (1 Samuel 17:49-50), the giant Philistine, and one day become Israel’s greatest king (Acts 13:22)? Or what about the baby boy who was born to a poor couple who traveled to the small town of Bethlehem, who was placed in a manger because there was no room for Him in the inn (Luke 2:7)? Only God foreknew that this child would be the world’s Savior, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Indeed, God’s strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Therefore, we can find solace in the fact that our best efforts, no matter how small and insignificant they may seem, can be used by God to accomplish great and wonderful things. Let us then do our work, whether it is in Vacation Bible School this week or in many other efforts of the church, and trust that God will multiply the effects many times over. To God be the glory!

-Mark Day

In Acts 17 Paul ran into a group of philosophers in Athens known as the Epicureans. They were followers of Epicurus who lived 341-270 BC and taught happiness was to be found in freedom from fear of God and death and practicing what brings one the most pleasure in this life. Does this sound familiar? The popular approach to life by the masses today is similar to Epicureanism. Stumpf said Epicureanism, “was a new direction in moral philosophy, for it focused upon the individual and his immediate desires for bodily and mental pleasures instead of upon abstract principles of right conduct or considerations of God’s commands.”

Acts 17:16 describes Athens as a “city wholly given to idolatry.” The idol among the Epicureans who resided in Athens was man himself. Romans 1:25 says that the Gentiles, “worshipped and served the creature more than the creator,” which is exactly what Epicurus did and what many have done today. The focus has been shifted from what God wants to what man wants.
Whenever man is put in the place of God, moral degradation occurs. This is because there remains no objective standard for right and wrong in the minds of those who reject God as the standard for goodness. Epicurus taught against excess, claiming that it did not lead to the greatest happiness, but if man’s pleasure is the barometer for goodness, then who is to say that any self-restraint is more pleasurable than excess? The entire issue of good and evil becomes subjective and what each individual regards as the most pleasurable wins out. With God removed and man placed on the throne, every man does that which is right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25).
Jeremiah 10:23 says, “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” Whether it is the Epicurus himself, the Epicureans Paul challenged a couple centuries later, or people today, man, left to himself, is too self-centered and sinful to do what is right. Paul concluded his sermon in Acts 17:30-31 by appealing to them to repent and follow the ways of the true God so that they will be prepared for the judgment of Jesus Christ that awaits all mankind. Instead of turning a blind eye to death and God’s commands, true happiness is found in preparing for death by following God’s commands. God knows what is good and right for us. He rightfully belongs on the throne; He is the righteous judge (Acts 17:30). When we sin we pull God off the throne of our hearts and sit on the throne ourselves, worshipping our own desires. Let us set the Lord alone on the throne of our hearts and make His ways our ways (1 Peter 3:15).

-Mark Day

In 1 Chronicles 21:1, Satan tempted David to number the people of Israel. David commanded Joab, the captain of the host, to take a census of the people. Joab recognized what king David was thinking by taking a census. David’s numbering was for the purpose of ascertaining the military strength of his people so he could bask in the pride of being the head of such a great fighting force. The motivation for David’s asking was wrong. Joab tried to reason with David, asking, “May the LORD make His people a hundred times more than they are. But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why then does my lord require this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt in Israel?” (1 Chronicles 21:3). Joab, in essence, was calling upon David to examine his heart in this matter and answer why he was delighting so much in numbering the people. But Joab’s cautions could not prevail against the king. David was set on the census being taken, so Joab gave David a sum (1 Chronicles 21:5). God was displeased with David and punished Israel; David then quickly saw his sin (1 Chronicles 21:7). Instead of being submissive to God and giving Him the glory, David’s heart had a moment of pride that caused him to number the people.

While it is not intrinsically sinful to take a census or count attendance, I wonder if the attitude David had in this instance is not sometimes among God’s people today. When we think of a healthy church what comes to our minds? We know that a healthy church has Christ as its head and foundation (Matthew 16:18-19; Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Corinthians 3:11), is evangelistic (Matthew 28:18-20), edifies each of its members spiritually (Ephesians 4:15-16), and follows the pattern of scripture in its teaching and practice (Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). However, this image often goes out the window when we start looking at statistics. It is not wrong to note statistics and even look at the attendance trends. We have a section in the bulletin called “Gauging Our Faith” where we track such numbers. By inspiration, Luke mentioned that 120 disciples were gathered together after the Lord’s ascension (Acts 1:15), the number baptized on Pentecost day were about 3,000 (Acts 2:41), and by Acts 4:4 the number of men in the Jerusalem church was about 5,000. However, numbers are conspicuously absent in the rest of the New Testament. Other than the initial growth of the first congregation in Jerusalem, where is there any scripture that gives the numerical size of any New Testament congregation of the Lord’s church?

Much of the New Testament is addressed to congregations of the Lord’s church in order to help them maintain spiritual health, but the measure of spiritual health obviously goes beyond head-counting. We must be careful we do not get trapped into thinking that a congregation is healthy merely because it is growing numerically. “Church growth” is a term that is almost always used today to refer to numerical growth. Such thinking is over-simplistic because numerical growth can take place for the wrong reasons. In John 6, the multitudes followed Jesus because they were fed (v. 26), but when they heard hard teaching from the Lord many of them left and walked no more with Him (v. 66). Haven’t we all seen churches in the denominational world grow for the wrong reasons? While spiritual growth is perceptible to the spiritually-minded person, it does not always fit into our simple quantitative measures that we like to put down on paper. Instead of boasting in numbers, let us glory in congregations that are made of people becoming more like God, no matter how many or few their number.

–Mark Day