by David Scott Robertson
“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” 1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV
Do you love God?
If so, then you have some great things to look forward to.
You are destined to see things you have not seen,
And hear things you have not heard,
And experience things that have never entered your mind in your wildest dreams!
The verse above talks about hidden “things” which God has prepared for those who love Him.
Since God Himself is preparing them,
We can have full assurance and confidence that these things are good things,
Perfect things,
Unimaginably wonderful things.
The mystery of these things might even be called “the deep things of God.”
So, are we destined to remain in the dark until these things be revealed?
Do we have to wait until we get to heaven to discover the wonder of it all?
Or do we, in fact, get glimpses of God’s glory like Moses did hidden in the cleft of the rock? (Exodus 33:22).
“But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” 1 Corinthians 2:10.
Who is more qualified to talk about the deep things of God than the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit, exclusively, is:
The Third Person of the Trinity…
The One who operates in perfect unity within the Godhead…
The One who totally knows the mind of Christ…
The One who absolutely understands the perfect will of the Father…
The One who was there and actively involved in the creation of the universe…
The One who was there and actively involved in the creation of the first man, Adam…
The One who was there and actively involved in forming you and I in our mother’s womb…
Consider the deep things of God:
1. It is God’s will for you to have been born.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
“Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13 KJV).
2. It is God’s will for you to have been born again
(2 Pet 3:9 KJV) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
3. It is God’s will for you to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to empower your life for service
(Acts 1:8 NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
4. It is God’s will for you to know the deep things of God.
(Jer 33:3 NIV) 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'
So, when life’s circumstances force you to…
…search for the meaning of your suffering…
…search for understanding into your complex situation…
…search for knowledge of what your next move should be…
…search for insight into the trial…
…search for comprehension of the apparent paradoxes of life…
…search for an awareness of God’s will for your life…
…search for a perception of how to obtain a maximum impact life…
When you are in a “search mode” concerning the deep things of God,
I want to encourage you to spend time talking to the Holy Spirit of God --
For it pleased the Father to delegate revelation and illumination and inspiration to Him.
The Holy Spirit will lead and guide you into all truth
(John 16:13 KJV) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
(John 16:14 KJV) He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
And you will discover truth to be a Person (John 14:6).
(John 14:6 KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
(John 14:7 KJV) If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
And you will recognize that all truth flows out of and empties into Jesus Christ:
“In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3 KJV).
And you will come to know by experience the mystery of the ages:
(Col 1:26 KJV) Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
(Col 1:27 KJV) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Yes, many of the deep things of God can be known.
Not all of them, but some of them.
(1 Cor 13:9 NIV) For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
(1 Cor 13:10 NIV) but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
But God encourages us to search out the deep things:
(Prov 25:2 KJV) It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
I recommend to you that as you search out a the deep things of God
That you invite the Holy Spirit to be your Guide on this exciting adventure of exploration.
DSR
12/28/01
Friday, December 28, 2001
Thursday, December 27, 2001
Ninety Minutes Before
by David Scott Robertson
Right now,
As I write these words,
It’s exactly 90 minutes before the time I’m supposed to conduct a church service.
I will be leading the worship time,
Walking the congregation through communion,
Preaching a sermon,
And concluding the service with an altar call.
This is something that I don’t normally do.
For some I’m sure, this is not a big deal.
They do it all the time
And could do it far better than I.
But for me, it is a big deal.
I wonder, what “big deal” are you facing in your future?
At one time or another,
Haven’t we all been thrust into the uncomfortable but necessary situation
Of having to wait on some big event in our lives to come to pass?
And there comes a point in time
When it’s exactly 90 minutes before
The big deal,
The big event,
The huge occasion.
It’s the kind of event
That makes your palms sweat,
The spit in your mouth to dry up,
And all sorts of neat sensations to flare up in your stomach.
Is it just me, or does it seem like “the waiting part” is actually harder than “the doing part?”
Have you noticed that
As the final hour and a half counts down,
Depending upon the nature of the event,
Either the minutes tick by agonizingly slow or painfully fast.
A bride 90 minutes before her wedding.
A interviewee 90 minutes before appearing as a guest on Larry King Live.
A defendant 90 minutes before having to appear in court for sentencing.
An astronaut 90 minutes before takeoff.
A freshman at college 90 minutes before his first class.
A musician 90 minutes before her first concert.
A surgeon 90 minutes before his first operation.
A president-elect 90 minutes before his inauguration.
You and I could list a hundred different scenarios that are “big deals” to people.
And sooner or later,
It all comes down to 90 minutes before the event.
At that point, it’s crunch time.
So then, what can we, could we, should we do 90 minutes before the big event?
May I suggest four things that we as Christians might consider?
1. We should pray. We can do more AFTER we have prayed but we cannot do more UNTIL we have prayed. I recommend that you invite the Lord to help you speak and teach you what to say (Exodus 4:12). Confess any known sin and make sure your heart is right before God. Then we can and should ask the Lord for wisdom to think, speak, and act appropriately in the upcoming event. We can consecrate the situation totally to the Lord and trust Him to help us and He will.
2. We should worship. We need to express our faith in God by declaring that Jesus Christ is Lord of our situation. When we think of what Jesus accomplished on the cross of Calvary, everything else pales in comparison. No good thing will God withhold from them that walk uprightly before Him. And God knows exactly what you need when you need it. Come to Him in worship with a humble and contrite attitude. God inhabits the praises of His people and worship is a weapon that calms us and frustrates the enemy of our souls.
3. We should give thanks. While worship acknowledges who God is, giving thanks acknowledges His sovereignty and power to help us in our time of need. God’s credit is good. He can be trusted. We can express our confidence in Him by giving thanks on the front end of the situation. This is called faith. And faith excites God.
We can even do this in song. One time in the Bible, God ordered a king to send out singers in front of the soldiers into a battle chanting “praise the Lord for His mercy endures forever” (2 Chronicles21-22). As they began to sing and praise, the Bible records that the Lord sent ambushments against the enemy and victory was won without having to fire a shot. An attitude of gratitude packs incredible power!
4. We should enter God’s peace and rest. Once you have turned the situation over to God, you can relax. Pledge that with God’s help you’ll do your best and leave the results with Him. The Lord gave us a wonderful promise in Isaiah 26:3 that says: “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” Maintain a steady gaze on the Lord and like Peter walking on the water, God will help you do what may seem impossible to you.
Hebrews 4:1 contains another fantastic guarantee of God’s faithfulness to us: “Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.” Knowing that God is for you and not against you will help usher you into a peaceful, restful place as you wait for the final minutes to elapse.
One of the greatest things about facing a difficult challenge in our life is what happens next.
While it is true that there is a point
When you are 90 minutes BEFORE the big event,
There is also a point
When it’s 90 minutes AFTER the big event!
Satisfaction, fulfillment, joy, celebration, victory…
These feelings are reserved for those who patiently endure and conquer life’s challenges.
And when you have done what you have done
Out of obedience to something God has told you to do,
All of these feelings are intensified and magnified a thousand fold!
DSR
12/27/01
Right now,
As I write these words,
It’s exactly 90 minutes before the time I’m supposed to conduct a church service.
I will be leading the worship time,
Walking the congregation through communion,
Preaching a sermon,
And concluding the service with an altar call.
This is something that I don’t normally do.
For some I’m sure, this is not a big deal.
They do it all the time
And could do it far better than I.
But for me, it is a big deal.
I wonder, what “big deal” are you facing in your future?
At one time or another,
Haven’t we all been thrust into the uncomfortable but necessary situation
Of having to wait on some big event in our lives to come to pass?
And there comes a point in time
When it’s exactly 90 minutes before
The big deal,
The big event,
The huge occasion.
It’s the kind of event
That makes your palms sweat,
The spit in your mouth to dry up,
And all sorts of neat sensations to flare up in your stomach.
Is it just me, or does it seem like “the waiting part” is actually harder than “the doing part?”
Have you noticed that
As the final hour and a half counts down,
Depending upon the nature of the event,
Either the minutes tick by agonizingly slow or painfully fast.
A bride 90 minutes before her wedding.
A interviewee 90 minutes before appearing as a guest on Larry King Live.
A defendant 90 minutes before having to appear in court for sentencing.
An astronaut 90 minutes before takeoff.
A freshman at college 90 minutes before his first class.
A musician 90 minutes before her first concert.
A surgeon 90 minutes before his first operation.
A president-elect 90 minutes before his inauguration.
You and I could list a hundred different scenarios that are “big deals” to people.
And sooner or later,
It all comes down to 90 minutes before the event.
At that point, it’s crunch time.
So then, what can we, could we, should we do 90 minutes before the big event?
May I suggest four things that we as Christians might consider?
1. We should pray. We can do more AFTER we have prayed but we cannot do more UNTIL we have prayed. I recommend that you invite the Lord to help you speak and teach you what to say (Exodus 4:12). Confess any known sin and make sure your heart is right before God. Then we can and should ask the Lord for wisdom to think, speak, and act appropriately in the upcoming event. We can consecrate the situation totally to the Lord and trust Him to help us and He will.
2. We should worship. We need to express our faith in God by declaring that Jesus Christ is Lord of our situation. When we think of what Jesus accomplished on the cross of Calvary, everything else pales in comparison. No good thing will God withhold from them that walk uprightly before Him. And God knows exactly what you need when you need it. Come to Him in worship with a humble and contrite attitude. God inhabits the praises of His people and worship is a weapon that calms us and frustrates the enemy of our souls.
3. We should give thanks. While worship acknowledges who God is, giving thanks acknowledges His sovereignty and power to help us in our time of need. God’s credit is good. He can be trusted. We can express our confidence in Him by giving thanks on the front end of the situation. This is called faith. And faith excites God.
We can even do this in song. One time in the Bible, God ordered a king to send out singers in front of the soldiers into a battle chanting “praise the Lord for His mercy endures forever” (2 Chronicles21-22). As they began to sing and praise, the Bible records that the Lord sent ambushments against the enemy and victory was won without having to fire a shot. An attitude of gratitude packs incredible power!
4. We should enter God’s peace and rest. Once you have turned the situation over to God, you can relax. Pledge that with God’s help you’ll do your best and leave the results with Him. The Lord gave us a wonderful promise in Isaiah 26:3 that says: “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” Maintain a steady gaze on the Lord and like Peter walking on the water, God will help you do what may seem impossible to you.
Hebrews 4:1 contains another fantastic guarantee of God’s faithfulness to us: “Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.” Knowing that God is for you and not against you will help usher you into a peaceful, restful place as you wait for the final minutes to elapse.
One of the greatest things about facing a difficult challenge in our life is what happens next.
While it is true that there is a point
When you are 90 minutes BEFORE the big event,
There is also a point
When it’s 90 minutes AFTER the big event!
Satisfaction, fulfillment, joy, celebration, victory…
These feelings are reserved for those who patiently endure and conquer life’s challenges.
And when you have done what you have done
Out of obedience to something God has told you to do,
All of these feelings are intensified and magnified a thousand fold!
DSR
12/27/01
Saturday, December 15, 2001
The Greatest Military Assignment of All Time
by David Scott Robertson
“When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment” (Acts 27:1 NIV).
The life of a solider in any age of history is a difficult one.
Whether we’re talking about a medieval knight or a modern-day Green Beret,
They all experience incredible training,
Unprecedented dangers,
Unusual hardships,
And bizarre missions unique to each solider in their respective era.
But there was one solider,
In one army,
In one culture,
In one period of history,
That quite possibly received the greatest military assignment of all time.
The soldier’s name was Julius.
Julius served as a centurion in the Roman Army.
His unit was called the “Imperial Regiment.”
One day,
One fateful day,
Julius’ commanding officer issued him an order that was to change his life:
ASSIGNMENT: Deliver some prisoners to Rome to stand trial.
Sounds rather mundane, doesn’t it?
It is unless one of the prisoners happens to be the Apostle Paul.
Paul was no ordinary man and he would make no ordinary prisoner.
Unlike Julius who took orders from a man,
This prisoner, Paul, on occasion took orders directly from God:
“He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied.
"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." (Acts 9:4-6 NIV)
This prisoner had Jesus personally stand by his bedside and guarantee the success of Julius’ assignment:
“The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome" (Acts 23:11 NIV).
This prisoner had angels visit him:
“Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me
“and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar…” (Acts 27:23-24a NIV).
This prisoner had the ability to foretell the future:
“Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Fast. So Paul warned them,
"Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also" (Acts 27:9-10 NIV).
This prisoner had the ability to inspire hope when all hope of survival was gone:
“When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved” (Acts 27:20 NIV).
“Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.
“After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.
“They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves” (Acts 27:34-36 NIV).
This prisoner’s intercessory prayers would result in 276 people surviving a hurricane:
“Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me
“and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you' (Acts 27:23-24 NIV).
“Altogether there were 276 of us on board” (Acts 27:37 NIV).
This prisoner would become so influential that even Julius himself would heed him:
“Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved."
“So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away” (Acts 27:31-32 NIV).
This prisoner would boldly demonstrate God’s loving care in front of pagans:
“After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat” (Acts 27:35 NIV).
This prisoner life would save his fellow prisoners from death at the hands of men:
“The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping.
“But the centurion wanted to spare Paul's life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land” (Acts 27:42-43 NIV).
This prisoner would seem invincible against death:
“Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.
“When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live."
“But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.
“The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god” (Acts 28:3-6 NIV).
This prisoner’s presence would result in the entire crew receiving royal treatment:
“There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably” (Acts 28:7 NIV).
This prisoner would perform supernatural healings in their midst:
“His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him.
“When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured” (Acts 28:8-9 NIV).
This prisoner would bring great honor to Julius and his companions:
“They honored us in many ways and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed” (Acts 28:10 NIV).
This prisoner would be accessible for three months to personally mentor Julius:
“After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island. It was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux” (Acts 28:11 NIV).
This prisoner, remarkably, had friends and “brothers” in remote regions of the world:
“There we found some brothers who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.
“The brothers there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged” (Acts 28:14-15 NIV).
To be sure, Paul was no ordinary man and he would make no ordinary prisoner.
And so it was that the greatest military assignment of all time came to an end:
“Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him” (Acts 28:16 NKJV).
Julius had completed the assignment.
The time of his departure was now at hand.
Julius had fought a good fight,
He had finished his course,
He had kept the faith of his Roman duty.
Or was the greatest military assignment of all time really over?
You see, there was a solider that stayed with Paul for two more years
And lived with him and guarded him and protected him
In order to stand trial before Cesar.
This soldier, whether by Roman legal requirements or by choice,
Became Paul’s constant companion…
His protégé, I mean, his guard.
“And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
“ Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him” (Acts 28:30-31 KJV).
I wonder,
If it were possible,
If Julius volunteered for the assignment.
DSR
12/15/01
“When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment” (Acts 27:1 NIV).
The life of a solider in any age of history is a difficult one.
Whether we’re talking about a medieval knight or a modern-day Green Beret,
They all experience incredible training,
Unprecedented dangers,
Unusual hardships,
And bizarre missions unique to each solider in their respective era.
But there was one solider,
In one army,
In one culture,
In one period of history,
That quite possibly received the greatest military assignment of all time.
The soldier’s name was Julius.
Julius served as a centurion in the Roman Army.
His unit was called the “Imperial Regiment.”
One day,
One fateful day,
Julius’ commanding officer issued him an order that was to change his life:
ASSIGNMENT: Deliver some prisoners to Rome to stand trial.
Sounds rather mundane, doesn’t it?
It is unless one of the prisoners happens to be the Apostle Paul.
Paul was no ordinary man and he would make no ordinary prisoner.
Unlike Julius who took orders from a man,
This prisoner, Paul, on occasion took orders directly from God:
“He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied.
"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." (Acts 9:4-6 NIV)
This prisoner had Jesus personally stand by his bedside and guarantee the success of Julius’ assignment:
“The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome" (Acts 23:11 NIV).
This prisoner had angels visit him:
“Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me
“and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar…” (Acts 27:23-24a NIV).
This prisoner had the ability to foretell the future:
“Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Fast. So Paul warned them,
"Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also" (Acts 27:9-10 NIV).
This prisoner had the ability to inspire hope when all hope of survival was gone:
“When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved” (Acts 27:20 NIV).
“Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.
“After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.
“They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves” (Acts 27:34-36 NIV).
This prisoner’s intercessory prayers would result in 276 people surviving a hurricane:
“Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me
“and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you' (Acts 27:23-24 NIV).
“Altogether there were 276 of us on board” (Acts 27:37 NIV).
This prisoner would become so influential that even Julius himself would heed him:
“Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved."
“So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away” (Acts 27:31-32 NIV).
This prisoner would boldly demonstrate God’s loving care in front of pagans:
“After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat” (Acts 27:35 NIV).
This prisoner life would save his fellow prisoners from death at the hands of men:
“The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping.
“But the centurion wanted to spare Paul's life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land” (Acts 27:42-43 NIV).
This prisoner would seem invincible against death:
“Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.
“When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live."
“But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.
“The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god” (Acts 28:3-6 NIV).
This prisoner’s presence would result in the entire crew receiving royal treatment:
“There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably” (Acts 28:7 NIV).
This prisoner would perform supernatural healings in their midst:
“His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him.
“When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured” (Acts 28:8-9 NIV).
This prisoner would bring great honor to Julius and his companions:
“They honored us in many ways and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed” (Acts 28:10 NIV).
This prisoner would be accessible for three months to personally mentor Julius:
“After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island. It was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux” (Acts 28:11 NIV).
This prisoner, remarkably, had friends and “brothers” in remote regions of the world:
“There we found some brothers who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.
“The brothers there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged” (Acts 28:14-15 NIV).
To be sure, Paul was no ordinary man and he would make no ordinary prisoner.
And so it was that the greatest military assignment of all time came to an end:
“Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him” (Acts 28:16 NKJV).
Julius had completed the assignment.
The time of his departure was now at hand.
Julius had fought a good fight,
He had finished his course,
He had kept the faith of his Roman duty.
Or was the greatest military assignment of all time really over?
You see, there was a solider that stayed with Paul for two more years
And lived with him and guarded him and protected him
In order to stand trial before Cesar.
This soldier, whether by Roman legal requirements or by choice,
Became Paul’s constant companion…
His protégé, I mean, his guard.
“And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,
“ Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him” (Acts 28:30-31 KJV).
I wonder,
If it were possible,
If Julius volunteered for the assignment.
DSR
12/15/01
Sunday, December 2, 2001
The Four Trees
by David Scott Robertson
I just returned from walking on my “prayer path.”
I like to prayer walk a 30-minute path
That meanders through the streets of my suburban Tennessee home.
Each time I prayer-walked this summer on my special route,
I happened to pass by this one house that had four special trees in its yard --
Four pear trees to be exact.
I remember marveling at how many pears those four trees produced.
Bushels and bushels and bushels of beautiful pears.
This summer the limbs were literally bowing and bending over
Because they were so heavy laden with fruit.
Their beautiful green leaves spoke to me of life.
Their remarkable fruit production reminded me of thriving, flourishing, profitable orchards.
Today, my thoughts could easily traverse a variety of steep and deep trails
On the topic of the four trees.
I could describe to you in detail how neighborhood children
Would ride their bikes to the four trees
And frequently help themselves to a delicious and readily available snack.
I remember seeing one boy this past summer riding past me on his bike
With one hand on the handlebars
And the other tightly clutching his shirt filled to overflowing with freshly harvested pears
To no doubt proudly present to his mother.
I could write about the fact that the owner’s of the trees never seemed to harvest the pears.
For the most part, the bumper crop just hung on the branches until it ripened
And gravity forced it to the ground to rot and provide a lavish banquet for insects.
Today our thoughts could wander and ponder waste, stewardship, or squandered opportunity.
I could write about how many professional fruit growers
Might benefit from studying the soil composition and any other unique combination of conditions whose synergy stimulated a phenomenally prolific crop.
In that vein of thinking, we could talk about
Sharing knowledge, pooling resources to heighten quality, discipleship, mentoring, and so on.
But I don’t want to go there today.
This morning, what most noticeably caught my eye and attention
Was the fact that, today, the four trees looked practically dead.
It’s December in Tennessee and it’s cold.
As I walked in the early hours of the day I could see my breath with each act of respiration.
Another Tennessee winter is upon us,
And although they are relatively mild compared to most of the rest of the United States,
The frigid weather and frost nonetheless performs its amazing effect on deciduous trees.
The four trees that had all summer long seemed so alive now seemed so dead.
I stopped for a few moments to study them and noted that there were no leaves on them.
There was, of course, no fruit, nor even any remains of fruit on the ground.
The trees were gnarled and a bit twisted and rather ugly to the average passerby.
When the fruit was at its peak I had never noticed the flaws and blemishes the trees bore.
As I walked off, I began to consider how similar our lives are to the four trees.
King Solomon once wisely observed that
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…” (Eccl 3:1)
God has woven into the fabric of our lives a series of seasons in our pilgrimage toward death.
Some seasons are lush and fruitful.
Others seem gnarled and a bit twisted and rather ugly.
Some are a growing seasons where progress is measured by leaps and bounds
While others offer microscopic gains measured in centimeters.
Other seasons provide us with times of sifting and separating
To purge and cleanse and burn away impurities in our lives.
Just like a surgeon requires clean instruments to safely operate,
So the Lord God prefers to operate with clean instruments to promote healthy relationships.
While some seasons are mercifully short
Others linger on for what seems an eternity.
Some seasons are like football teams who finish the season with a 11-0 record
While other teams shuffle back to the locker room with a 0-11 record.
It’s like the difference between receiving the long touchdown pass
And gracefully gliding into the end zone
Versus grinding your way to the goal posts one long, hard yard at a time
Getting knocked to the ground ever four yards before scoring.
Ah, but this crucible is where valor and courage and grit and patience are forged.
Unlike the four seasons spring, summer, fall, and winter that the four trees enjoy and endure,
Our lives are subject to many more seasons that these.
Yet, I am discovering that seasons are a natural part of a supernatural process at work in us.
I believe that not only does our Heavenly Father allow them,
But that He skillfully, lovingly, and to be sure unapologetically arranges them.
Just as each ripe, mature pear on the four trees is a wonderful product of an incredible process
God’s sovereignty masterfully helps us navigate
Through the ebb and flow of our own life development process.
But we’re not talking about spiritual fruit, we’re talking about pears.
Or are we?
For those that have an ear, a heart, and a mind to hear,
Can you receive the truth that the fruit of our lives is important to God?
Father God, unlike the owners of the four trees, is very interested in fruit.
Fruit is mentioned 208 times in 184 verses in the King James Version of the Bible.
“This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8 NIV).
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV).
“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb 12:11 KJV).
Today, you may not feel like your life is producing a bumper crop of fruit for Jesus.
You may look at yourself in the mirror and determine that
Not only is your hair falling out but many (or most) of your leaves have fallen off.
You may have imagined yourself (like Abraham and Sarah)
To have surpassed your most abundant, most fruitful, maximum bumper crop season.
I find that difficult to accept.
The seed of fruit resident in you may be dormant for now,
But faith can cause it germinate rapidly and yield a thirty, sixty, or hundred-fold return.
I encourage you to avoid uprooting yourself from the good soil and other unique conditions like
A good church,
A strong friendship circle,
Good accountability from close advisors,
Along with a solid routine of prayer, Bible reading, worship, and service to others.
In due season you shall be reaped if you faint not.
DSR
12/2/01
I just returned from walking on my “prayer path.”
I like to prayer walk a 30-minute path
That meanders through the streets of my suburban Tennessee home.
Each time I prayer-walked this summer on my special route,
I happened to pass by this one house that had four special trees in its yard --
Four pear trees to be exact.
I remember marveling at how many pears those four trees produced.
Bushels and bushels and bushels of beautiful pears.
This summer the limbs were literally bowing and bending over
Because they were so heavy laden with fruit.
Their beautiful green leaves spoke to me of life.
Their remarkable fruit production reminded me of thriving, flourishing, profitable orchards.
Today, my thoughts could easily traverse a variety of steep and deep trails
On the topic of the four trees.
I could describe to you in detail how neighborhood children
Would ride their bikes to the four trees
And frequently help themselves to a delicious and readily available snack.
I remember seeing one boy this past summer riding past me on his bike
With one hand on the handlebars
And the other tightly clutching his shirt filled to overflowing with freshly harvested pears
To no doubt proudly present to his mother.
I could write about the fact that the owner’s of the trees never seemed to harvest the pears.
For the most part, the bumper crop just hung on the branches until it ripened
And gravity forced it to the ground to rot and provide a lavish banquet for insects.
Today our thoughts could wander and ponder waste, stewardship, or squandered opportunity.
I could write about how many professional fruit growers
Might benefit from studying the soil composition and any other unique combination of conditions whose synergy stimulated a phenomenally prolific crop.
In that vein of thinking, we could talk about
Sharing knowledge, pooling resources to heighten quality, discipleship, mentoring, and so on.
But I don’t want to go there today.
This morning, what most noticeably caught my eye and attention
Was the fact that, today, the four trees looked practically dead.
It’s December in Tennessee and it’s cold.
As I walked in the early hours of the day I could see my breath with each act of respiration.
Another Tennessee winter is upon us,
And although they are relatively mild compared to most of the rest of the United States,
The frigid weather and frost nonetheless performs its amazing effect on deciduous trees.
The four trees that had all summer long seemed so alive now seemed so dead.
I stopped for a few moments to study them and noted that there were no leaves on them.
There was, of course, no fruit, nor even any remains of fruit on the ground.
The trees were gnarled and a bit twisted and rather ugly to the average passerby.
When the fruit was at its peak I had never noticed the flaws and blemishes the trees bore.
As I walked off, I began to consider how similar our lives are to the four trees.
King Solomon once wisely observed that
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…” (Eccl 3:1)
God has woven into the fabric of our lives a series of seasons in our pilgrimage toward death.
Some seasons are lush and fruitful.
Others seem gnarled and a bit twisted and rather ugly.
Some are a growing seasons where progress is measured by leaps and bounds
While others offer microscopic gains measured in centimeters.
Other seasons provide us with times of sifting and separating
To purge and cleanse and burn away impurities in our lives.
Just like a surgeon requires clean instruments to safely operate,
So the Lord God prefers to operate with clean instruments to promote healthy relationships.
While some seasons are mercifully short
Others linger on for what seems an eternity.
Some seasons are like football teams who finish the season with a 11-0 record
While other teams shuffle back to the locker room with a 0-11 record.
It’s like the difference between receiving the long touchdown pass
And gracefully gliding into the end zone
Versus grinding your way to the goal posts one long, hard yard at a time
Getting knocked to the ground ever four yards before scoring.
Ah, but this crucible is where valor and courage and grit and patience are forged.
Unlike the four seasons spring, summer, fall, and winter that the four trees enjoy and endure,
Our lives are subject to many more seasons that these.
Yet, I am discovering that seasons are a natural part of a supernatural process at work in us.
I believe that not only does our Heavenly Father allow them,
But that He skillfully, lovingly, and to be sure unapologetically arranges them.
Just as each ripe, mature pear on the four trees is a wonderful product of an incredible process
God’s sovereignty masterfully helps us navigate
Through the ebb and flow of our own life development process.
But we’re not talking about spiritual fruit, we’re talking about pears.
Or are we?
For those that have an ear, a heart, and a mind to hear,
Can you receive the truth that the fruit of our lives is important to God?
Father God, unlike the owners of the four trees, is very interested in fruit.
Fruit is mentioned 208 times in 184 verses in the King James Version of the Bible.
“This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8 NIV).
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV).
“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb 12:11 KJV).
Today, you may not feel like your life is producing a bumper crop of fruit for Jesus.
You may look at yourself in the mirror and determine that
Not only is your hair falling out but many (or most) of your leaves have fallen off.
You may have imagined yourself (like Abraham and Sarah)
To have surpassed your most abundant, most fruitful, maximum bumper crop season.
I find that difficult to accept.
The seed of fruit resident in you may be dormant for now,
But faith can cause it germinate rapidly and yield a thirty, sixty, or hundred-fold return.
I encourage you to avoid uprooting yourself from the good soil and other unique conditions like
A good church,
A strong friendship circle,
Good accountability from close advisors,
Along with a solid routine of prayer, Bible reading, worship, and service to others.
In due season you shall be reaped if you faint not.
DSR
12/2/01
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