Fulfilling A Vow

"And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go, and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord, in Hebron.  For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord."  II Samuel 15:7-8.  Absalom had been in Geshur for a time of  three years.  II Samuel 13:38.  He wanted the Lord to bring him again to Jerusalem.  God required the payment of vows.  "When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee."  Deuteronomy 23:21.  After being in Jerusalem for forty years,  Absalom now wanted to pay that which he had vowed.  In times of need or stress, people will make promises to God if God will help them in their time of need.  However, many times after the need or stress has passed, the vow is forgotten.  We want God to keep the promises which He has made to us.  But, we are more reluctant to keep our promises to God.  We want God's help when we need Him, but perhaps, give Him no thought the rest of the time.  We might vow a certain gift or a change of life.  We are willing in the moment to make vows to God, and quite often, forget the vow.  Let's think about what we might vow unto God with the resolve that we will keep the vow.

A Treasure Worth All

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth , and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field."  Matthew 13:44.  The kingdom of heaven is a treasure that is worth everything.  The kingdom cannot be counterfeited.  The kingdom of heaven can be attained by all.  A man, any man, can find the kingdom.  One must be willing to give himself in order to possess the kingdom.  The kingdom comes into our possession only by sacrifice.  The value of the kingdom must be realized.  The kingdom is not a mere trinket.  Nothing can stand between a person and the kingdom of heaven.  When one finds the kingdom, he needs to possess it then.  Otherwise, the kingdom may lose its appeal.  The acquisition of the kingdom is a joyous occasion.  The opportunity to have the kingdom for one's own is an occasion of joy.  To sit at the table of the king must not be taken lightly.         

The Outrage Of Preaching

Stephen's sermon which is recorded in Acts chapter seven caused quite an outrage.  After listening to Stephen trace God's promise to Jesus Christ, they became so angry that they stoned him to death.  They "were cut to the heart."  Acts 7:54.  This multitude did not just simply walk away nor did they ignore what Stephen had preached.  They reacted in a most hostile manner.  The power of preaching is to convict and convert.  Whether that is accomplished will depend upon the heart of the hearer.  These hearts in Acts seven were filled with hate and prejudice.  This type of heart will respond in a very negative way to the gospel.  The heart must desire truth and must seek truth.  Stephen was just a messenger who had been sent with a message as were the prophets.  Stephen told them that they had persecuted and killed the prophets as well as the Lord Jesus Christ.  Acts 7:52.  This audience was "stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears."  Acts 7:51.  This type of hearer will only be outraged at the gospel.  This hearer will not hear and will not obey.  Our heart must be open to receive God's truth.  The heart that is convicted will be converted.

The Assembly of Saints

"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God as prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come."  I Corinthians 16:2.  The first day of each week is the time of coming together to worship God.  At this gathering, we sing, pray, study, observe the Lord's Supper, and give.  The purpose for which Paul was gathering this money from various churches was to help the poor in Jerusalem because of the famine.  Acts 11:28-30.  The reason for our coming together is to edify one another.  Strength and courage are required for living the Christian life because of the adversary that we face.  This strength comes from one another who are engaged in the same struggles of life and who are seeking to serve the risen Savior.  This assembly also promotes the growth of faith.  Faith must be fed and nurtured.  The faith of others helps our own faith.  The knowledge gained from studying together builds faith.  At the assemble, we learn to love one another and feel compassion for one another.  All who are gathered together are of one mind in the Lord and we are gathered together in the presence of the God who loves us and the Savior who saves us.  There is no grander experience in life than the assembly of saints upon the first day of the week who are worshipping God and loving each other.

Lawful, But Not Expedient

"All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful unto me, but I will not be brought under the power of any."  I Corinthians 6:12.  The Christian has certain liberties.  These are things that one can do or leave undone.  These lawful things which the Christian can exercise are not forbidden by God.  These things apply to custom or tradition.   However, certain liberties that one has may not be beneficial.  The Christian is part of a community.  The Christian must in all that he does seek the well being of others.  They, who are in Christ, are unselfish and forbearing.  We have an attitude that desires to do that which will encourage and strengthen another.  The feelings of others must always be our concern.  A denial of self is the foundation upon which the Christian life is built.  Our own liberties must not overpower us.  While we may have liberty, we must not allow that liberty to deny any influence for good that can be exerted.  The desire of the individual Christian must in all cases be the spiritual development of the body.   

As God's Elect

The people of God, the elect, are to be distinguished.  We are admonished to "put on therefore, as the elect of God,..."  Colossians 3:12.  The garments of our dress are mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance, forgiveness, and love.  We dress differently from the world about us.  We conduct our lives differently from others.  We, the elect, are to make a difference in our world. The person who wears these garments will improve our world.  These are divine graces.  These are heavenly garments.  Only those who know God and follow Christ are worthy to wear such dress.  The person who dresses in such attire walks in the heavenly realm.  The elect are delivered from the filthiness of evil and have been transformed into the very image of Jesus.  Rebirth and renewal gives us the right of such a wardrobe.  God has called us to election, and we must answer the call and place into our heart these holy and Godly qualities.  God enables us to dress with the clothing of heaven.  Let us dress as God would have us dress.  

The Waters Have Come In

In the psalms, we find pleas for help.  The psalmist finds himself in a situation that he needs God's grace and support.  I am sure that the number of those who never feel any need for God is great.  Many people base their need for help on those things that are temporal.  But, in times of real need, the temporal will not answer the call.  This is the plea of the writer: "Save me, O God, for the waters are come in unto my soul."  Psalms 69:1.  The waters of weariness, hatred from others, reproach, and sin were the waters flooding into his soul.  We all feel this overflow into our lives.  In a world of pain, weariness, and loss, we are overcome.  We need a deliverance from the waters that are drowning us.  The psalmist wants God to hear and deliver.  When we cry unto God, we want Him to hear.  We seek His power so that we might endure.  We seek His love so that we might continue.  The days of our lives will experience the "waters that come into our soul".  But, God's salvation will come and set us on high.  Psalm 69:29.  "Your heart shall live that seek God."  Psalm 69:32.