Encouraging Good on the Basis of Love

November 2, 2021 By LMW

“Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—” Philemon 1:1-7 NIV

Paul wanted to make a special request of Philemon. How can any believer, even a minister, demand that another believer do anything, especially if the believer differs or does not wish to do what is requested?
There are two reasons:
⇒ It is the right thing to do.
⇒ It is a believer’s duty to do it.

A believer, no matter who he is, should do the right thing. Therefore, Paul had the right to make a special request of Philemon. But note: Paul did not demand that Philemon grant the request. Instead, he urged and pleaded with Philemon because he loved Philemon.

Paul based his appeal on three things:
⇒ upon love: the love of Christ and the love of believers for each other.
⇒ upon his age. He was apparently in his fifties and no doubt his body was somewhat more aged than the average person because of the wear and tear upon his body from the sufferings that had been inflicted upon him through the years.
⇒ upon the fact that he was a prisoner for the cause of Christ. He had suffered so much in order to carry the gospel to the lost of the world, to people who were hopeless and lost just as Philemon and his family had been.

Questions for reflection:
Have you, yourself, been receptive to correction?
Is there a current situation that you should speak into and ask a fellow believer to do the right thing?
If there is, how could you frame your appeal in love?

October 28, 2021 By LMW

Refreshing the Hearts of God’s People

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker- also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier- and to the church that meets in your home: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
Philemon 1:1-7 NIV

We pick up our Weekly Scripture Study, with a short Pauline epistle. Nestled between Titus and Hebrews comes a small letter: Philemon. A church met in this man’s home. Paul wrote him to ask that he receive a former slave, Onesimus, back into his fellowship as if it were Paul coming.

Paul usually opened his letters by establishing his apostleship, but in this letter, Paul reminded Philemon that he was in prison for preaching the gospel. Paul then addresses Philemon.

Philemon was so committed to Christ that he was counted “beloved” by Paul himself. Philemon was working so faithfully for Christ that Paul could acknowledge his labor and count him as a fellow-laborer, as working as diligently as Paul himself in the cause of Christ.

Philemon demonstrated his commitment by opening his home. Remember that the early church did not have church sanctuaries to meet in; they met in homes of faithful and committed believers. Philemon loved Christ so much that he was willing to open his home night after night and week after week for believers to worship and study God’s Word together. What would it look like for you to open your home, (or yard) to regularly invite people over?
What would it take to overcome the tiredness and the housecleaning (or leaf raking) required? Philemon’s kind hospitality was such that it refreshed the hearts of God’s people. We have the privilege of doing likewise.

Are there ways you could be practicing hospitality of your time or space?

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Bethea Retires from Board Chairmanship

October 20, 2021 By LMW

LMW Thanks Bethea for his leadership

At the Fall Board Meeting, the board and staff had the opportunity to thank Richard Bethea for his dedication to LMW. A long-time board member, Mr. Bethea chaired the board for six years before his retirement this year. Chuck Zeiser presented a commemorative clock and thanked Richard for his leadership and service. Mr. Zeiser fondly recalled the Bethea’s frequent and warm hospitality and especially praised Mildred’s cooking. Mr. Bethea led the board through several pivotal moments including the completion of the KJV and NIV Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible® and the creation of the LMW App which allows hundreds of users to access the Bible, outlines, and commentary wherever they are.

(Pictured left to right: Joanne & Zeiser with Mildred & Richard Bethea)

Zeal for God’s Name

April 30, 2021 By LMW

If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
    Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
They speak of you with evil intent;
    your adversaries misuse your name.
Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
    and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
I have nothing but hatred for them;
    I count them my enemies.
Psalm 139:19-22 NIV

David suddenly turned his attention from the Lords wonderful work in our lives to the wickedness in the world. He was keenly aware of evil people whose activities opposed Gods purposes. Indeed, wicked men had tried repeatedly to thwart God’s plan for his own life. David prayed passionately for God to judge the wicked, and he ordered these violent men to stay away from him.

David called on God to remove the wicked from the world so that His righteousness and love could flow freely. He prayed specifically against the bloodthirsty men who opposed God’s people and opposed the purpose and plans God had for them. They hated God’s people so viciously because they themselves hated God.

David declared his unwavering loyalty to God, stating plainly that he hated those who hated the Lord. Besides that, he grieved or was disgusted by their opposition to God. David’s hatred of the wicked was motivated by his zeal for the Lord. He despised the wicked so strongly because he loved the Lord so passionately. He viewed God’s enemies as his own enemies.

When Christ came, He gave us, His followers, a new command to follow with regard to our enemies: we are to love and pray for our enemies. Why? Because God desires for all people to repent and be saved (2 Peter 3:9). At the same time, we are commanded to stand against all evil and wickedness. While we are on a mission to win every lost person to Christ, we are also warned about friendship with the world. Ultimately, we should remember that our enemies are not flesh and blood but are instead powers and rulers of darkness.

As followers of Christ, we need to constantly seek the balance that Jesus spoke about: to be in the world, but not of the world. That is, we are to be a part of the world so we can reach people for Christ and uphold righteousness, but we must not let the evil of the world pull us away from obedience to God.

This balance is also stated in the saying, “Hate the sin but love the sinner.” We are to stand strongly against everything that is opposed to God and His truth. But while doing so, we are to show the love of Christ to all who are a part of those things. We are to do everything possible to reach them with the life-saving gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 NIV

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

April 29, 2021 By LMW

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
Psalm 139:13-18 NIV

Psalm 8, another Davidic Psalm, tells us that God created humans to have a unique place in the created order. Unlike animals or angels, we are made in the image of God. We are made for a special relationship with God, a relationship no other living being enjoys, and we are made to experience that relationship eternally. Beyond the common purpose of glorifying God; humans are made individually, with individual stories and ways of giving glory to God.

Consider how unique every individual is! Even in conception, God's hand directs the forming and development of our individual parts. All of us have things about ourselves that we would like to change. Nearly every person wants to change some physical feature. For example, some would like to be taller, while others wish they were shorter. Some would like smaller ears or a smaller nose. Some wish their eyes were a different color. Others wish they could change their natural abilities; they would like to be better at any number of things. The corruption brought about by the fall that began to rot our world means that we sometimes feel uncomfortable in our own bodies. Our outward flesh is wasting away and groans to be renewed. When you add our post-fall tendency to covet and be envious of what others have, it is easy to be discontent. Or, even if we are not discontent on our own account, we may wonder why some are born with severe genetic disorders or suffer life-threatening illnesses at a tender age, such as cancer.

And yet, as we consider things beyond our control, we need to remember that God carefully crafts us and makes us according to His plan for us. He makes each of us special in some way. This means that the very physical feature you despise actually endears you as an individual to God’s heart. The very ability you desire but cannot develop has not been given to you by God because it is not a part of His plan for your life.

As David says, we are fearfully and wonderfully made—each one of us. We should praise God unceasingly for the fact that He loves us so much, that He has designed us so intricately, intimately, and individually. When we truly grasp how much God loves us, we will love ourselves more. We will learn to delight in the things about ourselves that we formerly despised. In addition, when we truly believe that God has a wonderful plan for our lives, pursuing that plan will be our first priority. We will then seek God's will diligently, submitting ourselves fully to Him so that He might bring it to pass.

The Father of Lights

April 29, 2021 By LMW

Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.
Psalm 139:7-12 NIV

The Lord is with us at all times in order to guide and support us. David understood this as well as anyone, and he sensed God’s purpose in pursuing him wherever he went. Once again, David refers to God’s gracious hand. We are secure in God’s right hand, a symbol of His mighty power.

God’s constant presence also protects us in darkness and lights our way. The darkness does not cover or hide us so that God cannot see us. When night falls, the Lord can still see us, because darkness is not dark to Him. for He is light. In our darkness, He gives us light, brightening our way.

Darkness is a symbol of doom as well as a symbol of evil. In the darkest times of our lives—the most painful trials and the most difficult challenges—God is with us. The light of His glorious presence guides our way, brightens our heavy spirits, shows us there is nothing to fear and gives us hope.

The light of the Lord also drives away any evil forces that gather around us. When light appears, darkness disappears. Likewise, when we allow the light of God to penetrate our sinful souls, He drives out the darkness that is within us—the sinful power of our corrupt human nature.

Just as with the Lord’s omniscience, His omnipresence should motivate us to live holy and righteous lives. The realization that God is present when we sin should serve as a powerful incentive to do what is right instead. This is even more true for us today than it was for God’s people in Old Testament times, for God’s Spirit now actually lives within every genuine believer. The reality of the indwelling Spirit’s presence should sober us when we are wrestling with our sinful nature and tempted to do wrong. When we sin, we are dragging God’s Spirit along with us. It is not just that God is there witnessing what we do; He is within us. When we defile our bodies with sin, we also bring shame to the Holy Spirit who lives in our bodies.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:17-18 NIV