And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him. (1 John 2:28–29—NKJV)

Though the Apostle John is often identified as simple in vocabulary and basic in truth, this passage teaches some crucial doctrine and necessary lessons for every believer. Within these two verses we find the doctrines of Soteriology, Sanctification, Divine Sovereignty, Human Responsibility, Eschatology, and the Nature of God—in just two verses! The lessons are dramatic and practical.

The return of our Lord is the blessed hope of every New Testament church. I have often wondered why there are not more hymns and spiritual songs written that serve as constant reminders of the rapture of the church. John deals with the subject in the context of holy living among the brethren. In the immediate context, he has just finished dealing with false christs and discernment of truth. The Holy Spirit has been given to every genuine believer in order to aid in discerning truth, and working that truth deep down, so that it abides in the believer and in turn the believer abides in Jesus Christ. Abiding in Christ is accomplished by obeying Him.

John’s audience is authentic believers, as seen in the fact that he addresses them as “dear” children. They are the ones encouraged to obediently “remain” in Christ so that when He comes for His church they will have confidence in His presence.

The rapture is described two ways in verse 28. The first is “appear.” The word means “to be made manifest.” It is used of something that is present, but hidden or invisible, only to become visible and revealed. John’s point is that Jesus Christ is alive right now, hidden from our view, but in charge nonetheless. Just because He is invisible to the believer is no excuse for failure to abide in Him. Live in the light of His presence.

The other way the rapture is described is the word “coming.” The Greek word is parousia, a compound word meaning “to be beside.” The force of the word is the idea of the physical, personal presence of the one coming. The only way you can grasp the significance of the term is to put yourself back in the day in which John wrote. It would be as if you were a first century Roman citizen who just received notice that the Caesar was to appear, sometime in the near future, in your town, and he is expecting to make a personal visit to your home with the intent to stay with you in particular. Imagine your “to do” list, your excitement, your care! Nothing would be overlooked for this once in a lifetime event!

The rapture of the church is the event that will happen, when the Lord Himself will become visible and make His appearance. What manner of life should you be living so that you are not ashamed (suffused with shame) when you are brought into His physical presence? You should be constantly abiding in Him in close fellowship to such a degree that His sudden appearance is simply a grand continuation of what is already at work within you. That is the only way that unworthy sinners like you and I can possibly hope to be without shame and with bold confidence (parresia—“freedom of speaking, unreservedness in speech, free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, assurance”). This kind of keen anticipation requires daily spiritual maintenance.

As verse 29 exhorts, “we know with an absolute knowledge that He is righteous.” This kind of knowledge requires that all those truly born again habitually practice such righteousness as His, as we “experientially know” all believers are called to the same manner of life. Live and proceed through your life knowing that the Lord will be made visible, and you will stand before His physical presence. Live so that you are not ashamed. Trust and obey.

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:6–8—NKJV)

The twelfth chapter of Romans is full of practical and crucial wisdom for the local church. It enjoins Christian grace, the band of brotherhood, spiritual progress for the body of Christ, and individual submission to the lordship of our Savior; all made visible in the harmony of the local body of Christ—your home church. It is a great chapter for church body life augmented by what every individual is designed to do within it.

It begins with a great call to self-dedicated, total submission to Jesus Christ (verses 1, 2). It is this profound understanding of personal debt to Christ that allows a sober evaluation of self-worth (verse 3). Any other assessment is prideful insanity, according to the text. The next two verses (4–5) express the relationship that God gives to each believer toward each other while playing a valuable part within the body of Christ. There is equality of membership but difference in function (i.e., mode of action), distinguishing among the members of the body of Christ.

This focus on function rather than specificity of gift is instructive for our understanding of the progressive revelation of gifts through the New Testament. Spiritual gifts start with great definition and perfect bestowal on the birth of the church at Pentecost at the outset of the Apostolic age (speaking in tongues, miracles; each form of gift designed to be a sign to Israel verifying the church as the work of God—1 Corinthians 1:22). As the Apostolic age unfolds, gifts (charisma) operate in the book of Acts within that construct. The exercise of charisma gifts are broadened and are highly regulated midway through the Apostolic age, useful in identifying the Word of God, as is seen in 1 Corinthians 12–14 and with the added anticipation that all such gifts will cease and die away. Then, as the Apostolic age comes to its conclusion, as the Apostles close out their ministry and progressive revelation unfolds in the rest of the New Testament, gifts take on more of today’s familiar, talent-oriented form in the rest of the church age—talents which must be practiced and exercised, as well as offices bestowed by the local church (Ephesians 4:11–12, 2 Timothy 1:6).

The functioning of the body is described in Romans 12:6–8, and the faithfulness of the brethren to each other is seen in 12:9–21. Like Acts 2:42, where the habits of the nascent church are described, the activity (function) of the local church is described with the talents practiced in verses 6–8. Prophecy is preaching, so defined in the context because it is proportioned (analogia, comparing point by point with something else) by “the faith” (the full body of revealed truth in the Word). Ministry is our word “deacon,” meaning “a servant in his activity”—the servant’s heart seen in works for others. Teaching is the function of maturity, using experiences to strengthen disciples. Exhorting is encouragement as in admonition, comforting, strengthening by coming alongside another. Giving is open-handed sharing since liberality means simplicity, mental honesty, openness of heart. Leading is to stand before in authority with the role of superintending with eager earnestness for the glory of God. Finally, merciful compassion and sympathy poured out to meet needs of others with amiable grace and ready cheerfulness. This is fitting behavior that arises from the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22) displayed in the corporate work and worship of the body of Christ. Now these are the gifts for which believers need to hone their skills. This is the commissioning, compassionate covenant of the local church as outlined in verses 9–21.

Every believer has within him the aid of the Holy Spirit ready to equip him to fill the function of one or more of these gifts within the body of Christ. Are you serving and utilizing your God-given talents? Trust and obey.

The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil. (Proverbs 19:23—NKJV)

There are a great many potential sources of satisfaction available throughout life. It is built into the nature of man to constantly seek out sources of satisfaction, while it is also the nature of man to find himself robbed of satisfaction. Dissatisfaction may come from a noble source, such as a driving desire to do better (otherwise known as discontent), or it may come from an ignoble source, such as comparing ourselves with some ill-conceived and deficient idea of success. It is the ignoble sources of dissatisfaction that Satan exploits, often through temptation.

As is always the case, a quick visit to the dictionary helps clarify our subject for further consideration. To satisfy is to fill the needs, expectations, wishes, or desires; content; gratify; to suffice, fulfill; the filling of requirements or conditions. The word is a component of the word “satisfactory.” It is this quality that makes it fitting for God to utilize it when speaking of His satisfaction at the atonement by His Holy Son. It means the settlement of a debt and the payment or discharge of an obligation. Christ’s atoning work actually bought the believer out of the slave market of sin by the payment of the ransom price. The wrath of God was satisfied and peace is forged (contentment between God and the redeemed).

While there is nothing wrong with planning and striving to perform better (which is what growing in godliness is), there is something wrong with being tempted and failing to be satisfied with the provision of God for today. The Hebrew word translated “satisfaction” in our verse can also be translated “satiated, filled with food, to be filled up.” You know the feeling when you have come in from a good day’s work in the bracing air, sit down to a warm bowl of stew, and eat until you are comfortable and satisfied. You know you will be hungry tomorrow, but nothing can rob you of the joy of being filled with goodness right now.

Spiritually speaking, there is the same blessing of satisfaction available to every believer. The “warm bowl of stew” in this verse is the fear of the Lord. Psalm 63:1–5 reads, “O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land…because Your lovingkindness is better than life…my soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and abundance, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.” It is this good fullness that is in view in Psalm 17:15: “As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.” True, God-engendered satisfaction is rooted deeply in revering fear and devoted allegiance to the Lord (Proverbs 1:7, 2:5, 3:7, 8:13, 9:10, as well as our verse above).

The beauty of the Word of God is that it sees past the distractions, reduces the complexities, and clears the fog of life, while it consistently reorients us to “true North” for our soul. Psalm 103:1–5 professes, “…Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” We would do well to echo Moses’ prayer request in Psalm 90:14, “Oh, satisfy us early (daybreak) with Your mercy (steadfast love), that we may rejoice and be glad (sing for joy) all our days!”

What temptation has crept into your life and robbed you of your daily satisfaction as a beloved child of God? Confess your faithlessness, live in the fear of the Lord, and echo the words of Paul in Philippians 4:11–13. Trust and obey.

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You. (Psalm 139:17–18—NKJV)

“Thinking of you” is a common class of greeting card designed to show that you care. It is appropriate to send when distance separates two people, when a person is going through sickness or some particularly challenging things in life, and when it has been a while since there has been a communication between two people. Sometimes you will use the phrase to let people know you will be in prayer for them. You will find yourself saying the words when you want to let our kids know that they are “in your thoughts” as they set out in life.

The sentiment means to communicate that you are never as far away from someone as the physical distance between you feels. But the problem is that as sincere as your heart means to be, the distance is still a factor; other obligations have taken priority, and your help may be slow in coming. Not so with God.

David, as he pens Psalm 139, is reflecting on the superlative nature, abilities, and quality of God. God’s omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience and His holiness captivate his thoughts as David speaks of God’s thorough and intimate knowledge of his heart. Only an infinite God can have such expansive thoughts.

There are four phrases in these two verses. Each phrase frames something infinite about the thoughts of God towards His loved ones. They can be outlined as follows: 1) How Precious! 2) How Great! 3) How Numberless! 4) How Certain!

How Precious! The word means weighty in quality and quantity. You know the age-old sense that what is heavier is stronger built and therefore more valuable and endurable. Who is it that is thinking of you? The very source of the thoughts sets the value of those thoughts apart from any similar sentiment of human origin. Jeremiah 29:11 reads, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” The infinite God is easily capable of total cognition of your finite life and the finite lives of all those who are His. His thoughts are not just kindly and fond; His thoughts are all encompassing, establishing a plan concerning you that knows all the chess moves of your life from eternity past to eternity future. Now those are the kind of thoughts worthy of God and worthy of eternal praise.

How Great! Literally, “how strong are the heads of them.” “Heads” would be the headings, subjects, topics of God’s many thoughts about you. God is not just occupied with “thinking of you;” He is occupied with a vast sum of topics of great importance to your welfare, your salvation, your development, your growth, your interest, your durability, your defense, your victory. Romans 8:32 says, “He who did not spare His Own Son…how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

How Numberless! The sand on the seashore is beyond number in its apparent infinity—only God is capable of that kind of thought life. When He thinks it is done. Psalm 40:5 explains, “Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.”

How Certain! Even when we forget Him, He cannot forget His own (Hebrews 13:5). Every single believer is ever under His watchful eye, in His mighty hand, and on His infinite mind. How undeserving we are! How blessed!

Now you are equipped to understand David’s final words in the psalm, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Trust and obey.

Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, o sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? (Proverbs 6:6–9—NKJV)

Little boys study bugs. There is a certain fascination and joy garnered by seeing how bugs behave. Ants seem always busy, intent, on a mission, and their vaunted strength is legendary. (Imagine if a man, pound for pound, were able to lift as much as an ant!) Slugs also hold our interest as they move ponderously slow, leave a slimy trail, and almost universally excite disgust. It is their glacial slowness that allows us to apply their name to the human behavior of laziness and slothfulness.

Just like slugs, there are no admirable synonyms for laziness. Indolent, slow, sluggish, indifferent, unmotivated, poky, idle, lethargic, and languid are never considered virtues. It is human nature to pursue idleness every chance we get. A mark of maturity, and definitive of manliness, is taking the initiative energetically. A study of slothfulness in the Scriptures leads to a fuller understanding of the maturity to which God calls each one of us.

Most of the uses of slothfulness/sluggardliness are found in the book of Proverbs. The first thing that stands out, upon a quick review of the verses, is that there is a great deal of personal loss and waste because of laziness. Proverbs 21:25 reads, “The desire of the lazy man kills him, for his hands refuse to labor” and 19:24 states, “a lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.” Solomon propounds that there is something of a stupor that laziness promotes in a person: “laziness casts one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.” (19:15) It appears that a habitually lazy person begins to think differently and therefore becomes self destructive. Proverbs 18:9 reads, “He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great destroyer” and 12:27 states, “the lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, but diligence is man’s precious possession.” There is a huge price to laziness as Proverbs 12:24 states, “the hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor.”

A maturing work ethic that makes a man a man and a woman a woman is found in the principles that Solomon puts forth.

• There is a simplicity in getting busy doing the hard thing: (15:19), “the way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, but the way of the upright is a highway.”
• There is a need to keep your eye on the essential things of life—never lose sight of the essentials: (6:6–11), “go to the ant, you sluggard!…A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep—so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.”
• There is never a reason for self-indulgence when there is work to be done (Ecclesiastes 10:18), “because of laziness the building decays, and through idleness of hands the house leaks.”
• There is always more wisdom you need to learn, wisdom you do not possess: (26:16), “the lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.”
• There is never a reason to let someone down: (10:26), “as vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy man to those who send him.”
• There is never a reason to quit instead of finish: (13:4), “the soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.”
• There is never an excuse: (22:13), “the lazy man says, ‘there is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!’”
• There is never a better time than now: (20:4), “the lazy man will not plow because of winter; he will beg during harvest and have nothing” and (24:30–34) “I went by the field of the lazy man…all overgrown with thorns…its stone wall broken down. When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction.”

Good, Christian work ethic is to chose to do the hard thing with a teachable spirit, energetically taking ownership, and not quit until you have finished. That is biblical maturity. Trust and obey.