CYPRESSWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST
March 19, 2006
PETITIONS TO GOD:
Our congregation Various friends, relatives and co-workers
Our nation, military and leaders James and Leon in the Army
Our students Ben Oller traveling from California
BABY SHOWER for Coco next Sunday at 3 P.M. Details are on the bulletin board.
ANCIENT WORDS
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105).
We are a people of the book, as some would say. An old preacher’s story tells of a court in Tennessee. The first witness was called. When they came to administer the oath, there was no Bible so the judge asked if there was a member of the church of Christ present. Many preachers have memorized huge sections of scripture including the whole New Testament. People carried their Bibles with them to the assembly. We knew scripture.
Over the years things have changed. Many became comfortable with certain sections of scripture, familiar with the arguments and interpretations, and have stopped seeking in scripture. Others are not as familiar with scripture, have not studied it, and rarely open their Bibles. Some have heard the words, many times, but have failed to practice what is said, causing others to question their choices. It is Jesus who makes it very clear in much of His teaching that hearing the word is one thing, that putting it into practice is another (see Matthew 7:24-27). We have lost our desire to understand scripture. It might be because we are satisfied with the way we live and have justified some very poor actions in speech and life (gossip for instance) rather than facing the challenge of a transformed life. We have become comfortable with point the finger at someone else and criticizing them for their actions and beliefs rather then realizing that scripture was written to me, and challenges my actions and beliefs as well. We are not alone in this, by the way, as N.T. Wright points out in his book, The Last Word.
There’s a song in our song book, Praise Hymns, that might challenge us to be better students of the word. It’s called Ancient Words (p. 178). Let’s take a look it.
“Holy words long preserved for our walk in this world,
They resound with God’s own heart.”
When we consider how old the Bible is, some four thousand years of history involved, and yet still relevant for today, we know that God has been involved in preserving for us His word. It is more than just being preserved, it is for our walk in this world as well. The Psalmist wrote Psalm 119 as a Psalm of praise at the power of the word of the Lord. He meditated on it (vs. 15) and hid it in his heart (vs. 11). It was a light for his path (vs. 105). The word was more than just something to memorize, it was to be put into practice. As the song captures it, “They resound with God’s own heart.” The Bible is God speaking His heart to us. Keep in mind that there are various aspects to that from love for His people to judging them for their sinfulness to redemption and forgiveness to sharing in our pain. When we read scripture, we are seeing the heart of God revealed in a way to show us how we should live or walk in this world.
“O let the ancient words impart, Words of life, words of hope,
Give us strength, help us cope;
In this world where’er we roam, Ancient words will guide us home.”
People who saw Jesus were often amazed at His word; He taught as One who had authority. Others saw the miracles, and even wanted more miracles, but could not develop faith in Him. They searched the scriptures but missed Jesus (see John 5:39-40). Even Thomas demanded to see the scars of Jesus before he would believe (20:24-28). The greater blessing is to those who have not seen and yet believed (vs. 29). The words of the miracles were given to cause and deepen belief in Jesus (vs. 30-31). The words point to the God of love, who gives us life. Beyond that, they are words of hope, of confident expectation in the promises of God that what He promised for eternal life will be given to us. They are words that “help us cope” with life. Paul had a thorn in the flesh that he prayed three times to be removed (see 2 Corinthians 12). It wasn’t because God told him that the pain of the thorn would keep his focus on God, where it needed to be, and not on himself. The name it and claim it, health and wealth gospel too often preached today fails people; it is not the gospel of Jesus. It is not that they do not say some good things, but the idea is that if I have faith, then God should bless me, and if He blesses me, I will have more faith. What happens when the cycle is broken, when disease is not healed, when finances bottom out, when marriage is broken? Job comes to mind. His theology said one thing but his experience said another. He had to confront his theology that he shared with his friends. His friends refused the challenged and in the end were wrong. David wrote a number of Psalms in which he cried out, “How long, O Lord?”
Paul reminds us that we are pilgrims in this world (Philippians 3:20). Wherever we are, scripture will guide us home. We are headed to an eternal home with God in Christ. The words will lead us there. Let’s keep in mind, these words point us to the living God, and to His resurrected Son. The words reveal and explain God and it is God who gives us life as the words work in us (see Hebrews 4:12).
“Holy words of our faith handed down to this age
Came to us through sacrifice; O heed the faithful words of Christ..”
Redemption is in view here. The Bible is God’s record of redemptive activity for those whom He created but has not left alone. They tell God’s story in the lives of people who in various ways walked with or against Him. Ultimately, the sacrifice of Jesus becomes the number one event in history. Everything before and after points to the hill of Calvary in Jerusalem, despite what secularist and others say.
“Holy words long preserved for out walk in this world;
They resound with God’s own heart
O, let the ancient words impart.”
The words tell us of the redemptive fellowship God desires for us. There is much debate today on how to present the word to people. We live between the modern and postmodern worlds. The modern world sees reason and evidence, the postmodern world pictures and emotions. Surprisingly, the holy words will confront both groups.
“Ancient words, ever true, changing me, and changing you;
We have come with open hearts, O let the ancient words impart.”
The words are true and life changing. The key is to have an open heart. Are we willing to change? We say it but do we meant it? And more importantly, do we practice it? These words are spoken to all but it is tempting to look at others and say this is what you need to do. First, we must look at ourselves and realize those words are spoken to me, for me to change. Read David’s lament seeking forgiveness (Psalm 51). His is a personal cry. He doesn’t look at anyone else but himself. In another Psalm, he asked God to search him inside, a very personal thing (Psalm 139). Too often we look at the faults of others but first we need to see ourselves (Matthew 7:1-5). I can see specks of dust in others but not logs in me that blind me. The words, if taken to heart and put into practice, will change us and challenge us in our lives. Maybe we are too satisfied for that to happen, too complacent about the way things are, liking the way we are and unwilling to change, so we ignore those texts that bother us, or rationalize them away, or justify our actions so as not to change. Gossip becomes passing along information. Lust becomes love. Anger becomes righteous indignation. Selfishness and greed becomes God’s blessings. Pride and getting my way becomes defending the faith. Humility and seeking what is best for others becomes being walked all over.
When examined, this song offers us challenging thoughts. God’s word will go out and accomplish what God intends, whether we like it or not (Isaiah 55:8-11). God will confront us one way or another. We will be challenged to live His words. The question: how well are we willing to listen and practice the words of God?
George B. Mearns