The temptation to go for the quick fix is nothing new. But it is certainly heightened in our day. We put a premium on rapid solutions. We have become accustomed to buying and selling with the click of a button. In such a climate, we must be aware of God’s standard pattern for growth. His normal way is little by little. He made Israel gather just enough manna for the day, any more would spoil. Christ teaches us to pray each day for daily bread. God told Israel that He would drive out the nations before them “little by little,” and this for good reason, so that the beasts of the field would not increase upon them.

We often want things the other way around. We would like to ask the Lord one day a year for yearly bread, or, better yet, once in a lifetime for life-long bread. We want to see the Philistines driven out in one battle. And you shouldn’t put it past us to try our hand at alchemy because turning base metals into gold seems to be easier and faster than working hard to earn the gold.

But Proverbs says, “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: But he that gathereth by labour shall increase” (Proverbs 13:11).

We have a tendency to overestimate what can be done in one year, and to underestimate what can be done in twenty. So whatever field you are currently cultivating, be sure to do so with a steady hand, with patience and resolve. Don’t cut corners. Don’t give into envy or covetousness. Don’t despair when the wheat doesn’t pop out of the ground the day after your sowed the seed. The Lord calls you to labor with Him, and you must do so being steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 

Jared Longshore – January 14, 2024

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Today is the first Sunday of Epiphany, the liturgical season where we remember and celebrate the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. 

In particular, the church recalls the story of the pagan Magi, who traveled from the East in order to offer gifts and bow down before the prophesied Jewish King. For in this scene, we see an initial fulfillment of all the Old Covenant prophecies concerning the nations turning to God, the Gentiles from afar coming in to worship the Holy One of Israel. As the Lord spoke to His Messiah through the prophet Isaiah, “I will give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth” (49:6).

And so Epiphany is a reminder of Christ’s rule over all nations and His commission to the church to be His witnesses to them, that they may glorify Him and receive great joy in His salvation. 

This means that the work of foreign missions is not simply a nice add-on or optional program of the church. Christ is the Light to the Gentiles. And having established this work during His earthly sojourn, He now oversees its fulfillment by His Spirit in the work of the church, by yourwork, as you reflect His glory and shine your light before all men (Mt. 5:14–16). 

This of course begins by first being a light to your families and this community. But you must not stop there. It is a great privilege and honor that Christ has called you to be a part of His plan to make disciples of all nations.

And so in this new year, consider how you and your families may participate in extending His kingdom abroad. In your family prayers, pray for God’s global work and any missionaries that you know by name. As you are able, give financial support to efforts you trust, such as the work of the Madsen family in Zambia. And if there is any desire or interest on your part, do not be afraid to ask God if it may be His will for you to be sent out as well. For the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are still few (Mt. 9:37).

Christ will receive the full reward of His suffering. All the ends of the earth will turn to the Lord and bow down before Him (Ps. 22:27). And this is the joy of Epiphany.

Shawn Paterson – January 7, 2024

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The vastness and immensity of God presents us finite folk with lovely paradoxes. Consider this one: the knowledge and power of God are truly unbounded, and yet He cares about the smallest detail of your life and doings. This is both comfort and warning.

It is undeniable comfort to remember that the King of Heaven—the one who created and upholds all things and has cherubim at His command and who dwells in unapproachable light—is intimately involved in the affairs of men. This is His story, and he is working all things to His glory and to the good of His people. We are in uncertain times, but the purposes of God are ever faithful, ever sure. It looks to us like the world around us is going up in flame, and it might be, but if so, it is a controlled burn set by the divine fire chief for His good pleasure. Nothing can thwart God’s plans and purposes. We are all of us in the palm of His hand. This is comfort.

But there is warning as well. And here is the paradox: the great and omnipotent God of the cosmos has crafted a story so great that the choices of the characters truly matter. It would be easy to stop halfway and say, “I’m just along for the ride. God is doing whatever He’s doing, and I’m just a passive observer.” The ditch on one side is fearful anxiety, and the ditch on the other side is slothful presumption; we must avoid both.

When we gather in the presence of God with the saints on the Lord’s Day, we walk the path between the ditches. We come to worship at the throne of the Almighty God, acknowledging His supreme power and authority over all things. And also we come to hear the commands of God proclaimed and explained. We come to confess our sins and to receive forgiveness and to be equipped and strengthened for godly living.

Joshua Edgren – January 7, 2024

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Calvin was absolutely right that man’s heart is an idol factory. And the men and women of our day seem hellbent on setting up their feelings as little deities. They offer pinches of incense to them on nearly every street corner. Even so, feelings make terrible gods. You would be far better off worshipping the gods of the Roman Pantheon. If you’re really going to turn your back on the Living God, go for Zeus, Aphrodite, or Apollo. At least then, you might have an interesting story to tell, albeit a tragic one. At least then, you could pretend to be reaching outside of yourself. All of this talk about following your heart is not only worthy of the flames of hell, it is also remarkably boring.

Your feelings are meant to be commanded. They should line up and follow you along the way. If they are being unruly, that is no worry. That is what feelings often do. Just give them a spanking and tell them to sit up straight, shut their mouths, and act right. But, says an evangelical who has joined the Philistines of our age, “What then could I write in my journal if indeed I tell my feelings to hush?” Well, you don’t have to throw the journal away. But if you are going to keep it, you should start writing Bible verses down and then use your pen to describe how you are going to trust those words more fully and obey them more diligently. As Martyn Lloyd Jones once wisely said, “Most of our problems in life come from the fact that we are listening to ourselves rather than talking to ourselves.” Control your emotions. Discipline them. This work is not too hard for you. This self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, and He has been poured out in your hearts.

Jared Longshore – January 7, 2024

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