March 22, 2024, marks 15 years since my ordination at First Baptist Atlanta. This special occasion marks my first ordination without having my ordaining pastor, the late Charles Stanley, who died in April of 2023. As far as I know, I stand last in a long line of men ordained into the gospel ministry under Dr. Charles Stanley's time at First Baptist.
As strange as it sounds to speak,
Christians say there is an eighth day of the week.
Of course we know our calendar has seven,
But Christians say eight to suggest there is a heaven.
The first day of the week refers to the beginning of something new
But when Christians say eighth we are looking ahead to all that God will do.
Jesus was dead as dead, but that is not all that was said,
We wait to hear the amen, for tomorrow he rises again!
On Friday Jesus took the cross.
His hour had come,
The world would see,
What it means for God to love you and me.
As we think about the changes the pandemic has brought to our world, I want us to think carefully and clearly about what matters most. Followers of Jesus have a confession that stands above any challenge. We have a bold assurance that looks in the face of strong diversity and says, “there will be a brighter tomorrow because he lives.”
Remember, as you listen to cultural commentary through headlines, news programs, or even television, as you listen to many who will attempt to call for thankfulness without God, remember your reason for thankfulness is Jesus. On Thanksgiving Day, Christian confession takes the high ground and lets the light we have been given shine like a city on a hill.
God gives his people a ministry of prayer not only to assure us as we live but to hasten the day. Legislation reveals the authorities' heart, but God uses the prayers of his people to turn the tides towards his gospel purposes. God’s ear is towards his people, and he commands us to pray for the world to turn towards him.
More important than any skill, trade, or talent, fearing the Lord is the gateway and guardrail of Wisdom’s Way. Those traveling the roadway enter through fearing the Lord and are kept on the path through the fear of the Lord. Everything else is secondary in this life compared to godliness. Eventually, everyone will know this. Until then, God uses our lives to display his work in us as he often carries us along Wisdom’s Pathway as he Patterns us after the Proverbs.
Wisdom’s Pathway is often uphill. When those moments of opportunity to be wise come, we have the assurance of trusting in the Lord with all of our hearts knowing that he whose words always prove true, who is a shield to those who take refuge in him, will make a crooked path straight. He calls us to walk and trust in him.
Wisdom enables us to distinguish what truly matters. Ensure you are tending and keeping what will last forever. Wisdom’s perspective provides serenity. There is an endless joy when a heart aligns its ways with seeking God’s ways. Seeking God’s ways means trusting in him with all of our hearts, forever.
A wise warning against alcohol and drunkenness. Those who ask is it right to drink should consider the Proverbs and ask a different question. The Proverbs, again and again, warn about the dangers of beverage alcohol. Ask not, is it right to drink? Ask instead, is it wise to drink? The Proverbs is clear, drinking is a road marker on the pathway of folly. Wisdom calls us to avoid it.
© Timothy Andrew Brown, 2024.
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