Psalm 31:14-15

But I trust in you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God."
My times are in your hands…
(Psalm 31:14-15a NIV)

A while ago I read this verse in a devotional reading I was doing and it really jumped out at me. I decided to memorize it immediately, and I find myself often repeating this verse in my head. It’s proven to be a verse of great comfort!
So, as I usually do when I have a verse that I particularly find myself mulling over, I read as much about it as possible to grasp its fullness.
This passage had quite a bit of commentary on it, and here’s what I all learned about it:

Verse 14a – “But I trust in you, O LORD”…
Paraphrasing John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible: this verse focuses on the fact that David’s faith was revived again and was set upon the Lord, after all of the discouraging views he had of things. He committed himself to Him, believing He was able to help him and deliver him in his time of trouble.
Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible expounds this, saying, “everything looked black and dismal round about [David], and threatened to drive him to despair: “But I trust in you, O LORD” and was thereby kept from sinking. His enemies robbed him of his reputation among men, but they could not rob him of his comfort in God, because they could not drive him from his confidence in God.”
Spurgeon comments that, “notwithstanding all afflicting circumstances, David's faith maintained its hold, and was not turned aside from its object.” He makes this applicable to us reminding us that “so long as our faith, which is our shield, is safe, the battle may go hard, but its ultimate result is no matter of question.”

Verse 14b – “I say, You are my God”…
This phrase has so much confident power in it… as Matthew Henry looked at it, it’s as though David is saying here, “I have chosen you for me, and you have promised to be mine.” Henry’s commentary continues: “and, if he be ours and we can by faith call him so, it is enough when we can call nothing else ours.” What a comfort, and what a wonderful truth to have such confidence in!
Spurgeon explains this further as he says, “[David] proclaimed aloud his determined allegiance to Jehovah. He was no fair weather believer, he could hold to his faith in a sharp frost, and wrap it about him as a garment fitted to keep out all the ills of time.” What a great way of wording it… “determined allegiance” – that is exactly what we see here in this short, yet powerful phrase.

Verse 15a – “My times are in Your hands”…
To start very simply, the word “times” is here translated as being one’s “course of life” (Jamieson, Faussett and Brown). To make this phrase personal, one can say:
“Whatever changes come, you govern them by your providence” (Geneva Study Bible); or “My times - all the affairs and events of my life, are wholly in thy power” (John Wesley’s Notes on the Bible).
Matthew Henry really brings this verse – “my times are in Your hands” – to the believer’s life as he expands on it further, saying, “If God has our times in his hand, he can help us; and, if he is our God, he will help us; and then what can discourage us? It is a great support to those who have God for their God that their times are in his hand and he will be sure to order and dispose of them for the best, to all those who commit their spirits also into his hand, to suit them to their times, as David here. The time of life is in God's hands, to lengthen or shorten, embitter or sweeten, as he pleases, according to the counsel of his will. Our times (all events that concern us, and the timing of them) are at God's disposal; they are not in our own hands, for the way of man is not in himself, not in our friends' hands, nor in our enemies' hands, but in God's.”
Spurgeon gives a beautiful word picture of this, stating that the “sovereign arbiter of destiny holds in his own power all the issues of our life; we are not waifs and strays upon the ocean of fate, but are steered by infinite wisdom towards our desired haven. Providence is a soft pillow for anxious heads, an anodyne for care, a grave for despair.”

The Almighty Appeared

“It is here, in the thing that happened at the first Christmas, that the most profound unfathomable depths of the Christian revelation lie. God became man;... the Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, unable to do more than lie and stare and wriggle and make noises, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child... The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the incarnation.”

- J. I. Packer

To Us a Child Is Born

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress.
In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
but in the future he will honour Galilee of the Gentiles,
by the way of the sea, along the Jordan-
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest,
as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian's defeat,
you have shattered the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior's boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
- Isaiah 9:1-6



The Birth of Jesus

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
- Luke 2:1-20



The Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.
- John 1:1-18

Luke 2:19

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Today I want to look at one simple phrase found in Luke 2:19 – “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” I had always been curious about that statement… why was it included? What is the significance of her “pondering them in her heart”? What does this tell us about Mary?
There’s no earth-shattering answer to those questions, but different commentaries about this verse did point out some interesting observations I’d like to share.

First, in McGarvey and Pendleton’s commentary, it is pointed out that “the silence of Mary contrasts with the talkativeness of the shepherds. But it is the duty of Christians both to ponder and to publish.” This commentary also notes an interesting thing that is that only Mary could have known the fact stated here (that she pondered these things in her heart) – therefore, the statement indicates that Luke got these parts of his gospel from Mary herself.

Mary had much to think about. “The angelic messages to Zacharias, to herself, and to the shepherds were full of significance, and her mind would search diligently to comprehend the fullness of their meaning.” It was pointed out that she said nothing of these things to others, “lest she should be thought an enthusiast, or a vain boaster; and therefore left things, till time should make a discovery of them in a proper way, and in the best season.” One commentator said that “in her quiet thoughtfulness the beauty of the virgin’s character shines forth.”

Another point drawn out was the fact that Mary’s name was most likely quite “smeared” at that time… living in a small town and showing to be pregnant before she was allowed to be with Joseph, there’s no doubt that people talked and gossiped about this. And yet she “silently left it to God to clear up her virtue, when that was suspected, so she silently leaves it to him to publish her honour, now when it was veiled; and it is satisfaction enough to find that, if no one else takes notice of the birth of her child, angels do.”
Matthew Henry also notes a point of application to be found in this, which is that “the truths of Christ are worth keeping; and the way to keep them safe is to ponder them. Meditation is the best help to memory.”

Joy

Today is the third Sunday of Advent.
The candle that is lit today represents JOY. A verse that is usually read with this third candle is Isaiah 9:6-7...

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government
and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Luke 2 - pt.2

John Darby's synopsis of Luke 2, pt. 2:

We see next, that there are three things brought out by the presence of Jesus born as a child on the earth. First, glory to God in the highest. The love of God - His wisdom - His power - the fulfilment of His eternal counsels - the perfection of His ways where evil had come in - the manifestation of Himself amidst the evil in such a manner as to glorify Himself before the angels: in a word, God had so manifested Himself by the birth of Jesus, that the hosts of heaven, long familiar with His power, could raise their chorus, "Glory to God in the highest!" and every voice unites in sounding forth these praises. What love is like this love? What a purely divine thought, that God has become man! What supremacy of good over evil! What wisdom in drawing nigh to the heart of man and the heart of man back to Him! What fitness in addressing man! What maintenance of the holiness of God! What nearness to the heart of man, what participation in his wants, what experience of his condition! But beyond all, God above the evil in grace, and in that grace visiting this defiled world to make Himself known as He had never yet been known!

The second effect of the presence of Him who manifested God on the earth is that peace should be there. Rejected - His name should be an occasion of strife; but the heavenly choir are occupied with the fact of His presence… All was wrapped up in Him. The state of blessing was born in the birth of that child. Jesus was their surety. He was come into the world. The presence of the Son of God in the midst of sinners said to all spiritual intelligence, "Peace on the earth."

The third thing was the good pleasure - the affection of God in men. Nothing more simple, since Jesus was a man. He had not taken hold of angels. It was a glorious testimony that the affection, the good pleasure, of God was centred in this poor race, now far from Him, but in which He was pleased to accomplish all His glorious counsels. In a word, it was the power of God present in grace in the Person of the Son of God taking part in the nature, and interesting Himself in the lot, of a being who had departed from Him, and making him the sphere of the accomplishment of all His counsels, and of the manifestation of His grace and His nature to all His creatures. What a position for man! for it is indeed in man that all this is accomplished. The whole universe was to learn in man, and in what God therein was for man, that which God was in Himself, and the fruit of all His glorious counsels, as well as its complete rest in His presence, according to His nature of love. All this was implied in the birth of that child of whom the world took no notice. Natural and marvellous subject of praise to the holy inhabitants of heaven, unto whom God had made it known! It was glory to God in the highest.

Luke 2 - pt.1

I was recently reading John Darby's Synopsis of the Bible - specifically his synopsis of Christ's birth - and thought I would share what he wrote. I hope you enjoy reading the things that he gleaned from Luke 2.

He starts by talking of the census, and the revealing of God's plan through it (Luke 2:1):
The emperor will have all the world registered, and every one goes to his own city. But this act only accomplishes the marvellous purpose of God, causing the Saviour-king to be born in the village where, according to the testimony of God, that event was to take place. And, more than that, the divine Person, who was to excite the joy and the praises of heaven, is born among men, Himself a child in this world.

Darby then discusses Christ's coming into this world - a world that "knew Him not" (Luke 2:4-7):
The state of things in Israel and in the world, is the supremacy of the Gentiles and the absence of the throne of God. The Son of man, the Saviour, God manifested in the flesh, comes to take His place - a place which grace alone could find or take in a world that knew Him not.
The Son of God is born in this world, but He finds no place there. The world is at home, or at least by its resources it finds a place, in the inn; it becomes a kind of measure of man's place in, and reception by, the world; the Son of God finds none, save in the manger. Is it for nothing that the Holy Ghost records this circumstance? No. There is no room for God, and that which is of God, in this world. So much the more perfect therefore is the love that brought Him down to earth. But He began in a manger and ended on the cross, and along the way had not where to lay His head. The Son of God - a child, partaking in all the weakness and all the circumstances of human life, thus manifested-appears in the world. But if God comes into this world, and if a manger receives Him, in the nature He had taken in grace, the angels are occupied with the event on which depends the fate of the whole universe, and the accomplishment of all the counsels of God; for He has chosen weak things to confound things that are mighty. This poor infant is the object of all the counsels of God, the upholder and heir of the whole creation, the Saviour of all who shall inherit glory and eternal life.

He then talks of the shepherds (Luke 2:8-9):
Some poor men who were faithfully performing their toilsome labours, afar from the restless activity of an ambitious and sinful world, receive the first tidings of the Lord's presence on earth. The God of Israel did not seek for the great among His people, but had respect to the poor of the flock. Two things here present themselves. The angel who comes to the shepherds of Judea announces to them the fulfilment of the promises of God to Israel. The choir of angels celebrate in their heavenly chorus of praise all the real import of this wondrous event.

And then the angelic proclamation (Luke 2:10-14):
"Unto you," says the heavenly messenger who visits the poor shepherds, "is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." This was proclaiming good tidings to them and to all the people. But in the birth of the Son of man, God manifest in the flesh, the accomplishment of the incarnation had far deeper importance than this. The fact that this poor infant was there, disallowed and left (humanly speaking) to its fate by the world, was (as understood by the heavenly intelligences, the multitude of the heavenly host, whose praises resounded at the angel's message to the shepherds) "Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good pleasure [of God] in men." These few words embrace such widely extended thoughts, that it is difficult to speak suitably of them in a work like this; but some remarks are necessary. First, it is deeply blessed to see that the thought of Jesus excludes all that could oppress the heart in the scene which surrounded His presence on earth. Sin, alas! was there. It was manifested by the position in which this wondrous infant was found. But if sin had placed Him there, grace had placed Him there. Grace superabounds; and in thinking of Him, blessing, grace, the mind of God respecting sin, that which God is, as manifested by the presence of Christ, absorb the mind and possess the heart, and are the heart's true relief in a world like this. We see grace alone; and sin does but magnify the fullness, the sovereignty, the perfection of that grace. God, in His glorious dealings, blots out the sin with respect to which He acts, and which He thus exhibits in all its deformity; but there is that which "much more aboundeth." Jesus, come in grace, fills the heart. It is the same thing in all the details of Christian life. It is the true source of moral power, of sanctification, and of joy.

Tomorrow we will continue to look at Darby's synopsis and focus on three things brought out by the presence of Jesus born as a child on the earth.

Peace

Today is the second Sunday of Advent…
The second candle lit today represents PEACE. Scripture verses that are usually looked at with this candle include Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11, and Isaiah 2:1-5.


"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."
- Micah 5:2


The Visit of the Magi
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
… After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
- Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11


The Mountain of the Lord
This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.
Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
- Isaiah 2:1-5

Angelic Proclamation

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests."

- Luke 2:13-14

Today I simply want to look at different commentary quotes about Luke 2:13-14. The angelic proclamation is so powerful and such a beautiful thing to envision, so I couldn’t help but look up what is all said about these verses…

First of all, looking at the words “great company” – or as some translations word it, “a multitude” – we see, as McGarvey and Pendleton’s commentary says, “the event was too important to be heralded by any one angel. All heaven was interested in the departure of its Prince, and marvelled at the grace of the Father who sent him.”
John Gill points out that it is “said here to be a multitude, for the angels are innumerable; there are thousands, ten thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand of them: it may be rendered "the multitude," and may intend the whole company of angels, who were all of them together to sing the praises of God, and glorify him at the birth of the incarnate Saviour, as well as to adore him.” What a picture!

Then, looking at the words “heavenly host” there are a couple of descriptions that give further explanations of who these “heavenly hosts” were:
First, they are called simply, “God’s army” – but, though an army, they have come to announce and celebrate the coming of eternal peace! Another wording is “the militia of heaven” or “the ministers of God.” As “ministers of God” they wait upon Him, and do His pleasure; and are sent forth here to minister to His people.

As mentioned above, the angels announced peace… and there was also more to that – for they were “praising God on account of the birth of Christ, and the redemption that was to be obtained by him, for elect men; which shows their friendly disposition to them, and how much they rejoice at their spiritual and eternal welfare. And thus, as at the laying of the foundation of the earth, these "morning stars sang together, and all these sons of God shouted for joy," they did the same when the foundation of man's salvation was laid in the incarnation of the Son of God.”
John Welsey points out that “with the Redeemer’s birth, peace, and all kind of happiness, come down to dwell on earth: the overflowing of Divine good will and favour are now exercised toward men.”

What a reason to praise God and glorify Him! And what a perfect way to welcome the Saviour!

Isaiah 7:9b

If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all. (NIV)

If you will not believe, you surely shall not last. (NASB)

If you are not firm in faith,you will not be firm at all. (ESV)

If your faith is not strong, you will not have strength enough to last. (NCV)

Isaiah 7:9b has always been one of my favourite verses of the Bible. It’s one that I turn to in my head often. I suppose you could say it’s my “life verse” as some people word it. I’d read the book of Isaiah before, but in this section Isaiah is talking about King Ahaz and the Assyrians and war, and I reckon I just didn’t take much notice of this particular verse. But re-reading it again several years ago, this little part in verse 9 jumped out at me:
“If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all” (NIV). What a powerful truth in so few words!
Now, I know that quoting just these two lines might result in many people telling me I’m taking it out of context… but even though these words were directed to King Ahaz and the nation of Israel being established, I think these words are true for us today – no matter the context.

We may not be facing an army and trusting in Assyrians rather than on God… but we do face all sorts of things every day of our lives. Throughout the Bible we are told countless times to “stand firm”: 1 Corinthians 16:13 says “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong,” Ephesians 6 talks about the armour of God and tells us to “stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place…” James 5:8 reminds us to “be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.” Isaiah 7:9b is yet another verse which, to me, reminds me of the utter importance of standing firm in our faith as it is followed by a warning that tells us that if we don’t, we will not stand at all.

Thinking of this – standing firm in faith – there are a few quick commentary references I’d like to point out taken from Isaiah 7:9…
Jamieson, Faussett and Brown bring out the fact that there is a play on words here… in Hebrew this can be translated as: “If you will not confide, you will not abide.” And this is a very true warning that Ahaz needed to hear. Unfortunately he didn’t listen, and brought distress on himself by distrust in the Lord and trust in Assyria. He was warned that his shaken and distorted state would not be established; that though the things that were told to him were very encouraging, they would not be so to him unless he believed them and would be willing to take God at His word. This is so true of us today, who, when facing trials, attempt to fix things or produce results on our own or in other things other than God. Who, rather than taking God at His word and remembering His promises and love, decide to trust in the world or others for protection or comfort.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary states that “Faith is absolutely necessary to quiet and compose the mind in trials.” How absolutely true this is! And as this was true for the Israelites at the time this was written, it’s also true for us today.
John Darby writes about this verse saying that it was a reminder to the people of the time that they were not to be troubled by the fear of the people, but rather that they were to “sanctify Jehovah of hosts Himself, and give Him all His true importance in their hearts. He will be their sanctuary in the day of their trouble.”

This is why this verse is so applicable to us all each and every day. If we stand firm in our faith – if we give Him all His true importance in our heart – He will be our comfort, our protection, our everything. If we do not stand firm in our faith – if we give way to fear, to the world, to distress and distrust – then we will not stand at all.

1 Peter 1:13-16

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” 1 Peter 1:13-16 (NIV)

I was particularly drawn to this verse today as I thought about what it meant to be “obedient children” and to “not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance” and of course, how to be “holy in all you do.” So I started going through different commentaries to see what they had to say. Most of them were based on the wording of this text in the KJV, so as I look at this verse by verse, I’ll note both versions.

First, let’s look at the first bit – verse 13:

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary outlines it, saying, “Be sober, be watchful against all spiritual dangers and enemies, and be temperate in all behaviour. Be sober-minded in opinion, as well as in practice, and humble in your judgment of yourselves. A strong and perfect trust in the grace of God, is agreeable with best endeavours in our duty.”

And into the phrase “obedient children” – John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible defines “obedient children” as “Children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” who “ought to be followers of him, and imitate him in holiness and righteousness, and show themselves to be obedient ones to his Gospel and ordinances, as children ought to honour, and obey, and imitate their parents.”
An interesting way to think of it is also to look at what Barton W. Johnson says, when he explains that “the divisions between God's children and the children of this world turns on obedience to God.”

Continuing, the verse says that as obedient children, we are not to “conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance” (NIV) – or as the KJV puts it – “not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance.”
John Darby’s Synopsis of the Bible puts it simply, saying that we are “…to walk as obedient children, no longer following the lusts that had led them in the days of their ignorance.” The Geneva Study Bible explains this command as consisting of two things, which are mainly the ‘putting off’ of, or renouncing, our lusts, and ‘putting on’ of godly living. John Gill points out the connection between this phrase, and that in Romans 12:2: “be not conformed to this world.” And here it gets detailed! He says, “to be conformed, or fashioned to the world, is to be fashioned to the lusts of it; and to be fashioned to the lusts of it is to indulge them, to make provision for them, to obey them, to live and walk in them; which should not be done by the children of God, and who profess themselves to be obedient ones to the Gospel, which teaches otherwise; and that because they are lusts, foolish, hurtful, and deceitful ones, ungodly ones; the lusts of the devil, as well as of the world, and of the flesh, and which war against the soul; and because they are "former" ones, which they served in a time of unregeneracy, and were now convinced and ashamed of, and therefore should no longer live to them.”
That they were “lusts in ignorance” means that they were “those which they had indulged in a state of ignorance… when they knew not God, especially in Christ, and were ignorant of his righteousness, and of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, as committed against a law that was holy and spiritual; nor did they know Christ, and the way of salvation by him. But now they were made light in the Lord, and had knowledge of all these things; and therefore, as their light increased, and the grace of God, bringing salvation, appeared unto them, and shone out on then, it became them to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and not to walk as they had done before.”
To sum up this particular section, Barton W. Johnson brings it all together simply as he says, “The spirit of obedience would cause [believers] to turn away from their former sinful life when in ignorance of the gospel,” and Matthew Henry notes that these words “may be taken as an argument to press [believers] to holiness from the consideration of what they now are, children of obedience, and what they were when they lived in lust and ignorance.”

Then we move on to the last command: “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy” – or – “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation...”

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary introduces this wonderfully as he notes:
“Holiness is the desire and duty of every Christian. It must be in all affairs, in every condition, and towards all people. We must especially watch and pray against the sins to which we are inclined. The written word of God is the surest rule of a Christian's life, and by this rule we are commanded to be holy every way. God makes those holy whom he saves.”
John Gill digs into this command and states that to be holy is to be like God the Father, “who had called them, not merely in an external way, by the outward ministry of the word; but internally, powerfully, and efficaciously, by his Spirit and grace; and who had called them to holiness of life and conversation, as well as in calling had implanted principles of holiness in them, and therefore is said to call them with an holy calling; and who himself is holy, naturally, perfectly, and originally, and in such sense as no creature is, angels or men; and is glorious in holiness, and is the source and fountain of holiness in others.”
He explains this type of holiness as this: “To be holy in this sense is an imitating of God, a copying after him, though he is far from being equalled by a sinful creature, or even by an angel in heaven; however, the arguments to it, taken from the nature of God, and of his effectual calling to grace and holiness, are very strong and powerful; for it is walking worthy of him, who has called us to his kingdom and glory; and walking worthy of that calling wherein we are called; and a following of God, as dear and obedient children; and what is according to his will, and what he directs unto, and requires, as appears from what follows.”
Barton W. Johnson says this in a straightforward manner, stating, “We must not only submit to God's commands but seek to imitate his holiness.” And Jamieson, Faussett and Brown point out the fact that “God is our grand model” and that as “Christians are already holy unto God by consecration; they must be so also in their outward walk and behaviour in all respects. The outward must correspond to the inward man.”

Matthew Henry then brought out the exact thing that I had been mulling over… How can we be holy? Or as Henry puts it, “Who is sufficient for this? And yet it is required in strong terms.”
John Gill points out that internal holiness is “God’s work, and not the creature’s act; it is the sanctification of the Spirit, of which he is the author.”
Jamieson, Faussett and Brown further point out that “God, in giving the command, is willing to give also the power to obey it, namely, through the sanctifying of the Spirit.”

In conclusion of mulling over this all, I want to point out several things that the Matthew Henry Bible Commentary discussed as areas of which to learn and apply:

1. The children of God ought to prove themselves to be such by their obedience to God, by their present, constant, universal obedience.
2. The best of God's children have had their times of lust and ignorance, but when converted, differ exceedingly from what they were formerly. They are people of another fashion and manner from what they were before; their inward frame, behaviour, speech, and conversation, are much altered from what they were in times past.
3. The grace of God in calling a sinner is a powerful engagement to holiness. It is a great favour to be called effectually by divine grace out of a state of sin and misery into the possession of all the blessings of the new covenant; and great favours are strong obligations; they enable as well as oblige to be holy.
4. Complete holiness is the desire and duty of every Christian. We must be holy, as God is holy: we must imitate him, though we can never equal him. He is perfectly, unchangeably, and eternally holy; and we should aspire after such a state. The consideration of the holiness of God should oblige as to the highest degree of holiness we can attain unto.
5. The written word of God is the surest rule of a Christian's life, and by this rule we are commanded to be holy every way.

The Word

This week was VBS at my church and I've been there helping out every day and just loving it. And one of my absolute favourite parts of VBS is always the singing/songs the kids learn. Talk about catchy little tunes! And it's pretty much an unarguable fact that the adults/leaders love the songs (and doing the actions) just as much as the kids do... if not more. Which is why most of us can still remember the words and actions to VBS songs from years ago, and why I'm certain all of the leaders from this year's specific program will be walking around singing "Wiki-Wiki" for years to come. Though the songs are "kids songs" and may seem like they're just for fun, they're actually much more than that. They are songs that speak of God's truth and His Son and His Word. And these songs stick with these kids, planting seeds about these truths. So I'm going to share a VBS song today! Today's main focus was the Bible, so this song is all about God's Word... and it may be a "kid's song" but the lyrics are ageless:

In the beginning was the Word
And it was with God and was God
Before an eye had seen or ear had heard
There was the Word

I know the Bible is God’s Word
His written promises to earth
It is the lamp unto the feet of those who believe
In His Word

The Word is perfect truth
The Word is what I cling to
Unbreakable, unshakeable Word of God
I love the Word of God

I know the Bible is God’s Word
His written promises to earth
It is the lamp unto the feet of those who believe
In His Word

The Word is perfect truth
The Word is what I cling to
Unbreakable, unshakeable Word of God
I love the Word

Page after page it teaches me
Day after day it speaks to me
And leads me in the ways of righteousness

The Word is perfect truth
The Word is what I cling to
Unbreakable, unshakeable Word of God
I love the Word I love the Word of God