Category: Temperance

Salt is Good

On By TimIn Luke 14, TemperanceLeave a comment

“Salt is good. But if the salt has lost its saltiness, how shall it be made salty? 35 *It is neither fit for the land nor for the manure pile. So men throw it out.
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Luke 14:34–35 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This is a short post.

Jesus is yet again speaking in salt. Sometimes this idea of saltiness is misunderstood. In our culture, salty behavior usually tends to vulgarity with a heavy dose of self-importance. But as discovered previously the salt Jesus speaks of is plain. It is self-control.

To establish this idea, we only need reel-back to find context.

“For who among you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost to see whether he has resources to complete it? Otherwise, perhaps, after he has laid the foundation and is not able to complete it, all who see it will begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to complete it.’
“Or what king, going to wage war against another king, does not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Otherwise, while the other is yet at a distance, he sends a delegation and requests conditions of peace. So likewise, any of you who does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Luke 14:28–33 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Yet again, Jesus has coupled the idea of saltiness with self-introspection and self-control. In other words, salt is humility.

We preserve the culture with humility.

According to Every Man’s Pleasure

On By TimIn Esther 1, TemperanceLeave a comment

Now in the days of Ahasuerus, also called Xerxes, who reigned from India to Ethiopia, over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, in those days, the palace where King Ahasuerus sat on the royal throne of his kingdom was in Susa.

Esther 1:1–2 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This sets the stage for the things written in Esther. Chronologically, these events happen in the middle of what is written in Ezra. King Xerxes is introduced in Ezra. At the beginning of his reign, there was a letter written to him that portrayed the Jewish people as insubordinate. Keeping that in mind will help to see how the king grew in wisdom despite the intrigue of the adversary to destroy a people.

In the third year of his reign, he prepared a feast for all his officials and his servants. So the army commanders of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the officials of the provinces were before him.

Esther 1:3 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We understand that what occurs here happens a few years after what is recorded about the king from the book of Ezra.

He unveiled the riches of his glorious kingdom and the costly luxury of his greatness for many days, one hundred and eighty days.

Esther 1:4 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This feast lasted for half a year. It was lavish, as the kingdom itself was wealthy. It also showed off the military prowess and conquests of the king. If one remembers the statue from Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in the book of Daniel, this kingdom is represented by silver. The Medo-Persian kingdom was not as grand as the Babylonian kingdom it seized. Yet Xerxes’ reign was exerted over a vast kingdom.

When these days were completed, the king prepared a seven-day feast for all the people present, from the greatest to the least, in the citadel of Susa. This feast was in the courtyard garden of the king’s palace where white and blue linen hangings were fastened with cords of white and purple linen to silver rings and columns of marble. The gold- and silver-plated couches were on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.

Esther 1:5–6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

After that great feast, a smaller one was prepared. It was much more intimate than the previous one, yet still displayed the splendor and wealth of the kingdom.

For all the opulence on display, some darker things are revealed.

They provided drinks in golden vessels (the vessels being diverse one from another) and royal wine in abundance, by the expense of the king. In accordance with the law, the drinking was not mandatory, because the king had directed all the stewards of his house to serve according to every man’s pleasure.

Esther 1:7–8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Drunkenness was allowed by law. Of course, one may overlook the detail, but it is recorded for us that drinking was permitted as a matter of law. As was conscience. Yet the law permitted and sanctioned immorality.

Think of applying these ideas to your own household. Having a grand party to show of wealth may seem pretentious enough. Sanctioning drunkenness is another.

According to every man’s pleasure is how these were served by law. Of course, the law also allowed for conscience. It also permitted debauchery in the highest places.

Sometimes, a person’s conscience isn’t enough to keep them from succumbing to intoxicants. With no outside influence in the society to align with moral behavior, people are given a license to indulge. This is decadence.

The Patient Suffering

On By TimIn 1 Peter 04, Daily Walk, Sanctification, TemperanceLeave a comment

Therefore, since Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

1 Peter 4:1 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)
Therefore.

Peter is using all he has written before. That is, what Jesus has already done for us. He even tells us of the patience of God. Even in suffering for us. Jesus did it in the flesh.

The work is done. Nothing else has to be done. In fact, God rested from all of His work on the seventh day of the creation week. Read that from Hebrews.

For He spoke somewhere about the seventh day like this: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.”

Hebrews 4:4 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

If salvation is a work of God, it was completed before that seventh day. Of course, Jesus never made an advent in flesh, of the seed of woman until some 40 or so centuries later. That that work was done is evident in one of His titles, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

All who dwell on the earth will worship him, all whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world.

Revelation 13:8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

From the reference in Hebrews above, the immediate context speaks of entering God’s rest. It’s a place of serving Him, as that passage slides to the Promised Land.

The plight of the Israelis in the desert is necessary for our understanding. They had been saved. As they left Egypt bound for God’s promise to them, they did suffer. Even before the disobedience that kept them from entering.

Peter is encouraging us, believers, to arm ourselves with the same mind as Jesus had. Suffering comes and accepts it as the will of God.

The Sufferer has Ceased from Sin.

Perhaps that last phrase in the verse becomes a bit difficult to apply. We may suffer in our flesh, but each of us may not clearly see we’ve actually created from sinning. That is not what is in view here.

Let’s look at the two verbs in the clause. The first is ‘has suffered.’ The subject is he. The tense in Greek is aorist, which conveys a simple (one time) occurrence. It doesn’t mean that a believer is only going to suffer once. It means the suffering accomplished a purpose. Just as Jesus died once for sins. It is also in the active voice. Has suffered is also in the active voice. This means that the subject is performing the action. He suffered.

The second verb is ‘has ceased.’ This verb comes to us in the perfect tense, which indicates that the action has already happened with continuing persistence or application to the present. It is rendered in the passive voice, which tells us that the subject is the recipient of the action. It is also in the indicative mood, which is a simple relating of fact.

Suffice it to say, the phrase ‘has ceased from sin’ carries an idea hard to discern in the English rendering. So far, we know the has ceased from sin is not something done by the subject but something is done for them. Another fascinating tidbit lurks in the nuance of the Greek word from which the English cease is translated. The nuance includes a gradual build-up.

An Immediate Release from Bondage.

so that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh serving human desires, but the will of God.

1 Peter 4:2 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This idea works perfectly with what the rest of Scripture offers. Consider there Israelites again as they left Egypt for the Promised Land. They had been saved from the world (Egypt typifies the word and its system.)

They gradually moved to the Promised Land. This typifies the life’s progress of the believer. Even to the point that we get to that place of rest and never really enter because of unbelief. It’s a gradual journey.

In Conclusion.

We will settle here for now. As believers, we should be ready for suffering. Even to choose it just as Jesus did. For us, it is an end of sin.

We will inevitably fail. The encouragement from Peter is to set our minds in a certain direction, abstaining from satisfying our own needs. In so doing, we will cease from the bondage of sin.

Peter’s Direction for Living in Marriage

On By TimIn 1 Peter 03, Daily Walk, Marriage, TemperanceLeave a comment

Peter continues to encourage his readers to live righteously. Yes, that includes living in good moral character. There is an underlying theme in the reason why he says this. He hints at it in chapter 2, verse 9; and says it outright a bit later in verses 12 & 13. It’s for the glorification of God and to make Him known to others

We do it because there are so many who have come before us, laying the foundations for us to live that way. They served us.

The liberty of Christian living is not asserting our own needs but meekly seeking to fulfill the needs of others. Peter continues to develop this pattern of encouragement to those who are married.

Likewise you wives, be submissive to your own husbands, so that if any do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, as they see the purity and reverence of your lives.

1 Peter 3:1–2 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It is easy to see how most will use this to admonish the wife to be submissive to her own husband. It’s there and that is the proper order.

Shame on the man who is disobedient to the Word of God!

In such a marriage, a wife is called to serve him any way that his heart may be turned.

I am so thankful to God that I have a wife who did this very thing. When we married she wasn’t a believer, and I didn’t live out my faith. She did convert and became a believer. It was at that time that I watched her. Her own reverence for God was the encouragement for me, time and again, to return to God. (She still does that. I marvel at her gift for building relationships.)

Do not let your adorning be the outward adorning of braiding the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine clothing.

1 Peter 3:3 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Peter isn’t forbidding jewelry, a fine hair treatment, or fine clothing. He is attempting to show how not to use these as ways to win your man’s heart.

Again, Peter’s attention is toward the wives, this is also for us husbands. God is going to show you what is most important in the marriage relationship.

Nurture the Inner Beauty

But let it be the hidden nature of the heart, that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

1 Peter 3:4 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The hidden incorruptible nature of the heart is where the Spirit is. These are the inner treasure from the Holy Spirit. From which flushes out with the fruit that Pail details.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control; against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22–23 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Peter’s underlying theme is this idea of self-control. That is, not asserting self and your needs, but seeking to honor and fulfill the needs of others even if yours aren’t met.

For in this manner, in the old times, the holy women, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You are her children as long as you do right and are not afraid with any terror.

1 Peter 3:5–6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Peter is pointing to the Sarah who put up with the folly of Abraham. She did as he asked, even if it were wrong. In so doing, she was freed from the accountability of the wrong-doing as Abraham has the responsibility. He is the “lord” of the house.

Not Afraid

A woman ought not to have to live with a man that she is afraid of. That isn’t submission, that’s terror. (If you are a woman and find yourself in such a situation, get out to safety, please!)

Sobering Words for Husbands

Likewise, you husbands, live considerately with your wives, giving honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they too are also heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

1 Peter 3:7 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Personally, I see this entire portion of Peter’s epistle as more of instruction to husbands and prospective husbands. Peter says to live considerately with your wife. Knowing that she isn’t as strong as you. You don’t get to bully, control, and/or degrade her into submission like Artaxerxes did with his wife Vashti. Your wife is a child of the Most High if she is saved. Even if not, she is someone else’s daughter and an image-bearer if God. Treat her with that honor. There’s a reason why.

Your Prayers Won’t be Hindered!

Good night nurse Nickel!

If you’re a married man, here is the secret to maintaining an effectual prayer life. Honor your wife!

She isn’t your trophy. She isn’t your possession. She isn’t your servant to be commanded. She isn’t someone to bully. She isn’t someone to degrade in front of others.

She is graciously loaned to you by your Heavenly Father as a helper. Us husbands need help because more often than not, we’re really boys. Serve her! Bless her!