Quote from Forum Archives on December 14, 2011, 10:36 am

Posted by: info <info@...>

E-pistle

FreeWay Foundation            December 16, 2011

 

A good man

(Psalm 112:1-10)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on the characteristics of "a good man"

            1.  He fears (reverences) the Lord, v. 1.

            2.  He delights greatly in God's commandments, v. 1.

            3.  He is gracious, full of compassion, and righteous, v. 4.

            4.  He has a steadfast heart, trusting in the Lord, vv. 7-8.

II.  Meditation:  on the actions of "a good man"

            1.  He deals graciously (kindly) with other persons, v. 5.

            2.  He guides his affairs with discretion (discernment; prudence), v. 5.

            3.  He gives (and lends) to the poor and needy, vv. 5, 9.

            4.  He stands firmly established on the principles of God in the face of

     his enemies, vv. 6-7.

III.  Revelation:  on the blessings which God gives to "a good man"

            1.  His family will be blessed for generations to come, v. 2.

            2.  He will prosper materially and spiritually, and his righteous influence

                 will endure forever, v. 3.

            3.  He will experience God's light arising in the darkness (The Messiah,

                 Who is the Son of God, John 1:4-9), v. 4.

            4.  He will be remembered as a man who had great faith in God, v. 6.

IV.  Applications:  as a Christian, I need to . . .

            1.  Fear the Lord and trust in Him with steadfast faith.

            2.  Obey the Lord's commands gladly . . . serving others with His grace,

                 with His compassion, and with His righteousness.

            3.  Give alms (or otherwise lend a helping hand) to the poor and needy.

            4.  Live with firmly established integrity and discretion.

V.  Results:  as such a Christian, I will receive these blessings from the Lord . . .

            1.  A Godly family for generations to come.

            2.  Spiritual prosperity and a righteous influence.

            3.  Daily growth toward looking like Jesus Christ, II Corinthians 3:18; 4:6-7.

            4.  Being remembered as "a good man" who had faith in God.

 

Christmas Is a Time to Treasure

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

"But Mary treasured (kept) all these things," Luke 2:19

 

At this season of the year, we need to measure the worth, the value of

God's gift to us.  And as we think about the Lord of Glory leaving

the immeasurable wealth of heaven to come to this impoverished

earth, surely we will cherish . . . hold dear; treat tenderly . . .

the newborn King.

This truth of Immanuel . . .that God is with us . . . needs to

become for us a valued keepsake.  It should be for us a family

Heirloom . . . treasured!

 

Christmas is a time to treasure,

Cherish, value, measure worth;

Think about the Lord of Glory

Leaving all to come to earth.

Time to treasure, time to treasure,

Treasure Christ the newborn King.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Is a Time to Ponder

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

"Mary . . . pondered them in her heart," Luke 2:19

 

To ponder means to weigh in mind, to consider attentively, to meditate

Upon.  As Simeon told Mary later in this chapter, her baby boy

Was born to suffer and die,  God's salvation . . . causing unbelievers

To fall and believers to rise . . . involves death (a sword), Luke 2:34, 35.

No doubt Mary pondered about her son's prophesied vicarious

Death and hinted-at resurrection.  We, also, need to pause for

A few minutes daily to ponder the long-term meaning of this

Advent Season.

Christmas is a time to ponder,

Weigh in mind and meditate;

Jesus came to die as Savior,

Rose to open heaven's gate.

Time to ponder, time to ponder,

Ponder Christ the newborn King.

--
To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: epistle2equip-unsubscribe@welovegod.org