Author: Don Guthrie

Don Guthrie is the Senior Pastor at FBCSA.

Ears of clay

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 20:12; Luke 2:45-52; John 19:25-27 (day one)

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”–Ephesians 6:1.  The Bible describes God’s plan for a child with an unusual word.  Hypakouo.  (Hypo=under, thus a hypodermic needle goes under the skin, and akouo=to hear, thus acoustics.)  Hypakouo was both action and attitude.  It described a child who listens as one “under” authority, with the intention and expectation of obedience.  Ever hear someone described as having “feet of clay”?  It is not a compliment!  It means a person who takes a stand/makes a commitment that eventually crumbles away with time.  “Ears of clay”, however,  is a good thing.  Sharp ears.  Soft heart.  Children who learn this suppression of self-will find it easier (later) to take this life-giving attitude toward God.  “Lord, have Thine own way.  Thou art the potter, I am the clay.  Mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.”–George C. Stebbins.

Home field advantage

Re: Verse reading–Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (day seven)

“Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are the sons born in one’s youth.”–Psalm 127:3-4.  These words stand in stark contrast to the way moderns think and speak.  Children to the ancients were possessions (heritage), wages (reward) and weapons (arrows).  Our fathers in the faith perceived, sometimes more honestly than we do, the conflict and struggle that life is. . .between good and evil. . .between God’s kingdom and man’s pride.  And children are our secret weapon. No single factor has influenced history more than the Jewish (and then Christian) home.  Parents who carefully and prayerfully shape children for the service of God do, indeed, send them out as arrows aimed at “enemies in the gate.”–v 5. Like the old baseball manager said after an away game defeat.  “They got the best of us tonight, but we will beat them at home.”

Next Gen

Re: Verse reading–Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (day one)  
“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”–Deuteronomy 6:6-7.  “The primary responsibility for discipling a child toward faith and obedience to Christ belongs with parents.  No church can fully or adequately substitute for the influence of a parent’s instruction and encouragement.  The church works in partnership with parents.  We offer training and encouragement as we work together to lead children to Christ and to a life of obedience.”–FBCSA Next Gen Report, 2012.  For 3500 years it has been clear.  Parents are, first, to have God’s commandments on OUR OWN hearts.  From this intense, vital, personal relationship with the Lord, we are to TEACH OUR CHILDREN a similar love. What a privilege!  Lord, help us!

“Holy, Holly, Holy”

RE Verse reading–Ephesians 5:21-33 (day seven)
“As the church submits to Christ, so also wives must submit to their husbands” v 24.  It is a Guthrie family story.  Holly used to be a church secretary.  One day she typed the song title for the bulletin.  “Holy, Holly, Holy”.  Actually, it is true.  She has been a holy influence on our family.  From her, I have learned much about my own relationship to Christ.  Holly never asks me for things that she thinks are contrary to my own best sense.  She dedicates herself to my welfare, tirelessly shapes the right environment for our sons and their families.  Do I do as well toward the Head of the church?  I hope so!  If wives learn by watching the church respond to Christ, the church is blessed when we see what strong submission looks like by watching them.  Happy Father’s Day!  May all Christian men submit to God and lead our families to Him.

The mystery of marriage

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 5:21-33 (day one) 

“This is a profound mystery–but I am talking about Christ and the church.”–v 32.

No.  The mystery of marriage is not how to get your husband to talk when he comes home from work.  It is not what to get your wife for anniversary.  The mystery of marriage is a secret truth ( something that none of us could have seen without the revelation of God) that marriage is shaped after an eternal reality–the love that Christ has for His church.  When God created marriage–one man, one woman together for life in mutual submission to each other–His purpose and plan was to hint at an eternal love story.  Only with this upward reference can marriage be what God intended.  Only as we understand HOLY matrimony is the Lord pleased to bless and protect.  Marriage was never about my happiness, never something that we were free to redefine for our own purpose.  Marriage points to Christ.

The ugly duckling

Re: Verse reading–1 Samuel 16:1-7; Psalm 139 (day seven)

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”–1 Samuel 16:7.

News flash!  Man looks at the outward appearance.  If you are tall, thin, strong, good teeth, good hair you have an immediate advantage.  Spirit gram!  God does not do it that way.  “Heart” in the Scripture refers to the inner man.  The center of the soul.  Mind, will and emotions.  What God looks for in a person is not how she looks, but rather what he thinks and desires and feels.  Sometimes even believers forget this truth.  We covet beautiful and talented people only to miss the powerful friendship of the Eternal One as He touches/teaches/chooses/uses people who are beautiful on the inside.  Remember the Hans Christian Andersen story?  One duckling is considered “ugly” because He was actually a swan.  Misjudged at first, admired eventually, what we are (and are becoming) in Christ is all that matters.

Voluntary vulnerability

Re: Verse reading–1 Samuel 16:1-7; Psalm 139 (day one, week two of a new summer series)

“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”–1 Samuel 16:7.

It is a statement of fact.  Not a threat or a promise.  God looks at the heart.  He IS looking, this very moment.  “I am the Lord who searches the heart, who tests the inner depths to give to each person according to what he deserves.”—Jeremiah 17:10.  “Able to discern the thoughts and the intentions of the heart.”—Hebrews 4:13.  Does it give you the willies to think of it?  I hope not.  The infinitely holy One is also the infinitely merciful One.  David came to a place where He welcomed the searching eye of the trustworthy One.  He prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart.”—Psalm 139:23.  He became voluntarily vulnerable.  If God already knows my deepest secrets, why shouldn’t I be open and honest with Him? Only good will come from it.

Whose image?

RE Verse reading–Genesis 1:26-31; Romans 5:1-11 (day seven) “They brought [Him] a coin, and He asked them, ‘Whose IMAGE is this?’ ‘Caesar’s they replied.’ “–Mark 12:16.  With a Mayoral election coming up on Saturday, my mind is on this story.  “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesars, but RENDER TO GOD THE THINGS THAT ARE GOD’S.” These are unforgettable words and wisdom from Christ.  The backstory is from Genesis 1.  Jesus knew, assumed we would know as well, that God stamped His likeness on us, His image in us.  Like a Roman coin, we are marked off as God’s property for God’s purpose.  While we owe something to the state, and should gladly return to it attentive and informed involvement, we owe everything to God, our very lives!  So, go vote on Saturday, but come worship on Sunday (and every day of the week).  All of us have two loyalties. One should always be higher than the other.  We belong to God!

Imago Dei

Re: Verse reading–Genesis 1:26-31; Romans 5:1-11 (day one)

“Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over.  .  . all the earth.”  Genesis 1:26.  It is an uniquely Jewish/Christian thought.  Not found in other religions or secular philosophy.  Humans are made in the image of God.  Every human is a small representation of His nature!  We do not earn our value.  It is ours by virtue of His plan and purpose.  Some say that His likeness is seen in human CREATIVITY.  He is the creator.  We are “creative”–music, art, architecture, literature.    Others say it is our RESPONSIBILITY to rule over the planet. Others say it is our SPIRITUALITY (lost in sin, but restored in the death and resurrection of Christ)–the capacity for real, mutual friendship with the Holy One.  Whatever else it means, the image of God marks humans as uniquely valuable to Him.  It proposes a HIGH dream of what is planned and possible for every life.

Not until the cloud moves

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 39:32, 42-43; 40:1-2, 16-17,32-38 (day seven–last day in our study of Exodus) 

“If the cloud did not lift, they did not set out.”–40:36. 

Years ago, I learned the spiritual principle.  Stay where God puts you until He puts you somewhere else.  It has been a great safeguard.  Against restlessness, against dissatisfaction, against “looking for another job” when the one I had was hard or disappointing.  The Spirit has a different message.  Stay where you are!  Learn the lesson of this place!  Don’t run!  Don’t blame!  Change!  Endure!  Serve!  Never be LURED away from your present assignment by promises that life will be better or more fair or more fun.  Move only when you are LED by the Lord.  “Is life so wretched?  Isn’t it rather your hands are too small, your vision which is muddled?  You are the one who must grow up.”–Dag Hammarskjold.  When the cloud moves, we are free to do so.  Until then, we are to stay and serve and grow.