October 20, 2011
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A Father's Charge (Reuben, Reuben! My Firstborn Son) – Genesis 49:3-4
Genesis 49:3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: 4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.
Reuben, Reuben!
My firstborn sonPower and strength
High excellenceDignity, might
My great delightReuben, Reuben!
My firstborn sonWater unstable
Fickle, disloyalUnfixed, rootless
Fluid, faithlessReuben, Reuben!
My firstborn sonVariable
MercurialYour mind double
Water unstableReuben, Reuben!
My firstborn sonLeaving the Head
Living but deadThinking you stand
Building on sandReuben, Reuben!
My firstborn sonDrinking of death
Proud arroganceCan you excel
Spurning the WellReuben, Reuben!
My firstborn sonLoving the world
Hostile to the PearlThough circumcised
Are you Christ's brideReuben, Reuben!
My firstborn sonIn the Rock rest
Your true defenseSteady and pure
Faithful and sureReuben, Reuben!
My firstborn sonI weep and grieve
To the Son cleaveGod's Son – hear Him!
Turn from your sinReuben, Reuben!
My firstborn son
My turbulent child
May you know His smileStop gadding about
Return to the Fount
Acts 11:22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
From Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on Acts 11:He [Barnabas] did what he could to fix them, to confirm those in the faith who were converted to the faith. He exhorted them-- parekalei. It is the same word with that by which the name of Barnabas is interpreted ( iv. 36), hyios parakleseos--a son of exhortation; his talent lay that way, and he traded with it; let him that exhorteth attend to exhortation, Rom. xii. 8. Or, being a son of consolation (for so we render the word), he comforted or encouraged them with purpose of heart to cleave to the Lord. The more he rejoiced in the beginning of the good work among them, the more earnest he was with them to proceed according to these good beginnings. Those we have comfort in we should exhort. Barnabas was glad for what he saw of the grace of God among them, and therefore was the more earnest with them to persevere. [1.] To cleave to the Lord. Note, Those that have turned to the Lord are concerned to cleave unto the Lord, not to fall off from following him, not to flag and tire in following him. To cleave to the Lord Jesus is to live a life of dependence upon him and devotedness to him: not only to hold him fast, but to hold fast by him, to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. [2.] To cleave to him with purpose of heart, with an intelligent, firm, and deliberate resolution, founded upon good grounds, and fixed upon that foundation, Ps. cviii. 1. It is to bind our souls with a bond to be the Lord's, and to say as Ruth, Entreat me not to leave him, or to return from following after him.II Thessalonians 2:1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: 2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. 3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: 6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. 9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. 10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: 11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Will you also go away?
Related:What is a nominal Christian?
Biblical mourning, assurance and false guilt
His seed (If ye be Christ's ~ He came seeking fruit)
Keep your heart with diligence, Take heed, beware the little foxes
true repentance leads to joy (Letter 37 on assurance & fighting for joy)
"yet you did not return to ME" ~ (Amos 4:6-11) | letter 126 on assurance & joy
In which circle do you take your stand? ~ Are you a true disciple? (Hewitson's holy ambition)
you say you want Jesus
backslidden child (Jeremiah 3)
Remember last year
Be not an Esau (Genesis 25:29-34, Hebrews 12:15-17)
Half a heart, half a heart (How long? If the LORD is God, follow Him)
O Jerusalem! (Every soul which will not hear that prophet) | Acts 3:19-26
Blessed dependence ~ "Leaning upon her beloved"If I look (looking at him, loved him - Mark 10:17-22) ~ ministry's sorrow
I'm anguished over you (Letter 39 on assurance & fighting for joy)
Why I blog and the only kind of recommendation I should seek
Why I write and minister - My credo for being a godly encourager
dedication 2010 (reflections on God's Word & God's grace)
"I could write a thousand words" (my credo ~ why I preach the Gospel)Scripture quotations from the King James Version of the Holy Bible, emphasis mine.
"Wasser Neves" found at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wasser_Neves.jpg / CC BY-SA 3.0
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Comments (2)
Hi Karen, Barnabas is my favorite N.T. Christian. I think vs 24 says that 'He was a good man full of faith and ? and many came to to Lord through him. The verse is sort of like that.
I have started reading through the Bible again and those stories are interesting--the sons of Jacob. This morning two of his sons murdered all the males in a small town for raping Dinah. They do wild things.
I think walking away from Jesus happens slowly and hardly noticed. I recall feeling distant from God a few months after I was born again. Then I realized that I was not reading my Bible anymore. I opened my Bible the good feelings of being with Jesus returned.
Nicely written.
frank
@ANVRSADDAY - Thanks, Frank.
Reuben forfeited all the blessings and privileges of the firstborn son. It was so sad. It's a sobering warning to all of us, especially here in the west with all the privileges we have: the availability of God's word, freedom to worship, etc. But by the grace of God, we could all end up like Reuben.
Your observation here is SO very true:
I think walking away from Jesus happens slowly and hardly noticed. I recall feeling distant from God a few months after I was born again. Then I realized that I was not reading my Bible anymore.
The devil's ways are always sly & subtle, aren't they?
Hope you & Norma are blessed abundantly in worship tomorrow!
Karen