Tag Archives: Service

BIBLE QUESTIONS, JOHN

WHAT DOES “THE NIGHT COMETH WHEN NO MAN CAN WORK” MEAN? — BOB PRICHARD

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man that had been blind from birth. His disciples asked, “Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” Their question reflected an indifference to the man’s suffering, as well as a theological misunderstanding (that it was possible for a child to sin in the womb). Jesus answered, rejecting the idea that either the man or his parents were responsible for his blindness. “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:1-5). The words of Jesus, “the night cometh, when no man can work,” expressed the urgency He felt for His ministry.

In biblical times, people were bound to work during daylight. Artificial illumination, which allows modern man to work virtually around the clock, was very rare and expensive in the time of Christ. It was almost a proverbial statement, that daylight was the time to work. Very little could be accomplished after the sun went down. Time is always moving forward

The contrast between light and darkness is a prominent theme highlighted in John’s writings. He spoke of Jesus the incarnate Word in chapter one, saying, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:4-5). Jesus Himself explained the necessity of working while it was day, saying, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). Earlier He had announced to His detractors, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). Light and life mark Christ, while darkness and death mark the world. The immediate response to the blind man was to give him sight and light.

It is significant that the words of urgency, of working while it is day, apply not only to Jesus but to His followers. The American Standard Version, based on better manuscript evidence, renders John 9:4 as “We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” The “We” indicates that His followers share in the responsibility to be urgent in carrying out the will of the Father. Jesus obeys the One Who sent Him, the Heavenly Father. The followers of Christ cannot please the Father unless they are urgent in working the works of the Father, just as Jesus did. “We must” do this while it is day.

Jesus said, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (John 6:29). We must believe and follow Him. The writer of Hebrews spoke of the perfect obedience of Christ, and the necessity of all of His followers obeying as He did. “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:8-9).

CHRISTIAN LIVING, JESUS CHRIST

LOST YEARS — BOB PRICHARD

A study of the life of Christ reveals a stark fact. Although there is abundant information about His birth and the events associated with His earliest childhood, we know nothing about His  life between those days and the beginning of His public ministry at age thirty, with the exception of the incident in the temple when He was twelve years old. What was he doing in the intervening years?

In Jesus: A Biography from a Believer, Paul Johnson suggests that Jesus probably worked at a number of different professions, including that of a shepherd and that of a farmer, since He used so many illustrations from the world of the shepherd and the farmer. Surely Joseph  taught Jesus the trade of carpentry. Teaching in the synagogue, He astonished the people , who said, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him” (Mark 6:3). From this statement, we surmise that Joseph was no longer living, so Jesus likely waited to begin His public ministry until he had fulfilled his responsibility as the oldest son to care for His mother and younger brothers and sisters, not yet adults.

Although we have no inspired description of those “lost years,” we can see that they were not lost years but years of preparation. The incident in the temple demonstrates that from His youth Jesus was preparing for His life’s work. Mary said, “Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:48–49). He knew what was needed was to serve His heavenly Father. He knew He was pursuing knowledge, preparing for His public ministry. When fulness of the time came (Galatians 4:4), He was totally prepared for His ministry. He gave us an example to follow in His suffering (1 Peter 2:21), but also in preparation for service. Are you in a period of “lost years”? Make it a time of preparation for service.

BIBLE, JESUS CHRIST

LOST YEARS — BOB PRICHARD

A study of the life of Christ reveals a stark fact. Although there is abundant information about His birth and the events associated with His earliest childhood, we know nothing about His  life between those days and the beginning of His public ministry at age thirty, with the exception of the incident in the temple when He was twelve years old. What was he doing in the intervening years?

In Jesus: A Biography from a Believer, Paul Johnson suggests that Jesus probably worked at a number of different professions, including that of a shepherd and that of a farmer, since He used so many illustrations from the world of the shepherd and the farmer. Surely Joseph  taught Jesus the trade of carpentry. Teaching in the synagogue, He astonished the people , who said, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him” (Mark 6:3). From this statement, we surmise that Joseph was no longer living, so Jesus likely waited to begin His public ministry until he had fulfilled his responsibility as the oldest son to care for His mother and younger brothers and sisters, not yet adults.

Although we have no inspired description of those “lost years,” we can see that they were not lost years but years of preparation. The incident in that temple demonstrates that from His youth Jesus was preparing for His life’s work. Mary said, “Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:48–49). He knew what was needed was to serve His heavenly Father. He knew He was pursuing knowledge, preparing for His public ministry. When fulness of the time came (Galatians 4:4), He was totally prepared for His ministry. He gave us an example to follow in His suffering (1 Peter 2:21), but also in preparation for service. Are you in a period of “lost years”? Make it a time of preparation for service.

Blog, CHRISTIAN LIVING, CHURCH

BEAUTIFUL HARMONY — BOB PRICHARD

What cooperation! What unity! What harmony! I wish I was describing a congregation of God’s people, but instead, it was the Prague Symphony Orchestra. They performed in the  Knox Concert Series, and I had the chance to hear and see this great orchestra up close. The experience of hearing the orchestra reminded me anew about the importance of unity and cooperation.

The Prague Symphony Orchestra was composed of some 89 musicians, as well as a conductor, stage crew, etc. Almost a third of the musicians were violinists. It was interesting to see all of those bows moving in unison. Their skill was evident. This great skill means they used their God-given talents, and practiced endless hours. George Eliot said, “‘Tis God gives skill, But not without men’s hands: He could not make Antonio Stradivari’s violins without Antonio.” I wonder what we might accomplish in the Lord’s church if we were as diligent in honing our God-given talents and skills to be used in His service in the same way these musicians did.

All of the musicians were playing the same piece of music, and were “on the same page.” They were playing as individuals, under the direction of the conductor. As we follow Christ and scripture, we also work in unity and harmony.

From my vantage point in the concert, I could observe some of the musicians better than others. I was especially interested in the gentleman who played the tambourine during the first piece, Dvorak’s “Carnival Overture.” I never knew that anyone could be so enthusiastic playing the tambourine! It would seem this would not take as much skill as playing a violin, or a cello, or an oboe. Yet he played it with amazing energy and vigor, adding to the overall beauty of the piece, providing just the right accent needed. In the Lord’s work, there are often “parts” which seem minor─preparing the communion, counting the attendance, turning on the heat, etc., but think what a difference it makes when some of those “minor” jobs aren’t done as they should be.

As Paul reminded the Corinthians, “For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body” (1 Corinthians 12:14-20). We all have something to contribute to the Lord’s work, and we need everyone!

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1).

CHRISTIAN LIVING

TAKING HOLY THINGS FOR GRANTED — BOB PRICHARD

In my recent Bible reading, the following passage was significant. “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD” (Leviticus 10:1-2). 

This tragic situation came about because these two sons of Aaron were careless in their service to God. What struck me in my reading of the passage this time is what I read in the two verses before this. “And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.  And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces” (Leviticus 9:23-24).

Did you notice what happened? The “glory of the Lord” appeared to the people, and the Lord sent a fire out that consumed the sacrifice, and “all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.” And then in the very next verse, Nadab and Abihu brought down more fire from the Lord by their disobedience. It makes me wonder, how could they have done this? Weren’t they paying attention? Didn’t they realize the power of God? Didn’t they know what they were doing?

I don’t know all of the reasons that Nadab and Abihu made their fateful choice, but one thing is obvious. They took holy things for granted. They were the right people, with the right implements of worship, doing the right thing, in the right place, but in the wrong way. And they paid for it with their lives.

I wonder how often we are guilty of taking holy things for granted. Have you ever partaken of the Lord’s Supper, and then realized that you didn’t even think about what Christ did for you. Most all of us are guilty of sometimes singing words we don’t mean or believe in worship. When we sing “Anywhere with Jesus,” do we mean it? When we sing, “all to Thee, I surrender,” do we mean it?

The Lord has blessed us with His mercy, in that He has not destroyed us like Nadab and Abihu. But can we continue to take holy things for granted? “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29).

CHRISTIAN LIVING

ONE SMALL LIFE — BOB PRICHARD

Andrew Allen was just seven years old when he passed from this life on October 22, 2022, after a brief fatal illness. The shock of his death continues to reverberate through his family, church and community in Pikeville, KY. 

Andrew and his family (parents Josh and April, and sisters Ella and Chloe) visited us this past Spring. We had a great time together visiting and seeing some of the sights, including the Vulcan statue that overlooks Birmingham. The fifty-six foot tall statue, constructed in 1903, depicts Vulcan, Roman god of fire and the forge. Andrew was amused, as only a seven year old boy can be, that Vulcan wears an apron, but no pants. Andrew chuckled the whole visit over Vulcan’s “backside.”

We ended the day with Josh leading a family Bible study, including hymns, scripture reading and prayer. Andrew surprised us that evening by quoting the twenty-third psalm flawlessly. Even at his young age, he was taking Bible study seriously.

Everyone who knew Andrew knew he had a sweet and kind spirit about him. When his elementary school friends drew pictures of him to take to April and Josh, the main thing they remembered was his smile, a boy who was a friend to everyone. Sometimes he had a big toothy grin, but most of the time it was a little straight smile that was his trademark since his birth. 

At his funeral, there was a beautiful display with the words, “A small life walked by leaving footprints on our hearts.” The hundreds of people who came to comfort the family and join in remembering Andrew demonstrated very clearly that his “small life” had an outsized impact on everyone he met. And if we had not been forced to step out of our routine by the tragic circumstances, we likely would not have realized this. 

Jesus emphasized that even the smallest things done in his name are noticed by the Master, and more importantly, they matter. “For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me” (Matthew 25:35–36). “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42). No matter how small we may be, we can make an impact.

As we sought comfort in Andrew’s death, our hearts immediately went to David’s grief at the death of his child, when he said, “now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23). This was a common response, because it really does matter, and losses such as this bring home the fact that we must be prepared to live this life in such a way that we will have a grand reunion.

Having Andrew’s “footprints on our hearts” reminds us that everyone matters, even if they are not our loved one. Our Father notices everyone. “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6–7). There are many among us that are not important in the eyes of the world, but they are important to our Father, and should be to us. “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2).

Grieving for Andrew has been hard. He was much loved. What do people who do not know the Lord do? How do they begin to cope? Paul encourages as he writes, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Corinthians 1:3–4). He comforts us, and we comfort one another.

One small life, yet he blessed so many, often just with a smile. Will we be inspired to live better by this one small life?

CHRISTIAN LIVING

DISAPPOINTMENT OR REST? — BOB PRICHARD

A popular old hymn stresses our longing for our heavenly rest, but also our commitment to keep working until Jesus comes. It begins, “O land of rest, for thee I sigh! When will the moment come, When I shall lay my armor by, And dwell in peace at home?” The refrain repeats “We’ll work till Jesus comes, We’ll work till Jesus comes, We’ll work till Jesus comes, And we’ll be gathered home.” The words, by Elizabeth K. Mills, who died at 24 or 25, were first published in 1837. The tune, attributed to William Miller, was added in 1859.

I have been unable to verify if this is the same William Miller who twice set a date for the return of the Lord, but if it is the same man, it is ironic. William Miller (1742-1849), was a Baptist preacher who through his study of the book of Daniel determined that the return of the Lord was very near, and he traveled throughout the United States preaching a message of the need to be prepared for the Lord’s return. As his followers, known as Millerites, pressed him for a date, he announced in January 1843, that the date would be March 21, 1844. When that date passed, he and his followers recalculated, and set the date for October 22, 1844.

Despite the words of the hymn, many of Miller’s followers did not “work till Jesus comes.” They left farms untended, debts unpaid and took it easy. When the second date failed, these people were very upset with Miller, and he died disillusioned and forgotten in 1849, still thinking the Lord would return in his lifetime. Some of his followers pressed on, organizing the Seventh Day Adventist church. In their history they refer to the Miller failure as the “Great Disappointment.”

The hymn is consistent with the warnings of the Lord. He likened the kingdom of heaven to ten virgins waiting for the bridegroom to come. Five were wise, but five were foolish, and “took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” All were in the same situation waiting for the bridegroom, but the foolish were not ready to serve when the cry came, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” They all arose, but the foolish were unprepared, and missed their chance. “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 25:1-13).

Disappointment awaits those who are not working until Jesus comes. “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Revelation 14:13).