To Be Found Faithful

As I began reading this morning, I immediately stopped when I read the name of a great hero of the Christian faith. Silvanus! Most people would say, WHO?" He is only mentioned 4 times in scripture, but what is said of him is all positive.


In 2 Corinthians 1:19, Paul says that the gospel was preached by him to those in Corinth. This shows him to be faithful, knowledgeable, and available for the work and spread of the gospel.

In 1 & 2 Thessalonians 1:1 and 2:1, Paul mentions him as sending greeting to the believers in Thessalonica. Silvanus is mentioned in 1 Peter also. This shows his endurance in the work of the gospel. There is an over 10 year difference in the writing of these letters. Being mentioned in these letters shows that he continued to serve Paul and other believers faithfully.

Finally, in 1 Peter 5:12, Peter says that he had written to the readers through Silvanus. I am not sure if this meant Silvanus delivered the letter, or that Silvanus actually wrote the letter while Peter dictated to him. Either way Silvanus lives up to the title Peter uses for him, "faithful brother."

Silvanus lived up to that title. Yet he worked and stayed in what we would consider the background. He doesn't have a letter in the Bible bearing his name. He is not considered as great among those mentioned in the Bible. I have never heard a sermon about him and his faithful work. Without people like him, those who accomplished great things for Christ would never have done so. We all need people around us to lift us up and encourage us and support us when we serve Christ. In that, Silvanus was a great and faithful friend. In the end, what more or better can be said of us who know Christ than to say we have been faithful?Lord, help me be a Silvanus.

God's Discipline

Hebrews 5:7-10

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

The emphasis here is on verses 8 and 9. Many times during dark days I have needed to remind myself of these verses. We often cry out in pain and frustration when we are suffering through difficult days, yet these verses say that Jesus learned through what He suffered. Sinless, perfect Jesus learned through His sufferings. Does that put our suffering into perspective? It should. Our sufferings are justified, regardless if it comes from a direct act of our own, because we are sinners. We often go without suffering immediate consequences of our sins, but make no mistake, they affect us inside and out. Later in Hebrews, the writer states that if you are not disciplined, you are not a child of God.

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
(Heb 12:5-8)

How and when God chooses to discipline us, or whether He chooses to spare us discipline at times through His mercy, is designed to make us more like Christ. Romans says that we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, thus God treats us as His children.

When I was younger, I often seemed to get into conversations about "once saved, always saved." I believe the phrase "eternal salvation" seems to answer that question. His propitiatory death on the cross paid for my sin; past, present, and future. It granted to me a righteous standing before God the same as Christ Himself. It declares me pure, holy, and righteous and free from the condemnation and judgment of sin. His death established a relationship between God and myself as Father and son. A relationship that can never be broken. Praise God for His unspeakable gift.

Growing In Faith

2Peter 1:1-10

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of our God and our Savior Jesus Christ, Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, according as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who has called us to glory and virtue, through which He has given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, so that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also in this very thing, bringing in all diligence, filling out your faith with virtue, and with virtue, knowledge; and with knowledge self-control, and with self-control, patience, and with patience, godliness, and with godliness, brotherly kindness, and with brotherly kindness, love. For if these things are in you and abound, they make you to be neither idle nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he in whom these things are not present is blind and cannot see afar off and has forgotten that he was purged from his sins in the past. Therefore, brothers, rather be diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things, you shall never fall.

 The first thing I see here is the sufficiency of Christ. Through Him we have received ALL things pertaining to life and godliness. In Matthew 6, Jesus promises that if we seek the kingdom and the righteousness of God first, we will have all of our earthly needs met. In the indwelling Spirit we find all we need to guide us into a godly lifestyle. We find the strength to reject sin and turn to Christ.

The next thing that catches my eye is the word escape. Peter speaks of the corruption of the world from which we have escaped. In my mind's eye, I can see as the world and the things of this world decay and fall apart and yet those who have accepted Christ have escaped this decay and are unaffected by it. Our foundation of Christ and His finished work on the cross do not change nor decay. It is firm and eternal whereas the things of this world, including lust and all that stems from it, are temporal and short lived.

Since we have escaped this corruption, Peter encourages believers to add to this basic faith. Indeed it is what we are called to do, follow Christ. Peter has a list, of which I believe we are not to focus on one thing, but, in surrendering to Christ's leadership, allow Him to add to our faith the thing that is most needed. He doesn't leave us as babes in Christ, we are to grow, change, and develop a Christlike attitude and life.

Finally, as we grow, Peter says that we will not be unfruitful for Christ. Christ shines out through our lives to the world around us, hoping to reach and save more from this corruption.

A Great Truth

Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where do You go?" Jesus answered him, "Where I go you cannot now follow Me, but you shall follow Me afterward." Peter said to Him, "Lord, why cannot I follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake." Jesus answered him, "Will you lay down your life for My sake? Truly, truly, I say to you, The cock shall not crow until you have denied Me three times. Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, so that where I am, you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know." Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You go, and how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me." (John 13:36-14:6)

This is one of the most used portions of Scripture. It is used for several reasons, usually though as a thought of comfort. It reminds us of our final end as Christians: to be with the Lord. It is used at funerals and other difficult times in life.

However, what I saw, once I removed the barrier of man-made chapter divisions, was a tender moment between the Lord and Peter. Peter, the Bible's resident redneck, boldly exclaims that he is ready to lay down his life for Jesus. I assume that Peter thought his willingness to do so would draw praise from Jesus. What Peter got instead was a rebuke. Consider the One to whom Peter is speaking, and what Peter has seen Him do. Here is a man that Peter has seen do many miracles. Peter saw Him transfigured before his eyes. Peter has seen Him walk on water and even raise the dead. This Man turns to Peter and says, "Will you lay down your life for My sake? Truly, truly, I say to you, The cock shall not crow until you have denied Me three times." I can imagine the stunned look on Peter's face. His utter dejection and disappointment that His Lord would say that to him, and that Jesus was right, always right. In this moment of defeat and dejection, I also see the Savior going over to Him, putting His arm across Peter's shoulders, and looking into his face and saying, "Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me." I see Jesus turning to face all of the other disciples as well and addressing them with the rest of His narrative and His declaration that no one comes to the Father but through Him. In this passage, I see a great truth. We have a Savior who is not dismissive of our times of defeat and dejection, but one who wants to turn those moments into moments of truth, clarity, and victory with His loving patience and kindness.