Archives: November 2005

The folks at Thessalonica reverenced images, actual idols of stone or wood. They rendered some form of service to their gods.

When they became Christians and turned away from their idolatry, there was something tangible rejected, abandoned, and destroyed.

“Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9).

I wonder if God has in mind for me to turn from anything today in order to serve Him.

I wonder if there’s anything in my life that hinders or even impedes my service for Him.

This idolatry business also reminds me of something I read just a few days ago. Let me try to find it quickly….

Ah, yes. Here it is — Colossians 3:5, which clearly talks about turning from sexual and moral sin:

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

Even as I write this in our high-tech twenty-first century, an untold multitude bows before print, video, and cyber images.

May the blood of Jesus and the power of the Spirit turn them to God from pornography.

Christ loves His flock. He loves His individual sheep. One thing that love motives Him to do is give human shepherds to His flock. He loves His shepherds.

The shepherds are to love “their” sheep with the Good Shepherd’s love.

They know that. So do we, their sheep.

But what struck me this morning from Colossians 4 is not what I should be receiving from the shepherds. Listen:

“And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it” (17).

My shepherds need encouragement from me!

“Hang in there, Archippus. Be faithful to your ministry. Fulfill your calling. Do it, Archippus! Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.”

Hmmmm. Maybe I’ll write a little note of encouragement to at least one of my ministers. Maybe even this morning yet. Before church.

Maybe.