mrtonyfrench

Make every effort to come to me soon; for Demas, having loved this present world , has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia , Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.

2 Timothy 3:9-11

Paul speaks of usefulness in his last inspired letter to Timothy. He asks Timothy to bring Mark to him because Mark was useful to Paul’s ministry. This verse got me to thinking. Are we useful to the ministry that God desires for us?

We know that God wants to use us for His glory. But, are we putting ourselves in a place where can work in us effectively?  Is there something that stands in the way of our supreme usability for God? Let’s examine three conditions for usefulness in the Kingdom of God. 

We must be clean. God will not work through us effectively if we are living contrary to His will and His word. The Old Testament priests would undergo a cleansing before they entered the temple to serve. We, as New Testament priests, also need cleansing from our sinfulness for optimum usefulness in Christ’s ministry. (1 John 1:9-10) If you want to be used by God, you must be clean.

We must be compassionate. A love for God and a love for others in necessary for us if we hope to be serviceable in God’s Kingdom.  (Matthew 22:37-40) Love is what will sustain us and keep us faithful. Being used by God is not always easy. Our love for God and others will strengthen us and undergird so that we can serve effectively over the long term. 

We must be cognizant. Jesus desires to work in us and through us right where we are. He will use all of our situations and life spheres to place us where we can be most usable. Open your eyes, dear Christian. There are needy people all around you who need your love, encouragement, and witness. Find someone who needs help and help them. It’s just that simple!

Tony French

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 

2 Timothy 4:1-5

The world in which we live is losing its mind. Good is now evil and evil is good. (Isaiah 5:20) How can we keep our heads about us when all others are losing theirs? Paul reminds us in these verses about what we are to do in such times.

The immediate context of this passage is Paul instructing the young pastor Timothy. While the present teaching is to pastors, the lessons here are for all Christians. How can we stand strong while everyone else is falling? Let’s look at four commands from these verses.

1) Stay calm. Paul teaches us to be sober and calm in the midst of the upheaval of life. We can stay calm because of God’s promises, God’s peace, and the Holy Spirit who indwells us. Make the choice to stay calm and trust the Lord.

2) Stay courageous. Paul’s second imperative is to “endure hardship.” Living for Jesus will not always be easy and comfortable. Following Christ will be costly. Determine in your heart to endure even during the worst of times. May God gives us all the fortitude we need to serve Him no matter the cost.

3) Stay compassionate. In middle of everything that was happening, Timothy was to continue to fulfill the “work of an evangelist.” The young pastor’s focus was to be outward to those who needed salvation. We have been given the same precept to follow. We must look with compassion and love toward those who need Jesus. A lack of compassion and empathy is the reason we don’t often share the gospel. Let us pray that the Lord will give us hearts that are filled with sympathy and compunction for those who are far from God. And may that compassion spur us to tell them about Jesus.

4) Stay committed. “Fulfill your ministry” is the apostle’s final imploration to us. Stay the course and finish the task that God has given you no matter what it is. Finish strong, dear Christian. The best is yet to come!

Tony French 

¹⁶ Now it came to pass at the end of seven days that the word of the LORD came to me, saying,¹⁷ “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me:

The prophecy of Ezekiel was written between 592 and 570 B.C. The Prophet hailed from a priestly family and he ministered to the exiles who were living in Babylon before the ultimate fall of Jerusalem which took place around 585 B.C. His ministry coincides with Jeremiah’s preaching though Ezekiel had already been deported during this time period.

One of the major themes of this prophecy involved the task of warning that was given to Ezekiel. The Prophet was to say (as all prophets were) everything that God had told him to reveal and he was to hold nothing back. This task would be arduous and difficult but Ezekiel was to perform this work faithfully and dutifully.

These points lead us to the conclusions we see in Ezekiel chapter 3:16-21. First, Ezekiel was told to warn the people about the Lord’s judgment. God had made him a “watchmen” who was instructed to warn the people about the threat of God’s wrath for disobedience. The work of warning is unpopular and those who undertake it don’t win many friends along the way. Ezekiel was given this task nonetheless.

Another principle emerges from these verses. The prophet was told to sound the alarm about God’s judgement. But, if Ezekiel failed to give the warnings as instructed, Ezekiel would be held accountable for not warning the people.  The people who rebelled against God and refused to repent would suffer God’s wrath for their actions. But, Ezekiel would also stand guilty before the Lord for failing to proclaim the truth about the coming judgement of the Almighty.  

Believers in the present day are not Old Testament prophets. Yet, all Christians are given the task of evangelism which, when done properly, includes warning people about their need for a Savior and calling them to repent and believe in Christ (Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19-20, 2 Corinthians 5:20-21). May we, the people of God, be faithful to share the good news so that others might be saved.  Let us be dedicated to this work just as Ezekiel the prophet was faithful to his calling.

Tony French

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:2

Jesus is our Rock. He is the foundation we build our lives upon each day. He is the Rock of our salvation and the Rock of our security. Jesus is our Rock.

Jesus is our Fortress. He is our hiding place when times are difficult. He is the only one that protects us fully and Jesus understands our lives, our hurts, and our pains. Jesus is our Fortress.

Jesus is our Deliverer. He has delivered us from the penalty of sin by paying the penalty for us. He is delivering us from the power of sin as we learn to follow Him each day. And, Jesus will ultimately deliver us from the presence of sin when we get to Heaven. Jesus is our Deliverer.

Jesus is our God. He is the second person of the trinity. As the creeds remind us, Jesus is “very God of gods and very man of men.” We worship Him, praise Him, and serve Him. He alone is worthy of all glory and honor and praise. Jesus is our God.

Take courage, dear Christian. You are not alone. Your Rock, your Fortress, your Deliverer, and Your God are with you. Be encouraged today!

Tony French

Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Matthew 4:18-20

Following Jesus is our great joy and privilege. Our lives are enriched as we follow Christ each day. We grow by learning about Christ and obeying Him as we seek to follow Jesus in our lives. It’s amazing!

One the other hand, following Jesus is not easy. We must be willing to go against the culture and obey no matter the cost. Being a disciple comes at a high cost. It is worth it, but, being Christ’s disciple is ease not a life of ease.

While following Christ can be difficult, let us remember three words that can help us go forward and grow in Christ Jesus. Those words are process, patience, and perseverance. An examination of these concepts is in order. 

1) Following Jesus is a process. Christian maturity and growth do not happen overnight. Paul speaks of fruitfulness and exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit. Well, it takes time for fruit to mature and grow. So follow the process and follow Him. Read and study the Bible, pray, worship, give, and tell others about Christ. Stay in the process and growth will eventually arrive.

2) Following Jesus requires patience. Growth does not take place quickly in our spiritual lives. Our standing before God changes when we are saved. God sees us as forgiven and complete in Christ’s righteousness. However, growth happens slowly in our sanctification. Following Jesus will have its ups and downs. A disciple will encounter wins and losses. 

Be patient. God is not finished with you. He is working on your behalf and Christ is molding and shaping you into His image. Trust God to finish what He has begun in you.

3) Followers of Jesus will need perseverance. A true disciple will keep showing up each day to serve their Lord and Savior. A true Christian will endure to the end. Don’t give up! Stay in the fight and commit to following Christ day by day.  

A disciple of Christ does not have a simple, trouble-free life. You can stay the course through the power of the Spirit within you. Be faithful and don’t forsake discipleship.

You will be glad you did!

Tony French

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter 1:3-5

The Apostle’s letter begins with a thunderous proclamation. Many great and wonderful things are declared over God’s people in the book of 1 Peter. This platform will not allow a robust and detailed explanation of these three verses. Allow me the privilege of mentioning a few of the blessings Christians have received through Christ.

We have received mercy. God, who is blessed eternally, has given us mercy when we actually deserved wrath. Christ died for the ungodly so that the ungodly may be made holy. (Romans 5:1-10) It is not because of any goodness in us that Christ extends His grace. He is merciful to Christians in spite of us and not because of us. 

We are born again. Through the mercy of our Lord we have been saved and sanctified forevermore. We have a hope that flows from the resurrection of Christ. As He was raised up, we shall be raised up. (1 Corinthians 15) Death will not have the ultimate victory in our lives. Jesus always hast the final say!

We have been given an inheritance. Much is included in this inheritance such as the presence of God, the promises of the Lord, and a home with Christ for all eternity. Christians are protected by the Almighty’s power and all will be revealed when we are glorified in Christ Jesus.

Be edified today, child of God. Your past is forgiven, you have power for the present, and your future is secure. May we say with Peter, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Tony French

Study of Colossians

Colossians 4:2

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.

Colossians 4:2

Paul’s message in this verse deals with concept of diligence in prayer. This compact verse is filled with wisdom for Believers. God’s blessings await those who hear and obey.

God’s people should continue earnestly in prayer. The message from the Apostle is this—don’t give up and don’t give in to the temptation to slack off in praying. Life has a tendency to overwhelm the saints and this fact makes praying difficult as Christians often fail to come to the Lord during difficult times. Paul reminds the Believer to keep praying, keep asking, and keep seeking the Savior. Pray earnestly Child of God.

The Christian is also commanded to be vigilant in prayer. Praying focuses the heart and mind on Christ. And keep the Christ at the center will propel the Believer to greater vigilance to threats that are out there. The threats of disobedience, compromise, and fear are all around God’s people. However, prayer helps the saved to see things from God’s perspective and leads to greater vigilance in obedience to the Lord God.

Finally, Christians ought to pray in thanksgiving. Over and over God’s people are reminded to be thankful unto the Lord (Psalm 100, Philippians 4, Colossians 3-4) and to be thankful in all circumstances. Be thankful for what God has done for you child of God. And continue in thanksgiving in prayer as you thank the Lord for who He is. After all, He is worthy of our thanksgiving!

Tony French

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary.

Psalm 107:2

This verse is so simple and yet so powerful. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so! Let the redeemed of the Lord identify themselves. As Christ followers, our voices are not to be silent about our salvation and our redemption. We are to tell those around us about all that Jesus has done for us.

How can we do that? There are many ways one could do such a thing. For our purposes, let us peruse three ways we can and should identify with Christ.

We can identify with Christ by our thoughts. Our thoughts are changed as we read and study the Bible, as we worship with the church, and as we submit our lives each day to the Holy Spirit. This is a process that takes time and effort. If we are willing to follow Christ He will change our thoughts and our minds. The redeemed ought to identify with Christ by how we think.

We should identify with Christ through our words. We will be judged by our words and our words have power. Our words are to be salt and light in the midst of a decaying world- salt to bring healing for lost souls and light to reveal the truth. (Matthew 5:13-16) May our words be words that bring life, peace, and salvation to those around us.

We must identify with Christ in our actions.  John implores us to love in word and deed. (1 John 3:18) James tells to be not simply hearers of the word but doers as well. (James 1:22-23) Deeds and actions that glorify Christ help us to identify with our Savior. After all, even Jesus went about doing good! (Acts 10:38)

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so. And may we say it today, tomorrow, and every day!

Tony French

Oh give thanks to the Lord , call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples.

1 Chronicles 16:8

The beginning of this Psalm is succinct and clear. Three commands are given and they applicable to every Christian in every age.

Christian, give thanks to the Lord. Thank Him for who He is and for what He has done. God has been so good to us. Thankfulness is the right response to God in all circumstances.

Believer, call upon the Lord’s name. Call upon Him in worship, praise, prayer, and service. God’s people cannot be silent about what the Lord has done. Crying out to the Almighty each and every day will move the Believer closer to the Savior.

Make known His deeds among the people is the final command in this verse. Make known what God has done amongst the Church, child of God. God’s people need to hear how the Lord is working in the lives His children. Do not be silent!

But, Christians also need to publish the good news of the gospel to those outside of the faith. The unbeliever is in dire straits and needs to know that sin can be forgiven, salvation is possible, and hope can be restored. Let us tell them, Believers, as witnessing to our salvation and what Christ can do for the repentant is our calling and delight.

God bless you all!

Tony French

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:14-19

Oh, the Love of Christ. The love that Jesus has for His people is deeper, wider, and longer than any human love can ever achieve. The Lord loves His own so much, probably much more than they could ever imagine. Love like this is hard to comprehend; our Savior loves us so incredibly much. We praise Him for His great love!

Jesus loves us at all times. When we succeed He loves and when we fail He loves. The love of Christ is with us when the times are good and when the times are sorrowful. What a great love this is that Jesus would love sinners such as us.

Jesus’ love desires our ultimate best. He loves us enough to lead us to truth. Even when we would rather not hear the truth, Jesus gives what is best nonetheless. Christ’s love compels His people to growth and maturity. Living in Christlikeness is the best path to follow.

Christian, live in the truth that you are loved by Christ. Acknowledge Him and serve Him with trust on this day that He has made. May we cry out the words of the bygone hymn “A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, A wonderful Savior to me.”

Tony French