Aug 3

Written by:
8/3/2010 4:48 AM 

                 You know, I got to thinking one day about my school days and how everybody talked about the three R’s being the basics of school; writing, arithmetic, and reading. Although, technically, I guess, if you take the true first letters of these three words, you would end up with WAR. If you ask some school teachers, war might resemble more what teaching requires than the three R’s. Anyway, I’m not here to discuss philosophical fundamentals of classic sayings. However, this thinking did lead me to think what would be the “three R’s” of God’s Kingdom: you know, basic things that are required for our daily walk and that could arguably be basic tenets for which other doctrines could be based upon. As a caveat, though, I’m not basing some whole doctrine itself on these three R’s or saying these are the only R’s that could possibly fit this description, but the following is what I came up with anyway (for whatever that’s worth J). If not anything else, I hope to get your own creative juices flowing and consider some other attributes which may be appropriate:

                Refresh: “Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.” Philemon 20 (New King James Version, italics mine). This is from one of what is referred to as the “Pastoral Epistles.” Paul is writing this letter to a young pastor by the name of Philemon, actually encouraging Philemon to refresh Paul. You look at many of Paul’s letters and you may think he would not need refreshing, but everyone needs brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage and uplift them. Paul goes on to say that Philemon’s own obedience refreshes Paul, demonstrating the need to not only encourage each other with words, but also deeds and acts. When I think of the word refresh, I can’t help but think of how an ice cold glass of water tastes after spending time in the sun during the heat of day.

                Renew: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 (italics mine). This is arguably one of the most famous repentance prayers in the Bible, which David prayed after confronted with his sin by the prophet Nathan. David realized through this confrontation his own sinfulness and of his need to be renewed. The use of the word “steadfast” intrigues me, as it is not a well used word in the modern English language, however, in its’ simplest application means firm or fixed. How can we have a firm spirit? One way is by renewing ourselves on a consistent basis. Jeremiah mentions in the book of Lamentations (3:22 & 23) how, “the Lord’s mercies…are new every morning.” If His mercies for our lives are new every morning, then we should consider it our reasonable service to renew ourselves and our relationship to our Savior on a daily basis.

                Restore: “He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, he shall see His face with joy, for He restores to man His righteousness.” Job 33:26 (italics mine). Initially, when I was doing research for this, my first thought was, “Do I really want to use a verse from Job?” Upon further review though, I noticed that this verse comes not from the three “friends” of Job that were rebuked at the end of Job, but from a fourth person who God is indifferent toward. The powerful thing about this verse that made it stand out to me though was the fact that it mentions Gods’ righteousness and restoring us to that. Isaiah mentions how “all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags” (64:6). We sure don’t want to be restored to our righteousness if they are filthy rags in God’s sight, however us being restored to God’s righteousness through the blood of Jesus is a gift to be eternally grateful for!

                So, there are my submissions for a possible “three R’s” when it comes to God’s Kingdom. Like I said, the list is not meant to be all inclusive or exclusive to any other “r” words that might be helpful in our walk with our Lord and Savior. If not anything else though, maybe these words will help you to consider some others that could be included. To be continued…possibly. J