Presuppositions and Desires

Dear Neighbor,

Human Communication is difficult because people do not hear. The sound of ones voice is modulated by presuppositions and desires. In Joshua 12 it is recorded that the sons of Rueben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an altar by the Jordan river, and it was large in appearance, but the the other tribes took this as an offense and rebellion; therefore, they gathered to make war against their brothers.

They built this altar, not to make sacrifice on it and worship the Lord separate from their brothers, but out of concern, that in future days, the Israelites east of the Jordan, they being west of the Jordan, would consider them separate. They built the altar so that they would not forget that the tribes west of the Jordan had rights to cross the Jordan and worship the Lord in the Land of Israel’s possession with the other tribes.

I have attempted to sound a warning among my brothers and sisters about a crisis that is occurring within the hospital. They cannot see it, so they do not understand what I am saying. Also what I am saying is deafened by presuppositions and desires. I feel as though I am living in two worlds. Inside the hospital it is like a war time concentration camp but outside people are living as if they had no care in the world. Inside people are very very ill and dying daily but outside people are going to symphonies and plays. 

I do not know what I might say to change minds. Not only are they not hearing my concerns. No one is hearing the anguish that I am feeling within.

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

August 30, 2021

Dear Neighbor,

What have you planned for this day that the Lord God has made? Is your planning keeping with the will of the Lord? All authority has been given to Jesus in heaven and on earth, yet do men follow the word of the Lord? Sin is going away from God and not doing what the Lord commands, disregarding the Lord’s will. This causes brokenness. Brokenness caused by our sins and the sin of other people. God does not leave his elect in brokenness but heals us from within and puts us on the way to God’s design.

John 14:6 (NASB)

Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ? Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (Jn. 14:15) “This is my commandment, that you love one another just as I have loved you.” (Jn. 15:12) Let us not forget that Jesus laid down his life for us; therefore, let us love one another just as Christ Jesus loved us.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

2 Corinthians 4:5

Lord’s Day: August 29, 2021

Dear Neighbor,

All in the world is not right because we are not right. Everyone clamors for themselves and many are run over in the process. There is a day coming in which God will judge the world in righteousness through Jesus Christ, whom God has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Jesus Christ from the dead. Every knee shall bend and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 

Who is your father? Is your father Adam or God? We were all born of Adam. For this reason Jesus said, “You must be born again. You must be born from above. You must be born of God.” The children of God are born of God. God is Spirit; therefore, the new birth is of the Spirit. The Spirit brings to life whom God wishes. 

Romans 9:15 (NASB)

For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”

God chooses the vessels of mercy. We should note that all deserve the wrath of God but for reasons only known to God he chooses to show mercy towards the vessels of mercy. I do not know whom God will choose to be born of the Spirit. Jesus said, “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it but cannot know where it comes from or where it goes, so is everyone born of the Spirit.”

For this reason the gospel must be preached to everyone. 

Romans 10:12-13 (NASB)

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”

How can a man call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ unless he believes in him? How can a man believe in the Lord Jesus Christ unless he first hears about him. How can a man hear about the Lord Jesus Christ unless someone tells him? How can a man tell others about Jesus unless he is sent? Jesus said to the man healed from a legion of demons:

Mark 5:19 (NASB)

“Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.”

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

2 Corinthians 4:5

Compassion Not Sacrifice

Dear Neighbor,

This morning I read Matthew 8-9: Jesus healed a leper and was amazed by a Roman centurion’s faith. Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law of fever and healed many others who were demon possessed and had illnesses. Jesus cast out demons from two men and the demons went into a herd of swine. Jesus healed a paralytic in the sight of many Jews as a testimony to them, that he had the authority of God to forgive sins. After calling Matthew he held a party in his home in Jesus honor but the Pharisees questioned his being with sinners. Jesus said: “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.” (Mt. 9:12, NASB) And he told them that the Father desires compassion and not sacrifice. Jesus was questioned about religious ritual and he did many miracles if healing out of compassion. Then he sent out the twelve to preach the kingdom of heaven, heal the sick, raise the dead, cleans the lepers, and cast out demons.

Nursing began with the Christian teaching about having compassion for the sick. We are to have compassion no matter how they became sick or injured. If we only have compassion for those who are righteous then we would not be caring for any. We are in a crisis at the the hospital that I work at. Most of the people sick did not take the vaccine and are now very sick. We who are called by the Lord to work as nurses are called to give compassionate care to everyone. If someone is non-compliant we give compassion and care for them. If someone is poor and can not pay for their hospitalization we have compassion and care for them. Not only are we called to care for those who are sick in the hospital but we are called to have compassion on our community and educate them on how to avoid illness, even if they will not listen to us. As a Christian we are to preach the kingdom of heaven, even if others do not hear or listen to us. So, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand and give compassionate care for the sick.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

2 Corinthians 4:5

Let Us Eat and Drink

Dear Neighbor,

From a biblical perspective all plagues, whatever they might be, are considered the judgment of God. Oftentimes the purpose of plagues is to open the eyes of the people but this does not always happen. Instead of changing their ways and following the Lord, the people say, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die.” (Isa. 22:13) 

I think that our present society lives in a bubble; therefore, people cannot perceive things in reality. A catastrophe is occurring in present day Tyler, Texas, but most are oblivious to it and some are saying, “Let us eat and drink,” but they do not even know that tomorrow they face death or that their neighbor is facing death. 

In this society, the sick and dying disappear and are hidden away in healthcare institutions. Most peoples perspective of death and dying comes from television, movies and video games; therefore, even though they may not be aware of their own perspective, they believe it to be fiction, something made up by governments, governments that want to take away their freedom. 

Brother and sister It was for freedom that Christ set us free; however, we should not turn our freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Gal 5:1, 13) What do I mean by an opportunity of the flesh? I mean seeking ones own desires above the needs of others.

Your servant for Jesus’ sake

Compassion in Care

Dear Neighbor,

Life on the earth is not easy and happiness is often situational. Job was happy in his situation but when all of his children, possessions and health were taken away from him he was in anguish, he suffered day and night. Job’s friends were no help in comforting him, they assumed that God took the lives of his children because they had sinned against God, and God took Job’s possessions and health because he was not trusting in God.

I can relate to both Job and his friends because I have been in the place of each. We as nurses often see the plight of our patients and think that their situation is because of life choices. Our term for this is noncompliant. We will say in report, “X in room Y is noncompliant.” 

I have personally lost a great deal. My children are living but they are not following the way of the Lord. My body is getting older and has many aches and pains. I slept well last night but I often have dreams that disturb me during the night, and some nights I toss and turn. My job is very difficult physically, mentally and psychologically.  I do not say spiritually because I know the Lord God through the Word and by the Spirit. 

Spirit is not emotion as some relate spirituality. Spirit is knowing the Lord our God because God is Spirit; therefore, Spirit is knowing the Lord our God. God is Father and Son and Holy Spirit. This is an aside, but an important to know the distinction.

Love your patients regardless of their situation or perception of how they got into the predicament that they are in. A Christian nurse needs to care physically, mentally, psycho-socially and spiritually for our patients.

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

COVID-19 Vaccine

Dear Neighbor,

I do not watch any of the 24 hour news networks because I do not like the politicizing done on those networks. Even my patients associate themselves with what 24 hour news network that they watch. I believe that these channels are a plague on the American society. They have transformed these United States into a politically divided nation. Even something as important as healthcare has become political and is divided. I would like to take the opportunity this morning to encourage you to get the COVID-19 vaccine and I assure you that my plea has nothing whatsoever to do with American politics. My concern is for your life and the lives of those around you. 

The hospital that I work at is becoming overwhelmed with persons infected with COVID-19. I could tell you the numbers, but I probably should not, nor do I believe that the numbers would open your eyes. I can say that the situation is dire and many people are in trouble. I am in my 24th year as a bedside Registered Nurse and I have never seen anything like this. I have never seen so many people this sick at one time. I have never seen so many people on ventilators at one time. I have seen a lot of death in my career but nothing compares to the present.

The hospital that I work at had three large Intensive Care Units. In just a two week period of time we have had to expand to six large Intensive Care Units and all of the beds are filled. Many of the nurses caring for persons on ventilators and vasoactive I.V. drips have never done so before. Many nurses have had to become ICU nurses overnight.

With all of this said, you do not want COVID-19 and you really do not want to give it to someone else who could potentially need to be hospitalized, then possibly need to be on a ventilator, and then possibly die on a ventilator in the hospital. The greatest numbers of persons being admitted are in their 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s. These are not old people or people with all kinds of chronic illnesses. These are the average workers and population of our area. 

I speak as both a Registered Nurse and a Theologian. There is nothing in Scripture whatsoever that would forbid anyone from receiving a vaccine. However, there is much in Scripture about wisdom and wisdom is telling me that everyone should be vaccinated, if not for oneself, for ones neighbor be vaccinated.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake 

Tuesday: August 24, 2021

Dear Neighbor,

I often do not know what to say until I begin writing and the Word of God inspires me to write. I have a lot to say to the Father when I write to Him but the things that I write to God are private. These are things that are deep within my heart and are on my mind. I can tell the Father anything because He knows everything. I can tell the Father everything because He has justified me in Christ Jesus. I fear God as my heavenly Father, meaning that I revere Him, but I do not fear the wrath of God because Jesus took my punishment on the cross and rose again. Therefore, there is nothing that I cannot tell God the Father and He is just to forgive all of my sin.

I have been working as a Critical Care Nurse for a very long time now. I wrote a few years back an article about death and suffering in the ICU. I have reached a point in which I can no longer do this kind of nursing; therefore, I have accepted a position in Outpatient Cath. I will be getting people ready for heart Cath procedures and recovering them from those procedures. I have also reached a point in which I no longer want to work 3, 12 ½ shifts and spend days at home idol. I need to have a daily purpose but be off from work in the evenings with my wife. This new position will allow me to do just that. However, I have three weeks remaining as an ICU nurse. I want to honor God, exalt Jesus Christ and seek the best for my neighbor as I complete time in the ICU. 

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Reckoned Righteous

Monday: August 23, 2021

Dear Neighbor,

Genesis 15:6 (NASB)

Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.

Abraham was childless but the Lord God promised him an heir from his own body. The Lord God promised Abraham that He would make his descendants as numerous as the stars above the earth. It was then that Abraham believe the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.

The Apostle Paul refers to this in Romans 4:3, 20-22 and Galatians 3:6. James refers to this in James 2:23. It is by faith and faith alone that the Lord reckons it to us as righteousness in his sight.

The Lord Jesus Christ has promised eternal life in the new heaven and the new earth to all who believe in Him and He reckons it to us as righteousness. It is not by works but through faith in Christ Jesus alone that we are justified in the sight of the Lord our God.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Lord’s Day: August 22, 2021

Dear Neighbor,

I just read Romans 7-8. I am amazed that so much can be said in so few words. To think that a man wrote these words, and yes a man did write these words, but they were inspired by God. I could write this morning about the words written in Romans 7-8, and I considered doing so, but it is the word of God that amazes me. Why is the epistle to the Romans or any other book in the Bible considered Scripture? 

The Greek word Theopneustos is rendered “inspired by God” in 2 Timothy 3:16 (NASB) but the word literally means God breathed. (Theos, “God,” pneo, “to breathe”) I love to read the Scriptures because when doing so, I am taking in the very breath of God.

I hope that you have a wonderful Lord’s Day today. I do not know where you are on the earth but I pray that you will be inspired by God’s word in all that you do this week.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Old Testament-Law

Dear Neighbor,

The traditional approach to the Law partitions the Law into:

• Moral Laws
• Civil Laws
• Ceremonial Laws

I must tell you that I am very uncomfortable with the traditional approach because the distinctions between moral, civil, and ceremonial law appear to be arbitrary. Even if one could infer this distinction upon the text, it is often difficult to determine whether a law falls into the moral category or into one of the others.

I believe that a better way to interpret the Law is through its narrative and covenant context. The Law is given in the story of Israel’s theological history of how God delivered Israel from Egypt and established them in the Promised Land. The Law is firmly embedded in the story of Israel’s exodus, wanderings, and conquest. The Mosaic covenant is associated with the conquest and occupation of the land. This concept is stressed over and over in Deuteronomy.

I must also tell you that I do not believe that the Mosaic covenant is a functional covenant anymore because there is a new covenant in Christ Jesus. Hebrews 8-9 makes this clear. Therefore, the Old Testament-Law as part of the Mosaic covenant is no longer binding as law for the Christian. Paul makes it clear that the Christian is not under the Old Testament-Law, nor is the Christian without law, but under the law of Christ. (1 Corinthians 9:21)

What about Matthew 5:17?

Jesus said: “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

Note that the phrase, “the Law or the Prophets” is a reference to the entire Old Testament. Note that the antithesis is between abolish and fulfill. The Greek word translated as “fulfill” normally means “to bring to its intended meaning.”

Jesus is not saying that the law is eternally binding on the New Testament believer. If that were the case, we would be required to keep the so-called sacrificial and ceremonial laws as well as the moral ones.

Jesus came to fulfill the righteous demands of the law and Jesus has become the final interpreter of the law.

• Some laws Jesus restates (Matthew 19:18-19)
• Some laws Jesus modifies (Matthew 5:31-32)
• Some laws Jesus intensifies (Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28)
• Some laws Jesus significantly changes (Matthew 5:33-37, 38-42)
• Some laws Jesus abrogates entirely (Mark 7:15-19)

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) Jesus is proclaiming that we must interpret the law in the light of His coming and in the light of the profound changes that the new covenant has brought. Therefore, we must interpret the law through the grid of the New Testament. All of the Old Testament-law contains rich theological principles and lessons that are profitable in the Christian life.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Repentance or Judgment

Dear Neighbor,

Do you ever consider the Judgment on the Day of the Lord? This morning I read Isaiah 12-17. Chapter 12 begins with thanksgiving to the Lord for his grace and kindness towards sinners.

Isaiah 12:2

“Behold, God is my salvation,

I will trust and not be afraid;

For the LORD GOD is my strength and song,

And He has become my salvation.”

The man whom the Lord has saved from the destruction that he knows that he deserves gives thanks to the Lord and he makes known his deeds among the peoples. He exalts the Lord before other men. He not only does so among his own but he exalts the name of the Lord throughout the earth.

Throughout chapters 13-17 there is destruction on the day of the Lord. The Lord uses Babylon to destroy but then Babylon is destroyed for destroying. Nation after nation is destroyed because they do not repent and exalt the Lord. However, throughout all of this, there is the grace of God remembered and foretold. 

Isaiah 16:5

A throne will even be established in lovingkindness,

And a judge will sit on it in faithfulness in the tent of David;

Moreover, he will seek justice

And be prompt in righteousness.

Throughout all of the Scriptures, there is the promise of forgiveness for all who repent and exalt the Lord as God, but destruction for all who continue in the way of the world.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

The Weight of Grief

Job 6:1-3

Job’s Friends Are No Help

Then Job answered,

“Oh that my grief were actually weighed

And laid in the balances together with my calamity!

“For then it would be heavier than the sand of the seas;

Therefore my words have been rash.

Job response to his friends was that they could not see his grief. They could see the calamity but they could not see his grief; therefore, he gave a description that they might quantify his grief and calamity together. Job’s grief was heavier than the sand of the seas. This is a grief that cannot be quantified because no one can weigh the sands of the seas. There is no scale by which a man could weigh the sand of the seas; therefore, Job’s friends could not know Job’s grief.

I understand loss and grief but I cannot see or quantify the grief of another. My personal grief is very deep and I have much sorrow within. How can I help another with their grief when I cannot see their sorrow or know what they are going through. We can see that someone is sad but we cannot see the depth of their sorrow. We can see the effects that grief may have on a person but we cannot weigh another’s grief.

Advice in times of sorrow and great grief is like a being beat with a stick. Love and companionship is what the grieving need but the grieving and depressed man is not going to ask for companionship but will often withdrawal. The man of sorrow does not need advice but needs others at his side.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

God’s Glory and Man’s Dignity

Dear Neighbor,

The Lord our God is majestic, for his splendor is above the heavens. Many years ago God made me a father. I remember the day of our daughters birth. I was not there for the birth of our son but I was there for the birth of our daughter. All human beings have dignity because we are different than every other animal on the earth. Human beings are created in the image of God. When considering a child, one must ask, “How awesome is the God who created?”

We should also consider the heavens and look up at the sky. All of creation is the work of God’s hands. When seeing the expanse from the earth one must ask, “How awesome is the God who created the universe and all that it contains?” Then I must ask, who am I, or what is man that God even thinks of us, but God does care for us. 

God has made man a little lower than God. He has crowned man with glory and majesty. He did this from creation, when He gave man to rule over his creation. All of the earth has been put under the feet of man. All of the creatures on the earth, the birds of the air and the fish of the sea are under man.

All have sinned and fall short of his glory and the wages for sin is death, but God gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

How majestic is the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in all the earth!

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Giving

Dear Neighbor,

In the U.S.A. we pay income tax to the federal government and in the state of Texas we pay property tax and sales tax to the state, county and city. So, we are taxed when we earn a dollar, when we spend a dollar and we are taxed if we own property. The federal government also taxes our aires when we die. 

This morning I read Joshua 11-15; the conquest of the land and distribution of the land among the tribes of Israel just as the Lord commend Moses His servant. (Joshua 11:15) There were no king in Israel like the nations that they dispossessed. Israel followed the Lord their God. When the land was divided among the tribes, the tribe of Levi did not receive an inheritance, the Lord God is their inheritance. (Joshua 13:33) 

Portion of the Levites

“The Levitical priests, the whole tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the LORD’S offerings by fire and His portion. They shall have no inheritance among their countrymen; the LORD is their inheritance, as He promised them.” (Deuteronomy 18:1-2)

The Lord God created a dependent class of people in Israel. There was no government or king to extract taxes but the Israelites were to give offerings to the Lord and it was from these offerings that the Levites ate.

In his farewell address to the Elders at Ephesus, the apostle Paul said: “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35)

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

The Rainbow

Dear Neighbor,

The Lord God made a covenant with Noah and his three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Just as when God blessed the man and the woman after creating them, He blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them. “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.” (Genesis 9:2) God gave them every moving thing that is alive for food, just as He gave the first man and the first woman the green plant. However, they were not to eat the animals while they still had life in them. If man or beast should take the life of man, God requires the life of that man or beast because man is made in the image of God. God made this covenant with Noah, his sons, and all of their descendants. He promised that never again will He cut off all flesh by the water of the flood to destroy the earth. The sign that God gave for the covenant for all successive generations is the rainbow. (cf. Genesis 9:1-17) 

I do not understand the reason that the rainbow is used as a symbol for homosexuality because homosexuality brings forth no life. The rainbow is a symbol of life but it is being used to symbolize something that cannot bring forth life. The first command of God in the creation account was for the man and woman to “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28) God destroyed the earth with the flood, except Noah,  his wife, Noah’s sons and their wives, and a pair (male/female) of every living creature on the earth. God also commanded them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.” (Genesis 9:2) But there has been a change, instead of commanding them to rule over the living creatures, God said that he has put the fear of man into the living creatures and God gave the living creatures to man as food, just as he gave the first man and first woman the green plant as food. 

Christian brother and sister, you are not under the Mosaic covenant that was given to the sons of Israel, in the desert at Mount Sinai. First, if you are not a descendant of Israel, you were never under that covenant. Second, Paul makes it clear that Christians are not under the Old Testament law. (cf. Galatians 2:16, Romans 7:4, and Galatians 3:24-25) However, you should know that all people on the earth fall under the Noahic covenant and are to be fruitful. Therefore, homosexuality is sin for all people and for all time. We are commanded by God to “be fruitful and multiply; populate the earth abundantly and multiply it.” (Genesis 9:7) 

There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent (turn from sin) and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Luke 24:47)

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Lord’s Day: August 15, 2021

Dear Neighbor,

Do you love the church? 

The church consist of sinners justified by God as a gift by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a mercy seat in his blood through faith. They were all sentence to death but God gave them all the free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It is the command of the Lord Jesus Christ that we love one another, just as he loved us. He laid down his life for us and he calls us his friends if we love one another. We were slaves to sin but he redeemed us with his own blood. God chose us for salvation in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “You did not choose me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in my name he may give to you.” (John 15:16) It is the commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ, that we love one another. 

Not only is it his commandment, that we love one another, but it is his prayer to God that we love one another. On the night of his betrayal and arrest, the Lord Jesus Christ prayed to the Father God, that the people of the church would be one, just he and the Father are one, and that we would be one with them. His prayer for the church is to be perfected in unity. It is by our love for one another that all men will know that we are disciples of Jesus Christ. 

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Pick Up And Read

Dear Neighbor,

I truly love the Scriptures, for the Scriptures are the Word of God to men in this fallen world. Two weeks ago I decided to follow a reading plan that has me reading a different genre each day of the week: Sunday, Epistles; Monday, Law; Tuesday, History, Wednesday, Psalms; Thursday, Poetry; Friday, Prophets; Saturday, Gospels/Acts.

I begin each week with the New Testament Epistles and end each week with the Gospels; reading about Jesus. I think that this is a great way to spend the morning and begin the day. I begin the week hearing from the Lord’s apostles, during the week I read the Old Testament, leading up to Christ, and I end the week in the Gospels and with the Church. 

It was on my birthday in 2003 that God drew me to read his word and I have been reading the Word every morning since that day because the Word is the breath of life. No matter what is going on in my life, I begin the day hearing from God. I do not know what I would do if I could not hear a Word from God. 

I do not know who reads the things that I write in this blog. In fact, I do not know of anyone that I know, except my wife, who reads this blog. I write these things because I love the Word of God, the written Word and the incarnate Word; the Word who became flesh and dwelt amongst men. I do not want anyone to follow me but I hope to point people to the Word of God; that you might have repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through faith in the Son. It is the Scriptures that tell us about God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

If I could encourage you to do one thing, pick up the Scriptures and read. The Word of God is the breath of life in this fallen World. And when you read, look for Jesus on every page of the Bible.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Promise

Dear Neighbor,

I truly have love for the Scriptures, for the Scriptures are the Word of God to men in this fallen world. My job is nursing but my passion is the Word of God. My job is necessary because of the fall but will not be needed in the regeneration but the Word of God is eternal. In the regeneration there will be no more injuries, no more sicknesses, no more diseases, no more pain, no more death, no more sorrow. There will be no more wars, no more famines and no more politics. The Lord will reign and decide with fairness. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness will be about his waist. Not even the animals will devour one another or even hurt a child but all will be changed in an instance. Everyone will have knowledge of the Lord and come to worship the Lord on his throne. 

This morning I read Isaiah 7-11 and this is the promise in Isaiah 11:1-10. I look forward to the dawn of that blessed day but until that day comes my job is nursing and my passion is the Scriptures, the Word of God to men in this fallen world.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Anguish and Judging

Dear Neighbor,

This morning I read Job 3-4; Job lamented his life and wished that he was never born, and his friend Eliphaz reminds Job of the theology of that day, “the innocent do not suffer.” I confess that I have both felt as Job and thought as Eliphaz. My life is not what I thought that it would be an I am often in anguish and I have counseled others when not understanding their situation.

I am in my 24th year as a Registered Nurse and have spent the majority of that time in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. I have seen so much pain, suffering, anger, death and sorrow. All of this weighs me down and effects my continence and emotion. I am normally able to deal with this through the Lord and stepping away on my days off into my own household, but like Job, much has been taken away during the past two years. Do not misunderstand, I am not lamenting the day of my birth or wishing that I were dead, but I have a great deal of anguish and sorrow in my heart about the present; therefore, I can understand Job’s lamenting his life and not judge him for his sorrow.

On the other hand, I believe that none are righteous, that none understand, that none seek for God, that no one is good. Therefore, I can understand Eliphaz’ point of view when not understanding the truth about what has happened to Job, not understanding the anguish that is in Job’s heart. Eliphaz the Temanite believed that he was rightly admonishing Job, but he did not know the real reason for Job’s plight, nor did he understand the anguish that Job was going through.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Sacred Poetry

Dear Neighbor,

One of the main themes in the Psalms of David is deliverance from his enemies. This morning I read Psalms 3-5 and this theme was in all three of these Psalms. What is a Psalm? A Psalm is a sacred song. However, I do not think of the Psalms of David in terms of music but in terms of poetry. 

I have a confession. I love poetry, especially the Psalms, but I do not enjoy the beginning of a worship service with the singing and guitar playing because I am not a musical person. I often spend the time reading the lyrics because they are poetry and think about what they are saying. I do not agree with the theology of all the songs song in church today; therefore, I do not consider them to be sacred songs.

The Psalms however are sacred but not song today as they may have been in the days of David the king of Israel. They are Scripture written for us that we might know how to pray. Most often the Psalms are in the form of a prayer to God and the theme in these three are praying to the Lord God for deliverance from David’s enemies.

Sin and death are our biggest enemies and these were defeated when the Lord Jesus Christ died on a cross for our sins and was buried and was raised from the dead on the third day. 

This is already but not yet! So hold on to the Lord Jesus Christ by faith. “The righteous man shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Do Not Fear Or Be Dismayed

Dear Neighbor,

This morning I read Joshua 6-10. How should a Christian interpret this narrative. How shall we view this story about the conquest of the land of Canaan? Should we model what Joshua and Israel did?

Here are a few concepts for reading and interpreting Old Testament Biblical narratives:

1. Biblical narratives are theological history.
2. The meaning derives primarily from the actions of the characters.
3. Not all of the human characters are “good” models for us.
4. God is often the central character in the story.
5. Narrator is a synonym for author.
6. Features of OT narratives:

• Plot
• Setting
• Characters
• Viewpoint of the narrator
• Comparison/Contrast
• Irony

There is a theme that runs throughout the narrative of Joshua. The theme is to not fear your enemies or be dismayed. (Jos. 10:25) Should we attack our enemies with the sword as Joshua and Israel did? Jesus said, “Do not resist and evil person.” (Mt. 5:39) So the answer is no! The Christian is not to take up the sword and fight our enemies, but we can take a theological lesson from the story of Joshua. We should not fear our enemies or be dismayed, whom or whatever that enemy maybe, because the King of glory, the Lord is strong and mighty in battle. (Ps. 24:8) The Lord, He goes before us to defeat all of our enemies. “The last enemy that will be abolished is death.” (1 Cor. 15:26)

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Indwelling Desire

Dear Neighbor,

It is my desire to honor the Lord in all that I think, in all that I say and in all that I do, but I am unable in my flesh. I am not perfect as my heavenly Father is perfect. (Mt. 5:48) Just as the apostle Paul in Romans 8:18, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.”

I believe that I have been justified, as a gift, by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. I have nothing to worry about because my future is in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.

However, I groan, longing for the coming day of the Lord. That I may be clothed with a heavenly body, a perfect body, but now I have the Spirit as a down payment on what is to come. It is as if I have two natures. One nature desires to please God and the other desires to please self.

I am groaning more and more for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, for all things to be made right. I am groaning at work over all of the human suffering, death and sorrow. It is as though intensive care nursing has become more difficult. Is it more difficult or is it the inner man, desiring for something better? 

I do not know, but I do know that my desire is to be made perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect. And I desire to live in a world without sin, suffering, death nor sorrow. The perfect land seems so far away, yet it lies before us, it is just over the horizon, it is in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Lord’s Day: August 8, 2021

Romans 4:25

He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

Dear Neighbor,

Who is He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification? He is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

The apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” 

We should, therefore, consider ourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 6:11) We who believe in Jesus Christ died with Him, and were buried with Him in Baptism, and raised to walk in newness of life. (Rom. 6:4) 

The Christian is not saved through good works, but by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we are saved; however, we are saved for good works, which God prepared before our salvation. (Eph. 2:8-10) 

Is the Christian to continue in sin? (Rom. 1:1) This is indeed a silly question considering that the Christian is dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Jesus said to the man whom He healed from 38 years of infirmity that had made him lame, and to the woman accused of adultery whom he did not condemn: “Sin no more!” (Jn. 5:14 & 8:11) Therefore, present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and as instruments of righteousness to God. We who believe in Jesus are not to be mastered by sin, for we are not under law but under grace. (Rom. 12-14)

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

What doth the conclusion the Lord's prayer teach us?

Question 107: What doth the conclusion the Lord's prayer teach us?

Answer: The conclusion of the Lord's prayer, which is, "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen." teacheth us, to take our encouragement in prayer from God only, and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power and glory to him.

And, in testimony of our desire, and assurance to be heard, we say, Amen.

Dear Neighbor,

When the Westminster Puritan’s wrote their confession and this catechism, they did so from the English Version authorized by King James. The King James Bible was translated by the Puritans from the Textus Receptus. All early English translations of the Bible, except for Wycliffe’s, (The Wycliffe English Bible of 1382 was translated into English from the Latin Vulgate) were translated into English from the Textus Receptus. The Textus Receptus was a Greek New Testament by Erasmus in 1516. Erasmus was a Dutch philosopher and Christian scholar. Since the time that Erasmus put together what would be called the Textus Receptus (meaning, received text), several older Greek manuscripts of the New Testament were discovered in Northern Africa. 

So, what am I driving at? Matthew 6:13, “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” This clause is not found in the early Greek manuscripts. It is likely a later addition to the text. Perhaps, it was tradition to say these words after reciting the Lord’s prayer. I do believe, however, that there is nothing theologically incorrect about them. In fact David said very similar words to these when blessing the Lord in sight of all the people. 

1 Chronicles 29:11

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.

I have enjoyed going through these 107 questions and answers of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. I hope that it aides your following the Lord Jesus Christ.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Friday: August 6, 2021

Question 106: What do we pray for in the sixth petition?

Answer: In the sixth petition, which is, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil," we pray, That God would either keep us from being tempted to sin, or support and deliver us when we are tempted.

Dear Neighbor,

I agree with the Westminster Puritans in praying that God would “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” we are praying that God would keep us from being tempted and deliver us when we are tempted. However, I also believe that it goes much further than delivering us when we are tempted because evil can come from the world and the people around us, and we need protection from these as well. 

Temptation comes from three sources:

1. Satan
2. The World
3. The Flesh

When we ask God to keep us from temptation, we are asking God to protect us from Satan, the world and our own flesh. And we ask God to deliver us from evil, we are asking him to deliver us from these same three. Just as Satan, the world, and the flesh may influence us, these influence others as well. We live in a fallen and corrupt world. The Christian has been declared perfect but is not yet perfect, but even if we were made perfect, we live in an imperfect and evil world. 

Jesus Christ, the perfect Man was nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put to death, but God raised him up again! (Acts 2:23-24) The disciples were threatened to not speak in the name of Jesus Christ, but they prayed to the Lord, “take note of their threats, and grant that your bond-servants may speak your word with all confidence.” (Acts 4:29) Therefore, we are to pray likewise. 

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Thursday: August 5, 2021

Question 105: What do we pray for in the fifth petition?

Answer: In the fifth petition, which is, "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors," we pray, That God, for Christ's sake, would freely pardon all our sins; which we are able to be rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others.

Dear Neighbor,

We should confess our sins to God in prayer and confess what we are holding in our heart against others. When we consider all that that God has done for us in forgiving our sins; then we realize that we cannot, nor should not hold a grudge against another. This is not to say that we should not hold others accountable but we should forgive. 

Jesus said, Luke 17:3-4, “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

If someone sins, the believer is to show him his fault in private, and if he listens, then forgive him. However, if he does not listen, then take two or three others with you, if he listens to them, then forgive him. However, if he does not listen, tell it to the church, if he listens to the church, forgive him, but if he does not listen to the church, then stay away from him. (Mt. 18:15-17) 

However, we are not to take vengeance, give your anger to God, God has said in his Word, VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” We are to be kind to all, even to those who sin against us. (Rom. 19:20) Just as God gives good things to both the righteous and the unrighteous, we are to be like our Father who is in heaven. (Mt. 5:43-48) 

Confess your sins to God, trusting that all of your sins have been paid by the blood of Jesus Christ. Forgive what you harbor in your heart against those who have sinned against you. Give them to God and harbor no ill intent towards anyone.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Wednesday: August 4, 2021

Question 104: What do we pray for in the fourth petition?

Answer: In the fourth petition, which is, "Give us this day our daily bread," we pray, That of God's free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessing with them.

Dear Neighbor,

We all have needs; both physical and spiritual needs. We need to be feed by the Word and we need to be feed with food for our stomachs. I man is both a physical and spiritual being. With our daily bread we will die. Some are starving, they are receiving a portion of bread but it is not enough. The bread that I speak of is both physical and spiritual. To be truly alive and healthy we need physical bread for the body and spiritual bread for the soul. Some are physically fat but are spiritually starved. We should pray and ask God to give us what we need and give thanks to God for the good things that he has blessed us with. 

Proverbs 30:8-9 says:

Keep deception and lies far from me,

Give me neither poverty nor riches;

Feed me with the food that is my portion,

That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the LORD?”

Or that I not be in want and steal,

And profane the name of my God.

We should not ask for riches but pray for what we need; both our spiritual needs and our physical needs.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Tuesday: August 3, 2021

Question 103: What do we pray for in the third petition?

Answer: In the third petition, which is, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven," we pray, That God, by his grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to his will in all things, as the angels do in heaven.

Dear Neighbor,

When we pray, we should not pray for our will, but for God’s will, as the Lord Jesus Christ did during the night preceding his suffering and death. Jesus prayed to the Father God: “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” (Lk. 22:42) We should petition God, not for our will, but for his will to be done.

All are saved by the grace of God alone, through faith, in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Of ourselves we can do nothing good. The apostle Paul wrote: “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.” (Rom. 7:18) Therefore, we must pray for God, by his grace, would enable us to willing know, obey, and submit to his will in all things, just as is done in heaven. 

In the first petition, we ask for God to enable us to glorify his name. In the second petition we pray for the Kingdom of God to come. In the third petition we pray for God to enable us as citizens of the Kingdom of God to think, speak and do what he wills. I am not able in my flesh to do the will of God, because I am by nature selfish. I must pray for the Spirit to enable me to do all that God wills. Not our will, but God’s will be done.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Monday: August 2, 2021

Question 102: What do we pray for in the second petition?

Answer: In the second petition, which is, "Thy kingdom come," we pray, That Satan's kingdom may be destroyed; and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it; and the kingdom of glory may be hastened.

Dear Neighbor,

The coming of the kingdom of God is the greatest and deepest desire of my heart. It was not always my deepest desire but has been since the day God gave me a new heart, with a new desire. 

In his book, City of God, Augustine wrote about the reality of two kingdoms. There are two kingdoms side by side. There is the kingdom of man, ruled by Satan, and the kingdom of God, ruled by Jesus Christ. A day and hour is coming in which God will judge the world in righteousness through Jesus Christ. Satan will be vanquished and the kingdom of man will be no more. As believers, we are to pray for the advancement of God’s kingdom.

Some have said that it is sin to not be unsatisfied; however, the truth be told, I am not satisfied with the status quo. This world and the way it is, is not what I desire. My children are following the way of the world. I take care of people who are going through a great deal of suffering. People lie, steal, murder, are unfaithful and covet. I desire true community, yet I often feel lonely. I do not want to live in the City of Man any longer but desire to live in the City of God. I do not desire death but desire to truly live. I desire heaven on earth. No more death, no more pain, no more sorrow; everyone truly loving God and truly loving one another. I do not believe in a disembodied eternal existence, floating on the clouds as in some fictitious tale of old. I believe in a bodily resurrection from the dead, walking up right, in a new heaven and new earth where righteousness reigns.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Lord’s Day: August 1, 2021

Dear Neighbor,

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. We are to rejoice, not in our circumstances, but we are to have joy in the Lord Jesus Christ because he has redeemed us from death unto life. The promise of God is eternal life and the life is in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died, who was buried, who rose again, who ascended, who will come to judge the earth. All honor and glory belong to God our Farther, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I have been asked to teach a lesson in our Sunday morning Bible Study. I am currently reading A. W. Pinks, The Gospel of John. In that book, Pink said: 

The Bible teacher who becomes a substitute for diligent study on the part of those who hear him is a hindrance and not a help. The business of the teacher is to turn people to the searching of the Scriptures for themselves, stimulating their interest in the Sacred Word, and instructing them how to go about it. 

Therefore, I plan to write a lesson plan that turns people to searching the Scriptures for themselves, stimulates their interest in the Sacred Word and instructs them how to go about it.

Last week I completed 20 continues years of employment at my job. I work in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, in the Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital, at Christus Trinity Mother Frances, in Tyler, Texas. This is not my first job as a nurse, I have been a Registered Nurse for almost 24 years; however, it is where I have spent the vast majority of my nursing life. The majority of the nurses on this unit are in their twenties and early thirties; which means, I have been on this unit for most of their lives. When I completed 20 continues years of service, an automatic computer system sent me a message that read: “Congratulations on 20 years.”

 

As you can see, I copied the message for this post. No one from hospital administration, nor management, nor staff on the unit recognized my anniversary. My anniversary went by without human interest. This causes me to think about why I am a nurse. I am a nurse for three reasons:

1. I am a nurse to honor God our Father.
2. I am a nurse to exalt Jesus Christ.
3. I am a nurse to seek the good of my neighbor.

Jesus said, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’” (Mt. 22:37-39) The Lord was quoting from the Old testament Law: Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 to answer an expert in the Law, who asked: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” (Mt. 22:36) Jesus answered the man’s question but gave him more than he asked for. It is easy to say that we love God but we demonstrate our love for God by loving the people created in the image of God. (cf. 1 John 4:20)

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

Jesus told the Lawyer, “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Mt. 22:40) Loving God, as he has been revealed to us in the Scriptures, and loving our neighbor as ourselves.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake