Keepers Of The Light
1. Different Bible Keepers
There are so many different kinds of keepers in the Bible. There are doorkeepers, keepers of the gate, keepers of the wall, and keepers at home. Huldah, the prophetess was a keeper of the wardrobe. Cain asked the question, "Am I my brother's keeper?" God keepeth His covenant and mercy for them that love Him, and keeps His own as the apple of His eye.
We are told to keep watch, keep the commandments, and keep our tongue from evil. At times we are even instructed to keep silence. But, we are not to be score keepers or time keepers, for those actions are kept for God alone.
As I look around my bedroom at all my lighthouses, I think of us as being "Keepers Of The Light". Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16) And Paul encourages us to "put on the armour of light." "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." (Romans 13:12) Let's take a look at some of the "Keepers" in the Bible and see where we fit in, in the realm of it all.
2. Keepers Of The Light
Our children enjoyed watching, "The Andy Griffith Show" growing up, just as I did when I was young. In one episode, Opie, a young boy, joins a small club of boys, and he is given the job of, "The Keeper Of The Flame". He has to keep up with the candle. I want to focus today on a young boy in the Bible who actually was a keeper of the light.
"1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I." (I Samuel 3:1-4)
Verse 3 begins, "And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD..." It was commanded by God that the lamp always be burning.
"2 Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.
3 Without the vail of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order it from the evening unto the morning before the LORD continually: it shall be a statute for ever in your generations." (Leviticus 24:1-2)
If we look in II Samuel 21:17, we see that David's men told him"...Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel." We also read in Proverbs 13:9, "The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out." I think God brought little Samuel to the temple not only to keep the lamp burning with oil, but also so that the spiritual lamp of Israel would not go out. We are "Keepers Of The Light" in the fact that we are to let our light shine, in this dark and gloomy world. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)
3. "Let The Lower Lights Be Burning"
Before we move on to the next "Keeper" I want to share a previous devotional. I was thinking about the line in the first verse, "But to us He gives the keeping of the lights along the shore." This old song is a great encouragement for us to keep our light burning. "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;" Luke 12:35
I have always liked the song, "Let The Lower Lights Be Burning." When I researched the story behind the song, my fondness for it grew. Evangelist Dwight L. Moody was preaching in 1871 and he told about a ship trying to get into the Cleveland Harbor during a dark storm on Lake Erie. He could see the light from the lighthouse, but the lower lights had gone out on the rocky shore. Phillip Paul Bliss was so touched by the story he wrote this great old song. Here is an excerpt from his book.
"On a dark, stormy, night, when the waves rolled like mountains, and not a star was to be seen, a boat, rocking and plunging, neared the Cleveland harbor. “Are you sure this is Cleveland?” asked the captain, seeing only one light from the lighthouse.
“Quite sure, sir,” replied the pilot.
“Where are the lower lights?”
“Gone out, sir.”
“Can you make the harbor?”
“We must, or perish, sir!”
And with a strong hand and a brave heart, the old pilot turned the wheel. But alas, in the darkness he missed the channel, and with a crash upon the rocks the boat was shivered, and many a life lost in a watery grave. Brethren, the Master will take care of the great lighthouse: let us keep the lower lights burning!"
D. L. Moody.
Philip P. Bliss, The Charm: A Collection of Sunday School Music (Chicago, Illinois: Root & Cady, 1871)
"Let The Lower Lights Be Burning"
Brightly beams our Father's mercy from His lighthouse evermore,
But to us He gives the keeping of the lights along the shore.
Chorus
Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman you may rescue, you may save.
Dark the night of sin has settled, loud the angry billows roar;
Eager eyes are watching, longing, for the lights, along the shore.
Trim your feeble lamp, my brother, some poor sailor tempest tossed,
Trying now to make the harbor, in the darkness may be lost.
4. A Keeper Of The Sheep
I just finished reading the book of I Chronicles and I was so impressed by King David's praise to his God, even up to the end of his reign and life. (I love how each time I read the Bible God enlightens me to something new!)
"11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name." (I Chronicles 29:11-13)
David's life as a shepherd prepared him to face the giant in battle.
"34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee." (I Samuel 17:34-37)
God also used David's experience as a keeper of the sheep, to help him become the leader of God's chosen people.
"Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel: And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth." (I Chronicles 17:7-8)
David was a simple shepherd, a keeper of the sheep, and God directed him to lead His people, just as he led the sheep in the green pastures and beside the still waters. I started wondering what kind of keeper I am, and what God may be preparing me for... because I don't believe we have done all we can for the Lord until He calls us home.
5. Keeping Watch Over The Flock
I am pulling our verse from a favorite Christmas chapter today, "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." (Luke 2:8) These shepherds were visited by the angels and invited to see baby Jesus, born in a stable in Bethlehem. There are several references of pastors being shepherds, over God's flock. My words today are in appreciation to my pastor, and to all the pastors and undershepherds who are keeping a watch over God's flock.
"3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.
5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth." (Jeremiah 23:3-5)
"And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." (Jeremiah 3:15)
"22 Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.
23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
30 Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD.
31 And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD." (Ezekiel 34:22,34,30 & 31)
"1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." (I Peter 5:1-4)
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;" (Ephesians 4:11)
Thank you, Lord!
6. "Am I My Brother's Keeper?"
You may be familiar with the story of Cain and Abel, and the question asked, "Am I my brother's keeper?" "And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:8-9)
You can read more about that in the fourth chapter of Genesis. I was actually thinking of using God's Words to the prophet Ezekiel, when Cain's question came to my mind. Are we keeper's of our brothers and sisters? How much are we required by God to look out for one another? God was very straightforward with Ezekiel. He told him that he was a watchman over Israel. How important is it that we look out for one another? It was so important that God repeated this message to Ezekiel in 33:1-9. There's not really any more I can say about these scriptures... read them and let God speak to you.
"17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul." (Ezekiel 3:17-21)
7. God Keeps His Promises
I hate to see the news about the war against Israel. Pastor Tripp has been preaching through the book of Psalms and Wednesday evening he was in Psalm 105. He mentioned the covenant that the Lord has with Israel. God promised the land to Abraham and extended the promise down through the ages with His people. We can read how it will end in the book of Revelation, but it is heartbreaking to see these people, God's chosen people, under attack. God keeps His promises. We read in Deuteronomy 7:9, "Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;" God is faithful and He will keep His Word! Moses declared it in Deuteronomy and it has been proven over and over again. This is a portion of Psalm 105 about God's covenant with Israel.
"5 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
6 O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.
7 He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.
8 He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
9 Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;
10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:
11 Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:
12 When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.
13 When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;" (Pslam 105:5-13)
8. Keeping Up With Birthdays
We don't usually have special celebrations for our birthdays, but because of all that Michael went through with his heart surgery in December, I invited our Moms and our children's families for pizza, cake, and homemade ice cream on Friday. A few were able to come and the cousins had fun playing together. Psalm 90 is a prayer of Moses and he begins talking about God. "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." (Psalm 90:2) Then he compares our perpetual God to the brevity of man. "... we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.... So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." (portions of Psalm 90:9-12) Not only are we to number our days and apply our hearts unto wisdom, we have more advice in Ecclesiastes 12:1, "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;" Paul also gives us good instructions in Ephesians 5:15-16. "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Let's also look at James 4:13-14. "Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." So we see that we need to use each day to the fullest for our Lord.
9. "A Doorkeeper In The House Of My God"
Today is the Lord's Day and I am ready to meet in the house of my God and worship! With everything that is going on in the world today I need this time of worship. Yes, I can pray at home, and I can read my Bible, and I can even watch church services across the internet, but there is a special joy that comes from being with our spiritual brothers and sisters. Many times when I didn't really feel like going to church, and I went anyway, the Lord lifted my burdens, eased my pain, and blessed me, and I felt better when I left than when I walked through the doors. "I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God" and have this special time of worship than anywhere else I know on Sunday morning. Our verse comes from Psalm 84. Following that text are two verses of people who "departed not out of the tabernacle" (in the Old Testament) and "departed not from the temple" (in the New Testament). Do you know who they are?
"9 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.
10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee." (Psalm 84:9-12)
"And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle." (Exodus 33:11)
"36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem." (Luke 2:36-38)
10. Gate Keepers
When you go to ball games, and other events, there are gate keepers who let you go in as you give them your ticket. We often see jokes and cartoons about Peter standing at the gate of heaven, and deciding which people go in, by what they have to say. These ideas of gate keepers are all incorrect when it comes to heaven. It will not matter how much money you have to offer, or how important or popular, you are on earth. It will not matter how many helpful deeds you have done, or how "good" you were during your lifetime. The only way you will get into heaven is by trusting in Jesus to save you and confessing your sins to Him. Many sports and entertainment facilities require a great deal of money to go through the gates, but we don't have to have money to go to heaven. Jesus is the precious Lamb of God and He became our sacrifice to pay the price for our sin. He is the only way. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) John tells us all about the gates to the New Jerusalem, and the angels at the gates of pearl. Is your name in the Lamb's book of life?
"10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Portions of Revelation 21)
11. We Are Not Score Keepers
Back when my husband used to coach basketball he had to appoint score keepers for the games. And many times people try to be score keepers in this game of life. But, God has not appointed us to keep score, giving one points for this and taking away points from someone else. Only God knows our hearts. "Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)" (II Chronicles 6:30) We find a great example of this in Luke 21 and Mark 12. The rich people were putting money into the offering of the treasury, and many probably thought highly of them and would have given them high marks if they had been keeping score. Then, a poor widow cast in all that she had and Jesus commended her, to the disciples. Don't try to keep score by what people give. We shouldn't even rank ourselves with others about what we give or do for the Lord.
"41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living." (Mark 12:41-44)
Another reason we shouldn't keep score or judge others, besides Matthew 7:1, "Judge not, that ye be not judged" is that we are not finished yet. Look at Revelation 14:13, "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." My grandpa Beasley preached at a very small church towards the end of his life. He stayed faithful. He was preaching when I was young, and I asked the Lord to save me. I feel that any blessing I receive from working for the Lord will also be rewarded to his account. He passed away many years ago, but his works will follow him. Put away your score cards... it's not over yet!
12. We Are Not Time Keepers
Just as Michael had to appoint score keepers for his basketball games, he also had to select time keepers. Often, when something happened on court, they would stop time on the clock. At the end of the game, if the score was tied, they would increase the time. And, just as we are not score keepers in life, we are also not time keepers. We can't stop the clock when we have problems and pause until we get everything figured out. We can't slow down the clock and enjoy a day of vacation, or speed up the clock during anxiety or sickness. Most of all, we can not add more time to the clock. When our time on earth is done, and God calls us home to meet our Maker, there is nothing we can do to add more time. God is the only Time Keeper.
There are two examples in the Bible when God changed time for man. The first one was when Joshua and the Israelites were in battle and Joshua asked God to stop the sun from going down so they could finish the battle. The second example is found in II Kings 20 and Isaiah 38. There are other examples when the sun and moon went dark. In Exodus 20 the darkness during the plague on Egypt lasted three days and it was darkness that could be felt. During the death of Christ on the cross darkness went across the land from the sixth hour to the ninth hour. In the book of Revelation we read of great changes in the sun and moon. And in the end, there will be no more time. " And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:" (Revelation 10:6)
"10 And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.
11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.
12 Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
14 And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel." (Joshua 10:10-14)
"8 And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?
9 And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?
10 And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.
11 And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz." (II Kings 20:8-11)
13. Keepers Of Our Prized Possessions
Annie and I took the three kids to the strawberry patch Wednesday morning. It is really a nice place to go with children because, in addition to the fresh strawberries, there are farm animals for the children to see and pet. As we were going across the gravel parking lot we saw an elderly gentleman fall and roll across the gravel as he was starting to put the berries into his car. Susanna said to me, "Watch Lici," and she ran toward the man to see what she could do. He had gotten dizzy and he was given some water and helped inside the store. There are times when we need to leave our prized possessions in the hands of keepers.
You probably remember the story of how David fought the giant who defied the God of Israel. The verses I want to look at are in the beginning of that story.
"20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.
21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.
22 And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.
23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them." (I Samuel 17:20-23)
David obeyed his father and left the sheep with a keeper, and then he left the carriage with a keeper. Sometimes we need to leave something with a keeper. Many have to leave their children with a keeper so that they can work. Some have to leave their parents with a keeper as they grow too old to care for themselves. It can be a hard choice, but sometimes it is necessary. When Annie ran to help the man, she immediately wanted to make sure her own children were in good hands with me first. When you have to leave something or some one in the hands of a keeper, check them out and pray that God will show you the right one.
14. It's Hard To Keep Up
For many people, the past year with covid restrictions left you constantly trying to just keep up. Keep up with your work, finding a makeshift desk, and trying to keep organized. Keeping the kids on schedule for school when all their work, everyday, was homework. Trying to keep meals on the table, and those hard to find necessities for your family. Keeping clean clothes in the drawers, when it seemed easier to just wear pajamas most of the day. All of the “keeping up” during the last year may have left you feeling like you can’t “keep up” this pace any longer. We are tired. We are weary. And we want our lives to get back to normal. I am looking today at the last part of Song of Solomon 1:6, “... my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.” When we have to keep up with everything, for everyone else, we often neglect ourselves. It is hard, but if we don’t take care of ourself, we may get to the place that we will not be able to keep up and take care of anyone else. Take care of yourself!
15. Our Last "Keeps"
We are closing our "Keepers Of The Light" in looking at several things that God's Word tells us to keep. Some of these may seem easy, but others are sometimes difficult. The third chapter of James tells us how hard it is to keep our tongue. Many times it would do us good to remember that there is "a time to keep silence..." I want to encourage you to keep the faith, as the Apostle Paul did. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" (II Timothy 4:7) And to help you with that task, you have a Savior who "is able to keep you from falling!" "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." (Jude 24-25)
"By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain." (I Corinthians 15:2)
"Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile." (Psalm 34:13)
"... a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;" (Ecclesiastes 3:7)
"If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15)
"But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it." (Luke 11:28)
"Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen." (I John 5:21)
"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." (Jude 1:21)
