“WHAT YOU DO THAT YOU DO ALWAYS”
By Jeremy B. Stopford
TODAY’S FUNNY: “Visit to A Zoo”
Little Johnny wanted to go to the zoo and pestered his parents for days. Finally his mother talked his reluctant father into taking him.
“So how was it?” his mother asked when they returned home.
“Great,” Little Johnny replied.
“Did you and your father have a good time?” asked his mother.
“Yeah, Daddy especially liked it,” exclaimed Little Johnny excitedly, “especially when one of the animals came home at 30 to 1!”
INTRODUCTION:
In our “Call to Worship”, perhaps you noticed verse 132 of the 119th psalm. In our NIV it reads, “Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name.” Did you notice the phrase “as you always do”? In the NKJV it reads, “as Your custom is.”
What is this verse saying? It is saying that God has habits – things that He does on a regular basis due to…His character! One of His habits, according to verse 132, is to have mercy on individuals who love His name. Perhaps you’ve experienced that on a daily basis. We certainly did experience that at the cross. Now how much more do we need to experience His kindnesses on a daily basis. And He does that always! That’s one of HIS habits!
Experts tell us it takes at least 3 weeks to develop a good habit – while at the same time perhaps to break a bad one!
ILLUSTRATION How many of you have tried to read the Bible through, but after several days life got in your way? What was the problem? You didn’t strive for 3 weeks!
In your bulletin today are several verses that will show habits in Scripture. For us, a habit is…ready…here’s the title once again…”what you do that you do always.” Pretty clever, right? But also pretty challenging! PRAYER
#1. THE CUSTOM OF THE FAMILY ALTAR (Job 1:5)
We’re all familiar with the story of Job. Richest man on earth. 10 children. Many servants. And in the midst of all that, Satan pleads to test Job in many ways.
But there are 2 things you need to know before we go to the beginning of Chapter 1. Go to Job 1:6-9. Who was it that suggested the subject for Satan’s tests? Why, the Lord Himself! He knew Job’s character (verse 8).
And go forward to Job 2:1-3. What does the Lord add concerning His describing Job? “Integrity”. Job was a man of integrity.
Where did he get that from?
NOW let’s go to Job 1:1-5. Job “was the greatest man among all the people of the East” (v. 3) What caused that? Wise investing? Hard work? Perhaps that is true – and we should be wise and hard workers, too.
But Job had a custom, a habit which he had developed over the course of many years. Look at verse 5. The text says “this was Job’s regular custom.” – note, not just a custom, but his regular custom.
And what was his custom? He had a family altar. He regularly – probably daily – kept his family before the remembrance of the Lord! Wow! He would pray for each of his 7 sons by name. He would pray for each of his 3 daughters by name. He was concerned with their love for the Lord and for their walk with the Lord. And I imagine he also prayed for his wife, whom we meet in Chapter 2. When she advises her weakened husband, “curse God and die”, well, don’t you think that reminded Job to pray harder?
BY THE WAY: by the end of the book, how many children did Job –and his wife – have? This same wife who advised her husband to “curse God and die” would mother 10 more children! Job and his wife had 20 children – 10 on earth, and 10 in heaven. Don’t forget that!
So how do you develop a family altar? It takes…how long?…3 weeks! Or better, a lifetime! Have a piece of paper before you. On that paper put the name of each of your family members. And then make notes – either on paper or mentally – about the need of each one. And then? Sacrifice that need on the altar of God’s mercy! The same MERCY that is His habit (remember Psalm 119:132?)!
That’s the custom of a family altar. What you do that you do always should be a family altar.
#2, THE CUSTOM OF GOING TO GOD’S HOUSE (Luke 2:43/4:16)
The next text of importance is Luke 4:16. But let’s first make a pit stop at Luke 2:41-3. How old was Jesus? 12 years old. So how many times by now had He celebrated the Passover with His earthly parents? At least 11! So verse 41 tells us that “every year his parents”. Verse 42 tells us that this was the custom of the nation – and as a good Jewish family, it was the custom of Joseph & Mary – and young Jesus.
WHAT? You mean His earthly parents MADE Him – the Savior of the universe! – go to church? Look at vs. 51-52. He was obedient to them, the One Who laid aside the exercise of His divine attributes in order to be obedient, even unto death!
All that is free information. Let’s go to Chapter 4:16. “As was His custom” included going to the synagogue on a regular basis. Where did He get THAT custom from? Hello! His earthly parents!
And why is that so important? Read the verses following, vs. 17-21. Perhaps He wouldn’t have been where the Father wanted Him to be at that very moment. Perhaps He wouldn’t have fulfilled Scripture at that very moment. IF His earthly parents hadn’t developed in Him the custom of going to God’s House.
IF that is true of our Savior, what about us? You know where I’m going. Let me give you 2 thoughts:
#1 Hebrews 10:25 in our NIV says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the HABIT of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching”. Even the author of Hebrews understood that good habits can be broken.
#2. ILLUSTRATION As most of you know, I really love to send out bulletins to those who either are shut-ins, to those that we’re trying to maintain a contact with, and especially to those who for whatever reason missed church that Sunday. How many “regulars” do you think our attendance has? “Regulars” are what I refer to when talking about those who will be in church 2-3 Sundays per month. Do you know how many we have? 28. What would happen if EVERY Sunday all 28 were here? Why a visitor would walk in and say, “hey – this is a living church!”. I’ve heard that at Easter time. I hear it at Christmas time. I would love to hear that on a regular basis!
Let’s not grow weary in doing good! Let’s develop the habit, the custom of going to God’s house!
#3. THE CUSTOM OF GOD’S INTERVENTION (John 18:39)
I was overwhelmed to be reminded of this custom. This habit of the Roman governor and the Jewish people was that every year, at the time of the Passover, a prisoner would be released – pardoned in today’s language. This was a custom. This happened regularly. Everyone knew about it, including the Roman governor.
So what happened because of this particular year’s observation of that custom? Barabbas “son of the father” got released and the Lord Jesus “Son of His Heavenly Father” was crucified – for the sin of the whole world.
Coincidence? You think? It was GOD’S INTERVENTION in human customs. It was God’s using the circumstances of every day life to return glory to Himself – even the greatest glory in the death of His Son.
What’s the point? Every day becomes an opportunity of God’s intervention in the customs, the habits of the world around you and me where the Lord has wisely placed us. Radio preacher David Mains called these “God sightings”. That isn’t an irreverent term. It is the Christian’s bringing attention and glory to God by being very conscious that the eternal God is involved in his life!
May I hear another “WOW”!
CONCLUSION
As we wrap this up, let’s review. It takes on the average 3 weeks to develop good habits – and perhaps a lifetime to maintain bad ones!
The Scriptures encourage us with at least 3 habits that should be “what we do that we do always”:
We should have the custom of a family altar, a regular – hopefully daily – time when the entire family is brought before the Lord. Make that as person as you can!
We should have the custom of going to God’s House. Do you know the #1 reason we should be in God’s House every week? Who is there? Not only people, but God Himself. It is His House! Looking forward to seeing you here next week!
And we should have the custom of God’s intervention, regularly bringing glory, praise and honor to Him when we see His handiwork on our lives.
I want to close with one more verse. Leviticus 20:23. Moses is warning the people of Israel what life is going to be like in the promised land. And then he says this, under the inspiration of God: “You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you.”
Are you living according to God’s customs – the ones found in His Word?
Close in prayer
First Baptist Church, Earlville, NY, Rev. Jeremy B. Stopford, Pastor, June 10, 2018