I’m starting a new series  of posts, since there are multiple (two) subjects for this Part 1 and will undoubtedly be many more as I progress in my life goal of memorizing the ENTIRE Bible so a series seems seriously fitting.

Per the previous post from earlier today, this morning I was reciting the third of the six New Testament books I’ve memorized so far en route to all sixty-six, 1 Peter, and how I generally do that is to recite one of those “stored” books each day, its first chapter or few FIRST THING when I awake each morning, before doing ANYTHING else, then additional chapters throughout the day, and then its last chapter or few LAST THING when I go to sleep each night.  I find that this has the maximum effect/benefits and also is MOST in line with Scripture…

• “Oh, how I love Your law! [i.e., the Bible]  It is my meditation ALL THE DAY.” (Psalm 119:97)

… and therefore MOST pleasing to God so that’s plenty good enough for me to plan my days around!

But sometimes I get so “into” and enthralled by reciting the Bible that I can’t “pace myself” and just finish that day’s book sometime in the afternoon or evening (in which case I’ll just start on the next day’s book’s first chapter when I go to bed that night or re-recite the final chapter or two from that day’s book) and that’s what happened just now (around 5:00 p.m.) and what prompted this post was 1 Peter 5:12 – “Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God.  Stand firm in it!”

I know, I know, it’s not the type of verse which most preachers are likely to cover on a Sunday but here’s what hit me about it and made me say, “I’m so JEALOUS!”  Of that fellow Silvanus.  Because he not only had the unparalleled privilege of knowing and serving very closely with Peter but also Paul!  You see, that fellow also went by the name Silas – probably much as many people named William also go by Bill these days.  Or James and Jim.  Silvanus and Silas.  Paul referenced him by both names:  the former in 1 Thessalonians 1:1 and 2 Thessalonians 1:1, and the latter in Acts 16:25-40 which is probably how most people know of him, the amazing account of when he and Paul (Paul!  I’m SO JEALOUS!) were in prison (okay, a LITTLE LESS jealous about that part… but it’s the APOSTLE PAUL we’re talking about so overall STILL JEALOUS of Silas =) and around midnight were praying and singing hymns (aren’t you glad that WE get to do that in CHURCH, versus prison?  Me too =) and there was a big earthquake (something readers in near-and-dear-to-my-heart California can definitely relate to) and the prison’s doors opened and the jailer was about to kill himself via a sword but Paul shouted to him that there was no need since neither they nor the other prisoners had escaped and that jailer was immediately led to a saving knowledge of Christ.  And Silas not only got to witness and be centrally involved in that firsthand but also had the eternal privilege of having his name etched into the Bible, into Scripture for all eternity (I’M SO JEALOUS!).

[As a side note, I’m certain that Silvanus was his given name and Silas the nickname, per my William/Will example, because it would be far more likely that Paul would use his official/birth/legal name at the start of those two epistles to the Thessalonians, and his more familiar nickname in day-to-day life as in Acts.]

Knowing and workly so closely, so intimately, not just with Peter – God’s main vessel to the Jews – but ALSO the beloved Apostle Paul – God’s main vessel to the Gentiles.

I’M SO JEALOUS!

But I can’t end this post without mentioning someone else.  Someone of whom I’ve been jealous since I was a child and first heard the story (in Sunday School I’m pretty sure) of Cleopas and ever since, nearly my entire life, I’ve been utterly and completely jealous of him!

Because he was walking with one other (unnamed) person (many think it was his wife, possibly another believer/disciple) to a village named Emmaus (right near Jerusalem, around seven miles away) on that very first “Easter Sunday”, the very day of Jesus’s resurrection, and while they were walking and talking about all that had just occurred that most pivotal and consequential of weekends – indeed, the most in human history – and they were joined by someone they didn’t recognize until much later, that night, but it was Jesus Himself – the risen Lord of all creation, the “blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords” as 1 Timothy 6:15 puts it – HIM, THAT Person, who proceeded to impart to them a sermon, a message, a lesson, an education which even a HUNDRED years of Bible college or seminary even under the GREATEST of teachers couldn’t compare, couldn’t even hold a candle.  Luke 24:27 says this:  “And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in ALL the Scriptures.”

I’M SO JEALOUS!!!

Times ten.

[As a side note, when they finally realized that it was Jesus that evening, while sharing a meal, He disappeared and Luke 24:32 tells us what they said:  “Were not our hearts burning within uson the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?”  The only instance in known human history of GOOD heartburn!]

Don’t get me wrong, I’m infinitely and eternally grateful that you and I have the Holy Spirit to teach us (1 John 2:27).  But to have the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ do so IN PERSON… well, enough said.  I’m sure you fully understand why I’m so jealous!  (Probably the ONLY situation in which that’s actually a GOOD thing. =)

Have you ever thought about just HOW long eternity is?  Forever.  And ever and ever and ever, so as to be incomprehensible to the finite human mind, such that time as we know it  doesn’t exist, will cease existing in eternity.  So we’ll have UNLIMITED time to fill, and throughout my life I’ve kinda constructed a list of ways I’d like to FILL that time.  At the very top is to talk with and hug and bow down to the Lord Jesus when He greets me into His direct and physical presence (though with resurrected bodies all – 1 Corinthians 15) and to thank God the Father for His unfathomable grace and mercy and forgiveness and patience and goodness and generosity and kindness, then after standing back up, to ask the Lord to repeat exactly what He shared with Cleopas and his fellow traveler on the road to Emmaus.  Second on the list would be to speak with (listen to =) the beloved Apostle Paul, my lifelong “human hero” – then David and Abraham and others.  Third on the list would be to see if all of my family – immediate and extended – and closest friends are there, that they were indeed genuine versus merely professing believers.  Then back to more Bible characters.  Then the people whom God has most used these past 2,000 years.  The preachers and teachers and theologians and missionaries and evangelists and pastors who have been so used by God in teaching and preaching and practicing/living  the Bible.  And that would be plenty satiating for me and just spend the rest of eternity worshiping and thanking and praising God.  Holy, holy, holy!  Worthy is the Lamb!  Oh man, I can hardly wait!  But in the meantime, I’m so thankful for the opportunity and hopefully many years ahead of encouraging as many fellow Christians and telling all the rest of humanity about how to become  one, how to know and experience in an ongoing way the “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness [Literally (Greek), faith], gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23) which only God the Holy Spirit can give and grow (they are, after all, the “fruit” of the Spirit =) within a sinner like me.

Hey, after just thinking about all of that and what awaits us, all of a sudden I’m not quite so jealous anymore. 🙂
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