Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

True zeal spurns compromise, especially when it comes to principles. Jesus acted with zealous fanaticism to cleanse the house of God. John 2:17 tells us that it was zeal that motivated his actions.

If it's okay for communists, socialists, progressives, and Islamics to be zealots, what about God’s people?

The Greek word for "zeal" is “zecos” meaning "heat, ardor, fervent mind." It's most important for us men to be zealous for our families, our homes, our principles, our work or career, and most important of all, our service to God. A man without zeal will tend to be overly casual. He will be a "moocher" Have you heard this word before? We use it in New Zealand and Australia for loitering about aimlessly.

A man lacking zeal is like trying to drag around a heavy weight. He has no spring in his step, no oomph in his personality, no twinkle in his eye, and no passion for anything. He is like a dead man walking. He is a bore to be around, a fire without heat, a drag on society. This is not the man being created into the image and likeness of God (Romans 8:29).

THE DEVIL CREATES ZOMBIES. GOD CREATES MEN WITH FIRE IN THEIR BONES.

Zeal knows no apathy. It deplores laziness and slackness. It believes in creativity, enthusiasm, and a job well done. Zeal cannot tolerate sitting around and accomplishing nothing. That’s mooching!

Zeal loves motivation. It rejoices in challenges. It fights for what is right.

Seven times the Bible mentions God possessing and acting with zeal. Zeal is a great motivator. If God uses it to get things done, so should we. Isaiah 9:7 says, "The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

There are some who argue that God is only interested in spiritual fruitfulness and multiplication, such as John 15:16 where Jesus spoke primarily regarding spiritual fruitfulness.

However, to argue that we do not need to be naturally fruitful to produce a world full of spiritual fruit is plain, straight, ridiculous. God wants fathers and mothers who are spiritually fruitful to bring forth natural sons and daughters. He wants them to raise them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord to multiply spiritual fruitfulness that will influence the whole world—every nation, every city, every village, every home, and every individual.

It is for this purpose God has called and mandated every husband and wife to be fruitful and multiply, both naturally and spiritually. The more children we permit God to give us, the greater potential we have as parents to influence the world for righteousness. We cannot increase righteousness if there is no one created to receive it. As we teach and train our children in the ways of the Lord, the whole earth will be filled with His glory (Numbers 14:21).

Those who call themselves Christians, and yet have no vision to increase and multiply sons and daughters, obviously have no vision to see the world influenced with the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 15:46 tells us: “First which is natural . . . and afterward that which is spiritual.”

Do we believe in God’s Word or our own understanding?

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Picture: Howard and Evangeline Johnson and their ten children.

Now is the time for us to pray as families for those who are being downtrodden, beaten, and persecuted.

NOW IS THE TIME TO GET SERIOUS AND ARM OUSELVES TO DO BATTLE.

~ Colin Campbell

WHAT DOES THE EASY ROAD LOOK LIKE?

Little prayer
Little Bible
Little work for God
Little sacrifice
Little hospitality
Little giving
Little witness
Little families
Living close to the world
Enjoying the world
No to homeschooling
Living on handouts
Let others pay

WHAT DOES THE HARD ROAD LOOK LIKE?

The road of mountains and battles with giants. Caleb said: “Give me this mountain” (Joshua 14:6-15).
Calling upon the Lord
Sacrifice
Risk-taking
Hard work
Denying the flesh and worldly lusts (2 Corinthians 11:25-30)
The way of the cross

Which is your road?

Be encouraged,

Colin Campbell

But in chapter 14 we read of how with great courage, Jonathan and his armor bearer discovered themselves to one of the Philistine garrisons. Jonathan spoke words of faith and courage when he said to his armor bearer: "Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restrain to the Lord to save by many or by few."

In that first encounter, Jonathan, with his armor bearer, slew about 20 men, then God took over. Remember that the only people in all Israel with sword and spear were Saul and Jonathan. Through the spiritual weapons God has given us, we can be like Jonathan. Through prayer (one of our greatest spiritual weapons), we can expose ourselves, slay about 20 devils, and just see what God can do with the rest!

Be encouraged,

Colin Campbell

Spark denotes life. As men get older, they tend to lose their spark and zest for life, but I do not believe that it should be this way. Men should take all the corrective measures possible to stop themselves from oxidizing and getting rusty. We know that drugs, alcohol, and pornography can ruin a man's personality. Sitting around and living a sedentary lifestyle, coupled with laziness, and not showing initiative, also takes the spark out of a man.

Mountain climbers would never dream of taking a man without any spark on such a dangerous expedition. God also wants men like Abraham and Caleb with lots of spark to climb His mountains.

Let’s be reminded again of Caleb’s confession: “As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come. Now therefore GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN” (Joshua 14:12, 12). This mountain was inhabited by giants, but he was ready to take them on at 85 years of age!

Remember, it only takes a few sparks to get a fire going. The best sparks come from Christians filled with the Holy Spirit. Reading God's Word and praying daily are an excellent combination to create sparks.

~ Colin Campbell

No more time for powder puffs who hold their peace when the sword should be drawn.

~ Colin Campbell

The nation needs men who will not compromise their moral values, even under extreme pressure. It needs men who will not compromise truth, even if it financially advantages them to do so. Some men will say anything to get what they want, whether in marriage, promotion, election to public office, or government hand-outs.

God looks for men who will not compromise biblical values, no matter what! The Holy Spirit who indwells all Christians is not compromising. He must be grieved at the way we compromise so easily over divorce, accepting the children He wants to give us, and homeschooling them to save them from humanistic propaganda and morally corrupt peers.

~ Colin Campbell

The “double portion” is ultimately fulfilled in God’s Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Adam, creationally speaking, was God’s firstborn son because he was the beginning of God’s creation of mankind.

However, because of Adam and Eve’s fall in the Garden of Eden, Adam forfeited his position of retaining the honor and privilege of the firstborn, double portion blessing. Jesus Christ is now the firstborn of God’s new creation of man. He is the second Adam who now supersedes the first Adam.

1 Corinthians 15:22 says: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” God intended that all of Israel’s firstborn sons were to be honored by receiving a double portion of the family’s inheritance upon the father’s death.

Romans 8:29 says that Jesus Christ became “the firstborn among many brethren.”

Colossians 1:15 says: “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.”’

Hebrews 12:23 tells us that those who are “in Christ” have now come “To the general assembly and church of the firstborn.” As such, we receive all the blessings we need from His double portion, firstborn, eldest son’s inheritance!

In John 6:29-51 Jesus plainly states that the manna, the shewbread, and the bread used in religious ceremonies speak of Him.

In the Word of God, the double portion was also called the “two tenths deal.” We see this in the following:

1. THE DOUBLE PORTION OF MANNA ON THE SIXTH DAY

Exodus 16:22, 36: “And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man . . . Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah.” For five days the children of Israel gathered one tenth, but on the sixth day, they gathered two tenths. This speaks of the double portion.

2. THE MEAL OFFERING

The meal offering on the Feast Day of the Sheaf of Firstfruits was to be made of two tenths deal of fine flour (Leviticus 23:13). Jesus was the sheaf of firstfuits and the true meal offering.

3. THE TWO WAVE LOAVES

The two wave loaves in the Feast of Pentecost were also made of two tenths deal of fine flour. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost was also a double portion.

4. TWELVE LOAVES OF SHEWBREAD

Each one of the twelve loaves of shewbread which were baked each week were also made with two-tenths deal of fine flour per loaf. Once again, we see the double portion of Jesus Christ being our Savior and Healer. As the Break of Life, He is life and health for His people.

5. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

In the Ten Commandments we have the two tenths deal in their fulfillment in the two commandments given by Jesus Christ in Matthew 22:37-40: “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

How does all this relate to us? Our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives in us, is the firstborn Son of God, sharing with us all that He is and has of His double portion.

We see the double portion in Jesus when He says: “I am the RESURRECTION and the LIFE.”

He is GRACE and TRUTH. John 1:14 states: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH.”

There is so much more to discover in this truth of the Double Portion which we must receive by faith to work out in our lives.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

I love its great strength and power to promote liberty, truth, and freedom. I love the sacrifice of its young men and women in uniform that are more than willing to lay down their lives for the nations that are being threatened and destroyed at the hands of wicked evil doers.

I love its crowded churches filled with many people who still believe in the one true God, the God of Israel, and His Son Jesus Christ. Although many nations in the world have turned their backs on God, there are still multitudes in this great country who honor and fear Him.

I love America’s Constitution and although the battle still rages to attack and destroy its great values, there are multitudes who are prepared to stand up and defend it. I not only love this country, but I am most grateful and most thankful to God for His great kindness and mercy to this great country.

Despite its negatives, and every country has them, the goodness of God in America far out ways its evils. If you don’t believe me, you have not traveled much in this world.

I love and thank God for my dear, dear wife and family. We are a big family and a very blessed family. Today we will enjoy a sit-down meal in our home for over 100 of us.

I have so many friends for whom I am very grateful. Most of all, I thank my God who has been so very good to me over all these years. If it were not for His goodness and faithfulness I wonder where I would be? Only God knows.

God bless each one of you and a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Be blessed,

Colin Campbell

The children of Israel were not long in the desert before they began complaining. Exodus 16:2, 3 says: “And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. “

Following this terrible complaining and accusations against God He responds in verse 4: “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.”

Despite their ungrateful and “entitlement” attitude, God in His grace and mercy, rained bread down from Heaven. Although in the natural order of things God gives bread from the earth to sustain physical man, He is not limited to earth’s resources.

When we find ourselves in a predicament where natural resources run out, are depleted and dried up, it is easy for us to get irritable, thin-skinned, and complain. Instead of fretting and becoming anxious we need to fix our eyes upon the Lord who always has the answer to every situation.

In this situation, with Israel being out of bread, God teaches both them and us that the earth is not the only resource to meet our natural needs. There is another place of provision, a place of limitless provision--Heaven!

Heaven always has an answer for every need, no matter how small or great. Why do we so often look to earth and the things that it hopefully will provide to meet our needs? We must realize that trusting earth’s provision will often fail us. Earth is not always able to provide all the answers we need.

God rained bread from Heaven out of His grace and mercy to meet their need, not because they deserved it. Because of their ungrateful attitude they did not deserve it. This points us again to Jesus as we read Romans 5:8: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

They did not get this miracle because of their faith in God. The trial of facing hunger was intended to be an opportunity for their faith to increase and be enlarged. Hebrews 4:2 tells us that this miracle of bread from Heaven did not profit them spiritually because it was not mixed with faith.

Every trial we face in our lives are all opportunities for us to exercise faith in Heaven’s provision. In this matter, Israel got the miracle, but failed the test of faith. How sad.

In the midst of trials, we must, with humble hearts, turn our eyes upon Jesus and call upon Heaven’s bread and Heaven’s resources.

Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do.
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell