David Alan Black 

It’s been a real privilege to serve God through Dave Black Online these past two and a half years, and I thank the Lord for all the friends I’ve made via the Internet. It is to these good folk in particular that I offer a few “rules” for bloggers – well, suggestions, at least – that I hope will be an encouragement.  

1. “In the beginning, God…” (Gen. 1:1). If the Bible begins with God, so must we. We will never be able to do what He wants us to do unless we are prepared in advanced, not only sanctified against tomorrow but fortified for today. How foolish to think we can do anything for Him without Him!

2. “Therefore I have set my face like a flint…” (Isa. 50:7). Elsewhere Paul says, “This one thing I do…” (Phil. 3:13). Let us make up our minds on this one thing: to magnify the Lord Jesus in everything we write. We must make it clear that we do all Soli Deo Gloria – to the glory of God alone. Let Christ be preeminent and all-inclusive in our writing, in word and in spirit.

3. “And they, continuing daily…” (Acts 2:46). It takes a lot of grace to do something every day, but it is in the monotonous trudge that we ply our trade. First, we must take up our cross daily and follow the Lord. Then we are to exhort one another daily, verbalizing what the Lord lays on our heart. Christianity talks. We repent with words, believe with words, praise with words, testify with words. Let not doubt make us dumb as it did Zacharias.

4. “Do not fear …” (Rev. 2:9). Fear not what man might think or say. Our supreme business is not survival or success or self-satisfaction. What matters is stewardship. Be not fearful of pseudo-Christianity, false orthodoxy, or simulated piety. Be faithful and not fearful.

5. “Although the fig tree may not blossom…” (Hab. 3:17). We have no Pollyanna God. Oftentimes we will face grim, hard times, and if we cannot transform them we can transcend them and praise God anyhow. When things don’t make sense and demons dance with glee, say “Hallelujah” anyway!

6. “Will ye also go away?” (John 6:67). Today people want a political kingdom of prosperity but have no appetite for Jesus’ real message and mission. Jesus gladly thinned His crowd, and when they departed He did not change His message to bring them back. Be prepared for a thinning crowd but also for a Faithful Remnant of devoted readers.

7. “The day will reveal it” (1 Cor. 3:13). Except the Lord build the blog we labor in vain who build it. But He who has begun a good work among us will complete it. Give it your best in view of that Day when every man’s work will be manifested.

8. “But when he was strong…” (2 Chron. 26:16). As long as Uzziah sought God he prospered. But when he was strong his heart was lifted up to destruction. We collapse not in a time of failure but at the peak of success, so “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12). Beware popularity!

9. “Well done…” (Matt 25:23). Notice that Jesus said “Well done.” A good and faithful servant’s work is not merely done, but done well. Every time we write there will be wood, hay, and stubble, but our desire must always be to build with gold, silver, and precious stones. My builder son takes pride in his work like the old craftsmen and artisans who turned out flawless masterpieces. Something of the same spirit must enter our spiritual labors. There is much shoddy Christianity today, but low-grade effort is not acceptable to those who are doing their human best in the power of the Holy Spirit. Ask yourself at the end of the day: Was my work merely “done” or done “well”?

10. “And the Lord shut him in” (Gen. 7:16). God both opens and closes doors. He opens and shuts the doors of Christian service as well as the door of salvation. Someday He may shut the door to our blogs. The important thing will be to be on the right side of the door like Noah when that happens.