Acts 10:7-8,20 “When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa…[The Holy Spirit said…] Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I [The Holy Spirit] have sent them.”
It is an amazing concept to think that we can enter into the actual work of God. To see God as Sovereign and actively working in His creation daily is awe inspiring in itself. To see His providence for His saints, His protecting and healing hands, His encouraging and strengthening through difficulties and His comforting us when we are downtrodden is grand and wonderful in itself, but to think that we are actually able to be a part of this work is truly amazing. That He would use us as people who are fallen and imperfect to bring about His mighty and wonderful plans is one that will astound and dumbfound us continually.
It is interesting to see in the work of God in speaking to Cornelius and to Paul in order to bring about His great purposes. Cornelius is seen as a man who is devout, who prayed continually, who feared God and served people, however he had not been presented with the truth of Jesus Christ and salvation through Him alone. Peter is also a man who knows God, who serves Him faithfully. Both are found to be in prayer and both are shown the action they ought to take. Cornelius is to send for Peter and Peter is to go to Cornelius. Out of a prayerful obedience they both act in accord with the will of God. One sends, the other accompanies and an entire household of people is saved in the process. We see this chiefly in the way that the Holy Spirit explains to Peter that HE has sent the messengers, even though they were sent by the hand of Cornelius. Cornelius is simply instructed to send, but the Holy Spirit takes the credit for it being part of His working. Through prayer and guidance by the Spirit and faithfulness to the work of God, His purposes and will is accomplished.
We can also see this in the person of Jesus Christ. Although He was God he is also the means by which God has ordained to bring about all of His purposes in salvation, in work to God, in relationship with God, in worship and honor of God as the Living and True God of the world. Christ submitted Himself to the will of God and devotes His time on earth to accomplishing God’s purposes exactly as He is directed. We also see Jesus being devoted to God in prayer and spending quality time speaking with His Father and seeking Him and His direction!
A third example of this is seen in the person of David. Although we do not see always the ways that God used him specifically we do have some insight to what he did and how he accomplished and entered into the will and work of God. In Acts 13 Paul in giving his “word of encouragement” to the people says this about David, “And when He removed him [Saul], he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.(v. 22)’” and then in verse 36 he states “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep…” The language here is interesting, to see that he served the purpose of God. He did the work of God, he was able to fit into the will of God for what God had purposed him to do.
To see that it is God who works in us to will and to do for His good pleasure, but also that in our doing what He desires we are fitting into His sovereign work and will is one that should inspire and drive us to understand more and more what He desires, where He is leading, how He is guiding, and how to better follow Him. Are we devoting ourselves to prayer so that we might better understand what He desires and where He is leading? Are we willing and available to accomplish His purposes and be instruments to be used for His purposes? Can it be said of us that we are serving the purpose of God to our generation? I suppose we can never know until we begin to learn and be lead into what His divine purposes are.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Real Joy, Real Fun
The world often pretends it has a monopoly on joy. They plan the biggest celebrations, they talk the loudest about their weekends, but they don't really understand what real fun is.
God is a God of joy. When He created Adam and Eve He immediately gave them a Sabbath, when He rescued Israel the people danced and sang for joy:
Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. Miriam sang to them:
"Sing to the LORD,
for he is highly exalted.
The horse and its rider
he has hurled into the sea." [Ex. 15:20-21]
When He established Israel He commanded them to celebrate:
So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the LORD for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day also is a day of rest. [Lev. 23:39]
When God gave us the Holy Spirit He also gave us the Spirit of Joy:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. [Gal: 5:22-23]
Sometimes we as Christians can become mechanical in our faith. We may find ourselves reading the Word of God because we feel guilty if we don't, or we may go to church because we have the habit of going, or we sing the praise songs because we have to sing, but this kind of faith is not truly pleasing to God.
God is a God of Joy and heaven is His home; He doesn't just enjoy praise He commands it; He doesn't just give us rest and celebrations He commanded His people to observe them. When we become mechanical in our faith we need to step back and truly reflect on what God has done for us. We need to remember the power over sin and death itself, we need to remember that we have that power abiding in us, and we need to get up and celebrate.
Celebration is pure praise, it is a reflection of joy that everyone can see. We Christians often look for situations to take advantage of to spread the Word of God but sometimes we forget that in the fun of a celebration all of the world's stereotypes begins to crumble.
During my grandparent's fiftieth wedding celebration people of all ages, all races, and all backgrounds danced, ate good food, and laughed. We enjoyed that day and that joy gave a little glimpse of what heaven would be like. When we celebrated that great event we spoke to this truth: heaven is our home.
"After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands" [Rev. 7:9]
One day we will enter those gates and join that great multitude that no one can count, a multitude that has no dominant race, no dominant culture, and we will celebrate like we've never done before, but we don't have to wait until then to start celebrating.
So when we get a chance to celebrate let's enjoy that time with all our might. Let's praise God and show the world what true joy looks like. Let's show the world what true fun is.
God is a God of joy. When He created Adam and Eve He immediately gave them a Sabbath, when He rescued Israel the people danced and sang for joy:
Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. Miriam sang to them:
"Sing to the LORD,
for he is highly exalted.
The horse and its rider
he has hurled into the sea." [Ex. 15:20-21]
When He established Israel He commanded them to celebrate:
So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the LORD for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day also is a day of rest. [Lev. 23:39]
When God gave us the Holy Spirit He also gave us the Spirit of Joy:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. [Gal: 5:22-23]
Sometimes we as Christians can become mechanical in our faith. We may find ourselves reading the Word of God because we feel guilty if we don't, or we may go to church because we have the habit of going, or we sing the praise songs because we have to sing, but this kind of faith is not truly pleasing to God.
God is a God of Joy and heaven is His home; He doesn't just enjoy praise He commands it; He doesn't just give us rest and celebrations He commanded His people to observe them. When we become mechanical in our faith we need to step back and truly reflect on what God has done for us. We need to remember the power over sin and death itself, we need to remember that we have that power abiding in us, and we need to get up and celebrate.
Celebration is pure praise, it is a reflection of joy that everyone can see. We Christians often look for situations to take advantage of to spread the Word of God but sometimes we forget that in the fun of a celebration all of the world's stereotypes begins to crumble.
During my grandparent's fiftieth wedding celebration people of all ages, all races, and all backgrounds danced, ate good food, and laughed. We enjoyed that day and that joy gave a little glimpse of what heaven would be like. When we celebrated that great event we spoke to this truth: heaven is our home.
"After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands" [Rev. 7:9]
One day we will enter those gates and join that great multitude that no one can count, a multitude that has no dominant race, no dominant culture, and we will celebrate like we've never done before, but we don't have to wait until then to start celebrating.
So when we get a chance to celebrate let's enjoy that time with all our might. Let's praise God and show the world what true joy looks like. Let's show the world what true fun is.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Celebration
Psalm 84:1-2,12 “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy the living God… O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!
Being the time of year for commencements of all different types I find it fitting to focus on the concept of the idea of celebration. This weekend was marked with several different occasions in which to celebrate, from individuals making small milestones with graduation from college and looking forward to where God is directing their future, to the anniversary of two individuals celebrating 50 long years of marriage and how God has continued to sustain and keep their marriage for this time in order to allow them to be a testimony to His grace and work in their lives, to the celebration of a woman’s life as she nears the end of a battle with cancer. All these opportunities give us the ability to both praise God and consider: What are we doing with the life we have been given, how are we continuing to serve God through all of the ups and down in our lives?
As I sat at a high school graduation and looked on as 54 individuals received their diplomas and are being turned out into the “real” world if you will, it was remarked by one of the speakers that, although corny, “On a tomb stone it is not the date at the beginning that matters most or the date at the end that matters most but the dash in between.” Another author put it this way, “if we view eternity as a line, our lives are like a dot on that line.” As I looked at two individuals who have lived full and lengthy lives together as they celebrated their anniversary of 50 years and as I talked with a woman who is dying of cancer this truth could not have been more apparent. We see individuals live their lives for or against the will of God and that dot is defined by a love for God and a desire to serve Him or a disobedience and hatred (whether apparent or not) towards God. It really is true that it matters how we live our lives in relation to God that matters. We see this mentioned continually within Paul’s prayers for others as he prays, “that they would walk in a manner worthy of their calling.”
Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, recently spoke in his commencement address about the “eschatology of the Christian mission.” All that is is a fancy way of speaking about the end of the Christian mission. He spoke about how the work of the Lord is not one that is ever completed while on this earth. How many people have lived and died and have that “dash” to account for the work they have done on the earth. We know the final completion of the work of God IS coming and WILL be summed up in the coming of the Lord and the end of the age…but until then we are a people called out to live lives that bring glory and honor and praise to God. We as Christians are not given the luxury of neglecting our calling or disregarding the work God has gifted us to complete. The work is at times difficult and brings ridicule and misunderstanding but perseverance in the grace and work of God will always be a rewarding and gratifying one. As we continue to enter into the work of God we continue to be a part of His will and work. As we continue can it be said of us that our soul longs and faints for the courts and the presence of God?
As we come to various times of celebration and joy we see this continual truth held within Psalm 84…How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! To dwell in and continue in the presence of God is one that is to be pursued and sought after in all of the various areas and times of our lives. We seek to remain with and walk with God, to commune with him in prayer and to walk in obedience, grace and righteousness that comes through Christ. As the psalmist says ‘at Your right hand is fullness of joy and at Your right hand are pleasures forever more’. Seek to walk and dwell in the courts of the Lord, place your trust in Him; for as Psalms 84 says… “Blessed is the man who puts his trust in the Lord.”
Being the time of year for commencements of all different types I find it fitting to focus on the concept of the idea of celebration. This weekend was marked with several different occasions in which to celebrate, from individuals making small milestones with graduation from college and looking forward to where God is directing their future, to the anniversary of two individuals celebrating 50 long years of marriage and how God has continued to sustain and keep their marriage for this time in order to allow them to be a testimony to His grace and work in their lives, to the celebration of a woman’s life as she nears the end of a battle with cancer. All these opportunities give us the ability to both praise God and consider: What are we doing with the life we have been given, how are we continuing to serve God through all of the ups and down in our lives?
As I sat at a high school graduation and looked on as 54 individuals received their diplomas and are being turned out into the “real” world if you will, it was remarked by one of the speakers that, although corny, “On a tomb stone it is not the date at the beginning that matters most or the date at the end that matters most but the dash in between.” Another author put it this way, “if we view eternity as a line, our lives are like a dot on that line.” As I looked at two individuals who have lived full and lengthy lives together as they celebrated their anniversary of 50 years and as I talked with a woman who is dying of cancer this truth could not have been more apparent. We see individuals live their lives for or against the will of God and that dot is defined by a love for God and a desire to serve Him or a disobedience and hatred (whether apparent or not) towards God. It really is true that it matters how we live our lives in relation to God that matters. We see this mentioned continually within Paul’s prayers for others as he prays, “that they would walk in a manner worthy of their calling.”
Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, recently spoke in his commencement address about the “eschatology of the Christian mission.” All that is is a fancy way of speaking about the end of the Christian mission. He spoke about how the work of the Lord is not one that is ever completed while on this earth. How many people have lived and died and have that “dash” to account for the work they have done on the earth. We know the final completion of the work of God IS coming and WILL be summed up in the coming of the Lord and the end of the age…but until then we are a people called out to live lives that bring glory and honor and praise to God. We as Christians are not given the luxury of neglecting our calling or disregarding the work God has gifted us to complete. The work is at times difficult and brings ridicule and misunderstanding but perseverance in the grace and work of God will always be a rewarding and gratifying one. As we continue to enter into the work of God we continue to be a part of His will and work. As we continue can it be said of us that our soul longs and faints for the courts and the presence of God?
As we come to various times of celebration and joy we see this continual truth held within Psalm 84…How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! To dwell in and continue in the presence of God is one that is to be pursued and sought after in all of the various areas and times of our lives. We seek to remain with and walk with God, to commune with him in prayer and to walk in obedience, grace and righteousness that comes through Christ. As the psalmist says ‘at Your right hand is fullness of joy and at Your right hand are pleasures forever more’. Seek to walk and dwell in the courts of the Lord, place your trust in Him; for as Psalms 84 says… “Blessed is the man who puts his trust in the Lord.”
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Fifty Years
Today my grandfather and grandmother celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Its such an amazing accomplishment but the event got me thinking: what allows two people to stay with each other for fifty years?
I'm not sure I know all the answers to that question, so I'd like to see if we can get some of our commenters to answer that question: what allows two people to stay together for fifty years?
Fifty years is a long time, but that time length should grant us a measure of wisdom. Fifty years of life, the good and the bad. Fifty years of raising children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Fifty years on this earth - these are blessings from God that teach us something.
We all need to make sure that we do what it takes to build those long lasting relationships. We have to aim for that deep abiding love that reaches that fifty year mark and keeps on growing. We have to have that patience that we want others to have with us and we have to exhibit an attitude that people would love to be around for fifty years.
These are all tall tasks but I think it just makes us praise God all the more. In the end we know there's only one power that can make a relationship so rich and fulfilling for so long. God loved us in the eternity past, He knows what it takes to establish and grow a meaningful relationship. Let's not make relationships that last for a moment, let's strive to create relationships that last for a lifetime.
What do you think?
I'm not sure I know all the answers to that question, so I'd like to see if we can get some of our commenters to answer that question: what allows two people to stay together for fifty years?
Fifty years is a long time, but that time length should grant us a measure of wisdom. Fifty years of life, the good and the bad. Fifty years of raising children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Fifty years on this earth - these are blessings from God that teach us something.
We all need to make sure that we do what it takes to build those long lasting relationships. We have to aim for that deep abiding love that reaches that fifty year mark and keeps on growing. We have to have that patience that we want others to have with us and we have to exhibit an attitude that people would love to be around for fifty years.
These are all tall tasks but I think it just makes us praise God all the more. In the end we know there's only one power that can make a relationship so rich and fulfilling for so long. God loved us in the eternity past, He knows what it takes to establish and grow a meaningful relationship. Let's not make relationships that last for a moment, let's strive to create relationships that last for a lifetime.
What do you think?
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Discernment
Psalm 37:37 “Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace.”
Discernment, the ability to distinguish good from evil or even wise and unwise actions, is one that is a difficult practice as well as a much needed practice especially in this current age of the Christian Church. In a time where the validity of the message of Christ is challenged over every major form of communication, from T.V., to newspaper, to Movie the Christian Gospel and the Christian worldview are constantly under attack. With Christians desiring to live godly our wise and unwise decisions are continually being weighed upon, and discernment is a MUST for our continual walk with God.
Hebrews mentions important truths when it comes to Discernment, in verse 14 of chapter 5 it states, “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” We see a few key truths in this section. The first is that discernment comes both to the mature and those who PRACTICE it. The maturing process of a believer involves the conforming of our minds to the Word of God as well as our actions; for maturing to be accomplished we must continue to add to our faith that which will produce works glorifying to God. As we discern more and more what is excellent and praiseworthy we also need to grow in the applying and living out of that truth. The practicing of discernment is seen in the recognizing and acting on our understanding of what is evil. Romans 12:9 states, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” This is the practicing of our discernment. Seeing and understanding what actions, thoughts and desires are evil and which are good. Once we know what they are the practice comes in DOING and SPEAKING that which is in accord with godliness and Gods commands and desires.
Distinguishing good and evil is also applicable in the sense of wise and unwise actions. Discernment seeks to establish a framework from which to analyze all decisions that we make. We seek to have our discernment trained so that when situations arise that may not be directly spoken of in the Scriptures we can still make informed godly decisions. Wise and unwise decisions are rarely spoken about due to the influence of legalism in our churches, for legalism seeks to destroy wise decision making as well as discernment as well as seeking to establish a new rule and order which will take away all questions of good and evil, right and wrong, wise and unwise. So as the church seeks a direction out of legalism, our old frame of mind must be trained in discernment! Wisdom is also influenced by our faith in our actions. Romans says also that whatever does not proceed from faith is sin, in the circumstance of doing things which are not directly prohibited in the scriptures. Are the decisions that we are making in line with the Scriptural commands, in line with the Wisdom of God and the Direction of the Holy Spirit, or are we seeking our own methods, thoughts, and desires separate from God…Discernment will only help in these situations, not hinder.
A Biblical example of discernment can be seen in the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Peter was able to discern, although more acutely than most people, the hearts, motives, and truth of the situation when they brought to him the offering from their sale of land. He was able to see that they sought to lie, not only to the Apostles and the other believers but also to the Holy Spirit. Peter was able to see directly what was good and what was evil, to discern the thoughts and intentions of their hearts. He was not only able to discern that they were not upright and blameless but he was willing to call it out for the what the truth was also. We as Christians ought to seek more of this type of speaking truth in our churches and lives for then we will continue to sharpen one another as iron sharpens iron.
Are we willing to label what is good and right and pure as opposed to what is bad, and evil and perverted. Are we willing to as Psalms 37:37 states to “Mark the blameless and behold the upright.” We must be able to discern who is upright and blameless in order to “mark” them and walk with them. Discernment is a must in our society today, are we willing to mature to use it, or do we prefer the easier route of not searching and seeking the direction of God? Begin to discern the world around you and you will undoubtedly be surprised at just how much Christ, the Christian Faith, and the Christian Worldview are truly under attack.
Discernment, the ability to distinguish good from evil or even wise and unwise actions, is one that is a difficult practice as well as a much needed practice especially in this current age of the Christian Church. In a time where the validity of the message of Christ is challenged over every major form of communication, from T.V., to newspaper, to Movie the Christian Gospel and the Christian worldview are constantly under attack. With Christians desiring to live godly our wise and unwise decisions are continually being weighed upon, and discernment is a MUST for our continual walk with God.
Hebrews mentions important truths when it comes to Discernment, in verse 14 of chapter 5 it states, “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” We see a few key truths in this section. The first is that discernment comes both to the mature and those who PRACTICE it. The maturing process of a believer involves the conforming of our minds to the Word of God as well as our actions; for maturing to be accomplished we must continue to add to our faith that which will produce works glorifying to God. As we discern more and more what is excellent and praiseworthy we also need to grow in the applying and living out of that truth. The practicing of discernment is seen in the recognizing and acting on our understanding of what is evil. Romans 12:9 states, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” This is the practicing of our discernment. Seeing and understanding what actions, thoughts and desires are evil and which are good. Once we know what they are the practice comes in DOING and SPEAKING that which is in accord with godliness and Gods commands and desires.
Distinguishing good and evil is also applicable in the sense of wise and unwise actions. Discernment seeks to establish a framework from which to analyze all decisions that we make. We seek to have our discernment trained so that when situations arise that may not be directly spoken of in the Scriptures we can still make informed godly decisions. Wise and unwise decisions are rarely spoken about due to the influence of legalism in our churches, for legalism seeks to destroy wise decision making as well as discernment as well as seeking to establish a new rule and order which will take away all questions of good and evil, right and wrong, wise and unwise. So as the church seeks a direction out of legalism, our old frame of mind must be trained in discernment! Wisdom is also influenced by our faith in our actions. Romans says also that whatever does not proceed from faith is sin, in the circumstance of doing things which are not directly prohibited in the scriptures. Are the decisions that we are making in line with the Scriptural commands, in line with the Wisdom of God and the Direction of the Holy Spirit, or are we seeking our own methods, thoughts, and desires separate from God…Discernment will only help in these situations, not hinder.
A Biblical example of discernment can be seen in the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Peter was able to discern, although more acutely than most people, the hearts, motives, and truth of the situation when they brought to him the offering from their sale of land. He was able to see that they sought to lie, not only to the Apostles and the other believers but also to the Holy Spirit. Peter was able to see directly what was good and what was evil, to discern the thoughts and intentions of their hearts. He was not only able to discern that they were not upright and blameless but he was willing to call it out for the what the truth was also. We as Christians ought to seek more of this type of speaking truth in our churches and lives for then we will continue to sharpen one another as iron sharpens iron.
Are we willing to label what is good and right and pure as opposed to what is bad, and evil and perverted. Are we willing to as Psalms 37:37 states to “Mark the blameless and behold the upright.” We must be able to discern who is upright and blameless in order to “mark” them and walk with them. Discernment is a must in our society today, are we willing to mature to use it, or do we prefer the easier route of not searching and seeking the direction of God? Begin to discern the world around you and you will undoubtedly be surprised at just how much Christ, the Christian Faith, and the Christian Worldview are truly under attack.
Do you understand Grace?
Do you understand grace? Is it difficult to wrap your mind around it?
Grace is such a hard thing to understand because it is so foreign to the way humans interact on a daily basis. Biblical grace is "unmerited favor" or if we say it the way I like to explain it: "power straight from God that we don't deserve; we don't know why God gave it but we thank Him because we know we need it". Neither of those definitions fit anything we run into in our daily lives.
Consider your job: if you work hard you expect the boss to treat you kindly, if you have a poor work ethic you expect the opposite. Consider the law: you do something bad you get punished, you obey the laws and the law tends to leave you alone. Relationships tend to work the same way: if you treat your significant other right they'll treat you right; if you start fights they'll fight back.
Every human interaction is based on this concept: "get what you deserve", and we are offended if anyone's actions transgress this unwritten human law. Now I don't point out this unwritten law to criticize it because we couldn't survive in this world without it. If we simply gave our money to whoever wanted it we'd be poor. If we gave our time to whoever happened to walk past us we'd get taken advantage of. Part of wisdom is learning how to get the best return on your time, attention, money and affections, but part of being a Christian is understanding that little of that applies to God.
"While we were yet sinners Christ died for us". This isn't normal human behavior, we don't just give people things especially when their behavior offends us, but God is different. He gives grace to those who could never deserve it and His power to those who could never earn it, at the same time, however, He alone has the right and authority to judge those who are outside of His grace. He's more than any human could be; He is God.
As Christians we have to realize this point: you can't earn God's love because He gives it freely. If we sin we have to recognize that we must confess and repent but throughout that process God will still be good to us. If we do good and dedicate ourselves wholly to the work of God He will still be good to us. The reason for Him being so good to us isn't us, its Him.
So if you get confused about grace or find it hard to understand don't fret. "His ways are higher than our ways". Let's just thank God for His wonderful gifts!
Grace is such a hard thing to understand because it is so foreign to the way humans interact on a daily basis. Biblical grace is "unmerited favor" or if we say it the way I like to explain it: "power straight from God that we don't deserve; we don't know why God gave it but we thank Him because we know we need it". Neither of those definitions fit anything we run into in our daily lives.
Consider your job: if you work hard you expect the boss to treat you kindly, if you have a poor work ethic you expect the opposite. Consider the law: you do something bad you get punished, you obey the laws and the law tends to leave you alone. Relationships tend to work the same way: if you treat your significant other right they'll treat you right; if you start fights they'll fight back.
Every human interaction is based on this concept: "get what you deserve", and we are offended if anyone's actions transgress this unwritten human law. Now I don't point out this unwritten law to criticize it because we couldn't survive in this world without it. If we simply gave our money to whoever wanted it we'd be poor. If we gave our time to whoever happened to walk past us we'd get taken advantage of. Part of wisdom is learning how to get the best return on your time, attention, money and affections, but part of being a Christian is understanding that little of that applies to God.
"While we were yet sinners Christ died for us". This isn't normal human behavior, we don't just give people things especially when their behavior offends us, but God is different. He gives grace to those who could never deserve it and His power to those who could never earn it, at the same time, however, He alone has the right and authority to judge those who are outside of His grace. He's more than any human could be; He is God.
As Christians we have to realize this point: you can't earn God's love because He gives it freely. If we sin we have to recognize that we must confess and repent but throughout that process God will still be good to us. If we do good and dedicate ourselves wholly to the work of God He will still be good to us. The reason for Him being so good to us isn't us, its Him.
So if you get confused about grace or find it hard to understand don't fret. "His ways are higher than our ways". Let's just thank God for His wonderful gifts!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Son of Encouragement
Acts 4:36-37 “Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostle’s feet.”
Barnabas as a son of encouragement is an interesting and yet encouraging example to us of our ability to encourage and the necessity to encourage. The new converts in Acts 4 were all selling what they had and giving to the apostles and to others who have needs, among these people is Barnabas who also sells a field and gives the money to the apostles. Barnabas is a good example to us of what it looks like to trust God and what it looks like to encourage the brothers.
Barnabas as an individual who trusts God is probably not something that we attribute to him directly from his reference in Acts 4 but when we look at what was being done we can see that he is an individual who trusts God both to provide and to protect. Barnabas as an individual who trusts God to provide is seen in the concept that he is willing to sell of his possessions to help those in greater need than himself and to give to the apostles. It seems as though this might be a foreign concept because in our culture to sell and give of our property to the needy of the church is ok when it is “extra,” and by no means does this not include myself. We are good at giving out of the abundance of what God has given us but we have a difficult time considering selling what God has given us for the benefit of others…especially if it is NOT out of the abundance of what we have. Barnabas trusted God in the midst of selling a field he owned…he trusted God to provide for him similar to the church in 2 Corinthians 8 which gave according to their means and even beyond their means. This is not to say we must live in a destitute state but it is asking…what we are cherishing above the benefit of the believers who are in need, and are we willing to trust God to provide for ALL of our needs and to sustain us?
Barnabas also trusted in God for protection due to fact that he was willing to meet with the newly converted Saul when no one else would. Acts 9:26-27 states, “And when he [Paul] had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.” We see a different mentality that Barnabas had toward Paul than the rest of the disciples, he was willing to meet with and talk with Paul even before the church in Jerusalem believed that he was truly a convert…this is a type of trust and boldness which we rarely have to deal with. The concept that earlier the same man who was partially responsible for the death of a faithful member of their ministry [Stephen] as well as seeking to persecute and throw in prison other faithful members is now claiming salvation and seeking to join into fellowship is foreign to most of us, however, Barnabas still meets him, talks with him and then defends his claim of salvation to the other apostles.
Barnabas is an excellent example of encouraging other believers. Not only does he seek to benefit and give to the apostles whose sole work was for the proclaiming of God’s word. They received support from some of the people of God and Barnabas is seen laying his proceeds down at their feet. We see Barnabas also encouraging the other believers since he was part of the group that would sell what he had and give it to those in need. He was refreshing to the people of God and was dubbed by the apostles, the son of encouragement, almost as if his nick name was to remind people of the encouragement that he is in real life.
We can continue to look to individuals and see their unique ability to encourage people. Encouragement is necessary among the believers especially as we go through different difficulties. Seek to encourage one another, to trust God the way that Barnabas trusted Him, with both, our possessions as well as our safety and protection. We are in His care and provision continually even when it seems as though nothing good can come from the situation. Remain faithful, continue in fellowship, encourage one another to be strong in the Lord.
Barnabas as a son of encouragement is an interesting and yet encouraging example to us of our ability to encourage and the necessity to encourage. The new converts in Acts 4 were all selling what they had and giving to the apostles and to others who have needs, among these people is Barnabas who also sells a field and gives the money to the apostles. Barnabas is a good example to us of what it looks like to trust God and what it looks like to encourage the brothers.
Barnabas as an individual who trusts God is probably not something that we attribute to him directly from his reference in Acts 4 but when we look at what was being done we can see that he is an individual who trusts God both to provide and to protect. Barnabas as an individual who trusts God to provide is seen in the concept that he is willing to sell of his possessions to help those in greater need than himself and to give to the apostles. It seems as though this might be a foreign concept because in our culture to sell and give of our property to the needy of the church is ok when it is “extra,” and by no means does this not include myself. We are good at giving out of the abundance of what God has given us but we have a difficult time considering selling what God has given us for the benefit of others…especially if it is NOT out of the abundance of what we have. Barnabas trusted God in the midst of selling a field he owned…he trusted God to provide for him similar to the church in 2 Corinthians 8 which gave according to their means and even beyond their means. This is not to say we must live in a destitute state but it is asking…what we are cherishing above the benefit of the believers who are in need, and are we willing to trust God to provide for ALL of our needs and to sustain us?
Barnabas also trusted in God for protection due to fact that he was willing to meet with the newly converted Saul when no one else would. Acts 9:26-27 states, “And when he [Paul] had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.” We see a different mentality that Barnabas had toward Paul than the rest of the disciples, he was willing to meet with and talk with Paul even before the church in Jerusalem believed that he was truly a convert…this is a type of trust and boldness which we rarely have to deal with. The concept that earlier the same man who was partially responsible for the death of a faithful member of their ministry [Stephen] as well as seeking to persecute and throw in prison other faithful members is now claiming salvation and seeking to join into fellowship is foreign to most of us, however, Barnabas still meets him, talks with him and then defends his claim of salvation to the other apostles.
Barnabas is an excellent example of encouraging other believers. Not only does he seek to benefit and give to the apostles whose sole work was for the proclaiming of God’s word. They received support from some of the people of God and Barnabas is seen laying his proceeds down at their feet. We see Barnabas also encouraging the other believers since he was part of the group that would sell what he had and give it to those in need. He was refreshing to the people of God and was dubbed by the apostles, the son of encouragement, almost as if his nick name was to remind people of the encouragement that he is in real life.
We can continue to look to individuals and see their unique ability to encourage people. Encouragement is necessary among the believers especially as we go through different difficulties. Seek to encourage one another, to trust God the way that Barnabas trusted Him, with both, our possessions as well as our safety and protection. We are in His care and provision continually even when it seems as though nothing good can come from the situation. Remain faithful, continue in fellowship, encourage one another to be strong in the Lord.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Praying for authorities
1 Timothy 2: 1-2, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life.”
The concept of praying for the governing bodies that rule over one, or even others is one that is a truth and of importance among the believers. This is not to say that we place our salvation in government or in the laws passed by government but rather that we pray that God would be working in the lives of them to direct them in ways that will allow Christians to perform their reasonable service to God free from persecutions at times. This is also not to say that one will never face persecutions and therefore we should cease to pray when they come. Rather Paul tells Timothy and actually urges him that the practice is good and profitable, and pleasing in the sight of God (v. 3).
Personally I think it is often times difficult to know how to guide ones prayer for a government one might agree with yet often makes decisions against our conscience or even to pray for a government one does not agree with altogether. The same can be said about our governing authorities at our jobs, our various forms of recreation, or even in the homes that we live in.
In Psalms 72 we see the psalmist writing a psalm or even a prayer to God for the king of the land. We see a starting point by which we can begin to see HOW to pray for our governing bodies, our authorities, our leaders, and our “heads” of various organizations. In this psalm we see the prayer being that they would have the justice and their progeny would practice righteousness. The prayer is for a righteous government continually, that would be God-honoring and of good benefit. There is a prayer for the authority judging righteously, an aspect that asks for prosperity for the people, and righteousness to exist among the people. A prayer that the authority would protect the poor, give deliverance, that they would fear God, that peace would abound. These are things that we can pray for earnestly and seek God to instill and bring about… “that we may lead a peaceable and quiet life.” It is not wrong to pray for this and to pray for the righteousness of our authorities…but it is not in keeping with the urging of Paul and the Scriptures to not pray for them at all. Even Psalm 72:15 it states, “…May prayer be made for him continually, and blessing invoked for him all the day!”
The Psalm in a more serious sense gives a good picture to Christians of what the Reign of Christ will look like. He will encompass all of this, will bless the righteous, will prosper the saints, and will bless those who serve and worship the Lamb of God. It is a beautiful picture of what we can hope and pray for in the rule and leadership of Christ over His church and over His creation and in that sense should encourage prayer in 2 ways. The first is praying that the leaders would in essence lead and govern in a way that resembles Christ’s true leadership. The other is to pray that Christ would enact HIS leadership and to look forward to the coming kingdom of Christ!
As we continue or even start to pray for government it will begin to focus our attention to the work of God in various other areas of our lives and world that we might not otherwise notice. It will encourage us to trust God and His sovereign appointment of all who are in authority (Romans 13) and will continue to allow us to say as Psalm 75:18-19 state, “Blessed be the Lord, The God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be His glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory!...”
Let’s begin to practice the encouragement of Paul to Timothy, begin to pray for our leaders, our governing authorities, both in the church and in the various other areas of our daily living. Seek to serve God even in our prayer life that we might continue to say…Blessed be the Lord, who alone does wondrous things. Continue to submit and align our thoughts to His thoughts, and look forward to the coming kingdom of the Lamb of God!
The concept of praying for the governing bodies that rule over one, or even others is one that is a truth and of importance among the believers. This is not to say that we place our salvation in government or in the laws passed by government but rather that we pray that God would be working in the lives of them to direct them in ways that will allow Christians to perform their reasonable service to God free from persecutions at times. This is also not to say that one will never face persecutions and therefore we should cease to pray when they come. Rather Paul tells Timothy and actually urges him that the practice is good and profitable, and pleasing in the sight of God (v. 3).
Personally I think it is often times difficult to know how to guide ones prayer for a government one might agree with yet often makes decisions against our conscience or even to pray for a government one does not agree with altogether. The same can be said about our governing authorities at our jobs, our various forms of recreation, or even in the homes that we live in.
In Psalms 72 we see the psalmist writing a psalm or even a prayer to God for the king of the land. We see a starting point by which we can begin to see HOW to pray for our governing bodies, our authorities, our leaders, and our “heads” of various organizations. In this psalm we see the prayer being that they would have the justice and their progeny would practice righteousness. The prayer is for a righteous government continually, that would be God-honoring and of good benefit. There is a prayer for the authority judging righteously, an aspect that asks for prosperity for the people, and righteousness to exist among the people. A prayer that the authority would protect the poor, give deliverance, that they would fear God, that peace would abound. These are things that we can pray for earnestly and seek God to instill and bring about… “that we may lead a peaceable and quiet life.” It is not wrong to pray for this and to pray for the righteousness of our authorities…but it is not in keeping with the urging of Paul and the Scriptures to not pray for them at all. Even Psalm 72:15 it states, “…May prayer be made for him continually, and blessing invoked for him all the day!”
The Psalm in a more serious sense gives a good picture to Christians of what the Reign of Christ will look like. He will encompass all of this, will bless the righteous, will prosper the saints, and will bless those who serve and worship the Lamb of God. It is a beautiful picture of what we can hope and pray for in the rule and leadership of Christ over His church and over His creation and in that sense should encourage prayer in 2 ways. The first is praying that the leaders would in essence lead and govern in a way that resembles Christ’s true leadership. The other is to pray that Christ would enact HIS leadership and to look forward to the coming kingdom of Christ!
As we continue or even start to pray for government it will begin to focus our attention to the work of God in various other areas of our lives and world that we might not otherwise notice. It will encourage us to trust God and His sovereign appointment of all who are in authority (Romans 13) and will continue to allow us to say as Psalm 75:18-19 state, “Blessed be the Lord, The God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be His glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory!...”
Let’s begin to practice the encouragement of Paul to Timothy, begin to pray for our leaders, our governing authorities, both in the church and in the various other areas of our daily living. Seek to serve God even in our prayer life that we might continue to say…Blessed be the Lord, who alone does wondrous things. Continue to submit and align our thoughts to His thoughts, and look forward to the coming kingdom of the Lamb of God!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Sweet Psalmist of Isreal...
David was a warrior, a king, and a godly leader but one of the titles he was given is the "sweet psalmist of Israel". I always loved that title but it really made me think about this: God used more than just David's spiritual talents, He used everything David had.
When I look at David's life it wasn't like the man wasn't busy. He had quite a few wives to manage, many children, politics and controlling a nations armies but somehow he was always writing his psalms. It was almost as if writing the psalms opened David's mind and relieved some of the daily pressures wearing the crown gave him.
When I look at the church it is clear that God has given us spiritual gifts, He's given us teachers, pastors, evangelists and leaders, but didn't He also give us artists, decorators, builders, and cleaners? Sometimes we hide some of our gifts, thinking that maybe they aren't spiritual or maybe the church isn't the place for them, but I would challenge you not to do that.
When Peter visited the city of Lydda a woman named Dorcas had died. She was clearly influential in people's lives but look at the picture given of her: "All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them." She had made it her spiritual work not to teach, or to evangelize but to make clothes!
Maybe we can learn a little lesson from Dorcas and use some of our "other" talents for the good of the church. Do you have a talent or skill that's not being used? Go to the leaders of the church and let them know what it is. Use your talents to aid people, let your gifts glorify God.
Maybe you're a little like David, known for a strong spiritual gift, but don't forget that the other talents you use may be the ones that find a way to touch peoples hearts the most. After all the one thing we have left from David is not his armies, but his psalms.
When I look at David's life it wasn't like the man wasn't busy. He had quite a few wives to manage, many children, politics and controlling a nations armies but somehow he was always writing his psalms. It was almost as if writing the psalms opened David's mind and relieved some of the daily pressures wearing the crown gave him.
When I look at the church it is clear that God has given us spiritual gifts, He's given us teachers, pastors, evangelists and leaders, but didn't He also give us artists, decorators, builders, and cleaners? Sometimes we hide some of our gifts, thinking that maybe they aren't spiritual or maybe the church isn't the place for them, but I would challenge you not to do that.
When Peter visited the city of Lydda a woman named Dorcas had died. She was clearly influential in people's lives but look at the picture given of her: "All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them." She had made it her spiritual work not to teach, or to evangelize but to make clothes!
Maybe we can learn a little lesson from Dorcas and use some of our "other" talents for the good of the church. Do you have a talent or skill that's not being used? Go to the leaders of the church and let them know what it is. Use your talents to aid people, let your gifts glorify God.
Maybe you're a little like David, known for a strong spiritual gift, but don't forget that the other talents you use may be the ones that find a way to touch peoples hearts the most. After all the one thing we have left from David is not his armies, but his psalms.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Christian Empiricism
John 20:25 “But he [Thomas] said to them, ‘Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.'”
Empiricism is the philosophy (way of thinking) that we can only know by what we have experienced or can feel. Although there may be some truth to this in certain areas, the biblical method and view point is contradictory to empiricism. In our culture empiricism combined with relativism (truth is dependent on the individual) is becoming one of the leading philosophies and it is working its way into the church gradually more and more. As our society moves away from Biblical truth and revelation and towards other philosophies we will be losing our source of belief in “things unseen” to a degree. Biblical revelation does not continually need to be “proven” in the sense of a scientific fact, it does not need to be validated by the feeling of an individual, it simply IS truth because it comes from the God of ALL truth!
The Christian church needs to continually reevaluate what is necessary for salvation and where the foundation of our faith IS. Is it in the feeling we receive when we hear a positive message, do we lose our way when we hear a negative message simply because it does not make us feel joyful. Is the depth of our walk with God one that is swayed by the tides of our emotion or do we seek stability, sufficiency, and strength in Christ our cornerstone and firm foundation. The Christians life although influenced by feeling and experience is NOT determined by things such as this. Truth does not always need a definite experience for it to be true; it does not need to be validated by feelings of pleasure or pain in order for it to be valid. If it were, miracles would be out of the question, the working of God unexpectedly would be unexplainable and then written off, due to the inability to actually scientifically/experimentally prove it as happening. If truth and knowledge MUST be attributed to feeling and experience then some truths we would never know without partaking in them ourselves. Science would prevail over Biblical truth, for “science” is the only thing that is actually proven, right?
Thomas is a key example of an individual who relayed purely on empirical data to believe in Christ. He said he would not believe until he could see, touch, and feel that Christ had risen from the dead…this was NOT what was encompassed in believing the testimony of those who have seen him, even though positive testimony does add more confidence to our strength and trust in the mighty works of God! The beautiful thing about Christ is that He does allow Thomas this sign that he seeks in order to believe, yet proclaims, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” There is something good to believing in the truth without ALWAYS have to feel something, see it, or be able to explain it. That good is attributed to a deep confidence and assurance in the work of God and the Character of God regardless of our instantaneous feelings or desires. He is good whether we feel it or not. We see the work of God in the hearts of men all the time without being able to explain how that work occurred or the length and breadth of the work that God had been doing all along. We see the effects of the wind without seeing the Wind, and so also we see the effects of the Spirit of God at work in the hearts of men without always seeing HIM specifically. We do exercise faith without always having to feel something in the midst of it.
As we continue to draw near to Christ and God who is our source of Truth we must continue to shirk the notion that the way that I feel is the determining factor to the depth of my relationship. If we have been saved by the powerful grace and work of God, then we can proclaim Blessed be God in the midst of our feeling happy or sad, tired or energized, whether we are seeing the nails in His hands or believing the testimony of the work and word of God itself…we do not have to conform to society that teaches if you don’t feel it, see it, empirically test it, it cannot be true. Let God be true and every man a liar!
Empiricism is the philosophy (way of thinking) that we can only know by what we have experienced or can feel. Although there may be some truth to this in certain areas, the biblical method and view point is contradictory to empiricism. In our culture empiricism combined with relativism (truth is dependent on the individual) is becoming one of the leading philosophies and it is working its way into the church gradually more and more. As our society moves away from Biblical truth and revelation and towards other philosophies we will be losing our source of belief in “things unseen” to a degree. Biblical revelation does not continually need to be “proven” in the sense of a scientific fact, it does not need to be validated by the feeling of an individual, it simply IS truth because it comes from the God of ALL truth!
The Christian church needs to continually reevaluate what is necessary for salvation and where the foundation of our faith IS. Is it in the feeling we receive when we hear a positive message, do we lose our way when we hear a negative message simply because it does not make us feel joyful. Is the depth of our walk with God one that is swayed by the tides of our emotion or do we seek stability, sufficiency, and strength in Christ our cornerstone and firm foundation. The Christians life although influenced by feeling and experience is NOT determined by things such as this. Truth does not always need a definite experience for it to be true; it does not need to be validated by feelings of pleasure or pain in order for it to be valid. If it were, miracles would be out of the question, the working of God unexpectedly would be unexplainable and then written off, due to the inability to actually scientifically/experimentally prove it as happening. If truth and knowledge MUST be attributed to feeling and experience then some truths we would never know without partaking in them ourselves. Science would prevail over Biblical truth, for “science” is the only thing that is actually proven, right?
Thomas is a key example of an individual who relayed purely on empirical data to believe in Christ. He said he would not believe until he could see, touch, and feel that Christ had risen from the dead…this was NOT what was encompassed in believing the testimony of those who have seen him, even though positive testimony does add more confidence to our strength and trust in the mighty works of God! The beautiful thing about Christ is that He does allow Thomas this sign that he seeks in order to believe, yet proclaims, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” There is something good to believing in the truth without ALWAYS have to feel something, see it, or be able to explain it. That good is attributed to a deep confidence and assurance in the work of God and the Character of God regardless of our instantaneous feelings or desires. He is good whether we feel it or not. We see the work of God in the hearts of men all the time without being able to explain how that work occurred or the length and breadth of the work that God had been doing all along. We see the effects of the wind without seeing the Wind, and so also we see the effects of the Spirit of God at work in the hearts of men without always seeing HIM specifically. We do exercise faith without always having to feel something in the midst of it.
As we continue to draw near to Christ and God who is our source of Truth we must continue to shirk the notion that the way that I feel is the determining factor to the depth of my relationship. If we have been saved by the powerful grace and work of God, then we can proclaim Blessed be God in the midst of our feeling happy or sad, tired or energized, whether we are seeing the nails in His hands or believing the testimony of the work and word of God itself…we do not have to conform to society that teaches if you don’t feel it, see it, empirically test it, it cannot be true. Let God be true and every man a liar!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
The Steadfast Love of God
The Steadfast Love of God
Psalm 48:9 “We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple.”
The concept of meditating on the steadfast love of God is a practice that Christians can rely on and can continue to do in the midst of struggles, in the times of joy, and in the times of wondering what God might be doing with you at the point that you are in. Although it is often viewed in an ambiguous and frail it is quite contrary to this thinking. The steadfast love of God is one that is of great depth and meaning especially in the life of the believer. It is chiefly manifested in Christ, in the sending of Christ to the earth, in the demonstrating of God’s love for us while we were yet sinners sending Christ to die on the cross for us. The focal point of Gods love rests on His Son Jesus Christ.
To meditate on the steadfast love of God is one that keeps Christ in the picture continually. It encompasses the salvation we have received by God, it is something that we are able “put before our eyes” (Psalm 26:3). We are able to walk in it, to practice it, to show it to others who are believers and unbelievers; however, it is not possible to show what one has not encountered themselves. The love of God is only shown in those who understand and have experienced God’s love through salvation and therefore the people who are able to call God Blessed!
Meditation on the love of God takes into account the sacrifice given by God in sending His son. The love of God in providing Salvation, as well as the condemnation of God on those who do not and will not receive the testimony of His Son! These people are referred to as individuals who have loved darkness rather than light, who desire evil rather than good, who love evil and hate God. These are the type of people that cannot and will not focus on or take part in the steadfast love of God!
With the ability to focus on, think about, remind ourselves of the love of God we can begin to actually practice thinking about the Love and character of God as a whole. We can meditate on His greatness, on the fact that He is Sovereign, on the concept of Him being the Lord of Peace, the Father to the Fatherless, the protector of widows, the deliverer of the downtrodden and the helpless. He is the one whom we can say “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Our God is a God of salvation and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.” He is the God who has delivered us from death, who has given us salvation…who has redeemed us. The following is an excerpt from the hymn Redeemed; it pictures the praise and glorification that goes to God for our salvation, the Lamb who purchased us with His blood. Think on the steadfast love of God today.
Redeemed--how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child, and forever, I am.
Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child, and forever, I am.
Redeemed and so happy in Jesus,
No language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence
With me doth continually dwell.
I think of my blessed Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long;
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.
I know I shall see in His beauty
The King in whose way I delight;
Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,
And giveth me songs in the night.
Psalm 48:9 “We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple.”
The concept of meditating on the steadfast love of God is a practice that Christians can rely on and can continue to do in the midst of struggles, in the times of joy, and in the times of wondering what God might be doing with you at the point that you are in. Although it is often viewed in an ambiguous and frail it is quite contrary to this thinking. The steadfast love of God is one that is of great depth and meaning especially in the life of the believer. It is chiefly manifested in Christ, in the sending of Christ to the earth, in the demonstrating of God’s love for us while we were yet sinners sending Christ to die on the cross for us. The focal point of Gods love rests on His Son Jesus Christ.
To meditate on the steadfast love of God is one that keeps Christ in the picture continually. It encompasses the salvation we have received by God, it is something that we are able “put before our eyes” (Psalm 26:3). We are able to walk in it, to practice it, to show it to others who are believers and unbelievers; however, it is not possible to show what one has not encountered themselves. The love of God is only shown in those who understand and have experienced God’s love through salvation and therefore the people who are able to call God Blessed!
Meditation on the love of God takes into account the sacrifice given by God in sending His son. The love of God in providing Salvation, as well as the condemnation of God on those who do not and will not receive the testimony of His Son! These people are referred to as individuals who have loved darkness rather than light, who desire evil rather than good, who love evil and hate God. These are the type of people that cannot and will not focus on or take part in the steadfast love of God!
With the ability to focus on, think about, remind ourselves of the love of God we can begin to actually practice thinking about the Love and character of God as a whole. We can meditate on His greatness, on the fact that He is Sovereign, on the concept of Him being the Lord of Peace, the Father to the Fatherless, the protector of widows, the deliverer of the downtrodden and the helpless. He is the one whom we can say “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Our God is a God of salvation and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.” He is the God who has delivered us from death, who has given us salvation…who has redeemed us. The following is an excerpt from the hymn Redeemed; it pictures the praise and glorification that goes to God for our salvation, the Lamb who purchased us with His blood. Think on the steadfast love of God today.
Redeemed--how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child, and forever, I am.
Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child, and forever, I am.
Redeemed and so happy in Jesus,
No language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence
With me doth continually dwell.
I think of my blessed Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long;
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.
I know I shall see in His beauty
The King in whose way I delight;
Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,
And giveth me songs in the night.
The Work and Blessing of God
How can I grow? How can I help the church grow? How can I help the body of Christ mature? Most Christians understand that growth is one of the great callings of our faith. From the beginning of time Adam was told to "be fruitful and multiply" and in the New Testament Jesus instructed his disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations". We know that we should grow but we wonder how we should do this and what we should really expect. Should we expect thousands to come to Christ like what happened after Peter preached in the beginning of Acts? Should we expect signs and miracles?
I'm not sure we can answer all of those questions in one day, but I do think that the Bible gives us beautiful battle plan to achieve all that God wants to accomplish through us.
First we have to really believe that God wants to accomplish something through through the church and our desire has to be just that. Whatever we do has to be done through individuals dedicated to the work and institution of the local church. If my work is not founded in what Christ founded, if I don't put my trust and faith not only in Christ but in his work and join the body of his belivers I cannot expect my work to grow. And I'm not just talking about membership, I'm talking about our hopes, dreams and prayers.
Nothing good can come from a people without a vision but for the Christian that vision has to come through the church. I think that means we have to really expand our mind to what a church should truly be. It should open the doors for all sorts of gifts and talents to be used in the church.
The Second thing we need is a real and earnest prayer. I wrote about this a few days ago, but I don't think we Christians can really stress it enough: I need to start praying big and earnest prayers that God would bless our church in a dynamic and measurable way. I need to put my faith into action and boldly approach the Lord for requests and truly believe He has the power to deliver. Of course He can say no, but when I pray my focus shouldn't be on His ability to say no, my focus should be like Paul's so that I can ask that God "fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith."
And lastly I believe we have to have faith in the work and blessing of God. We have to truly believe that God WILL reward every good work. We have to truly believe what Jesus said "Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."
Let's trust in our gracious and powerful Heavenly Father, who grants us spiritual and physical blessings; a God who will let us reap what we did not sow, and will bless our earnest work with His power. Let's trust that He will fuffill our desires for good work. Let's accomplish great things through His church.
I'm not sure we can answer all of those questions in one day, but I do think that the Bible gives us beautiful battle plan to achieve all that God wants to accomplish through us.
First we have to really believe that God wants to accomplish something through through the church and our desire has to be just that. Whatever we do has to be done through individuals dedicated to the work and institution of the local church. If my work is not founded in what Christ founded, if I don't put my trust and faith not only in Christ but in his work and join the body of his belivers I cannot expect my work to grow. And I'm not just talking about membership, I'm talking about our hopes, dreams and prayers.
Nothing good can come from a people without a vision but for the Christian that vision has to come through the church. I think that means we have to really expand our mind to what a church should truly be. It should open the doors for all sorts of gifts and talents to be used in the church.
The Second thing we need is a real and earnest prayer. I wrote about this a few days ago, but I don't think we Christians can really stress it enough: I need to start praying big and earnest prayers that God would bless our church in a dynamic and measurable way. I need to put my faith into action and boldly approach the Lord for requests and truly believe He has the power to deliver. Of course He can say no, but when I pray my focus shouldn't be on His ability to say no, my focus should be like Paul's so that I can ask that God "fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith."
And lastly I believe we have to have faith in the work and blessing of God. We have to truly believe that God WILL reward every good work. We have to truly believe what Jesus said "Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."
Let's trust in our gracious and powerful Heavenly Father, who grants us spiritual and physical blessings; a God who will let us reap what we did not sow, and will bless our earnest work with His power. Let's trust that He will fuffill our desires for good work. Let's accomplish great things through His church.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Commitment
Matthew 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.”
This verse has MANY different applications and lessons to be drawn from it. However, the concept of “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” is probably one of the broadest aspects of the whole command and therefore has the most possible applications.
The concept of commitment is one that applies to many different facets of the Christian life, from our individual commitment to Christ, to the church as a whole and its commitment to Christ. The commitment between the individual person and Christ is one that is seen as a pivotal one in the concept of an individual and their “walk” with God. It is one that is seen throughout the entirety of Scripture, the idea that man is meant to commune with God, to walk with him, just as Adam did in the garden…however, the concept of communing and walking has no impact if we do not view the relationship as one that deserves commitment. Christ put it best in his description of those who follow him…they must “deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me [Jesus].” The commitment between an individual and their savior is an all or nothing commitment. It is a desire to serve and follow Him, to seek His face and His desires, to do all that he commands us to do. To discuss further commitment would be futile if it is not first based on a right relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we see the continual exhortation to “follow me.” Are we truly following the Lord? Are we seeking repentance daily to better serve Him? Do we desire to be vessels which He can use for His purposes to the effective ministry and proclamation of His name? Or do we cherish sin so that we are ineffective, and unfruitful?
Commitment within the scriptures, however, does not stop at the concept of the individual and Christ. It involves more than that, but is vanity without it. The commitment of an individual to a local body of believers is encompassed in the notion of “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” This is clearly seen in the book of Acts when the church is being added to on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). The Scriptures say in verse 42, following their conversion and baptism, they “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayers…and day by day attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes…” We see a tie between the individuals relationship with Christ and the individuals relationship with others who are ALSO Christ’s. There is a devotion to the teachings of the apostles which were in line with the teachings of Christ. The believers sought a unity between themselves and the church of God and sought to continue in that unity. Hebrews 10:25 states, “ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” We see the Scriptural exhortation, the desire of the Apostles, and the desire of Christ is a unity, a fellowship, a commitment to a local body of believers. In this there is the opportunity for great accountability, encouragement, fellowship, help, prayer, and service. Are we seeking a deep commitment between ourselves and the church? How does this look to commit oneself to a body of believers? How can we encourage, exhort, hold accountable, pray for, and help our brothers and sisters in Christ in the local body?
The final way that commitment is seen in the Scriptures is between the church and Christ. It is one of the more vivid examples and explanations of commitment. It is seen as a marriage relationship, the union of two individuals for life. This is the way that the Church is viewed in Ephesians 5 and it gives us deep insight into various other passages that refer to Christ as Head of the church, to Christ as ruling over His church. The idea of obedience and submission to Christ is mirrored in the obedience and submission of a wife to her husband. The love that Christ showed the church is seen in the love that a husband is to give his wife. The leadership shown by Christ is to be mirrored or seen in the leadership of His church and in individual families. Marriage from the beginning of time was meant to be life long, and lasting, and the same view is seen in the relationship of the Church to Christ. Is the church as a whole seeking obedience to our Lord and Master Jesus Christ? Is the church seeking His guidance and direction for our tasks? Do we desire to see Him glorified in the local body of believers looking to Him as our head?
Continue to seek the deeper relationship and commitment that God desires for you, through your individual commitment to Him. In your commitment to a local body are you seeking to use the gifts of God to the benefit, edification, and encouragement of the other believers? Is the church that you attend seeking the praise and glorification of God and Christ over their own glorification is the church seeking the way, the truth, and the life? Ask yourself, am I willing to “take up my cross and follow.”
This verse has MANY different applications and lessons to be drawn from it. However, the concept of “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” is probably one of the broadest aspects of the whole command and therefore has the most possible applications.
The concept of commitment is one that applies to many different facets of the Christian life, from our individual commitment to Christ, to the church as a whole and its commitment to Christ. The commitment between the individual person and Christ is one that is seen as a pivotal one in the concept of an individual and their “walk” with God. It is one that is seen throughout the entirety of Scripture, the idea that man is meant to commune with God, to walk with him, just as Adam did in the garden…however, the concept of communing and walking has no impact if we do not view the relationship as one that deserves commitment. Christ put it best in his description of those who follow him…they must “deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me [Jesus].” The commitment between an individual and their savior is an all or nothing commitment. It is a desire to serve and follow Him, to seek His face and His desires, to do all that he commands us to do. To discuss further commitment would be futile if it is not first based on a right relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we see the continual exhortation to “follow me.” Are we truly following the Lord? Are we seeking repentance daily to better serve Him? Do we desire to be vessels which He can use for His purposes to the effective ministry and proclamation of His name? Or do we cherish sin so that we are ineffective, and unfruitful?
Commitment within the scriptures, however, does not stop at the concept of the individual and Christ. It involves more than that, but is vanity without it. The commitment of an individual to a local body of believers is encompassed in the notion of “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” This is clearly seen in the book of Acts when the church is being added to on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). The Scriptures say in verse 42, following their conversion and baptism, they “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayers…and day by day attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes…” We see a tie between the individuals relationship with Christ and the individuals relationship with others who are ALSO Christ’s. There is a devotion to the teachings of the apostles which were in line with the teachings of Christ. The believers sought a unity between themselves and the church of God and sought to continue in that unity. Hebrews 10:25 states, “ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” We see the Scriptural exhortation, the desire of the Apostles, and the desire of Christ is a unity, a fellowship, a commitment to a local body of believers. In this there is the opportunity for great accountability, encouragement, fellowship, help, prayer, and service. Are we seeking a deep commitment between ourselves and the church? How does this look to commit oneself to a body of believers? How can we encourage, exhort, hold accountable, pray for, and help our brothers and sisters in Christ in the local body?
The final way that commitment is seen in the Scriptures is between the church and Christ. It is one of the more vivid examples and explanations of commitment. It is seen as a marriage relationship, the union of two individuals for life. This is the way that the Church is viewed in Ephesians 5 and it gives us deep insight into various other passages that refer to Christ as Head of the church, to Christ as ruling over His church. The idea of obedience and submission to Christ is mirrored in the obedience and submission of a wife to her husband. The love that Christ showed the church is seen in the love that a husband is to give his wife. The leadership shown by Christ is to be mirrored or seen in the leadership of His church and in individual families. Marriage from the beginning of time was meant to be life long, and lasting, and the same view is seen in the relationship of the Church to Christ. Is the church as a whole seeking obedience to our Lord and Master Jesus Christ? Is the church seeking His guidance and direction for our tasks? Do we desire to see Him glorified in the local body of believers looking to Him as our head?
Continue to seek the deeper relationship and commitment that God desires for you, through your individual commitment to Him. In your commitment to a local body are you seeking to use the gifts of God to the benefit, edification, and encouragement of the other believers? Is the church that you attend seeking the praise and glorification of God and Christ over their own glorification is the church seeking the way, the truth, and the life? Ask yourself, am I willing to “take up my cross and follow.”
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