The wilderness temptation demonstrates the power of Christ. Even in the midst of his weakness. Though he refused Satan's request to make a spectacle of his ability yet this picture of his strength has endured for two thousand years. In the wilderness temptation we see that the greatest power, and the one which evades us so often is the power of self control.
Let us take note of the tempter. Satan is a cruel attacker. He came to Jesus when he was weakened. Satan used his chiefest allies: the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions (1 John 2:16).
First Satan attacked the physical hunger in a way beyond our comprehension. To have not eaten in 40 days and to resist the temptation for bread. The desire of the flesh must have been overwhelming.
In the second temptation every imaginable desire is offered. Everything you've ever seen that you wanted: every experience, every possession, every accomplishment. All the pride and glory you could ever have. For Christ what more of a temptation to grasp what was rightfully his in the first place. To be in a state of humility no more, but to rule the nations now.
And when these two had failed Satan tries to tempt Christ to test God. Satan wants nothing more than to alienate Christ from the Father. He seeks to accomplish this by convincing Jesus to test the Father
Christ answer to every challenge is essentially the same. The Lord God. The Lord God is what gives him life more than bread. The Lord God is the one who alone should be worshipped. And the Lord God is the one not to be doubted or put to the test.
In Christ's unshakable trust and obedience to God he succeeds where men fail. God's people in the Old Testament fell continuously into temptation in the wilderness. And we fail in many ways.
We see in the wilderness temptation patterns that continued Christ's life, and would be be displayed even more powerfully in his greatest work: going to the cross. Christ suffered. Christ was tempted. He submitted to the Father's will. And in his obedience Satan's plot and attack were turned to the God's victory.
As you and I see Christ in this passage we can know we have a Savior who has been tempted like us. Satan attacked him the same way he attacks us only with far greater severity. Every time we are in temptation it should comfort us to know that we are walking the path our Lord walked.
And we can walk by his example. We must also stand and control ourselves in midst of temptation. To do so we must seek the Holy Spirit. Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit (Vs. 1). We should speak the truth of the Bible against the lies of Satan (out loud if necessary). But most of all Jesus' example shows us to focus on the Lord God like he did continually. We should look to what God provides, what God promises, and what God requires of us.
Even when we fail we can look to this passage and remember there was one who succeeded. And we are his. And because of his obedience to the Father we can be forgiven.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
"Isn't Life More?" or "From Sheep to Glory"
At this time of year there is a lot of inviting going on. We invite, and we are invited. Some of us throw parties. Some of us invite family and friends over to share the holidays together. And the practice of inviting to a celebration was done in Jesus' time as well as ours. Christ actually makes mention of it on a couple of occasions. But years before those words, on the first Christmas night, there was an invitation.
There were a few people fortunate enough to be invitied to see the Christ child. Those people were shepherds. Let us take a look at these shepherds and what happened to them that night.
Read Luke 2:8-20
http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Luke+2%3A8-20
When we first encounter these shepherds in Vs. 8 what are they doing?
They are keeping watch over their flock by night. They were looking after sheep. It is interesting that a sheep can basically be used for two purposes. First you can eat sheep. Secondly you can use a sheep's wool to make clothing. In the Bible food and clothing are referred to as the basic necessities of life. The Bible says that food and clothing is what the Father knows we need, and that if we have them with these we should be content. So in these shepherds we have an example of people who are literally looking at, and focusing on, the basic necessities of their life.
We should relate to these shepherds. They are doing what many of us do everyday. We spend our lives working to provide. We, like the shepherds, spend our days (or nights) at our jobs, or taking care of our kids trying to make sure we have what we need.
The shepherds are in for a miraculous encounter. Something is about to happen which changes their lives, and that we would do well to think about.
In Vs. 9-14 we see the beginnings of this encounter. When the angel appears the shepherds fear. the first words from God to them (found so often in Scripture) are "Fear not." Then the message is delivered: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." This savior is the center of the whole passage everything is focused on him. The angel appeared because of the savior Christ the Lord. The good news of great joy was the savior Christ the Lord. The reason the heavenly host were praising God was the savior Christ the Lord. And the reason the shepherds would then Vs. 15 leave their flock in the field and go to Bethlehem was the savior Christ the Lord.
At first the shepherds were looking over their food and clothing (the basic necessities of life), but now they are called to look to something greater. to see something beyond and more important than the sheep.
When Jesus grew up in his most famous sermon (the sermon on the mount) Jesus said: "“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" (Matt 6:25) This was the challenging question he gave the disciples: Isn't life more? Isn't there something more important that just eating, and buying clothes, and paying the rent? Isn't there something that matters more?
The shepherds that night were hit with a wake up call that something was more important. Perhaps that is why they feared; because they had come face to face with the reality that there was something more important.
What is more important, and more important for all of us is God. Our creator who formed us in our Mother's womb. God, knowing God, having peace and a relationshipwith God, obeying and loving God, this is what really matters in life. In fact this really is "life".
We do not know how much the shepherds understood that night about the significance of what they were witnessing, but we know in light of Scripture, that it was of infinite significance. The infant, the baby they found lying in a manger (Vs. 16), was of infinite significance. Because only through him we have hope of life. Only through what he would accomplish in his death and resurrection can we have peace with God and come to know and love and obey Him.
In conclusion notice how the narrative ends in Vs. 20 "And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them."
First they returned. They went back to the sheep. They went back to their jobs. This is a good reminder that Christianity is not against work. On the contrary Christians are instructed to be good workers, and for the Christian work becomes an act of worship. Work becomes something we should do unto the Lord.
But there is a difference between the shepherds in Vs. 8 and Vs. 20, and the difference is worship. They are "glorifying and praising God". They have seen something fantastic. They have seen something praiseworthy. As I said they have seen something more important than the sheep. As Christians we are called to' "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Col 3:2) They don't ignore their jobs, but they go back to them with a new perspective because of what they've seen. They have seen these things, and this naturally produces in them worship. This is a mark of a Christian life. A Christian life is a life that produces worship.
As the Shorter Catechism says the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. That is the chief: the most important, the best thing we can do is to bring glory to our maker. This is what we were made to do. We found the shepherds looking at sheep and we leave them exalting the Living God. Let us, like the shepherds, go back to our lives knowing there is something more important than just the necessities of physical life. There is true life, and that life is in the Son of God. Let us seek to worship and glorify him in all we do.
Merry Christmas
There were a few people fortunate enough to be invitied to see the Christ child. Those people were shepherds. Let us take a look at these shepherds and what happened to them that night.
Read Luke 2:8-20
http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Luke+2%3A8-20
When we first encounter these shepherds in Vs. 8 what are they doing?
They are keeping watch over their flock by night. They were looking after sheep. It is interesting that a sheep can basically be used for two purposes. First you can eat sheep. Secondly you can use a sheep's wool to make clothing. In the Bible food and clothing are referred to as the basic necessities of life. The Bible says that food and clothing is what the Father knows we need, and that if we have them with these we should be content. So in these shepherds we have an example of people who are literally looking at, and focusing on, the basic necessities of their life.
We should relate to these shepherds. They are doing what many of us do everyday. We spend our lives working to provide. We, like the shepherds, spend our days (or nights) at our jobs, or taking care of our kids trying to make sure we have what we need.
The shepherds are in for a miraculous encounter. Something is about to happen which changes their lives, and that we would do well to think about.
In Vs. 9-14 we see the beginnings of this encounter. When the angel appears the shepherds fear. the first words from God to them (found so often in Scripture) are "Fear not." Then the message is delivered: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." This savior is the center of the whole passage everything is focused on him. The angel appeared because of the savior Christ the Lord. The good news of great joy was the savior Christ the Lord. The reason the heavenly host were praising God was the savior Christ the Lord. And the reason the shepherds would then Vs. 15 leave their flock in the field and go to Bethlehem was the savior Christ the Lord.
At first the shepherds were looking over their food and clothing (the basic necessities of life), but now they are called to look to something greater. to see something beyond and more important than the sheep.
When Jesus grew up in his most famous sermon (the sermon on the mount) Jesus said: "“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" (Matt 6:25) This was the challenging question he gave the disciples: Isn't life more? Isn't there something more important that just eating, and buying clothes, and paying the rent? Isn't there something that matters more?
The shepherds that night were hit with a wake up call that something was more important. Perhaps that is why they feared; because they had come face to face with the reality that there was something more important.
What is more important, and more important for all of us is God. Our creator who formed us in our Mother's womb. God, knowing God, having peace and a relationshipwith God, obeying and loving God, this is what really matters in life. In fact this really is "life".
We do not know how much the shepherds understood that night about the significance of what they were witnessing, but we know in light of Scripture, that it was of infinite significance. The infant, the baby they found lying in a manger (Vs. 16), was of infinite significance. Because only through him we have hope of life. Only through what he would accomplish in his death and resurrection can we have peace with God and come to know and love and obey Him.
In conclusion notice how the narrative ends in Vs. 20 "And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them."
First they returned. They went back to the sheep. They went back to their jobs. This is a good reminder that Christianity is not against work. On the contrary Christians are instructed to be good workers, and for the Christian work becomes an act of worship. Work becomes something we should do unto the Lord.
But there is a difference between the shepherds in Vs. 8 and Vs. 20, and the difference is worship. They are "glorifying and praising God". They have seen something fantastic. They have seen something praiseworthy. As I said they have seen something more important than the sheep. As Christians we are called to' "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Col 3:2) They don't ignore their jobs, but they go back to them with a new perspective because of what they've seen. They have seen these things, and this naturally produces in them worship. This is a mark of a Christian life. A Christian life is a life that produces worship.
As the Shorter Catechism says the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. That is the chief: the most important, the best thing we can do is to bring glory to our maker. This is what we were made to do. We found the shepherds looking at sheep and we leave them exalting the Living God. Let us, like the shepherds, go back to our lives knowing there is something more important than just the necessities of physical life. There is true life, and that life is in the Son of God. Let us seek to worship and glorify him in all we do.
Merry Christmas
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
The Authority of Scripture Answering Unbelievers: Calvin's View
When believers speak to unbelievers about the truths of the Christian faith one of the key foundational issues of disagreement is the authority of Scripture. After a recent conversation I wanted to develop a more well defined answer to the basic question "Why should I believe the Bible is true?"
I read the chapters in John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion on the authority of Scripture (Book 1 Chapters 7 & 8) and this is what I got out of it.
One of Calvin's major points is that in order for people to be fully convinced of the truth of the Scripture the Holy Spirit must make it known to them. It has to be a work of God authenticating his word. Those who God has called by his Spirit will believe his word. Jesus says the same about the authority of his words, "Jesus answered them, 'My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority." (John 7:16-17) Paul also says as much, "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor 2:14) The natual man must be transformed to be able to believe.
This is true, and proper to acknowledge from the outset in a discussion on the authority of Scripture. Stating this is also a way of pointing a non believer to their need for God. When talking to an unbeliever it is good to keep in mind that the issue is not merely a misunderstanding or a lack of information. Without the work of the Holy Spirit they do not have the ability to believe the truth.
Calvin does not stop here though (and neither should we). He does not say that since men won’t be fully convinced without the Spirit that reason has no place. He goes on to show evidences of the Scripture’s truth while admitting that these evidences alone without the Spirit’s work will not convince the unregenerate.
One evidence is the profound impact Scripture has on men who read it beyond any human writings. Calvin wrote “How peculiarly this property belongs to Scripture appears from this, that no human writings, however skilfully composed, are at all capable of affecting us in a similar way. Read Demosthenes or Cicero, read Plato, Aristotle, or any other of that class: you will, I admit, feel wonderfully allured, pleased, moved, enchanted; but turn from them to the reading of the Sacred Volume, and whether you will or not, it will so affect you, so pierce your heart, so work its way into your very marrow, that, in comparison of the impression so produced, that of orators and philosophers will almost disappear; making it manifest that in the Sacred Volume there is a truth divine, a something which makes it immeasurably superior to all the gifts and graces attainable by man.”
Another evidence is the integrity of the human writers of Scripture who faithfully record what God reveals about themselves and their families even to their own dishonor. For instance Moses, who we affirm wrote Genesis, records the words of Jacob shaming Levi (his own ancestor) (Gen 49:6-7). Paul and Peter are not mentioned by Calvin in the same section, but the same could be said of them. Paul confesses his own shameful behavior before his conversion and says of himself: “I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” (1 Cor 15:9). Peter a leader in the early church and likely a contributor to the Gospel accounts does not deny his cowardly behavior on the night Christ was betrayed.
This should clearly demonstrate that the Scriptures were not written with an aim to bring honor to their human authors.
Calvin also mentions a few examples of fulfilled prophecy. There are certainly many more that he does not mention. He points to Genesis 49:10 which states that Judah will rule and that the nations will honor him. This was many centuries before there was any King from the tribe of Judah, and over a millennium before the Gentiles would come into the church and give their obedience to Christ the King. He also mentions Isaiah’s prophecy of the Babylonian captivity (Is 39:6-7) and even more the release from that captivity by Cyrus (Is 45:1). Jeremiah’s prediction that the Babylonian captivity would be 70 years (Jer 25:11-12 & 29:10) is another evidence.
The transformation in the lives of the apostles demonstrates that a divine power worked in them. Calvin wrote: “But one circumstance, sufficient of itself to exalt their doctrine above the world, is, that Matthew, who was formerly fixed down to his money-table, Peter and John, who were employed with their little boats, being all rude and illiterate, had never learned in any human school that which they delivered to others. Paul, more over, who had not only been an avowed but a cruel and bloody foe, being changed into a new man, shows, by the sudden and unhoped-for change, that a heavenly power had compelled him to preach the doctrine which once he destroyed. Let those dogs deny that the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, or, if not, let them refuse credit to the history, still the very circumstances proclaim that the Holy Spirit must have been the teacher of those who, formerly contemptible among the people, all of a sudden began to discourse so magnificently of heavenly mysteries.”
Calvin also notes that the truth of Scripture has been so often attacked in History. Many men have sought to discredit and destroy its message, and yet God’s truth has prevailed. This demonstrates that the Scripture is of divine origin.
These aren’t all of Calvin’s arguments, and more that he does not mention could be made. These are his arguments that I thought were the strongest. It isn't exhaustive, but I think it is helpful. It should be enough to demonstrate that the believer in Scripture is not foolish, and that the the one who doubts Scripture is on shaky ground. We must pray for the Spirit to open the eyes of unbelievers while on our part presenting a challenging defense of the Bible's authority.
I read the chapters in John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion on the authority of Scripture (Book 1 Chapters 7 & 8) and this is what I got out of it.
One of Calvin's major points is that in order for people to be fully convinced of the truth of the Scripture the Holy Spirit must make it known to them. It has to be a work of God authenticating his word. Those who God has called by his Spirit will believe his word. Jesus says the same about the authority of his words, "Jesus answered them, 'My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority." (John 7:16-17) Paul also says as much, "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor 2:14) The natual man must be transformed to be able to believe.
This is true, and proper to acknowledge from the outset in a discussion on the authority of Scripture. Stating this is also a way of pointing a non believer to their need for God. When talking to an unbeliever it is good to keep in mind that the issue is not merely a misunderstanding or a lack of information. Without the work of the Holy Spirit they do not have the ability to believe the truth.
Calvin does not stop here though (and neither should we). He does not say that since men won’t be fully convinced without the Spirit that reason has no place. He goes on to show evidences of the Scripture’s truth while admitting that these evidences alone without the Spirit’s work will not convince the unregenerate.
One evidence is the profound impact Scripture has on men who read it beyond any human writings. Calvin wrote “How peculiarly this property belongs to Scripture appears from this, that no human writings, however skilfully composed, are at all capable of affecting us in a similar way. Read Demosthenes or Cicero, read Plato, Aristotle, or any other of that class: you will, I admit, feel wonderfully allured, pleased, moved, enchanted; but turn from them to the reading of the Sacred Volume, and whether you will or not, it will so affect you, so pierce your heart, so work its way into your very marrow, that, in comparison of the impression so produced, that of orators and philosophers will almost disappear; making it manifest that in the Sacred Volume there is a truth divine, a something which makes it immeasurably superior to all the gifts and graces attainable by man.”
Another evidence is the integrity of the human writers of Scripture who faithfully record what God reveals about themselves and their families even to their own dishonor. For instance Moses, who we affirm wrote Genesis, records the words of Jacob shaming Levi (his own ancestor) (Gen 49:6-7). Paul and Peter are not mentioned by Calvin in the same section, but the same could be said of them. Paul confesses his own shameful behavior before his conversion and says of himself: “I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” (1 Cor 15:9). Peter a leader in the early church and likely a contributor to the Gospel accounts does not deny his cowardly behavior on the night Christ was betrayed.
This should clearly demonstrate that the Scriptures were not written with an aim to bring honor to their human authors.
Calvin also mentions a few examples of fulfilled prophecy. There are certainly many more that he does not mention. He points to Genesis 49:10 which states that Judah will rule and that the nations will honor him. This was many centuries before there was any King from the tribe of Judah, and over a millennium before the Gentiles would come into the church and give their obedience to Christ the King. He also mentions Isaiah’s prophecy of the Babylonian captivity (Is 39:6-7) and even more the release from that captivity by Cyrus (Is 45:1). Jeremiah’s prediction that the Babylonian captivity would be 70 years (Jer 25:11-12 & 29:10) is another evidence.
The transformation in the lives of the apostles demonstrates that a divine power worked in them. Calvin wrote: “But one circumstance, sufficient of itself to exalt their doctrine above the world, is, that Matthew, who was formerly fixed down to his money-table, Peter and John, who were employed with their little boats, being all rude and illiterate, had never learned in any human school that which they delivered to others. Paul, more over, who had not only been an avowed but a cruel and bloody foe, being changed into a new man, shows, by the sudden and unhoped-for change, that a heavenly power had compelled him to preach the doctrine which once he destroyed. Let those dogs deny that the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, or, if not, let them refuse credit to the history, still the very circumstances proclaim that the Holy Spirit must have been the teacher of those who, formerly contemptible among the people, all of a sudden began to discourse so magnificently of heavenly mysteries.”
Calvin also notes that the truth of Scripture has been so often attacked in History. Many men have sought to discredit and destroy its message, and yet God’s truth has prevailed. This demonstrates that the Scripture is of divine origin.
These aren’t all of Calvin’s arguments, and more that he does not mention could be made. These are his arguments that I thought were the strongest. It isn't exhaustive, but I think it is helpful. It should be enough to demonstrate that the believer in Scripture is not foolish, and that the the one who doubts Scripture is on shaky ground. We must pray for the Spirit to open the eyes of unbelievers while on our part presenting a challenging defense of the Bible's authority.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
come, let us walk in the light of the Lord
In all of the gospels the Lord Jesus uses the imagery of light/darkness. Let us look at some of his words and meditate on their meaning. I'll focus on two key metaphors: not putting a lamp under a basket, and the eye being the lamp of the body.
First Matthew 5:14-16
In this passage we, the believers, are the light. We are to bring glory to our God by our actions. Our good works are what set us apart from the darkness around us, and what lights up that darkness. Our works are a revelation of God to the world around us. By instructing his disciples not to light a lamp and put it under a basket The Lord clarifies what it means to be a follower of Jesus. A Christianity that doesn't impact the way we treat others, and cause us to do good to our neighbor is no Christianity at all. It makes as much sense as a lamp under a basket.
Matthew 6:22-23
Here we first encounter the concept of the eye being the lamp of the body. For me at least the meaning of this was not immediately obvious. I think we can eliminate right away that Christ was talking about literal eye health as if what we really need is a good optometrist. The eye must be relevant in another way. One helpful passage which uses a similar metaphor is Ephesians 1:18 where part of Paul's prayer is for the eye of the Ephesians's hearts to be enlightened that they may know the hope to which God has called them. Like our physical eyes the eye of our heart's purpose is to perceive. We want our perception to be clear. Our perception is made clear by looking to God's revelation in Jesus Christ. Interestingly in this case the passage about the eye being the lamp of the body is sandwiched in between two passages about money (Vs.19-21 & 24). Taken altogether Vs. 19-24 are a clear warning against the love of money corrupting our perception. To be focused on money is to have a bad eye. To have a good eye is to not only know about Jesus , but to perceive his true value. Vs. 24 tells us we can not serve God and money. Christ's followers are called to a singular devotion to God. But in order to be devoted we must see Christ rightly.
Mark 4:21-23
In Matthew 5 we saw very certainly that the lamp not to be hidden under a basket was the works of believers. But in this passage I believe it has a different meaning. The passage in Mark 4 follows, and I believe relates to, the parable of the sower and its explanation (Vs. 1-20). Here the light that is manifest is the the message of God revealed to his followers. Earlier in the same chapter Christ said, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that 'they may indeed see but not perceive..." In this passage we are called to be those who perceive the truth that is to see the light revealed in Jesus Christ.
Luke 11:33-36
Here we have the only passage where the Lord combines these two metaphors speaking both of the lamp under a basket, and the eye as lamp of the body. Again we look to the context of the passage to gain understanding of the metaphors. Here preceding the passage Jesus deals with those who reject him seeking a sign (Vs. 29-32), and after the passage he again deals with opposition in the hypocritical judgment of the Pharisees (Vs. 37-41). In Luke the lamp is Christ himself. He is the revelation of God displayed before his adversaries. He was lifted up on a stand and not hidden, and yet they rejected him. He was the one greater than Jonah (Vs.32) that they did not accept. The focal point of the passage, again like Matthew 6, is perception. Those who perceive Christ properly are full of light, and those who do not are full of darkness. Where this passages stands out from the one in Matthew 6 is the encouraging picture of the one who fully looks to Christ in Vs. 36. This is our goal. This is what we are called to be: wholly bright as when a lamp with its rays gives you light. This also circles back to the first passage I mentioned where we are the light (Matt 5). When we fully perceive God's revelation in Christ we ourselves become a reflection of that light in the world.
By looking intently on our Lord's use of these metaphors we understand we are to rightly perceive Christ. We are not to walk in ignorance like those who do not know God, but to live in the light of his revelation. This relates very closely to the meaning of the parable of the sower. We are not to allow our eyes to be darkened by money like the seed that fell among the thorns. We are not to reject the light like the seed that fell along the path and Satan immediately came and took away the word. This is what he did to those who rejected Christ thought they saw him in the flesh. But we are to look to the Son of God. We are to hear his words, and obey him. We are to become lights ourselves.
Consider how gracious it is that God has given us any light at all. Without Christ all is darkness. All human learning and thinking takes place in the dark until Christ appears. But now the light shines.
Christ warned in John 12: 35-36, "The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you. The one who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be sons of light. "
That is the invitation which is held out to you.
First Matthew 5:14-16
In this passage we, the believers, are the light. We are to bring glory to our God by our actions. Our good works are what set us apart from the darkness around us, and what lights up that darkness. Our works are a revelation of God to the world around us. By instructing his disciples not to light a lamp and put it under a basket The Lord clarifies what it means to be a follower of Jesus. A Christianity that doesn't impact the way we treat others, and cause us to do good to our neighbor is no Christianity at all. It makes as much sense as a lamp under a basket.
Matthew 6:22-23
Here we first encounter the concept of the eye being the lamp of the body. For me at least the meaning of this was not immediately obvious. I think we can eliminate right away that Christ was talking about literal eye health as if what we really need is a good optometrist. The eye must be relevant in another way. One helpful passage which uses a similar metaphor is Ephesians 1:18 where part of Paul's prayer is for the eye of the Ephesians's hearts to be enlightened that they may know the hope to which God has called them. Like our physical eyes the eye of our heart's purpose is to perceive. We want our perception to be clear. Our perception is made clear by looking to God's revelation in Jesus Christ. Interestingly in this case the passage about the eye being the lamp of the body is sandwiched in between two passages about money (Vs.19-21 & 24). Taken altogether Vs. 19-24 are a clear warning against the love of money corrupting our perception. To be focused on money is to have a bad eye. To have a good eye is to not only know about Jesus , but to perceive his true value. Vs. 24 tells us we can not serve God and money. Christ's followers are called to a singular devotion to God. But in order to be devoted we must see Christ rightly.
Mark 4:21-23
In Matthew 5 we saw very certainly that the lamp not to be hidden under a basket was the works of believers. But in this passage I believe it has a different meaning. The passage in Mark 4 follows, and I believe relates to, the parable of the sower and its explanation (Vs. 1-20). Here the light that is manifest is the the message of God revealed to his followers. Earlier in the same chapter Christ said, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables, so that 'they may indeed see but not perceive..." In this passage we are called to be those who perceive the truth that is to see the light revealed in Jesus Christ.
Luke 11:33-36
Here we have the only passage where the Lord combines these two metaphors speaking both of the lamp under a basket, and the eye as lamp of the body. Again we look to the context of the passage to gain understanding of the metaphors. Here preceding the passage Jesus deals with those who reject him seeking a sign (Vs. 29-32), and after the passage he again deals with opposition in the hypocritical judgment of the Pharisees (Vs. 37-41). In Luke the lamp is Christ himself. He is the revelation of God displayed before his adversaries. He was lifted up on a stand and not hidden, and yet they rejected him. He was the one greater than Jonah (Vs.32) that they did not accept. The focal point of the passage, again like Matthew 6, is perception. Those who perceive Christ properly are full of light, and those who do not are full of darkness. Where this passages stands out from the one in Matthew 6 is the encouraging picture of the one who fully looks to Christ in Vs. 36. This is our goal. This is what we are called to be: wholly bright as when a lamp with its rays gives you light. This also circles back to the first passage I mentioned where we are the light (Matt 5). When we fully perceive God's revelation in Christ we ourselves become a reflection of that light in the world.
By looking intently on our Lord's use of these metaphors we understand we are to rightly perceive Christ. We are not to walk in ignorance like those who do not know God, but to live in the light of his revelation. This relates very closely to the meaning of the parable of the sower. We are not to allow our eyes to be darkened by money like the seed that fell among the thorns. We are not to reject the light like the seed that fell along the path and Satan immediately came and took away the word. This is what he did to those who rejected Christ thought they saw him in the flesh. But we are to look to the Son of God. We are to hear his words, and obey him. We are to become lights ourselves.
Consider how gracious it is that God has given us any light at all. Without Christ all is darkness. All human learning and thinking takes place in the dark until Christ appears. But now the light shines.
Christ warned in John 12: 35-36, "The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest the darkness overtake you. The one who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be sons of light. "
That is the invitation which is held out to you.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Pleasing God
A few weeks ago I decided to look in the Bible for what pleases God. That is which actions were specifically said to please God. I thought this would be useful for teaching others, and I've had times myself when I've thought or prayed "All I want to do is please God". Sometimes with a sense of frustration of not knowing how, or if, I could please him with my life.
But my Bible study gave me an almost immediate result. I spent less than 15 minutes searching for the words "Please" & "God". It was very clear Old & New Testament one of the primary things which pleases God is:
SACRIFICE
Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
But my Bible study gave me an almost immediate result. I spent less than 15 minutes searching for the words "Please" & "God". It was very clear Old & New Testament one of the primary things which pleases God is:
SACRIFICE
Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Devotional Message for Sunrise Assisted Living (elderly)
Sometimes we have the experience of seeing somone or meeting someone, and not recognizing who they are. That has happened to me a few times recently, and it can be kind of funny. Because I still live and work and go to the store around the same area I grew up in. Sometimes I'll see someone and they will recognize me and I won't recognize them, and it will turn out we went to grade school together. I know sometimes especially as we get older it can be a sad experience to not recognize people.
One of the most tragic happenings in all of man's history is that when Jesus came so many people didn't recognize him. Even the people that should have known him; the pople that had been waiting for a the Messiah most of them did not recognize him. So today I want to talk to you about Jesus and recognizing who he is and one specific thing about him.
Read John 14:7-9A
"If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father."
In the first Chapeter of John it also says: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
And then later: the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
There is only one main thing I want to tell you today and that is that Jesus is God.
It would be tragic if we miss this point. If we don't know this we haven't recognized JEsus for who he is.
The first reason this is important to us is because. You can know God. You can know the same God who created you and me. The same God who spoke the sun and the stars into existence. The God who holds all things together you can know him. You can know him in Jesus.
The second reason it's important for you to know God is to know that he is strong to save. God is powerful we call him The Almighty. There is nothing that can stop him from accomplishing his purpose. Nothing can stop him from saving those who look to the Son and put their faith in him.
Nothing can stop him from saving those who have believed that Jesus died for their sins and rose again from the dead.
Nothing can stop him from saving, and no one can escape his judgment.
Again like Jesus said to Philip, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me?"
Philip had probably been with Jesus for about 3 years following him in his ministry. Some of us have been hearing about Jesus for years all our live. If we haven't recognized Jesus as God he could ask us the same question: Have I been with you sol long and you still do not know me?
One of the most tragic happenings in all of man's history is that when Jesus came so many people didn't recognize him. Even the people that should have known him; the pople that had been waiting for a the Messiah most of them did not recognize him. So today I want to talk to you about Jesus and recognizing who he is and one specific thing about him.
Read John 14:7-9A
"If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father."
In the first Chapeter of John it also says: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
And then later: the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
There is only one main thing I want to tell you today and that is that Jesus is God.
It would be tragic if we miss this point. If we don't know this we haven't recognized JEsus for who he is.
The first reason this is important to us is because. You can know God. You can know the same God who created you and me. The same God who spoke the sun and the stars into existence. The God who holds all things together you can know him. You can know him in Jesus.
The second reason it's important for you to know God is to know that he is strong to save. God is powerful we call him The Almighty. There is nothing that can stop him from accomplishing his purpose. Nothing can stop him from saving those who look to the Son and put their faith in him.
Nothing can stop him from saving those who have believed that Jesus died for their sins and rose again from the dead.
Nothing can stop him from saving, and no one can escape his judgment.
Again like Jesus said to Philip, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me?"
Philip had probably been with Jesus for about 3 years following him in his ministry. Some of us have been hearing about Jesus for years all our live. If we haven't recognized Jesus as God he could ask us the same question: Have I been with you sol long and you still do not know me?
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Eyewitnesses of his Majesty Matthew 3:13-17
When Jesus came to John to be baptised, John would have prevented him. John was humble. He knew he wasn't even worthy to untie Jesus' sandals, but Jesus told him something that changed his mind quickly, and without argument. Jesus told him, "it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." This was God's purpose. This was God's work. This is why John had been called to baptise in the first place for the fulfillment of God's kingdom and his righteousness. John loved God's Kingdom, and he was honored to be apart of bringing its fulfillment. Jesus included him in God's work "it is fitting for us." Like John we also have the honor of joining in God's work.
But how was John baptising Jesus fulfilling all righteousness?
In baptizing Jesus John was consecrating Jesus for service. This was an act of righteous obedience to God. In the Old Testament the consecration of the Priest and Levites had included a baptism (Lev. 8, Num. 8).
Jesus ministry certainly eclipsed that of all the Priests and Levites of the Old Testament this act of obedience by John and Jesus was the beginning of a ministry that would fulfill all righteousness.
The significance of Christ's ministry is demonstrated in the event of his Baptism. The heavens opened and the spirit descended. Consider the source of the Spirit. The Spirit descended from heaven. It came upon Jesus, and would later be poured out on his Church. Jesus himself also descended. Long before he came from Galilee to the Jordan he came from heaven to earth. He is the one who comes down from heaven and brings life to the world. Heaven is the source. Righteousness does not come from the ground up, and it never could. Jesus says the same of his Kingdom,"My kingdom is not of this world." (John 18:36) The Kingdom, whose subjects we are, isn't from this world; it is from heaven. In Jesus, in the Holy Spirit, and in his Kingdom heaven is opened and comes down. God's will is done on earth as in heaven.
The Father Loves the Son. and is well pleased with him. The Father loves the Son because the son lays down his life that he may take it up again. (John 10:17) The Father loves the Son's obedience, The Son's sacrifice, and the Son's authority.
In this event we see Jesus has come; he has entered the scene to begin his ministry. He has come to fulfill all righteousness. As we see him we must ask: does what pleases the Father please us as well? Do we love him for his crucifixion and for his resurrection? Do we love his authority, and give our allegiance to it? Do we love his righteous Kingdom? Is God's will done in our lives as it is in heaven?
When we love the son, and we obey his word then we like John do our part.
"it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness."
But how was John baptising Jesus fulfilling all righteousness?
In baptizing Jesus John was consecrating Jesus for service. This was an act of righteous obedience to God. In the Old Testament the consecration of the Priest and Levites had included a baptism (Lev. 8, Num. 8).
Jesus ministry certainly eclipsed that of all the Priests and Levites of the Old Testament this act of obedience by John and Jesus was the beginning of a ministry that would fulfill all righteousness.
The significance of Christ's ministry is demonstrated in the event of his Baptism. The heavens opened and the spirit descended. Consider the source of the Spirit. The Spirit descended from heaven. It came upon Jesus, and would later be poured out on his Church. Jesus himself also descended. Long before he came from Galilee to the Jordan he came from heaven to earth. He is the one who comes down from heaven and brings life to the world. Heaven is the source. Righteousness does not come from the ground up, and it never could. Jesus says the same of his Kingdom,"My kingdom is not of this world." (John 18:36) The Kingdom, whose subjects we are, isn't from this world; it is from heaven. In Jesus, in the Holy Spirit, and in his Kingdom heaven is opened and comes down. God's will is done on earth as in heaven.
The Father Loves the Son. and is well pleased with him. The Father loves the Son because the son lays down his life that he may take it up again. (John 10:17) The Father loves the Son's obedience, The Son's sacrifice, and the Son's authority.
In this event we see Jesus has come; he has entered the scene to begin his ministry. He has come to fulfill all righteousness. As we see him we must ask: does what pleases the Father please us as well? Do we love him for his crucifixion and for his resurrection? Do we love his authority, and give our allegiance to it? Do we love his righteous Kingdom? Is God's will done in our lives as it is in heaven?
When we love the son, and we obey his word then we like John do our part.
"it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness."
Friday, August 20, 2010
Not Consumed (poem from Mission Coffee Open Mic Night)
I just did this poem at the Mission Coffee Open Mic Night in Fremont. It was fun. Tere were a lot of really talented people there.
Not Consumed
You my God are a fire consuming but not consumed
Moses saw you on the mountain
And you are not consumed
You give bread and life to the multitude
And you are not consumed
You make the blind to see
And you are not consumed
You raise the dead to life
And you are not consumed
You suffered and were crucified
And you are not consumed
You died and were burried
And you are not consumed
With your blood you bought men for God
And you are not consumed
From every tribe and tongue and nation
And you are not consumed
You burn the affections of my heart
And you are not consumed
'til all I desire is to look upon your flame
And you are not consumed
To stand before your light is life
And you are not consumed
To fear you is pure joy
And you are not consumed
You resist the proud
And you are not consumed
You give grace to the humble
And you are not consumed
The imaginations of man are nothing before you
And you are not consumed
Your enemies will fall you consume them all
And you are not consumed
Your steadfast love never ceases
And you are not consumed
Your mercies never come to an end
And you are not consumed
You love me
And you are not consumed
You my God are a fire consuming but not consumed
Monday, August 16, 2010
Some simple thoughts on Ground Zero
I've heard a lot recently about Ground Zero and the proposed Mosque there. I have some pretty simple thoughts on the subject.
First of all I want to state clearly:I don't want there to be a Mosque at ground zero. I actually don't want there to be mosques any where. Since every square inch of this universe belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ I don't want to see any part of it used for religious gathering that does not worship him. I don't want there to be any part of God's creation used to shakes a fist at the creator. And that would include Mosques, Budhist and Hindu temples, apostate Churches, strip clubs, abortion clinics and a lot of other sorts of places.
However on the matter of the mosque, and the matter of whether it should be legal to have a mosque there, we have to remember the kind of government our nation has. I don't think that this is the kind of government we should have (although it has certainly been a blessing in many ways). We do have a government and a constituion which has never, from the inception of the nation, recognised the crown rights of Jesus.
And when it comes to the constitution I think it is pretty clear that the Governemtn has no right to stop any group from using their land or purchasing land for whatever sort of assembly they please.
So I don't want there to be a mosque on ground zero, but I also don't think that our Government as it is currently constituted (and I also don't support a violent revolution) should stop them from building one.
I don't think that Christians should expect the Government to stop this. I don't think that Christians should want this Government to have the right to stop this. What else would we be giving them the right to do then?
It is probably too late now, but if Chrisitans and conservatives are so concerned about ground zero being sacred maybe they should have raised money and bought the land in question.
First of all I want to state clearly:I don't want there to be a Mosque at ground zero. I actually don't want there to be mosques any where. Since every square inch of this universe belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ I don't want to see any part of it used for religious gathering that does not worship him. I don't want there to be any part of God's creation used to shakes a fist at the creator. And that would include Mosques, Budhist and Hindu temples, apostate Churches, strip clubs, abortion clinics and a lot of other sorts of places.
However on the matter of the mosque, and the matter of whether it should be legal to have a mosque there, we have to remember the kind of government our nation has. I don't think that this is the kind of government we should have (although it has certainly been a blessing in many ways). We do have a government and a constituion which has never, from the inception of the nation, recognised the crown rights of Jesus.
And when it comes to the constitution I think it is pretty clear that the Governemtn has no right to stop any group from using their land or purchasing land for whatever sort of assembly they please.
So I don't want there to be a mosque on ground zero, but I also don't think that our Government as it is currently constituted (and I also don't support a violent revolution) should stop them from building one.
I don't think that Christians should expect the Government to stop this. I don't think that Christians should want this Government to have the right to stop this. What else would we be giving them the right to do then?
It is probably too late now, but if Chrisitans and conservatives are so concerned about ground zero being sacred maybe they should have raised money and bought the land in question.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Eyewitnesses of his Majesty Luke 2:41-51
What strikes me in the narrative of the boy Jesus at the temple is Jesus' purposefulness.
His parents were astonished by his actions. His mother rebuked him "Why have you treated us so?"
Throughout his ministry well meaning people would be astonished at him. They didn't understand what he was doing, and would rebuke him. Later his own family thought he was crazy (Mark 3:21). Peter told him "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you."
Jesus rebuked Peter saying, "For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."
But Jesus' mind was always on the things of God. In his thoughts and actions he was focused on pleasing the Father.
In our narrative he had to be in the temple about his Father's business. He knew that God had given him works to accomplish, and that at that time his work was to listen to and enlighten the teachers of his people.
Jesus said, "I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me."(John 6:38)
He is the ultimate example of submission. He gave himself up completely to the Father's will: Not my will, but your will be done.
Let us have this same heart. Let us have the same action. Totally submitting ourselves to God's will loving him with all our heart, soul, and mind.
If we do this we will have purpose. If we do this the world will be astonished.
Luke 8:21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”
His parents were astonished by his actions. His mother rebuked him "Why have you treated us so?"
Throughout his ministry well meaning people would be astonished at him. They didn't understand what he was doing, and would rebuke him. Later his own family thought he was crazy (Mark 3:21). Peter told him "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you."
Jesus rebuked Peter saying, "For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."
But Jesus' mind was always on the things of God. In his thoughts and actions he was focused on pleasing the Father.
In our narrative he had to be in the temple about his Father's business. He knew that God had given him works to accomplish, and that at that time his work was to listen to and enlighten the teachers of his people.
Jesus said, "I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me."(John 6:38)
He is the ultimate example of submission. He gave himself up completely to the Father's will: Not my will, but your will be done.
Let us have this same heart. Let us have the same action. Totally submitting ourselves to God's will loving him with all our heart, soul, and mind.
If we do this we will have purpose. If we do this the world will be astonished.
Luke 8:21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Are you a grumbler or a groaner?
When you are in trouble, or trial, or pain do you grumble or do you groan ?
To me these terms sound synonymous. I think maybe a groan sounds like uuummrrgg and a grumble sounds like hurmghurmghurmg.
But in fact there is a great difference between being a grumbler and a groaner. I will explain what this difference is. This difference, and which side you're on, has considerable ramifications in your life. It's a difference between living a life in the blessing of God's mercy or the curse of God's judgment.
God loves groaners. In both the Old & New Testament God is for the groaners.
Exodus 2:23-24 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
Romans 8:23
And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Groaning is something people do when they are in a painful situation.
In our example from Exodus the people are oppressed slaves.
In Romans it mentions believers who believe and have the spirit, but are still dealing with the corruption of this world and this body not fully resurrected.
In each case there is a hope in God's mercy. In Exodus they cried out for help. They would not have cried if they didn't believe that God could help for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him (Heb 11:6).
The verses following Romans 8:23 describe a believers hope and patience.
Romans 8:24-25
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
God loves to be gracious and merciful to those who hope in him and call to him in the midst of their trials.
Grumbling is also something people do when faced with painful situations. Some translations use the term murmur for grumble.
Exodus 17:3
But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”
This is the passage that got me thinking about the whole subject. The Bible states clearly, as I will demonstrate more, that these people were in the wrong. In fact they were in grievous sin. When I read this last night it got me wondering: Why does God love the groaners in Exodus 2 and hate the grumblers in Exodus 17?
The difference when we look for it is clear. It is the difference between doubt and hope. It's the difference between giving up and persevering.
A few verses later the attitude of these people is described further.
Exodus 17:7 And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
To me these terms sound synonymous. I think maybe a groan sounds like uuummrrgg and a grumble sounds like hurmghurmghurmg.
But in fact there is a great difference between being a grumbler and a groaner. I will explain what this difference is. This difference, and which side you're on, has considerable ramifications in your life. It's a difference between living a life in the blessing of God's mercy or the curse of God's judgment.
God loves groaners. In both the Old & New Testament God is for the groaners.
Exodus 2:23-24 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
Romans 8:23
And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Groaning is something people do when they are in a painful situation.
In our example from Exodus the people are oppressed slaves.
In Romans it mentions believers who believe and have the spirit, but are still dealing with the corruption of this world and this body not fully resurrected.
In each case there is a hope in God's mercy. In Exodus they cried out for help. They would not have cried if they didn't believe that God could help for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him (Heb 11:6).
The verses following Romans 8:23 describe a believers hope and patience.
Romans 8:24-25
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
God loves to be gracious and merciful to those who hope in him and call to him in the midst of their trials.
Grumbling is also something people do when faced with painful situations. Some translations use the term murmur for grumble.
Exodus 17:3
But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”
This is the passage that got me thinking about the whole subject. The Bible states clearly, as I will demonstrate more, that these people were in the wrong. In fact they were in grievous sin. When I read this last night it got me wondering: Why does God love the groaners in Exodus 2 and hate the grumblers in Exodus 17?
The difference when we look for it is clear. It is the difference between doubt and hope. It's the difference between giving up and persevering.
A few verses later the attitude of these people is described further.
Exodus 17:7 And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
These are the same people who months earlier had walked through the Red Sea on dry land. They had seen all the mighty plagues on the Egyptians. Yet they asked, "Is the Lord among us?"
Later passages in the Bible look back to the grumbling Israelites in the dessert in judgement, because of Exodus 17 and other episodes:
1 Corinthians 10:9-10 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
Psalm 78:21-22 Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath;a fire was kindled against Jacob;his anger rose against Israel, because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power.
Doubt is a serious sin. God's anger arises against those who do not trust his saving power. It isn't enough for us just to believe the right facts about God. God actually wants us to trust him and will judge us if we don't. James says, "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:6-8)
But I know that I have been like the Israelites. I can relate to those people. How would I react if I saw my daughter without water in the dessert?
Just the other night I was grumbling to God. The difference between me and the Israelites is my life and my child's life weren't in danger. I just wasn't getting what I wanted. "God why are you doing this to me? Why can't I have ____?" As I said this I knew in my heart that God was not pleased with this whiny grumbling.
After everything that the Lord has done for me I like the Israelites was wondering if he was really with me.
God despises this grumbling and doubt.
Let us repent of our doubting and ask God to give us more faith to trust in him.
God calls us to trust his saving power. The good news is that God can be trusted.
Romans 8:31-32 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
If we are believing in God and trusting in his promises God is for us.
Just like all who have trusted in God before us we will groan. God calls us to groaning. Our groaning (when we can put it into words) should sound something like this:
Lord I don't like this trial, but I know that you work all things together for my good, and I will hope in your mercy
Lord I don't want to face this nevertheless let your will be done.
So be a groaner. call out to God in faith. Don't grumble and give up in despair.
"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Jesus (Matt 19:26)
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Eyewitnesses of his Majesty Luke 2:40C
Luke 2:40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
The favor of God (or the grace of God) was upon the boy Jesus.
Evangelicals tend to think of grace in terms of forgiveness. We are sinners and we are forgiven and given eternal life (even though we don't deserve it) because of God's grace. Jesus' death on the cross purchased God's grace for us.
This concept of the grace of God is true, and it is beautiful. It gives us hope. We deserve the wrath of God not his favor and the good news that Jesus died so that we can be forgiven is indeed amazing.
Yet God's grace can not be limited to just the one aspect of forgiving sinners. God's grace is far greater than that. Jesus had no need whatsoever for forgiveness, and yet the grace of God was upon him. The Father was pleased with Jesus, he favored him, as we can see in his pronouncement, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."
The favor of God (or the grace of God) was upon the boy Jesus.
Evangelicals tend to think of grace in terms of forgiveness. We are sinners and we are forgiven and given eternal life (even though we don't deserve it) because of God's grace. Jesus' death on the cross purchased God's grace for us.
This concept of the grace of God is true, and it is beautiful. It gives us hope. We deserve the wrath of God not his favor and the good news that Jesus died so that we can be forgiven is indeed amazing.
Yet God's grace can not be limited to just the one aspect of forgiving sinners. God's grace is far greater than that. Jesus had no need whatsoever for forgiveness, and yet the grace of God was upon him. The Father was pleased with Jesus, he favored him, as we can see in his pronouncement, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."
When we look at Psalm 90 we can get a good picture of the favor of God.
Psalm 90:13-17
13 Return, O Lord! How long?Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants,and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,and establish the work of our hands upon us;yes, establish the work of our hands!
Moses the man of God wrote this psalm to entreat the Lord's favor. It was written at a time when the Israelites were afflicted by God. Maybe in the trying days prior to the Exodus or in the long years in the dessert Moses called out to God.
We can see what the Favor of God is by seeing what Moses asked for. There are three aspects to what Moses wanted for his people: To have joy in God, to see God's powerful work, and to have their own labor be established by God.
We can see each of these aspects significantly in the life of the Lord Jesus.
1. Joy in God
Luke 10:21
21 In that same hour he [Jesus] rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
2. See God's powerful work
Romans 1:4
4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
3. His labor was established
John 19:30
30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Jesus finished work on the cross was for us. The work of his hands which was established was him saving all of us who have trusted in him through the centuries and into the future. He rejoiced at God's will to save us, and God's power was displayed in the act which saved us.
The favor of God was upon Jesus. He experienced that favor in his life death and resurrection.
He brought the good news that the favor of God was also upon us who believe. He came to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor had come (Luke 4:19). And it has come for us who believe because of what he has done.
We should have the same hope and experience because the favor of God is upon us: We will rejoice in him, we will see his power, and our work will be established.
Psalm 22:27-31
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord,and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.28 For kingship belongs to the Lord,and he rules over the nations.
29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship;before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive.30 Posterity shall serve him;it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn,that he has done it.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
On Psalm 46 and the "End of the World"
The word end doesn't always mean the same thing. I mean there the end that means finished like "The End" that pops up on the screen right before the credits, and there is the end like "means to an end". The latter kind of end is synonymous with purpose. With the world (as is often the case) the former kind of end is closely related to the latter kind of end, but I will be posting mostly about the 2nd kind (the purpose kind).
In Psalm 46:2 we are told that we will not fear. Even though all of these scary things happen i.e. the earth gives way, the mountains fall in the ocean, the waters roar.
Now why would we not fear if mountains start falling?
Mountains are large and if they don't stay still the outcome wil be disastrous.
The reason God's people shouldn't fear is that there is something more powerful and more invincible than shifting continents, falling mountains, and roaring oceans. And that great and powerful force is ironically enough a river.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,the holy habitation of the Most High.
Because of this river the City of God, the holy habitation of the Most High (That means us. That means Christians. That means the Church) shall not be moved.
This river is the same river that causes us the tree of life to bear fruit and grow. To grow leaves for the healing of the nations (Rev 22:2). This river causes us to bear fruit and grow. This is the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church.
You see the river is a person Vs. 4 There is a river. Vs 5 God is in the midst of her. God is the river.
It is remarkable that in this passage (Psalm 46) the hope of God's people is in something that makes us glad. Our gladness in the Spirit. Our joy in our wonderful Lord and how good he is to us. That is why we can't be moved and cannot fail though the unimaginable enemies are arrayed against us. Because God is still with us, and he makes us glad.
And because the Joy of the Lord is our strength and the Lord is with us. His purpose for us and the world will be accomplished. The "end" of the World will come.
He will make wars to cease to the end of the earth, he will break the bow and shatter the spear, he will burn the chariots with fire.
He will be exalted among the nations.
This hasn't happened yet. Wars have not ceased. The Lord has not been fully exalted in the nations. The great Commission has not been completed (and I don't think it will be by 2012).
So we like the Psalmist don't need to fear that the end is coming every time we hear about an earthquake or a snow storm. His end will come. He will be exalted. His purpose in history through the Church will come. There is no maybe with God. What he wills is certain His purpose isn't dependant on whether we kick out enough Democrats in the mid terms.
The Lord of Host will bring it to pass. He will bring the nations in. He will make peace. Because the chief end of man, the chief end of the church, and the chief end of the world are all one in the same: to glorify God.
This Psalm speaks about world history, but it also speaks to me and to you. It also speaks to people who do fear everyday. And it gives us hope.
Real life is hard. Harder then we sometimes remember when we are speaking into someone else's life situation. Real life means Biblical principal (A) + Hard situation (B) doesn't always equal you can sleep at night. But there are at least two pieces of good news in this Psalm that you can remember.
1. There is a river. You may know this river already you may have been refreshed by its stream before. This river has a purpose in your life to make you glad.
2. God wins. No matter what happens in your life. No matter what you lose. Remember your Lord wins.
Be still, and know that I am God... The Lord of hosts is with us;the God of Jacob is our fortress.
In Psalm 46:2 we are told that we will not fear. Even though all of these scary things happen i.e. the earth gives way, the mountains fall in the ocean, the waters roar.
Now why would we not fear if mountains start falling?
Mountains are large and if they don't stay still the outcome wil be disastrous.
The reason God's people shouldn't fear is that there is something more powerful and more invincible than shifting continents, falling mountains, and roaring oceans. And that great and powerful force is ironically enough a river.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,the holy habitation of the Most High.
Because of this river the City of God, the holy habitation of the Most High (That means us. That means Christians. That means the Church) shall not be moved.
This river is the same river that causes us the tree of life to bear fruit and grow. To grow leaves for the healing of the nations (Rev 22:2). This river causes us to bear fruit and grow. This is the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church.
You see the river is a person Vs. 4 There is a river. Vs 5 God is in the midst of her. God is the river.
It is remarkable that in this passage (Psalm 46) the hope of God's people is in something that makes us glad. Our gladness in the Spirit. Our joy in our wonderful Lord and how good he is to us. That is why we can't be moved and cannot fail though the unimaginable enemies are arrayed against us. Because God is still with us, and he makes us glad.
And because the Joy of the Lord is our strength and the Lord is with us. His purpose for us and the world will be accomplished. The "end" of the World will come.
He will make wars to cease to the end of the earth, he will break the bow and shatter the spear, he will burn the chariots with fire.
He will be exalted among the nations.
This hasn't happened yet. Wars have not ceased. The Lord has not been fully exalted in the nations. The great Commission has not been completed (and I don't think it will be by 2012).
So we like the Psalmist don't need to fear that the end is coming every time we hear about an earthquake or a snow storm. His end will come. He will be exalted. His purpose in history through the Church will come. There is no maybe with God. What he wills is certain His purpose isn't dependant on whether we kick out enough Democrats in the mid terms.
The Lord of Host will bring it to pass. He will bring the nations in. He will make peace. Because the chief end of man, the chief end of the church, and the chief end of the world are all one in the same: to glorify God.
This Psalm speaks about world history, but it also speaks to me and to you. It also speaks to people who do fear everyday. And it gives us hope.
Real life is hard. Harder then we sometimes remember when we are speaking into someone else's life situation. Real life means Biblical principal (A) + Hard situation (B) doesn't always equal you can sleep at night. But there are at least two pieces of good news in this Psalm that you can remember.
1. There is a river. You may know this river already you may have been refreshed by its stream before. This river has a purpose in your life to make you glad.
2. God wins. No matter what happens in your life. No matter what you lose. Remember your Lord wins.
Be still, and know that I am God... The Lord of hosts is with us;the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Eyewitnesses of His Majesty Luke 2:40B
Luke 2:40 And the child [Jesus] grew and became strong, filled with wisdom.
As a child Jesus was filled with wisdom. In the following narrative, which I plan to write about soon, we will see how remarkably wise he was at such a tender age.
Jesus had wisdom beyond any other person in history. One of the blessings of having a perfect Lord and Savior and being able to meditate on his life is to see how he was perfect in every aspect. He was perfect in wisdom. Jesus being God was in his being wisdom. Jesus' wisdom was beyond that even of Solomon. Although God did give Solomon immense treasures of wisdom (by which we are still blessed) Solomon also demonstrated his compulsion to utter foolishness. The wisdom in Solomon's life was mixed with and contaminated by his foolishness and hypocrisy. Christs' wisdom was the wisdom from above that is pure (James 3:17). Jesus thoughts and actions were not corrupted by any sinful motive or desire. Oh that we could say the same about our own.
There are wise men and foolish men. There are men (and women of course) who are all over the spectrum of wisdom and foolishness.
The end of that spectrum, the greatest wisdom, the wisdom by which all other wisdoms aught to be judged is Jesus' wisdom. "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col 2:3).
When we think of wisdom we are thinking about the activity of the heart and the mind. We are thinking about what someone thinks and what someone chooses. When we examine decisions or thoughts they should be examined with this in mind how closely do they align to Jesus' thoughts and decisions.
Jesus was certainly filled with wisdom beyond any other man, but he obtained wisdom in the same way other men do. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Prov 9:10).
The fear of the Lord is a description of motivation. To fear the Lord is to live ones life in obedience to God's revealed will loving to please God and dreading to displease him. To fear the Lord is to treasure his commandments.
To live in this manner Jesus our Lord demonstrated perfectly.
We are to seek to follow our Lord's example. We are to seek and pray for the fear of the Lord. We are to love God's commandments as he did.
Jesus was filled with wisdom even as a child and let us behold the man he became and think about whose will we do:
John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
As a child Jesus was filled with wisdom. In the following narrative, which I plan to write about soon, we will see how remarkably wise he was at such a tender age.
Jesus had wisdom beyond any other person in history. One of the blessings of having a perfect Lord and Savior and being able to meditate on his life is to see how he was perfect in every aspect. He was perfect in wisdom. Jesus being God was in his being wisdom. Jesus' wisdom was beyond that even of Solomon. Although God did give Solomon immense treasures of wisdom (by which we are still blessed) Solomon also demonstrated his compulsion to utter foolishness. The wisdom in Solomon's life was mixed with and contaminated by his foolishness and hypocrisy. Christs' wisdom was the wisdom from above that is pure (James 3:17). Jesus thoughts and actions were not corrupted by any sinful motive or desire. Oh that we could say the same about our own.
There are wise men and foolish men. There are men (and women of course) who are all over the spectrum of wisdom and foolishness.
The end of that spectrum, the greatest wisdom, the wisdom by which all other wisdoms aught to be judged is Jesus' wisdom. "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col 2:3).
When we think of wisdom we are thinking about the activity of the heart and the mind. We are thinking about what someone thinks and what someone chooses. When we examine decisions or thoughts they should be examined with this in mind how closely do they align to Jesus' thoughts and decisions.
Jesus was certainly filled with wisdom beyond any other man, but he obtained wisdom in the same way other men do. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Prov 9:10).
The fear of the Lord is a description of motivation. To fear the Lord is to live ones life in obedience to God's revealed will loving to please God and dreading to displease him. To fear the Lord is to treasure his commandments.
To live in this manner Jesus our Lord demonstrated perfectly.
We are to seek to follow our Lord's example. We are to seek and pray for the fear of the Lord. We are to love God's commandments as he did.
Jesus was filled with wisdom even as a child and let us behold the man he became and think about whose will we do:
John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Eyewitnesses of his Majesty Luke 2:40A
Luke 2:40 And the child [Jesus] grew and became strong,
Strange to think that my Lord had to grow. The one through whom all things were made had to grow.
He made the greater light to rule by day and the lesser light to rule the night. He made Adam a man, but he was a boy.
He had to do what I did and you did. He had to be small and too small to do anything. He had get taller year by year. He wore out clothes just like Samuel (1 Sam 1:18-19). He had to be dependent. He did not equality with the father a thing to be grasped, but grasped the weakness and powerlessness of a child.
He became strong. We also have gained strength at one point in our lives. But for what? With what goal? Even for the most successful of us. Maybe to impress for a short time with athletic feats. Maybe to fight. Maybe for a few of us (in this time and place) for useful labor producing for our families. Maybe, again for a few, to fight in wars. Are these the greatest ends our strength? Was our strength worth cultivating to impress, to wound, to kill, or to make bread?
His strength was worth cultivating. No other has ever made so great a use of strength. He fasted forty days and forty nights. He at times had no leisure even to eat, yet he taught and fed and healed out of his strength because he had compassion (Mark 6). Compassion requires strength. He endured criticism, hatred,and betrayal. Love endures all things (1 Cor13). Love requires strength. He took up his cross. Bearing a cross requires strength.
He spent all of his strength for us. He was poured out. As we think of how strong he was and is. We think how necessary and wonderful it is that he became strong as a child.
My child hood is past most of it was wasted. But I must also become strong. We must. More than physically of course. I'm not talking about push ups. Though physical strength is a part of it and has some usefulness. We must have strength with a purpose.
We are commanded to: Love your neighbor as yourself. Put on compassionate hearts. Take up your cross and follow me.
He gave all the strength he had and held nothing back in his life and his death. Now in his resurrection and exultation he has been given abundantly more strength to supply weak sinners. All power in heaven and earth have been given to him: him who was small and grew and became strong.
It is true that we are weak, but he is strong. And all our strength comes from him.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Strange to think that my Lord had to grow. The one through whom all things were made had to grow.
He made the greater light to rule by day and the lesser light to rule the night. He made Adam a man, but he was a boy.
He had to do what I did and you did. He had to be small and too small to do anything. He had get taller year by year. He wore out clothes just like Samuel (1 Sam 1:18-19). He had to be dependent. He did not equality with the father a thing to be grasped, but grasped the weakness and powerlessness of a child.
He became strong. We also have gained strength at one point in our lives. But for what? With what goal? Even for the most successful of us. Maybe to impress for a short time with athletic feats. Maybe to fight. Maybe for a few of us (in this time and place) for useful labor producing for our families. Maybe, again for a few, to fight in wars. Are these the greatest ends our strength? Was our strength worth cultivating to impress, to wound, to kill, or to make bread?
His strength was worth cultivating. No other has ever made so great a use of strength. He fasted forty days and forty nights. He at times had no leisure even to eat, yet he taught and fed and healed out of his strength because he had compassion (Mark 6). Compassion requires strength. He endured criticism, hatred,and betrayal. Love endures all things (1 Cor13). Love requires strength. He took up his cross. Bearing a cross requires strength.
He spent all of his strength for us. He was poured out. As we think of how strong he was and is. We think how necessary and wonderful it is that he became strong as a child.
My child hood is past most of it was wasted. But I must also become strong. We must. More than physically of course. I'm not talking about push ups. Though physical strength is a part of it and has some usefulness. We must have strength with a purpose.
We are commanded to: Love your neighbor as yourself. Put on compassionate hearts. Take up your cross and follow me.
He gave all the strength he had and held nothing back in his life and his death. Now in his resurrection and exultation he has been given abundantly more strength to supply weak sinners. All power in heaven and earth have been given to him: him who was small and grew and became strong.
It is true that we are weak, but he is strong. And all our strength comes from him.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
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