CatHouse Chat

God's encouragement for me today

From Isaiah 51:

"Listen to Me, My people;
And give ear to Me, O My nation: 
For law will proceed from Me, 
And I will make My justice rest 
As a light of the peoples. 
My righteousness is near, 
My salvation has gone forth, 
And My arms will judge the peoples; 
The coastlands will wait upon Me, 
And on My arm they will trust.
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, 
And look on the earth beneath. 
For the heavens will vanish away like smoke, 
The earth will grow old like a garment, 
And those who dwell in it will die in like manner; 
But My salvation will be forever, 
And My righteousness will not be abolished. 
Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, 
You people in whose heart is My law: 
Do not fear the reproach of men, 
Nor be afraid of their insults. 
For the moth will eat them up like a garment, 
And the worm will eat them like wool; 
But My righteousness will be forever, 
And My salvation from generation to generation. ... (vv. 4-8)

I, even I, am He who comforts you. 
Who are you that you should be afraid 
Of a man who will die, 
And of the son of a man who will be made like grass? 
And you forget the LORD your Maker, 
Who stretched out the heavens 
And laid the foundations of the earth; 
You have feared continually every day 
Because of the fury of the oppressor, 
When he has prepared to destroy. 
And where is the fury of the oppressor? 
The captive exile hastens, that he may be loosed, 
That he should not die in the pit, 
And that his bread should not fail. 
But I am the LORD your God, 
Who divided the sea whose waves roared— 
The LORD of hosts is His name. 
And I have put My words in your mouth; 
I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, 
That I may plant the heavens, 
Lay the foundations of the earth, 
And say to Zion, ‘You are My people." (vv. 12-16)

Father I thank You for being my Rock and my Salvation. Thank You for giving me comfort and strength. You alone are God, and Your power upholds the universe. You are my God; who shall I fear? Father, let me walk in Your love and peace today. Draw me ever closer to You, and have Your way in me so that I am conformed to the image of Your Son. Help me learn how to let my light so shine before men that they may see my good deeds and glorify You.

U.K. Church Leaders: "Wives, submit to your husbands"

The sermons sparked outrage among many churchgoers, especially women.

One woman said she was "disgusted."

"How can they talk that way in the 21st century?" she told the Daily Mail.

(Daily Mail Online via FoxNews)

How can they talk that way? Well, because it just happens to be BIBLICAL. I note that the original article also adds "be silent," which Fox's excerpt does not mention.

Nevertheless, it is a biblical command that women should respect their husbands and accept their leadership - after all, honey, if you don't respect and love him enough to follow him, why are you (why DID you) marry him?!

One thing that's really, REALLY irritating to me is that the "women, submit to your own husbands" verse is almost ALWAYS quoted alone. In context, the husband is called to LOVE the wife who is submitting to him as Christ loved the Church.

Just for those who don't know - Christ DIED for His church! Jesus loved His people so much that He came to give us life. He came to people who were sinful, hateful, rebellious, and who didn't want to love God...

BUT!!!

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8, New King James Version)

God loves us so much that He came and DIED for us, even when we still hated Him.

So, Ladies, you need to see this video (and, yeah, it's long, but WATCH IT ALL!!!) with your husband (or boyfriend).

And then.... THEN!!! You both need to watch Pastor Mark talk to the man in your life...

Yes, it will take you two or more hours to watch both videos. BUT... After you see and consider BOTH videos, after you understand the responsibilities and duties that each party in a marriage has... Who, really, is being a slave?! Who is being a doormat? Who has the more difficult calling? Who is called to be Jesus and live the harder, more sacrificial life...????

Wives... We should cover our heads and bow in shame for the insolence and rebellion we show to the men who live the Christ-like life of sacrifice and selfless love. We should repent of our arrogance, pride and selfishness when we marry. We should turn away from our demands to be firstoneonlyBETTER over our men and our demands that they be less than they could be, less than they were made to be...

Lord Jesus, please! Bring reconciliation, bring humility and unselfish love to the men and women who are married. Reveal Yourself to them: the humble, loving sacrifice You made to redeem Your people - the example Husbands should follow - and the loving obedience and submission to Your Father that every wife should emulate.

REPENT!!!! Oh, by God's mercy and grace... Repent!

Folks, we Christians in the United States (and I do include myself) are selfish, complacent and unfeeling.

We live in the richest nation on earth - resources, opportunities, finances, families - and yet, although America is the most generous nation on earth, the Christian Church has not stepped up to the plate and given to God's work proportionately to the blessings He has HEAPED upon us.

I am convicted and shamed by my own selfishness and concern for the future. I need to be slapped in the face with God's promises to provide for the needs of His children and His promise to pour out blessing to faithful givers. He does not promise financial blessings, but rather to bless the influence and grace of our inheritance in Heaven.What a treasure could be waiting for us, if we only open wide our hands and give back to God that which is already His!

Yes, for some, He will add blessing upon blessing financially - because He has found faithful servants (or is testing the servants whom He has blessed with financial assets) who will still put His Kingdom before their own needs. God is searching for men and women to bless richly so they can bless others according to His provision in their lives.

Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church spent 30+ hours in Haiti after the earthquake. I ask you to please watch the whole video... And then do what God lays on your heart.

We in America have been given riches beyond measure. The poverty line in Haiti is roughly $1300.00 a year, and 80% of the population can't even make that...

As Christians, we have no percentage guideline for giving to the Church in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Folks, for us, Jerusalem is our home, Judea is our community/state, Samaria is our nation... And the "end of the earth" is all our brothers and sisters in Christ who need our help to spread the wonderful Gospel of Salvation.

Do you earn $10,000? Can you offer $10 - at least???? Do you earn $60k? Can you give $500? Do you earn whatever, and realizing the blessings God has given you - just by being born to this prosperous and blessed country!! - you realize you need to give back to His Kingdom by loving, supporting and encouraging your brothers and sisters in a far country?

Please watch the whole video... and then give all that you possibly can to rebuild, uplift and encourage the Church in Haiti and all her people.

Galatians 2:20 - verse of the day

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Thank You, Jesus!

"God gave the best He had...

... to save the worst He could find."

Have you ever thought about that? It would be like you or me taking in the molester and murderer of our child, paying the penalty of his horrific crime, and accepting him and cherishing him as if he were a most beloved member of the family.

How amazing!

Romans 5 says that, while we were enemies of God - sinful, rebellious, and altogether ill-deserving of His love and kindness - Jesus died for us. He didn't wait for us to be sorry; He didn't wait for us to get our act together. No. The very Breath of Heaven saw our hopeless and vile condition, and came to seek and save the lost.

The very worst He could find.

You and me.

Isn't He AWESOME?!

The King of Christmas: Living Water

Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”

Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”. (John 4:10-14, NKJV)

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-38, NKJV)

They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:16-17, NKJV)

It's been so crazy this season! So many things are happening, and we are preparing for so many changes, that time has just raced along and slipped right by me. True, my time management skills - off the job, anyway - are not the best, but there never seem to be enough minutes in the day. As you can see, I'm hardly keeping up with this Advent series (although I am adding to the archives as I can - one post a day, remember! Aiiigh! LOL)

Yesterday as I was driving home, I heard something on the radio or off of the music on my Droid (I can't remember) that made me think of John 4:10 - "living water." I don't recall what it was exactly, but "living water" popped right into my head, and I thought, "Oh, Lord, I'm so tired and so thirsty... I need to be refreshed by You!"

When it comes to drinking water, I am really terrible! I'll sip some wine, savor coffee, swill sweet tea, gulp milk and so on, but I forget the pure, refreshing perfection of cold, clear water. Our bodies need to be properly hydrated to function properly; why do I expect anything different for my spirit and soul?

Jesus sits by the well and calls us to come to Him and drink from the Living Water. Drink fully and drink deeply, for there is a never ending supply to refresh and renew us. The more of Him we drink, the more of Him flows out from us to refresh and renew everyone we meet!

Jesus, let me come to You and drink. Let me immerse and lose myself in You. Clothe me in Your perfection, and may Your life and power renew my spirit every day!

Just another example of "religious" behavior and the fallenness of man

As the owner of several energy-efficient light bulbs and a recycled umbrella, I'm familiar with the critiques of "ethical consumption." In some cases, it's not clear that ostensibly green products are better for the environment. There's also the risk that these lifestyle choices will make us complacent, sapping the drive to call senators and chain ourselves to coal plants. Tweaking your shopping list, the argument goes, is at best woefully insufficient and maybe even counterproductive.

But new research by Nina Mazar and Chen-Bo Zhong at the University of Toronto levels an even graver charge: that virtuous shopping can actually lead to immoral behavior. In their study (described in a paper now in press at Psychological Science), subjects who made simulated eco-friendly purchases ended up less likely to exhibit altruism in a laboratory game and more likely to cheat and steal.

via www.slate.com

See, the thing is, this is really a form of legalism. People mentally get on board a mindset that makes them "good," and so they don't have to extend that "goodness" to all aspects of their lives.

Just like the Pharisees of Jesus' day, these people take on an outer righteousness which has nothing to do with their actual character or spiritual maturity. I can understand this; after all, following a set of rules can be very easy, and you don't have to think too much or really examine yourself to see if you're a "good" person.

True character and true spiritual maturity are much harder. One must always question motives and actions, and be held up to a higher standard. For the Christian, that standard is Jesus - and we know we never can attain that standard of perfection in word, thought or deed while we are here on earth.

Thank God that Jesus didn't just come to show us the standard! He also died and rose again to clothe us in His righteous perfection and to empower us to be conformed to His image. One day, we will be in Heaven with Him, we will see Him face to face, and we will finally be perfected and forever freed from legalism, self-righteousness, and pharisaic actions. We will shine forth with His glory... and finally be able to get it absolutely right!

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 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. 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.(Romans 8:22-25, ESV)

May God grant that we soon see our hope and faith revealed in full!

The King of Christmas: our Redeemer

Look down from heaven and see,
from Your holy and beautiful habitation.
Where are Your zeal and Your might?
The stirring of Your inner parts and Your compassion
are held back from me.
For You are our Father,
though Abraham does not know us,
and Israel does not acknowledge us;
You, O LORD, are our Father,
our Redeemer from of old is Your name. (Isaiah 63:15-16, ESV)

Redeemer. Someone who buys us back out of slavery. A kinsman who comes to rescue and avenge us. A Savior who loves us so much that He comes to pay the debt we owe and take us home. 

Redeemer. The God who loves us when we were unlovely, hateful, rebellious sinners and pours out His grace in our souls. The God who washes us clean from every taint of sin and adopts us into His intimate family. The only God who makes final, perfect peace between Himself and man.

I know You had me on Your mind

When You climbed up on that hill

For You saw me with eternal eyes

While I was yet in sin

Redeemer Savior Friend

Every stripe upon Your battered back

Every thorn that pierced Your brow

Every nail drove deep through guiltless hands

Said that Your love knows no end

Redeemer Savior Friend

Redeemer redeem my heart again

Savior come and shelter me from sin

You're familiar with my weakness

Devoted to the end

Redeemer Savior Friend

So the grace You poured upon my life

Will return to You in praise

I'll gladly lay down all my crowns

For the name of which I am saved

Redeemer Savior Friend

Oh, Jesus, my great Kinsman-Redeemer! I thank You for the great love and grace You came to show us. You came so humbly! You, the great God and Creator, left Heaven and laid aside Your glory so that You could come and buy Your children out of sin and slavery. You rescued us from Your own just wrath, and transfered us to Your Kingdom of light, love and grace. I praise You, my Savior, for all the powerful kindness You have poured out upon me. Let Your light so shine through my life that You are glorified and worshiped by all who see it!

The King of Christmas: our Advocate

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (1 John 1:8 - 2:1, ESV)

What is an "advocate"? An advocate is one who pleads our case, who defends us and intercedes on our behalf. An advocate is a helper, someone who comes alongside us to aid us, comfort us, and to guide us in the ways of righteousness.

Jesus was born into a stable so that He could become our Advocate.

We have all sinned against a holy God - all of us. It does not matter the degree of our sin, for any violation of God's laws and His requirements for righteousness makes us guilty before Him. In ourselves, we have no way to make ourselves right before God: we cannot live perfect lives from our first breath, and we have no way to pay the penalty for our rebellion.

So what can we do?

That's the point. We cannot do anything; Jesus Christ has done it all. He came to live a perfectly righteous life in complete and whole hearted obedience to His Father. He came to die the death that we all richly earned with our mutiny against our Sovereign Lord and God. When God sends His Spirit to convict us of sin and draw us to Christ, the perfection of Jesus' life is given to us and the full payment of His death takes away our sin so that we may stand before God.

Are Christians perfect? No, not here on earth. Here, we struggle with temptation and sin, and we frequently fail to walk in obedience and fellowship with God. But that does not put us back into the kingdom of darkness, subject to God's wrath! Jesus was born, He lived and He died to reconcile us to His Father, but He also rose again to be our Advocate.

Every moment of every day - humanly speaking - Jesus stands before His Father and intercedes for His brothers and sisters, His friends. Each and every day, Christians have to live by the grace which has saved us and by the continuing grace that is transforming us into the image of Christ. Each and every moment, Christ is our Advocate, applying His blood and His righteousness to our imperfect lives and making them perfect in the eyes of God.

We are hidden and renewed in Jesus Christ our Advocate. Our hope is solely in Him.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure;
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

Thank You, Jesus, for coming to live for me. Thank You, Lord, for dying for my sin and paying my debt. Thank You for living inside me, for helping me, for being my Friend and my Defender. Thank You, Jesus, for loving me so much that You came to be born in a humble stable!

The King of Christmas: the Word

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1, 14, ESV)

The Word, the Logos, the second Person of the Trinity... became flesh!

This quote from the Gospel of John is well known, but I wonder how often any of us really meditate on it? What does it really mean that "the Word became flesh"? What does it mean that "the Word was God"? Well, let me try to unwrap this for you a little bit.

Ancient Greek philosophy used this word to describe several things: the source and order of the universe, rational discourse, and the idea that divine power kept the universe moving. John's Gospel is directed mostly to the Greek culture, and so the Spirit's inspiration led John to use this concept from their culture and apply it to Jesus. John was saying to his Greek readers, "Look, the Source and Power of the universe isn't just a concept or a 'force.' The Logos you are trying to understand is God Himself. God put on flesh and came to live with us, and we saw Him! He's real!"

Over and over and over again, I come back to tis one concept: God Almighty, Holy God, God who is pure and perfect, left the glories of Heaven, laid aside the prerogatives of His deity, and was born as a helpless Baby to a poor young couple in a smelly stable far from their home.

The Source of all creation, the Power that keeps it chugging along, came to earth and grew up like us, worked like us, made friends, wept, ate, learned, slept, laughed, walked and spoke... like us!

How great a love, how deep a compassion He must have for His rebellious people! And what an amazing display the Living Word made when He came to live out the vast love of God before our eyes.

Father, let Your Word of truth and love be strongly proclaimed this Christmas season. May Your Son, the Logos which created the world and holds it together, be revealed to us. May Your Spirit convict us of sin and guide us to the humble stable and to the torturous Cross so the Son may be born in our hearts and reconcile us to You. Hallelujah, Christ the Savior is born!

The King of Christmas: the Servant of the Lord

Today is the beginning of Advent: the celebration of the God who humbled Himself and came to seek and save the lost.

And we are all lost without Him! We are lost in our sin, unable to help ourselves and unwilling to submit ourselves to the rule of our rightful and gracious King. But the most wonderful thing about Christmas, the heart of the whole season, is God Himself. God in the Person of the Son came down to earth, was born as a real baby, grew up and lived His perfect life in our sight, and then died to pay for our sins and to provide a way for the holy, pure God to reconcile with unrighteous sinners.

Jesus came to us as the Servant of the Lord.

Behold My Servant, whom I uphold,
   My Chosen, in whom My soul delights;
I have put My Spirit upon Him;
    He will bring forth justice to the nations. (Isaiah 42:1, ESV)

God sent His Son, His Chosen, to bring justice to all the world. He sent Him quietly, humbly to a little, no-account town, to be born in a rude stable, attended only by His earthly parents, some animals, and poor shepherds.

Behold, My Servant shall act wisely;
   He shall be high and lifted up,
   and shall be exalted. (Isaiah 52:13, ESV)

All His life, Jesus would act wisely and in accordance with His Father's will. Jesus would teach sinful people what it looked like to live wholly dependent upon God, trusting Him fully, and living sinlessly. And indeed, Jesus is high and lifted up - at the moment in Heaven and by His chosen people, but in the future He will be esteemed and worshiped by all tribes and tongues and nations.

Who else has been called "the servant of the Lord"? Moses, of course. Moses, who left the riches and privilege of being a prince of Egypt and became a humble shepherd in the wilderness - just like Jesus, who left the glory of Heaven and came to live among us. David, too, was called the servant of the Lord - a poor, unknown shepherd boy, who God raised up to be the king of Israel, a man after God's own heart - just like Jesus, who lived in poverty, died an ignominious death, and is now raised up to sit at the right hand of the Father in Heaven, and who is the King of kings. Both Moses and David pictured the coming Christ, the Promised One, in their lives. Both men pointed to the coming glory of Immanuel - God with us.

But there is one more servant who should be mentioned. One more person who was a humble servant, submitting to God's will even though she didn't completely understand it: Mary.

And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"

And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy— the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God." And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:30-38, ESV)

I don't understand it all, God. I cannot begin to grasp the width, height and depth of Your love for Your people. But I do see that You love a humble, willing servant. You cherish Your Son, who descended from Heaven to live among us as a servant to all, loving us, healing us, saving us. Father, please let Your Spirit have His way in my heart. Make me like Your Son, serving in joy, humility and patience, so that I may earn Your "Well done!" in Heaven when You call me Home. Thank You for Your wonderful salvation that You have worked in my life. I pray that You will call many of Your children to trust in You this Christmas season so that Your name and Your grace and Your love may be proclaimed throughout the world. All glory to our Savior Jesus, Servant of the Lord Most High!

The King of Christmas, Advent series for 2009 - next post... final post

Wednesday morning Spurgeon: He goes before us

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Always First in Fellowship
"He goeth before you into Gailee; there shall ye see Him, as He said unto you" (Mark 16:7).

Where He appointed to meet His disciples, there He would be in due time. Jesus keeps His trust. If He promises to meet us at the mercy seat, or in public worship, or in the ordinances, we may depend upon it that He will be there. We may wickedly stay away from the appointed meeting place, but He never does. He says, "Where two or three are met together in my name, there am I"; He says not, "There will I be," but, "I am there already." Jesus is always first in fellowship: "He goeth before you." His heart is with His people, His delight is in them, He is never slow to meet them. In all fellowship He goeth before us. But He reveals Himself to those who come after Him: "There shall ye see him." Joyful sight! We care not to see the greatest of mere men, but to see Him is to be filled with joy and peace. And we shall see Him, for He promises Himself to them. Rest assured that it will be so, for He does everything according to His word of promise: "As he said unto you." Catch at those last words, and be assured that to the end He will do for you "as he said unto you."

Jesus promised that He would never leave us nor forsake us, and as Spurgeon notes, He has promised to go before us as well. These great promises, along with so many others, bring great comfort to me - especially when I'm in a very Romans 7 mood, like today:

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched [woman] that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

I get so tired of dealing with the sin in my life; it's very wearying! I keep falling into the "I've got to DO something for God" attitude, and forget entirely that He wants me to love Him, to know Him, and to worship Him first and foremost. Again and again I fail and turn away, and again and again He calls me back and guides me on the path He wants.

He reminds me over and over again that He calls weary and burdened people to Himself, and He gives them rest:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Instead of casting all my cares upon Him, I keep insisting on carrying them myself - how foolish I am! Why can't I remember the simple truth in that old Sunday school song, "Jesus loves me, this I know... [I am] weak, but He is strong"?

Additionally, I need to remember that Romans 7 does not end in the hopeless cry of "Who will rescue me?!" but rather with this joyful declaration:

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Jesus will rescue me, Jesus has rescued me, and Jesus will continue to rescue me all the days of my life and forever into eternity future. There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus! 

So I need to cling to the promises that Jesus will go before me and never leave me, and also trust Him when He says

... He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Phil 1:6)

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Phil. 2:12-13)

God cannot lie, and so I know that the work He has begun in me will be completed in His time and by His power to the praise and glory of His name.

Jesus has gone before me. He has never left me, but He also calls me come into His presence and find rest. He wants me in fellowship with Him, to receive love, grace, and strength to serve Him each day. His abundant kindness surrounds me every moment of every day, and the joy and gratitude I feel for that simple truth should fill my life with praise for my great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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Your Tuesday Spurgeon - with some John Calvin, too!

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The Leadership of Our Guide

"Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all Truth" (John 16:13).

Truth is like a vast cavern into which we desire to enter, but we are not able to traverse it alone. At the entrance it is clear and bright; but if we would go further and explore its innermost recesses, we must have a guide, or we shall lose ourselves. The Holy Spirit, who knows all truth perfectly, is the appointed guide of all true believers, and He conducts them as they are able to bear it, from one inner chamber to another, so that they behold the deep things of God, and His secret is made plain to them. What a promise is this for the humbly inquiring mind! We desire to know the truth and to enter into it. We are conscious of our own aptness to err, and we feel the urgent need of a guide. We rejoice that the Holy Spirit is come and abides among us. He condescends to act as a guide to us, and we gladly accept His leadership. "All truth" we wish to learn, that we may not be one-sided and out of balance. We would not be willingly ignorant of any part of revelation lest thereby we should miss blessing or incur sin. The Spirit of God has come that He may guide us into all truth: let us with obedient hearts hearken to His words and follow His lead.

It's interesting that I just finished up Chapter 5 of Book One in Calvin's Institutes yesterday. This chapter is entitled, "The Knowledge of God Conspicuous in the Creation and Continual Government of the World," and Calvin's main point seems to be that even with all the evidence from Creation around them and the witness of their conscience within them, fallen man persists in his willful suppression of the truth, and chooses to worship the false gods and demons conjured by his own fancies.

Spurgeon makes the point that, unless God guides us, we are to prone to fall into error. It is only in God that "true truth" is found, because all truth is God's truth. Spiritually, we cannot know the truth, because in our natural state, we are dead men - zombies immersed in sin's clutch, and the puppets of Satan. It is only when the Holy Spirit comes to convict us of sin and give us new life that we can turn to God and to the truth.

If we do not receive that new life from God, then

In vain for us, therefore, does Creation exhibit so many bright lamps lighted up to show forth the glory of its Author. Though they beam upon us from every quarter, they are altogether insufficient of themselves to lead us into the right path... When Paul says that that which may be known of God is manifested by the creation of the world, he does not mean such a manifestation as may be comprehended by the wit of man (Rom. 1:19); on the contrary, he shows that it has no further effect than to render us inexcusable (Acts 17:27)... But though God is not left without a witness, while, with numberless and varied acts of kindness, He woos men to the knowledge of Himself, yet they cease not to follow their own ways, in other words, deadly errors. (Institutes, Book 1, chapter 5, sec. 14)

We cannot plead ignorance, without being at the same time convicted by our own consciences both of sloth and ingratitude. It were, indeed, a strange defence [sic] for man to pretend that he has no ears to hear the truth, while dumb creatures have voices loud enough to declare it...But while man must bear the guilt of corrupting the seed of divine knowledge s wondrously deposited in his mind, and preventing it from bearing good and genuine fruit, it is still most true that we are not sufficiently instructed by that bare and simple, but magnificent testimony which the creatures bear to the glory of their Creator. For no sooner do we, from a survey of the world, obtain some slight knowledge of Deity, than we pass by the true God, and set up in His stead the dream and phantom of our own brain, drawing away the praise of justice, wisdom, and goodness from the fountain-head, and transferring it to some other quarter. (Ibid., sec. 15)

Thus, when Truth makes Himself known to us, we need to be very careful and humbly give Him the praise and glory, rather than ourselves. After all, compared to Him, we are certainly not "all that!" We need Him - we desperately need Him! - to teach and guide us, to lift us up out of the pit and place our feet on Christ, the solid Rock of our Salvation.

I mourn that I came to this so late in my life. The salvation I professed when I was a young teenager did not produce any fruit until my 30's, and so many years were wasted! So many habits and thought patterns now need to be broken and confessed, and I struggle with them daily. I pray that as God continues His work in me I will be more and more faithful, humble and obedient to His call and leadership in my life.

Um, yeah, er... About that Calvin's Institutes thing?

Can you tell I've fallen waaaaay behind on that? I mean, nothing since May?!

*sigh*

I guess, sometimes, I really set myself up for failure... But, on the other hand, my daily Bible readings are going quite well, and Tabletalk has been a huge help with that.

At any rate, I'm trying to get back to the Institutes, and have backed up a little to Book One, chapter four, "the Knowledge of God Stifled or Corrupted, Ignorantly or Maliciously," and these two sentences caught my eye:

Mingled vanity and pride appear in this, that when sinful men do seek after God, instead of ascending higher than themselves, as they ought to do, they measure Him by their own carnal stupidity, and, neglecting solid inquiry, fly off to indulge their curiosity in vain speculation. Hence, they do not conceive of Him in the character in which He is manifested, but imagine Him to be whatever their own rashness has devised.

Isn't that so true? All this "spirituality" these days is nothing but vain and prideful people making a little god in their own image. They don't like it when their God-given conscience reminds them of God's law in their hearts when they do something which offends Him, and so they'll say, for instance, "Oh, God is love, so He loves me no matter what I do!"

Well, that's true - but it's extremely one-dimensional. If you're a Christian, IF you're one of God's children, He will never leave you nor forsake you, and His love for you is perfect and unchanging. Nothing you do can make Him love you more, and nothing you do can make Him love you less. BUT! He loves His children too much to allow them to be disobedient and willful. God's plan is to conform His children to the image of His Son, and those who He loves, He will discipline when necessary.

And that applies only if you're His child; unbelievers do not have God's favor, they do not have His firm and unchanging love, and they bear His wrath, not His loving correction.

Wait... Was that a contradiction? Doesn't the Bible say that God loves the world? Yes, it does. After all, He causes the sun to shine and the rain to fall on the wicked and the righteous. He gives life to us all, and allows us to enjoy this glorious world He created, eat food He has provided, have friends and family and possessions - good and evil, saved and unsaved together receive the abundant blessings poured out from His hand.

But God's love for the unsaved is accompanied by His wrath, and one day His love will be taken away from those who refuse His Son's sacrifice, and they will eternally endure His righteous judgment and condemnation. Too many people stop at the end of John 3:16, and forget to read what follows:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

So, be very careful about the character of God. Be very careful to align your view of Him with how He has revealed Himself in the Bible. If you think He is only love and ignore His wrath, as in the example above, you may be in danger of not understanding your deep need for His mercy and salvation. If you go too far to the other side, you only see His wrath and judgment, and that may keep you from seeing that He loves you and is willing to rescue you if you will only trust and believe in Him.

Father, please help me to be wise and not stupid. Help me to see You as You are, and not how I wish You to be. Keep me from idle curiosity and vain speculation, but rather help me be grounded in Your word so I do not succumb to rash imagination. Let me live in Your presence, faithfully following the Captain of my salvation, Your perfect Son, Jesus Christ my Savior.

Amazing how archaeology keeps supporting the Bible...

A team of Egyptian archeologists have discovered ancient coins belonging to the era of Prophet Joseph bearing his name and image in the country.

...

Several coins belong to a period in which Joseph had lived in Egypt and bear his name and portrait. The unprecedented find from the time of the Pharaohs, provides decisive scientific evidence disproving previous theories that ancient Egyptians conducted their trade through barter. NAT/SC/DT

via www.presstv.ir

I hope that more information is published about these coins; the research on them should be fascinating. And, I'd love to see pictures, too!

UPDATE: Ah, there's quite a bit more information here.

Ten Commandments on ABC's Nightline - ABC News

via abcnews.go.com

I found this out from a post over on Mars Hill Church's FaceBook page, since ABC interviewed Pastor Mark for the second Commandment, "You shall have no other gods before Me."

There's a cutsey little quiz - "How big a sinner are you?" sort of thing - which, biblically speaking, is pretty worthless. The only way to pass the test is to get nothing less than 100% perfect non-sinner - and if you get that, you're a liar. We are ALL sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God, and ALL worthy of wrath and condemnation.

The quiz's middle range was "Earth Angel:" You're not perfect, but God knows you're trying, and that's all that counts. BEEEEEEEEEEEP! Wrong! One hundred percent perfection is the standard, and if you fail at any point, you are condemned. As it says in the epistle of James,

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

That is why Christ had to come and die for our sins - there is no way any of us can live as perfect and sinless in any part or our life! Jesus, in His love and mercy for us, came down and lived a perfect life FOR us, and then died the death we should have so that the penalty and punishment for our sins could be paid in full. When He saves us, He clothes us in the perfect righteousness of His life, while at the same time applying His shed blood to completely pay for our sins - past, present, and future.

Christians can now live in freedom from the penalty of sin. Instead of following and obeying because we're terrified of the consequences - cringing and wincing like beaten dogs - now we can obey out of love and awe at all our great Savior has done for us.

At any rate, it looks like an interesting series, although I note a few flinch-worthy items:

1. I don't see the fifth Commandment, "Honor your father and mother," anywhere
2. The use of "Do not kill" vs. "Do not murder," along with an article about a person who teaches people how to commit suicide (!!!!)
3. A discussion of adultery/open marriage as a good thing (I didn't actually read/watch that - the squick factor was pretty much pegged for me)

I'm sure there are several more, which really shouldn't surprise me in a secular production. Still, props to Nightline for even discussing the topic, I suppose...

Thursday morning Spurgeon

Image via Wikipedia

"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon"   (Psalm 92:12).

These trees are not trained and pruned by man: palms and cedars are "trees of the LORD," and it is by His care that they flourish. Even so it is with the saints of the LORD: they are His own care. These trees are evergreen and are beautiful objects at all seasons of the year. Believers are not sometimes holy and sometimes ungodly: they stand in the beauty of the LORD under all weathers. Everywhere these trees are noteworthy: no one can gaze upon a landscape in which there are either palms or cedars without his attention being fixed upon these royal growths. The followers of Jesus are the observed of all observers: like a city set on a hill, they cannot be hid. The child of God flourishes like a palm tree, which pushes all its strength upward in one erect column without a single branch. It is a pillar with a glorious capital. It has no growth to the right or to the left but sends all its force heavenward and bears its fruit as near the sky as possible. LORD, fulfill this type in me. The cedar braves all storms and grows near the eternal snows, the LORD Himself filling it with a sap which keeps its heart warm and its bough strong. LORD, so let it be with me, I pray Thee. Amen.

via www.crosswalk.com

While we are not righteous in ourselves, and although we only poorly reflect the holiness and glory of God, still we are His. He has given us the beautiful raiment of the perfection of His Son, and we may stand before Him with all our sins covered and paid for by the shed blood of Christ.

Father, may we never forget but instead grow ever more aware of Your great love for us. Mold us and make us, shape us as the potter does the clay, until we are conformed to the image of Your Son.

Forgive us our pride and stubbornness, which lead us to do things our way and not Yours. Help us to follow after You humbly, willing to be led and taught by the only One who knows the end from the beginning and who works all things together for good. Help us - help me - put ourselves aside and live for You. Help us be people whose lives are a praise and a sweet aroma to You, so that we may flourish like the palm and grow strong like the cedar.

Jack Black: an idiot of colossal proportions

The 40-year-old "comedian" Jack Black went on the "dark side" during the MTV Awards praying to the devil.  Black, who was promoting  a heavy metal video game called Brütal Legend, asked the "Dear Dark Lord Satan" to bless the rock star nominees with "continued success in the music industry."

via christianpress.com

This is one reason why I never watch any of these award shows anymore. I mean, why should I? I think the only award show that doesn't seem to go out of its way to offend Christians (besides the Dove Awards - d'uh!) is the Country Music Awards. Country music appears to be the only genre outside of Christian Music where it's still wrong to bash Christians.

Of course, I see idiocy like this - I mean, asking Satan to bless anything! [rolls eyes] - and I am reminded of Galatians 6:7-8 -

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

God is perfectly able to mete out perfect justice; He is merely being patient until His appointed time.

Frankly, I wouldn't want to be in Jack Black's shoes - I'm far more content to be covered by the Blood and Righteousness of Christ, considering that's the only way to escape the wrath of God...

"... the things that are unseen are eternal."

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, ESV)

This is a timely reminder for me. In today's Scripture reading (2 Cor. 4, for the New Testament portion), Paul speaks about his ministry. He stresses that the Gospel is not about him or any of his fellow workers, but rather about Christ. Everything he does, all the trials he goes through, all the physical torments he's endured are all to proclaim Christ in power and in truth.

Paul also reminds his readers that it is not his power, but God's - we are all but crude earthen vessels: unattractive, fragile, and unworthy. But God has chosen His children, flawed though we may be, and placed within us a treasure beyond compare: God Himself has chosen us as His dwelling place!

And so, "we do not lose heart." Even though I fail, even though I reflect His perfect glory in a chipped and damaged mirror, still His Spirit dwells within me, a pearl beyond price, a treasure more beautiful than gold or diamonds.

My outer being is cracked and worn, an unassuming and drab earthen vessel. What people can see of me is slowly being worn away, aging and decaying - and that's normal. That's OK. I know that I am only a sojourner and pilgrim on an earth that is not my home. This is a momentary affliction, transient and finite.

But that which is within me is eternal and glorious! By God's grace, His Spirit within me is changing and molding me so that one day I really will be fit for the "eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." This eternal part of me shows through the cracks occasionally, trying to widen and enlarge them so that it can shine through more and more, renewing me, reviving me, remaking me in the image of Christ.

One day, the vessel will shatter, or dissolve, or disappear, and the Unseen will be Seen, and I shall behold the face of my God and Savior to be clothed in a new vessel which will perfectly reflect His infinite glory for all eternity.

How often we get caught up in the here-and-now, forgetting that we are immortal beings, created in God's image. Some of us cannot help it because we are only crude and worthless vessels with nothing inside. The here-and-now is all these empty vessels have; it is the closest to Heaven and perfect joy they will ever come.

But those of us who are members of God's family - God's Chosen People, claimed and redeemed by the shed blood of His Son - must look beyond what we can see and touch and taste and feel. We must live for and remember our infinitely greater hope: this is the closest to Hell we will ever come, for the Treasure within us will one day break free, and

...no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
   nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Cor. 2:9)

Thus, the question is: What is hidden in your earthly, worn, flawed vessel? Is it more of the same? Or is it the glorious treasure of God's Spirit dwelling within you? Are you a vessel destined for destruction? Or have you placed yourself into the Potter's hand so that He may transform you into a worthy vessel to bear the weight of glory beyond comprehension?

Christian, do not lose heart. The way can be hard, you may be discouraged, but God has promised to complete His good work in you. Continue in the race, take up your cross, do the work He has laid before you, and follow diligently after Him, for it is God's plan and His power working in you to do His good pleasure.

Christian, do not lose heart. The God of all truth has given His promise, and He will fulfill it. The Day has been appointed, and He will return for His own.

And then,

this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

    "Death is swallowed up in victory."

Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

(crossposted to Virginia Virtucon)

Your Monday dose of Charles Spurgeon: Faith's Checkbook for August 31

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for

   "All flesh is like grass
   and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
   and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord remains forever."

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

via www.biblegateway.com

Spurgeon only quotes the last verse, "...but the word of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you" and then adds:

Image via Wikipedia

All human teaching and, indeed, all human beings shall pass away as the grass of the meadow; but we are here assured that the Word of the LORD is of a very different character, for it shall endure forever. We have here a divine gospel; for what word can endure forever but that which is spoken by the eternal God? We have here an ever-living gospel, as full of vitality as when it first came from the lips of God; as strong to convince and convert, to regenerate and console, to sustain and sanctify as ever it was in its first days of wonder-working. We have an unchanging gospel which is not today green grass and tomorrow dry hay but always the abiding truth of the immutable Jehovah. Opinions alter, but truth certified by God can no more change than the God who uttered it. Here, then, we have a gospel to rejoice in, a word of the LORD upon which we may lean all our weight. "For ever" includes life, death, judgment, and eternity. Glory be to God in Christ Jesus for everlasting consolation. Feed on the word today and all the days of thy life. (via CrossWalk)

Indeed. The Word of God does last forever, and it will not return to Him void. It will accomplish what He means it to do, and none can gainsay its power and effectiveness. It reveals that the wisdom of man is still absurdity compared to the wisdom of God.

Let unsaved men rail against God. Let them try to deny Him. Let them ignore the truth of His existence and who He is witnessed by Creation itself. Let them shake their fists in His face...

... at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10-11)

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7-8)

Let them.

One Day, God will mete out His perfect justice, and they will stand mute before Him.

His Word - the written word and the Living Word - will prevail.

In depth study: Romans 5:1

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1, ESV)

My thoughts on Spurgeon's Bible meditation inspired me to get serious again with my study of the book of Romans. For several years, it has been my desire to memorize Romans 5 through 8 (and who knows, maybe one day the entire book!), and it has unfortunately been an on-again off-again ambition.

But Spurgeon inspired me to try again, so I pulled out Romans 5 and am giving it another go. This time, I'm going to try not to memorize, exactly, but rather to really get to know each verse - to take it apart, put it back together, kick the tires, and understand how it actually works.

One good thing that has already happened is that I got a chance to show the Darling Munchkin a glimpse into the fascinating and rewarding world of serious Bible study. I took her to the Blue Letter Bible site and demonstrated some of the wonderfully powerful study tools they have. The Blue Letter Bible's resources are what I use when I'm doing a down-and-dirty-serious study, so pretty much all of my citations here will be from them. It's a fantastic site, and I am grateful for all their hard work!

So, let's begin...

The monster brain-exploding post from Hades is on its way

Yesterday's post about the Bible meditation from Spurgeon totally grabbed me up into some serious Bible study. So, for the past - oh, I dunno - six hours? (cumulative), I've been doing a study on Romans 5:1

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

It's FIVE PAGES, printed, already - but thank God I'm writing my last point right now (well, OK, at this particular moment I'm procrastinating), so it's probably 85% done.

ONE verse. FIVE (probably will end up seven) pages!

And where was this motivation when I had to write essays in school?! ;-)

Anyway, I should have it done and edited by this afternoon, so... Be ready!

God Above Human Philosophy - Charles Spurgeon

Image via Wikipedia

"For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent"   (1 Corinthians 1:19).

This verse is a threatening so far as the worldly wise are concerned, but to the simple believer it is a promise. The professedly learned are forever trying to bring to nothing the faith of the humble believer, but they fail in their attempts. Their arguments break down, their theories fall under their own weight, their deep-laid plots discover themselves before their purpose is accomplished. The old gospel is not extinct yet, nor will it be while the LORD liveth. If it could have been exterminated, it would have perished from off the earth long ago. We cannot destroy the wisdom of the wise, nor need we attempt it, for the work is in far better hands. The LORD Himself says, "I will," and He never resolves in vain. Twice does He in this verse declare His purpose, and we may rest assured that He will not turn aside from it. What clean work the LORD makes of philosophy and "modern thought" when He puts His hand to it! He brings the fine appearance down to nothing; He utterly destroys the wood, hay, and stubble. It is written that so it shall be, and so shall it be. LORD, make short work of it. Amen, and amen.

via bible.oneplace.com

This is today's devotional from Charles Haddon Spurgeon's Faith's Checkbook devotional, hosted at OnePlace.com. It really reminded me that in 1 Corinthians 1 and 2 the Apostle Paul reminds us that God's wisdom - the only true wisdom - is disdained by unsaved man:

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor 1:18)

For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Cor 1:25)

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)

So I should not be surprised when unsaved people heap scorn and derision upon God's Word and His people. They cannot help it, because they are dead in sin, they are hostile to God

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:7-8)

I need to remember that God is God! He is above all things and there is nothing and no one that can thwart His will. When He brings history to a close, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, it doesn't matter what eyebrows are raised when I say I believe in a literal six day creation. It doesn't matter that people's jaws drop in astonishment when I say I believe in the miracles of the Bible. It doesn't matter when people roll their eyes and mock me when I say I believe in the literal, physical resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It doesn't matter when people laugh and say, "Oh, you just use religion as a crutch!"

My faith is in Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. His Spirit lives in me and has raised me from spiritual death and given me His wisdom and His love and His promises.

So let them mock.

But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. (2 Tim 1:12)

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• -Have the Bones of the Apostle Paul Really Been Found? (answersforthefaith.com)

Well, if you're speaking biblically....!

* Religious attitudes are a major source of sexual prejudice. For LGBT people of color, many of whom are regular churchgoers, the conflict is acute. More than half of LGBT people of color interviewed feel treated like sinners by their ethnic and racial communities, and faith communities are among the places LGBT people of color feel least accepted;

via www.salon.com

It's a very interesting article, but this particular paragraph jumps out at me. To be perfectly frank, if unrepentant sinners are "treated like sinners by their... faith communities" (specifically, Christian faith communities), I'm surprised that they're so surprised!

Look, I understand that Christians still sin (hello! I look in the mirror every day!), and that some churches and denominations often pick the sin of homosexuality as a convenient target and seem to use it as the "unforgivable sin." I understand that, and I condemn it - because we are all still sinners, and even Christians stumble and fail in their walk with God every day.

But the point is that a Christian is to live a life of repentance. When we are confronted by God's Word with sin in our lives, we are to renounce that sin and turn away from it - but too often we're far more inclined to try and twist Scripture to make it say something it doesn't so that we can remain in our sin.

Frankly, that's hardly a godly and holy thing to do, folks! When you read the Bible at face value, it says that homosexuality (and stealing, and lust, and coveting, and bitterness, and laziness, and...) is a SIN. Period. And the Bible is quite clear on what we are supposed to do with people who claim to be Christians but who refuse to put away (or even TRY to put away) their sin:

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.

It's a serious and solemn thing to have to do. And the goal of this excommunication is NOT for the "good" Christians to get all hoity-toity and I'm-so-much-better-than-you about it. No. The Christians who remain in the church are to pray diligently that the lost sheep will repent and return. Those who remain are to consider their own lives and strive to diligently follow their Savior. Those who haven't had to be cast out are to walk carefully and humbly, lest they, too, should fail in their witness for Christ.

So, if you're an LGBT person who is feeling condemned by your (hopefully) Bible-believing church, how about you take a look at God's Word with the rest of us sinners, and work with Him to change your life to reflect His holiness and righteousness? Because, frankly, the rest of us liars, cheaters, shirkers, fornicators, and coveters would like to help you conquer sin while you help us do the same.

Just sayin'.

This morning's verse... (UPDATE: and song)

Yep. Two days in a row in my quest to get back to regular, consistent Bible reading (hey, one day at a time!)!

This morning the reading selection from the Old Testament included Psalm 59, and these verses really continue the theme I began yesterday:

But I will sing of Your strength;
   I will sing aloud of Your steadfast love in the morning.
For You have been to me a fortress
   and a refuge in the day of my distress.

O my Strength, I will sing praises to You,
   for You, O God, are my fortress,
    the God who shows me steadfast love.

And Third Day does it again with their song, "Born Again":

Today I found myself,
After searching all these years,
And the man that I saw,
He wasn't at all who I'd thought He'd be,

I was lost when You found me here,
And I was broken beyond repair,
Then You came along and sang Your song over me

Chorus 1

It feels like I'm born again
It feels like I'm living
For the very first time
For the very first time,
In my life

Verse 2

Make a promise to me now,
Reassure my heart somehow,
That the love that I feel,
is so much more real than anything
[Born Again Lyrics On http://www.elyricsworld.com/ ]
I've a feeling in my soul,
And I pray that I'm not wrong,
That the life I have now,
It is only the beginning

Chorus 2

It feels like I'm born again
It feels like I'm living
For the very first time
For the very first time

It feels like I'm breathing
It feels like I'm moving
For the very first time
For the very first time

Bridge

I wasn't looking for something that was more,
Than what I had yesterday,
Then You came to me,
Then You gave to me,
Life and a love that I've never known,
That I've never felt before

Final Chorus

It feels like I'm born again
It feels like I'm living
For the very first time
I'm living for the first time

It feels like I'm breathing
It feels like I'm moving
For the very first time
I'm living for the first time,
In my life

I waited on the LORD, and He inclined to me and heard my cry

My post this morning about some of the frustrations I've been having with my walk with God has drawn some wonderfully encouraging and helpful feedback (thank You, God, for these friend's You've given me!), and I decided to do a sort of follow-up based on a couple of songs I was listening to on my way home this evening.

Verse of the Day

Since my brother Michael posted Micah 6:8 for his verse today, I thought I'd post mine... Mainly because I'm having issues with it. Since the beginning of June, I've been having real issues with reading my Bible daily - heck, reading it WEEKLY - and it's getting me down. My nasty, sordid sins are creeping back into my life, and I haven't been in the Word so it can lead me to the Cross for forgiveness and cleansing... [headdesk]

Not. GOOD! [gives self a Jethro slap]

So... I thought I'd give myself some scriptural help. First, from John's first epistle:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

And then from the magnificent book of Romans:

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. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Reading my Bible, turning to my Father for help and forgiveness... These aren't things that I have to do as much as they are things that I get to do because of His love and sacrifice.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to occupy myself the next little while by catching up on my Father's love letter to me, and having a good, long talk with Him.

For your Fourth of July meditaion, the National Hymn "God of Our Fathers"

"God of Our Fathers" was written by Daniel C. Roberts in 1876 (one would assume for our Centennial) and set to music already composed by George William Warren. The CompleteLee Blog has a little Bible study, and goes a little deeper into the history of the song. More information can be found here, here and here.

God of our fathers, whose almighty hand,
Lead forth in beauty all the starry band
Of shining worlds in splendor thro' the skies,
Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.

And how ungrateful we have become, to turn away from the One True God who brought this country into being. How sad that the songs lifted up in faith and praise to Divine Providence have faded into a background murmur! How foolish we have become, to deny His presence and power, which are proclaimed throughout Creation!

Thy love divine hath led us in the past,
In this free land by Thee our lot is cast;
Be thou our ruler, guardian, guide and stay,
Thy word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.

Father, we have turned astray from the faith and love that built this nation under Your guidance. We reject Your good law and immerse ourselves in sin and unrighteousness, we kill our own children for convenience's sake and praise vain and selfish people rather than simple, honest and good citizens. Father, lay Your hand upon this nation once again to turn us back to You in faith, trust and obedience!

From war's alarms, from deadly pestilence,
Be Thy strong arm our ever strong defense;
Thy true religion in our hearts increase,
Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.

Only God can bring peace, and where the Spirit of God is, there is true liberty. It is the freedom to act with dignity and self-control, simply and humbly living for others according to God's will. It is the peace which passes all understanding, with which we can face the greatest bounty and the sorrows of war with hope and confidence, keeping our eye on the God who holds all history in His hand.

Refresh thy people on their toilsome way,
Lead us from night to never ending day;
Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.

Return, O Lord! Return to us and turn our hearts to You! Renew within us a right spirit, renew our minds with the washing of Your grace and Your word! Take away our hearts of stone and give us hearts of flesh that love Your commands and long to obey them! Make us into a people of praise, living Your precepts, worshiping You in spirit and in truth. Let Your work in this nation and in our hearts and lives be proclaimed to the glory of Your name throughout the world!

And though I despise the heresy of their church, you can't deny the beauty of the voices of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir:

Morning thoughts from Calvin's Institutes

I've just started reading Institutes of the Christian Religion, and it is slow going. It takes a lot of thought because I really want to understand it as well as remember it.

This is the passage which really came to my attention this morning; it's from Book One, chapter 2 "What it is to know God - tendency of this knowledge" (I've made some small changes in the text to make things a wee bit more clear) -

For, first of all, the pious mind does not devise for itself any kind of god, but looks alone to the one true God; nor does it feign for Him any character it pleases, but is contented to have Him in the character in which He manifests Himself, always guarding, with the utmost diligence, against transgressing His will, and wandering, with daring presumption, from the right path.

He by whom God is thus known, perceiving how He governs all things, confided in Him as his guardian and protector, and casts himself entirely upon [God's] faithfulness - perceiving Him to be the source of every blessing, if he is in any strait or feels any want, he instantly recurs to His protection and trusts to His aid - persuaded that [God] is good and merciful, he reclines upon Him with sure confidence, and doubts not that, in the divine clemency, a remedy will be provided for his every time of need - acknowledging Him as his Father and his Lord, he considers himself bound to have respect to His authority in all things, to reverence His majesty, aim at the advancement of His glory, and obey His commands - regarding [God] as a just judge, armed with severity to punish crimes, he keeps the judgment seat always in his view. Standing in awe of it, he curbs himself, and fears to provoke [God's] anger.

The whole point of this section seems to me to be that, the better one knows God - the real and only God - as He has revealed Himself to us in Scripture and the created world, the more one desires to be more like Him. The better I know God, the more I understand His will for me to be holy and righteous like Him. The better I know my Bible, the better I know God, and the better I know HOW God wants me to act, think and worship.

I think a selection from Psalm 25 would be suitable to wrap this up:

Good and upright is the LORD;
   therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right,
   and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
   for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

For your name’s sake, O LORD,
   pardon my guilt, for it is great.
Who is the man who fears the LORD?
   Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
His soul shall abide in well-being,
   and his offspring shall inherit the land.
The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,
   and he makes known to them his covenant.
My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
   for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

The Sunday Gospel

I've gotta get this out... This is a "reprint," so to speak, of my response to a discussion I've been having with friends. We started with the topic of church discipline, and I had to say some very... hard things. So, below the fold is my response to these dear friends:

Conviction - it ain't fun, but it is proof of the love of God

I just don't know why these verses have just kept coming up, over and over, in my life the past couple of weeks. (Well... Yes, I do know why they keep coming up: God is obviously trying to hammer something into my thick brain!)

But about the time I posted this, someone on my RSS feeds had a post about 2 Timothy 2:24-26, which hadn't really come to my attention before, even though I'm sure I must have read it -

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

I don't remember who it was, and I don't think I'm even going to try and track them down, but those verses really smacked me in the face. I don't generally like to get really down-and-dirty combative - but I have. I do enjoy snark a bit more than is really healthy...

And one verse which I DO know and have even pulled out recently in an argument over which words did and didn't fall under swearing, and whether Christians should use them or not:

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29)

Not, "let only a little corrupting talk," not "let some corrupting talk," but "let NO corrupting talk" come out of our mouths. Add to this the command in 2 Tim. 2, that I musn't be quarrelsome, but kind to everyone. Not only that, but I must patiently endure evil, and I must correct my foes gently...

 Ow.

I mean, really - OW!

I believe that I've got a bit of prayerful repentance to do... AND I've got to figure out how to hold the line in critical areas without bitterness, rancor, and snark...

Never mind "a bit" of prayerful repentance... I've got a LOT of it to do...

Oh, what a beautiful morning!

Open to me the gates of righteousness,
   that I may enter through them
   and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD;
    the righteous shall enter through it.
I thank you that you have answered me
    and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
   has become the cornerstone.
This is the LORD’s doing;
   it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the LORD has made;
   let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:19-24, ESV)

Yesterday we got a lot of (much needed) rain, and this morning the air is crisp and clear like fine crystal. The rising sun coaxed mist from the damp ground and gilded the trees with a soft glory. Birds are singing, a light breeze stirs the air, and God is on His throne!

Biblical note from today's Tabletalk devotional

This year, Tabletalk's focus has been on the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul, and today we really begin to get into 1 Timothy. Paul opens with his usual style of greeting, and then immediately tells Timothy

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.

This morning's devotion ends with a striking paragraph, which bears considerable thought:

Even Christians in our day can get lost in conjectures that offer no real benefit to the church at large. Speculations about the present identity of Gog and Magog (Ezek. 39:1-6; Rev. 20:7-10), America's place in biblical prophecy, and the like, while not heretical in themselves, usually contribute little in the way of edification to the bride of Christ. Let us take care that we not get absorbed in uncertainties, let alone break fellowship over secondary issues.

Indeed, this is an admonishment that Christians truly need to take to heart! Too often I have seen rather intense and angry discussions on pre- or post-Tribulation Rapture, for instance, which do not point to the true subject: Jesus.

It's interesting that this comes up today, because on the way home from church yesterday, the Munchkin expressed a desire to study the book of Revelation. Since we (of course!) had our Bibles with us, I asked her to turn to Revelation and read the first three verses -

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

First of all, note that this book of prophecy is, first and foremost, the revelation of Jesus Christ! All prophecy points, ultimately, to Jesus. In that sense, the whole Bible is prophecy, even when the literary style is not the prophetic (as in "future-telling") genre. Therefore, the primary purpose of prophecy is NOT to satisfy our desire to know the future, but to reveal the perfection and glory of our God and Savior.

Never forget that

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

And this verse from Deuteronomy brings us to the second purpose of prophecy: our obedience. Look at the last sentence:

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. [emph. mine]

Doesn't that go right along with "... that we may do all the words of the law"?

Thus, the second purpose of prophecy is to make us consider, "If this is what is to come, how should I NOW live?"

Knowing that Christ will return to judge the world, how should His disciples live? Will Jesus return and find us living holy lives of humility and repentance? Will He find us diligent and faithful in our vocations? Will He return and find us living lives worthy of His commendation?

God's desire for His children is for us to be conformed to the image of His Son. He wants us to be sanctified and holy.

In light of these two purposes of prophecy, should we not, as Christian brothers and sisters, discuss nonessential doctrines with love and grace rather than anger? Pre- and post-Tribulation eschatology is interesting to discuss, but we shouldn't allow ourselves to disfellowship over a difference of opinion! Therefore, let us remember Christian liberty, and die only on those doctrinal hills we MUST defend at all costs.

Proper biblical exegesis is important, yes, and certainly one or both views could be wrong, yes; but the critical things to remember are: all prophecy reveals Jesus, and all prophecy should stir us to live lives of faithful and humble discipleship for the love of Christ which has been shed abroad in our hearts.

Waking up to songs from KLOVE

You paint the night
You count the stars and call them by name
The skies proclaim
God You reign
Your glory shines
You teach the sun when to bring a new day
Creation sings
God You reign

God You reign
God You reign
Forever and ever
God You reign

You part the seas
You move the mountains with the words that You say
My song remains
God You reign
You hold my life
You know my heart and You call me by name
I live to say God You reign

Hallelujah, hallelu

God You reign
God You reign
Forever and ever
God You reign!

-- Lincoln Brewster

God reigns over the nations;
   God sits on his holy throne. (Psalm 47:8)

The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble!
   He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! (Psalm 99:1)

The LORD will reign forever,
   your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the LORD! (Psalm 146:10)

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

   "Hallelujah!For the Lord our God
   the Almighty reigns. (Revelation 19:6)

Faith plus nothing - or, "Picking a fight on a Sunday"

Well, not a fight, exactly, but rather a re-visitation of ("to"?) a topic some friends and I were discussing on New Year's Day. I didn't post anything about it here - it was all on the e-mail list - but it's been bugging me for the past couple of months.

Anyway, we basically refought the Reformation, and one of my buddies pulled out a verse to use as support of "faith PLUS works." Philippians 2:12b -

...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling

Thing is, my mind wasn't in the right place when we were discussing this, because I forgot about that old saw "Text, without context, is pretext." After all, Philippians 2:13 continues

...for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. [emph. mine]

Certainly, I will agree that works of Christian faith are important -after all, God has prepared good works for us to do from before the foundations of the earth:

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

But our works cannot save us, for they are all tainted by sin. Only the works that we do through faith in Christ, in worship of and obedience to Him who loved us and gave Himself for us, are considered worthy offerings to God. And, as I said, those works have nothing to do with gaining our salvation - they only display the proof of it to an unbelieving world.

Salvation is of God alone, through faith alone, in the finished and perfect work of Christ alone.

God has taken dead men (yeah, yeah, and women and children, too), and He has made us alive in Christ. He has taken us  out of the kingdom of sin and darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son. It is He who has predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son, and He who will complete that work.

Yes, as children of the Most High, our lives are to reflect and display the glory and perfection of our Father. We are to take up our cross and follow Him as diligent and faithful disciples. We are to be witnesses to His power and forgiveness. We are called to proclaim His grace and mercy through how we live our lives...

But that is the outworking of the salvation He has given us, and the natural consequence of His power and will working through us. It is not anything we are doing of ourselves to gain or retain the gift of lovingkindness by which He has given us life.

Therefore, because it is God who works in us and through us, and because salvation is of God alone... Therefore we can proclaim, "To God alone be the glory!"

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

So, that's my little Sunday Smackdown. Go check out the linked verses - and their context - and give praise to God Most High for His wonderful, awesome love and kindness to dead sinners!

Yes, I'm still here!

I'm down in Florida right now; Mom had her first cataract surgery tomorrow morning, and wanted me to be here to manage things while she's not up to par (boy, I've really hoodwinked her, don'tchathink? LOL).

Anyway, I've continued my reading of J.I. Packer's Knowing God, and the eighteenth chapter, "the Heart of the Gospel," is just ripping me to shreds! Wow. Wow, wow, wow, WOW!!!!

[God's Anger] is not the capricious, arbitrary, bad-tempered and conceited anger which pagans attribute to their gods. It is not the sinful, resentful, malicious, infantile anger which we find among humans. It is a function of that holiness which is expressed in the demands of God's moral law ("Be holy, because I am holy" 1 Peter 1:16), and of that righteousness which is expressed in God's acts of justice and reward. [...]

God's wrath is "the holy revulsion of God's being against that which is the contradiction of his holiness" (John Murray, Epistle to the Romans). And this is righteous anger - the right reaction of moral perfection in the Creator toward moral perversity in the creature. So far from the manifestation of God's wrath in punishing sin being morally doubtful, the thing that would be morally doubtful would be for him not to show his wrath in this way. God is not just - that is, he does not act in the way that is right, he does not do what is proper to a judge - unless he inflicts upon all sin and wrongdoing the penalty it deserves. [...]

God propitiates his wrath by his own action. He set forth Jesus Christ, says Paul, to be a propitiation; he sent his Son, says John, to be the propitiation for our sins. It was not man, to whom God was hostile, who took the initiative to make God friendly, nor was it Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son, who took the initiative to turn his Father's wrath against us into love. ... [I]t was God himself who took the initiative in quenching his own wrath against those whom, despite their ill-desert, he loved and had chosen to save. [...]

Nor was this done as God's acknowledgment of some real devotion on our part; not at all. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that" - in a situation where we did not love him, and there was nothing about us to move him to do anything other than blast and blight us for our ingrained irreligion - "he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." [...]

The basic description of the saving death of Christ in the Bible, is as a propitiation, that is, as that which quenched God's wrath against us by obliterating our sins from his sight. God's wrath is his righteousness reacting against unrighteousness; it shows itself in retributive justice. But Jesus Christ has shielded us from the nightmare prospect of retributive justice by becoming our representative substitute, in obedience to his Father's will, and receiving the wages of sin in our place.

By this means justice has been done, for the sins of all that will ever be pardoned were judged and punished in the person of God the Son, and it is on this basis that pardon is now offered to us offenders.

Wow.

I am going to have to re-read this chapter several times! It really illuminates large portions of the book of Romans to me - a book I thought I knew pretty well. But no, it looks like there are whole new oceans of meaning and richness I can look forward to!

The Triumphant Resurrection!

(You may want to play this: Charles Westley's magnificent hymn, "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today." This recording is available for download at Amazon for only 99¢! Lyrics are at the bottom of the post.)

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.

But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you." So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. (Matthew 28:1-8, ESV)

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"—and that he had said these things to her.

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld."

Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he 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."

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:1-29, ESV)

Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia! 

Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Hail, the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail, the resurrection day, Alleluia!

HE IS RISEN!!!
HE IS RISEN, INDEED!

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

... by Stuart Townend, is a "modern" hymn which well deserves a place in the canon of true anthems of the Church. I label it "modern" only because Mr. Townend is alive and has penned it within the past 50 (actually, I think it's less than 5 years old...) years. It is a sad thing that the present day Church, at least in America, appears to have turned to "praise choruses," and set aside the classic hymns which are so rich in good theology and true adoration of our glorious God and Savior.

Mr. Townend tells a little bit of the story behind the hymn:

I'd been meditating on the cross, and in particular what it cost the Father to give up his beloved Son to a torturous death on a cross. And what was my part in it? Not only was it my sin that put him there, but if I'd lived at that time, it would probably have been me in that crowd, shouting with everyone else 'crucify him'. It just makes his sacrifice all the more personal, all the more amazing, and all the more humbling.

Amen!

At any rate, on Good Friday, my iPod gave me Fernando Ortega's recording of this song, and it brought me to my knees in repentance and gratitude for all that my Savior has done for me. As the quote from John Newton (who penned "Amazing Grace," one of the great anthems of Christianity) says, "... I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior."

And I, too, am a great sinner. It is only by the grace of God Most High that I am able to make any small gesture of faith and love to His glory. I thank Him and praise Him for the mercy and kindness He has poured into my life, because I know I do not deserve them!

So, in hopes that the lyrics will encourage and edify you as well, here they are:

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Indeed and AMEN! Thank You, Jesus, my beloved Savior. Thank You for choosing the Cross, and thank You for claiming me!

DO YOU KNOW HIM?????

That's My King! from Albert Martin on Vimeo.

That's my King!

Praise be to God Almighty, who has blessed us beyond imagination with His love and mercy. All honor and glory and power and strength and praise be unto Him! All nations will bow before Him, and all tongues will confess the Son to the glory of the Father!

Worthy are You, O LORD, of all our awe and worship, for You have removed us from the kingdom of darkness and transfered us to the Kingdom of Your Son. You have redeemed us from our sin, and cast it as far away as the east is from the west. You have clothed us with Your perfect righteousness, and in Your mercy have covered us with Your holiness.

Blessed are You, O LORD, for You have chosen us from before the foundations of the world for Your good pleasure. All our righteousness is as filthy rags, and yet You have chosen us as a kingdom and as priest to our Almighty God!

All praise to Jesus the Christ, King of kings, and Lord of lords!

(H/T to Theologica for the video, and has the transcript, which is very worthy of reading and meditating upon!)

The Professional Guard

Image via Wikipedia

The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, "Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise.' Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last fraud will be worse than the first." Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can." So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard. (Matthew 27:62-66, ESV)

The Tender Burial

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Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness— his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth— that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken." And again another Scripture says, "They will look on him whom they have pierced."

After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. (John 19:31-42, ESV)

The Final Sacrifice

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, "This man is calling Elijah." And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.  When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. (Matthew 27:45-56, ESV)

The Barbaric Death

So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but rather, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'" Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written."

 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be." This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,

    "They divided my garments among them,
   and for my clothing they cast lots."  

So the soldiers did these things,  but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. (John 19:16-27, ESV)

Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:32-43, ESV)

The Brutal Mockery

Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again and said to them, "See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him." So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold the man!" When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God." When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin."

From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar." So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!" They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. (John 19:1-16, ESV)

The Unjust Trials

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So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people. [...]

The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said." When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?" Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. [...]

Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover.  So Pilate went outside to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" They answered him, "If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you." Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." The Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death." This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?" Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world— to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" (Luke 18: 12-14, 19-24, 28-38, ESV)

The Double Betrayal

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While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, "Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."
 
Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. e one of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not." And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, "Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:47-62, ESV)

The Earnest Prayer

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Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go over there and pray." And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Sleep and take your rest later on.  See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand." (Matthew 25:36-46, ESV)

The Last Supper

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Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?" He said, "Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'" And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. And as they were eating, he said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, "Is it I, Lord?" He answered, "He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born." Judas, who would betray him, answered, "Is it I, Rabbi?" He said to him, "You have said so." Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom."

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee." Peter answered him, "Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away." Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!" And all the disciples said the same. (Matthew 26:17-35, ESV)

Neither shall they learn war any more...

Trace Adkins and the West Point Glee Club: "The Last Shot Fired"

It shall come to pass in the latter days
that the mountain of the house of the LORD
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be lifted up above the hills;
and all the nations shall flow to it,
and many peoples shall come, and say:
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths."
For out of Zion shall go the law,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and shall decide disputes for many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore.

(Isaiah 2:2-4, ESV)

Amen. Even so, Lord Jesus - come!

(h/t to Kender for the video)

Catching up on my reading: Knowing God, by J.I. Packer

I've had this book on my shelf for a couple of months, and I've been meaning to sit down and READ it for several years. I'm glad that I've finally done it! Knowing God is definitely going to be a very helpful book for me, because it's already pointing me right to my wonderful, awesome God and Savior. I'm only about 1/3 of the way through, but there have been so many wonderful, thought-provoking and practical insights from this book, that I'm not surprised that it's a modern Christian classic!

Today, I was reading in chapter 8, "The Majesty of God," and this (extensive) quote popped out and really stopped me in my tracks (oh, and it's not a copy/paste, so please forgive any typos and let me know to correct them! Unless specifically noted, all emphasis and asides are in the original):

No Limitations

How may we form a right idea of God's greatness? The Bible teaches us two steps that we must take. The first is to remove from our thoughts of God limits that would make him small. The second is to compare him with powers and forces which we regard as great.

For an example of what the first step involves, look at Psalm 139, where the psalmist meditates on the infinite and unlimited nature of God's presence, and knowledge, and power, in relation to people. We are always in God's presence, he says. You can cut yourself off from your fellow human beings, but you cannot get away from your Creator. "You hem me in - behind and before... Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens [the sky], you are there; if I make my bed in the depths the underworld], you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea," I still cannot escape from the presence of God: "even there your hand will guide me" (vv 5-10 [ed. - Packer is quoting from the NIV, FYI]). Nor can darkness, which hides me from human sight, shield me from God's gaze (vv. 11-12).

And jus as there are no bounds to his presence with me, so there are no limits to his knowledge of me. Just as I am never left alone, so I never go unnoticed. "O LORD, you have searched me and know me. You know when I sit and when I rise [all my actions and movements]; you perceive my thoughts [all that goes on in my mind] from afar... You are familiar with all my ways [all my habits, plans aims, desires, as well as all my life to date]. Before a word is on my tongue [spoken, or meditated] you know it completely, O LORD" (vv. 1-4).

I can hide my heart, and my past, and my future plans, from those around me, but I cannot hide anything from God. [emph. mine]

[...]

The Incomparable One

For an example of what the second step involves, look at Isaiah 40. Here Gd speaks to people whose mood is the mood of many Christians today = despondant people, cowed people, secretly despairing people; people against whom the tide of events has been running for a very long time; people who have ceased to believe that the cause of Christ can ever prosper again. Now see how God through his prophet resons with them.

Look at the tasks I have done, he says. Could you do them? Could any man do them? "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?" (v. 12) Are you wise enough, and mighty enough, to do things like that? But I am, or I could not have made this world at all. Behold your God!

Look now at the nations, the prophet continues: the great national powers, at whose mercy you feel yourselves to be. Assyria, Egypt, Babylon - you stand in awe of them, and feel afraid of them, so vastly do their armies and resources exceed yours. But now consider how God stands related to those mighty forces which you fear so much. "Surely the nations are like a drop in the bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; ... Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing" (Is 40: 15, 17). You tremble before the nations, because you are much weaker than they; but God is so much greater than the nations that they are as nothing to him. Behold your God!

Look next at the world. Consider the size of it, the variety and complexity of it; think of the nearly five thousand millions who populate it, and of the vast sky above it. What puny figures you and I are, by comparison with the whole planet on which we live! Yet what is the entire mighty planet by comparison with God? "He sits enthrones above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in." (Is 40:22). The world dwarfs us all, but God dwarfs the world. The world is his footstool, above which he sits secure. He is greater than the world and all that is in it, so that all the feverish activity of its bustling millions does no more to affect him than the chirping and jumping of grasshoppers in the summer does to affect us. Behold your God!

Look, fourthly, at the world's great ones - the governors whose laws and policies determine the welfare of millions; the would-be world rulers, the dictators and empire builders, who have it in their power to plunge the world into war. Think of Sennacherib and Nebuchadnezzar; think of Alexander, Napoleon, Hitler. Think, today, of Clinton and Saddam Hussein [or Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Amadinijad, Kim Jong Il... - ed.]. Do you suppose that it the is really these top men who determine the way the world shall go? Think again, for God is greater than the world's great men. "He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing" (Is 40:23). He is, as the prayer book says, "the only ruler of princes." Behold your God!

But we have not finished yet. Look, lastly, at the stars. The most universally awesome experience that mankind knows is to stand alone on a clear night and look at the stars. Nothing gives a greater sense of remoteness and distance; nothing makes one feel more strongly of one's own littleness and insignificance. And we who live in the space age can supplement this universal experience with our scientific knowledge of the actual factors involved - millions of stars in number, billions of light years in distance. Our minds reel; our imaginations cannot grasp it; when we try to conceive of unfathomable depths of outer space, we are left mentally numb and dizzy.

But what is this to God? "Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing" (Is 40:26). It is God who brings out the stars; it was God who first set them in space; he is their Maker and Master - they are all in his hands and subject to his will. Such is his power and majesty. Behold your God!

Truly, a very inspiring statement - and it really does help put things in perspective, especially when I keep it in the forefront of my mind and meditate upon it carefully.

Actually, those last two paragraphs understate things a bit. Instead of millions of stars, Packer actually ought to have said "millions of galaxies, which each have billions of stars"! God made them all! Look back in Genesis at the creation of the heavenly lights:

And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons,  and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth." And it was so. And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.

"God made the sun and the moon... Oh, yeah, and the stars, too, by the way..."

Just as an afterthought, almost...

God's power is not limited. Whatever He wills to do, He will bring to pass - without effort, without tiring, and without mistakes.

Behold the God Most High, the LORD God Almighty, who loves us and gave Himself for us!