A couple of days ago, I discovered a fantastic song about the Lord called A Living Prayer. The version I have is sung by the outstanding Alison Krauss on her CD Lonely Runs Both Ways, but was written by Ron Block. The content faces the reality of pain and sorrow in a broken world, but with the prescence of Christ and great hope. Krauss sings it with deep pathos.
In this world I walk alone
With no place to call my home
But there's One who holds my hand
The rugged road through barren lands
The way is dark, the road is steep
But He's become my eyes to see
The strength to climb, my griefs to bear
The Savior lives inside me there
In Your love I find release
A haven from my unbelief
Take my life and let me be
A living prayer, my God to Thee
In these trials of life I find
Another voice inside my mind
He comforts me and bids me live
Inside the love the Father gives
In Your love I find release
A haven from my unbelief
Take my life and let me be
A living prayer, my God to Thee
Take my life and let me be
A living prayer, my God to Thee
Friday, January 30, 2009
1 Peter 1:1-9 Joy in the Midst of Suffering (part II)
by Gary DeLashmutt
On Wednesday, I posted the first half of Gary's teaching on 1 Peter 1. Today, he concludes with this.
1 Peter 1:6,7 speaks of another aspect of God’s grace that enables us to have joy in the midst of suffering:
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
God is refining us through our sufferings. Peter likens our sufferings to the fire used by a goldsmith to purify his gold. A goldsmith begins with gold ore that is a mixture of pure gold and dross. By repeatedly putting the ore into fire, the dross is gradually burned off and the gold is gradually purified and he can see his reflection more and more clearly in the gold.
God is like the goldsmith—not that he causes specific sufferings in our lives, but that he is working skillfully (and mysteriously) through them to refine our faith so that the character of Jesus is increasingly reflected in us. This is for our good, because we were redeemed to become like Jesus. And it is so that God may attract others to Jesus through us as they see the integrity and love that comes from faith in him.
So we can rejoice in the midst of our sufferings, not only because we will soon receive our inheritance, but also because God is accomplishing something wonderful through them. Through this “fire” he reveals the dross in our faith—the false things we depend upon for our security and identity and significance. And through this “fire” burns away this dross and deepens our trust in him alone for these needs.
For example, I may think that I depend on God alone for my material security—but I may in fact be primarily dependent on my career and income. What reveals this dross and moves me to depend more deeply on God’s love? Often, it is the “fire” of job loss or reduced income or unexpected bills.
Or I may think that I depend on God alone for my self-worth—but I may in fact be primarily dependent on certain people’s approval and praise. What reveals this dross and moves me to depend more deeply on God’s love? Often, it is the “fire” of these people’s criticism or even their rejection.
Or I may think that I depend on God alone for my significance—but I may in fact be primarily dependent on getting people to respond to my attempts to influence them spiritually. What reveals this dross and moves me to depend more deeply on God’s love alone? Often, it is the “fire” of failure in our attempts at spiritually influence.
God knows the true state of our faith, and God in his wisdom is working through the “fire” of suffering to purify it more and more. He has staked his reputation on us (which I will never understand!), and he will work as a wise goldsmith to refine our faith.
“We should not be . . . too taken aback when unexpected and upsetting and discouraging things happen to us now. What do they mean? Why, simply that God in his wisdom means to make something of us which we have not attained yet, and is dealing with us accordingly. Perhaps he means to strengthen us in patience, good humor, compassion, humility, or meekness, by giving us some extra practice in exercising these graces under specially difficult conditions. Perhaps he has new lessons in self-denial and self-distrust to teach us. Perhaps he wishes to break us of complacency, or unreality, or undetected forms of pride and conceit . . . . Perhaps his purpose is to draw us closer to himself in conscious communion with him; for it is often the case . . . that fellowship with (God) is most vivid and sweet, and Christian joy is greatest, when the cross is heaviest. Or perhaps God is preparing us for forms of service of which at present we have no inkling.”[1]
Have you embraced God’s purpose for your life, or are you still trying to get God to fulfill your purpose? If you haven’t embraced his purpose for your life, his “fire” will seem cruel and this will only add to the pain to your sufferings. But if embrace his purpose and give yourself into his fashioning hands, his Spirit will ignite joy in your heart that outweighs the pain of the “fire!”
If you belong to Jesus Christ, God is in control over your sufferings. Nothing comes into your life without first passing through his wise and loving hands. It may appear that everything is out of control, and you are plummeting to earth without a parachute. It may feel like your adverse circumstances are undermining and destroying your faith. But God is your goldsmith, working carefully and perfectly through these distressing sufferings to burn away the dross and purify (and deepen) your faith so that the reflection of his Son is seen more and more clearly in and through you. Each and every suffering is part of this process, burning away more and more of your “false trusts” (which only deceive and corrupt), and making you more truly dependent on and confident in the God who loves you. This is true even when you can’t see at the time what dross he is burning away. Affirm this daily, give yourself to him and his purpose daily—and his Spirit will cause joy to ignite and flare up in your heart.
[1] J. I. Packer, Knowing God (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1975), p. 86.
On Wednesday, I posted the first half of Gary's teaching on 1 Peter 1. Today, he concludes with this.
1 Peter 1:6,7 speaks of another aspect of God’s grace that enables us to have joy in the midst of suffering:
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
God is refining us through our sufferings. Peter likens our sufferings to the fire used by a goldsmith to purify his gold. A goldsmith begins with gold ore that is a mixture of pure gold and dross. By repeatedly putting the ore into fire, the dross is gradually burned off and the gold is gradually purified and he can see his reflection more and more clearly in the gold.
God is like the goldsmith—not that he causes specific sufferings in our lives, but that he is working skillfully (and mysteriously) through them to refine our faith so that the character of Jesus is increasingly reflected in us. This is for our good, because we were redeemed to become like Jesus. And it is so that God may attract others to Jesus through us as they see the integrity and love that comes from faith in him.
So we can rejoice in the midst of our sufferings, not only because we will soon receive our inheritance, but also because God is accomplishing something wonderful through them. Through this “fire” he reveals the dross in our faith—the false things we depend upon for our security and identity and significance. And through this “fire” burns away this dross and deepens our trust in him alone for these needs.
For example, I may think that I depend on God alone for my material security—but I may in fact be primarily dependent on my career and income. What reveals this dross and moves me to depend more deeply on God’s love? Often, it is the “fire” of job loss or reduced income or unexpected bills.
Or I may think that I depend on God alone for my self-worth—but I may in fact be primarily dependent on certain people’s approval and praise. What reveals this dross and moves me to depend more deeply on God’s love? Often, it is the “fire” of these people’s criticism or even their rejection.
Or I may think that I depend on God alone for my significance—but I may in fact be primarily dependent on getting people to respond to my attempts to influence them spiritually. What reveals this dross and moves me to depend more deeply on God’s love alone? Often, it is the “fire” of failure in our attempts at spiritually influence.
God knows the true state of our faith, and God in his wisdom is working through the “fire” of suffering to purify it more and more. He has staked his reputation on us (which I will never understand!), and he will work as a wise goldsmith to refine our faith.
“We should not be . . . too taken aback when unexpected and upsetting and discouraging things happen to us now. What do they mean? Why, simply that God in his wisdom means to make something of us which we have not attained yet, and is dealing with us accordingly. Perhaps he means to strengthen us in patience, good humor, compassion, humility, or meekness, by giving us some extra practice in exercising these graces under specially difficult conditions. Perhaps he has new lessons in self-denial and self-distrust to teach us. Perhaps he wishes to break us of complacency, or unreality, or undetected forms of pride and conceit . . . . Perhaps his purpose is to draw us closer to himself in conscious communion with him; for it is often the case . . . that fellowship with (God) is most vivid and sweet, and Christian joy is greatest, when the cross is heaviest. Or perhaps God is preparing us for forms of service of which at present we have no inkling.”[1]
Have you embraced God’s purpose for your life, or are you still trying to get God to fulfill your purpose? If you haven’t embraced his purpose for your life, his “fire” will seem cruel and this will only add to the pain to your sufferings. But if embrace his purpose and give yourself into his fashioning hands, his Spirit will ignite joy in your heart that outweighs the pain of the “fire!”
If you belong to Jesus Christ, God is in control over your sufferings. Nothing comes into your life without first passing through his wise and loving hands. It may appear that everything is out of control, and you are plummeting to earth without a parachute. It may feel like your adverse circumstances are undermining and destroying your faith. But God is your goldsmith, working carefully and perfectly through these distressing sufferings to burn away the dross and purify (and deepen) your faith so that the reflection of his Son is seen more and more clearly in and through you. Each and every suffering is part of this process, burning away more and more of your “false trusts” (which only deceive and corrupt), and making you more truly dependent on and confident in the God who loves you. This is true even when you can’t see at the time what dross he is burning away. Affirm this daily, give yourself to him and his purpose daily—and his Spirit will cause joy to ignite and flare up in your heart.
[1] J. I. Packer, Knowing God (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1975), p. 86.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Letters of Francis Schaeffer
In the Letters of Francis Schaeffer, we gain a window into the heart of a man undergoing spiritual renewal in in the early 1950's. He realized that in his defense of the truth in the 1940's, he had lost his first love.
“The fallacy is this: that insofar as we are right [about their stand for the authority of the Bible], therefore it would certainly follow that God’s rich blessing would be upon us individually and as a movement. I no longer believe this is so... These struggles were needed and right; but the correct perspective as mislaid in the process. The “movement” grew in our thinking until for me, the wonderful closeness which I felt to Him in previous days was lost. I wonder if that is not what happened to the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2? (38)
“I’ve seen the Holy Spirit work in individual lives like I have never experienced before. It reminds me of what I have heard of the revivals of yesterday. It would not be counted for much—only one’s and two’s—but it is as different as day and night from the way I’ve seen it come before. If the Lord can do it with me, with all I know that is wrong with Schaeffer, with one’s and two’s, He can do it with hundreds too if He wishes…” (40)
“We have gone along from day to day not trying to make plans too definitely, but rather hoping that His plans would be our only plan. The way has been sweet and our hearts have been glad except as we view our own coldness of heart and habit of returning to the old ways. Indeed, we have much to unlearn by His grace…” (63)
“I see that a combat for the faith must flow from an ever closer walk with God and not take the place of it.” (52)
Schaeffer agreed with his friend, who wrote, “I used my Bible to hit and embarrass those who could not see and read the way I did. I regret this time in my life. Our own strength, zeal, and enthusiasm ends, usually, like Peter’s sword attack, in betraying the One we love.” (68)
“The fallacy is this: that insofar as we are right [about their stand for the authority of the Bible], therefore it would certainly follow that God’s rich blessing would be upon us individually and as a movement. I no longer believe this is so... These struggles were needed and right; but the correct perspective as mislaid in the process. The “movement” grew in our thinking until for me, the wonderful closeness which I felt to Him in previous days was lost. I wonder if that is not what happened to the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2? (38)
“I’ve seen the Holy Spirit work in individual lives like I have never experienced before. It reminds me of what I have heard of the revivals of yesterday. It would not be counted for much—only one’s and two’s—but it is as different as day and night from the way I’ve seen it come before. If the Lord can do it with me, with all I know that is wrong with Schaeffer, with one’s and two’s, He can do it with hundreds too if He wishes…” (40)
“We have gone along from day to day not trying to make plans too definitely, but rather hoping that His plans would be our only plan. The way has been sweet and our hearts have been glad except as we view our own coldness of heart and habit of returning to the old ways. Indeed, we have much to unlearn by His grace…” (63)
“I see that a combat for the faith must flow from an ever closer walk with God and not take the place of it.” (52)
Schaeffer agreed with his friend, who wrote, “I used my Bible to hit and embarrass those who could not see and read the way I did. I regret this time in my life. Our own strength, zeal, and enthusiasm ends, usually, like Peter’s sword attack, in betraying the One we love.” (68)
1 Peter 1:1-9 Joy In the Midst of Suffering (part I)
By Gary DeLashmutt
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
How does Peter encourage us? By focusing our attention on God’s grace—the overwhelming reality of what God has given us through Jesus Christ. This is implicit in his salutation (“Grace and peace be yours in abundance”)—God’s abundant grace will enable us to experience his abundant peace in the midst of suffering. It is explicit at the end of his letter:
With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. (5:12)
What we need most of all when we suffer is neither an exhortation to stoic machismo, nor mere sympathy—we need increased understanding of God’s grace, and deeper trust in it! So Peter opens his letter with a series of insights into God’s grace, and descriptions of how grace encourages us in our sufferings.
1:3-9 is the first of these insights:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Peter doesn’t deny the reality of our sufferings or the grief caused by these sufferings (1:6)—but he speaks of being lifted up by joy in the midst of our sufferings (1:8). “Joy” is the delight Christians experience in trusting that we are loved by God. Sometimes this joy is very dramatic, bringing tears—like when a lover lets himself believe for the first time that his love is reciprocated. At other times it is more subtle, providing stability and security—like when a child rests in his parents’ love. Though we cannot see God, joy is ignited in our hearts by his Spirit when we trust the love he has given us through Jesus (Rom. 15:13). We may not be able to put our joy into words (“inexpressible”)—but it is real and “heavier” than the weight of our sufferings (“full of glory”).
For Christians, joy in the midst of suffering is both a privilege and a responsibility. A privilege, because we don’t deserve it, but God showers it on us anyway. A responsibility, because it demonstrates to others that Jesus is real and attracts them to join us in believing in him (cf. 1 Pet. 3:15).
What has God given us in his love us that produces this kind of joy when we trust in it? Peter speaks here of two tremendous gifts. First, God will grant us a glorious inheritance.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
The main point here is that we who have entrusted ourselves to Jesus have been adopted as God’s children (“new birth”) and therefore made heirs (“inheritance”) of God’s kingdom. In the Roman world, wealthy childless couples would adopt worthy young adults to be their children so they could pass their wealth on to them. But why would God adopt us? He isn’t childless, he isn’t going to die, and we are unworthy rebels who deserve God’s judgment! The only answer is “because of his great mercy” (1:3). So great is God’s mercy and love that he gave his perfect and only Son Jesus to die for our sins so that he could adopt us. He adopts us so that we can experience the “down-payment” of his love now, and so that he can pass on to us the privilege of enjoying his full love forever when Jesus returns (1:5). Such a love surpasses our understanding (1 Jn. 3:1), and should blow our minds every time we think of it!
Inheritance rights were secure because they were protected by the power of Rome. Peter goes out of his way to emphasize that our inheritance is absolutely secure because it is protected by God’s power (1:5). It can never perish, spoil or fade (1:4) like all other inheritances, because God’s kingdom is eternal. No enemy can take our inheritance away from us, because God is infinitely stronger than any enemy. Even better, none of our sins can disqualify us from our inheritance, because it is based entirely on Jesus’ perfect and finished work for us, and not at all on our very imperfect work for God! Nothing could be more secure!
Can you see why Peter says that when we focus by faith on this “living hope,” we will have joy that outweighs the pain of our sufferings (1:8)? We can have joy in the painful present to the extent that we anticipate this positive future.
In the same way, when we affirm our adoption and anticipate our inheritance, the Holy Spirit ignites joy in our hearts that sustains us and lifts us above the weight of our current sufferings.
“Do I, as a Christian . . . (affirm) my own real identity? My own destiny? I am a child of God. God is my Father; heaven is my home; every day is one day nearer . . . Say it over and over to yourself first thing in the morning, last thing at night, as you wait for the bus, any time when your mind is free, and ask (God) that you may be enabled to live as one who knows it is all utterly and completely true.” (Packer, Knowing God)
Next time, we will see the second blessing in this passage: God's refining.
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
How does Peter encourage us? By focusing our attention on God’s grace—the overwhelming reality of what God has given us through Jesus Christ. This is implicit in his salutation (“Grace and peace be yours in abundance”)—God’s abundant grace will enable us to experience his abundant peace in the midst of suffering. It is explicit at the end of his letter:
With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. (5:12)
What we need most of all when we suffer is neither an exhortation to stoic machismo, nor mere sympathy—we need increased understanding of God’s grace, and deeper trust in it! So Peter opens his letter with a series of insights into God’s grace, and descriptions of how grace encourages us in our sufferings.
1:3-9 is the first of these insights:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Peter doesn’t deny the reality of our sufferings or the grief caused by these sufferings (1:6)—but he speaks of being lifted up by joy in the midst of our sufferings (1:8). “Joy” is the delight Christians experience in trusting that we are loved by God. Sometimes this joy is very dramatic, bringing tears—like when a lover lets himself believe for the first time that his love is reciprocated. At other times it is more subtle, providing stability and security—like when a child rests in his parents’ love. Though we cannot see God, joy is ignited in our hearts by his Spirit when we trust the love he has given us through Jesus (Rom. 15:13). We may not be able to put our joy into words (“inexpressible”)—but it is real and “heavier” than the weight of our sufferings (“full of glory”).
For Christians, joy in the midst of suffering is both a privilege and a responsibility. A privilege, because we don’t deserve it, but God showers it on us anyway. A responsibility, because it demonstrates to others that Jesus is real and attracts them to join us in believing in him (cf. 1 Pet. 3:15).
What has God given us in his love us that produces this kind of joy when we trust in it? Peter speaks here of two tremendous gifts. First, God will grant us a glorious inheritance.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
The main point here is that we who have entrusted ourselves to Jesus have been adopted as God’s children (“new birth”) and therefore made heirs (“inheritance”) of God’s kingdom. In the Roman world, wealthy childless couples would adopt worthy young adults to be their children so they could pass their wealth on to them. But why would God adopt us? He isn’t childless, he isn’t going to die, and we are unworthy rebels who deserve God’s judgment! The only answer is “because of his great mercy” (1:3). So great is God’s mercy and love that he gave his perfect and only Son Jesus to die for our sins so that he could adopt us. He adopts us so that we can experience the “down-payment” of his love now, and so that he can pass on to us the privilege of enjoying his full love forever when Jesus returns (1:5). Such a love surpasses our understanding (1 Jn. 3:1), and should blow our minds every time we think of it!
Inheritance rights were secure because they were protected by the power of Rome. Peter goes out of his way to emphasize that our inheritance is absolutely secure because it is protected by God’s power (1:5). It can never perish, spoil or fade (1:4) like all other inheritances, because God’s kingdom is eternal. No enemy can take our inheritance away from us, because God is infinitely stronger than any enemy. Even better, none of our sins can disqualify us from our inheritance, because it is based entirely on Jesus’ perfect and finished work for us, and not at all on our very imperfect work for God! Nothing could be more secure!
Can you see why Peter says that when we focus by faith on this “living hope,” we will have joy that outweighs the pain of our sufferings (1:8)? We can have joy in the painful present to the extent that we anticipate this positive future.
In the same way, when we affirm our adoption and anticipate our inheritance, the Holy Spirit ignites joy in our hearts that sustains us and lifts us above the weight of our current sufferings.
“Do I, as a Christian . . . (affirm) my own real identity? My own destiny? I am a child of God. God is my Father; heaven is my home; every day is one day nearer . . . Say it over and over to yourself first thing in the morning, last thing at night, as you wait for the bus, any time when your mind is free, and ask (God) that you may be enabled to live as one who knows it is all utterly and completely true.” (Packer, Knowing God)
Next time, we will see the second blessing in this passage: God's refining.
Rebooting Resolutions (part IV)
Over the last couple of days, I wrote that the why of God’s goal for us is to glorify Him, while the what of His goal is to be freed to be driven by love. In this last posting on goal, I come to the how: walking by the Spirit.
Gal. 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step Spirit.
According to Galatians 5:17, there will be conflict, but gradual freedom from self is possible through the Spirit. “Not under law” in this context means not by your own resources. If you make self-discipline your primary goal, you will fail. Self control is a fruit of the Spirit, not a cause of spiritual growth. So if you focus on walking by the Spirit, you will gain more discipline as a result.
What is walking by the Spirit? Letting the Spirit of God remind you and direct us. The Spirit of Christ is zealous to remind you of who God is and who you are—an adopted child of God! In Romans 8:16, Paul says the Spirit testifies of that reality to your heart. That, and glorifying Jesus Christ (John 16:13,14) is His full time job! When you “keep in step with the Spirit,” you sense His promptings to turn from sinful attitudes and toward closeness to God initiatives of love to other people.
If you are like me, you have sometimes tried to live as if ‘walking by the spirit" was the ultimate goal—which I defined as trying to follow a bunch of disciplines without a why or what.
How about making your goal for the coming year been to be liberated to love by god’s grace for His glory? If you are like me, this is the first year I thought about this way. Like me, you may need to reboot and make some adjustments—in the why, or what or how—perhaps all.
Do this with a friend and you two will be better friends!
Gal. 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step Spirit.
According to Galatians 5:17, there will be conflict, but gradual freedom from self is possible through the Spirit. “Not under law” in this context means not by your own resources. If you make self-discipline your primary goal, you will fail. Self control is a fruit of the Spirit, not a cause of spiritual growth. So if you focus on walking by the Spirit, you will gain more discipline as a result.
What is walking by the Spirit? Letting the Spirit of God remind you and direct us. The Spirit of Christ is zealous to remind you of who God is and who you are—an adopted child of God! In Romans 8:16, Paul says the Spirit testifies of that reality to your heart. That, and glorifying Jesus Christ (John 16:13,14) is His full time job! When you “keep in step with the Spirit,” you sense His promptings to turn from sinful attitudes and toward closeness to God initiatives of love to other people.
If you are like me, you have sometimes tried to live as if ‘walking by the spirit" was the ultimate goal—which I defined as trying to follow a bunch of disciplines without a why or what.
How about making your goal for the coming year been to be liberated to love by god’s grace for His glory? If you are like me, this is the first year I thought about this way. Like me, you may need to reboot and make some adjustments—in the why, or what or how—perhaps all.
Do this with a friend and you two will be better friends!
The Bible as a Drama
As I wrote before, the Bible is the Revelation of God’s Glory in the Story God’s loving pursuit of rebels in Jesus Christ. Here is nice summary by Fee and Stuart:
It is no accident the Bible comes by way of narrative… It is not about humankind’s search for God. This is God’s story, the account of his search for us, a story essential told in four chapters: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration. In this story, God is the divine protagonist (the leading character, hero) Satan the antagonist (the adversary of the hero or protagonist), God’s people the agonists (although often too the antagonists), with the redemption and reconciliation as the plot resolution. (Fee and Stuart, How to Read the Bible Book by Book).
It is no accident the Bible comes by way of narrative… It is not about humankind’s search for God. This is God’s story, the account of his search for us, a story essential told in four chapters: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration. In this story, God is the divine protagonist (the leading character, hero) Satan the antagonist (the adversary of the hero or protagonist), God’s people the agonists (although often too the antagonists), with the redemption and reconciliation as the plot resolution. (Fee and Stuart, How to Read the Bible Book by Book).
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Rebooting Resolutions (part III)
Yesterday I wrote about the why of God's goal for you. Today I will look at the what. The big goal is to be liberated to be driven by love (Gal. 5:13, 22,23). The freedom Jesus gives is a freedom, not just from wrong actions, but from inordinate passions or desires. He can set you free to a new driving passion: love for Him and others.
Gal. 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
In years past, I was approaching goals with the assumption that my desires are all right, but weak. I no longer make that assumption. I have realized that even my approach to Christian service is tainted by desires for recognition and respect from people. In other words, idolatry affects my approach to spiritual goals. But I am encouraged by the freedom Paul declares:
Romans 6:12-16 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts… 14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace… 16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey?
Jesus Christ offers a freedom from self—not in the sense of self-rejection, but a freedom from inordinate desires and cravings. In fact, there is an unfortunate translation in Romans 6:12 (“lusts”), which is the word epithumia. More accurate than "lusts" would be “desires.” We tend to associate the word lust with sexual appetite, but epithumia is about any inordinate desire.
As Tim Keller says, “If you want something and it’s a good thing, and someone gets in your way, you get mad. But if you want something and its an ultimate thing, and someone gets in your way, you are bitter, you’re furious, you can’t deal with the anger, you can’t forgive the person. It’s inordinate.”
In Galatians 5, Paul mentions “the deeds of the flesh.” These reveal our lack of freedom: sensuality, idolatry, strife, jealousy, envying, outbursts of anger, disputes, drunkenness (Gal. 5:19-21). These things are examples of inordinate desire and our reactions when we can’t have them. Sensuality, for example is an inordinate desire to feel good. It reveals a lack of the freedom to be driven by love.
Freedom through Christ also is a positive freedom—the freedom to love—to relate to and serve others than yourself.
Gal. 5:22,23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Love is the main idea here in the fruit, and seems to lead to the others. Love for God and people--rather than by insecurity, idolatry and lust, which is a slavery. The drives of idolatry are obsessive, addictive, and disappointing.
Human beings have always pursued joy and peace, though they usually the employed the more secular word ‘happiness.’ But Christians feel obliged to add that those who pursue happiness never find it. Joy and peace and extremely elusive blessings, Happiness is a will-o’-the wisp, a phantom. Even as we reach out a hand to grasp it, it vanishes into thin air. For joy and peace are not suitable goals to pursue; they are by-products of love. God gives them to us, not when we pursue them, but when we pursue him and others in love. (John Stott, The Contemporary Christian, 149)
The fruit of the Spirit is not a to-do list. It is an exciting vision of what I could become if I let the Spirit of Christ free me.
God wants to deal with your drives and passions, not just your behaviors, and not just your thinking. He wants to give you the desire to love—to make it the thing you want to do. The Spirit gives the power, but also the passion. Do you want to be free to be driven by love? I think you do if you have the Spirit of Christ. You may have been wounded or discouraged in the attempt. You may have become enslaved to some inordinate desires, but you want this freedom. Don’t protect you heart from pain by resigning to cynicism about God’s goal for you.
Next time, I will look at the how of God's goal: "walking by the Spirit."
Gal. 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
In years past, I was approaching goals with the assumption that my desires are all right, but weak. I no longer make that assumption. I have realized that even my approach to Christian service is tainted by desires for recognition and respect from people. In other words, idolatry affects my approach to spiritual goals. But I am encouraged by the freedom Paul declares:
Romans 6:12-16 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts… 14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace… 16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey?
Jesus Christ offers a freedom from self—not in the sense of self-rejection, but a freedom from inordinate desires and cravings. In fact, there is an unfortunate translation in Romans 6:12 (“lusts”), which is the word epithumia. More accurate than "lusts" would be “desires.” We tend to associate the word lust with sexual appetite, but epithumia is about any inordinate desire.
As Tim Keller says, “If you want something and it’s a good thing, and someone gets in your way, you get mad. But if you want something and its an ultimate thing, and someone gets in your way, you are bitter, you’re furious, you can’t deal with the anger, you can’t forgive the person. It’s inordinate.”
In Galatians 5, Paul mentions “the deeds of the flesh.” These reveal our lack of freedom: sensuality, idolatry, strife, jealousy, envying, outbursts of anger, disputes, drunkenness (Gal. 5:19-21). These things are examples of inordinate desire and our reactions when we can’t have them. Sensuality, for example is an inordinate desire to feel good. It reveals a lack of the freedom to be driven by love.
Freedom through Christ also is a positive freedom—the freedom to love—to relate to and serve others than yourself.
Gal. 5:22,23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Love is the main idea here in the fruit, and seems to lead to the others. Love for God and people--rather than by insecurity, idolatry and lust, which is a slavery. The drives of idolatry are obsessive, addictive, and disappointing.
Human beings have always pursued joy and peace, though they usually the employed the more secular word ‘happiness.’ But Christians feel obliged to add that those who pursue happiness never find it. Joy and peace and extremely elusive blessings, Happiness is a will-o’-the wisp, a phantom. Even as we reach out a hand to grasp it, it vanishes into thin air. For joy and peace are not suitable goals to pursue; they are by-products of love. God gives them to us, not when we pursue them, but when we pursue him and others in love. (John Stott, The Contemporary Christian, 149)
The fruit of the Spirit is not a to-do list. It is an exciting vision of what I could become if I let the Spirit of Christ free me.
God wants to deal with your drives and passions, not just your behaviors, and not just your thinking. He wants to give you the desire to love—to make it the thing you want to do. The Spirit gives the power, but also the passion. Do you want to be free to be driven by love? I think you do if you have the Spirit of Christ. You may have been wounded or discouraged in the attempt. You may have become enslaved to some inordinate desires, but you want this freedom. Don’t protect you heart from pain by resigning to cynicism about God’s goal for you.
Next time, I will look at the how of God's goal: "walking by the Spirit."
Monday, January 26, 2009
Rebooting Resolutions (part II)
Yesterday, I summarized the broad goal God has for your life: the Spirit of Christ desires to free you to be driven by love in order to glorify Him. Today, I want to begin to unpack that statement with the why part: “in order to glorify God.” The freedom to be driven by love has that as the ultimate motive and reason.
Gal. 1:3-5 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Cor. 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
What is the glory of God? The glory of God means his weightiness and radiance, his beauty, majesty, honor, reputation.
The glory of God is his own overflowing abundance, gaining him a reputation for being the most wonderful Person in all the world. He created us, in order to share his overflowing goodness with us, so that he would be more greatly glorified.. We exist, not because God wants to make us the center but because God wants us to enjoy making him the center. (Ray Ortland, sermon on 1 Corinthians 10:31)
This purpose of God’s glory is what the human race has turned against:
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened…. exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images ….. they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator… (Rom 1:21-25)
How does this relate to God’s love for us?
Most people do not immediately see God’s passion for the glory of God as an act of love. One reason for this is that we have absorbed the world’s definition of love. It says: You are loved when you are made much of. God’s love for us is not mainly His making much of us, but His giving us the ability to enjoy making much of Him forever. In other words, God’s love for us keeps God at the center. If God’s love made us central and focused on our value, it would distract us from what is most precious; namely, Himself. Love labors and suffers to enthrall us with what is infinitely and eternally satisfying: God. Therefore God’s love labors and suffers to break our bondage to the idol of self and focus our affections on the treasure of God. (John Piper, Pierced by the Word)
To live for the glory of God is to turn from wanting to be made much of to being centered on God, honoring Him, praising him, enjoying Him. And this is not instead of enjoying life, it is the ultimate way to enjoy life.
When I am honest, I see that I want to be made much of, and my goals are not for the glory of God. My goals are for my glory—to improve my reputation, to think better about myself, to have God and people make much of me. In other words, my goals are born out of insecurity, and addictive drives to be a significant and respectable person—even if it is just me respecting myself, meeting my standards of success. That is why my goals have been a nemesis at times. They have been my accuser.
To live for the glory of God is the reason for the freedom of Christ. What does that look like? Tomorrow, I will look at the what of God’s goal: liberated to be driven by love (Galatians 5:13-26).
Gal. 1:3-5 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Cor. 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
What is the glory of God? The glory of God means his weightiness and radiance, his beauty, majesty, honor, reputation.
The glory of God is his own overflowing abundance, gaining him a reputation for being the most wonderful Person in all the world. He created us, in order to share his overflowing goodness with us, so that he would be more greatly glorified.. We exist, not because God wants to make us the center but because God wants us to enjoy making him the center. (Ray Ortland, sermon on 1 Corinthians 10:31)
This purpose of God’s glory is what the human race has turned against:
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened…. exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images ….. they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator… (Rom 1:21-25)
How does this relate to God’s love for us?
Most people do not immediately see God’s passion for the glory of God as an act of love. One reason for this is that we have absorbed the world’s definition of love. It says: You are loved when you are made much of. God’s love for us is not mainly His making much of us, but His giving us the ability to enjoy making much of Him forever. In other words, God’s love for us keeps God at the center. If God’s love made us central and focused on our value, it would distract us from what is most precious; namely, Himself. Love labors and suffers to enthrall us with what is infinitely and eternally satisfying: God. Therefore God’s love labors and suffers to break our bondage to the idol of self and focus our affections on the treasure of God. (John Piper, Pierced by the Word)
To live for the glory of God is to turn from wanting to be made much of to being centered on God, honoring Him, praising him, enjoying Him. And this is not instead of enjoying life, it is the ultimate way to enjoy life.
When I am honest, I see that I want to be made much of, and my goals are not for the glory of God. My goals are for my glory—to improve my reputation, to think better about myself, to have God and people make much of me. In other words, my goals are born out of insecurity, and addictive drives to be a significant and respectable person—even if it is just me respecting myself, meeting my standards of success. That is why my goals have been a nemesis at times. They have been my accuser.
To live for the glory of God is the reason for the freedom of Christ. What does that look like? Tomorrow, I will look at the what of God’s goal: liberated to be driven by love (Galatians 5:13-26).
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Joy May be Too Risky for You
"Picture me with my ground teeth stalking joy—fully armed too, as it’s a highly dangerous quest.” Flannery O’Connor, cited by John Piper in The Dangerous Duty of Delight
I think O'Conner is referring the the danger of disappointment which keeps many people from opening up their heart to the joy of the Holy Spirit. In short, that fear becomes cynicism.
I think O'Conner is referring the the danger of disappointment which keeps many people from opening up their heart to the joy of the Holy Spirit. In short, that fear becomes cynicism.
Delighting in God
I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment... The Scotch catechism says that man's chief end is 'to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.' But we shall then know that these are the same thing. Fully to enjoy is to glorify. In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him. (C.S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms)
“God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him.” (John Piper)
One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD and to meditate in His temple. (Psalms 27:4)
“God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him.” (John Piper)
One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD and to meditate in His temple. (Psalms 27:4)
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Rebooting Resolutions
In early January, I asked my wife what she thought would be a good topic for my upcoming teaching. She brought up goals and grace, since it is a new year. It got me thinking about how people often feel weird about setting goals and about the way I have related to the subject over the years.
I’m a pretty goal-oriented person and have often planned and set goals. But I have been realizing that much of my goal setting has sprung from questionable motives and has led to less than pleasant outcomes. A lot of my goals over the years have, frankly, had to do with trying to become somebody—to alleviate a sense of insecurity and feel “accomplished.” A lot of my goals have been about ways to get people (and God) to respond to my attempts to influence them.
They have tended to be things like, “I will be spiritually disciplined in order to be happy and liked.” Because my goals have been driven by something other than God, they have often led to anger and sadness when I don’t reach them or when they are blocked. All of this tempts me at times to have no goals. But that is really not possible. Even having no goals is a goal borne out of some self-protective goal.
I realized I need to reboot my whole approach to goals. Instead of focusing what I will do for God this year, I thought I should look at what God desires to do in me. As I thought a bout it for awhile, I came to understand God’s broad goal this way: the Spirit of Christ desires to free me to be driven by love in order to glorify Him. Wow, to be liberated to love by His grace for His glory. So, the place to start is with Jesus’ goal for you rather than your goals. I will look (primarily from Galatians) at the why, the what, and the how of God’s goal for us in the coming week.
I’m a pretty goal-oriented person and have often planned and set goals. But I have been realizing that much of my goal setting has sprung from questionable motives and has led to less than pleasant outcomes. A lot of my goals over the years have, frankly, had to do with trying to become somebody—to alleviate a sense of insecurity and feel “accomplished.” A lot of my goals have been about ways to get people (and God) to respond to my attempts to influence them.
They have tended to be things like, “I will be spiritually disciplined in order to be happy and liked.” Because my goals have been driven by something other than God, they have often led to anger and sadness when I don’t reach them or when they are blocked. All of this tempts me at times to have no goals. But that is really not possible. Even having no goals is a goal borne out of some self-protective goal.
I realized I need to reboot my whole approach to goals. Instead of focusing what I will do for God this year, I thought I should look at what God desires to do in me. As I thought a bout it for awhile, I came to understand God’s broad goal this way: the Spirit of Christ desires to free me to be driven by love in order to glorify Him. Wow, to be liberated to love by His grace for His glory. So, the place to start is with Jesus’ goal for you rather than your goals. I will look (primarily from Galatians) at the why, the what, and the how of God’s goal for us in the coming week.
A Gospel-Centered Life
My deepest desire is to live a gospel-centered life. A gospel-centered life is lived by grace through faith for the glory of God. My default setting is to live by human strength through works to my own glory. This of course to leads to boasting when I succeed and deflation when I fail. If my life is not gospel-centered, it will be a life of idolatry that turns good things into ultimate things.
“Idolatry is worshiping anything that ought to be used and using anything that is meant to be worshipped.” (Augustine)
Money and possessions ought to be used. Jesus should be worshipped. Jesus is not a means to money, things, or success. I realized earlier this year that I had being trying to use Jesus as a means of success. I would pray that he would give me fruit in ministry so that I would be somebody. The people that I serve were preyed upon as means to that success idol. This realization began a process of repentance where I seek to put Jesus first and accept His verdict that He has already made me significant because my name is in the book of life.
“There is no commitment we will make as church planters of greater importance than living close to Jesus. For church planting can become an idol factory; a prostitution ring; a cruel taskmaster; a breeding ground for addictions… we need church planters who will love Jesus with abandon, and who cultivate a lifestyle of growing in His grace and knowledge. Until you know yourself to be slow of heart to believe the gospel, you will never cultivate a burning heart for the gospel. Churches planted with the DNA of the gospel will be led by those who live a life of gospel astonishment." (Scotty Smith)
“Idolatry is worshiping anything that ought to be used and using anything that is meant to be worshipped.” (Augustine)
Money and possessions ought to be used. Jesus should be worshipped. Jesus is not a means to money, things, or success. I realized earlier this year that I had being trying to use Jesus as a means of success. I would pray that he would give me fruit in ministry so that I would be somebody. The people that I serve were preyed upon as means to that success idol. This realization began a process of repentance where I seek to put Jesus first and accept His verdict that He has already made me significant because my name is in the book of life.
“There is no commitment we will make as church planters of greater importance than living close to Jesus. For church planting can become an idol factory; a prostitution ring; a cruel taskmaster; a breeding ground for addictions… we need church planters who will love Jesus with abandon, and who cultivate a lifestyle of growing in His grace and knowledge. Until you know yourself to be slow of heart to believe the gospel, you will never cultivate a burning heart for the gospel. Churches planted with the DNA of the gospel will be led by those who live a life of gospel astonishment." (Scotty Smith)
Friday, January 23, 2009
Sweeter Than Honey (Part II)
Yesterday, I began a thread on enjoying the Bible, since it is "sweeter than honey," and more precious than gold." In Psalm 1, we see a person delighting in the word:
How blessed is the man who does not walk
in the counsel of the wicked,
in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
3He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.
According to this passage, Spiritual well-being (“blessedness”) comes from learning to enjoy God’s truth. “Blessedness” it is not stated as a set of behaviors of duties—but in terms of what the blessed person “delights” in: the law of God. The law of God was a way of referring the scriptures as a whole—the stories, the promises, and the commands. Like I said in yesterday’s post, the psalmist associates the Bible with pleasure!
Alright, you may say, but how is God’s truth a delight? Why would any normal person find God’s truth be so enjoyable? Is it because he feels so morally successful and superior about his obedience to it, that he keeps a moral checklist? No, the writers of the Psalms, especially David, know they are weak and unable to live up to God’s high standards. In Psalms 119, the psalmist confesses his failure to live God’s ways: “my eyes shed streams of water because I have not kept your law”(119:136)
Does the psalmist delight in the bible because it is so exciting, affirming, and flattering? No, sometimes it disturbs and unsettles. While it does bring times of great joy and comfort, it also can bewilder. It can seem unreasonable in its ethics. Devotion to the Bible does not exempt you from pain and negative emotions: “Trouble and anguish have come upon me, yet Your commandments are my delight” (119:143).
It does boggle that imagination to the think about how a book that commands and forbids could ever be associated with pleasure. The reason why is in Psalm 1. It is because meditating on the word of God makes you like “a tree firmly planted by streams of water.” Like a tree, the reader is given a sense of “rootedness.” You are rooted rather than “chaff” driven by the wind (vs. 4). You are connected, not simply wandering from experience to experience. The truth of God brings a sense of reality and stability to your life, rather than escapism and flux. C.S. Lewis described the truth of God as that which gives “firmness” to our life, like finding solid pavement after slipping along a muddy path” (Reflections on the Psalms). Also, like that a tree, you are nourished in your soul. God’s truth nourishes your heart because you are encouraged and strengthened. The tree is subject to difficult weather conditions—but it bears fruit and its leaf does not wither--because it is rooted and watered. The roots are more important that what is going on around the top of the tree. The word of God lifts you above your feelings and circumstances, and gives you perspective.
For me, the ultimate reason the Bible is a delight is because Jesus transforms it from burden to beauty. That is because He lived out the demands of the law and took on our sins. Because of that, the law of God no longer accuses us to God. He pours out His love in our hearts (Rom. 5:5) and lives out the ethics of God in us through the Holy Spirit. The bible connects us to Jesus, so we delight in His person and He gives us desire and strength to live his way.
The Bible may not be a source of delight to you right now. However, involvement with God’s truth can become enjoyable. There is a learning curve. In practical terms, the main way the Bible becomes a delight is through the practice of meditation. The psalmist says he “meditates day and night” (Ps. 1:2). Scripture is not a superficial external code of behaviors like “do this three times a day, say this, etc.” It takes some time, some reflection and pondering, to profit from the Bible. Eugene Peterson says that meditation is “gnawing like a dog with a bone.” I will come back to this idea of meditation in a later post. My next post will be about the Bible actually is: the revelation of God’s glory in the story of His loving pursuit of rebels in Jesus Christ.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Sweeter Than Honey
In my experience the Bible has been a source of great pleasure. And my pleasure does not come from being able to live up to its moral standards. In fact, the more I read it, the more I realize how far short I fall from being a good and loving person. This may sound funny—that information from a book—any book—would do so much. But it is not merely information. Its words connect me with the living God, who reshapes my desires. He has heightened my capacity to enjoy. Everything that has gone well in my life is because of God working through the Bible.
In one his poetic songs to God, David, Israel’s musician-king, joyfully sang that the Bible to was “sweeter than honey” and “more desirable than fine gold.” (Ps. 19:10). Here we see somebody who loves something. By referring to the Bible as “sweeter than honey,” David is saying that it tastes good. It is not just “good for you.” It is both. By referring to the Bible as “more desirable than fine gold,” David is saying that it has great worth, high value. It is not merely correct. It true in a profoundly personal and life changing way.
The Bible is sweet and valuable because it reveals the grace and glory of God in Jesus Christ, which delivers you from being “stuffed with self.” In other words, the Bible makes much of God rather than making much of you. Don’t misunderstand. It is not that the Bible disparages the reader. It elevates you by drawing you into the beauty of God. Through the Bible, God is offering you freedom. That may surprise you if you imagine the bible as a book of accusing demands. But it is true—the God’s word can free you from the prison of self-protection, self-glorification, and self-assertion. This freedom is the work of the Spirit of Christ, a freedom to be driven, yes indeed, driven by love—love for God and others. And what you are drive by, you are passionate about.
Perhaps you believe in the Bible, don’t enjoy it and you. feel a lot of guilt about that. There is hope. You can learn to enjoy the Bible, so that it becomes “sweeter than honey” to you. In the coming days, I will be posting thoughts on how to cultivate this enjoyment.
In one his poetic songs to God, David, Israel’s musician-king, joyfully sang that the Bible to was “sweeter than honey” and “more desirable than fine gold.” (Ps. 19:10). Here we see somebody who loves something. By referring to the Bible as “sweeter than honey,” David is saying that it tastes good. It is not just “good for you.” It is both. By referring to the Bible as “more desirable than fine gold,” David is saying that it has great worth, high value. It is not merely correct. It true in a profoundly personal and life changing way.
The Bible is sweet and valuable because it reveals the grace and glory of God in Jesus Christ, which delivers you from being “stuffed with self.” In other words, the Bible makes much of God rather than making much of you. Don’t misunderstand. It is not that the Bible disparages the reader. It elevates you by drawing you into the beauty of God. Through the Bible, God is offering you freedom. That may surprise you if you imagine the bible as a book of accusing demands. But it is true—the God’s word can free you from the prison of self-protection, self-glorification, and self-assertion. This freedom is the work of the Spirit of Christ, a freedom to be driven, yes indeed, driven by love—love for God and others. And what you are drive by, you are passionate about.
Perhaps you believe in the Bible, don’t enjoy it and you. feel a lot of guilt about that. There is hope. You can learn to enjoy the Bible, so that it becomes “sweeter than honey” to you. In the coming days, I will be posting thoughts on how to cultivate this enjoyment.
What is Grace?
Here's my attempt to define God's grace: Grace is God’s lavish and undeserved free gift of eternal life, and his ongoing generosity, affection, goodness, initiative, & faithfulness to you because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.Grace is a lavish gift--it is huge, abundant and contrary to merit. Grace is not only seeing your past as forgiven, but your present and future as full of hope. If you live under grace you have the general expectation that God will always be generous in spite of you. Under grace, you never have God in your dept because you were good and God never stops pursuing you and initiating good because you sinned. Note carefully that grace needs to always be linked with Jesus Christ, or it will become some nebulous substance rather than a personal relationship. It is Jesus who you fall in love with because of grace. As you realize you are treasured by Him, you increasingly treasure Him.
According to Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:16-21, God wants to awe us with his grace. The essence of the prayer is that you will grow spiritually and God would be glorified as you (together) are awed (impressed, overwhelmed) by God’s grace. Paul is not asking for them to only know about grace, but to encounter God’s gracious love personally, which in turn awes and deepens your enjoyment of Him and your role as His servant.
This prayer is for not the strength to be strong so you are in control and don’t need God. It is not for the strength to make your life work according to your agenda. It is not for a private and individual experience of God isolated from relationships in community. It is for the grace of God to roll over you like waves in a way that moves you and your grace-awed friends to want to make God known.
According to Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:16-21, God wants to awe us with his grace. The essence of the prayer is that you will grow spiritually and God would be glorified as you (together) are awed (impressed, overwhelmed) by God’s grace. Paul is not asking for them to only know about grace, but to encounter God’s gracious love personally, which in turn awes and deepens your enjoyment of Him and your role as His servant.
This prayer is for not the strength to be strong so you are in control and don’t need God. It is not for the strength to make your life work according to your agenda. It is not for a private and individual experience of God isolated from relationships in community. It is for the grace of God to roll over you like waves in a way that moves you and your grace-awed friends to want to make God known.
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