Much has been going on and I'm amazed at the grace of God experienced in my local church. Aren't you glad that Christ is the Head of the Church and no one else! I have been finding myself camping out in Galatians 6 lately. It's actually been wrecking me quite a bit. Up to this point, Paul had been defending many things, but primarily justification by faith alone.
The Galatians were found to be viewing their works as additions for salvation, which accompanied the work accomplished by Christ on the cross. Namely, circumcision was being put forward as neccessary, along with faith in Christ, for someone to be converted. Though Paul's love for the church is great, he quickly breezes through an introduction, and we find that he, biblically, pierces through this lie and contends for the gospel. Chapter 5 deals with reminding the church not to "submit again to the yoke of slavery" and seek justification by keeping the whole law, which they could never do. Rather, he calls them to "walk by the Spirit" and put on the fruits of the Spirit (Gal.5:16; 5:22).
Now...chapter 6 is striking to me. As I've read it...it would seem that the pace slows down. I'll include this one specific passsage in which Paul, in encouraging the church how battle with sin, states this in chapter 6:1b-3:
"Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself."
That last verse is particularly sobering to me, because it tells me that I am DAILY deceived. Everyday, multiple times a day...I think that I AM SOMETHING! And I am completely blind to the fact that in all reality, I AM NOTHING! And when I think that I am something, I say to myself "Well, since I'm something great, what I do must be great!" - then, I am deceived. So often, I take that into my relationship with God... the One who is truly Something! At times I will do the very thing Paul, here, is trying overcome earlier in Galatians! Because I think I'm something, and because I think what I do is something, I assume that God is somehow impressed with that and that it places me in greater standing with Him. How wrong I so often get it! I must constantly confront myself that to have a "Gospel plus ______ (fill in the blank)" mentallity - I nulify the work of cross. Another way to put it is we "mute" the cross when we add to it's work. CJ Mahaney, who uses this illustration of muting, said: "If you mute the cross, you have no hope." The Gospel is the foundation of our hope before a Holy God...may we never mute our hope through our own futile works. I think is was Spurgeon who said our greatest works are "shot through with sin".
Often I try to boast in my "sin-shot-through" works...but it's worthless. At the end of chapter 6 of Galatians, Paul gives us something to boast about. Chapter 6:14 states, "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."
May we be people who embrace nothingness so that we can boast in one thing...the Cross of Jesus Christ!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Keep me near...
The presence of our God is powerful. We see the Scriptures indicate the presence of God in many different areas. Revelation 14:10 describes wrath being poured out on the ungodly in the presence of God; Isaiah sees a glimpse of the presence and glory of God in Isa. 6. and says "I am undone"; 2 Corinthians 3:17 indicates that where the Spirit of Lord is, there is freedom; and David says in Psalm 16:11, "in your presence there is fullness of joy."
This last one, Ps. 16, is one of those passages of Scripture that can be a life anthem of praise to God. David jumps in from the outset with his unworthiness before a holy God..."I have no good apart from you". This Psalm speaks of our desperateness for God...and it speaks of God's wonderful faithfulness to us - "For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption". How kind of God to show mercy to sinners who once hated him.
Titus 3:3-7 proclaims
"For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
What a work accomplished through Jesus Christ! And by the finished work of Jesus Christ we may encounter the Father through the Holy Spirit at work in our hearts. And when the presence of God is there, there's joy. Delight and satisfaction in God await those who reside in the presence of God.
A couple of days ago a few of us gathered together to seek God's presence as a response to our church's week of prayer and fasting. And as it so typical, the Lord met us mightily...the Presence of God showed up and started dishing out joy. Joy that is a gift and response of the heart to work he did for us at Calvary and for ongoing work he is doing in each of our hearts. I came away more aware of the grace of God, than I was of my own sin...which is such a work of God - because, so often, I'm so "me-centered".
How kind of the Lord to so faithfully meet us when seek him. May we be commited to passionately pursuing the presence of our God daily so that our joy may be full in Him! May we ever be drawing near Jesus, our Savior. John Stott says:
"The Cross is the blazing fire at which the flame of our love is kindled, we have to get near enough to it, so its sparks fall on us."
Let us draw near to the cross, let us pursue the presence of God, and let the result be joy!
I'll leave you with with this song we sing at our church called "Keep Me Near". May this be our prayer.
Keep me near O precious Jesus
When my days are filled with light
When the sun is warm and golden
And your goodness fills my eyes
Let me not forget whose mercies
Poured such grace upon my life
Keep me looking to you
Walking always at Your side
Keep me near O precious Jesus
When the darkness fills my sight
When the nearness of Your presence
Seems a memory in the night
Let me not forget Your mercies
In the shadows of despair
Keep me ever reaching for You
Resting in Your tender care
Keep me near O precious Jesus
To the cross of Calvary
Coming to You through the river
Where Your blood has washed me clean
Let me not forget whose mercies
Made a way for sinful man
Keep me ever drawing to You
Trusting You the perfect Lamb
- Written by Steve Cook & Todd Twining
This last one, Ps. 16, is one of those passages of Scripture that can be a life anthem of praise to God. David jumps in from the outset with his unworthiness before a holy God..."I have no good apart from you". This Psalm speaks of our desperateness for God...and it speaks of God's wonderful faithfulness to us - "For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption". How kind of God to show mercy to sinners who once hated him.
Titus 3:3-7 proclaims
"For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
What a work accomplished through Jesus Christ! And by the finished work of Jesus Christ we may encounter the Father through the Holy Spirit at work in our hearts. And when the presence of God is there, there's joy. Delight and satisfaction in God await those who reside in the presence of God.
A couple of days ago a few of us gathered together to seek God's presence as a response to our church's week of prayer and fasting. And as it so typical, the Lord met us mightily...the Presence of God showed up and started dishing out joy. Joy that is a gift and response of the heart to work he did for us at Calvary and for ongoing work he is doing in each of our hearts. I came away more aware of the grace of God, than I was of my own sin...which is such a work of God - because, so often, I'm so "me-centered".
How kind of the Lord to so faithfully meet us when seek him. May we be commited to passionately pursuing the presence of our God daily so that our joy may be full in Him! May we ever be drawing near Jesus, our Savior. John Stott says:
"The Cross is the blazing fire at which the flame of our love is kindled, we have to get near enough to it, so its sparks fall on us."
Let us draw near to the cross, let us pursue the presence of God, and let the result be joy!
I'll leave you with with this song we sing at our church called "Keep Me Near". May this be our prayer.
Keep me near O precious Jesus
When my days are filled with light
When the sun is warm and golden
And your goodness fills my eyes
Let me not forget whose mercies
Poured such grace upon my life
Keep me looking to you
Walking always at Your side
Keep me near O precious Jesus
When the darkness fills my sight
When the nearness of Your presence
Seems a memory in the night
Let me not forget Your mercies
In the shadows of despair
Keep me ever reaching for You
Resting in Your tender care
Keep me near O precious Jesus
To the cross of Calvary
Coming to You through the river
Where Your blood has washed me clean
Let me not forget whose mercies
Made a way for sinful man
Keep me ever drawing to You
Trusting You the perfect Lamb
- Written by Steve Cook & Todd Twining
Monday, June 04, 2007
It's been a while...
Hey...
How are you? I hope you're experiencing God's grace today! It's all over the place. Let do a quick exercise...shall we? We'll take a deep breath....ready?.....here we go...........aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhuuuuuuuuuhhhh.
Wow...profound. That was just an example of the marvalous grace of God in your life. Unmerited...undeserved. You breathed a long breath which was a gift from God to you. You didn't earn it or achieve it. James 1:17 says "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
God is a giver of such good gifts...the greatest of which was the giving of His Son as a sacrifice for our sins, to bear the righteous wrath of God that we deserved. A gift...unlike any other.
My prayer is that this blog...which I promise to update more frequently now...serves not to draw anyone's attention to me, but serves to draw other's attention to the Cross of Christ, that they may say, "What a Savior is Jesus!"
How are you? I hope you're experiencing God's grace today! It's all over the place. Let do a quick exercise...shall we? We'll take a deep breath....ready?.....here we go...........aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhuuuuuuuuuhhhh.
Wow...profound. That was just an example of the marvalous grace of God in your life. Unmerited...undeserved. You breathed a long breath which was a gift from God to you. You didn't earn it or achieve it. James 1:17 says "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
God is a giver of such good gifts...the greatest of which was the giving of His Son as a sacrifice for our sins, to bear the righteous wrath of God that we deserved. A gift...unlike any other.
My prayer is that this blog...which I promise to update more frequently now...serves not to draw anyone's attention to me, but serves to draw other's attention to the Cross of Christ, that they may say, "What a Savior is Jesus!"
All things for the good...
Psalm 73
vs 25-26 " Whom have I in Heaven but you? And there is nothing I desire on earth besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Yesterday was the end of a short trial, as two days ago (FRI) my family heard that my Dad was going into the E.R. for chest pain and concerns that he may have heart complications. This began a 24 hour+ period of wondering what God was up to and for what good purpose did He have in mind for us. God graciously gave us a wonderful report yesterday (SAT) that it seems that tests show that nothing seems to be wrong and his heart is strong. Though a short trial, it's a trial, I believe, will bear much fruit and will serve to prepare us for the greater trials to come.
What did I learn? Romans 8:28 is clear that God causes all things to work for our good. Most importantly, God acts for His own glory's sake. I see in the Scriptures that there is never a time that God is not moving and ordaining all things to (1) Bring glory to himself, and (2) Draw our hearts to his purpose and renown. God is glorified in us when: we trust him (Prov. 3:5), we put our hope in him (Ps. 42), cast all our cares upon Him (I Peter 5:2), and are not anxious about our circumstances (Phil. 4:6). How I long to be a glorifier of God like that!
How I long to view every trial in light of God's Word and in view of His mercy. I know I won't succeed every time...but that must be my aim! May we all embrace every cross we must bear in this life as an appropriate response to the cross he bore for us, knowing that He is using all things to conform us into His image, for His glory!
vs 25-26 " Whom have I in Heaven but you? And there is nothing I desire on earth besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Yesterday was the end of a short trial, as two days ago (FRI) my family heard that my Dad was going into the E.R. for chest pain and concerns that he may have heart complications. This began a 24 hour+ period of wondering what God was up to and for what good purpose did He have in mind for us. God graciously gave us a wonderful report yesterday (SAT) that it seems that tests show that nothing seems to be wrong and his heart is strong. Though a short trial, it's a trial, I believe, will bear much fruit and will serve to prepare us for the greater trials to come.
What did I learn? Romans 8:28 is clear that God causes all things to work for our good. Most importantly, God acts for His own glory's sake. I see in the Scriptures that there is never a time that God is not moving and ordaining all things to (1) Bring glory to himself, and (2) Draw our hearts to his purpose and renown. God is glorified in us when: we trust him (Prov. 3:5), we put our hope in him (Ps. 42), cast all our cares upon Him (I Peter 5:2), and are not anxious about our circumstances (Phil. 4:6). How I long to be a glorifier of God like that!
How I long to view every trial in light of God's Word and in view of His mercy. I know I won't succeed every time...but that must be my aim! May we all embrace every cross we must bear in this life as an appropriate response to the cross he bore for us, knowing that He is using all things to conform us into His image, for His glory!
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