Arguing With Angels

Why Should I Give Money To My Church?

2012-01-03T23:48:00.002-05:00

I recently wrote this post at the request of my friend Adam Miller. You can find it originally posted here along with many other articles worthy of your time.

If you’re a young adult, you may find yourself asking thequestion, “Why should I give to my church?” You may have answered that question(or heard it answered) in several different ways. I don’t need to give thatmuch. I need the little money I have. I can’t afford to give. I don’t have togive to my church since I give elsewhere. I’ll give later when I have moremoney.

Notwithstanding the evasive answers that are dribble fromthe mouths of young adults like you and I, there are some very good reasons whyyou should give to your church.

Giving followsreceiving

You should give because God gives to you so that you wouldgenerously give to others. Paul testifies in 2 Cor. 9:11 that “you will beenriched in every way to be generous in every way.” Have you received anything?Then you should give generously. God doesn’t want you to hoard anything. Hestructured his provision to not only be received, but also spread.

Giving meets needs

Local churches don’t have money trees growing in the prayergarden; they need financial support. It is appropriate to fund those whotirelessly minister the gospel to our souls (1 Cor. 9:9-14). It’s heartbreakingto see a church struggle when its people don’t provide financial support. Thosewho labor full time in the ministry will almost always need the financialsupport of those who aren’t in full time ministry, i.e. the vast majority ofthe church – you and I.

Giving glorifies God

Think through this exchange of hands: God gives, youreceive, you give, another receives, and then what does the recipient do? Whatis your natural reaction when someone gives you something you need? You thankthem. When we give what God has given us, we are putting a match to the fuel ofpraise that will burn up in thanksgivings that glorify God (2 Cor. 9:12).

Giving benefits us

God has wonderfully orchestrated giving to benefit therecipient and the giver. The extremely poor people in Macedonia begged to takepart in an offering to meet the needs of other Christians. They saw giving assomething that benefitted them. When we give, we become like the characterpersonified in Ps. 112:9 – “He has distributed freely; he has given to thepoor; his righteousness endures forever”(emphasis mine). There is a soul-strengthening, vivifying, gladdening streamthat is reserved for givers.

Giving imitates Jesus

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he wasrich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might becomerich” (2 Cor. 8:9). Jesus gave more than we can imagine so that we would becomerich beyond our wildest dreams. If Jesus gave and we call ourselves his people,his Church, we should imitate our Lord and become loving, living examples ofour heavenly Benefactor.

I’ve heard it said, “Where your treasure is, there will yourheart be also” (Lk. 12:34). So follow your treasure map to that X placed overyour heart, cut open that steeled vault, and find a new home for your treasure.

Warlocks and Mark Driscoll

2011-09-12T18:58:00.003-04:00

Mark Driscoll is a man, preacher, and pastor who I appreciate. I am thankful for his preaching which I have benefitted from via podcast on occasion and I am thankful for his work in creating a growing church planting network (Acts 29).

But oftentimes, Driscoll makes my brow furrow and one eyebrow raise. The tweet/Facebook post above is a recent example. A few thoughts cane to mind when I first read it.

1) Warlocks? Yowza. I hope they have robes and/or a sweet cloak. Are they modern-day Jedis? Ok, on a serious note, I was a little surprised to hear about a man identifying himself as a male who practices magic arts. I was only a little surprised because I have been in a bookstore with books that focus on the etymology of angelic languages and so the weird and wacky (and likely dark and demonic) things people involve themselves in don't really surprise me. Nevertheless, you don't meet someone who dabbles in the "magic" and demonic every day.

2) Amen and hallelujah for God's powerful, saving grace that transforms dead men and frees captives from sin and death! New life and repentance is most definitely something to rejoice in. I don't want the glorious miracle of new birth and indelible love of God to be overshadowed in any way by my words here.

3) Here's my point of contention: Driscoll claims that God said to him, "This one is mine and I love him." Regardless of the mode of supposed communication from God, be it an audible voice or a "mental TV", I have an extremely hard time accepting this type of spirituality according to my understanding of Scripture. If God were to tell me who he loves and/or who he conversely does not love, this could create some real problems within the body of Christ. If we were able to hear God's voice in such a unique manner as Driscoll has described God communicating to himself in the past, then why aren't we all flocking to Seattle to find out who God loves? Wouldn't Christians who have a strong burden for a lost person they care for want to hear such words?

When a church leader makes these kind of statements, he is implicitly expressing a level of authority granted to him that may not be available to other Christians. I mean, I have never experienced God communicating to me in such a way, so I should logically go and receive a word from God from those who God speaks to in such a unique manner.

The issue boils down to authority. If God is speaking to Christians in the manner that Driscoll describes, this elevates the recipient of this direct revelation to a greater level authority than the normal Christian who does not hear from God in this special way and effectually erodes the authority of Scripture and the normal, everyday means of grace that God has given to us in the precious gift of the complete, inspired Bible.

That said, it is very important for Christians to be careful what they say, especially those given responsibility and influence in the Church. The tiniest phrase can ignite a firestorm (James 3). We must carefully evaluate our words at all times and guard against irresponsible statements.

I guess that's all I have to say about that.

UPDATE: There was some clarification Driscoll put out on his original tweet. You can find it here. It seems I was wrong in interpreting what Driscoll was saying, but nevertheless I still have a big bone to pick about God directly speaking to people in this manner.

A Prayer Adapted from Psalm 102

2011-09-10T21:02:00.002-04:00

Hear my prayer, O Lord, let my crycome to you!

Don’t hide from me when I am indistress!

Listen to me and answer me quicklywhen I call!

My days pass away like smoke – thetime flies away from me.

I am heartsick and struck down; sovery weak.

I lie awake at night; I am like onealone in the desert.

My tears mix with my food and drink,

Because you picked me up and threwme down.

O God, I am ruined if you are angrywith me!

And my days fade away like anevening shadow.

My life is short, but you, OYahweh, are enthroned forever.

Every generation remembers you.

You will rise up and take action –the time has come,

You will have pity on your people.

You will show us favor.

We are clinging to you, O God, ourrock.

You build us up; you appear in theglory of Jesus.

You regard the prayer of thedestitute and do not despise their prayer.

Let this be recorded for a generation to come,

So that a people yet to be created may praisethe LORD:

You looked down from your holy throne inheaven,

To hear the groans of the prisoners,

To set free those who were doomed to die,

So that they may declare the name of Jesus,

And worship the Lord.

But God has broken my strength and shortenedmy life.

O my God, don’t cut my life even shorter,

You who live through all generations!

Long ago, you built the earth,

You made the skies and the galaxies with yourhands.

The earth and the stars will die,

But you will remain.

You will change them like a change of clothes,

This creation will pass away.

But you are the same; your years have no end.

Our future dwells secure in you, Eternal God.

You hold together every generation.

The Greatest Female Hymn-Writer?

2011-09-01T17:24:00.001-04:00

If you haven't heard of Anne Steele, an 18th century English hymn-writer, check out this post that the folks over at Cardiphonia just put up. I especially commend Kevin Twit's lectures to you.

A Hymn - Boundless Grace

2011-08-30T19:45:00.001-04:00

1039     C.M.    A. Steele
    “The grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant.” 1 Tim. 1. 14
    1    Lord, we adore thy boundless grace,
            The heights and depths unknown,
        Of pardon, life, and joy, and peace,
            In thy beloved Son.

    2    O wondrous gifts of love divine,
            Dear Source of every good;
        Jesus, in thee what glories shine!
            How rich thy flowing blood!

    3    Come, all ye pining, hungry poor,
            The Saviour’s bounty taste;
        Behold a never-failing store
            For every willing guest.

    4    Here shall your numerous wants receive
            A free, a full supply;
        He has unmeasured bliss to give,
            And joys that never die.

HT: Grace Gems

Potent Quotables (8/24)

2011-08-24T18:06:00.002-04:00

I've been furiously working on studying for the next section of the CPA exam (Regulation, i.e. tax law) and co-creating a study guide on Mark to be used in small groups. I'm terribly excited for the University Church to launch at Syracuse University this Sunday! Looking forward to being involved deeply there.

SU named No. 12 party school in nation - My alma mater proves itself to be quite raucous yet again. In certain environments, especially college ones, the effects of sin are abundantly clear. I can't wait to see the gospel take further root here in the hearts of men and women.

Global Leadership Summit – Bill Hybels - Hybels: "I’ve never known a single leader who regretted carrying out a tough calling." Regardless of your persuasion on seeker-sensitive types, you should be able to find encouragement here.

Stop Coddling the Super-Rich - Warren Buffet thinks the mega-rich should pay more taxes. (If you don't know, Buffet is quite mega-rich).

My favorite band, Thrice, just posted a lyric video to the song "Promises" on their new album Major/Minor, coming out in September. Dustin Kensrue again proves himself to be an excellent lyricist.

Thrice - Promises [Lyric Video]

Because God does not seek his own glory, but seeks the glory of others, because the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all circling each other, glorifying each other, adoring each other, praising each other, serving each other, deferring to each other, because the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are giving glorifying love to one another, God is infinitely happy. - Tim Keller

What Is True Repentance?

2011-08-21T11:00:00.000-04:00

My roommate and I are working on a small group study guide on Mark and I came across these words by Andrew Murray on Mark 1:15:

Repentance is not an actual victory over sin, but the soul has to bring every sin to the feet of the Lord Jesus, the great victor over sin, that He may take it away; and this cannot find place, except by faith which has acknowledged that He is faithful to forgive sin, and to cleanse from all unrighteousness.

Indeed, repentance is not merely a turning away from sin. It necessarily involves a turning to Jesus in faith. If we only turn from sin and fail to turn to God, this would, as Murray says, only "tend to self-righteousness". How often is that my predicament. An aversion to sin with scant affections for God. True repentance involves Christ. If Christ is not involved in our repentance, we are not repenting. If Christ is not the one to whom we turn, we only would turn from sin to sin, from sin to self, from sin to weakness. But if we turn from sin in faith that Jesus finished what he said he finished on the cross, we will find true repentance.

May we go to the cross of Christ all the days of our lives in true repentance. May God grant us this powerful repentance wed to forgiveness of sin in Jesus.

Singing to Build Up

2011-08-20T15:33:00.003-04:00

Singing hymns is not just an opportunity for each of us, as individuals, to worship God in our own way. It's an opportunity for the church, as a whole, to worship God together.

Read the rest here at the 9Marks Blog. And sing tomorrow with all your voice, with all your soul. May the worthiness of God inspire our tongues to sing.

We Don't "Do" Church

2011-08-19T15:15:00.000-04:00

Carl Trueman:

So often Christians can tend to think of the church worship service as something we do: we sing praise to God; we respond to the gospel; and we rejoice in our Saviour. Further, much discussion in the church focuses on what we need to be doing in order for church to be effective. Yet church is, first and foremost, something which God does.

Read the rest here.

The Antidote to Sexual Immorality

2011-08-19T08:21:00.001-04:00

- TableTalk Magazine, Reading for August 19, 2011

Mark Driscoll, Cessationism, and Shenanigans

2011-08-18T20:19:00.000-04:00

Some of you privy to the blogging realm of Christendom may be wondering: What in the world is going on with Mark Driscoll these days? What is cessationism? Who are these people freaking out? What's the deal? I've compiled a chronological host of links related to the shenanigans taking place. I hope they are informative. Please comment with more links if you have them.

7/25 - The Resurgence posts a talk by Driscoll given at a Resurgence conference recently. He details four movements within global Christianity now: Reformed theology, complementarian relationships, Spirit-filled lives, and missional churches.

8/2 - Frank Turk responds in an open letter to some comments Driscoll made in the aforementioned talk.

8/2 - A transcript of a portion of Driscoll's talk is provided.

8/7 - Clint Archer writes a fiery response to Driscoll at The Cripplegate.

8/11 - Nathan Busenitz elaborates on what cessationism is not at The Cripplegate.

8/15 - Phil Johnson writes about "Pornographic Divination" at Pyromaniacs.

8/17 - Doug Wilson chimes in.

8/18 - Phil Johnson and Dan Phillips respond to Doug.

8/18 - Doug Wilson chimes back.

8/18 - Possibly related: A second message by Driscoll on the original topic.

Christian Loners Will Die

2011-08-17T12:00:00.001-04:00

"But this consideration is also very important, that the Lord hath so divided his manifold graces, that no one is to be content with one thing and with his own gifts, but every one has need of the help and aid of his brother. This, I say, is a bond which God hath appointed for retaining friendship among men, for they cannot live without mutual assistance. Thus it happens, that he who in many things seeks the aid of his brethren, ought to communicate to them more freely what he has received."

- John Calvin, commenting on 1 Peter 4:10

The fact that we are directed to "serve one another" with the gifts we have received from God indicates that no single person possesses a totality of gifts from God. We are made for community. There's no way around it.

Can we open our hearts and hands in service to one another? Can we, "above all, keep loving one another earnestly"? We are called to do just that. If we don't we will wallow in our deficient selves - perhaps the worst fate that could befall us in our short time here on Earth.

Let's not be cold to one another and sink in the icy pool of self-centeredness. We have been given "God's varied grace" (1 Pt. 4:10). Let's be vessels who are always tipping over and pouring the grace given to them into others. For God's grace and the sake of the Church.

You Can't Reform The Dead

2011-08-13T22:06:00.002-04:00

Jesus came to raise the dead. He did not come to teach the teachable; He did not come to improve the improvable; He did not come to reform the reformable. None of those things work.

- Robert Farrar Capon

Potent Quotables (8/12)

2011-08-12T17:00:00.001-04:00

Had a fantastic day yesterday. Work, great time in Psalm 16, studied at Starbucks, cooked a great meal, and wrote a song. Looking forward to having lunch with a coworker tomorrow. Recently shared the gospel with her and I am eager to continue that conversation.

Is Internet Explorer For The Dumb? - This was a headline too good to pass up. Who knows how accurate the information is though. So, what browser do you use?
UPDATE: Looks like the story was a hoax. Oh, internet.

Signs - No, not the M. Night Shamalamadingdong movie. "When we come to know Jesus, we do so by joining Him in His mission. All followers of Christ are therefore missionaries. But what does that mean? It means that we are signs."

Ramadan: Praying for a Precious Sense of Emptiness - "It seems to me, therefore, that the way Jesus calls us to pray during Ramadan is that God would reveal to Muslims the emptiness of their worship. Jesus says they are not connecting with the true God. This is tragic. And it is more tragic when they think they are. Awakening to this emptiness would be a precious awakening."

What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power? - Henry Lyte

Potent Quotables (8/11)

2011-08-11T17:00:00.001-04:00

I guess this is the introduction to a new feature of the blog - Potent Quotables. Here you will find a number of links to various things I found worth checking out. I hope you enjoy!

Should The Church Accountant Be The One Called The "Worship Pastor"? Dan Kimball: "What is intriguing is that as we primarily define worship as singing, in terms of sacrifice - singing doesn't cost us too much. We mentally and emotionally bring ascent to our thoughts as we sing and focus on God. But we aren't really sacrificing something. Are we?"

The Road to a Downgrade WSJ: "This is the road to fiscal perdition. The looming debt downgrade only confirms what everyone knows: Congress has made so many promises to so many Americans that there is no conceivable way those promises can be kept. Tax rates might have to rise to 60%, 70%, even 80% to raise the revenues to finance these promises, but that would be economically ruinous."

Are You Worth Dying For? Josh Thiessen: " Let me clarify, you are not worth dying for. That is what makes the gospel such a beautiful thing."

Should You Support Campus Crusade Staff Now That the Name Is Changing? Piper: "Since Campus Crusade for Christ announced (and explained) that it will change its name to Cru, some donors have withdrawn support from Crusade staff. I am writing to say: That’s not a good reason to withdraw your support."

In light of recent clarifying events in London...

Never content with what it has, the unconverted heart always craves more. But the more it acquires, the less fulfillment it has. - S. Lawson

Feeling Far From God?

2011-08-11T10:08:00.001-04:00

"When we sense a distance in our relationship to God, it is wise to ask ourselves if we are engaged in some persistent, impenitent sin that brings the Spirit grief." - Tabletalk, August 10, 2011

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
- Psalm 139:23-24

True Conversion

2011-08-02T17:30:00.000-04:00

True conversion makes a marvellous change in the heart and life of every one who partakes of it. It brings a man off from all his old, fashionable, and delightful lusts, and from the common ways and vices of the world, to the will of God. It alters the mind, judgment, affections, way, and conversation of every one who has experienced it.

- Matthew Henry commenting on 1 Peter 4:1-2

And oh how delightful it is to be converted! To be permanently changed by God. To have "ceased from sin". To no longer be under the bondage of sin's cruel slavery. To be given divine strength to cast off our sinful desires. To be indwelt by God himself.

God's truth, sunk in our souls by the anchor of faith, is overwhelming. Let's live for our loving Father's will. For as the song goes, "We are changed not by the things we arrange, not by the works our hands have done. It's through your Son that we are changed!"

You can't do it

2011-08-01T17:30:00.000-04:00

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.

- Augustus Toplady

You can't save yourself from your sins. You simply - and completely - lack the ability to stand before God as one acceptable to him. Thank our God for Jesus. Take some time and think about this. Even the good I do, which is little, can not save me. I am in the dark apart from God.

And then let the gospel build you up. Jesus alone is able to save me from my sins. He loves me and proved this when he died on that cross, where I should have died. "Fully atoned for" is now the banner under which I stand. Jesus came to save his people and this he accomplished. It is finished.

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

- Psalm 32:1

A child's prayer

2011-07-30T17:30:00.000-04:00

Our Father in heaven, You are above all this world and You are our loving Father. We our your children. Impress our new and permanent identity on our souls - we are your kids. You gave us new life and caused us to be born again. And there's so much more! You gave us a perfect inheritance which is being saved for us in heaven. And that treasure is Yourself, for what else is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading? And there is still more. You made us co-heirs with our elder brother and savior Jesus.

Jesus, you suffered for us so that we wouldn't have to. You suffered to make us sons and daughters, heirs of your Father. You suffered to cancel our sin and break its power over us. We act foolishly and so often run after our sinful passions instead of the Father's will. We are sorry. Teach us that these things will only increase our sorrows.

We're coming back to You, O God! Help us live for your will and sink the gospel deep into our hearts. Give us the eyes of faith, to look to the unseen things, the wonderful things You have in store when we will be with You and You will be with us and we will dwell with God forever.

Our soul thirsts for You. Satisfy us with your love!
Through the Beloved Son, Jesus, amen.

When Satan tempts me to despair

2011-07-30T17:00:00.000-04:00

When the devil throws our sins up to us and declares we deserve death and hell, we ought to speak thus: "I admit that I deserve death and hell. What of it? Does this mean that I shall be sentenced to eternal damnation? By no means. For I know One who suffered and made a satisfaction in my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Where he is, there I shall be also."

- Martin Luther

God's unchanging holiness

2011-07-29T17:29:00.000-04:00

Here's a mediation from one of the elders of Missio Church:

“These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.” (Ezra 2:62-63)

God’s holiness was understood clearly and taken seriously by the governor of the returning exiles in Ezra. Even a hint of impurity barred people from standing in God’s presence. They could not be a part of the priesthood if there was any question regarding their identity.

God’s holiness has not changed. He is the same God. He is still jealous for his glory. Yet we are called “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God” by Peter in spite of our countless offences against this perfect God.

What’s the difference? We stand as beneficiaries of the person and work of Jesus. Our spiritual sacrifices are acceptable to God only because of Christ. May this profoundly shape the way we live and worship.

Jesus' activity in my life

2011-07-28T17:29:00.000-04:00

Recently, on my Tumblr blog, someone asked me this:

What is Jesus doing in the life of Trevor today?

I was glad to give an answer to a good question; I've always been leery of giving anonymous internet users the ability to ask me things. Here's my response:

Jesus is working in my life in thousands of ways, but I am only able to discern one or two. And for that I am thankful. “A thousand things are happening in this one thing.”
I was reading 1 Peter 3 yesterday in my study through one of the more difficult passages I’ve come across in Scripture (3:18-22) and I was taught a few things:

God’s patience with sinners is off-the-charts. (“when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah” is but one example)
Jesus is very much like the ark of Noah for all who believe in him; it delivers us from the waters of God’s wrath.
I am safe in Jesus, through his death and resurrection, from all wrath of God. Anything “bad” I experience is not God’s punitive wrath.

Separate from that, I was outside in a park on my lunch break reading when a young man (probably around my age) saw me reading the Bible and he asked if I read the whole thing and how long it took and then shared his frustrations with trying to understand the Bible when he has read it in the past. I told him that it is helpful to ask the Bible questions, like, “What does this passage say about God? What does it tell me about Jesus? What should my response to this passage be?” I never caught his name, but I prayed for him then and there. I can guarantee if you sit out in a public park in downtown Syracuse, you will find someone to converse with. Also, I regretted not having some evangelistic literature with me when the man was speaking to me. I should spend more time outside. The fields are so ripe.

The aim of worship

2011-07-27T07:49:00.001-04:00

God is the one we want to impress, the one we most want to honor. Our first aim must not be to win over the culture or appeal to the unregenerate. Worship is for the Worthy One.

- Kevin DeYoung

Our worship, corporate worship being the focus here, is meant for God. Any ideology that approaches our activities of worship with man as the focus has begun to lose their footing on a slippery slope of sub-biblical methodology. Our worship is for God alone. If our worship has the unregenerate man as it's focus, we have become humanistic and are performing a mere show of religious pomp. Worship the worthy one (Rev. 5:5-14).

Why should we suffer?

2011-07-26T16:33:00.002-04:00

Now, if Christ was not exempted from sufferings, why should Christians expect it? If he suffered, to expiate sins, why should not we be content when our sufferings are only for trial and correction, but not for expiation? If he, though perfectly just, why should not we, who are all criminals? If he once suffered, and then entered into glory, shall not we be patient under trouble, since it will be but a little time and we shall follow him to glory? If he suffered, to bring us to God, shall not we submit to difficulties, since they are of so much use to quicken us in our return to God, and in the performance of our duty to him?

- Matthew Henry commenting on 1 Peter 3:18

Book Review: True North

2011-07-22T14:10:00.002-04:00

I stumbled across a tweet somewhere on the tangled nest that is Twitter a few months ago where I learned that Kregel, a publishing company, had a program where they gave books away to those who agreed to post a review of the book on their blog. I opted in, chose a book, and here I am writing this review.

The book I chose to receive and review was True North, by Gary and Lisa Heim. Gary and Lisa are Christian counselors who have been in practice many years and the book definitely reflects this. I had never heard of the authors before nor was I even very familiar with Kregel, but their book's subject was most appealing to me out of the choices I had, so I chose True North. It turned out to be a very good decision, and not just because I have a somewhat inordinate affection for books.

If you asked me, "What did this book teach you?" I would tell you this:

Through life, we experience groaning; we experience the longing of desire. When we are confronted with one of life's many frustrations, we groan. We can go in two directions with our groaning: north or south. We can go south, begin to grumble in discontent, believe the lie that God is not enough for us, and seek the fulfillment of our desire in idols or we can go north, identify the lie that says we need something other than God to be satisfied, reject that lie, find satisfaction in God, and then spread our joy in God with others in generous, sacrificial giving. Experience groaning again and repeat.

The authors summarized their book well with this diagram:

Their stated purpose of the book is, "to stir and stoke the fire of your heart's affections for Jesus Christ" (p.24). I have found that this book accomplishes its purpose well. While it focuses largely on instruction on how we can face our groaning and the frustrations of life, the instruction Gary and Lisa give, heeded well, will certainly lead the reader to become a greater lover of Jesus and their fellow man. Here's a few poignant excerpts from the book that stirred my affections:

"Whether the daily problems I'm facing are big or small, I'm learning to stop and prayerfully ask myself questions like these: Do I believe God is sovereign and in control in this painful moment? Do I believe he is good right now, that his love is enough to sustain me no matter what happens? Do I believe God has a good purpose for allowing that car to go slow in front of me, for allowing Lisa to get up from the table and leave? Will I remember God, surrender and submit to him right now, and stop grumbling? Will I stop going south into anger and unbelief and pray for help to go north to Jesus so I can love God and love people from my heart?" (p. 35)

"Frustration and locked doors are gifts from God. They are God's agents of change. Disappointments, annoying people, and difficult circumstances are all used by God to surface the lies we believe." (p. 127)

"Godly grief is sorrow mixed with faith. Grumbling, on the other hand, feels the pain of broken dreams and raises a fist at God. It's sorrow mixed with unbelief." (p. 132)

"You never really see your own folly until you see it in writing." (p. 167)

"[Truth] transforms us when we trust in God's love enough to take the risk of being fully honest and emotionally naked with him; letting him see all our brokenness, sin, and failure. We must linger with him in prayer and confession, allowing him to look deep into our eyes. We must not pull back in shame or try harder to shape up in order to earn his love. In those vulnerable and intimate moments, we have the opportunity to receive and experience God's love." (p. 172)

"We can't become wholehearted followers of Jesus while hiding secrets and cowering in fear or shame." (p. 200)

"We long for safe friends who are not demanding. We long for friendships where we share deep belly laughs around good food at our favorite restaurant. We yearn for good people with whom we can be ourselves, having no need to pretend. But it's easy to have friends who are just fun, convenient, and comfortable. That poses a problem. There's no risk and little chance of growth. People who are hungry for God long for something more than safety and good times." (p. 232)

Gary and Lisa quote a number of helpful people throughout the book, such as John Piper (the authors reiterate Piper's thesis of christian hedonism in their own words at one point), C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer, A.W. Tozer, John Ortberg, and Larry Crabb (who wrote the foreword). If you are wondering about the author's commitment to orthodox, biblical Christianity, then fear not. They are solid. I particularly liked their thoughts on how God's word changes us (starts at p. 217). The only thing that made me scratch my head and feel a little disconnect was their usage of the phrase "still, small voice." I can't find the passage where they used such language (sorry), but my point is that I think more clear language could be used instead of that cliche term which carries some strange baggage with it (a.k.a. the "God told me so syndrome").

One interesting thing was that this book heavily uses the New Living Translation (NLT) of the Bible and to a lesser extent The Message by Eugene Peterson. I had not been a huge fan of these two biblical sources before but I have come to appreciate them more through this book, especially the NLT. I might pick a copy up.

To conclude, I recommend True North for your reading pleasure and edification. It presents a biblical, God-honoring framework that can help you address frustrations and direct you to worship God in how you live life. This is very much a whole life book - you can apply something from this book to every day of your life. Oh, and it has wonderful end-of-chapter discussion/reflection questions!

Immediate grace

2011-07-21T17:01:00.001-04:00

Times of quiet prayer are often the times when my soul tastes the sweetest communion with Christ. And though it is pleasant to find a silent atmosphere in which to pray, it is a greater pleasure to shatter that silence with prayers transforming into the praise of my lips.

Where do you find the sweetest, experiential, and immediate connections with our gracious Lord?

You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, LORD, do I seek." - Psalm 27:8

Homosexuality and the gospel

2011-07-19T11:57:00.001-04:00

The normalization of homosexuality simply cannot be accepted by anyone committed to biblical Christianity. The new secular orthodoxy demands that Christians abandon the clear teachings of Scripture, and Christians must understand that the sinfulness of all homosexual behaviors is not only a matter of biblical authority, but also of the Gospel. To deny that sin is sin is to deny our need for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christians cannot accept any teaching that minimizes sin, for it is the knowledge of our sin that points us to our need for atonement, salvation, and the forgiveness of that sin through the cross of Jesus Christ.

- Albert Mohler, "Reparative Therapy, Homosexuality, and the Gospel of Jesus"

Gospel work and secular work

2011-07-18T17:00:00.000-04:00

Gospel work has a unique significance in God’s plans for the world. We don’t make disciples of Jesus by building better bridges, but by prayerfully bringing the word of God to people. And this is the duty, joy and privilege of every disciple, in whatever circumstance of life they find themselves. Secular work is valuable and good, and must not be despised or downgraded. But it is not the centre or purpose of our lives, nor the means by which God will save the world.

- Colin Marshal and Tony Payne, The Trellis and the Vine, (Kingsford NSW: Matthias Media, 2009), p. 139

HT: OFI

Never-ending Peace

2011-07-18T16:11:00.001-04:00

God shall be our life and the length of our days, and that will be indeed long life, with an addition. But, because length of days may possibly become a burden and a trouble, it is promised, (2.) That it shall prove the way to be easy too, so that even the days of old age shall not be evil days, but days in which thou shalt have pleasure: Peace shall they be continually adding to thee. As grace increases, peace shall increase; and of the increase of Christ's government and peace, in the heart as well as in the world, there shall be no end. Great and growing peace have those that love the law.

- Matthew Henry commenting on Proverbs 3:1-4 (bold added)

8 Things Jesus Does For Us

2011-07-16T21:45:00.001-04:00

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4-5)

Look at what is said of Jesus in this passage:

-As you come to him
We can actually approach Jesus. We, depraved and unclean sinners, can approach Jesus for personal fellowship, communion, love, unity, help, and joy.

-a living stone
Jesus is alive. He is the cornerstone and foundation of the spiritual house of his people, the Church. Jesus is alive! This cornerstone will never crumble.

-rejected by men
As in the time of his life on Earth, he is still rejected by men. Mankind inherently wants nothing to do with Jesus. His words and very being make sinners bristle with hate. We don't come to him for love, forgiveness, and acceptance naturally.

-in the sight of God chosen and precious
Though rejected by men, Jesus is perfectly loved by God his Father. Jesus alone is the chosen vessel of God sent to save his people. Jesus is infinitely precious. God recognizes this and loves him accordingly. We constantly fail to grasp the preciousness of Jesus and love him with the vigor that he is worthy of. The commandment to "love God" makes the most sense viewed in light of the preciousness of Jesus, who is God.

-you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house
When we come to Jesus simply to be with him, hear from him, and receive his help, we are built up. We are spiritually fortified, made into strong people with vibrant spirits. We are built together in community. God is a master builder who brings the living stones of men and women into a community, into a corporate structure that has a purpose. This building of people is greater than the individual parts. A single stone can fulfill no real purpose, but when myriads of stones are built together, they form a structure that can be used by God.

-to be a holy priesthood
Jesus is building up a plethora of priests - those who serve God and point others to God. This new breed of servants are made holy by God himself. As the high priest could only enter into the inner room of the tabernacle/temple once a year after completing all the appointed sacrifices, now the new priests of God can enter into the holy place of God's presence at any time because the greater and final Lamb has been sacrificed once for all, opening access to the dwelling place of God for the new priests. Every Christian is made a priest by Jesus, who grants full and unhindered access to God through the sacrifice of his life. The Christian needs no man to stand between him and God to mediate for he himself has been made a priest.

-to offer spiritual sacrifices
God grants us the privilege and service of offering spiritual sacrifices to himself. What are these spiritual things but our very lives and bodies (Rom. 12:1-2)? To offer our very being to God is a great privilege indeed, akin to the honor a lowly servant may experience in his service to the king, or like the affection between a willing and loving bondservant and his master (Deut. 15:16-17).

-acceptable to God through Jesus Christ
The only sacrifice of our life that is acceptable to God is the one that is made holy through Jesus Christ. We are the blemished and defect-ridden sheep of the flock but Jesus is the spotless Lamb of God. Even though our sacrifices to God are impure of themselves, they are made holy by the pure sacrifice of Jesus.

I'm thrilled with Jesus and all he does for us. Aren't you too?

10 Resolutions for Mental Health

2011-07-16T00:13:00.002-04:00

1. At least once every day I shall look steadily up at the sky and remember that I, a consciousness with a conscience, am on a planet traveling in space with wonderfully mysterious things above and about me.

2. Instead of the accustomed idea of a mindless and endless evolutionary change to which we can neither add nor subtract, I shall suppose the universe guided by an Intelligence which, as Aristotle said of Greek drama, requires a beginning, a middle, and an end. I think this will save me from the cynicism expressed by Bertrand Russell before his death when he said: "There is darkness without, and when I die there will be darkness within. There is no splendor, no vastness anywhere, only triviality for a moment, and then nothing."

3. I shall not fall into the falsehood that this day, or any day, is merely another ambiguous and plodding twenty-four hours, but rather a unique event, filled, if I so wish, with worthy potentialities. I shall not be fool enough to suppose that trouble and pain are wholly evil parentheses in my existence, but just as likely ladders to be climbed toward moral and spiritual manhood.

4. I shall not turn my life into a thin, straight line which prefers abstractions to reality. I shall know what I am doing when I abstract, which of course I shall often have to do.

5. I shall not demean my own uniqueness by envy of others. I shall stop boring into myself to discover what psychological or social categories I might belong to. Mostly I shall simply forget about myself and do my work.

6. I shall open my eyes and ears. Once every day I shall simply stare at a tree, a flower, a cloud, or a person. I shall not then be concerned at all to ask what they are but simply be glad that they are. I shall joyfully allow them the mystery of what Lewis calls their "divine, magical, terrifying and ecstatic" existence.

7. I shall sometimes look back at the freshness of vision I had in childhood and try, at least for a little while, to be, in the words of Lewis Carroll, the "child of the pure unclouded brow, and dreaming eyes of wonder."

8. I shall follow Darwin's advice and turn frequently to imaginative things such as good literature and good music, preferably, as Lewis suggests, an old book and timeless music.

9. I shall not allow the devilish onrush of this century to usurp all my energies but will instead, as Charles Williams suggested, "fulfill the moment as the moment." I shall try to live well just now because the only time that exists is now.

10. Even if I turn out to be wrong, I shall bet my life on the assumption that this world is not idiotic, neither run by an absentee landlord, but that today, this very day, some stroke is being added to the cosmic canvas that in due course I shall understand with joy as a stroke made by the architect who calls himself Alpha and Omega.

- Dr. Clyde Kilby

(Taken shamelessly from Desiring God)

Peru: The Gospel Continues to Spread

2011-06-16T16:32:00.005-04:00

UPDATE
Most of the remaining $600 I needed has been provided. Praise be to God who always provides. If you would still like to give, teams will be returning to Peru in the future, so please contact me. For now, I am taking down the Paypal link below.

Blog readers, Twitter followers, Facebook friends, brothers and sisters,

The purpose of this post is this: to present you with an opportunity to partner with your fellow worker in the Gospel for the spread of the good news of Jesus Christ. Let me give you a brief history of my connections with Peru.

I traveled to the nation of Peru in 2007 (2 weeks) and 2008 (2 months). This year, from June 28-July 13 I will return to Peru. In 2007 I and others traveled to a small village called Huancapi and in 2008 a team stayed in a village in a different region: Laramate. Laramate and the surrounding towns have been “adopted” by a consortium of Baptist churches in the Central New York region. The team I was on in 2008 was among the first groups to visit Laramate and establish significant connections there. At the end of our stay in 2008, we recorded around 50 confessions of faith in Christ. In the time since my return from Peru, I have not had the chance to gain much information regarding the spiritual state of the people in Laramate. Multiple teams have visited Laramate since my departure in 2008. I am not sure how much fruit has been borne to God’s glory, simply due to lack of information. That said, I am eager to return and see how the Spirit has been moving in Laramate and also eager to proclaim the gospel and encourage the saints in Laramate.

When I soon return to Peru our team will continue the primary work we have done before: engage the people there in conversation and relationship and plant seeds of gospel teaching in their lives. We have previously done this through one on one meetings and Bible studies, often walking through the gospel of John.

Having now explained the trip and some background, I could tell you all the biblical reasons to give financially and pray for this endeavor, but I trust that you are familiar with those passages and teachings. More than anything, I want to give you a chance to:

1. Partner with me in spreading the gospel
2. Express generosity and pray with impudence (Luke 11:8)

That said, I plead for your prayers for the people of Laramate and the visiting missionaries more than anything. I am convinced that God moves when we petition him with our prayers in a shameless and frequent manner (Luke 11:5-8). Please pray frequently.

I forgot to mention this in the original post, but I am bringing a small library in Spanish from Desiring God set to present as a gift to a seminary in a city near Laramate. I am friends with the director of the seminary and I am really looking forward to surprising him with this gift.

The nitty-gritty:

New Blog Schedule

2011-06-15T23:32:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone, I have been thinking lately that I would like to be a better blogger in many ways so I am going to be stepping back from writing for a while (and posting random things) in the interest of getting a plan together for writing well. I imagine this will look like 1-2 thought out original posts per week from myself and then sporadic links to other blogs throughout the week.

So, until the new schedule takes effect, the "Daily Gospel" posts will become less, well, daily. (Don't stop beating the gospel into your head though!)

If you would like to read my thoughts on any specific topic, please leave a comment. I would be more than glad to accommodate any requests I receive.

Daily Gospel: Jesus is the Bread

2011-06-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
(John 6:35 ESV)

The longings we experience reflect the true essence of our being. "They are who we are," says Gary Heim in True North. The child's cry to be held close, the heavy heart of a wife longing for her husband, the vacuous human heart seeking satisfaction in something. We are beings of desire, longing, and yearning.

Have you considered what Jesus is saying about himself? He says to the crowds seeking a king, seeking a daily meal, that he is the food for the human soul. Jesus says that there is life emanating from his own being - true soul food. If Jesus is the bread of life, what can we say of all other "breads" we fill the stomachs of our soul with? Can they permanently eliminate our soul's hunger and thirst? No, not eliminate, but can the breads of life satisfy?

And all that Jesus is he is for us, for free. Let us go to the Bread of God and eat, for this brings him great glory.

Daily Gospel: Call and Response

2011-06-09T09:43:00.000-04:00

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.

- Psalm 86:5-7

Call upon God, receive his bountiful, steadfast love.
Plead for grace, he answers.

It's quite simple, you see.

Daily Gospel: A Debtor To Mercy Alone

2011-06-08T09:42:00.001-04:00

A debtor to mercy alone,
Of covenant mercy I sing,
Nor fear, with God's righteousness on,
My person and off'rings to bring.
The terrors of law and of God
With me can have nothing to do;
My Savior's obedience and blood
Hide all my transgressions from view.The work which His goodness began,

The arm of His strength will complete;
His promise is Yea and Amen,
And never was forfeited yet.
Things future, nor things that are now,
Not all things below or above,
Can make Him His purpose forego,
Or sever my soul from His love.My name from the palms of His hands

Eternity will not erase;
Imprest on His heart, it remains
In marks of indelible grace.
Yes! I to the end shall endure,
As sure as the earnest is giv'n;
More happy, but not more secure,
When all earthly ties have been riv'n.

- Augustus Toplady

Daily Gospel: Approach My Soul, The Mercy Seat

2011-06-07T09:19:00.000-04:00

Approach my soul, the mercy seat
Where Holy One and helpless meet
There fall before my Judgesʼ feet
Thy promise is my only plea, O God

Send wings to lift the clutch of sin
You who dwell between the cherubim
From war without and fear within
Relieve the grief from the shoulders of crumbling men

O God –
Pour out your mercy to me
My God,
Oh what striking love to bleed.

Fashion my heart in your alchemy
With the brass to front the devilʼs purgery
And surefire grace my Jesus speaks
I must. I will. I do believe. Oh Lord.

- Jamie Barnes / John Newton

Help Out A Great Ministry

2011-06-07T08:23:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite ministries, Desiring God, needs about $200,000 to meet their budget. Would you consider giving to help them? If you know anything about this ministry, you know it is dead-set on glorifying God, and for that they are certainly worthy of assistance - in joyful giving!

Here are some stats on their website from their most recent fiscal year:

3.6 million website visitors (up 31% previous YTD)

25% of website visits now coming from outside the US (232 countries & territories)
409,000 books distributed
850 translated online resources now available in over 40 languages
4 new language DG websites released (Chinese, Czech, Spanish, Swahili)

Daily Gospel: God's "Yes" to us in Christ

2011-06-06T09:20:00.000-04:00

In Galatians 3:29 (RSV) Paul wrote, "If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise" (see Ephesians 3:6; Galatians 3:14, 22; Hebrews 9:15). All the promises of God for the good of his people are in Christ. He confirms them and secures them and purchases them for all who "are Christ's" - for all who believe and belong to him (Galatians 3:22). Every sinner who comes to God in Christ, with all his needs, finds God coming to him in Christ, with all his promises. When a sinful person meets the holy God in Christ what he hears is Yes. God, do you love me? Yes. Will you forgive me? Yes. Will you accept me? Yes. Will you help me change? Yes. Will you give me power to serve you? Yes. Will you keep me? Yes. Will you show me your glory? Yes.

- John Piper, Future Grace, p. 105

A Mighty Fortress

2011-06-04T16:35:00.000-04:00

Writing a brief article on this great hymn for Missio Church. Keep your eyes peeled...

Daily Gospel: John Newton on Indwelling Sin

2011-06-03T16:35:00.000-04:00

The depravity of the heart — which impedes us when we would do good, and pollutes our best intended services with evil. We have cause, upon this account, to walk softly all our days; yet we need not sorrow as those who have no hope. The Lord has provided his people relief under those complaints, and teaches us to draw improvement from them. If the evils we feel were not capable of being overruled for good — He would not permit them to remain in us. This we may infer from his hatred to sin — and the love which He bears to his people.
As to the remedy, neither our state nor his honor are affected by the workings of indwelling sin — in the hearts of those whom He has taught to wrestle, strive, and mourn, on account of what they feel. Though sin wars in us — it shall not reign in us. And though it breaks our peace — it cannot separate from his love. Nor is it inconsistent with his holiness, and perfection, to manifest his favor to such poor defiled creatures, or to admit them to communion with himself; for they are not considered as in themselves — but as one with Jesus, to whom they have fled for refuge, and by whom they live a life of faith.
They are accepted in the Beloved. They act from a principle of love. They aim at no less than his glory. Their habitual desires are supremely fixed upon himself. There is a difference in kind between the feeblest efforts of faith in a real believer, while he is covered with shame at the thoughts of his sins — and the highest and most splendid attainments of those who are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight.
Nor shall this conflict remain long, or the enemy finally prevail over them. They are supported by almighty power — and led on to certain victory. They shall not always be — as they are now; yet a little while, and they shall be freed from this vile body, which, like the leprous house, is incurably contaminated, and must be entirely taken down. Then they shall see Jesus as He is, and be like him, and with him forever.

- John Newton, Indwelling Sin and Believer

Via Ben Terry

Daily Gospel: God Leads Sinners

2011-06-02T07:00:00.003-04:00

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.

- Psalm 25:8-14

A few things:

God instructs sinners in the way of life, the way of righteousness, God's path. Does this not manifest his goodness, that one who is holy and perfect would teach and lead the dirty and guilty?
Being humiliated does not equal being humbled. The humble man realizes his sorry estate apart from God and then flees to God for direction, help, and forgiveness from the guilt of sin.
All the paths of the LORD are "love and faithfulness". All of them. He will never stray into sin and thus man can never bring a valid charge against him.
It is immeasurably freeing to petition God to forgive our sins for his name's sake. This is a recurring theme in the Bible. God's people ask him to wash away their sins on account of the mercy that God is known for showing. It is indeed proper to ask God to forgive us so that he will forever prove himself to be merciful and loving.
God's friendship is for those who fear him. The fear of the LORD (a topic worthy of many more posts) is the proper framework in which man relates to God. The man who knows God fears him and so God unites the man to himself in an everlasting covenant and calls the God-fearer his friend.

Looking Down On Sinners

2011-06-01T15:38:00.000-04:00

I came across this in the daily Bible study on Ephesians 2:11 in TableTalk magazine:

Paul reminds the Gentiles of their desperate situation before Christ came and shows them that they have no reason to look down upon the Jews. We, too, should remember how far off we were from God before Jesus so that we never haughtily look down upon those who do not know the Savior. We are not inherently better than those who are outside the covenant community, but have as much need of the gospel as they do.

Here is an excerpt of what I wrote this morning in response to this verse/commentary:

I am not in any way better than my friends, acquaintances, coworkers, and family members who do not know Jesus. I need the gospel just as much as they do. Be careful not to elevate yourself in pride. How does pride manifest itself in this manner in my life?

- When I think that God doesn’t care for and love my lost friends/coworkers. He does love them. But in what manner does he love them? He sent Jesus as a full and open offer of redemption and grace, free of any meritorious works on our part. God sent Jesus for sinners and we are all sinners. Many will reject Jesus, few will he save.

- When I think that God is unable to save them. When I am rightly disgusted by the sins of the lost, I may quickly jump to the conclusion that they are irredeemable. This betrays God’s grace shown to me and all others who he has saved.

The Desire to Evangelize

2011-05-31T12:33:00.001-04:00

Here's a few words from Donald Whitney writing in the May 2011 edition of TableTalk magazine:

One effect of the gospel upon the believer's heart is the creation of a new "gospeler", that is, a person who wants to tell others about the person and work of Jesus Christ. Notice that I said the person wants to evangelize. For various reasons, he may often fail to do so, bu the desire is present. And the desire isn't based upon merely wanting to live up to others' expectation, but is rather a genuine longing to see people become followers of Jesus.

Daily Gospel: Kiss My Backside, Devil

2011-05-31T07:00:00.000-04:00

It is the supreme art of the devil that he can make the law out of the gospel. If I can hold on to the distinction between law and gospel, I can say to him any and every time that he should kiss my backside. Even if I sinned I would say, ‘Should I deny the gospel on this account?’ … Once I debate about what I have done and left undone, I am finished. But if I reply on the basis of the gospel, ‘The forgiveness of sins covers it all,’ I have won.

- Martin Luther, via OFI

This was too good to pass up. "Kiss my backside" + "if I reply on the basis of the gospel" = Martin Luther gold.

Daily Gospel: The One Whose Opinion Most Matters

2011-05-30T07:00:00.001-04:00

Sin itself turns you in on yourself, blinding you to God. Guilt also tends to turn you in on yourself. Self-laceration exalts your opinion of yourself as supremely important; shame exalts the opinion of other people. But living repentance and living faith turn outward to the one whose opinion most matters. What God chooses to “remember” about you will prove decisive. Your conscience, if well-tuned, is secondary and dependent on the stance He takes. If the Lord is merciful, then mercy has final say. It is beyond our comprehension that God acts mercifully for His sake, because of what He is like. Wrap your heart around this, and the typical aftermath of sin will never be the same. You will stand in joy and gratitude, not grovel in shame. You’ll be able to get back about the business of life with fresh resolve, not just with good intentions and some flimsy New Year’s resolutions to do better next time. This is our hope. This is our deepest need. This is our Lord’s essential, foundational gift. You know people who need to know this. They typically mishandle the aftermath of sin with further forms of the God-lessness that also manufactured sin. You, too, need to know how faith in Christ’s mercy decenters you off of yourself and recenters you onto the living God’s promise and character. The one with whom we have to do freely offers mercy and grace to help us by the lovingkindness of the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:13-16).

- David Powlison, "Making All Things New: Restoring Purity to the Sexually Broken"

Via CCEF

Restoring Pure Joy to the Sexually Broken

2011-05-28T12:26:00.002-04:00

Here are a few excerpts from an excellent article from David Powlison:

We often underestimate just how radically biblical faith relies on grace. Grace means that what makes things right comes to you from the outside. It’s the sheer gift that someone else gives to you. You don’t get it by jumping through certain religious hoops. You are forgiven, accepted, saved from death outside of yourself and because of Another. Listen to how a man of faith dealt forthrightly with his former sins. The italics highlight how much your hope amid real guilt lies outside of you:
Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and Your lovingkindnesses,
for they have been from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions.
According to Your lovingkindness remember me,
for Your goodness’ sake, O LORD.…
For Your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my iniquity for it is great.
– Psalm 25:6f, 11

The romantic novel genre has even made a crossover to evangelical Christian publishing houses. The sex is cleaned up; the knight in shining armor is also a deep spiritual leader who marries you before sleeping with you. But the fantasy appeal to intimacy and romance lusts remains as the inner engine that allures readers.

We must have a vision for a long process (life-long), with a glorious end (the Day), that is actually going somewhere (today). Put those three together in the right way, and you have a practical theology that’s good to go and good for the going.

No one ever says, “I’ve made it. No more forks in the road. No more places I might stumble and fall flat. No more hard, daily choices to make.” Look at yourself. Life never operates on cruise control. The living God seems content to work in His church and in people groups on a scale of generations and centuries. The living God seems content to work in individuals (you, me, the person you are trying to help) on a scale of decades, throughout a whole lifetime.

The key to getting a long view of sanctification is to understand direction. What matters most is not the distance you’ve covered. It’s not the speed you’re going. It’s not how long you’ve been a Christian. It’s the direction you’re heading.

Daily Gospel: Satisfactory Blood

2011-05-27T10:22:00.000-04:00

The Israelites at the time of the exodus knew they had escaped the night of God’s judgement through trusting in the blood of the Passover lambs on their doorposts.

Notice that the blood was to be placed on the outside of their houses. The blood was for God to see, not for their benefit. The blood was not to make them feel good or feel safe. The blood was not for their feelings at all. The blood was to satisfy God. It was for his eyes alone. God said, ‘When I see the blood I will pass over you’ (Exodus 12:13).

We have peace, not because we feel good, but because God is satisfied with the blood. Only he can evaluate the worth of the lamb. Because he is satisfied, we have peace.

Terry Virgo, God's Lavish Grace, (Oxford, UK: Monarch Books, 2003), 45

Borrowed shamelessly from OFI

Light and Salt

2011-05-26T09:23:00.001-04:00

John Piper, writing in TableTalk Magazine this month on the topic of being a Christian exile:

The salt of the earth does not mock rotting meat. Where it can, it saves and seasons. Where it can't, it weeps. And the light of the world does not withdraw, saying "good riddance" to godless darkness. It labors to illuminate. But not dominate.

This is a helpful reminder and rebuke to those such as myself who can quickly become so disgusted and angry with the people around us. Am I not the light of the world and the salt of the earth? May I never lose my saltiness, for then I will be only useful for being trampled underfoot.

Daily Gospel: The Water and The Blood

2011-05-26T07:03:00.000-04:00

Lord we confess our many faults And how great our guilt has been
Foolish and vain were all of our thoughts
No good could come from within

But by the mercy of our God
All our hopes begin
And by the water and the blood
Our souls are washed from sin

Itʼs not by the works of righteousness
Which our own hands have done
But we are saved by our Fatherʼs grace
Abounding through His Son

- Isaac Watts

Sojourn Community Church has recently put out an album titled "The Water and The Blood" based off this hymn. Go get it.

Daily Gospel: Hearts and Hopes in Heaven

2011-05-25T07:00:00.000-04:00

In the strength of Divine grace their souls shall ascend above the world. They shall run the way of God's commandments cheerfully. Let us watch against unbelief, pride, and self-confidence. If we go forth in our own strength, we shall faint, and utterly fall; but having our hearts and our hopes in heaven, we shall be carried above all difficulties, and be enabled to lay hold of the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus.

- Matthew Henry, Commenting on Isaiah 40:27-31

Daily Gospel: "But"

2011-05-24T09:21:00.000-04:00

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved

Ephesians 2:4-5

TableTalk Magazine notes: "Mercy - unexpected love and generosity - cannot be showered upon us as something owed, because mercy that is owed is not mercy but obligation."

Daily Gospel: Washed Robes

2011-05-23T09:39:00.001-04:00

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

- Revelation 7:13-14, Emphasis added.

What robes are washed? Only dirty ones. But how are robes made clean by washing them in blood? How can something so red make something so white?

Daily Gospel: No Other Blood or Name

2011-05-21T07:00:00.001-04:00

Who but the soul that’s led to know
How just and holy is the law,
Will to the cross of Christ repair,
And seek salvation only there?

[Jesus, my soul’s compelled to flee
From all its wrath and curse to thee;
Though oft, through pride, my stubborn will
To Sinai feels a cleaving still.]

Sinner, if thou art taught to see
How great thy guilt and misery,
In every thought and act impure,
The blood of Christ thy soul can cure.

Daily to feel thyself undone,
Will make thee haste to kiss the Son,
And on thy knees for pardon sue,
And praise, and bless, and love him too.

[To feel thy shame and nakedness,
Will make thee love that glorious dress
That sets from condemnation free,
And from the curse delivers thee.

Without a seam this garment’s wove,
Bequeathed in everlasting love;
Ere time began, designed to be
A royal robe to cover thee.]

We seek no other blood or name,
To cleanse our guilt and hide our shame,
But that wrought out by Christ the Son,
Which God imputes, and faith puts on.

J. Kent, Gadsby's Hymns, #113

Daily Gospel: Wise, Kind, Tender

2011-05-20T07:00:00.002-04:00

Let me not be at my own disposal,
but rejoice that I am under the care of one
who is too wise to err,
too kind to injure,
too tender to crush.

- The Valley of Vision, "Jesus My Glory", p. 43

Sharper than a Two-Edged Sword?

2011-05-19T17:00:00.000-04:00

Dane Ortlund comments on a common interpretation of Hebrews 4:12 and its shortcomings. Here's a quote:

I think Hebrews 4:12 is really getting at the same core idea expressed in Jesus' quote of Isaiah 6 in Matthew 13 to the effect that God's revealed truth does not leave people where they were: it either further hardens them or opens their eyes. To some the gospel is the aroma of life, to others the aroma of death (2 Cor. 2:15-17; again the logos of God, v. 17). Which is precisely what is meant in the context of Hebrews 4--the good news of promised rest for God's people landed on some to their hardening and on others to their rejoicing

Daily Gospel: Blest Be The Lamb

2011-05-19T07:00:00.001-04:00

When I can read my title clear
To mansions beyond this life,
I'll bid farewell to every fear,
And wipe my weeping eyes.

Then I will bathe my weary soul
In seas of heav'nly rest,
And not a wave of trouble will roll
Across my peaceful breast.

Blest be the Lamb, my dearest Lord,
Who bought me with his blood,
And quenched his Father's flaming sword
In his own vital flood

Should earth a war against me wage,
And hellish darts be hurled,
Then I can laugh at Satan's rage,
And face a frowning world

The Lamb, He freed my captive soul
From Satan's heavy chains,
And sent the lion down to howl
Where hell and horror reign.

Let cares like a deluge come,
And storms of sorrow fall,
May I but safely reach my home,
My God, my heav'n, my all!

- Sojourn, "Blest Be The Lamb" (Link to PDF)

All My Delight

2011-05-18T17:00:00.001-04:00

In the quiet, in the stillness
I know that You are God
In the secret of Your presence
I know there I am restored

When You call I won’t refuse
Each new day again I’ll choose
There is no one else for me
None but Jesus
Crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

In the chaos, in confusion
I know You’re Sovereign still
In the moment of my weakness
You give me grace to do Your will
All my delight is in You Lord
All of my hope, all of my strength
All my delight is in You Lord Forevermore

- Hillsong United, "None But Jesus"

May this be the song of my heart and lips: All my delight is in You Lord.

Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

- Psalm 73:25

Daily Gospel: 5/18/11 - Psalm 18 & Jesus' Reign

2011-05-18T07:00:00.002-04:00

As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me;
foreigners came cringing to me.
Foreigners lost heart
and came trembling out of their fortresses.

- Psalm 18:44-45

This post is going to be a little strange. How in the world does one see gospel truth in the verses above?

When I was reading Psalm 18 last night and came to these verses, I immediately focused on the words "obeyed" and "foreigners". Before David describes the response of the foreign nations around Israel to his deliverance from Saul and all his enemies (see the title of the Psalm), he speaks of how he has brought destruction to his enemies. He "pursued [his] enemies and overtook them" and "beat them like fine dust" and "cast them out like the mire of the streets". Those are powerful words describing David's actions towards his enemies. Naturally, David did not literally pulverize his opponents to dust physically or throw them into the street like sewage in a bucket, but we can get a poetic sense of the severity with which David's enemies were dealt.

How does this relate to the gospel?

Jesus triumphed over death, sin, and Satan, as many have preached. Indeed, these are all true. Additionally, if all the words of the scriptures testify of Jesus, and they do according to Jesus who said so on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24), then this psalm must somehow point to Christ.

I am far from an expert on prophecy, OT/NT connections, and writing exegetically in general, but let me offer some thoughts.

Jesus was a descendant of David and ultimately the climatic figure in that royal line. Jesus is the recipient of God's steadfast love because he is the anointed one - the Messiah (Ps. 18:50).
If foreign nations came to David with trembling fear after hearing of his conquests, how much more should we revere and fear Jesus, who had a far greater conquest than David, a conquest over death itself?
Just as foreigners came to David in trembling fear, so will people from every nation come to Jesus because of his blood by which they are ransomed (Rev. 5:9).
David tells of how he will sing praises to the LORD "among the nations" (Ps. 18:49). Jesus is the divine King who calls people from every tribe to himself in joyful worship (Rev. 7:9).

Daily Gospel: 5/17/11

2011-05-17T07:39:00.001-04:00

As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.

- Psalm 17:15

From my interpretation of Psalm 17, David is contrasting beholding God's face in righteousness and being satisfied with the earthly abundance and happiness that the wicked enjoy (17:4). The one who finds his satisfaction in God is directly contrasted with those "whose portion is in this life" (17:4).

I'm writing to myself here - let's not find our portion in this world for "the world is passing away along with desires". All Christian hope (in the biblical meaning, not the anxious 21st-century "hope") is to be directed heavenward. All future longings and fuel for present living is to come from seeking "the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God" (Col. 3:1).

Those are just some things I am learning, the application is yours to discern.

Public Schools: Fields of Harvest

2011-05-14T10:47:00.000-04:00

Drue Warner, director of Live, Work and Play Ministries at Atlanta’s Perimeter Church (PCA):

"We may have cared about our communities evangelistically, but we haven’t cared holistically about the needs of our communities. If we want to see God do a work of transformation in our communities, it really starts by building relationships with families, because there’s a lot of breakdown in families. And one of the best places to build a relationship with families is in our public schools. They’re the hubs of our communities."

HT: byFaith

I tutored children at a local middle school once a week for a semester a few years back as part of required service for an organization I was in. I did not get to know the children from that school closely but I can clearly see that messengers of the gospel are needed to minister to these children and by connection, their families. The brokenness of families in this world is certainly far worse than I realize and likely a problem (perhaps one of the most significant problems in this world) that has few people working to solve it.

Will we go to these fields of harvest or let them languish and die?

Go to a local school. Discover the places to serve. Bring the gospel on ready feet. Ask around in your local church to find connections to the schools. Connect with people!

Here's one more quote from the article:

"We can preach the gospel in the public schools, and the way we’re going to do that is through our lives, by allowing teachers, students, families, and administrators to experience the love of Christ through our actions, with a goal of provoking them to ask questions, provoking them to curiosity.’ Once that happens, you can talk about whatever you want."

(One of the main reasons I share this is because I travel past two schools on my way to work every day. I need to get connected!)

Daily Gospel: 5/12/11

2011-05-11T22:04:00.000-04:00

Give praise to King Jesus, the blessed Son
Victorious, glorious resurrected One
To Him belongs the power, glory and honor
Ascended where He sits at the right hand of the Father
At the cross He made atonement- His people He saved
After three days He was raised in defeat of the grave
By faith the elect behold Him, His scepter is golden
He must have been hot or slippery because death couldn’t hold Him
The spotlight is on today’s icons
In a thousand years, nobody will care- their light’s gone
But at that time, Christ will still shine bright
He’s not in the limelight- He IS the limelight
Criminal minded, you’ve been blinded
Looking for the body of Jesus? You won’t find it
We never lack spirit, letting you cats hear it
Because His tomb is empty like most secular rap lyrics

- Shai Linne, "Jesus Is Alive (House of Tea Remix)", The Atonement

I love me some good gospel-centered rap. The Atonement is one of the finest examples of such art. I commend it to you.

Daily Gospel: 5/11/11

2011-05-11T08:01:00.000-04:00

Lord, how secure my conscious was
And felt no inward dread
I was alive without the Law
And thought my sins were dead.

My hopes of heaven were firm and bright
But then Your standard came
With a convincing power and light
To show how vile I am

Chorus
Let Your blood plead for me
Let Your blood wash me clean
I believe, Lord I believe
Your blood has covered me.

My guilt appeared so small before,
Till terribly I saw
How perfect, holy, just and pure
Was Your eternal Law

My soul was in the bonds of sin,
The cold and jagged chain.
I had provoked a dreadful God
All my hopes were slain

Let Your blood plead for me
Let Your blood wash me clean
I believe, Lord I believe
Your blood has covered me.

- Sojourn, "Let Your Blood Plead For Me", Text by Isaac Watts Arranged by Jeremy Quillo & Bobby Gilles

I love hymns that tell the spiritual story of progression from death and hopelessness to hope in Christ, even if only the last word of the last line points to Christ.

Daily Gospel: 5/10/11

2011-05-10T06:55:00.000-04:00

It’s where we see Your holiness- at the cross
We see that You’re controlling this- at the cross
We see how You feel about sin- at the cross
Your unfathomable love for men- at the cross
It’s where we see Your sovereignty- at the cross
We see our idolatry- at the cross
We know that there’s a judgment day- from the cross
May we never take our eyes away- from the cross

- Shai Linne, "The Cross (3 Hours)", from the album The Atonement

Daily Gospel: 5/9/11

2011-05-09T07:08:00.000-04:00

My grand objection to the religious system still held by many who declare themselves orthodox Churchmen…is, that it tends to render Christianity so much a system of prohibitions rather than of privilege and hopes, and thus the injunction to rejoice, so strongly enforced in the NT, is practically neglected, and Religion is made to wear a forbidding and gloomy air and not one of peace and hope and joy.

- William Wilberforce, A Practical View of Christianity

Via What's Best Next

Daily Gospel: 5/8/11

2011-05-08T07:00:00.000-04:00

It is astonishing that he gave the Beloved for those who hated him...If even we hated him and were enemies he gave the Beloved, what will he not do for us now?

- John Crysostom commenting on Ephesians 1:7, via TableTalk Magazine, May 2011, p.34

Daily Gospel: 5/7/11

2011-05-07T07:00:00.002-04:00

We often want to change to prove ourselves to God or to other people or to ourselves. But this puts our glory at the centre of change and that is pretty much a definition of sin. Plus Jesus has proved us right or justified us through his death. Instead, we change to enjoy the freedom from sin and delight in God that God gives to us through Jesus.

- Tim Chester, Commenting on his book, "You Can Change" at the Desiring God blog

Daily Gospel: 5/6/11

2011-05-06T07:00:00.000-04:00

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

- Ephesians 1:11-14

Do some cross-referencing on "inheritance" in verse four and you will find some glorious promises and amazing connections between Paul's letters (Hint: And Peter!).

Daily Gospel: 5/5/11

2011-05-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

I am ashamed conceived in sin I’ve always been
Born in a world where Adam’s fall corrupts us
Rooted is the seed of death in life’s first breath
The law demands a perfect heart but I’m defiled in every part

For only your blood is enough to cover my sin
For only your blood is enough to cover me

All this guilt disturbs my peace I find no release
Who will save me from my crime I’m helpless
Behold I fall before your face in need of grace
So speak to me in a gentle voice for in your mercies I rejoice

Lord create my heart anew ( Father come and make us wise )
Only you are pure and true ( Lead us away from our demise )
Lord you are the remedy ( For only your blood can set us free )

For only your blood can set us free
For only your blood can set us free
No bleeding bird, no bleeding beast
No hyssop branch no priest
No running brook no flood no sea
Can wash away this stain from me

- "Only Your Blood", Sojourn, Adapted from Isaac Watts' "Psalm 51 Part II"

Daily Gospel: 5/4/11

2011-05-04T07:00:00.001-04:00

He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.

He speaks, and, listening to His voice,
New life the dead receive,
The mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
The humble poor believe.

- "O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing", Charles Wesley

Via CyberHymnal

Did you know that according to CyberHymnal this hymn had nineteen stanzas?

Daily Gospel: 5/3/11

2011-05-03T07:12:00.000-04:00

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

- Ephesians 1:3-10

Daily Gospel: 5/2/11

2011-05-02T07:34:00.000-04:00

If God were not just, there would be no demand for his Son to suffer and die. And if God were not loving, there would be no willingness for his Son to suffer and die. But God is both just and loving. Therefore his love is willing to meet the demands of his justice.

- John Piper, Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die, (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2004), 20

Via OFI

Apologies for the blog laziness recently. I moved into a new apartment this weekend, so that is taking up a lot of time. Last week of MBA classes though! Woot!

Daily Gospel: 4/30/11

2011-04-30T07:00:00.001-04:00

Christ speaks the same message in both the Old and New Testaments because He is speaking to the same people - those who by faith are His. That He is Captain of the army of the Lord is grace to Joshua and grace to us because by the same grace we are made soldiers in that army. The same grace in turn ensures the victory. He is our Captain. He, not Joshua, brings down the walls of Jericho. He, not Joshua, storms the very gates of hell. He, not Joshua, takes captivity captive. He, not Joshua, is Lord of lords and King of kings. And we, because He loves us, march in the victory parade with Him.

- R.C. Sproul Jr., The Victory Parade We Don't Deserve, Tabletalk Magazine, April 2011, p. 27

This says it all about the royal wedding...

2011-04-29T09:57:00.000-04:00

"Plus this world is in such a sad state, isn't this a wonderful way to distract us from what's going on in the world?"

- A Syracuse, NY watcher of the royal UK wedding.

It would be really easy for me to get all cynical about the above quote, but "There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing" (Proverbs 12:18). Let's go with that.

I agree with the woman who said, "...this world is in such a sad state...". It is. The world truly is in a sad state. If I had to guess, this is what I think would be on her mind: recent unrest across many countries, carnage from tornadoes, seemingly unending wars, and many other things which presently dominate the headlines. Or maybe she was wrapped up in these sorrows: the death of a loved one, a struggle to pay rent, the everyday stress of life, etc. Earthly sorrows abound for all people. Earthly joys also grace our lives. But overall, what can be said about the world? Is there a certain hope or not?

A common remedy to assuage the pain of sorrows is to simply distract the mind with more light, happy, and often fleeting things. In this case it is a marriage celebration clothed in grandeur. But can temporary distractions give a mind lasting happiness and hope? Obviously not. What can? Doesn't the Christmas-time song go like this: "A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices!" The hope that the world longs for is the incarnate Son of God, Jesus Christ.

So enjoy a fancy wedding for now. Nothing wrong with that. But don't ever seek relief from the sorrows you face by gripping to anything other than the hope which is found in Jesus.

Daily Gospel: 4/29/11

2011-04-29T07:00:00.002-04:00

O for an overcoming faith
To cheer my dying hours;
To triumph o'er the monster Death,
And all his frightful powers!

Joyful with all the strength I have
My quiv'ring lips should sing-
Where is thy boasted vict'ry, Grave?
And where the monster's sting?

If sin be pardoned, I'm secure,
Death hath no sting beside;
The law gives sin its damning power;
But Christ, my ransom, died.

Now to the God of victory
Immortal thanks be paid,
Who makes us conquerors while we die,
Through Christ our living head.

- Isaac Watts, Hymn 17

Sojourn Community Church recently put out a CD of hymns of Isaac Watts. I highly commend it.

Daily Gospel: 4/28/11

2011-04-28T07:00:00.001-04:00

37 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.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

- John 18:37-38

What is truth? What is the truth that Jesus bore witness to?

When the Pharisees were seeking to kill Jesus for healing a man on the Sabbath (John 5:18), Jesus confronted them with some cutting words about who he was. There is much talk about bearing witness and testifying in John 5. In Jesus' address to the Pharisees, he said that the testimony of John the baptist was true (John 15:32). John the baptist was giving the crowds a big helping of straight talk - straight talk directly from God to the people about the Christ. Jesus knew this and said that John has "borne witness to the truth" (John 5:33). John was a truthful prophet (which is somewhat of a redundant phrase).

But the testimony of Jesus is greater than John's testimony (John 5:36). Jesus was testifying about himself, he was a single person whose testimony was self-authenticating because of the works that he was doing. These works were given to Jesus by the Father (John 5:36). Furthermore, even apart from Jesus' self-verifying testimony, the Father and the Scriptures all testify about Christ and validate his works, message, and person (John 5:37-39).

So, what is the bottom line truth that Jesus was bearing witness to? I propose it is this: You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life (John 5:39-40). Jesus' testimony is about himself. It is about how he alone brings eternal life. This is the truth that Jesus bears witness to. How much more striking is it that Jesus tells Pilate that life is only found in him as Jesus closes in on his earthly death.

Daily Gospel: 4/27/11

2011-04-27T07:27:00.000-04:00

First, we must notice that it is a reliable message. Both of those words are important, reliable and message. The gospel is not the same as asking Jesus into your heart. The gospel is not a program for becoming a better you. The gospel is not a series of ethical commands. The gospel is not an experience of generic spirituality. The gospel is the good news that God so loved the world that he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, to fulfill the law, to suffer as a man, and to die on the cross, bearing the penalty for sin the we deserved, and being raised on the third day that we might be declared innocent and righteous before God. The gospel is a message.

- Kevin DeYoung

Via TGC

Daily Gospel: 4/22/11

2011-04-22T07:00:00.002-04:00

And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

- Romans 4:5

"does not work"
"believes in him"
"justifies the ungodly"
"counted as righteousness"

These are foundational phrases for the doctrine of salvation, specifically justification. They are unique to the Christian faith. They go against everything in self-justifying heart of man. Yet they are the truth, and indeed the only glorious way which one can be saved - justified.

Do you work? Or do you believe? (A necessary caveat: believing is not a work that man meritoriously performs. See Machen's What is Faith? for multiple addresses to this topic.)

Come, you ungodly, and be justified by Jesus' blood.

Daily Gospel: 4/21/11

2011-04-21T07:00:00.002-04:00

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

- Psalm 100

I was brought back to Psalm 100 by this post over at The Resurgence. I had always read Psalm 100 mainly as a call to serve and worship God, but I am seeing how this Psalm can greatly soothe the doubting heart. Yahweh is God. Jesus is God. Know this. This is a fact. No questioning about it, God is God. He made all of humanity, all the creation. Moreso, he owns us, not as mere trinkets, but as cared and loved sheep. We, the redeemed Church of God, are especially cared for in his mysterious electing grace. Take comfort in this. I know it helps me. It puts ballast in the shaky boat of my heart.

Daily Gospel: 4/20/11

2011-04-20T07:00:00.000-04:00

“Tears of sentimentality and pity are nowhere so much out of place as on Calvary. While resigning ourselves to such emotions, we mistake the Lord Jesus — nay, even degrade Him, and as regards ourselves, miss the way of salvation marked out for us by God. Hence the Savior exclaims, once for all, ‘Weep not for me!’ (Luke 23:28).”

- F. W. Krummacher, quoted by Philip Graham Ryken in Luke (Vol 2) (Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R Publishing, 2009), 573

Via OFI

Daily Gospel: 4/19/11

2011-04-19T07:00:00.001-04:00

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!

- Before The Throne of God Above, Charitie L. Bancroft

Via Cyberhymnal

Daily Gospel: 4/18/11

2011-04-18T07:00:00.001-04:00

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

- John 19:30

Wonderful preaching yesterday at Missio Church on John 18-19. Take some time today and meditate on the words of our Lord: It is finished. His grace is sufficient for you. Know this. Preach this to your heart.

Daily Gospel: 4/17/11

2011-04-17T07:00:00.001-04:00

You have the assurance of God's Word that, if you are his child, he will "equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ" (Hebrews 13:21). Our endurance in faith and joy is finally and decisively in the hands of God. Yes, we must fight. But this very fight is what God "works in us". And he most certainly will do it, for "whom He justified, these He also glorified" (Romans 8:30). He will lose none of those he has brought to faith and justified. "[He] shall also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by Whom you were called" (1 Corinthians 1:8-9). Our future is as secure as the faithfulness of God. "Faithful is He Who calls you, and He will bring it to pass" (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

- John Piper, Future Grace, p. 318. Emphasis original.

Daily Gospel: 4/16/11

2011-04-16T07:00:00.001-04:00

From the cross uplifted high
Where the Savior deigns to die
What melodious sounds I hear
Bursting on my ravished ear
Love's redeeming work is done
Come and welcome, sinner, come.

Sprinkled now with blood the throne
Why beneath thy burdens groan
On my pierced body laid
Justice owns the ransom paid
Bow the knee and kiss the Son
Come and welcome, sinner, come.

Spread for thee the festal board
See with richest dainties stored
To thy Father¹s bosom pressed
Yet again a child confessed
Never from His house to roam
Come and welcome, sinner, come.

Soon the days of life shall end
Lo, I come, your Savior, Friend
Safe your spirit to convey
To the realms of endless day
Up to my eternal home.
Come and welcome, sinner, come.

- "Come and Welcome"

Via Indelible Grace

One of my favorite songs. The only reason I'm glad to be a sinner because Christ came to save sinners.

Daily Gospel: 4/15/11

2011-04-15T07:00:00.006-04:00

Now I saw in my dream, that the highway up which Christian was to go, was fenced on either side with a wall, and that wall was called Salvation (Isaiah 26:1).Up this way, therefore, did burdened Christian run, but not without great difficulty, because of the load on his back.

He ran thus till he came at a place somewhat ascending; and upon that place stood a cross, and a little below, in the bottom, a sepulchre. So I saw in my dream, that just as Christian came up with the cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble, and so continued to do till it came to the mouth of the sepulchre, where it fell in, and I saw it no more.

Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said with a merry heart, “He hath given me rest by his sorrow, and life by his death.” Then he stood still a while, to look and wonder; for it was very surprising to him that the sight of the cross should thus ease him of his burden. He looked, therefore, and looked again, even till the springs that were in his head sent the waters down his cheeks (Zech. 12:10). Now as he stood looking and weeping, behold, three Shining Ones came to him, and saluted him with, “Peace be to thee.” So the first said to him, “Thy sins be forgiven thee,” (Mark 2:5); the second stripped him of his rags, and clothed him with change of raiment, (Zech. 3:4); the third also set a mark on his forehead, (Eph. 1:13), and gave him a roll with a seal upon it, which he bid him look on as he ran, and that he should give it in at the celestial gate: so they went their way.

- John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress

Via CCEL

I fell asleep reading and meditating on this passage a few nights ago. What a wonderful thing to fall asleep to: “He hath given me rest by his sorrow, and life by his death.”

Daily Gospel: 4/14/11

2011-04-14T07:00:00.001-04:00

Preaching the gospel to ourselves every day addresses both the self-righteous Pharisee and the guilt-laden sinner that dwell in our hearts. Since the gospel is only for sinners, preaching it to ourselves every day reminds us that we are indeed sinners in need of God’s grace. It causes us to say to God, in the words of an old hymn, ‘Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to thy cross I cling.’

- Jerry Bridges, The Disciple of Grace: God's Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness, (Colorado Springs, Co.: NavPress, 1994),

Daily Gospel: 4/13/11

2011-04-13T07:00:00.003-04:00

[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us [4] to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, [5] who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

- 1 Peter 1:3-5

A few things I love about this passage:

God actually has mercy on us who are stuck in sin's miserable plight. What a joy to consider the goodness shown towards us when we were in an abominable state.
Some people hate the idea that they are wholly helpless in spiritual matters, that they are unable to present anything good of themselves before God. Instead of loathing the possibility (truth) that we are miserable humans in God's sight, we should rather rejoice (1 Peter 1:8) in the truth that we have been brought from such a horrible state of spiritual death to a wonderful new spiritual life "through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."
"an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you"
Yes, please. What is this eternal inheritance and life (born-again implies new life in v.3)? John 17:3 - "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."
"guarded through faith"
I'm so thankful that God protects us as we live linked up to him through faith. God won't let that link be broken.
"a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time"
We have yet to experience and receive unknown dimensions of our salvation bought for us by Jesus. More grace is coming. Let me be colloquial here and say this: Get pumped.

Daily Gospel: 4/12/11

2011-04-12T07:00:00.002-04:00

“God frees us from our bankruptcy only by paying our debts on Christ’s cross. More than that. He has not only cancelled the debt, but also destroyed the document on which it was recorded.”

John R. W. Stott, The Cross of Christ (Downers Grove, 1986), page 234.

Via Ray Ortlund

Daily Gospel: 4/11/11

2011-04-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

Because the secret of the gospel is that we actually do more when we hear less about all we need to do for God and hear more about all that God has already done for us.

- Kevin DeYoung

Via The Gospel Coalition

Daily Gospel: 4/10/11

2011-04-10T07:00:00.000-04:00

Every time we look at the cross Christ seems to say to us, ‘I am here because of you. It is your sin I am bearing, your curse I am suffering, your debt I am paying, your death I am dying.’ Nothing in history or in the universe cuts us down to size like the cross. All of us have inflated views of ourselves, especially in self-righteousness, until we have visited a place called Calvary. It is there, at the foot of the cross, that we shrink to our true size.

John R. W. Stott, The Message of Galatians (London, 1968), page 179.

Via Ray Ortlund

Daily Gospel: 4/9/11

2011-04-09T07:00:00.001-04:00

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

- Colossians 3:1-4

Daily Gospel: 4/8/11

2011-04-08T07:00:00.000-04:00

I don’t change when gospel concepts start surprising me, wonderful and essential as that is. Gospel concepts spread the table, so to speak, for the feast of Christ himself, who fills me and heals me and energizes me. I change, really change, when I feel loved by him. I change when I feel accepted by him. I change when I feel set free by him. That goes beyond concepts. It is an experience. That experience follows the logical and psychological trajectory set by the doctrines. But what I need is the touch of Christ himself.

- Ray Ortlund

Why I Read

2011-04-08T06:55:00.000-04:00

If you didn't grow up in the 90's, you probably don't get this.

Via Dan Phillips

Daily Gospel: 4/7/11

2011-04-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

You may know a good deal about Christ, by a kind of head knowledge. You may know who He was, and where He was born, and what He did. You may know His miracles, His sayings, His prophecies, and His ordinances. You may know how He lived, and how He suffered, and how He died. But unless you know the power of Christ’s cross by experience—unless you know and feel within that the blood shed on that cross has washed away your own particular sins—unless you are willing to confess that your salvation depends entirely on the work that Christ did upon the cross—unless this be the case, Christ will profit you nothing. The mere knowing Christ’s name will never save you. You must know His cross, and His blood, or else you will die in your sins.

- J.C. Ryle, Practical Religion, “The Cross of Christ”, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1998], 248, 249.

Via J.C. Ryle Quotes

Daily Gospel: 4/6/11

2011-04-06T07:00:00.002-04:00

This is the great glory of Christ—he vastly outshines the first man Adam. The spectacular sin of Adam is not as great as the spectacular grace and obedience of Christ and the gift of eternal life. Indeed, God’s plan from the beginning, in his perfect righteousness, was that Adam, as the representative head of humankind, would be a type of Christ as the representative head of a new humankind. His plan was that by this comparison and contrast, the glory of Christ would shine all the more brightly.

Verse 17 puts the matter to you very personally and very urgently. Where do you stand? “For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” Notice the words very carefully and personally: “those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness.”

- John Piper, preaching on Romans 5:12-21, italics original.

Via Desiring God

Daily Gospel: 4/5/11

2011-04-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

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.

- "Rock of Ages", Augustus M. Toplady

Daily Gospel: 4/4/11

2011-04-04T07:22:00.001-04:00

I have taken my good deeds and bad deeds and thrown them together in a heap, and fled from them both to Christ, and in him I have peace.

- David Dickson

Daily Gospel: 4/3/11

2011-04-03T07:00:00.000-04:00

(John 7:38)“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Literally, it says, out of his belly. But the point is our inner being, call it belly, heart, soul, spirit. What does this mean?

It means that when you come to Jesus to drink, you don’t just get a single drink, but you get spring, a fountain, a well. You get Jesus. Rivers of water will flow because a River-Maker is in you. That’s the point. You will never have to search again for a source of satisfaction for your soul. Every river that needs to flow for the joy of your soul will flow from Jesus. When you come to him, you get him. And he never leaves.

- John Piper,

Via Desiring God

Daily Gospel: 4/2/11

2011-04-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

We must use the assurance of faith in applying the blood of Christ; we must labour to purge and cleanse our consciences with it.

If we find that we have sinned, we must run at once to the blood of Christ to wash away our sin. We must not let the wound fester or exulcerate, but immediately get it healed. . . . As we sin daily, so he justifies daily, and we must daily go to him for it. . . . We must every day eye the brazen serpent. Justification is an ever-running fountain, and therefore we cannot look to have all the water at once. . . .

O let us sue out every day a daily pardon. . . . Let us not sleep one night without a new pardon. Better to sleep in a house full of adders and venomous beasts than sleep in one sin.

- William Fenner, A Treatise of Conscience, in Works, 108f.; quoted in J. I. Packer, A Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life (Crossway, 2010; repr.), 115

Via Dane Ortlund

Daily Gospel: 4/1/11

2011-04-01T07:00:00.000-04:00

Cling to the Mighty One, Cling in thy grief
Cling to the Holy One, He gives relief
Cling to the Gracious One, Cling in thy pain
Cling to the Faithful One, He will sustain

- Anonymous. Set to music by Indelible Grace.