Proverbs 16:9–Plans Established by God

Proverbs 16:9–"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

2014 is upon us, a new year has arrived full of potential and promise.  My prayer for you this year is that you would see God's awesome blessings in your life and that you would see Him establish your heart's desire this year.  That is why this verse seems so appropriate today, New Year's Day.  Even the best laid plans require the Lord's input for success.  Because of this, I don't think that we can overemphasize the necessity for prayer as we consider and develop our goals for 2014.  For only through God will we be blessed!

John 16:33–He Has Overcome the World

John 16:33–"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.  In the world you will have trouble.  But take heart, I have overcome the world."

This statement comes right after Jesus has again prophesied His impending death.  Understanding this context adds a certain amount of girth to Jesus' assertion.  The heart of His affirmation is that there is a peace that He offers, a definitive and otherworldly peace.  But this peace is based on what Jesus has done, or more accurately to this verse, this peace is based upon what He is about to do.  But there is so much application here for us too.  There is so much comfort to be found here for us, that whenever we would we would face trial and tribulation that may come from evil, we know that we too can find comfort in Christ and peace in what He has done.

Praise be to God!

John 14:1–Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled: Believe

John 14:1–"Let not your hearts be troubled.  Believe in God; believe also in me."

This begins Jesus' final message to His disciples in John, culminating in the High Priestly Prayer (John 17).  It comes at the beginning of this long discourse that Jesus, after prophesying His death again, comforts His disciples with this.  In this statement, Jesus desires to console His disciples–and us too!–indicating that overcoming trouble and trepidation is not a matter of trying harder or feeling better: it is about believing in God and also in Jesus.  Think about this as we prepare for 2014.

Matt. 11:28–Jesus Gives Rest

Matthew 11:28–"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

This is quite a statement for Jesus to make.  Jesus does not say that He knows where those who are heavy burdened may find rest, as if He were going to point them to a special vacation resort or something.  He doesn't say that this rest is about a place or an action at all.  No, He says that He will give people rest.  In no mean or ambiguous terms, Jesus is claiming to be the true source of rest to any and all that would come to Him.  Again, this is quite a statement!

Can He give rest to us?  Does He? Do we believe Him?  

This seems to be a good place to end this particular dialogue, simply putting forth these questions for us to ponder.  Yes, Jesus is the true source of rest; yes, if we come to Him in faith He gives us this rest; and yes, He gives this rest to all who would come to Him.

Let us think about that when we feel labored and heavy laden!

Psalm 103:1–Bless the Lord

Psalm 103:1–"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!"

Amen!  That's about all I can say in response to reading this verse. Yes, this is a statement of worship. And yes, it is poetic.  But more than that, this is a prayer; a request that God would grant us a heart and soul that wouldst utterly desire to worship His name.  In truth, this is a central component to the Christian message: that God would transform us in such a way that every part of us would sing out in absolute praise and adoration to His name.

This should be our own prayer, too!

Bless the Lord!

Luke 2:11-A Son Is Born

Luke 2:11-"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

The very heart of Christmas is summarized in this verse.  That on this day, Christmas day, we celebrate one simple, historical fact: a son was born in Bethlehem, who claimed, among many things, to be the Christ, God's very Som and foreordained Savior of mankind.  If there were an irreducible theological reality of Christmas it would be that we are commemorating and celebrating the birth of Jesus the Messiah whose exacting purpose was to save mankind from sin.  Let us place this at the centre of Christmas.  Amen!

Luke 2:6-7–The Birth Occurs

Luke 2:6-7–"And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn."

As has been noted many times before, there are so many wonderful elements to the Christmas narrative, from the prophesies fulfilled to the angels singing.  But the heart of the message comes down to this basic element: the birth of a king in the lowliest of settings.  We should not forget the juxtaposition of this, that God Himself condescended to human form: the King became a servant.  This is the very essence of the Christmas message and we should remember it!

A Note On Christmas before Christmas

Family, friends, feasts, gifts, and...worship?

Christmas brings with it so many seasonal delicacies.  Be it the awesome food that we wait all year to devourer, the time with family that doesn't seem like such an inconvenience, and the quest for gifts. And while each of these could be considered one of the treats of the season, each of them pales in comparison to the true, deeper meaning and worth of Christmas: the birth of the Messiah, the Savior, Christ Jesus.

The heart and essence of Christmas ultimately lies in the birth of Jesus, the prophesied Messiah.  The reality of His birth should render a sincere adoration and worship within us. But how easily we are drawn astray to those other staples of Christmas with little regard for the weightier, more divine narrative at work in the Christmas narrative.

So, as Christmas eve is upon us I simply ask that we would all keep our focus securely fixed upon the greatness of God!  Amen!

Luke 2:13-14–Angels Singing

Luke 2:13-14–"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those whom He is well pleased.'"

Think of the scene: you and some fellow shepherds are out tending to the flocks one night when an angel appears in all his glorious splendor.  The angel tells you not to be afraid–a near impossibility considering the sight–and then he tells you and your friends that the prophesied Messiah has been born in a nearby town and that you should go and see Him as He is laid in a manger in swaddling cloths. But the, as if this weren't miraculous and awesome enough, a choir of angels appears and with loud, booming voices like peels of thunder sings out: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those whom He is well pleased."

Wow!  What a sight!

To be sure, there is an entire sermon series on this scene alone, however, I want to simply point to the chorus sung by the angels.  What a beautiful phrase and sentiment!  But it is brimming with theological weight and density.  It would be good for us to consider this as Christmas closes in on us.  Think about it: this choir of angels could have sang about anything but they chose this.  We should ask ourselves why?  Perhaps the answer will give us a good insight into who God is and what Christ did...

"Joy To The World."

This time of year is full of those seasonal songs that bring back memories of years past, family traditions, and the whole 'spirit' of Christmas thing.  But as this Christmas season ramps up to its eve, I suggest we take some time to consider the great theology of those old carols and hymns that have become such perennial staples in our lives.  Songs like, "Silent Night," "O Holy Night," and "Joy To The World" are just brimming with theology about the distinct and certain significance of Christmas and we would do well to, as we are singing these carols this year, to really think about the reality of the words and to ponder on the great gift of grace that was given to us in Christ!

Psalm 150:1-2–Praise the Lord!

Psalm 150:1-2–"Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens! Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness!"

This passage is from the last chapter of the book of Psalms.  It is an utterance of praise and it offers a great look into how worship could or, maybe, should be offered.  Consider the content of these brief verses: adoration, praise and adoration focused on addressing God's greatness and His great deeds.  In many ways, aside from being a great utterance of praise itself this is a wonderful example for how we should worship.

And while this particular post is not intended to go through the whole task of defining worship, it is enough to say that we would well to take this passage as an example to follow in our own praise.

Matthew 7:7-8–Ask, Seek, Knock

Matthew 7:7-8–"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."

Part of this statement by Jesus is about persistence.  Another part of it is about pursuing God.  And then there's the other part about the faithfulness of God for those who persistently pursue Him.  In some ways, the essence of the relationship between God and man is a dynamic one, meaning that our relationship to the Almighty is exactly that: a relationship.

Isn't it true that we sometimes forget this reality in our own Christian experiences?  How often do we think of God as a cold, static being that only expects us to live and behave in certain ways or to believe certain things?

There is so much here by the way of persevering in prayer and in pursuing God, but suffice to say that what God wants from us is a relationship of honesty and sincerity.  At the very least, we would do well to keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking at God's door in faith.

Luke 1:67-70–Zechariah's Song!

Luke 1:67-70–"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets of old,"

This is only a portion of one of the beautiful praises in all of Scripture.  We read that an angel of the Lord came to an elderly couple who had been without child and prophesied that a son would be born, a prophet who would herald in the coming of the Messiah.  Zechariah, having been informed by the angel, doesn't believe in the prophecy that he and his wife would be blessed with a son.  As a result of this doubt, Zechariah is ridden with muteness, unable to speak until his son, John, is born.  But as soon as John is born and named Zechariah is filled with the Holy Spirit and utters this beautiful and profound song of prophecy and praise.  It is this utterance that I point you to today.  Consider the great adoration that Zechariah heaps upon the Lord!

James4:17–Knowing What is Right and Not Doing It

James 4:17–"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is a sin."

This verse and those like it (Luke 12:47-48; John 9:41; 2Pet 2:21) confirm one simple truth: that righteousness is not optional for the righteous. There seems to be a specific ethic espoused in Scripture for the people of God.  This ethic calls out from the very depths of our beings just as the Holy Spirit is living within us and calling out to us and compelling us to live according to the holy commandments.

But as the Scriptures exhort, the righteous life is not merely about eschewing the evil; it is equally about doing the good.  And this doing good demands that we do the right at all times.  Add to this the stipulation that if we know what the right thing to do is and we fail to do it, we fall into sin.  In other words, our knowledge of God and of godliness holds us accountable to live by His righteous standards.

We should not ever forget this basic, fundamental component to the Christian life as we strive to live righteously as God calls us to do!

1 John 2:23–The Son & Father Are Conjoined

1 John 2:23–"No one who denies the Son has the Father.  Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also."

This verse is an important assertion about the intimate relationship between two members of the Godhead, Jesus and the Father.  It is not unique in that it is affirmed and asserted throughout Scripture that one may not possess an honest belief in God the Father save through the Son, and vice versa.  The Son is the gateway to the Father (John 14:6), just as those who are in the Father must possess the Son as well.

Christmas, in reality, is a unique convergence between these two members of the Godhead, completed by the presence of the Holy Spirit who indwells Mary with a son, the Holy Son of the Heavenly Father.

We should not easily forget or neglect the real interconnected intimacy of the Godhead as we seek to worship God in His infinitude this season.

An Ode To Mary

The first chapter of Luke deals specifically with Jesus' birth.  And while the whole narrative is one of awesome majesty and beauty, this article is dedicated one of the primary facets of this wonderful story, that of Mary and her unique involvement in the nativity story.

Consider the scenario from her point of view:

You're a young teenage girl, betrothed to a man.  You're excited about your soon-to-be marriage, looking forward to becoming the wife of a good, godly man.  But one night a stunning angel named Gabriel comes to you and says something incredible.  He tells you that you will give birth to a child, which is a remarkable statement considering that you are still a virgin.  Moreover, when you ask the angel about this he says that the Holy Spirit will come upon you and that the child you conceive will be God's own Son.  Furthermore, this Son will be the Messiah prophesied and promised in the Scriptures.

What would your response be?  Consider the inconvenience, the audacity of God to impregnate you by His Holy Spirit.  Wouldn't you feel at least a little overwhelmed, if not angry with God?

But Mary responds in another way altogether; she utters a song of praise that is perhaps the greatest utterance of worship ever offered.  I highly suggest you find the time to read it this week, to consider Mary's situation as she offers this praise and worship. Spend some time with it this week: Luke 1:46-55.

Glory to God

Glory to God.  Despite this being at the the very center of the intended human experience, so few people either understand it or accept it at all.  But it is integral to our identity and our utmost purpose, recognizing that we were created in His image to bear His image.  In other words, God created us as testimonies, objects that praise His glory.  He did this not because He required praise–He had and has no need for anything.  Rather, He did this for our benefit.

In many circumstances and at several times in my own life, I can attest without overstatement that the most wonderful and fulfilling moments of my life were those in which I was glorifying God with my whole being.  Quite literally and as sincerely as I can convey in written word, I want to assure you that it was at these utterly fulfilling moments that God confirmed His Scriptures in regards to who we are and what God made humans to be and to do.

To the glory and honor of God; this should be and become our life's call as we seek to live a life of meaning and purpose that coheres with who we really are and are meant to be.

Remember this:  Glory to God!

Romans 8:1-2–No Condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!

Romans 8:1-2–"Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death."

Praise God for what He has done in Christ Jesus!  Time here does not permit for the sheer amount of information I want to unload on this incredibly important and theologically-dense topic.  That being said, it needs to be said that this verse and the theology therein is at the very heart of the Christian message and it runs something like this:

The Law of God, which includes His perfect commands of righteousness for human begins to live by, condemns the person because on every person's own unrighteous, rebellious heart.  The Law, though, was never meant to save as much as it was intended to reveal God's perfect holiness as well as man's utter debauchery in our very hearts.  But God, who is rich in mercy and not wanting that we would be abandoned in our state, sent His Son, Christ Jesus, to die an atoning death on our behalf.  Now, through confession and belief in Jesus, we are freed!  Amen!

So, as Christmas season approaches, let us not forget this great mystery of God's grace in Christ Jesus!

Galatians 4:4-5–God Sent Forth His Son at the Right Time

Galatians 4:4-5–"But when the fulness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who are under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons."

In all facets of life, there is something to be said about the importance of planning.  But even the best laid plans can be for naught if they are attempted before the appropriate time.  Think of all the great plans that we ourselves have considered or contemplated that, for whatever reason, were too-poorly timed to come to effective fruitions.

That is one of the many remarkable things about the gospel.  Not only is it God's perfect plan, but the perfect timing of the divine plan is a masterful stroke of eternal genius.  God waited centuries, from the sin of Adam to the birth of Christ Jesus for His plan to be put into effect.  This is utterly marvelous, absolutely incredible.

We should not forget this important part of the Christmas story, that it was God's great timing and plan that Christ would be born to save sinners.

Praise be to God!

Isaiah 7:14–The Virgin Birth Prophesied.

Isaiah 7:14–"Therefore the Lord will give you a sign.  Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel."

The profound reality of this prophecy is not so much about what it says as about when it was said. some 700+ years before the virgin birth of Christ.  This is historical information, verifiable by primary source historical documents.  This is why this prophecy is so amazing.  In truth, God was foreshadowing the story of Christ centuries before the events that were prophesied would come about. All I can say is this:

Thank You, Lord, for Your awesome plans for salvation that were fulfilled in Christ according to the prophecy in the Scriptures!

Can't Live Off Yesterday's Manna

Exodus 16:13-21 gives us the heart of a specific episode in the life of the Israelites as they are walking through the desert that can offer a fine and right principle for us as Christians.  In it, we see that the Israelites, hungry and sick of walking through the wilderness, are grumbling at God.  God hears their grumbling and responds by offering a daily meal of quail and manna, the bread from heaven.

The one stipulation is that the Israelites may not save up any manna for the next day; each day has its own manna.  Of course, the Israelites, as they are want to do, disobey the Lord's request and collect enough manna for the next day.  However, when the Israelites go to the manna the next day they find it full of worms, completely spoiled.

The point is that the people of God were to rely solely on the grace of God for their sustenance everyday.  Every single day was an exercise in relying upon the promises of God.  This is the principle for Christians that we need to get.

God desires us to rest upon His promises daily.  Every day must begin and end and survive with the assured reality that we are seeking after God, trusting Him that He will provide for every need just as He has promised to provide it for us.  This is a perspective, to be sure, but it is also a daily exercise in faith.

After all, we can't live off yesterday's manna!

What is Impossible for Man but Possible for God!

Matthew 19:25-26–"When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, 'Who then can be saved?' But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'"

Throughout the New Testament, particularly in the mouth of Jesus, the limits of man are stated, affirmed, restated, reaffirmed, declared, exhorted, taught, and asserted.  And the chief limitation of man is in the highest: that man is wholly unable to achieve or earn a morally right standing before a holy God.  In more clear words, the human being possesses no strength of will or fortitude of character so powerful as to be able to earn or merit salvation upon himself.

The Jews of Jesus' day thought that if the laws were understood or articulated sufficiently then the human being could pull himself up by his moral bootstraps, so to speak, and be righteous.  Jesus, however, asserts an entirely different position: that man is wholly unable to please God in His flesh–remember these two statements: the flesh counts for nothing (John 6:63-65), and that man must be born again (John 3:3).

Quite plainly, it is impossible for the natural man to claim any righteousness or holiness of his own volition; it is not merely improbable to be so holy of character and will, it is utterly impossible.  This is central both to understanding the necessity of Christ but also for the human person to recognize the reality of his or her actual spiritual condition.  The great distance between the holiness of God and the depravity of man is not merely a difference of degree as much as it is a complete dissonance of constitution and kind.

We cannot please God because we are wholly unable to please or even choose to please Him apart from a primary Divine intervention that transforms and compels our beings to become inclined towards Him–again, remember that no one can come to God unless or until God Himself grants him or her to do so (John 3:27; 6:44, 65).

In no ambiguity, then, the whole of Christianity rests upon what God has done first.  Our election, our predestination, our conversion, our faith; its framework and impetus rests solely upon God's intervening in our beings and transforming our natural inclinations away from the flesh and to Him.  To be sure, this calls for nothing less than absolute praise at the overwhelming grace of God, and our complete devotion to His majesty.  After all, a miracle has occurred!  This is why it is such a profound thing to think that what is an impossibility for man is not only possible for God, it is amazing!

John 14:6–I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life

John 14:6–"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.'"

This is one of those foundational verses that that is more polemic and assertive.  Jesus is, in the very least, asserting a stiff statement about who He is and His position in relation to God.  Additionally, He is consciously objecting any system of philosophy that would claim to have an 'in' with the divine apart from through Him.  To be sure, this statement is both unequivocal and unambiguous, leaving no question as towards what Jesus knew to be the road to God the Father and salvation on the whole. Additionally, Jesus doesn't make this claim lightly, understanding fully the ramifications of such an outlandish assertion.  But it is upon this claim that rests the whole of Christianity.  Therefore, let us consider it and let us make it foundational for our framework for life and everything it includes.

John 11:25-26–Do You Believe This?

John 11:25-26–"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he will die, yet shall he live, and everyone who live and believes in me shall never die.  Do you believe this?'"

To be quite honest, while anyone who has read my writing knows that I am more than willing to preach on about Scripture at a moment's notice, however, this passage in many ways speaks for itself.  As a result, I will only repeat the last phrase and ask that you would consider it prayerfully:

Do You Believe This?

Matthew 16:24–If You Want Jesus, You Have To Deny Yourself

Matthew 16:24–"Then Jesus told His disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let Him deny Himself and take up His cross and follow me.'"

This is one of the principle teachings of Christ, if not the principle teaching of Scripture.  In many ways, it is the singular focus of the Christian life, that we would deny ourselves.  And the denial of self is not merely giving up certain fancies; it is the complete transformation of who we are.  It is the dramatic renewal of intention, desire, and will, so that we would actually put God's will before our own whimsy. To be sure, though, the essence of this sort of denial is about devotion.  It is about replacement and reconciliation, that we would be renewed in our minds and in our hearts so as to be ever praising God in the very depths of our beings.  Additionally, this is more than a one-time event; it is a lifestyle transformation.  O that we would commit to such a change as this!!!

John 10:14-15–Jesus Knows Who are His

John 10:14-15–"I am the good shepherd.  I know my own and my own know me, just as my Father knows me and I know my Father and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep."

The very essence of Christianity could reduced to a single resounding question:

Do you know Jesus?  Do you know Jesus?

This is the crux of the issue in Christianity and it is on this simple question that I will leave this blog post.

Do you have a real relationship with the God of Holy Scripture, with Christ Jesus?

Matthew 22:15-22–Whose Likeness Is On This Coin?

Matthew 22:15-22
15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.

This is one of the most famous passages in the Gospels.  And we remember it, we know what it says.  Most of us can understand that Jesus is answering the questions of people more interested in catching Jesus make a mistake than hearing what He actually has to say about it.  We can also understand that Jesus' response is both clever and convicting.  However, while the question that the Pharisees do ask is a valid question, even if it does betray the hearts of the askers, it is the question that they don't ask that is the most striking feature.

Jesus answers the Pharisees with a question, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?"  To which they reply, "Caesar's."  Jesus then says: "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

Jesus assesses the coin by the inscription upon it; in fact, it is the image on the coin that defines the coin's ownership.  When Jesus replies to give to Caesar what is Caesar's, the pertinent responding questions should have been this:

What belongs to God?  Where is God's inscription?

Answering these questions are essential to the life of a believer/human being, therefore, I suggest spending some time considering these questions for yourselves.  I suggest checking out Genesis 1:27-29...

Romans 15:5-6–Cry for Unity with Purpose

Romans 15:5-6–"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Unity is a great thing.  In many ways it drives much of the human experience as we seek and define unity amidst the immense diversity that is always around us.  Humans seem to yearn for unification, it is, in many ways, the very thing that drive so much of our lives.  We can unify behind entertainment, like sports teams or favorite movie franchises, or we can unify behind a common goal or experience, such as the GLBT community or human rights.  And while there are a vast number of unifying principles or ideals, they are all paltry and counterfeit in comparison to the single most vital thing that unites all persons and peoples who have ever lived and will ever live (save for Christ who remains uncreated)–We are made to glorify God.

It's in our DNA, our very genes cry out in worship to the Creator of the universe.  And despite our best efforts to suppress or to misplace this reality, it is inescapable.  After all, even the atheistic artist can compose beautiful and intelligent art that, by its very nature, worships the Creator!  But as in this human experience we are faced with the proposition of either discovering or manufacturing unity in diversity, we are faced with the dilemma: what unifies us?

The answer, as is so often true of honest questions, relies solely on the singular and profound theological reality of our existence and our identity.  Every human that has every lived was born bearing the image of God.  This is the utmost truth about us.  It is this astonishing truth that provides for us the very essence of unity under the strains of overwhelming diversity.  For the image of God is born just as much in the life of the drunkard as it is on the saint.  It often turns out that what caused the drunkard to turn to drink in the first place was that he either never knew whose image he was meant to bear or he is more interested in bearing his own rather than His.  In both cases, the fault, it turns out, is not on the One whose image is borne, but on he who illegitimately bears it.

In both cases though, that of the saint and the drunkard, they are, ultimately, unified in the fact that they each bear His image.  Therefore, unity is only held at the distance of recognition: that we would recognize the reality of our unity and that this recognition would only be crystalized through a unified glorification of God!  That is what the aforementioned verse is about, and we would do well to pray for the very same thing that Paul is praying for, too!

Hebrews 1:1-2–God Has Spoken To Us In His Son

Hebrews 1:1-2–"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our  Fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also created the world."

I love this passage.  There is so much here: history, prophecy fulfilled, and a precious statement about the character of Christ.  In truth, it is upon Christ Jesus' identity hinges the whole of Christianity.  We should never forget this basic, profound, and essential truth.  Because this is such a foundational and important point, I will only submit that it is right that we would read and digest this passage again:


Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our  Fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also created the world.

Matthew 1:20-21–Joseph Learns About Jesus' Parentage

Matthew 1:20-21–"But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit, she will bear a son and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.'"

While this is not the very beginning of the Christmas story, it is, in some ways, perhaps the most important part.  It is in these verses that Jesus' divine ancestry is conveyed and confirmed to Joseph, the man to whom Mary is betrothed.  Foundational to Christianity is the assertion of the Triune God.  Part and parcel to this affirmation is that Jesus is God incarnate.  He is not merely the best man to ever live, but He is God Himself in the flesh.  As this Advent season begins and Christmas becomes a soon-to-be reality, let us not forget this passage, but even more so, let us not forget what it means!

James 1:14–A Note On Temptation

James 1:13-14–"Let no one say when he is tempted: 'I am being tempted by God.' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one.  But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire."

It is a common misconception to think that it is God Himself who tempts us in order to 'test' us.  To be sure, this is a perverse misunderstanding both of God's holiness and also of His character, too.  God's holiness demands that He is absolutely pure, meaning that He cannot and would not taint Himself. Additionally, God's character is one of love, grace, mercy, and compassion.  Because of His loving character He could not and would not tempt people out of His great love.  We should never, not ever forget this truth, but we should let it stir and bind our hearts in adoration and exaltation of God!

Psalm 19:14–A Prayer

Psalm 19:14–"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."

This is a simple but profoundly sincere prayer.  It is a request for devotion, as if the psalmist is actually asking that God would direct his heart and mouth towards a posture of praise and worship.  But the psalmist is requesting more than a mere "attitude adjustment."  Instead, the writer is asking for a complete internal transformation.  But this is more than a verse, it is a plea, an earnest prayer for faith. Let it become our own prayer too!

1 Chronicles 16:8–Give Thanks to the Lord!

1 Chronicles 16:8–"Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the people! Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wondrous works!"

One of my favorite hymns goes like this:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all peoples here below!
Praise Him above ye heavenly host!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

Today, this day, is a great day for praise!  Get at it!

James 1:17–Every Good Gift is From Above

James 1:17–"Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."

Turkey day arrives.  And, like all the years before, it is on this day that people gather around tables to feast with friends or family.  We mix giving thanks between forks full of mashed potatoes and fit gratitude somewhere between the turkey and the stuffing.  But this year, while engage in those well-worn family traditions, I pray that we might consider the great faithfulness of God.  In the end, this should always be our praise as we consider the awesome things that God has done for us.  So let us keep thankfulness at the forefront of our minds this Thanksgiving, giving thanks for all the greatness of God!

Hebrews 12:28-29–Let Us Be Grateful and Worship!

Hebrews 12:28-29–"Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."

How many of us can say that we are truly grateful?  Or even more so, how many of us have responded to that gratefulness by offering an acceptable worship to God?

Additionally, to consider God a consuming fire should inspire only reverence and awe.  But how often do we think of Him this way?

As Thanksgiving week continues on and the quest for turkey draws near, I urge you to take this passage to heart.  Dwell on it.  Let it rest in your mind and in your heart.  My prayer is that I would see God as He is and offer up sincere praise that is thankful and reverence.  Let us all strive for a prayer as this!

Colossians 3:17–Whatever You Do, Give Thanks To God

Colossians 3:17–"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, give thanks to God the Father through Him."

In case you, like I did, read over this verse without taking it in, let me point to the important part: whatever you do...do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Consider the ramifications of such a comprehensive proposition.  There is not supposed to be anything, not a single aspect of our lives that is not to be done for Jesus.  Additionally, this is to be done with thankfulness.  Let us make this verse foundational to our lives as we strive to live out our Christianity with sincerity and effort!

Colossians 2:6-7–Walking In Him

Colossians 2:6-7–"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving."

This is a call for Christians live a life committed to Christ, and to always remember whose we are.  We belong to Christ; He has purchased us with His blood.  It is this singular truth which rests the whole of Christianity.  Because of this, not only is it vital that Christians would remember who we are as children of the heavenly Father but, even more so, we need to live a life that corresponds in faith to that lineage. This is what this passage is about, challenging us to actually be the children of God that He has called us to be.  Let us, then, make this foundational to how we would live and who we will be in Christ!

Psalm 100:4-5–"Enter His Gates With Thanksgiving!"

Psalm 100:4-5–"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise!  Give thanks to Him; bless Him with Praise!  For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations!"

This is a command, request that we would come before God with a specific posture and attitude. Essentially, it is about thankfulness, as if thankfulness were the very definition of praise, the precise qualification of coming before God with reverence and humility.  The reason that thankfulness is of such vital importance for the action of entering the presence of God is that thankfulness, by its very nature, causes us not only to recognize the greatness of God by remembering all the awesome things that He has done, but it also forces us to be humble by that recognition.  In a way, this is the very essence of the Christian experience, we would do well to make it central in our lives.

Col. 3:15–Let the Peace of Christ Rule

Colossians 3:15–"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.  And be thankful."

This is an exhortation but in the context of this chapter of Colossians it can actually seem like an after though, as if Paul is saying: "Oh yeah, and..."

But I do not believe that is the intention of this verse whatsoever.  God is calling us, quite directly, to let the peace of His Son rule in our hearts.  Now this does not mean merely that we would give some sort of ascent to peace, or even that we would 'try' to be more peaceful.  No!  This is about supremacy; it is about submission.  The point, or the goal, is that we would truly let the peace of Christ reign in our hearts and in our lives.  This means that the peace of Christ will be ever set before us as our guide and our chief, keeping us inline as well as promoting a specific sort of life ethic.  Let us then strive to make this verse a reality in our own lives so as to submit fully to the will of God in Christ!

Titus 1:9–A Call to Bible Study

Titus 1:9–"He must hold firm to the trustworthy Word as it has been taught, so that He may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it."

Paul's entire letter to Titus is about leadership in the Church, in particular, qualifications and responsibilities for leaders.  This passage, from the first chapter, gives us a distinct and certain exhortation about the need for sound biblical knowledge.  The necessity of the Bible cannot be overstated.  Aside from prayer and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, the Bible is the single most vital resource for Christians in regards to learning who God is and who we are in Him.  We must not ever lose sight of this.

Recognizing the utter importance of sound biblical knowledge in the life of the believer prompts me to ask some simple, contemplative questions:

• Have you read the Bible today?
• Have you read every book?
• When was the last time you read an entire book of the Bible in one sitting?
• Are there parts of the Bible you don't know well?
• have you memorized any verses lately?

Ultimately, the Bible is our toolbox and our weapon.  We must become totally acquainted with so that we could wield it expertly and appropriately.  I don't ask these questions to convict but if you are convicted, then...you know what needs to be done.

Psalm 95:1-2–Come to Him With Songs of Praise!

Psalm 95:1-2–"Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!"

This is as much a prescription for worship as it is an exhortation.  It is a simple thing to read, that we are to make a joyful noise to the Lord, but it is another thing altogether for us to actually make a joyful noise to the Lord.  However, it would seem that this is precisely what this passage is compelling us to do.  When considering this, I ask myself: what does it mean to make a joyful noise to the Lord?

My response to the question is that making a joyful noise to the Lord requires at least two things: (1) a right perspective, and (2) a willing heart.  A right perspective means that we would see the greatness of God and the distinct beauty of His creation.  This can only result in a response of awe and praise.  It is at this point that a willing heart leaps into action, so that we can pair that praise with deed.

In a sense, this is the very essence of worship.  Let us make it our aim to bring a sincere joyful noise to the Lord!

Much Will Be Required Of Those Who Have Been Given Much

Luke 12:48–"Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required..."

This is one of those distinctly Christian principles: that those who have been blessed are responsible to reflect that blessing unto others.  To be sure, this instills an immense responsibility to those who have been blessed.  In truth, though, every person has been blessed with immense riches beyond measure. Thus, by extension, everyone of us is to be held accountable for the gifts that God has given us. Keeping this perspective before us will go a long way to keeping our focus fixed and our feet from wandering.

Matt. 22:37–Fundamentals

Matthew 22:37–"And He said to them, 'You shall love the Lord Your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'"

This is one of my favorite verses.  In fact, it is one of those verse I would claim for my life, a foundational assertion from Jesus about how we are to relate to God.  This verse is without ambiguity, lacking any doubt or obscurity about the manner of life that God commands of us.  I think of this verse fundamentally, as in it encompasses everything we need to know and to do in regards to our relationship with God.  If we could keep this verse before us in every decision we make, we would go a long way.  According to this, our love for God is to encompass every little bit of who we are.  This is the commandment and this is our aim.  Let us put it before us always.

Psalm 119:105–A Lamp for Our Paths

Psalm 119:105–"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

This is one of those great verses.  And while many a song has been written because of this verse, but how much do we actually agree with it?  Is God's Word really the lamp for our feet and light for our path?

To be sure, this is about attitude and posture as much as it is about commitment.  We have to intentionally decide that God will in order to make the truth of this verse a reality for our lives.  It demands that we would make the Word of God the very real guide for our lives.  This is about considering every decision, action, and thought with an eternal perspective, considering the everlasting weight and value of everything we thing and do.

Let us make this verse the plea and cry of our lives as we strive to put the Word of God before us always!

Psalm 119:18–Asking to be Opened

Psalm 119:18–"Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your Law."

It is a simple thing to ask.  But is it as simple a task to ask for the right things.  In the case of the above verse, the most profound thing that we could ask for is eyes to see what God has desired for us to see. This is a prayer, a request for vision.  More directly, it is the request for 'right' vision to see what God has made and who He is.  We should also pray for this just as the psalmist has.  Let us take some time to make this request our own!

Psalm 119:143–Delighting in the Lord's Commandments Amidst Strife

Psalm 119:143–"Trouble and anguish have found me out, but Your commandments are my delight."

Life is a sequence of undulations.  Waves of highs and lows can seem to pound our lives with such force and power that, if we are not grounded, we can easily fall into the undertow.  Because of all this, it is of vital importance that we continually reset ourselves.  After all, our lives are so naturally unstable that we need to frequently realign ourselves with something sure, something stable, and something eternal.  This is the point of this verse, that we would always find our peace and our delight amidst the undulations of life in God and in His Word.  O that we would!

What Are the Obstacles to Worship?

As a worship leader, there is a tendency to think of leading worship as a task in creating moments.  Some of my colleagues do this through developing worship services that are emotionally compelling and musical excellent, as if the production quality and the emotionality were the key to effective worship leading.  The goal, ultimately, is to create an environment conducive to heartfelt, authentic worship.

However, I fear that this perspective, though appealing, might miss the point about what worship is and why sometimes it can be so difficult.  In truth, the great hindrance to worship is not environment or whether the worship leader is compelling.  No!  The ultimate obstruction to true, authentic worship is and has always been a heart matter.  Worship is only possible from a penitent posture that is honest with self as it is honest with God.

This is why it is so important that whenever we find that we are struggling to enter into times of worship that we not look at the particulars of what we're doing but we would rather assess where our hearts are at. 

1 Peter 2:15–A Statement Doing Good

1 Peter 2:15–"For this is the will of a God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people."

This is an interesting verse, as is most of Peter's epistle.  Peter is saying, quite plainly, that Christians are called to live a certain life, with a specific ethic.  We are commanded to live lives of character and of integrity, recognizing that we should give no reason(s) whatsoever for anyone to discredit Christ due to the flaws in our own lives and testimonies.  It could be said that this is one of the primary ways in which Christians are called to evangelize and minister to the world: by living lives of authenticity and character.  This is our task.  Let us pray for the strength and wisdom to fulfill this task with excellence and honesty.

The Widow Who Gave Abundantly Out of Her Poverty

Mark 12:41-44–"And He sat down opposite the treasury and watched people putting money into the offering box.  Many rich people put in large sums.  And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.  And He called His disciples and said to them, 'Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.  For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.'"

This is a fascinating and sharp observation that Jesus makes.  Sitting in the temple, watching the people worshiping and offering their sacrifices to God, and He sees this one particular woman.  As you read the chapter, this episode comes at the end of a series of teachings in which Jesus is attempting to define in no ambiguity the nature of the Kingdom of God, in particular what kind of worshiper this Kingdom demands.  He has just finished warning people,"Beware of the Scribes," because they do their acts of religion only to be seen and praised by men.

It is at this point that Jesus notices this one woman, this poor widow.  Jesus watches her as she casts two small coins into the offering box and He remarks with the most interesting comment.  Jesus says that this gift, be it small in the eyes of the world, is lavish in God's eyes.  Although it could be said that it was the immense personal cost that made this such a substantial gift to Jesus, I submit that it was something more: it was what the personal value of the gift symbolized.

To be quite sure, the gift was precious to the widow monetarily, amounting to all she had; however, the true value of the gift resided much deeper.  The gift served to symbolize at least two profound things: (1) she was willing to give up everything for her love of God, and (2) because of the cost of the gift, she knew she would have to rely on God to sustain her.

Our prayer should be to take this widow's part in the Gospel to heart, recognizing that this is the kind of devotion that God is asking from each one of us.  O that we would be willing and eager to love Him like this!

1 John 2:15–Do Not Love the World

1 John 2:15–"Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

For John, and by extension the Holy Spirit, there is a sharp distinction, a distinct dichotomy between that which is of God and that which is not.  In fact, it could be said that throughout the scope of Scripture this is a major theme that continues to develop as the contrast becomes both more clear while also being more subtle and nuanced.  Because of this, it is of vital importance that we as Christians keep our focus fixed on Christ and not be swayed to the left or the right.

There is a story of Secret Service Agents who are trained in recognizing counterfeit bills.  Instead of spending their time learning the intricacies of the false bills.  No, they become so well acquainted with the real thing that they can instantly tell whether a bill is true or counterfeit.  Similarly, Christians need to become so well familiar with the things of God that there would never be a question about whether something was of God or not; we would just know.

This is our call as Christians: that we would know God so intimately in the depth of our beings so that we could always choose Him over any counterfeit impostor the world could offer!

Job 37:5–God's Mighty Voice

Job 37:5–"God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things that we cannot comprehend."

This is a great verse.  It speaks of God's majesty and His holiness.  It talks about His great and mighty voice and the sheer incomprehensibility of His deeds.  This is not to say that we cannot assess what God does, only that we are unable to truly understand all the vastness of His works.  He creates by the power of His Word, and He sustains us from moment-to-moment by that same method.  This is a profound truth and mystery.  And it deserves our reverence, our interest, and our investigation, all wrapped up[ in the sincerest faith and devotion.  Let us then meditate on the reality of this verse today!

Psalm 16:8–I Shall Not Be Shaken

Psalm 16:8–"I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken."

From time to time in my life I have been shaken.  In fact, there have been times that I was shaken, then stirred, then drank, then spit out too.  These were times in my life in which, for whatever reason, I felt too weak or unable or scatterbrained to handle the scenario(s) that I was facing.  I can speak from experience that in my pre-Christian life, when I hit turbulence, it was prone to shaking me loose from my hinges, unable to keep myself together.  Conversely, since coming to Christ I have found that, although life still bombards like a never ending tremor of earthquakes, I am constantly held secure in my Lord and by His unwavering hand stilling my heart and my life.

To this I can only say: Amen! Praise be to God!

My prayer is for those who do not know Christ to find this strength and courage through a sincere relationship with Him.  And for those who do know Christ, I pray that we would never forget the security that is found only in His name!

Synopsis of the Gospel

God is.  He is holy, meaning that He is without blemish, pure, and unlike anything else that has ever been.  He made human beings and commanded them to live by every word that flowed from His mouth.  But His creatures were unable and unwilling to adhere to those commandments and thus became tainted by sin, which needs to be washed in order for a right relationship with God to be restored.

Only a truly atoning act could overcome the sin of man in order to reconcile creation to God and for God to remain just and holy.  This is the story of the Gospel.  Jesus is the perfect, atoning sacrifice that has restored humankind to a right relationship with Him.  God remains just as He judged all sin in Christ.  While God also proves to be faithful, fulfilling all of the covenant promises that He had made for centuries.  This is the profound beauty of the Gospel.  Remember: "For God so loved..."

It is through faith that this reconciliation is received and applied to the person.  And while faith is a good thing and worthy of consideration at a later time, we should not forget the distinct content of our faith.

This is the Gospel in a nutshell.

1 Timothy 2:1-2–Prayers Are to Be Made For The Leaders

1 Timothy 2:1-2–"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made to all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way."

It seems appropriate on the week of the midterm elections for this verse to come up as a verse of the day.  We often forget that this is actually a major theme of Scripture, that we would maintain a certain deference and respect for our leaders.  Part and parcel to this perspective is that we would pray, recognizing that, ultimately, it is God who has placed the leaders in their places for His purposes (Romans 13:1).

Because this, and a whole host of other Scripture verses that support this same position, our prayer should be that we would be humble and reverent in prayer for our leaders and those people that God has placed in leadership positions.

Exodus 20:1-3–No Other god(s)

Exodus 20:1-3–"And God said all these things, saying, 'I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.  You shall have no other gods before me.'"

There is so much here but I intend to keep it brief tonight.

This is God speaking to the people of Israel just after He has pulled them out of Egypt through the Red Sea with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.  And yet even now, when they have seen and experienced the very real and active power of God, the people turn to a golden calf in worship.  It is truly remarkable how easily the people of God will turn away from Him to worship something that is less worthy.  This is why it is such a profound moment in history, such a distinct context for God to call His people out directly and to challenge them to live lives of utter and total commitment to Him and Him alone.

Similarly, this is God's call to us.  We have been pulled out and saved from the bondage of slavery to sin.  But even under these circumstances of salvation, we are prone to turning to idols instead of continually and fervently worship Him alone.  He sits on the throne of our lives.  This is how it needs to remain at all times.  Let us strive to keep this focus among us!

Colossians 3:17–Everything For Him

Colossians 3:17–"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

There is a principle that is always in play for the believer, and that principle is submission.  It is, in many ways, the very cornerstone of all Christian theology.  Think of the very call to believe unto salvation.  This is a call to submit our faith unto Christ.  Or the exhortation to devote ourselves to loving God with every bit of who we are; again, this is a call to submission.  But the submission does not end with theological assertions; it is a real, a practical submission.  In a real way, Christians are called to give everything, do everything, say everything, all for the glory of God.  There is no compartment of our lives that is to lie outside of that purview of submitting all we are and do to His name.  But what's more profound is that this submission is not done begrudgingly or with grumbling, but it is to be done thankfully and with great adoration.  This is our call and this is our task.

Let us pray to become better at giving everything to Him and doing it all with excellence for the glory of God!

The Presence and Practice of Piety

1 John 3:9–"No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God."

There is something profound, if not outright provocative here.  John and the Holy Spirit that inspires him are saying at least two conjoined and challenging things.  The first is that the believer, in whom God's seed (the Holy Spirit) abides, no longer has to sin.  Even more so, though, they are saying that the believer cannot keep sinning because he/she has been born of God.  In other words, not only will the one who is born of God no longer make or develop a practice of sinning but they will not even be able to keep sinning because God's seed is abiding in them as they are born of God.  There is so much here, more than the space of this particular blog will provide.  I highly suggest that you take time today to read the whole chapter and see how seriously, how sincerely John exhorts believers that they are no longer sinner but have been transformed into children of God.  It is about identity as much as it is about the practice of piety, which is really about recognizes who we are in Christ.

A Moment of Praise

While it must be said that Christians are called to live lives of praise and worship, it should also be said that life is a series of moment strung together.  Using this understanding of life, as but string of moments, we can begin to reduce life's great endeavors to the value of individual moments.  What I mean to say is that when we think of the devotions of life and the disciplines that conjoin and advance these devotions.

Because of this, today I exhort you (and me) to value the sincerity and the pleasure of the moment. Every moment is a powerful opportunity to be and to do the will of God and to praise His name.  Let us take this attitude and posture among us to take advantage of every single moment to worship God's name!

James 5:16b–The Power Of A Righteous Prayer

James 5:16b–"The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Prayer is powerful.  It transforms lives and invokes the power of God.  Even more so, prayer is communication.  It is our line to God.  But as this line is available to all humans through Christ, it is also severed by unrighteousness and sin.  However, while the transaction of prayer is a real ordeal the necessity for the sincerity of our hearts and the value of our devotion is not unweighted in this.  What I mean to say, and what I think James is saying, is that, quite frankly, the righteous person, because of the process of attaining righteousness (devotion to Christ over time) the prayers of the righteous possess a depth and power otherwise inaccessible.

This is to say that righteousness is what strengthens our line of communication with God.  Let us strive for and pursue righteousness so that our prayer would not be merely noise but would be empowered by the Lord!

James 1:2-4–"Count it All Joy in Meeting Trials"

James 1:2-4–"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Many times have I read this verse with a level of incredulity.  I mean, doesn't James have this wrong? Joy, really?  We are called to have joy? But over the years and with the presence of the Holy Spirit, I have come to accept that James is saying something incredibly profound and, quite frankly, amazing. To be sure, James, and the witness of the Holy Spirit, are exhorting believers to have right perspective when we are faced with tribulation.  However, we should not merely think of this passage as only a commandment; it is also a promise.  The promise is that trials are a source of joy for believers.  This is not to assert that they are joyful to be in but, rather, that trials impart a sincerity and depth of character that we would never receive otherwise.

Therefore, we should strive to have this attitude among ourselves to face trials with joy, understanding that it is through trials that we would grow to be more Christ-like.

Romans 12:3–A Statement About Humility

Romans 12:3–"For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself any higher than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the faith that God has assigned."

This statement is, in many ways, presenting the very essence of biblical humility.  In it we can see that Paul and the Holy Spirit are exhorting us to keep our views of ourselves in proper perspective, always recognizing with honesty the reality of our disposition, particularly in regards to our own self-love.  But Christ compels us to see others as equal and sacred before Christ just as we are the same, thus preventing us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought for we will continually keep the our focus upward first.

In the end, we should never allow our vision to shift from God, which is precisely the change that occurs when we begin to exalt ourselves. This is at the very heart of the Christian message and we should never forget its necessity in the life of the believer.

The Exclusivity of Christ

One of the central tenets of Christianity is that salvation is received only through believing in Christ. Moreover, this doctrine caries itself into all of the other facets of Christianity.  For instance, apart from Christ there can be no peace, no mercy, no hope, and no eternal life.  These are doctrines that point to Christianity being a very exclusive institution, in that admission is only made possible through believing in the death, resurrection, and testimony of Christ Jesus.

To be certain, it is true to say that Christianity is an exclusive religion, in that there is but one gate of entrance into the community, and that it is through the torn flesh and broken body of Christ.  However, we should not mistake the exclusivity of redemption with its conjoined and purposed inclusivity.  What I mean to propose is that, while being exclusive by way of admittance, Christianity is also inclusive in its availability.  In other words, although one is only made new in Christ, all people who seek after that rebirth are given opportunity for it.

Additionally, the Christianity must be exclusive because, in the end, it claims ultimate truth, and truth is, by definition, an exclusive ordeal.  This is to say that for Jesus to actually be the ultimate truth that He claims to be, the content of His testimony is exclusive.  Therefore, Christianity must be exclusive.  To attempt to modify Christianity in order to make it more inclusive is tantamount to calling Christ a liar, for it is, in the end, making His message something other than true.  God forbid!

Let us never give in to the criticisms that Christianity is too exclusive to be relevant, for if it were made any more inclusive for the sake of whimsical trends of culture, we are diminishing the value of Christ and the reality of His great sacrifice.

A Prayer Request

I want to be vulnerable for a second.  I need prayer.  The last two days have been a veritable deluge of spiritual attack for my youth group kids.  My heart is more than heavy; it is breaking.  Add to that the reality that I start a new class on Tuesday (after almost 8 months off), and my sister is getting married this upcoming Saturday.

In other words, I am overwhelmed.

Because of all of this, and some more, I am asking, imploring, for prayer today and this week.

I am grateful to all my brothers and sisters who would do this.

Thanks.

2 Timothy 3:16-17–All Scripture is God-Breathed

2 Timothy 3:16-17–"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

God's Word, His written testimony about HImself for mankind, is a purposed work.  In other words, Scripture is not whimsical or haphazard but it is highly and directly intentional.  Every bit of Holy Writ, from Genesis to Revelation, was written at specific times and for a particular purpose.  In the very least, the purpose of Scripture is about conveying certain historical information.  However, this is just the basic.  Every bit of Scripture also serves to impart specific theological information as well.  It is this theological information that Paul is referring to in 2 Timothy.  This is why it is so vital that we would commit to reading Scripture and making it a foundational part of our lives.

Words About Conviction

Conviction.  It is a simple word with rather particular meanings.  In the legal sense, conviction is the charge and declaration of guilt.  However, in another sense, conviction refers to the strength, the certainty, and the power of belief.  Needless to say, in regards to Christianity this belief is in the Gospel and its truth.

We could speak of conviction in reference to an actor playing a role or an athlete making a play.  On the other hand, we can also speak of conviction when it comes to moral fortitude.  Either way, the unequivocal response is that conviction is a necessary component to greatness, whatever the task may be.

It is with this understanding that I convey a simple and very personal prayer:

Lord, help me to commit with utter conviction to lay myself with abandon upon Your grace, Your mercy, and Your Holy Word.

This is my prayer for myself, my family, and my church.  I long to see a church and a people of God that is strong and right in its convictions to Christ from moment to moment in every facet of life.  This is our call and this is our task.  Let us strive for it!

Proverbs 9:10–Wisdom and Insight

Proverbs 9:10–"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight."

This is one of the recurring themes in Proverbs.  In many ways, it is the primary theme of the entire book.  I have spent a significant period of time on previous blogs dealing specifically with the concept of fear of the Lord, so for this blog I want to speak of the knowledge of the Holy One and the insight that this knowledge affords.

The insight that knowing God brings is insight of the wisest order; it is the insight to live, the ability to live wisely.  In other words, by knowing God we are blessed with something profoundly practical: the insight to live.  This is one of those sweet and beautiful components of the Christian worldview and we should never forget the joy of its reality in our lives.

Let us, then, not cease to fear the Lord and to seek to know Him more!

Galatians 6:2–Bearing One Another's Burdens

Galatians 6:2–"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

It is one of the definitive marks of Christian fellowship that we would bear one another's burdens.  In many ways, this is one of the most natural extensions of our Christianity; however, at other times, this can seem like an immensely difficult undertaking, particularly when people don't often or easily share their burdens with others.  Coincidentally, this is precisely why we should be willing to share with our brethren the struggles we may be facing.  Only if we are willing to reveal our burdens will those we entrust them to be able to bear them with us.  It is, in the end, a matter of give and take, but also of honesty and fellowship.  In this way we can be sure to fulfill the law of Christ.

Proverbs 15:23–A Good Word in Season

Proverbs 15:23–"To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!"

There have been many times have I been in a conversation in which a well-chosen, timely word can come to mind that is exactly the word that the other person needs to hear.  This is often, I have learned, the presence of the Holy Spirit whispering in my mind, utilizing me as a vessel to speak to another. The point is that a good response or a kind word can be like salve to the soul of the hearer.  Wisdom is all about doing and saying the right things at the right times.

Let us then take this step towards wisdom, striving to offer an apt answer and a timely word when it's right!

1 Corinthians 15:56-57–A Matter of Victory

1 Corinthians 15:56-57–"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ."

As a competitive person, victory has a certain and specific connotation.  It means, among many things, decisively besting an opponent.  In reference to our victory in Christ, the opponent is sin and its result death.  But in this, we can be sure that our triumph is conclusive.  Part and parcel to our salvation is, in fact, this reality that sin has be conquered and death no longer has any power.

This is a great and liberating truth.  No longer must we fear death as we are no longer held under the power of sin as it has been eradicated through Christ's death and resurrection.

Praise be to God for this glory!

AMEN!

A Matter of Consistency

At the Sunday night service, the subject of consistency came up.  We were discussing 1 John 3, and the practice of righteousness.  As a musician, I have learned the distinct and certain value of consistency in practicing.  But consistency does not mean repetition without focus.  Instead, consistency that serves the purpose of growth is focus, intent on repetition for the purpose of improvement.  In relation to the practice of righteousness, we must say that consistency serves the purpose of increasing in dependence upon the Word of God and reliance upon His grace to sustain us from moment to moment.  Let us then strive to become consistent in obedience to the Lord.

Psalm 37:4–Delight in the Lord

Psalm 37:4–"Delight yourselves in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."

This is one of those verses that lends itself to misinterpretation.  I have often heard this passage used as a license for prosperity as if this verse actually said: if you delight in the Lord in any sense whatsoever, then you can get whatever you want from Him.  But, alas, that is not what this verse says.  In fact, there is a complexity to this passage that speaks to its content.  For one, this verse is saying that when we delight in the Lord we will receive the desires of our heart.  To be sure, however, the point is that delighting in the Lord means that He Himself is the desire of our heart.  In other words, if we truly desire the Lord, then we will receive Him!

This is a great and joyous truth.  The point is that God transforms our desires to conform to His likeness so that we might desire that which is pure, true, and eternal: Him.

Let us then strive to love God and to desire Him and His glory above all other things!

Psalm 27:14–Wait For the Lord

Psalm 27:14–"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!"

This is a direct command, a command to wait for the Lord.  But it is not a passive waiting, as if we are to wait aimlessly.  No.  We are called to wait courageously and with strength.  This is to say that our waiting is sustained and supported His power and in His enduring strength.  The waiting is not just a wait without purpose or intent.  Instead, waiting serves several objectives, not the least of which being to propel our growth in faith.  There are so many times in our lives when waiting is the only action for us.  When this is the case, let us remember the great joy that waiting can be as it is a great opportunity to trust in Him.

Psalm 24:14-15–The Friendship of the Lord

Psalm 25:14-15–"The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He makes known to them His covenant.  My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He will pluck my feet our of the net."

Throughout the Scripture, the fear of the Lord is a major topic.  The fear of the Lord forms the backbone for wisdom and the basis for all Christian life.  It is then no wonder that it is those who fear the Lord that are blessed with the knowledge of His covenant.  In truth, the fear of the Lord is the heart of the Gospel.  Because of this, it is a good thing for us to spend some time considering the fear of the Lord so that we would assess our own place but also that we would strive to fear Him in reverence and fear.  This is our call; this is our goal.

Psalm 19:14–A Simple Prayer

Psalm 19:14–"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."

There are certain passages of Scripture that can speak to a person directly where they are at precisely the right time.  This is one of those passages.  It is my earnest prayer to bring glory to God; to please Him in all His wondrous majesty with every beat of my heart and breath in my lungs.  I find so much stability and comfort from a passage like this that speaks right into my soul.

Not much more needs to be said except to praise God for this wonderful statement of adulation and devotion.

Amen!

A Note About Internal Compulsion By The Holy Spirit

My wife wakes up at 4:15 am for work.  She does it without complaining and she does it with purpose. It really is admirable.  There is something inside of her, an internal thrust, that compels her to do what is right: to be a good and dependable employee despite the challenges of having to wake up so early.  I wish to use this as an analogy to understand the transformation that takes place when God takes root in our lives and the Holy Spirit has His way with us.

It is nearly impossible to transform one's self apart from an internal transformation that is caused by an external instigator.  True, one may, with great effort and time, change habits or preferences.  But it is another thing altogether to transform a person's very nature from one thing to another.  But this is precisely what God means to do to us.

He is not merely interested in 'better' versions of us: He is interested in new, perfect versions of us.  He does this not by changing our externals, like habits and appearances, but He goes about transforming us internally, dramatically changing our internal natures by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.  In other words, God changes that which is propelling us internally in order to truly transform a person's nature, not merely modify one's appearance.

It is glorious and true to say that He changes a heart of stone to one of flesh, and eyes that are blind are given sight.  This is what salvation and giving one's self to Christ brings about.  Suddenly, the Holy Spirit become the internal One who compels us to bring God glory, to praise the name of Jesus, and to choose that which is good and righteous over our previous dead selves.

Amen and praise be to God for this wonderfully amazing thing!

Romans 12:2–Do Not Be Conformed To This World

Romans 12:2–"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Not much needs to be said about this verse.  It's fairly self explanatory, really.  The point is that by the renewal of your mind, that is, by reading the Scriptures and applying them by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we will be able to test and to discern what is the right will of God.  It is as a much a gift as it is a practice, our effort works in concert with His presence so that we would be transformed into the image and likeness of the Son, Jesus.  This is the goal and aim for every Christian.  Let us then pray that we would be diligent in the renewal of our mind, actively pursuing that which is righteous, holy, and right!

Amen.

James 3:13–The Wise Will Show Their Wisdom

James 3:13–"Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom."

Wisdom never needs to show off.  Wisdom is content to be wise without having to tell everyone how wise she is.  It turns out that one of the true tests of wisdom is how meekly it reveals itself, how humbly it behaves in front of people.  In truth, the wisest people never have to tell anyone how wise they are: everyone will know.  Thus, perhaps the first step for becoming wise is to strive in humility to simply be wise and let our wisdom shine through the wise way that we would live.

This should be our prayer and our goal.

Let us pray for that!
Amen.

Col. 1:16–All Things Through and For Him

Colossians 1:16–"For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things were created through Him and for Him."

This is one of those 'knot' statements in that it ties a whole host of Scripture passages and theological ideas together.  It can be condensed into a simple phrase: by Him through Him and for Him.  In other words, everything in existence has been created purposely, with specific intent.  That purpose is His, the intent is for Him.  All things, everything is meant for His glory, to His praise and to magnify His holy name.   Additionally, this is a tie that connects the creation of the universe to Christ, as it was always, before the foundations of the earth, for Him.  I find great peace and comfort in this truth.

Praise be to His name!
Amen.

Rest in God

Psalm 62:1–"Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him."

As the weekend approaches I am reminded of the quest(s) for relaxation.  From entertainment to leisure, and inebriation to sleep, there are numerous possibilities in the world for us to find rest in.  And while many sources of rest or relaxation are amoral, lacking any moral content whatsoever, some forms of rest are less sources of rest than they are sources of vice.  Additionally, even those forms of relaxation that serve no hedonistic purposes are, by definition, fleeting: there is no lingering effect once the re-charge has worn off, so to speak.  Think of the best vacation you've ever had: how long did it take when you got back home before you were dog-tired and needed another reprieve for recovery?

But, as this verse asserts, God is to be our souls' rest, He is to be the true and eternal source of our restoration.  It is, thus, better for us to seek the rest that is eternal, which is found in God and God alone. Let us then strive to find our rest in God, understanding that His rest is best (pardon the rhyme but I just couldn't help myself!)

Thoughts on Life

It is an all-too easy thing to think of life in ever-expansive terms, making one's own being seem larger and loftier while also making it less rooted in reality.  In this celebrity culture one's life tends to be distilled into bullet points of achievement and ownership as the fullness of a person is fragmented into pieces to be parsed into categories of merit, one pile of value and another of uselessness.  But as this process begins to take a human and turn them into mere components of an individualized narrative, the product of this fermentation is a counterfeit inebriation of how we perceive life.

What I mean to say, in a roundabout way, is that it is all the more vital today that we would take a moment to step out of ourselves to view the big picture.  I have countless encounters with people who are so engrossed and enameled with particular elements of their lives that they are always stuck wearing tunnel-vision goggles, undoubtedly running into the same walls simply because they've not taken the time to recognize the forest though they be surrounded by trees.

And having so overvalued the personal experience that we've lost sight of the real, the Truth, and the valuable; that is, if we ever had the vision to see these things before of course.  The point of this blog is to exhort us to live a life that takes time to breath in the world around us and that we would slow down and smell the proverbial roses.  For today, then, let us take a moment or two to take in the world around us and to praise God for it all!

Deut. 13:4–Commands to Revere

Deuteronomy 13:4–"It is the Lord your God you must follow, and Him you must revere.  Keep His commands and obey Him; serve Him and hold fast to Him."

Quite plainly, this is a direct command for us to follow, to revere, and to obey God.  It is unequivocal and clear; there is no ambiguity.  We are called, all of us, to a life of obedience and reverence, that we would live a life deferent and penitent to the Holy Lord is the goal for every believer.  Needless to say, this verse would be altogether impossible to accomplish if not for the indwelling, empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.  Because of this truth, we should be ever praying that God would empower us so that we could commit to loving the Lord completely and with reverence.

Romans 1:16–The Power of God

Romans 1:16–"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."

This is one of those 'defining' verses for Christianity.  In reality, the gospel of Christ is the power of God for salvation, meaning that to receive the gospel of Christ through faith is, in effect, to receive God's salvific power in one's own life.  To be sure, this one of the most remarkable things about what believing in Christ affords the believer.  What a beautiful thought!

Praise be to our glorious God!
Amen!

For His Glory

For the glory of God.  It has taken me much of my life to recognize that this is more than just a nice tag line; it is to be our life's call, our passion, and our purpose.  We are meant, designed really, to live for His glory, to offer up every facet and cranny of ourselves to His name and for His glory.  Additionally, there is no greater joy, no higher call, and no more serious responsibility than to live life all for His glory.  This is life.  My earnest prayer for you and for myself is that we would dedicate our lives to the glory of God!

Isaiah 26:4–Trust in the Lord

Isaiah 26:4–"Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."

This is as much a promise as it is a commandment.  We trust in the Lord because He is an everlasting rock.  In other words, we trust in the Lord because of who He is.  His is the Lord, the Creator of all the vastness of the universe and yet still personal enough to enter into His creation through His Son, Jesus. It is remarkable to recognize that we can rely upon God because He is, after all, God.  This is, it turns out, both amazingly liberating as well as formative to how we would do life.  Therefore, let us not forget the great truth of this verse as it strengthens and secures our every day.

Isaiah 55:6–Seek Him While He may Be Found

Isaiah 55:6–"Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near."

I have often thought about this concept in my own life.  Perhaps you, like me, are like all humans in that we are prone to bouts of emotional whimsy and fickleness.  What I mean to say is: how often have we found ourselves full of conviction one night only to wake up in the morning indifferent towards the very same thing.

In regards to my own experience, I think of all the times I considered the validity of Christ before I accepted the truth of it all.  During those moments, God was near, yet I was unwilling or unable to call upon despite His closeness.  Thus, the path from death to life, fro mourning to joy, and from sin to salvation was withheld from me, kept out of my grasp because of my own blindness or, perhaps, my own aversion to commitment.

But in the end, for all of us, either we will accept the presence of God or we will reject it.  My earnest prayer for myself, my family, my friends, and for anybody else that I do not (yet) know is that we would always seek after the Lord in Christ and that we would call upon Him when we detect His presence near.

Genesis 1:27–Bearing His Image

Genesis 1:27–So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

This is one if not the most important verse in all of Scripture.  It is the very essence of humanity distilled.  It says everything we need to know about our origins, about life's meaning, and about who we are.  I have written essays about this passage of Scripture and its importance to our lives and to how we do Christianity.  But for now all I have to say is this:

Human life is precious.  We have been gifted the unique pleasure and undeniable joy of glorifying God in our very nature.  He made us as bearers of His image; as beings that glorify His name through our lives.  This is our design and our purpose.  This is the value of the human: that we actually bear His image!  There is no greater joy, no more wondrous a proposition than that.

Let us, then, strive to bear His image appropriately and with the dignity it deserves.

Amen.

1 John 2:23: The Father and The Son

1 John 2:23: "No one who denies the Son has the Father.  Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also."

There is, it would seem, an intimate relationship between Jesus and the Father God.  Taken at face value and without much consideration it could be misconstrued to say either they are different or they are the same; both being misunderstandings of the nature of a God, it turns out. But as John points out, one cannot claim to know God or to abide in Him except for through Christ, and it is our relationship with Christ that defines and determines our relationship to God.  This is one of those non-negotiables of Christianity that, if not understood, can lead to great theological deficiencies.

In truth, Christ forms the lynchpin, the cornerstone of all theology as He is the bridge between man and God, having condescended from heaven to take the form of man in order that He might take all sin upon His flesh so as to irradicate the severe barrier that obstructed man's relationship to the Father.  This the Son did as a fulfillment to the promises made to Adam and to Abraham and to David.  Thus whoever has the Son, because of who He is and what He did, also confesses the Father.  You cannot have the one without the other for they are, ultimately One (and though more could be said about this, as well as the presence of the Holy Spirit, I'll choose to leave it there for now).

In the end, this verse, which is echoed all over John's writing, says all we need to know about Jesus' theological primacy in terms of how vital it is that we would confess Christ.  Let us not forget this fundamental assertion of Christianity but let us form our lives around it!