Philippians 1:9-11–Praying that Love Would Abound With More

Philippians 1:9-11–"And it is my prayer that your love would abound more and more, with knowledge and discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."

There is so much to this verse, a level of theological depth that is simply remarkable.  Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, is exhorting the believers in Philippi that love, while being central to the Christian experience, is not the end point but the starting point which all Christianity is based upon.  It is as if love is meant to be supplemented with knowledge and discernment in order that love would become pure and blameless, and so bear the fruit of Christ.  And this is all for the glory and praise to God.

Thus we should not assume that love is enough on its own, for if love is not bringing glory to the One who is love, then we are not truly loving as God has intended.  Let us then pray as Paul prayed, that we our love would abound more and more tot he glory and praise of God!

John 3:21–To Be Seen Doing What Is True

John 3:21–"But whoever does what is true comes into the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out by God."

There is something to this verse, that not only would we do what is true but also that we would do it in the open so that our works may be weighed for worth.  It is not that we do what is true for the purpose of being seen.  Rather, it is that we would do the will of God for the purpose of glorifying God and to prove His goodness and the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit working through us.  This is what John is talking about.  He is exhorting us to live out the truth in such a way that brings glory to God by the way we live.  Let us then strive to live life in this way so as to praise God fully.

1 Corinthians 2:14–The Natural Man

1 Corinthians 2:14–"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to Him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned."

This is one of those verses that strikes at my heart.  In my life, I often get into conversations about faith and God.  It is at these times, when engaging in dialogue about the Divine, that this verse is brought to bear upon life in a very real way.  During these times of conversation, there is no amount of defense or rationality that will or even can convince someone the truth.

If, however, we remember the truth of this verse, we can avoid the consternation we might feel when the unspiritual man is struggling to understand.  In truth, as this verse conveys, the natural man will be unable to understand the things of God, because, quite frankly, he does not have eyes to see or ears to hear.

Our evangelistic tactic, then, is not necessarily to convince the unbeliever about God as much as it is to pray for them that God would transform their hearts so that they would be able to understand the things of God.  Let us then remember that this is the way it is and we need to respond in faith appropriately.

Seek Ye First

Seeking God first is the very essence of the Christian life.  Even more appropriate, though, would be to say that seeking God first is the purpose and necessity of every human being that has ever lived.  It is our call while it is also our function.  And not only that, but it is the very joy of man to delight in God and to seek our everything from His name.

While there is much more to say on this important topic suffice to say that God is our Creator, to know Him is our task, and to seek after Him is our utter purpose in life.  Additionally, seeking Him first is that which gives us the most joy in all life.  Let us then strive to make this the priority that compels and drives every action and thought in our life.  And by God grace and His Spirit's indwelling power, we could do it!

Hebrews 10:31–It is a Fearful Thing

Hebrews 10:31–"The Lord will judge His people.  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

The fear of the Lord forms the basis for knowledge and wisdom (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; 9:1). And often this fear is rendered as reverence.  And while this is true, we should not forget or neglect the terror element to the fear of the Lord.  In a real sense, wisdom is based as much on reverence for the Lord as it is our intense fright at His power and justice.  Recognizing who God is with all His Presence, His Power, His Wisdom, His Creativity, and His Justice is, among many things, a terrifying thought. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that many would rather neglect His presence altogether, for to accept His presence is to face the Holy One in light of our own unholiness.  This is the fear of the Lord and this is why it truly is a fearful thing to fall into His holy hands.

A Note About Honesty

Let me start with this: for the past few weeks I have had more than a couple very real conversations with people who are very important to me.  During these discussions, the necessity for honesty has come to the forefront of my life and I wanted to take a paragraph or two to discuss the whole concept of honesty and its importance in our relationships.

Honesty requires, at the very least, vulnerability and trust.  To be vulnerable means that we would be willing to let down our guards for the purpose of exposing our weaknesses to others.  But within that vulnerability, we share it with trust.  While vulnerability can in itself be a frightening proposition, it is the need for trust that makes honesty so challenging.  Yet it is these very things, trust and vulnerability, that make honesty so valuable to relationships and it is why we must strive for it in our lives.  In reality, honesty is the foundation of love.

Let us then strive for honesty as we strive in devotion to the Lord!

A Statement About Devotion

Devotion, the fine word we use to describe and define our most sincere relationships, in particular our relationship with God Almighty.  It is, then, necessary that we would define devotion so that we could know either when we possess it or, maybe more so, when we lack it.  Thus the purpose of this blog will be a brief look into the concept and the significance of devotion.

In the most basic sense, devotion is the process and knowledge of being devoted.  That is, being devoted to someone or something in a relationship that goes beyond simple acquaintance beyond the level of commitment but it is that commitment meeting a desperate and abandoned desire.  Devotion, in this sense, is not merely a deeper degree but, rather, a different perspective in regards to those we hold dear.  It is about commitment, to be sure.  But it is also about passion and depth, focused outward at an external being.  In the case of Christianity, this means, quite plainly, God Himself through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Space does not permit for more but I hope this is a helpful start to get you thinking about devotion and its vital importance in our lives.

Life with an Eternal Perspective

There is this pervasive pull within us to live as if this physical, temporal life were all there was to existence.  But this pull is but an undertow that tries to rip us away from the profound and devastating truth: life has an eternal value.  It is not enough to think of life as merely something that is confined to the here and now, to the present.  Instead, we must live life with an eternal perspective, recognizing the eternal nature of our lives and letting that perspective compel us to live life in a way befitting that perspective.  In the end, we are called to live life focused on the eternal One, which reminds us that our lives do, in fact, possess within them an eternal element as a result of bearing the image of God.  This is to be our eternal perspective, that guides every part of our lives and our beings.  We would do well to keep this focus in every aspect and every facet of our loves.

Assurance of the Things Unseen

In Hebrews faith is defined as the assurance of the things unseen.  In modern understandings, however, faith has been relegated to merely a trust in things that cannot be empirically observed, specifically dealing with spiritual things.  Yet this redefinition is an insufficient understanding of what faith is and how naturally we employ it throughout every moment of the day.

Consider gravity.  It is a verifiable, repeatable, and observational relationship between two bodies if mass.  Yet, in the most basic sense, these relationships themselves are, in fact, unseeable.  We cannot actually see gravity, we can only observe its effects, the echoes of its existsence.  Yet we have faith in its properties and in its existence without any thought.

Or apply this of the relationships between husband and wife: they cannot see, it turns out, the marriage itself, for only the effects, the shadows of their relationship can truly be seen and verified empirically. Yet we do not discount the faith that draws together the man and woman in matrimony.  In this way, faith is not just a word we use to describe a private ascension to a set of theological assertions.  Instead, it is a trust in the invisible relationships that dominate every aspect of our lives and of all creation.

Thus when we have discussions of faith and about faith, we need to take into account how pervasive faith actually is.  In truth, then, our understandings of faith are perhaps some of the most important things about us.  While space does not permit an exhaustive dissection of faith suffice to say it is vital that our definitions of faith, its purview and its significance, be as accurate in taking into account all of the data so that it can once again be affirmed as a valid source for absolute truth.

A Statement on Beauty

Life is full of beauty.  This is a self-evident truth.  We see beauty seemingly everywhere we look, from the harvest rains to the newborn babe.  While this is a right and good thing to assess to beauty, it is a different thing altogether to worship God for that which is beautiful, instead of focusing uncritically on the thing itself.  In other words, it is an easy trap to fall into to worship the beautiful instead of He who created beauty.

This other step, the step from assessing beauty to worshiping God, is the necessary step so that we can realize the privilege of beauty in its sheer and profound fullness.  For if we take forgranted the accessibility and presence of beauty, we have, if at least inavertedly, taken forgranted God Himself by that same token.

Thus when we see the vibrant beauty that fills this created universe, when we are blessed to see that which is provocative and glorious, our proper response needs to be praise for God.  Mere enjoyment of the beautiful thing, it turns out, is insufficient to affect the heart until it unless the heart is turned to face God in worship.  Because of all this, we should strive to to see beauty as it is: a beautiful reason to worship God!Beaut

Committing to Commitment

Commitment is one of the most important parts of the human experience, particularly when we speak about relationships.  Commitment is, in a sense, the single vital aspect of every vibrant and successful relationship.  It is our commitment that permits us to love during the hardships, to cover a fault when we need to care for another, and to put the other first for the purpose of love.

Needles to say, this is more than a difficult endeavor if not downright impossible for us to do.  It is, however, this very thing that God demands of us.  Commitment to Him, to our spouses, and to the people in our lives.  But in this commandment He has given us assistance: His Spirit, which guides us and leads us to commit completely.

Therefore, if we are struggling to commit, it is not that we should simply strive harder in our own strength, but that we should seek after His direction for our lives with praise and supplication.  This is the very essence and the intent of commitment, while it is also a statement about how we should commit with vigor to those commitments that fill our lives.

Let us then always seek then to commit in every area of our lives.

Ephesians 4:29–No Corrupting Talk

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

This is, in some ways, a very accessible verse, while in other ways it possesses a certain difficulty. The ease of this verse is that some corrupting talk can seem simple to ascertain.  For instance, cussing and downcuts are easy to spot, while slander and glibness can be more difficult to spot.   But the truth is that the most corrupting talk is the kind that slithers without notice rather than the kind that bombards with words like hammerheads.

It is the talk that is divisive, the talk that is deceptive, and the talk that is covert that is most corrupting. This is what Paul is warning us against, that we would protect our speech from such speech as this.  It is by no means an easy thing to do, but it is our task nonetheless.  Let us strive to protect our speech so that we would love and bless all those around us.

Philippians 2:3–A Statement on Humility

Philippians 2:3–"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves."

Humility can seem humiliating if it is divorced from love.  In the end, though, humility is not merely an intentional downplaying of self.  Instead, inherent to the humility that matters is that we would lift up others through our humility, not merely and underhandedly undercut ourselves for the covert purposes of being lifted up, e.g. "Well I'm not good enough for that..."

In truth, however, true humility is meant to arise out of a desire to love another by lifted them up. Ultimately, it is love that compels the humility that affects relationships and transforms the lives of the people around us.  This needs to be the source and intent of our humility.  Let us then love in this profound and sacrificial way!

To the Glory of God

I do not have Internet till tomorrow at my house so today's blog will be have to be written on my phone.  Because of this, it will have to be short and sweet for fear losing feeling in my thumbs.

Giving glory to God is what life is all about.  It is our purpose and, ultimately, our proper function as human beings.  Because of this profound but right truth, praising God should ever reside on our lips as worshiping His holy name should always flow from our lives.  This is what life is all about. Let us never forget this truth as we arrive moment-to-moment to live for Him and for His glory.

Amen.

James 3:13–Showing Wisdom with Meekness

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

One of the true measurements of wisdom is, it turns out, a direct reflection of the wisdom the person may possess. That is, a wise person will exhibit their wisdom wisely.  In some ways this is an obvious consideration.  However, there is a natural tendency for the fool to expose his folly even in wisdom.  Think of how easy it is, for instance, to want to tell everyone how wise we may be when we know that we are being wise.  In that instance–which has happened more often than I'd care to admit–the true wealth of wisdom has remained just beyond our reach.  In truth, to be truly wise we must also exude that wisdom wisely and with meekness.  This is what James is saying to us and we would be wise to listen.

1 John 4:16–God's Love Abiding in Us

1 John 4:16–"So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.  God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him."

In our evening service, we have been going through 1 John, one of my favorite books in all of Scripture.  It, like many of the New Testament books, deals with who God is, who we are in Christ, and how Christians should live.  This verse is one of those great verses that is oft mis-quoted.  I mean, how many times have we heard that God is love without hearing the rest. Because of all this, I'm going to leave this blog fairly empty, save a repetition: read it again and meditate on its truth today.

"So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.  God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him."

A Day of Rest

The Bible begins with God creating the universe in six days.  On the seventh day, however, God rests and He commands that a day be set aside for rest, that we would take a Sabbath day that is dedicated solely for the task of rest and replenishment.  Despite this being God's design from the beginning, many humans have distorted this concept.  Even Christians can fall prey to the concept of neglecting a day set aside for the expressed purpose of resting.

But this was never meant to be the case.  Eternally speaking, Christ is our eternal Sabbath, our final and definitive rest from the toil of life.  However, in the mortal sense, we are meant to take time on a regular basis that is expressly and purposely set aside for rest.  In the hustle and bustle of modern life, though, this can seem like more of an imposition than a productive endeavor.  Yet we are made, designed by God with a built-in need for recharging.  This is the purpose of the Sabbath and we would do well and wisely to set aside time for this vital task of replenishment in the tumult of daily life.

Practice of Perseverance

Perseverance is a practiced trait.  For many, though, it is assumed that either one is or is not capable of persevering.  This, however, is not the case.  We all have within us the capacity to persevere under trial, it is merely our ascension and commitment to the fixing of our eyes on the prize that determines our success in the battle of perseverance.

Spiritually speaking, perseverance can be considered one of the most important traits that is shared by mature Christians.  As Christians, we will face trials and tribulations.  How we handle those struggles, either by leaning more into Christ or leaning more on our own understanding, is the mark of perseverance.

In truth, to persevere, strangely enough, has far less to do with strength than it does with conviction.  When we assert definitively that we will commit to the task of loving God and loving our neighbors, this is the path that will be challenged.  It is not, however, our strength that determines our success; it is our commitment to Christ that, ultimately, renders us successful.  It is His victory and His strength that permits us, by His grace, to persevere under strain and strife. Ultimately, then, it is He who is our focus amidst the trial and it is He who allows us to persevere.

Let us always keep this perspective when we are faced with the advancing difficulties of this world: Our job is not to persevere, it is to continually praise Him.  And through that praise we will persevere.  We should not worry about perseverance for its own worth because those who fix their eyes upon Christ will persevere.

Philippians 4:4–Rejoice in Him

Philippians 4:4–"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice."

Rejoicing in the Lord is one of the most joyfully pleasurable experiences in life.  It is about worship.  And without fail the most fulfilling occurrences in my live have been those moments in which, because of the profundity of the instance, I have had the distinct pleasure of praising and rejoicing God.  To be sure, these times have not all been inside the sanctuary of the church but have often occurred at odd times and strange places, like driving in rush hour or paying my bill at the grocery check-out line.

Rejoicing in the Lord is tantamount to worshiping with thankfulness.  It is about practicing a posture of praise in our everyday life.  Moreover, it is about engaging that practice into everyday moments so that the right time for worship becomes every moment of every day.  This is our hope and this is what Paul is compelling, commanding us to do.  Let us then take this call to rejoice as serious as it is meant to be taken!

Amen.

Psalm 121:1-2–Look To God For Help

Psalm 121:1-2: "I lift my eyes up to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."

There is something to be said about stability in times of struggle and strife.  For some, they claim that this sense comes from somewhere within themselves, like an internal stabilizer amidst the tumult.  But this doesn't make a whole lot of sense because a level only works if it actually gauges the discontinuity of that which is off-kilter.  Hence, when we are in need of strength or correction or help, it must come externally.  Enter God.

He is our Creator and our Savior; it is He whom we depend upon always.  This does not mean that His help is or will always be immediate–although it certainly can be–but it means that we will wait on Him for our strength, for our support, and for our guidance.  The reason for the possible delay of God's direct assistance is often, although not always, about learning.  God often relents His steadying hand under circumstances of growth so that we would grow.  But even in these situations, it is vital that we would keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and keep pressing forward to the prize of eternal life in His presence.

Because of all this and so much more, we keep a steady eye fixed on the Lord, the Maker of the heaven and the earth, as our help and our stability when the waves of this life attempt to topple us.

What Right Does God Have?

I have heard this question and many of its variations for years: 'what right does God have...?" It is most often coupled with an indictment of this faceless and unknown divine being who is considered audacious enough to encroach upon the individual's freedom to do whatever the heck he/she wants.  Needless to say, this argument is predicated upon fallacious girding because it supports its veracity on the basis of man's indomitable free will, which is basic terms means, 'I can do anything I want whenever I want and nothing and no one can tell me I'm right or wrong.'

But the aforementioned statement-veiled-question neglects the reality of human personhood, namely that everything about us is a fluctuating derivative.  I mean two things by that phrase: (1) that human beings are always in flux and thus unable to accurately asses themselves at any time without an external critical input; and (2) that we are, at our cores, wholly contingent beings that are inherently dependent upon others for our being.

Spiritually speaking, or at least in reference to the above question, this brings a number of thoughts to bear upon the discussion.  At the start, it means that by asking 'what right God has?' we must also ask, 'what right do I have?'  In other words, before we can challenge the Maker of the universe for the supremacy in our lives, we have to honestly assess if we are even capable of claiming that lordship for ourselves, to which the answer is an unequivocal no.

Being contingent beings means that we are dependent.  Therefore, to claim a sort of independence that betrays this fact would be, in the end, self defeating.

While there is more to be said about this, suffice to say that in reference to the question about what right God has, well, the answer is: God has all the right in the world for whatever He wants.  After all, He's God, the Creator of all creation.  In the end, He is who He is and we are His by that fact.  There is no way around this dilemma, either we ignore it or we live under its truth.

Back to the Grind

This is the time of year that boats are being return to their state of rest next to the garages, outdoor pools are being covered for the winter, and the world returns to a schedule directed by that of the schools.  Summer is, it turns out, over.  And this is the time of the year when we are thrust back into that daily grind that lasts until next June.

Because of this, I find it appropriate to remember that at this time when we are beginning to set our lives into schedules, it is important that we would make devotion, prayer, and study a vital part of our daily routine.  That is all I have to say about that...

Psalm 143:10–Teach Me to Do Your Will

Psalm 143:10–"Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground."

Asking for assistance is often the first necessary step in receiving it.  If we never ask, we may never receive.  Under this principle, we should be willing and eager to ask God for help in our aim at spiritual maturation.  In other words, it is always a good practice for us to come to God requesting that He would teach us and that He would lead us.

Because of this, it would be wise of us to make a verse like this our prayer that we would receive the grace to do His will and to walk with sure steps on level ground.

Col. 1:28–Warnings for Purpose

Colossians 1:28–"Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ."

Maturity does not come naturally, as some would prefer us to believe.  I speak of maturity in wisdom not physically, because the banana doesn't have to try to become ripe but the wise man does.

Maturity is, in many ways, a learned trait, a practiced perspective.  After all, there are plenty of immature elderly people just as there are quite a few mature young people.  The point, then, for the achievement of maturity is the recognition that it is a goal as much as it is an attitude.  I mean to say that if we strive for maturity with a mature attitude we will, no doubt, arrive at maturity.

Spiritually speaking, maturity in Christ is what we are aiming towards.  It is about obedience but it is also about focus, that we would focus on growing in Christ.  This growth occurs through practice and devotion, the staples of a diet meant to harvest maturity in Christ.  If this is our aim we should set ourselves on the task of studying His Word, praying in thankfulness, and loving God and our neighbors.  In this way and by the grace of God, we will become mature in Him. Which is, after all, our eternal goal.

John 14:23–If...

John 14:23–"Jesus answered them, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.'"

There are many conditional statements in the Scripture, statements made that indicate the distinct and certain responsibility that God has placed upon humans to believe and to obey.  This is one of those statements.  In simple and candid words, Jesus is telling us to love Him and to keep His Word.

In reality, this is a direct assertion, a clear statement about what God desires from us.  We would do well to listen to Jesus' prescription.

Talk About Hymn

It's one of my favorite songs and it goes like this:

"Holy, Holy, Holy
Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, Holy, Holy,
Merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity."

It was written almost two centuries ago by a man named Reginald Heber but the words still ring with beauty and truth today.  It is a song that brings generations together in one chorus to praise God.  In truth, this is why I love this song so much.  It is commanded that we sing to God and speak to each other with hymns and such (See Eph. 5 & Col. 3).  It is then a necessary and good thing for us to learn–I mean memorize–these classic and beautiful hymns of praise so that we may be able to join in song across ages to worship God with one, unified voice.  Now that sounds like a choir worth listening too!

2 Timothy 1:14–Guard the Deposit of Grace

2 Timothy 1:14–"By the Holy Spirit that dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you."

Salvation is a gift, a promise of eternity spent with the Holy Lord Almighty.  And while this gift has with it present blessings it culminates in a future unwrapping when Jesus will descend and reign over the new earth.  Because of this, we have a incredible responsibility to protect this great gift of salvation.  This means, among many things, that we will strive to make Christ the focal point of our daily lives so as to ensure that we would maintain proper priorities and perspective. Additionally, it means that we will make Bible study an important part of our every day.  In this way we will guard the deposit that has been entrusted to us: the Holy Spirit and salvation.

Isaiah 48:17–God Teaches and Leads

Isaiah 48:17–"Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: 'I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.'"

This verse comes at the beginning of a passage of judgement in which God judges the people of Israel for their apathetic indifference and for their utter disregard for His commandments and blessings.

Taken out of context, this verse can seem like a fine assertion, like: 'now remember, I am your God and I'm the One who is suppose to teach you the way you should go. So listen up.'  But it is void of those lovey-dovey connotations.  God is telling Israel–and us–that He is the Lord and deserving of our obedience and our praise.  Additionally, He is asserting within that statement a warning that those who would disregard this message will not go unpunished for their unbelief.

We would do well, then, to always keep proper perspective in focus as to who we are and who He is.  In this way, we will go a long way to ensuring a solid footing with each step as we will be stepping in faith that He is leading us in the way we should go.

Psalm 119:64–The Earth Is Full of Him

Psalm 119:64–"The earth, O Lord, is full of Your steadfast love; teach me Your statutes!"

Amen!

The realization and reckoning that the earth truly is full of God's unfailing and steadfast love can be a remarkably profound recognition.  I can remember times of tears just from the thought that God is in control, that everything is right, and that He is right there.  It can be easy for us to forget this truth when we spend our days hurtled through the hustle and bending in the bustle.  Because of this, it is good to simply re-assert our focus and the truth: that the earth and its inhabitants are God's, and that we desire to know who He is!

Let us do just that!

Romans 1:16-17--Righteousness of God Revealed

Romans 1:16-17-"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew and then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed-a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'the righteous will live by faith.'"

This verse is full of theology, brimming with the very heart of the the Gospel of Christ.  It speaks of the power of God, of His righteousness revealed, and how salvation is appropriated to God through faith.  But it is the last line, 'the righteous will live by faith,' that spurs me on to excitement.  To be sure, this statement is a combination of description and prescription, meaning that not only does it describe for us how the righteous will live, but it also prescribes for those who would desire to be righteous how they should live.  Because of this, this verse is as convicting as it is affirming.  It compels the believer who has determined to try to live righteously to ask the honest question: how well am I living by faith?

Perhaps we would do well to keep this question and this verse before us as we strive to live lives of godliness.

Amen.