Zech. 14:9–The Lord Will Be King

Zechariah 14:9–"And the Lord will be King over all the earth.  On that day the Lord will be one and His name one."

The promises of God are certain.  The promises of God are sure.  This is one of those promises, that God will be King over all the earth.  He is the One.  This is it, everything.  As Christians, the totality eternal hope depends upon the fact that God is faithful to fulfill all that He has promised through His Son, Christ Jesus.

In the end, perhaps the only appropriate response to this verse is a loud and resounding AMEN!

Psalm 138:8–The Lord Will Fulfill

Psalm 138:8–"The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of Your hands."

This is an honest prayer, a sincere prayer.  It is a prayer that I hold to and that all should.  But while it is a nice sentiment to hold, it is another thing entirely to live our lives dependent upon the faithfulness of God, resting our confidence in the assurance that He fulfills His purposes.  But that is what this verse is all about: living a life of obedient trust in the faithfulness of God to fulfill His promises.

As we embark on another week of life in this crazy world, let us take some time to ascent to the promises God has made to us, and to actively trust that He will fulfill them.

Eph. 4:1–Walk in a Manner Worthy

Ephesians 4:1–"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called..."

The key to this verse is "walk in a manner worthy of the calling."  There is a lifestyle specific to the Christian, a lifestyle of love and compassion with no end nor prejudice.  This is the only life worthy of the calling of Christ, worthy of what Christ did upon the cross.  If only we would strive harder to commit ourselves to live this way.

Only by the grace of God...

Heb. 10:23–Unswerving Hold

Hebrews 10:23–"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful."

I have swerved–more than once.  But praise be to God or He is unswervingly faithful.  It is for this very reason that I am so compelled by this verse.  To 'hold unswervingly' that is the ultimate task, the utmost purpose for anyone of us.  But what does it mean?  How do we do this?

The answer to this occurs uniquely to each individual, but the essence of it is a posture, a focus in which we order our entire lives around the glory of God.

Not an easy task, to be sure.

But praise be to God!  For He who promises is surely faithful to complete that which He has promised!

James 4:7–Submit & Resist

James 4:7–Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

I love verses like this one, verses that give clear and concise direction: submit to God and resist the devil.  I also appreciate the intentional implication of the order here that in submitting to God, we will be able to resist the devil.  Let me say this directly, if we are struggling to resist the devil, we should check our submission.  Or, the other way around, if we are not submitting to God, we will most certainly struggle to resist the devil.

The response is clear.  Submission then resistance.

God Did Not Remain Aloof

The primary issue that plagues humanity is sin.  Sin is a venomous poison, a disease that drives wedges of alienation in every relationship.  We are frustrated in our relationships to one another, we are alienated in our relationships to God, we are confused in our relationships to creation, and we are even devastated in our relationship with ourselves.  All of this is as a result of sin.  Without attempting to be too provocative, the reason we feel so disconnected from everything around us is sin.  Quite literally, everything is broken.

Who could possibly save us in our dire predicament?  What would it take for us to accept salvation?

In all reality, God could have saved us from the curses of sin without getting His hands dirty, so to speak.  He was not powerless against sin while sitting on His throne in heaven.  Surely He could have handled sin decisively without sending His Son to take on the form of sin, placing the curse of sin upon Christ's shoulders, and He could have washed away sin without requiring blood.  But that is not what He did.

God did not remain aloof in garnering salvation.  He actively reached down into humanity with a distinctly human hand.  He pulled salvation through the torn human ligaments.  He grabbed redemption through blood-soaked flesh.  He laid the immense weight of all the world's sin upon His own shoulders. He satisfied His wrath by becoming the curse of sin.

All this He did at the cross.  In Christ.

To this, there is only one appropriate response: Amen and praise be to God!

Competitive Confidence

As an intensely competitive individual, it is a difficult admission to assert my own helplessness before the Lord.  However, this is precisely how I have felt lately: helpless.  Throughout my life I desire to make God supreme and to commit myself wholeheartedly to the commandments of the Lord.  But I confess that my method for being a committed follower of Christ is based on my own power and exertion of self will.  It is thus with great, although predictable regret that I am forced to admit repeated failures of behavior and sin.

My issue is not, as it were, my intention to live a life of obedience; it is the fact that I attempt to do it in my own strength.  God doesn't want me to try harder.  He isn't interested in my effort.  He is most interested in my faith.

But how does this faith translate to obedience?  Focus.

I have found that if I remain focused on Christ in faith–what He has done and the grace He showed at the cross–sin and self are not even in view.  It is when I am concerned with myself that sins and behaviors present themselves.

In the end, then, the matter at hand is one of focus: focus on God or on myself.  There is only one good answer here...

Psalm 91:1–"Abiding in the Shadow of the Almighty

Psalm 91:1–"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty."

The nature of this verse is a two part phrase: those who dwell will abide.  While it may seem like this is an obvious connection, let us not let the density of it pass us by without consideration.  The real question is this: what part do we play in dwelling in God's shelter?

From a Christian perspective, the shelter of the Most High is the crucified flesh of Christ.  Therefore, dwelling in His shelter means, quite plainly, that we would live our lives within the body of Christ, washed by the blood of Christ, and founded solely under the canopy of God's grace in Christ.  This demand an active participation on our part.  But through this we are given a promise: we will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  Consider that when we are asking ourselves whether living in Christ is worth it...

Mark 8:36–What's The Real Profit?

Mark 8:36–"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?"

This is a great and probing question.  It lays out the reality of life in that direct, unambiguous way that only Jesus could.  The true issue of life, the heart of the matter, so to speak, is all about perspective and priorities.  Proper perspective, accurate priorities–this is the very essence of life.  But how to measure these things?  By what scale can we assess the real value of our lives, our decisions?

That is what this verse is about.  In reality, it is substance for all Christianity: what really matters?

The answer, while obvious to state as a theological proposition, is quite a difficult thing to base our lives around.  Any Christian worth his/her salvation can say that Jesus is everything.  Any Christian who has made a confession of faith wouldn't think twice about the question Jesus asks.  But do we live that way?  Do we really live our lives as if Jesus is the most important thing in all existence?

Perhaps we (and by "we" I mean "I") need to really think and pray about this question and its consequences a little more...

2 Chronicles 7:14–If My People Turn...

2 Chronicles 7:14–"if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

This verse, and the several like it, are at the same time liberating and difficult.  It is liberating in the sense that it gives us direct life applications for holiness.  That being said, it is difficult in that it tells us precisely what God requires of us: whole-hearted repentance.

Humility.  Prayer.  Seeking His face.  Repentance from sin.

Then...

God hears us.  He forgives us.  And He heals that which is barren.

I could write more (and trust me on this one) but I think this just about covers the important parts that need to be considered.

Who Are Your Heroes?

The world that we live in is obsessed with hero worship.  America has so deified celebrities that the way we dress, the way we look, even the way we think about life is defined by the celebrities we worship.  Musical talent, acting ability, massive bank accounts, famous relatives–it doesn't matter, we construct our lives around what a celebrity does or thinks.

Plain and simple, this is idolatry.  We worship idols.

The flaw in all of this is the difference between an idol and a hero.

An idol is any person or thing that distracts us from worshiping God.  A hero, on the other hand, is a person that acts as an example for us to follow, a guide for devotion.

Enter Scripture and history.  Both of these can be great sources for heroes, examples for us to follow in learning how to grow in Christ.

So, I ask:

Who are your heroes?

Gal. 6:7–Whatever Is Sown Will Be Reaped

Galatians 6:7–"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap."

This is one of the most basic truths of life, that we reap what we sow.  Most of us understand this truth and we live our lives loosely attempting to abide by it.  To be sure, it is so ingrained into our lives that it can be seen in nearly every facet of life: water the garden and the plants will grow, empty the fuel tank and the car will stop, pay the bills and the lights stay on, and so on and so forth.

But Paul adds this qualification: God is not mocked.

What does he mean by this?  How is God mocked by sowing and reaping?

The truth is, how often do each of us sow one thing but pray to God for a different harvest?  I readily admit that I have sowed on thing while earnestly asking God for another.  This is the essence of this verse.

We should never forget the reality of sowing and reaping.  God does not bless the sowing of sin with righteousness, just as He does not bless a harvest of holiness when it is sown in unrighteousness.

But to sow righteousness is the very joy and task of the Christian.  In so doing we will reap a harvest of eternal life.

Amen!

Happy Father's Day

This day is a day in which all the sons and daughters strive to honor their fathers or, at the very least, to acknowledge them.  To be sure, not every child has a positive evaluation of their fathers.  Some fathers have been bad fathers.  It is thus important that today marks a day not only for honoring our earthly fathers, if applicable, but even more so that we would exalt our Heavenly Father.

So, when you think of this Father's Day, my prayer is that you would think about God and what He has done.  Consider your Heavenly Father today and give Him praise too!

Citizens of Heaven

One of the negative criticisms levied against modern Christians is that some have been too political. To be sure, this is not an entirely inaccurate assessment of Christianity in America.  In truth, the past hundred years in particular has seen the rise in religious conservatism as a legitimate theological-political position.  Furthermore, Christians who hold to this form of American Christianity continue to inextricably link the advancement of the Gospel to conservative politics.  The net effect of this is that the Gospel is rendered as little more than a political motivator while the real power for transformation is thought to be a legislative ordeal.

It is upon this that the transformative power of the Gospel needs to be applied in earnest.  And while there are a multitude of verses and passages that address the heresy of this very issue, the passage from Philippians 3:19-21 seems appropriate for now.

"Their end is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself."

That about covers it for now.

Be Thou My Vision

One of my favorite hymns is "Be Thou My Vision."

It is an ancient Irish tune that was brought into English sometime in the past couple hundred years. In truth, not a whole lot is known about who wrote it or exactly when it originated, but it showed up in an English journal for the first time in 1905.  Be that as it is, I am simply astounded at the depth of wealth of this little tune.  Not only is it a beautiful piece of music, and it most certainly is that, but it is also just brimming with a cry of sincere worship.  Read the first verse.  Let is soak in.  Let it be your prayer as it will be mine today.

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night;
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Resounding Praise

I have found that when life feels sun-soaked that praise tends to flow from my mouth as a gushing river, without hindrance or difficulty.  On the other hand, when life feels more like a never-ending raincloud that the once easily-flowing praises dries to a trickling faucet. Conversely, when life appears

Why is this?  Why is it difficult to praise God sometimes but at other times it seems to be the only thing worth doing at all?  What is it in me that makes praise a chore or a joy dependent on my mood?

Fortunately, I am not left wandering in this abyss of wallowing emotions.

Praise, unlike my feelings, is an act that engages my heart in a vertical activity.  Whether I am happy or sad, I am prone to inwardness.  But praise is an outward expression, a vertical focus.  Perhaps, then, that my real 'issue' is not in diagnosing the various differences that my varied emotional states make on the prospect of praise.  Rather, my real 'issue' is that no matter my state I am more apt to think about myself, wherever my emotions may be lifting or drooping, than to the Lord in praise.

It is at this point that the reality of my dilemma rises to reveal itself.

My greatest problem is me.

Thank goodness there is a proper cure for this disease of self: PRAISE!

Thoughts For Tuesday Night/Wednesday Morning

For those of you who know me, especially those who know me well, you know that it is a rare thing for me to not have something to say.  I am prone to talking without thinking, sharing when no one cares, and I have a perennial case of foot-in-mouth.  That being said, this blog will be a simple question (two, actually). My hope is that these might spur you on to consider how you're doing today.

Do You Love Jesus? Does He Know?

Matt. 7:13-14–The Wide & Narrow Gate

Matthew 7:13-14–"Enter by the narrow gate.  For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."

The narrow gate and the wide gate.  Two gates, two paths to salvation.  One, the wide one, leads to destruction.  But if one would choose the wide gate, at least they wouldn't have to go it alone for there are many who go through it.  On the other hand, there is the narrow gate that leads to life eternal. Unfortunately, for those that would desire life eternal this way is hard and, to add to the difficulty, one may find themselves alone on the journey.

Boiling down the question to its root is essential.  Most important is the recognition that this proposition is anything but hypothetical.  Rather, these 'gates' are choices of utmost import.  The choice, the gate, is rendered basically in this simple question:

Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for the forgiveness of sin?

Hab. 3:19–The Lord Is My Strength

Habakkuk 3:19–"God, the Lord, is my strength; He makes my feet like the deer's; He makes me tread in high places."

The analogy presented in this verse is rather cultural, however, the intention thereof, the meaning offered is still relevant today.  The idea of "feet like the deer's" has a twofold meaning: the first is about adaptability, the second is about swiftness.

The deer, in this context, is an animal with astounding resilience and adaptability.  It can go anywhere, often places other animals could never reach.  To heights unreachable or depths unthinkable, the deer and its unique hooves empower it to go.

Similarly, the deer has a unique swiftness to it, the dynamic ability to switch directions, to run after that which is needed or to away from danger.

But praise be to God that He makes us like this; empowers us to live as He would wish.

It is in this way that He is our strength!  And we should trust that He does do this for us and in our lives.

Is Christ Within You?

The nature of Christianity is quite unlike every other religion in several ways.  One of these significant differences, one of the genuinely unique ones at that, is that Christian believe that Christ Jesus is living within them.  And this phrase is not semantic and it is most certainly not a hypothetical proposition. No. One of the primary teachings of Christ is that upon His death and resurrection, He has sent His Self–His Holy Spirit–to live inside of them.

This 'living inside' means, among many things, that the Spirit of God is residing within the believer guiding, compelling, leading, encouraging, strengthening, empowering, convicting, sanctifying, and bringing them to deeper levels of grace and praise and worship.

Permit be to be quite direct: we want this.  We want more of Him in us.

This is our prayer, this is our purpose.

Amen.

Phil. 3:13-14–"Pressing On"

Philippians 3:13-14–"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.  But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Straining forward in repentance, that is what this verse is about.  In reality, this is so much the essence of the Christian life.  It is not that we have already become that we God is making us.  In one sense, however, we have been made saints by the atoning blood of Christ.  But in another sense, we are still living in our bodies, which are ever drawn to sin, disobedience, and rebellion.

To be quite clear, the inherent difficulty to this resides in the singular fact that we are confined to these weak bodies as long as we are breathing.  It is thus of great importance that we would grow in perseverance and in discipline, always straining forward to what lies ahead in Christ.

1 Chron. 29:11–Yours, O Lord, Is The Greatness

1 Chronicles 29:11–"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the earth is Yours.  Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head above all."

My life is inundated with mediocrity.  In truth, it is no small thing for anything in my life to be or to become what anyone would call excellent.  Even more so would be the oddity of actually possessing anything remotely resembling true greatness.  True, I am a decent musician; I am a fairly good writer. But for me to be called majestic or glorious or great, well, that would be just plain silly.

God, however, is not like me–or anyone else for that matter.  That's what this verse is about and we should be happy to shout it in exclamation for its truth!

Amen and praise be to God for He is great!

Smile All The Way To Tears

Have you ever had the experience of being so overwhelmed with joy that you cannot help but begin to cry?

I am writing this post while at a funeral for a loved one.  As I am watching the people walk around and say their blessings to the bereaved I am awestruck at the emotional climate.  It is not sad nor is it dark. On the contrary, I find that I am surrounded by something else entirely: joy.

It is clear that this woman was loved and enjoyed by everyone that was blessed to know her.  And yet this funeral seems utterly drenched with joy.  There are most certainly tears but they are tears of glory, tears of exultation. To be quite honest, I find that I am overcome by this and sobbing with a smile so wide.

The woman, one of my wife's aunts, was a devout Christian.  It is this singular fact about her that is the cause for the emotional milieu.  Christians alone live a life based solely upon the hope of the glory of God found in Christ Jesus.  Hope of life eternal.  Hope in the promises of God made secure by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Amen!  Praise be to God!

Oh that my funeral is filled with those sacred tears of joy!