There is perhaps no greater joy than the true pleasure of love. I do not mean only love of the romantic variety, but the love between friends, the love between people that have been allowed to see the deep parts of one another. This is one of the truly beautiful gifts that God has given us. But despite this truth, our sin natures continually act as a toxin, degrading our relationships and spoiling the great joy of love.
This is why it is so vital that we seek God in faith, that we would give every bit of ourselves–even our relationships–to God so that He would consecrate and sanctify us fully. It is only in giving ourselves to God that He is free to transform us from the inside out. This is the only way to truly protect and cherish the love in our lives. Let us then commit to seek after God without end so as to be made able to love with reckless abandon and utter trust!
Showing posts with label joy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label joy. Show all posts
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Easter: Today and Beyond
Easter is a sacred day for the Christians around the world. It is a day, really the day, when all around the world considers this historical man, Jesus of Nazarene, and the remarkable events that surrounded His life, His death by the hands of Pontius Pilate, and the strange events of His post-death life. It is the day when, around the world, people who would rather never consider the reality of the events of Jesus of Nazarene.
But for Christians, this is a day of remembrance of a different sort. For Christians, this is a day marked on the calendar not merely as a remembrance of what Christ Jesus did in His life, in His horrid death, and by His resurrection; it is also a day of particular importance because we remember, more particularly, what Jesus has done for us.
Today's blog, therefore, is one meant especially for those who would come to Christ in faith. Today, on this very day, I exhort you to consider all that God has done for you in Christ Jesus, and to set as a mark upon your foreheads your commitment in faith to Christ Jesus for the remainder of this year. Use this day in concert with the rest of your days as a podium to herald the King and to sing of His praise. It is, of course, not merely a day like any other for it is a day of supreme testimony by which we recognize the sin offering and propitiation that Christ has won on our behalf. AMEN!
But for Christians, this is a day of remembrance of a different sort. For Christians, this is a day marked on the calendar not merely as a remembrance of what Christ Jesus did in His life, in His horrid death, and by His resurrection; it is also a day of particular importance because we remember, more particularly, what Jesus has done for us.
Today's blog, therefore, is one meant especially for those who would come to Christ in faith. Today, on this very day, I exhort you to consider all that God has done for you in Christ Jesus, and to set as a mark upon your foreheads your commitment in faith to Christ Jesus for the remainder of this year. Use this day in concert with the rest of your days as a podium to herald the King and to sing of His praise. It is, of course, not merely a day like any other for it is a day of supreme testimony by which we recognize the sin offering and propitiation that Christ has won on our behalf. AMEN!
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Philippians 1:29-30: The Joy of Suffering
Philippians 1:29-30: "For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had now and how hear that I still have."
In case you misread, pardon me to paraphrase in context of Paul's theology: not only has God graced you with faith, but even more so He has graced you with the reality of suffering. Suffering is, in fact, a gift of God on par with the gifts of faith and repentance. But, you may ask, how is suffering a gift? Why would God love us so much to have us suffer for His sake?
This is a difficult question and to understand it pushes the bounds of language. Two analogies will thus be employed to answer this difficult question. Neither of them is perfect but thought of together they may, hopefully, serve to help us understand how and why Paul could say that God grants us to suffer for the sake of Christ.
The first is a pearl. A pearl begins as an irritant; a small grain of sand. In the shell of the oyster, the pearl is formed through the overwhelming pressure applied by the oyster. Imagine for a second the extreme irritation and conceivable suffering endured by the oyster during that process. Yet it is because of that suffering, as a result of that pain that a pearl is formed.
The second analogy is that of weight lifting. Imagine you went to the gym and saw a man standing before the mirror with doing basic bicep curls. In one arm he was lifting a 40 lbs. weight while in the other he was lifting a 5 lbs. weight. Now which arm would you assume to be the stronger? We understand that it is the muscle that is forced to lift the heavier weight that becomes stronger by virtue of of the suffering endured during exercise. In fact, it is the weight itself that causes the muscular growth.
Taken together perhaps we can begin to see the reason Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, can say that God has granted us the gift of suffering for the sake of Christ. The pearl of character, the muscles of virtue are formed using the resources of suffering for the sake of Christ. Let us then find great joy that God has blessed us in this most wonderful way: that He would build character in us through the suffering akin to His Son!
In case you misread, pardon me to paraphrase in context of Paul's theology: not only has God graced you with faith, but even more so He has graced you with the reality of suffering. Suffering is, in fact, a gift of God on par with the gifts of faith and repentance. But, you may ask, how is suffering a gift? Why would God love us so much to have us suffer for His sake?
This is a difficult question and to understand it pushes the bounds of language. Two analogies will thus be employed to answer this difficult question. Neither of them is perfect but thought of together they may, hopefully, serve to help us understand how and why Paul could say that God grants us to suffer for the sake of Christ.
The first is a pearl. A pearl begins as an irritant; a small grain of sand. In the shell of the oyster, the pearl is formed through the overwhelming pressure applied by the oyster. Imagine for a second the extreme irritation and conceivable suffering endured by the oyster during that process. Yet it is because of that suffering, as a result of that pain that a pearl is formed.
The second analogy is that of weight lifting. Imagine you went to the gym and saw a man standing before the mirror with doing basic bicep curls. In one arm he was lifting a 40 lbs. weight while in the other he was lifting a 5 lbs. weight. Now which arm would you assume to be the stronger? We understand that it is the muscle that is forced to lift the heavier weight that becomes stronger by virtue of of the suffering endured during exercise. In fact, it is the weight itself that causes the muscular growth.
Taken together perhaps we can begin to see the reason Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, can say that God has granted us the gift of suffering for the sake of Christ. The pearl of character, the muscles of virtue are formed using the resources of suffering for the sake of Christ. Let us then find great joy that God has blessed us in this most wonderful way: that He would build character in us through the suffering akin to His Son!
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Can't Get Out of Work and Why Would You?
We live in a world that is obsessed with the search for comfort and ease. Consequently, laziness and sloth are at endemic levels as no longer, as it has been in the past, do people reward their hard work with relaxation. Instead, serenity is considered a sort of birthright, an entitled dispensation. It is as if work has been deemed evil as laziness has been exalted as good.
Scripture, however, has another way of dealing with work altogether. For Scripture, particularly for Solomon, work is not just the drudge of daily life but it is one of the true joys of life (Ecc 5:12, 18). The reason that work is a joy has far less to do with the what of work than with the why. The why of work is that God has given us the joy of using our senses and exercising our dignity in the reception of the goods that come from work, i.e. wage, satisfaction, et al.
This is not to say that work and the provision that work affords should ever be allowed to eclipse God either in exaltation or in faith. Instead, work is to be rightly considered as a component of the grace that God has given to humanity. Our work is but a medium for God's grace to be conveyed to us. Let us then take great joy in work and to always give God praise for that joy!
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Musings on Joy
Joy is one of those sincere pleasures of this human experience. It is something more than mere happiness, for happiness is contingent upon what happens. No. Joy is something more, like a certain contentment, a profound satisfaction that propounds from the deep and overflows throughout ever cavity of person. It is, in some ways, ineffable in that it lies beyond language's ability to convey it accurately because it is so sweeping, so radical.
But the experience of joy is real, the residuals are recognizable. And though the experience of joy is a temporal, fleeting phenomena, the joy itself is something more, something lasting. Think of the simplicity of a sincere smile, maybe the smile of a 1-year-old. When a baby smiles, there is no questioning the joy as genuine and pervasive. There is an honesty to this joy, a bona fide joy that stems from the depths. And, although some external stimuli may initiate the response of joy, the joy is an internal well that pours in various form(s); a smile in the case of the baby. But from where does this seemingly-bottomless wellspring of joy bubble from?
It is this, the source of joy that is worth talking about. God. God is the source of joy. To be in His presence is joy (Psa 16:11). The commandments of the Lord are joy (Psa 19:8). And it is in obedience to the Lord that humans can experience the fullness of joy (John 15:10-11). Understanding that joy is not something that is dependent upon the scenarios of circumstance or the happenings of life, but that it is solely a gift from God will keep us secure lest we begin to misconceive of joy as mere happiness or worse, pleasure.
But the experience of joy is real, the residuals are recognizable. And though the experience of joy is a temporal, fleeting phenomena, the joy itself is something more, something lasting. Think of the simplicity of a sincere smile, maybe the smile of a 1-year-old. When a baby smiles, there is no questioning the joy as genuine and pervasive. There is an honesty to this joy, a bona fide joy that stems from the depths. And, although some external stimuli may initiate the response of joy, the joy is an internal well that pours in various form(s); a smile in the case of the baby. But from where does this seemingly-bottomless wellspring of joy bubble from?
It is this, the source of joy that is worth talking about. God. God is the source of joy. To be in His presence is joy (Psa 16:11). The commandments of the Lord are joy (Psa 19:8). And it is in obedience to the Lord that humans can experience the fullness of joy (John 15:10-11). Understanding that joy is not something that is dependent upon the scenarios of circumstance or the happenings of life, but that it is solely a gift from God will keep us secure lest we begin to misconceive of joy as mere happiness or worse, pleasure.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
The Pleasure of Novelty and its Diminishing Satisfaction
Novelty can generally be regarded as that most fleeting perception and fascination of something that is made exciting and thrilling simply because of its attractive newness. To be sure, encountering any new and pleasurable thing is almost always delivered with some sense of novelty, but as time passes novelty naturally fades and the true pleasure of a thing can be faithfully seen and asserted. Novelty, then, is not, in actuality, a quality that one thing possesses inherently but stems from the ideas of Fashionability and Trend.
The excitement afforded by novelty is one not of pleasure, in pleasure's true sense, but of temporality in the emotional sense. This is to say that novelty is an emotional reaction to the reception of a new and fashionable thing, be it material or relational. In the end, because novelty is not inherent to the thing itself but is a response of feeling and taste, novelty has cannot be satisfying in itself but is a non-lasting impression of something pleasurable.
However, because novelty is received with a thrill, novelty can be confused with pleasure as misconstrued as the pleasure itself. As a result of this misconception, that which is truly pleasurable is substituted for that which is merely novel and new. The net effects of this lopsided illusion is that pleasure will no longer be cherished and pleasurable as it is, but will be replaced with the counterfeit gratifications of novelty. Essentially, novelty will become that which is considered satisfying while that which is truly satisfying, that which is godly and good, is neglected in favor for what is new, fashionable, trendy, and easily accesible.
But because novelty is by nature fleeting, the law of diminishing returns will be even more in play than usual. The response, on the part of the individual given over to this sort of confusion, is that novelty will be continually sought out and lusted after. In a real sense, the person will never be content and will lack any true satisfaction because they will never linger long enough before passing on to the next new, novel thing. This is like licking the steak without chewing it before quickly moving to lick the bread too. No satisfaction, just a wanting desire for the novelty of something else, something new.
In order to overcome this illusion, the person must first reckon with the discrepancy, the flaw in their reasoning comes not from their want of joy and pleasure but in where he or she has sourced it, namely, in novelty. Secondly, the person must be made aware of the vanity and perishing nature of fashionability and trendiness, here today to be swept away by the tide of tomorrow's new wave. Lastly, the person must remember that, above all else, the source for all satisfaction and pleasure is found in thankfulness in giving glory to God. Any attempt to replace this is but a shadowy imitation.
The excitement afforded by novelty is one not of pleasure, in pleasure's true sense, but of temporality in the emotional sense. This is to say that novelty is an emotional reaction to the reception of a new and fashionable thing, be it material or relational. In the end, because novelty is not inherent to the thing itself but is a response of feeling and taste, novelty has cannot be satisfying in itself but is a non-lasting impression of something pleasurable.
However, because novelty is received with a thrill, novelty can be confused with pleasure as misconstrued as the pleasure itself. As a result of this misconception, that which is truly pleasurable is substituted for that which is merely novel and new. The net effects of this lopsided illusion is that pleasure will no longer be cherished and pleasurable as it is, but will be replaced with the counterfeit gratifications of novelty. Essentially, novelty will become that which is considered satisfying while that which is truly satisfying, that which is godly and good, is neglected in favor for what is new, fashionable, trendy, and easily accesible.
But because novelty is by nature fleeting, the law of diminishing returns will be even more in play than usual. The response, on the part of the individual given over to this sort of confusion, is that novelty will be continually sought out and lusted after. In a real sense, the person will never be content and will lack any true satisfaction because they will never linger long enough before passing on to the next new, novel thing. This is like licking the steak without chewing it before quickly moving to lick the bread too. No satisfaction, just a wanting desire for the novelty of something else, something new.
In order to overcome this illusion, the person must first reckon with the discrepancy, the flaw in their reasoning comes not from their want of joy and pleasure but in where he or she has sourced it, namely, in novelty. Secondly, the person must be made aware of the vanity and perishing nature of fashionability and trendiness, here today to be swept away by the tide of tomorrow's new wave. Lastly, the person must remember that, above all else, the source for all satisfaction and pleasure is found in thankfulness in giving glory to God. Any attempt to replace this is but a shadowy imitation.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Kirani James and Joy
On monday, August 6th, Kirani James won the first Olympic medal in his countries history. Grenada, a small, island country in the the southeastern Caribbean seas, with a population barely over 100,000 people has competed in the summer Olympics 7 times without ever medaling. Yet all that changed as their 19-year-old track phenom rounded the track for his gold medal in the 400 meter sprint.
Although the finesse and ease with which the young man was impressively dominant, it was the response of the Grenadians to their victorious athlete that caught my attention. Following James' victory, the Olympic news reporters cut to the Grenadian camp, where the Grenadians had already begun the party. The whole Grenadian crowd was jumping and hollering in utter exuberance at their athletes' triumphant win. In essence, James had won for the whole country and the people could not contain their joy.
As I was watching the unabashed, unrestrained excitement, I had conflicting and complicated thoughts that began to fill my mind. While the Grenadians were exhibiting a truly pure joy, it astonished me that the sight seemed so foreign. The question stuck with me: Why aren't Christians this excited? Why don't Christians shout for joy at the work of Christ?
Although this may seem like gibberish musings, there is some validity in the reality of such thoughts. Jesus is the source, the true source, of joy. He sacrificed His very flesh and won the ultimate prize, saving all humanity from its sins and securing eternal life to all those who would come to Him in faith. Because of this, we, as Christians, should live as if our only athlete has won the ultimate prize on our behalf. Let us then cast aside our reserve and shout with excitement and joy at what Jesus has doen for us!
Although the finesse and ease with which the young man was impressively dominant, it was the response of the Grenadians to their victorious athlete that caught my attention. Following James' victory, the Olympic news reporters cut to the Grenadian camp, where the Grenadians had already begun the party. The whole Grenadian crowd was jumping and hollering in utter exuberance at their athletes' triumphant win. In essence, James had won for the whole country and the people could not contain their joy.
As I was watching the unabashed, unrestrained excitement, I had conflicting and complicated thoughts that began to fill my mind. While the Grenadians were exhibiting a truly pure joy, it astonished me that the sight seemed so foreign. The question stuck with me: Why aren't Christians this excited? Why don't Christians shout for joy at the work of Christ?
Although this may seem like gibberish musings, there is some validity in the reality of such thoughts. Jesus is the source, the true source, of joy. He sacrificed His very flesh and won the ultimate prize, saving all humanity from its sins and securing eternal life to all those who would come to Him in faith. Because of this, we, as Christians, should live as if our only athlete has won the ultimate prize on our behalf. Let us then cast aside our reserve and shout with excitement and joy at what Jesus has doen for us!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Joy Overflowing
Christmas morning in America is an event. For parents it can mean buying, wrapping, and hiding gifts culminating in one sleepless night of getting to bed late and being startled awake at 4 am to open the gifts. For children, it is a special time of expectation and exhilaration. It is an all-too familiar scene before the sun peaks its head over the horizon to bring in the new day, a springy, pigtailed, four-year-old girl wakes up and rushes into her parents room, leaps onto the bed with exuberance and joy.
Many of us might be able to empathize with such a scenario of overwhelming, reckless expectation of joy being fulfilled. Unfortunately, by adulthood many of us have become dulled to exuberant joy. We equate joy with a good day at work, a long weekend, some time with family and friends, a new toy, or a raise. But the biblical understanding of joy might be more like the pigtailed four-year-old than we would imagine and it might challenge our normal less-than correct understandings of joy.
Just like the springy girl running into her parents bedroom to wake them up in order to receive her presents, joy works in a similar way. Our joy is a matter of reception, in that, we receive our joy from the Lord Himself. More correctly, He bestows His joy, depositing it within us. He does this in three basic ways. The first is through His commandment, His Word. When we study His Word, when we keep the words within them in our hearts and on our lips, God fills us with His joy (Psa. 19:8; John 15:10-11).
Secondly, God grants joy to those in His presence (Psa. 16:11, 34:5-8, ). This should come as no surprise because as God is the source of joy, joy is a result of being in His presence. Much like a faucet is a source of water, if I put my hand under its spicket in its presence, I will get wet for my proximity. Therefore, when we seek and find His presence we will find joy from the giver of joy.
The other medium for joy is that it is a gift, given us directly by the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). When we humble ourselves in repentance and reverence at the awesomeness of the Holy Lord, He gifts us with fruits. One of these fruits is joy (Psa. 69:2). This should compel us to get on our knees to seek the Lord for the reception of joy. Or, like the pigtailed leaper aforementioned, we should run with exuberant expectation of the joy of the Lord for it is the ultimate joy, found only in Him. Therefore, praise God who gives us His joy overflowing!
Many of us might be able to empathize with such a scenario of overwhelming, reckless expectation of joy being fulfilled. Unfortunately, by adulthood many of us have become dulled to exuberant joy. We equate joy with a good day at work, a long weekend, some time with family and friends, a new toy, or a raise. But the biblical understanding of joy might be more like the pigtailed four-year-old than we would imagine and it might challenge our normal less-than correct understandings of joy.
Just like the springy girl running into her parents bedroom to wake them up in order to receive her presents, joy works in a similar way. Our joy is a matter of reception, in that, we receive our joy from the Lord Himself. More correctly, He bestows His joy, depositing it within us. He does this in three basic ways. The first is through His commandment, His Word. When we study His Word, when we keep the words within them in our hearts and on our lips, God fills us with His joy (Psa. 19:8; John 15:10-11).
Secondly, God grants joy to those in His presence (Psa. 16:11, 34:5-8, ). This should come as no surprise because as God is the source of joy, joy is a result of being in His presence. Much like a faucet is a source of water, if I put my hand under its spicket in its presence, I will get wet for my proximity. Therefore, when we seek and find His presence we will find joy from the giver of joy.
The other medium for joy is that it is a gift, given us directly by the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). When we humble ourselves in repentance and reverence at the awesomeness of the Holy Lord, He gifts us with fruits. One of these fruits is joy (Psa. 69:2). This should compel us to get on our knees to seek the Lord for the reception of joy. Or, like the pigtailed leaper aforementioned, we should run with exuberant expectation of the joy of the Lord for it is the ultimate joy, found only in Him. Therefore, praise God who gives us His joy overflowing!
Monday, May 21, 2012
The Joy of God
Mariah was a beautiful young woman when her life was forever and dramatically changed. She had been homecoming queen in high school, president of her sorority in college, and had been working her dream job for only a matter of weeks when the accident happened. She was on her way home from work. A normal drive, a normal day. Suddenly, a semi-truck, whose driver had went into cardiac arrest while driving, smashed into Mariah's vehicle and pinned her car against the railing. Her car rolled off the highway and she was crushed under its weight.
Before the wreckage was cleared entirely, Mariah was rushed to the emergency room to undergo extensive surgery to remove the shards of metal and glass from her body, most importantly her spine. When she awoke, she found out that she had lost the ability to move her legs; she was paralyzed from the waist down. She would have to go through years of rehabilitation to learn how to live a new life without the use of her legs. The beautiful and able-bodied young woman was forced to accept that her life would never be the same and that she would need a wheelchair for the remainder of her life.
During her years of therapy and rehab, though, the nurses and doctors whom Mariah had been working with witnessed a young woman who never lost her infectious smile and energetic spirit. One day, after her session, as Mariah was preparing to leave, one of the doctors asked her a question that caught Mariah off guard, "Mariah, how do you always have so much joy? You've been through so much and yet you always make everyone feel so happy that you're here."
Mariah turned her wheelchair toward the doctor, smiled and then answered, "Do you want to know what I do everyday? I wake up every morning and cry to God that I don't have the strength to do it another day, and I pray that He would give me the strength I need to do it. So when you see me smile with a joy that's overflowing, it is all God. I ask Him to come and fill me because I am empty of any joy without His help."
If only each of us would rely on God with such dependence, remembering that only in Him alone is there any joy. Scriptural joy is two-fold. The first is the joy of being in God's presence which is done through Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit which teaches us all things, especially the joy of His commandments and His Word (Psa. 16:11, 19:8; John 14:26, 15:9-11). It is thus through reliance upon the Lord that we receive His joy.
The second part of the biblical concept of joy is dependent upon suffering. In fact, Scripture says that it is through suffering that our joy is refined and made sure (Rom. 5:1-5; James 1:2). This does not mean that we should seek trial and suffering, only that we should remember that it is through suffering that we become more dependent upon the Lord for our joy and strength.
Far from saying that suffering will be any less difficult, rather, we will understand that suffering serves eternal purposes that make us better Christians and, like the story of Mariah, better witnesses of the power of God. Let us then look to the Lord, through the torn flesh of His Son Christ Jesus, so as to be filled with a perfect and holy, inexpressible joy!
Before the wreckage was cleared entirely, Mariah was rushed to the emergency room to undergo extensive surgery to remove the shards of metal and glass from her body, most importantly her spine. When she awoke, she found out that she had lost the ability to move her legs; she was paralyzed from the waist down. She would have to go through years of rehabilitation to learn how to live a new life without the use of her legs. The beautiful and able-bodied young woman was forced to accept that her life would never be the same and that she would need a wheelchair for the remainder of her life.
During her years of therapy and rehab, though, the nurses and doctors whom Mariah had been working with witnessed a young woman who never lost her infectious smile and energetic spirit. One day, after her session, as Mariah was preparing to leave, one of the doctors asked her a question that caught Mariah off guard, "Mariah, how do you always have so much joy? You've been through so much and yet you always make everyone feel so happy that you're here."
Mariah turned her wheelchair toward the doctor, smiled and then answered, "Do you want to know what I do everyday? I wake up every morning and cry to God that I don't have the strength to do it another day, and I pray that He would give me the strength I need to do it. So when you see me smile with a joy that's overflowing, it is all God. I ask Him to come and fill me because I am empty of any joy without His help."
If only each of us would rely on God with such dependence, remembering that only in Him alone is there any joy. Scriptural joy is two-fold. The first is the joy of being in God's presence which is done through Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit which teaches us all things, especially the joy of His commandments and His Word (Psa. 16:11, 19:8; John 14:26, 15:9-11). It is thus through reliance upon the Lord that we receive His joy.
The second part of the biblical concept of joy is dependent upon suffering. In fact, Scripture says that it is through suffering that our joy is refined and made sure (Rom. 5:1-5; James 1:2). This does not mean that we should seek trial and suffering, only that we should remember that it is through suffering that we become more dependent upon the Lord for our joy and strength.
Far from saying that suffering will be any less difficult, rather, we will understand that suffering serves eternal purposes that make us better Christians and, like the story of Mariah, better witnesses of the power of God. Let us then look to the Lord, through the torn flesh of His Son Christ Jesus, so as to be filled with a perfect and holy, inexpressible joy!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Ecclesiastes and Vanity
The book of Ecclesiastes begins with these sobering words of Solomon: "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity." Solomon then goes into a severe indictment over the uselessness of every form of life, from wisdom to folly, from pleasure to prudence, Solomon ends this small book of wisdom before the epilogue in the same way that the book begins, "Vanity of vanities...All is vanity!"
Think of the profundity of Solomon's assertion. The wisest man to ever live (apart from Christ Jesus) has seen everything under the sun, all of man's toil and strife as well as all of man's joys and pleasures, and Solomon's final analysis is that "All is vanity." To be sure, Solomon's verdict is more than somber, it is downright depressing but under more analysis, Solomon is painting a picture of life and wisdom.
A bit of introductory information is in order. Ecclesiastes is one of the Old Testament Writings, the third part of the Old Testament that is more like a miscellaneous bin of various writings, like Job, Psalms, Proverbs, and Esther, that do not fit with the rest of the Old Testament. In fact, this book completes the trifecta of wisdom books, the other two being Job and Proverbs, that offer differing views on the value of wisdom. Because of this, Ecclesiastes should be considered in relation to the other wisdom books. That being said, Ecclesiastes does have some good and useful things to say about wisdom and life.
Although Solomon's tone is less-than encouraging in regards to the uselessness of life, he does indicate that there is value to be had in enjoying one's work (2:24), value in timing and enjoying life (3:1-113), value in enjoying work and simple pleasures (5:18), value in mourning (6:2-4), value of enjoying work and life (9:7-9), value of wisdom (10:10), and the value of praising the Lord in the days of youth (12:1). Sense a theme?
Solomon, though thoroughly negative in his understanding of the vanity of life, is clear that man should work hard and toil with joy while rejoicing in the simple pleasures without over indulging. The point is that wisdom is better than folly and taking joy in simple pleasures is a good gift from the Lord that adds enjoyment to man's toil-laden life.
Although this particular discussion was information-heavy, it should still compel us to take time to day to praise God for the gift of a good cup of coffee, the joy of a nice breeze, or the kiss of a child. God has blessed us with little gifts and we should praise Him for them!
Think of the profundity of Solomon's assertion. The wisest man to ever live (apart from Christ Jesus) has seen everything under the sun, all of man's toil and strife as well as all of man's joys and pleasures, and Solomon's final analysis is that "All is vanity." To be sure, Solomon's verdict is more than somber, it is downright depressing but under more analysis, Solomon is painting a picture of life and wisdom.
A bit of introductory information is in order. Ecclesiastes is one of the Old Testament Writings, the third part of the Old Testament that is more like a miscellaneous bin of various writings, like Job, Psalms, Proverbs, and Esther, that do not fit with the rest of the Old Testament. In fact, this book completes the trifecta of wisdom books, the other two being Job and Proverbs, that offer differing views on the value of wisdom. Because of this, Ecclesiastes should be considered in relation to the other wisdom books. That being said, Ecclesiastes does have some good and useful things to say about wisdom and life.
Although Solomon's tone is less-than encouraging in regards to the uselessness of life, he does indicate that there is value to be had in enjoying one's work (2:24), value in timing and enjoying life (3:1-113), value in enjoying work and simple pleasures (5:18), value in mourning (6:2-4), value of enjoying work and life (9:7-9), value of wisdom (10:10), and the value of praising the Lord in the days of youth (12:1). Sense a theme?
Solomon, though thoroughly negative in his understanding of the vanity of life, is clear that man should work hard and toil with joy while rejoicing in the simple pleasures without over indulging. The point is that wisdom is better than folly and taking joy in simple pleasures is a good gift from the Lord that adds enjoyment to man's toil-laden life.
Although this particular discussion was information-heavy, it should still compel us to take time to day to praise God for the gift of a good cup of coffee, the joy of a nice breeze, or the kiss of a child. God has blessed us with little gifts and we should praise Him for them!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Joy
One of the great gifts that God bestows is joy, overwhelming joy. Joy, defined, is the pairing of happiness and contentment mixed with delight. Joy is not to be understood as merely pleasure, far more delightful than contentment, and much less fickle than happiness; it is dense. Because of the complexity and depth inherent to joy, it warrants further discussion.
By way of introduction, joy is a response to worship and praise. The presence of God is marked by two distinctly different but equal reactions, reverence and joy. Although, the reverent response to the presence of God is beyond the scope of this discussion, but reverence is also met with joy (Psa. 92:4, 126:2; Job 8:21). This should be the primary source of joy, that is, praise of Christ Jesus. When we praise Him, truly worship Him, we will be filled with joy. Therefore, if we do not feel joyful we should examine the sincerity of our worship. Chances are that any lack of joy can be traced to a lack of worship.
Furthermore, it is important to remember that joy is a gift given to those who believe in Him (John 15:11, 16:24; Heb. 1:9; 1 Pet. 1:8). Lasting joy is a gift reserved for believers. Certainly unbelievers can, through common grace, possess glimpses of joy in the form of happiness or contentment. However, the joy that Scripture describes goes beyond human concepts to a joy that surpasses human understandings.
Additionally, joy is a fruit of Christian character. The importance of this distinction is that the breeding ground for character is suffering. In this way, then, suffering grows the fruit of joy. Scripture confirms this (Rom. 5:1-5; Phil 1:29; James 1:2-4). Suffering serves to reduce and refine joy in the hearts and lives of Christians.
Because joy is essentially a spiritual matter, we know that flesh cannot cause joy. If this is so, then we are reminded that no fleshly pursuit can prompt or cause joy. Therefore, any perceived joy that we may claim to be derived from the flesh is ultimately not joy, but is to be thought of as a shadow of joy, more akin to one of its components. Therefore, let us then pursue joy of a higher kind, to be received from the Lord!
By way of introduction, joy is a response to worship and praise. The presence of God is marked by two distinctly different but equal reactions, reverence and joy. Although, the reverent response to the presence of God is beyond the scope of this discussion, but reverence is also met with joy (Psa. 92:4, 126:2; Job 8:21). This should be the primary source of joy, that is, praise of Christ Jesus. When we praise Him, truly worship Him, we will be filled with joy. Therefore, if we do not feel joyful we should examine the sincerity of our worship. Chances are that any lack of joy can be traced to a lack of worship.
Furthermore, it is important to remember that joy is a gift given to those who believe in Him (John 15:11, 16:24; Heb. 1:9; 1 Pet. 1:8). Lasting joy is a gift reserved for believers. Certainly unbelievers can, through common grace, possess glimpses of joy in the form of happiness or contentment. However, the joy that Scripture describes goes beyond human concepts to a joy that surpasses human understandings.
Additionally, joy is a fruit of Christian character. The importance of this distinction is that the breeding ground for character is suffering. In this way, then, suffering grows the fruit of joy. Scripture confirms this (Rom. 5:1-5; Phil 1:29; James 1:2-4). Suffering serves to reduce and refine joy in the hearts and lives of Christians.
Because joy is essentially a spiritual matter, we know that flesh cannot cause joy. If this is so, then we are reminded that no fleshly pursuit can prompt or cause joy. Therefore, any perceived joy that we may claim to be derived from the flesh is ultimately not joy, but is to be thought of as a shadow of joy, more akin to one of its components. Therefore, let us then pursue joy of a higher kind, to be received from the Lord!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Recognizing Blessing
Life can be a drag. We are constantly being pulled a hundred different directions to do a thousand different things for a million different responsibilities. It can be overwhelming. Far and wide our most valuable resource is time. When this resource well is continually being emptied without recourse for refreshment, we will inevitably find ourselves burned-out and weary. If this happens, a useful way to refill our emotional storehouse is to recognize and celebrate the blessings that we have.
God is good. More than that, He is our constant provider, the giver of blessings. Therefore, when we acknowledge our blessings, how He has blessed us, we are honoring and praising the Lord. In this, the first step in assessing blessing is perhaps the most basic: what constitutes a blessing? This, though seemingly rudimentary, is partly the point.
True blessings are those things, people, situations, and circumstances, both personal and communal, that are categorically good. These are blessings. Once this definition is asserted, the following step is to recognize that blessings, true blessings such as these, are gifts directly from the Lord. Logically, this means that every reception and recognition of blessing will be naturally paired with thankfulness.
Paul writes in Ephesians, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph. 1:3)." If we were still not convinced in God's character, James writes, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17)." The point is clear: the Lord is a Lord who blesses.
The ultimate blessing in all of creation is the gift of the Gospel, which is to be in relationship with the Holy Lord through Jesus. Every blessing is filtered through this blessing. Additionally, God's goodness is met with His infinitude, thus, His goodness is infinite. This means that His blessings are boundless. Therefore, we should fix our gaze so as to recognize the limitlessness of His good blessings for those who seek after Him. In this, we will be in a state of constant praise and thanks to the Holy Lord for the blessings He has bestowed. Thus the malaise of our life will be overcome by our praise for the Lord.
God is good. More than that, He is our constant provider, the giver of blessings. Therefore, when we acknowledge our blessings, how He has blessed us, we are honoring and praising the Lord. In this, the first step in assessing blessing is perhaps the most basic: what constitutes a blessing? This, though seemingly rudimentary, is partly the point.
True blessings are those things, people, situations, and circumstances, both personal and communal, that are categorically good. These are blessings. Once this definition is asserted, the following step is to recognize that blessings, true blessings such as these, are gifts directly from the Lord. Logically, this means that every reception and recognition of blessing will be naturally paired with thankfulness.
Paul writes in Ephesians, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph. 1:3)." If we were still not convinced in God's character, James writes, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17)." The point is clear: the Lord is a Lord who blesses.
The ultimate blessing in all of creation is the gift of the Gospel, which is to be in relationship with the Holy Lord through Jesus. Every blessing is filtered through this blessing. Additionally, God's goodness is met with His infinitude, thus, His goodness is infinite. This means that His blessings are boundless. Therefore, we should fix our gaze so as to recognize the limitlessness of His good blessings for those who seek after Him. In this, we will be in a state of constant praise and thanks to the Holy Lord for the blessings He has bestowed. Thus the malaise of our life will be overcome by our praise for the Lord.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
The Mercy of God
Mercy is a major part of God's character. He is full of mercy (James 5:11). Mercy, as a word, is charged with theological significance and spiritual ramifications. To speak of the mercy of God is dense though because to single out God's mercy is to downplay the multi-faceted nature of God's mercy. As God's mercy is not singular in its actualization, a more accurate understanding would be to think of God's mercy in terms of mercies plural.
First and foremost, salvation is God's supreme act of mercy. This, the widest use of the mercy, refers to a holy, righteous, and just God staying His hand of judgment by His own will. Although God would be fully just and right to condemn the world for its sin, He, in His great mercy, chose to save the world through the work of His son, Jesus, and by the indwelling of His Holy Spirit (Tit. 3:5). This is mercy at its finest.
However, the Lord's mercy is not a one time only event. Rather, His mercy is continually renewed (Lam. 3:22-23). God's mercy is renewed, not because His mercy storehouses are emptied in the slightest. Instead, His mercies are renewed as His mercy is needed. Because His mercy is not a static point but serves dynamic uses, His mercy is continually being transferred from divine to the physical for our great benefit. Thus the renewal does not mean that God is making more mercy but that we are using more of it.
Moreover, His mercy is given to those who earnestly seek Him (Deut. 7:9; Isa. 55:6-7; Psa. 103:17; Luke 1:50). This is remarkable and the defining feature of God's mercy: He bestows mercy on all who come to Him seeking it. There would be no need to give mercy to those that don't think they need it, so the essential components of the reception of God's mercy are confession, repentance, and belief.
Also, God gives mercy generously, but He does so for the purpose of relationship, not religion. If we are glib to God's mercy, we are entirely missing the pont. When faced with God's mercy, we should strive to be penitent and sincere, understanding the utter gravity of His mercy in reference to the absolute weight of our sin.
Lastly, it is by God's great mercy that we may enter into a right and redeemed relationship with Him (Psa. 5:7). Therefore, when we are in moments that we feel separated from His presence, we should prayer with fervor and in faith that God would stretch His mercy upon us as to return us to His right and perfect presence. The beauty is that He extends His mercy on all who ask. Additionally, He delights and desires to show His mercy to us (Mic. 7:1-8). Ergo, we should make it a habit to praise Him for and ask Him for mercy. Praise be to God for His great and perfect mercy!
First and foremost, salvation is God's supreme act of mercy. This, the widest use of the mercy, refers to a holy, righteous, and just God staying His hand of judgment by His own will. Although God would be fully just and right to condemn the world for its sin, He, in His great mercy, chose to save the world through the work of His son, Jesus, and by the indwelling of His Holy Spirit (Tit. 3:5). This is mercy at its finest.
However, the Lord's mercy is not a one time only event. Rather, His mercy is continually renewed (Lam. 3:22-23). God's mercy is renewed, not because His mercy storehouses are emptied in the slightest. Instead, His mercies are renewed as His mercy is needed. Because His mercy is not a static point but serves dynamic uses, His mercy is continually being transferred from divine to the physical for our great benefit. Thus the renewal does not mean that God is making more mercy but that we are using more of it.
Moreover, His mercy is given to those who earnestly seek Him (Deut. 7:9; Isa. 55:6-7; Psa. 103:17; Luke 1:50). This is remarkable and the defining feature of God's mercy: He bestows mercy on all who come to Him seeking it. There would be no need to give mercy to those that don't think they need it, so the essential components of the reception of God's mercy are confession, repentance, and belief.
Also, God gives mercy generously, but He does so for the purpose of relationship, not religion. If we are glib to God's mercy, we are entirely missing the pont. When faced with God's mercy, we should strive to be penitent and sincere, understanding the utter gravity of His mercy in reference to the absolute weight of our sin.
Lastly, it is by God's great mercy that we may enter into a right and redeemed relationship with Him (Psa. 5:7). Therefore, when we are in moments that we feel separated from His presence, we should prayer with fervor and in faith that God would stretch His mercy upon us as to return us to His right and perfect presence. The beauty is that He extends His mercy on all who ask. Additionally, He delights and desires to show His mercy to us (Mic. 7:1-8). Ergo, we should make it a habit to praise Him for and ask Him for mercy. Praise be to God for His great and perfect mercy!
Monday, December 19, 2011
When in the Wilderness
For the Israelites, the 40 years spent in the wilderness represented more than a topographical designation. It was a place of sanctification and preparation. The Israelites had to stay wandering in the wilderness for forty years and, due to their disbelief and unfaithfulness, none of the first-generation exodus survivors were allowed to enter the Promised Land (Num. 13-14). The wilderness served distinct theological purposes.
Additionally, Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness following His baptism and prior to the start of His ministry (Matt. 4). During His time in the wilderness, Jesus was tempted. He also had to rely solely on the provision of God to sustain Him through the hardship. The wilderness served as a training ground, preparing Jesus for His divine work.
We also spend time in the wilderness, although our wilderness experiences are not so geographically delineated as were Jesus' or Israel's. Sometimes wilderness experiences do depend on actual, physical wildernesses, but, on the whole, the Christian's wilderness is one of the spirit. Our wilderness is the world, specifically the fleshly world. When we go out into the world of the flesh, we are entering a wilderness, a wilderness of desolation and of sin.
In these times, we need to be on guard to remain obedient through the hardships that will attack our hearts, our minds, and our souls. We should rely on God for direction and guidance, for provision and sustenance. The wilderness is a medium for sanctification. This is not to say that Christians should willingly leap at every wilderness opportunity without preparation. The wilderness can be dangerous and preparations need to be made for wilderness experiences.
For instance, the primary mode for making a camping excursion enjoyable is having the right gear: tent, sleeping bag, etc. Similarly, handling the wilderness means having the right gear. Since the wilderness for Christians is a spiritual land, this means having the Word of God printed on our hearts, His praises on our tongues, and our spirits fixed on the Lord.
When these components are in place, the wilderness can be a challenging but rewardingly sanctifying experience. When we are not prepared for the wilderness, it can be dangerous. The wilderness will naturally push us to rely on ourselves for provision and to doubt the Lord, both being unfaithfully treacherous and sinful. In contrast, the wilderness requires that we rely solely on God and do not doubt. But thanks be to God for He is always faithful to use the wilderness for our good and steadfast to pull us through and closer to Himself!
Additionally, Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness following His baptism and prior to the start of His ministry (Matt. 4). During His time in the wilderness, Jesus was tempted. He also had to rely solely on the provision of God to sustain Him through the hardship. The wilderness served as a training ground, preparing Jesus for His divine work.
We also spend time in the wilderness, although our wilderness experiences are not so geographically delineated as were Jesus' or Israel's. Sometimes wilderness experiences do depend on actual, physical wildernesses, but, on the whole, the Christian's wilderness is one of the spirit. Our wilderness is the world, specifically the fleshly world. When we go out into the world of the flesh, we are entering a wilderness, a wilderness of desolation and of sin.
In these times, we need to be on guard to remain obedient through the hardships that will attack our hearts, our minds, and our souls. We should rely on God for direction and guidance, for provision and sustenance. The wilderness is a medium for sanctification. This is not to say that Christians should willingly leap at every wilderness opportunity without preparation. The wilderness can be dangerous and preparations need to be made for wilderness experiences.
For instance, the primary mode for making a camping excursion enjoyable is having the right gear: tent, sleeping bag, etc. Similarly, handling the wilderness means having the right gear. Since the wilderness for Christians is a spiritual land, this means having the Word of God printed on our hearts, His praises on our tongues, and our spirits fixed on the Lord.
When these components are in place, the wilderness can be a challenging but rewardingly sanctifying experience. When we are not prepared for the wilderness, it can be dangerous. The wilderness will naturally push us to rely on ourselves for provision and to doubt the Lord, both being unfaithfully treacherous and sinful. In contrast, the wilderness requires that we rely solely on God and do not doubt. But thanks be to God for He is always faithful to use the wilderness for our good and steadfast to pull us through and closer to Himself!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Unshakable Sons & Daughters
This world tosses and turns like waves in a tempest. Much of life is unsure and instable because of sin and its effects in the world. There are hidden traps set to trip and ensnare believers and to keep them from goals, purposes, and obedience to the Lord. Sometime the snares are visible and clear, such as lust or greed or pride. Other traps are less so, like coveting, envy, or general distractions. The point is that, although this world is full of waves that can break us, our stability is sure; our stability is Christ.
When we are in Christ, we are set, made secure in Him. This means that as the tides of this life rise or recede we will be unmoved because our stability is the surest of footings: God. With God as our rock and stability, no matter what we may encounter, we will not falter, fade, or break away from our course.
Moreover, the Lord is our fortress. Because our strength is rooted, grounded in Him, nothing in the world can shake us. There are so many instances and occurrences that happen that can be wholly devastating: divorce, death, disease, etc. However, when the source of our strength, the very root of our stability is found in God alone, then nothing will be able to rattle us beyond His compassionate care.
There is so much to be said about stability and its importance for believers. Seizing and claiming the stability is essential in the Christian life. It affects everything from the joy, peace, and hope that believers are required to live within. For instance, earthly happiness depends on what happens. Therefore, what happens can have dramatic effects on people when people's happiness is not grounded in the Lord. Instead, Christians that are deeply rooted in the Word and in the Lord can be affected by what happens but their happiness and joy is not dependent on what happens; it depends solely and wholly on the Holy Lord.
God is our security. He is the fortress that we depend upon for our strength and for our stability. Because He is the rock and the source of our stability, we can be totally assured and secure. So, when this world throws curve balls we will be able to handle every pitch with ease. Praise be to the Lord Almighty that He is who He is and that we can utterly depend on Him!
When we are in Christ, we are set, made secure in Him. This means that as the tides of this life rise or recede we will be unmoved because our stability is the surest of footings: God. With God as our rock and stability, no matter what we may encounter, we will not falter, fade, or break away from our course.
Moreover, the Lord is our fortress. Because our strength is rooted, grounded in Him, nothing in the world can shake us. There are so many instances and occurrences that happen that can be wholly devastating: divorce, death, disease, etc. However, when the source of our strength, the very root of our stability is found in God alone, then nothing will be able to rattle us beyond His compassionate care.
There is so much to be said about stability and its importance for believers. Seizing and claiming the stability is essential in the Christian life. It affects everything from the joy, peace, and hope that believers are required to live within. For instance, earthly happiness depends on what happens. Therefore, what happens can have dramatic effects on people when people's happiness is not grounded in the Lord. Instead, Christians that are deeply rooted in the Word and in the Lord can be affected by what happens but their happiness and joy is not dependent on what happens; it depends solely and wholly on the Holy Lord.
God is our security. He is the fortress that we depend upon for our strength and for our stability. Because He is the rock and the source of our stability, we can be totally assured and secure. So, when this world throws curve balls we will be able to handle every pitch with ease. Praise be to the Lord Almighty that He is who He is and that we can utterly depend on Him!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Hearing the Lord
Throughout Jesus' life and ministry, He repeats a simple but powerful phrase: "He who has ears, let him hear." This line is pregnant with theological import. Implied in this statement is twofold: first off, not everyone has ears; secondly, those who have ears might not be using them. Because of Jesus' repeated use of this phrase, it is important. The first question to ask is who has ears.
In John 10, Jesus preaches a significant sermon. In this sermon, He says some very important things; however, for the purpose of this debate, one thing stands out for its significance: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27)." The first indicator of having ears to hear is those that do are believers.
This seems harsh but it is absolutely biblical: only believers have ears to hear. Unbelievers are not able to hear His voice no matter how hard they try because they simply do not have ears to hear. This is clear that those that have the ability to hear have it because they are already His. Because Christians belong to His sheepfold, they hear and know His voice because He is the true Shepherd of the flock; there is no other shepherd. Any other potential shepherd is a false prophet, a heretic, a wolf, a thief, and a liar.
The story of having ears does not end with identifying who has ears, though, because Jesus says, "he who has ears, let him hear," indicates that not everyone who has ears uses them. This is important and worth pointing out: not every believer uses his/her ears, and not every believer is listening to the Lord. This is challenging teaching but it is real. The Lord's voice is not the only voice trying to speak to believers. Because of this, understanding the practicals of hearing His voice is paramount and essential.
There's much to be said but it can be simplified into two basic points. At the onset, His voice is a spiritual voice. Because God is who He is and He speaks through His Holy Spirit, hearing His voice is a spiritual endeavor. This seems rudimentary but its practical application is not. When we say that hearing His voice is a spiritual undertaking, it conversely means that it is not a fleshly pursuit.
Because the fleshly man is utterly unable to understand the spiritual things (Rom. 8:7; 1 Cor. 2:14), hearing the voice of God is spiritually done. This means that striving to hear God's voice requires the listener to transcend his/her fleshly listening faculties and in order to open his/her spiritual ears. Opening the spiritual ears requires active participation on the part of the potential hearer.
Romans 10:17 says that faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ. This is a remarkable verse that points to how spiritual ears are formed and tuned: through faith in Christ and His Word. Hearing God's voice requires faith in Jesus because, through Christ, we are given the Holy Spirit which is the activator of our spiritual ears and the voice speaking thereof.
Think of a radio. You can search every possible station and still not find the show you're looking for until you realize that you're on AM when the show is on FM. Similarly, if we are trying to listen to God on FM (from the flesh) while He is on AM (in the Spirit), then we will not be able to hear His voice. This points to the absolute necessity of the Word of God. The Word helps us tune in our spiritual ears to hear the voice of God. When we are devoted to the Word, we will be more apt and able to tune into Him.
In John 10, Jesus preaches a significant sermon. In this sermon, He says some very important things; however, for the purpose of this debate, one thing stands out for its significance: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27)." The first indicator of having ears to hear is those that do are believers.
This seems harsh but it is absolutely biblical: only believers have ears to hear. Unbelievers are not able to hear His voice no matter how hard they try because they simply do not have ears to hear. This is clear that those that have the ability to hear have it because they are already His. Because Christians belong to His sheepfold, they hear and know His voice because He is the true Shepherd of the flock; there is no other shepherd. Any other potential shepherd is a false prophet, a heretic, a wolf, a thief, and a liar.
The story of having ears does not end with identifying who has ears, though, because Jesus says, "he who has ears, let him hear," indicates that not everyone who has ears uses them. This is important and worth pointing out: not every believer uses his/her ears, and not every believer is listening to the Lord. This is challenging teaching but it is real. The Lord's voice is not the only voice trying to speak to believers. Because of this, understanding the practicals of hearing His voice is paramount and essential.
There's much to be said but it can be simplified into two basic points. At the onset, His voice is a spiritual voice. Because God is who He is and He speaks through His Holy Spirit, hearing His voice is a spiritual endeavor. This seems rudimentary but its practical application is not. When we say that hearing His voice is a spiritual undertaking, it conversely means that it is not a fleshly pursuit.
Because the fleshly man is utterly unable to understand the spiritual things (Rom. 8:7; 1 Cor. 2:14), hearing the voice of God is spiritually done. This means that striving to hear God's voice requires the listener to transcend his/her fleshly listening faculties and in order to open his/her spiritual ears. Opening the spiritual ears requires active participation on the part of the potential hearer.
Romans 10:17 says that faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ. This is a remarkable verse that points to how spiritual ears are formed and tuned: through faith in Christ and His Word. Hearing God's voice requires faith in Jesus because, through Christ, we are given the Holy Spirit which is the activator of our spiritual ears and the voice speaking thereof.
Think of a radio. You can search every possible station and still not find the show you're looking for until you realize that you're on AM when the show is on FM. Similarly, if we are trying to listen to God on FM (from the flesh) while He is on AM (in the Spirit), then we will not be able to hear His voice. This points to the absolute necessity of the Word of God. The Word helps us tune in our spiritual ears to hear the voice of God. When we are devoted to the Word, we will be more apt and able to tune into Him.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
New Law Theology
Shortly following the Exodus from Egypt, Yahweh established a new covenant: the Mosaic covenant. The Mosaic covenant was established in the wilderness at Sinai. At that moment, the covenant was given by the Lord to Israel through Moses. The Mosaic covenant was God's desire to make a holy nation for Himself, a chosen and priestly nation.
There were two major parts of this covenant that distinguished and sealed it: the Law, and the Sabbath. The Sabbath served as a sign of the covenant, sealing it much like circumcision sealed the Abrahamic covenant. More significant than the establishment of the Sabbath though was God's deliverance of the Law. The Law was God's most significant revelation of His character in all of history up to that point and it came to dominate and define Israel.
A general synopsis and simplification of Mosaic Law would be that it is a revelation of God's holiness. Mosaic Law is the majority content of the Pentateuch, especially Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. It is often oversimplified to just the Ten Commandments but it entails much more. The major theological thrust and purpose of the Law was to reveal God's character, particularly His holiness.
Holiness is defined in two ways: to be set apart and to be pure. The Mosaic Law was a set of regulations for cleanliness and sacrifice, offerings that covered the sinfulness of man in order for man to come near the holy presence of God. The problem with this was that the blood of bulls and goats is unable to cleanse sin or truly forgive iniquity; therefore, a holy offering had to be made. Enter Christ.
Jesus became the perfect, sinless, spotless sacrificial lamb. In a real sense, He was the final sacrifice under the Mosaic law. He in fact abolished the law and made it obsolete by His death and resurrection (Col. 2:13-14; Heb 8; 10). Now man can become holy by the blood of the holy lamb that is Christ. Whereas the Mosaic covenant exposed the sinfulness of man but was unable to truly atone for sin, the New covenant, made in Jesus, atones for man's iniquity and restores the right relationship with the Lord that sin had broken.
The point is that the Mosaic law, its regulations and requirements, has been made obsolete in that it is no longer necessary to sacrifice bulls and goats to obtain the holiness of God. Now, holiness is attained through confession and belief in Jesus as God. The Law does serve a purpose though. It still reveals who God is as holy and perfect, pure and set apart.
Although, thankfully, believers do not need to hold to the regulations of the Mosaic law as Israel did, the law still serves to expose sin. The difference is that while the Mosaic system was unable to atone for the iniquity that it exposed, Christ, through His death and resurrection, has perfectly atoned for the sin that the law reveals. Praise be to God that He would condescend into the world in order that we would be able to draw to Him by His righteousness!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Piece of Peace
Peace is an interesting word. Its meanings range from quiet to solitude, from tranquility to contentment. The breadth of peace's place in the believer's life is huge. This peace, divine peace, is a gift from God and is to cover our hearts and lives. We are to live in the peace that God bestows upon us.
The peace that Christ gives to believers surpasses all understanding and is to guard our hearts and our minds (Phil. 4:7). Peace serves a purpose, it is not just an attitude but is a state of being that keeps and protects believers from sin. When we let the peace of Christ rest over our hearts, it acts as a protectant that prevents us from things like malice and envy, sin that can taint.
When peace is our state and how we handle the waves of this life, we will not let the fickle and mercurial nature of the world hinder our ability to live godly lives. Jesus gives a peace that is dependable. We can rest upon it. This becomes crucial when we are constantly pushed to not be peaceful. When life throws curves we should rely on the peace that God bestows to carry us through the toughest of situations with grace and dignity.
Being full of peace, peaceful, is also a way to live, an attitude to handle all of life's struggles. Living in a state, an attitude, of peacefulness can be invaluable because we will become not be able to be overly-encumbered or overwhelmed by the world but will be in a place of contentment grounded in the Lord. If the root of our peace is the Lord, we will not be shaken for the peace that passes understanding will help us to maintain a life of satisfaction.
The reality is that God desire for us to delight in Him and to only seek our satisfaction in Him. This is what peace is all about: having our contentment and satisfaction met in Him. When we truly rely on the Lord as the source of our strength and fulfillment, then we will understand what peace is all about.
The peace that Christ gives to believers surpasses all understanding and is to guard our hearts and our minds (Phil. 4:7). Peace serves a purpose, it is not just an attitude but is a state of being that keeps and protects believers from sin. When we let the peace of Christ rest over our hearts, it acts as a protectant that prevents us from things like malice and envy, sin that can taint.
When peace is our state and how we handle the waves of this life, we will not let the fickle and mercurial nature of the world hinder our ability to live godly lives. Jesus gives a peace that is dependable. We can rest upon it. This becomes crucial when we are constantly pushed to not be peaceful. When life throws curves we should rely on the peace that God bestows to carry us through the toughest of situations with grace and dignity.
Being full of peace, peaceful, is also a way to live, an attitude to handle all of life's struggles. Living in a state, an attitude, of peacefulness can be invaluable because we will become not be able to be overly-encumbered or overwhelmed by the world but will be in a place of contentment grounded in the Lord. If the root of our peace is the Lord, we will not be shaken for the peace that passes understanding will help us to maintain a life of satisfaction.
The reality is that God desire for us to delight in Him and to only seek our satisfaction in Him. This is what peace is all about: having our contentment and satisfaction met in Him. When we truly rely on the Lord as the source of our strength and fulfillment, then we will understand what peace is all about.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
The Patience of God
The Lord is exceedingly patient. He desires above all else for His children, the elect, to repent and turn to Him in faith (2 Pet. 3:9). The Lord is a God of justice but He is not swift to dish out justice. Instead, He is patient, giving man every possible chance to turn in faith to Him. This is one of the most remarkable characteristics of God: that even though we are disobedient and obstinate to Him, He is faithful and patient with us.
There is incredible risk to the patience of God: delayed consequences of sin. Because God is not swift to mete out justice, it can cause man to believe that justice won't come and they will grow more apostate as a result (Ecc. 8:11). But God's patience is a test. He is patient so that we would have every opportunity to repent and be obedient to His will.
When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they believed, rightly so, that they were the chosen people of God. Because of this truth, after Solomon's death, when the nation split and turned to apostasy and unbelief, they believed that God would never judge and forsake His people. Because He didn't judge them immediately, the people grew more and more apostate believing that God wouldn't judge them. For centuries, He was patient with His people. Eventually though, time ran out and judgment fell upon the people, razing the country through pagan empires and sending the people into exile; only the remnant survived.
As all of the Scripture speaks to Christ, the history of Israel does so as well. What we, as Christians, can glean from the Old Testament is that, although judgment may be delayed, it is sure to come. God is abounding in steadfast love and more than anything desires that we would turn to Him in confession and belief. We should not take advantage of His patience but should recognize His patience as it is: worthy of praise.
Additionally, God's patience is to be an example for us. We, as living sacraments of His nature, are to be patient as He is patient. This is beyond difficult and only possible with the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us. Patience means that we will be quick to overlook faults and even quicker to forgive. The Lord desires for us to forgive and be patient. Ultimately, we cannot know how our acts of patience can propel others towards repentance and faith, and this is a beautiful thing.
There is incredible risk to the patience of God: delayed consequences of sin. Because God is not swift to mete out justice, it can cause man to believe that justice won't come and they will grow more apostate as a result (Ecc. 8:11). But God's patience is a test. He is patient so that we would have every opportunity to repent and be obedient to His will.
When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they believed, rightly so, that they were the chosen people of God. Because of this truth, after Solomon's death, when the nation split and turned to apostasy and unbelief, they believed that God would never judge and forsake His people. Because He didn't judge them immediately, the people grew more and more apostate believing that God wouldn't judge them. For centuries, He was patient with His people. Eventually though, time ran out and judgment fell upon the people, razing the country through pagan empires and sending the people into exile; only the remnant survived.
As all of the Scripture speaks to Christ, the history of Israel does so as well. What we, as Christians, can glean from the Old Testament is that, although judgment may be delayed, it is sure to come. God is abounding in steadfast love and more than anything desires that we would turn to Him in confession and belief. We should not take advantage of His patience but should recognize His patience as it is: worthy of praise.
Additionally, God's patience is to be an example for us. We, as living sacraments of His nature, are to be patient as He is patient. This is beyond difficult and only possible with the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us. Patience means that we will be quick to overlook faults and even quicker to forgive. The Lord desires for us to forgive and be patient. Ultimately, we cannot know how our acts of patience can propel others towards repentance and faith, and this is a beautiful thing.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Blasphemy
The Lord's name is sacred. His name is not just a moniker but is an indication of His nature and character. When we speak God's names we are in fact asserting its meaning. God, Elohim, speaks to His role as creator and sustainer of the universe. Lord, Yahweh, reveals His covenant keeping faithfulness. Adonai pronounces His supreme and sovereign rank as the divine master. The Holy Spirit defines His spiritual and holy nature.
The names of the Lord should not be taken or spoken lightly. Flippant, glib, or obscene uses of the names of God are blasphemous. Blasphemy is serious. However, in our secular society where sin and the sacred have become diminished and personally assessed, blasphemy is not only glossed over, it is considered acceptable.
When we speak the name of God without fear we are in fact asserting that He is not worthy of reverence. Thus, blasphemy in every form is sin. The Lord is to be exalted and praised with every breath and every thought. Christians are to live lives that are examples of the Lord on the earth. Therefore, when Christians blaspheme they are affirming what the world believes, that God is not worthy of the utmost reverence.
The name of Jesus means "God (Yahweh) saves." There is meaning and theological import to the name of Christ. Moreover, He is the Messiah, the holy and spotless lamb of God who, by His work, saves all of mankind. Therefore, when we sing of Jesus' name(s), we are truly recognizing in reverence of who He is and what He has done. This should be the only way that His named should be spoken or uttered.
God is God, the Lord of all creation. He, and His name, should always and only be praised. The challenge to this is the world, which stands in opposition to reverence of God. When we blaspheme and speak the name of God in an unworthy manner, we are in fact acquiescing to the in-deference and irreverence of the world. This should not be so. Believers need to be disciplined and focused in their speech and thought as to always deal with the name of God in the manner that He deserves. The Lord, Yahweh, God, Elohim, Jesus, we should speak these names as often as possible but always in reverent reference to the divine reality that the names refer to.
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