James 1:17–Every Good Gift is From Above

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lives of Thankfulness

Thankfulness.  It is a direct commandment in a simple word.  But it is not nearly so simple to commit ourselves to thankfulness in obedience.  Thankfulness, it turns out, can be a difficult task to perform.  We are always battling thankfulness with out own pride for it is pride that prevents us from being truly and sincerely thankful.

Thankfulness requires, at its base, a measure of humility.  We must truly recognize how blessed and how undeserving of blessing we are.  This is thankfulness: recognizing the greatness of God despite our wretchedness.  It is, thus, a matter of perspective more than simply saying thanks.  It is an attitude, an understanding of the world as it is: God's.

Let us then take seriously the call to live a life of thankfulness all the days of our lives.

Isaiah 12:4–Give Thanks to the Lord and Proclaim His Greatness

Isaiah 12:4: "Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the peoples, proclaim that His name is exalted."

This is a prophetic command given to Isaiah, a promise that the people of God will be obedient in the future to proclaim the greatness of God.  But the future is now and the commandment is for us.  We are the people who are to make the deeds of God to be known among the nations, to proclaim exaltations of His greatness.  This is our commandment.  Let us take this seriously, to give the loudest thanks to God and to proclaim the greatness of His name for all the people of the world! Amen!

Thanksgiving Exhortations

This week is Thanksgiving, an American holiday meant to be a time of remembrance and thanks.  Normally, this boils down to a ten minute display around the dinner table in which every chair around the table gives a brief example of what he/she is thankful for, followed by gluttonous eating in preparation for an evening of relaxation, familial awkwardness.

However, perhaps this year, Thanksgiving could be something more, particularly for Christians.  This year, this Thanksgiving, let us take this set-aside opportunity with family and friends around the feasts of fine fare and conversation to be a perfect occasion for sharing the Gospel of Christ Jesus to the people we care about the most.

To be sure, often the most difficult people to be the most honest to in regards to matters of faith and God are our family members and friends.  Nevertheless, theses are the very people whom God has placed directly in our lives for a reason: for us to proclaim the Gospel to, that is not to detract from the distinct necessity of living the Gospel but, at some point, we have to back it up with our very lives.

Therefore, let us take this Thanksgiving as an opportunity for us to give thanks to the Lord and preach the Gospel to our closest friends and family.  And besides, not only is giving thanks to the Lord and worshiping the glory of His name the greatest, most fulfilling thing any human can do but it is also commanded by the Lord Himself.

Overcoming Seasonal Thankfulness

As fall comes and the colors of the world change from green and blue to browns and gray, summer warmth is covered with a blanket of cooler air, and the season turns from frolic and play to a time of weekly rhythms and winter preparations.  This time of year always stirs up memories and contemplations.  And on one single American day in November, people gather around the dinner table to offer prayers and thanksgiving for the past year.

However, as this year turns towards the next and we prepare a single day of thanksgiving I am reminded of what Paul says about thankfulness and prayer.  While reading Colossians today, I was struck by this verse: "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of our Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Col 3:17).

I'd read this verse before.  Colossians 3 is probably my favorite chapter in all of Scripture.  But what struck me today was that this seemed like I had read it before in other Pauline writings.  Paul exhorts believers to give thanks at every circumstance and at all times.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Ephesians 5:20: "giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Clearly, Paul, and the Holy Spirit who inspired his writings, care that we would give thanks unceasingly and without end.  Therefore, as we enter in on this colder season, may we take a posture of thankfulness in ourselves.  To do this we should make a habit of giving thanks to God in the morning and throughout the day.  Thankfulness does not come by happenstance but needs to be made a priority in our every day.  Let us then praise God by offering thankfulness to Him through His Son Christ Jesus all the moments of every day of our lives!

A Discourse on Thankfulness

Today I was struck with thankfulness.  In America, we have determined one day a year for thankfulness, but is the measure of what we should be thankful for so meager that we can fit it into a single dinner conversation?  Or, have we so lost our sensitivity to being thankful that we spend all our time focusing on that which we desire but do not have to the neglect of that which we should be thankful for.

To be sure, this discourse is not referring to a grandchild being thankful for their birthday present from Grandma, but we are attempting to get at the heart of thankfulness, which as is true in everything, the ultimate form is found in reference to the True and Living God.

Thankfulness, by definition, is a dense verb that is rich with meaning and significance.  Because of this, it can be surprisingly challenging to nail down a succinct and concise definition of what thankfulness is.  Nevertheless, defining thankfulness is a necessary endeavor in order to have a base for discussion, and so: thankfulness is an active perspective of appreciation and relief over the reception of something that one would, without an acting external agent, not have in our possession.

The "something" that is received can be physical resource, relationship, intellect, gift, or any thing else.  The essence of thankfulness, though, is not as concerned with the thing received as much as it is in the fact that it is received outside of our own ability to achieve, seize, or find it on our own.  Instead, thankfulness praises the One who gives, who is God.

In truth, thankfulness is to be an ever-present attitude or way of life that is to characterize every God-lover.  As Paul says directly, "Be thankful (Col. 3:15)."  So thankfulness, at its heart, is a recognition of God and all that He has done, is doing, and will do.  If we take this to be our understanding of thankfulness, then we should be thankful all the time.

Everything, every situation, every relationship, and every blessing in life, then, becomes an opportunity for us to lavish thankfulness upon our gracious Lord.  This has been a necessarily-brief discussion on thankfulness, but the point is that thankfulness is to be an ever-present attitude that permeates every aspect of our lives.  Praise God, therefore, in thankfulness for all that He has done, all that He is doing, and all that He will do!  Amen.

Faith like Hannah

The story of Samuel is one of the greatest stories in all of Scripture.  His role in shaping the nation of Israel is unmistakable and remarkable.  The two books that bear his name tell the story of Israel transitioning from the time of the judges to a kingdom with a king, and he plays a major role in the transition.  And though the stories of Saul and David often overshadow the story of Samuel, it is a fertile one worth mining.

Hannah, Samuel's mother, was barren.  She had been praying to God for several years to have Him bless her with child by her husband, Elkanah.  Every year, Elkanah took Hannah and his other wife, Peninnah, to Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifices to the Lord.  Hannah would weep bitterly because of her barrenness that was exacerbated by Peninnah's chiding.

One year, Hannah was in the street one night in Shiloh during her families yearly pilgrimage when the priest, Eli, noticed her.  Eli thought Hannah was drunk and told her to leave for her debauchery.  But Hannah cried out that she was not drunk but stricken by her barrenness, explaining that she was troubled in spirit from her condition.  Eli blesses the woman and tells her that God will grant her petition because of her faith.

In response, the Lord blesses Hannah and she becomes pregnant with Samuel.  Hannah is overjoyed by God's faithfulness.  She determines to devote her son to the Lord and gives him to the service of Eli and to the work of the Lord.  Though she visits him yearly, she gives up her son to the Lord.  In doing so, she offers one of the most beautiful songs in all of Scripture, echoed by Mary, the mother of Jesus in the Gospels.

The point of the story is submission in thankfulness.  Though Hannah had been struggling her whole life in barrenness, waiting for a child, when God finally blessed her with a child, she offered the child up to God as a sacrifice and offering.  Hannah is an example of what true devotion looks like.  She gave her everything to the Lord with utter joy.  We should strive to take the same mind among us in offering our best to God with all thankfulness and faith.

God's Forgiveness

Forgiveness is one of the most essential components of the Christian life.  Unfortunately, forgiveness is often overused in Christian circles while being undervalued and underemphasized with unbelievers.  However, the forgiveness of God, given through the work of Jesus, is not only of great importance, it is life-changing. The realization that we need forgiveness is often what prompts belief in the first place, while the continuation of forgiveness is what keeps us growing in sanctification.

Essentially, forgiveness is mercy when judgement is due, amnesty when punishment is owed, and pardoning a just sentencing.  The act of forgiveness, in the highest sense, is God's relenting from His right and just judgment of sinners because of the perfect atoning sacrificial work of His Son, Jesus.  This is forgiveness.

Man's acts of righteousness are worthless (Isa. 64:6).  No one, not one, is without sin's stain (Rom. 3:10). God is more than holy and righteous to judge mankind for their sin.  And although God would be  just and  right to punish us for our sin, He, by His Son's atoning death on the cross, has cleansed us of our sin and justified us wholly by His holy work: forgiveness (Rom. 3:22-24).

To be sure, forgiveness is not without its requirements.  To use economic language, we must accept the forgiveness of God for it to be applied to our accounts.  If we do not accept His forgiveness, our debt remains, and the reckoning for that debt is sure.  Accepting the forgiveness of God is the sine qua non of faith.  It is the fundamental component of sincere faith.

However, the story of forgiveness does not end when we accept forgiveness.  Forgiveness is to pass through us.  We need to forgive ourselves, as well as forgive others.  In this way, forgiveness is made complete through us.  Although God's forgiveness is not lacking in anything, we still need to express the forgiveness not only to ourselves but to the people around us.  Forgiveness takes an attitude of grace, mercy, and love.  But when we live lives of forgiveness, we will be continually blessed by the infusion of His nature that forgiveness engages.

Forgiving the Self

Life is hard.  It is full of painful pits, twisting hairpins, unseeable snares, swirling storms, and countless other obstacles that impede our ability to walk the straight and narrow.  Because of the distinct and plentiful complications of life, sometimes, more often than we’d like to admit, we make poor decisions.  Tragically, the repercussions of poor decisions can be painful, if not outright destructive. 

Thankfully, because of sincere confession and belief in Christ, God forgives all of our poor decisions (Psa. 103:12; 1 John 1:9).  Handling missteps and snowballs of sin is not God’s business.  He is in the business of salvation and forgiveness.  However, we still have to deal with our past choices, especially the ones that have lingering scars of remembrance.  It is how we face those decisions, the good and bad, that can reveal something about our reliance on the Lord.

The past, our pasts, usually come to us in emotional vignettes: we remember specific episodes, how we felt, how we made others feel, etc.  These emotional memories, though not always pervasive, linger with us after God has forgiven us.  Simply put, God has forgiven us and, as we live in Him by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we live in His forgiveness.

 

This means that when we feel streams of regret and shame for past sin that has been forgiven, we are bringing up sin that God has already washed clean.  In a sense, replaying sin of the past is disbelief that we are truly forgiven because we, in our flesh, are not able to fully believe the depth of God’s forgiveness.

It is important to note that judgment, in the form of guilt, is always intended to draw us to repentance and sanctification.  When we feel a divine guilt that propels us to seek Him and to repair relationships, this is a beautiful thing.  However, if feelings of regret torment us and hinder our ability to draw closer to Him, we are not living in His grace but wallowing in our own fleshly weakness.  Instead, we must claim our forgiven identity.

Claiming an identity in Christ involves eschewing any and every sin that hinders our sanctification and prevents the Holy Spirit from entering every nook of our lives when every cranny already belongs to Him.  Regret is one of Satan’s ploys and most powerful tactics.  Remember, Satan is the great accuser who tempts people to sin and then perpetually accuses them of that sin (Rev. 12:10).

 

Whenever our pasts, the sin and bad decisions, accuses us with regret and guilt, it is not of God but is the enemy.  The only way to overcome his accusations is to, in the power of Jesus’ name, cast him out.  Remember, our identity is made new in Christ, so any regret of who we once were is not godly but is a hindrance to God’s holy work of sanctification in our lives.

 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is marked out for us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12:1-2).”  The casting aside of weight and sin does not only refer to the sins of now but also to our past sins.  Let us cast them aside and press forward in steadfastness and perseverance, keeping our gaze fixed on Christ and not allow ourselves to be distracted by ourselves.

Rest for the Redeemed

Rest, a time of refreshment, relaxation, and recovery.  The seal of the Mosaic covenant was the keeping of the sabbath. The sabbath represented the seventh-day rest of creation.  On every seventh day the Israelites were reminded of God's sovereign work of creation.  Thus, the cycle of the week was a constant reminder of the Lord and the people's dependence on His provision and sovereignty.

The sabbath day was a day of rest but it served as much more than a mere "day off."  It was a theological construct.  On the sabbath, no work was to be done so that the people could focus on the Lord and His providence.  Sabbath rest was a requirement and a seal of the covenant but it was to be surpassed by another, Promised Rest, that was to accompany the Promised Land.  The Promised Land was to be paired with a Promised Rest.  Unfortunately, due to covenant infidelity, the Israelites never saw the fulfillment of the Promised Rest.

This understanding of rest was amended under the New Covenant.  The sabbath, and its theology, was changed by a new law, the law of Christ and grace.  Under this new law, the rest for believers is not cyclical in the same sense but it is determined and bestowed by the Lord (Matt. 11:28-29).  Rest is no longer dependent on the cycle of the week but is a constant state of being, a state of rest.  Our rest is wholly dependent on the Lord alone.  It is our reliance on the Lord that gives us our rest.

Additionally, the Promised Rest under Christ has a future fulfillment much like the Israelites' rest had a future fulfillment in the Promised Land.  For Christians, rest has its ultimate realization in the eternal presence of the Holy Lord.  This means that the rest we have now is only a part but to be made whole later in the Lord.

Rest, defined, refers to a time of relaxation and relief.  Rest is often understood in relation to a particular activity or time but, as has been shown, rest is not defined in terms of activities or times.  Rather, rest in Christ is a lifestyle, an attitude towards life itself, an utter reliance on the Lord.  Rest is then paired with our understandings of hope and peace.

In Christ, rest is not occasion-dependent but is continuous because it is based on our reliance on the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, Christians live in a state of rest because the Holy Spirit, who dwells within believers, is the giver of rest.  Rest is one of the beautiful gifts that God bestows.  Let us strive to live in the Spirit and thus live continuously in His rest.

Christ's Christmas

Some 2,000 years ago, in a small rural suburb of Jerusalem, a woman and her soon-to-be husband arrive at an inn but there is no vacancy available.  The woman, though a virgin, was quite pregnant and the baby's delivery imminent and near.

Months earlier, an angel of the Lord, Gabriel, had come to the woman and prophesied that the Lord Most High would descend upon her and she would bear a child, the Son of God, and that she would call His name, Jesus, meaning God saves.  The man she was betrothed to discovered that she was with child and, though he thought of divorcing her, when an angel came to him, in a dream, revealed that his betrothed's child was the Christ, the Messiah who would save all mankind from their sin.

At this time, near the end of the young woman's pregnancy, the emperor issued a decree requiring that everyone return to their ancestry's land to be censored.  The man took his pregnant fiance to the place of his ancestry, to Bethlehem.  The trip was arduous and long.  Upon arrival, the woman realized that it was time: she was going to deliver her child.

Although the inn was full, a man offered the couple a cave that served as a stable for livestock for them to stay in.  The woman delivered her child, an infant boy.  She wrapped him in swaddling cloths and placed him in a trough.

Meanwhile, shepherds nearby were watching their sheep by night as an angel of the Lord appeared before them and told them that in Bethlehem a child was born.  The angel told the shepherds to go to the town and to offer praises to the newborn as He was to be the Messiah, the savior of all mankind.  They left their flocks and the fields to find the couple and their child in the stable, the infant resting in a manger, wrapped in strips of cloth.  It was just how the angel had prophesied it to be.

The Christmas story is repeated yearly in the Christian calendar.  It is the beginning of Jesus' life and His ministry.  At this time, the 25th of December, let us take time to remember Christ, to remember the dozens of prophecies that were fulfilled in His birth, let alone His life.  A time to remember that God is sovereign and holy, and that He condescended into humanity for the purpose of redeeming His children from sin.  Now we can enter into right relationship with Him by Him and for Him.  Truly, this is what Christmas is all about.

Dusting off the Old Testament

The Old Testament was the Scripture that Jesus knew and that Paul and the disciples used to teach the early Church.  The Old Testament is comprised of three major sections: the Law (the first five books), the Prophets (Joshua to Isaiah plus the twelve latter prophets), and the Writings (Psalms, Proverbs, etc).  Jesus often taught that all of the Scriptures (the Old Testament) revealed who He was, most notably after His resurrection when He revealed how the whole of Scripture spoke of Him (Luke 24:27).  Needless to say, this means that the Old Testament warrants examination by Christians.

At the onset, the ancient writing is challenging, "the past is a foreign country: they do things differently there (L.P. Hartley)."  Because of its nature, the challenge is more prevalent with the Old Testament.  The composition of the Old Testament spans many centuries; understanding it requires a bit of study.  The canon of the Old Testament is comprised of a variety of literary styles written by a diverse set of authors that was edited by later scribes. A good study Bible is the first step.

Additionally, the Old Testament is full of stories that reveal that nature of God and His relationship to mankind.  Therefore, understanding the Old Testament can be rewarding but it requires practice.  Although the Old Testament is compiled of episodes, it is not merely about stories: there is much more.  In this, the key is to read from a broad perspective, keeping in mind the forest before getting too fixed on the individual trees; focus on the whole before addressing the minutiae.

For this, reading whole books is in order.  Reading the whole book or major sections helps us to understand the big things.  Then, following the completion, making basic mental outlines and plain synopsis of theme and purpose will help to define the most important elements.  Additionally, understanding why the book was written and for whom is a great way to garner pertinent information that is helpful in interpretation.

Ultimately, the whole Bible is about God, who He is and how He relates to us.  We should dig into it and not shy away from the Old Testament in the process.  The Old Testament is rich with theology and Christology that make it essential study for all Christians.  That being said, it can be difficult to understand and a good study Bible as well as basic hermeneutical technique can go a long way to help.

Not Conformed to the World

The world is full of shimmer and shine, temptations that distract and lead people astray.  John was clear that we should not desire the world and its fleshly desires, and that the love of the world is not compatible with the will of God.  Paul confirms this position as well as giving us further exhortation for handling the world.  "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Rom. 12:2)."  Understanding the richness of this verse and the theology thereof is a multi-faceted venture.

First of all, what is the pattern of this world that we should not conform to any longer?  Although answering this question is complex, a contracted summation could be defined in two words: irreverence & sin.  The most striking feature of the world is its irreverence to the Lord.  And, as a result of this irreverence, the world does not fear the Lord.  This inevitably and without fail leads to sin.

In contrast, Christians are to live a life of fear and reverence to the Lord, which prevents believers from falling into sin.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Pro. 9:10; Psa. 111:10).  Therefore, any person that strives to wisdom will begin with this basic assertion and will live in reverence to the Lord.

Moreover, the world defines itself in individuality, autonomy, and independence.  The central theme of the world and those living within it is the "I" and "me."  The individual strives to assert his/her individuality and lives life as if independent and autonomous.  The world's identity is defined by the individualism.  Thus the individual pursues individuality and self-reliance.  The irony is that we can categorize the world's individuals, making them less than unique.  

This is antithetical to Christian life which is defined as dependent.  The Christian is to be reliant on the Lord and dependent on the body of Christ.  The individual in Christianity is established not in terms of worldly identity but in reference to divine design and gifting.  The Christian does not strive for individuality but his/her uniqueness is defined in the body of Christ, not autonomous but contingent.

Understanding the world that we are no longer to conform to is the first step in understanding Romans 12:2.  The next step is the renewal of our minds.  This is essential and not passive.  It requires study and diligence.  Our identities are deeply entrenched in how we think.  When our minds our renewed by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, who we are changes to be inline with the will of God.

Lastly, being able to discern the will of God is the product of the renewal of our minds.  It is important to note that the will of God is not the only will that is presented to us.  When Paul says that we are to discern the will of God implies that we will still have to choose His will among other potential choices.  Not conforming to the world and renewing our minds is the preparation that equips us to be able to choose, to discern, the will of God.

Life Eternal

John 3:16, one of the most known and memorized verses of the Bible says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but shall have eternal life."  John, more than any other NT author, is clear that the reward given to Christians for belief in Jesus is eternal life (John 10:28; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-12).  Moreover, those that do not have the son do not have eternal life but its converse: eternal death and damnation.

Although eternal life is significant and an essential teaching of the New Testament, it is important to note that eternal life is not the purpose of confession and belief in Christ.  Eternal life is a side effect of a right relationship with God.  Think of it logically, God is life and the Holy Spirit resides in believers; therefore, believers are blessed with eternal life as a result of their relationship with the Lord.

Again, eternal life is not the purpose of belief, it is a side effect of belief.  The purpose and end of belief in Christ is a reconciled right relationship with the Lord.  This, in and of itself, is the most wonderful and amazing gift that confession and belief in Jesus provides for Christians.  It is the right relationship with God that belief offers; a side effect of that relationship is eternal life.

God is the giver, the Lord of life.  Death is a result of sin.  In Eden, Adam and Eve had eternal life because they were in right relationship with God but, due to the Fall, their relationship was damaged and their eternal life revoked as a result.  Because the Lord is life, when we are obedient to Him, His will and Word, we will be blessed.  Part of His blessing is life, eternal life.

Because eternal life is a side effect of right relationship with the Lord, the giver of life, eternal life is not an "after death" venture.  Instead, eternal life is the life we now live in preparation for our lives after the ceasing of this mortal coil.  In essence we should strive to live in a constant state of eternal life.  In reality, this means that we will pursue a right relationship with the Lord.  Remember, not only is eternal life a side effect of a right relationship with God through Jesus, but it is a life to be lived now not after death.  Therefore, let us be diligent to live lives pleasing to Him and to His will.

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!

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.

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!