Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all..
How is it that God would trade His perfectly righteous, all powerful, perfectly good and kind Son for a sinner like me? What do I have to offer as any part of a trade that would make this seem right and good to Him? What does He get in exchange for His Son? What can I add to Him that He does not already have and has not given for me first in order that I could give it back?
There is no possible way to make this calculation make sense. Any financial person, or mathematician would tell you "this does not compute". BUT God has done this trade; trading His perfect Son for a very imperfect sinner.
So what should my response be to this? If I can add no righteousness, goodness, possessions or anything else to God, what am I supposed to do? Can I give back to God? Is this what He really wants?
In a very small way this is like parents and children. An infant can "add" nothing to the home except dirty diapers, many demanded feedings throughout the day and night and throwing up on things. Yet they bring no income, or support back into the family. So why would you have kids, knowing you're just making yourself a lot of work?
Children do bring joy into the home. Is the joy from the work or sleepless nights? Not so much, but they still bring joy. Especially as they grow up, they are lots of work and they cost a lot more, but they still can bring joy.
I think that just as our kids bring joy to the parents, we can bring joy to our Heavenly Father by, being thankful, being obedient and honor Him in every way we are able. Our kids honor us when they do this, which brings us joy.
I want to be adding to God's fullness of joy, some joy that He finds in me. He doesn't need my joy, to make His full, it is already full, but He loves to have His children glorify Him, by being obedient to what we know He has called us to do, by being thankful for what He has already done. He loves to be praised as we see our total dependence on Him and then come to receive all that He offers us. He doesn't want me to bring anything and He wants to give all of Himself to us. What a deal; we bring our need to Him, He fills it, we are blessed by His kindness and He is glorified in our dependent asking and thanksgiving.
God has truly gotten the short end of the stick when trading His Son for me, but for some reason He did not spare His only Son for me. What a blessed trade to prove an incomprehensible love. May I see this truth for what it really is and live it out for the entire world to see.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Am I Really Willing?
Matt. 13:44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45" Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
This is Jesus' story and He is making a pretty strong point here. If I am NOT willing to leave everything to follow Him, then I will NOT be given the gift of Heaven. The interesting thing is that these men 1) are seeking and working to find these things that are of utmost value, 2) these things are not hidden so much that someone else could not have found them, if they had been looking, 3) they don't go sell everything they have begrudgingly, but with JOY. They know they are choosing the best thing; they know that the "sacrifice" they are making is no sacrifice at all, because they get God in the end. Often I am willing to sacrifice something, but it is not with joy as much as duty, or self denial. But Jesus is telling us right here, "I am worth it, no matter what it is you have to leave, I am worth the trade".
Whether I believe this or not greatly effects where I will spend eternity, because will I really be following Christ if I am following out of duty? Wouldn't that make me like the Pharisees, if I was following Him out of duty? Until I start to understand that following Christ is my greatest joy, no matter what the cost, even if it is my life, then I am not really following Christ.
Oh that I might always see Christ as my highest Treasure and then follow Him no matter what the cost. May my heart not deceive me. May my joy be fixed on Him and Him alone. May the things of this earth grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.
Ps. 42:1 As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
Is. 55:1 "Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
3 Give ear and come to me;
hear me, that your soul may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.
Does God tell us anything about what will happen to those who are not willing to leave everything? Does God give us any encouragement, even in the same verse, for those who are willing to follow Him whole-heartedly? If I follow after idols, then I am putting my hope of salvation in those things. If God is my refuge, I will inherit Heaven and Him for eternity.
Is. 56:13 When you cry out for help,
let your collection of idols (things you would not leave) save you!
The wind will carry all of them off,
a mere breath will blow them away.
But the man who makes me his refuge
will inherit the land
and possess my holy mountain."
This is Jesus' story and He is making a pretty strong point here. If I am NOT willing to leave everything to follow Him, then I will NOT be given the gift of Heaven. The interesting thing is that these men 1) are seeking and working to find these things that are of utmost value, 2) these things are not hidden so much that someone else could not have found them, if they had been looking, 3) they don't go sell everything they have begrudgingly, but with JOY. They know they are choosing the best thing; they know that the "sacrifice" they are making is no sacrifice at all, because they get God in the end. Often I am willing to sacrifice something, but it is not with joy as much as duty, or self denial. But Jesus is telling us right here, "I am worth it, no matter what it is you have to leave, I am worth the trade".
Whether I believe this or not greatly effects where I will spend eternity, because will I really be following Christ if I am following out of duty? Wouldn't that make me like the Pharisees, if I was following Him out of duty? Until I start to understand that following Christ is my greatest joy, no matter what the cost, even if it is my life, then I am not really following Christ.
Oh that I might always see Christ as my highest Treasure and then follow Him no matter what the cost. May my heart not deceive me. May my joy be fixed on Him and Him alone. May the things of this earth grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.
Ps. 42:1 As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
Is. 55:1 "Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
3 Give ear and come to me;
hear me, that your soul may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.
Does God tell us anything about what will happen to those who are not willing to leave everything? Does God give us any encouragement, even in the same verse, for those who are willing to follow Him whole-heartedly? If I follow after idols, then I am putting my hope of salvation in those things. If God is my refuge, I will inherit Heaven and Him for eternity.
Is. 56:13 When you cry out for help,
let your collection of idols (things you would not leave) save you!
The wind will carry all of them off,
a mere breath will blow them away.
But the man who makes me his refuge
will inherit the land
and possess my holy mountain."
IF
If I am held by the God who holds the entire universe in His hand
If I am watched by the God who sees every sparrow fall
If I am sustained by the God who controls the wind and rain
If I am known by the God who knows the number of every hair on each head
If I am guided by the God who guides every planet and star
If I am given understanding by the God who knows the thoughts and meditations of every heart
If I am fed by the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills
If I am promised the desires of my heart by the God who never breaks His promise
If I am loved by the God whose love is unfailing
If I walk on paths made by the God who directs every path
If my hope is in the God of all Hope
If I am heir to the King of all kings
If I am subject to the Lord of all lords
If I am purchased by the Beloved Son of the God of all gods
If I am truly believing all these things, then what is there to be concerned with, except please Him?
The answer, of course, is nothing.
If I am watched by the God who sees every sparrow fall
If I am sustained by the God who controls the wind and rain
If I am known by the God who knows the number of every hair on each head
If I am guided by the God who guides every planet and star
If I am given understanding by the God who knows the thoughts and meditations of every heart
If I am fed by the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills
If I am promised the desires of my heart by the God who never breaks His promise
If I am loved by the God whose love is unfailing
If I walk on paths made by the God who directs every path
If my hope is in the God of all Hope
If I am heir to the King of all kings
If I am subject to the Lord of all lords
If I am purchased by the Beloved Son of the God of all gods
If I am truly believing all these things, then what is there to be concerned with, except please Him?
The answer, of course, is nothing.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Trust and Obey
Ps. 4:5 Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the LORD.
6 There are many who say, "Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!"
7 You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.
8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
God desires our obedience, right sacrifices, and not just lip service. We are to obey what He has said in His Word ans then trust in Him. These are pretty simple directions, but impossible to follow if we are not submitting to the authority of His Word.
It is so true that when we are satisfied in God, there is no abundance here on earth that can compare. When He is our portion, we need nothing more.
Trusting in Him brings rest and safety. There is no place to truly rest and be safe except for in Him. If only I would simply trust Him.
Oh Lord, You are my portion, You are my Rest, You alone are my Safety. May I consider Your Words and be at rest in all that You are.
and put your trust in the LORD.
6 There are many who say, "Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!"
7 You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.
8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
God desires our obedience, right sacrifices, and not just lip service. We are to obey what He has said in His Word ans then trust in Him. These are pretty simple directions, but impossible to follow if we are not submitting to the authority of His Word.
It is so true that when we are satisfied in God, there is no abundance here on earth that can compare. When He is our portion, we need nothing more.
Trusting in Him brings rest and safety. There is no place to truly rest and be safe except for in Him. If only I would simply trust Him.
Oh Lord, You are my portion, You are my Rest, You alone are my Safety. May I consider Your Words and be at rest in all that You are.
Pray for our President
The Bible is shot through with examples of kings and leaders having their hearts changed by God. Ezra, Esther, Daniel, Joseph and many more are examples of this.
I have been convicted that I am not praying enough for President Obama. This presidency may be one of the most crucial ones in the history of our nation and there is much that needs to be decided. The decisions he and his people make today will effect our children and our grand children.
We are to pray for the authorities over us, whether we voted for them or not, as they are God's ordained authority over us. Pray for wisdom, discernment, health, a righteous world view, and that he would be bold, if God chooses to change his heart, because he has surrounded himself with many who will also need to have their hearts changed to rule righteously.
Not an easy command to follow, never the less, it is still a command.
I have been convicted that I am not praying enough for President Obama. This presidency may be one of the most crucial ones in the history of our nation and there is much that needs to be decided. The decisions he and his people make today will effect our children and our grand children.
We are to pray for the authorities over us, whether we voted for them or not, as they are God's ordained authority over us. Pray for wisdom, discernment, health, a righteous world view, and that he would be bold, if God chooses to change his heart, because he has surrounded himself with many who will also need to have their hearts changed to rule righteously.
Not an easy command to follow, never the less, it is still a command.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Hatred of Sin
Ps. 5:4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
6 You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
Ps. 97:10 Let those who love the LORD hate evil,
for he guards the lives of his faithful ones
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked
Prov. 8:13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
Romans 12:9 Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
One of the Religious Affection I have been thinking about is hatred of sin. It is interesting that an "Affection" can be hatred of something. I fear that my heart has been seared, my intake of earthly junk is so great and the time following after earthly pleasure and a sinful nature has made my true hatred of sin very small.
In these verses God is telling us what He thinks about evil and sin. His eyes are too pure to look on sin, and He can not tolerate wrong Hab. 1:13. Yet, my hatred of sin is shown by my misguided affections.
How am I to "love not the world, neither the things that are in the world", 1 John 2:15 if I don't hate what is in the world and don't hate sin?
God alone can change my affections and the things I hate. God alone grants true repentance toward true joy and God alone can make my heart sensitive to sin.
I think about something sensitive to pain, like when you rip off your fingernail and all you have left is the quick. You have no idea how many times everyday your finger is bumped, until you do something like that, but then even a feather hurts.
The only way our hearts can get back to that sin sensitive place is by God showing us our sin, confessing and repenting of that sin on an ongoing basis and for us to turn from that sin to true joy. I am seeing that this is not a short process and that it takes God working in my heart to even start it.
If He can't look at evil I need Christ's righteousness to cover my sin so my Heavenly Father can see me and protect and guide me.
There are not many things I can control in this life, but in the areas that I have control, namely my affections, I need to be faithful to His calling.
Oh Lord, change my affections and give me a hatred of sin. I am inclined to want the things of this world over You, but You can give me a new perspective of what holiness looks like and even a hatred of sin. I want to be one of Your "faithful ones" so You will guard me and protect me from the wicked one. You alone can bring about this change of affections, please do that in me.
Nor shall evil dwell with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
6 You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
Ps. 97:10 Let those who love the LORD hate evil,
for he guards the lives of his faithful ones
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked
Prov. 8:13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
Romans 12:9 Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
One of the Religious Affection I have been thinking about is hatred of sin. It is interesting that an "Affection" can be hatred of something. I fear that my heart has been seared, my intake of earthly junk is so great and the time following after earthly pleasure and a sinful nature has made my true hatred of sin very small.
In these verses God is telling us what He thinks about evil and sin. His eyes are too pure to look on sin, and He can not tolerate wrong Hab. 1:13. Yet, my hatred of sin is shown by my misguided affections.
How am I to "love not the world, neither the things that are in the world", 1 John 2:15 if I don't hate what is in the world and don't hate sin?
God alone can change my affections and the things I hate. God alone grants true repentance toward true joy and God alone can make my heart sensitive to sin.
I think about something sensitive to pain, like when you rip off your fingernail and all you have left is the quick. You have no idea how many times everyday your finger is bumped, until you do something like that, but then even a feather hurts.
The only way our hearts can get back to that sin sensitive place is by God showing us our sin, confessing and repenting of that sin on an ongoing basis and for us to turn from that sin to true joy. I am seeing that this is not a short process and that it takes God working in my heart to even start it.
If He can't look at evil I need Christ's righteousness to cover my sin so my Heavenly Father can see me and protect and guide me.
There are not many things I can control in this life, but in the areas that I have control, namely my affections, I need to be faithful to His calling.
Oh Lord, change my affections and give me a hatred of sin. I am inclined to want the things of this world over You, but You can give me a new perspective of what holiness looks like and even a hatred of sin. I want to be one of Your "faithful ones" so You will guard me and protect me from the wicked one. You alone can bring about this change of affections, please do that in me.
Stand Still and See the Power of God!
1 Sam. 12:14 If you will fear the LORD and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well. 15 But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you and your king. 16 Now therefore stand still and see this great thing that the LORD will do before your eyes. 17 Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the LORD, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking for yourselves a king." 18 So Samuel called upon the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
19 And all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king." 20 And Samuel said to the people, "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. 21 And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. 22 For the LORD will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself. 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 24 Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. 25 But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king."
What a great story of the sinfulness of man, the power of God and His long-suffering toward His people.
The Israelites had asked for a king, when God was their King. They wanted to be like the rest of the nations on earth, who had a visible king. There is a problem when God's people want to be like the world. So God allowed them to have a king. They had been seeing what the world was doing and started to follow after idols and, each time, God punished them for their sin, as He listed for them in the previous verses.
But God, through Samuel, tells them that even with this new king, if they, and the king, follow God, God will bless them. BUT, they have to follow God. I like when Samuel tells them to "Stand still and see this great thing that the LORD will do before your eyes". He is saying, "I will prove to you that God means what He says", or "God is serious about sin and your love and devotion for Him".
Apparently it would have been very rare, maybe even unprecedented, to have thunder and rain at harvest, so this is what Samuel tells them will happen. He prays and as they are standing there God delivers. What power! We must not trifle with God.
The Israelites immediately understand their position and they also see the power of God, and that Samuel is also someone they want to have on their side. They want Samuel to continue to pray for them, because he obviously is a righteous man who has the ear of God when he prays.
Samuel encourages them that even though they have sinned greatly, and even though on top of that sin they have asked for a king when they shouldn't have, they are still God's people and God will not forsake His chosen ones. What a transition from seeing their sin and knowing the power of God, to being told that even with all of these things against them, God still loves them and He will not forsake them. It is so amazing that even though God knows our sin record and He knows we will sin again, He will not forsake those He loves and has chosen. What a long suffering Savior.
He does this for His name's sake, not because His people are so worthy. "He is pleased to make a people for Himself". What can any people bring to God that they would be worthy of His choosing? Why would He pick the Jews, the smallest of nations to be His people? If they were a large nation, they would be able to claim that they had done something great to remain over all these generations. But since they are weak and small, it is only God who can sustain them through all that has happened to them.
He does give them some guidelines in order that they be not "swept away". They are to fear the Lord, serve Him with ALL their heart and consider all that He has done for them.
He requires the same from us. As His chosen, small and frail, people; people who sin and follow after worthless things; people who want to be like the world; people who have sinned much even after seeing the power of God; if we are His children He will not forsake us, Heb. 13:5. BUT, we must fear Him, we must serve Him with all our hearts and we must remember and be thankful for all that He has done for us.
Most powerful God, full of glory, majestic in the Heavens, controller of lightning, thunder, wind and rain, lover of all that is good and right and hater of all that is evil, You have called a people unto Yourself to be set apart and different from this world. You have done this that You will be glorified through them. Not because we are so great, but because we are so weak and yet You sustain us.
May I follow You as I should, with all my heart. May You be glorified in the change that You have made in me. May the world know that it is You, and only You, that could bring about this type of change in someone like me. Make Your name great in Your people and may I not be a blemish or a dishonor to Your great name.
Lord I am thankful that You are long-suffering with me. I am not deserving, You are simply kind and merciful. I don't know why You don't just crush me, like You did in the OT, but I am thankful that You have endured with me in order that I would turn from following empty things and turn to the One who is the Fullness of everything good. I am not deserving of this grace and mercy, or I would then have room to boast. You alone are worthy of all of my praise.
Carry me to Your heights that I may dwell in Your house forever, for in Your presence there is fullness of joy. Until I am there with You, continue to mold me and shape me after Your will and give me the affections You desire in each of Your children.
19 And all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king." 20 And Samuel said to the people, "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. 21 And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. 22 For the LORD will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself. 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 24 Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. 25 But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king."
What a great story of the sinfulness of man, the power of God and His long-suffering toward His people.
The Israelites had asked for a king, when God was their King. They wanted to be like the rest of the nations on earth, who had a visible king. There is a problem when God's people want to be like the world. So God allowed them to have a king. They had been seeing what the world was doing and started to follow after idols and, each time, God punished them for their sin, as He listed for them in the previous verses.
But God, through Samuel, tells them that even with this new king, if they, and the king, follow God, God will bless them. BUT, they have to follow God. I like when Samuel tells them to "Stand still and see this great thing that the LORD will do before your eyes". He is saying, "I will prove to you that God means what He says", or "God is serious about sin and your love and devotion for Him".
Apparently it would have been very rare, maybe even unprecedented, to have thunder and rain at harvest, so this is what Samuel tells them will happen. He prays and as they are standing there God delivers. What power! We must not trifle with God.
The Israelites immediately understand their position and they also see the power of God, and that Samuel is also someone they want to have on their side. They want Samuel to continue to pray for them, because he obviously is a righteous man who has the ear of God when he prays.
Samuel encourages them that even though they have sinned greatly, and even though on top of that sin they have asked for a king when they shouldn't have, they are still God's people and God will not forsake His chosen ones. What a transition from seeing their sin and knowing the power of God, to being told that even with all of these things against them, God still loves them and He will not forsake them. It is so amazing that even though God knows our sin record and He knows we will sin again, He will not forsake those He loves and has chosen. What a long suffering Savior.
He does this for His name's sake, not because His people are so worthy. "He is pleased to make a people for Himself". What can any people bring to God that they would be worthy of His choosing? Why would He pick the Jews, the smallest of nations to be His people? If they were a large nation, they would be able to claim that they had done something great to remain over all these generations. But since they are weak and small, it is only God who can sustain them through all that has happened to them.
He does give them some guidelines in order that they be not "swept away". They are to fear the Lord, serve Him with ALL their heart and consider all that He has done for them.
He requires the same from us. As His chosen, small and frail, people; people who sin and follow after worthless things; people who want to be like the world; people who have sinned much even after seeing the power of God; if we are His children He will not forsake us, Heb. 13:5. BUT, we must fear Him, we must serve Him with all our hearts and we must remember and be thankful for all that He has done for us.
Most powerful God, full of glory, majestic in the Heavens, controller of lightning, thunder, wind and rain, lover of all that is good and right and hater of all that is evil, You have called a people unto Yourself to be set apart and different from this world. You have done this that You will be glorified through them. Not because we are so great, but because we are so weak and yet You sustain us.
May I follow You as I should, with all my heart. May You be glorified in the change that You have made in me. May the world know that it is You, and only You, that could bring about this type of change in someone like me. Make Your name great in Your people and may I not be a blemish or a dishonor to Your great name.
Lord I am thankful that You are long-suffering with me. I am not deserving, You are simply kind and merciful. I don't know why You don't just crush me, like You did in the OT, but I am thankful that You have endured with me in order that I would turn from following empty things and turn to the One who is the Fullness of everything good. I am not deserving of this grace and mercy, or I would then have room to boast. You alone are worthy of all of my praise.
Carry me to Your heights that I may dwell in Your house forever, for in Your presence there is fullness of joy. Until I am there with You, continue to mold me and shape me after Your will and give me the affections You desire in each of Your children.
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