A special thanks goes out to the Baptist Children's Home and Family Services in Carmi for leading in our morning worship service yesterday. Though I was preaching at a sister church and couldn't be there, every report I've heard has been highly complimentary of the young people and their leaders. I hope you know that our God brings hope and healing to the hurting and broken who call upon His name.
The Children's Home is a wonderful ministry clothed in love, sharing the care and compassion of Christ to meet the needs of children and families in crisis. I'm glad to be a part of a church that supports this work with monthly financial gifts and the special Mother's Day Offering. For more information about their services, please visit http://www.BCHFS.com.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
Borrow Not a Few (Part 3 of 3)
Are you ready for a downpour of God’s mercy and grace? Have you taken your cares and worries before the Lord, crying out to Him for help – and are you ready to receive it?
In this third part I want to highlight the faith and obedience of the poor widow. As noted in the previous entries, this widow in 2 Kings 4:1-7 was in a desperate situation. Her husband had recently died and she had a debt she could not pay. Not only that, but her two sons would soon be taken as slaves by the creditors unless she could come up with the cash.
So she pled her case to Elisha, the man of God, and she offered the little she had – a jar of oil – so that God might be glorified in His miraculous provision for her needs. All that was left to do was to trust and obey.
But sometimes that’s the hardest part. We can pour out our hearts to God easily enough. We can say, “Here I am, Lord, and here’s all that I have – it’s Yours! Do with me as You please.” But when it comes down to exercising our faith through obedience to the Word and will of God, how are we doing?
Elisha gave this woman some pretty strange instructions. He told her to go and borrow as many empty jars from her neighbors as she could find. “Borrow not a few!” he told her. “Then go in and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each one is filled, put it aside.”
Now it was up to her whether or not she would receive the blessing from the Lord. She could have been skeptical and said, “You know, Elisha, I just don’t see how borrowing some empty jars is going to do me any good. Don’t you have some cash you could lend me? Couldn’t you take up a love offering among your prophets or something? What about calling down some fire upon my creditor – that’ll solve my problems.” And she would have missed the miracle God was about to perform on her behalf.
If she wanted to receive God’s mercy and grace, she had to trust and obey. And she did. She trusted the man of God and followed his instructions. And when she poured the oil from the one little jar she had, the oil continued to flow until all the jars she had borrowed were filled to the brim. Her faith was rewarded by the abundant provision of God, who is rich in mercy and lavish in grace. And if there would have been more empty vessels, God would have filled those up, too.
Borrow not a few! Be careful not to limit the blessings that God is willing – more than willing – and able to pour out upon you. Had this widow acted in little faith and only borrowed a few jars, she wouldn’t have had enough to pay off her debts and keep her sons from being taken into slavery. Instead, she took God at His word and sold the oil to pay her debt with enough left over to live on.
“Truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed,” Jesus said, “you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you” (Matthew 17:20).
Friend, the greatest debt anyone could ever owe is the debt that everyone born into this world owes: the debt of sin. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death. It’s a debt which no amount of good deeds, Sunday School attendance awards or financial giving to the church can pay. It’s a debt which cannot be paid for you by godly parents or grandparents, husbands or wives.
But, as the old hymn goes:
Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow
Are you desperate to be saved from the wages of sin? You can be saved, and you will be saved by crying out for mercy from the Lord. Come humbly before Him today, confessing your sinfulness and turning away from it, turning in faith and obedience to Jesus Christ, who paid your debt on the cross with His own blood. Yes, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
God has an unlimited supply of grace and mercy. He is more than able to supply your every need. Come to Jesus in faith and obedience today.
In this third part I want to highlight the faith and obedience of the poor widow. As noted in the previous entries, this widow in 2 Kings 4:1-7 was in a desperate situation. Her husband had recently died and she had a debt she could not pay. Not only that, but her two sons would soon be taken as slaves by the creditors unless she could come up with the cash.
So she pled her case to Elisha, the man of God, and she offered the little she had – a jar of oil – so that God might be glorified in His miraculous provision for her needs. All that was left to do was to trust and obey.
But sometimes that’s the hardest part. We can pour out our hearts to God easily enough. We can say, “Here I am, Lord, and here’s all that I have – it’s Yours! Do with me as You please.” But when it comes down to exercising our faith through obedience to the Word and will of God, how are we doing?
Elisha gave this woman some pretty strange instructions. He told her to go and borrow as many empty jars from her neighbors as she could find. “Borrow not a few!” he told her. “Then go in and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each one is filled, put it aside.”
Now it was up to her whether or not she would receive the blessing from the Lord. She could have been skeptical and said, “You know, Elisha, I just don’t see how borrowing some empty jars is going to do me any good. Don’t you have some cash you could lend me? Couldn’t you take up a love offering among your prophets or something? What about calling down some fire upon my creditor – that’ll solve my problems.” And she would have missed the miracle God was about to perform on her behalf.
If she wanted to receive God’s mercy and grace, she had to trust and obey. And she did. She trusted the man of God and followed his instructions. And when she poured the oil from the one little jar she had, the oil continued to flow until all the jars she had borrowed were filled to the brim. Her faith was rewarded by the abundant provision of God, who is rich in mercy and lavish in grace. And if there would have been more empty vessels, God would have filled those up, too.
Borrow not a few! Be careful not to limit the blessings that God is willing – more than willing – and able to pour out upon you. Had this widow acted in little faith and only borrowed a few jars, she wouldn’t have had enough to pay off her debts and keep her sons from being taken into slavery. Instead, she took God at His word and sold the oil to pay her debt with enough left over to live on.
“Truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed,” Jesus said, “you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you” (Matthew 17:20).
Friend, the greatest debt anyone could ever owe is the debt that everyone born into this world owes: the debt of sin. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death. It’s a debt which no amount of good deeds, Sunday School attendance awards or financial giving to the church can pay. It’s a debt which cannot be paid for you by godly parents or grandparents, husbands or wives.
But, as the old hymn goes:
Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow
Are you desperate to be saved from the wages of sin? You can be saved, and you will be saved by crying out for mercy from the Lord. Come humbly before Him today, confessing your sinfulness and turning away from it, turning in faith and obedience to Jesus Christ, who paid your debt on the cross with His own blood. Yes, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
God has an unlimited supply of grace and mercy. He is more than able to supply your every need. Come to Jesus in faith and obedience today.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Borrow Not a Few (Part 2 of 3)
In Part 1 we saw in 2 Kings 4 the widow who needed a miracle to save her two sons from being sold into slavery. She could have looked at her circumstances and crumbled. She could have looked at her own resources and despaired. But she went to the man of God – Elisha – crying out for help.
And there she found what she needed. She took her burden before the Lord, He heard her cry, and He came to her rescue. But first, she had to be willing to give up whatever she had, as little as it was. Elisha asked what she had in her house, and she said, “I don’t have anything in the house, except a jar of oil.”
But do you know, dear friend, what our Lord is able to do with a simple, single jar of oil in the hands of one willing to give it to Him? Do you know what the Lord can do with a sling and a stone in the hands of one willing to give himself to God? Do you know what Jesus can do with two fish and five loaves from a boy willing to give it to Him?
You may not have much to give, but give it anyway! God can multiply your gift in ways we’d never dream of. The apostle Paul concluded a prayer for the church in Ephesus by saying, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Eph. 3:20-21).
This widow needed help, and she was willing to offer whatever she could – as little as it was – so that God might multiply it back to her. She listened closely as Elisha, speaking with the Spirit of God within him, instructed her to go and borrow empty jars from her neighbors. And I love this part – he said, “Borrow not a few!” He knew that God was more than able to supply her need. Not only was He able, He was willing and ready to demonstrate His mercy and grace in a miraculous way.
Borrow not a few! Friend, if you’re going to ask of the Lord, then be prepared to receive it! God has ordained it that His children should come to Him in prayer to receive their daily bread. He has given His Son, Jesus, who has opened up the way for us to approach the throne of God in heaven. That Way was Jesus’ broken body, offered on the cross for the forgiveness of our sin by His shed blood, that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. By His wounds we have been healed.
If you are a follower of Christ Jesus then you not only have access to come to God, but are given a special invitation in full assurance of faith to draw near to Him. And in that place there are treasures of blessings the Lord longs to pour upon His children. Treasures of mercy and grace in Christ Jesus that are yours for the asking, the seeking and the knocking.
Are you prepared to receive them? Borrow not a few! If you’re gonna pray for rain, carry an umbrella. You might even want to slip on your raincoat and some boots. Roll up the windows and cancel your plans for the afternoon picnic in the park. God’s about to send a downpour.
And there she found what she needed. She took her burden before the Lord, He heard her cry, and He came to her rescue. But first, she had to be willing to give up whatever she had, as little as it was. Elisha asked what she had in her house, and she said, “I don’t have anything in the house, except a jar of oil.”
But do you know, dear friend, what our Lord is able to do with a simple, single jar of oil in the hands of one willing to give it to Him? Do you know what the Lord can do with a sling and a stone in the hands of one willing to give himself to God? Do you know what Jesus can do with two fish and five loaves from a boy willing to give it to Him?
You may not have much to give, but give it anyway! God can multiply your gift in ways we’d never dream of. The apostle Paul concluded a prayer for the church in Ephesus by saying, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Eph. 3:20-21).
This widow needed help, and she was willing to offer whatever she could – as little as it was – so that God might multiply it back to her. She listened closely as Elisha, speaking with the Spirit of God within him, instructed her to go and borrow empty jars from her neighbors. And I love this part – he said, “Borrow not a few!” He knew that God was more than able to supply her need. Not only was He able, He was willing and ready to demonstrate His mercy and grace in a miraculous way.
Borrow not a few! Friend, if you’re going to ask of the Lord, then be prepared to receive it! God has ordained it that His children should come to Him in prayer to receive their daily bread. He has given His Son, Jesus, who has opened up the way for us to approach the throne of God in heaven. That Way was Jesus’ broken body, offered on the cross for the forgiveness of our sin by His shed blood, that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. By His wounds we have been healed.
If you are a follower of Christ Jesus then you not only have access to come to God, but are given a special invitation in full assurance of faith to draw near to Him. And in that place there are treasures of blessings the Lord longs to pour upon His children. Treasures of mercy and grace in Christ Jesus that are yours for the asking, the seeking and the knocking.
Are you prepared to receive them? Borrow not a few! If you’re gonna pray for rain, carry an umbrella. You might even want to slip on your raincoat and some boots. Roll up the windows and cancel your plans for the afternoon picnic in the park. God’s about to send a downpour.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Borrow Not a Few (Part 1 of 3)
If you’re gonna pray for rain, carry an umbrella. If you’re gonna ask God for help, get ready to receive it.
There’s a great account the Bible gives about a poor widow who had a debt she couldn’t pay, and the creditor was about to come and take her two sons to be his slaves. She was in a helpless situation. Despair, really. What mother wouldn’t agonize over the prospects of losing her two sons, and that on the heels of losing her godly husband? (See 2 Kings 4:1-7).
She needed a miracle. So she went to the man of God, Elisha, in whose company her husband used to serve. She pled her case, crying out for help, knowing that “the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry” (Psalm 34:15). She came knowing that “the Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You” (Psalm 9:9-10). She came because she had highlighted and memorized 1 Peter 5:7 which says, “Cast all your cares upon the Lord, because He cares for you.”
Friend, do you need a miracle today? Are there circumstances in your life beyond your ability to control? Problems in your marriage or other relationships? Family conflicts? Loneliness? Grief? Depression? Health concerns? Financial debts? Addictions? Abuse? Bitterness? Suicidal thoughts? A difficult decision? Do you feel overwhelmed by your desperate situation?
Why not bring your case before the Lord right now? Almighty God in heaven has made a way for you to come before His throne of grace with confidence. At His throne you will receive mercy and find grace to help you in your time of need (Heb. 4:16). That Way is through His Son, Jesus, whom He gave out of His own great love for you. The Bible tells us that “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
And if He was willingly to give up His own Son – “how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). Did God refuse to deliver the Israelites from under the oppression of their slavedrivers when they cried out to Him? Did He turn a deaf ear to Jonah when he cried out to the Lord in his distress from inside the belly of the fish – even though he had deliberately disobeyed God? Did the Lord Jesus ignore the shouts of blind Bartimaeus as he cried, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”(Mark 10:47)?
Our Father in heaven knows what you need before you ask Him, but how He longs for His people to come humbly before Him in prayer, depending upon His goodness and mercy to meet their daily needs. God is greatly glorified in our dependence upon His provision for our needs. He loves to pour out His the riches of His grace in Christ Jesus, that He may be glorified in us as we are satisfied in Him.
There’s a great account the Bible gives about a poor widow who had a debt she couldn’t pay, and the creditor was about to come and take her two sons to be his slaves. She was in a helpless situation. Despair, really. What mother wouldn’t agonize over the prospects of losing her two sons, and that on the heels of losing her godly husband? (See 2 Kings 4:1-7).
She needed a miracle. So she went to the man of God, Elisha, in whose company her husband used to serve. She pled her case, crying out for help, knowing that “the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry” (Psalm 34:15). She came knowing that “the Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You” (Psalm 9:9-10). She came because she had highlighted and memorized 1 Peter 5:7 which says, “Cast all your cares upon the Lord, because He cares for you.”
Friend, do you need a miracle today? Are there circumstances in your life beyond your ability to control? Problems in your marriage or other relationships? Family conflicts? Loneliness? Grief? Depression? Health concerns? Financial debts? Addictions? Abuse? Bitterness? Suicidal thoughts? A difficult decision? Do you feel overwhelmed by your desperate situation?
Why not bring your case before the Lord right now? Almighty God in heaven has made a way for you to come before His throne of grace with confidence. At His throne you will receive mercy and find grace to help you in your time of need (Heb. 4:16). That Way is through His Son, Jesus, whom He gave out of His own great love for you. The Bible tells us that “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
And if He was willingly to give up His own Son – “how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). Did God refuse to deliver the Israelites from under the oppression of their slavedrivers when they cried out to Him? Did He turn a deaf ear to Jonah when he cried out to the Lord in his distress from inside the belly of the fish – even though he had deliberately disobeyed God? Did the Lord Jesus ignore the shouts of blind Bartimaeus as he cried, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”(Mark 10:47)?
Our Father in heaven knows what you need before you ask Him, but how He longs for His people to come humbly before Him in prayer, depending upon His goodness and mercy to meet their daily needs. God is greatly glorified in our dependence upon His provision for our needs. He loves to pour out His the riches of His grace in Christ Jesus, that He may be glorified in us as we are satisfied in Him.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Happy Mother's Day
Want to thrill your Mom this Mother’s Day? What would be the best thing you could possibly do for the woman who carried you for nine months, delivered you into this world and fed, changed, bathed and clothed you? What would be appropriate to give to the one who made you wash behind your ears and brush your teeth, who did thousands of loads of your laundry and washed thousands of your dirty dishes? What gift could even begin to honor such a special woman who read you story after story, who packed your lunch each day and made sure you finished your homework each evening?
Maybe a beautiful bouquet of roses would do the trick. Sure, that’ll show her that you recognize her beauty and the unfading worth of her devotion as a mother. So they’ll fade away in a couple of days – the important thing is that you think she’s beautiful.
Or how about a gift certificate to a day spa? She’s worked so hard for years and years, laboring in love for her family, that she deserves to be pampered for a day. That should refresh her enough to keep her canning those garden beans for you again this summer.
I know, a nice pair of earrings. Yes, the ones shaped like a heart because you appreciate the sacrificial love she has shown to you. She’ll keep them in the jewelry box you gave her for Christmas, right along with the birthday bracelet you bought her and the other set of heart-shaped earrings you gave her last year for Mother’s Day.
Hmmm, there’s that restaurant she likes to eat at. If you can get there before 11 a.m. you should be able to beat the rush. They do offer a senior discount. Or there’s this new book out that teaches women how to be a good mom. She loves to read. Wait a minute, maybe she’d think that you don’t think she is a good mom and so she needs to read this book. Better scratch that.
What would thrill your Mother’s heart this Mother’s Day? May I suggest something that I think would absolutely delight your Mom not only for a day, but forever? How about this: Honor your Mother with your life! Honor her by living a life of integrity. Honor her by serving others in love. Honor her by raising your own family well. Honor her by making your life count for something.
How? Honor your Mother by giving your heart and soul to the Lord Jesus Christ. Some of you know right now that you’ve abandoned the biblical values that your Mother holds dear. You’ve neglected the things of the Lord and followed your own self-centered pursuits. Some of you know that your rebellious choices have disgraced your Mother, and that your lifestyle grieves her deeply. She would love for nothing more than to see you turn from sin and turn to the way of Truth – Jesus. I’m not talking about just going to church. I’m saying come to your senses and fall upon the mercy of the Father in heaven, who waits to receive and welcome any who repent and call upon the name of Jesus.
“Well,” you say, “my Mother passed away already. It’s too late for her to see me come back to the Lord.” But I say to you, dear friend, that you turning to Christ right now and living faithfully for Him is even more certain to thrill your Mom. For if she’s in heaven now then there would be no small celebration over your turning from sin to Jesus. And if – God forbid – your Mom was an unbeliever, I assure you that from where her spirit dwells in torment now her only desire would be that you won’t go there, too.
Gifts are nice, don’t get me wrong. I’ve already given my own Mother a hanging basket in which Tyler and I planted some flowers, which my wife planned because I stink at giving thoughtful gifts. But do you know what God says about bringing Him gifts and offerings? “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice…” (1 Sam. 15:22). I would rather you show Me that you love Me by trusting Me and obeying My Word, He says, than to bring me the fattened calf to make yourself feel better while ignoring My instructions. Don’t you think your Mom feels the same way?
Thrill your Mom this Mother’s Day and forever by honoring her with your life. The greatest honor you can bring your Mother is a life of faith and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. That will truly be a Happy Mother’s Day!
Maybe a beautiful bouquet of roses would do the trick. Sure, that’ll show her that you recognize her beauty and the unfading worth of her devotion as a mother. So they’ll fade away in a couple of days – the important thing is that you think she’s beautiful.
Or how about a gift certificate to a day spa? She’s worked so hard for years and years, laboring in love for her family, that she deserves to be pampered for a day. That should refresh her enough to keep her canning those garden beans for you again this summer.
I know, a nice pair of earrings. Yes, the ones shaped like a heart because you appreciate the sacrificial love she has shown to you. She’ll keep them in the jewelry box you gave her for Christmas, right along with the birthday bracelet you bought her and the other set of heart-shaped earrings you gave her last year for Mother’s Day.
Hmmm, there’s that restaurant she likes to eat at. If you can get there before 11 a.m. you should be able to beat the rush. They do offer a senior discount. Or there’s this new book out that teaches women how to be a good mom. She loves to read. Wait a minute, maybe she’d think that you don’t think she is a good mom and so she needs to read this book. Better scratch that.
What would thrill your Mother’s heart this Mother’s Day? May I suggest something that I think would absolutely delight your Mom not only for a day, but forever? How about this: Honor your Mother with your life! Honor her by living a life of integrity. Honor her by serving others in love. Honor her by raising your own family well. Honor her by making your life count for something.
How? Honor your Mother by giving your heart and soul to the Lord Jesus Christ. Some of you know right now that you’ve abandoned the biblical values that your Mother holds dear. You’ve neglected the things of the Lord and followed your own self-centered pursuits. Some of you know that your rebellious choices have disgraced your Mother, and that your lifestyle grieves her deeply. She would love for nothing more than to see you turn from sin and turn to the way of Truth – Jesus. I’m not talking about just going to church. I’m saying come to your senses and fall upon the mercy of the Father in heaven, who waits to receive and welcome any who repent and call upon the name of Jesus.
“Well,” you say, “my Mother passed away already. It’s too late for her to see me come back to the Lord.” But I say to you, dear friend, that you turning to Christ right now and living faithfully for Him is even more certain to thrill your Mom. For if she’s in heaven now then there would be no small celebration over your turning from sin to Jesus. And if – God forbid – your Mom was an unbeliever, I assure you that from where her spirit dwells in torment now her only desire would be that you won’t go there, too.
Gifts are nice, don’t get me wrong. I’ve already given my own Mother a hanging basket in which Tyler and I planted some flowers, which my wife planned because I stink at giving thoughtful gifts. But do you know what God says about bringing Him gifts and offerings? “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice…” (1 Sam. 15:22). I would rather you show Me that you love Me by trusting Me and obeying My Word, He says, than to bring me the fattened calf to make yourself feel better while ignoring My instructions. Don’t you think your Mom feels the same way?
Thrill your Mom this Mother’s Day and forever by honoring her with your life. The greatest honor you can bring your Mother is a life of faith and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. That will truly be a Happy Mother’s Day!
Friday, May 2, 2008
Delighting In the Word of God
"Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands." - Psalm 112:1
What's not to delight in when it comes to the commands of the Lord? Why would we not receive His word gladly and eagerly? How could we possibly think that God would ever give a word or command that would somehow lead to our demise or destruction, or result in our misery and unhappiness?
It's like telling my two young sons on Christmas morning to get out of bed and go into the living room. Can you imagine them saying, "But, Dad, we're tired. We want to sleep in today. We want to play with our old toys first. You don't really love us. You don't want anything good for us." Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it?
The fact is, that if I've already told them we'll open gifts on Christmas morning, it won't take much persuading to get them racing to the living room and tearing into the presents. They would be gladly and eagerly jumping out of bed, delighting in my word, because they know that my plan for them is for their good and not for their demise or destruction or misery or unhappiness.
There are tremendous blessings God has promised for those who fear Him, who delight greatly in His commands. The Lord has offered mankind the ultimate gift beyond anything that we deserve or could possibly earn - it is His gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What foolishness to reject such a gift! What blindness to not see that such a great salvation from the wages of sin is offered to you! How ignorant to think that God does not desire what is absolutely good for us! Why choose to sleep in and keep wanting to play around with the old things when God has promised something so much better for us in His Word?
You can be sure that not one of His promises has ever failed, nor will they ever. The Lord is faithful and He is true. His Word will never fail, never disappoint, never mislead and never fade away. For in His Word we see Jesus, the One of Whom the Scriptures testify, and in Whom are hidden all the treasures we will ever need or could ever want.
In Him the lonely find a true Friend. In Him the hurting find a great Physician. In Him the weak find Strength. In Him the fearful find a Shelter. In Him the weary find Rest. In Him the troubled find a Counselor. In Him the lost find their Way. In Him the uncertain find the Truth. In Him the dead find Life. In Him the slave finds Freedom. In Him the thirsty find the Living Water. In Him the hungry find the Bread of Life. In Him the wanderer finds a Shepherd. In Him the darkened find Light. In Him the orphaned finds a Brother. In Him the anxious find Peace. In Him the helpless finds Hope. In Him the unloved find Love. In Him the defenseless find an Advocate. In Him the sinner finds a Savior.
What's not to delight in, dear friend? Put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, come humbly and reverently before His throne, and delight in His commands. The richest of God's blessings await.
What's not to delight in when it comes to the commands of the Lord? Why would we not receive His word gladly and eagerly? How could we possibly think that God would ever give a word or command that would somehow lead to our demise or destruction, or result in our misery and unhappiness?
It's like telling my two young sons on Christmas morning to get out of bed and go into the living room. Can you imagine them saying, "But, Dad, we're tired. We want to sleep in today. We want to play with our old toys first. You don't really love us. You don't want anything good for us." Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it?
The fact is, that if I've already told them we'll open gifts on Christmas morning, it won't take much persuading to get them racing to the living room and tearing into the presents. They would be gladly and eagerly jumping out of bed, delighting in my word, because they know that my plan for them is for their good and not for their demise or destruction or misery or unhappiness.
There are tremendous blessings God has promised for those who fear Him, who delight greatly in His commands. The Lord has offered mankind the ultimate gift beyond anything that we deserve or could possibly earn - it is His gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What foolishness to reject such a gift! What blindness to not see that such a great salvation from the wages of sin is offered to you! How ignorant to think that God does not desire what is absolutely good for us! Why choose to sleep in and keep wanting to play around with the old things when God has promised something so much better for us in His Word?
You can be sure that not one of His promises has ever failed, nor will they ever. The Lord is faithful and He is true. His Word will never fail, never disappoint, never mislead and never fade away. For in His Word we see Jesus, the One of Whom the Scriptures testify, and in Whom are hidden all the treasures we will ever need or could ever want.
In Him the lonely find a true Friend. In Him the hurting find a great Physician. In Him the weak find Strength. In Him the fearful find a Shelter. In Him the weary find Rest. In Him the troubled find a Counselor. In Him the lost find their Way. In Him the uncertain find the Truth. In Him the dead find Life. In Him the slave finds Freedom. In Him the thirsty find the Living Water. In Him the hungry find the Bread of Life. In Him the wanderer finds a Shepherd. In Him the darkened find Light. In Him the orphaned finds a Brother. In Him the anxious find Peace. In Him the helpless finds Hope. In Him the unloved find Love. In Him the defenseless find an Advocate. In Him the sinner finds a Savior.
What's not to delight in, dear friend? Put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, come humbly and reverently before His throne, and delight in His commands. The richest of God's blessings await.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Remembering Rich / Becoming Like Jesus
In my sermon preparation for this week I was reminded of an old Rich Mullins song, "Boy Like Me / Man Like You." You can view the lyrics to this and other Rich Mullins songs at http://www.kidbrothers.net/wabairi1.html#blmmly.
Rich's music was filled with wondrous imagination, beautiful poetry and heartfelt praise to the Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. This particular song expresses a vivid picture as Rich wonders what it must have been like for Jesus growing up.
I'm studying in Matthew 12:46-50 where Jesus' own family - his mother and brothers - shows up as he's speaking to the crowds condemning the Pharisees for rejecting him. Here's Jesus offering eternal, spiritual rest to all who will come to him (Mt. 11:28-30), unveiling his authority by claiming lordship over the Sabbath and healing a man with a bum hand (12:1-14), proclaiming of himself the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy about the Servant of the Lord (12:15-21), driving out demons and making this blind and mute man see and talk (12:22)...and his family comes wanting to have a word with him.
Apparently, they were totally unimpressed with who he was. This started me thinking and wondering how ordinary Jesus' childhood and early adulthood must have seemed to them. While the multitudes are coming to him and being healed, Jesus' family still sees him as, well, their older brother, the kid who played tag in the backyard and like to dig up worms. He was the one who never got in trouble, but how often do you suppose they remembered the time when he didn't make the trip home from Jerusalem with the family? He was to them the boy who's voice started changing and cracking for a year and a half. He was the kid who maybe liked to help out his mom with the dishes - how weird is that! Maybe he was the kid who wasn't afraid of spiders and snakes. Perhaps they remembered him as the one who forgot to put the cap back on the toothpaste or took the last of the toilet tissue without replacing it.
So I love the way Rich Mullins captures some of those thoughts in this song. Wow - Jesus was one of us, the Word made flesh, and he dwelt among us.
"For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people." - Hebrew 2:17
It is this Jesus who calls all who follow him, those whose desire like Rich Mullins' was to become like him, "brothers."
Rich's music was filled with wondrous imagination, beautiful poetry and heartfelt praise to the Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. This particular song expresses a vivid picture as Rich wonders what it must have been like for Jesus growing up.
I'm studying in Matthew 12:46-50 where Jesus' own family - his mother and brothers - shows up as he's speaking to the crowds condemning the Pharisees for rejecting him. Here's Jesus offering eternal, spiritual rest to all who will come to him (Mt. 11:28-30), unveiling his authority by claiming lordship over the Sabbath and healing a man with a bum hand (12:1-14), proclaiming of himself the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy about the Servant of the Lord (12:15-21), driving out demons and making this blind and mute man see and talk (12:22)...and his family comes wanting to have a word with him.
Apparently, they were totally unimpressed with who he was. This started me thinking and wondering how ordinary Jesus' childhood and early adulthood must have seemed to them. While the multitudes are coming to him and being healed, Jesus' family still sees him as, well, their older brother, the kid who played tag in the backyard and like to dig up worms. He was the one who never got in trouble, but how often do you suppose they remembered the time when he didn't make the trip home from Jerusalem with the family? He was to them the boy who's voice started changing and cracking for a year and a half. He was the kid who maybe liked to help out his mom with the dishes - how weird is that! Maybe he was the kid who wasn't afraid of spiders and snakes. Perhaps they remembered him as the one who forgot to put the cap back on the toothpaste or took the last of the toilet tissue without replacing it.
So I love the way Rich Mullins captures some of those thoughts in this song. Wow - Jesus was one of us, the Word made flesh, and he dwelt among us.
"For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people." - Hebrew 2:17
It is this Jesus who calls all who follow him, those whose desire like Rich Mullins' was to become like him, "brothers."
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Rescue from this present evil age
It doesn’t take much more than reading the local headlines to be reminded that we live in a present evil age. Sometimes it doesn’t take anything more than looking at our own lives to realize it.
Jesus testified to the evil in His days on earth by saying, “For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, lewdness, stinginess, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a person” (Mark 7:21-23).
You don’t have to live in the inner city to know that we’re living in a present evil age. Whether it’s the world around you or your own personal circumstances engulfing you, the presence of evil in this age cannot be denied.
Furthermore, every person born into this world bears the stain of sinfulness. King David recognized this of himself as he confessed, “Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5). The Bible declares, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). I’m in that category, and so are you. If you say that you have no sin, then you’re not only deceiving yourself, but you’re making God a liar, and the truth is not in you; His word is not in you (1 John 1:8, 10).
And it gets worse. Not only are we born sinful people into an evil age, but there’s a price to pay for our sin. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23), writes the apostle Paul under the inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit. That death is an eternal separation from God in hell. The prophet Isaiah declared, “Your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have made Him hide His face from you so that He does not listen” (Isaiah 59:2). The apostle John was given a revelation of the glories of heaven, and he wrote, “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful” (Rev. 21:27).
And not only are we born sinful people into an evil age with an eternal punishment as our just penalty, there is absolutely nothing any one of us can do on our own to save ourselves. Even our best deeds to try to gain salvation are but “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) in the Lord’s sight. If we think we can achieve righteousness by our good works then we are terribly deceived. Many people have this idea that on that day when they stand before the Lord’s seat of judgment that He’ll place all their “good deeds” on one scale and their “bad deeds” on the other. If the good outweighs the bad, they’re in. And, of course, nearly everyone with this view believes they will come out on the good side.
The apostle Paul knew better, however, and he pleaded with the church at Galatia for their understanding. He wrote, “For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse…Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law” (Gal. 3:10, 11). He goes on later to describe the works of the flesh as being obvious: “Sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar…those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21).
Now, I hope you’re still with me here, because I sure don’t want to leave it like this. If that’s all there is to look forward to, then no wonder there’s such hopelessness and despair in our world today. But, friend, all of this bad news must be rightly understood before we can fully understand and appreciate the wonder of the good news of the message of the Bible. That news is our Lord Jesus Christ, “who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever” (Gal. 1:4).
This news should make the front page of every newspaper every day! You can be delivered from your sin, rescued from this present evil age and saved from everlasting death in hell because Jesus has suffered the wrath of God for sin for you. He died to rescue you! Will you repent of your sins and receive Christ Jesus today as your Savior, or will you keep hoping your “filthy rags” will save you? Will you follow Him gladly as the Lord of your life, or will you keep following your own path of destruction and death? Will you tell someone who’s lost and dying that Jesus is their only rescue, or will you keep silent as they plunge into the eternal fire of hell?
Jesus testified to the evil in His days on earth by saying, “For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, lewdness, stinginess, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a person” (Mark 7:21-23).
You don’t have to live in the inner city to know that we’re living in a present evil age. Whether it’s the world around you or your own personal circumstances engulfing you, the presence of evil in this age cannot be denied.
Furthermore, every person born into this world bears the stain of sinfulness. King David recognized this of himself as he confessed, “Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5). The Bible declares, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). I’m in that category, and so are you. If you say that you have no sin, then you’re not only deceiving yourself, but you’re making God a liar, and the truth is not in you; His word is not in you (1 John 1:8, 10).
And it gets worse. Not only are we born sinful people into an evil age, but there’s a price to pay for our sin. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23), writes the apostle Paul under the inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit. That death is an eternal separation from God in hell. The prophet Isaiah declared, “Your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have made Him hide His face from you so that He does not listen” (Isaiah 59:2). The apostle John was given a revelation of the glories of heaven, and he wrote, “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful” (Rev. 21:27).
And not only are we born sinful people into an evil age with an eternal punishment as our just penalty, there is absolutely nothing any one of us can do on our own to save ourselves. Even our best deeds to try to gain salvation are but “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) in the Lord’s sight. If we think we can achieve righteousness by our good works then we are terribly deceived. Many people have this idea that on that day when they stand before the Lord’s seat of judgment that He’ll place all their “good deeds” on one scale and their “bad deeds” on the other. If the good outweighs the bad, they’re in. And, of course, nearly everyone with this view believes they will come out on the good side.
The apostle Paul knew better, however, and he pleaded with the church at Galatia for their understanding. He wrote, “For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse…Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law” (Gal. 3:10, 11). He goes on later to describe the works of the flesh as being obvious: “Sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar…those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21).
Now, I hope you’re still with me here, because I sure don’t want to leave it like this. If that’s all there is to look forward to, then no wonder there’s such hopelessness and despair in our world today. But, friend, all of this bad news must be rightly understood before we can fully understand and appreciate the wonder of the good news of the message of the Bible. That news is our Lord Jesus Christ, “who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever” (Gal. 1:4).
This news should make the front page of every newspaper every day! You can be delivered from your sin, rescued from this present evil age and saved from everlasting death in hell because Jesus has suffered the wrath of God for sin for you. He died to rescue you! Will you repent of your sins and receive Christ Jesus today as your Savior, or will you keep hoping your “filthy rags” will save you? Will you follow Him gladly as the Lord of your life, or will you keep following your own path of destruction and death? Will you tell someone who’s lost and dying that Jesus is their only rescue, or will you keep silent as they plunge into the eternal fire of hell?
Monday, March 10, 2008
Overflow
Have you ever wished you could retrieve something you've said? Who hasn't? We've all spoken carelessly, rashly or harshly, and no matter how quickly we realize the damage our words have caused, or the extent of their stupidity, there's no way to unsay them once they've left our lips.
Sadly, often our most hurtful words are directed toward those we love the most. Our very own families usually receive the worst of our speech. Sometimes we say things we don't really mean - but are such words actually revealing what's really in our hearts?
I believe our speech problems aren't really speech problems at all. They're heart problems. What we say reflects what's hidden in our hearts - whether good or bad.
"For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34b)
I'll encourage you to read the full context of this passage in your Bible, as Jesus denounces the Pharisees for saying that the healings He performed were the result of being in partnership with the devil. Their blasphemous accusation against Him was merely the overflow of evil hearts hostile to the presence of God among them. They couldn't help but speak such evil, because their very hearts were full of wickedness.
Conversely, those whose hearts are filled with a treasure of good will naturally speak with goodness as the heart overflows to the lips.
For now, for the sake of your family, your friends, your co-workers or your online buddies, I want to offer eight ways to fill the treasure chest of your heart with good, so that the o-v-e-r-f-l-o-w of your heart will be good stuff pouring from your lips.
O - Open your heart to the Lord. This is the first and fundamental step toward filling the storehouse of your heart with good. Sin leaves a nasty stain on each man's heart, a terrible blemish that darkens us spiritually, separates us from a holy God, and eventually kills us with an eternal death in hell. The only way to cleanse the heart and make it worth anything good at all is to receive the complete forgiveness and cleansing of sin that Jesus Christ alone can offer. Open your heart by believing that Jesus died on the cross for your sin, repenting of your ways and giving Him control of your life. He will enter into your heart in the power and abiding presence of the Holy Spirit, and fill you up with all the good He offers. When you open your heart to the Lord, the overflow on your lips will be such things as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
V - Vacate your own agenda. Lay down your self-centered ways, your selfish ambitions and self-sufficiency. Get rid of all the junk that clutters your heart with worry, doubt, fear, pride, lust, envy, anger and bitterness. Allow the Lord God to search your heart and convict of sin and unrighteousness. The apostle Paul said it this way: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I life by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me" (Gal. 2:20). When you've vacated your own agenda, then when you open your mouth the overflow from your heart will be free of any anxious, worrisome words, free of unwholesome talk, free of crude and coarse joking, free of gossip and hurtful comments, free of arrogance and prideful boasting, and free of bitterness and rage.
E - Enjoy Christ! Enjoy the life you have in Him. Delight yourself in the Lord. Let your heart sing with thankfulness and gladness to the One who has rescued you from darkness and brought you into the Kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins! Rejoice in the Lord always - when things are good and when times are bad. He is your Rock, your Refuge, your Shelter in the time of storm. Look at all He's done for you. Count your blessings. Meditate on His incredible love and mercy poured out for you. Cherish Christ as the priceless treasure above all treasures that He is. Abide in Him fully. Let His word abide in you. Remain in His love by obeying His commands, and listen to what He promises: "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete" (John 15:11). When a true enjoyment of Christ Jesus fills your heart, then that joy will overflow when you open your mouth to speak.
R - Read the Bible. What a marvelous gift God has given to us by giving us His Word! Read it. Study it. Meditate on it. Pray through it. Memorize it. Rely on it. The Bible is the infallible, inerrant, eternal Word of the living God revealing the Almighty to mankind. It is Truth, and Truth is the authority that must govern our lives. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, training and correcting in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17). When your heart is filled with the word of God, then the overflow as you speak will be wisdom, praise, gratitude, encouragement, admonishment, and so much more - it will be the word of God and the message of Christ Jesus.
F - Fellowship with God in prayer. If you want to fill your heart with good, then spend much time in prayer-fellowship with the Father. We forfeit so much peace and joy and contentment in our lives by shallow or neglected prayer-fellowship with our Lord, who promises so very much, yet we ask so very little. Look at the strength Jesus Himself in the flesh drew from His Father in heaven in prayer. If Jesus needed such prayer-fellowship with God, how much more do we! Sincere, meaningful prayer with the Lord acknowledges our dependence upon His power in our weakness, His provision in our need, His protection in our trouble, and His presence in our lives. When our hearts are filled with the strength and comfort and peace God provides to us in prayer, then the overflow on our lips will reflect the sweet fellowship we enjoy with our Savior.
L - Love, love, love. Because He first loved us. Take some time and truly meditate on the ultimate demonstration of God's love for you at Calvary. See the compassionate eyes of Jesus fix upon yours as He hangs from the cross. Hear His tender, merciful words, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34), uttered on your behalf even as He gasps for each breath. Feel the weight of sin He bore in His body on the tree - your sin, your punishment, your place. Why did Jesus endure such agony and pain for you? Why did He suffer and bleed and die such a horrible death as crucifixion? It was because of His amazing love - a love we do not deserve, a love we could never earn. When you meditate on the overwhelming love of God for you, then your heart will be filled with love, and the words of your mouth will overflow from the heart with love and goodness toward others.
O - Oversee your heart. Protect it with all diligence. Guard it well. Tighten the borders and let nothing impure enter in. As soon as you let down your guard or leave the gate open, the adversary will sneak in begin destroying you. He'll come in through the door of rationalizing thoughts, as you reason with yourself, "This movie isn't that bad...this website isn't too off-color...this novel isn't that graphic." He'll come in through open gate of compromise. Jesus told His followers to "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41). Wherever you let your guard down, that's where the enemy will advance. And he comes like a thief with a mission to kill, to steal and to destroy. You must oversee your heart! Guard who and what comes in. Guard every gate and set a watch on every wall. When you oversee your heart with all steadfastness and faith, the treasure of your heart will be kept safe and the overflow remain pure.
W - Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only. Worship is so much more than the songs we sing in church Sunday morning. It's more than raising our hands or bending our knees. It's more than dropping a few bucks in the offering plate or donating land to a charitable organization. It's more than a random act of kindness that makes you feel good about yourself. Worship is the daily, living sacrifice we present to the Lord as we yield ourselves completely to His will. Worship can be beautifully expressed in the external, but it's truly a matter of what's inside the heart. This is what God sees. When our hearts are filled with the wonder and awe and reverence and adoration of our incomparable Savior, our Prince of Peace, the King of kings and Lord of lords, then our lips will be quick to speak of the grace and glory of our God as praises overflow from hearts that are captivated by the name of Jesus.
May your heart be filled with the goodness of Christ Jesus and the fullness of the Holy Spirit, so that as your heart overflows the glory of Christ may be forever on your lips.
Sadly, often our most hurtful words are directed toward those we love the most. Our very own families usually receive the worst of our speech. Sometimes we say things we don't really mean - but are such words actually revealing what's really in our hearts?
I believe our speech problems aren't really speech problems at all. They're heart problems. What we say reflects what's hidden in our hearts - whether good or bad.
"For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34b)
I'll encourage you to read the full context of this passage in your Bible, as Jesus denounces the Pharisees for saying that the healings He performed were the result of being in partnership with the devil. Their blasphemous accusation against Him was merely the overflow of evil hearts hostile to the presence of God among them. They couldn't help but speak such evil, because their very hearts were full of wickedness.
Conversely, those whose hearts are filled with a treasure of good will naturally speak with goodness as the heart overflows to the lips.
For now, for the sake of your family, your friends, your co-workers or your online buddies, I want to offer eight ways to fill the treasure chest of your heart with good, so that the o-v-e-r-f-l-o-w of your heart will be good stuff pouring from your lips.
O - Open your heart to the Lord. This is the first and fundamental step toward filling the storehouse of your heart with good. Sin leaves a nasty stain on each man's heart, a terrible blemish that darkens us spiritually, separates us from a holy God, and eventually kills us with an eternal death in hell. The only way to cleanse the heart and make it worth anything good at all is to receive the complete forgiveness and cleansing of sin that Jesus Christ alone can offer. Open your heart by believing that Jesus died on the cross for your sin, repenting of your ways and giving Him control of your life. He will enter into your heart in the power and abiding presence of the Holy Spirit, and fill you up with all the good He offers. When you open your heart to the Lord, the overflow on your lips will be such things as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
V - Vacate your own agenda. Lay down your self-centered ways, your selfish ambitions and self-sufficiency. Get rid of all the junk that clutters your heart with worry, doubt, fear, pride, lust, envy, anger and bitterness. Allow the Lord God to search your heart and convict of sin and unrighteousness. The apostle Paul said it this way: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I life by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me" (Gal. 2:20). When you've vacated your own agenda, then when you open your mouth the overflow from your heart will be free of any anxious, worrisome words, free of unwholesome talk, free of crude and coarse joking, free of gossip and hurtful comments, free of arrogance and prideful boasting, and free of bitterness and rage.
E - Enjoy Christ! Enjoy the life you have in Him. Delight yourself in the Lord. Let your heart sing with thankfulness and gladness to the One who has rescued you from darkness and brought you into the Kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins! Rejoice in the Lord always - when things are good and when times are bad. He is your Rock, your Refuge, your Shelter in the time of storm. Look at all He's done for you. Count your blessings. Meditate on His incredible love and mercy poured out for you. Cherish Christ as the priceless treasure above all treasures that He is. Abide in Him fully. Let His word abide in you. Remain in His love by obeying His commands, and listen to what He promises: "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete" (John 15:11). When a true enjoyment of Christ Jesus fills your heart, then that joy will overflow when you open your mouth to speak.
R - Read the Bible. What a marvelous gift God has given to us by giving us His Word! Read it. Study it. Meditate on it. Pray through it. Memorize it. Rely on it. The Bible is the infallible, inerrant, eternal Word of the living God revealing the Almighty to mankind. It is Truth, and Truth is the authority that must govern our lives. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, training and correcting in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17). When your heart is filled with the word of God, then the overflow as you speak will be wisdom, praise, gratitude, encouragement, admonishment, and so much more - it will be the word of God and the message of Christ Jesus.
F - Fellowship with God in prayer. If you want to fill your heart with good, then spend much time in prayer-fellowship with the Father. We forfeit so much peace and joy and contentment in our lives by shallow or neglected prayer-fellowship with our Lord, who promises so very much, yet we ask so very little. Look at the strength Jesus Himself in the flesh drew from His Father in heaven in prayer. If Jesus needed such prayer-fellowship with God, how much more do we! Sincere, meaningful prayer with the Lord acknowledges our dependence upon His power in our weakness, His provision in our need, His protection in our trouble, and His presence in our lives. When our hearts are filled with the strength and comfort and peace God provides to us in prayer, then the overflow on our lips will reflect the sweet fellowship we enjoy with our Savior.
L - Love, love, love. Because He first loved us. Take some time and truly meditate on the ultimate demonstration of God's love for you at Calvary. See the compassionate eyes of Jesus fix upon yours as He hangs from the cross. Hear His tender, merciful words, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34), uttered on your behalf even as He gasps for each breath. Feel the weight of sin He bore in His body on the tree - your sin, your punishment, your place. Why did Jesus endure such agony and pain for you? Why did He suffer and bleed and die such a horrible death as crucifixion? It was because of His amazing love - a love we do not deserve, a love we could never earn. When you meditate on the overwhelming love of God for you, then your heart will be filled with love, and the words of your mouth will overflow from the heart with love and goodness toward others.
O - Oversee your heart. Protect it with all diligence. Guard it well. Tighten the borders and let nothing impure enter in. As soon as you let down your guard or leave the gate open, the adversary will sneak in begin destroying you. He'll come in through the door of rationalizing thoughts, as you reason with yourself, "This movie isn't that bad...this website isn't too off-color...this novel isn't that graphic." He'll come in through open gate of compromise. Jesus told His followers to "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41). Wherever you let your guard down, that's where the enemy will advance. And he comes like a thief with a mission to kill, to steal and to destroy. You must oversee your heart! Guard who and what comes in. Guard every gate and set a watch on every wall. When you oversee your heart with all steadfastness and faith, the treasure of your heart will be kept safe and the overflow remain pure.
W - Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only. Worship is so much more than the songs we sing in church Sunday morning. It's more than raising our hands or bending our knees. It's more than dropping a few bucks in the offering plate or donating land to a charitable organization. It's more than a random act of kindness that makes you feel good about yourself. Worship is the daily, living sacrifice we present to the Lord as we yield ourselves completely to His will. Worship can be beautifully expressed in the external, but it's truly a matter of what's inside the heart. This is what God sees. When our hearts are filled with the wonder and awe and reverence and adoration of our incomparable Savior, our Prince of Peace, the King of kings and Lord of lords, then our lips will be quick to speak of the grace and glory of our God as praises overflow from hearts that are captivated by the name of Jesus.
May your heart be filled with the goodness of Christ Jesus and the fullness of the Holy Spirit, so that as your heart overflows the glory of Christ may be forever on your lips.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Draw Me, Dear Jesus
There's a great hymn that's probably too often neglected in the music of the church today. Actually, there are probably many of them we don't sing anymore that would teach, encourage and inspire us in the Lord richly. But I'll have to reserve that line of thought for a different day.
The hymn "Be Thou My Vision" is one I find echoing my own prayer before God. Here's the first line:
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art:
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
That's what I want - the presence and the vision of the Lord to be my guide, to be my light. Nothing else, but Christ and Christ alone.
The third stanza:
Riches I heed not nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.
Is that not the desire of all who seek Him? That Christ Himself be our greatest treasure? I'm not looking for men's applause or the temporary trappings of popularity or riches in this world. I want to lay up treasure in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves can never break in and steal.
There are some rich truths found in this hymn that lead me to lift up my hands in praise of the One in whom I know will answer - and has answered - this prayer.
Dr. Butler's Hymnology class in seminary provided an assignment where we were asked to write a hymn. What follows is my humble classwork attempt to express my own prayer using the same tune as in "Be Thou My Vision," the tune SLANE, a traditional Irish melody. It is a prayer of faith, hope, endurance and love, based much off of Psalm 63 and Hebrews 10.
"Draw Me, Dear Jesus"
Draw me, dear Jesus, to Thy wounded side
Knowing that safely in Thee I abide
Sheltered in shadows of rest in Thy wings
Grant me firm faith as my soul to Thee clings
Holding unswervingly, Lord, unto Thee
For every promise of Thine comes to be
Surely Thy blood on the cross paid my price
Grant that this hope be my anchor in Christ
Spurring each other toward love and good deeds
Led by Thy Spirit we gather, agreed
Turning, encouraging hearts to Thy way
Grant us endurance to live for the Day
Better than life is the love of our King
Purer than all of the praises we sing
Higher than all of the heavens above
Grant us a cup of Thy unfailing love
The hymn "Be Thou My Vision" is one I find echoing my own prayer before God. Here's the first line:
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art:
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
That's what I want - the presence and the vision of the Lord to be my guide, to be my light. Nothing else, but Christ and Christ alone.
The third stanza:
Riches I heed not nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.
Is that not the desire of all who seek Him? That Christ Himself be our greatest treasure? I'm not looking for men's applause or the temporary trappings of popularity or riches in this world. I want to lay up treasure in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves can never break in and steal.
There are some rich truths found in this hymn that lead me to lift up my hands in praise of the One in whom I know will answer - and has answered - this prayer.
Dr. Butler's Hymnology class in seminary provided an assignment where we were asked to write a hymn. What follows is my humble classwork attempt to express my own prayer using the same tune as in "Be Thou My Vision," the tune SLANE, a traditional Irish melody. It is a prayer of faith, hope, endurance and love, based much off of Psalm 63 and Hebrews 10.
"Draw Me, Dear Jesus"
Draw me, dear Jesus, to Thy wounded side
Knowing that safely in Thee I abide
Sheltered in shadows of rest in Thy wings
Grant me firm faith as my soul to Thee clings
Holding unswervingly, Lord, unto Thee
For every promise of Thine comes to be
Surely Thy blood on the cross paid my price
Grant that this hope be my anchor in Christ
Spurring each other toward love and good deeds
Led by Thy Spirit we gather, agreed
Turning, encouraging hearts to Thy way
Grant us endurance to live for the Day
Better than life is the love of our King
Purer than all of the praises we sing
Higher than all of the heavens above
Grant us a cup of Thy unfailing love
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