The Greek word, thlipis, is the word used for tribulation, anguish, affliction, trouble, burden or the like. It's like the squeezing of the olive for oil or the grape for juice. But personally, I prefer not to be squeezed. I don't like it. It doesn't feel good. Such American sentiment! Yes, I'm soft and spoiled. I've come to know that more than ever in my older age. As I look back on the past and see people who went through much tribulation to secure my present freedoms, I am ashamed!
And as a believer in Jesus Christ, seeing what He secured for me at a high cost, gives me more cause for shame. As believers, we should find joy in our tribulations because they contribute to present blessing and ultimate glory. Our joy ultimately comes from the certain hope of the glory of God. And our joy is always, ever in Christ, not circumstances.
When we trust in God's goodness, faithfulness and provision, He fills us with all joy and peace in believing. To live in anguish over the past, anxiety concerning the present or apprehension about the future is to fail to appropriate that peace. God has forgiven the past, provided for the present and guaranteed the future, leaving nothing to legitimately disrupt the believer's peace.
Salvation is anchored in the past because God made peace with God for all those who trust in Him. (Romans 5:1) It is anchored in the present because by Christ's continual intercession, every believer now stands securely in God's grace. (Romans 5:2) And salvation is anchored in the future because God gives all His children the unchangeable promise that one day they will be clothed with the glory of His own Son. (Romans 5:2-5)
How can the believer continue to live in anxiety with that hope? And why would the unbeliever continue on the hopeless path to hell when, while he still breathes the breath of life, he could bow in reverential awe to the God of all Creation and be saved by the power of the Spirit through the blood of Jesus Christ? Let our squeezing be done by God and for His glory, and let us rest in His sovereign plan.
[Most of the above was taken from John MacArthur's book, Saved Without A Doubt and his commentary on the book of John.]
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Straight and Clear Roads
My morning walk is a wonderful jumpstart to each day. It's an exercise for body and spirit. I have a favorite route that I've walked for years. And on that route, I have a favorite section. As I walked this morning and came to that particular section, I felt the energetic excitement as I approached it. I thought, "why do I love this part the most?" In my head I began to formulate the answers. It's about half a mile of straight road. You can see the end of it. It's my half-way point. There are no homes ie. no cars pulling out of driveways, no barking dogs, not as much traffic, no mailboxes to dodge, or other people walking. There is a clear and vast view of the sky that accentuates the bigness of the One True God to whom I am praying. This accelerates my excitement in conversation with Him as to His power.
As I thought about these things, I transferred the picture to the Christian life. We tend to walk more energetically in our spiritual life when we have clear pictures or purpose. But when problems hit, we tend to allow them to affect our walk. We falter when the road becomes winding and we don't know what's around the next turn. We move slower under the pressure because we can't see an end to the problem; it seems to go on forever. There are so many hindrances of every shape and size that affect our responses. Fear, anxiety, busyness, obstacles and the problems of others can obstruct our view of purpose and cause us to lose focus. We forget the power we have because we fail to appropriate the means God has provided.
We must gird up our loins, buckle down, stretch our spiritual muscles and "run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith". (Hebrews 12:2) Our walk will have ups and downs, twists and turns but we do not walk alone. He will give us what we need to endure the hard and revel in the easy. We must not lose ground with hardship and must not become prideful with smooth sailing. Either way is a giving in to the enemy. Run with perseverance and beware of the "roaring lion". God gives us the guidance and protection in both instances. May your morning walks be glorious with the Light of the glory of His power. "Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and might things you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3) Do not fail to appropriate the means God has provided to us as believers.
As I thought about these things, I transferred the picture to the Christian life. We tend to walk more energetically in our spiritual life when we have clear pictures or purpose. But when problems hit, we tend to allow them to affect our walk. We falter when the road becomes winding and we don't know what's around the next turn. We move slower under the pressure because we can't see an end to the problem; it seems to go on forever. There are so many hindrances of every shape and size that affect our responses. Fear, anxiety, busyness, obstacles and the problems of others can obstruct our view of purpose and cause us to lose focus. We forget the power we have because we fail to appropriate the means God has provided.
We must gird up our loins, buckle down, stretch our spiritual muscles and "run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith". (Hebrews 12:2) Our walk will have ups and downs, twists and turns but we do not walk alone. He will give us what we need to endure the hard and revel in the easy. We must not lose ground with hardship and must not become prideful with smooth sailing. Either way is a giving in to the enemy. Run with perseverance and beware of the "roaring lion". God gives us the guidance and protection in both instances. May your morning walks be glorious with the Light of the glory of His power. "Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and might things you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3) Do not fail to appropriate the means God has provided to us as believers.
Monday, July 6, 2015
SIN
John MacArthur has excellent commentaries for almost the whole New Testament. These books have been a wonderful tool for me in the study of the scriptures. He has written them in a beautifully simple, yet profound way that not only complements my study but offers the insight of a biblical scholar. The following comes from the commentary on Matthew and refers to a portion from the Lord's Prayer referred by Dr. MacArthur as "The Disciple's Prayer". (Matthew 6:9-13-15)
Sin is that which separates man from God, and is therefore man's greatest enemy and greatest problem. Sin dominates the mind and heart of man. It has contaminated every human being and is the degenerative power that makes man susceptible to disease, illness, and every conceivable form of evil and unhappiness, temporal and eternal. The ultimate effects of sin are death and damnation, and the present effects are misery, dissatisfaction, and guilt. Sin is the common denominator of every crime, every theft, lie, murder, immorality, sickness, pain, and sorrow of mankind. It is also the moral and spiritual disease for which man has no cure.
Because man's greatest problem is sin, his greatest need is forgiveness. Christians have been forgiven the ultimate penalty of sin [but are still in need of] God's constant forgiveness for the sins we continue to commit. We are to pray therefore, "forgive us" (6:12)
Dr. MacArthur quotes the prayer of the following Puritan saint of many generations ago: "Grant me never to lose sight of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the exceeding righteousness of salvation, the exceeding glory of Christ, the exceeding beauty of holiness, and the exceeding wonder of grace." "I am guilty but pardoned. I am lost but saved. I am wandering but found. I am sinning but cleansed. Give me perpetual broken-heartedness. Keep me always clinging to Thy cross."
Sin is that which separates man from God, and is therefore man's greatest enemy and greatest problem. Sin dominates the mind and heart of man. It has contaminated every human being and is the degenerative power that makes man susceptible to disease, illness, and every conceivable form of evil and unhappiness, temporal and eternal. The ultimate effects of sin are death and damnation, and the present effects are misery, dissatisfaction, and guilt. Sin is the common denominator of every crime, every theft, lie, murder, immorality, sickness, pain, and sorrow of mankind. It is also the moral and spiritual disease for which man has no cure.
Because man's greatest problem is sin, his greatest need is forgiveness. Christians have been forgiven the ultimate penalty of sin [but are still in need of] God's constant forgiveness for the sins we continue to commit. We are to pray therefore, "forgive us" (6:12)
Dr. MacArthur quotes the prayer of the following Puritan saint of many generations ago: "Grant me never to lose sight of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the exceeding righteousness of salvation, the exceeding glory of Christ, the exceeding beauty of holiness, and the exceeding wonder of grace." "I am guilty but pardoned. I am lost but saved. I am wandering but found. I am sinning but cleansed. Give me perpetual broken-heartedness. Keep me always clinging to Thy cross."
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Diseases
"For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another." (Romans:12:3-5) As I read this passage, I began to think about how this is lived out in the church. The rest of the passage lists specifics and is a mandatory life checklist for believers to evaluate how we are fleshing out in the body. There are so many evaluations to be made, and it can become overwhelming to reflect. But the believer must continually call to mind that this is the work of the Holy Spirit and He will perform all that is necessary to keep us "fit".
One thought that came to mind as I read today was how completely necessary we are to each other in the body of Christ, the church. As sin affects each of us personally and fighting it is an ongoing process, so our commitment to the church we have become a part. Like a disease, sin can make us useless as believers in a needy world if we aren't personally responsible to our commitment to "take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ." As John Owen stated, "We must be killing sin or sin will be killing us." In the same vein, our commitment to our church is one we must take seriously. If we aren't being used in our church, we are useless. And like a disease, we too, can cause much wear and tear on the the "working body".
That part of the church body who "do all the work"can definitely experience burn-out. It has been said that 20% of the members of a church do 80% of the work. This, of course, should not be the case. And if it were a business, there would most certainly be a mass lay-off. As Christians and members of a body of believers, we need to support each other. If not, we can expect a dragging, frazzled, and sick body that is not able to meet the needs a church should be providing. We must not allow ourselves to become diseases that affect the body to poor health. We must keep ourselves strong in our personal walk and thereby, become a part of the health of the body to enable it to perform the best work in life: living to the glory of God and speaking Him into a needy world.
Are we diseases or cures? God enables us to promote the health needed in our churches. Let us be committed to seek Him passionately for that power. The life of the church is dependent on each member. And each member is dependent on Him to keep us healthy Christians. And the "workers", must strive to do the same "not thinking more highly of himself than he ought to think" but to be just as committed to serve as Christ served us giving up Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for the disease of sin.
One thought that came to mind as I read today was how completely necessary we are to each other in the body of Christ, the church. As sin affects each of us personally and fighting it is an ongoing process, so our commitment to the church we have become a part. Like a disease, sin can make us useless as believers in a needy world if we aren't personally responsible to our commitment to "take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ." As John Owen stated, "We must be killing sin or sin will be killing us." In the same vein, our commitment to our church is one we must take seriously. If we aren't being used in our church, we are useless. And like a disease, we too, can cause much wear and tear on the the "working body".
That part of the church body who "do all the work"can definitely experience burn-out. It has been said that 20% of the members of a church do 80% of the work. This, of course, should not be the case. And if it were a business, there would most certainly be a mass lay-off. As Christians and members of a body of believers, we need to support each other. If not, we can expect a dragging, frazzled, and sick body that is not able to meet the needs a church should be providing. We must not allow ourselves to become diseases that affect the body to poor health. We must keep ourselves strong in our personal walk and thereby, become a part of the health of the body to enable it to perform the best work in life: living to the glory of God and speaking Him into a needy world.
Are we diseases or cures? God enables us to promote the health needed in our churches. Let us be committed to seek Him passionately for that power. The life of the church is dependent on each member. And each member is dependent on Him to keep us healthy Christians. And the "workers", must strive to do the same "not thinking more highly of himself than he ought to think" but to be just as committed to serve as Christ served us giving up Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for the disease of sin.
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Blindsided By Regret
Within one week, two family members went out into eternity. Death is so final. No more opportunity to speak or listen. Did I do all I could to honor God with that person? Did I behave in a way that Jesus will say, "Well done!"? Did I make good use of my time with that person to let them know I loved them, respected them, admired them as a creation of the Creator? All these questions and more add to the sadness and loss of a loved one.
Grief is a hard teacher. None of us would choose that "class"; not an elective. Always only a requirement of the lessons of life. Always a stern reminder that this is not home. Clinging to worldly relationships is a futile attempt at happiness. They will never bring peace that lasts. Christ is everything and must be sought, loved and adored with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Only believers in Him understand this. However, even believers struggle with this great void that occurs in all our lives.
That void rates different with the closeness of the person gone. But the loss is still a loss, and one of the aspects of grief is that horrible regret that we should have done this or that better. I should have spent more time with them, called them more, showed more love and as stated above, the list goes on. The verse that popped in my head as I experienced the first loss, was Romans 12:18, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men."
Bottom line: Treat everyone as created in the image of God and show His love in all situations. Easy? Definitely not! Sometimes we feel justified with our behavior toward those hard to love. However, God has given us a supreme example in the Gospels as Jesus shows us how it's done. We dig down deep and persevere with His power. And when any loss occurs, He gives us the peace and power to walk that path. But those issues of the heart we haven't quite learned, will be a stinging reminder to cry out to Him Who will use it for our good and our growth. Until He takes us home, we must be ever learning what He requires of us and work at it with all our heart as working for Him.
Grief is a hard teacher. None of us would choose that "class"; not an elective. Always only a requirement of the lessons of life. Always a stern reminder that this is not home. Clinging to worldly relationships is a futile attempt at happiness. They will never bring peace that lasts. Christ is everything and must be sought, loved and adored with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Only believers in Him understand this. However, even believers struggle with this great void that occurs in all our lives.
That void rates different with the closeness of the person gone. But the loss is still a loss, and one of the aspects of grief is that horrible regret that we should have done this or that better. I should have spent more time with them, called them more, showed more love and as stated above, the list goes on. The verse that popped in my head as I experienced the first loss, was Romans 12:18, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men."
Bottom line: Treat everyone as created in the image of God and show His love in all situations. Easy? Definitely not! Sometimes we feel justified with our behavior toward those hard to love. However, God has given us a supreme example in the Gospels as Jesus shows us how it's done. We dig down deep and persevere with His power. And when any loss occurs, He gives us the peace and power to walk that path. But those issues of the heart we haven't quite learned, will be a stinging reminder to cry out to Him Who will use it for our good and our growth. Until He takes us home, we must be ever learning what He requires of us and work at it with all our heart as working for Him.
Thursday, April 30, 2015
ALL
Psalms is an amazingly rich book. I go to it many times when I'm down, sad, tired, struggling with faith and trust. Apparently, many of the writers were feeling that way when they wrote them. Maybe that's why we resonate with them. In fact, time and again you hear encouragement like this: "The LORD sustains all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down." (145:14) Or this one: "The LORD raises up those who are bowed down; The LORD loves the righteous." (146:8)
As I have read Psalms 145 through 150 now for a few weeks, each time certain verses will encourage my heart. Recently, I heard a man talk about the importance of believers knowing God's word. To know is something you do with your mind not your feelings. Feelings cannot be trusted. They are too fickle! But when our minds are filled with that that brings health, it will sustain us through dry and painful times on our spiritual path.
What I'd like to do is walk through Psalm 145 and just center in on the verses with "all" in them. And remember "all" means all!! I'll not list the verse numbers. It's only 21 verses and the whole Psalm is nourishing and should be read in its entirety.
The LORD is good to all and His mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall give thanks to You, O LORD. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD sustains all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You. The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds. The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. The LORD keeps all who love Him but all the wicked He will destroy. And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.
"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." (Philippians 4:8) OR... THINK, KNOW these things! Your feelings cannot be your guide. But God's Word is the map that can be trusted, for in it we learn "the Way, the Truth and the Life"!
As I have read Psalms 145 through 150 now for a few weeks, each time certain verses will encourage my heart. Recently, I heard a man talk about the importance of believers knowing God's word. To know is something you do with your mind not your feelings. Feelings cannot be trusted. They are too fickle! But when our minds are filled with that that brings health, it will sustain us through dry and painful times on our spiritual path.
What I'd like to do is walk through Psalm 145 and just center in on the verses with "all" in them. And remember "all" means all!! I'll not list the verse numbers. It's only 21 verses and the whole Psalm is nourishing and should be read in its entirety.
The LORD is good to all and His mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall give thanks to You, O LORD. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD sustains all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You. The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds. The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. The LORD keeps all who love Him but all the wicked He will destroy. And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.
"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." (Philippians 4:8) OR... THINK, KNOW these things! Your feelings cannot be your guide. But God's Word is the map that can be trusted, for in it we learn "the Way, the Truth and the Life"!
Monday, March 30, 2015
Looking Up
The world without God plows through life seeking to solve all problems with a multitude of manmade solutions. And when finally they come upon problems to which their efforts are without success, they despair and fall into depression. All they had to do at the end of their rope, was to look up to Him, Who alone can do "abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to His power". (Ephesians 3:20)
We as believers in Christ readily agree that the unbelieving world needs to look up to God alone for the answers, yet even so, we, too, fail to ask Him, if needs be, every moment, for help in our daily walk. We should be even more ashamed that as followers of Christ and believers in the One true Creator God, we struggle in life issues without stopping to get on our knees in humble appeal to our Father above. Prayer is the most important work a believer is to be engaged. We are completely dependent on God's power to accomplish His work in our lives, no matter where we may find ourselves at present.
The importance of "looking up" really came home to me today as I began work on getting rid of unwanted growth at the bottom of my property. Privet hedge, while an ornamental for some, is a complete nuisance for me. And I will add that it is a most hearty and invasive "weed". As I began my exterminating process using a small saw, I was energetic and optimistic of my great goal. The wood is soft and I thought it would be a breeze. However, it became very tedious and time-consuming. At the beginning, I saw a few choice plants that had been crowded out. I had not even seen them until I was right on them. I wanted to save them! I wanted them to stand out; not to be hindered and smothered by the privet.
In the area I was working, there were only three choice plants. I began to cautiously saw because it was very grown up and I was afraid of snakes. However, the more confident I became, the closer to the ground I went until I was finally lying on the ground sawing feverishly. At first I had been calculated, looking up to see what I was doing. However, as I began to lie on the ground, I quit looking up. Low and behold as I felled bush after bush, one came down that was not a privet! It was, in fact, one of the three choice trees, I was trying to save. My heart sank at my own stupidity for not continuing to think through my choices by making sure they were right.
How like prayerless believers who try to fix their own problems with manmade efforts instead of crying out to the One who has the answers and the power. Let us remember our Creator daily, not just in the asking but in the joyful thankfulness and love expressed to Him in prayer. Prayer is our communication with Him. We look up to Him, not because we feel like it and not to experience some emotional high, but to express trust in His divine guidance of our lives. It's not about feelings, but about dependence and He is never unavailable! Let us not plow through life in our own strength and then regret a loss of something precious because we failed to ask God for direction. Look up, praise His holy Name and seek His guidance.
We as believers in Christ readily agree that the unbelieving world needs to look up to God alone for the answers, yet even so, we, too, fail to ask Him, if needs be, every moment, for help in our daily walk. We should be even more ashamed that as followers of Christ and believers in the One true Creator God, we struggle in life issues without stopping to get on our knees in humble appeal to our Father above. Prayer is the most important work a believer is to be engaged. We are completely dependent on God's power to accomplish His work in our lives, no matter where we may find ourselves at present.
The importance of "looking up" really came home to me today as I began work on getting rid of unwanted growth at the bottom of my property. Privet hedge, while an ornamental for some, is a complete nuisance for me. And I will add that it is a most hearty and invasive "weed". As I began my exterminating process using a small saw, I was energetic and optimistic of my great goal. The wood is soft and I thought it would be a breeze. However, it became very tedious and time-consuming. At the beginning, I saw a few choice plants that had been crowded out. I had not even seen them until I was right on them. I wanted to save them! I wanted them to stand out; not to be hindered and smothered by the privet.
In the area I was working, there were only three choice plants. I began to cautiously saw because it was very grown up and I was afraid of snakes. However, the more confident I became, the closer to the ground I went until I was finally lying on the ground sawing feverishly. At first I had been calculated, looking up to see what I was doing. However, as I began to lie on the ground, I quit looking up. Low and behold as I felled bush after bush, one came down that was not a privet! It was, in fact, one of the three choice trees, I was trying to save. My heart sank at my own stupidity for not continuing to think through my choices by making sure they were right.
How like prayerless believers who try to fix their own problems with manmade efforts instead of crying out to the One who has the answers and the power. Let us remember our Creator daily, not just in the asking but in the joyful thankfulness and love expressed to Him in prayer. Prayer is our communication with Him. We look up to Him, not because we feel like it and not to experience some emotional high, but to express trust in His divine guidance of our lives. It's not about feelings, but about dependence and He is never unavailable! Let us not plow through life in our own strength and then regret a loss of something precious because we failed to ask God for direction. Look up, praise His holy Name and seek His guidance.
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