Thankful for Weak Neck Muscles

Posted on December 30, 2020 by Pete

There are many wonders to ponder when it comes to how the human body is made. On the rare occasions we actually pause to consider the nature of our physical construction, we can’t help but be amazed. How the heart beats, how the lungs mindlessly expand and contract, how the brain takes in stimulus, processes the appropriate response, and then calls on appendages and extremities to react in a coordinated fashion. If you pause but a few minutes to think about the fact that your body works the way your body works you can’t help but whisper, “I really am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps. 139:14).

So here’s the amazing body part I’m thinking about this morning: my neck muscles. Specifically, how the neck muscles give out when the soul is overwhelmed. Whether it’s because of sorrow, or due to that unwanted tsunami of anxiety when all the cares of your world converge at once and flood every inch of your being, often when we feel overwhelmed we involuntarily find ourselves with our heads down.

Is it because, when we feel sapped of all strength, our body starts to draw from other areas and targets the neck first? Or because our brains become so overloaded with stuff to deal with that they become too heavy for the neck muscles we’ve developed? Or, is it just God’s way of wiring us to physically indicate submission. An instinctive response that physically says it’s all too much, that we can’t carry the load on our own? I don’t know. Just thinking.

What’s got me thinking? Psalm 3.

O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah.

But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the Lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the LORD, and He answered me from His holy hill. Selah.

I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.

(Psalm 3:1-5 ESV)

A song written when David fled from Absalom. The king dethroned by his own son. The culmination of family dysfunction and sordid sin which, had David acted differently, might have been avoided. But here he was, the king fleeing his kingdom. His enemies led by his own family. His very existence a threat to those who sought power. His death necessary to secure their future. “How many are my foes!” pens the persecuted poet.

And yet, but a couple of lines later, “I lay down and slept; I woke again.” Talk about a flip flop of emotions. From worrying about rising enemies to waking from resting comfortably. What happened?

. . . for the LORD sustained me . . .

. . . a shield about me, my glory, and the Lifter of my head . . .

How’s that for lesser known names of Jehovah? Lifter of my head!

When the neck muscles give out, He is the Lifter of my head.

Maybe that’s why the Creator created them that way. So that when our chins touch our chest because our souls are overwhelmed by our situation, He can be the lifter of our head. A physical indicator of His supernatural presence. Reminding us that our shield and our protection is engaged and active. That He will be our glory, His purposes for us His to fulfill. And so, He lifts our head to show us He’s near.

He lifts our head so we can look to heaven. Lifts our head so we can cry out in our need, as David did, knowing our God will hear and our God will answer from His holy hill. Lifts our head so we can rest. Because the LORD sustains us.

Thankful this morning for weak neck muscles (better than being stiff-necked for sure . . . but that’s something to chew on for another time).

Thankful, for in my weakness His power is made perfect (2Cor. 12:9). His all-sufficient, sustaining power as the Lifter of my head.

By His grace. For His glory.

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One Man’s Bonds, Another Man’s Refuge

Posted on December 29, 2020 by Pete

Rage. Is that a way to describe, at least in part, what my friend calls our “cultural moment”?

Tumult. Commotion. Anger. In an uproar. How well does that describe the lack of civility, the willingness to confront, and the quickness to cancel which we see so prevalent in our public squares and in our political arenas. Rage.

Hovering over Psalm 2 this morning and that’s what characterizes a people who have rejected the LORD and His Anointed.

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us burst Their bonds apart and cast away Their cords from us.”

(Psalm 2:1-3 ESV)

Those who refuse and rebel against the Creator’s rightful rule will rage. It’s the fruit of self-determined freedom from any sort of transcendent moral reality. In a way, you gotta expect if from an increasingly secular society.

But what of those who are not in open rebellion but profess to bow before the Sovereign rule of God and assent to the lordship of His Christ? How have so many who claim the church as their own, and bear the banner of “the redeemed,” become so caught up in the ways of a world in rebellion. Why so such anger, tumult, and uproar there as well? Why the vitriol from those who confess victory in Jesus?

Could it be because they too, in a sense, have sought to burst apart the bonds of the way of the kingdom of heaven — the way of the cross? So caught up in their desire to achieve the ends of righteousness they cast away the cords of the means of righteousness?

For in [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

(Romans 1:17 ESV)

Faith, not fighting, that’s the power of the gospel. Trusting in God’s Sovereign rule, submitting to God’s Sovereign way, even as we seek to be salt and light in an age of tumult and rage.

Could it be that we “stand up” for God because we don’t believe He is standing up for Himself? That we wage war as the world around us because we fail to see how we’ve been distracted from a battle that really isn’t against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places (Eph. 6:12).

And so, we take up the sword of Twitter, or some other media fueled platform, with sarcasm, cynicism, and raging rhetoric even as we claim to be those who have been sent as ambassadors of Christ with the ministry of reconciliation (2Cor. 5:18-20a). Leaving in our closets at home the gospel of peace, the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God), and the shield of faith (Eph. 6:15-18).

Faith which allows us to embrace the seeming restrictive bonds of the way of a blessed peacemaker (Matt. 5:9). Faith which quiets the soul even as it feels confined by waiting on God who, in His patient desire that all should come to a saving knowledge of His grace (2Pet. 3:9), tarries before bringing judgment and establishing His righteous rule.

But for those who can embrace the LORD’s bonds of peace, who can submit to His Annointed’s cords of the cross, the songwriter contends there is the promise of a blessing.

Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. (Psalm 2:12b ESV)

One man’s bonds, another man’s refuge. For one a raging battle, for the other a faith-fueled, spirit-calming blessing.

O’ that the church would let the nations rage and that we would engage as those whose confidence and hope are in the LORD and His Anointed.

Because of the abundant grace which we have known through Calvary.

All for the glory of the Christ who, even now, actively reigns over the kingdoms of heaven and earth.

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Names in a Book

Posted on December 28, 2020 by Pete

And a new year begins. Sure, it’s a few days early, but somehow getting a jumpstart on 2021 seems appropriate. Something about diving into Genesis, Matthew, Acts, and the Psalms that explodes with new beginnings.

There’s the beginning of all things, our beginning as those created in the image of God (Genesis). There is the origin of the Creator’s course towards entering into His creation through the womb of a virgin (Matthew). Then there’s the beginning of the church (Acts), those called to be the Bride of Him who created all things. And then, the beginning of a renewed promise of blessing for those whose “delight is in the law of the LORD” (Psalms). Each of these readings kind of a pick-me-up to be honest.

And, of all the things that could have enticed me to hover over them in this morning’s readings, a quite unexpected surprise of what captures my thoughts. . . and produces a fresh sense of awe . . . and primes the pump for an outpouring of praise. Just some names in a book.

For the past few years, when reading “the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ” in the opening chapter of Matthew’s gospel, I’ve grabbed my brown colored pencil and shaded five names in particular — Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, “the wife of Uriah”, and Mary. Shading something in brown is my way of highlighting something about grace. The fact that these five ladies appear in an otherwise all male lineup, in a genealogical culture that passes on heritage through the lineage of men, has always captured my attention as God’s bias-upsetting grace. And knowing the storylines behind some of these ladies, further jaw-dropping evidence of God’s unmerited favor.

But this morning, even as I went for the brown colored pencil, it hit me like a ton of bricks — I should be coloring every name in this list. Who isn’t here but by the grace of God?

Just start with Abraham, it’s not like he had an unblemished record. And though Isaac’s birth was grace upon grace, as God opened Sarah’s barren womb to provide the child of promise, Jacob was kind of a jerk. Striking this schemer from the list certainly could be justified, if not for the grace of God.

Sure, perhaps you could argue that Boaz deserves his place on the list, but even that this man conceived in iniquity should be raised up as a foreshadow of a Kinsman Redeemer ready to pay the price to claim a people for His own is grace beyond imagination. And though David has to make the list, if it were me I’d be inclined to omit the part that his son, Solomon, was “by the wife of Uriah.” Unless of course, my intent was to show that this genealogy is but a genealogy of God’s grace.

And don’t even get me going on some of the other kings mentioned. What’s Manasseh doing on the list?

But the list isn’t about them, is it? It’s about the King who came to establish His eternal kingdom, and that through a promised line of kings. And anyone who shows up on that list is there only because of God’s persistent purposes in fulfilling His promise — a persistent purpose which, apart from God’s abundant grace, would never see the promise fulfilled.

Just some names in a book? Don’t think so. Everyone of them evidence of God’s operative grace in sending a Savior to redeem sinners in need of redemption.

Did all those names personally respond to God’s grace? Don’t know. But I do know that, because of their place in God’s sovereign, redemptive determination, there is another book with a bunch of a names written in it who did respond.

A book where names have been written “before the foundation of the world.” The names of those purchased with the blood of “the Lamb who was slain.” Names written in “the book of life” (Rev. 13:8).

There due to no merit of their own. There despite their sin and rebellion. There only because of God’s grace.

Every name ready to be shaded with a brown colored pencil. Every name covered by the blood of the Lamb.

Every name there by God’s grace. Every name there for God’s glory.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

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Final Four

Posted on December 21, 2020 by Pete

Finishing my reading plan for the year always comes with a sense of satisfaction. Maybe this year more than some others because it was been one of the few consistent things about 2020. So much turmoil, uncertainty, and disappointment in 2020. But the word of God is true, steadfast, and never fails to provide equilibrium.

So, as I chew on my final four readings in this year’s plan, here’s what’s lingering:

“They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession . . ”

(Malachi 4:17:a ESV)

The prophets can be brutal, but God’s purpose is always redemptive. He wants a people. He will love on that people. He will sacrifice for that people. He will contend for that people. He will discipline that people so that they might return to Him to be His people. And we will be His. A day coming when He takes us to Himself as His treasured possession. Me? Part of the Creator’s treasured possession? I’m thinkin’ . . . Amazing love! How can it be?

When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is My will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!”

(John 21:21-22 ESV)

It’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting someone else’s story. Not just because the grass always looks greener on the other side, but because sometimes it actually IS greener. But Jesus says, “What is that to you? You follow Me!” He is the Author of our story. In His book, before we ever were, He penned the days formed for us (Ps. 139:16)– days formed for His glory. We’re His workmanship, clay in the potter’s hand, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which He prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10). No sense looking around at others. Turn your eyes upon Jesus. And follow Him.

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

(Revelation 22:20 ESV)

Coming soon . . . to a planet near you. And we will see His face. The face of the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end (22:13). The face of the Root and the Descendant of David, the Bright Morning Star (22:16b). Until then, we faithfully keep on keepin’ on.

And, until He comes, we come. Come, you who are thirsty and take the water of life freely given without price (22:17). Come, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and He will give you rest — rest for your souls f(Matt. 11:28-30).

Until You come, we’ll come. Even so, Lord Jesus, come!

Then Job answered the LORD and said: “I know that You can do all things . . .”

(Job 42:1-2a ESV)

That’s how Job wrapped us his 2020 journaling. Lot of troublesome times in his rearview mirror. Not many answers. But God made Himself known. Had shown Himself faithful, and just, and powerful, and able. And Job knew afresh, “You can do all things.” His grace sufficient. His promises true. His coming again sure.

Gonna take a break and change up the morning routine for the rest of this week. Anticipate starting back in on “the plan” next week, Lord willing.

Merry Christmas.

O come let us adore Him.

By His grace. For His glory.

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Done

Posted on December 18, 2020 by Pete

Done! Anyone else feel that way? Done?

Not done as in “tapping out” done. But done as in feeling like the cupboards are bare, the tank is empty, and we’re mostly just running on fumes. I’m thinking pandemic fatigue is a thing.

Good time to be reading the last chapters of Revelation. Casting an eye to the there and then always has a way of helping you through the here and now. Just as I’m feeling kind of done with things on earth, my mind is set on things above. On things that will be. On a time when it really will be done.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And He said to me, “It is done!”

(Revelation 21:3-6a ESV)

Oh for the day when faith gives way to sight. When God tabernacles with His people not through the unseen, wind-like, supernatural dynamic of His indwelling Holy Spirit, but is Himself up close and personal — His throne in their midst.

. . . and God Himself will be with them as their God . . .

God close enough that He can reach out and wipe away every tear. His holy majesty so filling our spaces that former things will have to flee — there’ll be no room for them. New creations in Christ fully realizing all things being made new. And hearing familiar sounding words once again — trustworthy and true words, words worthy of being recorded for eternity — “It is done!”

They bring to mind the words shouted throughout eternity millennia ago which initiated the way of redemption. Three words from a cross. Three words spoken by a Redeemer. Three words which are the hope for eternity. “It is finished.” The work enabling all things to eventually be made new completed. The task performed. The once for all sacrifice executed. Finished. Concluded. Done.

But the “It is done” of Revelation conveys not so much an ending but a beginning. It doesn’t have the sense of completion, but of coming into existence. Of coming to pass. Of finally happening. There is coming a day when all things will be made new. God’s promises realized. A day when it will be done.

Knowing that someday I will hear with my own ears, “It is done,” somehow helps me deal with the “done-ness” of this day. And the next day. And, by God’s enabling, the day after that.

“He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes . . And He said to me, “It is done!”

Done. Yes it is!

According to His boundless grace. All for His everlasting glory.

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Like the Jewels of a Crown

Posted on December 17, 2020 by Pete

When I started coloring my bible years ago, shading something in red was designated for “The Believer/The Church.” Truths about salvation I underline in red, the color of blood. So, covering with red seemed appropriate for observations concerning those bought by the blood.

Thus, in the early years, shaded red text was found mostly in the New Testament portion of my bibles. But over the years, shading in red has been expanded to cover the broader topic of “The People of God.” Be it ancient Israel of the Old Covenant, or the Bride of Christ under the New, the relational privileges, and the essential responsibilities for those God calls to be His own are essentially the same. To know their God. To dwell in holiness with God in their midst. To make known their God and be a blessing to all nations.

This morning, reading again in Zechariah, I shaded in red a reference to the people of God which brought to mind an old hymn and a fresh wave of wonder and worship.

In Zechariah 9 the prophet is shown a day when the promised King comes to reign. “Behold, you King is coming to you,” says the LORD, “righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zech. 9:9). Sound familiar? A reference to the Christ’s first entrance into Jerusalem, that triumphal entrance we celebrate as palm Sunday (Mt. 21:1-9).

The prophet is told that “because of the blood of My covenant with you,” that the coming King would set prisoners free “from a waterless pit” and return them to Zion, the place where the glory dwells (9:11-12). In that place, the LORD of hosts says, He “will appear over them” (9:14), and “protect them” (9:15), and “save them” (9:16). But in verse 16 there’s also a couple of observations to be made about the people of God.

On that day the LORD their God will save them, as the flock of His people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on His land.

(Zechariah 9:16 ESV)

Observation one, God sees His people as a flock. Nothing new there. Familiar imagery. Transcends the Old Testament. Just as relevant in the New where Messiah, the Good Shepherd, lays down His life for the sheep. And so, “there will be one flock, one Shepherd” (Jn. 10:14-16).

But it’s observation two that causes me to pause and noodle on the imagery used. God’s people are like the jewels of a crown.

God’s people shine in the land as “gemstones . . . catching all the colors of the sun” (MSG). The radiance of God’s glory, Jesus Himself (Heb. 1:3), dispersed through the facets of the precious stones of His crown.

His victor’s crown? Could be. The holy crown of the great High Priest (Lev. 8:9). Could be that too. Whatever the exact nature of the crown, His people are its jewels.

Literally, His people are its “stones.” Hmmm, then are we living stones? I’m thinkin’ . . . So, more than being a spiritual house offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God (1Pet. 2:4-5), we’re also precious gems, evidence of His crowning achievement. The eternal reflection of the glory of His once for all acceptable sacrifice for sinners.

Like jewels of a crown. Worth chewing on I think.

Oh yeah, and then there’s the hymn that comes to mind, a blast from my past.

When He cometh, when He cometh
to make up His jewels,
all His jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.

Like the stars of the morning,
His bright crown adorning,
they shall shine in their beauty,
bright gems for His crown.

He will gather, He will gather
the gems for His kingdom,
all the pure ones, all the bright ones,
His loved and His own.

Like the stars of the morning,
His bright crown adorning,
they shall shine in their beauty,
bright gems for His crown.

Little children, little children
who love their Redeemer,
are the jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.

Like the stars of the morning,
His bright crown adorning,
they shall shine in their beauty,
bright gems for His crown.

William Cushing (1856), Public Domain

Not familiar with it. Click here to hear it sung.

The people of God. Covered in red. Precious jewels for His crown.

What wonder. What grace.

To God be the glory.

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God Knows

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Pete

I think I do a lot better with the “thus says the Lord” prophets than I do with the “and I saw a vision” prophets. Those who declare what God has told them to declare leave us “only” with the task of how their words will be fulfilled. But those who tell us what they see, as God pulls back the veil on the supernatural, stretch our imagination as they try to describe what is often indescribable. I’m thinking that’s why my head hurts this morning as I try and pick up what Zechariah’s laying down in the opening chapters of his prophecy.

Maybe that’s why, in the midst of all I don’t quite get, I gravitate to that which seems to be clear. That while I don’t understand all the imagery used to describe the dynamics of how the spiritual realm works, I’m quick to pick up on the explanations given the prophet for what it means. Case in point, if nothing else from the first five chapters of Zechariah, I’m taking away the reminder that God knows.

First, in Zechariah 1, the prophet sees a vision of a man riding on a red horse standing among myrtle trees in a glen. And behind him, more horses with men on them. What’s that about? I’m thankful Zechariah’s thinking the same thing.

Then I said, “What are these, my lord?” The angel who talked with me said to me, “I will show you what they are.” So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, “These are they whom the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.”

(Zechariah 1:9-10 ESV)

Hmmm. God sends earth patrols. Who knew? One of the ways an omniscient God goes about being all-knowing is to send His servants “to check things out on the earth” (MSG). To go throughout the earth (NIV). To traverse it “to and fro” (NKJV). To walk up and down in the land (YLT). Some distant, out of touch God? Apparently not. Disengaged? Wouldn’t seem so. Disinterested in what’s happening on the third planet from the sun? Don’t think so. He sends heavenly beings on heavenly horses to patrol it.

Then I read in Zechariah 4. And there, as part of a revelation of what is to come, Zechariah is shown “a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it” (4:2). And the angel emcee walking Zechariah through all this un-worldly imagery asks the prophet, “Do you know what these are?” To which Z. replies, “Nope!”

Me neither.

Then, while explaining the vision to him, the angel clearly identifies what the lampstand with it’s seven lamps represents:

“These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range through the whole earth.”

(Zechariah 4:10b ESV)

The eyes of the LORD range throughout the whole earth. God sees. God is aware. “The Lord of the whole earth” (4:14b) knows what’s going on even while enthroned in heaven.

Be still my soul. And chew on that.

Lot I don’t get. But with this the Spirit encourages me. Behind the scenes God is intimately aware and actively engaged. His patrols, even now I imagine, are walking up and down the land. From His heavenly realm, God has eyes on our earthly reality. He sees with eyes that miss nothing. So, while I might not get the under-the-hood workings of all the spiritual dynamics, I can be confident that our God is accomplishing His eternal purposes.

For God knows.

This too according to His abundant grace. This too for His everlasting glory.

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Not a Dumb Bird

Posted on December 15, 2020 by Pete

I’m two chapters into God’s Twenty Questions session with Job (actually, I have no idea how many questions God has peppered Job with over these 70+ verses — but it’s a lot). But I think there’s only a couple of implied answers to all these rhetorical questions. Every “Who?” question gets answered with, “God.” Every “Have you? Can you? Do you know?” question comes with a simple “Nope!”

As I hover over my reading in chapter 39 this morning, I think about God’s decision to highlight observations about creation rather than address Job’s lamentation over his situation.

The question Job wants answered is, “Why?” God, talk to me about the losses. Talk to me about my kids who are gone. Explain to me why my body has erupted in rebellion against me. Help me connect the dots between a life which, by Your own admission, was lived blamelessly, uprightly, under-girded by the fear of God, and purposed to shun evil — help me connect the dots between that kind of life and this current kind of reality. Where’s the justice in that?

God doesn’t address any of that. Instead He gives Job a crash course on creation.

And, what catches my attention this morning is what I believe to be the first time God actually does speak about Himself in this discourse. In Job 38:7 He refers to the “sons of God”, and in 38:41 He speaks of the raven’s young crying to God, but in my reading today is the first time God identifies Himself as the Maker of one His many creation-based illustrations. And I’m asking myself, “Self, why?” Why does God specifically call Himself out as the designer of a dumb bird?

“The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are they the pinions and plumage of love [or, of a stork]? For she leaves her eggs to the earth and lets them be warmed on the ground, forgetting that a foot may crush them and that the wild beast may trample them. She deals cruelly with her young, as if they were not hers; though her labor be in vain, yet she has no fear, because God has made her forget wisdom and given her no share in understanding. When she rouses herself to flee, she laughs at the horse and his rider.”

(Job 39:13-18 ESV)

An ostrich. Weird. A bird, yet can’t get off the ground. Her wings essentially useless for flight. Her eggs not nested in some safe place but buried in the dirt. No apparent maternal instinct with her young. But, when it’s time to giddy-up and go? She’s gone, leaving horse and rider in her dust. Like I said, weird.

But so far, this is the only time God overtly identifies His fingers in His workmanship. And it’s with a dumb bird. All to highlight that her absence of fear, her lack of wisdom, and her void of understanding is by His design. So, why highlight this?

I’m thinking it has something to do with wisdom (that’s the word that popped). After all, isn’t Job part of the Scripture’s wisdom literature? Isn’t it designed to impart some understanding?

So, I’m wondering if God isn’t also saying to Job, “Consider the ostrich because she’s so unlike you.” Though you can’t run like the wind, you can consider and care for others. I wired you that way, in My own image.

Though she has no fear, or wisdom, or understanding, you can know the fear of the Lord. You have been created with the capacity to grow in wisdom. To you has been given the ability to weigh the facts, discern the situations, and share in understanding.

To you has been given the blessing to know your Creator, even when you don’t know the answers to life circumstance.

God has made her a dumb bird. But you? You, He has designed to know deep truths.

God has deprived her of wisdom. But God has made you for wisdom.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

(Proverbs 9:10 ESV)

Job thought his greatest need in his situation was to know the “Why.” God says, I don’t think so. It’s to know the “Who” and to the gain the “What.”

‘Cause you’re not a dumb bird. You are a child of God.

By His grace. For His glory.

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Mighty God

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Pete

Our Sunday morning sermon series this month is about a Child. (Surprise! Not surprised.) A Child born to us, a Son who was given.

And while our New Testament accounts record that He was to be named Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins (Mt. 1:21), fitting of His first advent, the prophet Isaiah sees Him more in the context of His second advent, that visitation to earth when “the government shall be upon His shoulders.” When He reigns on the throne of David to establish His kingdom on earth “with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.” Then, says the prophet, “His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince and Peace” (Isa. 9:6-7).

We’re considering one of those four names each week through December. Yesterday, we camped on “Mighty God.”

El Gibbor. Mighty God. Strong Man. Powerful Champion. Valiant Warrior. Awesome!

In my reading in Revelation this morning I briefly encountered this Child who shall be called Mighty God.

They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with Him are called and chosen and faithful.”

(Revelation 17:14 ESV)

Lord of lords King of kings. Mighty Conqueror. Mighty God. (Did I mention awesome?)

But it’s my encounter with El Gibbor in my Zephaniah reading that takes awesome and presents it in a reality that is amazing.

On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The LORD your God is in your midst, a Mighty One who will save; . . .”

(Zephaniah 3:16-17a ESV)

What will our Warrior God do when the war is over? What will our Powerful Champion occupy Himself with when He has put down every enemy? What will Mighty God do when He has saved, and saved to the uttermost, showing Himself in the unveiled majesty of His omnipotence in the midst of His redeemed people?

” . . . He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing.”

(Zephaniah 3:17b ESV)

Read that again. Chew on it a bit.

What will it be like to behold our God rejoicing? What does it look like when the Mighty God engages in mirth, joy, and pleasure?

What will it be to hear the all powerful One singing powerfully? Singing loudly? Singing enthusiastically? And that, as He sings over us?

I can only imagine.

But whatever it will be like, it will quiet us. Not for fear of even thinking we could enter into a duet with the God who created singing, but because it will be such an expression of His love that it will silence us.

When we behold our Mighty God rejoicing over us with mighty joy we will be still. Muted in awe as we behold His almighty might. Quieted in amazement as we hear Him, in our midst, convey the depths of His steadfast love.

And such awe, such amazement, can even now be ours by faith as we consider afresh that unto us a Child has been born. That unto us a Son has been given. And His name we proclaim to be Mighty God. The Mighty One who rejoices over us, sings over us, and quiets us with His love.

What grace! To Him be all glory!

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Keep Your Shirt On

Posted on December 11, 2020 by Pete

I meet with a buddy on Thursday nights. We met last night. We were both tired. Feeling it physically, feeling it emotionally, and if we’re honest, kinda feeling it spiritually. Weary is the word that kept coming up in the conversation.

Something about when the going gets perpetually tough that makes it tough to get persistently going.

And honestly, while it doesn’t quite feel right to compare the hardships of 2020 to the seven bowls of God’s wrath of that coming day of God’s judgment, something the coming Christ says in Revelation 16 hits me as having application in these wearying days which require endurance.

Six bowls of God’s wrath have been delivered. Unimaginable “natural disaster” has struck the earth. Painful sores, dying seas, no drinking water, sun flares scorching the skin of anyone who ventures outside. And then, when everyone is about done with the sun thing, the lights go out — like go out over the whole earth — and people are plunged into darkness. And they “gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores” (Rev. 16:10-11).

Amidst all this, there’s still a remnant of God’s people waiting for Christ’s return. Still a flock of the faithful. And, breaking into John’s vision of the bowls of wrath, Jesus interjects and whispers to His own, Keep your shirt on!

“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”

(Revelation 16:15 ESV)

In a season of suffering to end all seasons of suffering, Jesus says to His own, Stay awake. Stay dressed.

In your weariness don’t remove your garment of righteousness. Hold fast to who you are in Me. Take what’s been credited to your account, My righteousness, and continue to live into it — this is not the time to concede the battle nor the time to stop running the race. You’ll be blessed, you’ll know the happiness of having stood holy in Me when, on that day, you stand holy before Me. Keep your shirt on!

In this unending season don’t let fall to the ground your garment of readiness. I’ve told you that in the world you will have tribulation (though you couldn’t have imagined this kind of tribulation), but I also told you to take heart, for I have overcome the world (Jn. 16:33). So take heart. I am victor over this current season of sorrow, as well. And my victory will be known to all when I return. But when I return, it will be like a thief. So be ready. Be engaged. Be about the kingdom’s business. Keep your shirt on!

Maybe not entirely the right passage to apply to this day, but I’m thinking the right exhortation to heed. The right promise to believe.

Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on . . .

Not a time for snoozin’. Not a time to tap out . . . physically, emotionally, or spiritually. But a time to continue to prepare for the blessing. It’s gonna be worth it all.

So keep your shirt on, weary saint.

By His grace. Knowing that one day we’ll behold His glory.

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