While Doing Good

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Pete

A quick thought this morning from Peter’s concluding exhortation to those who were going through a season of suffering.

Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

(1Peter 4:19 ESV)

While doing good . . . That’s the phrase that caught my attention this morning as I wrapped up the fourth chapter of Peter’s first letter.

These believers were suffering because . . . well, because they were believers. Thus, Peter says, they were not to be surprised at the fiery trials that were testing them because they were sharing in Christ’s sufferings. That, in fact, they should be encouraged, even in their sufferings, because just as Christ’s suffering brought God glory (Jn. 17:4), so too their sufferings would eventually culminate in rejoicing when “His glory is revealed” (4:12-131). Therefore, Peter says, they were suffering according to God’s will. I get it. And, therefore again, they needed to “entrust their souls” to their faithful Creator.” I get that too.

But while they were to keep on enduring the season, and to keep on trusting the Creator, they were also to keep on doing good. That’s a little less intuitive.

Peter just assumed that hard times didn’t mean a timeout. That carrying an extra load didn’t preclude running the race. In fact, to keep on doing good, even while times were not so good, would in fact serve to actuate their calling as “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1Pet. 4:9).

I get the temptation to want to sit it out when it’s hard to gut it out. To take a pass when there’s pressure. To try and reclaim some margin by retreating from the mission.

But Peter’s exhortation assumes that we double down on trusting our souls to our faithful Creator even as we double down on doing good. On being salt and light in a world in much need of salt and light. To be available to alleviate suffering even as we deal with suffering. To continue to esteem others better than ourselves (Php. 2:3-4) when everything in us just wants to look out for ourselves.

Doing good as a response to suffering is only reasonable as we have the mind of Christ (Php. 2:5-8). Only possible as we rely solely on the enabling power of the Spirit. Only desirable as we see it fulfilling our calling as ambassadors of the kingdom.

Only possible by the grace of God. Only desirable for the glory of God.

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Bless

Posted on October 14, 2020 by Pete

Short thought this morning . . early morning grandkids have a way of cutting into your “be still and know” time . . . Love it!

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

(1Peter 3:8-9 ESV)

What? Commands to obey. Context? A people under tremendous pressure, enduring difficult times. So why these commands in this context? ‘Cause pressure cookers have a way of making us want to let off steam. Or, as my kids used to put it, “Dad, you’re getting crabby!”

There’s something about difficult circumstances that drains the patience tank. Something about suffering that can lead to snapping at one another. Something about the crucible that causes us to be critical. So, addressing these children of God who are trying to figure out how to do life together as “exiles of the Dispersion,” Peter reminds them that when times are tough it’s best done in community and so, making the effort to maintain community is vital.

“All of you”, Peter writes. Not just those he’s already addressed — servant, wives, and husbands. Not just the most spiritual or the least spiritual. Not just those in leadership. But everyone.

Peter says, in effect, You’re all going to experience the propensity to be crabby as this season drags on. You’re all going to experience the temptation to turn on a brother or be short with a sister. You’re all going to have thoughts about going it alone as the persecution increases. Instead, all of you, double down on doing it together.

. . . have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. . . . bless, for to this you were called . . .

If we’ve been called to Christ, then we’ve been called to His body. If we’ve been called to be children of God, then we’ve been called to be the family of God. And so, when the going gets tough, and the temptation to be crabby intensifies, if we’ve been called to be blessed, then we in turn must bless.

I’ve said it before, this season is an opportunity for the church to build spiritual muscle. Might some of that muscle be the muscle of unity as we sympathetically, tenderly, and lovingly humble ourselves before one another and, for one another. Might some of that muscle be to bless our brothers, to serve our sisters, to build up the family.

By His grace. For His glory.

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A Gracious Thing

Posted on October 13, 2020 by Pete

Hovering over the word of God this morning in quarantine north of the border. I think it’s been at least ten months since I’ve been up to my daughter’s house, over seven months since I last saw my oldest grandchildren in person — our before COVID normal was to see one another every 6 to 8 weeks. The closed border has been one of the “hard things” about this season. If not for Facetime and Zoom, it would have been much, much harder. In the overall scheme of things though, this “hard thing” really isn’t all that hard.

Hard is what “the elect exiles of the Dispersion” were experiencing, those who Peter wrote to. Persecuted for their faith, driven from their homes, doing most of life in a mostly hostile environment. Now that’s a hard season. But then, add to all that “hard” being a servant of an unjust master and that’s hard upon hard, that’s just piling on! So, it’s Peter’s words to a person in that situation during that season that causes me to pause this morning and consider a gracious thing.

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

(1Peter 2:18-20 ESV)

Charis. Grace. That’s the word translated here in the ESV as a gracious thing. The NIV and the NKJV translate it commendable. The NASB says that such behavior will find grace with God. The CSB says it brings favor. Chew on it for a bit, and they all reflect a facet of grace’s beauty in hard situations during hard seasons.

First, for a servant to respect an unjust master is the very definition of grace, extending unmerited favor. It is literally a gracious thing. And even in their season of suffering, Peter was encouraging believers — all believers, regardless of their lot in life — to reflect the grace they had experienced. To respect others, not because they necessarily deserved it, but because while they were themselves still sinners Christ died for them (Rom. 5:8). When times are tough, and tensions are high, it’s a good time for a gracious thing.

But in addition to grace being a thing to be shown, in extending grace there’s a dynamic to be known. It’s the “I no longer live but Christ lives in me” dynamic (Gal. 2:20). The desire and ability to do a gracious thing when there’s no natural reason to want to, or natural ability to be able to, is the demonstrable proof that we really are “a new creation in Christ” (2Cor. 5:17).

So, we do a gracious thing, we experience a gracious thing, and God is pleased with a gracious thing. He delights in His children becoming more and more like His Son. He leverages our grace as a magnifying glass for His grace. He mixes our best efforts with His Holy Spirit and, through every day acts of grace, seeks to draw even unjust masters to Himself.

Hard times? Yeah, to varying degrees. But great times for a gracious thing.

Because of grace. For His glory.

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Good Lives Matter

Posted on October 9, 2020 by Pete

As followers of Christ we all want to do the will of God. The hard part often is knowing what His will is. To be sure, there are clear commands to obey in Scripture, “thus saith the Lord” types of injunctions, that we’d do well to heed. But there’s also a wide range of choices we face for which there is no prescriptive direction and for which we need to rely more on principle-based discernment. That’s why in Romans Paul emphasizes the need to “be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” It’s the key to discerning the will of God, to figuring out the “good and acceptable and perfect” course of action (Rom. 12:2).

But, without everything laid out in a simple “what to do in case of” book, a lot of energy can be spent on trying to figure out the will of God. And that’s why, to be honest, it’s kind of refreshing whenever you come across a “this is the will of God” passage in Scripture. Encountered one this morning.

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

(1Peter 2:15-16 ESV)

Context? Persecuted people in a hostile land. Sojourners and exiles (1Pet. 2:11) just trying to get through the day, yet wanting to make a difference in their world as “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1Pet. 2:9).

Get through another day swimming upstream, yet have an impact for eternity. How ya’ gonna do that?

Well, this is the will of God — do good. Be a “well-doer.” Benefit others. Even when the going is tough. Even when the environment is hostile. Even when it means being subject to human institutions which aren’t exactly God-friendly (1Pet. 2:13).

I accept the critique that the “lifestyle evangelism” movement of decades ago perhaps minimized the importance of the spoken gospel as it emphasized the need for living out the gospel. That preaching the gospel with our lives, and maybe “if necessary using words,” left us with too many believers unprepared to “make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope” within us (1Pet. 3:15). Having lost sight, perhaps, that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17).

But having accepted that critique, and aware of such caution, I’m reminded this morning, however, that good lives matter when it comes to making the good news known.

Belief without behavior is hollow. Conviction without character is inconsistent. Faith apart from works is dead (Ja. 2:26).

This is the will of God: do good! Silence the critics with holiness.

Walk as Jesus walked, as servants of God, in the Power with which He walked, the power of the abiding Spirit, and it will mute the noise and provide a space for the gospel to be heard as well as seen.

This is the will of God. Simple! Yeah, but not easy. Yet possible because “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2:20a).

Good lives matter. Let’s do good.

By His grace. For His glory.

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It Stands in Scripture

Posted on October 8, 2020 by Pete

When it comes to consuming what we commonly refer to as “the news,” in this day and age of ideological polarization and the propensity to omit or twist facts to suit ones own bias, I can’t count the number of times I have said, or heard someone else say, “There are so many voices out there, which can you trust? Who should you listen to?”

My own solution has been to stick mostly to three news sources. One would be categorized as “left leaning” or “liberal” — that’s their bent, that’s the lens through which they’re going to interpret and comment on the facts. The other is openly “right” oriented, or “conservative”, as they boldly declare they are reporting and filtering the facts through a biblical worldview. And the third, by most accounts, would be more centrist, sticking mostly to just the facts unless openly identifying a piece as an opinion or editorial piece. Seems to me to be a prudent approach. Three witnesses has some biblical foundation (Deut. 19:15, Matt. 18:16, 2Cor. 13:1). If they appear to line up on the facts, despite how they interpret them, at least I’m thinking I’m somewhere in the ballpark of reality and can apply my own worldview accordingly.

But I am reminded this morning, in kind of a round about way, that even my best attempts at triangulating truth falls short without one more “source” in the mix. That while I might try and make sense of world happenings based on voices from around here, I must never stop lining it up to the universal, overriding truth provided from the source who is the Creator over all up there.

Like I said, ended up chewing on this in kind of a round about way. Two unrelated verses in two unrelated contexts but which use the same English word (but nowhere near the same original words) in my ESV translation. Yet driving home the point to me that it stands in Scripture.

First encounter? Jeremiah. There the prophet is warning those who have fled to Egypt — having listened to false prophets and, in disobedience, having refused to stay in Judah according to God’s instruction — that they will suffer and die in Egypt.

“. . . and all the remnant of Judah, who came to the land of Egypt to live, shall know whose word will stand, Mine or theirs. This shall be the sign to you, declares the LORD, that I will punish you in this place, in order that you may know that My words will surely stand against you for harm.”

(Jeremiah 44:28b-29 ESV)

And then, in 1 Peter where the beloved under-shepherd of Christ is encouraging those who have been driven from their homes by persecution with a reminder of their unfailing hope.

For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.”

(1Peter 2:6 ESV)

And it’s the thought of God’s word standing that I’m chewing on this morning.

In contrast to all the media sources that vie for our attention and our followership, only the living and active word of God is worthy of our wholehearted readership. For His words will surely stand.

While confusion might reign as we flip from one channel to the next, or move from one blogger to another, or consume headlines from one social media source in contradiction to another source, we always have a source of unfailing truth, our bibles. For it stands in Scripture.

What dangerous waters we enter when we untether ourselves from the anchor of God’s word. How we short ourselves by not investing as much time in the facts according to God as we do the facts according to popular or fringe media.

The word of God, illuminated by the Spirit of God, is our only confidence in navigating this multi-voiced landscape. For it is the only thing which transforms lives as it renews minds so that we can discern “what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2). The only instrument that can penetrate soul and spirit, truly putting us in touch with our own “thoughts and intentions of the heart” so that we might know the way of walking in obedience (Heb. 4:11-12).

It stands in Scripture. And we can stand on Scripture.

By His grace. For His glory.

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A Foreign Residence

Posted on October 7, 2020 by Pete

Had another conversation the other day with someone longing to just get back to “normal.” But, I countered, what if this is normal? This season, this insanity, this instability, masks on, six feet apart — what if this is normal? Then shouldn’t we lean in, move on, and, renewing our desire to follow our Master, put on our masks and go out and make disciples? Not recklessly. Not defiantly. But faithfully. Obediently. Trustingly. I’m thinkin’ . . .

And maybe part of what’s at play is how much we view this world as our “normal” rather than just a foreign residence.

Peter’s writing to believers whose lives are anything but “normal.” Exiles of the Dispersion (1Pet. 1:1), they’re dealing with increasing persecution to the point of having to leave houses, hometowns, and how they once lived. And as I took note of yesterday, Peter doesn’t tell them to just hang in there, but exhorts them to be holy as God is holy (1Pet. 1:14-16) — a big charge in a tough season. And this morning’s reading picks up where yesterday’s left off:

And if you call on Him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

(1Peter 1:17-19 ESV)

The time of your exile, that’s the phrase that captures my thoughts this morning.

At first I wanted to equate it to our time of quarantine. These past months of being restricted from doing all that we would normally do in the way we would normally do it. But I dig into the word exile a bit deeper and I’m reminded that the reference isn’t just to my upset relationship to my regular routine, but it’s actually my assumed posture to my surrounding world. It has the idea of dwelling in a strange land, of sojourning. As Strong’s points out, the word exile comes from another word which means foreign residence.

So, if whatever we consider our last “normal” was only dwelling in a foreign residence anyhow — a place that isn’t really our home — then shouldn’t we always be prepared to pull up stakes and move on to our next foreign residence, to our next normal? A lot easier said than done, I know, but if anybody should have an unearthly resiliency shouldn’t it be those who don’t see themselves as of this earth, but who look forward to a normal and a place” whose designer and builder is God” (Heb. 11:9-10)? (Hoping this makes sense . . .)

And as I chew on these verses, far from hunkering down and waiting for our old normal to return, we are to “conduct ourselves” in our current normal. Literally “to turn upside down.” That seems appropriate! Who isn’t’ feeling like, at least to some degree, their world’s been turned upside down. But isn’t that the way of the sojourner, as well? Having to go this way then that. To deal with this reality than the next reality?

And what liberates us? What untethers us from whatever normal is? We have been ransomed from “the futile ways” of this world. From its values and its priorities. From its inherent weakness because it relies on human wisdom and strength to achieve treasures and trophies which are ultimately perishable. Instead we’ve been ransomed by the precious blood of Christ. Ransomed by Christ to be raised up and seated with Christ “in the heavenly places” (Eph. 2:6). Chew on that a bit . . . seated in heavenly places. That’s our home! That’s our unchanging normal! That’s where we settle in and settle down and draw on the spiritual resources to deal with whatever “new normal” we must while sojourning on this earth.

So, weary pilgrim, conduct yourselves with reverent awe of the One who has redeemed you, even as your get turned upside down, round and round, in this foreign residence.

By His grace. For His glory.

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Be Holy

Posted on October 6, 2020 by Pete

I don’t how many times I’ve read this passage, but this morning it struck me as an odd thing to say. Perhaps the last thing I’d think of saying, given the situation. Yet, among the first things God would say. Hmmm . . . another reminder that His ways and His thoughts so transcend mine (Isa. 55:8-9).

I’d say, “I know. I think I understand. I can empathize to a degree. Hang in there. It’ll all work out. Keep on keepin’ on!”

God says, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Huh!

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

(1Peter 1:13-16 ESV)

It’s the context for the command that arrests me this morning. Peter’s writing to the “exiles of the Dispersion.” He’s addressing persecuted Christians on the lam. At the very least they’ve already undergone insults for the name of Christ (1Pet. 4:14). But that it was likely to escalate was evident by their need to flee. They were “suffering for righteousness’ sake” (1Pet. 3:14) and they could expect that they would increasingly “suffer as Christians” (1Pet. 4:15). They were taking it in the teeth!

And while our current season pales in comparison to what these believers were enduring, though we can debate whether or not governments are taking advantage of this time to stick it to us as the church, one thing we do know, hardship takes up margin. Whatever reserves we might have after just doing “normal” life, this current season consumes some portion of those reserves. There’s fewer points to give away on our stress charts these days. As weariness increases patience has a way of decreasing. As each day continues with its endlessly escalating numbers, our reservoirs of hope are drained. So, to be sure, just as Peter’s readers did, a word of encouragement is welcomed at a time like this. But honestly, who’s looking for a command to obey?

Peter opens his letter reminding them of the “genuine faith” they possessed and the opportunity their dispersion presented to affirm their trust that: God had truly given them new life; Jesus was really preparing a place for them in heaven; and, the Holy Spirit, by His indwelling power, would actually sustain them through whatever lie ahead.

But then, a command to obey. “Be holy in all your conduct.” Be holy as God is holy. With everything else they were dealing with did they need to deal with that too? Apparently.

Weariness has a way of tempting us to relax things a bit, to cut ourselves some slack in how we behave. I think that’s why the Spirit moves Peter to pen the warning, “Do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance.” Instead, says the Spirit of Christ, time to lean into what you know, and Who you know, and who you are.

You are a set apart people, live set apart lives — especially in seasons of suffering. You are new creations in Christ, walk as new creations in a new way, evidencing a new power. Though your margin feels minimal, though your reserves are running low, though you feel like you’re running on empty, aim for the high road, walk in a manner worthy of your calling (Eph. 4:1).

Be holy, for I am holy.

Not something we can just gut out, but something we can surrender to. For the God who is Himself holy is the God who lives in us, and through us, by His Holy Spirit. And what God calls us to do, God enables us to do. Ours is to wanna do it. But sometimes we feel like we don’t even have the strength to muster up the will. Or, we’d prefer to self-medicate with something, or get lost in some distraction, rather than exercise a holy determination to be holy.

Like I said, it struck me as odd this morning that such a high and lofty command would be so quickly given to an oppressed and suffering people. But His ways aren’t my ways. And my ways are to be His ways.

And so, I want to be holy, even in this season, for His holy.

Holy by His grace alone. Holy for His glory alone.

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A Genuine Faith

Posted on October 5, 2020 by Pete

It’s the real thing! 2020 proves it!

Hovering over Peter’s opening words to the “elect exiles of the Dispersion.” While they many not have been “sheltered in place,” they had been “scattered to places.” Like us, their “normal” way of gathering together had been disrupted. Life had been turned upside down for them as well. And it wasn’t just one thing, or one event, they were “grieved by various trials” — it just kept coming, one thing after another!

But they were those who were keepin’ on keepin’ on. And, for those who cared to take notice — and for the God whose eyes “run to and fro throughout the whole earth” (2Chron. 16:9) — it proved something. It proved they had a genuine faith.

Peter wastes no time in his letter to these suffering saints, reminding these discombobulated disciples of their past, that they had been born again to a living hope by the power of Christ’s resurrection (1Pet. 1:3). He then turns their eyes to things above and to their future, that they had an eternal, unfading inheritance reserved for them in heaven (1:4). And so, he assures them during these present various trials that they are being “guarded through faith” by the supernatural dynamic of God’s power through God’s Spirit (1:5).

What’s more, he says, the fact that they were still walking in belief, that they were still faithful followers, was evidence that they possessed a genuine faith.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith —  more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire —  may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

(1Peter 1:6-7 ESV)

If, after all 2020 has thrown at us, we’re still believing, still pursuing, still keeping our eye to the sky, then, whatever else it may accomplish, it proves one thing — that our faith is genuine. It’s being tested and it’s proving to be the real meal deal.

I’m not saying it’s proving how tough we are in mustering up a positive attitude in the midst of bad situations. Not that it’s proving our fortitude in our ability to make lemonade out of a mountain of lemons. Rather, that it’s proving our faith is authentic, God-graced faith. The indisputable evidence that the work He has begun in us is a real work, the work He has promised to complete in us (Php. 1:6).

All kinds of reasons to check out. Who would blame anybody for having doubts? Who’s gonna judge those are weary and have decided to remove themselves from the game in some form or manner?

But why haven’t we? Why do we keep talking about the “opportunity” presented by this season — whether that’s an opportunity to draw near as children or to go out as salt and light? Why, though our numbers are down in our buildings Sunday after Sunday, are we jazzed because we see how God is building us up? It’s faith. Not blind faith. Not I-wish-I-may-I-wish-I-might faith. Not pie-in-the-sky-in-the-sweet-by-and-by faith. But genuine faith. The sort of faith that comes from being born again, possessing an eternal inheritance, and knowing the daily dynamic of the sustaining power of God.

And not so we can take any credit or boast in ourselves. But that it “may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

No simple answers to the “why” of this season. But here’s one answer: It proves that our spiritual DNA really was rewired when we first believed. The battle scars testify to God’s power to keep His promise to save to the uttermost. And, it demonstrates, if to no one else, to ourselves and to our God, that this is the real thing, that this is a genuine faith.

Faith gifted by His grace. Faith tested for His glory.

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Building Discernment Muscle

Posted on October 1, 2020 by Pete

With everything else Jeremiah had to deal with as a prophet of God with an unpopular message, he had to deal with “fake news” as well. There was another “prophet” in town and he had a very different “thus says the LORD” than did Jeremiah.

In that same year, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fifth month of the fourth year, Hananiah the son of Azzur, the prophet from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and all the people, saying, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the LORD’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon. I will also bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the exiles from Judah who went to Babylon, declares the LORD, for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.”

(Jeremiah 28:1-4 ESV)

Pick a prophet! Whose voice are you going to be inclined to want to listen to? The one who says, You’re outta’ here for 70 years, so go peacefully and “seek the welfare of the city” of your exile (Jer. 29:7), or the one who says, Hang in there, don’t give in, only 2 more years and our enemy will be defeated and everything’s back to normal?

As I hover over Jeremiah 28 I realize that competing news cycles aren’t anything new (actually, as Ecclesiastes keeps reminding me, nothing’s new under the sun). I’m reminded that confusion about how to understand the signs of the times has always been a deal. So what’s a follower of God to do?

How we need to be discerners. How we need to be able to filter the feeds and figure out the way of faith. And what’s the best way to do that? Thus says the LORD . . . the word of God.

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

(Hebrews 5:14 ESV)

Powers of discernment are developed through training. By constantly practicing to distinguish good from evil. And that, as we chew on solid food. Meat and potatoes from the revelation of God. Bringing everything under the scrutiny of Scripture. Taking the redemption story and overlaying it upon life’s realities . . . and it’s fake realities.

Not saying that everyone who does this will end up with exactly the same answers for every question, but at least we’ll be working from a common reference point. Aware that we have an enemy, the prince of this age (Eph. 2:2), who is the father of lies (Jn. 8:44), who is going to stir up confusion in order to bring about division, we stand firm on the Word as our authority. As we test every new theory against the old, old story, we grow discernment muscle, becoming increasingly able to distinguish good from evil. All from chewing on food for the mature.

By His grace. For His glory.

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A God at Hand

Posted on September 30, 2020 by Pete

As I hover over Jeremiah this morning I’m thinking that what can be such bad news for some can be such amazing, good news for others. Case in point, the false prophets of Jeremiah’s day.

Not the false prophets of Baal, though bad enough, but those who falsely prophesied as oracles of God. Filling God’s people with vain hopes that all would be well, they spoke “visions of their own minds” (Jer. 23:16). Choosing to stubbornly follow their own hearts, they ended up despising the heart of God by offering groundless assurances, “It shall be well with you” (23:17). Declaring Jeremiah’s warning to be “fake news”, they downplayed the marauding Chaldeans and promoted their own brand of prosperity wisdom in the name of the LORD.

But God makes clear they weren’t His prophets. Though they prophesied in His name, He didn’t provide the script. For, had they actually stood in the council of the Almighty, they would have spoken the words of the Almighty, and would have proclaimed the urgent need for God’s people to turn from their evil ways (23:21-22).

And here’s the kicker. They were so wrapped up in their deception that they didn’t even consider that if the God whose name they invoked as their authority was, in fact, God, then wouldn’t He know they were making their stuff up?

“Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD. I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in My name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!'”

(Jeremiah 23:23-25 ESV)

“Am I a God at hand and not a God far away?” Bad news for the prophets. Did they think God wasn’t aware of their message? That He couldn’t see their self-serving duplicity? That the God who fills heaven and earth was somehow unable to peek also into their hearts and minds? Our God is a God at hand. Bad news for those who would play fast and loose with the things of God.

But, what can be such bad news for some, can be such amazing, good news for others. For our God truly is a God at hand and not a God far away?

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

(James 4:8 ESV)

For fake prophets who confess their fake-ness; for sinners who flee to the cross to be cleansed of their defiling iniquity; for those whose hearts have been purified through the washing of the Word, who have renounced their duplicity, a God at hand is very, very good news. The God we can draw near to in sincere faith is the God who will be near, ready to sanctify fully.

Yes, God knows my heart. No, it’s the not the heart I want to have, but it’s also not the heart I used to have. It’s a new heart — having been made new, even today it is being made new. A heart that God fully knows. A heart God has promised to fully redeem. And that, by being a God at hand.

Good news, I’m thinkin’ . . .

By His grace. For His glory.

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