You Believe? Believe More!

Posted on November 9, 2018 by Pete

Not gonna lie (not that I normally do), if the two sisters were to mark out opposite end points of a continuum, I probably fall more often on the Martha side then I do the Mary side. In the past I’ve liked to think of myself as like Mary, the one who is naturally content to serenely find my place at the feet of Jesus and there rest and receive. But, as I get older and maybe more in touch with the real me, I can’t help but think I’m more like Martha. Distracted with many things (if only in my heart and mind). Tending towards being “anxious and troubled” rather than calm and collected. Not always choosing “the good portion.” (Lk. 10:38-42)

Maybe that’s why I have increasingly developed a soft spot in my heart for Martha. Thinking that perhaps God has simply wired some of us more like Martha than Mary, and that Jesus loves both the Marthas and the Marys and loves to be with them both.

And maybe that’s why I find myself feeling a sense of pride (if pride’s the right word) as I read about Martha in John 11 this morning.

Lazarus, Martha and Mary’s brother, is dying. The sisters put out the call to Jesus. Jesus receives their plea but tarries. Lazarus dies. Jesus says to his disciples, “Let’s go wake him up, guys!” (11:1-15)

And, when Jesus hits the outskirts of Bethany, word is sent to the sisters’ house that He’s coming. And true to form, Martha gets up and gets busy and heads out to meet Jesus while “Mary remained seated in the house” (11:20). And then, John records this encounter of the divine kind:

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give you.”

(John 11:21-22 ESV)

What faith! She believed with all her heart that Jesus had power to heal. Had He been there, she thought, He would have. But even now–love those words–but even now, without any doubt, she says, I believe You can do all things. Attagirl Martha! Way to believe!

And here’s what grabs me. Jesus replies, in effect, “You believe? Believe more!”

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

(John 11:23-26 ESV)

You believe I can do all things, Martha, good! Will you also believe I am the resurrection and the life?

While Jesus does great things with mustards seeds of faith, He desires to grow our faith. Taking what we believe and asking us to believe in Him more. Leveraging the trust we already have He asks us to trust Him more. Jesus patiently, graciously, even though sometimes painfully, seeks to draw out our faith to greater heights.

She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

(John 11:27 ESV)

Yes!!! Attagirl again!

No one says “Jesus is Lord” except in the Spirit, according to Paul (1Cor. 12:3). In fact, John writes that you know the Spirit of God is present when someone confesses Christ has come in the flesh from God (1John 4:2). What’s more, Jesus Himself said that those who confess that Christ is the Son of the living God are blessed because it’s not flesh and blood which has revealed such insight, “but My Father in heaven” (Matt. 16:17).

Martha–busy, distracted Martha–stands before the Son of God, filled with the Spirit, confessing only what the Spirit could make known. Blessed because the Father Himself has revealed to her in a deeper way the glory of His Son.

“You believe?” Jesus says, “Believe more. Believe Me.”

Yes, Lord!

By Your grace. For Your glory!

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Seeing Will Be Becoming

Posted on November 8, 2018 by Pete

This morning I’m reading in 1 John of a purifying hope (1Jn. 3:3). An anticipation of there and then which has a way of working in us a sanctification here and now. Becoming more like Him because we believe we’re gonna be with Him.

And we often wonder what will it be like to be face to face with the Savior. When the walk of faith gives way to walking by His side. When what we believe is actually what we behold.

Surrounded by His glory, what will our hearts feel? Will we dance for Jesus, or in awe of Him be still? Will we stand in His presence, or to our knees will we fall? Will we sing hallelujah, or will we be able to speak at all? As the well known song says, “I can only imagine?”

But while the song contemplates what we might do on that day, I’m noodling on what we’ll be like. If I’m reading John correctly, then there will be something in looking upon Him that actually makes us like Him. Seeing will be becoming.

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.

(1John 3:2 ESV)

Lot of things we don’t know, but John says this we can know, “We know that when He appears we shall be like Him.”

Not that we’ll look like Him and lose our individual persona. The Lord Jesus will have His own distinct appearance, and we ours. Not that we will become as Him, being all-knowing and all-powerful. But that we be like Him. Inhabiting a new resurrection body. Imperishable. Raised in glory. Infused with power. Spiritual. A heavenly body, like His (1Cor. 15:42-44).

Like Him too, morally. We’ll be free from the flesh, from the old man and its sin nature. No more defilement. No more sickness. No more sorrow. No more death.

How do we know that? Because, John says, we know that when He appears we shall be like Him.

But it’s also seemingly implied here, that seeing Him will facilitate becoming like Him. Because we shall see Him as He is, we shall be as He is. That in the culmination of being in His presence will be the final strokes for conforming us to His image. To behold Him will be to complete our transformation in Him. Seeing will be becoming.

And John’s contention is consistent with Paul’s.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

(2Corinthians 3:18 ESV)

Beholding the glory of the Lord, if even by faith says Paul, triggers a divine dynamic of making us “more and more like Him as we are changed into his glorious image” (NLT). If that’s true of just believing, then what will happen when we are actually beholding? We shall be like Him.

Don’t know that I fully get it. But, honestly, I can’t wait to.

And I guess that’s why it is a purifying hope. Knowing that I will see Him then, and be like Him then, has a way of compelling me, by His enabling power, to seek Him now. To see Him with the mind’s eye as I read of Him in His holy word. To know Him as I realize increasingly the depths to which He knows me. To abide in Him and He, through His Spirit, in me. To be like Him. Now dimly as through faith, but then fully because of sight.

Seeing really will be becoming.

By His grace. For His glory.

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Abiding in the Anointing

Posted on November 7, 2018 by Pete

I’ve been meeting with a couple of guys over recent weeks. Different backgrounds, different current situations, different struggles. But I’ve been talking with both about the same thing–the need for a lifeline. And that lifeline is the word of God.

But the lifeline is not simply found in owning a bible. Not realized by just carrying it to church. Not even in drawing from our memories things we’ve been taught out of the bible in our past. But found in reading it. Found in getting into it and letting it get into us. Or, as I read in 1 John this morning, abiding in it and letting it abide in us.

Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He made to us–eternal life.

(1John 2:24-25 ESV)

Abide. Tarry. Don’t depart. Continue in. Endure with. Remain. Don’t move on to something else.

That, John says, is what he wants his children in the faith to do. And where are they to hang out? What are they to continue in? What are they to tether their souls to? What you heard from the beginning. They were to abide in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. They were to stay close to the word of God.

False teachers had gone out from among them seeking to deceive them (2:26). An antichrist spirit was about them wanting to derail them. A lying voice denying Jesus as the Christ. A worldly whisper questioning His power to save and save to the uttermost. Religious sounding reasoning casting doubt as to whether Christ alone was really enough for life now and the life to come.

And so John says, let what you’ve heard abide in you. Keep going back to the truth you’ve known. Keep taking it in. Keep chewing on it. Because, when you do that, then you’ll abide in the Son and in the Father.

Remain in the word and you won’t depart from the God who loves you with a steadfast love. Hang out regularly with your bible, and you’ll continue with the Son who rescued you and longs to hang out with you (Rev.3:20) . The word of God acting not only as a tether, but as a life-giving, life-sustaining conduit to the very throne of heaven.

And here’s why. Here’s out it works. This is what’s evoked the awe factor afresh this morning. Because we can abide in the Anointing.

But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. . . . the anointing that you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about everything–and is true and is no lie, just as it has taught you–abide in Him.

(1John 2:20, 27 ESV)

Anointed by the Holy One with an anointing that abides in us. What’s the anointing? The Spirit of God poured out on every child of God.

Having all knowledge. What’s the reality? Not that we know it all, but that we have access to it all. Access to all knowledge? Really? Yeah, really! We have access to all that we need for maturing in Christ and living for Christ, and it’s in that book we so often can’t make time for.

His anointing teaching us about everything. While teachers have been given to the church to help us learn, we don’t need any teaching apart from the inspired word because we’ve been anointed with the One through whom it was inspired. We have THE TEACHER resident and living in us. And because He lives in us and rests upon us, every time we open our bibles, the divine dynamic of illumination kicks into gear with the same transforming power that raised Christ from the dead.

And so, John says, abide in Him. Abide in the Anointing.

We all need the lifeline. We all need an anchor for the soul tethered to the Son.

And that happens as we open His word and as we abide in the Anointing.

By His grace. For His glory.

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The Voice

Posted on November 6, 2018 by Pete

They were all wrapped around the wheel about a blind man seeing, but Jesus decided to change the subject on them–He wanted to talk about hearing.

They questioned the claim that the blind man seeing was ever really blind (Jn. 9:18). They were choked that sight restoring mud had been made and applied to a man’s eyes on the Sabbath (Jn. 9:16). Upset that manual work had been done on the holy day. Blind themselves to the miraculous work that had been done by the Holy One.

Let’s keep talking about eyes, they said. Nah, we’ll talk ears instead, Jesus replied.

“But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”    ~  Jesus

(John 10:2-4 ESV)

Jesus shifted the conversation with the Pharisees from a flesh and blood miracle who for the first time was seeing, to a figure of speech example about hearing. Because being unconvinced looking at a blind man with sight wasn’t just about the eyes, but about their ears. They didn’t hear the Voice.

Because the Pharisees didn’t get the picture Jesus was painting (10:6), He would clearly identify Himself as the door (10:7,8). Would explicitly say that He was the good shepherd (10:11). But this morning, somewhat in awe, I’m meditating on the thought of hearing the Voice.

Observations: The sheep hear the voice of the shepherd. He calls them by name. He leads them out. They follow him. All because they know the Voice.

Not many in my circle, who by faith decided to follow Jesus, did so because they saw the miraculous. Some, but not many. Most of us heard the Voice before we ever really saw the Savior.

The Voice heard as someone shared with us from the Bible. Strange words, at first. Foreign concepts. Yet a sense that what we were hearing was truth. Though we didn’t recognize it as such, God was speaking through His word. And somehow, we were picking up what was being laid down.

The Voice heard as hearts of stone gave way to hearts of flesh and our inner man was attuned to things we had never been attuned to before. Our internal radio frequency somehow dialed into the kingdom of heaven’s “transmitter”, the Spirit of God, and an inner voice became more apparent: “This really is the Way. Believe it! Embrace it! Walk in it!”

We heard the Voice because, by grace alone through faith alone, through Him we had entered into the fold of God’s redeemed people by the one, true Door. Somehow hearing Him specifically call our name. Somehow being convinced that the inner voice we heard was that of a loving, good, and great Shepherd. Somehow trusting the Voice enough to leave the bondage of sin’s deceptive sheep pen. Believing the Voice would lead us into life, and life abundantly.

Sometimes I can be so used to seeking to follow His lead that I lose the wonder of hearing His Voice. That what should be awe-inspiring–that I even hear the voice of the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit–has too often become common place and, dare I say, even taken for granted.

But this morning, not so. I know the Voice because the Good Shepherd loving, patiently, faithfully continues to call me by name.

Wonder of wonders! Blessing beyond comprehension! Comfort and hope beyond full understanding.

Because of grace. For His glory.

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An Advocate, Not an Arbiter

Posted on November 5, 2018 by Pete

Not to minimize his pain, suffering, and confusion, but there’s a lot that Job wasn’t getting right as he entered deeper and deeper into debate with his friends. Although, by God’s own repeated testimony he was a man who “was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil” (1:1, 1:8, 2:3), Job held too high a view of himself and not a high enough view of his God.

While he acknowledged that a man could not “be in the right before God” (9:2), he thought that the problem was with God and not with the man–especially if that man were him. Job believed that he was in the right (9:15) but that God wasn’t getting it. That He who was “wise in heart and mighty in strength” (9:4) was also, apparently, unable, or unwilling, to recognize and respond to righteousness in an appropriate manner.

But Job also knew that to argue with the Almighty was a no win situation because, after all, He was all mighty. How could a man stand before God?

For He is not a man, as I am, that I might answer Him, that we should come to trial together. There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both. Let Him take His rod away from me, and let not dread of Him terrify me. Then I would speak without fear of Him, for I am not so in myself.

(Job 9:32-35 ESV)

Job thought he had a rock-solid case to present before the courts of heaven–his righteous acts more than sufficient evidence, he thought, to challenge the hand he had been dealt. But he was a man and God is not. He knew that they weren’t equals, that they could not enter into a courtroom as peers (MSG).

What Job thought he needed was someone who could even out the odds. Someone big enough to take way the rod that had smitten Job and remove the dread that crushed him. All he needed, he thought, was someone on his team that could create enough of a level playing field so that he could defend himself, present his case, and walk away justified. Job wanted an arbiter.

But, as another reading this morning reminds me, what Job really needed was an Advocate.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

(1John 2:1-2 ESV)

Though he didn’t yet know it, Job didn’t need someone to argue the merits of his case and represent his righteousness. As would become exceedingly clear when Job encountered the Almighty one-on-one, he had no case. His good works weren’t good enough. His well-crafted arguments dissolved before God’s holy presence. Instead, Job would later confess, “I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (42:6).

He didn’t need an arbiter, he needed an Advocate.

Someone who would plead Job’s case on different grounds. Not on the basis of Job’s own justification, but founded on the willingness and ability to fully take on the judgment for Job’s guilt. Paying the full price of Job’s debt so he could be forgiven and thus justly declared justified.

Not relying on the evidence of Job’s righteousness, but presenting instead His own righteousness. A righteousness proven both in heaven and on earth. A righteousness that could be credited to Job’s account.

Job needed such an advocate. And so do I.

And we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

What amazing grace. To Him be all the glory. Amen?

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He Didn’t Know. But Jesus Knew.

Posted on November 2, 2018 by Pete

He had no idea he would be an integral part of the Jesus Come to Earth Tour. That when the “planning committee” was working out the details for the Son of God’s three years of flesh-caped, earthly ministry, they thought of him and said, “Yeah, that guy! Let him be born blind.” How come? So that people would see what God could do.

Who knew?

He didn’t know. His parents certainly didn’t. Those who watched him grow up and pitied him didn’t. Those who for years looked past him didn’t. In fact, some, perhaps many, when they did take notice of him naturally thought, “Wonder what generational sin is in his past? Bad break for that guy!”

But Jesus knew.

As [Jesus] passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

(John 9:1-5 ESV)

Jesus, and those He called to follow Him, had work to do. Time was limited. While it was day, the signs and wonders which been foreordained needed to be enacted. The message of the good news of the kingdom come needed to be seeded. That’s why they had encountered this man born blind.

Not born blind because of God’s foreknowledge of some sin he would commit. Not born blind as some divine consequence for his parent’s less than righteous lives. But born blind simply, and only, because God determined it would be so. And had determined it so that works of God might be displayed in him.

Jesus disciples naturally asked the why question. But Jesus re-directed them to the what question. What is God going to do with this guy?

And I’m chewing on what difference it would have made if this guy’s parents had known he had been born blind because one day, through an encounter of the divine kind, the power of God would fall on him. What difference it would have made if, since he was little boy, his parents would have told him again and again, “Be patient. God has allowed this. Trust Him. He has a purpose. Your darkness will somehow be a powerful signpost pointing to the Light of the World. Your weakness, an opportunity for the Almighty to display His might. Your seemingly lost potential, an eventual avenue leading to the opportunity to testify for all the ages, ‘This is what I know. I once was blind but now I see!'”

But he didn’t know. He grew up asking, as those around him would periodically do, “Why? Why this? Why me?”

He didn’t know. He wasn’t privy to the secret counsels of God. Wasn’t sent the itinerary showing the plan since the foundation of the world that the Son of God, veiled in flesh, would one day make some spit mud, rub it on his eyes, and he would see things he never thought or imagined he would see.

He didn’t know the plans God had for his blindness. Didn’t know the divine purpose for his infirmity. Didn’t know the heavenly permitted point of years of darkness and loneliness. Nor could he have ever conceived of the power that would eventually be displayed in and through his life.

But Jesus knew.

Knew that his blindness wasn’t a cause-and-effect thing. Knew that the works of God would be accomplished while it was still day. Knew that the power of God would be manifest in him in a mighty way. Knew that a seeing blind man would be an eternal trophy of God’s eternal purposes and power and unmerited favor.

All because of grace. All for God’s glory.

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Asking the Big Question

Posted on November 1, 2018 by Pete

I try and be a planner. Do my best to manage my calendar and not have my calendar manage me. Try and know what’s coming and arrange my “to do’s” appropriately. But it never seems to fail that, at some point during what is always a really busy Fall season leading into an even busier Christmas season, I feel like my legs aren’t keeping up with the treadmill I seem to be on. Oh, my legs are still under me, but sometimes it seems like I’m just barely keeping up. But this too shall pass. In January?

Regardless, keeping in mind what’s coming next should be helpful in determining what should be done now. True of our daily, weekly, and monthly calendars. True, Peter reminds me this morning, of eternity.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness . . .

(2Peter 3:10-11 ESV)

A friend and I were talking yesterday about the differing views of how the end times will play out. Our discussion though wasn’t centered on debating how all the prophetic events will play out, or, depending on your view, have already played out. Rather, it was on the behavioral implications of holding to any particular eschatological view. And as I’m hovering over 2Peter this morning, it really comes down to the one big event all views include in their calendar, and the big question it demands.

The day of the Lord will come. What sort of people ought we to be?

Is it too simplistic to think that’s what it boils down to? That the one event we can all mark on our calendars, both our prophetic and personal calendars, is that the Lord Jesus will return. And that He will come as thief in the night (1Th. 5:2). Unexpectedly. When most are asleep–perhaps physically, but, as is becoming more and more common, even among His people, their slumber may be more of a spiritual snoozing at the wheel. Thus, perhaps we should have a recurring reminder in our Google calendars, or on our phone calendar app, that pops up regularly reminding us “Jesus’s return . . . Imminent!” Count on it!

And if we know it’s coming . . . and could come at any time . . . perhaps today . . . then, says Peter, we should be preparing appropriately by noodling from time to time on the big question it presents.

What sort of people ought we to be?

Lives of holiness. Lives of godliness. How does that play out for me in the routines of life?

Waiting for the day while hastening the day (3:12). So, what do I do today?

Answers may differ in the details depending on our season of life, our occupational calling, our Spirit-directed area service for the kingdom, and our Spirit-infused gifting. But if we want to keep from nodding off and be ready for that day, shouldn’t we be reminding ourselves periodically that Jesus is coming soon and very soon? And shouldn’t we be frequently asking ourselves the big question–what sort of person ought I to be? And shouldn’t we be praying without ceasing for the power and enabling of the gospel to live in light of the answers to our question?

I’m thinkin’ . . .

Because of grace. For His glory.

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Disciples Indeed

Posted on October 31, 2018 by Pete

Got back last night from a much needed couple of days back in the homeland filling the tank with grandkids time (I think their parents were there too). But though the reserves were being replenished, the routine was unsurprisingly dismantled. Morning quiet time replaced with morning play time. Wouldn’t have it any other way. But not gonna lie, either — feels good to be hovering over my bible again this morning.

But something Jesus says reminds me that it’s not just because I’m a guy who likes routine. Less a reflection of what I might think is my commitment to spending time in His Word, but more a reminder that it is actually evidence of the gracious work He has undertaken in me.

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, “If you abide in My word, You are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  ~ Jesus

(John 8:31-32 ESV)

Apparently, Jesus recognized that there were those who were disciples, and there were those who were truly disciples. Those who professed to be followers and those who really were following. Those who said they were learners and those who were committed to learning. Or as the NKJV puts it, those who were disciples and those who were disciples indeed.

And the test? The distinguishing factor? The objective reality? Disciples indeed exhibit this characteristic — they abide in His word. That’s where you’ll find them hanging out.

Disciples indeed, like sheep who having come to know the Shepherd’s voice, long to hear it again and again. They, like students who have had their minds enlightened and their hearts made alive with understanding, continue in wanting to hear afresh the Teacher’s teaching. They, like servants who have experienced the joy of laboring for a good Master, persist in wanting to know His will so that they might, by His continued enabling, do His will.

Disciples indeed are not saved by abiding in His word. But they abide in His word because they are saved. It’s not a test to pass in order to be worthy of bearing the title, “Disciple Indeed.”

Rather, it’s a trait present because of the work of regeneration that takes those dead in trespass and sin and gives them new life. Takes those who once served in the kingdom of darkness and translates them into His kingdom of light. That takes blind men and gives them sight. That allows deaf people to hear a call and then gives them ears to hear what the Savior says. That takes people who once cared little for the word of God and now compels them to want to abide in it.

Abiding in His word is not a discipline to boast in. It is a gift of grace to rejoice in. A glorious reminder that through the finished work of the cross, the glorious hope of the empty tomb, and the life-energizing ministry of the Holy Spirit, we are disciples indeed.

By His grace. For His glory.

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Letting in Idols

Posted on October 26, 2018 by Pete

They came to Ezekiel because he was a prophet of God. And they came because they were the elders of Israel. They were to lead and so they came to listen. But rather than being provided with some insight, the corruption of their inner man was identified as the problem. A big problem. Idols in their hearts led to stumbling blocks of iniquity before their faces.

Then certain of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me. And the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them?”

(Ezekiel 14:1-3 ESV)

The sin to beware of jumps off the page. Idols in the heart and stumbling blocks of iniquity before the face is repeated three times in the first seven verses of Ezekiel 14. Kind of hard to miss it.

And the consequences are huge! Not only does it restrain the voice of God (v.3b), but even if that voice is heard the sinful filter of having a “multitude of idols” corrupts and distorts the voice of God. Thus, through their idols, the idolater is estranged from God (v.4). Estranged from God because, in bowing before their idols, they have separated themselves from God (v.7). Sin to beware of indeed!

But here’s what I’m noodling on this morning. Before the idol ever shows up on the mantle in the home (or as shiny new objects in the garage) it’s first taken into the heart. Before the carved image or the metal cast figure is ever put on display, the object is first revered worthy of commanding one’s allegiance in the inner person–what they think about, what they talk about, what they long for, what they think will satisfy their appetites. Before it becomes a stumbling block of iniquity before their faces, it first is set up as an idol in their heart.

How important then is it to guard the heart? I’m thinkin’ pretty important!

Though, as believers, we have been given a new heart, we can still clutter it up. Allow in things to compete for its affections. Desire things that dilute its desire for the new heart Maker. Pursue things that distract from seeking first the kingdom of God. Things that, while they may be permissible, when allowed to infect the heart foster infidelity. Things that, even if they’re beneficial, when bowed down to act as a Benedict Arnold leading us into traitorous betrayal of the One who gave Himself to redeem our hearts.

Though, as believers, we have been given hearts of flesh, idol storage has a way of hardening hearts. Darkening our understanding. Distancing us from our God. Desensitizing us to what life–real life, abundant life, life to the full–is actually all about.

Allowing idols to take up resident in our hearts can’t help but lead to setting up stumbling blocks of iniquity before our faces.

O’, be on guard, O heart!

By His grace. For His glory.

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A Sanctuary

Posted on October 25, 2018 by Pete

“Elvis has left the building.” That’s the phrase once used at the end of an Elvis Presley concert to indicate that the concert was done–like, really done . . . as in, “It’s over, folks. No more music, tonight.”  The people could disperse because the king of rock and roll wasn’t coming back for an encore.

And reading in Ezekiel this morning there’s a sense of similar finality. The glory had the left the building.

From the house to the threshold (10:4), then out from the threshold to the court (10:18), and finally up from the midst of the once holy city to a mountain to the east (11:22-23), the cloud that once filled the holy of holies, the brightness that once emitted the very presence of God, the glory of God, had, quite literally, left the building.

The glory had departed and the people were dispersed. They would be scattered among the nations. The land of their promised possession in ruin, they would be sent away for an extended “timeout” to consider their ways that they might repent of their rebellion. Heavy sigh!

But here’s the thing that I’m chewing on this morning, though the glory had departed, and though they would be the dispersed, yet God would not abandon His people. In fact, they would come to know His glory in a different way, a way not dependent upon a brick and mortar temple, but through a new type of relationship.

“Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: Though I removed them far off among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a while in the countries where they have gone.'”

(Ezekiel 11:16)

While in exile, while trying to make it in a foreign land, though far from the holy temple site which was no longer so holy because the glory was gone, the Lord GOD says, “I will be their sanctuary for a while.”

God, through Ezekiel, reaffirmed His promise: “I will gather you from the peoples . . . and give you the land of Israel” (11:17).

God then expanded the promise: I will put a new spirit in them. Give them a new heart, a heart of flesh ready, willing, and able to obey (11:19-20).

And until the full realization of the promise, God says I will be a sanctuary. I will be the temple and will tabernacle directly with them.

For a little while, though far from home, God’s people would come to know and be satisfied with God’s abiding presence as they waited until the day of their full and complete restoration and return to the land of promise.

The glory had left the building, but the God of glory had not turned His back to His people. He would draw near to His remnant in the place of their sojourning and would be their portion, their protection, and their power. All the while, drawing out their hearts toward Him in obedient worship.

We also are people in a foreign land waiting to go home and know afresh the glory of God in all its fullness. But until then, His abiding presence through His Holy Spirit is our sanctuary, the means by which we encounter the glory, though “in a mirror dimly” (1Cor. 13:12).

What’s more, He is making us part of that sanctuary. As, in Christ, we are “being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (Eph. 2:22).

Though often, as we look around us, it may seem the glory has left the building, yet within us, through redeemed and regenerated hearts, we can know God as a sanctuary. His glory abiding with us and in us.

By His grace. For His glory.

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