Contend for the Faith

Posted on November 17, 2017 by Pete

Throwback Friday (I know, not a thing, but that’s what today’s gonna be).

I’m hovering over the brief letter written by Jude and thinking about how I would just as soon chew on the good tasting stuff of verses 24 and 25–the glory of being presented blameless in His presence–and just breeze over the bitter taste of the rest of the letter. In fact, that’s what Jude wanted to do as well, as he was “eager to write to you about our common salvation.” Instead, his emphasis is on the need to contend for the faith. Why? “Well,” to quote another famous theologian, “ya got trouble, my friend, right here, I say, trouble right here in River City” (Professor Harold Hill, The Music Man).

And I’m thinking that, in the church’s battle to free grace from the bonds of legalism, we may have taken our eye off of grace’s other enemy, licentiousness. Don’t really even use that word much anymore. So I went back in my journal to see what thoughts I might have captured in previous years about this little letter. And something I wrote back in 2014 caused me to whisper, “Amen,” as it reflected many of the thoughts going through my head this morning. Re-running it for others to consider, as well. Happy Throwback Friday.

——————————————————————————————–

Although he was eager to talk to them of their common salvation, he instead appeals to them to contend for the faith. While he wanted to get lost in the grandeur of deliverance, he instead felt he needed to be real about the great danger of destruction. Though he initially intended to talk to them of the steadfast love of God, he instead warns them of the condemnation that awaits those who pervert grace.

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

(Jude 3-4 ESV)

They had entered the assembly of the saints in secret. Stealthily they had settled in alongside those who had been “called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ” (v.1). Jude piles on the metaphors concerning these infiltrators. They were “hidden reefs at your love feasts” . . . shepherds who feed themselves . . . waterless clouds . . . fruitless trees . . . substance-less, foaming waves of the sea . . . wandering stars (vv.12-13). Driven by their flesh-invoked, and perhaps satanically inspired, dreams, they “defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme glorious ones” . . . blaspheming “all that they do not understand” (v. 8, 10). They were, and are, quite simply, bad news for the people of the good book.

And, they have “crept in unnoticed.” Therefore, writes Jude, contend for the faith.

In our day, I sometimes fear that we have reacted so strongly to the legalism of past generations that, as part of preaching “by grace alone,” we have failed to recognize the need to still contend for the faith among those calling themselves people of God. That while we are careful to not rely on the flesh at all, we fail to see the need to still bring the flesh under submission. That while our salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, it is possible to pervert, or transpose grace such that, rather than make us free FROM SIN, it is used as an excuse TO SIN. That our liberty is swallowed up in license. And so, says Jude, we need to enter the fray and agonizingly struggle for the truth of the faith delivered to us.

We need to be people of the Book. We need to be people who are careful not to quench the illuminating work of the Spirit. We need to be people ready to call sin for what it is . . . sin! And, we need to be people who are ready to engage error and wrestle it to the mat . . . especially when it’s error from the inside.

But we are not people who do this on our own. For just as it was Jesus who delivered a people out of the land of Egypt (v.5a), it is Jesus who is able “to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy” (v. 24a). As we build ourselves up in our most holy faith . . . as we pray in the Holy Spirit . . . as we keep ourselves in the love of God . . . as we wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life (vv. 20-21) . . . then will we be able, by grace, to contend for grace. Then will we, with power, be able to defend that which is true.

And then, with eagerness, we can bask in the wonder of our common salvation.

By His grace . . . for His glory.

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Wash My Feet

Posted on November 16, 2017 by Pete

Often, I think I jump to what I need to do rather than just chew on what He’s done. I rush to practical application, brushing past the wonder of incarnation. Ready to imitate, before I take time to meditate. Such is the case as I read the opening verses of John 13 this morning.

I imagine that a hush must have fell over the room as Jesus got up from supper, took off His outer garment, and took up the towel. That all eyes must have been fixed on the Master as, without a word, He filled the basin with water, and started washing the disciples feet. And that, while Simon may have been the only one to articulate the question, they were all thinking, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”

What they didn’t know at the time is what John, through the Holy Spirit, reveals to those would later read his account of that final meal. That Jesus determined to serve His disciples in such a lowly manner “knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going back to God” (13:3). At the moment Jesus was fully aware of His deity, His authority, and His destiny. If ever there was a time to stand before them as Lord, and command them as Master, this was the time. But first He would kneel at their feet and serve them because He had purposed to love them to the end.

. . . when Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

(John 13:1 ESV)

That’s what Jesus does. He loves His own to the end. He is with them, as they run the race, until they cross the finish line. Draws alongside during the battle, until victory is finally won. Having started a good work in His own, He is committed to seeing it through until the day He comes again to gather His own to Himself. And if along the way, it means washing their feet (and it does), He does that too.

Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered Him, If I do not wash you, you have no share with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean . . ”

(John 13:8-10 ESV)

Jesus told Peter the washing was necessary. That getting dirt on his feet was inevitable. That if Peter were going to continue to abide with Jesus, it would be necessary to pull out the towel, from time to time. Not that Peter would need to again be fully bathed, but would continually need to ministered to through the basin. Jesus being prepared to continually wipe off the feet of those He already declared completely clean.

Made clean, completely clean, through His finished work on the cross. The shed blood of Christ removing the stain of sin and transgression forever. But the water of the Word needing to be applied often to deal with the defiling effect of the ways of this world and the weakness of the flesh. Jesus willing, again and again, to take up the towel and basin and wash away our failure that we might continue in fellowship with Him. Determined to love us, and love us to the end.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

(1John 1:8-9 ESV)

I know I need to follow the Master’s example. That just as He humbles Himself to wash my feet, I need to humbly draw alongside and serve others. That a servant is not great than his master. And that there is a blessing in knowing these things and doing these things (13:16-17).

But before I go there, I need to sit here and humbly confess, “Lord Jesus, wash my feet.”

Before I go and do, there is merit in remembering what He has already done and is continually doing.

Before I act, maybe it’s best to be still and simply adore. To reflect on the love of God as manifest in the Son who through Spirit has determined to love me to the end.

O’, the wonder of grace. To Him be all the glory.

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An Unlikely Psalmist

Posted on November 15, 2017 by Pete

I’ll take lesser known songs of praise for 2000, Alex.

Blessed be the Most High, and praise and honor Him who lives forever,
for His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and His kingdom endures from generation to generation;
all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and He does according to His will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay His hand or say to Him, “What have you done?”

Uh . . . who is David? Nope. Solomon? Nope, again. How about Isaiah? Wrong! One of the other prophets? Not them. Job? Not him either. Couldn’t be Paul. You’re right, couldn’t be. Then who?

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.

No way!

Way! (Daniel 4:34-35)

Did a double reading in Daniel this morning. Four chapters covering the major events of Daniel & Co. in Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar. And there’s a fresh sense of awe as I hover over this unlikely psalmist.

Unlikely because we’re talking king of Babylon here. You know, Babylon as in the merciless Chaldeans. A nation who, shaped by their leader, had the reputation of being a “ruthless and impetuous people,” sweeping across the whole earth to seize dwelling-places not their own. They were a feared and dreaded nation, a law to themselves, and concerned only with promoting their own honor. With horses swifter than leopards, and riders fiercer than wolves at dusk, they were unstoppable–like vultures swooping to devour helpless prey. A people bent on violence–deriding kings, scoffing at rulers, laughing at fortified cities. Worshipers of self, “whose own strength is their god.” (Hab. 1:6-11 NIV).

Yeah, it was their king who was the guy who blessed the Most High.

The same king who brought Daniel and friends to his palace and tried to conform them into his own image. The king who would think nothing of executing every wise man in his kingdom, whether magician, enchanter, sorcerer, or court counselor, if they couldn’t make known to him the details of his dream. The king who built big and imposing idols and demanded that all in his kingdom bow down to them whenever he said so. The king so enraged at three minor officials who refused to bow down to his idol, that he threw them into a burning inferno. The king who would stand upon the roof of his palace, look over Babylon, and whisper to himself, “Ain’t I something! This is MY kingdom that I have built by MY power for the glory of MY majesty” (Daniel 4:30).

Yup, he’s the one writing songs to praise and honor God who lives forever.

And as I chew on this sovereign, and his story, and his song, I can’t help but marvel that this unlikely psalmist is, in many ways, your typical trophy of grace.

His sins, many. His arrogance, off the charts. The blood on his hands would fill an ocean. And yet, by the Creator’s sovereign determination, through the Almighty’s infinite patience, God chooses to reveal Himself to him. And this man is brought to his senses and bows down before the God Most High, and blesses the LORD with all his soul. And all this, accomplished with justice–through a provision yet to be revealed to the world.

. . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. This was to show Gods righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over former sins.

(Romans 3:23-25 ESV)

Nebuchadnezzar was a benefactor of “divine forbearance.” An unholy man made a worshiper of the One Holy God because His sin would one day be atoned for. The redemption of a ruthless despot fully justified in the eternal economy of the kingdom of heaven because God’s righteousness would be credited to him by a great exchange yet to happen. His former sins “passed over” because the Lord Jesus Christ, though He was rich, yet for Nebuchadnezzar’s sake became poor, so that the Babylonian king by Christ’s poverty might become rich (2Cor. 8:9).

So that this once self-absorbed man might again look up from that same palace roof, behold the heavens, and bless the Most high, giving praise and honor to Him who lives forever.

And, bringing it home, so that this once self-consumed guy, sitting over his laptop doing his devo’s this morning, might do the same.

That’s the power of the cross. That’s the unfathomable love of God.

Unreal!

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

All because of His amazing grace. All for His everlasting glory!

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What More Could They Want?

Posted on November 14, 2017 by Pete

They weren’t going to get wealthy doing what they did, but they were rich beyond measure. Didn’t have the toys their neighbor’s did, but they had something far better.  Couldn’t open up a bank account, but they were able to lay up treasures in storehouses in heaven. They weren’t able to own any land, but they had access to holy ground.

No earthly inheritance, no physical assets to show for a lifetime of labor. But given what they had instead, what more could they want?

“This shall be their inheritance: I am their inheritance: and you shall give them no possession in Israel; I am their possession.”

(Ezekiel 44:28 ESV)

This morning, I’ve been reading the revelation given Ezekiel of a new temple. Enough detail in his vision to measure out the footprint and draw up working blueprints for God’s reconstructed and reestablished earthly place of habitation.

But, as impressive as Jerusalem’s bigger and better place of worship might be, what catches my eye is something that could not be improved upon–the privilege of the priesthood. Just as they had in the tabernacle in the wilderness, or in the glorious temple built by Solomon, those called to be priests would again be granted access to the holy place. Invited in to draw near to the place where the glory would again reside. Set apart to minister to the Holy One of Israel.

But the job came with a price. Theirs was to be a sanctified life. A high bar set in order for mere men to enter the presence of an Awesome God. Their devotion was to be whole-hearted. They were to be all in. And, as a visible reminder that God was to be their portion and sufficiency, they and their families were to live without what most considered to be basic essentials.

There was to be no expectation of ever receiving an inheritance, or passing one on to their kids–because God Himself would be their inheritance. No land was assigned to their tribe, as was to the other tribes of Israel.

What’s more, there would be no moon-lighting at a second job in order to make ends meet. Instead, they were to live off their labor as intermediaries for God’s people trusting that he would continually provide through the generations. And when they sat back and considered what they had to show for all their labors, they would look to the I AM, alone, as their special possession.

Access into the presence of the Creator. Robed in His appointed and anointed garments. Bathed continually in His glory. Offering sacrifices pleasing to the Almighty. What more could they want?

What more could I want?

. . . you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

(1Peter 2:5 ESV)

Called to be a holy priesthood–that’s who we are as believers in Christ.

The blood of Jesus removing all barriers for access to the holy of holies. Robed in the perfection and righteousness of the Son of God, credited to us apart from any merit of our own, thus providing a just basis for entry into heavenly realms of glory. Privileged to approach confidently and minister, through His enabling, ably. To abide in His presence and, wonder of wonders, to have Him delight in abiding with us. All this while offering up sacrifices pleasing in His sight, and laying up treasures in a future place of unimaginable joy and pleasure.

Whatever we set our affections on here on earth; whatever temporal possession we feel compelled to expend our energies toward; whatever we think we are accomplishing by laying up a legacy and inheritance for those who follow us, it pales in comparison to what we now possess in Him and what we will inherit on that day when we are with Him.

What more could we want?

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold
I’d rather be His than have riches untold
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame
I’d rather be true to His holy name

Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin’s dread sway
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today

George Beverly Shea | Rhea F. Miller
Word Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)

Because of grace. For His glory

 

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More Than Just a Hired Hand

Posted on November 10, 2017 by Pete

Job’s problem wasn’t with the sovereignty of God. He’d already conceded that God, because He is God, could give and take away as He determined. Job wasn’t disputing the legitimacy of God’s rule over man, or the reality of His power over the earth. Those were givens. But, as Job continues to engage with his fake comforters, he makes an argument that kind of resonates, at least on the surface. While no one’s disputing God’s almighty-ness, why does God involve Himself so much in our puny-ness?

“Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not. And do You open Your eyes on such a one . . . Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with You, and You have appointed his limits that he cannot pass, look away from him and leave him alone, that he may enjoy, like a hired hand, his day.”

(Job 14:1-2, 5-6 ESV)

Life is short and hard, says Job. From the moment we are born, we begin to die. For a God who lives in unapproachable light, our time on earth is but a shadow. So, asks Job, why even give us a second glance? Why not wind us up and let us go? After all, in Your sovereignty You have set our days and numbered our months. By Your omnipresent power You can determine our boundaries. So why not leave us alone? Whatever our lot, let us put in our time and try to extract whatever joy we can from it. Even a hired hand, even a ditchdigger (MSG), gets to do that.

Kind of makes sense.

God didn’t need to allow Satan an audience with Him. He could have chosen to ignore the Accuser’s mocking taunts as to why Job chose to be faithful. He certainly didn’t have to prove anything to the snake. Didn’t need to allow the Enemy of men to bankrupt Job and destroy his family. He could have said, “No way!” when Satan hissed for permission to inflict Job’s body with unbearable sores to go along with Job’s unimaginable sorrows. But God didn’t. In fact, it was God who started the whole debate with Satan. God who had taken notice of Job and directed Satan to do likewise.

“Have you considered My servant Job?”   (Job 1:8)

So how come? That’s Job’s question. How come?

And I’m thinking what Job was missing was that, while he may have been but a servant, Job was God’s servant. He was more than a hired hand. He was more than just some ditchdigger. He was born to be God’s image-bearer and the Almighty’s glory-giver.

It will take a few more chapters before Job’s earthly arguments give way to some heavenly perspective. To be reminded that his purpose in being born was not simply to put his time in on earth and glean whatever satisfaction he could from whatever lot he was given. That his time on earth really wasn’t about him at all, and that his feeble demands to vindicate himself before God were based on a false view of why he existed. But that the reason God was so interested in Job’s fleeting time on earth was because of the glory it would bring to God for all eternity.

The “good” that all things work together for, may or may not seem so “good” for us while we encounter the hard stuff. But when all sufficient grace is appropriated by faith; when we keep following because we believe in His promises and know it’s gonna be worth it all; when, when all we can do is hang on, we hang-on faithfully because we trust Him to be faithful, then we’re saying that the “good” is found in Him. And, in His eternal purposes, more than our temporal pleasures.

That the reason He pays attention to us, is so that we might know Him. That the reason He doesn’t wind us up and let us go, is that He wants us to abide in Him. That the reason He keeps His eye on us, is that we might direct every eye toward Him.

We’re more than a hired hand. We are eternally loved children of God. Bought with a price. No longer our own. But forever His.

Living by His grace. Living for His glory.

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Speaking Directly to God

Posted on November 9, 2017 by Pete

Really, he wasn’t asking for a lot. He wasn’t pleading for things to somehow go back to the way they were. Wasn’t demanding to have his wealth or health back. Wasn’t seeking a Lazarus type of miracle that his family might surround him again. All Job wanted was some answers. How come?

His friends said it must have been something he did. Job knew it wasn’t. In his heart he knew what God knew, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” (Job 1:8)

Not that Job was perfect. But he kept short accounts, rising early and offering burnt offerings. He sought righteousness. He shunned evil. Living all of life under a holy and reverent awe of the Almighty. By God’s own testimony, “None like him on the earth.” So, all Job wanted was some answers, “What on earth is happening?!?”

The sores on his body were a constant source of irritation. As were the miserable comforters around him. And it was becoming obvious that talking to them would get him nowhere. And so, all he wanted was to speak directly to God.

But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God.

(Job 13:3 ESV)

Job wanted a divine appointment . . . literally! He wanted an audience with the Almighty. He wanted a courtroom set before the throne of heaven were he could plead his case and prove God had made a mistake. But first he needed some hindrances removed in order to take full advantage of such an encounter of the divine kind.

Only grant me two things, then I will not hide myself from Your face: withdraw Your hand far from me, and let not dread of You terrify me. Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and You reply to me.

(Job 13:20-22 ESV)

Job wanted just a couple of things. Only two things that would level the playing field. First, Job asks of God, stop the suffering. Remove my affliction, restore a measure of well-being, and then I’ll be able to vindicate myself. Take away the oppression and brokenness that clouds my thinking and restore my vigor, then get ready to deal with my compelling arguments.

Second, Almighty Creator of the universe, don’t overawe me. Shield Your glory and majesty such that my instinctive and reflexive reaction isn’t to go facedown in Your presence. After all, it’s hard to argue one’s case when you’re kissing the ground. If You could somehow not overwhelm all my senses with Your unapproachable presence, then, says Job, I will answer Your call. Or, if You prefer, I can lead the discussion and You can answer me.

As I chew on Job’s plea, it’s almost comical. Not judging Job. But his physical and emotional suffering are severely compromising his mental reasoning. It’s not so easy to speak directly to God.

Or, is it?

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

(Romans 8:26-27 ESV)

Consequently, [Jesus] is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them

(Hebrews 7:25 ESV)

I’m thinking we might be prone to take for granted the amazing provision of prayer. To let fade the wonder of the divine work that enables us to speak directly to God.

Though having a reverent fear of His majestic character, we are encouraged to enter the holy of holies and confidently approach His throne of grace where Jesus lives to make intercession for us. Far from being forced facedown, we are welcomed into His very presence as sons and daughters. Not entering in through our own merit, but approaching as we are in Christ, robed in His righteousness through His finished work on the cross and His glorious exit from the tomb.

Not requiring our suffering to be removed in order to clearly articulate our need, but offering up our feeble and often unclear petitions knowing the Spirit intercedes on our behalf. Our confused and muddled thinking no barrier to Him who searches hearts and knows the mind of the Spirit as the Spirit knows our inner most thoughts and desires.

No need to make demands of the Almighty. Behold, through His Son He stands at the door and knocks, wanting to commune with us even as He invites us to abide with Him.

Not that we necessarily find clear answers and a clean resolution to life’s circumstance. But that we are promised an audience with the Almighty and a peace that passes all understanding that will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Php. 4:6-7).

Speaking directly to God. Oh, what privilege.

Because of grace. For His glory.

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I MYSELF

Posted on November 8, 2017 by Pete

Think of great Scripture passages about the Great Shepherd and you’re likely to go immediately to Psalm 23, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Think on it just a bit more, and John 10 probably isn’t far behind as Jesus declares, “I am the good shepherd.” But this morning I’m hovering over what I think is probably a lesser known, but just as great, passage about the Shepherd. Might I suggest we add Ezekiel 34 to the list? Where the great I AM identifies the shepherd of His sheep as the great I MYSELF.

Ezekiel 34:1-24 begins with a prophecy against the many flaky shepherds of Israel and then, concludes with the promise of one faithful Shepherd over Israel.

Through Ezekiel, the Lord GOD indicts those who should have cared for the flock of Israel for their self-centered, carelessness with His people. They should have been feeding the flock, instead they were concerned with only feeding themselves. The weak sheep they had not strengthened. The injured sheep they had not bound up. Those who had strayed were not brought back. And the lost? Well, for the lost they made no effort to find. Instead they ruled over the flock “with force and harshness.”  They were fake shepherds.  No shepherds at all.

The result?

So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts.

(Ezekiel 34:5 ESV)

And then the focus of the prophetic word shifts from the “you” of the shameless shepherds to the “I myself” of the Sovereign God.

For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep.

(Ezekiel 34:11a ESV)

The Lord GOD, the Lord Jehovah Himself, condescends to search for helpless sheep. Not only to seek, but to rescue as well. To bring them out and gather them in. To lead them to their own pastures, and there, to feed them (34:11-14).

I myself will be the shepherd of My sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, . . . I will feed them in justice.

(Ezekiel 34:15-16 ESV)

Over and over again in these few short verses your can’t help but notice God’s all-in, up-close-and-personal, determination as He proclaims, “I will”.

I myself will be the shepherd of My sheep. I myself will do the work. I myself will seek the lost, bring back those who have strayed, bind up those who are hurting, and strengthen those who are failing. And, says our holy, holy, holy God who desires, with holy desire, to dwell in the midst of an unholy people, I myself will do it all with justice.

And as I chew on this, I marvel again at the heart of God, who so loves His people that He Himself engages, with a hands-on engagement, in their scattered, lost, and helpless world, that He Himself might be their shepherd.

And I wonder afresh at the Son of God, who came as God in flesh, so that He might make known to them their Shepherd. Come to seek and save the lost. Leaving the ninety-nine in order to bring back to Himself the one. Offering rest for those who are weary and heavy laden. Providing supernatural strength for those ready to drop to their knees in hopeless exhaustion.

And providing all this with justice. As the Great Shepherd offering Himself as the Lamb of God, the once for all sacrifice, for the rebellion and transgressions of the sheep. The price fully paid, the provision fully made, that they might, covered in their Shepherd’s righteousness, feed forever in green pastures.

The great I AM so desirous of His people that He would become for us the great I MYSELF.

Such is amazing grace. To Him be all the glory.

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Creamed

Posted on November 7, 2017 by Pete

I’m really not much of a cream guy. Cream, not like “in my coffee”, but cream like “on my skin”. Sure I’ll SPF 40 out of necessity, ’cause I’m not much of a sunburn guy either. And sometimes, when the skin gets really dry, I’ll slap on some moisturizing cream, or, when the feet take a bit of beating and start cracking up (literally), I’ll rub cream into them. But, on a daily basis, I’m not creaming myself. And even when I do cream me, I wanna use creams that don’t feel or smell like creams. Nothing oily. Nothing flowery. Like I said, I’m not much of a cream guy.

So, why am I thinking about being creamed this morning? Because, according to John, I am!

But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. . . . But 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)

Here’s the context: John is talking to believers about the many antichrists which have come. And they’ve come out from their midst. Though they were once associated with the body of Christ, John says they were never really part of it, for if they were, they would have continued with the body of Christ. But they are antichrists. They are anti-Christ. They deny the Son, and thus, they deny the Father. They are liars. They don’t know the truth (1John 2:18-19, 22-23).

But such is not the case with true believers, says John. They know the truth. Because they’ve been creamed.

In my circles, we don’t use the word “anointed” very much when talking about ourselves. And in those circles where I think the word is used more, it’s usually in the context of some special endowment. As in, “His preaching is anointed”, . . . or, “How powerful is her ministry–she has an anointing on her.” But, if I’m reading John correctly, all believers can confidently state, “I am anointed.”

Interesting word, “anoint.” It literally means “to smear something on.” So, we believers have been smeared. Or, as I’m thinking, we’ve been creamed. Creamed by the Holy One, the ascended Christ, who said He would send “another Helper”, to be abide with His followers, “even the Spirit of truth” (Jn 14:16,17). Creamed with the active Agent of truth, so that we might know the truth. Creamed with the third Person of the Holy Trinity, the Spirit of God.

The Holy Spirit is our anointing. This anointing abides in us. This anointing rests on us. And this anointing makes known to us the truth.

And it’s not that only special believers have an anointing, but that all believers have a special anointing. We’ve all been creamed.

The Holy Spirit has been poured out into our lives. His mission, to make Christ known to us. To enable us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior and, by that knowledge, conform us to the image of God’s blessed Son. Transforming us, through the renewal of minds creamed with truth, to be more and more like Jesus.

Too often, I think we simply think of the Spirit as some “force” within us. What’s more, too often we settle for it being a dormant force. But that is so far from how the Holy Spirit wants to operate.

First, He’s not an “it” . . . He’s a “He”. Second, this “He” is God Himself. And third, He has come that we might interact with Him on a continual basis. Not as some sort of force-field we walk in the midst of, but as the “person” of “personal relationship” with God; as the “in you” of “Christ in you.” He is what empowers this Christian walk as He leads us into all truth.

Oh, that we might become more adept at recognizing His presence and hearing His voice. That we might know the power of this anointing we have.

So, let’s acknowledge that we’ve been creamed. Let’s celebrate that we’ve been creamed.

And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put His seal on us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

(2Corinthians 2:21-22 ESV)

By His grace. For His glory.

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Where God’s Love Lives

Posted on November 6, 2017 by Pete

Not only is there not enough room for both of them, they can’t even occupy the same heart at the same time. It’s a mutually exclusive reality. If one is present, then the other is not. And thus, it seems to me, if we’re aware of it, it is a great gauge for what’s going on inside. If the first has taken over, then we can be pretty sure the second has been squeezed out. To cultivate the second, on the other hand, is to prevent the first from moving in. Such, it would seem, is the dynamic of where God’s love lives.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world.

(1John 2:15-16 ESV)

We’re talking apape love here. More than just an affectionate love, it’s what is often referred to as a self-sacrificing love. The kind of love that so delights in someone, or something, that it can’t be constrained, and is willing to go to the wall for the object of its love. But, evidently, it’s not a love that can be split between the love of the world and the love of God.

To love the one, is to have no room for the other. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Mutually exclusive. Can’t have it both ways. We’re kidding ourselves if we think we can.

Catering to the lust of the flesh? Submitting to satisfy those sensual bodily appetites hanging on from our old nature? Then the love of the Father is dormant.

Captivated by the lust of the eyes? Seduced to pursue fixing our gaze on debased pictures, or idol-creating prizes? Then the love of the Father has been evicted.

Compelled by the pride of life? Driven by what MacDonald calls “the unholy ambition for self-display and self-glory?” Then the love of the Father is absent.

When we find ourselves loving the world and the things of the world then it’s an indicator we have stopped abiding in the Father’s self-sacrificing love for us. The love that sent His One and only Son to pay the price for our sin. The love that adopted us, bringing us into relationship with full rights and privileges of sons and daughters of God and joint-heirs with Christ. The love that sent His Spirit to live within us so that we might ever abide with Him, setting His mark upon us as a guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it. The love that has seated us, even now, together with the risen Christ in heavenly places, and has blessed with every spiritual blessing.

Why then, when we see a love for the world emerging, would we not flee such lust and pride in order to protect the love of God within us? Why would we not so pursue the affections of heaven, that there would be no room for the world to gain any ground within our hearts?

Especially when we have been given all we need to participate in the divine nature through His promises of power. The power to refuse the lust of the flesh, and the power to win over the lust of the eyes, and the power to dethrone the god of self, graciously gifted to us. The power of the perfect life of the Son of God, His righteousness credited to us. That power actively released through the present life of the Spirit of God, given to work in us.

And through that power, God’s love lives in us. And where God’s love lives, there will be no room for the love of the world.

Such is the wonder of grace. To Him be all the glory.

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One Thing I Know (re-run)

Posted on November 3, 2017 by Pete

Enjoying reading John 9 again.  Remembered these thoughts from a couple of years ago.  Thought I’d rerun them today . . .

I appreciate a good debate. I admire those who can build an argument, precept by precept. Those who can verbally spar with others, making point and counter-point. Those who, at some point in the debate, leave their prepared notes and go into “real time” mental mode in order to respond to their opponent’s assertions or arguments. It takes a lot of mental capacity and quick thinking–not just to store up the facts and data, but to retrieve and shape them into cohesive thoughts.

This morning I’m sitting back and noodling on one of my favorite debates in all Scripture.

In this corner, the Pharisees. The crème de la crème of Jewish religious thought and understanding. Learned men. Men trained in the things of God and the traditions of their forefathers. Smart and powerful men.

In the other corner, a seeing blind guy. Born without sight at birth, never afforded the opportunity to learn at the feet of the greats because he spent his life on street corners at the feet of anyone who might throw him a bit of change. Beyond talking to his parents as a kid, he probably didn’t have a lot of opportunity to sharpen his verbal skills. In all likelihood, I’m guessing, not a lot of people paused to engage him in stimulating conversation. But there he stands across the table from the religious elite . . . staring into their eyes . . . and they staring into his. And the question being debated, “Is Jesus a sinner?”

Those trained in the finer points of the law looked into the crystal clear seeing eyes of a man blind from birth and concluded that the One who had given Him sight must be a sinner because He did so by having the blind man wash mud off his eyes on the Sabbath. Clean dirt off your unseeing eyes? That’s work, they said. Do that on the Sabbath? That’s sin, they said. That you came back seeing? Doesn’t matter, they said. That not since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind? Don’t wanna hear it, they said. That only God could do such a miracle? Get out of our sight, they said.

How do you debate that? What argument can be presented to refute such stiff-necked thinking? What point or counter-point succeeds against such irrational, sin-darkened reasoning?

So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this Man is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether He is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

(John 9:24-25 ESV)

One thing I know, says the seeing blind guy.

Look into my eyes. See them staring into your soul. Say what you will . . . rationalize all you want . . . go ahead and protect your position with your convoluted reasoning. But know this, that you are toe to toe with a blind man seeing. So who this Man is exactly, I don’t know . . . YET! But one thing I do know, once I was blind but now I see!

Game . . . Set . . . Match!

There are many things I don’t know. High and lofty things that I don’t really understand. Details still to be worked out. Insights still to be gained. But one thing I know, though I was blind, now I see. Though I once walked in the darkness, now I live in the light. Though my sin was once a death sentence, the price has been paid in full by Another and I am a possessor of eternal life. Though my flesh once ruled, it is losing power day-by-day as the Spirit increasingly, by God’s grace, prevails.

How did it all happen? What are the 6, or 7, or 12 steps to salvation? Which came first, faith or regeneration? I don’t fully know.

But one thing I know . . . I am not who I was. I am a new creation in Christ by the glories of the cross. I live for a world not of this world. And I see, by faith, a Bridegroom who is making ready His bride for a great wedding day.

All by His grace . . . all for His glory.

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