Can You Hear Me Now?

Posted on January 18, 2017 by Pete

They’re presented as a two-volume set. Both are designed to speak to the souls of men–one more by how it is “tell-t”, the other by how it’s felt. Of the one, there are many translations and a myriad of ways it is packaged and presented. Of the other, only one copy, delivered every day in the same way. To enjoy the first, I most often hunch over my desk. To take in the other, I need to get outside and look up . . . look waaaayy up! And, it occurs to me, I tend to focus on the one and, for the most part, take for granted the other. And this morning, the volume I so often overlook, though it looks over me, seems to be whispering to my heart, “Can you hear me now?

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their measuring line goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

(Psalm 19:1-4a ESV)

Ask me what I know about Psalm 19 and I’d tell you it is about the Word of God. The law of the Lord. His testimonies, His precepts, His commandments and rules.

And what about them? They are perfect. Sure and right. Pure and clean. True and righteous altogether. Sufficient to revive the soul, to make wise the simple, to rejoice the heart, even as they enlighten the eyes. More to be desired than finest gold, they also ignite the soul’s taste buds, “sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.” And beyond all the Word’s intrinsic beauty and worth, in the keeping of it there is great reward. That’s what I most often would say Psalm 19 is about.

But that’s only one of two glorious ways in which, the songwriter says, God has revealed Himself.

We had a young couple speak to our congregation last Sunday of their desire and leading to work with New Tribes Mission and to bring the gospel to an “unreached people group”–a group of people who have no access to the gospel. No access because their language is unknown outside their own group thus, no verbal communication possible of the good news, no written record of the God-breathed Scriptures, no fellowship of believers in the region to make disciples. I was so inspired by this young couple who are ready to dedicate their lives to bringing the gospel to the “end of the earth.” But while these hidden people may not have access yet to the one true gospel, a loving and self-revealing Creator has ensured that they have access to the one true God.

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

(Romans 1:19-20a ESV)

The heavens declare the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship (NLT). And ours is but to look up. To hit the pause button on the multiple matters vying for our attention and to focus on God’s daily “I’m here” declaration. To hit the mute button on our cacophonous world and listen to that voice “not heard” yet speaks “words to the end of the world.”

“Can you hear me now?” asks every sunrise. “Do you get the glory?” is the call of every night sky.

A two-volume set. The heavens above me, the Bible before me.

“Creation reveals God as the Mighty One, the God of Power . . . His Word reveals Him as the One who enters into covenant relationship with His people. God’s works reveal His knowledge and power . . . His Word reveals His love and grace.”

– William MacDonald

Both make known a God who has gone to such great lengths to be made known–even taking on flesh. Both glorify the Creator who has withheld nothing in order to redeem His creation–even His own Son. Both invoke worship of Him who alone is worthy of worship and invites our offerings of praise–even opening wide the way into the Holy of Holies through the finished work of the cross.

The heavens declare. The skies proclaim. Mine is to look up and listen.

By His grace. That they might make known anew His glory.

Amen?

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Forgetful and Fruitful

Posted on January 17, 2017 by Pete

We don’t know exactly how many years there were between the two boys, but we do know that Joseph and his wife had to come up with two baby names within seven years. And it must have been quite a discussion.

After all, her name was Asenath, which meant “belonging to the goddess Neith”, and she probably wanted her boys to also have names acknowledging one of the many gods of Egypt. Deity-related names, as well as deity worship, ran in her family. Her dad, the priest of On, had been named Poti-Pherah, “he whom the Ra (the sun god) gave.”

But her husband had other ideas when it came to naming their two sons.

And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him. Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my fathers house.” And the name of the second he called Ephraim: “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

(Genesis 41:50-52 ESV)

Joseph wanted the boys to have meaningful names as well. But rather than exalt some inert deity’s fame, every time he called their names he wanted to instead call to remembrance the living God’s favor. And so he named them Forgetful and Fruitful.

There was a lot to forget. A lot to let go of. Enough past to fuel bitterness well into the future. It had been over 13 years since he had been defrocked and deported. Back then he was the favored child. He was the apple of his father’s eye and he wore the clothes to prove it. And back then he was living in the land promised to his great-great-grandfather by the God who had revealed Himself through visitations and visions. Back then life was going pretty well.

But his older brothers despised his favored status and so, when the opportunity afforded itself, they got rid of him. They shredded his coat. They sold his freedom. And they severed his family ties.

So Joseph grew up in Egypt. He came of age in a foreign land with foreign gods. His special status removed. His servitude compelled. But though taken out of the land of God’s promise, He never left the hand of God’s promise. And, after some seventeen years, Joseph ended up ruling in Egypt.

Despite the loss suffered in Canaan, despite the difficulties growing up as a slave in Egypt, God’s favor remained on this child of promise. Joseph could forget what might have been as he took measure of what was. As he daily determined to acknowledge God’s faithful provision and the unmerited riches that were his, even in the land of his affliction. And every time he hugged his boys in the morning and put them to bed at night, Joseph would be reminded of the joy and contentment that came from being forgetful and fruitful.

And I’m thinking that mine is not to dwell on what might have been, or on what I think should be, but to recognize the ever-present hand of God’s undeserved favor through all life’s circumstance. To know that, just as Joseph had been promised great things by God in a vision, I too am a child in possession of great promises delivered through His Spirit. And that I should avoid the temptation to waver concerning the promise of God. Instead, mine is to, by faith, give glory to God, fully convinced that He is able to do what He has promised (Rom. 4:20-21). Mine is to remember that, though it might not be the same physical and material blessings that Joseph knew, I too have known God’s great provision in the land of my affliction. And so, I too can worship the God who can make me forgetful even as He has caused me to be fruitful.

Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

(Psalm 30:5b ESV)

Because of grace. For His glory.

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But You Said

Posted on January 13, 2017 by Pete

He had survived the going away party, but he was worried that he might not make it through the homecoming gala.

It had been angry uncle Laban and “his kinsmen” you had pursued Jacob and Jacob’s clan as they sought to quietly steal away from Haran and go find a home back in Canaan. But now it was brother Esau who was headed to out to “greet” him. The same Esau who, twenty years earlier, had his birthright extorted and his blessing stolen by dear brother Jacob. The same Esau who was so enraged then that he couldn’t wait until their daddy died so that he could take out his scheming brother. The same Esau who caused Jacob to so fear for his life that Jacob took off to find his fortune back in Haran. The same Esau who now was coming out to welcome him home. Oh yeah, and, he wasn’t coming alone.

And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.” Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed.

(Genesis 32:6-7a ESV)

Jacob was distressed. Ya’ think?!?!

Crazy angry uncle Laban now behind him, he was anticipating even crazier murderous brother Esau in front of him. I don’t know, I’m thinking I’d be declaring “bust” on our “Canaan or Bust” trek. I’m thinking it’s time for a hard turn left and let’s find somewhere else to settle. But Jacob determines to proceed.

He makes plans to mitigate loss in case Esau attacks his entourage. He devises his own homecoming parade in order to shower Esau with gifts to try and appease any decades-long simmering wrath. And he wrestles in prayer . . . literally! All because he’s going home no matter what.

How come? Why assume the risk? Why keep going down the rocky road? Why not try and avoid the hard stuff?

And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ . . . Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. But You said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.'”

(Genesis 32:9, 11-12 ESV)

“But You said” . . . those are the three words that caught my eye this morning.

Jacob was leaving Haran because God had told him it was time. Jacob was heading home because God had said long ago that He would deed that land to his family. Jacob was putting his family at risk because God had promised he would multiply his offspring beyond number. So, though Jacob feared Esau and was uncertain as to why he’d come to meet him with 400 men, Jacob maintained his course.  All because of, “but You said.”

It’s the way of the people of God–always has been, always will be–to proceed based on the promise. That’s why our enemy has been calling into question God’s word since the beginning . . . “Did God actually say?” (Gen. 3:1).

When the going gets tough, His promises keep us going. Against the odds, despite the opposition, in the face of uncertainty, if God says journey home so I can bless you, you set your face to home.

Gonna be easy? Not necessarily. Gonna be scary? Likely. Gonna be worth it all? Absolutely! That’s the nature of God’s promise.

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him” these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit.

(1Corinthians 2:9-10a ESV)

“But You said.” And so we’ll keep on keepin’ on.

By Your grace. For Your glory.

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Can’t Buy Me Love

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Pete

Still not sure that I have Simon pegged (Acts 8:9-24). It’s recorded he believed the good news, but did he really? Truly a sheep? Or a wolf in sheep’s clothing? Saved guy with just a heart problem? Or still a sinner guy with a heart of stone. The iniquity that binds him, due to him being but a babe in Christ and new to the ways of the kingdom of heaven? Or an indicator that he was still blinded by the ruler of this world and pursuing his kingdom?

What I do know is that Simon liked being the center of attention. He made a living with displays of apparent power. He was a self-promoter; if people couldn’t recognize it themselves, he wouldn’t hesitate to let them know that “he himself was somebody great.” And people bought it . . . literally! They paid him good money to be amazed by his magic and power. He had it all! Or did he?

Philip the evangelist came to town and Simon heard the good news proclaimed. He listened as the evangelist declared the kingdom of God and the power of Jesus’ name to save. And like so many in Samaria, he too believed, was baptized, and followed after Philip. So far, so good.

But then it gets interesting. Peter and the apostles come to Samaria when they hear that revival has broken out. And in order to confirm that this outbreak of grace-provoked belief was of God, they seal the deal just as it had been sealed at Pentecost–with the outpouring of the Spirit of God. The apostles lay their hands on these new believers and they receive the Holy Spirit. And it’s evident to everyone that great power has come down from heaven. Simon included.

And the magician sees the opportunity to add to his “Simon the Great” bag of tricks. Not only is the gospel good for his soul, but the power that comes with it might be good for his career. And so he makes Peter an offer. He offers the apostle a sum of money saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” And Peter’s response is swift and sharp:

But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.”

(Acts 8:20-21 ESV)

Was Simon still in a state of “perishing” or was Peter using words that would adequately indicate the degree to which he abhorred this baby believer’s sin? To be debated.

But was is beyond debate is this: Money can’t buy me love.

The gift cannot be purchased. Not the gift of the Holy Spirit. Nor the gift of God’s eternal salvation of which the Spirit testifies.

Not that our salvation is without price. In fact, it has been purchased at great cost.

. . . 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 1:18-19 ESV)

But the love God offers to a lost world is beyond the means of any man or woman to afford, even the richest of the rich. To think otherwise is to think foolishly. To act otherwise is to act wickedly. To reason that we can offer anything or do anything to merit God’s favor is an indicator of a “heart not right before God.” To entertain any thought that we have any means with which to bargain to profit from God’s abundant grace is a heart-attitude to be repented of. It is sin to be confessed that it might be sin which is forgiven.

Having believed, beware lest we somehow think that anything we have to offer God might obligate Him to bestow greater power or prestige.

Instead, let us rejoice in the gift. Free to all man, secured at great cost by Almighty God.

Let us walk in the power of the Spirit. Freely imparted. Our means of adoption (Rom. 8:15-16). Our agency of sanctification (2Thess. 2:13). Our guarantee of ultimate deliverance (Eph. 1:13-14).

And let us bow down and worship the Giver of every good gift.

By His grace. For His glory.

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. . . You’ll Fall for Anything

Posted on January 11, 2017 by Pete

Chewing on Stephen’s no-holds barred defense before the council. Less a defense perhaps, and more of a spanking. He is “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5) and stands before the religious elite falsely accused of speaking “blasphemous words against Moses and God” (6:11). And Stephen takes these learned men of the word to school. He gives them a Reader’s Digest recap of God’s working among their people from Abraham to Moses and to the prophets. And, rather than defend his teaching, he lays bare their hard hearts.

“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.”

(Acts 7:31 ESV)

Stephen makes clear the propensity of man to resist the provision of God. The sons of Israel were jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt (7:9). The tribes of Israel, though in bondage, were suspicious of Moses their deliverer, rejected him, and forced him into exile (7:29, 35). The delivered of Israel, even after having walked out of Egypt under Moses’ mighty hand, refused to obey him, turned their backs on him, “and in their hearts turned to Egypt” (7:39). And so, points out Stephen, these leaders of Israel continued in the way of their gene pool. Threatened by Jesus, refusing to recognize the power of His deeds and the truth of His words, they rejected Him as the promised Messiah. They betrayed and murdered the Righteous One.

Truth hurts! It cost Stephen his life.

But what grabbed me this morning in particular is the reminder of the dynamic created when God and His provision are rejected. The fact that to turn your back on one thing, is to turn your face to another. The reality that our hearts are not designed to be a vacuum; empty them of one thing and they will fill up with another. Stephen reminded his accusers that God has been in the deliverer-providing business since the beginning. But the natural inclination of the sin-infected hearts of men is to deny their need and reject His provision. And if you reject that, then you’ll fall for anything.

“And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and were rejoicing in the works of their hands.”

(Acts 7:39-41 ESV)

Really? A calf? Sure, it was a golden calf, but still, a calf? That’s what they wanted to call their god? This is what they chose to rely on to go before them as they headed into the wilderness? This was to be the object of their worship? The source of their rejoicing? Did they really think that any work of their hands could be worthy of the allegiance of their hearts? Apparently.

Reject Almighty God and you’ll fall for anything. Despise His revelation and you’ll believe anything. Trample under foot His great provision and you’ll follow anything.

A calf. Behold your god. Unreal!

But it is real. And not just for ancient Israel. But for modern man, as well. Saying, “Pass,” on heaven’s eternity, leaves only embracing earth’s futility. Failing to acknowledge the One who made us, leaves only self-actualizing what defines us. Rejecting the God who desires to dwell among us, leaves only our feeble abilities to try and manufacture something to satisfy us. Something fashioned from our own resources, built with our own hands. A calf. Really?

Oh that God’s people would beware of refusing the fullness of God’s provision. That we would guard our hearts from the temptation to turn again to Egypt. For if we fall for that, we’ll fall for anything.

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere.

(2Corinthians 2:14 ESV)

By His grace. For His glory.

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What’s He Thinking?

Posted on January 10, 2017 by Pete

If I’m picking up what David is laying down this morning, then God sees me. Not just in some macro sense, as in, if God sees everything and knows everything then of course He sees me. Rather, it seems that God’s preferred method of looking upon “the children of man” is not through wide-angle binoculars, but with a pin-point focused microscope so that God actually sees me! The Almighty sees each person, as Spurgeon puts it, “as much and as perfectly as if there were no other creature in the universe.”

The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORDs throne is in heaven; His eyes see, His eyelids test the children of man. The LORD tests the righteous . . .

(Psalm 11:4-5a ESV)

It was years ago when I first made the observation that God has eyelids. And through them He scrutinizes and thoroughly examines those made to bear His image.

His glory filling the heavens, He reigns supreme from His throne over all the earth. And yet, with His eyelids pressed together, He peers into the heart, soul, and circumstance of individuals. He inspects their actions and words. Intently, it’s like He squints to observe the unobservable, to know the thoughts and motivations of the heart.

Kind of intimidating, ain’t it!

So, what’s He thinking?

If God knows me so intimately, if He examines me so closely, how do I know how He’s processing these detailed observations?

. . . the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

(Hebrews 4:12-13 ESV)

The God-breathed Scriptures are my way of knowing what He’s seeing. My Bible is my microscope into His. Every time I open His Word, something of His ways are opened to me. Something of His thoughts are revealed to me. I can see, though dimly, what He sees. I can know, through the active agency of His Spirit, what He knows about me.

Still pretty intimidating. But at least I know, in some measure, the outcome of God’s scrutiny and the results of His testing.

But what do with it? What do I do when the dross becomes evident? When it’s been revealed that the old man is not as dead as he should be? When sin becomes evident?

Since then we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

(Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV)

We hold fast our confession. His thorough examination not a reason to run and hide. Not intended that we’d be so discouraged we would cease and desist. Instead, we stand fast knowing that He who tests us with His eyelids has also provided for us through His Son. A great High Priest who knows our frailties and failings–tempted as we are, yet without sin. And through Him, because of His finished work on our behalf, when we’ve known the intense scrutiny of our God, we boldly approach the throne of grace. The throne of grace found at the foot of the cross.

That God knows me intimately is intimidating. That I can know what He knows through His Word can, at times, be somewhat demoralizing. But, that I can go to a place where grace abounds and forgiveness is again found through the blood of Christ, that is quite energizing.

O worship Him whose eyelids test the children of man.

Know His grace. Declare His glory.

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What To Do When There’s Nothing Else To Do

Posted on January 9, 2017 by Pete

I get the psalmist’s cry.

Why, O LORD, do You stand afar off?   Why do You hide yourself in times of trouble?

(Psalm 10:1 ESV)

Less a complaint based on facts, more on feeling. The head knows that a God who is omnipresent and omniscient is always present and aware of our circumstance. But the heart wonders why it feels so alone. Why God seems so remote and disinterested. Not quite sure what it should expect to feel but pretty certain it should be more than the seeming silence that it’s experiencing.

But I’m thinking it’s in such times–times when it feels like God has concealed Himself in some distant place–that you need to double-up on what you know to be true rather than how you feel about what’s happening. And I’m guessing that’s why something else penned by the songwriter in another song strikes such a chord this morning.

And those who know Your name put their trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.  

(Psalm 9:10 ESV)

Though God might seem to be AWOL, He has not forsaken those who seek Him. Though it might feel like He has given us His back, He has not wavered from His plan to show us His face. Though we might feel on our own, His Son continues to beckon us to abide with Him. Though He might seem so far away, we can still draw near and trust Him.

And isn’t that what we need to do when there’s nothing else we can do? Trust Him? Trust in His Name?

The past has proven His faithfulness. We have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. We have known His power. Experienced His presence. Partaken of His provision.  Thus, we have committed ourselves to Him for our future.  And so, we take refuge in Him now as we navigate our present.  Maybe feeling a bit alone, but never alone.  His steadfast love never ceasing, His mercies new every morning (Lam. 3:22-23).

Words tend to be few when we feel like nobody’s listening. We don’t know what to pray that we haven’t prayed many times before. And so, we depend increasingly on the Spirit within us to be groaning on our behalf before the throne of grace because we no longer know what to pray (Rom. 8:26).

But this we can say when we don’t what to say, “O LORD, I trust You.”

. . . for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

(1Timothy 1:12 NKJV)

Through His all sufficient and ever-abundant grace.

For His all deserving and everlasting glory.

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The Devil Left

Posted on January 6, 2017 by Pete

What a week! Monday started out with great plans for the day which were never realized. And now it’s Friday already and I feel like maybe our feet are somewhat back underneath us. Forty-eight hours in the hospital with very little sleep followed by twenty-four hours of mostly sleep and trying to reclaim our “normal” even if it might be a “new normal.” That’s been our week so far. I’m guessing that’s why my reading in Matthew 4 this morning resonates.

Not comparing our situation with the Lord Jesus’ temptation. No fasting for forty days before being led into a desert. No face-to-face confrontation with the enemy. No direct temptation to seize the crown while avoiding the cross. Instead, my connection with the passage this morning is with the respite Jesus knew when, after having stood fast in the assault, the devil left.

Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these I will give You, if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.'” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to Him.

(Matthew 4:8-11 ESV)

He’d be back. Satan wasn’t done taking his best shot at the Son of Man. But for now, Jesus having withstood the temptation, the devil left. And heaven’s restraint was removed as angels came and took care of God’s beloved Son in whom He is well pleased (Matt. 3:17).

And I’m thinking that’s part of God’s all-sufficient grace in the trial. Intermissions. Time outs. Precious pauses in the fray. Cease fires in the conflict for renewal and restoration. Times of respite when the devil leaves.

It’s the ability to get back to your morning readings and be fed again by the bread from heaven, “every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Some quiet time to drink of the Living Water poured out into our hearts, God’s precious Holy Spirit (John 7:38-39). The opportunity to reconnect with those who, though out of sight for a time, have never stopped lifting you up in prayer. Not quite angels . . . but ministering to you nonetheless with words of compassion and encouragement.

Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

(James 4:7 ESV)

Our battle, ultimately, is never with just flesh and blood. But arrayed against us, as the people of God, is the enemy of God and his “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). And while the assault can take many forms, though the desert can be experienced in many places, though the temptation can come through many circumstances, if we, by the grace and power of God, stand firm and resist him, he will flee. Oh, he’ll be back. But having stood fast, we will know too the reality of renewal that Jesus did.

The devil left.

Mine is not to win the ultimate war, that victory has already been ensured by Christ’s work on the cross–“It is finished!” But in the battle, mine is to persevere. In the skirmish, to stand firm, putting on the full armor He has provided and to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” (Eph. 6:10, 13). Knowing that He will provide times of refreshing.  Confident that “in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37).

The devil left. Yes, he has.

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

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Dealing with the Impurities

Posted on January 2, 2017 by Pete

There’s nothing like some trial and tribulation to expose the impurities in one’s life. When the silver is put to the fire the dross rises to the surface. When the sand is sifted the debris becomes evident. When the going gets tough it can bring to the surface stuff you never knew was there, or stuff that you thought you had dealt with and been “delivered” of. Needless to say, on top of the trial itself, what the trial exposes can be its own disheartening experience.

But it seems to me that something I read in Psalm Four this morning provides some perspective, comfort, and encouragement in dealing with the impurities.

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

(Psalm 4:1 ESV)

It’s not just that David prayed to the LORD in his time of testing which caught my attention, but it’s how he addresses the Father. That the salve for the sting of impure stuff revealed in an already hard situation is found in the reminder of who God is. He is the God of my righteousness.

This is the only time God is referred to this way in the Scriptures. And it’s a reminder that God is the Author and the Perfecter of my righteousness.

I have no righteousness, nor have I ever been righteous, apart from the imputed righteousness of God’s own Son, Jesus Christ. A righteousness credited to my account when I was incapable of making any deposits myself. A righteousness in standing, because of Another. A positional righteousness granted by grace through faith in the finished work of the cross.

And while in God’s wondrous design of salvation this positional righteousness, through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, is intended to become increasingly a practical righteousness evidenced by an increasing holiness, the work will not be complete until we are fully delivered from the weakness of the flesh–whether through death or the return of Christ.

In the meantime, the Author of my righteousness also acts as the Perfecter of my righteousness, and that often through the fiery heat of testing and trials.

But not only is He the Author and Perfecter, He is also the Maintainer of my righteousness . . . and of all those who God has rescued from the bondage of sin.

David, a man after God’s own heart, transgressed against the LORD he loved and cried out, “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!” (Ps. 51:2). And through the prophet Jeremiah God promised He would do just that, “I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against Me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against Me” (Jer. 33:8). John identified the Source of this cleansing, “the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1Jn 1:7), and then explained how to access such cleansing, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9 ESV).

No one likes finding the impurities. But isn’t it part of the process? It’s what prevents us from living in some make-believe world of self-righteousness. It’s what keeps us from the temptation to think we can live independent of abiding in Christ. It is our continual reminder that our righteousness is only found in the Son and only becomes a practical reality through the Spirit. The ever surfacing dross reminds us afresh that it is God’s grace that has brought us safe thus far and only grace that will lead us home.

And thus, we can be encouraged as we remember that it is the God of my righteousness who began a good work in me and the God of my righteousness who has promised to complete that work at the day of Jesus Christ (Php. 1:6).

Don’t like discovering, and all to often rediscovering, the junk that’s still in me. But praise be to God for His provision in dealing with the impurities.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

(Psalm 4:8 ESV)

By His grace. For His glory.

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Fig Leaves and Loincloths

Posted on December 30, 2016 by Pete

You sense it was an “Oh, what have we’ve done?” moment. She had engaged in the conversation and was deceived. But he was with her and knew exactly what they were doing, thus he acted willfully. And it seems that immediately the radiance of the garden turned grey as shame and fear entered their world. Shame as they became aware of their nakedness. Fear as they contemplated the potential implications of their rebellion and disobedience And they looked at one another and said, “Oh, what have we’ve done?”

God was still in the midst but everything had changed. They heard Him walking in the garden as they had many times before, but now He had intuitively become Someone to avoid, Someone to hide from. They knew His presence as they had before but now it brought fear. And this, despite their fig leaves and loincloths.

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

(Genesis 3:6-7 ESV)

Fig leaves and loincloths. It was the best they could come up with. But their self-made coverings did nothing to undo what had been done against God. These designer wraps were useless in removing the shame. They had no power to ease the fear. Fig leaves and loincloths were but man’s best efforts at covering up the awareness of their sin. But even they knew deep down it wasn’t enough. For when they heard God, they hid.

And isn’t that the meta-narrative of religion? Man’s best efforts but still a desire to avoid up-close-and-personal encounters with God. Good works without any certainty that they’re good enough. Seeking to deal with the problem by covering up the problem. Avoiding further exposure of our true selves by hiding from God. If we do enough, deny enough, and hide enough, perhaps it will all work out on the day God calls out, “Where are you?”

But thank God that He has not left us to our own devices to deal with our own shame. Praise the Almighty that we are not left to assuage our own fear. That He waits not for the day of judgment to call out to us, “Where are you?” but even now seeks after those in hiding. Calling to them that they might acknowledge now their guilt. Convicting them of their sin that they might now see the folly of their self-made solutions and instead receive the covering of His making.

And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

(Genesis 3:21 ESV)

Garments made of animal skins. Blood shed for sinners to be clothed. Blood shed by the hand of God. A covering fashioned by the design of the Maker. Foreshadowing an eternal solution to man’s eternal problem.

God Himself providing the once-for-all atoning sacrifice for our rebellion. Jesus, the Lamb of God, without spot or blemish, come to take away the sin of the world.

The wages of sin having been paid for by His death, His righteousness then fashioned into a garment for our covering. Shame erased. Fear of judgment removed.

Fig leaves and loincloths, man’s effort at dealing with his sin problem, can never suffice. Only the robe provided at God’s hand can deal with our “what have I done?” failings. Only by receiving the blood shed on our behalf, only by putting on the Righteousness of Another can we again know the communion God desires with those made in His image.

You can have your fig leaves and loincloths. Give me Jesus.

By His grace. For His glory.

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