Reading Our Vitals

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Pete

Yesterday, as I was reading in 1John, I started thinking about vital signs. Indicators that there’s life, particularly indicators of spiritual life. Yesterday I read that if we find that there’s an innate love for others who claim the name of Christ, it’s a pretty good indicator that we’ve been born of God.

Reading this morning, John says combine love for the brothers with an authentic, abiding belief in the name of God’s Son Jesus Christ, add in an ongoing desire and drive to obey His commandments, and you’ve got a pretty good set of vitals signs.

Abiding belief? Abiding behaviors? Abiding affections? If those are all present, there’s a pretty good chance you’re abiding as a new creation in Christ.

But what if the instrumentation’s wrong? If the blood pressure gauge is unreliable, then it doesn’t really mean much if it says my blood pressure is 110 over 70. If the heart monitor only picks up every second beat, a resting heart rate of 60 beats a minute isn’t really all that good. If your thermometer is made with substandard mercury (dating myself, aren’t I?) then there might be a reason you feel like you’re burning up even though it says your temp is 98.6 degrees.

So, applying that to my spiritual vitals, what if my spiritual measuring devices are inaccurate? After all, I still have this old nature banging around inside of me. There’s still the remnants of a heart that is “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” and beyond knowing (Jer. 17:9). And the illuminating of my mind, which was once steeped in darkness, is an on-going process. So what if I’m not reading the vitals right?

What if I’m off on how authentic my belief is? What if I’m misinformed as to how obedient I am–that I’m only obeying the convenient commands? What if my love for the brothers isn’t as fervent as my heart and mind leads me to believe? How can I have confidence that I’m reading my vitals correctly? Cue the Spirit . . .

And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He has commanded us. Whoever keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in them. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.    (John 3:23-24 ESV)

“By this we know.” It’s one of John’s favorite phrases. Used nine times in this letter. John’s desire is that God’s people would walk in confidence in God’s love. That they would know that they abide in the Almighty and, wonder of all wonders, that the Almighty abides within them. Thus the reason for the vital signs. And thus the unfailing means of discerning those vital signs, “the Spirit whom He has given us.”

The Spirit who Jesus said would come to His disciples after His departure (John 14:16-17). The Spirit who searches the deep things of God (1Cor. 2:10). The Spirit who leads us into all truth (John 16:13). The Spirit who does battle on a daily basis with our old nature (Gal. 5:16-18). The Spirit who knows us so well that He can intercede on our behalf when we don’t have the words to intercede for ourselves (Rom. 8:26). The Spirit who has sealed us as a guarantee of our future inheritance (Eph. 1:13-14). This same Spirit is the One who can give us an accurate read on our vitals.

We know our belief is true, because the Spirit bears witness. We know our obedience is sincere, because the Spirit reveals duplicity and confirms sincerity. We know our love is authentic, because the Spirit knows the heart and knows the mind and has a direct line to the conscience. And we know that when our belief wavers, and our obedience is flakey, and our love becomes self-centered . . . that when we sin, if we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin (1John 1:9), because the Spirit within us testifies with our spirit to the power of Christ’s shed blood to cleanse and the abundance of God’s overflowing grace to forgive.

Vitals are kind of important. So is an accurate reading of those vitals.

All thanks be to God for the Spirit He has given us!

Because of grace . . . for His glory.

Posted in 1John | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Healthy Vital Signs

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Pete

Apparently it’s not as easy as it looks. You know, those shows where a detective comes upon a body and either grabs their wrist with two fingers, or they pull up their eyelids to check their eyes, or they lean over to see if the person’s breathing, and then lean back and say, “They’re dead.” Apparently, it’s not necessarily that simple. A pulse can be hard to find . . . pupils may be unresponsive due to drugs or a deep coma . . . and someone’s breathing can be so shallow that it might only be detected by holding a mirror under their nose for several minutes to see if it steams up. It’s not so easy to tell if someone’s dead. But find a pulse, see reactive pupils, hear someone breathing and you know their alive. Pretty reliable vital signs indicating life.

As in the physical realm, so in the spiritual realm. There are some pretty reliable indicators that someone is alive spiritually. I came across one of those vital signs this morning in my reading.

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the worlds goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does Gods love abide in him?    (1John 3:14-17 ESV)

Not to overly simplify, but it seems pretty straightforward. Want to know if someone has passed from spiritual death into spiritual life? Want to know if they’ve been brought out of darkness and into marvelous light? Want to know if they are slaves to sin or slaves of Jesus? Want to know if they love this world or love the kingdom of God? Then check their vital signs. Do they love the brothers? Is there self-sacrificing affection for the sisters?

The regenerate man is the one who has brotherly affection for those who have been adopted into God’s family through faith in Jesus. The born again woman is the one who embraces those who are counted as the children of God because they’ve trusted in the finished work of the cross. Loving our Christian brothers and sisters proves we have passed from death to life (NLT).

Loving the body of Christ is not THE CAUSE of passing from death to life, but THE EFFECT. It is one of the outward evidences of an inward born again reality. It is the out-working of true faith. It is a fruit of the Spirit evidencing true life in Christ. If we love Him, we love His people.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” ~ Jesus     (John 13:34-35)

Not to be overly simplistic, but it seems pretty straight forward to me. If we struggle with the people of God, whether they worship like us or not . . . or see all Scripture the way we see it . . . then it should be like low blood pressure or a faint pulse–our vital signs are indicating a problem. That what should be supernaturally natural for us, loving the brothers, is being impacted by the disease we were delivered from. That the old sin nature is compromising the new life that is ours in Christ.

Good, from time to time, to check our vital signs. Are we loving the brothers . . . are we serving the sisters . . . are we letting people know that we are Christ’s disciples?

God grant us healthy vital signs. By Your grace . . . for Your glory.

Posted in 1John | Tagged | Leave a comment

You Talk . . . I’ll Listen

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Pete

There seems to be an increased clarity as I read through Job this year.

To be honest, in past years I’ve read through the story and there’s been kind of a fog between chapters 3 and 37. After the initial showdown between God and the devil in heaven and Job’s remarkable response to the calamity he suffers on earth, the back and forth debate between Job and his friends has often been less than clear and I’ve read through it only to get to the end and God’s whirlwind encounter with Job. But this year, more and more of the debate has jumped off the page at me, particularly Job’s diatribes. And Job’s response to suffering seems to have resulted in Job becoming the center of Job’s universe, even to the point of saying to God, “I’ll talk . . . You listen.”

“Behold, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be in the right. Who is there who will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die. 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 to God      (Job 13:18-22 ESV)

Incredible! Job is so convinced of the injustice that has befallen him because he was a man who, by God’s own testimony, was “blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil,” that his vindication becomes his obsession. It seems that Job’s fight for his own righteousness reputation increases as the argument goes on. And if Job must increase, then you gotta know that God must decrease.

Almost comical, in a way.

“God,” says Job, “would You please stop frightening me so with Your awesome Sovereign determination? Would You, Lord, ease up with the fear of God stuff. And would You do it so that I can get a word in edgewise and present my case — my iron clad case that I am in the right and You’ve somehow made a big mistake? And once You remove Your dread from me and I get off my face from before Your holy presence, then give me a call and I will answer . . . or, if You prefer, I’ll lead the conversation and You can answer me?”

Not trying to be overly sarcastic, but isn’t that the tone of Job’s bargaining with God? Not being judgmental or trying to play the “blame game” but isn’t there some fascinating insight as to how suffering can turn one’s attention solely on themselves to the point of clouding their view of God? I’m thinkin’ . . .

How I need to beware of trials becoming all about me. How I need to be on guard against being so consumed by life’s less-than-best circumstances that hubris displaces humility . . . that contention squeezes out contrition . . . that the things of earth overshadow my hope in the things of heaven.

Not judging . . . in fact, probably relating a bit too much.

Love this guy, Job. Love the God He serves. I know what’s coming. God in His awesome, mighty, knee-shaking grace will rebuke Job . . . and reconcile Job . . . and revive Job . . . and restore Job. They’ll have their conversation . . . not as Job anticipates . . . but as Job needs.

Mine in reading this story is to learn from it. Such that, no matter what the trial or testing, by His grace I might always bow and say, “Lord, You talk . . . I’ll listen.”

Because of grace . . . for His glory.

Posted in Job | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Anointed

Posted on November 6, 2015 by Pete

Anointed. The term has been hijacked somewhat. Frequently, when someone says that someone else is “anointed,” it’s meant to convey they are special. That they aren’t your average, run of the mill Christian, but they have some rare calling or unique gifting. Thus, they are “anointed.” But as I hover over something I read in 1John this morning, I’m reminded that, as believers, we are all anointed.

Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.    (1John 2:18-20 ESV)

John is writing to the “children.” Not to some children but to all men and women who have become sons and daughters of God through faith in the finished work of the Son of God, Jesus the Messiah, on the cross. He is not addressing some elite group among them, but all of them. Every average Joe Christian, and every average Jane Christian.

He tells them that an antichrist presence is increasing in their world. That those who deny Jesus is the Christ, and those who deny the Father and the Son, are increasing in voice and influence. Even some from among their midst were “coming out” with such lies and heresy. But, says John, though “they left us, they were never really with us” (MSG). Those brought into the flock by God stay with the flock of God. Those who leave only reveal “their true colors” (MSG) showing they never really belonged. Because those who belong, those who remain, those who keep on keepin’ on, they are anointed.

Think about it, brother. Noodle on it, sister. Pause and know again that you have been anointed by the Holy One. That, literally, you have been “smeared” with a heaven sent endowment by God Himself of God Himself.

It’s not that the “special” are anointed, but that all are given a special anointing–that of the Holy Spirit.

Just as the Old Testament priests were inaugurated for service through the sprinkling of an aromatic oil over them, so too, we as a “holy priesthood” ready to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God (1Peter 2:5) . . . we as a “royal priesthood” chosen to proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1Peter 2:9) . . . so too, we have been poured out upon with a special anointing–that of God’s Spirit.

A special anointing, not just for special people, but for all who believe.

An anointing that brings us into all truth (John 16:13) . . . an anointing that marks us with the fragrance of Christ (2Cor. 2:15) . . . an anointing that seals us as His own until the promise is fully realized (Eph. 1:14).

An anointing not with some inert substance . . . not with some mystical force . . . but an anointing, a smearing, an enveloping with the Third Person of the Godhead–the Person of the Holy Spirit. He is the “personal” as in “personal relationship” with God. He’s the “in you” as in “Christ in you.” He is what makes it happen.

And you, brother in Christ . . . and you, sister in Christ . . . have been anointed by the Holy One.

So whaddya’ thing about that?!?

Amazing!

That by God’s grace we might know increasingly the reality of His divine dynamic upon us.

That by God’s grace we might carry boldly the aroma of God’s divine presence within us.

Anointed by God’s grace . . . Anointed for God’s glory.

Posted in 1John | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Standing Up for God

Posted on November 5, 2015 by Pete

If there was a line, I think Job may have crossed it. If there was a point where God knew that He would need to have a talk with Job, chapter ten may be it. If there’s any cutting Job’s friends some slack for feeling the need to put Job in his place, despite his immense loss and suffering, I feel it as I hover over this morning’s reading in Job. Seems to me, that while God is big enough to hear whatever we have to say, there’s a right way and a not so right way to talk to the Almighty.

“I loathe my life; I will give free utterance to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why You contend against me. . . . and leave me alone, that I may find a little cheer before I go–and I shall not return–to the land of darkness and deep shadow. . . ”  ~ Job
(Job 10:1-2, 20b-21 ESV)

Honestly, I find myself a bit mesmerized by what reads like a rant from Job this morning. I know I can’t really enter into, or fully empathize with, what Job’s going through. Can’t imagine the physical pain and torment from the oozing boils that cover his body. I don’t want to think about the mental torture endured as the faces of each of his ten kids repeatedly flash before his eyes knowing they are gone. And when I think of the anguish of soul Jesus went through when He anticipated being forsaken of the Father, I can’t process all that was going through Job’s mind as he wonders why God has apparently turned His face from him and given Job His back. But even recognizing that I can’t really get in Job’s head, I find myself cringing at some of the stuff coming out of Job’s mouth.

Job lets loose. He gives “free utterance” . . . holds nothing back . . . puts it all on the table. Listen up God, Job seems to say, I have a thing or two to say to You.

There’s sarcasm, “Does it seem good to You to oppress?” (v.3) There’s seeming disdain, that it’s easy for God to be digging up dirt on mere mortals because He doesn’t have to deal with limited time . . . “Have You eyes of flesh? Do You see as man sees? . . . that You seek out my iniquity and search for my sin?” (vv. 4-5) There’s almost accusation: You sneaky God . . . You made me, You granted me life, You cared for me, but You kept from me what you really had “in Your heart” for me . . . “I know that this was Your purpose” (vv. 8-13).

It’s almost like Job unleashes on the Sovereign Creator and says, “You just don’t get it! My days are few so stop it! Leave me alone! Let me enjoy life a bit before it’s all over.” (vv. 20-21).

And while I kind of get it, I kind of find myself wanting to correct Job myself. I don’t think it’s appropriate to talk to the Almighty in that way.

This man who was blameless, upright, feared God, and turned away from evil, in his anguish, it seems to me, loses something of his fear of God.

That God has brought us into relationship with Himself invites open communion. That God knows what we’re thinking bids us to openly share our hearts with Him. But that God is God demands that, while we are encouraged to boldly approach His throne of grace, we should do so humbly and reverently.

Not judging Job . . . I know how that turned out for his friends. But . . . and not that He needs it from me . . . I guess I’m standing up for God who is to be highly esteemed at all times.

Because of unmerited grace . . . all for His eternal glory.

Posted in Job | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

One Thing I Know

Posted on November 4, 2015 by Pete

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 think 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.

Posted in John | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Our Fellowship

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Pete

True confession time . . . I’m kinda’ hooked on The Voice talent show. Very capable singers are given 90 seconds to audition sight unseen to secure a spot on a coach’s team. These coaches are themselves big names in the music industry. After finding a spot on the team, these singers go through a number of head-to-head singing competitions. If their coaches pick them as the winners of each round they eventually advance to the live shows where America eventually picks an ultimate winner to be crowned as The Voice.

So why am I thinking The Voice as I sit back and meditate after reading The Word this morning? It’s because of a dynamic that is played out again and again on the show. Not only are these contestants in awe of being able to work with a famous singing artist, but through the rounds different advisors are brought in who are also big names in the music industry. And the show’s producers ensure there is ample contestant testimony as to how amazing, or mind-blowing, or unbelievable it is that they get to meet with and work with such big stars. They get to rub shoulders with the elite. They receive coaching and encouragement from the best. And they often remark how they can barely believe it’s all happening.

And as I’m reading the opening verses of 1John this morning, I realize that this fleeting fellowship they experience with mere mortals is no match for the eternal fellowship we have been brought into. That their awe at such privilege should pale in comparison to the awe we should continually express as we consider the nature of our fellowship.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life–the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us–that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.     (1John 1:1-3 ESV)

Our fellowship is with the Father. Our fellowship is with His Son Jesus Christ.

How much do I take that for granted? When’s the last time my jaw dropped to consider such privilege of association? And it’s not some distance association, but up close and personal abiding community.

Communion with the Creator through Him who created all things. Intimacy with the Source of life. Fellowship with the Giver of eternal life. Chosen not because of some capability I possess. Not earning myself a spot on “the team” through a great audition. Not to be tested against others hoping to perform my way to the live rounds. Knowing God not because I have any chance of being the best based on my own talent.

But chosen for fellowship because of the work and the worth of another. My merit being that of God’s blessed Son. My “advancement” only possible by the sanctifying work of the God’s Holy Spirit. The crown I will one day wear having nothing to do with my abilities but solely a trophy of God’s amazing grace.

And in the meantime, I get to commune with the Father through the Son by the Spirit. I can wake every morning and, in the most personal and intimate of ways, participate in the divine with the Almighty and Holy God of eternity. His “coaching” is the conforming of my nature to that of the Son’s as I hear and respond to His voice through the Spirit resident within me. Indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

And that should be jaw-dropping. That should evoke a fall-to-your-knees face planting. Far from being old hat, it should be an ever present flow of fresh water that primes the pump of awe and wonder and resulting praise.

Who gets to be in community with God? We do! The Word of life having made the way through His own blood for us to enter the Holy of Holies, boldly approaching the throne of grace, abiding with Him as He desires to abide with us.

O that my voice might continually sing His praise . . . because of His grace . . . and for His glory!

Posted in 1John | Tagged | Leave a comment

True Disciples

Posted on November 2, 2015 by Pete

Jesus looked at these new “believers” and determined to test their belief. They were yet to fully realize their deep, deep need to be born again, much less how that would be accomplished. They were yet to bear with Jesus the cross . . . yet to be on the other side of the cross looking back at the blood shed for their transgression . . . yet to behold the empty tomb declaring their victory over sin and death. At this point they were ready to assent to this man, Jesus, being sent of the Father, that He was the Messiah. But Jesus knew what was ahead.

He knew what was ahead of those would claim to be His disciples. The mirror that would show them the depths of their own depravity. The questions that would arise as they went through the valley of His death and the euphoria that would follow the mountain top of His resurrection. Jesus knew the difficulty awaiting those who would find themselves going against flow as they started to know the joy of fellowship with the saints. He knew the increasing hostility they would face as creatures of light by those in darkness. And so Jesus tests them by setting forth the mark of true disciples.

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.”
(John 8:31-32 ESV)

Abiding in His word. That’s the test of a true disciple.

Many of them “failed” the test almost immediately as they tried to process the words of Jesus suggesting that they needed to be set free. They objected. People of such privileged heritage–offspring of Abraham–bristled at the thought that they were enslaved to anyone or anything (8:33). (Funny how pride blinds the mind. Look around people, those Romans all around you aren’t exactly your invited guests!)

And so I’m noodling on the test that Jesus put forth marking true disciples. They are those who remain in the truth of His word. Those who continue in what Jesus says. They keep on keepin’ on even when God-breathed revelation is hard to hear . . . hard to apply . . . and hard to submit to. The don’t turn away when the living and active word of God splays their inner most thoughts and motives and reveals junk to be repented of. They don’t tap out when the call to a worthy walk takes them way out of their comfort zone.

True disciples abide in His word. True disciples grow in the grace and knowledge of the Savior. True disciples increasingly apply the gospel to all they do. And in so doing, true disciples know, more and more, freedom from the power of sin. They know increasingly what it is to live in the righteousness that they have been clothed in since they first believed.

By grace they abide in His word. By grace they grow in His word. By grace they walk according to His word. By grace they know the freedom found in His word.

True disciples. Only because of His . . . only for His glory.

p.s.  Looking back on some previous thoughts, I was again encouraged by some thoughts I had last year on this day of my reading plan.  If you have the time, maybe check out my thoughts on our “Final Approach”

Posted in John | Tagged , | Leave a comment

When I Atone for You

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Pete

It’s a love story gone terribly wrong. Not a “boy meets girl” sort of love story, but a benefactor meets waif type of love story. A rags to riches love story. I’m reading Ezekiel 16 this morning and what a story as God the benefactor laments over Judah the waif . . . recounting their love story and sorrowing over how terribly south it had gone.

She caught His eye from birth. Not much of a birth to speak of. No royalty or particular merit in her heritage. So poor in fact that she was abandoned in a field without any of the normal post-natal care afforded babies of the day (16:1-5). But when He saw her, He had the pity and compassion no one else did for her. He cleansed her and literally gave her life. And she flourished. Growing in beauty and innocence.

When He saw her again, “at the age for love,” He claimed her for Himself and entered into covenant with her. He bathed her, anointed her with oil, wrapped her in fine linen, covered her with silk, and adorned her with fine jewelry. And she continued to flourish. Growing in beauty, blossoming into royalty, the splendor He bestowed on her made her the talk of the town (16:6-14).

But then it went terribly wrong. Headed terribly south. The beauty which she had been given by her Benefactor she gave to others.

But you trusted in your beauty and played the whore because of your renown and lavished your whorings on any passerby; your beauty became his.
 (Ezekiel 16:15 ESV)

And for the next 45 verses her shame is revealed and her fall is prophesied. Having provoked her holy Benefactor to anger she would receive the just recompense for her unfaithfulness. Wrath and judgment would come. Devastation would be experienced. But as sad as it is, while it’s tragic, it’s not surprising. That’s what you’d expect for such rebellion. Those are the wages which seem just for such rejection and unfaithfulness. Given all that she had been given, and having turned her face and back towards the Giver, such punishment should be expected.

What’s not expected is how the story ends . . .

. . . yet I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish for you an everlasting covenant. . . . I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the LORD, that you may remember and be confounded, and never open your mouth again because of your shame, when I atone for you for all that you have done, declares the Lord GOD.
(Ezekiel 16:60, 62-63 ESV)

Yet . . . glorious, grace-filled yet! . . . Yet I will remember my covenant with you when I atone for you.

When I atone for you.

It’s the last thing you’d expect. Though there would be consequences for her sin, she would not be utterly cast out because of her sin. Though she really could never pay the wages for her transgression . . . though she could never make the wrong right . . . though she could never restore her own beauty or make up for her lewd infidelity . . . He would remember the promise and He would pay the price required for her to know again her place as His betrothed.

When I atone for you. Those words echo in my head because her story is my story.

I’m not the waif of this story, but I am the destitute orphan of my own story. It’s not the same rag to riches story, but mine is the same rebellion and rejection of the One who gave me life. Not really royalty, but created in the image of God for His glory. And I spoiled it. Gave the beauty to others. Deserving of His wrath. Worthy of being cast out because of my rejection of Him. Yet He says, even to me, I will remember the covenant when I atone for you.

O blessed cross of Christ! O glorious eternal payment made for my transgression. The blood shed so that I might be spared. The live given that I might be given life. The great exchange undertaken that Jesus would bear my sin and I might be robed in the beauty of His righteousness.

When I atone for you! What glorious words. What amazing grace. To God be all the glory!

Posted in Ezekiel | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Able to Deliver Another

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Pete

If the shear volume of words, and the number of times something is repeated is an indicator of certainty, then that God was going to judge Jerusalem was without dispute. And nothing was going to prevent it. The nation had stepped over the line. They had so hardened their hearts, they had so set their affections on other gods, they had so bought into the lies of false prophets, that the only way they were ever going to look up again, and know that God is the LORD, was to be knocked down. There would be no deliverance, not even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in their midst.

And the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, when a land sins against Me by acting faithlessly, and I stretch out My hand against it and break its supply of bread and send famine upon it, and cut off from it man and beast, even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness, declares the Lord GOD . . . even if these three men were in it, as I live, declares the Lord GOD, they would deliver neither sons nor daughters. They alone would be delivered, but the land would be desolate.”    (Ezekiel 14:12-14, 16 ESV)

In Ezekiel 14:12-23, God says He will send four “disastrous acts of judgment” upon Jerusalem, sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence. And four times He declares that even if such men of faith and righteousness as Noah, Daniel, and Job were in the midst of the city they could but only deliver themselves . . . they could not deliver even one son or daughter of someone else.

Noah, because of reverent fear and a divine plan of escape ,was able to save His family (Hebrews 11:7). Daniel, because of divine insight to a crazy king’s dream, was able to deliver from a death sentence the wise men of Babylon (Daniel 2). Job interceded for his faux friends and God accepted Job’s prayer and relented from dealing with his coarse comforters according to their folly (Job 42:8-9). But though they all lived in Jerusalem, though the accumulated godliness of such a powerful triumvirate were present in the city, “they would neither deliver sons or daughters.”

And what comes to mind as I think about the inability for three godly men’s righteousness to cover the sin of even one other, is the sin-covering righteous of the Man, Christ Jesus, sufficient for, and available to, all who believe.

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one mans trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one Man Jesus Christ abounded for many. . . . Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one mans disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one Mans obedience the many will be made righteous.    (Romans 5:15-, 18-19 ESV)

What undeserved favor that God would send within the midst of our rebellious Jerusalem One whose righteousness IS ABLE to deliver. What out of this world love that such deliverance was accomplished as He who knew no sin became sin for us and took upon Himself the just judgment of God which we deserved. What infinite compassion that such rescue is offered to all men and women through the quiet, patient, persistent wooing of God’s Holy Spirit.

Noah, Daniel, Job . . . mighty men of faith, but unable to deliver even one soul. Jesus the Christ . . . blessed Son of God able to deliver another. And to save to the uttermost all who believe (Heb. 7:25).

Blessed redeemer. Fountain of overflowing grace. All for the Father’s eternal glory.

To Him be praise forever! Amen?

Posted in Ezekiel, Romans | Tagged , , | Leave a comment