With a Clear Mind

Posted on May 20, 2015 by Pete

I don’t think they offered it to Jesus out of any sense of compassion, but more out of duty to protocol. It was a pitiful act of mercy incorporated into what was overwhelmingly a vile and cruel form of execution marked by everything but mercy. But, before nailing Him to the cross, according to protocol, the soldiers offered Jesus wine mixed with myrrh (Mark 15:23). It was designed to dull the senses . . . to cloud the mind . . . to so intoxicate the condemned that they became less aware of the pain their body would endure for hours as they hung between heaven and earth. And Jesus refused it. He would not take it.

Jesus would refuse the Roman cup so that He might drink the Father’s cup fully conscious of all that was transpiring around Him and above Him. With a clear mind He could continue to intercede for those He came to save, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). With a clear mind He could welcome into eternal life those who believed even at the last moment — to the thief next to Him He would declare, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). Because He did not permit Himself to be in a drunken stupor He could focus on the woman who birthed Him into His earthly existence and care for her — “He said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!'” (John 19:26-27). And, as a King not compromised by strong drink (Prov. 31:4-5), with clarity of mind and purpose He led the way to victory as the Lamb of God declaring with all authority, “It is finished!” (John 19:30).

They offered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but Jesus would not take it. He would, being fully conscious, undertake to do the Father’s will. But as I read in Mark this morning, He would also, with complete clarity, submit Himself fully to His creations’ contempt.

And those who passed by derided Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!” So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked Him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with Him also reviled Him.    (Mark 15:29-32 ESV)

Derided by those who passed by Him. Mocked by those hated Him. Even reviled by those crucified with Him. And Jesus heard it all . . . clearly. With mind unaffected by any anesthetizing substance, Jesus took it all in. He heard the spitting rhetoric of blasphemy directed toward the One who created all things. He took in the arrogant sarcasm of the religious leaders who played with Him as a cat with a mouse. He was fully aware of those on either side of Him who, in their drunken stupor, somehow blamed Him for their transgressions. Mark records it. Jesus received it. And I pause and reflect on it.

What humiliation was suffered by my Savior that day. What shame He bore. Forget that He had been so physically abused before being crucified. Forget that He had been stripped naked and His clothes gambled away. How low was the Son of Man brought by those He came to rescue and redeem? What humility was suffered in order to be my substitute?

May I never lose the wonder of the depths of suffering endured by the Son of Man on my account. Might I not take of the wine and myrrh offered by this world that in any way lessens my understanding and appreciation of what it means that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). I was that crowd that derided Him . . . I was the prideful man who followed the gods of my own making and so mocked Him . . . I was that one condemned to death beside Him who blamed Him.

And while I was all that, Jesus with a clear mind, and with a resolve that had been determined since the foundation of the world, “endured the cross, despising the shame” (Heb. 12:2) that I might be redeemed.

To Him be all glory . . . to Him be all praise.

O what a Savior!

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Christ Formed in You

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Pete

Quick thought this morning as I rush out to take a friend to the airport . . .

It would seem that, for the apostle Paul, the end game went beyond receiving Christ . . . that it was about reflecting Christ. That, more than simply accepting the grace of God, Paul wanted his children in the faith to actually embody the grace of God. While Paul rejoiced that people would place their faith in Christ, even more he wanted Christ to be formed in them.

. . . my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. (Galatians 4:19-20 ESV)

There was a shift occurring among many throughout the churches in Galatia. Having received some additional “good news” from false teachers, those who had “begun in the Spirit” now sought to be “perfected by the flesh” (Gal. 3:3). Having started their Christian lives by faith, they now sought to live those Christian lives by works. Having received the righteousness of Another, they now believed that they could put on a righteousness of their own making. And so, an exasperated Paul scratches his head and says, “I am perplexed about you.”

It had been revealed to Paul that what had begun by the active agency of the Spirit was to be fully realized by the active agency of the Spirit. What was birthed by faith would have to mature by faith. The righteousness FROM Christ that had been placed UPON THEM by grace alone, was to morph into the righteousness OF Christ that would be formed WITHIN THEM by grace alone. That’s what Paul understood to be the nature of salvation. That’s what Paul desired for those who had come to know Christ as Savior. That’s why Paul would ache with the pains of childbirth over those who sought to do life in Christ through their own efforts.

And so those who had once received the gospel now needed to believe the gospel again.

And I’m thinking that’s how “Christ is formed in you.”

When the gospel goes on the shelf . . . when it’s put in a photo-album as a remembrance of something once believed for justification, then it loses its power as the means for sanctification. And, if I’m picking up what Paul is laying down, only the good news of a finished work and unmerited favor can take sinners-saved-by-grace and transform them into new creations who bear the very image and nature of God’s Son.

Christ formed in you. By grace alone. For His glory alone.

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A Way Back

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Pete

There is no putting the “fun” back in dysfunctional. When the flesh is allowed to reign, the consequences can be huge and can last for years. If any family conveys that reality, it’s the family of David. I’m reading in 2Samuel this morning and at the center of the storm brewing in the midst of David’s court is the man Absalom. Absalom, third son of David, . . . . Absalom, killer of first-born son, Ammon . . . Absalom, soon to be the leader of a revolt against his father. Everything surrounding Absalom is dark.

He rises to prominence in Scripture as the protector of his sister who had been shamefully violated by her step-brother Ammon (2Samuel 13). And while he nurtured Tamar in his home, he hated Ammon in his heart. And though King David was angry at what Ammon had done, David did nothing. And so, after two years of the bitterness building, Absalom takes matters into his own hands and conspires to murder Ammon. Mission complete, Absalom flees the courts of David with his men.

And so father and son are estranged. Though David could never be reunited with Ammon, he longed to be in relationship with his son Absalom. But he didn’t know how to do it. Just as he had been ineffectual in dealing with Ammon’s transgression, David didn’t know how to deal with what Absalom had done. And so the king sits on his throne in Jerusalem and, for the three years, the son is thrust away and lives in exile in Geshur.

A dark time in the family. Sin committed. Sin undealt with. Sin leading to more sin. Sin resulting in a son being estranged from his father.

Perhaps David was so paralyzed in dealing with his son’s sin because of his memories of his own past transgression. Don’t know, really. But in the midst of this train wreck, Joab, commander of David’s army, takes the initiative to try and restore the relationship between David and Absalom (2Samuel 14:1-12). And though it will eventually result in things going from bad to worse, in the midst of this darkness a pin prick of light is revealed . . . a tiny beam of glory shines out of the darkness . . . revealing the heart of the heavenly Father and foreshadowing the true path to reconciliation.

And the woman [sent by Joab] said [to King David], “Why then have you planned such a thing against the people of God? For in giving this decision the king convicts himself, inasmuch as the king does not bring his banished one home again. We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God will not take away life, and He devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast.”  (2Samuel 14:13-14  ESV)

God will not take away life . . . He devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast.

It just bursts forth from the night of this family feud. Our God’s desire is that none should perish (2Peter 3:9). Those who are in exile due to their sin . . . those who are removed from the throne of blessing because of their transgression . . . those who are banished in self-exile due to pride and rebellion . . . for those, my God makes a way to bring back those who have been separated from Him. Not a means that ignores sins, but that deals with it once for all.

Just a glimmer of light . . . revealing the heart of the Father . . . and foreshadowing the cross. It is the means by which the banished one need not remain an outcast.

And at what cost did the Father devise such a means? The body of His Son shamed . . . the blood of His Son shed . . . the just payment for our sin laid upon Him. All that the banished one might be provided a way back. That the prodigal might be welcomed home. That the rebel might be reconciled.

How I need such a way back. Not just for my sin past when I was by nature a son of wrath in unbelief (Eph. 2:3). But for my sin present. For those times when I concede to the flesh. For those times when I’m tripped up by an enemy who is crafty and relentless. For those times when I simply fall short of walking in a manner worthy of my calling.

How, in those times, I need to remember that there is a way back. A means devised for those who feel the separation of sin from the Father because of their shame, or their sense of failure, or the voice of the accuser. How then I need to be reminded that He is not a taker away of life, but is the Giver of life . . . of abundant life . . . of life to the full . . . of life everlasting. And to know afresh there is always a way back because of the gospel.

A way back. Through the over-flowing grace of God. All for the ever giving of glory to God.

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Conduct Unbecoming

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Pete

It was a face to face stand off. In this corner, the apostle Paul formerly known as Saul . . . the least of the apostles (1Cor. 15:9) and the chief of sinners (1Tim. 1:15). In the other corner, Peter formerly Simon . . . chief among the apostles, but least likely to be voted “Most Predictable.” At stake were the implications of the gospel — good news only for “fire insurance” or life-changing truth intended to impact behavior? And so Paul confronts Peter. Opposes him to his face. And calls him out on conduct unbecoming.

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, . . . when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”   (Galatians 2:11, 14 ESV)

When he first arrived in Antioch, Peter (aka Cephas) apparently enjoyed the fellowship of the saints . . . ALL THE SAINTS . . . Jew and Gentile alike. Peter had come a long way. He had grown up knowing “how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation” (Acts 10:28). But God had shown him that he “should not call any person common or unclean.” Apparently a rooftop vision of unclean food being presented for consumption and an encounter with a gentile family receiving the Holy Spirit has a way of causing someone to conclude “that God shows no partiality” (Acts 10:34). And so, when he came to Antioch, he ate not with Jews or Gentiles but with brothers and sisters in Christ.

That is, until “certain men came from James” (Gal. 2:12). Men of the “circumcision party.” Men preaching a “Jesus Plus” distortion of the good news. And Peter caves to the fear of man. Worried about public, and maybe popular opinion, he goes chameleon. As a “good Jew” would, he withdraws from fellowshiping with Gentiles. He sends a message that they still weren’t “clean enough” for him, as a Jew, to associate with. That though they had been washed by the blood of Christ . . . though their garments had been made white as snow . . . until they conformed to the rule of law given by Moses, their rescue and redemption was yet to be fully complete.

And so, caving to peer pressure, Peter’s behavior sends an unhealthy message concerning the gospel. A message picked up by the rest of the Jews in fellowship at Antioch . . . even derailing Barnabas, Paul’s close associate, so that they all were “led astray” by such hypocrisy.

And so Paul calls Peter on the carpet. As one steward of the gospel to another he says, “Give your head a shake!” Such is conduct unbecoming.

. . . we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.   (Galatians 2:16 ESV)

And I’m reminded that the gospel is not just some doctrinal truth that we once believed in order to “receive Christ” and “be saved.” It is an abiding truth by which we are to order our lives. Our behavior reflects the gospel we believe . . . it declares the justification we trust in.

Do we draw attention only to our successes . . . or to our failures, as well, knowing that His grace is sufficient . . . and that His power is made perfect in our weakness (2Cor. 12:9)? Are we critical of, and do we distance ourselves from, those struggling to walk in a manner worthy of their calling . . . or do we draw alongside, helping bear their load, knowing that we have fellowship with one another, not because of our performance, but because “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1John 1:9)?

Peter’s was a conduct unbecoming the gospel because he communicated that justification was dependent on something more than faith alone in Christ. And such a reflection of the “good news” is no good news at all.

Might we beware of conduct unbecoming.

Instead, might we live lives in the humility which reflects our perpetual dependency on His finished work. Might we live lives in victory, knowing that we have an Advocate with the Father who intercedes for us, even now, in our weakness and failure. Might we live lives overflowing with charity as we deal with the failures of other sinners-saved-by-grace in light of the sufficiency of the cross and the abundance of His grace.

Conduct becoming . . . by the grace of God . . . for the glory of God.

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Intolerant

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Pete

There’s no messing around as Paul begins his letter to the churches of Galatia. No pleasantries. No “how you doin’?” No “here’s how I’m doin’.” But he gets straight to the point. I’m blown away. You are deserters. Doomed to destruction be anyone, man or angel, who messes with the gospel. Pretty strong language. Talk about going on the offensive. But that’s what it demanded. When it came to the gospel of Jesus Christ, Paul was pretty intolerant.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel–not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9 ESV)

Not much tolerance these days for intolerance. And while that might be okay for a lot of things, not so good when it comes to the gospel. Paul wasn’t ready to show a lot of grace to those who came in distorting the good news of grace. He wasn’t ready to cut a lot of slack to those who proclaimed a “Jesus plus” salvation. Jesus plus circumcision . . . Jesus plus the law . . . Jesus plus any human efforts of righteousness. Let those who would preach such “good news,” says Paul, let them be anathema . . . let them be accursed.

And for those who would follow such “good news,” to them Paul says, You’re traitors. You’ve turned away. You’ve transferred your allegiance from God and His unmerited, abundant grace to yourselves and your pitiful, flesh-bound acts of self-righteousness.

No middle ground, says Paul. No breadth of acceptability. It is “Jesus plus nothing” or it is nothing at all. It is the good news of Christ and the cross or it is, in fact, bad news.

Their’s was a gospel devised by man . . . Paul’s was a revelation from Christ Himself (v.11-12). At the heart of their distorted gospel was the approval of men (v.10). At the heart of Paul’s, the glory of God (v. 5). They would proclaim what men and women must do in order to merit the favor of God. Paul would proclaim what Christ had already done so that the favor of God might be freely shown to men and women who, of themselves, lacked any merit.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
 (Galatians 1:3-5 ESV)

Christ gave Himself for our sins . . . period. The finished work of the cross, and nothing more, is able to deliver us from the present evil age. It is according to the will of God and God alone . . . man brings nothing to the table but faith — and that faith is not our own doing; “it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).

This is the good news. This is the gospel, the power of salvation for all who believe (Rom. 1:16). The salvation which has dealt with the penalty of sin — past, present, and future . . . the salvation which, even now, leads us in victory over the power of sin . . . and the salvation, yet to be revealed, which will deliver us from the very presence of sin. It’s this gospel and no other. His work and none other. His glory . . . and His alone.

How we need to be intolerant when it comes to the gospel.

Amen?

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Like Father, Like Daughter

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Pete

She couldn’t have imagined anything more distasteful. It disgusted her to see such behavior. She regarded her husband’s actions with contempt. The disdain for what he had done was evident on her face and dripped from her lips. And, as I hover over Michal’s reaction and response to David’s celebration before the ark of the LORD, I can’t help but think, like father, like daughter.

Bring the ark into Jerusalem . . . take two. That’s what David had determined. The first attempt had ended badly. What began with great celebration had ended in death (2Samuel 6:5-7). Mission aborted. And for three months the favor known because the presence of the glory of God was for the house of Obed-edom alone. And David knew that blessing was intended for all the people of God and so he went again to move the ark to Zion.

So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing. And when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the horn.   (2Samuel 6:12b-15 ESV)

Great celebration . . . great sacrifice . . . all before a great God. And what does the Spirit want to ensure we know about David, beyond the fact he could bust a few moves? That “David was wearing a linen ephod.” And I take note of it as I read. And so did Michal, daughter of Saul, as she watched. I wonder at why David wore it. She writhed in disdain.

And I’m thinking what was the alternative for David to wear? What else was in his closet that he could have put on that day? How about the royal robes? How about the ornate symbols of his power of Israel which was due him? How about garments that drew the right amount of attention to their king? All his to rightfully wear. His to display as the big kahuna. Garments that would draw attention to him . . . and his position . . . and his power.

But rather than wear them, he divested himself of the royal robes that were rightfully his to wear. Just like Jonathan had when he relinquished his garments of power to David (1Samuel 18:1-5). And it had choked Saul to see Jonathan bow in such humility before David. Just as it choked Saul’s daughter, Michal, to see David “uncovering himself” before the eyes his lowliest servants (6:20). “Vulgar,” she says, for a king to so humble himself. “Shameless,” she spits out, for power to acquiesce before such lowliness. Like father, like daughter.

David’s response? “It was before the LORD.” David put on a linen ephod — the simple, unpretentious garments of the Levites who gave themselves to the service of the tabernacle — because, while he might have been a king of men, he knew he was nothing more than a servant of the Most High God. Only one spotlight to be shone on that day they moved the ark, and it would be upon God alone. Only One worthy of honor and glory, and it wasn’t the guy dressed in the linen ephod. In fact, says David, “I will yet make myself more contemptible than this.” You ain’t seen nothing yet. He must increase . . . and so I will decrease. He deserves all the glory and honor and I’ll just dance in worship induced celebration with the crowd.

And Michal the daughter of Saul looked upon the ephod dressed king and she “despised him in her heart.” Just as Saul’s anger had burned against Jonathan. Like father, like daughter.

But I look over the shoulder of the stripped down king of Israel and behold the One David sought to exalt . . . the King of kings . . . the LORD of heaven. And, if not with my feet, I dance before Him with my heart. He alone is worthy of unreserved praise.

Michal was like Saul . . . might I be more and more like David. By the grace of God . . . for the glory of God.

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Vain is the Salvation of Man

Posted on May 12, 2015 by Pete

That David had great responsibility for ensuring an able-bodied army was ready to take on the enemies of God’s people is a given. That, as commander in chief, he needed to have a plan for taking down the city at Edom was to be expected. That, when the time came, it would be he and his men who were sword to sword in battle was understood. But what David also knew, beyond any shadow of doubt, was that regardless of the preparation . . . no matter how good the planning . . . even if, on paper, they possessed the greater power . . . vain is the salvation of man!

Oh grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! With God we shall do valiantly; it is He who will tread down our foes.    (Psalm 108:12-13 ESV)

Kind of captivated by the progression in this song of David. It would seem that not all has been going well on the military front . . . that recent defeat has been known(v.11). And yet David’s song begins with praise . . . “I will sing and make melody with all my being . . . I will give thanks to You, O Lord . . . I will sing praise to You among the nations” (v.1-3). Though things have not been going well of late, David still knows that God’s “steadfast love is great above the heavens” and that His “faithfulness reaches to clouds” (v. 4).

And then praise is followed by prayer. “Give salvation by Your right hand and answer me!” pens the songwriter. And David seeks such favor that God might be exalted and that His glory would be over all the earth (v.5-6). The battle ultimately was the Lord’s because at stake was the reputation of the Lord. And so after praises and prayer, David recalls the promise.

God had “promised in His holiness” to divide up the land and portion it out among His people (v.7). David had made great preparation for the battle because God had given great promises concerning His people. And though the battle had not being going well, David knew that God’s promises would stand . . . and so he prayed for God’s presence . . . and he praised God for His steadfast faithfulness.

And David did this because, despite his great army of men of valor, without the presence and power of God in the midst of battle, they battled in vain. They were prepared, they had a plan, they were purposeful as to entering the fray. But useless are people’s attempts at their own deliverance.

Note to self: that includes me. In my own strength, by my own determination, through my own wisdom, empty is the prospect of any real victory. At best, fleeting will be the moment of triumph. Any mountain top I scale will shortly be followed by a valley that consumes me. At worst, I walk away bruised, battered, and bewildered.

But with God we shall do valiantly (do I get an “Amen!” from the people on that?). Only with God in our midst will we do mightily. The army we prepare, the plans we put in place, the purpose with which he move forward only have strength as they are infused by the presence and power of the God who promises.

Oh I know that lesson . . . but how I need to learn that lesson.

Hear it again Pete:  Needful are the praises, the prayer, the promises, and the power as we head into battle.

Vain is the salvation of man. Great is the victory through God.

For Your steadfast love is great above the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let Your glory be over all the earth!      (Psalm 108:4-5 ESV)

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Stay Awake

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Pete

Some passages you just need to hover over for awhile to try and get what it’s saying. Others I need to do some quick study work with my online Bible tools. Others still, I pull out my William MacDonald commentary to help me navigate what’s being said. And then, there are those passages that spell it out clearly. And in some, like today’s reading in Mark, it’s shouted out unambiguously: Stay awake!

“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake–for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or in the morning–lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”    (Mark 13:32-37 ESV)

Jesus had told His disciples that there would be a time when the great buildings of Jerusalem would be thrown down . . . not one stone left upon another. And some, when they were alone with Jesus, asked privately, “When will these things be, and what will be the sign?” (13:1-3). And so Jesus tells them about the signs of the times before the coming of the Son of Man in great power and glory. But, He makes clear, it’s not so they can chart His return on a calendar.

No one knows the hour of Jesus’ return. No one on earth. Not the angels in heaven. Not even Jesus Himself. Only the Father knows. So why bother with knowing the signs of the time of His return if it’s not going to help you schedule His return on your calendar? Three times Jesus clearly states why, “Keep awake . . . therefore stay awake . . . what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.” So what’s the point? Stay awake!

The Son of Man is coming. Stay awake. Just as Jesus ascended from earth in a cloud to heaven, so He will descend from heaven in the clouds and return to earth (Acts 1:9-11). Be alert. If Jesus said (and He did), “I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:3), then He will. Watch for it.

Nothing worse than the master returning only to find his servants asleep at the switch. And we don’t know when our Master will return. Could be “in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or in the morning.” But return He will.

And that He has asked us, until then, to engage in the business of His kingdom is clear (Luke 19:13). That He has asked us to walk in a manner worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1) . . . that He wants us to live with, and love greatly, the people of God so that others might know Him through His disciples (John 13:35) . . . that His desire is that we bear much fruit through abiding in Him (John 15:1-8) . . . is all communicated in the Word He has left us. This and much more. We are not left to our own wisdom and opinions as to what the Master has asked of His servants while He is away.

The question that remains is, “Will He return only to find us asleep?” Or, because we know the signs of the times, will we have our head in the game and an “eye to the sky?” Will we be busy with kingdom work and heavenly pursuits because we see the signs and know that His return is imminent?

We don’t know when. But we know He’s coming again. Therefore, says the Lord, stay awake.

O, that we might be found busy for the Master on that day when the clouds part and we see Him face to face.

That we would stay awake . . . enabled by His grace . . . active for His glory.

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Divine Jealousy

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Pete

Why bother? Why keep contending for them? There were many other churches that would have benefited from his time and attention. Many other groups of believers who had not taken to these “super-apostles” who were proclaiming another Jesus and a different gospel. Even at their best, the problems within this fellowship were many and complex. So why did Paul bother? Why write another letter? Why contend for this flaky flock? Short answer: divine jealousy.

I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
 (2Corinthians 11:1-3 ESV)

Paul, as a faithful steward of the ministry given him, had brought the two together. Jesus, meet the Corinthians . . . you in Corinth, may I introduce you to Jesus. A matchmaker of sorts, commissioned by the Father to help provide a bride for His Son, Paul bad been there from the beginning. And for Paul, while the salvation of souls was of eternal importance, the bringing together of a Bridegroom and His bride was his driving passion.

“I promised you as a pure bride to one husband–Christ” (NLT). Why are you even entertaining others? Give your head a shake! I am boiling in that you have eyes for someone else? I am so zealous that you would know “a sincere and pure devotion in Christ” that I am making every effort to encourage you . . . to rebuke you . . . to persuade you to return to your first love. I am jealous.  In fact, I feel a divine jealousy for you.

And it’s that word, divine, that stands out this morning. Paul wasn’t upset because it impacted his numbers or the reputation of the effectiveness of his ministry or follow-up. But Paul’s jealousy was a theos jealousy. His burning and zeal was Spirit-induced . . . reflecting the heart of the Son . . . motivated solely for the glory of the Father.

Paul’s persistence in urging the body at Corinth to be faithful to Jesus was but an echo of Jesus’ plea, “Be faithful to Me!”

Our God is a jealous God . . . He says so Himself (Ex. 20:5, 34:14; Deut. 4:24, 5:9, 6:15). The Father is jealous for His people . . . the Son is jealous for His bride . . . the Spirit is jealous for those He has sealed. And fueling divine jealousy is the anticipation of a “pure virgin” being presented to Christ.

Not that she can clean herself up and make herself pure. Not that she can, of herself, regain the innocence lost. But that, through “a sincere and pure devotion,” she might faithfully cling to the One who “loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:25-27).

That’s why Paul bothered. That’s why he contended. That’s why he bared his heart and soul before them, pleading with them to be faithful. Because he had in mind a wedding day.

And that’s why grace abounds from heaven’s throne. Why the Father patiently waits while Christ is formed in us. Why the Spirit tirelessly works within us. Why the Son endlessly intercedes for us. Because of a wedding day. A day when, to one Husband, the church is presented as a chaste bride. Marked by a purity and righteous not of our own making but imputed to us through the finished work of the cross. Not decked out in a wedding dress of own design, but robed in garments of righteousness of His making. Not that we might look good . . . but that He might be exalted.

Divine jealousy. Might that be our jealousy, as well.

All because of grace. All for His glory.

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He Remembers His Covenant Forever

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Pete

It is a fuel for praise. It is a catalyst for giving thanks. To think on these things, is to be moved to sing to Him. To remember these things is to want to bless Him. To meditate on these things is to glory in His holy name. And what are “these things?” They are the wondrous works that He has done. They are the mighty deeds performed by an Almighty God on behalf of His people. They are the things the songwriter sings about in Psalm 105.

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
(Psalm 105:1-3 ESV)

For the heart set on seeking the LORD, there is cause to rejoice when we consider His wondrous works.

So the psalmist writes of God’s protection of Jacob the sojourner, and of His provision through Joseph, the one “sent ahead” to Egypt so that Israel might find refuge there from famine. In that land, the songwriter reminds us, “the LORD made His people very fruitful” . . . and made them “stronger than their foes,” so that they hated God’s people and oppressed them.

And the song continues. God sends Moses. Through him and Aaron, God performs signs in “the land of Ham.” Skies made dark . . . waters turned into blood . . . infestations of frogs and flies . . . hail for rain . . . vines, fig trees, and other trees struck down . . . the remaining vegetation devoured by locusts . . . and finally, “He struck down all the firstborn in their land.” Give thanks to the LORD . . . make known His deeds among the peoples!

And the ballad goes on. Brought out of the land with silver and gold . . . covered with a cloud by day . . . led by the light of a pillar of fire by night . . . fed with quail out of nowhere, and with bread from heaven, and with water from the rock. Sing praise to Him . . . tell of His wondrous works.

But what grabs me this morning is that it’s not just about the works, but about the why.

For He remembered His holy promise, and Abraham, His servant.
(Psalm 105:42 ESV)

His works were because of His word. The power He demonstrated due to the promise He determined.

He remembers His covenant forever, the word that He commanded, for a thousand generations . . . (Psalm 105:8 ESV)

My God is a God or promise. And He is the One who remembers His covenant forever . . . acting and intervening in order to bring about what He has determined.

And so, every remembrance of what He has done in the past . . . every song sung in praise of the signs He has shown to evidence His presence . . . every meditation focused on that which we have known of His mighty works in our lives . . . it all serves as surety of what lies ahead. That God does not forget or give up on what He has covenanted to do. That if He says He will save to the uttermost (Heb. 7:25), He will. If He declares His purpose is to form the very nature of His Son in us through His Spirit (Rom. 8:29), He will. If He covenants to build a home and provide a treasure in heaven for us and promises to take us to be with Himself (John 14:1-3), it’s gonna happen.

He remembers His covenant forever. Sing to Him!

Every evidence of His faithfulness a reminder . . . every experience of His grace a surety . . . every whisper of His voice a mighty sign to bestow confidence.

Oh give thanks to the LORD . . . Sing to Him, sing praise to Him . . . tell of His wondrous works . . . for He remembers His covenant forever.

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