There Is A Ladder

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Pete

Jacob’s on the lam. He’s crossed the line with his brother Esau. Extorting Esau’s birthright was one thing . . . but fraudulently securing their father’s blessing, well, he would pay for that with his life as soon as dad was dead. So, under the pretense of finding a wife, his mother quickly arranges for Jacob’s departure to Paddan-aram . . . to the house of her brother.

And it says that one night, in a certain place, Jacob lay down to sleep and had a dream . . .

And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. . . . ” (Genesis 28:12-13a ESV)

And in that vision, God reveals Himself to Jacob in an “up close” and personal way. “I am the LORD . . . I will give the land on which you lie to you and your offspring . . . I am with you and will keep you . . . I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you” (28:13-15).

And Jacob wakes up and is overwhelmed.

“Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it. . . . How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” (Genesis 28:16-17 ESV)

And what strikes me is that the ladder was put in place not that Jacob might come up . . . but that God might come down. “The LORD is in this place” . . . “How awesome is this place” . . . “This is none other than the house of God.”

When Solomon dedicated His magnificent temple (2Chron. 6) he asked this question, “But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth?” Answer? Yup!

Solomon asked his question as he wondered at a God who could not be contained by heaven dwelling in a house built by man. I’m in awe this morning that a God who is holy, holy, holy . . . would come down and reveal Himself to such a scoundrel as Jacob the deceiver. But there is a ladder.

It’s not a ladder built by man which reaches into heaven so that he might work his way up. But a ladder lowered from heaven in order that God might descend and lift him up. Jacob’s encounter of the divine kind at the place he would call Bethel, literally house of God, would be but the start of God’s work of grace in taking Jacob the deceiver and transforming him into Israel the father of God’s chosen people. There was a ladder for Jacob. And there is a ladder for me.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:51 ESV)

Jesus says, I am the Ladder. The heavens opened, the Son of Man sent down, that a bridge might be placed between heaven and earth. Not put in place for the righteous who think they have no need of it, but for the scoundrels . . . for the deceivers . . . for sinners like me. And by God’s grace, He opens sleeping eyes to see the Ladder, the Son of Man. And when we do, we cannot help but proclaim, “How awesome is this place!”

Pretty awesome!

Amen?

 

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The Pursuit of the Promise

Posted on January 2, 2015 by Pete

She was sixty-five years old when they decided to go for it. They would pursue the promise. A grand promise. A promise of land, offspring, and blessing (Genesis 12:1-3). Her husband had seen the vision . . . he had heard the Voice. They were to be going, even if not knowing. So Abram went, and she went with him. The adventure had begun. Though they were getting a bit beyond mid-life, this was no response to a mid-life crisis, this was the pursuit of the promise from God.

Fast forward some 62 years later (Genesis 23). Her lifeless body lays in a cave in the land of promise. Her husband mourns and weeps for her. And he reflects on the “return on investment” from their 60+ year pursuit of the promise. Land? Just the field where the cave was that now housed her still body. Offspring? One son . . . only one son. Blessing? Sure, they had accumulated some wealth along the way, but it wasn’t clear at all as to how, through them, all the families of the earth would be blessed.

Hmmm . . . Not much to show for over half a century of pursuing the promise.

So what was it that compelled Sarah to follow Abraham on such a hair-brained dream? And to keep following? To stick with it as year after year passed with no land to their name and no children in their house? As I noodle on it, God’s divine commentary on Sarah’s life comes to mind . . .

By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. (Hebrews 11:11 ESV)

It wasn’t her confidence in Abraham that propelled her to keep on keepin’ on . . . after all, how many times can a woman take being disguised as her husband’s sister. He was a good man . . . but he could get kinda’ flaky at times. Rather, it was her confidence in her God. She counted Him faithful. Even when it was hard to believe at times, she considered the Promiser worthy of a consecrated life even if the promise was yet to be fully realized.

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:13-16 ESV)

Though she had but one son when she breathed her last . . . though the only promised land she possessed was that possessed posthumously . . . she had considered Him faithful and responded in kind. She had continued to look to the homeland of His promise . . . had continued to believe that if He could enable a barren woman, way past child-bearing age, to give birth to a son, then He could raise up from that son a nation. Like her husband, I’m thinking she grew strong in faith, gave glory to God, “fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised” (Rom. 4:19-21).

I’m kind of inspired by Sarah this morning. Kind of encouraged as I look to continue my own pursuit of the promise in 2015. Realizing afresh that the reward is not always found in receiving all that is promised. But that the prize will be awarded for the pursuit . . . for the race well run . . . for the servant who hears, “Well done.”

O’ to be a Sarah . . .

By God’s grace . . . for God’s glory.

 

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The Abundance of Steadfast Love

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Pete

The fifth psalm is a song for the flutes. And it begins with David praying in the morning. He asks the LORD to give ear to his words . . . to consider his groanings . . . to give attention to the sound of his cry. He prays because he is confident that His King and His God hears his voice. And so, he prepares his morning sacrifice, offers his morning petition, and then, he says, I will watch.

David would speak to heaven and then he would look up. He would offer his morning sacrifice and then wait in eager anticipation. He would pour out his heart before the throne of God, and then wait expectantly.

Jesus told His disciples to “watch and pray” that they might not enter into temptation (Matt. 26:41). David, in this song, says that he will “pray and watch” so that he might enter into fruitful meditation. And bear fruit it does.

As David eagerly anticipates a whisper from heaven, he is reminded of God’s holy character and of God’s gracious provision.

For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes; You hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. But I, through the abundance of Your steadfast love, will enter Your house. I will bow down toward Your holy temple in the fear of You.   (Psalm 5:4-7 ESV)

God is light . . . darkness cannot abide with Him. God is truth . . . falsehood cannot coexist with Him. He is holy . . . evil cannot dwell with Him.

As the songwriter waits upon the LORD, after offering his morning prayer, He is reminded of the nature of God. A God who delights not in wickedness, but abhors sin and will purge evil from His presence. God is pure. His fallen creation is defiled. God is righteous. Those made in His image have gone astray. God is holy. And David, knowing himself, is reminded that he is not.

And so, the man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22) acknowledges, “Through the abundance of Your steadfast love, I will enter Your house” (v.7a).

Though more righteous than many, David does not tender his own works as sufficient reason to enter God’s house . . . “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment” (Isa. 64:6). Though the psalmist has tried hard to be a good follower of God, he does not plead his own merit . . .”for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Instead, as he watches, he remembers that his entrance into the presence of God is based on the abundance of God’s steadfast love, and that alone.

The overflowing mercy of lovingkindness. The all sufficient grace sourced in unfailing love. Those are the keys permitting entrance into His holy temple.

So, as David prays and the quiets himself . . . as he petitions and then waits . . . as he offers supplication and then watches . . . he is reminded of the abundance of steadfast love.

Me too . . .

 

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And Awe . . .

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Pete

Funny how some verses are so big that they cast those verses around them in such a shadow that they can be easily missed or skimmed over. The realization of this hit me like a ton of bricks this morning as I read in Acts 2. Ask me what, according to Acts 2, characterized the dynamics of the early church, and I’d be quick to respond, “Continuing in the apostles’ doctrine, in fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayer.” On a good day I might throw in, “And they had all things in common.” This morning the Teacher registered another dynamic to the list. And awe . . .

And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common.   (Acts 2:42-44 ESV)

I don’t know that 21st century Christians are called to live like the 1st century church . . . but I do think that a local body of believers today is strongest when it models 1st century principles and dynamics. In fact, if God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, shouldn’t the Spirit’s active agency in a family of indwelt believers look similar throughout the ages? I’m thinkin’ . . .

And so I’m thinking that souls who are saved will want to meet together and know authentic fellowship among others who have been given new life in Christ. They will find themselves pursuing the teaching of Scripture and they will desire to commune together around the Lord’s Table. And they will pray together. Four simple yet foundational practices which, I think, should characterize a local church.

But this morning, I’m wondering if there shouldn’t be a fifth foundation . . . “And awe came upon every soul.”

I know that it was a special time, the birthing of Christ’s church. Many wonders and signs accompanied the apostles’ radical new message to authenticate the good news that Jesus was alive and that, through faith in His work on the cross, all who believed would be forgiven their sins and saved from just judgment. I get that.

But as I hover over these verses this morning, I think the “every soul” referenced to here isn’t the general population in and around Jerusalem who were seeing the impact of the Spirit poured out, but rather the born again souls who were in the houses together experiencing the impact of the Spirit who lived within them.

The Spirit giving them a passion for the Scriptures that they had never known before, because He was illuminating the Scriptures in a way they had never known before. The people in the room weren’t just others with like interests, but there was this Spirit infused sense of kinship as those who had been adopted into God’s family realized that they were, in fact, gathering with their brothers and sisters in Christ. The simple act of taking bread and drinking from a cup took on a meaning beyond anything they could have imagined as they remembered and proclaimed the Lord’s death until He come. And the prayer . . . well, they had never known such prayer before . . . the Spirit interceding within them as the risen Christ interceded for them at the Father’s right hand. Shouldn’t be too surprising then to read that the prevailing sense, as a result of gathering together, was that of awe.

Awe. I’m wondering if that isn’t a good thermometer by which we gauge how “early church” we are. If we are doing what the early church did, but it’s not producing the reverent fear the early church knew . . . if we follow their ways but don’t experience their wonder . . . then, perhaps, we may just be going through the motions with little thought as to why it matters. But if we wholeheartedly devote ourselves to that which the early church devoted themselves to, then I’m thinking we’ll know the reality of His presence which they knew. And with that, awe!

O’ that the church would be more characterized by awe. Not from the big and flashy productions we can create, but from the apostles’ doctrine, from simply knowing community together, from quieting ourselves at the Lord’s Supper, and from praying for and with one another. And then . . . let there be awe.

By God’s grace . . . for God’s glory.

 

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Kiss the Son

Posted on December 29, 2014 by Pete

After a week away with family, enjoying one another and seeking to let the gifts we exchanged be a catalyst for remembering and worshiping the One who gave so abundantly and lavishly to us, it’s good to be home and kind of back in a routine. And good to find my way back into my morning closet to read, reflect, and write.

Started in on my 2015 reading plan. Looks a lot like my 2014 reading plan . . . and my 2013 . . . and my 2012 . . . and . . . what can I say? Guilty, I’m pretty much a creature of habit. Having said that, while I considered other reading plans for this year, I purposefully chose again “The Discipleship Journal Reading Plan” . . . still think it’s the best fit for me. Have a clean Bible . . . looking forward to marking up my “ESV Reader’s Bible” given me by a dear brother. The absence of notes, cross-references, and even verse numbers should create enough of a new experience that I look forward to reading the Bible again for “the first time.”

And this morning, as I read in the Psalms, three words grabbed me.

Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.   (Psalm 2:10-12 ESV)

A word of warning to the wise. Some advice to men of power. Serve the LORD. Celebrate your relationship with Him with reverent awe. And kiss the Son.

Kiss the Son. Three single syllable words . . . ten letters in total . . . one grand command to chew on.

Subjects kneel before their King and offer a kiss of submission. Brothers, and those called friends greet one another with a kiss of affection. Worshipers bow at the feet of the One worthy of worship and offer a kiss of adoration. Kiss the Son.

Kiss the King of kings . . . “He who is the blessed and only Potentate” (1Tim. 6:16 NKJV). Pay homage to the One whose rule has been established in your heart and whose return to the earth is not too far hence. Acknowledge Him, and Him alone, as King of your life . . . the only One worthy of inhabiting the throne. Ascribe to Him majesty and power. Bow the knee. Kiss the Son.

Kiss Him who, though we call Him LORD, calls us friends (John 15:14-15). Offer to Him the affection due the One who has welcomed us into blessed communion with Himself. The One who reveals His heart and His mind through the Spirit. Him who, knowing our hearts and minds, patiently fashions them into His own likeness. Not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters (Heb. 2:11), having known first hand our weakness and having determined, regardless, to shower us with abundant grace founded on the finished work of the cross. Embrace Him who desires to come in and eat with you. O’, Kiss the Son!

And Kiss the One worthy of all worship. Kiss the feet of Him who came not to be served but to serve others and offer His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). Kiss the nail scarred hands of Him who took upon Himself the wages of our sin upon Calvary’s tree. Worship the Creator who intervened to redeem His creation . . . the Shepherd who came to rescue His sheep and lead them to living water . . . the Lion who became a Lamb that those once dead in trespass and sin might be made alive. Anoint His feet . . . wipe them with your hair . . . and . . . Kiss the Son.

Be wise, O kings . . . be wise, you everyday folk. Serve the Lord . . . rejoice with trembling . . . and Kiss the Son.

Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.

By His grace . . . for His glory . . .

 

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Telling Us What He Just Told Us

Posted on December 19, 2014 by Pete

I’m hovering over the last words of the last reading of the last day in my reading plan for this year. They also happen to be the last words of the Bible. There is something about last words. When you’re coming to the end of all that you want to say, you want to use those last few words to make sure that others are picking up what you are laying down. Can’t remember where, but I was once told that, if you want to ensure you are communicating, start by telling your audience what you’re going to tell them . . . then tell them what you want to tell them . . . and then, wrap up by telling them what you just told them. Here’s how the Word of God wraps up all the words of God . . . here’s how the Spirit tells us what He just told us . . .

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.  Amen.    (Revelation 22:21 ESV)

Cover to cover, the Book is about grace. From start to finish the story is about grace. Define it how you want . . . forgiving mercy . . . unmerited favor . . . God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense . . . when all is said and done . . . when all is done and said . . . the grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.

There is no other ground to stand on . . . there is no other plea to hope on . . . but for the grace shown to the creation by the Creator.

It was grace that compelled a God who so loves, to breath life into lumps of dirt that He might share that love, though He knew they would spurn it. It was because of grace that, from eternity past, God purposed to redeem to Himself a people. A people who would be born not just once by natural means, but would be born again through the regenerating work of His Holy Spirit. Grace that would replace hearts of stone with hearts of flesh. Hearts dead to the things of God made alive with hearts that beat with the rhythm of heaven. And while the natural man, the flesh, would try to “reject” this divine organ transplant, it is by grace that the new man learns to put down the old man. Grace that provides the continual cleansing of sin through the eternal sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Grace that forms the very nature of the Beloved Son in those He has redeemed by His blood.

It is sufficient grace. Grace able to save to the uttermost. To save from the penalty of sin, to save from the power of sin, and–O Come, Lord Jesus –to save, one day, from the presence of sin.

It is sustaining grace. Through weakness and through waywardness. Through faltering and failure. Through trial and temptation. That grace which is with all His people, will keep His people always. The work that He begun, He will complete. Not by my might . . . not by my strength . . . but by His blessed Spirit.

It is saturating grace. Abundant grace. Grace to overflowing. Like a mighty river poured out on those who, by faith, seek to place themselves in the paths of transforming grace. As one songwriter put it, “If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking!”

O that I would continue to abide in His grace. That I would continue to testify of His grace.

For His glory.

Amen.

 

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The Difference a Few Days Can Make

Posted on December 18, 2014 by Pete

A note in my Bible points out that you only find a charcoal fire mentioned twice in the New Testament. The first time is in the high priest’s courtyard after Jesus’ arrest. There, Peter saddles up to the fire with some others to keep himself warm while Jesus is interrogated inside (John 18:15-18, 25-27).

The other charcoal fire is found just a few pages later . . . just a few days later . . . after Jesus’ death on the cross . . . after the discovery of the empty tomb . . . after Jesus had shown Himself alive to the disciples in the upper room. This charcoal fire is found on the shore of the Sea of Galilee . . . lit by the risen Lord Himself. Jesus is cooking fish on it and invites the disciples, most notably Peter, to “Come and have breakfast” (21:9-12).

And I’m noodling on the contrasts between those two charcoal fires, particularly as they relate to Peter. And I can’t help marvel at the difference a few days can make.

At the first charcoal fire, Peter keeps his distance from the LORD . . . both physically and associatively. I imagine it as a fire soon to go out. Day was dawning, the night chill would soon be gone, the coals in that fire were on their last legs. Kind of reflective of the fire in Peter’s heart. Confused at the unraveling of his world . . . disarmed, both figuratively and literally, when Jesus was arrested, Peter follows at a distance. Less because of hope . . . more because of disbelief. And, around that fire, Peter three times denies that he ever knew or followed Jesus. And the fire goes out.

But what a difference a few days can make. Days when the soul is reassured that Jesus is alive. Days when the mind is reminded that, far from being a cross of defeat, the cross is where victory was won over sin. Days when the heart is rekindled as it hears Jesus’ voice, through the abiding Spirit, say, “Come and have breakfast.”

Jesus lit the fire on the shore that morning. It was Jesus who called to the men while they were fishing. It was Jesus who filled their nets when they were unable to fill them themselves. it was Jesus who invited them to draw near while they were still far away. Jesus who set the table and said, “Dine with me.”

The charcoal fire that had flickered that night in doubt, despair, and denial is re-lit by the risen Christ . . . fueled by the Spirit’s abiding presence . . . fanned into flame as His disciples draw near and experience again sweet communion with their Lord.

Sometimes I can feel like Peter around that fire in the high priest’s courtyard. Not that I think I deny I knew the Lord, but I can waver in unbelief . . . perhaps because of circumstance . . . perhaps because of being overly absorbed in self. Whatever the reason, I know those times of trying to warm myself by a fading fire of my own making while keeping my distance from Christ.

But, by grace, the Spirit within me prompts me to persevere . . . to continue to follow Jesus, even if at a distance at first . . . to continue to look to the cross . . . to continue to stand before the vacated tomb . . . to determine, as much as lies within me, to keep on keepin’ on. And it isn’t long before Jesus fuels the fire, sets the table, and I respond to His invitation to eat with Him.

O’ to know the fire that Jesus lights . . . to dine with Him at the table He sets. To know the difference a few days can make.

By His grace . . . for His glory.

 

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Divine Commentary

Posted on December 17, 2014 by Pete

It’s kind of a strange way to finish an argument . . . not how you’d expect God to finish putting Job in his place. I’d expect God to perhaps wax eloquent on theology . . . instead God gives Job a lesson in zoology. Not what I’d expect. But then again, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways . . . For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts,” declares the LORD (Isa. 55:8-9). And maybe that’s just the whole point God is trying to make as he presents to Job, Leviathan.

“Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord? Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook? Will he make many pleas to you? Will he speak to you soft words? . . . Can you fill his skin with harpoons or his head with fishing spears? Lay your hands on him; remember the battle–you will not do it again! Behold, the hope of a man is false; he is laid low even at the sight of him. No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before Me?”    ~ The LORD to Job (Job 41:1-3, 7-10 ESV)

Rather than try and explain Himself to Job, God draws Job’s attention to His creation. The creation, for those who have eyes to see, declaring the power, the majesty, and the awesome nature of our God. Take time to reflect on the created world around you and then ask yourself, “Who dares to find fault with God . . . who is so arrogant as to argue with the Almighty?”

Not exactly sure what Leviathan was . . . sounds like some mega-alligator type of creature to me. But whatever it was, you didn’t want to tangle with it. Go one on one with this baby and you’re the one coming out worse for wear . . . if you walk away at all. Do it once, says the LORD, and you won’t do it twice.

But the spirit of this age has tamed Leviathan. We split atoms and talk of going to Mars. If we don’t fully understand something, we’re convinced it’s only a matter of time before we do. If we haven’t mastered something, we believe that, one day, we will. The ruler of this age having blinded the eyes of men and women to the glory that radiates through creation.

And so, it’s not just enough to behold Leviathan, we need a bit of intervention of the divine kind. We need some divine commentary.

That’s the Spirit of grace . . . the Spirit who opens the eyes of the blind . . . the Spirit who reveals the things of God . . . the Spirit who, like the voice from heaven addressing Job, speaks into our hearts and says, “Have a look, again . . . and see for the first time.”

Job, undoubtedly was familiar with Leviathan . . . knew it was a creature not to be messed with. But, add some divine commentary to a consideration of Leviathan, and his consideration of an earthly, not to be messed with creature turns his eyes to see the heavenly, not to be argued with Almighty. And such divine commentary is an act of amazing grace . . . “was blind, but now I see.”

Such “schooling” was needed to avert Job’s eyes from himself to His God. The Spirit’s illumination is needed to give those blinded by their sin new sight to see a Savior. And, for those of us who, in the past, have heard His voice and responded by faith, sometimes we need a fresh look at the creation around us to regain that awe of the Almighty who lives within us.

God, open my eyes to the wonder of the creation around me . . .  and my ears to the voice of Your Spirit and His divine commentary within me.

By Your grace . . . for Your glory.

 

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What A Difference A Day Can Make!

Posted on December 16, 2014 by Pete

It’s high drama in a heavenly courtroom courtesy of PTV (Prophetic Television). Front and center is Joshua the high priest, clothed with filthy garments, the evidence of past unfaithfulness and dereliction of duty. Standing at his right hand is Satan, his accuser.  The damning evidence presented is without dispute. Presiding is the angel of the LORD.

And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” . . . And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.”    (Zechariah 3:2, 4 ESV)

Joshua the high priest, the representative of the people of God, stands defiled and dirty. He and his people wearing the same clothes, in a sense, that they wore when they went into captivity some 70 years earlier. The captivity, while being a consequence of their spiritual infidelity, could not atone for their unfaithfulness. While they had born a measure of punishment for their sin, it was not sufficient to pay the wages of their sin. And so, even 70 years later, after a lifetime in Babylon, the accuser brushes off the old “press clippings” . . . digs out the original evidence . . . and demands appropriate retribution for their transgression.

But Satan is rebuked and he is dismissed. Joshua, the representative of the people, is likened to a brand plucked from the fire, delivered from the oppression of a land not his own. What’s more, the filthy garments are removed and Joshua, and by extension the people, are clothed with pure vestments.

But how does a just God just “take away” a nation’s iniquity? On what equitable basis are filthy garments removed? By what economy do failure-priests receive new and pure vestments?

. . . behold, I will bring My servant the BRANCH. For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes, I will engrave its inscription, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.   (Zechariah 3:8b-9 ESV)

Joshua, and the people he represents, stand before a holy God in white garments, while Satan retreats in defeat, because of a single day. A day in which all their iniquity was removed. What a difference a day can make!

It is the day of God’s servant, the BRANCH. The day the holy One of God offers a once for all sacrifice for sin so that the wages of sin might be paid in full. That payment justly credited to all who confess their unclean garments and appropriate it for their transgression. That payment not only canceling their debt, but overflowing as a cleansing fount, making the sinner clean and clothe him with a robe of righteousness. All in a single day.

The day of atonement . . . foreshadowed in the Law of Moses . . . fulfilled in the cross of Christ.

Behold the Branch! Rebuke the accuser! Bear the imputed righteousness of Another because of the once-for-all atoning sacrifice of heaven, the risen Son of God!

What a difference a day can make! Hallelujah!

To Him be all glory for such abundant and eternal grace!

 

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Focus!

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Pete

They don’t have to do it too often any more. And while I don’t think they had to do it A LOT when they were younger . . . I can recall times when my girls had to take special action to ensure they had my attention. Not that I willfully ignored them . . . I just could kinda’ be distracted and never really tune into the conversation they were wanting to have happen. And so, on occasion, . . . unfortunately, on more occasions than should have been, or that I want to remember, . . . one or more of my daughters would have to take their hands . . . place them on my cheeks . . . turn my face toward theirs . . . look me in the eye . . . make sure we had eye-to-eye contact . . . and say, “Focus Dad!”

Kind of what the LORD had to do with the people who had returned from captivity to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Focus!

Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. . . . Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD. (Haggai 1:4-5, 7-8 ESV)

Now then, consider from this day onward. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the LORD, how did you fare? Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the LORDs temple was laid, consider: Is the seed yet in the barn?   (Haggai 2:15-16a, 18-19a ESV)

God had stirred their hearts to take up Cyrus’ offer to return from the land of Babylon and rebuild the temple (Ezra 1:5). But they got a bit distracted. After all, they had their own homes to rebuild, too . . . their own fields to reestablish . . . and spending long periods away in Jerusalem was risky given they likely had neighbors who weren’t too thrilled about them being back in the neighborhood. Besides, the temple work wasn’t the easiest of works . . . it wasn’t just the labor involved, but the opposition from some of the governing authorities, as well. In a way, who could blame them that, over the years, they had allowed the temple work to fade on their radar as they shifted their focus, more and more, on their own homes.?

But the LORD, through Haggai, says, Consider your ways . . . consider the work . . . set your heart on what you were called to do . . . put first things first.

Not a bad exhortation to heed from time to time. To pause, sit back, and take inventory on where my time’s going . . . on the priorities that are consuming my energies. To look at the “fruit of my labors” and make sure it’s the crop God’s wants me to be tending to and that it’s not choking out other “fields” He would have me to work first.

Really don’t want to get to the point where I am so distracted by the world’s ways or my personal agendas that the LORD has to grab my face and turn my eyes toward His, and say, “Focus!” Instead, would rather yield to the gentle prompting of the Spirit of grace to quiet my heart and set my heart towards seeking first His kingdom . . . trusting that then, “all these things will be added to you.”

Focus . . . by His grace . . . for His glory.

 

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