I Might Have to Vote for It, But . . .

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Pete

They were “elect exiles” (1Pet. 1:1). They were dealing with the circumstances of their here and now even as they “set their hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1:13). Sojourners in a foreign land which was practicing foreign ways, they were “grieved by various trials” (1:6). And yet, by God’s power, they were “guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1:5). And Peter, led by the Spirit of God, seeks to answer the question they all should have been asking: “How should we then live?” (Thanx Francis Schaeffer for the question).

So, amidst the truths to be known reminding them of the wonders of their salvation — “things into which angels long to look” (1:12), these weary wanderers — on their way “to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading kept in heaven” for them — were also given commands to be obeyed which would not only allow these pilgrims to flourish but also to be set apart (1:15-16) as citizens of heaven (Php. 3:20).

I’m chewing on one of those commands this morning. And, given the filter and bias of an election cycle, I couldn’t help to see it first with a political lens. Almost as soon as I read it, I thought to myself, “Self, in light of this you can’t vote!” (Well, and the fact that I’m Canadian). But I chew on it for a bit, and I think a better conclusion might be, “I might vote for it, but I sure can’t act like it.”

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

(1Peter 2:1 ESV)

So . . . Thus . . . Therefore . . . In light of . . . Accordingly . . . Consequently . . . What comes next is in light of the twenty-five verses that came before. This very practical exhortation is linked inextricably with the glorious exposition which has just preceded it. In light of such a great salvation, because of such a glorious hope . . .

Put away . . . Lay aside . . . Separate from . . . Distance yourself . . . And when I look at the list of what is to be cast off — malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander — I can’t help but think of our current cultural moment. I can’t help but see our current “accepted standard” for how to conduct oneself in the political public square. And my first thought is, if I am to put it off then can I in any way be associated with it, or seem to be endorsing it by voting for it? But noodle on it a bit and I sense that’s not the right application.

No, this is a command to the people of God on how to be the people of God. It’s about getting rid of ill-will, craft and guile, pretense, spite, and evil speaking as a normative dynamic within the family. So, while we might need to vote for those who practices such behaviors, we should not be infected by such behaviors. While it might be the way of the world, it shouldn’t become the way of us holy wanderers. I might have to vote for it, but Lord, please keep me from being infected by it. Keep me from adopting it.

Oh, to be in the world but not of the world.

Only by His grace. Always for His glory.

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Chewing On Some Indicatives

Posted on October 14, 2024 by Pete

The way my pastor has often put it, in the New Testament, before an imperative you’ll find an indicative. Before there’s a command to obey, there’ll be some facts to believe. So, this morning while reading in 1 Peter, while it was a common imperative that caught my attention, it was the associated indicative that fed my soul.

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart . . .

(1Peter 1:22 ESV)

The imperative? The command to obey? Love one another earnestly from a pure heart. Got it. Pretty familiar.

The indicative? Your souls have been purified by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love. Hmm . . .

A purified soul. Cleansed. Ransomed by the blood of Christ, thus cleansed by the blood of Christ; without blemish or spot, because He is without blemish or spot (1Peter 1:18-19). His righteousness now credited to my account (Rom. 4:3-24).

How? By your obedience to the truth. Wait, I thought we were saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone . . . what’s this obedience stuff? But isn’t that what faith is, obedience to the truth? Isn’t there a sense in which the gift to believe the truth about Jesus is the gift to obey the truth about Jesus? Isn’t my assent to the claims of the gospel manifest in my subjection to the dynamics of the gospel? I’m thinking . . .

Not only have I been graced to believe, but I’ve also been graced to behave. Not only have I been saved by faith, but I’ve also been saved for faith (Rom. 1:17). I think you could say my first act of obeying God was believing God. That because I was given eyes to see and ears to hear, I wanted to look to Him and to hear His voice. Does that make sense? Isn’t that a bit awe-invoking?

Oh, the wonders of our salvation!

But then get this . . . what does Peter say I was saved for? What’s the last part of the indicative before I get to the imperative?

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love . . .

I was saved for a sincere brotherly love. One of the great ends of my sanctification, of being set apart by faith for faith, is to love the family of believers with a sincere and authentic love.

When asked the question, “Why did God save you?” I can respond, “To delight in other believers. To be kindly affectioned — with divine, self-sacrificing affection — towards others who have been ransomed by the blood and born again by the word (1Peter 1:19, 23).” Not the only answer to the question, but I’m thinking a pretty significant one.

Faith in Jesus is obedience to truth. Being born again is for family affection towards others who have been born again. Indicatives worthy chewing on, I think.

And then the imperative; love one another earnestly.

Indicatives by God’s grace. Imperatives for God’s glory.

Amen?

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God Speaks

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Pete

Quick thought this morning.

I’m chewing on a reminder that some things are taken for granted. Some things are so familiar we fail to wonder at them as we should. What kind of things? Well, this morning the particular “thing” I’m chewing on is that God speaks. And it’s a verse in Jeremiah about Judah’s sin which reminds me that God speaks.

“Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have not answered.”

(Jeremiah 35:17 ESV)

Wanna boil down the sin of God’s rebellious people to four words? Try they have not listened.

But there’s no sin of “not listening” if there’s nothing to be heard. Only if God has spoken can a man, or a woman, refuse to listen. And what kind of God condescends to speak to His creation? Our God.

Idols don’t speak. Pagan gods don’t speak. All other gods are pretty much stand-offish. But our God is inextricably linked to communication. From the beginning, God’s Word was God’s way. “The Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1b). He spoke things into being, for “God said . . . and there was” (Gen. 1:3); “God said . . . and it was so” (Gen. 1:9). What’s more, God communicated the way of flourishing (2:16). Even more, He called out to let us know that He was pursuing (Gen. 3:9).

He who is above desires with intense desire to be known below. And how’s that? God speaks. In the past, He spoke by the prophets. “But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son” (Heb. 1:2).

And isn’t that the essence of what we mean when we talk about having a “personal relationship” with God? It’s personal because He speaks so that we can hear. He communicates so that we can commune. He tells us about Himself so that we can testify from experience that He is known. Doesn’t get more “personal” than that.

Oh, the wonder of a God who has spoken, of a God who continues to speak. For, in His speaking, He is present. In His word, He is real.

Word of God speak.

By Your grace. For Your glory.

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Get Them Back

Posted on October 8, 2024 by Pete

If I’m picking up what James is laying down, then we’re part of the process. Just as the Father’s foreknowledge and election are part of the process; just as the Son’s incarnation is part of the process; just as the cross and the tomb and the empty grave clothes are part of the process; just as the Spirit’s life-giving agency and sanctification are part of the process; I think James is saying that, as believers, we too are part of the process of salvation.

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

(James 5:19-20 ESV)

Whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul . . . Like I said, sounds like we’re part of the process.

Brothers who have wandered from the truth. Sisters who have strayed from the way. Believers who backslide. Saints who sin. Go back and scan James’ letter, and that’s what it’s about. At least that was James’ church experience.

Temptation was real (1:13-14), anger was present (1:19-20). Filthiness and wickedness were being dealt with (1:21). Partiality was being practiced (2:1-7)), and living faith wasn’t (2:14-26). Tongues were on fire (3:1-12), and jealousy and selfish ambition simmered below the surface (3:14-16). Quarrels and fights were happening within (4:1-3) and a love for the world was evident without (4:4-5). Pride was present (4:6) and backbiting was practiced (4:11). The rich exploited the poor, and employers defrauded the employed (5:1-5). And all this, in the church. Say it ain’t so! Yeah, it was.

Well then, tell me that James’ congregation was unique. I don’t think so. Seems to me if you’re gonna declare sinners to be saints, even before they actual even know what it means to live like saints, and if you’re gonna leave the old nature of the flesh to cohabitate with the new nature infused by the Spirit, and if you’re gonna cover it all with blood that cleanses from all sin and grace that can’t be out-transgressed, then you’re gonna have some mess in the meantime. That’s why church elders are to pray and lift up (5:13-15). And that’s why church members are to engage and bring back.

Bring him back . . . That’s what I’m chewing on this morning. Bring back a sinner from wandering . . .

Seems it’s not just the shepherd who needs to retrieve the sheep when they wander off (Lk. 15:4), but us sheep have a responsibility for each other as well.

Peterson puts it well:

My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God.

(James 5:19-20 MSG)

If we’re expecting the church to be a place where we all have it together, then we’re going to shame the saint instead of seeking to help save them. If we’ve kidded ourselves to thinking we have it all together, then we’re going to condemn the wanderer rather than cover a multitude of sins. But if we expect a mess — not accept the mess but expect it — then we’ll also expect that as part of being “in fellowship” we’ll likely be involved in bringing back sinning saints and wandering wanderers. It’s a part of the deal.

Not just according to James, but Paul too.

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

(Galatians 6:1-2 ESV)

Wandering away in sin, ensnared and tripped up by transgression, it’s kind of what happens in the church. It’s kind of the reality of people who are still people in progress. People who, though they may be more like Christ now than when they first believed, are not yet fully conformed to His likeness. Welcome to sanctification.

And guess what? We’re a part of each other being a work in progress. It comes with being in the family of God. It’s why everyone one of us needs the family of God. Turning others back is one aspect of our common ministry. Being turned back is one aspect of our common experience.

Don’t write them off . . . go after them.

Get them back.

By God’s grace. For God’s glory.

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Jehovah-Tsidkenu

Posted on October 4, 2024 by Pete

Five words. Five words that brings things to a halt. Five words that demand a pause. Words that generate again wonder. Words that evoke again praise. Words that remind again that my righteous standing before a holy, holy, holy God is due solely to a Righteous Savior. The One identified of old with five words, “The LORD is Our Righteousness.”

As I continue to read in Jeremiah it’s clear that Judah had come apart at the spiritual seams. Her kings led her into deeper and deeper apostasy, her shepherds had lost all affection and care for the flock and were leading her to feed in rotten pastures of idol worship, and her prophets had determined to no longer seek the voice of God but to ad lib, passing off their own hollow words of, “It will be OK” as “thus says the LORD.” A dark and ominous time. Judgment is inevitable.

But this morning I also encountered a ray of light, some hope for the hopeless, a safe harbor for those in the storm.

Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which He will be called: “The LORD Is Our Righteousness.”

(Jeremiah 23:5-6 ESV)

Even as the God of Israel is about to lay waste the land and send an adulteress people into captivity, He promises that He will gather a remnant of His flock out of the countries where He drives them. Promises that they shall, one day, again be fruitful and multiply. Promises that He will set shepherds over them who will care for them (23:3-4). And at the center of this promise is a righteous Branch.

A Branch who will be a sprout or shoot from the Davidic tree. He will be of the line of royalty. He will have the right to rule. And He will be righteous.

Unlike the wayward kings Israel had known, juxtaposed against the self-seeking shepherds of the day, in contrast to the false prophets and their bogus words, He will be God’s quintessential King, the Father’s supreme Shepherd, and the LORD’s perfect Prophet. He will be the King who will rule forever in the way of justice with a scepter of righteousness. He will be the eternal Shepherd willing to give His life for the sheep, that He might feed them in green pastures and lead them to living water. He will always speak perfectly and accurately the mind of the LORD for He will be the very Word of God.

And what grabs me afresh this morning — what cries to me to “Be Still” — is His name. He will be called: “The LORD Is Our Righteousness.” In the original, “Jehovah-Tsidkenu.”

This morning I’m reminded that the only ground I stand upon before a holy God is the ground secured by this Branch of David. That He is the “secret sauce” of my salvation. Because the Branch, Jesus the Messiah, is Jehovah-Tsidkenu.

This Branch who is Jehovah — God. Very God. Fully God. Himself the radiance of God’s glory, the exact imprint of God’s nature, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, worthy alone to be seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb. 1:2-3).

This Branch who is Tsidkenu — our Righteousness. Having Himself made purification for my defilement, having Himself become the once for all sacrifice for my sin. Having been pierced for my transgressions and crushed for my iniquities so that His chastisement could bring me peace and reconciliation. His perfect character imputed to my purchased soul giving me a righteous standing before a holy God. A righteousness — the righteousness of Christ — affording me access into the Most Holy Place. A righteousness received by faith alone in Christ alone.

For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

(2Corinthians 5:21 ESV)

Jehovah-Tsidkenu. Overwhelmed by the name! Overjoyed by the reality.

He is Our Righteousness!

Oh, what grace!

To God be the glory!

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Believer Bashing

Posted on October 3, 2024 by Pete

I just finished a book which sought to contend for the faith. But as I’m reading in James this morning, I’m wondering if it also didn’t transgress the law.

That the church is not of one mind as to exactly how we are to stand for truth and yet still bear witness to the gospel of grace seems to be evident. Evident to all as the church has taken stage in a virtual public square with the world looking on from the balcony of social media. And yet, isn’t much of our power in being the “pillar and buttress of the truth” (1Tim. 3:15) founded in our diligence toward maintaining “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3)? I’m thinkin’ . . .

Thus, a holy tension. Contend for a truth in which we mostly agree, but do not entirely agree. Be on mission to reach the lost, a mission to which we are commonly committed yet with differing strategies. And do it in a way that still declares we are Jesus’ disciples by how we love one another (James 3:15). It’s to that tension which I think James may be speaking (at least to this guy) this morning.

Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

(James 4:11 ESV)

Do not speak evil against one another . . . BROTHERS (AND SISTERS).

Sounds like a command to obey to me.

Don’t speak badly of another believer. Don’t talk in a way that is targeted at damaging their reputation. Don’t malign or slander.

Sure, you may not agree with how they see things, how they prioritize things. You may have a vastly different approach to how to contend for the truth while still proclaiming the gospel. But, if I’m applying James right, in that difference do not speak evil against one another.

The culture of the world around us has become very good at speaking evil against one another. Debating issues with innuendo. Articulating positions with aspersions. And as is prone to happen, the world, I fear, has leavened some parts of the church. So that, our fighting for the truth has too often taken on a flavor of fighting against one another. Our decrying of sin has resulted in defaming one another. So that, I fear, we run the danger that our proclamation of the gospel of grace is being outshouted by our lack of grace towards one another.

Do not speak evil against one another . . .

That’s gonna take some wisdom as we rightly feel the need to be salt and light in a decaying and dark world and yet have different views on how to apply the salt and shed the light. A wisdom from above, not the world’s wisdom. A wisdom requiring the mind and heart of Christ so that we are not drawn into a culture which promotes contention.

Remember the adage, “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity”? That’s the wisdom I think I’m talking about.

Believer bashing. Shouldn’t be a thing.

By His grace. For His glory.

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More Grace (2018 Rerun)

Posted on October 2, 2024 by Pete

If I thought it “a bit disturbing” back in ’18, I might consider it downright unsettling in 2024. We are still quarreling and still fighting. And while the “what’s” of our disagreements may be legitimate and substantive, the “how’s” of our disputes just aren’t. They’ll know we are His disciples by our love for one another (Jn. 13:35), not by our public contempt for one another.

So, how come we are talking about the right things but in the wrong way? Could it be as simple as we’ve been tripped up by “friendship with the world?” Not it’s pleasures, but its polarization? Not its treasures, but it’s tactics? Not it’s values, but it’s venom? I don’t know, but these thoughts from six years ago still seem relevant today. I’m thinking we still need more grace.

His letter is written to “the twelve tribes in the Dispersion.” So, James’ epistle was penned for believers but with a particular Hebrew flavor. Maybe not surprising given that it’s thought this could be the first NT book written, and thus written to a church that was still largely Jewish.

So it’s for those who are born again. Those who are new creations in Christ. And maybe that’s what makes the opening verses of chapter 4 a bit disturbing.

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

(James 4:1-4 ESV)

What? Quarrels? Fights? Murder? And all this among the believers?!? Say it ain’t so!

What happened to “and all who believed were together and had all things in common” (Acts 2:44)? Or, “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own” (Acts 4:32)? Even if you understand that James isn’t referring to murder in the literal sense but in the Sermon on the Mount sense, that of intense anger towards someone (Mt. 5:21-22), you’re still asking yourself, what’s going on?

What could so corrupt the unity of the Spirit believers were born again into (1Cor. 12:13, Eph. 4:1-3)? What could so mar the testimony of love for one another that Jesus said would mark His disciples (Jn. 13:35)?

Two things, apparently. Passions at war within us, and love for the world around us. Evidently a lethal combo for the church being the church.

The nature of the flesh is to want. To desire what it thinks it must have to be satisfied. What it feels it needs in order to experience pleasure. And when someone else has that something, there can be a tendency to turn on that person. Either out of jealousy, or of trying to compete for it. Cue a catalyst for conflict.

And what feeds the flesh? The world. The system of values, priorities, and prizes that man has built up for themselves in order to satisfy “the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions” (1Jn. 2:16). The world feeds the flesh. And flesh wars against others driven by flesh. And then you have quarrels, and fights, and murders . . . oh my!!!

What’s the answer? Stop it!!!

It’s that simple, says James. Stop coveting and start praying, asking for what you think you need. And if you don’t get it, then know that you ask amiss.

What’s more, stop befriending the world (by the way, that’s not BFF type of befriending, that’s getting into bed with type of “friends” . . . you adulterous people). For to befriend the world is to set yourself up as an enemy of God. Why would believers do that? Oh yeah, the flesh!

Ugly mirror to be looking into this morning. Bitter food to be chewing on. But thank God for the word “but”.

But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

(James 4:6 ESV)

More grace. Greater grace. Larger grace. Stronger grace. That’s the grace our God dispenses . . . and dispenses freely and abundantly.

And it’s available to the humble. To those who look in the mirror of Scripture and see their own reflection in the twelve tribes of the dispersion. Who refuse to say, “Not me! That’s someone else,” but know the battle between the flesh and the Spirit is their daily reality. Who, by the Spirit’s enabling power, say, “No!” to the flesh, and “Forgive me” to God. Who preach the gospel to themselves — the blood’s power to forgive and cleanse, the empty tomb’s power to allow those once in bondage to the flesh to live in newness of life. To believe in, and avail themselves of, “but He gives more grace.”

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

(James 4:10 ESV)

Yes, He will.

Because of more grace. And that for His glory.

Amen?

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The Root of the Roots

Posted on October 1, 2024 by Pete

If “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils” (1Tim. 6:10), this morning I think I may have dug up a couple more. And beyond that, James also puts his finger on what looks to be at the root of the roots.

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

(James 3:16 ESV)

Jealousy? Selfish ambition? Add them to the root of “the love of money.” Because, says the Spirit, where they exist, not only will “things fall apart” (MSG) but, as most translations render it, there is “every evil thing.”

Jealousy . . . Could be referring to envy. But also, could be referring to indignation. Whichever, it has the idea of being accompanied by an “excitement of mind”, a fervor, a zeal. So that the fruit from this root is “fierceness of indignation” or “contentious rivalry” or “punitive zeal.” The prevailing sense, for me, is the sense of being fighting mad.

Selfish ambition . . . Literally, according to my Greek-to-English dictionary, “electioneering”, or “a self-seeking pursuit of political office by unfair means.” It also uses the words “partisanship” and “fractiousness.” I’m not making this up.

So, every vile practice is on the table where there is zealous indignation mixed with fractious, partisan, self-promotion. Hmm . . . am I reading my bible or watching the news?

And how come? What’s the source of the source? What’s at the root of these roots? James covers that too.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

(James 3:14-15 ESV)

Bitter hearts, boastful ambition, bad behavior, it’s all sourced in bogus wisdom. Earthly wisdom — wisdom focused too much on what is going on “under the sun” (Eccl. 3:16-18). Unspiritual wisdom — ways that seem right to a man but which, in the end, lead to death (Prov. 14:12). Demonic wisdom — a reminder that our battle isn’t just with flesh and blood (Eph. 6:12). Fake wisdom, the type of wisdom which, in fact, is foolishness (Rom. 1:22).

But, says James, our wisdom should be a wisdom from above.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

(James 3:17-18 ESV)

Wanna uproot the root of contentious rivalry? Wanna see the spring of fractious partisanship dried up? Then bring on wisdom from above. You’ll know it when you see it. It is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. Hmm . . . sounds a lot like Jesus. It should. Jesus is the wisdom from above (1Cor. 1:30, Eph. 1:17).

Wanna be light in a dark world? Wanna be salt in a decaying world? Then striving to live out from above wisdom in a culture strangling itself with earthly, unspiritual, demonic wisdom might just be a good way to do that.

Oh, to recognize the root of the root of all kinds of evil things — a root with shoots within me. To ferret out what’s behind, as Peterson puts it, “everyone ending up at others’ throats” (James 3:16b MSG). To then, through confession and repentance, dig out that root of earthly wisdom and let the Spirit transplant instead the root of wisdom that comes down from above. Jesus in me. Jesus through me.

Only by His grace. Always for His glory.

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Underwear?

Posted on September 30, 2024 by Pete

I don’t envy bible translators. Not only are they trying to map ancient languages into readable, modern text, but they are also often trying to connect our modern mindset to ancient images. That works well enough when God’s people are likened to a flock, or to a bride. We get that — we’re sheep under the care of a shepherd, we’re betrothed being readied for a wedding day. Those symbols pretty easily communicate a somewhat time-transcendent image of what the people of God are like. But this morning, I’m taken a little aback as the chosen people of God are likened to underwear. (Did that get your attention?)

For as the loincloth clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, declares the LORD, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen.

(Jeremiah 13:11 ESV)

Okay, so only the CSB translates it as “underwear.” But being likened to a loincloth does not quite meld with my western worldview either.

Be honest, describing the church — a people, a name, a praise, and a glory — as the bride plays a lot better for our modern mindset than does a loincloth. Call me a special people abiding in the Vine (John 15) and I kind of get it, but a belt bound about the waist of God? Go ahead and hail the church as the beautiful bride (Eph. 5), but also as a great girdle (KJV)? Hmm . . .

Do a bit of reading on the loincloth and you can start imagining some of the connections perhaps intended. For example, the ancient Jewish world would have regarded the loins as the seat of strongest desires and affections, much as we would refer to the heart. Thus, a loincloth speaks, as one commentator says, of “nearness and dearness.” Also, in the ancient world, apparently loincloths might be decked out to indicate one’s greatness, crafted with decorative pendants hung from the belt. More study, more noodling, and there’s probably more connections which could be suggested.

But the intended connection is clear from the text. Just as a loincloth clings to the waist of a man, so the people of God were made to cling to the LORD.

God chose a people to be near Him, to cleave to Him, to closely pursue Him. They would be His people and He would be in their midst. They would be called by Him to Him, and they would be placed near to His heart, embraced at the depths of His innermost desire and affection. (Chew on that for a bit).

While the image of being underwear (thanx again for that picture, CSB) is somewhat jarring, and maybe even uncomfortable this morning, the implications of being brought into such a potentially intimate relationship with God is overwhelming. How near to His heart does He long His people to be? Pretty near!

And, for what purpose?

. . . that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory . . .

A people drawn near that they would be named as His people, for His praise, and for His glory. Not because of who we are, but because of what He’s done. Not because of what we’ve done, but because of who He is (thanx for that lyric, Casting Crowns).

Who am I? Someone created, and then, by God’s sovereign determination and provision, re-created and brought near — oh, so very near — to the heart of God.

Only by His grace. Only for His glory.

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Whaddya Want?

Posted on September 27, 2024 by Pete

A well-known passage. A stirring declaration. And in its shadow, a response perhaps unnoticed and a question perhaps rarely marked and answered. So, this morning I hover in the shadow of this great truth, its almost assumed implication, and try and honestly ask myself the question, “Whaddya want?”

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?”

(John 1:35-38a ESV)

Behold, the Lamb of God . . . A proclamation? An invitation? A regulation? Yes. It’s a truth to know. It’s a welcome to receive. It’s a duty to perform. I could stop right now and there would be more than enough in those five words to chew on through the day. Behold, the Lamb of God.

They followed Him . . . If Jesus was good enough for John, He was good enough for John’s disciples. If John was leading a Jesus parade, then they were ready to get in line. It’s the only right response, isn’t it? I’m thinkin’.

So, John was pointing the way, and his disciples were walking in the way. But wait, there’s more.

Apparently, this wasn’t enough for Jesus.

Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?”

What are you seeking? What are you looking for? (CSB) “What are you after?” (MSG) “Whaddya want? (PJCV). Literally, what are you striving after?

Think about it. They’ve just decided to follow a Lamb. Yet, Genesis 49:9-10 indicates that the Messiah would be more like a lion — a scepter wielding, staff carrying, top of the food chain roaring king of the jungle. So, what’s with the Lamb thing?

Fluffy, gentle, frolicking and playful? Nope, that not’s the picture that would have come to mind for these first century followers of John. Lambs were about sacrifice. Lambs were about atonement for sin. Lambs were meant to be a blood offering so that others could live (Exodus 12:1-28). Jesus was a man likened to a creature born to die, and that’s who the disciples of John decided to follow.

Okay, so maybe now the almost always overlooked question asked by Jesus makes some sense. You’re following a Lamb whose life’s mission is to die. What are you seeking? Whaddya want?

Hmm . . . how to answer that . . .

Well Lord, I want my sins to be dealt with once and for all, taken away (Jn. 1:29), removed as far as the east is from the west (Ps. 103:12). So, to that end, I guess I want You to die, Lord. But me following you? Is that really where I want to follow You to? How about we skip that part and go right to the blessings of the kingdom You said You’d rule over. Maybe I want the blessed life. The easy life. The good life. Yeah, maybe that’s what I’m seeking.

Wrong answer, says Jesus. That’s not what following a lamb is about.

Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

(Matthew 16:24-25 ESV)

The Lamb of God’s sacrificial altar was a Roman cross. And those who would follow Him, says Jesus, need to be prepared to pick up their own cross. Is that what I’m seeking? Is that I want?

Take a deep breath . . . scary thing to say . . . “But yes Lord, that’s what I’m seeking?”

For if the way to the crown for You was by the cross, then I know the way to the kingdom of heaven for me is through the trials, troubles, and sufferings of earth. If Your wisdom is the world’s foolishness, if Your weakness is what confounds the world’s strength (1Cor. 1:27), then I want to live to die to self, I want Your power to be known in my weakness.

That’s what I want.

Only way it’s gonna happen is by Your grace. Only way it’s gonna happen is for Your glory.

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