Spoon Fed

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Pete

With some passages of Scripture, in order to “pick up” what the Spirit of God is “laying down,” you need to lean in and really dig to find the morsels. But with other passages, you are, in a sense, “spoon fed.” With those portions of God’s Word, it’s less about trying to find something to chew on, and more about trying to digest all that’s presented. Psalm 103 is one of those “spoon feed you” type of passages. The application . . . the response . . . the “command to obey” is pretty clear . . . “Bless the Lord!” . . . or if you’re a NIV reader, “Praise the Lord!”

Not too complicated . . . but oh, what a high and lofty calling . . . to join with angels, heavenly hosts, and all creation . . . to summon up and garner from within my inner most being . . . to draw upon all that is within me . . . to bow the knee . . . and bless the Lord! But some days, honestly, I don’t feel up to the task . . . sometimes “all that is within me” doesn’t seem like all that much . . . and, it doesn’t feel like I can spare any. Yeah, but that’s where the psalmist’s approach and the rest of this wonderful song come into a play.

Bless the LORD, O my soul,
   and all that is within me,
   bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
   and forget not all His benefits . . .    (Psalm 103:1-2 ESV)

Within those two verses is the grand theme and the divine approach for David’s song to his soul. David commands his soul to bless the Lord . . . it’s not a suggestion . . . it’s not an optional feature . . . it is an imperative . . . that from his inmost being and with all that is within him, he should bless the Lord. And, David provides us with insight on how to “prime the pump.” First, refocus on His holy name . . . second, reflect on His mighty works.

Not to craft a “worship formula” or anything, but I do think that at the essence of worship . . . at the heart of soul-sourced, all that is within me, praise . . . is the fresh appreciation of who God is and what God has done. Too often we can skim over “His holy name” and jump right to “all His benefits” . . . but in combination they take the weary soul . . . the depleted worshipper . . . and replenish the “well of praise” from the “Fount of every blessing”.

His holy name . . . the essence of who He is . . . He is the Lord of righteousness and justice (103:6). In His name, His glory is revealed . . . He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love (compare 103:8 with Exodus 33:18 and Exodus 34:5-8). He is the God of immense compassion for He knows our feeble frame and remembers that we are dust (103:13-14). By the very nature of His eternal being, the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting (103:17). He rules and reigns on high and His kingdom is over all — His throne established in heaven (103:19). This is our God! This is His holy name! This is His person! Oh, bless the Lord, O my soul!

And then, there’s all His benefits . . . His wondrous works. Check out 103:3-5 . . . He forgives all our iniquity . . . He heals all our soul diseases . . . He redeems our life from death and destruction . . . He crowns us with His steadfast love and overflowing mercy . . . He satisfies us with good things . . . He renews our strength.

How great is our God? How mighty are His works on our behalf? How wondrous are all His benefits? How amazing is His grace? Pretty great! Pretty mighty! Pretty wondrous! Pretty amazing!

Some mornings I just need to be spoon fed.

Bless the LORD, O my soul . . .

Posted in Psalms | Leave a comment

To Be Like Jonathan

Posted on May 2, 2014 by Pete

Goliath, Saul, and Jonathan all had at least one thing in common . . . David! David the son of Jesse. David of Bethlehem. David the shepherd boy. David the musician. David the warrior. And, it was as the warrior that David separated these three men. Goliath derided him . . . Saul resented him . . .but Jonathan loved him. Goliath saw David as a joke . . . Saul viewed David as a threat . . . Jonathan recognized David as the king. David had a way of polarizing people . . . kind of like his distant descendant, Jesus. And I want to be like Jonathan.

Reading in 1Samuel 17 and 18 this morning.

Scene 1 . . . David meets Goliath. In this corner, wearing but the clothes of a shepherd boy, David. David, anointed of God . . . declared to one day be king . . . filled with the Spirit of God. David ready to do battle . . . but not as the world would expect. Without impressive armor . . . without the standard weapons of earthly warfare . . . he marches into battle confident in only one thing . . . confident in the name of the LORD of hosts, the living God. In the opposing corner, with enough armor on to build a small train engine, Goliath. Goliath, big as a truck . . . Goliath the man eater . . . Goliath the mocker . . . Goliath the self confident . . . soon to be Goliath the dead. In his arrogance, the uncircumcised Philistine looks with disdain on the shepherd boy before him . . . mocks his opponent’s choice of weapons . . . but eventually goes facedown before the boy who would be king.

And how many look upon Jesus as Goliath did upon David. Uncircumcised in heart, dead in trespass and sin, when they are presented the Son they see no form or majesty that they should look at Him, and no beauty that they should desire Him (Isa. 53:2). They look to the cross and see but a sling and stones and laugh in derision. Their power and might is in themselves, and “the message of the cross is foolishness.” “But to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1Cor. 1:18). And so the Goliaths meet the Davids and laugh their heads off (in Goliath’s case, literally).

Next, Saul and David. Saul may have been more realistic about his own power . . . but he was no less determined to maintain his own position. Saul was celebrated as a slayer of thousands, but David was extolled as the slayer of tens of thousands (1Sam. 18:7) . . . and that choked Saul big time! Their wasn’t enough glory to go around for the two of them . . . and Saul wanted it all. It’s not that Saul didn’t recognize that David was God’s anointed, but that he regarded himself as his own anointed . . . and the throne wasn’t big enough for both of them.

God has anointed the greater David, Jesus, as King. He has “highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Php. 2:9-11). And, it’s true, the throne isn’t big enough for two. And those who resent and resist the Christ’s claim on the throne of their lives are destined for a long, slow, deposing of their claim to what is rightfully His. Don’t wanna be a Saul.

But I do want to be like Jonathan!

Though Jonathan was a mighty man of valor in his own right, when this son of Saul encountered the Bethlehemite, Jonathan was so drawn to David that a deep, abiding bond was formed . . . that they were knit together . . . “and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (1Sam. 18:1). Though Jonathan possessed the rights to the throne . . . though he was the heir apparent . . . he “stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt” (18:3). Jonathan released all claims on what the world said was rightfully his and placed them at the feet of another . . . because he loved him as his own soul.

Isn’t that the posture we, as believers, have taken with David’s greater Son? Recognizing Him as LORD . . . loving Him with the soul He has redeemed . . . relinquishing all that we might think we deserve . . . we surrender all to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Any view of what we think we might deserve fades away as we remember that we are but sinners deserving only of the wages of sin, but have, instead, been saved by wondrous grace. Any potential we think we might possess, is placed in His hands to command and direct as He desires. Any garments of glory we think might be ascribed to us, are stripped off and laid at His feet . . . for He alone is worthy of all glory. And we love Him . . . with all our soul . . . because He first loved us.

Yeah, I want to be like Jonathan. You too?

Posted in 1Samuel | Leave a comment

A Heart Wide Open

Posted on May 1, 2014 by Pete

There were some among them who weren’t so sure about Paul. Self-proclaimed “super apostles” had come among them competing for their follower-ship. In so doing, they planted seeds of doubt concerning Paul’s credentials . . . and they had cast suspicion on Paul’s motives. So, not only does Paul write another letter to those in Corinth in order to contend for their faith, but he also writes to contend for his relationship with his children in the faith. And it’s got me thinking this morning of how important it is to have a heart wide open.

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.  
(2Corinthians 6:11-13 ESV)

By way of degree, I would suggest that most of us, most often, tend to be somewhat guarded. That, on a continuum defined by “throw the door wide open” on one side, and “open the door just a crack with the safety chain still on” on the other side, most of us tend to cautiously approach relationships from behind the door . . . and that might be as true as anywhere when it comes to fellowship with the people of God.

We’ll extend our right hands on Sunday morning . . . we’ll greet one another with “Hi, how are ya’?” . . . and we’ll respond, “Fine, thanks” . . . but there’s a healthy distance being maintained in the midst of our close fellowship. Instead, I’m wondering if more of us wouldn’t benefit from a heart wide open.

A heart wide open . . . a broad heart . . . an enlarged heart . . . a welcoming and embracing heart. A heart so impacted by the gospel of grace that it throws the door wide open to the things of grace . . . and to the people who, like us, have known the blessing of grace.

Paul appeals to these Corinth believers “not to receive the grace of God in vain” (6:1) . . . to not let pass the current time of favor . . . to not constrain the day of salvation. Instead of believing the implications of the freedom found in the gospel, they were guarded and calculated and, as such, were restricted in their affections to those who lived freely in the reality of the grace of God.

They saw Paul swimming in the deep end of grace’s ocean and were perhaps a bit cynical . . . “He probably has water wings on.” They heard him calling them to join him, and jump in off the high board, and were maybe a bit distrusting . . . “Why? What does he really want? What’s in it for him? Is he really able to stay afloat there, or is he standing on something?” Paul was all in . . . but they weren’t so sure. Paul wore his desire for them on his sleeve . . . they responded with constrained, cramped, and compressed affections. What they needed was a heart wide open. They needed to believe the gospel and receive the grace . . . and then swim in the deep end.

In the latter part of this chapter, Paul would tell them not to be unequally yoked with idols . . . not so that they could become the temple of God . . . but because, through the gospel and by the grace of God, they were ALREADY the temple of God. Paul would instruct them to pursue the things of righteousness . . . not so that they could work their way on to God’s team . . . but because, through the gospel and by the grace of God, they were ALREADY the people of God, the sons and daughters of the Father. And, Paul would plead with those he considered his children in Christ, to widen their hearts also . . . not that they might receive more favor . . . but that they might know the fullness of that which they already possessed in Christ.

A heart wide open . . . towards the people of God . . . because of the grace of God . . . all for the glory of God.

Posted in 2Corinthians | Leave a comment

Taking Aim

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Pete

Reading the fifth chapter of 2Corinthians is like drinking out of a fire hose. There is a ton of stuff packed into this short chapter of Scripture.

There’s the reminder that one day I will be absent from the body and “at home” with the Lord (5:8) . . . that I will put on my “heavenly dwelling” (5:2) . . . a “building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (5:1). That God has prepared immortality for this mortal man (5:4). Talk about being forward thinking!!! And there’s more. Beyond what awaits me, there’s a reminder of what should control me . . . the love of Christ (2:14). The love shown in the “One who died for all” (2:14-15) . . . the One through whom “God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them” (5:19). A love shown to the world . . . a love which profoundly impacted my life . . . God having reconciled me to Himself through Christ (5:18). How? “He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (5:21). Reconciled and righteous . . . controlled by the love of Christ . . . waiting for a new home. That’s me! Praise God! Yup, a ton of good stuff in 2Corinthians Five!

And buried in the middle of all this is a pretty simple . . . but pretty profound “so what?” How does someone respond to such a reality?

So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him.    (2Corinthians 5:9 ESV)

How’s that for something to “lock and load” on? How’s that for a life’s mission statement? To please Him!

Not too complicated really . . . not a lot of “dos and don’ts” at play . . . just a foundational response to all that Christ is . . . and all that Christ has done . . . and all that awaits us as reconciled and righteous sinners saved by grace.

To please Him . . . what a driving force . . . what a defining context . . . what a direction setting determination.

Consider it the “home setting” on our life’s GPS. When all is said and done, what do I want my life to accomplish? To be well pleasing to Him! What footprints do I want to leave behind? That I lived a life, as much as lied within me, which was acceptable and honoring to my Savior. When asked what motivated me? That I might one day hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That’s what I want to take aim on.

But as I think about such a whole-hearted, single-focused desire being my foundational driving force, I realize how double-minded and wavering and flakey I can be. How easy it is for other things to become that inner “true North” . . . how distracted I can become by other “priorities” . . . how my aim can get thrown off as other “targets” catch my eye. I guess that’s why I need to keep coming back to the Book. Why I need to keep asking the Spirit to show me afresh the wonders of my God . . . and the redeeming work of my Savior. That, in doing so, it renews that desire to respond . . . it recalibrates the target on my radar . . . it refocuses me on the prize set before me. Such that I determine afresh to take aim on living a life that pleases Him.

Only by His grace . . . all for His glory.

Posted in 2Corinthians | Leave a comment

An Eternal Weight of Glory!

Posted on April 29, 2014 by Pete

It’s not very often that I look up to someone else. Not that there aren’t people I have great respect and admiration for . . . but that there aren’t many that I physically have to look up to. At six-foot-three, even those who are taller than me, usually aren’t much taller than me . . . no strain on the neck to go eyeball to eyeball with them. But a couple of weeks ago I met a young man who I looked up to . . . looked WAY UP to . . . as in, fifteen inches taller than me . . . as in, if I didn’t look up, I’d be looking into his chest . . . as in, if we had talked too long I would have had a serious crick in my neck. Though I’m pretty tall, next to this guy I looked kind of small.

So, why do I go there? Why does that come to mind? Well, this morning I’m reading in 2Corinthians 4 where Paul talks about being afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down for the sake of the gospel. Paul said that he lived like one “always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake” (4:8-12). Sounds like a big deal. Sounds like quite the burden to bear. But Paul would refer to it as “light momentary affliction.” How could he say that? More importantly, how could he believe that? Because of what he held up beside his trials. The bigness of his sufferings was dwarfed when it stood up next to “an eternal weight of glory.”

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.   (2Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV)

Weight of glory . . . that’s what caught my eye this morning. That which we faithfully endure and suffer under is preparing for us a weight of glory beyond all comparison.

That word, “weight,” is used only a five other times in the New Testament. Once translated “demands” . . . the other four times translated “burden.” Literally it has the idea of a great weight . . . of a huge heaviness. I imagine it as a great sack that when, flung over the shoulder and carried, bows the back. But in this case, it is a great, heavy bag of treasure. It is a weight of glory. The glory being so great that it can make the weight of our afflictions seem light in comparison.

Place whatever you want up against the glory to be revealed, and it seems smaller . . . much smaller. Not that we minimize or trivialize our trials . . . Paul was very much afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. But he was not crushed, driven to despair, forsaken, nor destroyed. Though he knew what it was to be near death often, he also knew what it was to be enveloped in the power of Christ’s resurrected life. Though he knew things could come to an end at any time, he knew that it would only be the beginning . . . “knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into His presence” (4:14).

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.   (Romans 8:18 ESV)

What’s more, through the voice of the Spirit indwelling him, Paul also lived in the reality that his “light afflictions” were momentary . . . but that the great burden of glory he’d bear was eternal. The length of any season of suffering pales when compared to the season that awaits. For this season is transient . . . the next, eternal.

And so, says Paul, we do not lose heart.

Instead we are encouraged to look up . . . to look WAY UP . . . “setting our minds on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2). There we see, with faith’s eye, the risen Christ, sitting at the right hand of God. And we believe, with abiding Spirit generated assurance, that one day we will appear with Him . . . in glory. And together we will “bear” an eternal weight of glory!

What a day that will be!

Posted in 2Corinthians | Leave a comment

Glorious!

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Pete

One was a mountain the other was a hill. On the mountain, the commandments were given that they might be obeyed. On the hill, the price for disobedience and transgression was paid. On the mountain, God thundered, “You shall . . . You shall not!” On the hill, God cried, “Father, forgive them . . . It is finished!” What transpired on the mountain, would eventually pass away . . . what transpired on the hill remains for all eternity. The ministry ushered in on the mountain, one dependent on man’s best efforts, could only lead to bondage, death, and condemnation. But the ministry revealed on the hill, empowered by the Spirit of the Living God, results in freedom, life, and righteousness. And, while what happened on the mountain came with glory, what happened on the hill revealed the glory . . . and by it’s very nature, is much more glorious!

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.    (2Corinthians 3:7-11 ESV)

The gospel is glorious! The ministry of the new covenant is not only shrouded in glory, not only does it reveal the glory, it welcomes all who believe into His glory.

In Paul’s contrast of the old and the new, he is not declaring that what transpired on the mountain was bad . . . but that it was never intended to be the final answer. It served to reveal the problem. Given of God . . . it was accompanied by God’s glory. But, as evidenced on the face of Moses, it was a fading glory (3:13). And in comparison to the glory to be revealed in the New Covenant, its glory passes.

The glory of the “ministry of the Spirit” . . . the glory of the “ministry of righteousness” . . . the glory of the gospel, that “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1Cor. 15:3-4), is a surpassing glory . . . intrinsically possessing the very essence of glory. What transpired on the hill made way for the glory to not just be evidenced on our face, but for our face, and the rest of us, to have eternal access into the glory . . . into the very presence of God . . . to boldly approach His throne of grace.

And this, my friends, is much more glorious!

Sometimes I wonder if, because what happened on the hill has become so familiar to us over the years, that  we sometimes fail to see the glory. If because of all the distractions associated with just doing life . . . . if because, in our busyness, even in our ministry within the body of Christ, that we fail to take time, sit back,  and reflect upon the ministry of the Spirit . . . the ministry of righteousness — Another’s righteousness gifted to us by grace alone . . . and, as such, we miss the glory.

Not this morning . . .  thanx to Paul’s writings and the Spirit’s leading.

Praise God for the hill . . . for the cross . . . for the empty tomb!

Glorious!

Posted in 2Corinthians | Leave a comment

Because Jesus Loved Him

Posted on April 25, 2014 by Pete

Hadn’t he done enough? From the time of his youth he had kept all the commandments. From all accounts you sense he was a sincere seeker of God. From all indicators he was serious about pursuing the things of God. So, when this young man of some apparent financial means hears about Jesus, and His claims concerning the kingdom, the young man seeks out the Teacher. Approaching Jesus, the young man kneels . . . again, indicating an authentic humility. Having an audience with Jesus, he asks him the one question that reveals the longing of his heart, “What must I do to inherit internal life?” BAM!!! That’s what you want! A demonstrated track record of seeking God . . . a desire to know Him further . . . asking all the right questions. Time to “sign him up!” But Jesus has a different response . . .

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”   (Mark 10:21 ESV)

And looking at him, Jesus loved him.

At that moment the Master fixed His eyes on that one soul. He knew him . . . intimately. His background . . . his sincerity . . . his heart . . . and his snares. Jesus doesn’t dispute that he sought to be a keeper of the commandments. Jesus knew that the young man could truthfully “check the box” beside each of the commands Jesus had quoted, “Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.” But what of the first commandment . . . You shall have no gods before Me? What of the greatest commandment . . . you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength? Jesus looked at him . . . knew him . . . and loved him too much not to reveal to him his lack.

One thing he lacked . . . one really big thing. His heart had made room for another . . . the throne was already occupied . . . material gain already had the seat at the table. And so Jesus says, sell it all . . . give it to the poor . . . follow Me alone . . . and you will have treasure in heaven.

Tough message. High calling. But Jesus, knowing him, loved him. And so He was straight with him.

Though the young man was disheartened by the saying, though he went away sorrowful, I like to think it was because he recognized truth when he heard it. That he was, in fact, an idolater. That he wanted to serve both God and mammon. That he desired the treasure of heaven, but he also delighted in the riches of earth. That though he sought the kingdom, he also loved the world. That, while wanting to think that he was good, he had to acknowledge Jesus’ revelation that “no one is good except God alone” (10:18).

And I like to think that he left with a “godly sorrow that leads to repentance” (2Cor. 7:10). And that because Jesus looked at him . . . and loved him . . . and called him on the thing he lacked . . . that the seeds were planted that led the young man to repentance. That by the grace of God, and the convicting and courting agency of the Spirit, the young man eventually released his grip on his “great possessions” and gave himself fully to following his great Redeemer.

Because Jesus loved him, Jesus challenged him. And though it initially saddened him, I wonder if it didn’t ultimately save him.

That Jesus would so love me . . . revealing my lack . . . not that I might be saved . . . but that I might be sanctified.

Search me, O God, and know my heart!
   Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
   and lead me in the way everlasting!    (Psalm 139:23-24 ESV)

By His grace . . . for His glory.

Posted in Mark | Leave a comment

The Growing Up Days

Posted on April 24, 2014 by Pete

There’s something about the early life of Samuel that stirs me. Maybe because I see in Samuel’s experience something of a pattern which I think might be true of all believers. Maybe because, in a sense, though not similar in any circumstance to Samuel’s, I can relate to the stages Samuel seemed to go through. And maybe because having been given an insider’s view of how God calls someone to Himself and to His purposes, I’m stirred to wonder and worship. There’s something that encourages the heart through “the growing up days.”

And the young man Samuel grew in the presence of the LORD. . . . Now the young man Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and also with man. . . . And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.   (1Samuel 2:21, 2:26, 3:19 ESV)

That the child Samuel grew is evident. An answer to prayer . . . literally . . . he was given by his mother to the Lord’s work shortly after he was weaned. His early life memories would be that of assisting with the work of the tabernacle . . . the place where the glory of God dwelt. Though as a child he would not fully understand the significance of what he was doing, he grew in the presence of the Lord. And I can’t help but think of how many testimonies I have heard were the testifier recalled, “I can see now how, before I knew Him, God’s hand was upon me. Looking back, I can see that His presence shaped my life even before I knew there was a God who had gone to such great lengths so that I might know Him.”

Beyond Samuel growing in the presence of the LORD, he also grew in favor with the LORD. The young man, by God’s determined grace, responded well to the influence of the tabernacle. Faithful in service, fruitful in understanding of the tabernacles great meaning, he grew better and better while Eli’s other sons grew worse and worse. You sense that with his faithfulness in little, he was being given increased capacity to appreciate and pursue the ways of God. The seed planted, having been watered with obedience, was bearing increasing fruit.

And yet, though he grew in the presence and favor of God, “Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word the LORD had not yet been revealed to him” (3:7).

Though He knew much of his God and of His ways, the young intern had yet to know that the same God desired to reveal Himself to men . . . he had yet to know revelation from the LORD . . . he had yet to recognize when it was the LORD’s voice speaking to him. And so God, in His predetermined purposes, reveals Himself to Samuel in a yet more intimate way. They engage in one-on-one communion. The mind of God revealed to the child of God. The Master calls, and the maturing young man responds, “Speak, for your servant hears” (3:10).

And so, Samuel continues to grow. Growing in God’s presence . . . growing in God’s favor . . . growing to hear God’s voice . . . Samuel matured and the LORD was with him. The context of presence becoming the reality of abiding. The shadow of the glory on the other side of the curtain, giving way to the light of glory of God as it abided within. The LORD was with him.

And I think such are the intended “growing days” for all those called of God. What starts as a simple act of faith desiring the ways of God is nurtured by His presence and His favor such that it grows into the reality of knowing what it is to hear the voice of God . . . matures into the confident assurance that God is with us.

Not sure that the growing days ever stop. By the grace of God may we continue to seek His glory . . . and to know His presence, His favor, His voice, and His sweet communion.

Amen?

Posted in 1Samuel | Leave a comment

Shout!

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Pete

This past resurrection Sunday was great! Not just because it was a nice day . . . or because we were able to chill out with some friends over dinner. But it was the gathering of God’s people to celebrate the empty tomb that made it great. More people in our gathering than usual . . . songs celebrating the truth and implications of the risen Christ . . . God’s word preached on the difference a living Christ makes. Yeah, it was great! Added bonus? Our kids sang with the worship team for a couple of songs. About twenty, from 5 to 5th grade, singing at the top of their lungs “He arose! He arose! Hallelujah, Christ arose!” And then they sang a song they had been working on for our Easter service, Sing and Shout by Matt Redman. So how come we don’t shout more?

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD;
    let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation!
Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving;
    let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!
For the LORD is a great God,
    and a great King above all gods.
Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!       (Psalm 95:1-3, 6 ESV)

Twice the songwriter exhorts, “Make a joyful noise!” Both the NASB and NKJV translate it “Shout joyfully!” Literally . . . raise a sound . . . give a blast . . . cry aloud. Figuratively . . . it has the idea of “to split the ears.” Sounds like shouting to me.

So how come we don’t shout more? Why don’t we view it as a command to obey? To read the Psalms you’d think it was a normal reaction to the greatness of God . . . so, why don’t we shout more?

I know that we’re all wired differently . . . some more emotional, some less . . . some more comfortable with “letting go”, some who naturally keep things pretty subdued . . . I understand all that. But shouldn’t there be times when being in the presence of a supernatural God trumps our natural tendencies? I know that we are to do things “decently and in order” but, from time to time, doesn’t that “order” demand that we sing to the Lord, and “raise a sound” . . . that we should “give a blast” joyfully to the Rock of our salvation . . . that we should strain our voices and lift them to their max volume capacity in order to “split an ear” with His praise? I’m thinkin’ . . .

Maybe the issue isn’t so much about what comes natural to us . . . but the degree to which we pursue and enter the supernatural presence of God . . . the degree to which we truly quiet ourselves and remove the distractions and work at considering Him. Maybe the issue is that we really can’t stop focusing on ourselves and what we’re comfortable with . . . instead of being totally captivated with the LORD’s grandeur, greatness, and glory.

Now don’t get me wrong . . . I’m not advocating an “anything goes free-for-all” . . . just a bit of joyful shouting once in awhile. Not manufactured . . . not staged . . . not Sunday-in-and-Sunday-out . . . but birthed in the depths of souls freshly touched by the great King who is above all gods . . . freshly aware of the One who declares His glory through creation . . . freshly blessed by Him who continues to shower amazing grace through the blood of Jesus. Shouldn’t this be enough to garner a bit of shouting?

Ok . . . so maybe this doesn’t cut it with you . . . “I’m not the shouting type,” you say. So, why don’t we bow down? . . . why don’t we kneel? . . . why don’t we do something that physically indicates our pleasure in worshiping Him . . . something that demonstrates how blown away we are by our indescribably great God? After all . . . it’s biblical . . . and don’t we want to be biblical?

Anyway . . . this little “rant” isn’t intended to judge anybody . . . really more questions to myself as I read Psalm 95 this morning. Oh, that I would view my singing . . . my worship . . . my praise . . . less about what I’m comfortable doing and more about what He is worthy to receive. That I would be so consumed with His magnificent presence that thanksgiving would overflow . . . that worship would be the only “natural” response . . . that I’d refuse to let the rocks have the pleasure (Luke 19:37-40) . . . that my voice would be compelled, from time to time, to lift up with joyful shouts of praise . . . that the song would be as if it were the first time sung . . . that the ears of God would be my target . . . that He would be worshiped in a manner worthy of His majesty.

“We will sing and shout, yeah, sing and shout . . . Open up our hearts and pour Your praises out!” (Matt Redman)

Posted in Psalms | Leave a comment

Scandalous Grace

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Pete

Such is the nature of the Scriptures . . . that they can be a “quick meal” in the morning to fire up one’s “spiritual metabolism” for the day or, they can be a feast of such sustenance that they can be consumed and chewed on over hours and hours of instruction, exploration, and meditation. Such is the case with the book of Ruth.

The book of Ruth as been part of my “morning meal” for two days now . . . two short readings yesterday and today, amidst three other readings as part of my reading plan. Reading Ruth, but for just a few minutes, has again captured my imagination and provided a glimpse into the sovereign workings of God. But my daughter has been studying Ruth for weeks now as part of her course work at university. This past Saturday we sat at the table and, with contagious enthusiasm, she poured out just a small sampling of what she’s been discovering as her professor plumbs the depths of this short love story with her and her class. Talk about drinking out of a fire hose!

And so, I know that what has caught my attention this morning, is but a scratch on the surface of all that is contained in this portion of Holy Writ . . . and that it is of such an elementary nature when compared to what’s been going down in my daughter’s class. But again, such is the Word of God, even as a “taste test” it nourishes the soul. And this morning it reminded me of God’s scandalous grace.

Love that term . . . not my term . . . encountered it in the notes of my Bible. Not my term . . . oh, but my reality.

As part of Boaz redeeming Ruth and taking her to be his wife, he calls upon those gathered at the gate of the city to be his witnesses. And after expressing his intentions, the witnesses respond:

Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the LORD will give you by this young woman.”    (Ruth 4:11-12 ESV)

Tamar! That’s the name that seemed out of place in this idyllic love story. You read her name and the sordid details of Judah impregnating his widowed daughter-in-law, as she disguised herself and sold herself to him as a harlot, comes to mind (Genesis 38). But from that “one night stand” were born twins . . . one of those being Perez . . . through whose lineage was born Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer, Boaz.

At first her name seems out of place . . . but then you realize how appropriate her mention is here. Tamar knew scandalous grace and, through the son she bore, it begat more scandalous grace. Eventually in the line would be born Salmon . . . who would marry not a “one night” harlot, but a career prostitute, Rahab (Matt. 1:5), who, by faith, hid the spies that she might be associated with God’s covenant people (Heb. 11:31). And of Salmon and Rahab was born Boaz . . . the one who would redeem a Moabite woman . . . a woman of a nation historically at enmity with God’s people . . . a woman who, by faith, desired the God of Israel as her God . . . and God’s people as her people.

And then, of Boaz and Ruth would be born Jesse . . . and of Jesse, David . . . and through the kingly line of David, and by the sovereign determination of God, and according to the eternal promises of Him who so loved the world, God determined to provide the greatest of all redemptions through another Redeemer, Jesus the Christ.

That’s the nature of grace . . . calling the foreigner into the family . . . wooing the sinner towards the sanctuary . . . drawing enemies into eternity . . . sending a Redeemer to pay the price for our sin, inviting us to be counted among the righteous of God, through the finished work of the cross.

O praise God for scandalous grace!

Amen?

Posted in Ruth | Leave a comment