Keeping Count (2012 Remix)

Posted on March 4, 2025 by Pete

I know I stop and pause over these verses every year when I encounter them. Kind of surprised that the last time I wrote on them was 2012. Taking the thoughts from back then and touching them up a bit as I chew again in wonder of what God keeps count.

It’s kind of interesting to think about the things God counts. I work in a world where, if we care about it, we measure it, we track it, and we report it on a dashboard. Now, I don’t think God has a “dashboard” He updates with His latest numbers, but I have read about a book or two where He keeps track of stuff. And not the stuff I might track if I were the eternal Sovereign. In fact, there’s stuff I might keep track of which He blots out and forgets (Isa. 43:25) — even removing it far from us, as far as the east is from the west (Ps. 103:12). No, instead, that which God counts, that which He keeps track of, is intended as a reminder of His constant care for us. And knowing what He keeps count of serves as a catalyst for a renewed determination to trust Him in all circumstance.

You have kept count of my tossings;
       put my tears in Your bottle.
Are they not in Your book?

(Psalm 56:8 ESV)

Psalm 56 is another one of those Psalms where David’s taking it in the teeth.

. . . for man tramples on me;
              all day long an attacker oppresses me” (v.1)

. . . all day long they injure my cause (v.5)

. . . they watch my steps,
              as they have waited for my life (v.6).

Relentless! It just doesn’t stop! The attacks keep coming. The oppression keeps squeezing the breath out of him. Desperation sets in.

And where does David turn when there’s nowhere else to turn?

Be gracious to me, O God . . . (v.1)

When I am afraid,
              I put my trust in You.
. . . in God I trust,
              I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? (v.3-4)

What can man do to me? (v.11)

David turns to the Lord with unwavering faith. Because David believes that God tracks every situation. That God records every detail. David knows that as he tosses through anxiety ridden, sleepless nights, that God is keeping count.

David felt like a ball in a pinball machine, getting bounced here and there. Tossed back and forth, at times he felt out of control as he aimlessly, it seemed, endured the gauntlet. But David knew that God knew. That his Deliverer was keeping track of each step. That his Refuge was intimately familiar with each staggering path he was taking. That his Fortress followed every unsure step and would keep his feet from falling (v.13a).

I don’t imagine David the warrior as a crier. But he must have shed a tear or two (or three) along the way for he believed that the God of Creation collected his tears and put them in a bottle. That the drops that fell from his eyes, and ran down his cheeks, were collected, counted, recorded in a book (along with the associated reason for their being shed, I’m thinkin’) and stored by a God who is big enough to notice and track the smallest details of our lives. And, as the Spirit interceded with David’s spirit, assuring Him of God’s divine collection and counting ministry, in the midst of the tempest, David could pen with confidence,

This I know, that God is for me. (v. 9b)

Paul, moved by the same Spirit that moved David, would pen the same sentiment centuries later.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

(Romans 8:31, 37 ESV)

Oh, to be reminded that God is intimately aware of the details of our lives — even keeping count of our tossings and of our tears.

. . . in God I trust,
              I shall not be afraid.

By His grace. For His glory.

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Broken Up

Posted on February 27, 2025 by Pete

It wasn’t long after coming to believe in Jesus that I started to hear emphasized the need to come “prepared” to worship Sunday mornings. What that meant, for the most part, was that I needed to be prayed up, studied up, and, in that day and age, dressed up. Not saying that was wrong but realizing more and more at this end of the journey, that the advice may have been a bit incomplete. This morning, as I hover over David’s song of confession, I’m reminded that, when it comes to worshiping God, it’s also appropriate to come broken up.

O Lord, open my lips,
       and my mouth will declare Your praise.
For You will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
       You will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
       a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

(Psalm 51:15-17 ESV)

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit . . .

Broken, maimed, crushed, wrecked . . . that’s the condition of spirit which, when offered to God, ascends as a sweet-smelling aroma.

A spirit shattered by the deep realization of the presence and power of sin in one’s life. A heart collapsed by the weight of openly confessed wrong-doing before a holy God. Such a spirit, such a heart, will God in no way regard with contempt. Far from such a condition of the soul preventing us from approaching the altar, it is actually a sacrifice God delights in and is pleased with. Far from it being our weakness, it is actually the secret sauce to knowing the fullness of God’s abundant mercy, His boundless grace, and His steadfast love.

Dane Ortlund, in his book, Deeper, Real Change for Real Sinners, says that our tendency is to want to feel better about ourselves and to minimize our “mistakes” because sin is like a disease where one of the symptoms is that we feel healthy (Deeper, p. 40). When, in fact, “we will not grow, not deeply anyway, except by going through the painful death of being honest about our own spiritual bankruptcy” (Deeper, p.44). When we’re broken up, then are we most ready to be built up.

When aware of our sin we confess with contrition and sing songs of salvation, then will our worship fill heaven with wonder. For it testifies afresh of a faith that truly believes that just as we were saved by grace alone, we are still being saved by grace alone. That though we falter, we believe still that the work is finished. That through we’ve blown it — again! — He remains “faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn. 1:9).

I learned God-worship
       when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love
       don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.

(Psalm 51:17 MSG)

So, there’s benefit in being broken up. It is the door which opens acceptable sacrifice and unfathomable blessing.

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)

Broken up. And thus, prepared to declare His praise.

This too, only by His grace.

This too, only for His glory.

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The Heart Behind Worship (2016 Remix)

Posted on February 26, 2025 by Pete

God is judge. He is the Mighty One, God the LORD, the final arbiter. He carries pure and just scales and will measure according to perfect holiness. And in Psalm 50, He comes calling (50:1-6).

The songwriter envisions God speaking and summoning the earth (v.1). The perfection of His beauty shines forth from Zion as He comes in a mighty tempest, calling to the heavens above and the earth below to “gather to Me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.” Gather them, says the Almighty, that I might judge My people.

And twice in this song of Asaph God reveals the measure with which He is glorified by His faithful ones. And, it would seem, it’s the heart behind worship.

“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
       and perform your vows to the Most High,
and call upon Me in the day of trouble;
       I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me. . . .

The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies Me;
       to one who orders his way rightly
       I will show the salvation of God!”

(Psalm 50:14-15, 23 ESV)

While God acknowledges their consistency in offering bulls and goats as burnt offerings, He says, in a sense, “What are they, in and of themselves, to Me? Every beast of the forest is already Mine. The cattle on a thousand hills belong to Me before you ever culled one out to bring as a sacrifice. The birds along with everything that moves in the field are mine. In fact, the entire world and its fullness are mine. So, it’s not just about offering an animal and giving to Me what I already own. It’s what’s behind it. The heart of worship matters.”

And so the songwriter pens a refrain, twice repeated, which acts as an invitation by the Almighty, “Offer thanksgiving!” for that is the heart I desire behind worship.

Going through the motions is meaningless apart from the motivation. Let the offering be accompanied with confession concerning the greatness of God. Let the smoke that rises from the sacrifice be infused with songs of praise declaring His mighty works on behalf of His people. Let the blood that is shed be fully acknowledged for the atonement it brings and let the worshiper respond by offering Himself as a living sacrifice, desiring to follow and obey–to perform their vows and order their way rightly–not as an act to gain favor, but as a loving response to the favor already received. And let it all be done with thanksgiving, with deep-seated, raw and emotional gratitude.

What’s behind the sacrifice is important to our God. What drives the worshiper is what makes the worship pleasing before the Almighty. It is with hearts turned by grace and tuned with thanksgiving that God is glorified. The heart behind the offering matters.

The blood makes way for the Holy One to dwell among His people, and for His people to draw near in assurance of faith, but it is the heart of thanksgiving and praise that honors Him in their midst. He is lifted up when His people gather and bring their offerings from souls that joyfully delight in His presence. He is exalted when faithful ones give freely and willingly to Him because they recognize how graciously and abundantly He has provided for them. A sacrifice of thanksgiving. Offerings born out of praise. Lives lived for Him compelled by hearts of overflowing gratefulness. That’s what glorifies our God.

And the song finishes with a wonderful promise.

“I will show the salvation of God!”

The fullness of salvation stretches beyond the forgiveness of sins secured by a substitutionary atonement–though, even if it didn’t, that would more than enough to fuel our praise for eternity. But beyond being rescued and redeemed, the Mighty One of Zion sent His Son that we might have life and “have it abundantly” (John 10:10b). So it is for the one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice, to the one who orders his way with praise, to the one whose heart is tuned toward glorifying His God — the fullness of salvation is shown and life to the full is known. And that, through the heart readied for worship.

       Come thou Fount of every blessing,
              tune my heart to sing Thy praise!

We hear Your call, O God. Receive our sacrifice of thanksgiving.

Sourced from Your abundant grace!

Offered for Your everlasting glory.

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No Giving Up

Posted on February 25, 2025 by Pete

Hovering over the “God gave them up” passage in Romans 1 this morning. And thinking that if we “cherry pick” it we may be missing out on some pretty humbling but extremely encouraging fruit.

Cherry picking. You know, selecting just the best from a group of things. Or, in this case, selectively presenting information in order to support a particular position.

The “God gave them up” passage. You know, that section in Romans 1 where Paul details the sorts of behavior that emerge within a people who refuse to acknowledge God (Romans 1:18-32). The passage that talks about God making known “His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature” through creation (1:20). The passage which says that despite that, people “did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him” but became “futile in their thinking” (1:21). And so, because they “exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man” (1:23) and “exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator” (1:25) . . .

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves . . . For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. . . . And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

(Romans 1:24, 26a, 28 ESV)

And way too often I’ve found myself using this as a proof text for God’s displeasure at those who are dishonoring their bodies or who enthusiastically exploit their dishonorable passions but fail to see the mirror presented by the behaviors associated with those of a debased mind.

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

(Romans 1:28-31 ESV)

As I chew on that list of “to do”s which ought not to be done, some hit pretty close to home. Not that I give approval to them or seek to make a practice of them, but, if I’m honest with myself, I can so easily participate in them. How come? ‘Cause I have a debased mind? No, I’m a new creation in Christ with a mind which is being renewed and leading to a transformation where my behaviors increasingly fall in line with the will of God and “what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2). But though I have a new mind, remnants of the old man still exist and, along with them, behaviors akin to a debased mind.

And so, while this passage can be used to point the finger at others, it can also be instructive when I see the fingers pointing back at me. When I see my new man tripped up participating in old ways. When I recognize the ways of a world which has rejected its Creator rearing their ugly head in the kingdom in which I live. Malice, envy, strife, and maliciousness. Gossiping, slandering, and boasting. Faithlessness, heartlessness, and ruthlessness. O, wretched man that I am! (Rom. 7:24).

But while my behaviors at times might be as those whom God has given over to themselves, for those who are His there’s no giving up. Bought with a price, redeemed through the cross, adopted as children of God, our failures only prove the gospel’s case — that “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Rom. 5:20b). That the blood of Christ cleanses us from ALL our sin — not just those sins up until “we first believed” but those sins, as well, that beset us even while we yet believe.

Though I may still do (way too often) what ought not to be done, on God’s part there’s no giving up those who are in Christ Jesus. Instead, His kindness leads us to repentance (Rom. 2:4), and His grace points us again to the cross, and His steadfast love is conveyed again to our heart and soul.

To loosely quote Timothy Keller, I really am more sinful and flawed in myself than I want to believe, yet at the very same time I am more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than I could ever imagine or dare to hope.

Yeah, I lose out when I cherry pick this passage. Because then I miss the awe and wonder and joy of knowing that for those who are His — even when we sometimes act like those who aren’t — there’s no giving up.

And that’s good news! Amen?

What wondrous grace!

To God be the glory!

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Reason Frankly

Posted on February 19, 2025 by Pete

Working my way through Leviticus and, to be honest, there’s a lot of the commands-to-obey that don’t quite land with me. And I’m guessing it’s because they deal with the kind of stuff that was done in ancient Egypt, where the people of God used to live, or were practices they were to avoid in the ancient land of Canaan, where the people were gonna live. Don’t be like them, says the LORD (Lev. 18:1-3). Okay, that’s a principle I can noodle on.

But then, there are those commands-to-obey which do resonate. Commands with a direct line to where and how I live today. Especially those commands that deal with the people of God — commands relating to my people. Instructions on how God’s holy people are to be holy (Lev. 19:1-2). Commands pertaining to being one another’s brother, one another’s sister, one another’s neighbor (Lev. 19:9-18). And it’s one of those commands I’m chewing on this morning.

“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.”

(Leviticus 19:17 ESV)

Reason frankly with your neighbor . . . That’s the command I’m hovering over.

Full disclosure . . . Of the translations I go to during morning devos, the ESV is the only translation which renders it this way. Most others render it “rebuke” or “reprove” your neighbor. Like the ESV, the NIV says it is to be done “frankly.” The NLT says, “Confront people directly.” Peterson feels the most ESV-esque with his rendering, “Get it out into the open” (MSG).

Reason or rebuke . . . confront or reprove . . . po-tay-to or po-tah-to . . . whatever the exact nuance, don’t hate in your heart. Don’t hold a grudge secretly. Don’t despise clandestinely. Instead, reason frankly. Get it out into the open.

The world around us is increasingly defined by nasty tribal allegiances. Tribes not defined just by what they’re for but just as much, if not more so, by what they’re against. Or, to employ a bit of hyperbole, defined by what they hate. And these worldly tribes have a tendency to hide behind social media posts spewing fractious rhetoric, rather than dealing with their differences out in the open, face to face, with frank reasoning.

And the world has a way of weaseling its way into the church, just as Egypt had shaped the Israelites and as Canaan would too, unless the people of God determined to act as the set apart people God had set them apart to be. That includes, I think, the world infiltrating the church with the leaven of tribalism and hidden animosity. Ways of Egypt unworthy of promised land living. Conduct in Canaan untenable for pilgrims looking for a city (Heb. 11:!4-16).

Instead, the people of God should be a people who are on guard against hidden heart bitterness and are marked as a people who reason frankly out in the open. Debating respectfully. Correcting gently. Living out conviction compassionately. Bearing ultimate allegiance to the kingdom of heaven only.

There shouldn’t be tribes among the people of God. And the absence of open discussion, the inability to have candid conversations, may be an indicator that we might be carrying more Egypt baggage than we should. That we’ve been more influenced by Canaan culture than is healthy for a holy people.

Instead, we should place a premium on loving one another, on being one with one another, as we seek to follow together the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Our unity not as a result of uniformity in thought or conviction, but as the fruit of the Spirit of God and as the evidence of the power of the gospel of grace. A unity manifest as we regard one another as brothers, as sisters, as neighbors and family. A oneness apparent, in part, because we’re people who can reason frankly.

Oh, to be such a people.

Only by His grace. Always for His glory.

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Seventy-Seven Times

Posted on February 17, 2025 by Pete

“I’ll take hard-to-obey commands of Jesus for $1,000, Alex.”

“Okay. And the answer is: On this one you’ll want to go with the ESV’s seventy-seven rather than the CSB’s seventy times seven. But in reality, you’re not gonna be crazy about going with either.”

“Hmm . . . Can I pick another hard-to-obey command?”

“Nope. Sorry.”

“Okay. (Sigh). What is the number of times a brother, or a sister, will sin against me and I will still forgive him or her?”

“Yessir. That is correct.”

—————————

Hovering over seventy-seven. Or, four-hundred-ninety, as the case may be. Chewing on what it would take to forgive the same person for harming me that many times.

If I’m honest with myself, far easier to relate to something I read in this psalms this morning than to think about multiples of seven.

But You, O LORD, be gracious to me,
       and raise me up, that I may repay them!

(Psalm 35:10 ESV)

Grace to repay. That seems to fit more easily than grace in order to grace in return. Especially when that grace in return is to be returned seventy-seven times. Unimaginably if it’s required seventy times seven times.

But that, according to Jesus, is what the fruit of abounding grace looks like. Grace which abounds in return. It’s what is to flow out when living waters are flowing within.

Jesus says so in a story he tells about the kingdom of heaven, comparing it to “a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants” (Matthew 18:23-35). Spoiler alert, the king chooses to settle accounts by forgiving accounts. When that debt is unpayable, he, effectively, chooses to pay it himself.

Unbelievably, he releases one particular servant who owes him so much that, practically, it’s almost beyond counting. An amount which would take multiple lifetimes to pay. An amount worthy of being thrown into a debtor’s prison and then, essentially, throwing away the key. And yet, the master determines to write, “Paid in Full” on his servant’s I.O.U. and sets him free.

But when it comes to this debt-free servant dealing with what a fellow servant man owes him, different story. His fellow servant owes him “only” a year’s wages. Not billions of dollars, yet still no small amount — kind of like seventy times seven, I think. And when his fellow servant can’t pay up right way, the debt-released servant has him thrown into prison until he comes ups with the dough.

“Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?'”

(Matthew 18:32-33 ESV)

Should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?

Yup. Grace received should beget grace in return. Abundant grace gotten should manifest itself in unimaginable grace given — like in forgiving a brother, or a sister, seventy-seven times. Or maybe even seventy times seven.

“O’ Lord,” I think to myself, “not sure I can do that.”

To which Jesus, through the Spirit, whispers in return, “Yeah Pete. I know you can’t. But we can.” A reminder that I have been crucified with Christ and that it’s no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me (Gal. 2:20).

Mine is to be willing. Willing because of the gospel.

His is to enable. Enabling through the gospel.

Seventy-seven times — or seventy times seven times — if need be.

Only by His grace. Only for His glory.

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An Open Ear (2013 Rerun)

Posted on February 14, 2025 by Pete

Most often, when I think about the “surgery” God has done through the dynamics of salvation, I think about what God’s done to the heart. Through Ezekiel, we’re told that, through the regenerating work of salvation, God performs a heart transplant . . . that He replaces the old heart with a new heart . . . that He removes the heart of stone and upgrades it with a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26-27). The new heart is a heart that can respond to the things of God . . . a heart attuned to the sound of His voice.

But reading in Psalm 40, I discover that in order for the heart to respond . . . in order for it to pick up on the Spirit’s voice . . . that there’s another “procedure” required . . .

In sacrifice and offering You have not delighted,
       but You have given me an open ear.

(Psalm 40:6 ESV)

When Jesus was preaching and teaching, often He would conclude with “He who has an ear to hear, let him hear.” In Revelation 2 and 3, when the Lord of the Church, through John, writes His letters to His people, He concludes each of them with, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” So where did the ear to hear come from?

But You have given me an open ear.

Apparently, the word for “open” literally means to dig, or to bore, or to excavate. It has the idea of digging out a well. So, just as we might say, “God has given me a new heart” . . . we could also say that He has dug out my ears.

A divine Q-Tip (or maybe in my case a holy auger, as it were) has been applied to remove that which would hinder us from hearing His voice. Through His Spirit, He has tuned us into His frequency, that we might receive His Word and that, receiving it, it might find its way to new hearts ready to respond to that Word.

What a mistake it would be for me to take any credit for hearing or listening to God. What folly to think that somehow because I was spiritually attuned that I thus became a candidate for His grace and mercy. No, He dug out my ears. He bore through my spiritual deafness. He has given me an open ear.

I desire to do Your will, O my God;
       Your law is within my heart.

(Psalm 40:8 ESV)

The people of God desire to the will of God because He has placed the law of God within new hearts. And the law of God makes it’s way to the heart for God through ears opened by the grace of God.

O’, praise God for ears to hear!

Nothing of my doing . . . but You have given me an open ear.

Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.

(1Samuel 3:9 ESV)

By Your grace . . . for Your glory . . .

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Bet Ya’ He Wasn’t Wearing Shoes

Posted on February 13, 2025 by Pete

Hovering over the first part of Matthew 17. Trying to imagine a face shining like the sun and clothes as white and bright as light itself. Not even the best, darkest sunglasses are going to allow you to stare into that very long. Trying to imagine what it was to look upon the transfigured Christ.

Literally, it was a great metamorphoo. A mind-blowing, eye-burning transformation. And that’s what I’m trying to behold with the eye of faith this morning. Jesus’ entire countenance changed before the physical eyes of Peter, James, and John. “Resplendent with divine brightness”, my Greek lexicon says — so that Peter, James, and John were able to peer into the majesty but for a moment. And all this, records Matthew, “up a high mountain.”

But they didn’t see Jesus only. They saw two others speaking with the robed-in-light Lord.

And after six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him.

(Matthew 17:1-3 ESV)

While trying to imagine the scene, I fixate on Moses. After all, this wasn’t his first rodeo. Being on mountains and beholding God’s glory was kind of Moses’ thing. Think Mount Sinai, wrapped in smoke “because the LORD had descended on it in fire” (Ex. 19:18). And God calls Moses to come up the mountain and into the cloud (Ex. 19:20). And what about Mt. Sinai 2.0 when Moses returns after that little “golden calf” incident? This time the “LORD descended in the cloud and stood there with him” declaring His holy name, showing Moses His glory as Moses took shelter in the cleft of the rock (Ex. 33:18-23, 34:5).

But as I think about Moses on the mount with Jesus, the encounter of the divine kind that comes to mind, in particular, is the one in front of a burning bush.

Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. . . . And He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

(Exodus 3:1-2a, 6 ESV)

A burning bush. Aflame but not consumed. The Angel of the LORD appearing to Moses out of the midst of the bush, cast in the light of the fire’s radiance. The Messenger declaring, “I am God.” Like I said, the Mount of Transfiguration wasn’t Moses’ first and up-close brush with the glorified Second Person of the Trinity (yeah, I think the Angel of the LORD was the pre-incarnate Son of God).

So, what I’m wondering as I hover over the Mount of Transfiguration is this, “Was Moses wearing shoes?”

God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

(Exodus 3:4b-5 ESV)

Holy ground. That was the state of the soil on that night Moses stood before the burning bush. Holy ground. That’s was the makeup of that mountain on the night when Peter, James, and John had front row seats to the glorified Christ meeting again with Moses. Holy ground. That’s what any and all ground is when in the presence of Jesus. Holy ground. Kind of feeling like I’m on it right now. Time to take your shoes off.

So, was Moses wearing shoes on that transfiguration night? Bet ya’ he wasn’t!

A barefoot Moses before the beloved Son of God. Hmm . . . that image just might stick.

With Jesus. Standing on holy ground. What sweet privilege.

Only by His grace.

Oh, to behold His glory.

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The Clothes Really Do Make the Man

Posted on February 11, 2025 by Pete

The “price of admission” wasn’t so much their character as it was their clothing. Not about all the good they had done, but all about the garments they would don. Less about their resume, more about their robe. Chewing this morning on what it takes to be ministering in the Holy Place.

From the blue and purple and scarlet yarns they made finely woven garments, for ministering in the Holy Place. They made the holy garments for Aaron, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

(Exodus 39:1 ESV)

Ministering in the Holy Place . . . Serving in the sanctuary. Doing for God in the very presence of God. Worshiping within the veil. What privilege for the priest. What access for Aaron, the “light bringer”.

Aaron. You know, the guy who made the golden calf (Ex. 32). Who not only brought great shame upon himself, but also great sin upon the people (Ex. 32:21). Yeah, that Aaron. But now the one who would not only enter the Holy Place but also have access to the Holy of Holies where the glory of God rested above the cherubim. Talk about a comeback. Talk about not getting what you deserve. Talk about grace. And if I’m picking up what’s being laid down here, it was because of what he would wear. The clothes really do make the man.

The clothes make the man. The clothes make the woman. A modern proverb reflecting a modern reality that a person’s appearance affects how a person is perceived. That a person will be judged by others by what they wear. In that context, it’s perhaps somewhat shallow. But when it comes to ministering in the Holy Place, you better believe the clothes make the man, that the garments make the woman. True then. True today.

As believers, we are priests. A holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1Peter 2:5). A royal priesthood, proclaiming the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1Peter 2:9). And, like Aaron, priests not because of who we are or what we’ve done — actually, despite of who we were and what we did — but ultimately because of the clothes we wear.

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;
       my soul shall exult in my God,
for He has clothed me
       with the garments of salvation;
He has covered me
       with the robe of righteousness.

(Isaiah 61:10a ESV)

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

(Galatians 3:27 ESV)

Clothed with garments of salvation . . . covered with the robe of righteousness . . . having put on Christ. That’s what admit us into the Holy Place. That’s what qualifies us for service. Nothing in our pedigree nor our performance. All, and solely His provision.

O’ the wonder of being an “insider.” Of having access to the very presence of God.

But greater yet is the worship, as I meditate on filthy rags (Isa. 64:6 NKJV) being covered up by a righteous robe. As I wonder at the polluted garments (ESV) which have been exchanged for Christ’s perfect character. My union with Christ alone being the finely woven garments allowing me access to the Holy Place. And there, to minister before the Holy One.

Hallelujah! What a great salvation.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

All dressed up and ready to go.

Only by His grace. Only for His glory.

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His or Mine? Yes.

Posted on February 10, 2025 by Pete

It’s two words in a somewhat familiar psalm that have captured my attention this morning. Two words. Which I’ve underlined with a purple color-pencil as they seem to be a command to obey. But to be honest, not quite sure exactly what is being commanded. Perhaps it’s because these two words may actually entail two commands to obey.

Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
       be not envious of wrongdoers!
For they will soon fade like the grass
       and wither like the green herb.
Trust in the LORD, and do good;
       dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

(Psalm 37:1-2 ESV)

Befriend faithfulness . . . Those are the two words I’m chewing on this morning.

The context for David’s song seems to be how to live in a land of “evildoers.” Twelve times in the song’s 40 verses, reference is made to the “the wicked.” Whatever the exact circumstances of David’s poetic inspiration, David is counseling whoever has ears to hear on how to not only survive but thrive in “evil times” (37:19). Hmm . . . could be a song for our times? Ya’ think?

I remember some teaching I heard on the psalm as a young man. A view of the song which built on five pillars found within its lyrics:

  • “Trust in the LORD” (v.3);
  • “Delight yourself in the LORD” (v. 4);
  • “Commit your way to the LORD” (v.5);
  • “Be still before the LORD” (v. 7);
  • “Wait for the LORD” (v. 34).

Though probably received 40 years ago, I have never forgotten the impact of that brother’s exhortation. Good teaching. Not only at the best of times, but, according to David, for the worst of times.

And within one of those foundations, “Trust in the LORD”, the two words that have grabbed me this morning: Befriend faithfulness.

Okay. But whose faithfulness? His or mine?

In a eco-system of prevailing wickedness and wrongdoers, am I to befriend, or literally “feed on” or “pasture within” God’s faithfulness? I think so. Kind of goes with “trust in the LORD”, doesn’t it? Whatever the day brings, especially in a culture marked by corruption and chaos, leaning into the assurance of God’s daily care and provision would seem to be not only a wise thing to do, but a necessary thing as well. Without befriending His faithfulness, not sure how we would withstand the bombardment of the world’s wickedness. So, yeah. Befriend God’s faithfulness.

But could befriend faithfulness instead be a command to become intimately familiar with being faithful? A reference to my faithfulness? I think so, also. Kind of goes with “do good”, doesn’t’ it? The NASB seems to think so when it renders the exhortation as “cultivate faithfulness.” Be a friend to being faithful, even in a land that seems at war, or at the least intent on warping, the Way. Keep on keepin’ on . . . determining to make the main thing the main thing. Befriend being faithful.

So which is it? Embrace His faithfulness or link arms with a determination to exercise faithfulness? Is it His or mine? Short answer: Yes.

Isn’t that the essence of trusting? Resting in His mercies which are new every morning (Lam. 3:22-23) even as I rekindle the desire to walk in those mercies in a manner worthy of my calling (Eph. 4:1)? Welcoming each day His promised, steadfast provision, while also wanting, with a Spirit-sparked determination, to follow with steadfast devotion? As someone else has said, abiding with the intent of acting? I’m thinking . . .

Trust in the LORD . . .

Befriend faithfulness . . . His and mine.

Only by His grace. Only for His glory.

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