Aaron Shall Bear

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Pete

This morning’s interaction with God’s word was one of those that provides a taste of something precious . . . but you know there’s a lot more to the meal. It’s one of those encounters that you know you should come back to . . . should take some time and follow up on . . . should dig deeper into . . . but, at least for me, rarely do. For now though, I’ll just savor and enjoy whatever inkling of insight I think I’m getting about the amazing interaction of the high priest and the holy place. The phrase that caught my attention this morning in Exodus 28 . . . repeated 4 times . . . is “Aaron shall bear.”

. . . And Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders for remembrance. . . . So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the LORD. . . . Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the LORD regularly. . . . and Aaron shall bear any guilt from the holy things that the people of Israel consecrate as their holy gifts. It shall regularly be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.   (Exodus 28:12, 29, 30, 38 ESV)

I’m continuing to read the LORD’s instruction to Moses concerning the building and operation of the tabernacle . . . the place were God desires to “meet with His people” (29:43) . . . the place where He determines to dwell among the people . . . and be their God . . . that they might know that He is the LORD their God . . . the God of their deliverance . . . that He might dwell among them (29:45). And key to the operation of the tabernacle . . . key to God’s dwelling among the people . . . is the role of the high priest. And key to the high priest doing what the high priest does, is the make up and fashioning of his priestly garments . . . laid out in detail in Exodus 28.

And apart from understanding anything else, I get that, through these priestly garment, the high priest was “to bear”. To bear the names of the God’s people on his shoulders for remembrance . . . to lift up their names, which he carried over his heart, when he went into the Holy Place . . . to carry on himself the petition for God’s judgment, for the LORD’s will, as it concerned the leading of His people . . . to take away any guilt from the imperfection of the people’s holy offerings and gifts. If I pick up on nothing else, it is that the high priest was integral to God’s dwelling among His people . . . foundational to the people being represented in the Holy Place of God’s glory.

And that’s enough to trigger thanksgiving . . . sufficient to ignite a pilot light of praise . . . enough fuel to fan the flame of worship . . .

I may not get all the symbolism of the priestly garment . . . but what I get is that whether it’s the two stones, engraved with the names of the sons of Israel, on the shoulder pieces . . . or the twelve jewels, each bearing a name of one of the twelve tribes, on the breastpiece . . . or the turban, with “Holy to the LORD’ inscribed upon it, set upon the forehead . . . it reveals that the people of God are brought into the presence of God through the high priest of God. And, thanks be to God . . . glory be to His Son . . . I have such a High Priest . . .

“We have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God . . . let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace” (Heb. 4:14-15). “He is a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God . . . making full atonement for the sins of the people” (Heb. 3:17). “He holds His priesthood permanently, because He continues forever. Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:24-25). Praise God! . . . “we have such a High Priest, One who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a Minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man” (Heb. 8:1-2).

Thank You, Jesus . . . for cleansing me by Your blood . . . for making a way for me to enter the Holy of Holies . . . for bearing me before the Throne.

To You alone be all glory . . . amen!

Posted in Exodus, Hebrews | 1 Comment

A Test

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Pete

I read an article recently about how powerful the god of mammon is. Money, possessions, wealth and the apparent power and influence it brings . . . hard to win the game . . . hard to come out on top . . . but, I’m thinkin’, not so hard to get sucked into trying. I remember from long ago the sage counsel that our possessions have a way of possessing us . . . that our stuff has a way of seeking to displace our Lord. And so maybe it shouldn’t be too surprising if, from time to time, tests come our way that reveal something of how tightly we hold on to stuff . . . that reflect the degree to which we pursue mighty mammon. Such would be the case for these fresh out of slavery Israelites . . .

The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for Me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for Me. And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, . . . And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.”   (Exodus 25:1-3, 8 ESV)

First thing that hits me is a sense of wonder and awe that my God is a God who desires to dwell in the midst of men. Chapter 25 launches a series of detailed instructions concerning the tabernacle . . . a place for the glory to dwell among men . . . a place where, through designated representatives, men might approach God . . . a place demonstrating the separating effect of holiness of God . . . a place where that distance is spanned through the blood of atonement. Oh, that God seeks to dwell in the midst . . . our God is an awesome God!

But then I noticed this little challenge at the beginning of these instructions. Moses was told to gather from every man, “whose heart moves him”, the materials necessary for the tabernacle’s construction. Gold, silver, bronze, colored yarn, fine linen, goats’ hair, tanned rams’ skins, goatskins, acacia wood, oil for lamps, spices for anointing oil, precious stones. So, where are a bunch of just liberated slaves from Egypt going to come up with such stuff? Well actually, they were loaded with this kind of stuff. In addition to the flocks and herds they had accumulated while living in Goshen, when they left Egypt it says that they were told to ask the Egyptians for “silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked for. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.” (Ex. 12:35-36)

God’s people plundered the Egyptians . . . they were loaded with stuff . . . they possessed designer label things that they never could have imagined owning . . . they were decked out with gold and silver and jewelry, the likes of which, they had never had access to before. For some it must have felt like they were packing what was owed to them after so many years of hard labor. And now, says the LORD, as your heart is moved to, give it up for the building of a place where I might dwell in your midst.

So many of the gods of Egypt had been trounced during the time of the plagues . . . and now, one more was to be dealt a death blow to . . . mammon. I’m thinking this was a test. The people had already said they’d obey God (Ex. 24:7) . . . but would that obedience find it’s way to their wallet? Here they are packing the plunder of the world they had been rescued from . . . and now they’re being asked to give of it freely that God might have a place among them. Would their possessions posses them . . . would they find that they could not serve two masters, that it was impossible to serve God and to serve mammon (Matt. 6:24)? Stay tuned . . . answer’s to come in a few pages.

But for now, it’s less about the Israelites and more about me. How am I doing with the world’s treasure that’s in my possession . . . freely given by the God of my deliverance? Is it possessing me . . . or, by God’s grace, am I acting as a faithful steward over it? Am I seeking to build my bank account and fill my storeroom with stuff . . . or, am I desiring, above all things, to know the God who longs to dwell in the midst? Hmmm . . . worth noodling on . . .

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)

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A Response

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Pete

There’s an old Southern Gospel song that reflects a truth about the effects of logging a few miles as a sojourner of God . . . captures something of the reality of having encountered opportunities for “the theory” to put be put into practice . . . expresses the heart’s declaration of those who have actually “tasted” and seen that the Lord is good. The opening words of the chorus are, “The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows” (© Bill Gaither, 1965). And what brought this sentiment to mind are three words that I came across this morning in Psalm 31. It’s not the first occurrence of this phrase in the Scriptures . . . but it is the first time I’m reading it this year because of how my daily reading plan is structured. And it is the first time the exhortation is made in the context of a response rather than in the context of a command . . .

Love the LORD, all you His saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!   (Psalm 31:23-24 ESV)

Love the LORD, all you His saints! You’ll find it as a “command to obey” throughout Deuteronomy (looks like 5 times) . . . and a couple of times in Joshua, again linked with walking in His ways. And, to be sure, it’s a good thing to determine up front to love the LORD, “with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deut. 6:5). But I think that love takes on a “different flavor” when it comes from a place of responding to God’s interaction with your life. When it flows from a place of having known God’s faithfulness on your behalf. To be sure, we are to love the LORD for who He is . . . but I’m also thinking that we can’t help but love the LORD for what He’s done.

Not exactly sure of the circumstances around David’s writing of Psalm 31 . . . but you know it’s one of those “desperate need” times. He looks to the LORD as his refuge (v.1) . . . he cries out for God to incline His ear and to rescue him speedily (v.2) . . . his eye is “wasted from grief” (v.9) . . . he’s crushed by the knowledge of his own failures (v.10) . . . and his enemies have made him a reproach to his neighbors (v. 11). Tough times, to say the least. And so David cries out to the LORD.

But current desperation is placed in the context of past experience . . .

Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.   (Psalm 31:5 ESV)

David can trust God with today’s situation because He recalls yesterday’s salvation. David commits his spirit to the LORD, because God has shown Himself faithful. He can cry for “grace to help in time of need” for the LORD has shown Himself gracious (v.9). He can rest in the LORD’s goodness because he has experienced, first hand, the abundance of God’s goodness (v.19). He has known the wondrous working of the LORD’s steadfast love on his behalf (v.21) . . . he remembers times past when God heard the voice of his pleas for mercy . . . times when God responded to his cries for help (v.22). And so, though in the valley, David, led by the Spirit of God, calls upon God’s people, all you His saints, to the love the LORD.

This is not “I got to because I got to” obedience . . . this is “I want to . . . I’m compelled to . . . I delight to . . . because He has shown Himself faithful, again and again” responsiveness.

Or, as captured by my friend, Billy G., “The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows!” . . . and the more I love the LORD!

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A Place of Blessing

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Pete

It’s kind of easy to miss. What, with all the fire and smoke . . . the mountain trembling, the unseen trumpet blowing . . . and the thunder! . . . whoa, the thunder is enough to shake you in your boots (literally). And then, there’s what’s happening on top of the mountain . . . God and Moses, one-on-one . . . and the giving of the ten commandments. A lot to take in. But at the end of Exodus 20 something caught my attention . . . perhaps a bit anti-climatic from all the rest . . . nevertheless another observation about God . . . what’s more, a promise from God. Wanna know where at least one place of blessing is?

An altar of earth you shall make for Me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause My name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you.   (Exodus 20:24 ESV)

It wasn’t about the altar, itself . . . nothing fancy-shmancy . . . God’s not impressed with the ornate . . . the expensive isn’t required for admission. But it was about what was going on at the altar . . . sacrifice . . . offerings . . . worship. So, in every place where the Lord ordained that His name would be remembered . . . in every place where there would be a fresh consideration of the holiness of God . . . in every place where there would be a heartfelt recognition of the need for blood to atone for the sin of men . . . in every place where there would be a willing self-determination to offer feeble offerings to a great God . . . in that place, God promises, I will come to you . . . I will bless. you.

And hey! I know such a place. Lord willing, in a couple of days, I’ll be gathering with those “of like precious faith” in a structure of wood & drywall. Nothing too fancy. But, it’s a place where the name of the Lord will be remembered. There’ll be opportunity to “offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name” (Heb. 13:15) . . . something of His name, His holy character, will be explained from the pulpit — and by God’s grace, and through the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit, explanation will become illumination . . . and then, we’ll gather around a simple table, with a couple of simple emblems, and we’ll remember the sacrifice . . . we’ll recall the price paid for our sin . . . we’ll marvel at the entrance into intimate fellowship that is ours through the blood of Christ. In that place, where God’s name is remembered . . . we will come to worship . . . and, so He promises, He will come . . . and He will bless.

Oh, the anticipation that should be mine because of this simple promise in God’s word. Far from being just “the right thing to do”, far from going through the motions on another Sunday, I should come prepared . . . and I should come expecting. Prepared to remember the Name above all names . . . ready to exalt the Name in my singing . . . ready to revere the Name as it’s revealed through His word . . . ready to respond to the Name as I partake of the bread and the wine. Mine is to come prepared to remember . . . His will be to provide the blessing.

Easy to miss. Same time, same place, every Sunday. Routine has a way of making things . . . well, routine. But remembrance . . . minds fully engaged in the conscious recall of who God is . . . hearts determined to focus anew on the wonder of what God has done . . . souls stirred by heaven itself with the reminder of being His people . . . His treasured possession . . . a called out kingdom of priests . . .a hand-picked, holy nation . . . “that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (Ex. 19:5, 1Peter 2:9-10] . . . yes, remembrance has a way of inviting God to come . . . remembrance has a way of invoking God to bless.

In every place where I cause My name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you.

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Grumble Less, Sing More!

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Pete

Talk about your victory parade. About 650,000 men, along with women and children, shed their shackles of slavery . . . load up with the plunder of Egypt . . . gather together their flocks and herds . . . and they are outta’ there! Chaotic? I’m guessing. Euphoric? I’m guessing that too. Sure, there was that bit of a hiccup by the Red Sea . . . water on one side . . . ticked off Egyptians in chariots on the other . . . but there too, they saw the might of the LORD displayed on their behalf. As they crossed the sea on dry ground, can you imagine the cricks in their necks as they kept looking up at the wall of water on either side of them, and looking back at the Egyptians still pursuing them? But cross they did . . . and cross the Egyptians didn’t. Cue the singing . . . bring on the dancing . . . unleash the rejoicing . . . “I will sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously . . . The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.” (Ex. 12:37 – 15:18)

And then . . . honeymoon’s over . . .

The singing turns to complaining . . . the rejoicing turns to discontent . . . the faith that was so easy to exercise in the victory turns to frustration in the day-to-day walk of following the LORD.

The water’s bitter at Marah . . . so the people grumble, “Moses! This tastes terrible! We can’t drink this?” (15:23-24). Their stomachs begin to growl on the way to Sinai . . . and they complain again, “Moses! We’re hungry! Did you bring us here so we could starve to death?” (16:1-3). They arrive in Rephidim and there’s no water to be seen anywhere . . . so again, with the murmuring, “Moses! We’re thirsty! Is this why you brought us out of Egypt? To kill us with thirst?” (17:1-3)

And I’m not judging . . . no, I’m relating. I’m not trying to be condescending . . . I’m actually convicted. Because, the record is clear . . . they weren’t grumbling against Moses . . . their bone-to-pick wasn’t about his leadership . . . it wasn’t his care for them that they questioned . . .

So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, ” . . . in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, because He has heard your grumbling against the LORD. For what are we, that you grumble against us? . . . When the LORD gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the LORD has heard your grumbling that you grumble against Him–what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the LORD.”   (Exodus 16:6-8 ESV)

How easy it is to grumble against the Lord? Oh, I don’t think I do it directly . . . never put it on my prayer list. No, the venting is directed at someone else . . . the murmuring is about a set of circumstances . . . but how often, is it really grumbling against the Lord? That, at the core of that smoke coming out of my ears, is an issue with God’s leading . . . a questioning of the apparent roadblocks being thrown in my way by the Sovereign God who directs my paths . . . an uncertainty about really acknowledging Him in all my ways. And so, Moses’ words penetrate me this morning, “Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord.”

But the grace of God continues . . . the water at Marah is made sweet . . . bread from heaven is provided in the desert . . . Moses strikes the rock at Rephidim and enough water comes gushing out to satisfy the thirst of 650,000 men, along with women and children, and flocks and herds. His grace is sufficient . . . His leading is designed to fulfill His promises . . . His sovereign purposes are designed that He might be glorified . . .

Oh, that I would grumble less . . . and would sing and dance more . . . “The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him . . . and I will exalt Him!”

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The Temple of God

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Pete

It really is masterful . . . Paul’s sermon to the philosophers in Athens (Acts 17:16-34). His spirit was vexed as he walked about and was assaulted by the number of idols that lined this city of ” the learned” and “the intelligent.” He was amazed at the “wisdom of men” that, in seeking the divine, would fashion a religion around objects of gold and silver and stone . . . images “formed by the art and imagination of man” (17:29). The darkness and ignorance was oppressive. But rather than write-off these wayward philosophers . . . led by the Spirit, Paul leverages their religion as “spring board” to reveal to them their “unknown God” (17:23). And as I read it this morning, the first of Paul’s sermon “points” struck me . . .

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man . . . (Acts 17:24 ESV)

Point 1 . . . God does not live in a temple made by men. He who made the world . . . He who made everything in it . . . He who is Lord of heaven . . . He who is Lord of all the earth . . . He does not live in temples made by men. And, as I read this, what flashed in my mind was, “Well then, where does He live?”

Paul’s “Seeking God 101” sermon became a launching pad for my heart and mind as it soared with the reminder (Spirit triggered, I believe) that while God does not live in a house of stone, He does reside in a building made of living stones (1Peter 2:5). That while He, who inhabits eternity, dwells in the high and holy place, He also takes up residence with those who are “of a contrite and lowly spirit” (Isa. 57:15). That while He is enthroned in heavenly majesty, He also stands at the door of the heart . . . and knocks . . . asking to be invited in so that He might engage in intimate fellowship (Rev. 3:20). That while these Athenian men of darkness expended great effort and cost to construct images and places of worship in hopes of connecting with some “unknown God”, the Father of Lights had already undertaken His own building project . . . anchored upon the finished work of His Beloved Servant . . . built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets . . . forming a structure of those redeemed by the blood of Christ . . . a holy temple in the Lord . . . “a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” (Eph. 2:19-22)

My God does not live in temples made BY men and women . . . no, He lives in a temple made OF men and women.

Far being “unknown” He has made Himself known . . . in creation . . . through His written word . . . through the Living Word, His Son . . . through the Spirit who invites us into relationship. And when we, by faith, say, “Yes, Lord!” . . . He moves in. As our “spiritual senses”, which were once dead, are made alive, we become more and more aware of His presence . . . our once deaf ears become more attuned to His voice . . . our once blind eyes begin to see Him more frequently in the everyday events of life . . . and we know, more and more, something of the reality of abiding in Him . . . and He with us. Such is the increasing reality of those who are the temple of God.

What wonder . . . what privilege . . . what a Savior! Amen?

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One Thing

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Pete

You know David was a busy guy. I’m guessing that being king had a certain set of demands . . . a pretty full schedule. But you also know that David lived life within one grand context . . . one overriding desire that lined up everything else against it. Call it his life’s “mission statement” . . . call it his internal motivation . . . call it whatever you want . . . but at the end of the day, according to Psalm 27, David wanted just one thing . . .

One thing have I asked for of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His temple.   (Psalm 27:4 ESV)

If you think about it, “one thing people” have a certain simplicity surrounding their lives . . . not ease, necessarily, but a simplicity. The basis for decision making comes back to one thing . . . priority setting is made simpler as the number one spot is already taken . . . what constitutes a “win” in their lives is determined by one thing. And David’s one thing was was to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD.

At first, I read this and I immediately went to the post-earth scenario . . . to that time and place when, before the throne of God, we are face to face with the King of glory . . . in glory. But I read it again . . . and again . . . and what David’s asking for, the one thing he is seeking after, is that he would know these intimate encounters “all the days of my life.” That the gazing would be a reality now . . . that the beauty would be seen now.

So David begins each day with a “one thing” passion . . . to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD. If that were my one great desire, where might I look?

Certainly, I behold His beauty in His word. This morning I saw that beauty in the spotless Passover Lamb whose shed blood, when applied to the doorframe, wrought salvation from the angel of death (Exodus 12). I beheld the beauty of God’s prophesied Servant as I read Matthew quoting Isaiah concerning the Servant of God’s choosing . . . “my Beloved with whom my soul is well pleased . . . a bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not quench . . . and in His name the Gentiles will hope” (Matt. 12:18-21). And in my Acts reading, there is the beauty, once again . . . as Paul “reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead” (Acts. 17:2-3). Open the Word . . . and gaze upon His beauty.

But that should just prime pump. Would I dare ask, that as the day progresses, my life would be a focused gaze ready to behold His beauty. That I might see it in His creation as I drive to work . . . be reminded of it in His provision as I earn a living today . . . be reminded of it when I return home and remember afresh the realities of His favor and grace. And, I guess mine is not to figure out all the places to see Him . . . but my one thing is to desire to gaze upon His beauty . . . and know that the Spirit, who delights to reveal the Son, will open my eyes to see His glory.

One thing, oh LORD . . . that I may gaze upon Your beauty . . .

Vicky Beeching’s song (click here) nails it . . .

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A Friendship

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Pete

I guess if you were to ask a dozen people, “What is friendship?” you might get a dozen different answers . . . but, then again, maybe not. Off the top of my head, if I was asked what constitutes a friend, I might respond that it’s someone who knows you . . . who accepts you . . . who is there for you. But I don’t think you’d noodle on it very long before you ended up with, “A friend is someone you can confide in . . . someone who confides in you.” So how do you respond when that “someone” is the LORD . . . JEHOVAH . . . THE EXISTING ONE?

The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.   (Psalm 25:14 NKJV)

The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He makes known to them His covenant.   (Psalm 25:14 ESV)

According to my online Bible, the word translated “the secret” in the NKJV has the idea of a council . . . an assembly . . . a circle of intimate cohorts . . . the kind that engages in familiar conversation . . . the kind that engages in intimate fellowship . . . the kind of dynamic upon which friendships are defined . . . thus, the ESV translation. And it is the privileged place for those who fear the LORD . . . for those who have bowed the knee . . . for those who have believed the gospel . . . for those who have received the gift of life by faith. For them, there is friendship with the LORD . . . there is an intimacy . . . there is a “sharing” of the secrets of the ways of God.

Paul says that there is a “secret and hidden wisdom of God” which is revealed through the Spirit of God. He also writes that, as believers, we have received the Spirit so “that we might understand the things freely given us by God” . . . and as such, “we have the mind of Christ” (1Cor. 2:6-16). That is the evidence of friendship . . . we have been brought into the secret councils of God.

Here’s how Spurgeon puts it, “Saints have the key of heaven’s hieroglyphics; they can unriddle celestial enigmas. They are initiated into the fellowship of the skies; they have heard words which it is not possible for them to repeat to their fellows.” Truly, it’s an inner circle . . . but one open to all who believe in the Son. It’s a coming together which launches a world of discovery . . . a world not of this world. It’s the privileged place of the child of God . . . it is an inexhaustible storehouse of awe-inspiring wonder as God, by His grace, reveals more and more of Himself and His ways to our mere mortal, though regenerated, minds. It is the fruit, it is the evidence, of God’s desire for deep relationship with us. If is friendship with the LORD.

Oh, what privilege . . . what blessing . . . what fall-on-your-face wonder. That God would desire to enter into such intimate council with His creation . . . that we would be pleased to share Himself with this speck of creation sitting in this chair.

Every time I open His word, it should be a reminder of the friendship He has sought with me as He makes known His promises . . . as He reveals His ways . . . as He illuminates His nature and mindset. Every time I interact with the Scriptures, I should know afresh that intimacy of communion as the Teacher instructs the disciple . . . as the Master directs the servant . . . as the Shepherd makes Himself known to His sheep.

I am a friend of God . . . unreal! Oh, that it would be be for His glory . . . .

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Gen S

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Pete

It’s a big deal to us in the HR field . . . recognizing that within society, and thus within the workforce, there are distinguishing characteristics within different generations of people. We talk about “baby boomers” . . . those post WWII folks, born between the late 40’s and the early 60’s . . . and the generation that followed them, Gen X, those born from the ’65 through to the early 80’s . . . and now, we’re looking at the “Millennials” or Gen Y workforce. Each of this “generations” have a unique set of characteristics, in general, concerning how they view life and therefore, how they view work. But this morning, I’m reminded of another generation . . . a generation which transcends time periods . . . I’ll call them Gen S . . .

Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.    Selah     (Psalm 24:3-6 ESV)

The generation of those who seek Him . . . Gen S.

For this “demographic” it doesn’t really matter when you were born . . . but that you were born again. Apart from a sovereign working of the grace of God, none seek after Him (Rom. 3:11). But Gen S’ers, though once in darkness, have been brought into marvelous light by the wooing of a Bridegroom who says, “Come to me” . . . they have been convicted of their need of a Savior by the Spirit who’s purpose is to make Him known . . . they are redeemed from the marketplace of sin . . . they are adopted as full children of God . . . they have been born again.

So, Gen S could stand for “Generation Saved.” Those who, through the application of the shed blood of Christ on their behalf, have clean hands and a pure heart. Those who through the sanctifying work of the Spirit increasingly are fueled by truth and sincerity. Those who, because they believe, are counted as righteous.

But, this morning, for me Gen S stands for “Generation Seeker.” As with our modern day generations, Gen S’ers are also identified by what “floats their boat” . . . by that which intrinsically motivates them. Baby boomers, apparently, work for security. Gen X’ers, we’re told, are ambitious and work for rapid advancement. Gen Y’ers are all about balance and, generally, work as much as they have to without cramping their personal lifestyle. Gen S’ers? They desire to climb the mountain of the Lord . . . their driving passion is to stand in His holy place . . . their consuming desire is to seek the face of God.

By the fact of when I was born, I’ll always be classified as a “baby boomer” by those who care about demographics. Oh, but that I might be seen as Gen S by the God who looks at the inner man. That it might be seen in what I say . . . and in what I do . . . and in how I do it. That, because of the work God has determined to start within me, the evidence might be apparent that one consuming passion prevails in the life of this sinner-saved-by-grace . . . to seek Him . . . to enter into that most holy place to worship Him . . . to draw near, by the blood of Christ, that I might commune with Him.

Such is Gen S . . . the generation of those who seek Him . . . of those who seek the face of God . . . my generation . . . amen?

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My Cup Overflows!

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Pete

Lingering over Psalm 23 this morning. Though it’s so about Him . . . it so about “me” too. If the first five words are true, that the Lord is indeed MY Shepherd, then you just can’t help but settle down and re-take inventory . . . you can’t help but re-count all His benefits toward those who are His own . . . you can’t help but get a bit overwhelmed at the Shepherd’s love and care for His sheep . . .

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake . . . You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; . . .   
(Psalm 23:1-3, 5 ESV)

The first thing that grabs me is what He does. He makes to lie down . . . He leads . . . He restores . . . He prepares a table . . . He anoints. He is the Good Shepherd. To think that the King of kings and the Lord of lords . . . that He who is worthy to be served . . . has determined to serve. The King’s love for His people is so great that He takes the towel, gets on His knees, and washes their feet. The Maker knows the frailty of the creation and so, undertakes the meeting of their greatest needs . . . pastures to feed in . . . waters to drink of and rest beside . . . paths to follow which are safe from sin’s destruction . . . a table to come to which is safe and secure . . . oil to minister to the wounds of the day . . . oil to remind of the high priestly calling. He does it all. It’s all about Him. He is the Great Shepherd.

And then I notice the liberal sprinkling of “me”, “my”, and “I” throughout this song. He makes me lie down in all sufficient pastures . . . He leads me by still waters and in paths of righteousness . . . my thirst is satisfied as I drink . . . my footing is on solid ground as I seek, by His grace, to follow where He leads.

Though in the battle, though surrounded by enemies, there is a table prepared for me. A table of remembrance that looks back to an empty cross, an empty grave, and reminds of victory to come. A table with bread from heaven to meet the day’s needs . . . set with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies . . . mercies new every morning . . . grace sufficient for the day. And, it’s a a table for the future . . . being set, even now, in a place that is being prepared for me . . . a banqueting table . . . prepared for the Bride of Christ . . . a place of celebration and rejoicing.

And then, there is the anointing as the Shepherd attends my wounds . . . as the Great High Priest reminds me of my high and heavenly calling. I have been anointed with the Holy Spirit since re-birth. The blessed Spirit ministering to my spirit as healing is required. God’s Spirit reminding me that I have been consecrated to the work of a priest for the kingdom. Enveloped and indwelt . . . that’s me.

Now add in the promises . . .

For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me . . . Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.    (Psalm 23:4b, 6 ESV)

Hover over this song, for but a few minutes, and You know it’s all about Him . . . He gets all the praise and glory. But mediate, even just briefly, on the implications for “me” . . . and how can the riches of my relationship with the risen Christ not cause me to be overwhelmed . . . to be filled with awe . . . to be beyond words . . . to exclaim with the psalmist . . .

My cup overflows!

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