Yeah . . . Really!

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Pete

So, how well does Jesus know God? How intimately aware is the Son concerning the Father? On the surface, maybe those questions come across as “no-brainers.” Or, maybe they present themselves as worthy of only the most grey-haired and studied theologians. Either way, something caught my eye this morning in John’s gospel that’s got me pondering the depths of understanding that exists between the Father and the Son . . . ’cause it kind of has some implications for me.

“I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.”
(John 10:14-15 ESV)

It’s one of those statements of Scripture that, if you pause over it for but a minute or two, you can’t help but whisper to yourself, “Really?”

I don’t know that I could articulate the depths to which the the Father knows the Son and to which the Son knows the Father, but from what I can grasp of the concept of the Trinity, I’m thinking it’s pretty a intimate, detailed understanding of One Another. That the Son is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature” (Heb. 1:3a) . . . that Christ Jesus “was in the form of God” but “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped” (Php. 2:6) . . . that the Carpenter of Nazareth upset the religious apple cart by declaring, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30) . . . it all speaks to the fact that there exists an intimate union . . . and communion . . . between Jesus and the Father. While awe-invoking . . . probably not too surprising.

Ok, but with that reality bouncing back and forth in my brain, I consider that this great truth is illustrative . . . it’s not the “main event” of what Jesus is conveying here . . . rather, it’s the “supporting material” . . . the “comparative analysis.” If I grasp something of the depths of intimacy between the Father and the Son then I can start to grasp the central truth that Jesus is expressing here . . . that, “I know My own and My own know Me.”

Really? The degree to which I can be in relationship with Jesus compares to the degree to which He is in relationship with the Father? The union that exists between me and the Savior can be likened to the relationship that exists within the Holy Trinity? That the communion potential that has been made available between this sinner-saved-by-grace and the Great Shepherd who laid down His life for lost sheep, can approach the intimate communion that exists between Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit? If I’m reading this right, the answers are “Yes” . . . “I’m pretty sure” . . . and, “You betcha’!”

So how amazing is that? That as part of the saving grace of God, we have been brought into a relationship with Jesus that compares to that of His relationship with the Father? I don’t know that I fully comprehend the full potential of that relationship, but I’m pretty sure I want to find out . . . I want to pursue it . . . I want to be an active participant in knowing the Son just as the Son knows me . . . just as the Son knows the Father.

I’m not thinking it’s “rocket science” either. The Word of God . . . the indwelling, intercessory Holy Spirit . . . obedience to that which I know He desires of me . . . belief that the work is His, and what He begins, He will finish . . . and, a determination, as much as lies within me, to be “abiding” and pursuing relationship with Him.

So how well does Jesus know God? About as well as He knows me? How intimately aware is the Son concerning the Father? As intimately aware as I have the potential of being about Him? Really? Yeah . . . really!

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The Sky Clears

Posted on November 4, 2011 by Pete

Sometimes I forget. Well, maybe it’s not so much forget, as it is I lose sight of the magnitude of a truth. It’s kind of like I know Mt. Rainier is big and beautiful, but after it’s been hidden by overcast skies for a period of time and then “shows up” one day amidst clear skies, it can kind of take my breath away. Though I never forgot Mt. Rainier was there, I lost sight of it . . . and the memory has a way of fading . . . and it becomes less spectacular in my mind’s eye . . . but then . . . the sky clears and BAM! . . . there it is . . . queue the awe factor. That’s a feeble attempt at a simple illustration to try convey my experience this morning in God’s Word.

I was set up for the “clouds clearing” by an extended read in Ezekiel . . . particularly the Lord’s words of judgment concerning Tyre, and it’s royal family. And the root of the sin of Tyre is clearly revealed in chapter 28 as the Lord indicts the Prince of Tyre and his father, the King. Of the prince, God’s charge is that “your heart is proud . . . you have said I am a god . . . your heart has become proud in your wealth . . . you make your heart like a god” (28:1-6).

But “the boy” is just a chip off the the ol’ block as he learned it from “the best at being the worst”. You read the charge against the King of Tyre and a chill goes down your back because the pride of the man is modeled directly after the destroyer of men. “You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God . . You were an anointed guardian cherub . . . You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness was found in you . . .and you sinned . . . your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor” (28:11-17).

And it was amidst this dark backdrop of the depths of sin brought on by misplaced self-ego and pride that I turned to 1John 2 . . . and the sky cleared . . . and I beheld afresh the magnificence of another Son . . . and a different King . . .

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1John 2:1-2 ESV)

Jesus is the propitiation for our sins. He is the “atoning sacrifice” (NIV). His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary was fully sufficient to appease the wrath of God. The guilt of sin can be removed from “whosoever believes” as the price has been paid in full.

I hadn’t forgotten that truth . . . it’s just the magnitude and beauty of it hit me afresh this morning. Ezekiel’s prophecy revealed the depths of sin I’m capable of. Ezekiel’s prophecy provided insight to the wrath of God and the degree to which sin will be judged. And then 1John reminded me that Jesus took it upon Himself . . . all of it . . . even “the sins of the whole world.” How powerful is the shed blood of Christ? Pretty!

Awesome! How else do you describe it?

That’s why I need to keep in the Scriptures daily. The clouds of the day-to-day have a way of settling in. The overcast skies of trials and concerns have a way of keeping me from looking up. But then I open up the Word . . . and the Word opens up me . . . and the clouds roll back . . . and BAM! The Son appears . . . and I look up . . . and marvel afresh at the grace of God . . . and wonder anew at the depths of the love of God . . . and the power of the gospel . . . and the awesome nature of the work of Christ on behalf of men and women.

The sky clears. And this sinner-saved-by-graced, after looking up, goes facedown. Queue the awe factor. And with feeble, inadequate words, say, “Thank you, Lord!”

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Never Been the Same

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Pete

One of my readings this morning was in John 9. This has got to be one of my favorite portions of Scripture. Not so much because of it’s teaching . . . or it’s a great theological treatise . . . but because of its down-to-earth, pragmatic, defense of the power of Christ.

The passage really is high drama . . . Jesus encounters a man born blind from birth. “Why?” his disciples ask, “Was it because God punished him in advance for his sins . . . or, perhaps, because his parents had sinned?” (v.2) Why? It’s an understandable question . . . one I’m sure his parents asked when their hearts were crushed as they realized their newborn was without sight . . . and, really, without much hope for a very productive life . . . “beggar” would have come to mind as how their boy would fill out a job application under “Current Occupation.” But if His parents only knew the behind the scenes answer to this “why” question. As for the disciples, the answer didn’t even show up as one of the choices on a multiple choice quiz. But God had always known why . . .

“It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3 ESV))

There you go . . . chew on that a bit. Before this man was born, God had determined to raise Him up to reveal the power of His Son. While the Father formed him in his mother’s womb, Sovereign God got to the optic nerve and said, “Not yet . . . we’ll save developing that fully for a future time.” Now it might have been helpful had the blind man known that . . . certainly it might have given his parents some comfort. But God operates in mysteries . . . He will leave the “why” question unanswered . . . that He might be trusted . . . that He might be glorified.

And the story gets better. Jesus makes some “spit clay”, puts it on the blind man’s eyes, and tells him to go wash it off. “So he went and washed, and came back seeing.” (v.7b) Queue excitement . . . bring on wonder . . . fire up a whole new set of questions . . . no longer is it “why?” . . . it is now “how?” And all of a sudden this nobody . . . this blind beggar . . . this poor soul . . . this unnoticed less-than-average Joe . . . is a much sought out expert . . . he knows better than anyone the “How?”

“The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” (John 9:11 ESV)

Then bring the Pharisees into the picture and this high drama almost gets almost comical. They’re going crazy trying to deal with the growing “rumor” that Jesus gave sight to a man born blind. The interrogate the man . . . same questions . . . same answer. “But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight.” (v18) So they call in his parents and grill them, “Is this your son? Was he really born blind? How then can he see now?” And they, for fear of being perceived as confessors of Jesus as Christ, go with the minimal response, “Yes he’s our son. Yes he was born blind and has been blind until now. As for how he received his sight, ask him.” O’ you can just sense the Pharisees are getting frantic . . . and so they turn back to the man . . . they try bullying him . . . they try to get him to provide the answers they want to hear . . . or at least not provide the answers they don’t want to hear . . .

“Give God the glory!” they scream at him, “We know that Jesus is a sinner.” And, I imagine the man turning toward them . . . face to face . . . seeing eyeball to seeing eyeball . . . feet firmly planted . . . quietly . . . and confidently . . . with perhaps a bit of smile on his face . . . responding, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know; that though I was blind, now I see.” (vv.24-25) End of argument. Game, set, match to the man . . .

The Pharisees could continue their questioning . . . they could try and dispute with him . . . they could deride him . . . they could cast him out of the synagogue (all of which they did, see vv. 26-34) . . . but it didn’t change the facts. A man born blind stood before them and had looked them in the eye.

This account never fails to stir me. I may not be the brightest bulb on the tree . . . haven’t got my degree in theology . . . don’t quite know how all the exegetical i’s are dotted or t’s are crossed . . . some of what I think I do know, I probably have wrong. But, at the end of the day, when it’s all said and done, I know this . . . once I was blind, but now I see. Once I was dead to the things of God and now I have an ever increasing thirst for the living water He offers. Once it was clearly all about me, but now, by His grace and the sanctifying work the Spirit, I’m relinquishing more and more of the throne to His rule . . . through His applying of “spit clay” in my life, I am becoming more and more a child of light. No glory to me . . . all glory to God.

I may not have all the apologetics down . . . but this one thing I know . . . I have met Jesus . . . and have never been the same.

(Don’t believe me . . . . got 3 more minutes? . . . ask the blind man, he saw it all . . .  click here )

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Watcher of Mankind

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Pete

Seven billion. If the experts are to be believed, the “people odometer” clicked over a major milestone sometime in the past few days . . . this planet now houses seven billion men, women, and children. And I’m reminded that my God is aware of each one . . . that we have not exceeded His capacity . . . that none are hidden from His sight . . . that none are beyond the reach of His saving grace.

Reading in Job 7 this morning. The debate has begun . . . on the one side, Job’s friend have started the “you must have done something really wrong to deserve this” line of argument . . . on the other side, Job splits his rebuttal between his friends, pleading his righteousness, and his God, demanding God let him die or at least explain Himself. And it’s in the midst of his heaven-directed rant, that I learn something about God from these God-breathed writings:

“I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are a breath. What is man, that You make so much of him, and that You set your heart on him, visit him every morning and test him every moment? How long will You not look away from me, nor leave me alone till I swallow my spit? If I sin, what do I do to You, You watcher of mankind?” (Job 7:16-20a ESV)

Get out the blue colored pencil . . . underline that last phrase . . . take note of this attribute of God . . . God is the Watcher of Mankind.

He is the Keeper of adam. He is the Guardian of those who are the most precious of all His creation . . . all seven billion of them. How amazing is that?

Say what you will about Job’s outbursts toward heaven . . . about His challenges to God for a “face-to-face” discussion about his situation . . . for, even in this, Job honors and glorifies God. He looks to God as the final arbiter of the affairs of men. He acknowledges God as the One who not only created but sustains and guards over all mankind and, as such, He lifts up the Watcher of Men as the highest authority . . . as Him who presides on the bench of the Supreme Court of all the earth . . . thus, Job pleads His case. And, through Job’s plea, I’m led to turn my thinking away from the stage of Job’s drama and toward the balcony of the One who observes all adam from heaven . . . and it fills me with a sense of awe.

Our God is the Watcher of Men . . . the Keeper of Mankind . . . all mankind . . . those who follow and those who refuse . . . those who worship and those who curse . . . those who bow the knee and those who shake the fist. Not one of us on this huge planet escapes His notice. He is the Creator . . . He is the Watchman. How big is our God? Really big!

And He is not some passive observer . . . He is the Sustainer of all things. What’s more, He is the Redeemer of all things. He has visited this planet . . . experienced it “up close and personal” as flesh and blood through His Son, Jesus the Christ. He has become Immanuel, God with us . . . and, as such, has intervened . . . paying the debt owed for transgression and rebellion . . . paying the ransom needed to rescue us from bondage of sin . . . setting us free to live as children of light in anticipation of one day being in the very light of His glory . . . sealing us with the blessed Holy Spirit, our Comforter, our resident Guide leading us home.

It makes me want to shout out Job’s words, “What is man, that You make so much of him, and that You set your heart on him?”

Oh, the expanse of the love of God . . . oh, the reach of the grace of God.

He is the Watcher of Mankind . . . all seven billion of us. Amen?

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God’s Dynamic Duo

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Pete

It occurs to me that they are a powerful combo. Though each separately packs their own “punch” . . . put them together, and you have an absolute powerhouse. They make great tag team partners . . . working in perfect unison . . . each supporting the other . . . together resulting in something far more than just the sum of two parts. They may not be the most recognized “dynamic duo” . . . but they should be . . . at least by believers. Weighing in beyond measure . . . with a combined reach that is able to touch the depths of the heart . . . in this corner . . . hailing from the heaven, itself . . . may I introduce to you . . . the prophets and apostles!

“This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles.” (2Peter 3:1-2 ESV)

What a powerful one-two combo . . . the prophets and apostles. By one, the foretold word of God . . . by the other, instruction on how to walk worthy of the calling we’ve received.

In hind sight, the word of the holy prophets of God show the accuracy and dependability of that which God has spoken. They spoke of Messiah . . . that He would come as God’s holy servant to do God’s perfect will in order to redeem a lost world. They spoke of His birth . . . they revealed that He would suffer . . . amazingly, against all natural intuition, they said that the Holy One of God would die . . . and, they also indicated that death would not hold Him, but that He would be Victor over death . . . that He would thus be the means of salvation for all men . . . “and with His stripes we are healed.” (Isa. 53:5b)

Their track record is impeccable . . . batting a thousand . . . what they said would happen, has . . . what they predicted concerning His coming, acts as an infallible GPS leading those with “ears to hear” straight to a the Savior. But they’re not done. Just as they spoke concerning His first coming with pinpoint accuracy, so too they speak of a “return engagement.” Jesus is coming again . . . don’t know exactly when . . . but if the prophets can be believed — and they can! — then it could be any day now. And that’s the “set up” that his half of God’s “dynamic duo” provides . . . readying the waiting heart for the other half of this powerful partnership.

In light of Jesus of coming . . . in expectation of seeing Him face to face . . . in anticipation of the “there and then” . . . the apostles speak the commands of the Lord . . . they tell us what kind of people we ought to be in light of future realities . . . they inform us on how to live “here and now.” How to live in the world . . . how to live at home . . . how to live for Jesus. How to love the world . . . how to love my neighbor. How to love my wife . . . how to love my kids. How to love my enemies. How to say no to the “old man” . . . how to say “Yes!” to the Spirit controlled man.

And these aren’t burdensome commands . . . they’re instructions that direct me how to fully leverage and realize the abundant potential that is available for those who have been made “new creations” in Christ. They reveal how to tap into the kingdom of heaven in advance of actually being within it’s walls . . . they are the “owners manual” that steps me through the nuances of participating in the divine nature that has now been made alive in Christ. In light of the prophets yet to be fulfilled oracles and all that they mean for my future, the apostles answer the question, “What sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming day of God?” (2Peter 3:11-12). As I wait for the new heavens and new earth spoken of by the prophets, I seek to submit myself to the commands of the apostles to maximize the benefit of knowing Him under this heaven and on this earth.

There they are . . . a pretty powerful combo . . . the prophets and apostles . . . God’s dynamic duo. Oh, that I might have ears to hear and a heart ready to receive with humility the implanted word . . . by His grace . . . and for His glory.

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To Remain Faithful

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Pete

It is an epic tale of betrayal. A classic rags to riches story that ends in an utter denial of the one who had lifted her out of the mire and set her upon the throne. It is Ezekiel 16 . . . a fascinating summary of a faithless bride . . . a sobering reminder to remain faithful.

I notice the “I’s” of God . . . I passed by you and saw you (v.6) . . . I said to you in your blood, “Live!” (v.6) . . . I made you flourish (v.7) . . . I spread the corner of my garment over you (v.8) . . . I made my vow to you and entered into covenant with you (v.8) . . . I bathed you with water (v.9) . . . I clothed you (v.10) . . . I wrapped you in fine linen (v.10) . . . I adorned you with ornaments (v.11) . . . I put a ring in your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head (v.12).

And the “you” of these verses? . . . the recipient of God’s outpouring of love and favor? She is Jerusalem . . . the crown of Israel . . . the representation of the people of God. And she flourished under God’s providing care and love . . . “You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord God” (v. 13b-14).

He had bestowed splendor upon her . . . and she had become beautiful. He had dressed her up . . . and she had become a “knock out” without compare to any other. He had raised her up . . . and she had advanced to the seat of royalty. He loved her . . . and she flourished under that love.

But then . . . crash and burn! “But you trusted in your beauty and played the whore (or, were unfaithful) because of your renown and lavished your whorings (or, unfaithfulness) on any passerby; your beauty became his” (v.15). And, as you read the rest of Ezekiel 16, it is unbelievable the downward spiral she finds herself taking . . . to unimaginable depths of depravity. And it all begins with her “trusting in her beauty.”

What a warning for me this morning . . . what a warning for all those who have flourished under the favor of God . . . who have been born again . . . who have been made new creations in Christ . . . who have been redeemed from the market place of sin and betrothed as the bride of Christ . . . who have been given pure garments of righteousness . . . who have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places . . . who have been promised an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.

We are . . . I am . . . a “rags to riches” story of God’s making. Once dead in trespasses and sin, but now made alive together with Christ . . . once in darkness, but now brought into marvelous light . . . once an enemy of God, but now a child enjoying the full rights and privileges of adoption . . . once a stranger from the inner workings of the kingdom, but now made into a holy priesthood with access into the very Holy of Holies. Talk about “you’ve come a long way, baby!” But it isn’t me at all, is it? It’s not my beauty to be trusted in. It’s not my worthiness to exalt in. Oh the danger of forgetting that I am but a recipient of God’s amazing grace.

To remain faithful . . . that is the duty of those who benefit from God’s redeeming and transforming work. To not forget the Giver of every good gift they have received. To daily pledge allegiance to the Savior of their souls. To desire to use all that has been lavished on them for His purpose and for His glory.
To remain faithful . . . Therein lies the “happy ending” to our rags to riches story. Amen?

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Did I Just See Jesus?

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Pete

For me, it’s kind of tough slogging through Ezekiel. A lot whirling wheels and other imagery . . . Ezekiel being asked to play out various object lessons before the people . . . the Spirit lifting up Ezekiel and transporting him to different venues from which he is to prophesy . . . Ezekiel being given a variety of “Thus says the Lord’s” as he declares judgment on “a rebellious house” (I’ve come across that phrase a dozen times so far) . . . God being determined that through the pouring out of his wrath, that “they shall know that I am the Lord” (that phrase also occurring over a dozen times so far). So, while I try and read carefully, I know I’m not picking up everything the Lord’s laying down in these chapters. But something caught my eye this morning . . . and I’m wondering . . . did I just see Jesus?

Then [the LORD] cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, ‘Bring near the executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand.’ And behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his weapon for slaughter in his hand, and with them was a man clothed in linen, with a writing case at his waist. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar. Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. And He called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist. And the LORD said to him, ‘Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.’ ” (Ezekiel 9:1-4 ESV)

Ezekiel is getting a “behind the scenes sneak preview” of the spiritual dynamics at play concerning the assault upon and destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians. What appears to be a squad of angelic beings are told to go and pass through the city striking down those who have rejected God and committed “abominations.” But, in addition to this judgment squad, there is another man . . . a man clothed in linen, the garment of a priest . . . a man with a marker, a writing kit. And before the destruction squad goes through the city, this man goes and marks those who have not pursued idolatrous sin and rebellion. And as the death squad passes through the city they are told to “touch no one on whom is the mark” (9:6). Sound familiar?

I read on a bit and “the man clothed in linen” is heard saying to God, “I have done as You commanded me.” Sound familiar, too? And I read on some more, and this same man is sent into the temple . . . and when the man enters, “a cloud filled the inner court” (10:1-3) . . . and that sounds familiar, as well — as in when the glory of God descended upon the wilderness tabernacle as a cloud . . . as in when the cloud of the glory of God overshadowed the Solomon’s temple at it’s dedication . . . as in when the cloud descended upon Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:5).

And so, I’m thinking, is this man “just another angel” . . . or is this one of those pre-incarnate visitations of the second Person of the Trinity? God’s High Priest sent in purest garments of divine purity and without spot. God’s Redeemer who goes before judgment to save . . . marking sinners-saved-by-grace with His shed blood — the blood of the precious Lamb of God (1Peter 1:18-19, Rev. 5:9) . . . covering them with garments of righteousness . . . placing a seal upon those who, by faith, turn to Him . . . that seal being a guarantee of redemption (2Cor. 1:21-22, Eph. 1:13-14). God’s obedient Servant . . . who came to do the Father’s will . . . unto death, even death on a cross . . . who cried out with His last breath, “It is finished!” (John 19:30).

I don’t know . . . if this isn’t Jesus, sure looks like Jesus. And even if it isn’t Jesus, thank You Lord that encountering this “man” in this book leads me to think of Jesus . . . and recall some of the aspects of His wondrous work . . . and marvel again at Your saving grace . . . and stand again before Your awesome glory.

Yeah, working through Ezekiel can be tough going at times, but for these sort of “little surprises” it is so worth it. Amen?

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Stir It Up!

Posted on October 27, 2011 by Pete

Peter knew his days on earth were coming to an end. The Lord Jesus had made it clear to him that “the putting off of my body will be soon.” And so, rather than go sky-diving . . . or rocky mountain climbing . . . or trying to 8 seconds on a bull named Fu Manchu . . . (don’t get me wrong, I really the song) . . . Peter instead decides to stir it up in a different way.

“Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.” (2Peter 1:12-15 ESV)

Almost with a sense of urgency, Peter has launched into his second letter with the message that, by God’s divine power, He has granted to all believers all that they need to live godly lives and partake in the divine nature. Peter comes out of the gates hard . . . “make every effort” to build upon your faith (1:5-7) . . . “be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure” (1:10) . . . “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1:8).

Next to them not knowing the Lord at all, the next most painful thought for Peter was of these believers being saved but lazy with their faith . . . of not working it to its max potential . . . of not participating in the things of the divine nature they now possessed . . . of being barren . . . of falling short of the fruit-bearing potential that had been infused within their very DNA through the regenerating work of the Spirit of God. And then, after his initial flurry of “go for it!” exhortation, Peter takes a breath and says, here’s why I’m writing this to you . . . to stir it up.

Peter’s purpose is clear . . . to put his audience in remembrance of foundational, life-stabilizing truth. There was a lot of stuff competing for their attention these days . . . the least of which was an increasingly antagonistic Roman government . . . the winds of persecution were forming into an all out hurricane of harassment . . . even unto death! And so, Peter, knowing that he would not be able to be directly in their corner much longer, writes to remind them . . . to make every effort that right thinking was planted in their minds and hearts . . . that the right perspective was accessible as they did life . . . that the right values and motives were entrenched as “just trying to make it through the day” sought to work its way to the top of their priority list.

And so Peter brings again to their attention their calling . . . and puts before them again Jesus’ coming. He prompts them regarding their purpose and mission . . . and puts before them again Christ’s power and majesty. He tells them to pay attention to the Word “as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (1:19).

And sometimes I think I need to have it stirred up, too . . . maybe most times. My tendency towards to forgetfulness is not solely attached to me getting a bit older . . . but maybe to it all becoming more familiar. That’s why I need to stay in the Word . . . that’s why I need to ask the Spirit to “open my eyes” each and every time I open The Book . . . that’s why I need to desire not new revelation (it is after all “the old, old, story”), but to ask for fresh revelation . . . God let me read it again as if for the first time.

Stir it up, Lord . . . by Your grace . . . and for Your glory . . .

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Really!

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Pete

It’s probably one of the most amazing, life changing truths in Scripture for me. One of those things that, every time I read it, I can’t help but pause and reflect. “Really?” I find myself asking. And the testimony of the Spirit . . . each and every time . . . with increasing intensity and conviction . . . is, “Really!”

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” (2Peter 1:3-4 ESV)

Chew on it. Called to the high lofty calling of His glory and excellence . . . graciously given everything as it relates to life-to-the-max and to godliness . . . bestowed with promises of great price and beyond full comprehension . . . all for one grand, God ordained objective. That I . . . through the ransom paid by Jesus, the Lamb of God . . . having escaped the decay of a sinful world dragging on the weakness of a sinful nature . . . that I, might become a partner, an associate, a comrade, a companion, a full participant and partaker . . . in the things of divinity . . . in the realms of deity.

Really? Yeah . . . Really!

I read earlier this morning that for anyone who thirsts and seeks Jesus to fill that need . . . who comes to Jesus and drinks of that which He offers . . . that for those people, “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” What was He referring to? “Now this He said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive” (John 7:37-39). Think about it . . . not just a drop of water . . . not a covering of dew . . . but the Spirit within me as a flowing river . . . sourced in heaven itself . . . a perpetual well of life . . . and all that in my heart! Really? I’m thinkin’!

Sometimes I think it’s good to just stop and take inventory. Not about what I have or what I’ve done . . . but about what He has given and what, by the grace of God, I can be. Able to participate in the divine nature . . . possessing all the tools . . . having the best of Instructors . . . why would I not pursue it? As the slogan says, why would I not want to be all that I can be?

And so, Peter says, “make every effort to supplement your faith . . . ” (1:5). I can’t add to the work of salvation — there’s nothing to be added to the finished work of Christ . . . but I certainly have a part in the work of sanctification. Given all the tools and abilities to participate in the things of deity, God has begun a work to conform me to the image of His blessed Son (Rom. 8:29) . . . He has engaged me in the process of transformation through the renewing of my mind that I might know the ways of God . . . “that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12:2 NKJV). Mine is to get on board . . . mine is to put in a bit of elbow grease in cooperation with the work God has begun in me . . . to add to my faith . . . virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, love (1:5-7).

Jesus cries out, “Come drink of Me and let the living water of flow!” Peter cries out, “Make every effort and partake in the things of God!” The exhortation is clear . . . build on the faith graced to You by the One who died for You, who bought You . . . and sought You . . . and brought You into His forever family.

“Therefore, brothers [and sisters], be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” (2Peter 1:10 ESV)

Really? Yeah . . . Really!

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Anxious Pride

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Pete

Ask most of us what the opposite of humility is, and we’d come up with pride. Ask us how pride manifests itself and the things that come first to my mind, at least, are boasting . . . self exaltation . . . arrogance . . . esteeming myself above others . . . thinking of myself more highly than I ought . . . and so on. But what add “worrying” to that list and it causes me to pause . . . include “being anxious” as a demonstration of prideful behavior and I start to scratch my head a bit. But I’m thinking I need to expand my list of prideful behaviors based on my reading in 1Peter this morning . . . that I need to beware of “anxious pride.”

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” (1Peter 5:6-7 ESV)

Now, I’d consider myself pretty familiar with these two verses . . . but that might be the problem . . . I most often read these as two verses rather than one sentence. To be fair, in some translations they are cast as two separate sentences . . . but do they, in fact, form a connected thought? Is there a relationship between humbling myself under God’s mighty hand and casting all my care on Him? I’m thinkin’ . . .

Peter’s wrapping up his letter to a bunch of Christians who have been taking it in the teeth for their faith. Life has been hard for them . . . and getting harder. With the increasing pressure of persecution you get the sense that there’s an increasing pressure to bail on the faith and to turn on one another. But Peter reminds them that their “here and now” and is to be lived in the reality of God’s promised “there and then” . . . that they are not just a dispersed people, but a special people . . . a people of God’s choosing . . . a holy nation . . . called out of darkness into marvelous light in order to proclaim the excellencies of Christ (2:9). Peter wants them to resist the temptation to take an “every man for himself / eat or be eaten” approach to survival . . . instead they are to keep loving one another (4:8) . . . to show hospitality to one another (4:9) . . . to serve one another (4:10) . . . to clothe themselves with humility toward one another because “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (5:5b).

As I think about, refusing to freely give my worries to God is, in a very real sense, birthed in pride. Either in the arrogance of thinking I can power through it on my own . . . or because of a self-absorbed attitude which prefers “woe is me” rather than “greater is He!” It’s when I insist that “my cares” are “MY CARES” that I can get into trouble . . . because they cause within me a desperation to solve my problems in my ways . . . or because they erode the inner man through constant anxiety.

But, when I humble myself . . . when I acknowledge that God’s hand is mighty to save in all situations . . . when I submit to God’s will, trusting in His sovereign purposes . . . when I believe in God’s goodness, that in due time, He will lift me up . . . then I will cast all my anxieties upon Him. Knowing that He cares for me, I will submit myself to His caring provision. Believing that, “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31), I will purposefully provide Him with access to my deepest concerns and fears.

Oh, that by His grace, I would know the humility to cast all my cares upon Him . . .

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