A Question

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Pete

It’s one of those questions that causes you to pause. Although the details and circumstance are different, the question resonates deep within . . . you can enter into the mind and heart of the asker and along him inquire of God as to the reason. Just a three word question . . . just 6 letters . . . but one deep meditative query . . . . “Who am I?”

Reading in 2Samuel . . David has been anointed king over a reunited Israel . . . he has taken Jerusalem and established it as the capital of Israel and more importantly as Zion, the city of God . . . the ark has been moved to the city . . . and David, recognizing God’s favor in this “post-Saul” season of life, desires in his heart to build a more permanent structure for the ark of God. After all, David’s dwelling is in a house of cedar, the ark is in a tent of animal skins . . . shouldn’t something be done for such a great God? David desires to build God a house . . . but . . . God says, “Hold on a sec . . .

“And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. . . . I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom . . . I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever . . . And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.” (2Samuel 7:11b-16 ESV)

“Build me a house?” God says, “Not right now . . . instead, I’m going to build you a house . . . an everlasting heritage . . . an eternal throne . . . a forever established reign.” Talk about your “exceeding expectations.” Talk about your “above and beyond.” Talk about your “whodda’ thunk?” And what do you do when you realize that God’s river of blessing is more like flood . . . that His grace is not just amazing but abundant . . . that His love is not just shed abroad in our hearts but envelopes us completely? What do you do? What can you do? . . . but ask a three word, six letter question . . .

“Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, ‘Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?'” (2Samuel 7:18 ESV)

When David hears the word of the Lord . . . as he fully comprehends the implications of the promises of God . . . he sits down. It’s not about getting busy to make God something in appreciation . . . it’s about resting . . . and reflecting . . . and then responding . . . “Who am I, O Sovereign God?”

I love to read the promises of God . . . I love to claim the promises of God . . . but God forbid that I should presume upon the promises of God or feel any sense of entitlement. Instead, the promises of God, should from time to time be a catalyst for me to humble myself in awe and wonder and wonder afresh, “Why me, Lord?” To be reminded that who I am is not who I was . . . but that He chose to love who I was . . . and determined to transform me into who I am . . . and purposes to complete the work He begun and make me into who I will be in the fullness of that day when I am with Him.

Who am I? I am a sinner saved by grace . . . I once was lost but now am found . . . I am purchased from the slave market of sin . . . I am a holder of a heavenly passport indicating my citizenship in heaven . . . I am an adoptee, brought freely and fully into all the rights of sonship and made a joint heir with the Son of God . . . whoever I am, it is because of what He has done. It is because He has chosen to love me regardless of who I was.

Oh, to take a few moments now and then and marvel at the promises of God . . . to remember that “all the promises of God in [Christ] are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God” (2Cor. 1:20) . . . and to humble myself before the God of promises and in loving, appreciative worship, lift my voice to heaven and say, “Who am I, O Lord God . . . that you have brought me thus far?” Oh, to Him be all praise and glory . . . amen?

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Signs of Weakness

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Pete

They had forced Paul into a corner where he didn’t want to be. Some “super apostles” had rode into Corinth and started beguiling the church there with their array of “credentials” and their “new and approved” teaching concerning the gospel and other foundations of the faith. And in order to build themselves up in the estimation of the Corinthians, they were putting Paul down. And so Paul was pulled into a “bragging match” . . . and Paul felt like a fool being pulled into such tactics (2Cor. 11:16-21) . . . but if those were the weapons of this duel, then Paul would engage. And in that, he played “the ace up up his sleeve” . . . he pulled out his “big guns” . . . he showed his “signs of weakness.”

“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. . . . I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. . . . [Jesus] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2Corinthians 11:30, 12:5b, 12:9-10 ESV)

Paul was in a duel . . . a gunfight at high noon . . . the weapons of choice not 45’s but bragging . . . they would brag about their stature and oratory and accomplishments . . . Paul would brag about being a slave for Christ . . . of having received five times, from the hands of the Jews, the forty lashes less one . . . three times beaten with rods . . . stoned . . . repeatedly shipwrecked . . . toil and hardship . . . sleepless nights (2Cor. 12:23). They spoke of their self-sufficient power . . . Paul talked of his powerlessness . . . and the all sufficient power of the Christ who lived within him. The super apostles bragged of their signs of strength . . . the “least of the apostles” (1Cor. 15:9), when forced to do so, boasted of signs of weakness.

My natural inclination is to, if not outright deny, then at least to hide, any sign of weakness. Paul laid his feebleness and neediness out on the table. I’m thinking it’s my pride that tries to mask or minimize my weakness . . . Paul’s boasting, however, was in that which would manifest Christ’s grace and power. I want to do everything I can to get out of a position of weakness and back to a position of strength . . . Paul, on the other hand, was, for the sake of Christ, content with weaknesses. For Paul possessed that divine perspective that when he was weak, then he was strong through the power of all sufficient grace.

And so it has me thinking this morning about signs of weakness . . . and a heavenly perspective on those situations where I feel powerless, without strength, and short of the means I think I need to get through . . . and in that state, to be content. The NIV translates it, “I delight in weaknesses” . . . the NKJV, “I take pleasure in infirmities” . . . Peterson in the MSG puts it this way, “Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer.” None of these quite align to my natural disposition when I’m taking a licking. Contentment, pleasure, delight, good cheer do not exactly describe my view of being run through the ringer. Oh, that the mind of Paul . . . that mind of Christ . . . would prevail. And that in my weakness, I would see opportunity for His strength and power to be manifest.

Not that I’m looking to get beat about the ears . . . but I do want to ready with the same kind of “bragging” should (or more accurately, when) the trials and testing come along. I do want the mind of Christ to be so operational that I see earthly impotence from a heavenly perspective . . . recognizing that, for those who abide in Christ, every situation is an exact placement of the Master designed to manifest His all sufficient grace and enabling strength. I want the pride that would deny and hide my sign of weakness to give way to a divine boasting in that feeble condition which declares that prevailing is not by my might, nor by my strength, but by the active agency of the Spirit of God which infuses divine power from within (Zechariah 4:6).

I desire, by the grace of God, that my signs of weakness be for the glory of God. Amen?

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That's Not Fair!

Posted on May 6, 2011 by Pete

It’s so easy to think it’s mine. So easy to forget that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights” (James 1:17). Easy to forget that it’s all a gift . . . and somehow start thinking I earned it and so I deserve it. My reading this morning in 1Samuel’s got me tracking on this line of thought. Kind of buried amidst a complicated story of deception involving David and the lords of the Philistines (1Sam. 27, 29, 30), God sets up a scenario where, in a place you might least expect to find it, grace jumps off the page. And, as I think about, it all comes down to the fact that grace is not about being fair.

So, here’s the “Pete’s Notes” summary of the plot line. Fearing Saul, David heads to the land of the Philistines and manages to convince at least one of the reigning kings there that he and his rag tag group of 600 men, along with their wives and children, are refugees. They seek a kind of “political asylum” as they convince Achish, king of Gath, that not only is Saul done with David, but that David and his entourage are done with Saul and the Israelites. David cleverly maintains a rouse that convinces Achish of David’s loyalty . . . so much so, in fact, that when all the kings of the Philistines rally together to go to war against Israel, David is invited (probably more of a “strong suggestion”) by Achish to join the Philistine army. But the rest of the Philistine kings don’t trust David and dismiss him and his army and send them back to their home, Ziklag.

David and Co. return only to find that while they were away, their town had been visited by marauding Amalekites who raided the city, razed the city, and took all their women, children, and livestock for their own. After inquiring of the Lord, David and his men head out to rescue their families and recover their possessions. So all 600 men head out but, along the way, 200 men simply run out of gas. They are exhausted . . . unable to keep after the Amalekites. And so David leaves them behind at the brook Besor (1Sam. 30:9). And, as a weary army at 66% fighting capacity, David and the remaining men overtake the Amalekites . . . wipe them out . . . rescue their families . . . return their livestock . . . AND . . . end up with all the Amalekites flocks and herds as plunder. Now here’s where it gets interesting.

When David and his men return to the 200 left behind and it becomes evident that David is about to not only return family and possessions to the 200, but also share with them the spoils of their victory, there arises some “wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David” who object to the 200 sharing in the spoils. There reasoning? They didn’t go . . . they didn’t fight . . . the don’t deserve any of the plunder (1Sam. 30:22). Ok, I get the logic of the argument. They way my kids might have put it when they were younger is, “How come she gets some. She didn’t help. That’s not fair!!”

But you know what? Praise God, that it’s not about what’s fair! Amen? Check out David’s response:

But David said, “No, my brothers! Don’t be selfish with what the LORD has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the band of raiders that attacked us. Who will listen when you talk like this? We share and share alike — those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment.” (1Samuel 30:23-24 NLT)

Bam! Grace rears it’s glorious head! True, says David, they didn’t go into battle . . . they did run out of gas . . . but “brothers” . . . and we are family . . . what we’re bringing back is what the Lord has given us. No way we should have won that battle . . . but God is good . . . the battle was the Lord . . . and we share in the spoils. How can we be selfish with the goodness of God . . . how can we not show favor on others given the favor shown us.

I love it! We’re family. What we have is only because of what God has given. And grace received should result in grace being given. And that’s not fair! Hallelujah!

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Godly Jealousy

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Pete

Jealousy. I hear the word and I tend to think, “Not good.” Divine jealousy. I read that phrase this morning and I pause. Godly jealousy . . . hmmm . . . there’s a jealousy to be known which is pure . . . sanctified . . . the sort of jealousy that God might have. I guess I know my God is a jealous God, a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24). I know He is jealous, or zealous, for His holy name (Ezekiel 39:25). I know too that God is jealous for the place where His glory dwells, that the heart of God burns for Jerusalem, for Zion (Zechariah 1:14). And that He is jealous for His people is evident as, time and time again throughout history, He has disciplined them for their unfaithfulness and graciously made a way of return that they might know again the covenant relationship of His design. So, that Paul should have a “divine jealousy” probably shouldn’t surprise me. Maybe it’s the object of that zeal and burning desire which has so captivated me this morning . . .

” I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.” (2Corinthians 11:2 ESV)

I don’t know . . . if it had been me, I might have been tempted to wash my hands of this dysfunctional church at Corinth. Talk about your “high maintenance” people! If it wasn’t one thing, it was another. Politicking and sects within the church . . . celebrating tolerance of sin . . . whacked out on the relative priorities of sign gifts vs. gifts for building up . . . a Lord’s Table that had become a bit of joke . . . confusion about the resurrection . . . wanting to keep one foot in the world and maintain a place in the church . . . and now, giving ear to some “super-apostles” who were discrediting Paul and introducing a “new angle” on the gospel. Brother! Too much effort! . . . let’s move on to a body of believers that is at least trying to “get it.” But that wasn’t how Paul saw it.

These were God’s people . . . as high maintenance as they might have been . . . they were still God’s people. Paul had seen the grace of God move in Corinth and redeem for Himself a people from this pagan population. And God, in His sovereignty, had said, “I want them as my bride.” Betrothed . . . literally “joined together” . . . that’s what they were . . . that’s how Paul saw them. And Paul saw himself as their wedding attendant. His job was to get them ready for that big day. To make sure that when they walked down the aisle they looked their best . . . that they were their best . . . that they were all they had been called to be by the power of the Spirit within them . . . and by the grace of God who called them. God’s people . . . betrothed . . . worth having a divine jealousy for.

And as I think about how to make this personal . . . how to make application for me . . . there’s a couple of thoughts that run through my head.

First . . . I am that “blushing bride to be.” I am a member of the “betrothed.” The desire of Christ is that I be presented to Him a “pure virgin” . . . “Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:25-27). Oh, that I might cooperate with the “wedding preparation” work He desires to do in my life. That I might focus on that day . . . that I might love His appearing . . . that I might anticipate the wedding . . . that I might work in concert with the blessed Holy Spirit to transform me into the person He so desires to spend eternity with. May I take my calling as “betrothed” seriously.

Secondly . . . may I see the church as God does. Might I have the heart of Paul and possess a burning jealousy for those God has called to the wedding feast of the Lamb. Many, many years ago a dear older brother gave me the following words of counsel as I was about to head out on my own, “Pete, love the people of God.” For almost 33 years those words have stuck with me . . . to some measure I have tried to heed that counsel . . . but how I need to be fueled by a godly jealousy for His people. How I need to be “heated and boiled over” . . . how I need to be zealous and passionate . . . how I need to put myself out for that rag-tag group of sinners-saved-by-grace known as the church . . . that God might use me as He pleases to make ready His bride.

Hmmm . . . godly jealousy . . . I need to make it more of my vocabulary . . . I need to let it motivate me more as I hang out with and seek to encourage His bride. . . I need to leverage it more . . . for His glory . . . in anticipation of the wedding day . . . amen?

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Real Beauty!

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Pete

There are at least 3 or 4 sermons wrapped up in 1Samuel 25 . . . there’s the sermon of the stupid man . . . there’s the sermon of the cranky king-to-be who goes over the top ’cause he’s hungry . . . and, there’s the love story sermon where cranky king-to-be determines to wipe-out stupid man, girl intervenes for stupid man, king-to-be meets girl, girl calms down king-to-be, stupid man dies, king-to-be proposes to girl, girls say yes, king-to-be marries girl — you know, one of those everyday, happy ending, love stories . . . “a story as old as time, Ulysses.” There are lessons to be learned in each of these story lines. But there’s at least one other story here, that for some reason, absolutely grabs me this morning . . . the sermon of the beautiful lady.

If I were to quiz a group of Bible familiar people on who the great women of the Bible were, I’m guessing the responses might be Mary or Ruth or Esther or the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31. Maybe some would recall Deborah the “judgette.” But would anyone blurt out “Abigail?” I don’t think I would have . . . at least not before this morning. There is something about the quality of character of this woman that just jumps off the page this morning . . . an inner beauty rooted in wisdom and humility.

Abigail, the wife of Nabal (aka the “stupid man”), is woman who was “discerning and beautiful” (1Sam. 25:3 ESV). So, she’s a looker . . . but in the Holy Spirit’s summary of Abigail, that she is described as beautiful is listed second . . . her preeminent quality is that she was discerning or, of “good understanding” as the NKJV says. Both the NASB and NIV say she was “intelligent” but to read that and conclude that she was just really smart would be coming up short. The idea in the original language seems to be that of insight, or good sense, or wisdom . . . Abigail was a woman of good understanding, of discernment. She knew what her husband was like . . . she knew how to take action to avert disaster by David’s hand (aka the “cranky king-to-be”). And take action she did.

Not only was she insightful . . . she was compassionate, and bold, and resourceful. Technically, she had nothing to worry about . . . David’s “over the top” determination was to kill Nabal and all his male servants (1Sam. 25:22 . . . see how being really hungry can make a guy really cranky . . . and a bit crazy?). So Abigail, being of the “Venus” variety, didn’t have to worry about her own skin. But you sense that this woman of God wasn’t wired to think just about herself. When one of Nabal’s young men gets wind of what David’s plotting he runs to who? . . . he runs to Abigail. She hears . . . she fears . . . she springs into action. She loads up the donkeys with food and heads out to persuade David to change course of action. And check out, how she does that!

With humility she falls on her face and bows before David (25:23) . . . and then she says, “On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be!” (25:24) What bravery . . . what humility . . . what true beauty! With face to the ground she pleads with David to see her as the failing point and to allow her to attempt to atone for it. It was her fault, she says, that she was not there when David’s men arrived looking for lunch and thus had to deal with Nabal. So she says, “Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant” (25:28). And though she humbles herself before the one she knows is the “king-to-be” she also boldly reasons with him . . . suggesting that, should he fulfill his desire to avenge himself on Nabal by killing him and his male servants, he would eventually regret it — it would bring grief and inflict on his conscience “the staggering burden of needless bloodshed” (25:31 NIV).

What a woman! Incidental that she had outward beauty . . . but the beauty of her character bursts forth like glorious rays of the sun peeking over the hills at dawn! She is wise . . . she is insightful . . . she is compassionate . . . she is resourceful . . . she is articulate . . . and above all, she is humble. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up.” (James 4:10) Isn’t that the essence of true beauty . . . for a male or female . . . authentic humility?

She humbles herself . . . and she is exalted. God is David’s avenger . . . God is the judge of Nabal’s selfish and arrogant behavior . . . when Nabal realizes how close to disaster he came, he has a heart attack and eventually dies (25:37-38). David recognizes God’s protecting hand on him . . . that it was God who used this woman of God to prevent David from doing something really dumb. And the beauty of Abigail attracts David . . . the inner beauty of this classy lady connects with this “man after God’s own heart” . . . and he proposes to her . . . and, in true Abigail fashion, she bows her face to the earth and says, “Here is your maidservant, a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” (25:41)

Wait-a-minute!!! . . . there it is!!! . . . who else do I know who was willing to be a servant and wash the feet of others? That’s why this lady stands out! . . . that’s what attracts my attention to her this morning . . . that’s the source of her beauty . . . that’s the secret . . . Abigail had the heart of Christ . . . her beauty was in the “hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious” (1Peter 3:4). She bore the spirit of the Son of God. Now that’s real beauty! Amen?

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Pleasing Meditations

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Pete

Yesterday was a good day. On a beach at Kapalua in Maui I witnessed our daughter pledge to join her life to a young man and vow to enter into the mystery of marriage with him “for as long as they both shall live.” There’s something about these kind of life milestones that causes you to reflect. Something about these visible transitions in the seasons of life that evokes memories of the past . . . thanksgiving for the present . . . and thoughts of wonder about the future. And all these thoughts . . . all these pictures . . . all these musings eventually lead to one place . . . one grand conclusion . . . one heartfelt expression . . .

Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. . . . I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the LORD. (Psalm 104:1-2,33-34 ESV)

It’s that phrase in verse 34 that has caused me to pause . . . “may my meditation be pleasing to Him.”

The psalmist’s entire focus for this song concerns my great God and His great works. From His creative works to His sustaining works to to His life giving and life taking works, the psalmist “chews on” the evidence all about him and declares, “May the glory of the Lord endure forever, may the Lord rejoice in His works” (104:31).

To think of God rejoicing stretches the mind a bit. What does it look like? . . . what does it sound like, when God rejoices? I don’t know . . . but you know it must be the expression of perfect joy. It must be pleasure experienced in it’s most pure form. And I can kind of get God looking out at His magnificent creation . . . and saying again to Himself, “It is good. Not as good as before the fall. But it is still good. What can be known about Me is plain because of what I have created. My invisible attributes, my eternal power and divine nature, can be clearly perceived in all that things that I have made” (Romans 1:16). And so, I get God rejoicing in His wondrous works.

But taking pleasure in my mediation? Really? How do the thoughts formed in my mind even make it on the radar compared to the beauty of the magnificent work created at His hand? Another thing I don’t know . . . but it does. His God-breathed declaration in Psalm 104 says it does.

My mediation can bring pleasure to the “very great” God. The consideration of life events leading to the eventual conclusion of God’s faithfulness is, as the NKJV says, “sweet” to Him. Recognizing His hand in not only the work of creation, but also in the paths I have walked and then whispering a “Thank You, Lord,” brings Him a measure of delight. Thinking through the happenings of the previous 24 hours . . . the blessings of a daughter wed . . . and finding myself wanting to sing His praise for His goodness and favor . . . that too is a pleasing meditation to my God of wonders . . . “for I rejoice in the Lord.”

Yeah. A pretty good past 24 hours . . . some pretty sweet meditations . . . a pretty great God.

Spirit within me . . . keep the thoughts coming . . . prime the pump of pleasing meditations . . . cue the songs of praise within the heart . . . Bless the Lord, O my soul!

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In the Company of Angels

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Pete

It’s like coming home . . . it’s touching back down on familiar ground. For the thirsty soul, it’s finding the well. For the overflowing soul, it’s finding the words that express the feeling. For the one who has somewhat lost their way, it’s hitting “home” on the spiritual GPS . . . and for the one who’s never lost sight of the path it’s the glorious reminder of the benefits of traveling in “the Way.” Whatever the frame of reference when approaching Psalm 103 . . . whatever the circumstances surrounding someone who turns again to this portion of Holy Writ . . . the emotions are stirred . . . inventory is taken . . . thanksgiving is rekindled . . . and desire to obey “the command” is set aflame. “Bless the Lord!” And when one obeys the command, that person joins a chorus that transcends this terrestrial realm . . . they take a seat in a choir loft that reaches beyond these skies . . . they are in the company of angels!

The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all. Bless the LORD, O you His angels, you mighty ones who do His word, obeying the voice of His word! Bless the LORD, all His hosts, His ministers, who do His will! Bless the LORD, all His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul! (Psalm 103:19-22 ESV)

What a glorious task is given the reader . . . or more precisely, the reader’s soul. This is not some outward going through of the motions. No this is gut-based, heartfelt, say it like you mean it worship. And it is fueled by “forgetting not all His benefits” (103:2b). Sin forgiven . . . diseases healed . . . life redeemed from the pit . . . crowned with steadfast love . . . satisfied with the goodness of God . . . youth renewed like the eagle’s (103:3-5) . . . Bless the Lord, O my soul!

The fire of praise is stoked as the glory of God, which was revealed to Moses on the mount (Exodus 32:18-23, 33:5-8), is revealed again to us . . . generating a renewed sense of awe . . . “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (103:8). And that love is directed toward us, those who fear Him . . . it removes our sins as far as the east is from the west . . . it pours out the compassion of God upon we who are but dust (103:11-14).

And it is this dust . . . formed into jars of clay . . . which God, through the inspired song of the psalmist, invites to join a glorious company in giving Him glory.

He calls upon the angels, those mighty creatures created to be in His presence, to bless the Lord. To all the hosts . . . myriads upon myriads of holy beings ministering at the footstool of the King and doing His bidding upon this earth . . . He says, “Bless the Lord.” All creation in all dominions are rallied together to the lift up a collective voice extolling the glory of His Triune nature and the wonder of His forever lasting works. And amidst that great multitude of praising beings, I’m asked too to add my small voice . . . to engage my “work in progress” being . . . to lift my soul, to the best of my ability and through the help of the resident Spirit of God . . . and sing with all my might, “Bless the Lord!”

In the company of angels. When I am blessing the Lord . . . when I lift my voice in praise . . . when I bow my knee in reverence . . . when I go facedown in worship . . . then be reminded, my soul, you are in the company of angels! Awesome!

For His glory alone . . . amen!

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The Living God

Posted on May 1, 2011 by Pete

Maybe it’s because I never went to Sunday School as a kid that I’ve yet to grow tired of the story of David and Goliath. Maybe if I had heard it a million times as a kid the account’s “awe factor” might be wearing off . . . but, then again, maybe not!!!

It’s these very, very familiar passages that we need to protect from becoming “skim material” . . . stuff we just breeze through ’cause we think we know it so well. This morning as I read through 1Samuel 17 the phrase “the living God” caught my eye. Twice David shows his indignation at this “uncircumcised Philistine” who defies “the armies of the living God.” (1Sam. 17:26, 36) And it’s not that he wants to protect the reputation of the army of Israel . . . no, it’s a much broader, more earth transcending perspective David operates under . . . his God is living . . . and the battle is the Lord’s. (1Sam. 17:47) It is not Israel Goliath defies . . . it is “the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” (1Sam. 17:45) Oh, how right theology and internalized theology affects our actions . . . how it creates a perspective, a filter, through which life is understood and circumstances are encountered.

He is the living God. He is not a concept . . . He is not some invention of the religious mind . . . He is the living God. My reading in Psalm 102 this morning tells me that He looks down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven the Lord views the earth. (Ps. 102:19) He is not distant . . . He is not unaware . . . He is the living God . . . engaged in the affairs of man . . . in the affairs of this man in this chair. When I get that, then I too will boldly face the enemies opposition . . . I will look to the heavens in the time of distress . . . and I will remember that the battle is His . . . and I will cry to Him knowing that He has promised that He will never leave me nor forsake me.

And so David goes forward . . . with Saul’s armor lying on the ground . . . with a sling in his hand . . . with five stones in his pouch . . . and with a ton of confidence in the living God.

And the Psalmist goes forward . . . knowing that the Lord will build up Zion . . . sure that He shall appear in glory . . . believing that He will respond to the prayer of the destitute . . . confident that God will not reject his plea (Ps. 102:16-17). And what will the result be of the Psalmist’s victory . . . what is the legacy of David’s triumph?

“Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD!” (Ps. 102:18 NIV)

I’m that people . . . thousands of years removed from the shepherd boy, David, on the battlefield with the giant . . . centuries and centuries after the heart wrenching cry of the psalmist to His God . . . I’m that people yet to be created reading what was written so long ago — inspired and preserved by God — that I might praise the Lord. That I might know afresh that my God is the living God . . . that I might be reminded that the Creator of heaven and earth is the re-Creator of this man through the blood of Christ and the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit . . . that He is alive and high and holy and worthy of all glory and praise.

Just an old familiar Sunday School story . . . but what an awesome God!!!

Posted in 1Samuel, Psalms | 1 Comment

Desiring the Full Potential of Grace

Posted on April 30, 2011 by Pete

Grace . . . Amazing Grace . . . Wonderful Grace of Jesus . . . Grace Greater Than My Sin . . . Unmerited Favor . . . God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. If there’s a single word that captures the gospel it could very well be grace. And I shuddered a bit this morning as read 2Corinthians this morning. In this letter written to a church . . . these instructions written to a body of believers . . . Paul says to these saints, “We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain” (2Corinthians 6:1 ESV).

Some suppose that the reference here is to salvation . . . a warning not to reject God’s offer of free (for us not for His Son) forgiveness . . . for “Behold, now is the favorable time, behold, now is the day of salvation” (6:2 ESV). Could be. But the sense I get as I read the chapter is that, continuing on from chapter 5, Paul makes an appeal to maximize the potential of grace and not render it void through continuance in living after the world and in the pursuit and indulgence of sin. I especially think this based on what I see as the other “bookend”, a concluding exhortation, for this section . . .

“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (2Corinthians 7:1 ESV).

Catch that? We are to “cleanse ourselves” so that holiness will be brought to completion in the fear of God. We are saved by grace . . . and we live in His all sufficient grace. But, we are to also seek to allow grace to complete its work begun . . . to determine to pursue holiness, by His grace. And, when we do, it is then that we do not receive the grace of God in vain. The work of grace is intended to go way beyond our spiritual rebirth . . . it is the foundation for our sanctification . . . for the taking on the character of Christ . . . but, should we determine to be “unequally yoked” with those outside of grace . . . with lawlessness, darkness, and idols (6:14-16) . . . then we are in such danger of receiving the grace of God in vain.

We can take the riches of God and ignore the potential to make eternal investments and lay up for ourselves treasure in heaven. We can take the seed of the Living Word implanted with us and be careless with watering it and nurturing it such that might bear fruit for His glory. We can take all the tools which God has given to us to participate in the divine nature and, instead, leave them in the toolbox and seek to build nothing upon the foundation laid by Christ. Oh, how I shudder at the thought of receiving God’s grace in vain.

“For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, ‘I will make My dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.’ ” (2Corinthians 6:16b-18 ESV)

Oh, the privilege of grace! To be made a place where God desires to dwell . . . to be called His people . . . to be owned as His children. “Do not!” says the heart of the apostle, “Do not receive it all in vain!” Instead I am to pursue it . . . by His grace. To be a welcoming inhabitance for the Lord . . . by His grace. To own as precious beyond precious, the title, “People of God” . . . by His grace. To interact with the Spirit within . . . the Spirit of adoption . . . and be a child of God crying, “Abba, Father!” . . . desiring no family above His . . . by His grace. To say no to the world . . . to the old nature . . . to the voices of those who walk the path of destruction . . . by His grace. And to embrace the call to bring holiness to completion in the fear of God . . . by His grace.

It is Amazing Grace . . . it is Wonderful Grace . . . it is Grace Greater Than My Sin . . . it is God’s Riches At Christ Expense . . . and as much as lies within me, I desire that it will be grace that achieves its full potential in me . . . by His grace . . . and for His glory . . . amen.

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Swallowed Up By Life!

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Pete

It is so different . . . the time zone . . . the surroundings . . . the vegetation . . . the sounds . . . the feeling of the air . . . the sun . . . and, oh so nice, the temperature. Yesterday I entered a cylinder. Six hours later I walked out and everything was different . . . did I mention the temperature? And I’m sitting on the balcony this morning . . . listening to birds sing . . . the sound of running water in a man-made water feature below . . . the sight and sound of the ocean waves crashing on the beach less than a football field away . . . and I read this in 2Corinthians 5 this morning . . .

“For we know that if the tent, which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens . . . our heavenly dwelling . . . that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” (2Corinthians 5:1-5 ESV)

I’m thinking about that “new home” in that new place. A body and constitution so different from what I experience today. I’ll enter some sort of cylinder . . . whether death or a “hold on to your hats” vertical ascent at His coming . . . though it won’t be no 6 hours, but in the twinkling of an eye . . . and I’ll move into that new building . . . that heavenly dwelling located in a place whose beauty is beyond imagination . . . and then it really starts happening . . . when mortality is swallowed up by life.

I love that phrase! . . . “swallowed up by life.”

If I think this is living . . . being here in this “sun place” on this ocean shore . . . well . . . I ain’t seen nothin’ yet! No matter how great this is, it is still just mortality . . . this is earth-based reality . . . this is “subject to death” passing of time . . . this is “in the process of being redeemed” living. But then one day, o’ what a glorious day, it’s gonna be swallowed up by life . . . true life! Gulp!!!

This “life” will be devoured . . . destroyed . . . as it gives way to the real thing. Everything will be so different . . . the time zone (or lack thereof) . . . the surroundings . . . the sounds . . . the sights . . . and the Son! Yes, the Son . . . oh how I anticipate the Son. While we had to make our own arrangements to get to this place, it is God who has prepared the way and made the reservations for my mortality to be swallowed up by life . . . through His Son.

For our sake He [the Father] made Him [Jesus, His precious Son] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2Corinthians 5:21)

As wonderful as being swallowed up by life will be . . . as unbelievable as putting on immortality will be . . . as unimaginable as trying to take in the sights and sounds of heaven will be . . . it will pale as the Spirit directs my attention to the Savior. As I look upon the One who knew no sin and became sin for me. As I behold His sun-like radiance and yet notice His nail-scarred hands. As incredible as it will be to “take possession” of the new house, it will be the Master Builder that draws my attention . . . my awe . .. my facedown worship. And it will Him who swallows me up . . . for He is life . . . and life to the full.

Yeah, it’s kind of neat to be here . . . but oh, what will it be to be there? . . . to be swallowed up by life?

Something to chew on . . . in this warm place (did I mention the temperature) . . . for my blessing . . . and for His glory . . . amen?

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