Bound for Freedom

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Pete

He taught as no other taught . . . as one having authority. He went one-on-one with Satan in the desert and emerged victor. He cast out demons, He healed the sick. He calmed storms . . . He walked on water. He touched lepers, making them clean . . . He gave sight to the blind . . . He made dead people alive again. So what made them think they could tie Him up? What arrogance prompted them, even after they were knocked to the ground by His declaration that He was “I am”, what arrogance prompted them to think to wrap ropes about Him? What blindness led them, even after seeing Him pick up Malchus’ ear and restore it to his empty head, what blindness led them them to think they could bind Him? But so they thought . . . and so they did . . . .

“Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, ‘Whom are you seeking?’ They answered Him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ Jesus said to them, ‘I am He.’ . . . Now when He said to them, ‘I am He,’ they drew back and fell to the ground . . . Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?’ Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him.” (John 18:4-6, 10-11)

It will get worse . . . more abusive . . . more horrific to imagine. The slapping and spitting on His face . . . the blind-folded beating and mockery . . . the scourging . . . the crown of thorns smashed about His head . . . the nails in His hands and feet . . . compared to what would follow, being tied up seems kind of minor. But as I read this morning that they bound Him, I’m marvel afresh at the humility of my Savior . . . at the submission of the Creator to His creation . . . at the meekness of Him who was determined to do the will of His Father . . . and be led as a lamb to slaughter (Isa. 53:7).

“Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.” (Genesis 22:9)

A son bound for sacrifice. Innocence confined in preparation for injustice. A Father so loving the world that He gave His one and only Son . . . wrapped up and delivered into the hands of men. What was it for Him to be bound? He who possessed the might to create all things, “and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:3) . . . He who sustains all things by the power of His word (Hebrews 1:3) . . . tied up and led away.

“God is the LORD, and He has given us light; Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.” (Psalm 118:27)

The sacrifice bound to the cords of the altar so that it might be restrained from wriggling free and running off. But Jesus had no intention of “getting out of this one” . . . no thought of escape. It was time . . . time to “drink the cup” the Father had given Him . . . time to finish the work He had been sent to accomplish. Though He was bound by ropes, soon they would fall to the ground . . . though placed in a tomb, soon it would be empty . . . though put “in the ground” soon He would ascend to heaven.

He was bound for freedom.

And it really wasn’t Judas & Co. who bound Him . . . Jesus constrained Himself. The Lion of the tribe of Judah became the Lamb of God come to take away the sins of the world . . . and it pleased the Father, in fulfillment of that ancient picture, to bind Him in preparation for sacrifice . . . that I might be free . . . “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!” (John 8:36)

Yes, He was bound for freedom.

O come let us adore Him . . .

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Praying With Jesus

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Pete

I’m not gonna to lie (not that I have in the past) . . . I like being prayed for . . . especially when it’s by someone who just seems to be a real prayer warrior. On those occasions where my name has been lifted to the throne by a brother or sister who has been graced with a special fervency, it’s had a way of being both comforting and encouraging. There’s something about knowing that your name is being spoken into heaven’s portals . . . something that makes you grateful . . . something that makes you stronger . . . something that makes you more determined, by God’s grace, to keep on keepin’ on. I’m thinking that’s why I so enjoy lingering over the last few verses of John 17 . . . why I savor the Savior praying for me . . . why I like to pray with Jesus.

“I do not pray for these alone [the disciples], but also for those who will believe in Me through their word . . . ” (John 17:20)

To be prayed for by Jesus . . . to have our name spoken before the throne of God by the King of kings . . . how amazing is that? Talk about your prayer warrior . . . talk about access to the throne . . . talk about words which are certain to have an eternal impact . . . that’s talking about Jesus’ prayer life. And, at least part of it . . . and I’m thinking a big part . . . concerns us. We who were redeemed through His precious blood . . . those given to Him by the Father . . . those who are eternally linked to Him as a body to the Head . . . those eternally betrothed to Him as a bride to the Bridegroom . . . those eternally inhabited by Him as living stones built into a holy temple . . . those eternally serving Him as kings and priests in the courts of our God.

And until the coming of perfection (and maybe afterwards as well, I don’t know), He prays for us. Our blessed Savior even now is at the right hand of God making intercession for us (Rom. 8:34) . . . “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (Heb. 7:25)

I can imagine some of the things on His “Things to Pray for Pete” list . . . but, here in John’s Gospel, there are some things on the list that are not left to my imagination. He prays that I would know a unity within the body of believers and, that as a body, we would know a communion with the Father and Son which is modeled after the fellowship They experience within the Trinity. He expresses His desire to the Father that we who are His might be with Him where He is . . . that we might behold His glory . . . “the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). And He asks that the love with which the Father loved the Son would abide in His children . . . and that He, Himself, would be in them.

How’s that for a set of prayer requests? Desired by the Son . . . spoken to the Father . . . energized by the Spirit . . . and about us. Hmmm . . . pretty amazing.

Thank You, Lord Jesus for praying for me . . . I add my “amen” to Your supplications. May I continue to know sweet fellowship with Your people . . . may we, as a body, know a real, active, and intimate communion with You. I too desire to be with You . . . to behold Your glory . . . to worship at Your feet . . . to inhabit that place You have been preparing for me for the last 2,000 years. Until then I also join You in asking that I might know more and more the love of God . . . and that I would, by Your grace and through Your Spirit, know more of Your living presence in my life.

For my blessing, for sure . . . but more importantly, for Your glory . . . amen!

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The Plumb Line

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Pete

If you had asked me before this morning where the “vision of the plumb line” is found in Scripture, I couldn’t have told you. I’m know that I’ve read it a number of times before, but it’s never really registered. Now, I’m learning that when something, that’s never “jumped off the page” before, captures your attention, it might be an indicator that the Spirit, your resident Teacher, might be wanting you to get something. So, I’m hovering over this “newly discovered” prophetic vision and wondering what God wants to say to me through it . . . here’s what I’m thinking . . .

“This is what He showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand. And the LORD said to me, ‘Amos, what do you see?’ And I said, ‘A plumb line.’ Then the Lord said, ‘Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass by them; the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.’ ” (Amos 7:7-9)

I guess the plumb line has at least a couple of purposes. This cord with a lead weight at one end was used by builders to make sure that a wall they were building was straight up and down. But it was also placed beside walls that were already built to see if they were still straight up and down or if they were leaning . . . if they were “out of plumb” . . . if they were in danger of toppling over . . . if they needed to be torn down because they were no longer doing what a wall’s supposed to do. And it seems the latter use was the Lord’s intention in hanging His divine plumb line in the midst of His people in Israel . . . to demonstrate with finality that they were so far off kilter that it was needful to take down “the wall.”

And my first reaction is I’m grateful that, rather than standing beside a plumb line this morning, I stand in Christ. Rather than having to measure up to God’s holy standard in order to merit fellowship with Him, I instead rely on the “straight and true” nature of another . . . the blessed Son of God . . . He who has become my righteousness (2Cor. 5:21) . . . my acceptance being that of being accepted in the Beloved (Eph. 1:4-6). When God looks upon me this morning, it’s not with some measuring tape, but it’s through a portrait of His Son . . . the Lamb of God come to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Oh, the blessing of being “measured” by grace and not the plumb line of law.

But, as I think some more, I also imagine that there is a plumb line beside me . . . because I am under construction. He has begun a good work in me and will complete it (Php. 1:6) . . . and, I believe, complete it according to a perfect standard He has set. His determination is to conform me to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29). How exciting is that? Not that I had the “raw material” to be like Jesus . . . but that I have been made a new creation in Christ (2Cor. 5:17) . . . having been given a new set of spiritual DNA . . . having now a new, heavenly composition. Redeemed clay in the hands of the Potter . . . a living stone being built into a spiritual house . . . all according to a divine standard . . . being fashioned according to His perfect plumb line.

Not my work . . . His alone. Mine is to believe He’s doing the work . . . mine is to submit to that work and welcome the standard . . . mine is to embrace the plumb line and desire the outcome. And I do so by faith . . .believing that He is able to mold this sinner saved by grace into something that resembles His Son . . . believing that the Spirit within me has the power to enable me to continue to put off the old man and to live the new man’s life . . . believing that God has given me all I need to participate in the divine nature. Mine is to welcome His work and His standard . . . wanting to be built up according to His word which acts as a perfect, true, and straight weight . . . wanting to be transformed according to plumb.

Thank God that I have been redeemed and saved from the judgment of the plumb line. But praise God . . . lift up His holy, perfect Name . . . that, by His grace, He has started a work in me that is aligned to the plumb of His Son . . . for His glory alone . . . amen!

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This Is It!

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Pete

There’s at least a couple of ways that you learn stuff from Scriptures. One way is to kind of “glean” truths. For example, I was reading in Revelation 7 this morning about those who are saved out of the tribulation and what they do in heaven and, from that, I can make some observations and draw some conclusions about what heaven must be like. The other way to learn stuff, of course, is to be told straight up . . . no need to deduce . . . it’s just laid out there . . . like a simple equation, A=B . . . or a dictionary type of definition. Some might call it “low hanging fruit.” I came across such “fruit” this morning, too, as I was reading in John 17 . . .

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)

How’s that for a straight forward definition?

“I’ll take hard to grasp truths for 400, Alex.” . . . “Ok, the answer is, ‘To know the Father, the only true God, and the Jesus Christ whom He has sent.’ ” . . . “What is, ‘Eternal life?’ . . . “Correct!”

Not to be trite . . . not to oversimplify . . . “knowing God” is a volume of teaching in and of itself . . . but the point is, the essence of eternal life is to enter into a relationship with the God of creation through His Son. To know God is to have eternal life.

Jesus removed the barrier to knowing God through His work on the cross. The penalty of sin having been paid . . . the power of sin having been broken . . . the way open for man to commune with God just as was intended from the beginning in garden. Communion with God . . . that’s eternal life. To interact with Him . . . to understand, in some measure, His mind . . . to become familiar, to some degree, with the things that please Him and displease Him . . . to hear His voice through His word and His Spirit . . . to know that He hears our voice through prayer . . . all this comprises eternal life.

Eternal life isn’t something that starts when I get to heaven . . . this is it!

Will things be clearer in that day when I’m “face to face” . . . sure. But have I been given everything I need to participate in the divine nature and know the deep things of God now? Yeah! (2Peter 1:3-4, 1Cor. 2:16) Just wasting time if I’m waiting for a future day to start experience eternal life . . . missing some quality One-on-one time if I’m not pursuing knowing God now.

Every morning, as I get ready for the day, it’s an opportunity to renew a desire to “do eternal life.” To pursue knowing Him better . . . to pause to remember His abiding presence . . . to converse with Him throughout the day through the Spirit which speaks into heaven’s portal on my behalf . . . to recognize those moments when I’m enjoying fellowship with Him “in the cool of the day.”

Eternal life . . . this is it . . . by His grace . . . for His glory . . .

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Who Is Worthy?

Posted on December 3, 2010 by Pete

What were those moments like when heaven paused and held it’s collective breath? When John saw Him who sits on the throne, in splendor and glory, raise His right hand to reveal a scroll sealed with seven seals . . . when John and all of heaven heard the loud proclamation of that strong and mighty angel, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” And then heaven goes silent . . . for no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth had the power or capability to open the scroll . . . or to even look at it. And John says that he wept much because no one was found worthy.

But you don’t read that anyone else wept . . . not the twenty four elders . . . not the living creatures who declare God’s holiness day and night . . . not the myriads of saints surrounding the throne. John was the outsider. He didn’t realize it was perhaps a bit of a rhetorical question. Spoken maybe to “set up” the moment . . . to prepare the anticipation . . . to emphasize the holy sacred trust of handling the scroll. For, as John cries, one of the elders leans over and whispers to him, “Do no weep. Behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” (Rev. 5:5) Don’t cry . . . behold! Wipe away the tears . . . and turn Your eyes upon Him! Who is worthy? He is worthy!

And in the midst of that great heavenly silence He emerges . . . coming into view for all to see. There, in the midst of the throne . . . among the living creatures . . . in the middle of the twenty four elders . . . stands the Lion . . . stands the Heir to David’s throne . . . stands a Lamb. A Lamb as though it had been slain! And in that instance, John realizes what all heaven already knows . . . He is worthy!

Behold the Lamb. He who was slain . . . slain that He might redeem lost souls to their God through His blood . . . slain that people out of every tribe and tongue and nation might be gathered around that throne as He is declared the One who alone is worthy.

The silence is broken! Heaven comes alive as the elders fall before the Lamb . . . each with a harp . . . each with a golden bowl full of the prayers of the saints . . . and they start to sing . . . to sing at the top of their voices . . . to sing a new song, “You are worthy.”

And then the angels get into the act. Ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands of angels join with the elders and shout with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” (5:11-12)

Heaven is silent no more . . . the question asked has been answered. The Lamb is the Lion . . . He who was slain is the King. He is Jesus . . . the Son of God . . . the Christ . . . Immanuel . . . the once for all Atoning Sacrifice . . . the Conqueror of sin and death . . . resurrected . . . ascended . . . and before the throne. And He, praise God, is worthy!

“Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (5:13)

The living creatures say, “Amen!” The twenty-four elders fall down and worship Him. (5:14) And I say, “Amen!” . . . and I fall down and worship too.

Who’s worthy? He’s worthy!

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No Rest for the Worshiping

Posted on December 2, 2010 by Pete

I love stepping through the door with John. Leaving, in comparison, the “grey tones” of earth and entering the color filled world of heaven. What was it like to be John on that Lord’s Day when, “in the Spirit”, He had a one-on-one with the risen, glorified, magnified, Son of Man? To have been His “secretary” capturing the Lord of the Churches’ words to His people would have been a pretty amazing experience in and of itself. But then “after these things” John beholds “a door standing open in heaven.” He then hears a voice speak to him, resonating like a trumpet, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which much take place after this.” (Rev. 4:1) And did John ever get shown!!!

The first thing that grabs John’s attention is a throne . . . and not so much the throne but the One who sat on the throne . . . and the colors of His glory emanating from the throne. Also proceeding from the throne was lightning and thunder and voices. He then notices that before the throne are seven lamps of flaming fire . . . the Spirit revealing to Him, “Hey, that’s Me . . . the seven-fold Spirit of God.” (4:2-5)

And as John’s eyes adjust to the light of heaven and his ears adjust to the roaring sound . . . as he gets attuned, somewhat, to the sensory overload of God’s dwelling place, he sees circling the throne twenty-four other thrones . . . and on them twenty-four elders, clothed in white robes and wearing crowns of gold on their head. He then notices the four living creatures . . . creatures whose description kind of defies my imagination . . . save to understand that they are magnificent and awe-invoking to behold. (4:6-7)

The sights . . . the sounds . . . all really beyond any full comprehension . . . so beyond my experience . . . so unattached to any frame of reference I have. But then John notices something that I get. He records activity which I can relate to . . . he says that in heaven there is no rest for the worshiping.

“The four living creatures, . . . do not rest day or night, saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!’ Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne . . . ” (Rev. 4:8-10)

Day and night, it says . . . no resting . . . no ceasing . . . never stopping . . . these beings, which sound a lot like the seraphim of Isaiah 6, proclaim the holy name of God. “Holy, holy, holy,” seems to be the chorus of a great song . . . and then it seems like they’ll break into a “verse or two” of “glory and honor and thanks to Him on the throne” . . . and when that happens the twenty four elders go face down worshiping Him who lives forever and ever, casting their crowns before the throne of Him who alone is worthy of all exaltation. I don’t know how you read this without sensing that worship is kind of a big part of heaven . . . day and night . . . 24/7 . . . (though I don’t think there is a 24/7 in heaven).

And I don’t fully get how, around the clock (though I don’t think there are clocks in heaven either), worship can happen with all the other stuff that’ll be going on in that place Jesus is preparing for all who love and seek His appearing. But hey, who am I to try and fit heaven into my pea-brain of understanding? I read this and I just don’t think there’s any rest from worship in heaven. It will be part the atmosphere in that place . . . no matter what’s going on . . . or what we’re doing, I don’t think an awareness of the throne and the glory of the One upon it will be very far from our awareness. I sense that spontaneously, throughout the days of eternity, we’ll be going facedown, again and again, to give Him thanks for our salvation . . . to give Him glory for bringing us home . . . to extol Him for the wonders of His magnificent heaven.

And while I can’t fully imagine what worship in heaven will be like, I can relate, in some measure, to heaven-based worship. I have some context for understanding how a heart is moved to want to express to Him appreciation and adoration which is beyond my ability to put into words. I know something of the gravitational pull of wanting to go facedown before Him in awe-inspired worship. O’ that I would know it more . . . that I would be a fluent worshiper in truth and spirit . . . that there would be no rest for the worshiping . . . amen.

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Buy!

Posted on December 1, 2010 by Pete

It’s that time of year! For weeks already the mass marketing machine has been revved up and put in high gear. This year, we’re being told, consumers are going to show once again “their confidence” and turn it around. Two too many Christmases of holding back. Here in the States it “officially” kicks off on the day after Thanksgiving . . . Black Friday . . . black referring to the profits that start flowing into stores and cyber-sites. “Shop, shop, and then shop some more,” is the message. “Time to get those hot deals while the getting’s good,” bombards my e-mail inbox. “Buy!” is the rallying cry . . . and this, from Jesus too . . . but for a different reason . . .

“I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.” (Rev. 3:18 ESV)

How’s that for a Christmas shopping list . . . gold refined by fire . . . white garments . . . anointing salve for the eyes? The benefits? So that I’ll be rich . . . and I’ll be clothed . . . and I will see clearly. And it’s not shopping I can do for someone else . . . nope, it’s stuff I can only buy for me. Where can I get this stuff . . . only one vendor . . . only one outlet . . . “Buy from me,” says Jesus. Mmmm . . .

I don’t know how you read the latter portion of Revelation 3 without pausing and doing some measure of self-assessment. The one thing that’s always “frightens me” about Jesus’ letter to the church of the Laodiceans is that if I read it and think it’s not about me, that, in and of itself, may be an indicator that it’s all about me . . . “For you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,’ not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” (3:17) It’s the Laodicea paradox . . . the fact that you don’t think these words are for you may be the very thing that says Jesus so wants to speak them to you.

And He so wants to speak to those who don’t think He has anything to say to them. Jesus doesn’t just write off these lukewarm, church playing believers. Even though they trigger within Him a “gag reflex” because they are neither cold nor hot, His first choice isn’t to spit them out of His mouth but to reprove and discipline . . . to correct and teach . . . to call to repentance . . . to re-establish intimate communion around a supper table. Why? Because Jesus loves His own (3:19) . . . and so wants them to overcome and sit with Him on His throne (3:21).

And so, because of His great love, He shouts, “Buy!” He offers that which truly will makes rich . . . treasure fit for heaven. He offers that which is true righteousness . . . garments that cover the shame of sin. He offers that which provides real sight . . . an understanding of the things of God and the ways of the kingdom. But how do I buy? What credit card can I use? What do I need to sell in order to be able to afford to make such amazing purchases?

Ah, actually, it’s kind of like the old Avon days . . . the product is brought to the door . . . and the only “currency” I have to secure the product is my desire and willingness to open the door . . . and let Him in . . . “For You will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; You will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” (Ps. 51:16-17) Open the door . . . that’s how I make the buy. “Come,” He says, “Those who thirst, come to the waters. Even though you have no money, come and buy that which will feed the soul . . . come and buy without money . . . just come.” (Isa. 55:1-2). Come . . . open the door . . . and buy.

And then, over the table of restored fellowship and sweet communion, I acquire, from His grace-filled and giving hands, the riches of heaven . . . the imputed clothing of righteousness . . . and eyes which behold the truths of the Father. How’s that for a good deal?

To God be the glory . . .

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A Friend

Posted on November 30, 2010 by Pete

According to Facebook, I have 125 “friends.” I know, that in the Facebook world, that’s not a lot of “friends” . . . and I’m only mentioning it ’cause that’s what Facebook says. I’m not a really engaged “Facebook-er” . . . I don’t post . . . other then when I post to my devo blog . . . I’ll chat occasionally . . . I’ll send messages . . . and every so often I might even “like” something. But mostly I just leverage Facebook to keep tabs on “my friends.” 125 “friends” . . . really? 300 . . . 400 . . . 500 . . . 600 “friends” . . . is that even possible? I guess there are “friends” and then there are “friends.” But I wonder if, in the world of Facebook, we haven’t cheapened a bit what it means to be “a friend.”

“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15)

Now there’s a “friend request” you don’t want to decline . . . Jesus telling His disciples that He calls them friends . . . how amazing is that? He was their Teacher . . . He was their Master . . . He was being recognized more and more as their Lord . . . and now, as He instructs them for the last time before heading to the cross, He calls them friends. And what makes them friends? They know what Jesus is doing . . . they’re being let in on what Jesus knows . . . they’re being schooled in the things of the kingdom . . . and as such, Jesus calls them friends.

What a thought . . . to be the friend of Jesus. And it’s not just that every so often He’ll post something on “my wall” . . . or comment on something I’ve posted. No, instead it is about intimacy . . . about getting really real . . . about imparting to us His mind through the Spirit via the Word . . . and about knowing us from the inside out . . . our thoughts . . . out motivations . . . our highs . . . our lows. It’s not played out on some public forum for all our other “friends” to follow along with . . . instead, mostly it’s played out in the quite times . . . when we’re One on one.

Oh, that Jesus would call me His friend should cause me to pause and reflect in awe and wonder. Me . . . once dead in trespasses and sins . . . once an enemy of God . . . now a friend of Jesus. Not because of who I am . . . not because of what I’ve done (actually despite of what I’ve done) . . . but because of who He is . . . and because of what He’s done . . . and because of grace immeasurable.

We don’t “friend” Jesus . . . He “friends” us (John 15:16). It’s not His privilege to be added to our list . . . it is our eternal blessing that our names have been written in His Book.

I can draw near as I would to a friend . . . and He draws near to me. I can confide in Him as to a friend . . . and He comforts and gives a peace that passes understanding. I can boldly approach His throne as a friend . . . and He welcomes me into His presence. And though He calls me friend . . . I call Him Savior and Lord.

What a friend we have in Jesus . . . amen?

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Give Me Jesus

Posted on November 29, 2010 by Pete

As I’m reading the first chapters of Revelation and Jesus’ words for the seven churches, I’m taking particular notice of what He promises those who “overcome”. In each of His letters to these churches He exhorts them to some behavior . . . whether that’s to simply hold fast to a faithful expression of faith or to repent of some error that has crept into their midst. And have giving “the command”, Jesus invariably encourages them to have “ears to hear” what the Spirit is saying and then encourages them with a promise for the one who overcomes. It’s the promise to the church in Thyatira that’s got me thinking this morning.

“And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations . . . and I will give him the morning star.” (Rev. 2:26,28)

I think I get the part about the saints one day ruling with King Jesus over the nations (Rev. 5:9-10) . . . but what about being given the morning star?

As I do when I come across one of those, “What does that mean?” passages or phrases, I turn to the commentaries I have on my computer and on my desk . . . my own select group of “advisors” . . . to see what these trusted teachers say. But sometimes, as in this case, they don’t all agree . . . having different interpretations . . . even indicating that they’re not quite sure what exactly “the morning star” is referring to. So what to do in a case like that? Well, I was taught a long time ago that Scripture best interprets Scripture . . . so where else is the term “morning star” found?

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” (Rev. 22:16)

That’s pretty clear . . . Jesus says that He is the Morning Star. So . . . at least one understanding of this promise is that, to the one who overcomes, Jesus will give Himself. Some would say it’s referring to the rapture . . . others that it refers to the millennial reign . . . but, for now, I’m going with that tried and true, Sunday School 101 answer, “Jesus.”

He identifies Himself as the Bright and Morning Star . . . and He promises to believers who overcome to give them the morning star . . . so why couldn’t it be referring to that time when they will be with Him . . . up close and personal . . . face to face . . . He having laid claim to them . . . and they now possessing Him whom they had previously owned by faith and followed through the Spirit.

What greater promise is there but to have Jesus? What greater motivation “to keep on keepin’ on” than to one day being given the Morning Star? . . . to be where He is . . . to dwell where He dwells . . . to reign as He reigns . . . to worship before Him at His Father’s throne?

But, while there is a promise to yet be fully known, I don’t need to wait until that day to encounter the Morning Star. I can start this day and this week afresh with the prayer, “Give me Jesus!” Desiring to abide in Him and know the reality of Him abiding in me. Seeking sweet communion with the risen Christ as enabled by the indwelling Spirit of God. Setting my mind and my heart on things above . . . looking to Jesus with the eyes of faith.

“. . . and I will give him the morning star . . . ”

Even so, Lord, give me Jesus . . .

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The Mere Edges

Posted on November 26, 2010 by Pete

Sometimes you get a wake up call . . . those little jabs that remind you of what’s really real. Such was the case this morning as I was reading the continuing debate between Job and his “sort of” friends. The reminder? That despite what I, by the grace of God and illumination of the Spirit, know and understand of God . . . it’s just “the mere edges.”

In Job 26, Job delivers a brilliant and soul stirring summary of the might and majesty of God.

I don’t know exactly how Job knows all this . . . given that he lived in “ancient times” without all the scientific breakthroughs we know today (or are they just repeat breakthroughs?) . . . but there’s some pretty sophisticated understanding of creation’s marvelous structure. Job knows that God stretches the northern sky over a vast empty space . . . and that He hangs the earth on nothing . . . that clouds are filled with water yet do not break under the weight of it . . . that there’s a circular horizon over the water, at the place where light meets darkness (doesn’t sound like Job thought the world was flat). Job recognizes that God stirs up the sea . . . breaks up the storm . . . and dresses up the heavens. (26:7-23) Wow!

“Indeed,” says Job, “these are the mere edges of His ways, and how small a whisper we hear of Him!” (26:14)

What we see of God . . . what we understand to be true of God . . . what the Spirit has made known to us concerning the Person and work of God . . . they are but the mere edges . . . the extremities . . . the outskirts . . . the fringes . . . a mere whisper . . . or, to coin a less eloquent phrase, “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet!”

What has been revealed is only the tip of the iceberg . . . to think that what I know of God, is to fully know Him, is to not know Him at all. It’s but a taste . . . a teaser of things yet to come . . . far than satisfying my hunger it should inflame a desire for more . . . while the water satisfies the thirst, it should leave such a taste as to want to seek out the Source in all His fullness.

The marvels of Creation . . . the wonders of salvation . . . the on-going work of sanctification . . . all of it should prime the pump of wanting the realities of deeper relation with Him who we have but encountered a whisper of. He, whose power is beyond understanding, is not beyond pursuing.

That I would not be satisfied with just the mere edges . . . that the outskirts would not be enough to satisfy my longing. But that I would wonder at the fringes and seek the fullness. That I would worship at the extremities and press on after the essence.

Praise God for the mere edges . . . I ain’t seen nothin’ yet . . . but, by His grace and through His Spirit, I can’t wait to know more.

Amen?

Posted in Job | 1 Comment