A Temple Builder

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Pete

I’m really not very much of a handyman . . . in fact I barely know what to do with a hammer . . . I have very little sense on how to construct something . . . buying from IKEA is my idea of how to build furniture . . . but I wish they’d make the instructions simpler! So reading 1Corinthians 3 this morning can kind of be intimidating . . . as I’m reminded that I’m called to be a temple builder.

Paul needed to get the Corinthians’ heads into a building program. Though it sounds like they had been saved for awhile yet, Paul says, he couldn’t address them “as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ” (1Cor. 3:1). He wanted to feed them the solid food of the deep things of God but they were still on the bottle, unable to receive the meaty stuff (3:2). The evidence of their carnality? . . . the signs that they were still babes in Christ? . . . there was “envy, strife, and divisions” among them as they argued over there own importance based on who they esteemed greater among God’s servants, Paul or Apollos. And Paul said, “Stop it. Quit bickering like babies. Grow up. We’ve just laid a foundation . . . now you need to start building on it.”

Paul wanted these believers to be temple builders . . . and they were the temples . . . “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (3:16). That was the foundation laid the moment they received Christ as Savior . . . that was the reality established upon their exercise of faith in the Son of God and confession of Him as Lord. It is the sure and true foundation established by Jesus Christ for everyone who believes . . . sealed with the Holy Spirit . . . declared “open for business” as a dwelling place of God . . . foundation in place . . . ready for building.

And so Paul says, “But let each one take heed how he builds on it” (3:10). As a believer, it’s not about whether or not I build on the foundation of my salvation . . . building’s not really an option — it’s gonna happen . . . the question is what materials am I going to use? Paul says I can build on the foundation with “gold, silver, precious stones” or with “wood, hay, straw” (3:12) . . . with stuff that lasts or stuff that burns up . . . with “grown up stuff” or with “kids stuff” . . . with meat or with milk. I can be thoughtful and purposeful about building . . . using only the best materials taken from the Word of God, fortified by the Spirit of God, and put in place by the grace of God . . . or can I take “whatever” . . . and call it the Christian life . . . take the “bare minimum” and kid myself that I’m “walking with Christ.” Either way . . . I’m building upon the foundation . . . and Paul says, “Be very careful how you build.”

There’s coming “the Day” when the “quality of the work” will be examined and tested to see if it’s “up to code” (3:13). It will be “revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it it. The “gold, silver, precious stone” will endure the fire’s testing and the result will be reward . . . the “wood, hay, straw” workmanship will be burned up and that believer will “suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (3:14-15). Oh, the thought of Christ examining what I’ve built on the foundation of His saving work and it burning up, causes shudders to run down my back. I so want to have more to show than ashes when I stand before Christ . . . I want to have some gold, silver, and precious stones, that I might lay them down at His feet as a way of expressing my gratitude and love for the One who gave His all for me. He’s made me a temple of God . . . by His grace and for His glory I want to be as fully operational as possible when He and I meet face to face.

I’m blown away by the reminder this morning that I am a temple of God. As I consider the price paid by God’s Son to lay the foundation . . . as I think on the tools I’ve been given to build with . . . the word of God . . . the grace of God . . . the Spirit of God . . . I so want to build wisely and thoughtfully and obediently. I want to grow up . . . I want to be able to take solid food . . . I want to build with gold, sliver, and precious stone. Not that I might boast . . . but that my boast might be in the One who is worthy of building for. Father, by your grace, help me to be an effective temple builder . . . for Your glory alone, amen.

Posted in 1Corinthians | Leave a comment

In the Loop

Posted on March 26, 2010 by Pete

“Don’t tell secrets!” Remember hearing that from your parents when you were a kid? Remember ever saying that to your son or daughter? And it wasn’t just that we shouldn’t talk about someone behind their back . . . it was also that we shouldn’t exclude someone from our little group of “secret knowers.” In fact, wasn’t there a childish taunt that went something like, “I know something you don’t know!” Yup . . . maybe we shouldn’t tell secrets but who didn’t like being “in the know”. Honestly, not that you necessarily want to exclude anyone, but don’t we feel special when we’re “in the loop?”

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.” (1Cor. 2:9-10a)

Ok . . . read that verse and a half again . . . isn’t that a mindful?!? Things which have never been seen or heard . . . things which don’t even show up on the radar for the natural man . . . things which God prepared in heaven itself and from eternity past . . . things Paul refers to as “the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory” (1Cor. 2:7) . . . hidden things . . . secret things . . . blow your mind things . . . those are the things God has revealed to the believer. Unreal! Talk about telling secrets . . . talk about being in the loop.

And they are not things which are imparted with “persuasive words of human wisdom” (2:4) . . . they are not things which align to the wisdom of this age (2:6) . . . in fact they are spiritual things, indiscernible by the natural mind (2:14a). And they aren’t things which are understood because someone is particularly bright or learned . . . has nothing to do with IQ . . . watching Discovery Channel or reading National Geographic won’t help at all . . . they are things which are spiritually discerned (2:14b) . . . things which are received by faith (2:5) . . . things which are revealed by God Himself (2:10a).

And entrance into this “insider’s world” isn’t restricted . . . and it isn’t too complex . . . but for many, it is foolishness. Paul says, that in order to open up this door to the Corinthians, “I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (2:2). The “secret” to knowing “the secret” comes down to a Person and a Work. The Person is Jesus Christ . . . God incarnate . . . the King who came as a Servant . . . the Shepherd who took the place of the Lamb . . . God who became fully man that He might make a way for man to enter fully into the holy presence of God. And the work was that which was accomplished on the cross . . . Christ crucified as the atoning sacrifice for the penalty of my sin . . . He who knew no sin becoming sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2Cor. 5:21). Christ risen from the dead showing that the work was finished . . . demonstrating His victory over sin and death . . . proclaiming it could be our victory, as well.

And when by faith we believe in the Person of Christ and receive on our behalf the work of Christ . . . then we’re brought into the loop. A light goes on . . . the spiritual DNA is activated . . . and the Holy Spirit takes that simple starting point and opens up to us the deep things of God . . . the things not seen by the eye nor heard by the hear nor even conceived of by natural man. The things which sound crazy to the outsider are now the things that infuse within us hope and assurance . . . they are the things that cause us to determine, as much as lies in us, to live for Him . . . they are the things that fill us with wonder and joy and praise and worship. Oh praise God for being in the loop!

And far from taunting outsiders with “I know something you don’t know” we desire that all would be brought into this secret place. And so we too proclaim the foolishness of the cross . . . to know among this “wise world” only Christ and Him crucified . . . that their faith would not be in us . . . nor our church programs . . . nor in the wisdom of men . . . but in the power of God. That they too would know the grace of God which reveals the deep things of God.

Oh, to know something of the secret things . . . to know the things that have been freely given to us by God (2:12) . . . to be taught by the Holy Spirit Himself (2:13) . . . to have the mind of Christ (2:16) . . . to be in the loop . . . not because of who I am but because of who He is . . . despite what I have done but because of all that He has done . . . what a blessing . . . what a joy! All glory to God . . . amen!

Posted in 1Corinthians | Leave a comment

Holy Ground

Posted on March 25, 2010 by Pete

Ok . . . so VeggieTales has pretty much ruined this portion of Scripture for me 🙂   The replay in my mind’s eye is pretty clear . . . Larry the Cucumber is portraying Joshua . . . and Larry beholds a Man opposite him who stands in glorious light with His sword drawn . . . and Larry confronts the Man, “Are you for us or for our enemies” . . . and the Man identifies Himself as the Commander of the army of the Lord . . . and Larry, as Joshua did, falls on his face to the ground and worships . . . and then the Man leaves . . . and Larry, being a cucumber . . . with no arms . . . can’t get up off his face . . .and calls for help. Kind of funny . . . a bit distracting . . . the mind and what it recalls and when is a weird thing . . .

Anyways . . . getting beyond armless, worshiping cucumbers . . . I am pausing over this passage at the end of Joshua 5 and considering the nature of holy ground. Holy ground is the place where the Lord is. Here it’s by the great-walled city of Jericho on the eve before Israel’s first foray into the promised land. Here it is an encounter with the pre-incarnate Christ as He identifies Himself as the Commander of the army of the Lord. Holy ground is the place where the Lord is and the place where the Lord reveals Himself. For Joshua, the revelation was such that he knew beyond any doubt that he and the army of Israel were not going into battle alone . . . that they would enter the fight along with a heavenly host led by heaven’s Commander-in-Chief . . . that the Lord Himself would have their back. Holy ground is the place where the Lord is and the place where the Lord reveals Himself and the place where the only appropriate response is worship . . . the shoes come off . . . the face goes down . . . worship. And it’s with that in mind that I reflect on my other readings this morning.

In Psalm 73 the psalmist is absolutely beat up . . . on the ropes . . . struggling to figure out life’s injustices . . . to the point of almost crashing and burning (73:2-3). Trying to figure it all out was “too painful” . . . until He goes into the sanctuary of the God (73:16-17). It was when he stepped onto holy ground . . . entered the place where God had placed His name . . . that he gained clarity of thought. Holy ground is the place were things are put into perspective . . . “Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory” (73:23-24). What Joshua learned on holy ground, so did the psalmist . . . God, You hold my hand . . . You will guide me . . . You will receive me into glory. And holy ground is the place where, by gaining perspective, passion is ignited . . . “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You” (73:25). Just put your big toe on holy ground and you want to know it and explore it further . . . experiencing just an inkling of the presence of God ignites a thirst and desire for more . . . and mind, soul, and spirit become convinced “it is good for me to draw near to God” (73:28).

Then I’m in Mark’s gospel and the holy ground is the river Jordan. Jesus is baptized by John . . . the heavens part . . . the Spirit descends as a dove upon the Son of God . . . a voice thunders from the very throne of God, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:9-11). Holy ground is the place where the mysteries of heaven break through . . . where glimpses of divine dynamics are caught . . . where the wonders of the Triune God, though not fully understood, are seen and experienced . . . did I mention the shoes coming off and going facedown? . . .

And lastly, in my reading in 1Corinthians 1:18-31, I’m reminded that when we step on to holy ground, there’s no place for glorying in self. I’m welcomed onto holy ground not because of my wisdom . . . nor because of my power . . . but because of the “foolishness” of the cross (1Cor. 1:18). “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty . . . that no flesh should glory in His presence” (1:27-29). Holy ground is available because of the work of Another . . . entering into the Presence is possible because I am “in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1:30).

And as I reflect on the privileged place of holy ground, I’m thinking that, even now, I should be taking of my sandals . . . and going facedown. Thanking Him for access . . . praising Him for presence . . . glorying in the Lord . . . just like a cucumber.

Posted in 1Corinthians, Joshua, Mark, Psalms | 1 Comment

The "A Team"

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Pete

Started in on 1Corinthians this morning. Ok . . . so I head into this letter knowing that the reason it exists is because these fellow-believers weren’t exactly the “A Team”. If they hadn’t been so messed up on so much we’d have less teaching from Paul on such vital matters as division in the church, immorality in the church, principles of marriage, the Lord’s Supper, spiritual gifts, love and, the resurrection . . . not to mention a few other things. Yup . . . not exactly the model church . . . or is it? As I read Paul’s opening words in this letter this morning, it cast another light on this less-than-best body of believers.

So check this out . . . They were “the church of God” . . . “sanctified in Christ Jesus” . . . “called to be saints” (1:2). Paul thanked God for the grace given to them by Jesus Christ . . . grace to the extent that they were “enriched in everything”, in “all utterance” and in “all knowledge” . . . they came “short in no gift” . . . so that, “the testimony of Christ” was evident in them (1:4-6). And, they were “eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1:6b). And Paul was confident that the Lord they waited for would keep them “strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1:8).

And it gets me thinking about position vs. practice . . . about the destination vs. the journey . . . about the prize vs. the process. Aint’ it true . . . Christians aren’t perfect . . . we are a work in progress . . . God’s not finished with us yet. Oh, it would be so nice if it was get saved and then . . . ZAP!!! . . . we’re all fixed . . . we’re all shining examples of what Christ is like. But that’s not reality, is it? Certainly not with me. It’s a process . . . a long, sometimes painfully slow, process. It’s a journey . . . not a straight four-lane highway type of trip, but a bumpy, back-roads, 4-wheelin’ type of rough ride. It’s about a work begun in us when we were set apart by His grace . . . a work to make us more in practice what we are in position. We are declared holy, now He wants us to be holy. And so it’s a work of pruning away the junk . . . of refining the material in a crucible so that the dross is exposed and separated . . . of shaping the clay into the vessel envisioned by the Potter.

The believers in Corinth had it all. They were God’s church . . . they were set apart in Jesus . . . they had been graced abundantly in the talent and gifting God had poured out on them . . . they bore witness to the life changing reality of Christ in a culture that was ultra-pagan and super immoral . . . they were waiting for Jesus’ return . . . so in love with Him that they couldn’t wait to be with Him. But . . . they weren’t perfect . . . yet.

Actually, the more I think about it . . . the more they sound like a lot of Christians I know . . . and sound like a Christian I look at in the mirror every morning. Blessed of God but still working on a being a blessing to God. Loving Jesus but not quite looking like Jesus. Oh, it’s easy to get critical of fellow-believers who come up short . . . it’s easy to get down on ourselves when we recognize that we are those believers . . . but I take heart this morning when Paul says to these crazy Corinthians, “[He] will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1:8-9).

God began the work in me and He will complete the work (Php. 1:6) . . . God has called me into the fellowship of His Son . . . God is faithful. Sure, I want to be growing in the things of Christ . . . I want to be more like Him and less like the old me . . . I want to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh . . . I want to live in power and not in poverty . . . but, while I might be more there today than yesterday, I am so not there. But God is faithful . . . His calling is sure . . . His grace is sufficient . . . and He will present me blameless in that day.

Yeah, I know it can be frustrating to see other believers living in a way that believers shouldn’t live . . . it can be disappointing to see those who name the name of Christ coming up so short of reflecting the Christ they say they follow . . . it can be depressing to see how far I have yet to go to be like the One I so want to be like . . . but God is faithful. Ours is to seek Him . . . ours is to submit to Him . . . and His is to make the position the practice . . . sustain us through the journey to the destination . . . be glorified in the process as we press on toward the prize.

Who knows . . . maybe these Corinthians were, in fact, the “A Team” . . . the Assured Team . . . assured that God is faithful . . . and that the work God has begun in us will be the work that brings God the glory in that day. Amen?

Posted in 1Corinthians | 1 Comment

Seek Jesus & Rejoice!

Posted on March 23, 2010 by Pete

It’s kind of neat when my different readings in the morning come together . . . when they emphasize one another . . . when they are used of the Spirit to provide some clarity . . . when, by coming together, they are used to impress upon me afresh some truth of Scripture. This morning Psalm 70 and the first part of Matthew 28 combine to remind me that there is great reward for those who seek Jesus.

“Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; and let those who love Your salvation say continually, ‘Let God be magnified!'” (Psalm 70:4)

At first, this appears to be a command to obey. Those who seek the Lord should rejoice and be glad in the Lord. Those who love the Lord’s salvation should praise the Lord. But my reading in Matthew 28 added another dimension to the Psalmist’s exhortation . . . more than “command and obedience”, there is also something of “cause and effect” in the Psalmist’s words. Rather than a command, Psalm 70:4 might be more of a promise. Check out the resurrection morning happening in Matthew 28:1-10 . . .

Jesus has been crucified and buried . . . the Sabbath has passed . . . and on the first day of the week Mary and Mary head to the tomb of Jesus (28:1). And there they encounter an angel, his countenance like the lightning, his clothing as white as snow (28:3-4) . . . and he’s perched atop a rolled away stone beside an open and empty tomb. And he says to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for He is risen, as He said . . .” (28:5-6). He then instructs them to go quickly and tell the other disciples. And, as they ran off, stoked with fear and great joy, “behold, Jesus met them, saying, ‘Rejoice!’ So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.” (287-10).

Ok . . . so is it just me, or did the the Mary’s just provide a “true life” object lesson validating the “cause and effect” promise of Psalm 70? Those who seek, rejoice . . . those who love Him, worship Him. Said a little differently, if I want to know rejoicing . . . if I want to burn from the inside out with an inexpressible joy . . . then the way to prime the pump and fuel the fire is to seek Jesus.

That’s what those ladies were doing that Sunday morning . . . the angel knew it . . . “I know that you seek Jesus.” Though it wasn’t rationale . . . though they had no idea what going to the tomb of a dead man would accomplish . . . their love for the Rabbi . . . their desire for the Teacher . . . their faith that He spoke words of truth and was Messiah . . . it all compelled them to seek Jesus. And they met Jesus . . . and Jesus greeted them. The other translations emphasize that Jesus used a common greeting upon meeting the women . . . but the greeting was “Rejoice” . . . “Rejoice exceedingly” . . . “Be glad” . . . “Thrive and be well!” . . . and I’m thinking the ladies did!

It’s what the Psalmist says should happen. That those who pursue the Lord, rejoice in the Lord. Sure, it could be a command to obey . . . but what kind of rejoicing is it when I have to “make myself rejoice.” But, if by seeking Him I find Him, doesn’t the joy then just kind of flow naturally . . . or supernaturally as the case may be? Doesn’t the exultation burst forth when I encounter the living Christ? Magnifying God is just the result of interacting with the One who saved me. So, I don’t need to work at rejoicing and praising . . . I’m to start with seeking and passionately pursuing.

What if I were to set my face and feet towards the tomb starting today? What if I cranked up the “seek factor” in my life over the next couple of weeks in anticipation of Easter’s resurrection reminder? What if I took Jehovah at His word when He says, “You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you” (Jer. 29:13-14) . . . or took Jesus at His word when He says, “Seek, and you will find” (Matt 7:7)? I just might encounter Jesus . . . and it might be well before Easter Sunday . . . and it most certainly will result in rejoicing and worshiping . . . and I think I’m up for that.

Seek Jesus and rejoice . . . yeah . . . amen!

Posted in Matthew, Psalms | Leave a comment

Own It

Posted on March 22, 2010 by Pete

So, nothing like a discussion on how the Holy Spirit works in our lives to remind you how big God is and how finite our knowledge of Him is. Last night at our home Bible study we were talking about the morning’s sermon on Ephesians 1:13-14 . . . about the implications of being sealed with the Holy Spirit and how to know more of His presence and power in our lives. We were kind of all over the map . . . some things “we got” . . . other things, not so much . . . all a reminder that we have been brought into a relationship with a God who has declared, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa 55:9). This morning, a verse I read in Deuteronomy puts last nights conversation into some context.

“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” — Deuteronomy 29:29

The mysteries of God abound . . . there is no end to those “secret things” that belong to God . . . and they run the gamut from the loftiest to the most personal. Secret things in the dynamics of creation . . . secret things in the workings of nations . . . secret things in the purpose of suffering . . . secret things in the apparent silent response to prayer. They are those things which make us feel like little children in our understanding . . . or lack thereof. They are the things that truly are beyond our comprehension. And Moses tells the people who are about to enter the promised land, “The secret things belong to Jehovah, Elohim.” They are His to know . . . they are His to reveal or not to reveal as He determines.. And they are the things that remind us that we walk by faith and not by sight (2Cor. 5:7) . . . they are the things where we are left to “Trust in the Lord with our hearts and lean not to our own understanding” (Prov 3:5) . . . they are the things the remind us that God is God, and nothing less. The secret things belong to God . . . they are His to own.

But some things have been revealed to us . . . some things we do know . . . some things we do understand . . . some things we have grasped . . . and those things belong to us . . . they are ours to own. As yesterday morning’s sermon reminded us, we do understand the problem of sin and the separation it results in from a Holy, Holy, Holy God. We understand our powerlessness to work our way out of the debt owed because of sin . . . our inability to pay the price of redemption. We understand that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. We understand that it’s by grace, through faith, that we have been saved . . . and that having been saved we’ve been brought into a relationship with God Himself and made alive to the things of the heavenly realms . . . having been sealed by the Holy Spirit who is a deposit guaranteeing the inheritance that will be us when our redemption is fulfilled. We own these things . . . and they cause us to thank and praise the God of grace who saved us.

And that’s just the beginning . . . as we read His word, through the Holy Spirit inside us, He reveals His nature and the implications of our calling. He reveals that we are to be holy for He is holy and then paints a multi-faceted portrait of how we can work in concert with the Holy Spirit to obey His command. Some parts of this picture we get right off the bat . . . other parts come later. But as they are revealed . . . as His will is understood . . . they are ours to own.

It’s good from time to time to explore such “heady things” as how the Holy Spirit works in our lives, but at some point we realize that, just as the Spirit operates like the wind, blowing where it wishes . . . we can hear the sound but can’t pin down where it comes from or where its going (John 3:8) . . . that these high things are reminders of the awesome nature and workings of our God . . . and that exactly what they mean and how they work belong to Him. But it’s also good to recognize what has been revealed to us and to respond to it . . . with praise, with thanksgiving, with obedience. That which we do know, we’re accountable for . . . if we are faithful to the little we understand today, then He will give us more insight and more understanding tomorrow. We just need to own it . . . for His glory . . . amen.

Posted in Deuteronomy | Leave a comment

In the Holy Spirit

Posted on March 19, 2010 by Pete

Oh, were we, as the church of God, to really grasp, internalize, and put into practice Romans 14 . . . what a powerful dynamic would be created in our midst. It would revolutionize our view of those who are “weak in the faith” . . . it would expand our awareness of the degree to which the “weak in faith” might be us . . . and, it would remind us that, ultimately, it is God who is able to make us stand (14:4). We would do more to look at the liberty we have in Christ through the filter of “being fully convinced in our own minds” (14:5), realizing that while all things are permissible, not all things are beneficial (1Cor. 6:12, 10:23) . . . realizing that while there’s lots of “good stuff” we can do, it’s not all the “better stuff” or the “best stuff”. If we grasped Romans 14 we’d remember our appointed date, as believers, before the judgment seat of Christ, the Bema, where each of us will give account of himself or herself to God (14:10-12). And, grasping Romans 14 would go so far toward us really living heaven on earth . . .

“For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17)

Verse 17 has just captured me this morning. Here’s a clear, concise definition of the kingdom of God. It includes what it isn’t . . . it defines what it is. The kingdom of God is not about what we eat or drink. Sure, that was a pretty big deal in the Old Testament economy . . . and the Jewish religious leaders would, over time, become quite fixed upon it. According to these “wise men”, the doing or not doing of physical acts would define a person’s standing in the kingdom. And it carried over into the early church . . . disputes arising over the freedom one had, or didn’t have, to eat or not eat certain foods, drink or not drink certain beverages, observe or not observe certain days. But, Paul maintains, such is not the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is experienced at a much different level. When we are driven by eating and drinking . . . when we define spirituality by a list of what we do or don’t do . . . then we are living way short of the kingdom.

Instead, the kingdom is about living out the righteousness imputed to us through the blood of Christ. It’s also about living lives at peace with God . . . at peace with our brothers and sisters in Christ . . . and at peace with ourselves as we pursue a conscience void of offense. And, it is about knowing the joy of God . . . that deep, abiding gladness that, irrespective of life’s circumstance, throbs within the heart of the redeemed and smiles toward heaven, able to say with all confidence, “It is well, it is well, with my soul!”

And what really grabbed me this morning is the kingdom of God is experienced as we know these things “in the Holy Spirit.” That’s not a phrase you come across very often in Scripture. We most often encounter in the Scriptures, and talk of, being “in Christ.” But this morning I’m reminded that the kingdom of heaven is made real as we live “in the Holy Spirit.” He, who indwells us . . . the One sent by the Son after the Son ascended . . . He is the One who allows us to experience heaven on earth. The kingdom of God is yet to come in it’s fullness and glory . . . the undisputed reign of Christ over all things is yet to be realized . . . but the operative nature of the kingdom of God exists now on earth . . . in the church . . . as believers live “in the Holy Spirit.”

Oh, how I need to pursue the things of the kingdom of God through the Spirit of God. How I need to be less and less focused on the material, on the eating and drinking, and thirst and hunger more for the things of righteousness and peace and joy . . . in the Holy Spirit. God has sealed me with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of my place in the kingdom (Eph. 1:13-14) . . . He has infused within me the Spirit of truth who desires to shape within me the mind of Christ . . . He has tasked the Holy Spirit with the work of sanctifying me — making me more like His Son . . . and, through the wonderful, blessed Holy Spirit, God desires to open up to me the realities of His kingdom . . . of righteousness, peace, and joy. How can I not desire and seek to know intimately this Divine Guest which resides within me . . . how can I not pursue recognizing, and yielding to, His voice and leading.

Oh, were we, as the church of God, to really grasp Romans 14 . . . and to fully pursue the reality of being “in the Holy Spirit” . . . what a powerful dynamic would be created in our midst . . . for His glory alone . . . amen!

Posted in Romans | Leave a comment

Nearer Than When We First Believed

Posted on March 18, 2010 by Pete

It’s kind of an amazing transition actually . . . from the first few verses of Romans 13 to the last. From being subject to governing authorities (13:1) to putting on the Lord Jesus Christ (13:14) . . . from paying taxes (13:7) to casting off the works of darkness and putting on the armor of light (13:12) . . . from the mundane duties of everyday life to viewing those duties as part of walking in such a way as to reflect the reality of the calling of Christ. And at the center of it all is a pretty simple command, “Wake up! Quit snoozin’! Get your head in the game!” And behind the command a very simple reminder that, should we grasp it . . . should we allow the Holy Spirit to make it real to us . . . this reminder will impact everything we do. The reminder? “For now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” (13:11).

My adoption into God’s family was over 30 years ago (man, am I getting old!). And, if I was pumped at being saved then . . . how much more should I be now? My salvation is nearer than when I first believed. Whether it’s because Jesus’ return is nearer (and it is . . . could be any day) . . . or whether it’s because mortality reminds me that my “going home” is closer now than it was when I was first saved, the fulfillment of my salvation is nearer this morning than it was yesterday morning. The hope I posses of being facedown before the One who loved me unto death . . . the substance of my faith, which speaks of an inheritance in heaven – -the holy habitation of God — an inheritance reserved for me which is incorruptible, undefiled, and can never fade way (1Peter 1:3-4) . . . all that, is nearer to being realized with each passing moment.

Oh, that I would live more in promise of the future than the “realities” of the day or the “regrets” of the past. Cause, if I’m pickin’ up on what Paul’s layin’ down, when I really get hold of the fact that the fulfillment of my salvation draws near, then it becomes a powerful motivator and sustainer to deal with what I gotta deal with today. Obedience to God isn’t some chore . . . it’s a delight because I anticipate hearing, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Dealing with the trials of the day, though discouraging at times, ultimately are put in the context of a salvation soon to be revealed so that “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1Peter 1:5-7). Even the tough stuff can be worked through with an inner joy when we believe it refines Christ’s character in us and can bring God glory through how we leverage His all-sustaining grace.

Living a life worthy of the calling of Christ isn’t some “discipline” . . . it is a delight when we consider what lies ahead. Faithfulness isn’t some sentence we bear because we accepted the gift, it is a willing sacrifice we make in anticipation of being with the One who calls us His own special treasure. Worship isn’t some mindless, listless, mouthing of the words and going through the motions, instead it is the great rehearsal in anticipation of that time when we will be gathered with myriads of the redeemed around the throne of God Almighty, the Lamb in the midst, and cry, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power!” Oh, to be alive to the reality of a salvation that is nearer than when we first believed.

So, “Wake up!” Paul says, “It’s high time to awake out of sleep . . . the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness . . . let us walk properly as in the day . . . let us put on the armor of light . . . let us put on the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ through His Spirit which indwells us . . . let us make no provision for the flesh . . . but let us get ready to fly . . . to soar with wings as eagles . . . to live in such as way as to bring Him glory through all circumstance . . . for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed!”

He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! (Rev. 22:20 NLT)

Posted in 1Peter, Romans | Leave a comment

A Healthy Self Image

Posted on March 17, 2010 by Pete

It kind of strikes me as a bit ironic that Romans, a book so consumed by grace, would also contain so many commands to obey. I underline “commands to obey” with a purple colored pencil. I’ve used it a little in the first part of Romans, but the first 11 chapters have been mostly about the doctrines of salvation and grace and justification through faith. But get to Romans 12 . . . and pull out the purple pencil . . . especially over the last 12 verses. In a series of “short snappers”, Paul clearly spells out the implications of being a believer . . . clearly paints a picture of what it looks like to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind” (12:2). And as I was reading and re-reading this list of “commands to obey” one, in particular, caught my attention this morning.

“Do not be wise in your own opinion.” (Romans 12:16b)

Now maybe, if I had been reading it in the NIV, it may not have jumped out at me (unless of course it’s not so much that it caught my eye but that the Holy Spirit made sure my eye caught it — in which case the translation wouldn’t have mattered). In the NIV it’s simply, “Do not be conceited.” And I’m thinking that “to consider oneself wise in one’s own opinion” is a pretty good definition of conceited.

This command is a repeat thought in this portion of Scripture. Yesterday morning, I read the first part of Romans 12 and there Paul writes, “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Now, our world makes a big deal out of self-image today . . . and it seems, so does the Scriptures. We are not to over-rate ourselves . . . but we are to think about ourselves “soberly” or with “sound judgment” . . . we are to think about ourselves accurately . . . with an honest self evaluation . . . and this, according to the faith God has given us. So, while our self image isn’t to be overstated, it’s not to be understated either. By faith we understand that we are children of God, joint heirs with Christ, a special people called out as God’s prized possession and inheritance. Not much room for an inferiority complex there.

But by faith we also understand that, when all is said and done, we are simply sinners saved by grace. And that should be humbling. That should keep us from ever becoming wise in our own opinion . . . from becoming high-minded and haughty . . . from thinking ourselves as better than anyone else . . . from becoming enamored with our brain power or our abilities. Our gifts and abilities are according to the grace given us (12:6) . . . our understanding, whether of things of the world or of the Scriptures, is only as He has led us out of darkness and into His marvelous light and as His Spirit has formed within us any measure of a biblical mindset.

Proverbs has something to say about being “wise in our own eyes” . . . “Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him (Pr 26:12)”. When we get too enamored with ourselves . . . when we start preferring the sound of our voices over the sound of others . . . when we start thinking we’re something . . . then things can get a little dicey. Instead we need to guard against being “high minded” or haughty. Nothing good can come from pride . . . from thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought . . . of “being wise in our own opinion.”

But ground our self-image in Christ . . . humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord . . . esteem others better than ourselves . . . yield ourselves to the Spirit’s work of conforming our minds to that of the Savior’s . . . and then, we’ll have a healthy self-image. A self-image born out of grace . . . a self-image empowered by the knowledge that we are the children of God . . . a self-image that finds worth not in ourselves but in the One who loved us so much, that He gave His One and Only Son to redeem us. Not wise in our own opinion . . . but wise in Christ . . . by His grace, and for His glory . . . amen.

Posted in Romans | Leave a comment

Be Glad!

Posted on March 16, 2010 by Pete

I came across the word “rejoice” four times this morning in my readings. Three times in Deuteronomy 12 . . . once in Psalm 66. And so, this morning, I’m thinking about God’s desire for us to rejoice. Be glad.

In Deuteronomy 12 Moses is instructing the people that, when they enter the land promised by God, He will also establish a place for their worship . . . a place where they are to offer their sacrifices. Moses exhorts Israel to “seek the place where the LORD your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go” (12:5). And repeatedly in this passage, Moses instructs, “And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God” (12:7, 12, 18). And it seems to me that there’s an intent here that offerings of worship are to be accompanied with a spirit of rejoicing or gladness. Though it would become so, visits to the temple to offer sacrifice were not to be ritualistic but “rejoicing-istic.” The offering of sacrifice and the payment of vows, far from being the same old, same old, were to be acts which stirred a deep abiding joy within the worshiper . . . a gladness sourced not from the circumstance of life but from the worship of the Life-Giver.

If Deuteronomy 12 told me “what” should happen at the place of worship, then Psalm 66 stirred my heart with the “how”. “Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. Say to God, ‘How awesome are Your works!’ . . . Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men. He turned the sea into dry land; They went through the river on foot. There we will rejoice in Him” (Ps. 66:1-6).

Deuteronomy speaks of rejoicing before Him . . . Psalm 66:6 tells us to rejoice in Him. We connect the dots between who He is . . . what He’s done . . . and where I am . . . and the result is rejoicing. He is awesome God . . . He is faithful God . . . He is the God who has brought us into relationship with Himself. And He is the God who will turn the sea into dry land in order to protect us. We may have . . . or may currently be . . . going through “fire and water” but He will bring us out to “rich fulfillment” (66:12). He is the One who preserves our lives and keeps our feet from slipping (66:9 NIV) . . . the One who has tested us and refined us as silver is refined (66:10). And its there . . . on the shores of the Red Sea . . . on the banks of the Jordan . . . in the crucible of refining . . . where we experience the sustaining reality of God’s presence . . . and know eventually the deliverance of our God . . . it’s there that we rejoice.

Our rejoicing is before Him because He is worthy of our praise. Our rejoicing is in Him because He owned us for Himself, sealed us with His Spirit, and infused us with His sustaining grace.

Oh, that His people might go to the place of worship determined to rejoice. That we might come determined to bring offerings . . . offerings of praise and worship that ascend as a sweet aroma . . . offerings born with hearts that are glad. Glad that He is God . . . glad that we are His people . . . glad that we have access into His most Holy Presence . . . glad that He hears when we pray . . . glad that He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.

Make joyful shouts to God . . . Sing out the honor due His name . . . Make His praise glorious . . . rejoice . . . be glad! For His glory . . . Amen.

Posted in Deuteronomy, Psalms | Leave a comment