Twelve Simple Words

Posted on June 14, 2010 by Pete

It probably is one of the most inspiring yet most convicting declarations of Scripture. Just twelve simple words strung together . . . every word just a single syllable . . . in fact the longest word in this “mission statement” is only five characters long. Not a complicated sentence structure . . . but a combination of words that strikes you as deeply profound. A “life motto” that cries out for adoption . . . yet carries with it implications that give you pause as you consider what it would mean to seek to live up to such a declaration.

Paul writes to a group of people who are concerned about his Roman imprisonment. They worry about his safety . . . they worry about his health. Paul’s been through a lot . . . he’s aged, perhaps faster than most men, because of what he’s endured for the gospel . . . and now, he awaits a hearing before Caesar . . . his accusers determined to see him destroyed. And so, to this people Paul writes a letter of encouragement . . . a treatise under-girded by a sense of abiding joy . . . “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” he says. Where does that come from? What makes Paul tick? How can he be going through what he’s going through and still find it in Himself to write these letters of care and encouragement? Twelve simple words . . . one bottom line view of life . . .

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

Simple, huh? Life was all about Christ . . . Paul didn’t see any “no win” scenario in front of him. Yes he was in prison, but it “actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel” (1:12). The palace guard were getting schooled in “Good News 101” (1:13) . . . the local Christians were inspired by Paul’s life witness such that they were becoming much more bold to speak the gospel without fear (1:14). Paul may have been in chains, but the gospel was being preached! “And in this I rejoice,” writes Paul, “yes, and will rejoice.” For to me, to live is Christ . . .

Death was all about Christ, too! Paul didn’t fear death . . . in fact, there was a certain “appeal” to passing on. Not that death was about what he could escape and leave behind. No, instead it was about the One he would go to see . . . “having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better” (1:23). For Paul, there was a continual “there and then” perspective which drove his “here and now” priorities and actions. To die would be gain . . . it would be advantage . . . it would lead to the ultimate “win scenario”. To exit this world and be with Christ . . . that was the grand prize. To see again, face to face, the One he had met on the Damascus road . . . that would exceed any pleasure, joy, or accomplishment that might be achieved in this life. But, until that day of the Lord’s calling, and though dying would mean seeing Christ . . . while he remained in time and space, for Paul, living meant serving Christ.

And so you hover over these twelve simple words . . . and you whisper them to yourself . . . and you reflect on the degree to which they reflect your inner heart. And to the degree that they ring true for you, you thank God for His work of grace in your life. And to the degree that they have yet to own every aspect of your life, you ask God to continue His work of grace in you . . . that Christ might truly be life’s all-in-all . . . that the gain of departing and being with Christ would become so real . . . that in all things there might be a deep, abiding joy.

Twelve simple words . . . for His glory . . . amen!

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If You Say So

Posted on June 11, 2010 by Pete

You sense that the request came out of nowhere. One moment Jesus is teaching . . . the next he’s telling them to go fishing. Now I know some guys who all you have to do is show them a lake and their brains go into trolling mode . . . but these guys had already been out in the boats all night and caught nothing . . . nada . . . zilch . . . double doughnut holes. But Jesus wanted them to go fishing.

In Hebrews it says that God confirmed the Lordship of Christ and the gospel of salvation by “bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will” (Heb. 2:3-4). The word for miracles is the word for “power” . . . Jesus manifested His power so that others might know that He was the Son of Man and so that His message of a coming kingdom would be believed. And it wasn’t just the same display of power over and over again . . . but it was through various miracles . . . manifold, multi-colored, multi-faceted acts of power that Jesus bore witness concerning Himself and His message. For those who hung out with Jesus, you just never knew when or how Jesus was going to draw you into a display of His power. It could be through something as simple as fishing.

Once Jesus starting “going public” it didn’t take long for the crowds to gather and follow Him. Some may been pressing around Him because of the authority which He commanded when He taught (Luke 4:32), but I’m guessing that most of them were there for the miracles. They had either seen or heard about demons being cast out (4:35) and people being healed (4:40) and wanted either to see more or, perhaps, be on the receiving end of such displays of power. So that morning, they pressed around Him . . . looking for another “good show.” I don’t think anyone was expecting what happened.

Jesus finishes speaking to the crowd and turns to Simon Peter and tells Him and his fishing buddies to “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch” (5:4). Where did that come from? It was kind of a crazy request . . . anyone who was anyone in the Galilean fishing industry knew that the best fishing was at night . . . no way would you go out mid-morning. And besides, they had been fishing this spot all night . . . no fish. So what do you do when Jesus asks you to do something that makes little sense to you?

And this is the response that caught my attention . . . my imagination . . . and resulted in some conviction . . . “Nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net” (5:5b). Peter often takes so much heat . . . but here he shines. “What You’re asking me to do, Lord, doesn’t really align with my reality . . . or rationality,” says Peter, “but if You say so, I’ll do it.” Oh, that I would develop more of that attitude. If Jesus says it, that settles it. If His word commands it, I’ll obey it. If it doesn’t make sense, I’ll lean not to my own understanding and trust the Lord and step out in faith (Prov. 3:5-6). I’ll push out in that fishing boat though I don’t think there’s any fish to be found . . . I’ll let down the net, even though I’ve let it down before and it’s come up empty . . . if He says so.

And Jesus used this fisherman’s simple obedience to work one of His self-revealing “various miracles”. The nets were so full they started to break . . . the boats were so loaded they started to sink . . . and Peter was so blown away he was compelled to kneel . . . “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!’ ” (5:8). Oh, to see the power of God work through your obedience. You don’t always see it . . . maybe rarely see it . . . but when God, by His grace, allows you to see it . . . then it’s on your knees . . . facedown . . . Jesus revealed afresh . . . the awe restored . . . the worship released. Just from a simple (not easy, but simple) attitude of, “If You say so, Lord.”

Who wants to go fishing?

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Freewill Offerings

Posted on June 10, 2010 by Pete

The concept of freewill offerings is pretty well established in the Scriptures. In the Old Testament, these could be either monetary or sacrificial offerings which were presented above and beyond the required tithe and animals sacrifices for atonement. Whether it was sacrificing another animal to God out of devotion, or kicking in money and materials for the building of a place for God’s glory to dwell, it is evident that, from time to time, God’s people would give just because they wanted to give. It started in their heart . . . it manifested itself in their actions . . . it depleted their store of treasures.

As I looked up the Hebrew meaning behind the term “freewill offering”, in addition to idea of it being voluntary, according to Strong’s, it also has the idea of spontaneity . . . of being a “spontaneous abundant gift.” Now, I don’t consider myself a particularly spontaneous person . . . I think I’m more calculated and planned out . . . head first, not heart first . . . “ready, aim, fire” rather than “fire, ready, aim”. But, I’ll be honest, there is something about spontaneity that I find attractive . . . something about people who “just do it” that I admire . . . something about “going for it” without “over thinking it” that I sometimes wish were more a part of me. This morning, as I came across a little different twist on the freewill offering in Psalm 119, that longing to be more spontaneous grips me again . . .

“Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord . . . ” (Psalm 119:108a)

Here the freewill offering, the “spontaneous abundant gift”, comes not from the bank account . . . doesn’t involve the giving of livestock . . . but is sourced from within a person and delivered via “my mouth.” That it is an offering of praise seems apparent. That it is offered in order to be pleasing to God is clear. That it transcends the Old Testament economy is attested to by the writer to the Hebrews, “Therefore by [Jesus] let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Heb. 13:15).

I love being around people who are always saying, “Praise the Lord” . . or, “Praise God” . . . and really seem to mean it. They are spontaneously presenting freewill offerings on the altar of heaven. Continually, says the Hebrews writer, we should offering the sacrifice of praise . . . the Spirit of God impressing upon us the goodness and faithfulness of God and then prompting us to declare the praises of God. When that happens, we should do it!

Oh, what a privilege to praise and worship. What a high and holy calling to bless the God of heaven. What a thought to think that something that comes from this heart through this mouth could bring my God such pleasure. Why am I not “freewill offering” more often?

If my “freewill offering” is limited to 25 minutes on a Sunday morning, isn’t something amiss? If I’m not finding sending up “p-rockets” (praise-rockets . . . ???? . . . whatever) on a regular basis, why not? Spontaneous . . . abundant . . . with no coercion . . . not forced by some discipline . . . but offered up freely from a heart wanting to give something to the Giver of all things . . . believing that the fruit of my lips is desired by the God of heaven.

O to be a freewill offerer . . . to give abundantly from the storeroom of a heart packed with thanksgiving, praise, and worship. Firing off words of adoration . . . words of appreciation . . . words of exaltation. Sometimes musically . . . other times meditatively . . . could be in a whisper . . . could be in a shout . . . offered up be when I’m gathered together with God’s people . . . or set upon the altar when I’m in my “alone place” with God.

You are worthy of the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord . . . may they be pleasing to Your ear . . . amen!

“Come Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace; Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me, Lord, some rapturous measure, Meet for blood-bought hosts above; While I sing the countless treasure of my God’s unchanging love!”

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Faith in Faith

Posted on June 9, 2010 by Pete

Reading in the latter part of Ephesians 6 this morning . . . considering again that I’m in a wrestling match . . . commanded again to “be strong in the Lord” and “to stand” . . . reflecting again on “the whole armor of God” . . . impressed again concerning the paramount importance of being able to maneuver “the shield of faith.”

” . . . above all, taking the shield of faith with which you are able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” (Eph. 6:16)

You know, I guess that a “shield of faith” doesn’t really do much good if we don’t first recognize that we are in a battle . . . that we, in fact, “wrestle” . . . that we struggle . . . that we combat . . . and that, ultimately, it is not against flesh and blood, but against a well organized host of wickedness . . . against the wiles of the devil himself (6:11b-12). It’s this recognition that takes those things that we do out of “discipline mode” and “obedience mode” and shifts them to being acts of “survival” . . . preparing ourselves with truth . . . putting on righteousness . . . firm footing established on the gospel . . . word of God at the ready.

How can morning devo’s (or evening devo’s) be a struggle if they really are a matter of survival? Righteousness isn’t about “having no fun” obedience, it’s a matter of surrounded by warfare protection. I’ve said before that the only thing more dangerous than walking through a minefield is not knowing you’re walking through a minefield . . . or worse yet, not believing you’re in a minefield and determining to stomp around in your ignorance and arrogance. I’m reminded this morning . . . I’m walking in a minefield . . . an enemy about me who is a “roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1Peter 5:8). I’m to take up the whole armor of God . . . “above all, taking the shield of faith.”

Faith . . . Forsaking All I Trust Him . . . it was the vehicle through which I was saved (Eph. 2:8) . . . the basis upon which righteousness was imputed (Rom. 3:22) . . . and it is the material which constitutes my greatest defensive weapon as the enemy seeks to trip me up and put me off and take me down. It’s not what I can know, or reason, or understand, or see, or touch, of control . . . it’s what I believe. When all is said and down, as long as I’m walking this pilgrim’s walk, I walk by faith and not by sight (2Cor. 5:7) . . . time and time again I need to “trust in the Lord with all my heart . . . lean not to my own understanding . . . in all my ways acknowledge Him . . . believing that He will direct my paths” (Prov. 3:5-6).

And when, by my determination and God’s grace, faith is exercised . . . the shield moved to the place or circumstance needing to be protected . . . Paul says that it will “quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Not just deflect . . . not just hold at bay . . . but quench . . . extinguish . . . snuff out . . . douse. The fiery dart is rendered inoperative . . . it’s flame put out . . . it’s danger destroyed. That, is the power and effectiveness of the shield of faith. And it’s not just that it can have this affect on “some” of the wicked one’s fiery darts. No, the shield of faith, wielded in the power of the Spirit, stops all the enemies pointed attacks.

Do I believe that? If I don’t, I’ll leave the shield on the ground, never thinking to raise it up in defense. But if I do . . . if I have “faith in faith” then I will seek to learn to use that all protecting wall of protection effectively . . . and I will choose to use it without hesitation . . . believing that if God is for me, who can be against me . . . believing that greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world . . . believing that God is sovereign and truly controls all things . . . believing the promises of God . . . trusting in the care of God.

Faith in faith . . . taking up the shield . . . believing it is sufficient to repel any and all attacks of the enemy . . . that’s what I believe . . . Lord, help my unbelief (Mark 9:24) . . . for Your glory . . . amen!

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Word of God Speak

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Pete

The atmosphere in that Nazareth synagogue on that morning must have been charged with anticipation as Jesus stood to read. I bet you could have heard a pin drop as all eyes fixed on Joseph’s son. I’m guessing the news from the Jordan had found it’s way back to Jesus’ hometown while He was doing battle in the desert with the devil. I’m thinking they had heard about John the Baptizer’s outlandish claims concerning the “kid” they knew as the carpenter’s son . . . that the report of Jesus baptism and heavenly visitation was the talk of the town. And now He was home . . . with them in the synagogue . . . getting ready to read . . . handed the book of the prophet Isaiah . . .

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” (Luke 4:18-19; Isa. 61:1-2)

What must it be like to hear Jesus speak? I imagine that the way in which He read that passage conveyed so clearly that He was reading about Himself. Undoubtedly they had heard this passage concerning Messiah, and many like it, read before . . . but His reading was different . . . He wasn’t reading about Messiah . . . it was clear that He was declaring that He was Messiah. Luke says that after He closed the book and sat down, “the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him” (4:20). The had just heard something read which they had heard countless times before . . . yet, they had just heard something that they had never heard before. And then, as if to verbalize what that everyone was trying to grasp, Jesus said, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

And it says that, initially at least, all nodded their heads . . . they “bore witness to Him” (NKJV) . . . they “spoke well of Him” (NIV) . . . maybe you even heard a whispered, “Amen!” here and there. They marveled, Luke writes, at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth (4:22). Though the mood would change very quickly and they’d soon want to throw Him off a cliff (literally), at this moment, there was hushed amazement. It isn’t everyday You hear someone claim to be Messiah . . . and do it in a way that’s believable . . . and say it in a way that rings true . . . and proclaim it in a manner that is exudes grace.

“The Spirit is upon ME . . . He has anointed ME . . . I will preach good news to the poor . . . I will heal the bruised and beat up in heart . . . I will show the prisoner how to be free . . . the blind how to see . . . the oppressed how to experience liberty.” What must it have been like to hear Messiah speak concerning Himself that morning? Wonder . . . awe . . . the experiencing of grace personified.

I don’t know . . . I’m thinking if it were me, I might have done the first stop on “Messiah’s Coming Out” tour in a bigger way. Maybe downtown Jerusalem . . . maybe a band . . . balloons . . . a big sign . . . fireworks. But a small synagogue . . . in a small, out of the way village in Galilee? Seems pretty low key . . . after all nothing of any good really ever came out of Nazareth (John 1:46). But that’s not how my Savior worked. No fanfare . . . no big production . . . just the word of God, in all it’s power, spoken by the Word of God, come in the flesh.

And when you hear the Word speak the word, you can’t help but marvel . . . you can’t help but go silent and fix your eyes upon Him . . . you can’t help but sit back quietly and seek to absorb the words of grace spoken by the Giver of Grace . . . you can’t help but wonder . . . and worship . . .

Word of God speak . . .

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Wrinkle Free

Posted on June 7, 2010 by Pete

The command is clear . . . the example is glorious. What I am to do is beyond dispute . . . Who I am to emulate is beyond description. The opportunity to be an object lesson should inspire me . . . the reality of being the object of His affection should amaze me. Such is the two-fold nature of Paul’s exhortation to husbands in Ephesians 5.

The command is simple and direct . . . but, it is directed to men and so, it needs to be repeated three times . . . “Husbands, love your wives . . . so husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies . . . let each of you in particular so love his own wife as himself” (Eph. 5:25, 28, 33). Pretty clear, really, in terms of what I’m to do. And the “how I’m to do it” is also spelled out . . it’s not a phileo, or brotherly affection I’m to show my wife . . . and it’s not just an eros love I’m to share with her . . . but it is the full-blown, Christ modeled, agape, or self-sacrificing love . . . “love your wives, just as Christ loved the church” (5:25). The Lord is the pattern for wife-loving husbands. I’m to show the same love to my wife, as Christ showed to the church. And it’s here where Paul “digresses” a bit, as he moves from the command to the example . . . as he illustrates what I’m to do with what has been done for me.

The motivation for loving my bride goes so beyond “disciplined obedience” . . . it is born from being, myself, part of “the bride of Christ” . . . the church. Check this out . . .

” . . . Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” (Eph. 5:25b-27).

O’, the love of Christ! It goes so far beyond meeting our basic need of forgiveness of sins . . . it encompasses a redemption that eventually results in Christ delighting in presenting to Himself a glorious church . . . holy . . . without spot . . . without blemish . . . wrinkle free!

And this high and lofty end goal for His people could only be achieved as Christ gave Himself fully and wholly to His bride and for His bride. The blood of Christ cleansing us from all sin . . . the blood of Christ making us whole again . . . the blood of Christ being the basis for His work of sanctification and beautification and glorification. The work He has begun in His bride, He will complete (Php. 1:6) . . . as He “cleans us up” with the washing of His word . . . as He transforms us into His image through the renewing of our minds . . . as He determines to get us ready to present us to Himself . . . wrinkle free.

What will it be to be marched down the aisle with Christ waiting before us to receive us. I’m thinking He’ll stand as He did with Stephen (Acts 7:55-56). And He will see us arrayed in a garment of righteousness which He purchased for us . . . holy, spotless, without blemish . . . wrinkle free. And we will be culmination of His love for us . . . His prize . . . a glorious church . . . for His glory.

Yup, the command is great . . . and by His grace, I want it to play out in my marriage . . . that it might, in some small degree, be an object lesson of how Christ loved the church. But while the command is great . . . the Commander is beyond great . . . His love beyond full comprehension . . . His work beyond fully knowing . . . until that day He presents His bride to Himself . . . wrinkle free!

The bride eyes not her garment, but her dear Bridegroom’s face . . . I will not gaze at glory, but on my King of grace . . .

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Learning to Walk

Posted on June 4, 2010 by Pete

It’s kind of second nature now . . . this walking thing. I don’t really think much, if at all, about what’s involved in alternating between putting my left foot forward and then my right. Second nature now . . . but wasn’t always. Though I don’t remember it myself, I’ve been around enough toddlers to know that learning to walk takes some practice. It involves watching those feet . . . it requires learning to maintain your balance . . . you start by holding on to stuff . . . and eventually you let go and “solo.” But beyond learning to walk as a young child, I had to learn how to walk again my car accident back in ’77. I had shattered my femur and after way too many weeks on crutches, I eventually had to be taught the finer points of walking again. Sure, I knew the basics . . . but it took a physiotherapist to watch what I was doing and coach me on doing it right, “Remember . . . heel, toe when you’re putting down your right foot.” This all comes to mind because of what I read in the first part of Ephesians 5 this morning.

Here too, Paul talks about walking. Three times he instructs these believers how to walk. The NIV says “live” . . . that’s accurate . . . but I think the other translations do better when they use the word walk. It’s about making one’s way . . . progressing . . . regulating or conducting one’s life. It’s about ordering your steps so that you get from here to there. And whether you’re a new believer . . . or a crusty old veteran . . . whether you’re learning for the first time how to walk . . . or re-learning after having been sidetracked by something . . . or being reminded so that you never forget to “heel toe” . . . it seems to me we benefit from be reminded how to walk.

First, Paul says, “walk in love” . . . the kind of love that Christ loved us with when gave Himself for us as an offering and sacrifice to God (5:2). Jesus loved me to death (literally) . . . even when I was still in darkness . . . still in sin . . . still an enemy (Rom. 5:6, 8, 10). His love was unconditional and unreserved. He loved me so much that He gave Himself fully to atone for my sin and redeem my soul. And I love Him now, because He first loved me (1John 4:19). That’s the kind of love I am to walk with. That’s how I am to order my steps . . . sacrificially caring for others with the heart and mind of Christ.

Then Paul says, “Walk as children of light” (5:8). That’s what I am . . . a child of light . . . once blind, but now I see . . . once in darkness, but now called out of that darkness and into His marvelous light (1Peter 2:9). So, I’m to a walk in that light, having “no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness” (5:11). My walk should look different from those around me who are still in darkness . . . not that it is a walk of superiority or a walk of being “holier-than-thou”, but that it is a walk that marks those who now live for a different kingdom . . . those who march to the beat a different Drummer . . . hearing the drumbeat of heaven and ordering their lives accordingly. To walk in the ways of this world isn’t being true to who I am in Christ. I need to walk as a child of light.

And Paul’s last bit of “walking advice” is about walking carefully: “See then that you walk circumspectly” (5:15). Order your steps “exactly, diligently, accurately.” I’ll never forget how this was illustrated by a preacher years and years ago . . . the idea is that of a cat walking on top of a fence . . . carefully placing each paw in front of the other . . . one misstep resulting in him falling off that narrow beam. Whether we are a newborn in the faith, or have been traveling the highway to heaven for some time, we need to be mindful to walk circumspectly . . . to have our head in the game . . . to watch our step . . . to not become careless where we place our feet. Paul says, “Not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (5:15b-16). This pilgrim road is a narrow road . . . dangers exists on either side . . . and so I need to carefully watch my step . . . not become complacent . . . not play loose with the high-calling of heaven.

Heel, toe . . . heel, toe . . . walk in love . . . walk in light . . . walk in a straight line . . . walk for the glory of God . . . heel, toe . . . heel, toe . . .

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Hard Times and the Word of God

Posted on June 3, 2010 by Pete

Most of us know, firsthand, about “911 prayers.” You know, those prayers that are cried out to heaven in an emergency . . . less concerned about getting the words just right, instead, desperate to get the message to heaven. There’s something about tough times that kind of makes praying easier . . . praying shifts from a “discipline” to a “lifeline.” Difficult situations have a way of cutting through all the other stuff and focusing us back on what is most vital — i.e. our relationship with the Lord. And, as I read in Psalm 119 this morning, it’s not only prayer which becomes more active, more fervent, when times are tough . . . hard times also have a way of driving us to the word of God. Check this out . . .

“Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word . . . It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes . . . The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver.” (Ps. 119:67, 71 ,72)

I guess it kind of makes sense . . . in times of crisis, not only do we want to be heard by God, but we also want to hear from God and know He is present. Where else can you go to hear from God, but His word? The psalmist’s experience appears to be that because of his affliction . . . whatever that difficulty was (looks like it may have been some form of persecution based on verse 69) . . . he and the word of God had become “better friends.” Before this time of testing and trial you sense that the song-writer and the word may have been, at best, casual acquaintances. But, as a result of going through his deep waters, he know was a stronger believer in the commandments (119:66) . . . a delighter in the law (119:70) . . . an investor in the currency of God’s word — a value better “than thousands of coins of gold and silver” (119:72).

No one likes to go through hard times . . . certainly not me. But praise God when He uses those experiences to build spiritual character and authenticity within us. When we go through things that move us from talking about prayer to praying . . . when He allows circumstance that create a hunger and thirst for His voice such that we find ourselves propelled into His word and end up falling in love with His God-breathed revelation to us. Twice in these 8 verses, the psalmist cries, “Teach me!” It appears the crisis had passed, but now that he had tasted of the sweet word of truth, he wanted more. No sense from this verses of this glorious song, that he was prepared to put The Book back on the shelf until the next time he needed it. No, the taste had given away to a hunger . . . the desperation of the momentary affliction had fanned into flame a desperation to hear and to know the ways of God on a day-by-day basis.

Yup, there’s something about a crisis which can result in spiritual growth . . . something about the furnace of affliction that refines silver such that it becomes a bit more pure and shines a little more brightly. And we shouldn’t waste a “good crisis” . . . embracing the degree to which it draws us closer to the One who has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. But, I’m not sure I want to wait for a “good crisis” (or need a crisis) in order to sit up at the table of His revealed ways and feast heartily there . . . I’m not looking for a “crash and burn” situation to ignite a thirst which can only be quenched by the water of the word. Instead, I’ll own the psalmist’s words as my own during this time of peace . . . during this season of mostly mountain top living . . . “You are good, and do good; teach me Your statutes . . . teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe Your commandments.” (119:68, 66).

Praise God, that we don’t need to wait for the 911 situations in order to be heard by God or for God to be heard by us through His word.

Word of God speak . . .

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Grow Up

Posted on June 2, 2010 by Pete

The theme of “growing up” kind of developed this morning as I worked my way through my readings. There’s something really cute about a kid being a kid . . . but take those same kid behaviors coming from an adult and it doesn’t seem quite right . . . it isn’t so attractive . . . in fact, it’s somewhat tragic. We were wired to grow up . . . to mature . . . to progress from infancy, through childhood, into adults.

In Luke 2 I read of the baby Jesus going to the temple with his parents after His birth to be presented to the Lord (2:22). As amazing as the baby Jesus was . . . as awe-inspiring as the thought of God being packaged in such frail human packaging is, had Jesus not grown up, He could not have fulfilled the Father’s will. And so you read a little later in Luke 2 that “the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him . . . And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” (Luke 2:40,52)

Jesus grew up. As perfect Man He experienced the normative experience of all men . . . physically maturing . . . intellectually maturing . . . spiritually maturing. Though He created the maturing process, somehow He learned it in a new way through His firsthand experience. That’s how mankind was created . . . intended to go from infancy to adulthood . . . to move beyond childish things and onto things of maturity . . . to grow up.

What really brought this home was Paul’s exhortation to the Ephesians, ” . . . that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ . . . ” (Eph. 4:14-15).

I’m reminded that the day I was saved was really more of a “starting point” than a “final outcome.” Not that there’s more to be done to secure my salvation or anything that I can add to merit His un-merited favor . . . that work was completed in full through the death and resurrection of Christ . . . I am no more “saved” today than I was 30+ years ago when I first believed. But while salvation’s work is complete, it was a re-birth . . . and God’s order is that birth, even re-birth, should result in growth and maturity.

I’m also reminded that I’m not left to my own abilities to ensure my growth. Mine is to pursue the things of God . . . His is to reveal them. Mine is to feed on the word of God . . . He will take those “nutrients” and “bulk out” the inner man. Mine is to recognize that God has wired the church to be a body which, when each member is doing their part, results in the growth of each member as the body builds itself up in love (4:16). Mine is to desire and maturity . . . He then will work with that desire and, through His grace, cause me to increase in spiritual wisdom and strength.

And Paul says that this maturing will be an on-going process until “we all come to the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (4:13). I’m not there yet . . . but I’m more there today than I was when I was first saved. I’ve got a long way to go to know “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” . . . but, by His grace, I know some measure of that measure.

I want to be like Jesus . . . growing and becoming strong in spirit . . . filled with wisdom . . . knowing the grace of God as I increase in spiritual stature. O’ that I might grow up for His glory . . . amen!

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Two Women

Posted on June 1, 2010 by Pete

I read of two very different women this morning. One was a woman of wealth and influence. The other had very little means and was, for the most, a nobody to those around. One, it seems, attacked life . . . using the means at her disposal to pursue the desires of her heart. The other, seemed to really have life happen to her . . . going where she was told to go . . . staying where she was told to stay. The woman of means encountered the greatness of God as manifest in God’s favor to a man . . . and the other woman encountered the glory of God as it was revealed by a heavenly host. And both woman could do nothing but respond in quiet, wonder-filled awe.

I don’t fully understand God’s purpose in including the story of the Queen of Sheba’s visit to Solomon (1Kings 10:1-110). Maybe its purpose is to emphasize and bear “independent witness” of the breadth of Solomon’s wisdom and the magnitude of his riches. You sense this lady of prominence had some attitude. She heard about how great this King of Israel was . . . and was skeptical . . . and so packed up herself, probably a few dozen servants, and a caravan of riches and headed to Jerusalem “to test him with hard questions” (10:1b). She was going to challenge him. I sense she came with an air of opposition. Perhaps she thought that no man could be smarter or richer than she . . . so she arrived and riddled him with riddles . . . bombarded him with brain-teasers . . . deluged him with deep, deep questions . . . challenging the wisdom for which he was renown. And Solomon answered all her questions, nothing so difficult that he couldn’t explain it (10:3). And not only did he satisfy her intellectual curiosity, he blew her away with his wealth . . . it was more than she really could take in . . . and it says, “there was no more spirit in her” (10:5b). She was impressed . . . she was silenced . . . nothing more to be said save for, “Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you . . . the Lord has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness” (10:9). The woman of encountered the greatness of God and so, she blessed the Lord.

And then I read, in Luke’s gospel (2:1-20), of the other woman. She too had taken a journey . . . but not really of her choosing. She was told to go with her husband-to-be to their hometown to be counted. Very inconvenient timing as she was pregnant. She didn’t have servants . . . wasn’t accompanied by a caravan of riches . . . in fact, when they arrived in Bethlehem their “influence” was such that they could only secure a place in a stable for her to have her baby, “because there was no room for them in the inn” (2:7). You just know that if she had been the Queen of Sheba, there would have been room. But this woman too, saw something of the glory of God as she gave birth to a baby before having known a man. This baby had been announced by an angel . . . conceived by the Spirit of God . . . and was born in a barn. And, as this woman of little earthly power tended to her baby, a troop of shepherds arrived telling all who would listen of their encounter with a host of angelic beings . . . relating the angel’s declaration, “There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” (2:12). Not many babies going to found lying in a manager . . . none being announced as a Savior . . . none being identified as the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God . . . in fact, only one . . . this One born to a no-name, yet-to-be-married young girl from Nazareth.

A Son born in the same lineage as the great King Solomon . . . a Son who too was a King — the King of Kings, in fact . . . a Son who also possessed riches beyond description or imagination, but had left them all behind . . . a Son born of a woman of no means, no influence, and no power. And Mary, as she heard the shepherds tell of their heavenly encounter . . as she witnessed the marvel over-taking those who were drawn by the shepherds to her “nursery” to hear their story . . . Mary reacted very much like the Queen of Sheba had . . . nothing more to be said . . . instead “Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” (2:19 ESV).

That’s what you do when you encounter the greatness and glory and grace of God — no matter who you are. Whether you’re “a somebody” or “a nobody” . . . whether you’re a skeptic or a humble servant . . . whether you “control life” or feel “controlled by life” . . . when you witness the hand of God, it’s time to be quiet . . . to take it all in . . . to treasure it up in your heart . . . and to ponder it . . . to try to fully take in the encounter. It’s time to “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10) . . .

O’ blessed be the Lord . . . Glory to God in the highest!

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