Nailed It!

Posted on December 28, 2009 by Pete

“In the beginning God . . . ” (Gen. 1:1). Doesn’t get much better than that. And with those words I start out again on my morning reading plan. Maybe some year I’ll read the January 1st readings on January 1st . . . but not this year. I usually finish up the plan before Christmas . . . so, to wait until the New Year to get back into the routine is too long. And it’s not just about the routine . . . there really is a sense of anticipation as I start out again to work my way through the Bible over the next year. I’m looking forward to rediscovering those familiar truths which God has been establishing within me over the years. I’m eager to find new stuff . . . stuff that’s always been there, but, for whatever reason, hasn’t really hit my radar in the past. And, there’s a certain amount of excitement as I anticipate again these mornings being a place where the Holy Spirit acts as my Teacher and opens my eyes and heart to God’s word. Really, there is nothing like the spiritual dynamic of interacting with God’s word.

This morning, as I read Genesis 1, it’s God’s creative nature that gives me reason to pause. Three times in this opening chapter I read that “God made” . . . and three times that “God created.” Someone recently shared a little Bible reading tip with me where, if you want to describe what God is like, you take the God “verbs” and turn them into God “nouns.” So if “God made”, then God is a Maker . . . if “God created”, then God is a Creator.

That God “made” the heavens and the earth indicates He’s a Laborer. God does work . . . He brings about an outcome . . . He puts forth divine effort and, to use a business term, produces a deliverable. And, through His labor, God also creates . . . He shapes . . . He forms. He created the heavens and earth . . . He made the firmament, the expanse that separated water above from water below . . . He made two great lights, one to rule over the day, the other, the night . . . He created sea creatures . . . He made the beasts of the earth. How amazing is our God?

And God’s products are of the highest quality. Want to describe the deliverables from the Maker and Creator? One word . . . “Good!” Over and over again in Genesis 1 you read “and God saw that it was good.” You kind of imagine the Creator standing back and admiring His creation and saying to Himself, “Nailed it!” What pleasure does God have in creating? You see the Maker beholding the fruit of His labor with a sense of satisfaction . . . all of it declaring the glories of God. And it wasn’t just good . . . “Then God saw everything that He made, and indeed it was very good” (1:31). Very good . . . that’s kind of stuff the Maker makes . . . the kind of creation the Creator creates.

And in the midst of all that He created was His masterpiece . . . that which reflected not only the labor of His hands and the genius of His creative design . . . but that which reflected God Himself . . . “then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness’ . . . . So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (1:26-27). Ok . . . so noodle on that for a bit. Made in the image of God . . . a God who talks about “Us” creating man . . . in “Our” image . . . and “Our” likeness. As helpful as it is to take verbs and make them into nouns to describe God, how much more do we get some understanding of God by looking at that part of creation made in His triune image and likeness? Sure, it’s kind of messed up by sin . . . but the Creator has looked after that as well . . .

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2Cor. 5:17). The Creator is still creating . . . new creations . . . fully refurbished . . . redeemed . . . restored . . . and re-enabled to reflect the glory of God. He made me in His likeness . . . and He is re-making me in the image of His Son. He created me for His glory . . . and He newly created me to show forth, in some measure, that glory. By His grace I am the product of the Maker’s hand . . . through His Son I’m a new creation. And God looks at me in Christ . . . and sees that everything that He made in Christ was very good . . . He stands back . . . and says, “Nailed it!” . . .

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Anticipation

Posted on December 23, 2009 by Pete

So . . . this morning I wrap up my reading plan . . . as always, it has been a great journey through God’s word . . . I do enjoy these times . . . coffee beside me . . . Holy Spirit inside me . . . words of life in front of me. Some mornings it’s been a little difficult to get up and I feel like I may have been a little “dull of understanding” as I read, but, for the most part, the mornings are such a joy . . . the Lord so faithful in showing me something for the day . . . the word of God so alive and powerful, “and sharper than any two-edge sword.” And as I wrap up, not surprisingly, what stirs my heart is the thought of one day being with Him.

You gotta love Revelation 22 . . . how cool is it to peer into heaven itself . . . it becoming a foretaste of what awaits the believer. You read that chapter and your soul can’t help but join in the chorus of “I just can’t wait” anticipation, “Come! . . . .Come! . . . Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” And how appropriate is that for this time of year? As we reflect on the fact — yes, the fact and reality — that He has already come once, just as foretold . . . as we reflect on that fact this Christmas, shouldn’t it also spark the excitement of Him coming again, just as foretold? Read the Christmas story in Matthew or Luke . . . reflect on the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a Redeemer . . . then read Revelation 22 and meditate on the soon-to-happen fulfillment of God’s promise to unite the Bridegroom and Bride . . . to put away all sin, sorrow, and suffering . . . and to gather His people to be with Him in a place that is beyond imagination.

And, I noticed three things about those who will be with Him in that place. First, “His servants will serve Him” (22:3b). It’s not about harps and fluffy clouds . . . there’s some sort of work to be done in Glory . . . our hands will have things to do in service for the One who came not to be served, but to serve others and give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). Second, we “shall reign forever and ever” (22:5b). Check that out . . . servants and rulers . . . maybe that’s how we’ll serve is through ruling. I don’t fully know what we’ll be reigning over, but that’s what it says here. As joint heirs of Christ we will reign with Him over His inheritance for eternity . . . doesn’t that stir the imagination a bit?

But its the third thing I see that stirs my heart the most. Serving Him will be great . . . how He deserves my life for eternity. Reigning with Him will be blessing beyond blessing . . . what privilege and heights He has saved us to. But, it’s this third thing that will surpass all other wonders and blessings of heaven . . . “They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads” (22:4).

Oh, to see His face! To behold Him up close and in person! To gaze upon the One who died for me . . . who wooed me to Himself . . . who saved me . . . and seated me together with Himself in heavenly places . . . what will that be? I might be wrong, but it feels like that’s the main event . . . all the blessings of heaven pale but for the thought of being face to face before the throne of God and of the Lamb. We shall behold Him . . . in all His glory. We shall see His face . . . in all its beauty. We shall gaze into His eyes . . . and He, into our ours. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

We can only imagine what the scene truly looked like on that night in Bethlehem when Jesus, the Savior, was born. In terms of all men through all history, only a select few saw Him face-to-face at His first advent. Many today though, see Him face to face as those who have believed and gone on to glory . . . and they wait with Him for the final consummation of redemption’s work. And then, there are those of us who live in anticipation . . . with excitement at the thought of one day seeing Him . . . face to face. “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” (22:17)

Face to face with Christ my Savior . . . Face to face what will it be . . . When with rapture I behold Him . . . Jesus Christ Who died for me? Face to face! O blissful moment! . . . Face to face to see and know . . . Face to face with My Redeemer . . . Jesus Christ who loved me so. Face to face I shall behold Him . . . Far beyond the starry sky . . . Face to face in all His glory . . . I shall see Him by and by!

Ain’t it so? Amen!

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That Day

Posted on December 22, 2009 by Pete

Ok . . . so I’ll admit it . . . I need help with the book of Zechariah. While I recognize that is packed full of “latter days” stuff . . . while I see at least some of the prophecies fulfilled in Christ . . . while I even notice that some of them are “first advent” and some are “second advent” . . . I gotta admit it seems pretty scrambled all together. For example, in chapter 9 verse 9, Zechariah prophecies of a King coming, just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey. Ok, I recognize that . . . Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem . . . first advent stuff. But then, the very next verse, verse 10, Zechariah records that “He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.” Now that sounds like second coming stuff . . . that sounds like Christ’s earthly reign established. So, where’s all the stuff that happens between verses 9 and 10? It’s the nature of prophecy . . . it’s what the prophets diligently sought to understand but was withheld from them. Jesus would come . . . and then He would come again.

But, there is something I noticed this morning, that I do get . . . ’cause I’m pretty good when it comes to repetition. As I read the last 5 chapters of Zechariah’s prophecy this morning there was 3 word phrase that kept coming up . . . “In that day.” Sixteen times that little phrase is used in chapters 12, 13, and 14. It’s used only 19 times in the whole book.

And “that day” talks of the time of Christ when He does battle with the nations and puts them down with His mighty hand (12:9). And “that day” is also a time when “a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness” (13:1) . . . and a day when “living waters shall flow from Jerusalem” (14:8) . . . and a day when “the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be — ‘The LORD is one,’ And His name one” (14:9).

All second advent stuff? . . . or some first advent stuff mixed in? Right now, I’m not sure about which is which . . . hence why I need to some help and need to spend some study time in this book. But, what I am sure of is that there has already come an “in that day.” The decorations around the house remind me of it constantly. The anticipated gifts scream of God’s great Gift. The joy of being with family is surpassed by the joy of knowing I’m part of His family . . . born again through the blood of Jesus Christ . . . given the Spirit of adoption. All because Jesus came “in that day.” Immanuel . . . God with Us. Incarnate . . . God made flesh. And just as sure as He came as the prophets said, “In that day,” . . . He will come again . . . as the prophets also say . . . “in that day.”

Just as this season and its celebration of “that day” 2,000 years ago generates a certain amount of anticipation, how much more the thought of that future “that day”? He came once, just as was foretold . . . He’s coming again, just as was foretold. And in that day, far from coming in lowly humility, He will descend with a shout . . . in might and majesty, He will be manifest as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The lowly One of whom Zechariah wrote, “Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered” (13:7) will return as the Victorious Lamb . . . ready for His bride . . . ready to dwell with His people.

I also read in Revelation 21 this morning of “that day.” The tabernacle of God will be with men . . . He will dwell with them . . . they shall be His people . . . God Himself will be with them and be their God (Rev. 21:3). He will wipe away every tear . . . in that day there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying . . . no more pain, for the former things have passed away (21:4). He will give of the fountain of the water of life freely . . . and we will come into our heavenly inheritance as children of God (21:6-7). It will be a place where there is no temple . . . “for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (21:22). Neither will there be any need for a sun or moon to shine “in that day” . . . “for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light” (21:23). And we, who have been saved by grace . . . bought with a price . . . redeemed from the penalty of sin . . . we shall walk in this light (21:24) . . . our names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (21:27). What a day “that day” will be. Amen!

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Thomas and Me

Posted on December 21, 2009 by Pete

It occurs to me that as much can be communicated with the tone of voice as with the words themselves. And what brings that to mind this morning is reading again Thomas’ words in John 20.

He was called Thomas, the Twin, or Didymus. He was one of the twelve. Maybe he was Matthew’s twin as his name and Matthew’s seem always to be linked together when Jesus’ twelve disciples are listed. If the association with Matthew wasn’t that of being his twin, maybe Thomas was a tax collector as well. I don’t think we know. But his “15 minutes of fame” come after the resurrection of Christ.

He wasn’t there the first time Christ visited His disciples and showed Himself alive to them. So you need to give him a bit slack when he shows up afterward and hears his compatriots tell him, “We have seen the Lord!” (John 20:24-25a) . . . or do you? That’s where the tone of voice thing comes in. Here’s Thomas’ response . . .

“Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25b)

So . . . how did he say that? The words, in and of themselves, are pretty assertive, “I will not believe.” But how where they said? Was it with a tone of, “I’m done with this thing . . . you guys are on something . . . unless I touch Him, I WILL NOT BELIEVE!” Or, maybe, it was more like, “Don’t mess with me . . . I’ve been through the ringer, just like you . . . I’m beat up . . . broken . . . disillusioned . . . withered . . . I need some tangible proof or I will not believe.” Or maybe it was the voice of desperation, “What? He was here? Oh, I know you guys . . . I know you wouldn’t be kidding about something like this at a time like this . . . but it’s too incredible . . . too big a leap of faith . . . unless I see Him and touch, I will not believe.”

You know, regardless of how Thomas said these words . . . regardless of the exact condition of his unbelieving heart . . . it’s the response of Jesus when, eight days later, He again visits His disciples, which captures me this morning . . .

“Then [Jesus] said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.’ ” (John 20:27)

Talk about your “Amazing Grace!” Jesus confronted Thomas’ unbelief . . . He responded to His “I will not” assertiveness . . . by saying, “Thomas, stop it . . . stop your unbelieving . . . I want you so much that I’m here to let you poke and prod me as you want . . . I love you so much, not only did I die for you, but I’ve come pursuing you and presenting Myself to you in the way that is needed for you to believe. Stop doubting and believe.” However Thomas said it, Jesus determined to draw “doubting Thomas” to Himself . . . this one that the Father had given Him, Jesus would in no way lose (John 6:39) . . . though this sheep might be wandering a bit in doubt, the Good Shepherd was determined to bring him home, . . . even if that meant He had to carry Thomas on His shoulders . . . even if that meant having Thomas put his fingers into the nail prints in His hand. That’s the grace of Jesus . . . that’s the love of God. And really, I’m that Thomas.

The Lord didn’t appear to me . . . He didn’t tell me to poke Him in the side where the spear had been thrust . . . but I have been shown the same grace . . . and continue to be patiently graced by the One who wants me with Him. I once was just as unbelieving . . . just as willful . . . and continue to have doubts about stuff from time to time . . . and continue to see the ugly head of “I will” rear itself. But in His infinite patience . . . His matchless grace . . . He determines to call me to faith . . . revealing something of Himself which invariably puts my heart on its knees declaring, “My Lord and My God!”

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,” Jesus said (John 20:29). I am among that company of blessed persons. Not because of anything I have done . . . but because, just as with Thomas, His grace drew me to Himself and to believing in His precious name . . . His grace continuing to lovingly dispel doubt . . . for His glory . . . amen!

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Worship God!

Posted on December 18, 2009 by Pete

Finally . . . it was just too much for John. The visions . . . the prophecy . . . the insight to the future . . . the encounter with heaven. Finally, in Revelation 19, John the Revelator goes weak-kneed. Not because of fear, as in chapter 1 where He first beheld the majestic Son of Man (Rev. 1:17). No, this time his legs give out because of overwhelming awe and wonder. His legs instinctively cry, “Face down, man!” He just had to worship . . .

He heard again that loud voice of heaven, that great multitude, and this time they proclaimed, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!” (Rev. 19:1). Babylon had been judged . . . the King had avenged the blood of the apostles, of the prophets, of His saints (18:20, 24; 19:2) . . . and heaven could not help but fall down before the throne of God and declare, “Praise our God, all You His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!” (19:5).

And the voice continued to grow into an ear-splitting crescendo, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!” (19:6)

But there was more . . . the marriage of the Lamb to His blood-bought Bride had come . . . there she was, the Bride, His church . . . “arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright” . . . “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!” (19:8-9).

And at that, John’s legs gave out. He needed to worship. Put down the pen of prophecy . . . get on your knees . . . go facedown . . . and worship. It didn’t matter before who . . . He just had to worship! But it did matter before who . . .

“And I fell at [the angel’s] feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’ ” (Rev. 19:10)

Therein are the two words that have grabbed me this morning . . . “Worship God!” Not the glories of heaven . . . not the sound of multitudes declaring His praise. Not the inheritance that is ours with Christ . . . not the wonders of His marriage table. Not the music . . . nor the angels. It all bows in subjection to Him who alone is worthy of our worship . . . God!

Fall at His feet . . . bow your head to the ground in reverence . . . kiss the hand . . . prostrate yourself . . . all this is encompassed in this idea of worship. Truly, it is no more evident that He must increase and we must decrease, than in worship. Everything else is the creation of His hand . . . we are to worship the Creator not any part of the creation.

This weakness in the knees would happen with John again . . . this need to go facedown before something . . . and again it would be before his “host angel” . . . and again the angel would re-direct Him to the only true object worthy of our exaltation, “Worship of God,” the angel would say again (Rev. 20:8-9).

That will truly be the best part of heaven. To worship at the foot of the throne. To look away from all the glories of our heavenly surroundings and focus solely on the One who so loved the world that He gave His One and only Son . . . to gaze upon the Son . . . the Lamb . . . the Lion of the tribe of Judah . . . the King of Kings and Lord of Lords . . . and, oblivious to all the splendor . . . and angels . . . and loud voices . . . worship God. But hey, I don’t need to wait until then to start practicing . . . I can go facedown right now . . . and bow, whether “in my heart” or literally, . . . and worship Him who is worthy of all worship.

Worship God! . . . so be it!

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Seek and You Will Find

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Pete

Her pursuit of Him was relentless. As much as she could, where He went, she would go too. She was a woman of some means, but she had also been a women possessed . . . possessed by seven demons, in fact . . . but He had healed her . . . had delivered her . . . and, this Mary Magdalene had determined to follow Him (Luke 8:1-3). She stood by the cross where He was crucified, witnessing His dying act of caring for His mother (John 19:25-27). She followed as Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took His lifeless body from the cross, hastily prepared it for burial, and laid it in a nearby garden tomb (John 19:38-42, Mark 15:47).

And her pursuit of Him did not stop at the apparent finality of the cross. On the first day of the week she went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, bringing spices in some hope that she might prevail upon the temple guard to allow her to anoint His body (Mark 16:1, John 20:1). But the guard was gone . . . the stone was rolled away . . . and the tomb was empty. She ran to tell Simon Peter and John . . . she followed them back to the open tomb, though she could not keep up with them as they ran. And after they had entered in and discovered the burial place empty . . . and the linen cloths lying there . . . and had left to wonder at what had happened . . . Mary remained . . . standing outside the tomb weeping (John 20:2-11).

Eventually, she stooped down and looked into the tomb . . . even encountering angels would not distract her focus from the One she thought was gone. And turning back from the tomb she encountered someone else . . . not knowing who it was. He too, as had the angels, asked why she was weeping. And then He asked her the question of questions, “Whom are you seeking?” (John 20:12-15b)

Jesus . . . she just wanted to be with Jesus. If this stranger in the garden had carried away His body and laid it somewhere else, she wanted to know so that she might “take Him away” (John 20:15b) . . . that she might anoint the body properly . . . that she might honor Him even in death . . . that she might continue to show gratitude to the One who had so wondrously delivered her and given her new life. Jesus . . . that’s all she wanted . . . He’s the One she was seeking.

And then, He said her name, “Mary!” And at the moment, she realized that the One who was her life’s pursuit was standing before her . . . alive! She had sought Him . . . and now He spoke her name . . . and she would declare His, “Rabboni!” . . . “my Teacher!” . . . “my Master!”

Oh, what blessing awaits those who relentlessly pursue the Son of God? What unexpected encounters? What intimate conversations? What glorious joy?

Through the prophet, such blessing was promised: “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13). Jesus, Himself, affirmed it as one of the great principles of the kingdom, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matt. 7:7). Seek and you will find!

What was it that resurrection morn, for Mary to hear Him say her name? In that moment, whatever had been the cost of her pursuit of Him, it paled against the prize of encountering the risen Christ! The weeping was done with . . . the doubts had been erased . . . joy had come in the morning (Ps. 30:5b).

Would I not too seek to pursue the living Christ? Why wouldn’t my life’s passion be to follow wherever He leads that I might be near Him . . . that I might be with Him . . . that I might too know those moments of intimacy when He speaks my name . . . and bow in adoration and declare the wonder and glory of His.

Seek and you will find . . . amen!

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Called, Chosen, and Faithful!

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Pete

Ok . . . so, if we’re honest with ourselves, who doesn’t like to check themselves out in a picture or a home video? Yeah, it’s a group photo . . . or a family gathering caught on tape (aargh, I date myself . . . caught on a digital recording device) . . . and although we know we aren’t the focus of attention, we can’t help but notice ourselves and check out how we’re lookin’. I confess I did a bit of that this morning in my reading in Revelation 16 and 17.

Now . . . I know this passage is so not about me. It’s about bowls of wrath . . . the judgment of God upon those who refuse to bow the knee. It’s about the identification of “the great harlot”, the one “with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication” (Rev. 17:1-2). And it’s about the Lamb who makes war against the harlot and the peoples of earth who have gathered together at Armageddon in opposition to God Himself.

“So,” you might ask, “Where are you in this picture, Pete?” Glad you asked . . . check this out . . .

“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” (Rev. 17:14)

There I am! “Those who are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” Ok, so maybe it’s not me specifically (or maybe it will be, I don’t know), but at the very least those are my people. Four things to note about them . . . First, they are “the called”. They were invited . . . even wooed . . . by the Lamb to come to Him . . . to drink of His living water . . . to feast at His table . . . to become part of His family . . . to be counted a joint-heir of His glories and the inheritance that is His. That’s me! Oh, that He would invite me, when I really wanted nothing to do with Him. That He would patiently seek and eventually save this lost sheep. Invited by the Lamb . . . the invitation written in red, with His own precious blood . . . and by the grace of God, I RSVP’d, “O Lamb of God, I come.”

Second, they are” the chosen” . . . the elect . . . the “picked out” . . . the appointed. Oh, what a mystery . . . oh, how beyond reconciliation with the truth of the free will of man . . . yet, how true as well! Yes, by grace, I believed and received . . . but true also, that I am part of that company known as the “elect according to the foreknowledge of God” (1Peter 1:1) . . . a member of those God chose “in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will” (Eph. 1:4-5). That’s me as well! To Him be all glory!

And too, they are “the faithful”. They have rested on His promises . . . and they can be counted upon. They have kept on keepin’ on. On the mountain top and in the valley, by the grace of God, they have continued to hold fast that which they have been convinced is true and have held fast to Him who is the hope of salvation. Though they may have stumbled from time to time, at the end of the day, they are considered “the faithful.” By His sustaining and enabling grace, I see them as my company . . . God having kept His promise that the work He has begun in me, He will complete until the day of Jesus Christ (Php. 1:6).

And finally, the fourth thing I see in this group which I so identify with, is that “they are with Him.” The One who is Lord of lords and King of kings is in the company of those He has redeemed through His blood. They are with Him . . . He is in their midst. He leads . . . they follow. He triumphs . . . they are victors. He serves up the great marriage supper . . . they feast at the table. With Him . . . what wonder that will be. That’s me! I’m in that picture! With Him! Praise God!

Father, once again I am filled with awe and wonder at the position I occupy and the hope I possess because I am “in Christ”. Thank you for the invitation . . . to You be all praise for determining in Sovereign grace to graft me into Your family . . . and, by Your grace, I desire to be faithful . . . and some day soon, I look forward to being with Him . . . Your Son . . . the Lamb . . . the King. To You be all the glory . . . amen!

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Not Guilty!

Posted on December 15, 2009 by Pete

Ok . . . so I’m pretty sure this is a first for me . . . a devotional thought from the prophet Nahum. I don’t know how many times I’ve read Nahum’s judgment upon Nineveh . . . it’s probably more than “a few” . . . but I don’t recall having anything “jump off the page” before . . . this morning, that changed . . . right out of the shoot . . .

“God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; the LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies; the LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked.” (Nahum 1:2-3a)

It’s that last phrase, the LORD “will not acquit the wicked” that just hit me as I read it. One of my topics to watch for is the “attributes of God” . . . when I find one, I underline it with a navy blue colored pencil . . . and this is one such attribute . . . God will not acquit the wicked. Other versions put it this way, “The LORD will by no means clear the guilty” (ESV) . . . “will not leave the guilty unpunished” (NIV, NASB).

That’s a true statement . . . God does not acquit . . . the guilty are not “let go” . . . nor will they be unpunished. And it reminds me this morning that my standing before God lies not in the fact that He will overlook my transgressions, but that I am, before Him, “not guilty!”

My eternal future this morning doesn’t lie in the hope of a God who will “look the other way” . . . of One who will overlook my sin and let me into heaven anyway. Instead, I rest in the One who has paid the price for the guilty. My sin has not been overlooked it has been atoned for. God does not acquit me, instead He stamps on the “invoice” for my sin, “PAID IN FULL!”

God’s holy nature cannot acquit or overlook or leave sin unpunished. But the love of God is such that He determined to pay the price for my sin through His Son on the cross. I read about that this morning too . . . “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (John 19:30). “It is finished” . . . are there any three more glorious words! . . . aka “the price is paid” . . . aka for all who will believe, “not guilty!”

Justified is the theological term . . . read about that also this morning in Habakkuk, “But the just shall live by faith” (Hab. 2:4b). God is not required to go against His holy nature and acquit me in order to save me . . . the price has been fully paid for my sin by Jesus the Christ . . . the One come to save His people . . . and because I have believe that . . . because by faith I own Christ as Lord and His death as payment for my sin . . . because I trust in the One who has risen from the dead and has ascended to glory and will one day return for His own . . . I do not fear the wrath of God . . . because, in Him, I am not guilty!

I am “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:24-26).

I am redeemed . . . purchased with a price out of the marketplace of slavery to sin . . . His blood, an atoning sacrifice for all my sin — past, present, and future . . . God demonstrating and being true to His holy and righteous character in that He might maintain His just nature by becoming also the justifier, paying the penalty Himself through His Son! Oh, I believe! Oh, glorious truth . . . I am not guilty!

Father, thank You for the reminder this morning of Your immense love and Your amazing grace. Thank You, that on the cross the price was paid and, truly, the work of redemption was finished. All praise and blessing be Yours as I consider afresh that I come before You not in my sin, but in Christ . . . You don’t overlook my sin or acquit my guilt, but You see it fully atoned for . . . when You look at me, You see Jesus . . . I wear the robe of righteousness He purchased for me with His blood . . . not guilty . . . to You be all glory . . . amen!

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The Patience of the Saints

Posted on December 14, 2009 by Pete

I almost didn’t do it this morning . . . I started to “double up” on my reading in Revelation, reading two days of assigned passages . . . but then stopped . . . but then, for some reason, . . . I’ll take it as a prompting from the Teacher . . . decided to read Revelation 14 in addition to Revelation 13. And, had I not done that, I don’t think I would have noticed a phrase which, I think, is found only twice in the New Testament . . . here in Revelation . . . in these two chapters I read in one sitting . . . once in chapter 13 . . . once in chapter 14. A phrase, though I cannot fully imagine the implications of it, seems to have application for me . . . there being something in it that challenges me and encourages me when I consider “the patience of the saints.”

The context for this phrase is the period of the Great Tribulation. A period of time when believers in Christ will suffer intense persecution as “the beast” comes to power and determines to oppose God by making war against His people (13:7). It is also a time when God’s wrath is poured out on those who worship the beast and his image (14:9). It seems quite literally it is a time of hell on earth . . . and though they are sealed by the blood of the Lamb, you just know that this will be an extremely difficult time for believers . . . so hard that even a voice from heaven declares to the John, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'” . . . “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” (14:13)

It is then, in the context of this chaotic, tumultuous time, that John writes of “the patience of the saints” (13:10, 14:12). “Patience” is the NKJV rendering . . . here’s how it’s translated or paraphrased by others . . . “endurance” (NIV, ESV) . . . “perseverance” (NAS) . . . “endure persecution patiently” (NLT) . . . “passionately stand their ground” (MSG). The tribulation is the ultimate crucible to show forth the quality of faith . . . it is the hottest furnace under which patient endurance testifies loudly to the preserving grace of God . . . it is the blackest of backdrops against which stars of faithfulness shine the brightest for the glory of God. What will it be, to be a believer in that time?

I know, that there are believers in other parts of the world which today can identify to a large degree . . . they know first hand what it means to endure demonic-based physical opposition for their faith. I can try to imagine, what it’s like, but I really can’t relate. If I’ll take the time, I can read of their enduring struggle and add my voice to the those who cry out on their behalf for God’s sustaining grace to flow in abundance towards them . . . but, and I praise God for this, I really don’t know what it’s like for them to live out “the patience of the saints.”

Having said that . . . and not trying in the least to compare any of my struggles and battles to those who live under such intense persecution . . . there is a context in which I too am called to endurance and faith. My struggles might be minor in comparison, nevertheless, they’re my struggles . . . my potential sources of despair . . . my hard experiences — those I would just as soon avoid . . . and through them, I think I too am called to endure patiently, to obey the Father, and remain faithful to the One who has bought me with His own precious blood.

“The patience and faith of the saints”, seems to me, is a call for all believers . . . in all less than ideal circumstances . . . through all ages . . . to passionately stand their ground . . . to determine to faithfully remain steadfast, by the grace of God. And so, I hear the call this morning . . . and I desire to step up, by His grace . . . to practically model the patience of the saints . . . to remain true to the faith of Jesus . . . for the glory of God . . . amen!

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The Child

Posted on December 11, 2009 by Pete

I don’t necessarily expect to find “the Christmas story” when I read the book of Revelation. But this morning, I was caught a bit by surprise by the insights this book of the future provides on the past.

In Revelation 12 the focus is really on a woman and a dragon. The woman is marked as she who is “clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars” (Rev. 12:12) . . . recall Joseph’s dream in Genesis 37:9, and it seems this woman is Israel. There’s no question as to who the dragon is, ” . . . the great dragon . . . , that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world . . . the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night . . .” (12:9-10). And the deal is that this dragon doesn’t care too much for this woman. He has opposed her in the past . . . he will oppose her in the future . . . and, you can pretty much guess, that he’s arrayed against her even now. How come? What’s at the center of this hatred and violent opposition? The Child.

This woman, Israel, birthed a Child . . . the same Child we focus on at this time of year . . . the angelic, innocent, beautiful, restful, peaceful, Child in a manger. You kind of realize that as you read about this part of the “Christmas story” our nativity scenes focus on but one dynamic of that history defining event.

“And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. [Insert the life of Jesus
here] And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.” (12:4b-5)

Any doubt that Herod was demon-possessed? That he was part of the dragon’s plan to “devour” the Child as soon as it was born? What other forces had Satan garnered around Bethlehem that night or in those days following the Child’s birth. You have to think that Satan had had his eye on Bethlehem ever since Micah penned his prophetic words, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2).

But this serpent of old did not prevail. The Child was born and lived and died and rose again and ascended into glory.

He was born a king and established His kingdom, though His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). “I am a king,” He would tell Pilate, “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth” (John 18:37). He would bear witness to the truth concerning man’s sin and God’s holiness . . . the truth concerning man’s inability to deal with the “wages of sin” and God’s amazing grace in making way for redemption . . . the truth concerning man’s hopeless situation and God’s love for the world . . . “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16) . . . the truth concerning a lost world and a Child come to save that world.

The Child, though He was Creator before He became flesh, “dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). And the Child, eventually, would die on a cross for the sin of man . . . would lie in a tomb for 3 days as the payment for our transgressions . . . and then, . . . oh, the glorious then . . . would rise again the third day in victory, crushing the head of that dragon . . . “and her Child was caught up to God and His throne” (Rev. 12:5b) . . . “while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts. 1:9-11).

The Child is coming again . . . soon . . .

Oh, bless the Child! Glory to the Child! O’ come lest us adore Him! Christ the Lord! Amen!

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