The world cannot provide the redemptive forgiveness and grace found only in God. There is no hope in mankind for salvation or comfort. Heap up money and riches, distract yourself with activity, and pursue everything your heart desires and your conclusion will be the same as King Solomon: "All is vanity and grasping for the wind." Successful building projects, laughter, abundance of wealth, wine, women, or song did nothing to satisfy the needs of his soul.
In the mornings this week I have been reading through the book of Ruth and continue to marvel over this beautiful story of redemption. Ruth, a foreign widow, "happened" to glean in the field of Boaz. He was a near kinsman, a man who was called to redeem her to raise up seed on behalf of Ruth's late husband so he would have an heir. This he delighted to do, and took his case before the men at the gate. There was a man who was a closer relative than Boaz, but when redeeming the land meant he must also marry Ruth he refused to do so. He claimed it would mar his own inheritance. Boaz rejoiced to make a covenant before those at the gate, and redeemed Ruth as his wife.
It is a wonderful picture of the redemptive work Christ has done for us. We are aliens and foreigners of the commonwealth of heaven, separated from God because of our sin. But He has been gracious to us and sealed a covenant with His own blood, claiming all who will repent and trust in Him as His own. What grace, mercy, and love He has demonstrated! How thankful I am that my life has been redeemed from sin, Hell, and death. Christ has paid my ransom and delivered me from everlasting destruction, providing through His sacrifice eternal life as it is written in Ephesians 1:5-8: "...having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
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to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.
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In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8
which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence..."
There are things in this world which have redemptive value: scrap metals, plastics, even paper goods can be redeemed for the purpose of profitable use. I am a wretched sinner without any eternal value, yet God has seen fit to redeem my life to accomplish His divine purposes through me. This is a wondrous thing: God does not redeem me only because He wants to use me, but because He loves me as I am. He has made a distinction between me and my sin. He has forgiven me and chosen to remember my sin no more, and now uses me and all others adopted into His family through the Gospel by His grace. This is the example I am to follow, giving more grace, that His redemptive power will be at work in and through my life.
I was previously without hope or comfort, but God has done the impossible through the redemptive sacrifice of Christ. God is worthy of all praise and thanksgiving for all He has done, and I am eternally grateful!
25 September 2013
22 September 2013
Fear is a Choice
The perspective of the Bible reveals love is a choice. The divine love revealed through Jesus Christ springs of grace from the goodness of God. In obedience to the Father's will, Jesus rejoiced to demonstrate His love for sinners even through the suffering of the cross. This love is not seated on the rise and flow of the emotions, nor is it at the mercy of circumstance. It is a constant, active love that is ever reaching out to man from the sole pure source of love: God.
One of the commands Jesus gave to His followers is that we would love one another as He has loved us. We choose to love therefore on the basis of His active love, not on how we feel at any given time. Our motivation for loving others is not their worthiness, but out of the same grace God has shown us. Because the Holy Spirit resides within us, we are enabled to love as God loves. It is a conscious decision we are called to make to demonstrate this love to all regardless of their performance or views of us. This sacrificial love is a supernatural fruit of the Spirit within us that is bourne when we abide in Christ through faith.
This week God spoke to me so clearly about another choice we as Christians are called and empowered to make: the choice to fear. Did you know that fear - just like love - is a choice? You might think, "I can't help it if I am afraid." If you are not a Christian, I quite agree with you. I fear for you! But if you are a Christian, you have been given the strength and wisdom to walk according to God's perfect will. Anyone can be given a fright, but the fear I am speaking of can also be called dread, preoccupation, worry, or fearful uncertainty. As a Christian, we are given the power to refuse to sin and instead walk in righteousness.
To paraphrase Luther concerning sin, he said something to the effect of "You can't keep birds from flying overhead, but you can keep them from nesting in your hair." The temptation itself is not sin. It is our acquiescing response to the temptation which causes sin to be conceived and brought forth. Satan will surely send his fiery darts and temptations to sin our way, but the shield of faith has the power to block them harmlessly to the ground. When the idea of sin barges into our minds through our senses or a satanic suggestion, Christians have a real choice: to flee from the temptation and seek God, or choose to entertain the idea of sin. We sin when our sin nature is awakened by temptation and we choose to entertain it. Even before we put it into practice when we toy with the ideas conceived, we are in sin. Jesus said if someone looks at a woman with lust in their heart, he or she has already committed adultery.
When it comes to fear, we have a choice set before us. As soon as we recognise our preoccuption or worry, our call is to choose to be casting our cares upon Christ, committing our situation and the outcome into His hands. David wrote in Psalm 56:2-4, "My enemies would hound me all day, for there are many who fight against me, O Most High. 3 Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. 4 In God (I will praise His word), in God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?" Every person on the earth has very real fear, even as we have a sin nature by birth. David used fear as a trigger to cause him to seek God instead. He said, "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You." When David was struck with paralysing fear, he looked to God as his Saviour and Deliverer. This enabled him to maintain a godly perspective when fear struck his heart. Then he was no longer afraid because He trusted God and his Word.
Let us choose to flee from the temptation to fear. When the wind blows and the waves crash against us, when everything seems uncertain and frightening, let us look to Christ and the scriptures. His nail-scarred hands reach to lift us up, and His eyes are filled with love. When we see Him and recognise Him as Creator of All and Saviour of our souls, all fear melts away. Then we can love as He loves, for it is His love which is revealed through us.
One of the commands Jesus gave to His followers is that we would love one another as He has loved us. We choose to love therefore on the basis of His active love, not on how we feel at any given time. Our motivation for loving others is not their worthiness, but out of the same grace God has shown us. Because the Holy Spirit resides within us, we are enabled to love as God loves. It is a conscious decision we are called to make to demonstrate this love to all regardless of their performance or views of us. This sacrificial love is a supernatural fruit of the Spirit within us that is bourne when we abide in Christ through faith.
This week God spoke to me so clearly about another choice we as Christians are called and empowered to make: the choice to fear. Did you know that fear - just like love - is a choice? You might think, "I can't help it if I am afraid." If you are not a Christian, I quite agree with you. I fear for you! But if you are a Christian, you have been given the strength and wisdom to walk according to God's perfect will. Anyone can be given a fright, but the fear I am speaking of can also be called dread, preoccupation, worry, or fearful uncertainty. As a Christian, we are given the power to refuse to sin and instead walk in righteousness.
To paraphrase Luther concerning sin, he said something to the effect of "You can't keep birds from flying overhead, but you can keep them from nesting in your hair." The temptation itself is not sin. It is our acquiescing response to the temptation which causes sin to be conceived and brought forth. Satan will surely send his fiery darts and temptations to sin our way, but the shield of faith has the power to block them harmlessly to the ground. When the idea of sin barges into our minds through our senses or a satanic suggestion, Christians have a real choice: to flee from the temptation and seek God, or choose to entertain the idea of sin. We sin when our sin nature is awakened by temptation and we choose to entertain it. Even before we put it into practice when we toy with the ideas conceived, we are in sin. Jesus said if someone looks at a woman with lust in their heart, he or she has already committed adultery.
When it comes to fear, we have a choice set before us. As soon as we recognise our preoccuption or worry, our call is to choose to be casting our cares upon Christ, committing our situation and the outcome into His hands. David wrote in Psalm 56:2-4, "My enemies would hound me all day, for there are many who fight against me, O Most High. 3 Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. 4 In God (I will praise His word), in God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?" Every person on the earth has very real fear, even as we have a sin nature by birth. David used fear as a trigger to cause him to seek God instead. He said, "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You." When David was struck with paralysing fear, he looked to God as his Saviour and Deliverer. This enabled him to maintain a godly perspective when fear struck his heart. Then he was no longer afraid because He trusted God and his Word.
Let us choose to flee from the temptation to fear. When the wind blows and the waves crash against us, when everything seems uncertain and frightening, let us look to Christ and the scriptures. His nail-scarred hands reach to lift us up, and His eyes are filled with love. When we see Him and recognise Him as Creator of All and Saviour of our souls, all fear melts away. Then we can love as He loves, for it is His love which is revealed through us.
20 September 2013
God Lifts Up the Fallen
When someone falls on the ground, what is your response? Do you laugh? Stop and stare? Do you carefully walk around the fallen because someone else has already stooped to help?
Do you run to lift the fallen up? If you know the one who has fallen are you embarrassed for them - or more embarrassed for yourself?
The simple act of falling can have devastating consequences. The person who falls bears not only the brunt of the impact, but also the potential stigma of harsh judgments from others.
As Christians, may we be people who are quick to help those who have fallen, whether physically or spiritually. I think it is easier to accept that someone has fallen physically than spiritually. Perhaps for years we have viewed someone as a tower of strength who ultimately proved to be weak as any other man, and their fall into sin has left us gutted, disillusioned, even angry. Let us be those who give grace and seek in a spirit of meekness to restore such a one to fellowship with the LORD and others. Those who think they stand are warned to take heed lest they fall.
Falling is part of walking, and sin is part of our life here on earth. Let us admit our failings and when we have fallen, seek aid from the Great Physician Jesus Christ. We are not too proud to go to the doctor when the pain becomes unbearable, but sometimes we think in spiritual matters we are above falling or requiring assistance to begin the healing process. Jeremiah 17:14 reads, "Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my praise." We don't need insurance to have God's assurance. God is the lifter of our head!
Do you run to lift the fallen up? If you know the one who has fallen are you embarrassed for them - or more embarrassed for yourself?
The simple act of falling can have devastating consequences. The person who falls bears not only the brunt of the impact, but also the potential stigma of harsh judgments from others.
As Christians, may we be people who are quick to help those who have fallen, whether physically or spiritually. I think it is easier to accept that someone has fallen physically than spiritually. Perhaps for years we have viewed someone as a tower of strength who ultimately proved to be weak as any other man, and their fall into sin has left us gutted, disillusioned, even angry. Let us be those who give grace and seek in a spirit of meekness to restore such a one to fellowship with the LORD and others. Those who think they stand are warned to take heed lest they fall.
Falling is part of walking, and sin is part of our life here on earth. Let us admit our failings and when we have fallen, seek aid from the Great Physician Jesus Christ. We are not too proud to go to the doctor when the pain becomes unbearable, but sometimes we think in spiritual matters we are above falling or requiring assistance to begin the healing process. Jeremiah 17:14 reads, "Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my praise." We don't need insurance to have God's assurance. God is the lifter of our head!
18 September 2013
Ready for Real
Yesterday morning I picked up my parents from the airport to kick off their two-week stay with us. It is a blessing to our family fly down under to visit with us. Thank you to those who sent letters and goodies along with them, an unexpected treat! I have been feverishly working to finish my "work" so we can do things together at a relaxed pace.
When I visited the States in June, ironically I helped out with booking this trip. It was placed on the calendar months ago. There were many things we have successfully prepared for: ordering a bed for the re-arranged guest room, organising things to be brought over, inquiring with friends about things to do and see, and planning for the upcoming conference and projects. But regardless of all the work we have done, it seems like things slipped through the cracks - things like lunch! For months we knew my parents were coming, but we never thought to put together a menu or daily calendar. We're jumping right on it...better late than never, I suppose.
It is very easy to be caught up in the daily activities and lose sight of the thing Jesus often reminds us in scripture: "Behold, I come quickly!" Being ready in our minds and ready in reality are two different things. How many times did we know a birthday or special day was coming up and we neglected to buy the card, make the phone call, book the trip, do all the things we fully intended and desired to do because we were busy about other things? Let's make sure that our Father's business is our highest priority! Someday it will be too late. Why regret when we can rejoice in a job well done?
When I visited the States in June, ironically I helped out with booking this trip. It was placed on the calendar months ago. There were many things we have successfully prepared for: ordering a bed for the re-arranged guest room, organising things to be brought over, inquiring with friends about things to do and see, and planning for the upcoming conference and projects. But regardless of all the work we have done, it seems like things slipped through the cracks - things like lunch! For months we knew my parents were coming, but we never thought to put together a menu or daily calendar. We're jumping right on it...better late than never, I suppose.
It is very easy to be caught up in the daily activities and lose sight of the thing Jesus often reminds us in scripture: "Behold, I come quickly!" Being ready in our minds and ready in reality are two different things. How many times did we know a birthday or special day was coming up and we neglected to buy the card, make the phone call, book the trip, do all the things we fully intended and desired to do because we were busy about other things? Let's make sure that our Father's business is our highest priority! Someday it will be too late. Why regret when we can rejoice in a job well done?
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