The Candle of the LORD

"The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inner depths of his heart."

 Proverbs 20:27

This verse was in my Bible portion I read this morning and God has used it to illuminate me today.  The scriptures say God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5).  Jesus is the Light of the World, sent to bring light into the darkness.  Psalm 119:105 compares God's Word to a lamp which lights our path:  "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."  The Proverbs passage above in the KJV calls the spirit of a man "the candle of the LORD," something which we commonly call "the conscience."  Even as a flickering light shows us where solid footing is free from obstructions, so the conscience illuminates our hearts, minds, and motives.  It is not a pleasant experience when our conscience brings sin to light according to God's Word, but it is for the best.  In the end it is fruitful and a great blessing, even though it is hard for us to accept.

After a conversation I had today (which was light and friendly), the LORD used the light of my conscience to reveal sin in my heart.  He said something like, "Did you enjoy your little whinge today?"  Those from the UK or Australians will understand what this means.  For any Americans our there, a "whinge" could be compared to what is called "whining."  It is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as, "to complain persistently and in a peevish or irritating way."  Whilst I was speaking I did not thing myself as whinging at all!  But as the light of my conscience shone upon my words, I could only agree with God's assessment.  The majority of the conversation was me talking about how hard things were, all the work I had done, and how much I still had to do.  When I could have chosen to speak concerning the faithfulness or goodness of God, my focus was primarily on myself, and it disgusted me.

Call it whinging, complaining, whining, or whatever you like, but when motivated by pride and selfishness it is a foul stench in God's nostrils.  Just because it is natural or normal for people to whinge does not mean it is approved as righteous in God's sight.  Whinging always takes a view of problems apart from God's grace, goodness, and righteousness.  I have no right to trot out my accomplishments as if it's something I have done.  All I am and I have done is by God's grace.  When I complain it is a sign I am focused on myself rather than glorifying and praising God.  I don't need to whinge to people:  I need to cry out to God for strength, deliverance, and help!  I can rejoice and praise Him, knowing that God's grace is sufficient for me and His strength is made perfect in weakness.  Instead of focusing on myself, my feelings, or my efforts, how good it is to praise God and be content in all circumstances.  Pride loves to put self as the main course in a conversation, but humility and godliness holds forth the wonderful truth of God's love and power.

We are called to let our light shine before men, and this happens when we open our eyes to the light of our conscience, confess our sins, repent, and start walking in the right way.  We can be confident that God who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it (Phil. 1:6).  I have resolved to put off the sin of evil speaking and choose to glorify God with my heart and mouth, so help me God.  In this God is well pleased!

God Accepts Those Who Receive

Something I have been thinking about lately is a common term used among Christians:  "accepting Christ."  It is biblical to believe and receive the Gospel, and to place our trust in Christ.  But "accepting" Him?  The vast majority of times in the KJV this term is used is not man accepting God, but God accepting man and his sacrifices.  The term almost puts man in the place of God, in the role of a judge or ruler.  We trust Christ and receive the Gospel by faith, and then God rejoices to accept us.  It is only through Christ's righteousness we are made acceptable! 

There is a massive difference between accepting a truth in your mind and placing your faith or reliance in the thing.  The Gospel of Jesus is not simply to be accepted (to generally deem as valid or correct), but we are to put our complete reliance in Christ in how we live every day.  Paul wrote in Colossians 2:6-7, "As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, ⁷ rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving."  Acknowledging the Gospel is not enough:  we must be born again.

I believe Satan accepts God is real, and that Jesus is the Son of God.  The demons tremble in fear before Christ, but this will not save them from eternal punishment.  It is important therefore people not only acknowledge or accept God's existence, rule, or promises, but receive the Gospel and the indwelling Holy Spirit through faith.  All who repent, believe in the LORD Jesus Christ and His resurrection, and place their trust in Him will be saved.  It is not we who accept God, but He who has graciously accepted us.  As it is written in Ephesians 1:3-6, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, ⁵ having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved."

Empty Vessels Made Full

As 2014 draws to a close, this blog has passed a significant milestone:  50,000 views from all over the world.  It is a great blessing to be able to freely share the love of Jesus Christ and the truth of scripture with all who are interested.  My schedule 2015 looks to be busier than ever, and as God leads and provides I shall continue to regularly contribute to the blog.

In the last month, the top visitors to the blog came from the United States, France, Australia, Ukraine, and Germany.  Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and South Korea are also listed on the all time most viewed list.  I thank the LORD for the internet and the translation tools which allow people from all over the world to read with understanding.  Much to my surprise, the blog has been the means to connect me face to face in fellowship with Christians I never knew before.  My prayer is through these words God would be glorified and praised for His goodness and truth.

Dear Christian, I encourage you to follow Jesus Christ closer this year than ever before.  Joyfully spend and be spent for His glory, God's grace working in you to labour abundantly for Him.  He will supply all your needs, even as He did for the indebted woman through Elisha written of in 2 Kings.  She was desperate because her husband died and left her with a large debt she could not pay.  Her sons were at risk to become slaves and she cried out to Elisha for help.  He asked her what she had on hand.  All she had in the house was a jar of oil.  Things looked bleak and desperate.

2 Kings 4:3-7 reveals what followed:  "Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors--empty vessels; do not gather just a few. ⁴ And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones." ⁵ So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. ⁶ Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, "Bring me another vessel." And he said to her, "There is not another vessel." So the oil ceased. ⁷ Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest."  The woman and her sons were obedient to gather up all the empty vessels.  According to the command of the man of God they shut the door, and poured and poured.  The oil from the original vessel failed only when there was not another empty vessel to fill.  After all the vessels were filled, they went back to Elisha who bid them sell the oil, pay the debt, and live on the rest.

Are you willing to be an empty vessel God can fill with the Holy Spirit?  You may look inside and see your complete poverty of soul.  You may look at your life and wonder what you could possibly contribute of value for the kingdom of God.  The truth is, we are nothing and have nothing.  But when we are empty of self and obey God's Word in faith, He will supply all we need.  Our meager efforts can produce life-saving, transformational changes in the church and the world.  Will you lay down your will before the LORD this year?  How about today?  Will today be the day when you finally surrender in joyful obedience?

God asked Moses, "What is in your hand?"  He answered, "A rod." (Ex. 4:2)  It was that rod God used to do mighty wonders in Egypt and even prove Aaron was His chosen high priest.  Instead of lamenting what you do not have and why you cannot do as you wish, what is in your hand?  What is in your house?  Ask God how He would have you invest yourself in His work.  Even if it is only a little pot of oil or a stick, God will do miraculous wonders if we will trust and obey!

Growing in Grace

"You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; ¹⁸ but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen."

2 Peter 3:17-18

Peter concluded his epistle with this exhortation to remain faithful to Christ.  Instead of being led astray with the error of the wicked, they were to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."  For much of my early Christian walk, "grace" was an ambiguous term without any depth of meaning or personal significance.  The concept of "growing in grace" was equally as meaningless.  If I didn't understand what grace was, how could I possibly grow in it?

For me, understanding of God's grace awakened when I began to recognise how sinful I am according to God's righteous standard.  From my youth I understood and sang with gusto, "Yes, Jesus loves me!"  yet I did not comprehend that there was nothing in me deserving or worthy of this love.  He loved me with a divine love I could not earn.  The Law of God laid out in the Old Testament laid a death blow to my pride which was convinced I could merit God's favour through obedience.  Romans 3:19-20 reads, "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. ²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."  God gave the Law to Moses to establish His perfect standard and to prove to the proudest soul there is none worthy before God.  Break His Law in one tiny aspect and that man is guilty of all.

The Law of God opened my eyes to the grace of God.  I am a guilty sinner deserving of wrath and eternal judgment.  But God in His great love had compassion on me and offered me grace, salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.  Christ does love me, but not because I love Him.  He loved me first and always, and I love Him back.  I can only respond to His love already lavished upon me, an unchanging love not based upon my performance or perceived worthiness.  It is this knowledge of our poverty of soul which causes us to grow in grace.  Our growth is not one to measure against others, but only against the perfect standard established by Jesus Christ.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:9-10, "For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."  Paul embraced the grace of God from a position of complete unworthiness.  Everything praiseworthy in Paul's life was a product of God's grace at work in Him.  I believe there is a misunderstanding of grace today which justifies sloth concerning our sanctification.  We see our unworthiness or lack and shrug our shoulders and say glibly, "By the grace of God I am what I am."  Paul did not use God's grace as a cloak for carelessness, but to glorify God for the goodness at work in and through His live.  God's grace did not justify Paul being served, but compelled him to greater labours for God.  He was an unworthy minister, yet Paul laboured more abundantly than all others.  He did not just see himself as unworthy.  Oh no, my friends.  He was unworthy, and I am too.  We all are!  Unless we admit we are unworthy, we will never know God's grace nor grow in it.

It is knowledge and acceptance of our unworthiness before God which opens our understanding to receive God's grace.  Growing in grace is not that we are doing more now for God than we used to, but to confess He is doing more in and through our lives according to His grace.  How great is our God, and how wondrous His grace!  James said his faith in Christ was revealed by works, and Paul's growth in grace was accompanied by abundant labour.  It's not so much "What are you doing for God?" but "What has God done and is doing for you?"  May all God's people see their unworthiness and joyfully grow in grace as God's Spirit labours in and through us.