Jesus Christ is Worthy

I remember hearing a prayer that thanked God for "making us worthy," and I felt rehearsing Inigo Montoya's line from the movie The Princess Bride:  "You keep using that word.  I do not think it means what you think it means."  To the credit of the people who have prayed thus, "worthy" is a word that has a range of meaning that has shifted over the years.  A partial definition from the Webster's 1828 Dictionary of "worthy" is:  "1) deserving; such as merits; having worth or excellence; equivalent; with of, before the thing deserved; 2) possessing worth or excellence of qualities; virtuous; estimable; 3) suitable; having qualities suited to; either in a good or bad sense; equal in value."  Worthy speaks of being meritorious, of being deserving when compared with others.  I do not believe the person who claims they are made "worthy" are suggesting they are equal with God or deserving of His help or grace, for that undermines grace and the Gospel entirely.

The modern Miriam-Webster Dictionary gives this simplified definition:  "having worth or value, estimable; honorable, meritorious; having sufficient worth or importance."  The focus of the modern definition is focused more on having worth or importance.  It is true that God has ascribed value and worth to mankind by sending His only begotten Son to die to save us sinners, but it is not that we are worthy.  He is the only worthy One, and will only ever be worthy:  up to the task of saving lost sinners, able to hear and help people in all troubles, and deserving of all glory, honour and praise.  It is good for us to realise God is worthy regardless whatever struggles or troubles we face, for His merit and excellence is infinite.  He alone is righteous, virtuous and good without a single flaw, and praise Him for His faithfulness and mercy graciously extended to us.

A heavenly vision that affirms God alone is worthy plays out in Revelation 5:1-5:  "And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. ² Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?" ³ And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.⁴ So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. ⁵ But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals."  The right hand of God who sat on the throne held a scroll, and no man or even a strong angel was worthy to take it in their hand, loose the seals and open it--much less look at it!  None could measure up to the requirements of doing so.  John ceased weeping when it was revealed there was One worthy, excellent and able to open the scroll, Jesus Christ the Lion of the tribe of Judah who has prevailed.  Jesus is worthy because He is God.

After Jesus Christ took the scroll the 24 elders bowed before Him and proclaimed His worthiness.  The praise and adoration of the God who is worthy continues to swell with the shouts of angelic hosts in the following verses.  Revelation 5:11-12 says, "Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, ¹² saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!"  Jesus is altogether worthy, equal to any amount of praise, honour and glory mankind or angel can proclaim.  God is worthy of all sacrifice, worthy of all adoration and worship forever and ever.  Worthy is the Lamb who was slain because He is risen and a Saviour for all who trust in Him.  Let us praise and thank Him because He is worthy, not just because He has forgiven and helped us.

God's Word Satisfies

One consequence of enjoying a delightful, satisfying meal is it kills the appetite to eat more.  Many times I have declined to even look at the dessert menu filled with tasty treats because I was already full!  Compare this with conversations I have had with children soon after dinner who complained they were still hungry.  I would ask, "If you're hungry, why didn't you have more dinner?"  It was evident the foods supplied for dinner weren't their "favourite thing" by later angling for something different.

Have you ever been to an "all you can eat" buffet?  For people with a ravenous appetite this offering sounds very appealing.  My typical approach to a new buffet I have never tried is to walk through and see the range of what is on offer.  Unfortunately, quantity does not always equate with high quality.  Typically there will be something I find appetising, but there have been rare occasions when I went home from a buffet hungry because there was not much I wanted to eat.  I was full of my own ideas of how fried food, baked chicken or scrambled eggs ought to look like or smell.  Instead of a hungry man ready to eat all that was provided, I was caught up in my own personal tastes and preferences.

Now hygienic food preparation and quality ingredients are very important, but my point is my pickiness at times has led to the nutritional needs of my body remaining unmet.  The same can be true concerning the word of God.  Christians who view themselves as well-versed in scripture and faith can be bored with the offerings from a pulpit or in a Bible study because they are too, well, basic or simple.  This isn't a new phenomenon as C.H. Spurgeon wrote in Lectures to My Students his preaching wasn't "deep" enough for some discerning folks.  Adam Clarke wrote in his commentary, "But still the question has been asked, Who was Elihu? I answer, He was “the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram:” this is all we know of him. But this Scriptural answer will not satisfy those who are determined to find out mysteries where there are none." (Clarke, A. (2014). The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes New Edition, Vol. 3, p. 143)  There are believers who are bored and dissatisfied with scriptural answers, and I don't want to be one of them.

God has revealed many mysteries to us through His word and has made evident what was once hidden from angels and men.  The Gospel is one of these things, the power of God unto salvation by grace through faith.  It is not a doctrine to memorise and file away but to be lived out every day as we follow Jesus obediently.  The purpose of doctrine is not to temporarily satisfy intellectual curiosity but to be received into our inmost being:  to satisfy our souls, guard our hearts, and guide our hands and feet to do all God has said.  Those who are bored with the basics do not truly understand them.  Better than seeking to find our mysteries where there are none, it is good for us to take God at His word.  If reading the word itself does not satisfy, it may be you have yet to receive what God has said.  Wait on the LORD and be of good courage, for Jesus leads His sheep to pastures of green and satisfies our souls.

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda

There's a saying people use when referring to past events they regret:  "shoulda, woulda, coulda."  It is a way to dismiss what has happened in the past because there is no going back and doing things over.  Lamenting how life could have been better if different choices were made is in itself a pointless exercise that can lead to despair.  When we acknowledge our mistakes and learn from them going forward, that is when feelings of regret can be a personal boon.

It is one thing when a person says something in the past should have been done differently, and how much more accurate is God's judgments in all matters!  God has great plans to deliver and save His people, yet our choices can hinder Him from doing all He should, would and could do.  Consider Psalm 81:13-16 in the KJV (bold emphasis mine):  "Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! ¹⁴ I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. ¹⁵ The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever. ¹⁶ He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee."  God had all sorts of plans to deliver and prosper His people.  Because they would not do what they should, God did not do all He would have done had they listened to Him and walked in His ways.

To know what a person should have done is not as important as actually doing it.  Doubt of God's ability to help or provide for His people should never be entertained, for He has all power and only does miraculous things.  Better than lamenting what God should or could have done in the past is to seek the LORD today, heed His word and follow Him in obedience.  He knows the enemies we face and has the power to overcome them.  He also knows when we hinder His plans as a consequence of our disobedience and self-confidence.  I wonder:  how many good things God should, could and would have done but did not because of our refusal to listen, trust or obey Him!

The blessed part of God's lament over His erring people is there is an opportunity for us today by God's grace to positively impact our future by following Jesus Christ in faith.  The things God "should" but has not yet done are things God will do in our future by His grace in His time.  We are greatly comforted, not that our lives will be better or our circumstances shall improve in the future, but we know and serve an awesome, gracious and faithful God today Who leads, delivers, speaks and saves now and always.

Neglect No More

"Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. ¹⁵ Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all."

1 Timothy 4:14-15

These verses were shared in the message preached yesterday at Calvary Chapel Sydney.  The points made were Timothy had a gift given by God, and he could also neglect this gift.  We are not entirely sure what specific gift of the Holy Spirit was being referred to, but Timothy and others knew it because it had been prophesied unto him with the laying on of hands of the eldership.  If Timothy knew what gift he had been given and could neglect it, it follows believers today who have received the Holy Spirit and gifts by His will can neglect our gifts as well.

To neglect suggests carelessness, to forbear proper use or responsibility of something.  We have seen neglected lawns overgrown with weeds and hedges untrimmed.  The neglect of houses due to clutter, rodent infestations, shirking of maintenance or lack of cleaning can lead to them being condemned.  Our bodies, relationships and businesses can suffer from neglect of doing what is necessary to take personal responsibility to maintain and improve.  Paul urged Timothy not to neglect the gift God had given him, meditating on what God had said, had done, promised to do, and to put sound doctrine into practice himself.

One primary way we can neglect things is to not use or take care of them.  The neglect of a gift always has negative results on other things:  the neglect of using my lawn mower leads to an overgrown lawn and a letter from the council; the neglect of using clippers leads to unkempt hair.  Because we are part of the Body of Christ the church, the neglect of the gifts God has given us for the edification of the church and the glory of Jesus has a negative impact on our service, ministry and purpose God gave us the gift in the first place.  God has given us His word, His Son, the Holy Spirit and guidance we ought to make use of every day.  Neglecting the reading and study of God's word leads to a world of neglect in countless areas of our lives today.

Spiritual gifts are not the only thing which can be neglected, for consider what is written in Hebrews 2:1-4:  "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. ² For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, ³ how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, ⁴ God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?"  It is possible to neglect the salvation provided all people by the grace of God through the Gospel.  People connect spiritual gifts with signs and wonders, and from the beginning God has already revealed Himself in miraculous ways to confirm His ability to save and deliver.  He gave Moses the ability to do signs to confirm the word of the LORD to Pharoah and the Hebrews, and God has sent Jesus Christ whom Moses spoke of who is the revelation of the almighty God who seeks to save the lost.

Believer, take time to consider and meditate on the fact you have been saved by grace through faith.  Having been redeemed of the LORD we await our ultimate salvation by our glorious entrance into the eternal state in God's presence.  Whilst we remain on earth let us not neglect the gift of God's word, His wisdom, the presence of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and the gifts God has graciously given us.  When we give ourselves entirely unto the LORD, denying ourselves and taking up our cross daily to follow Jesus, we will be kept from the error of neglecting our salvation and spiritual gifts.  Our spiritual fruitfulness is not an indication of our goodness, but the faithfulness of our God who delivers and saves--Who through our witness provides salvation to others by the Gospel.