If we read the Bible honestly, it will confront and shock us. God uses the truth of scripture to correct our incorrect understanding or assumptions. Today I experienced such a moment as I opened the Word for my morning reading of a few Psalms. David begins Psalm 10 by a vivid description of the attitudes, acts, and even the thoughts of the wicked. There was one verse in particular which God used to correct my understanding of what wickedness looks like. The Holy Spirit brought conviction of sin, shedding light where there was once darkness in my conscience.
In the KJV Psalm 10:4 reads, "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts." When I think of wickedness, I tend to think of deeds. The works of the flesh are evident and obvious sin. The Bible teaches that sin perverts and pollutes a man from within, and evil deeds are the result. God is righteous, and those who are in Christ through faith receive His righteousness. This verse illustrates the importance of our thoughts. A wicked man does not seek after God. In fact, the fact that God is not in all his thoughts is wickedness. This is a strong statement. We would all agree it would be good if God was in all our thoughts. It would be right for all our thoughts to dwell upon God.
A sampling of other translations show us other facets of the importance of our thoughts in relation to God. Psalm 10:4 in the NKJV states, "The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts." The NIV rendering of Psalm 10:4 is as follows: "In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God." The wicked is marked by three variants of the same theme concerning thoughts: God is not in all his thoughts, God is in none of his thoughts, and in all his thoughts there is no room for God. How important then is our necessity to meditate upon God, His flawless attributes and character, His commands, goodness, love, mercy, and grace! There is a reason why God commanded fathers to instruct their children concerning God from when they rose in the morning until the time they lay down again at night. The thoughts of a righteous man could be described in this way: God is in all his thoughts.
Though the translations of the same verse are different, they are all true. Common denominators of the wicked include pride, the fact he does not seek after God, and that God is not in all his thoughts. What a different picture of wickedness this reveals from what we might have thought! I resolve to make room for God in my thoughts, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. By God's grace, may we humble ourselves and seek Him. God desires to be found by us. Praise Him for that!
29 November 2011
27 November 2011
Does Your Saviour Support You?
I was a youth when I first saw the comedy starring James Garner called "Support Your Local Sheriff." Garner becomes the sheriff in a rowdy western boom town and employs some unorthodox tactics to maintain order. It wasn't long before he arrested a lawbreaker. He had a major problem though: the new jail still did not yet have bars or doors installed in the cells. The quick-thinking sheriff painted a black line on the ground to delineate the boundary of the cell, and dripped a copious amount of red paint on the outside of the line. The sheriff convinced the ruffian that if he valued his life, he'd stay in that cell without bars or a door - or he'd be like the fictitious previous prisoner who tried to cross the line and was shot for his trouble.
When the family of the ruffian came to break him out, they were surprised to see the effectiveness of the cell without doors and bars. It wasn't too long before the bars and doors arrived and were installed - with the help of the willing prisoner. This is a good object lesson to illustrate a spiritual truth. The Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. People can be taken captive by the devil to do his will. Both Christians and unbelievers face this risk. The main difference is that when a Christian is taken captive, those bars and doors are not yet installed. He has the power to walk out through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. But people can be tricked to think there is no escape possible for them. A unbeliever is destined for eternal damnation because of sin.
But no matter the fortifications of the prison of sin man or Satan builds, the power of Jesus Christ is able to completely overcome by God's grace. Ephesians 2:13-15 reads, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace..." We don't have the strength, courage, or willpower to overcome sin. But the blood of Jesus is able to do for all what no one is able to do himself. Even if we were to stop sinning, we could not cleanse ourselves of our guilt. We also are incapable of making ourselves righteous. That is what makes the Gospel so wonderful: when we repent and trust in Jesus Christ we receive forgiveness, are made pure, are born again through the Holy Spirit, and are reconciled to God through the righteousness of Christ. That's Good News indeed!
When the family of the ruffian came to break him out, they were surprised to see the effectiveness of the cell without doors and bars. It wasn't too long before the bars and doors arrived and were installed - with the help of the willing prisoner. This is a good object lesson to illustrate a spiritual truth. The Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. People can be taken captive by the devil to do his will. Both Christians and unbelievers face this risk. The main difference is that when a Christian is taken captive, those bars and doors are not yet installed. He has the power to walk out through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. But people can be tricked to think there is no escape possible for them. A unbeliever is destined for eternal damnation because of sin.
But no matter the fortifications of the prison of sin man or Satan builds, the power of Jesus Christ is able to completely overcome by God's grace. Ephesians 2:13-15 reads, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace..." We don't have the strength, courage, or willpower to overcome sin. But the blood of Jesus is able to do for all what no one is able to do himself. Even if we were to stop sinning, we could not cleanse ourselves of our guilt. We also are incapable of making ourselves righteous. That is what makes the Gospel so wonderful: when we repent and trust in Jesus Christ we receive forgiveness, are made pure, are born again through the Holy Spirit, and are reconciled to God through the righteousness of Christ. That's Good News indeed!
24 November 2011
Sleep In Peace
We have enjoyed uncharacteristically wet weather in Sydney for the past several days. Sydney has been shrouded with thick grey clouds and a steady, light drizzle, a complete shift from the last weeks of warm temperatures and rising humidity. The seasons seem a little confused.
When I opened the Word this morning, I read Psalm 4:8: "I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety." In the United States, Thanksgiving is being celebrated across the country. How many things do we take for granted God has given us, even something like peaceful sleep! Did you ever thank God for a restful night of sleep? It is God who enables us to sleep soundly and wake up refreshed.
There have been well-documented cases of celebrities whose deaths have been linked to desperate attempts to simply sleep in peace. Marylin Monroe, Heath Ledger, and Michael Jackson are tragic cases numbered among them. I suppose there are an infinite amount of reasons people struggle to sleep. But good sleep, like all other wholesome things we need and enjoy, is a gift from God. Psalm 127:1-2 reads, "Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep."
Sleep in humans is an interesting study. From articles I've read over the years, even experts can't explain why we need to sleep. The brain can be more active during sleep than when we are awake! But it is no secret that human function is greatly impaired when the body is deprived of sleep. Just like everyone needs sleep, we all need the love of God. God gives us love, grace, and sleep - not to mention everything that pertains to life and godliness. Sometimes we fall asleep unwittingly, but God's love must be consciously received. When we repent and trust in Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we are born again and ushered into God's beloved.
You don't need to be a Christian to enjoy a wonderful night's rest, but Christians ought to recognize that even the gift of sleep is received by the grace and goodness of God. He allows the rain to fall on the just and the unjust. He gives all benefits and blessings that people might recognize His goodness and trust in Him (Rom. 2:4). Thank God for the rest He graciously gives!
When I opened the Word this morning, I read Psalm 4:8: "I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety." In the United States, Thanksgiving is being celebrated across the country. How many things do we take for granted God has given us, even something like peaceful sleep! Did you ever thank God for a restful night of sleep? It is God who enables us to sleep soundly and wake up refreshed.
There have been well-documented cases of celebrities whose deaths have been linked to desperate attempts to simply sleep in peace. Marylin Monroe, Heath Ledger, and Michael Jackson are tragic cases numbered among them. I suppose there are an infinite amount of reasons people struggle to sleep. But good sleep, like all other wholesome things we need and enjoy, is a gift from God. Psalm 127:1-2 reads, "Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep."
Sleep in humans is an interesting study. From articles I've read over the years, even experts can't explain why we need to sleep. The brain can be more active during sleep than when we are awake! But it is no secret that human function is greatly impaired when the body is deprived of sleep. Just like everyone needs sleep, we all need the love of God. God gives us love, grace, and sleep - not to mention everything that pertains to life and godliness. Sometimes we fall asleep unwittingly, but God's love must be consciously received. When we repent and trust in Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we are born again and ushered into God's beloved.
You don't need to be a Christian to enjoy a wonderful night's rest, but Christians ought to recognize that even the gift of sleep is received by the grace and goodness of God. He allows the rain to fall on the just and the unjust. He gives all benefits and blessings that people might recognize His goodness and trust in Him (Rom. 2:4). Thank God for the rest He graciously gives!
23 November 2011
My Inheritance Request
"I will declare the decree: the LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.' "
Psalm 2:7-9
The heading in my Bible for Psalm 2 is, "The reign of God's anointed." The term "anointed" is a reference to the Jewish Messiah, who has been revealed as Jesus the Christ. He was not only the Messiah to the Jews, but to all who repent and trust in Him. Previously when I read Psalm 2, I looked at it only in this context. Jesus is the only begotten of the Father (John 3:16) who died for the sins of the world, rose again, and will someday return to set up His rule upon earth. There is a prophetic glimpse of Christ returning in power and glory in Revelation 19:11-16. Revelation 19:15 reads, "Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."
God chose the children of Israel out of all the nations to be His inheritance. Deuteronomy 4:20 states, "But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be His people, an inheritance, as you are this day." How interesting and enlightening that God says through King David to the Messiah, "Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations (or the "heathen") for Your inheritance." God is not willing that any person or nation should perish, but that all would come to repentance and faith in Him and be saved. God offers Jew or Gentile, slave or free, the opportunity to be numbered among His children by His grace through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
For the first time in my life, yesterday I saw that the entreaty of verse 8 is not only relevant to the person of Jesus Christ the Messiah, but to all who have been born again into the family of God. God challenges all Christians to say, "Give me the heathen for my inheritance." As children of God by faith, we have become Christ's inheritance, and He is ours. Our relationship with God through faith has granted us access by the blood of Christ, the Holy Spirit, and His grace that even the Priests and Levites under the Mosaic Law did not possess. I was once estranged from God because of my sin, but I have been brought near to God through Christ. Ephesians 2:13-18 reads, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father."
If Christ dwells in me and I in Him, I have not only a right but an obligation to pray thus: "LORD, you have said in your Word, "Ask of Me, and I will give You the heathen for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession." It is not gold and silver than I desire, or crowns or mansions, nor honour among men or angels. I do not deserve to eat the crumbs from your table, but you have adopted and numbered me among your precious children, even making me a co-heir with Jesus Christ! I ask that you give me the heathen for my inheritance, that many would come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved. May you receive the reward of your suffering through my testimony. Grant me saved souls by your grace! May you anoint me to go forth weeping, continually bearing seed for sowing that I may doubtless come again rejoining, bringing my sheaves with me." (Psalm 126:6)
When you see enemies of the Gospel or those tragically heading to eternal destruction, never see them as your enemies: they are your inheritance! Treasure their souls! Allow yourself to consider their condition and weep for their lack. Then supply the good seed of God's Word which will not return void. Sowing to the Spirit brings life everlasting.
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