What if

What if I began to be mesmerized by beauty? 

What if I adored the adorable? 

What if I loved the lovable? 

In this way what if my love grew more and more, until finally 

it overflowed and I could love the unlovable too?

What would happen if I started with the most lovable and spilled down from there? 

If I watered others with grace and love, flowing down from the Source, from the Spring, from the Fountain -

God? 

God is love. 

What if I start with loving God? 

From there I would have a strong foundation on which to stand. 

From that strong foundation of love to God I would be able to reach out and 

to love even those who do not love me in return; 

because the source of my love is not found in their love for me, 

which can be fickle or nonexistent, 

but in God's love for me, which is infinite and neverending. 

We rely so much on equal parts in a relationship. 

We give only as much as we get, and no more. 

What if I gave more? 

What if I ventured into the unknown?

What if I exhausted myself in loving others, 

poured myself out in showing others the beauty and mercy of 

the Beautiful Merciful One? 

What if I cared nothing for what I received in return, 

only what I could give?

Why am I so afraid? 

I want to grip the hands of my Father in heaven and let him twirl me around, 

lift me into the air and set me down in a different place - 

a place that might even be precarious, were it not for 

his steady hands holding me tight. 

If I stand on the brink. 

If I take a deep breath. 

If I plunge in. 

What then?

Thunderstorms

I am deeply in love with thunderstorms.

I miss them in winter, so much so that I have to go to rainymood.com to soothe the absence.

I am unsure why I love thunderstorms so much, but I imagine it must have something to do with the fact that I've always equated them with God.

I remember being little, shorter than the counter tops, hearing the thunder, seeing the lightning. During particularly close, forceful storms, every time the lighting flashed my siblings and I would say, "Wow!" and wait for the thunderclap, counting the seconds.

My Mom would point us to God, his power, his authority over creation, and his compassion for us. We would discuss the science of storms, and the Source of them, so I did not feel fear, but fascination.

The rain and thunder represent compassion and strength, bringing life, and humility. I am nothing compared to a thunderstorm; the thunderstorm is nothing compared to its Creator. The lightning flashes, the rain pours, and the thunder booms out of some necessity to praise the God of the heavens and the earth.

I hear you, thunderstorm, and I love you deeply. 

You remind me of my Heavenly Father, who loves me deeply. 

Welcome back.

The Tip of a Pen

I saw this video over at The Rabbit Room. You can go look at their website, because they have a ton of amazing, wonderful things posted every day.

This video is so very, very worth watching.
Then, if you want to, check out the artist's website. 

mindful of God

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. (1 Peter 2:19-20)

Imagine having a conscience so "impressed and governed by the idea of God" that you endure every sorrow and unjust suffering. That is what it means to be mindful. 

"a gracious thing". This gives me hope because God does not trivialize our suffering. God knows when we suffer unjustly. It's not as though he doesn't see it. He does. It is a gracious thing in the sight of God to endure unjust suffering. God sees our suffering. He might bring us out of it, he might provide a way of escape, but more often I think he provides a way to endure. He gives strength so that we may go on, and he will turn every sorrow into joy beyond imagining. I am confident that, some day, he will smile down on me and say, "Do you remember when you suffered unjustly? I do. I saw your tears. I saw your confusion. I saw also that you trusted in me, and you knew I was with you even if you didn't always feel it. Well done." 

God sees everything. He sees when we go through atrocious things, and he sees when we jump for joy through the great times. He sees when we lie face down on the floor, weeping until we can't even make a sound anymore but the tears are still coming. He sees when we laugh until we can't even make a sound anymore and the tears are streaming. God knows when we suffer and when we celebrate. He knows when we're hurting and when we're humiliated. He knows when we're restored in Christ and when we rejoice despite the shame, carrying our crosses, taking step by step, ignoring the bruising of our feet and the slivers in our backs, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. 

I want to have a mind full of God. The more I know him, the more I want to know more of him. He is beautiful, and faithful, and merciful and gracious. These characteristics I have attributed to him from the time I can remember, but as I walk through life I see the actual, personal nature of these attributes more and more. It's not just that God is merciful and gracious; he is merciful to me, every day. He is gracious to me, every moment. God is not abstract, he is very much present, very much personal... and I want to be mindful of him.

Render unto Him what is due

Paul has rights from the Corinthians. As an apostle and spiritual father, he had the right to support from the Corinthian believers. He mentions this in chapter 9 of 1 Corinthians: this is a command that goes back to the Old Testament. Do not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain. Paul asks them, is it really about oxen? Is it not about preachers of the Word, those who give their lives in service to other people? Render unto these men what is their due!

Paul goes on to say, if the Corinthians were to give, to support him voluntarily, that would be rewarding in itself. Yet if they were to do it involuntarily, begrudgingly, they would still only be doing what they should.

Paul likens this to his own ministry before God.

You see, Paul had the right to demand support, yet he did not take advantage of that right. This does not negate the existence of his right - it just means that he did not take what was his. In preaching the gospel, Paul says he was simply discharging the trust committed to him. He was a steward of God's grace, preaching the gospel because it was his duty. If he had preached the gospel begrudgingly, he would have been doing what was required of him; he preached the gospel willingly, and gladly, and so it was rewarding. 

To me, this goes for everything we do as believers, whether service, worship, or belief. If we believe the right thing about God, we're only doing what we are supposed to do. If we use up every breath in praise of God, we're only rendering unto God that which is His due. If we spend all our energy in glorifying God, we are not doing anything above and beyond our duty as human beings.

We are so fickle, we demand rewards for the tiniest service, thinking we did something great for God, something for which He now owes us. We forget that we are created to be God-glorifying image-bearers, whose sole purpose is to render to God the praise due His name. Anything we do for God is a thing we ought to have been doing anyway. Any praise we give is praise we were supposed to give.

The beautiful thing here is that God's grace is in this. Just as Paul preached because it was his duty, yet received a reward because he did it willingly, so too will we receive a reward. God is pleased with our attempts to glorify Him. We will hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant." We will receive the prize because we've run the race, looking to Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of our faith. Praising God through our actions and thoughts, through our work and word, is reward enough in itself, for it satisfies our deepest reality as God's image-bearers - yet above and beyond that God will bless us beyond measure, for He will satisfy us with great things. God has already proven His own character through Christ Jesus - He has given us what we did not deserve, what we did not earn.

All praise to Him who reigns above
In majesty supreme,
Who gave His Son for man to die,
That He might man redeem!

Blessed be the Name,
Blessed be the Name,
Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
Blessed be the Name,
Blessed be the Name,
Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

His name above all names shall stand,
Exalted more and more,
At God the Father's own right hand,
Where angel hosts adore.

Redeemer, Saviour, Friend of man,
Once ruined by the Fall,
Thou has devised salvation's plan,
For Thou hast died for all.

David's characteristics

One of the young men answered, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the LORD is with him.” (1 Samuel 16:18)

Those are some pretty fantastic compliments. David's reputation was a grand one, even in his youth.

1) Skillful in playing --- David appreciated beauty as from God. He devoted time to learning an instrument, to playing well. He was diligent, faithful and artistic.

2) A man of valour --- David had a reputation for bold courage. He fought bears and lions, protecting his father's flocks. He did not shrink in the face of adversity. He knew from whence his strength came.

3) a man of war --- David fought to uphold what God had declared right, true, and beautiful.

4) prudent in speech --- David had wisdom, reining in the fires of his tongue. He knew when to speak, and when to keep silent.

5) a man of good presence --- Most notes on this say this means David was handsome and rugged, having beautiful eyes (1 Samuel 16:12). I wonder if his eyes are mentioned because they reflected some of his inner joy and delight in the God of his salvation.

6) the Lord is with him --- This is perhaps the greatest characteristic, the one towards which all the other ones tend. A man who is faithful to God will take joy in the beauty God has given; will courageously stand for what God declares to be truth, and will fight to uphold it; will speak wisely and watch that his tongue does not control him; and these qualities will make him handsome. Just as for women, where the inward adorning is the most important, where the heart is what makes her beautiful, so it is with men, and so it was with David.

 Most importantly, though, this shows the grace of God in David's life. David may have been talented, courageous, thoughtful, artistic and handsome, but all this was nothing compared to the fact that God graciously chose him, and called David a man after His own heart. It wasn't because of David's characteristics that God was with him; it was because of God's merciful presence that David's characteristics were so noteworthy.

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD. You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord GOD! And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord GOD! Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. Therefore you are great, O LORD God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. (2 Samuel 7:18-22 ESV)

Believers: according to Philippians: part two

Partakers

The word for partakers is sygkoinōnós, which means a close companion or joint-sharer. It is amazing to think that we are not merely an audience, not passively watching grace, but that we are active accomplices, having fellowship with all believers through the Spirit. We are the hands and feet of Christ, serving one another out of reverence for Jesus. When Paul uses this word in Philippians, he is referencing the Philippians' willingness to share Paul's suffering and shame. You know a close companion when they stand by you in the worst of times, not just the best of times.

Brothers, Beloved, Children of God

These profound familial terms ignite our theology, bringing the truths of God's Word to light through relationship. Through His death, Christ has caused us to be born again, born into adoption. We are the children of God. To be adopted in Christ is an eternal and glorious relational aspect of our salvation. We are more than believers; we are beloved, loved by God as a father loves his children. We are co-heirs with Christ. Think about these mercies! I can barely understand them.

Not only does salvation affect our relationship with God, but it also changes how we fellowship with one another. Believers are brothers, united as the family of God, given new life and new purpose in Christ Jesus. We grow together in sanctification, love, joy, suffering, and everything else.

Lights in the world

As lights in the world, we shine brightly. We are not under baskets. We don't hide away, but rather declare the glories of Christ Jesus through the way we live and through what we say. How can we distinguish between what we say and how we live? It shouldn't be possible. If our "yes" really means "no", then there is something wrong. We are to live as lights in the world, shining the gospel of Christ into even the darkest corners. 

Citizens of heaven
We belong to the God of heaven, not the prince of the power of the air, nor this present darkness. We are sojourners here, living for Christ in the midst of our journey home. Our citizenry is with Christ, for we are seated with Him in the heavenly places, kept for, by, and through Jesus as we await the final day, the day when the "worst vacation ever" has come to an end.

Paul reminds the Philippians of many things in his short letter. I pray they've encouraged you as they did me. 

Believers: according to Philippians - part one

When reading through Scripture, you can find many different titles for believers. The term, "Christian" only shows up a few times, yet believers are referenced quite often, especially in the New Testament. Reading through Philippians I came across many different titles given among believers. Some are specific titles, such as "servants", used in Paul's introduction, as well as the titles of overseer and deacon. However, I think we can expand upon these titles in general. 

According to Philippians, we are

Servants

As I said, Paul uses this in his introduction: 

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, (Philippians 1:1)

However, this is not exclusive to Paul. John, Peter, Jude and James all refer to themselves in the same way. In light of that, I think it is appropriate that we follow their example in proclaiming our servanthood to Christ. I am a servant of Christ. What does this mean? This means my life is not my own. I have been bought with the price of Christ's precious blood. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. My whole life is lived in devotion to Christ, or that at least is what I strive to do. I want to live my life according to Christ's will and by His word. I want to grow in love for God as well as for those whom He has created, glorifying God through selfless ministry. I want Christ to live through me. In light of that, I am His servant. 

Saints

Again from verse one:

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: (Philippians 1:1)

Believers are often referred to as saints in the New Testament. This is a declaration of our state in Christ: by His sacrifice, by His substitution, by His atonement and redemption, we have been pronounced pure and blameless, without blemish. We have been clothed in Christ's righteousness. We have been given new life in Christ Jesus. We are saints - set apart, holy unto the Lord. This one is difficult to understand, because it is wrapped up in the mystery of salvation. Yet we can know that this is how God sees us. He sees us through Christ, perfect, blameless, holy, redeemed. To be declared a saint is a glorious concept, and it is the reality for believers. 

Overseers and Deacons

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: (Philippians 1:1)

This does not refer to all believers, but to a specific group of men who are set apart within the believing community. These are elders, those who "supervise" the flock of God, who check the gospel pulse of the church. They keep watch, guarding against apostasy, guarding against the onslaught of the devil. They provide personal protection and care for believers. Deacons "kick up the dust" in ministry, serving the church in more practical, day-to-day-serving ways. Overseers have a great responsibility, and I think it is important for believers to pray for elders and deacons in their church. However, I think every believer can watch and guard against false teaching. We can all protect and care for one another through fellowship and prayer, and we can all certainly serve one another - in fact, we are called to do that very thing in Hebrews, stirring one another up to good works (Hebrews 10:24). 

Partners

All believers share things in common. Though we can disagree, though we can have many denominations and many different interpretations of any given Bible passage, we are bound together and unified in Christ Jesus. We share a fellowship through Christ. He is the unifier. He breaks down the walls of hostility and unites all peoples.

Always by grace

In reading through Deuteronomy, you find that God never gave any indication to the Israelites that they could be righteous on their own. In fact He made it quite clear they were not.

The Israelites could look at any point in their history and see how rebellious, how stiff-necked, how idolatrous they were. They were not God's people because they were love-able. Rather, just like believers today, they were God's people because He sovereignly set His love upon them (Deuteronomy 7-11).

For the Israelites, keeping the Law of God as He laid it down was a stipulation of the relationship they had by His grace. Their obedience would not result in God's relationship with them; rather, their obedience was the result of the relationship! It is the same for us today. We in Christ are given commands - whether from the "one anothers" to the commands to walk in a certain way, to the putting off, to the putting on. We have commandments and instructions given to us even in the "New Testament" church. These commandments (and following them) are the result of the relationship and the love we have for our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. 

Because the reality is, God has revealed Himself to us. He has given us a relationship with Himself. He has done everything necessary to ensure this relationship. Now, within this relational reality lie aspects of the relationship, and God has always required certain things of those to whom He gives Himself. The things that are required of us do not save us. Neither did they save the Israelites. Salvation has always been by grace through faith, as a gift of God. God bestows His mercy and love in spite of the rebellion of His people.

Know, therefore, that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people. (Deuteronomy 9:6)

You have been rebellious against the LORD from the day that I knew you. (Deuteronomy 9:24)

The Israelites were plainly given the truth. They were not a special people for any reason other than that the God Who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love sovereignly set His favour upon them, for the sake of His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - men whom He also loved entirely because of His own sovereign favour! 

Yet the LORD set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day. (Deuteronomy 10:15)

God has always been as He is now: merciful, gracious, ready and willing to save. He has always given Himself in the place of others. He has always redeemed a people, a remnant unworthy to be redeemed. It has always been by the grace in Christ Jesus, the promised Messiah, the Seed of the woman Who would crush the serpent's head and lead us into repentance, restoration and redemption. 

This relationship, then, carries forward into what the Lord requires of us. This is seen in many other places in Scripture, notably Micah 6:8 (among many others), but we can actually stay in Deuteronomy. From chapter seven until now there has been something of an historical lecture, a telling and retelling of Israel's history, outlining the powerful works God accomplished for their sake. Now we come to the command: 

You shall therefore love the LORD your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his rules, and his commandments always.(Deuteronomy 11:1)

Remember that a "therefore" links back to what has been said, so this essentially means something like this: 

Because God has set his love on His people, not because of them, for they are rebellious and stubborn, but because of Himself, for He is gracious and merciful, therefore you should respond in love. God loves you, not for your own loveliness, but by His own grace. God has done everything for you. You are His child because He has adopted you. You are His treasure because He has treasured you. You are His workmanship because He has worked in you. It is not because of you. God has given you a clean heart, a right spirit, open eyes and ears, and most of all, Himself. In light of all this, your only response is loving Him, keeping His charge, statutes, rules, and commandments, for this is the way to deepening your relationship with the God Who loved you from eternity past because He chose to love you, not because you were worthy of His love.

All these principles, of course, culminate and come to full realization in Christ Jesus. Yet I think it is important to understand that Christ Jesus was God from eternity, so His promises and His redemptive acts existed from eternity. God has always worked by grace. 

The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness (Exodus 34:6)

More precious than gold

Faith is a curious thing.

It is supposed to be the word that explains the believer's utter confidence in God, believing in His Word and promises despite tribulations sweeping in from all sides.

Funny then, that sometimes I have faith in my faith instead of having faith in God. Faith becomes the focus. God is out of the picture. If I just believe enough, things will turn out okay. If I am simply sufficiently confident, God will hear me. I focus on what I must do, rather than what God has done. I see my present instead of His past.

Faith doesn't look at itself. It looks at Jesus. I am weak. I doubt. I am often not at all confident. Faith means saying, "Jesus has promised me eternal salvation. He has promised that no one will snatch me out of His or the Father's hand. He has redeemed me." Faith isn't about merely being confident; it's about being confident that Jesus is mighty to save. That's why I believe faith is a gift of God. I can't muster up faith. It is given and grown in me because God keeps His promises. He has never failed me, even in all my distress. My doubts and weaknesses are not a result of His failure to accomplish His purposes, but my failure to remind myself of His consistent grace.

"'At first sight,' says Goldingay, 'the belief that God is behind the trouble that comes to us is a frightening doctrine: what kind of a God is this, whose purpose includes so much distress? But the alternative-a God whose purpose is continually being frustrated by evil-is even more frightening. Better a God whose mystery we cannot understand (but who has given us grounds for trusting when we cannot understand) than one whose adequacy we cannot rely on, or whose interest we cannot be sure of.'' (Quoted by Sam Storms in More Precious Than Gold: 50 Daily Meditations on the Psalms)

God's power

I do not like deep water.

I can swim, but I prefer solid ground beneath me.

If I am forced to swim, I like seeing the bottom. As soon as it gets a little bit shadowed or dark, I begin to imagine that some deep-sea (or deep-lake) monster is going to rush up and grab me, dragging me down into the pressurized darkness, cracking all my bones. Deep water makes me nervous.

The monstrous, roiling waves, capable of overpowering the greatest of ships constructed by man, capable of destroying cities, of overturning houses, of pummeling rock to sand to be lapped up against the shore...this grand, terrifying body is subjected to the God I call Father.

Wow.

Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
have gone over me.
(Psalm 42:7, emphasis mine)

I am not comforted by the sea. Yet I am comforted by the fact that the sea is God's sea. The waterfalls are God's waterfalls. The deep that calls to deep, the deep that thunders nervousness in my chest, is the deep that answers to the Creator's call.

When life sends wave after wave of trial and trouble at me, I know that these waves are not battering me in spite of God's attempts to protect me.

God is sending the waves.

And God is protecting me.

God will bring me through what He has in store for me, even if my journey consists of travelling down to the pressurized darkness of the deep. Even if I cannot see the bottom, even if I cannot see the end in sight, I will praise God, because He holds me, and the waves answer to Him.

• 
  

Sanctification

Music is an interesting thing.

There are so many types, styles, and preferences in music. It is such a broad creature, known by all. Composers throughout the years have tried to express in notes what they feel in their soul. Their message is lasting. Music written three hundred years ago can still speak to me.

The process of learning one of these songs takes a long time. When I started playing an Invention by J. S. Bach, I knew I was horrible. I am still horrible, but at least my ability to keep going has improved. My fingers are catching up with my brain. Still, it is slow work. It doesn't sound so great in some places. I get a bit mixed up (Bach was a genius when it came to writing things that are mind-exploding complex). I find that as I have practiced, as I have played it again and again and again, it is slowly becoming the beautiful thing it was composed to be. I look forward to the day when I can play it through, start to finish, at the perfect tempo, with every dynamic nuance just right, every slur slurred and every staccato staccatoed.

I'm not there yet, but I will be.

People are interesting things, too. God works in His people to bring out what He created them to be. Sanctification is always called a process: the process by which God makes us holy and we live in holiness. It is the state of purity and of purification.

The elect exiles in the Dispersion were reminded by Peter of the fact that God had them in a process. Their exile was not the end. It was the time between, the practice period. God was leading them more and more toward the fullness of His purpose. In the Spirit, they were being progressively transformed by the Lord into His likeness (biblos.com calls it "similarity in nature").

As I walk through life, I realize that right now I am not what I ought to be. I do not sound exactly correct. The Composer of my life sees that I play some notes incorrectly, that I slur what ought not to be slurred, that I am loud when I ought to be piano, that I am soft when I ought to be fortissimo. 


I look forward to the day when, in Christ Jesus, I will be exactly what God has created me to be. I will be what He has promised. Until that day, I practice.

"Any notion of our own attainments which could lead us for a moment to speak of what we are with any degree of complacency is only rubbish. For my own part, I desire constantly to stand at the foot of the cross, with no other testimony concerning myself than this -


"I the chief of sinners am,
But Jesus died for me." 


Personal holiness is to be sought for with all our hearts, and it can only be obtained by faith in Jesus Christ - by simple faith in him. He gives us power to overcome sin through his precious blood; but, depend upon it, the moment we conclude that we have overcome, and can say what Paul could not say - that he had attained and was already perfect - we are in an evil case. Our pride has overpowered our judgment, and we are fools." ~ Spurgeon

According to the foreknowledge of God the Father

Sometimes God does things in a way I would not have anticipated. He moves in mysterious ways, indeed. It seems odd to me that God would send His people into a dispersion, for instance, but He has purposes beyond my knowledge.

When I reflect on my life, I realize that basically everything about it is different from what I imagined fifteen or more years ago. From the time I could remember, I was certain that by this time my life would look a whole lot different than it actually looks right now. I can look back on old journals and read my prayers, see my focus, and know that I do not know the thoughts of the Lord. I do not understand His plan (Micah 4:12).

Sometimes it is difficult to rest in the knowledge that God has the knowledge. I want to know. I want to proceed in the way that I have determined is the best for me. God says, "Ah, stubborn child..." (Isaiah 30:1)

On a much greater scale, I'm sure that the elect exiles mentioned in 1 Peter 1:1 sometimes wished they knew what was going on, where their life was headed. They probably struggled with being dispossessed, living in a foreign land, not knowing what tomorrow would bring. They may have thought about how different their life was compared to what they imagined it would be. Peter reminded them about the foreknowledge of God the Father. I so need to remind myself of this, all the time!

God knows where you are.
God hears your distress.
God knows the plans He has for you, even when you do not.
God has not forgotten you.
God delights to answer your prayers.

In life, whether exiled or living out a life you didn't plan, rest in God's plan. My life may look different right now from what I would have imagined, but I can see that the Lord guides me in the way that I need to go. He has led me the best way. He has led me in the way that I needed to go.

For you are my rock and my fortress;
and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;
(Psalm 31:3)

Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!
(Psalm 43:3)

No Regrets?

Recently I read a quote from a grand ol' theologian who lived quite a number of years ago. In general, I love to read what he wrote. His words are a blessing and an exhortation. 
However, this particular quote gave me some pause. It said something to this effect:
"Let us strive to have no regrets on our deathbed." 
I know I will have regrets on my deathbed. I just will. I will regret not being braver, of saying nothing when I ought to have said something - or saying something when I ought to have said nothing at all. I will regret that I let opportunities pass by. I will regret that I have not loved as deeply or truthfully as I could have. I will regret every time I was unjustifiably angry. I will perhaps regret, as Andrew Fuller did on his own deathbed, that I will not have enough strength left to worship God. 
But it's not about my regrets. 
Life is not about being able to lay down your head for the last time and say, "I'm happy with what I've done and been." 
Life - and death - are about Christ Jesus. It is about what He has done for me. 
I will have regrets. Yet all my regrets will be demolished by this one thought: 
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! (1 Corinthians 15:57)
All my regrets are washed and overcome by my Saviour. As I lay dying, if I am not taken swiftly, I hope that my mind will not dwell on what I have accomplished (or failed to accomplish). I hope my mind will be dwelling on my Jesus, praising Him for His gift of salvation, and smiling upon the last few moments of life that are all that remains between me and seeing His face. 

L.I.S.T.E.N.

I have a love/hate relationship with acrostics. I love them like I love salad. Occasionally you get a salad that is as close to perfect as salad can go. Usually, I am not the one who has made it. The lettuce is delicious and crisp, the tomatoes are juicy and actually have flavour beyond that of cardboard, the olive oil is light, just flavourful enough without being overpowering and bitter. On the flip side, you can get salads where the lettuce is all limp and brown, and there's really nothing good to go on the lettuce. So basically it's not a salad. It's a lettuce. And it's gross.

While I have a slight fascination with acrostics, I'm not very good at making them. Kind of like salad.

I've been thinking lately on what it means to listen. Naturally, I made an acrostic of it.

Listen:

Love

Inquire

Sympathize

Turn

Encourage/Exhort

Nurture

Love

The whole law of God is summed up in loving Him with our whole being, and loving our neighbour as ourselves. I would not imagine listening to anyone without love being the foundation of the interaction. Often we find ourselves listening to things that we do not necessarily wholly agree with, and therefore the definition of love from 1 Corinthians 13 is applicable to listening as much as to every other situation. I would say that patience is especially important when listening.

All too often I'd prefer not to listen. I'd sooner jump in with my own conclusions, or the solution to the problem, even if I don't really know what the problem actually is. I want to fix things. I want to connect the dots. Love means taking the time to truly listen, to patiently hear, to understand. God truly listens to us, because He loves us. We know that when we pray to God, He hears our cry. He inclines to us. Do we incline to others?

Inquire

I would suggest that listening often leads to questions. When you are listening, questions spring up to help you delve deeper into the issue, to get at the root of the problem. In order to do that, you have to pay attention. Listening means you do not let your attention wander. You focus, so that you can understand all the particulars, and inquire as to the things that you don't quite understand. Jesus always asked the important questions. He got down to the bottom of things. He remained focused on the true issue, not on the rabbit trails that could develop through the conversation.

Sympathize

If you truly listen, you do not remain aloof and indifferent to the struggles of others. You feel, as best you can, what they do. You put yourself in their place in order to grasp the truth of the situation. Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses. He knows us. He is tender and gentle with us. He knows our frame. He is so careful, in every sense of the word. Are we careful with others?

Turn

Turn the conversation back to what is most important: Christ Jesus. As you listen, keep your mind on the gospel, on how God has spoken His healing (and admonishment) upon a given situation. Remind the hurting of the hope in Jesus. Remind the joyful of the ultimate source of their joy. Give praise to God, cry out to God, lead to God even as you listen. Point back to the Beloved Son. Listen to Him.

Encourage/Exhort

Listening is an encouragement all by itself. For the person relating their struggles, it is an encouragement to know that someone is hearing them, walking with them. Don't leave them to flounder in self-pity. Be there. Speak the truth. I find so much comfort when I pour out my heart to my Saviour, because I know that He listens and hears every word by His grace. I have nothing special or spectacular to say. My words are often small, weak, and pitiful. I repeat myself, carry on with the same old, same old. Yet, God never tires of my repetition. He speaks His words of love, His words of rebuke, His good news over and over to my heart, spreading the balm of grace all over my wounded soul.

Sometimes, when you are listening, there comes a time for you to speak up and admonish, to rebuke. This, too, should be done in love, with a mind toward a deeper understanding of the truth. People tend to share so that you will communicate. Now, this is not always the case - sometimes people merely want you to listen - but be prepared to respond. This also requires you to focus on what they are saying.

Nurture

Cultivate your relationship through communication. Seek something deeper. Point to Christ. Seek a furtherance of trust and understanding, of wisdom and resting together in the grace of God. Jump in. Go deep. Jesus never stayed on the surface. He went straight to the heart. He was always refreshingly real. He always listened, and He always will listen.

O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.

Daniel 9:18

Answering questions from a friend

A friend of mine asked me some questions in response to my previous blog post. Since the questions are good, I thought I'd make another blog post out of it. Not that they're usually bad... ;)

If salvation cannot be lost then why did he say: “depart from Me, I never knew you!”

This is found in Matthew 7, where Jesus is finishing up His sermon on the mount.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23 ESV)

The implications of this can be quite scary. First of all, there are those who perform great and mighty works who have not truly put their faith in Christ Jesus. This is scary for more than one reason - not only are these people deceiving themselves, but it is possible, in light of Matthew 7:15-20, that these are influential people who could be leading others astray along with them.

The one concern I do not have is that this shows a possibility of losing salvation. The main reason for that is found in Jesus' words.

"I never knew you..."

The very idea of Jesus never having known them proves that they were never saved, for elsewhere Jesus has said:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:27-28 ESV, emphasis mine)

Jesus knows His people. Believers have a family relationship with God. Through Christ we can cry, "Abba, Father!" This is talking about an intimate, close knowledge, far beyond speaking of God's omniscience. This is more personal. It is talking about first-hand relationship and perception.

For Jesus to say "I never knew you" implies that these people were never of His flock.

Also what is sin and what isn't?

Sin is not being or doing what God requires, or doing what God forbids. It is sin when God says "do this", and we say "I will not!" It is sin when God says "do not do this", and we say "I will, rather!" When we go against His character and command, when we go against what we ought to be, when we do not love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and love our neighbour as ourselves, it is sin.

Sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4). Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin (Romans 14:23). Failing to do what we know to be right is sin (James 4:17).

Is everything enjoyable sinful?

Certainly not, although we can most definitely enjoy things that are sinful. However, God made us with the ability (and need) to enjoy. God created beauty, and we are meant to enjoy it; He created relationships, and we are meant to enjoy them. The beauty of such things is corrupted and broken down from its original intent, but that does not mean that we may not enjoy what is enjoyable.

Specifically in relationships, people can certainly enjoy them sinfully, and yet there are relationships that are God-glorifying and most certainly enjoyable, and I would not say the enjoyment is sinful.

Are all altruistic behaviors grace?

I would say so, although altruism does not necessarily prove salvation (or the lack of it). All through the Bible there is mention of God being the giver of all things. It is most clearly seen in Acts 17:25:

...nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. (Acts 17:25 ESV)

More to the point, though, I would say altruistic behaviours in people find their source in the character of God, for He is the Source of all good things, and selfless acts are understood universally to be good. God has created us in His own image, and so we do bear the marks of His character, stained though they may be.

Far beyond my own failing, pitiful altruism, I would emphasize that I most certainly find grace in what I consider to be the most supreme altruistic act, which was Christ Jesus giving Himself up on the cross as a propitiation for my sins, when He had committed no sins Himself. He bore the wrath and punishment reserved for me, and paid the price in full. Not only has He paid the price, but He has given me assurance in His promises that He will keep me forever, and no one is able to snatch me out of His hand. The heaviness of my sin (and, reading again what I wrote above about what sin is, it is quite the weight) is removed from my shoulders, and I am given joyful rest in Christ.

Concerning salvation

Straying is something Christians do. We fail, we fall, we rebel, we stray. We are not sinless.

Some would say that straying can lead to loss of salvation.

Yet, in the profound mystery of grace, we are viewed as sinless in Christ Jesus. His blood has washed away our sins. His death has brought us life. By His stripes we were healed. God does not see us as sinful anymore. He views us through Christ. So to lose our salvation, not only would we have to withdraw from God, but God would have to withdraw from us. He would have to withdraw all of His promises, and view our rebellion apart from Christ Jesus. Yet it must be asked: if Christ died once and for all for all those who put their faith in Him, then wouldn't any unbelief/rebellion/rejecti​on (sins) committed by a straying Christian be covered by His blood? So wouldn't any Christian, having once been Christian, even if they wanted to leave the faith, still go to heaven by Christ's merit? Whether a man lives his life in relative goodness, or lives a life of debauchery, Christ must still pay the redemption price. It is only by the sacrifice of Christ Jesus that we are viewed as righteous, and the blood of Jesus washes away all the believer's sins.

It would seem to me that Christians who stray would be treated like Peter jumping out of the boat. Christ saved Peter, and asked "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Despite Peter's doubting, Jesus saved him. Peter believed in Jesus. He did not have perfect faith in order to stay afloat, but Jesus does not rely on the perfection of our faith in order to act on our behalf. He is, after all, the Perfecter Himself. He completes and gives what we cannot produce.

The concept of secure salvation ties in to all of life. It gives me confidence to go forward in life and faith and ministry, knowing that Christ Jesus keeps me. My efforts have a foundation of grace. I don't have to worry that what I do is not enough - of course it is not enough. Jesus doesn't expect "enough" from us. He has given us everything. He has promised us everything. So taking the gospel, receiving the gospel, preaching the gospel, keeping the gospel, are all things that we do in very failing measures. We often go against God's Word. We often sin. We often fail to do what is required of us.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, gave up His Son. Because of Christ's propitiation, we are safe and secure. By the guarantee of the Holy Spirit, I can cry tears of joy, not worry, knowing that He keeps me, failure that I am. It gives me hope, and it most certainly gives me rest, but it also gives me enthusiasm to go forward for Christ's sake, because He owns and keeps my life, because my inheritance is kept in heaven by God, imperishable, undefiled and unfading.

Just Believing in Myself? No Thanks

Some people say that to succeed in anything, you just have to believe in yourself.

I don't think that has ever worked for me, even once.

The reason such "positive thinking" fails is because I know myself. I know most of my failures and weaknesses, and no matter how much I tell myself "you can do this!", another part of me is saying "you probably can't".

Even if I believe in myself, to some degree I also believe in my failure. So it just doesn't work for me. Self-esteem fails strictly because it starts with "self".

Enter the people I love and respect. If I am heading toward something big, something nerve-wracking, and someone I admire tells me, "you can do this!", I believe them, because I believe they believe in me. It makes a world of difference to know they are rooting for me, more confident than I am that I will succeed. I am strengthened by their encouragement, support and presence.

That's also (in part) why God often encourages us with the words, "I am with you", or "My presence will go with you". When I remember and dwell upon the fact of God's presence with me, I am more confident to do anything than if I thought, "I am capable". Because the truth is, by myself I am incapable. Yet I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

"And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20

It gives me more confidence to know that God is with me, and that He is for me. What can be against me? He is by my side. What can man do to me? He loves me. What can the hatred of the world accomplish against me?

I don't believe in myself. I believe in God. The knowledge of His close presence and immanent relationship is my confidence and hope.

"Nevertheless, I am continually with You;

You hold my right hand."

The Rhythm is Changed

In Genesis 5 there is a rhythm. It sways back and forth through life and death. Look carefully:

"This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created. When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died.

When Seth had lived 105 years, he fathered Enosh. Seth lived after he fathered Enosh 807 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died.

When Enosh had lived 90 years, he fathered Kenan. Enosh lived after he fathered Kenan 815 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enosh were 905 years, and he died.

When Kenan had lived 70 years, he fathered Mahalalel. Kenan lived after he fathered Mahalalel 840 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Kenan were 910 years, and he died.

When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he fathered Jared. Mahalalel lived after he fathered Jared 830 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Mahalalel were 895 years, and he died.

When Jared had lived 162 years he fathered Enoch. Jared lived after he fathered Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died." (Genesis 5:1-20 ESV)

Do you see the swaying rhythm of the text? This chapter records the lives and deaths of all of these men from Adam to Jared. There is a clear, continuing theme running through them all.

Then it changes. The rhythm is broken.

"When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him." (Genesis 5:21-24 ESV)

What a fascinating departure! Enoch did not merely live; he walked with God in his life, and was taken up to be with God instead of dying, for he pleased God (Hebrews 11:5). For Enoch, living was walking with God. Enoch was almost obsessive. He was consumed by his relationship with God.

How I desire to be like that. To walk with God through every day. To really, really believe that to live is Christ, and to die is gain. To get lost in Christ instead of in the mundane. To take every moment as a gift from His hand. To breathe every breath in light of His mercy. To spend every second in the hope of His presence.

I don't merely want to live and die. I want to live for Christ, and die for Christ, standing firm on His promises and being a colander of His love, outpouring to others. I want to be a part of the genealogy from Enoch, to Noah...those who walked with God.

Chainless

Do you know what Christ did for you?

Do you know the cross He bore?

Do you know you are forgiven;

Purified, redeemed, restored?

Do you know why Jesus did that?

Why He came down from above?

Well, there is a simple answer:

He did it all because of love.

For love He took the many beatings

In love He wore the crown of thorns

For love He faced the hilltop, meeting

Wrath and separation; scorn

From men who did not understand

That He was dying in their stead.

In love He took the nails through hands

That healed the lame and raised the dead.

In love He cried, "Father, forgive them!"

In love He died and rose again.

So we come forward as His children

For He saved us from our sin.

Jesus Christ is Love Incarnate

Living Mercy, Mighty Grace

Apparently He thinks we're worth it;

Meager us! Finding a place

Adopted as the Father's children,

Washed and cleansed by Jesus! Free

From former stains and sin's destruction;

Chainless. Called to purity.