December 7, 2010

2 Chronicles 7

“Our God is a consuming fire.” Abraham experienced it in the reiteration of the covenant in Gen. 15. He experienced it again when he saw Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed by fire rained from heaven. Moses and the Children of Israel experienced it as the pillar of fire led them out of Egypt and protected them from Pharaoh’s army. Solomon experienced it. The sacrifice was made, fire consumed it, and then the glory of God filled the tabernacle. Notice the order: sacrifice-fire-glory. God consumes sin. Then glory comes. Am I allowing His cleansing fire to purify me so that His glory may fill me—not for my benefit, but that others may see it and be drawn to Him? When His cleansing fire comes, it throws us to the ground for its magnitude weighs heavy upon us.

One would think that it would be an incredibly painful process; however, it appears that afterward it fills our hearts with joy. Look at what the people proclaimed, “He is good, For His mercy endures forever!” They repeated it several times. What was God’s reponse? He said that if they would humble themselves, and pray and seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways, then He would hear from heaven, and would forgive their sin and heal their land.” The principle is still true today. Let us repent for our God is a consuming fire. He will burn away our sin and receive us! Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

2 John

I remember my philosophy of ministry class. It was my first quarter in seminary. It is one of the few courses that I can remember the specific content with out having to get out the class notes. One thing the Prof drilled into us all quarter, which was the backbone of the class, is: Ministry is a blend of truth and love. Neither truth nor love can be sacrificed for the other. Neither is truly functioning without the other. God is constantly communicating truth to us. But when He does, He wraps it in a relationship of love. Even the Old Testament prophets, known for their fiery condemnation of the sin of the people balance their caustic condemnations with promise of God's love and forgiveness, if the people will repent. They are filled with the covenant love of Yahweh.

Jesus is the epitome of truth wrapped in love. It is so ironic that when Jesus told Pilate that all who are of the truth follow Him, Pilate cynically responded, "What is truth?" The eternal truth was standing in front of him wrapped in flesh. That flesh was the visible manifestation of God saying, "I love you." The truth is that God is holy and despises sin. But He is also love. He doesn't just over look sin. His holiness will not allow that. He destroys sin. But it is His love that motivated Him to take our place when He destroyed sin. It is His glory to reveal truth while He loves us. The result is that we are to do the same.

Sadly, we cannot seem to find the balance. I consider myself to be very conservative theologically. I believe the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God. Its inspiration extends to every word of its original penmanship right down to the very tenses. Its right interpretation is crucial to hearing the mind of God. Yet, all too occasionally, when walking in circles of people who believe as I do, I get a sense from them that they enjoy using the truth as a sledge hammer with which to bludgeon people. They seem to lack any love or grace. On the other hand, when walking in circles of people who don't view the Bible as being final truth, their positions on different moral issues are so anemic that they make a mockery of love.

Jesus blends them perfectly. He welcomes the sinner. He says to the sinner, "I love you." But He does not ignore the sin. He destroys the sin without destroying the repentant sinner and then says to him/her, "Go and sin no more." He does not hide truth to destroy sin. He exposes truth to destroy sin. Then He calls us to do the same. Isn't He beautiful? Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John