Proverbs 26
There is a vine in North Carolina and Oklahoma that is popularly called, ‘cat’s claw’. It has kind of a heart shaped leaf. The vine itself is very strong and hearty. It likes to grown in bushes and will eventually take over a bush. The only way to get rid of it is to dig up its roots. It is hard to disentangle from a bush because of its multitude of thorns, hence the nick name ‘cat’s claw’. I have received more than one prick while trying to disentangle a bush from the clutches of a cat’s claw. It is easier to get rid of it when it is first beginning to climb the bush. I suppose one could use it as a weapon to cut and tear the skin of an enemy. But only a fool would use it.
Verse 10 says, “The great God who formed everything gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.” This chapter is full of contrasts of fools and wise people, but this is the only verse that deals with the glory of God. As one scans the chapter for the folly of the fool it is easy to see many examples of fools in real life. At times in the past, I have been that fool. I pray that it is no longer so. Although, while I have been on vacation, I have to admit that I have been a little slow to turn on my bed. I like the companion (verse 9) comparison of the fool until I read some of the other translations. Wow, what a difference in meaning! Anyway a fool attempts to use his foolishness to satisfy himself, never understanding that God will eventually bring his foolishness back upon Himself.
Lord, You are the Great God who formed everything. Keep me from foolishness and foolish living. Let my wages be the wages of wisdom. I need Your empowerment in this. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
June 25
Proverbs 25
I am on vacation in North Carolina, visiting my son, daughter-in-law and grandson. There is something about traveling, whether it is across the state, across the country to North Carolina, or across the world to Mongolia, that reminds me of how small I am. In the midst of the travel I must struggle to traverse the vast distances, but the distances are mere trifles in comparison to the vast distances of creation. In the midst of travel I encounter fantastic variety of information in different species, and am reminded that my Creator thought it all through. I am overwhelmed how He holds it all together.
Friday I was bitten by something, an insect, a spider; I don’t know. My arm is swollen and extremely itchy. The bite mark is hard in the center and oozing. I checked the internet for types of possible spider bites. Purportedly there are not brown recluses in this area of the USA. The only antihistamine that I have with me is Claritin. It seems to briefly help the swelling, hardness and itching, but it wears off quickly. I began thinking about the extreme complexity involved in the chemistry of a spider bite and other chemicals of the body. It is indeed a matter which is wholly hidden to us. Yet God has designed it all both in its creation and its curse. He has concealed this matter.
Why does God conceal a matter? Indeed most of creation is matters which are hidden to us. The question sounds almost as if He is trying to hide something. Rather I think it is that He is so far greater than us in knowledge, power and virtue (infinitely so), and we are so far under Him that it appears that He has concealed all of these things. We will be infinitely studying matters which He has concealed (because He is infinite) and we will never exhaust the mysteries which He created or concealed. The ultimate mystery is Himself, the love that exists in the Godhead, and the marriage of the Son and His bride. That is His glory.
But there is another glory! It is the glory of kings to reveal what God has hidden. There is one King, the King of Kings, who reveals what God is like. The one who has seen Him, has seen the Father. The one who finds Him, finds the way to the Father. The one who knows Him, knows the Truth. The one who obtains Him, obtains life for the Father has granted Him to have life in Himself. The one who has Him has the perfect exegesis of the One is above all else. That is the glory of the Lord Jesus. He is both the one who conceals all things as their creator, as well as the one who makes everything known. That is part of his glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
I am on vacation in North Carolina, visiting my son, daughter-in-law and grandson. There is something about traveling, whether it is across the state, across the country to North Carolina, or across the world to Mongolia, that reminds me of how small I am. In the midst of the travel I must struggle to traverse the vast distances, but the distances are mere trifles in comparison to the vast distances of creation. In the midst of travel I encounter fantastic variety of information in different species, and am reminded that my Creator thought it all through. I am overwhelmed how He holds it all together.
Friday I was bitten by something, an insect, a spider; I don’t know. My arm is swollen and extremely itchy. The bite mark is hard in the center and oozing. I checked the internet for types of possible spider bites. Purportedly there are not brown recluses in this area of the USA. The only antihistamine that I have with me is Claritin. It seems to briefly help the swelling, hardness and itching, but it wears off quickly. I began thinking about the extreme complexity involved in the chemistry of a spider bite and other chemicals of the body. It is indeed a matter which is wholly hidden to us. Yet God has designed it all both in its creation and its curse. He has concealed this matter.
Why does God conceal a matter? Indeed most of creation is matters which are hidden to us. The question sounds almost as if He is trying to hide something. Rather I think it is that He is so far greater than us in knowledge, power and virtue (infinitely so), and we are so far under Him that it appears that He has concealed all of these things. We will be infinitely studying matters which He has concealed (because He is infinite) and we will never exhaust the mysteries which He created or concealed. The ultimate mystery is Himself, the love that exists in the Godhead, and the marriage of the Son and His bride. That is His glory.
But there is another glory! It is the glory of kings to reveal what God has hidden. There is one King, the King of Kings, who reveals what God is like. The one who has seen Him, has seen the Father. The one who finds Him, finds the way to the Father. The one who knows Him, knows the Truth. The one who obtains Him, obtains life for the Father has granted Him to have life in Himself. The one who has Him has the perfect exegesis of the One is above all else. That is the glory of the Lord Jesus. He is both the one who conceals all things as their creator, as well as the one who makes everything known. That is part of his glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Friday, June 22, 2012
June 22
Proverbs 22
“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.“ What does it mean to be rich or poor. Recently in our Getting Ahead circles, we have from time to time mentioned that poverty is not always economic poverty. There are many kinds of poverty other than economic. There is emotional poverty, spiritual poverty, relational poverty, family poverty, intellectual poverty. You can probably think of a few other types of poverty. Just as there are many types of poverty, there are also many types of riches. I remember one time, when I was very young (at least under 6), asking my mother if we were rich. I had never had any memory of not having something which we needed. She gave a very perceptive but non-committal answer, “Some would say we are. What does it mean to be rich?” I was too young to understand the question, much less give a good answer. Looking back on it, of course my question was in relation to financial poverty. My parents were always able to give us what we needed, if not what we wanted. Is that rich? At least 1/3 of the 7 billion people in the world would say so. It was before Johnson’s war on poverty, and I suspect that we would have been ranked at just barely above the poverty level of the USA.
I learned from watching how they lived (raise up a child) that a good name is to be chosen rather than riches. I know that from 1981 through 1994, if you look at my Social Security records, it would reveal that my income was below the U.S. government’s standard for poverty for a household of four. But I was more interested in choosing to follow the Lord than to pursue financial riches. Many of those years we would have been eligible for food stamps and other government programs. There was only one government program which we used, WIC. Why? We wanted our Father to be our primary care giver. We wanted His name to be exalted in us.
Jesus set the example. He gave up the riches of heaven to become one of His creatures. Not only did He give up riches, but He took my spiritual poverty upon Himself going to the cross, dying a transgressor’s death, experiencing the wrath of the Father against my sin. The Father recognized the great love that His Son had for Him because the Son chose the name of the Father rather than great riches. Because of this excellent choice, the Father gave Him a name above any other name that at the name of Jesus every knee would bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord! He exalted the living Word above His name.
Ever notice the relationship in Scripture between name, word and deed? Consider the following Scriptures:
Psalm 138:2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
Isaiah 45:23 (The Living Bible) I have sworn by myself, and I will never go back on my word, for it is true—that every knee in all the world shall bow to me, and every tongue shall swear allegiance to my name.
John 17:6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.
Revelation 19:13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Deeds are performed because of choices which are made. Choices are made upon the basis of the understanding which we have of them. The understanding we have of them comes as a result of the words spoken about them. The deeds, choices and words done by or for someone all contribute to the glory or defamation of their name. Jesus, the Eternal Word of God, communicates to us the value of what God is like. He performed deeds which explain God. He made choices which reveal what God is like. His greatest choice in relation to us is the cross. The cross speaks deeds and words of what God is like. Simultaneously the cross speaks of God’s intense hatred for sin and passionate love within the Trinity and for us.
Does God hate sin? Absolutely! Just look at the cross! That is what God does to sin! Does The Son love the Father? Absolutely! Just look at the cross! Jesus was willing to endure the cross for the love of the Father. Does God love me? Absolutely! Just look at the cross! Jesus was willing to become sin in my place so that the punishment of my sin might be carried out upon Him rather than me. Is God able to change me? Absolutely! Just look at the resurrection! He could raise Jesus from the dead after 3 days. He can also enliven me so that I may live victoriously over sin. All of this glorifies His name. It stemmed from a choice, deed and words that Jesus did. Lord let me ever live in that choice, those deeds resting in those words for they bring glory to Your Name!!! In all of this I am rich! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.“ What does it mean to be rich or poor. Recently in our Getting Ahead circles, we have from time to time mentioned that poverty is not always economic poverty. There are many kinds of poverty other than economic. There is emotional poverty, spiritual poverty, relational poverty, family poverty, intellectual poverty. You can probably think of a few other types of poverty. Just as there are many types of poverty, there are also many types of riches. I remember one time, when I was very young (at least under 6), asking my mother if we were rich. I had never had any memory of not having something which we needed. She gave a very perceptive but non-committal answer, “Some would say we are. What does it mean to be rich?” I was too young to understand the question, much less give a good answer. Looking back on it, of course my question was in relation to financial poverty. My parents were always able to give us what we needed, if not what we wanted. Is that rich? At least 1/3 of the 7 billion people in the world would say so. It was before Johnson’s war on poverty, and I suspect that we would have been ranked at just barely above the poverty level of the USA.
I learned from watching how they lived (raise up a child) that a good name is to be chosen rather than riches. I know that from 1981 through 1994, if you look at my Social Security records, it would reveal that my income was below the U.S. government’s standard for poverty for a household of four. But I was more interested in choosing to follow the Lord than to pursue financial riches. Many of those years we would have been eligible for food stamps and other government programs. There was only one government program which we used, WIC. Why? We wanted our Father to be our primary care giver. We wanted His name to be exalted in us.
Jesus set the example. He gave up the riches of heaven to become one of His creatures. Not only did He give up riches, but He took my spiritual poverty upon Himself going to the cross, dying a transgressor’s death, experiencing the wrath of the Father against my sin. The Father recognized the great love that His Son had for Him because the Son chose the name of the Father rather than great riches. Because of this excellent choice, the Father gave Him a name above any other name that at the name of Jesus every knee would bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord! He exalted the living Word above His name.
Ever notice the relationship in Scripture between name, word and deed? Consider the following Scriptures:
Psalm 138:2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
Isaiah 45:23 (The Living Bible) I have sworn by myself, and I will never go back on my word, for it is true—that every knee in all the world shall bow to me, and every tongue shall swear allegiance to my name.
John 17:6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.
Revelation 19:13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Deeds are performed because of choices which are made. Choices are made upon the basis of the understanding which we have of them. The understanding we have of them comes as a result of the words spoken about them. The deeds, choices and words done by or for someone all contribute to the glory or defamation of their name. Jesus, the Eternal Word of God, communicates to us the value of what God is like. He performed deeds which explain God. He made choices which reveal what God is like. His greatest choice in relation to us is the cross. The cross speaks deeds and words of what God is like. Simultaneously the cross speaks of God’s intense hatred for sin and passionate love within the Trinity and for us.
Does God hate sin? Absolutely! Just look at the cross! That is what God does to sin! Does The Son love the Father? Absolutely! Just look at the cross! Jesus was willing to endure the cross for the love of the Father. Does God love me? Absolutely! Just look at the cross! Jesus was willing to become sin in my place so that the punishment of my sin might be carried out upon Him rather than me. Is God able to change me? Absolutely! Just look at the resurrection! He could raise Jesus from the dead after 3 days. He can also enliven me so that I may live victoriously over sin. All of this glorifies His name. It stemmed from a choice, deed and words that Jesus did. Lord let me ever live in that choice, those deeds resting in those words for they bring glory to Your Name!!! In all of this I am rich! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Thursday, June 21, 2012
June 21
Proverbs 21
David probably stopped to ponder his actions. He must have justified himself many times. Each time that he took another wife, he surely justified himself. After all many others had multiple wives, why shouldn’t he? He once had vowed to kill a man for snubbing him and his troops after they had spent endless hours protecting him. Fortunately the man’s wife and the Lord intervened. The man died. David was more than willing to take the beautiful widow as his wife. But this new circumstance was a little different. This widow’s husband was intensely loyal to David. David had coveted her before her husband died. David had yielded to that temptation and seduced her while her husband was on the battlefield fighting for David’s cause. David arranged to have him put in a battle situation where he would surely die, and he was killed.
How could a man after God’s own heart justify such a course of action? The deception of our own hearts is ever deep. David must have thought, “I am king; I have the right to do as I please.” Kings throughout history have often taken the wives of other men and forced themselves upon them. Perhaps he reasoned even that it was his Divine right. After all had he not be faithful to “touch not the anointed of the Lord” for more than a decade? Had he not done everything possible to wait upon the Lord to bring him the rule of kingship over Israel? Did not more than a decade of running in the desert leading what many considered to be an army of thieves finally warrant some kind of perks? Didn’t he deserve this? And why should one night with the man’s wife matter to the man. After all she had promised that she would never tell him. No one would ever know. The complication of the whole matter was that she had become pregnant. No problem, bring the man home to enjoy marital conjugation with the woman, and everyone would think the child was the man’s. But the man had an unusual sense of honor. He refused to enjoy a night with his wife while his companions were on the field of battle. Do you suppose he knew what had happened? How could David ever justify this? For the good of the image of the office of the king, this matter must be discretely taken care of. He was the commander-in-chief. He would simply place the man in a unit where he would likely be killed. It was after all his prerogative. After all, he was King!
Even a man after God’s own heart can make his perverted ways seem right in his own eyes. If David could fall prey to it, so can I. Even Solomon, a man blessed with wisdom and riches beyond any other, could fall prey to it, so can I. What are we to do? There is only one solution. I must throw myself upon the grace of our Lord imploring Him to constantly weigh my heart and show it to me. I can never be satisfied with the condition of my heart yesterday. The question is, “Where is my heart today?” Yes, I may have had a great interaction with the Spirit of the Lord and His word yesterday, but what about today? The glory of our Lord Jesus is that He will weigh our heart today and share with us the results, but we must pursue Him. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
David probably stopped to ponder his actions. He must have justified himself many times. Each time that he took another wife, he surely justified himself. After all many others had multiple wives, why shouldn’t he? He once had vowed to kill a man for snubbing him and his troops after they had spent endless hours protecting him. Fortunately the man’s wife and the Lord intervened. The man died. David was more than willing to take the beautiful widow as his wife. But this new circumstance was a little different. This widow’s husband was intensely loyal to David. David had coveted her before her husband died. David had yielded to that temptation and seduced her while her husband was on the battlefield fighting for David’s cause. David arranged to have him put in a battle situation where he would surely die, and he was killed.
How could a man after God’s own heart justify such a course of action? The deception of our own hearts is ever deep. David must have thought, “I am king; I have the right to do as I please.” Kings throughout history have often taken the wives of other men and forced themselves upon them. Perhaps he reasoned even that it was his Divine right. After all had he not be faithful to “touch not the anointed of the Lord” for more than a decade? Had he not done everything possible to wait upon the Lord to bring him the rule of kingship over Israel? Did not more than a decade of running in the desert leading what many considered to be an army of thieves finally warrant some kind of perks? Didn’t he deserve this? And why should one night with the man’s wife matter to the man. After all she had promised that she would never tell him. No one would ever know. The complication of the whole matter was that she had become pregnant. No problem, bring the man home to enjoy marital conjugation with the woman, and everyone would think the child was the man’s. But the man had an unusual sense of honor. He refused to enjoy a night with his wife while his companions were on the field of battle. Do you suppose he knew what had happened? How could David ever justify this? For the good of the image of the office of the king, this matter must be discretely taken care of. He was the commander-in-chief. He would simply place the man in a unit where he would likely be killed. It was after all his prerogative. After all, he was King!
Even a man after God’s own heart can make his perverted ways seem right in his own eyes. If David could fall prey to it, so can I. Even Solomon, a man blessed with wisdom and riches beyond any other, could fall prey to it, so can I. What are we to do? There is only one solution. I must throw myself upon the grace of our Lord imploring Him to constantly weigh my heart and show it to me. I can never be satisfied with the condition of my heart yesterday. The question is, “Where is my heart today?” Yes, I may have had a great interaction with the Spirit of the Lord and His word yesterday, but what about today? The glory of our Lord Jesus is that He will weigh our heart today and share with us the results, but we must pursue Him. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
June 20
Psalm 20
Many times I have declared something to the effect of, “This is where God is leading me,” only to find that while the first step was where He was leading me, subsequent steps force me elsewhere. Am I so dense that I do not properly hear the voice of my Lord? It could be. It could be that I am so disobedient that I am not in tune with His voice. Then again the proverb says, “24A man’s steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way?” It is that old “sovereignty of God/free will of man” debate. How can man truly have free will if God is truly sovereign? How can God be truly sovereign if has free will? I think I have heard most of the arguments on both sides. It is not an argument that is unique to Christianity. It is an argument that exists in all religions. I have never been satisfied with any answers that I have read. I simply have come to live with the tension that both are true.
I genuinely believe that I am free to decide. Yes, I understand that when I first chose to sin (whether in Adam or in my early childhood), I became enslaved to sin. To some degree, I lost the ability to choose, but never the less I chose Christ. Somehow Christ lets me do that. Yet somehow, He chose me first. Theologians have always struggled with how to explain it. Wesley talked of prevenient grace. Jonathan Edwards, of course, was embroiled in a debate over the issue that cost him a great deal. Both of these were men with intellect far greater than mine. If they cannot explain it, why should I think that I can explain it any better than they? I am not highly motivated to try to understand it. I simply declare, “God is sovereign, and I must choose. I can live with both.” Some of you may think that is a cop out. Maybe it is, but I don't care.
He sometimes directs me in one direction by using things or saying things that I do not fully grasp. That is part of the adventure. It is part of the challenge. If I want to partake, then I must stay at His side. Daily He unfolds a little bit more of His glory as I wait on Him to reveal a little more of Himself. He does it small increments so that I will stay at His side. I get into trouble when I get too far away. My steps are of the Lord. I really don’t know for sure where I will be tomorrow, or in a year. That is part of the adventure of experiencing His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Many times I have declared something to the effect of, “This is where God is leading me,” only to find that while the first step was where He was leading me, subsequent steps force me elsewhere. Am I so dense that I do not properly hear the voice of my Lord? It could be. It could be that I am so disobedient that I am not in tune with His voice. Then again the proverb says, “24A man’s steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way?” It is that old “sovereignty of God/free will of man” debate. How can man truly have free will if God is truly sovereign? How can God be truly sovereign if has free will? I think I have heard most of the arguments on both sides. It is not an argument that is unique to Christianity. It is an argument that exists in all religions. I have never been satisfied with any answers that I have read. I simply have come to live with the tension that both are true.
I genuinely believe that I am free to decide. Yes, I understand that when I first chose to sin (whether in Adam or in my early childhood), I became enslaved to sin. To some degree, I lost the ability to choose, but never the less I chose Christ. Somehow Christ lets me do that. Yet somehow, He chose me first. Theologians have always struggled with how to explain it. Wesley talked of prevenient grace. Jonathan Edwards, of course, was embroiled in a debate over the issue that cost him a great deal. Both of these were men with intellect far greater than mine. If they cannot explain it, why should I think that I can explain it any better than they? I am not highly motivated to try to understand it. I simply declare, “God is sovereign, and I must choose. I can live with both.” Some of you may think that is a cop out. Maybe it is, but I don't care.
He sometimes directs me in one direction by using things or saying things that I do not fully grasp. That is part of the adventure. It is part of the challenge. If I want to partake, then I must stay at His side. Daily He unfolds a little bit more of His glory as I wait on Him to reveal a little more of Himself. He does it small increments so that I will stay at His side. I get into trouble when I get too far away. My steps are of the Lord. I really don’t know for sure where I will be tomorrow, or in a year. That is part of the adventure of experiencing His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Friday, June 15, 2012
June 15
Proverbs 15
Clint and I were seniors. We took World Geography (a sophomore level class) because we wanted an easy schedule our last year. Clint liked to talk. We were constantly being corrected by the teacher because of talking. One day I was in an annoying mood, so I kept quietly pestering him. He finally got tired of it and turned around to slug me. I held up my clip board. When he hit it, it went flying. The teacher had looked up at just the right moment to see him do the dastardly deed. She immediately gave him detention, and I got off scot-free. (Where does that term come from?) Anyway, I felt guilty. . . for about two minutes. We laughed about it later. I haven’t talked with Clint since 1973. I wonder if he ever held it against me. I’ll have to look in the phone book and see if he is still around. It really wasn’t completely just for him to be punished for something that I provoked him into. But then, he was a free moral agent; he could have handled it in another manner, and as he said, “I get detention all the time.” . . .
Most of the time in the human world, there is no one there to view what really happens, so justice is rarely served. Not so with the Lord. Proverbs 15:3 says, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good. Later on in verse 11 it says, “Hell and Destruction are before the LORD; So how much more the hearts of the sons of men.” Our teacher would probably not have seen me pestering Clint, even if she had been watching. The angle of how we were sitting from her location was wrong for her to see from where she was standing. However, if she could have seen our hearts, perhaps I would have been the one in detention, and Clint may have walked away with just a reprimand.
Yes, justice is rarely served in this world, but He keeps watch on the evil and the good, and our hearts are before Him. We cannot hide our evil or our good from Him. One day we will stand before the Lord; He will reveal the thoughts and intentions of our heart as it related to every deed. He will judge with just judgment in our every intention and deed. Now there is a scary thought, but there is one comfort in the midst of that. He removes all our sins and lawless deeds if we repent and believe in Him. When it comes to that point in our trial, there will be missing minutes in the tape because they are under the blood of the Lamb. Justice will have already been served on the cross. Wow! Such mercy! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
P.S. Here is what Ask Yahoo says about the term “scot-free”.
First off, let's set the record straight on the expression itself -- it's actually "scot-free." And contrary to popular belief, it has nothing to do with Dred Scott or the Scottish.
Sceot is the Old English for "a tax." Scot and lot was a medieval muncipal tax levied on residents. Someone who managed to avoid paying this medieval tax got off "scot free."
Eventually, the word evolved to describe getting away without any kind of punishment, fiscal or otherwise. Kids who fake fevers get out of school scot-free. Cagey adults escape jury duty scot-free. And dogs with remorseful eyes get off scot-free from just about any wrongdoing.
Clint and I were seniors. We took World Geography (a sophomore level class) because we wanted an easy schedule our last year. Clint liked to talk. We were constantly being corrected by the teacher because of talking. One day I was in an annoying mood, so I kept quietly pestering him. He finally got tired of it and turned around to slug me. I held up my clip board. When he hit it, it went flying. The teacher had looked up at just the right moment to see him do the dastardly deed. She immediately gave him detention, and I got off scot-free. (Where does that term come from?) Anyway, I felt guilty. . . for about two minutes. We laughed about it later. I haven’t talked with Clint since 1973. I wonder if he ever held it against me. I’ll have to look in the phone book and see if he is still around. It really wasn’t completely just for him to be punished for something that I provoked him into. But then, he was a free moral agent; he could have handled it in another manner, and as he said, “I get detention all the time.” . . .
Most of the time in the human world, there is no one there to view what really happens, so justice is rarely served. Not so with the Lord. Proverbs 15:3 says, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good. Later on in verse 11 it says, “Hell and Destruction are before the LORD; So how much more the hearts of the sons of men.” Our teacher would probably not have seen me pestering Clint, even if she had been watching. The angle of how we were sitting from her location was wrong for her to see from where she was standing. However, if she could have seen our hearts, perhaps I would have been the one in detention, and Clint may have walked away with just a reprimand.
Yes, justice is rarely served in this world, but He keeps watch on the evil and the good, and our hearts are before Him. We cannot hide our evil or our good from Him. One day we will stand before the Lord; He will reveal the thoughts and intentions of our heart as it related to every deed. He will judge with just judgment in our every intention and deed. Now there is a scary thought, but there is one comfort in the midst of that. He removes all our sins and lawless deeds if we repent and believe in Him. When it comes to that point in our trial, there will be missing minutes in the tape because they are under the blood of the Lamb. Justice will have already been served on the cross. Wow! Such mercy! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
P.S. Here is what Ask Yahoo says about the term “scot-free”.
First off, let's set the record straight on the expression itself -- it's actually "scot-free." And contrary to popular belief, it has nothing to do with Dred Scott or the Scottish.
Sceot is the Old English for "a tax." Scot and lot was a medieval muncipal tax levied on residents. Someone who managed to avoid paying this medieval tax got off "scot free."
Eventually, the word evolved to describe getting away without any kind of punishment, fiscal or otherwise. Kids who fake fevers get out of school scot-free. Cagey adults escape jury duty scot-free. And dogs with remorseful eyes get off scot-free from just about any wrongdoing.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
June 14
Proverbs 14
It is the longing of our hearts for good to triumph. It is the stuff movies are made of. Strangely enough it partially what sometimes drives us to war. The Proverb tells us, “The evil will bow before the good, And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.” Hmmm. . . That is exactly what is going to happen. Philippians 2:9–10 tells us, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth.” It will happen. I will drink from the glory of this well on a daily basis. I will bow my knee now, so that on that day He will call me friend. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
It is the longing of our hearts for good to triumph. It is the stuff movies are made of. Strangely enough it partially what sometimes drives us to war. The Proverb tells us, “The evil will bow before the good, And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.” Hmmm. . . That is exactly what is going to happen. Philippians 2:9–10 tells us, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth.” It will happen. I will drink from the glory of this well on a daily basis. I will bow my knee now, so that on that day He will call me friend. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
June 13
Proverbs 13
Woody Guthrie of Okemah, Oklahoma, is well known for his folk ballads and social activism. One of his best known songs was “This Land Is Your Land.” I remember being in school viewing an old film of him leading social protests for workers rights and unions. He was definitely presented as a socialist. One of his more scathing protests was against organized religion. He certainly was an influce on Pete Seeger’s who wrote “You’ll have pie in the sky when you die.” I guess it was a commentary on the action of the fundamentalist church of the 30’s which distanced itself from the social gospel and capitulated the ministry to the poor to the liberal church and eventually the government. He envisioned Jesus as preaching a gospel of mandatory giving up of all earthly material goods. You can hear his song at this site http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDS00Pnhkqk. (Woody might have been an acclaimed song writer, but I don’t know how anybody could stand his voice. Must be why he and Bob Dylan got along so well.)
“There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.” At least that is how the NKJV & the Authorized put it. All the others say “pretend to be.” It is an interesting nuance, but an important one. Which is correct? I don’t know. But ultimately there is one example that applies to the principle of this proverb. Paul told us in 2 Corinthians 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” What riches He had in heaven before He became flesh! He was constantly adored by the hosts of heaven. His praise literally shook the heavens. Then He left that throne room to add the nature of a man to his person. Born in the place where people kept animals, he was despised. His parents were put there because they were thought unclean, and therefore there was no room for them in the kataluma (Inn or guestroom). While He ministered, He had no home or bed of His own. He was literally homeless. He really was poor in the world’s wealth and reputation. He was not just pretending.
He did it to purchase with His own blood His bride. In so doing He became wealthy in true wealth, not silver, gold, land, or power. He bought a beautiful bride. It is to be the marriage of the human to the divine. We are His bride, His riches. Somehow when I look at us, I think He got the short end of the stick. Yet I must remind myself that He is not finished cleansing and transforming us yet. It is indeed a process, and when He is done, it will mean great riches for Himself I’ll take it by faith. But we can come alongside Him in building His riches. We do it by becoming poor, just like He did. We let go of everything. When we do, He makes us rich. Lest I am misunderstood, it is not the riches of this life. I am infinitely richer than Bill Gates because I have Jesus, and to my knowledge, Bill Gates does not have Jesus. I am rich because of the great glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. The most economically poor person on this planet, who has Jesus, is as rich as I am. That is because of His great glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Woody Guthrie of Okemah, Oklahoma, is well known for his folk ballads and social activism. One of his best known songs was “This Land Is Your Land.” I remember being in school viewing an old film of him leading social protests for workers rights and unions. He was definitely presented as a socialist. One of his more scathing protests was against organized religion. He certainly was an influce on Pete Seeger’s who wrote “You’ll have pie in the sky when you die.” I guess it was a commentary on the action of the fundamentalist church of the 30’s which distanced itself from the social gospel and capitulated the ministry to the poor to the liberal church and eventually the government. He envisioned Jesus as preaching a gospel of mandatory giving up of all earthly material goods. You can hear his song at this site http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDS00Pnhkqk. (Woody might have been an acclaimed song writer, but I don’t know how anybody could stand his voice. Must be why he and Bob Dylan got along so well.)
“There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.” At least that is how the NKJV & the Authorized put it. All the others say “pretend to be.” It is an interesting nuance, but an important one. Which is correct? I don’t know. But ultimately there is one example that applies to the principle of this proverb. Paul told us in 2 Corinthians 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” What riches He had in heaven before He became flesh! He was constantly adored by the hosts of heaven. His praise literally shook the heavens. Then He left that throne room to add the nature of a man to his person. Born in the place where people kept animals, he was despised. His parents were put there because they were thought unclean, and therefore there was no room for them in the kataluma (Inn or guestroom). While He ministered, He had no home or bed of His own. He was literally homeless. He really was poor in the world’s wealth and reputation. He was not just pretending.
He did it to purchase with His own blood His bride. In so doing He became wealthy in true wealth, not silver, gold, land, or power. He bought a beautiful bride. It is to be the marriage of the human to the divine. We are His bride, His riches. Somehow when I look at us, I think He got the short end of the stick. Yet I must remind myself that He is not finished cleansing and transforming us yet. It is indeed a process, and when He is done, it will mean great riches for Himself I’ll take it by faith. But we can come alongside Him in building His riches. We do it by becoming poor, just like He did. We let go of everything. When we do, He makes us rich. Lest I am misunderstood, it is not the riches of this life. I am infinitely richer than Bill Gates because I have Jesus, and to my knowledge, Bill Gates does not have Jesus. I am rich because of the great glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. The most economically poor person on this planet, who has Jesus, is as rich as I am. That is because of His great glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Saturday, June 9, 2012
June 8
Proverbs 8
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:24, 27 & 2:7:
But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. . . 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— . . . 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
In one sense, Christ is the personification of wisdom spoken of in Proverbs 7. In another sense, He is more than wisdom. But since we are looking at the glory of Christ, let’s approach Proverbs 7 as though it were the personification of Christ.
One of the first things that I see here is that wisdom ‘cries out’ from high hills, highway intersections, city gates, doors of houses and buildings. Unlike the adulterous woman who coaxes the naïve into her bedroom behind closed doors to gain her fill of unrighteousness, Jesus is in the open calling out to people everywhere in all activities of life and in every situation. He is calling them to come to Him. He is ever the great communicator! It is only my fixation upon sin that inhibits my ability to hear Him! He is calling to us from the very point of creation right up unto the present. His voice was never any clearer or plainer than when He was upon the cross. The cross thunders through the ages that God hates sin, and He loves people. The resurrection echoes that He has power to deliver us from the bonds of our sin. But clearly in order to receive the benefits of that deliverance, we must yield to His calling out to us.
Another thing that I see here is that that wisdom is involved in the creation of the universe. Jesus as the ever communicating Word is also the Creator. When we are investigating how the depths of the oceans or the crust of the earth, we are merely discovering His thoughts as He created the earth. When we investigate the minutia of the molecular, atomic and sub-atomic world, we are merely thinking His thoughts after Him. When we explore the vast expanse of the solar system, galaxy and universe, we are simply finding out how awesome He really is. All of these declare to us constantly His wisdom ad power.
A final thing that I would like to look at today is His value. He is more valuable that gold, silver, rubies or any precious stone. Why do I spend and waste the majority of my time upon the acquisition of riches, when I can have more of Him? Why do I not spend my time in the pursuit of Him and His Kingdom? Then He can give me what He sees fit for me to have for myself? A true understanding of His glory could only lead me in that direction. If He desires to give me the earthly riches of Solomon, He can do that. If He desires to give me the earthly riches of Lazarus, (the one who died at the same time as the un-named rich man), He can do that. The point is, He is truly all the riches I need. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:24, 27 & 2:7:
But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. . . 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— . . . 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
In one sense, Christ is the personification of wisdom spoken of in Proverbs 7. In another sense, He is more than wisdom. But since we are looking at the glory of Christ, let’s approach Proverbs 7 as though it were the personification of Christ.
One of the first things that I see here is that wisdom ‘cries out’ from high hills, highway intersections, city gates, doors of houses and buildings. Unlike the adulterous woman who coaxes the naïve into her bedroom behind closed doors to gain her fill of unrighteousness, Jesus is in the open calling out to people everywhere in all activities of life and in every situation. He is calling them to come to Him. He is ever the great communicator! It is only my fixation upon sin that inhibits my ability to hear Him! He is calling to us from the very point of creation right up unto the present. His voice was never any clearer or plainer than when He was upon the cross. The cross thunders through the ages that God hates sin, and He loves people. The resurrection echoes that He has power to deliver us from the bonds of our sin. But clearly in order to receive the benefits of that deliverance, we must yield to His calling out to us.
Another thing that I see here is that that wisdom is involved in the creation of the universe. Jesus as the ever communicating Word is also the Creator. When we are investigating how the depths of the oceans or the crust of the earth, we are merely discovering His thoughts as He created the earth. When we investigate the minutia of the molecular, atomic and sub-atomic world, we are merely thinking His thoughts after Him. When we explore the vast expanse of the solar system, galaxy and universe, we are simply finding out how awesome He really is. All of these declare to us constantly His wisdom ad power.
A final thing that I would like to look at today is His value. He is more valuable that gold, silver, rubies or any precious stone. Why do I spend and waste the majority of my time upon the acquisition of riches, when I can have more of Him? Why do I not spend my time in the pursuit of Him and His Kingdom? Then He can give me what He sees fit for me to have for myself? A true understanding of His glory could only lead me in that direction. If He desires to give me the earthly riches of Solomon, He can do that. If He desires to give me the earthly riches of Lazarus, (the one who died at the same time as the un-named rich man), He can do that. The point is, He is truly all the riches I need. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Thursday, June 7, 2012
June 7
Proverbs 7
25Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths; 26For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men. 27Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death.
Why would anybody leave the pleasures of the glory of the Lord for something else? The lure of pleasure has always been the trap of Satan and our own flesh. Even in the perfection of the Garden of Eden, where Eve saw the glory of the Lord, Satan caused Eve to think that the fruit was good for food, pleasant to the eyes and desirable for food. 2 Cor 11:3 says that the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness. She thought the pleasure of the food and wisdom were better than the pleasure of the glory of the Lord? Wow! The power of deception even in the midst of perfection must really be strong! Yet 1 Timothy 2:14 says that Adam was not deceived. Why would Adam choose fruit above the glory of the Lord if he was not deceived? Hmmm. . . I think that Adam was afraid of losing the pleasure of intimacy with Eve, and so he chose her over the glory of God.
Researchers have studied what affect the “True Love Waits” campaign has had upon the sexuality of evangelical kids. The result is that while evangelical kids say they believe sex outside marriage is wrong, the percentage rate of evangelical kids engaging in pre-marital sex is the same as the general population. We say we believe that it is wrong, but we do it anyway. Hmmm. . . Sounds like Adam. Solomon says, “Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, . . . Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death.” And he was as guilty as any of us. Here is arguably the wisest of all men, save Jesus, a man who saw the glory of the Lord in a vision, a man blessed immeasurably by the Lord, yet he is a man who willfully ignored His own wisdom. Yet in some measure, are we not all like him?
Where is the glory of Christ in this chapter? Yesterday we learned that our sexuality is meant to be a mirror of the passionate, committed and joy-filled love that exists between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and love between the Son and His bride, the church. The Son remains committed to His church. We the church ought to remain chaste and committed to Him. We must not let our hearts be turned to other lovers. When we remain chaste, we are allowing the purity of His love to be seen through us. When we are unchaste, we obscure His glory like that of a promiscuous fool. Let us remain chaste toward Him. Let us feast upon His glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
25Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths; 26For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men. 27Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death.
Why would anybody leave the pleasures of the glory of the Lord for something else? The lure of pleasure has always been the trap of Satan and our own flesh. Even in the perfection of the Garden of Eden, where Eve saw the glory of the Lord, Satan caused Eve to think that the fruit was good for food, pleasant to the eyes and desirable for food. 2 Cor 11:3 says that the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness. She thought the pleasure of the food and wisdom were better than the pleasure of the glory of the Lord? Wow! The power of deception even in the midst of perfection must really be strong! Yet 1 Timothy 2:14 says that Adam was not deceived. Why would Adam choose fruit above the glory of the Lord if he was not deceived? Hmmm. . . I think that Adam was afraid of losing the pleasure of intimacy with Eve, and so he chose her over the glory of God.
Researchers have studied what affect the “True Love Waits” campaign has had upon the sexuality of evangelical kids. The result is that while evangelical kids say they believe sex outside marriage is wrong, the percentage rate of evangelical kids engaging in pre-marital sex is the same as the general population. We say we believe that it is wrong, but we do it anyway. Hmmm. . . Sounds like Adam. Solomon says, “Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, . . . Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death.” And he was as guilty as any of us. Here is arguably the wisest of all men, save Jesus, a man who saw the glory of the Lord in a vision, a man blessed immeasurably by the Lord, yet he is a man who willfully ignored His own wisdom. Yet in some measure, are we not all like him?
Where is the glory of Christ in this chapter? Yesterday we learned that our sexuality is meant to be a mirror of the passionate, committed and joy-filled love that exists between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and love between the Son and His bride, the church. The Son remains committed to His church. We the church ought to remain chaste and committed to Him. We must not let our hearts be turned to other lovers. When we remain chaste, we are allowing the purity of His love to be seen through us. When we are unchaste, we obscure His glory like that of a promiscuous fool. Let us remain chaste toward Him. Let us feast upon His glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
June 6
Proverbs 6
A Christian friend of mine is currently writing a blog on “body talk.” Several weeks ago he warned those who were reading his blog that they might be offended by his blog in the upcoming weeks because he was going to talk bluntly about sexuality as it relates to God. He said that some might consider it “bawdy” talk. From his quotes, it is obvious that he is drawing from the works of Pope John Paul II on the theology of the body. The Pope apparently developed the theology over a period of years in a period of weekly talks that he gave in response to the degeneration of marriage in the church and in our cultures. One of the main points that my friend is making is that our parents Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. As such our sexuality was originally very good. It reflected the image of God. While I am not sure how to take some of his ‘bawdy’ talk, I would agree with the one point that our sexuality should reflect His image.
The proverbs are filled with body talk. Today’s chapter is no exception. “Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul.” My generation really pushed the idea of ‘free sex’, sex without commitment. It hasn’t worked. It has destroyed lives. It is destroying our culture. Why? If our sexuality is such a wonderful thing (and it is) what is it about sexual promiscuity that ruins people? It is precisely because our sexuality reflects the image and glory of God that promiscuity and adultery destroy lives. It is precisely because our sexuality reflects the relationship between Christ and the Church that promiscuity and adultery destroy lives.
There is no greater love that exists than what exists between Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There is a passionate, eternal, joy-filled love that is abundant between them, the One God. There is no greater or intense love than that. That love expressed itself in the creation of Man, male and female, in His image. Our passion for and commitment to our spouses is to reflect God’s passion for and commitment to Himself and His passion for and commitment to us. When we walk away from that passion, we are walking away from displaying and declaring His glory, His passion, His commitment. We have essentially slapped the eternal God in the face. We have declared that He is not passionate toward us. We have displayed that He is not committed to us.
When God destroyed the earth in Noah’s flood, His stated reason was, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”(Gen. 6:3) Additionally when the flood was over, He gave Noah a rationale for capital punishment, “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.”(Gen. 9:6) The major problem with violence toward man (male and female) is that it is striking at the image of God! It is degrading His glory! The major problem with sexual promiscuity or adultery is that it is striking at the image of God! It is degrading His glory! In so doing, it destroys your own soul.
Laura and I just celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary. What a joy to know that we can look each other in the eye and say, “I am just as passionate about you; I am just as committed to you, as on that Saturday afternoon on June 4, 1977, when we looked each other in the eye and sang, ‘With this ring I thee wed, and I give to you my life. Mine is yours; yours is mine, and we can live that way forever. With this kiss we will seal that we now are man and wife. Two in one, one in two, that’s the way it’s got to be.’” One of the joys of that 35 year accomplishment is that it reflects God’s glory, not ours. He is the One who empowered us. Our doing was to trust Him for the empowerment, but His is the glory!
But what if one has spoiled one’s life by being promiscuous or by committing adultery? Isn’t it interesting that this book of Proverbs was written by a man that was one of the biggest adulterers of all time (700 wives and 300 concubines)? What’s up with that? It is the glory of our Lord to restore those who repent and believe, no matter how badly they have screwed up. He brings forgiveness and redemption for those who repent and believe! He can restore the marred image! He can make our lives once again reflect His passion and commitment! Wow! What glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
A Christian friend of mine is currently writing a blog on “body talk.” Several weeks ago he warned those who were reading his blog that they might be offended by his blog in the upcoming weeks because he was going to talk bluntly about sexuality as it relates to God. He said that some might consider it “bawdy” talk. From his quotes, it is obvious that he is drawing from the works of Pope John Paul II on the theology of the body. The Pope apparently developed the theology over a period of years in a period of weekly talks that he gave in response to the degeneration of marriage in the church and in our cultures. One of the main points that my friend is making is that our parents Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. As such our sexuality was originally very good. It reflected the image of God. While I am not sure how to take some of his ‘bawdy’ talk, I would agree with the one point that our sexuality should reflect His image.
The proverbs are filled with body talk. Today’s chapter is no exception. “Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul.” My generation really pushed the idea of ‘free sex’, sex without commitment. It hasn’t worked. It has destroyed lives. It is destroying our culture. Why? If our sexuality is such a wonderful thing (and it is) what is it about sexual promiscuity that ruins people? It is precisely because our sexuality reflects the image and glory of God that promiscuity and adultery destroy lives. It is precisely because our sexuality reflects the relationship between Christ and the Church that promiscuity and adultery destroy lives.
There is no greater love that exists than what exists between Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There is a passionate, eternal, joy-filled love that is abundant between them, the One God. There is no greater or intense love than that. That love expressed itself in the creation of Man, male and female, in His image. Our passion for and commitment to our spouses is to reflect God’s passion for and commitment to Himself and His passion for and commitment to us. When we walk away from that passion, we are walking away from displaying and declaring His glory, His passion, His commitment. We have essentially slapped the eternal God in the face. We have declared that He is not passionate toward us. We have displayed that He is not committed to us.
When God destroyed the earth in Noah’s flood, His stated reason was, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”(Gen. 6:3) Additionally when the flood was over, He gave Noah a rationale for capital punishment, “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.”(Gen. 9:6) The major problem with violence toward man (male and female) is that it is striking at the image of God! It is degrading His glory! The major problem with sexual promiscuity or adultery is that it is striking at the image of God! It is degrading His glory! In so doing, it destroys your own soul.
Laura and I just celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary. What a joy to know that we can look each other in the eye and say, “I am just as passionate about you; I am just as committed to you, as on that Saturday afternoon on June 4, 1977, when we looked each other in the eye and sang, ‘With this ring I thee wed, and I give to you my life. Mine is yours; yours is mine, and we can live that way forever. With this kiss we will seal that we now are man and wife. Two in one, one in two, that’s the way it’s got to be.’” One of the joys of that 35 year accomplishment is that it reflects God’s glory, not ours. He is the One who empowered us. Our doing was to trust Him for the empowerment, but His is the glory!
But what if one has spoiled one’s life by being promiscuous or by committing adultery? Isn’t it interesting that this book of Proverbs was written by a man that was one of the biggest adulterers of all time (700 wives and 300 concubines)? What’s up with that? It is the glory of our Lord to restore those who repent and believe, no matter how badly they have screwed up. He brings forgiveness and redemption for those who repent and believe! He can restore the marred image! He can make our lives once again reflect His passion and commitment! Wow! What glory! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Monday, June 4, 2012
June 4
Proverbs 4
Today verse 23 struck me the most: Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. (NKJV). The New Century Version, translated on a third grade reading level, says, “Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.” Hmmm. . . How much of what I think on the Glory of Christ runs my life? Do I really grasp the relationship between thinking upon his greatness as it relates to every area of my life and what actually happens in those areas? If it is legitimate to segment my life into areas in order to more fully grasp how thinking about His glory in that area, how would thinking first about His glory there change how I think and run my life in each area.
Of course I would have to begin with my relationship with Him. If I did that, then certainly I would become more of a person who practices the presence of God (i.e. Brother Lawrence). How would it affect my relationship with my wife? Does the way I love her reflect His glory? Does it reflect the way He loves? How would it affect my relationship with my children? My grandchildren? How would it affect my relationship with the congregation which I pastor? How would it affect the use of the material things of which He has appointed me a steward? How would it affect the use of the time which He has given me to live? How would it affect my interaction with my neighbors? HOW? HOW? HOW?
I think I am starting to get worn down by how far short I fall from the ideal. I cannot attain His glory. But I guess that is part of what Paul was talking about when by the inspiration of the Spirit he said, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” It almost makes me want to throw up my hands and say, “So what’s the use? I cannot do it!” That is why He offers grace. It is His divine enablement in me. It is Himself in me.
Verse seven says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” Nelson’s Topical Bible Index says that understanding is knowing things in their right relationship. I cannot know anything in its proper relationship without understanding its relationship to the glory of Christ. Lord, give me understanding and the power to put it into action! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Today verse 23 struck me the most: Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. (NKJV). The New Century Version, translated on a third grade reading level, says, “Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.” Hmmm. . . How much of what I think on the Glory of Christ runs my life? Do I really grasp the relationship between thinking upon his greatness as it relates to every area of my life and what actually happens in those areas? If it is legitimate to segment my life into areas in order to more fully grasp how thinking about His glory in that area, how would thinking first about His glory there change how I think and run my life in each area.
Of course I would have to begin with my relationship with Him. If I did that, then certainly I would become more of a person who practices the presence of God (i.e. Brother Lawrence). How would it affect my relationship with my wife? Does the way I love her reflect His glory? Does it reflect the way He loves? How would it affect my relationship with my children? My grandchildren? How would it affect my relationship with the congregation which I pastor? How would it affect the use of the material things of which He has appointed me a steward? How would it affect the use of the time which He has given me to live? How would it affect my interaction with my neighbors? HOW? HOW? HOW?
I think I am starting to get worn down by how far short I fall from the ideal. I cannot attain His glory. But I guess that is part of what Paul was talking about when by the inspiration of the Spirit he said, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” It almost makes me want to throw up my hands and say, “So what’s the use? I cannot do it!” That is why He offers grace. It is His divine enablement in me. It is Himself in me.
Verse seven says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” Nelson’s Topical Bible Index says that understanding is knowing things in their right relationship. I cannot know anything in its proper relationship without understanding its relationship to the glory of Christ. Lord, give me understanding and the power to put it into action! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
Friday, June 1, 2012
June 1
Proverbs 1
My father has been in heaven about 21/3 years now. I can no longer sit down and listen to his instruction, but then, I think we had longed passed that stage in life. Still it would be nice if we could sit down and talk again. But I suppose we will do that in the not too far distant future. After all at 57, I am much closer to the end of my life than to the beginning. Mom was less reluctant at ‘laying down the law’ than was Dad. I still remember her speeches about “You don’t have any godly reason to be out alone with a girl after 11:00 pm.” Of course, I am now long out of that stage of life as well. Mom doesn’t lay down the law any more. That ended when I married and started my own home. But even now I feel on occasion that I need to sit down and hear the instruction of my father or the law of my mother.
While I was not perfect in listening to their instruction and law, I certainly can attest that following what they said has resulted in being a “graceful ornament” on my head and “chains” (of the jewelry type) about my neck. As a pastor, I have also seen this principle in others. While there are exceptions, there is normally a definite correlation between the grace with which people go through life and the overall way in which they responded to the instruction and law of their parents. What does this have to do with the glory of the Lord? We learn to obey the instruction and law of the Lord by the way we learn to obey the instruction and law of our parents. But I never grow out of the stage of needing to listen to Him. That is why fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. I have learned that listening to Him allows me to dwell safe and secure and without fear of evil. It is my job to listen to Him. It is His job to provide safety and security. Listening to Him produces greater glory for Him.
I am reminded of the report found in the Martyrdom. In his old age Polycarp was commanded by a Roman authority to renounce the name of Jesus and worship the Emperor. In return he was promised to be able to live the rest of his life in peace. He is reported to have responded, "Eighty and six years I have served him, how then can I blaspheme my King and Savior? Bring forth what thou wilt." He was then burned at the stake. After 86 years of earthly security, he entered into the eternal security and peace of our Lord. Lord enable me to listen to your instruction and Your law. Be a graceful ornament on our heads and a beautiful chain on our necks! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
My father has been in heaven about 21/3 years now. I can no longer sit down and listen to his instruction, but then, I think we had longed passed that stage in life. Still it would be nice if we could sit down and talk again. But I suppose we will do that in the not too far distant future. After all at 57, I am much closer to the end of my life than to the beginning. Mom was less reluctant at ‘laying down the law’ than was Dad. I still remember her speeches about “You don’t have any godly reason to be out alone with a girl after 11:00 pm.” Of course, I am now long out of that stage of life as well. Mom doesn’t lay down the law any more. That ended when I married and started my own home. But even now I feel on occasion that I need to sit down and hear the instruction of my father or the law of my mother.
While I was not perfect in listening to their instruction and law, I certainly can attest that following what they said has resulted in being a “graceful ornament” on my head and “chains” (of the jewelry type) about my neck. As a pastor, I have also seen this principle in others. While there are exceptions, there is normally a definite correlation between the grace with which people go through life and the overall way in which they responded to the instruction and law of their parents. What does this have to do with the glory of the Lord? We learn to obey the instruction and law of the Lord by the way we learn to obey the instruction and law of our parents. But I never grow out of the stage of needing to listen to Him. That is why fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. I have learned that listening to Him allows me to dwell safe and secure and without fear of evil. It is my job to listen to Him. It is His job to provide safety and security. Listening to Him produces greater glory for Him.
I am reminded of the report found in the Martyrdom. In his old age Polycarp was commanded by a Roman authority to renounce the name of Jesus and worship the Emperor. In return he was promised to be able to live the rest of his life in peace. He is reported to have responded, "Eighty and six years I have served him, how then can I blaspheme my King and Savior? Bring forth what thou wilt." He was then burned at the stake. After 86 years of earthly security, he entered into the eternal security and peace of our Lord. Lord enable me to listen to your instruction and Your law. Be a graceful ornament on our heads and a beautiful chain on our necks! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
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