Category: Blogroll

Through the Word in 2020 / Feb. 11

February 11th, 2020

We are reading the Bible through together this year, using the Discipleship Journal Reading Plan published by the Navigators. You can download it free of charge from: https://www.navigators.org/resource/bible-reading-plans/

Today’s 4 readings are: Matthew 14:22-36; Acts 20:13-38; Psalm 34, Exodus 30-31.

One of the greatest causes of the breakdown in relationships is unspoken expectations. We assume another person holds a certain attitude, opinion or outlook, or we thought they would or should respond a certain way under certain conditions – and when they don’t, we feel betrayed. There isn’t an actual betray mind you, but our assumptions and expectations were contradicted, and it feels like betrayal. And this same dynamic can be at work in our relationship with God in Christ.

The Psalmist in Psalm 73 wrestles with this issue, and by his own admission, it almost derailed him. He saw the wicked prospering and the righteous suffering and he thought to himself: Psalm 73:13–14 “All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. 14 For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning.” I’m the one obeying God, and I am the one suffering, while those who scoff at Him seem to do better – then why serve Him? And there is the crisis of the unspoken expectation. The Psalmist assumed that serving God meant an easier life – one without the trials, temptations, sorrows and difficulties which those who do not serve God OUGHT to have instead. But of course, there is nothing in Scripture which intimates any such viewpoint. In fact, that is the viewpoint of the idolator, not the Believer. If I make my sacrifices, keep to my rituals, obey my list of duties – I will be “blessed” with the good life. That’s the contract. Only it isn’t.

And this could well have been the way it was with the Disciples that night Jesus sent them across the lake after feeding the 5,000. As they were soon to learn in this place obedience to Christ is no barrier to trial, danger and struggle. This scenario will be repeated in the lives of His disciples both in similar circumstances as well as in very different ones. There they were, doing what He had specifically asked, while facing inhuman and insurmountable opposition in the storm.

And they were also to learn, that it is in these hours we are to look for His visitation.

Perhaps this is you today. Perhaps you have imbibed the rubric of the idolator, rather than understanding the simple opposition of this fallen world – and expected your faith in Jesus to magically make the sorrows of this life disappear. When all along He has something greater in mind. His appearing in the very midst of the greatest danger. He IS drawing near to you in your trial. It doesn’t mean the wind and waves will automatically subside. But it does mean, if He is with you, you will not ultimately succumb. And before you know it, you will reach Heaven’s shore. Safe and sound. Trust Him, not some unspoken expectation.
Through the Word in 2020 / Feb. 10

February 10th, 2020

We are reading the Bible through together this year, using the Discipleship Journal Reading Plan published by the Navigators. You can download it free of charge from: https://www.navigators.org/resource/bible-reading-plans/

Today’s 4 readings are: Matthew 14:1-21; Acts 20:1-12; Psalm 33, Exodus 27-29.

Psalm 33:1 (ESV): Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.

For those who are serious about following Christ, it is easy to slip into a legalistic mindset. To set up a list of dos and don’ts, culled from Scripture and/or personal convictions, and to rely on our performance for a sense of well-being. The first danger of course being that we subtly begin to lose a sense of need to rely wholly upon the righteousness of Christ for our right standing with God. We start to look to ourselves. Nevertheless we feel – rightly so – a compulsion to order our lives rightly before this God of goodness and grace who has saved us from our sins. And our text provides one means to help rescue us from performance anxiety, and yet still serve as a much needed help. What is it? It is found in that little word “befits.”

The more we grow in Christ, the question which ought to occupy our thoughts more in this regard is: am I living, deciding, thinking and acting in ways which befit – which are commensurate with who I am in Christ, and where He is taking me in His redemptive plan?

Is sexual immorality fitting for one redeemed by the blood of the Lamb? Drunkenness? Combativeness? Carelessness? Harshness? Unforgiveness? Bitterness? Indolence? Selfishness? Lack of compassion toward the suffering? Greediness? Fear? Neglect of God’s means of grace: His Word, prayer, public worship, fellowship with the saints? The list could go on and on. And again, the idea here isn’t about ticking off the boxes, it is about considering who we are in light of what He has done and made us.

And our text itself sounds one powerful note for us, especially in the culture in which we live and the endless platforms for social media: “Praise befits the upright.” Crankiness doesn’t. Constant complaint doesn’t. Mud-slinging doesn’t. Praise does. Hearts and minds more occupied with the goodness of God than the wrongness of the World. Oh that the world around us might mark us out as characterized by this – that we are a people perpetually conscious of the goodness, grace, mercy, lovingkindness, faithfulness and praise worthiness of our great God.

If you ever wanted to be aggressively counter-cultural, here’s your chance. Spend less time grousing at fallenness, since such complaining will not change a thing, and more concentrating on the praise that befits the upright. And it will change you.
Through the Word in 2020 / Feb. 9

February 9th, 2020

We are reading the Bible through together this year, using the Discipleship Journal Reading Plan published by the Navigators. You can download it free of charge from: https://www.navigators.org/resource/bible-reading-plans/

Today’s 4 readings are: Matthew 13:44-58; Acts 19:23-41; Psalm 32, Exodus 24-26.

Spurgeon said the parable of the hidden treasure speaks of Christ dying to purchase the whole world that He might have the treasure of those given to Him by the Father found in it. But it appears to be directed more to the Believer.

The lesson is simple but profound. You cannot have Christ truly, if you are not willing to let go of everything else you might value in order to gain Him? What is so valuable that time with Him is so cheaply sold by us? What of sin is so valuable that it is worth hanging on to rather than to Him? Pride? Social standing? Peer opinion? Drunkenness? Sex? Partying?

And it is in contemplating this that we come face to face with something truly astounding. In truth, what do we broken, defiled and convicted sinners have of any real value that to seel it might procure the riches of Christ? Nothing. And to add insult to injury, who would purchase our miserable trifles? No one. Except, this is where the miracle of God’s grace comes into full view.

He bids us come and He will buy our brokenness and give us wholeness in exchange. We sell Him our sin and He gives us holiness. Our we turn in our pride that we might possess the fruit of divine humility. Our lies for His truth. Our death for His life. Our defilements for His purity. We give up our degradation for His affirmation. Our blindness for sight, deafness for hearing, lameness for the ability to walk with Him.

We bring Him all we have, broken, defiled, corrupt and less than worthless, and He gives us the very Treasure of Heaven in return.

George MacDonald:

Lord, in thy spirit’s hurricane, I pray,

Strip my soul naked—dress it then thy way.

Change for me all my rags to cloth of gold.

Who would not poverty for riches yield?

A hovel sell to buy a treasure-field?

Who would a mess of porridge careful hold

Against the universe’s birthright old?
Through the Word in 2020 / Feb. 8

February 8th, 2020

We are reading the Bible through together this year, using the Discipleship Journal Reading Plan published by the Navigators. You can download it free of charge from: https://www.navigators.org/resource/bible-reading-plans/

Today’s 4 readings are: Matthew 13:24-43; Acts 19:1-22; Psalm 31, Exodus 21-23.

I love the 7 parables Jesus gives in Matthew 13. Nowhere else in all of Scripture is there as clear and comprehensive a primer for Believers to understand what it means to be in Christ’s Kingdom, and what that looks like over time.

It is a handbook of the “mysteries of the Kingdom” for the Church in every generation.

1 – MYSTERY OF PROPAGATION / THE SOWER & THE SOILS / 3-9, 18-23. This is how the church grows, through preaching the Gospel. Let no one get us off that track for any reason.

2 – MYSTERY OF PROXIMITY / THE WHEAT & THE TARES / 24-30, 36-43. There never will be any fully Christian society. There will always be “takes” in the World until Jesus returns. Don’t try to create what cannot be.

3 – MYSTERY OF TRANSITION / THE MUSTARD SEED / 31, 32. The Kingdom will have but the smallest of beginnings in the earth. But one day it will reach its full bloom. It will weather its storms, survive its droughts, not be withered by blistering sun, nor be uprooted by violent winds. Christ’s Kingdom will reach maturity. Do not despise the day of small things.

4 – MYSTERY OF TRANSFORMATION / THE LEAVEN / 33. The Believer is gradually transformed into the image of Christ, it is not an instantaneous act. And this, through permeation. The Spirit inwardly makes His way into the deepest recesses of the heart and mind – bringing his Holy influences to every particle of our being. God does not fear time. He utilizes it to His highest glory and our best good. He that began the good work in us, WILL complete it until the day of Christ. He is patient with us, and we ought to be with one another.

5 – MYSTERY OF SUPREMACY / HIDDEN TREASURE / 44. What Christ offers in Himself is so supremely valuable as to make losing everything else to obtain Him – Worth it. No sin is worth clinging to if is hinders you from having Him in His fullness. “ That word above all earthly pow’rs,No thanks to them, abideth;The Spirit and the gifts are ours Thro’Him who with us sideth:Let goods and kindred go,This mortal life also;The body they may kill:God’s truth abideth still,His kingdom is forever.

6 – MYSTERY OF SUPERIORITY / PEARL / 45, 46. It is the explanation of Paul counting all things but dung in comparison to Christ. It is seeing the One Pearl that is infinitely higher than all other good things. There is truth all around us. And all sorts of good things given to us by God’s hand. But we have come to know there is one Gift that is transcendently superior to them all – Christ Jesus the Son. He is not “a” truth, He is THE Truth. He is not “a” gift, He is THE Gift of God. He is the highest of all God’s goodness. In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead. Every other “pearl” granted to us by the hand of God pales in comparison. They are but types and shadows of Him, samples of what finds its fullness in the King of Kings. And as real as all the other good things God has given to us -are, not one of those things – or all of them considered together – is to be compared to the Jewel of Heaven. The outshining of God’s own glory. Christ the Lord.

7 – MYSTERY OF THE CONSUMMATION / THE DRAG-NET / 47-50. The net of the Gospel is cast into the sea of humanity, and all sorts are gathered in indiscriminately. However, we need not fear. The day of sorting will come. There will be a separating of the goats and the sheep. The call of the Gospel is to go out to everyone, everywhere. Providence will certainly dictate some parameters. But that is God’s busines, not ours. Our ambassadorship is not to a few, but to the world. We are His representatives pleading as if the very voice of God were pleading through us “be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthains 5:20).

So:

A – Have confidence & comfort in the simple plan and program of God in evangelism – God’s Word is sufficient!

B – There is no need to fret of fear if the world seems to grow and progress along with us – the harvest will come!

C – Though the Kingdom may seem small and insignificant now –wait. The half has not been told!

D – Though you seem to make little progress in sanctification, you WILL be transformed into His likeness as the Kingdom grows within you and affects every part.

E – Though others have not seen what you have – you are not a fool to forsake that which you cannot keep to obtain that which you cannot lose!

F – Let no one dissuade you from the singular excellencies of Christ. Truth is all about us – But He is THE Truth, THE Life, and THE way!

G – Give the Gospel to all and draw them in, but give men no comfort in the MERE fact that they dwell among the saints simply because they found a drawing attraction in the Gospel – if they have not been changed, if they are spoiled or dead or unprofitable, they WILL be cast away!
Through the Word in 2020 / Feb. 7

February 7th, 2020

We are reading the Bible through together this year, using the Discipleship Journal Reading Plan published by the Navigators. You can download it free of charge from: https://www.navigators.org/resource/bible-reading-plans/

Today’s 4 readings are: Matthew 13:1-23; Acts 18:18-28; Psalm 30, Exodus 19-20.

The 2nd half of Psalm 30:5 gets quoted often, even by those who may have no sense of its origin. ”weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” And by itself, it does form a nice little platitude – though not at all accurate in every circumstance.

The context here makes all the difference. For it is in the midst of David extolling how it is God remains faithful to those who are His. Faithful, even when we have sinned against Him. The first past of the verse brings it into clearer focus: “For His anger is but for a moment, and His favor is for a lifetime” This would be a good place to mentally insert the word “therefore”. In other words, it is because the first part of the verse is true, that the second part is true. And this is meant to remind the Believer – not the World in general – that even on those times when we have failed our Savior gravely, wounded Him deeply by our sin and rebellion, grieved His Holy Spirit within us – so as to rouse His anger, it is not the kind of anger that casts off.

Unlike fickle human anger which often sacrifices love on the altar of anger – not so our God. When He has set His love on one, He may at times be angry with us, but it is only a momentary anger punctuating a lifetime of love.

Hear His Word Believer. Yes, we can anger Him at times. But in Christ and as Christ’s – bought with His blood, it is an anger within a context of love, and never, NEVER the withdrawal of love in anger. And so it is we might smart for a time under the hand of His righteous discipline – but there is never any reduction in His love. His anger is – when it is all said and done, never according to what we really deserve, but always tempered – is but for a moment. But His favor, ah, that Dear One, is for a lifetime.

What a wonderful Savior He is.
Through the Word in 2020 / Feb. 6

February 6th, 2020

We are reading the Bible through together this year, using the Discipleship Journal Reading Plan published by the Navigators. You can download it free of charge from: https://www.navigators.org/resource/bible-reading-plans/

Today’s 4 readings are: Matthew 12:38-50; Acts 18:1-17; Psalm 29, Exodus 16-18.

As the Psalmist notes so powerfully, no other word will do at the sight of God. “Glory!” is the divine expression. Rolled into it are simulataneous exclamations of:

ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!

PROFOUNDEST MAJESTY!

INFINITE INDESCRIBABILITY!

UNSURPASSABLE TRANSCENDENCE!

FATHOMLESS FORGIVENESS!

UNBELIEVABLE HUMILITY!

INCOMPARABLE BEAUTY!

INDEFILABLE HOLINESS!

LIMITLESS, BOUNDLESS, MATCHLESS LOVE!

UNFATHOMABLE MERCY!

INCALCULABLE GRACE!

MIND-NUMBING, UNSPEAKABLE WONDER!

INVIOLABLE JUSTICE!

INCOMPREHENSIBLE TRIUNITY!

INDEFATIGABLE POWER!

INEXHAUSTIBLE PATIENCE!

IMMEASURABLE SWEETNESS!

And so very much more – GLORY!
Through the Word in 2020 / Feb. 5

February 5th, 2020

We are reading the Bible through together this year, using the Discipleship Journal Reading Plan published by the Navigators. You can download it free of charge from: https://www.navigators.org/resource/bible-reading-plans/

Today’s 4 readings are: Matthew 12:22-37; Acts 17:16-34; Psalm 28, Exodus 13-15.

It is amazing how God’s dealings with the Children of Israel grant us lasting insight into how He still continues to deal with the Saints in every generation. And part of our reading today in Exodus 14:10-15 is one such wonderful example.

As with the immediate aftermath of Israel fleeing the confines of Egypt, it is not unusual for the newly minted Christian, to suddenly and fearfully find him or herself pursued by his former sins in a most menacing way. How fiercely they come seeking fresh dominion. And at times, it may seem as though remaining as was would be preferable to being caught once again – and then perhaps dragged even lower than before they believed.

We fear we will never be free of the fetters we have been strapped by for so very very long. Generations of bondage to sin leaving its scars everywhere.

But God has a plan. He intends to be glorified in His grace toward us in victory over our former bondage – a decisive victory that we have not yet imagined.

How shall it be accomplished? The same way our deliverance was at the first – by believing our Lord, and trusting Him.

1. Believing unequivocally that He has our best interest at heart. “Fear not”. Do not fear that what Christ has done can in any way be un-done.

2. Believing that He intends to vanquish the power of sin’s dominion over us. “Stand firm”. Stay your ground. Do not flee back. The LORD WILL fight for you.

3. Believing enough, to let our hearts be silent in trust – that in our continuing to follow, God will break Egypt’s back on our behalf. “Be silent”. Do not cry out as though there is no hope – trust His promise. Trust Him.

4. Believing that it is our call to continue to “go forward” (15) where it seems there is no clear path before us – what appears to be only sea. Keep pressing on toward Heaven. God’s intent is to bring you there. Keep in the Word. Keep in prayer. Keep in worship. Keep in the Gospel. Keep in faith. Press on where it seems there is no place to press on – and He will make a way.
Through the Word in 2020 / Feb. 4

February 4th, 2020

We are reading the Bible through together this year, using the Discipleship Journal Reading Plan published by the Navigators. You can download it free of charge from: https://www.navigators.org/resource/bible-reading-plans/

Today’s 4 readings are: Matthew 12:1-21; Acts 17:1-15; Psalm 27, Exodus 10-12.

In Matt. 12, this is now the second time Jesus has confronted the Pharisees on this same question – they do not get what Jesus means, that God has said He desires mercy above sacrifice. See: 9:13.

The point of the sacrifices is not the sacrifices themselves, but the mercy they are intended to point to. God doesn’t delight in the practice – He delights in what the practice is meant to display – that there is a sacrifice, an atonement for sin – a blood atonement – the blood of the Lamb of God.

This is what Jesus means when He says something greater than the Temple had arrived. The Temple could only function as a temporary edifice to spotlight the types and shadows. It could support the priesthood, the sacrifices, the table of shewbread, the lampstand and the holy of holies with the Ark, but it was not the substance.

Christ is the substance. And the problem with the Pharisees at that point, is the very same one with all man-made religion: It fails to recognize the authentic that the types and shadows point to. They were not recognizing Jesus as the fulfillment of all these things.

And many is the religionist today who does the very same thing, even in the name of Christianity. Putting emphasis upon rites, rituals and law-keeping – rather than on the substitutionary death of Christ on the Cross as that to which all of these other things can only point. Keeping them in and of themselves, no matter how scrupulously – has no value at all. He alone, is Heaven’s treasure and the provision for our sin.

What a wonderful Savior!
Through the Word in 2020 / Feb. 3

February 3rd, 2020

We are reading the Bible through together this year, using the Discipleship Journal Reading Plan published by the Navigators. You can download it free of charge from: https://www.navigators.org/resource/bible-reading-plans/

Today’s 4 readings are: Matthew 11:20-30; Acts 16:16-40; Psalm 26, Exodus 7-9.

Paul does not just go about willy-nilly casting out demons. He does not do what he does in a vacuum or divorced from a specific context. And here, he (though not rashly, but after many days) finally rejects the unsought-for endorsement of a demon-possessed woman.

The lesson is a powerful one: We do not seek the World’s acclaim.

Paul not only rejects the slave girl’s declarations, he takes positive steps to prevent it. How different from today when we seek the World’s accolades as though they give us legitimacy. How often we hang much on the possible conversion of a movie actor or rockstar or take a positive schmooze or nod from some other public figure as adding something to the testimony of Christ. We want so badly to be legitimized in the World’s eyes. And that day will come – but it is not now. We are chasing fool’s gold in courting it.

Not so Paul. The testimony of evil spirits is not seen as a positive, but as an act of opposition which muddies the waters making it impossible to make right distinctions between what is authentically from God, and what is not.

Beware when you find your own heart leaping when some sports figure makes a generic reference to thanking “god”. Most often, that god isn’t even defined. And when He is – is there a lifestyle which can be observed that harmonizes with said profession? That is not where Christians gain their assurance in the face of the World. We gain it from the Word and the promises of God contained in it. A celebrity making a positive statement about God or Christianity doesn’t somehow add to the cause of Christ or the Gospel. It is the Gospel that adds to wicked us. We don’t validate it – IT validates us. No matter how famous, how accomplished, how brilliant, wealthy or gifted. We are but brittle jars of clay. The treasure – is Christ.

We add nothing to Him. He adds everything, to us.
Through the Word in 2020 / Feb. 2

February 2nd, 2020

We are reading the Bible through together this year, using the Discipleship Journal Reading Plan published by the Navigators. You can download it free of charge from: https://www.navigators.org/resource/bible-reading-plans/

Today’s 4 readings are: Matthew 11:1-19; Acts 15:22-41; Psalm 25, Exodus 4-9.

The entire account of the Exodus moves from one extraordinary event to the next. Moses arrived back on the scene after his 40 years tending sheep – then showed the Israelites the “signs” God had given him to authenticate his mission. Note the text says in 4:28 that Moses showed them “all the signs.” God had given him 3 – his staff turning into a serpent and back again; his hand becoming leprous and then healthy again; and water from the Nile poured out on the ground and turning to blood. It was enough for them to do on at first, but when Pharoah pushed back and it became difficult for them, they lost the will to pursue.

Still, we are met with Exodus 6:9 (ESV): “Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.”

Chronic pain and long sustained trials have the effect of rendering us less able to hear God’s message. It is not because we are more sinful in those times – though such seasons often prove to be times of unusual temptation as well – but the nature of how pain focuses all of one’s attention to the distress. And that is true whether the discomfort is physical, emotional or spiritual. Pain creates background noise in the soul that drowns out almost everything else. And when it comes to the Believer’s attention that this is happening, they can begin to feel guilt or shame – over what is simply a natural phenomenon, and one our God clearly understands. How do we know? Because He preserved this account for us in His Word.

Beloved, if this is you, if this is a season where some sort of distress makes it exceedingly hard to hear the voice of God in His Word, in sermons, in good spiritual books, Christian music and even the counsel of dear friends – do not imagine that because your grip on the familiar discourse with your Lord somehow means He has lost His grip on you.

The Psalms are filled with laments when God seemed distant and even opposing – and then with notes of how God kept and answered all along. God never lost His grip on compromised Lot. On rebellious Jonah. On fainting Elijah. And even on tragic Samson. He knows those who are His and He knows how to keep us in the darkest, direst and most distressing times. Surely Lazarus had lost every ability to cling to His God; but Jesus could break the power of death’s darkness itself with but a word.

He will not let you go. Trust Him with your weakness and distraction as much as you trust Him with the guilt of your sin.

As George Matheson penned so many years ago:

O Love, that wilt not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in Thee;

I give Thee back the life I owe,

That in Thine ocean depths its flow

May richer, fuller be.

2

O Light, that followest all my way,

I yield my flickering torch to Thee;

My heart restores its borrowed ray,

That in Thy sunshine’s blaze its day

May brighter, fairer be.

3

O Joy, that seekest me through pain,

I cannot close my heart to Thee;

I trace the rainbow through the rain,

And feel the promise is not vain

That morn shall tearless be.

4

O Cross, that liftest up my head,

I dare not ask to fly from Thee;

I lay in dust life’s glory dead,

And from the ground there blossoms red

Life that shall endless be.