ResponsiveReiding

Walk in Wisdom � Gleanings from Scripture
CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE CONFERENCE INFO
(more…)

Walk in Wisdom � Gleanings from Scripture

Peter�s great declaration in Matt. 16, is the very foundation of all true
Christianity: Jesus is the Christ, God�s exclusive Messiah, God�s only Son. He
alone can ransom the lost, atone for sin, die in the place of guilty sinners, bear
the wrath of God due us, and rise again that we might be declared righteous.
These things belong to Jesus and Him alone. What a glorious Savior! Then note
Jesus� words to Peter at the end of verse 18. Yes, this confession is indeed that
Rock upon which we are built � But He is not content to leave us imagining that
this is but a temporary or a merely temporal – thing. Here, knowing (as the next
few verses reveal) that He will soon be going to Jerusalem to ascend His rough
hewn Throne at Calvary � He wants to make sure His disciples then and we today
know something of supreme importance. Of transcendent importance in the very
deepest sense of that word. This Church, this assembly, built upon this confession
of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, is of such a nature that even the gates of
Hell cannot prevail against it. In other words, He wants us to know that His
salvation, His Kingdom, His Lordship, extends beyond the grave. Not even death
can impact it. Those who are His in this life, are His in the next. What He has
wrought for us here, does not end here, but goes on through all eternity. Every
human institution, every human accomplishment, every human endeavor ends at
the grave. Every last one. But not the Kingdom of our Christ. His is a Kingdom
without end. Death not only cannot thwart it, it can only become a gateway for us
to enter into it more fully. �If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of
all people most to be pitied.� (1 Cor. 15:9) But it is not so. Our hope extends
beyond the grave and to all eternity. Indeed, our weeping may endure for a night
� but JOY, eternal joy, everlasting joy, unassailable joy � comes in the morning!

Walk in Wisdom � Gleanings from Scripture

The opening verses of Psalm 139 are a truly wonderful example of what John
means in 1 Jn. 5:3b where the Holy Spirit says: �His commandments are not
burdensome.� In the first 8 verses, David helps us see am entire series of really
wonderful commandments.

vs. 1 � Fret not; vs. 3 � Trust in the Lord; vs. 4 � Delight yourself in the Lord; vs.
5 � Commit your way to the Lord; vs. 7 � Be still before the Lord; vs. 8 � Refrain
from anger. Trust, Delight, Commit, Be still and Refrain. What sweet things to
command us to. There is nothing here of hard going and gritting one�s teeth. Of
ponderous acts beyond our strength or contrary to good desires. Everything here
is pleasant and good. Every one of these commands is obeyed by FAITH. And so
it with God�s commands. If one still feels like they are bands around the neck,
then we are seeing them through a lens of trying to accomplish them to get God�s
favor, instead of reveling in them as a sign of God�s favor. Christ has come, and
duties have been transformed into precious privileges. Righteousness has been
fulfilled, so now I no longer fear the Law, but see the beauty of pursuing
righteousness in the aftermath of being declared righteous with the
righteousness of Christ. Everything He calls us to in these verses based upon the
reality that God is faithful, just, holy and good. And if we are His in Christ � the
world is a very different place. Evil doers are not to be envied or fretted over,
they�ll perish soon enough. God is your portion and your full reward. He will be
faithful and true to all His promises. He will yet prove to be all your need and
desire. Look to Him. Trust in Him. Delight in him. Rest in Him. Wait for Him. These
are joyous, refreshing, uplifting and glorious commands. Oh that He might give
us hearts to love them and embrace them with all our might.

Walk in Wisdom � Gleanings from Scripture

The account of the Canaanite woman coming to Jesus in Matt. 15 is a compelling
one. And it demonstrates to us the room that grace makes. Jesus is clear � He is
sent ONLY to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Yes, the chief intention of His
plan is clear. But this does not negate the reality of an overflowing and abundant
grace that makes room for others as well. You see, He is a God of mercy, a God
of grace, a God of love. It is not that He has but bits and pieces of each � these
are attributes within Him. So it is that even when He makes a clear intention
known, it does not follow that that is ALL He is willing to do. This woman doesn�t
take as her warrant to pursue Him any promise given to her, nor any expressed
intent in Jesus � indeed, He expressed what appeared to be the very opposite.
No, she takes as her warrant grace displayed. She has seen and heard of His
goodness. That is enough. Many a poor sinner has feared they have no warrant
to flee to Jesus � but I tell you it isn�t so. If they have no express promise
(though in fact they do for the Scripture is replete with them), or at least none
is known to them, yet the very nature of God revealed in Christ as merciful to
men�s sins, full of forgiveness and grace, this alone is warrant enough. What a
glorious Christ.

Walk in Wisdom � Gleanings from Scripture

Today�s Readings Feb. #12 : Matt. 15:1-20; Acts 21:1-26; Psalm 35; Ex. 32-33

DON’T FORGET THE UPCOMING CONFERENCE w/D. A. Carson and Michael Haykin – April 21 & 22 – Contact Ivan Kellogg @ igkellogg@juno.com for info or registration.

Scroll down below to see more.
(more…)

Walk in Wisdom � Gleanings from Scripture

Today�s Readings Feb. #11 : Matt. 14:22-36; Acts 20:13-38; Psalm 34; Ex. 30-31
(more…)

Walk in Wisdom � Gleanings from Scripture

Today�s Readings Feb. #10 : Matt. 14:1-21; Acts 20:1-12; Psalm 33; Ex. 27-29
(more…)

Walk in Wisdom � Gleanings from Scripture

Today�s Readings Feb. #9 : Matt. 13:44-58;
Acts 19:23-41 Psalm 32; Ex. 24-26
(more…)