ResponsiveReiding

Through the Word in 2020 #70 – July 9 / I can do ALL things?

July 9th, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

If you’d like to join us in our journey reading all the way through the Bible this year, drop me a line at reid.ferguson@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to email back a copy of the reading plan we are using.

There are certain passages of Scripture which seem to take on a life of their own – wrestled out of their context and misapplied with frightening ease. And 2 of them appear in our reading today in
Philippians 4:10-20. We’ll talk about that today on Through the Word in 2020. I’m Reid Ferguson.

I am reluctant to pass over Luke 5:27-39 because of the vast importance of our knowing our need of Christ if we are to be saved by Him. This is profoundly important and I would ask that you take some time to think on vss. 31 & 32 carefully. If you are not aware of your brokenness, sinfulness, alienation from God and lostness, you cannot be saved. Jesus only saves those who are in desperate need of Him. So too, the account of David’s numbering the people in 1 Chronicles 20-22 is packed with needed instruction. But due to the popular misuse of 2 verses in Philippians, I opted to fix our eyes there.

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” has become a popular and ubiquitous slogan. Irrespective of what Paul meant in this passage.

He was NOT, please hear me, not talking about jumping higher, running faster, getting better test scores, winning more games, outselling competitors, losing weight or doing more reps at the gym. This passage is about being able to serve Christ rightly regardless of external circumstances.

As with Paul, abounding and suffering need are the two spheres in which we encounter our severest temptations.

When in need we can feel shortchanged and sinned against – even by God. And in abundance and prosperity, we can feel privileged and self-confident; the two most perilous places we can be. How we need the Lord’s help in these hours. To teach us contentment that beards both of these ravenous lions in their dens. These are the “all things” Paul is referring to. And to ignore the peril of overcoming the spiritual pitfalls of either abundance or need is to leave us still drowning in the values of the culture around us – rather than seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Jesus didn’t die to make you successful – He died to save you from the just wrath of God, and to reconcile you to the Heavenly Father.

The 2nd one is vs. 19: “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

This does NOT mean Christians are somehow exempt from material loss, financial hardship, physical ailment, adverse circumstances, loneliness or any other loss in life but this: The riches of Christ’s righteousness is all ours! Every REAL lasting, soul and eternal need is met in Christ Himself.

This is not a promise of material prosperity but of the full assurance of Christ’s sufficiency for our every spiritual need in living in this life – and bringing us to glory.

And please note the word “need.” He does not supply our every want, wish, desire or preference – but He does meet us in our every need. And as I said above every REAL lasting, soul and eternal need is met in Christ Himself. Oh that we would look to Him as our every sufficiency.

Think on these things today Beloved.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #70 – July 8 / Owing our Thoughts

July 8th, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

If you’d like to join us in our journey reading all the way through the Bible this year, drop me a line at reid.ferguson@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to email back a copy of the reading plan we are using.

Peace. At the present time, there seems to be little of it be found anywhere. There is unrest, a decided lack of peace civilly, politically, economically and in the current pandemic with its perpetual antiphonal chants of opposing opinions filling a 24 hour news cycle. What is one to do to find peace? Where is one to go? So many of us are so care-worn, we cannot catch a moment’s peace. So here’s a question – do you just want peace – the noise to go away; or the peace of God, which can only be had when we have the God of peace? That’s our focus today on Though the Word in 2020.

Along with Luke 5:17–26; Psalm 109; 1 Chronicles 18–20:3, our reading today takes us to that very familiar passage Philippians 4:2–9.

Now verses 6 & 7 are often taken as a small section by themselves. Reasonably enough. The emphasis upon prayer bringing us the peace of God guarding our hearts and minds in Jesus, is right and good in and of itself. But it fails to see how Paul’s point is not for Christians to use prayer as a mere mechanism to get peace. As though peace is something we can have apart from – as verse 9 puts it: the God of peace with us. In other words, it is God being WITH us which is the source of all peace. He brings peace, He doesn’t just give it. And if we won’t have or seek Him, in truth, we will not have His peace either. The 2 are inseparable.

So, we major on trying to not be anxiety-ridden by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, making our requests known to God. Good. But there is more to this. For if we do not also take up the call of vs. 8 to govern our thought lives, and live out the truth of the Gospel in vs. 9, we still will not know the God of peace. Peace will still elude us.

So, what do you think about? Do your thoughts run away with you? Or do you put your thoughts into your service? Do you direct your thoughts to ponder things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise?

Let me tell you, you will not find the things which support such a thought life on FoxNews, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, The Drudge Report, or any other news or commentary outlet. The only sure source of truth, honor, justice, purity, loveliness and the rest, is God’s Word.

Am I saying we pay no attention to what’s going on around us? Not at all. I’m saying the God of peace does not grant us peace when we allow our minds to fix on what can only agitate by its nature. That we need to reclaim our thought lives. Know the news. But think on, meditate on, muse on, consider the things which are in concert with seeing, knowing and growing in the knowledge of God in Jesus Christ.

The World is not at peace. Nor will it ever be until Jesus returns. And we can think on the broad turmoil roiling all around us, or we can think on other things as the mainstay of our inner dialog.

So, what occupies your thoughts? If it leads to fear, agitation, anger, cursing of others, pointing the finger, complaining, and unrest of soul – something’s amiss. Give your brain a vacation. Every day – for at least some time – “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in the likes of Paul —practice, and the God of peace will be with you.”

I’m Reid Ferguson. God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #69 July 7 – Real and false – faith.

July 7th, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

If you’d like to join us in our journey reading all the way through the Bible this year, drop me a line at reid.ferguson@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to email back a copy of the reading plan we are using.

There are some principles in Scripture which need to be revisited over and over. They are like the foundation stones of a skyscraper. If they give way, everything gives way. If they are compromised, instability is the inevitable result. These principles can appear quite inconspicuously, unless you really stop to consider them. They greatly inform key strands in Scripture and the Christian life in such a way that they prevent the Believer from very destructive and debilitating thought patterns. We’ll look at one of those principles in Luke 5:1-16; which along with 1 Chronicles 15-17 and Philippians 3-4:1 comprise our reading block for today.

I’m Reid Ferguson, and you’re listening to Through the Word in 2020.

As I’ve already mentioned, our passage in Luke brings up one of the most important foundation stones for living the Christian life; the necessity of developing right thoughts about faith. Faith, real faith, Biblical faith, not what is often foisted off on us as faith, is truly an issue of the utmost importance. So rehearse it with me again today.

In vs. 5 of Luke 5, the words and actions of Peter in response to Jesus telling him to put out into the deep and let down his nets for a catch, hold the clearest and most succinct exposition of faith to be found anywhere. Faith reasons in the face of everything else – “but at your word.”

So note carefully, faith does not groundlessly hope. It does not pluck its expectation from the air. It is not the product of imagination, or a contrived desire. We cannot have faith regarding that which God has not said. No. It roots itself firmly in one place: What God HAS said. And then acts accordingly.

So many, sadly, do almost irreparable harm to their own faith. They do so when they hold God to promises He never made, or to impressions they thought came from Him. Then, when He appears not to have come through, they inwardly undermine their own ability to believe Him in the things He HAS said.

Though stated in another context, Paul’s words in 1 Cor. 4:6 have broad application and especially in this issue: “learn by us not to go beyond what is written.” What God has said, what He has inspired by His Spirit to have written down for us in His Word – these are the things (rightly interpreted) in which we can have absolute faith. And when we go beyond that into thoughts, desires, impressions or hopes of our own creation – we open ourselves to faith-destroying disappointments.

Let Peter’s example be your guide – “But at your word.” And you will find a safe haven for your soul. A truly firm foundation for your faith. But if you hold God to something you may THINK He has said to you, or an impression you have in your heart and mind – no matter how vivid, and it does not come to pass – in time, you will not find it reasonable to believe what He has actually said in His Word. Faith will either become some sort of strange means of manipulating God – superstition – or it will simply wilt and become useless.

God cannot lie. If it appears He has – then we’ve either misinterpreted His Word, or put our trust in something other than His Word and His character. Know and trust what you can verify He has said by soundly understanding the Scriptures. And your faith will be increasingly steadfast and sure.

God bless. And God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #68 – July 6 / The Priority of the Gospel

July 6th, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

If you’d like to join us in our journey reading all the way through the Bible this year, drop me a line at reid.ferguson@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to email back a copy of the reading plan we are using.

Setting proper priorities is part and parcel of living life period. Not everything that even has a legitimate claim on our time, interest and energy has exactly the same claim. Spiritual matters must take precedence over temporal ones. Bodily health over recreation. Family over work. And even in these, there are emergencies which may lay temporary claim over normal things – but then need to be set back into proper order in due time. No one understood or lived this better than Jesus. And we’ll look at that reality for a few moments on Through the Word in 2020. I’m your host, Reid Ferguson.

Of our 4 passages today Psalm 108, 1 Chronicles 12-14, Philippians 2:19-30 and Luke 4:38-44 it is the short but enigmatic account of Jesus in Luke that captures my attention today.

Short as the Lukan passage is, it presents 3 short vignettes. The first 2 we grasp easily and resonate with. First, Jesus entering Peter’s house where his mother in law lay ill. They ask Jesus to do something and He heals her. Second then, the crowds who brought their own loved ones, to be healed of all sorts of afflictions. And in His mercy and grace He “laid His hands on every one of them.”

The third comes the next morning. Jesus goes out to pray alone when more show up to seek Him out and get Him to stay there. After all – aren’t there still a host of needy folk? But Jesus responds – no. He says to them “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose. And He was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.” This scene is harder to digest.

And here we learn what a priority is placed upon the Gospel.

To those who came with sicknesses, infirmities, or loved ones afflicted or demon possessed, it must have been hard to comprehend why He would make the preaching of this message in other places more important than their immediate, felt and very real needs.

Note first that one may enter Heaven without a foot, blind, deaf or leprous; But one cannot enter Heaven without hearing, believing and obeying the Gospel. Jesus knows, and intends to meet our greatest need above all. He didn’t neglect those He could touch. But then, He didn’t let that become the priority either.

Note second how easy it is for the Church to get sidetracked over this very same issue – of not placing the priority of the Gospel above everything else. Think of our current climate and how the Church is being pulled from every side to take on cultural and social issues. And make no mistake, those issues are real, and need to be addressed. They are as real now as the blindness, lameness, deafness, leprosy and other maladies of those they would have been bringing to Jesus then. But even those things, as real, urgent and legitimate as they are must never be pursued at the expense of leaving off the preaching of the Gospel.

The Church needs to prioritize the mission of the Gospel above every other. As individual Christians, we can and should act on the other issues in their place. But as The Church, we are not here to fix society first, but to preach Christ first – the One who alone can fix society by raising dead souls to life and reconciling lost sinners to God the Father through His own blood.

Jesus did indeed, heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out devils. But when doing those things prevented Him from preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, He left them off to go and preach.

Father, help us to keep YOUR priorities in our generation as well. That Christ might be all in all.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #67 July 3 / Deputies of Disputation?

July 3rd, 2020

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If you’d like to join us in our journey reading all the way through the Bible this year, drop me a line at reid.ferguson@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to email back a copy of the reading plan we are using.

We’ve visited this issue before, and because the Word takes us there repeatedly, we will no doubt go there again – grumbling. It seems to be a national pass-time right now. Even among Christians. If we didn’t have the economy, politics, sports (or the lack thereof), the Corona virus or the public responses to it – I wonder if we’d have anything to talk – or post – about. Many of us seem to have more in common with Oscar the Grouch than with David the Worshiper. A bit more on that today on Through the Word in 2020 – I’m Reid Ferguson.

1 Chronicles 9:35–11:47; Philippians 2:12–18; Luke 4:31–37 are the passages before us today. And it is Paul’s admonition in Philippians 2:14-15 that rebukes my own soul today.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Chronic complaining and behind-the-scenes murmuring is a big issue in Scripture. Over 30 times it is cited as something which God has a low tolerance for – and that, in both testaments. And it is always cited in the context of God’s people being the grumblers. None of us have been deputized to be relentless disputers.

We need to note first here that grumbling is not located in simply saying “ouch” when something hurts, or making our distresses known. That’s legitimate.

Chronic grumbling eventually crosses over into accusing God of mistreatment in our difficulties. We look at our providential circumstances, and rather than acknowledging God’s goodness in the midst of these providences, however negative they may be – we leave that aspect missing. Then we enter that realm, accusing Him. Overtly or by implication. And we enter the most dangerous of territories.

But note well how grumbling over God’s providences and appointments, connects with disputing with others. For when we are irritated, we are irritated. It is like listening to the radio – if you turn the volume up or down on any one channel, you turn it up or down on all of them. So it is when we allow ourselves to be agitated toward either God or man, we will usually, in some capacity, also be irritated with the other. They are always linked. And in all honesty, most of our disputes with men arise out of our discontent with God’s arrangements in bringing them and their brokenness into our lives.

We want Him to bring us nice people. People we like. People we agree with and they with us. People who demand nothing of us and who enhance our lives. People who share our likes and dislikes, as well as our views on everything from theology to politics to movies and pass times.

When we are most enraged at others, it is good to stop and ask if we are not also enraged at God for having to endure them. And perhaps, when we stop to consider them in that light, we will also stop and pray for them, rather than simply contend with them, or chafe at them.

For where does our text call us to do all things without grumbling or disputing? “In the midst of a crooked and twisted generation.” When we abandon grumbling in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation – there – we shine as lights in the world. And it is at this point we cease to be salt and light as we were called to by Jesus if we take up grumbling.

There is nothing wrong with acknowledging wrong. There is something wrong about living there. Carrying the low-grade fever of underlying irritation. There is something seriously wrong – with grumbling. It extinguishes our light.

Consider that today Christian.

God willing, we’ll be back Monday.
Through the Word in 2020 – #66 July 2 / A Nugget of Gold in the Rubble

July 2nd, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

If you’d like to join us in our journey reading all the way through the Bible this year, drop me a line at reid.ferguson@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to email back a copy of the reading plan we are using.

Slogging through 1 Chronicles can be a chore. Verse after verse of hard to pronounce names that we have no other reference to. It all seems a little pointless. And yet, God has seen to it to have it written down for us. And then, sifting though it all, we suddenly stumble on some gold that’s been buried there. Gold we do not get unless we dig for it. Digging for gold in difficult passages is part of seeking God in every part of His Word. I’m Reid Ferguson, and we’ll look at one of those nuggets today on Through the Word in 2020.

Philippians 1:19–2:11; Psalm 107; Luke 4:14–30; and 1 Chronicles 7:14–9:34. Those are the sections before us today. And the person I’d like to note for a moment comes up in vs. 31 of 1 Chronicles 9 – Mattithiah. His name comes up 8 times in Scripture – most often in lists. We know very little about him beyond the mention of him in today’s text. But if you run over the mention too quickly, you’ll miss something precious.

Mattithiah, the text says, was one of the Levites. And as one of the exiles who came back to Jerusalem in the first wave of those returning from Babylon, he entered back into service. Now the Temple had been destroyed in the seige some 70 years earlier. But it appears the Levites erected something like the old wilderness Tabernacle to carry out the worship ordinances until a new temple could be built.

Mattithiah had his part in that. The text says that he “was entrusted with making the flat cakes.” Those cakes were part of the daily sacrifices to be offered before the Lord as prescribed back in Leviticus 6.

And what is the point of all this?

This man’s job in serving God was simply to bake the bread of the offerings. But it is important. Look at the careful wording. It does not simply mention his baking the bread – it says he was “entrusted” to bake the bread.

The smallest service among God’s people is a sacred trust. And oh, that each of us would take whatever we contribute to the service of God’s people that way – as a sacred trust. That we would carry out whatever task we might be “entrusted” with as a holy responsibility – and not just busy work.

That we would understand the importance God places upon each of us bringing our service before Him. That we would grasp the seriousness with which we ought to approach any task that contributes to the body of Believers and the worship of God before the World.

The Father takes it seriously enough, to inscribe this otherwise unknown and obscure character in the eternal pages of holy writ. He takes no less notice of your efforts.

Heavenly Father, may I be one you can entrust with such things. With anything. May I never consider anything done in your name trivial, tedious or easily neglected – if in even the smallest way it contributes to the right worship of your name in the earth. And may you find me faithful in it.

Something to consider today Christian.

God bless. And God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #65 – July 1 / The Power of The Gospel

July 1st, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

If you’d like to join us in our journey reading all the way through the Bible this year, drop me a line at reid.ferguson@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to email back a copy of the reading plan we are using.

How powerful is the Gospel? The short, often misunderstood passage of Philippians 1:12-18 gives us a real glimpse. Never underestimate the simple proclamation that Christ has been crucified for sinners. Even in the hands of the enemies of the Cross, the Gospel cannot be de-fanged.

More on that today on Through the Word in 2020. I’m your host, Reid Ferguson.

Along with the passage already noted, our reading today includes 1 Chronicles 5:23–7:13 and Luke 3:23–4:13. But as already noted I want us to think a bit on Paul’s statement in vs. 18: “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.”

Note first that the power of the Gospel is not dependent upon the character of the one who delivers it – but upon the God whose unfailing promise is bound up in it. It is true – Jesus saves sinners, whether a righteous man gives the Gospel, or a most far-gone profligate does. The power rests in the Gospel itself.

But note, this passage is not condoning those who preach the Gospel falsely or out of evil motives. That is sometimes the way this passage is read. But that isn’t really Paul’s point.

Yes, Paul can delight that the Gospel gets preached regardless, but this is in no way an endorsement of such misuse. Nor that we should ignore those who claim to be servants of Christ who nevertheless preach the Gospel, but whose lives openly contradict it. So we read in Titus 1:16 –

They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

Such are to be exposed and soundly rebuked.

Because God CAN use cancer to bring one to himself, is not a tacit endorsement that therefore all cancer is good and is to be celebrated. Such confusion leads to all manner of falsehoods and poor judgments. This passage does not teach that we should simply ignore wicked men in their wickedness because the Gospel somehow still gets preached.

If that’s so, then what IS this passage about?

Those “preaching” the Gospel out of envy and rivalry here are not pretend gospelers, not charlatans, but those who in the process of persecuting Paul must articulate what it is in his message they object to. They are either Jewish persecutors trying to divert people away from the Gospel, or Gentile persecutors, trying to bring people back to their false gods. In the process, they must declare that Paul preaches a salvation by Christ alone through faith alone. They must point out he preaches a Christ crucified for sins – and these things in opposition to their own views. These are not pretenders, they are persecutors.

And so great is our God, He can use both the persecutors and the pretenders in getting the message of this glorious Gospel preached.

Take heart Christian – one way or another – the Gospel WILL prevail.

It isn’t the message bearer, nor the intent of the messenger’s heart and mind that give the Gospel its power. Its power is its own.

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

What a comfort then to us in our sometimes very feeble attempts at sharing the Gospel of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. The effectiveness of the message is not dependent upon us – the message itself – by the agency of the Holy Spirit – is sufficient to save the lost.

Sow the Word. And let the Lord bring forth the harvest.

God bless. And God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #64 – June 30 / Praying, like Jabez, but not praying his prayer

June 30th, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

If you’d like to join us in our journey reading all the way through the Bible this year, drop me a line at reid.ferguson@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to email back a copy of the reading plan we are using.

Luke 3:1–22; Philippians 1:3–11; Psalm 106; 1 Chronicles 3:1–5:22 form our reading list today. Tucked away in the midst of these chapters in Chronicles with its long lists of people we do not and cannot know – about whom we know no more than their being listed there – is this simple reminder: When people call upon the Lord, He hears. And He answers. He is ever willing to meet us if we will but seek Him. That today on Through the Word in 2020 – I’m Reid Ferguson.

First, is 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 and the prayer of a man named Jabez.

A few years ago a book was written which laid great stress on praying what Jabez prayed. I think that is a mistake. I once heard someone ask Alistair Begg if he prayed the prayer of Jabez. He quipped: “No. I don’t pray the prayer of Jabez because Jesus didn’t pray the prayer of Jabez.”

What really makes this short account remarkable is that in this sea of unknown people – when people seek God and pray, He hears. No matter how obscure we may be. Our God hears us.

This is reiterated and expanded upon later – in Chapter 5. It bears the account of the tribes of Reuben, Gad and 1/2 the tribe of Manasseh as they were pursuing the conquest of the land God had promised them. What is in vs. 20 is both so simple and so profound. A powerful impetus to pray. Note these four things.

1 Chronicles 5:20

And when they prevailed over them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried out to God in the battle, and he granted their urgent plea because they trusted in him.

a. They were in battle. Christians face battles. Of all kinds. We ought not to be surprised at this. We have been given the task of challenging our indwelling sins – and they will not go quickly nor quietly. We have a real and angry enemy of our souls who will lie at all times, and ruthlessly seeks our utter destruction. And, then this world around us which seeks to soak into us and sink us. To draw us away by its enticements. To make us forgetful of God and His great mercy, grace and goodness. To make its fleeting riches of greater value than eternity.

b. It is in battle the men of Israel cried out – to God! Note that they did not just cry out. Many simply wail due to their distresses. Others have learned to cry out to God – to seek His help and favor. They have learned there is a God who loves them and cares for them and delights to be called upon in the day of trouble. As these did, so may we.

c. He granted their urgent plea. He does not turn a deaf ear to those about His business. He is never indifferent to our plight. And He takes note of the urgency of our needs. His timing is always perfect. He is never ever late. Though we often would prefer Him to be early. He answers only precisely, and when it is perfect in the eyes of His infinite wisdom and unfailing love.

d. Because they trusted in Him. Their cry was not out of mere desperation, but in the knowledge He could be trusted. Faith is central to seeing the hand of God move on our behalf. He rushes to the aid of those who trust Him. He delights to be trusted above all things – for it is the foundation of loving intimacy. Would you please God today? Trust Him. And watch Him answer.

This entrance to the Father in prayer is part of what Jesus purchased for us in His blood on the Cross.

Don’t neglect this great gift.

Consider that afresh today.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #63 – June 29 / Another Look at the Humbleness of God

June 29th, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

If you’d like to join us in our journey reading all the way through the Bible this year, drop me a line at reid.ferguson@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to email back a copy of the reading plan we are using.

Out of all the attributes of God, the one which continues to amaze me most, is the one I’ve heard the least about throughout my years: His Humility. Along with 2 Kings 25-1 Chronicles 2, Ephesians 6:21-Philippians 1:2 – we have this amazing display of God’s humility in the life of Jesus in Luke 2:39-52. That’s our topic today on Through the Word in 2020. I’m Reid Ferguson.

We’ve touched on this topic before, but our text in Luke 2 brings it to the forefront once again.

We in circles rooted in Reformed Theology love to draw from the likes of Jonathan Edwards when he tells us that ultimately – everything God does, He does for His own glory. To some, that sounds egotistical. Like God arranges the universe so that He can be sure He gets a cosmic pat on the back from all He does. The truth is far different than that.

God does all He does for His own glory because that is also the most blessed, gracious and loving thing He can do for His creatures. Since He Himself is the very fountain of all good – He cannot bless us in any higher way than to expose us to His own greatness an goodness – to His glory. In Him, in whom there is no sin – His self-disclosure is the highest act of selflessness He can perform. Rather than selfishly hiding Himself from us – He reveals Himself to us. And in the ultimate way – in Jesus’ incarnation, death on our behalf and resurrection.

If Colossians 2:9 is true, and it must be, how can He give us anything more? “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.”

So when we come to this passage in Luke 2, we are met with an indescribably humble Savior. And it is in His humility that we encounter something of the glory of God we could not know any other way.

Think on it for a moment. When vs. 51 says Jesus went down with His mother and Father and was “submissive to them” – the specter is positively stunning.

How humble our God is.

Given the circumstances, the realities of His incarnation, the Lord of glory, the One who created the womb that had given Him birth; The One who at that very moment was sustaining the lives of His own earthly parents; The infinitely holy and perfect God – found it reasonable to remain submissive to His merely human inferiors.

Now were Mary and Joseph miraculously perfect parents? We would have no Biblical reason to believe so. And yet He willingly submitted Himself to them. The one who at that moment was upholding all things by the word of His power – was submitted to these middle-eastern, Jewish youngsters in the backwater of civilization.

And for us, wives find it unimaginable to be submitted to their husbands. Children find it unbearable to be submitted to their parents. Men find it unreasonable to be submitted to ecclesiastical or even civil authorities. We chafe at submission of any kind.

Maybe we suffer from some sort of pride, ego and individual sense of place and entitlement that never crossed the mind of the Living God.

Heavenly Father, give us the Spirit of Christ. Who though God in human flesh, didn’t grasp after His divinity, but humbled Himself. May we find such ease in all your sovereign arrangements and appointments in life. May we sweetly and easily submit to You and those you may put in authority over us in any sphere. Submit to you, who loves us beyond our wildest imaginations.

Let that soak into your soul today.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #62 – June 26 / A Friday Prayer

June 26th, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

If you’d like to join us in our journey reading all the way through the Bible this year, drop me a line at reid.ferguson@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to email back a copy of the reading plan we are using.

Once again I am faced with having to choose from several passages that each call for attention. Given Ephesians 6:10-20, Luke 2:8-38, 2 Kings 23:31-24:20 and Psalm 105, I will settle oh so briefly on Psalm 105, and that, just 1 verse out of that Psalm, vs. 4: “Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually.’

I’m Reid Ferguson, and that’s our focus today on Through the Word in 2020.

“Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually.” What a wonderful admonition that is.

I don’t know about you, I can only speak for myself. But it is so easy to go through my day, even making sure I spend some time reading the Word and a time of prayer, but to do so in such a way that my soul is never really quieted before the Throne. Do it all, but never having a sense of having entered His presence. Of my soul’s having truly sought Him, and not just His truth or answers to my petitions.

Now the Lord so gracious, so patient, so kind. He waits for us to step aside, even for a few moments, to just be in His presence. And doesn’t it speak volumes that He has to include an exhortation to seek His presence in His Word – when it is the thing which will bless us most and do us the most good?

So let me be brief today and just pray with you to that end.

Heavenly Father, the volumes that need to be written on this one thought. How destitute we are of joy, comfort, peace, understanding, righteousness, instruction and strength – because we do not seek your presence continually.

Because we go back and forth. We imagine that we go in and out of your presence.

But it is not so.

You are with us always. We do not leave your presence, we merely ignore it. Oh horror of horrors! Please forgive us. Forgive us for uttering one syllable as though you are not hearing in the room with us. Forgive us for the way we speak to others. For the ways we think – as though you are not privy to every thought.

For pursuing some sort of abstract “strength” in our weak moments, instead of simply seeking your presence – for there, for YOU, are our strength. Strength isn’t some “thing” disconnected from you.

Forgive us for what we let our eyes see and our ears hear. All because we are not living in the seeking – the act of recognizing your presence with us. May that never again be true from this day forward.

May we seek your presence at all times and in all places. What of your presence we can have now, especially in the sanctum of the prayer closet and the fellowship of your people in gathered worship. And seeking to be in your full, unveiled presence in the resurrection.

For your promise is, you will be found by those who seek you.

In Jesus’ name we ask it.

God bless – and God willing, we’ll be back Monday.