Finally, brothers, 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 me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
(Philippians 4:8-9 ESV)
Yesterday in church the Lord spoke through these verses to convict me of my constant attitude of cynicism. I have been conditioned to critique or to find flaws in people, systems, philosophies, theologies, songs, or books before I find the positive things-the things of God that are true, honorable, just, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise.
Paul gives this challenge to the Philippians after he entreats two Christian women, "...who have labored side by side with [Paul] in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of [Paul's] fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life (4:3)," to "agree in the Lord (4:2)." When we have this attitude of cynicism, we are blinded to the things of God, nothing is ever good enough, and we disagree in the Lord. We, as believers, are in the Lord, many members of one body (Christ), called to maintain the unity given us in Christ (Ephesians 4).
As redeemed (justified), recovering (being sanctified)sinners, we will have disagreements. Sometimes it is necessary to disagree and sometimes it is unnecessary to disagree, but we must always agree in the Lord. The way we do this is to think about and look first for the things in Paul's list. Because Jesus is true, honorable, just, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise, anything that bears any of these qualities is of God and, therefore, must be celebrated and enjoyed.
"What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
(Philippians 4:9)
Monday, June 27, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
The Whole Great Commission
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:16-20 ESV)
I saw the Great Commission in a new way this morning. I saw it first as a whole made up of two parts.
The whole: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..."
Part one: "...baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..."
Part two: "...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."
These two parts have to be done in order to make disciples. We must first make converts and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit. This is justification. Then we must teach the new converted people all that Jesus has commanded. This is sanctification.
If we only seek to make converts, we get people who "prayed the prayer" but bear no fruit. If we seek only to teach them to observe all that Jesus has commanded, then we get legalistic "dead trees" with duct-taped fruit.
We have been sent on a mission not to make prayers of prayers or pharisees, but disciples. This is much harder work and most glorifying to God.
Help us, Jesus. He is with us always, "to the end of the age."
(Matthew 28:16-20 ESV)
I saw the Great Commission in a new way this morning. I saw it first as a whole made up of two parts.
The whole: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..."
Part one: "...baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..."
Part two: "...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."
These two parts have to be done in order to make disciples. We must first make converts and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit. This is justification. Then we must teach the new converted people all that Jesus has commanded. This is sanctification.
If we only seek to make converts, we get people who "prayed the prayer" but bear no fruit. If we seek only to teach them to observe all that Jesus has commanded, then we get legalistic "dead trees" with duct-taped fruit.
We have been sent on a mission not to make prayers of prayers or pharisees, but disciples. This is much harder work and most glorifying to God.
Help us, Jesus. He is with us always, "to the end of the age."
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Currently Reading
Currently I am reading "Engaging God's World" by Cornelius Plantinga Jr. It is a great read for any Christian seeking purpose behind their education or vocation. Plantinga encourages the reader to look at everything in the world through the meta-narrative of Scripture (Creation, Fall, and Redemption), and challenges the elected (Christians) to faithfully take part in the gracious opportunity to be an agent of reformation. Plantinga's running challenge through the whole book is, wherever you are and whatever you are doing, to strive and pray for the Lord to bring the Kingdom of God.
Similar read would be one of my favorite by Albert Wolters, "Creation Regained."
Monday, June 20, 2011
Sanctification and Reformation
"Sanctification is not an antiseptic affair. It is raw, rough, and not for the faint of heart. To please the Lord, we do not "let go and let God"- we reach out and kill the sin that threatens to kill us. This sacred responsibility is not offered to us as an option." -Strachan
On Reformation: "I had rather see coming toward me a whole regiment with drawn swords, than one lone Calvinist convinced that he is doing the will of God." - unknown
"But the Christian life is subjectively living out the implications of what has already been objectively achieved." - The Resurgence
Sanctification is staying the course to where you are going and already are in Christ. It is becoming restored back into the perfect image of Jesus. The threshold of this journey is justification and the finish line is glorification. All this is from God to the praise of his glorious grace.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
(Philippians 2:12-13 ESV)
On Reformation: "I had rather see coming toward me a whole regiment with drawn swords, than one lone Calvinist convinced that he is doing the will of God." - unknown
"But the Christian life is subjectively living out the implications of what has already been objectively achieved." - The Resurgence
Sanctification is staying the course to where you are going and already are in Christ. It is becoming restored back into the perfect image of Jesus. The threshold of this journey is justification and the finish line is glorification. All this is from God to the praise of his glorious grace.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
(Philippians 2:12-13 ESV)
Friday, June 17, 2011
I am not my own
I am not my own. I was bought with a price, the precious blood of Jesus Christ. I am to honor my master with my body and everything in it.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Prayer
In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.
When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
(Matthew 21:18-22 ESV)
Huge prayers answered today. Thank you Father!
When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
(Matthew 21:18-22 ESV)
Huge prayers answered today. Thank you Father!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Do not Grieve the Holy Spirit of God
A good word from Dr. Jim Denison:
Scripture warns us: "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30). When we choose to sin, we grieve the Holy Spirit who indwells us this moment, who sees everything we see and knows everything we know.
By contrast, when we choose to reject temptation and live by our Father's word and will, we gladden the heart of our Lord. There is "rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:7). God knows our inner feelings and genuine motivations. He delighted to say, "I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do" (Acts 13:22).
Scripture warns us: "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30). When we choose to sin, we grieve the Holy Spirit who indwells us this moment, who sees everything we see and knows everything we know.
By contrast, when we choose to reject temptation and live by our Father's word and will, we gladden the heart of our Lord. There is "rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:7). God knows our inner feelings and genuine motivations. He delighted to say, "I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do" (Acts 13:22).
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