If you can't say anything nice...

"If you have been foolish, exalting yourself,
or if you have been devising evil,
put your hand on your mouth."
Proverbs 30:32

And who said the Word of God isn't practical in its application!? HA!

"For pressing milk produces curds, (Cooking instructions)
pressing the nose produces blood, (medical advice)
and pressing anger produces strife." (anger management)
Proverbs 30:33

I love....

Micah says all the time, "I love... (insert anything a 3 1/2 year old loves: cars, food, balls, coloring, etc.)! In an attempt to teach him the difference between biblical love and worldly love we always say, "No we like (insert anything a 3 1/2 year old loves), but we LOVE people like mommy and daddy and Lydia (or any other person he knows) AND we love God."

.... But today Micah said, "No, I love mommy and daddy! I don't love God." Oh theological truth coming from such a little person. I wanted to correct him, but the truth is he doesn't so I just told him that hopefully one day he will like mommy and daddy.

And this is why I pray each morning for his (and Lydia's) salvation... sobering

Something I can never do...

For some reason I just can't write in my Bible... but apparently Lydia disagrees!

From whom do I seek recognition?

"Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God." John 12:42-43

We all want to recognized and if we are honest, sometimes at the cost of the gospel. We so desire for the praise of something, that often we look for the recognition of man because it seems more immediate and available. Sometimes I struggle with doing things "unto the Lord," because I can't see Him. When impatience rises up, when I don't act in the flesh by acting out my anger but rather act in self control, (which would be God glorifying) the glory is not given to whom it is due because I am puffed up with pride and delight in the recognition of anyone who is watching.

The Greek word doxa (δόξα), meaning glory, referring to the recognition belonging to a person, honor, or renown. In other words glory if the recognition given to something. When I give glory to God, I recognize Him in that situation for who He is. The Apostle John is telling us, that although these men believed (were persuaded in their mind) in Jesus, they did not publicly confess (to speak agreeably to the fact and truth) Jesus because they did not want to be removed from the people that recognized them. Notice the verse does not say they did not want to confess Jesus because they would be removed from their place of worship. No, it is because they did not want to be removed from the glory that comes from the people who reside in their synagogue. Ouch! In many instances could that be me?

This post is long, but I have to share this quote because it explains more adequately the subtle way in which this recognition of man is manifested:

"There is something that assaults God even more directly. It is the subtle sense that grows in us, usually unconsciously, that the real effectiveness of our spiritual acts is at the horizontal level among people, not before the face of God. In other words, if my children see my pray at meals, it will do them good. If the staff sees me fasting they may be inspired to fast. If my roommate sees me read my bible, he may be inspired to read his. And so on.
Now that's not all bad. Jesus' public prayers certainly inspired the disciples (Luke 11:1). But the danger is that all of our life- including our spiritual life- starts to be justified and understood simply on the horizontal level for the effects it can have because others see it happening. And so God subtly and slowly can become a secondary Person in the living of our lives. We may think that he is important to us because all these things that we are doing are the kinds of things he wants us to do. But, in fact, he himself is falling out of the picture as the focus of it all. And this registers in the motives of our hearts so that we feel satisfied when other are watching, but feel unmotivated if no one knows what were are doing- not one but God!...
Jesus is calling for a radical orientation on God himself. He is pushing us to have a real, utterly authentic, personal relationship with God. If God is not real to us- personally, vitally, real to us- it will be miserable to endure something difficult with God alone as the one who knows. It will all seem very pointless, because the whole range of horizontal possibilities will be nullified since no one knows what we are going through. All that matters is God, and who he is, and what he thinks, and what he will do."
-John Piper, A Hunger for God: Desiring God Through Fasting and Prayer

(Emphasis mine)

For we have heard for ourselves....

"Many Samaritians from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, 'He told me all that I ever did.' So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, ad he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, 'It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have hear for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.' " John 4:39-42

Through the testimony of the "woman of Samaria" many believed in Jesus. But as they sat under Christ's teaching it was through His Words, which they heard for themselves, that they knew he was the Savior of the world. There is power in our testimony (as people see Christ's work in us), but what a relief that it is through the proclamation of God's Word that people come to know Christ as their Savior. I think sometimes we forget the power of the Gospel and the transforming power of the Word of God.

The hour is now here...

"The woman said to him, 'Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our father worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.'

Jesus said to her,'Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on the mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is spirit, those who worship him must
worship in spirit and truth.' " John 19-24

You have to love the "But"s in scripture. As Christ begins his ministry, he proclaims to this woman, a Samaritan, your people were never able to worship the living God, for salvation was only known to the Jews, But, the hour (Matthew 26:45) now has come where you don't need a mountain or a Temple to worship the living God, for He is seeking those who will worship Him. A salvation that was once not for people outside of the Jews, is now for all and God is the one who seeks those whom will worship Him. Because of the Cross there is no longer a need for a mountain, building or temple to approach the presence of God, for the Spirit of Christ dwells within all those who believe. So worship the Triune God in all places!

Again praise God, for His atoning work through Jesus Christ and for the Spirit that indwells us and allows us to draw near to the Throne of Grace and cry "Abba, Father." (Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6-7, Hebrews 4:14-16)

The Fullness of Christ...

This morning we had a lunch for the women in the church. A time to encourage one another towards Christ. With Easter approaching I thought it necessary to speak on the work of Christ. I took a few moments to explain how through Christ being fully God, fully man, fulfilling the Law, and being fully Righteous, we are recipients of grace upon grace. Here is the handout. Celebrate the work of our Risen Lord as you dwell on these verses of scripture!

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth…And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever see God; the only God; who is at the Father’s side,
he has made him know.” John 1:14, 16-18

Fully God

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities- all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the first born from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of the cross.” Colossian 1:15-20

Fully Man

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

Fully Accomplished the Law

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until it is accomplished.” Matthew 17-18-19
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15

Fully Righteous

“Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness lead to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:18-19
“But when Christ has offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified…Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.” Hebrews 10:12-14, 18

Therefore…

“But when the fullness of time has come, God sent forth his only Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” Galatians 4:4-7
“And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:16

Grace- Greek word Charis (Χάρις)- A favor done without expectation of return; absolute freeness of the loving kindness of God to men finding its only motive in the bounty and freeheartedness of the Giver; unearned and unmerited favor.