Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV)
13"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."
Rightfully, this verse has been used to speak about our salvation in Jesus Christ. The road to destruction (Hell) is wide and easy, but in the end all on that road will suffer for eternity. On the contrary the road to life (Heaven) is narrow and hard, but in the end all on that road will life in the presence of their creator forever. I cannot and will not disagree with these statements because they are true. But many times I have overlooked a simple word in verse fourteen that not only speaks about salvation, but the life of the one saved.
The life of a Christian is not an easy one. It is filled with persecution in many different forms and comes with a changed life from one of the flesh to one of the Spirit. But why do many believers (including myself at times) get upset when life throws us hard times? Sickness comes, jobs are lost, family members pass away, money is short, and we seemed surprised. It's as if we expect life to never have problems because we know the Creator God.
But in reality, the narrow way is hard. There is a reason that very few find it. It's so darn hard.
The life of one individual was particularly difficult. He was rejected by his friends and family. He was continually badgered and harassed by those who despised him. He was accused of a crime that he did not commit. And in the end he was even rejected by God. If the life of our Savior Jesus Christ was hard why should we expect anything different. If the word rejects God it will reject His children. But in the end life is awaiting us on this narrow road.
Amen.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
God The All
O God whose will conquers all,
There is no comfort in anything apart from enjoying you
and being engaged in your service;
Thou are All in all, and all enjoyments are what
to me you made them, and no more.
I am well pleased with your will, whatever it is,
or should be in all respects,
And if you bid me decide for myself in any affair,
I would choose to refer all to you,
for you are infinitely wise and cannot do amiss,
as I am in danger of doing.
I rejoice to think that all things are at your disposal,
and it delights me to leave them there.
Then prayer turns wholly into praise,
and all I can do is to adore and bless you.
What shall I give you for all you benefits?
I am in a strait between two, knowing not what to do;
I long to make some return, but have nothing to offer,
and can only rejoice that you do all,
that none in heaven or on earth shares your honor;
I can of myself do nothing to glorify your blessed name,
but I can through grace cheerfully surrender soul and body to you,
I know that you are the author and finisher of faith,
that the whole work of redemption is yours alone,
that every good work or thought found in me
is the effect of your power and grace,
that you sole motive in working in me to will
and to do is for your good pleasure.
O God, it is amazing that men can talk so much
about man's creaturely power and goodness,
when, if you did not hold us back every
moment, we should be devils incarnate.
This, by bitter experience, you have taught me
concerning myself.
(The Valley of Vision, Puritan Prayers and Devotions)
There is no comfort in anything apart from enjoying you
and being engaged in your service;
Thou are All in all, and all enjoyments are what
to me you made them, and no more.
I am well pleased with your will, whatever it is,
or should be in all respects,
And if you bid me decide for myself in any affair,
I would choose to refer all to you,
for you are infinitely wise and cannot do amiss,
as I am in danger of doing.
I rejoice to think that all things are at your disposal,
and it delights me to leave them there.
Then prayer turns wholly into praise,
and all I can do is to adore and bless you.
What shall I give you for all you benefits?
I am in a strait between two, knowing not what to do;
I long to make some return, but have nothing to offer,
and can only rejoice that you do all,
that none in heaven or on earth shares your honor;
I can of myself do nothing to glorify your blessed name,
but I can through grace cheerfully surrender soul and body to you,
I know that you are the author and finisher of faith,
that the whole work of redemption is yours alone,
that every good work or thought found in me
is the effect of your power and grace,
that you sole motive in working in me to will
and to do is for your good pleasure.
O God, it is amazing that men can talk so much
about man's creaturely power and goodness,
when, if you did not hold us back every
moment, we should be devils incarnate.
This, by bitter experience, you have taught me
concerning myself.
(The Valley of Vision, Puritan Prayers and Devotions)
Friday, February 18, 2011
Take Off The Diapers
Ephesians 4:11-14 (ESV)
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
What is the purpose of the church? Contrary to some thought the church was not created to feed others. We've all heard the excuse, "I don't like this church or pastor or teacher because I don't really feel fed." What does that mean, anyway? Is the purpose of the church to be a feeding trough once a week for people who don't know how to feed themselves? Thinking like this brings to mind the image of an adult in diapers, sitting at a table, and the 70 year old mother spoon feeding him. In society today we would call that crazy. So then why do we assume that as an adult in the church we should be spoon fed everything for our spiritual development and growth? Maybe it's because we still have "adults," who have been in the church for years, still wearing spiritual diapers.
God is very straightforward through His servant Paul. The church is there to equip the saints for the work of the ministry of Christ, building each other up until we attain maturity in Him. Remember, this is addressed to those of us who are believers, whether for a week or fifty years. We are no longer to be like children who are gullible and fall for any doctrine that seems good to us.
"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ." Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)
We are to be honest with one another not to tear down, but to grow up. Our desire should be for each and every member of the body of Christ to become mature in Christ for the glory of Christ. Take off the diapers and become an adult. Grow spiritually and become sanctified for the glory of God.
Amen.
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
What is the purpose of the church? Contrary to some thought the church was not created to feed others. We've all heard the excuse, "I don't like this church or pastor or teacher because I don't really feel fed." What does that mean, anyway? Is the purpose of the church to be a feeding trough once a week for people who don't know how to feed themselves? Thinking like this brings to mind the image of an adult in diapers, sitting at a table, and the 70 year old mother spoon feeding him. In society today we would call that crazy. So then why do we assume that as an adult in the church we should be spoon fed everything for our spiritual development and growth? Maybe it's because we still have "adults," who have been in the church for years, still wearing spiritual diapers.
God is very straightforward through His servant Paul. The church is there to equip the saints for the work of the ministry of Christ, building each other up until we attain maturity in Him. Remember, this is addressed to those of us who are believers, whether for a week or fifty years. We are no longer to be like children who are gullible and fall for any doctrine that seems good to us.
"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ." Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)
We are to be honest with one another not to tear down, but to grow up. Our desire should be for each and every member of the body of Christ to become mature in Christ for the glory of Christ. Take off the diapers and become an adult. Grow spiritually and become sanctified for the glory of God.
Amen.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The Church: Jews and/or Gentiles?
Ephesians 3:10 (ESV) 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
In the verses preceding Paul explains to the Ephesians his call from God to preach to the Gentiles "the unsearchable riches of Christ." In his mind there is no greater division than that between Gentile and Jew. Anyone with some knowledge of church history can confirm this. But through the Spirit those division falls and the church is not divided between Gentile and Jew, but united in Christ. And through the church the "manifold wisdom of God" will be known even to the powers and authorities in the spiritual realm.
If Christ can unite Jews and Gentiles in the first century then surely He can unite the church today in the twenty-first century. Forgetting denominational divisions, what would the church of today look like if the people within the local body of believers came together, united in Christ? All too ofter our petty disagreements or personal feelings rule over our unity. If we are not united in one cause as the local church, what does this say to the rulers and authorities in the spiritual realm? What kind of witness are we for Christ?
Just something to think about.
In the verses preceding Paul explains to the Ephesians his call from God to preach to the Gentiles "the unsearchable riches of Christ." In his mind there is no greater division than that between Gentile and Jew. Anyone with some knowledge of church history can confirm this. But through the Spirit those division falls and the church is not divided between Gentile and Jew, but united in Christ. And through the church the "manifold wisdom of God" will be known even to the powers and authorities in the spiritual realm.
If Christ can unite Jews and Gentiles in the first century then surely He can unite the church today in the twenty-first century. Forgetting denominational divisions, what would the church of today look like if the people within the local body of believers came together, united in Christ? All too ofter our petty disagreements or personal feelings rule over our unity. If we are not united in one cause as the local church, what does this say to the rulers and authorities in the spiritual realm? What kind of witness are we for Christ?
Just something to think about.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Sufficiency of Christ
Colossians 2:9-10 (ESV) 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,10and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
You know the feeling. When you look into your own heart and are ashamed by what you see. How can God love such a sinner as I? And why do I live by the flesh more than the Spirit? These are only some the questions that run through the mind as we get closer to Christ.
And precisely the problem is that we try to live for Christ on our own too often. When looking back on my life I have to admit that anything good that came out of me come directly from Christ and His influence. As scripture says, "No one does good" (Romans 3:10-12). I am only righteous through the blood of Christ who is fully God and able to forgive sins. His righteousness is imputed to me. Oh, the glorious grace of God.
I cannot live for Christ on my own strength. It is only through the power of Christ in me that any good comes from my life. He is sufficient. And with Christ within me, His power strengthening me to fight the battles against my flesh, nothing can stand against me.
"In Christ we have been filled, and since He is fully God, Paul means [in Colossians 2:9-10] that all believers have been filled with the very fullness of the Almighty Himself. . . Thus, indwelt by the Spirit, we have the power of God to conform us to godliness, and we do not need anything or anyone else to make us holy" (Tabletalk, February 2011 issue).
Praise God.
You know the feeling. When you look into your own heart and are ashamed by what you see. How can God love such a sinner as I? And why do I live by the flesh more than the Spirit? These are only some the questions that run through the mind as we get closer to Christ.
And precisely the problem is that we try to live for Christ on our own too often. When looking back on my life I have to admit that anything good that came out of me come directly from Christ and His influence. As scripture says, "No one does good" (Romans 3:10-12). I am only righteous through the blood of Christ who is fully God and able to forgive sins. His righteousness is imputed to me. Oh, the glorious grace of God.
I cannot live for Christ on my own strength. It is only through the power of Christ in me that any good comes from my life. He is sufficient. And with Christ within me, His power strengthening me to fight the battles against my flesh, nothing can stand against me.
"In Christ we have been filled, and since He is fully God, Paul means [in Colossians 2:9-10] that all believers have been filled with the very fullness of the Almighty Himself. . . Thus, indwelt by the Spirit, we have the power of God to conform us to godliness, and we do not need anything or anyone else to make us holy" (Tabletalk, February 2011 issue).
Praise God.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Revelation of Myself Through Prayers
Romans 2:1-5 (ESV) 1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
Why do we so often fail in our prayer life? Why is it a difficult task for us to spend any significant amount of time in prayer to our creator? I'm sure there are many answers to these questions given by many different people, but I have found an answer that was so obvious I couldn't see it right in front of my face.
The people that Paul is writing to in Romans 2:1-5 obviously have a problem. They are judging people for acts that they are doing themselves. They are condemning others when they should be looking at their own life and seeing that they are as much condemned. While they are judging others God is judging them. Quite a statement.
I have found that I struggle in my prayer life because the closer I get to Christ the more sin is revealed to me. The more I know of the Father the more unworthy I become because my heart is revealed, my condemnation is seen. So, to keep myself from this I tend to be shallow in my prayers and my penitent heart is not to be seen. But no more.
O God of Grace,
Thou hast imputed my sin to my substitute,
and hast imputed his righteousness to my soul.
clothing me with a bridegroom's robe,
decking me with jewels of holiness.
But in my Christian walk I am still in rags;
my best prayers are stained with sin;
my penitential tears are so much impurity;
my confessions of wrong are so many aggravations of sin;
my receiving the Spirit is tinctured with selfishness.
I need to repent of my repentance;
I need my tears to be washed;
I have no robe to bring to cover my sins,
no loom to weave my own righteousness;
I am always standing clothed in filthy garments,
and by grace am always receiving change of raiment,
for thous dost always justify the ungodly;
I am always going into the far country,
and always returning home as a prodigal,
always saying, Father, forgive me,
and thou art always bringing forth the best robe.
Every morning let me wear it,
every evening return in it,
go out to the day's work in it,
be married in it,
be wound in death in it,
stand before the great white throne in it,
enter heaven in it shining as the sun.
Grant me never to lose sight of
the exceeding sinfulness of sin,
the exceeding righteousness of salvation,
the exceeding glory of Christ,
the exceeding beauty of holiness,
the exceeding wonder of grace.
Why do we so often fail in our prayer life? Why is it a difficult task for us to spend any significant amount of time in prayer to our creator? I'm sure there are many answers to these questions given by many different people, but I have found an answer that was so obvious I couldn't see it right in front of my face.
The people that Paul is writing to in Romans 2:1-5 obviously have a problem. They are judging people for acts that they are doing themselves. They are condemning others when they should be looking at their own life and seeing that they are as much condemned. While they are judging others God is judging them. Quite a statement.
I have found that I struggle in my prayer life because the closer I get to Christ the more sin is revealed to me. The more I know of the Father the more unworthy I become because my heart is revealed, my condemnation is seen. So, to keep myself from this I tend to be shallow in my prayers and my penitent heart is not to be seen. But no more.
O God of Grace,
Thou hast imputed my sin to my substitute,
and hast imputed his righteousness to my soul.
clothing me with a bridegroom's robe,
decking me with jewels of holiness.
But in my Christian walk I am still in rags;
my best prayers are stained with sin;
my penitential tears are so much impurity;
my confessions of wrong are so many aggravations of sin;
my receiving the Spirit is tinctured with selfishness.
I need to repent of my repentance;
I need my tears to be washed;
I have no robe to bring to cover my sins,
no loom to weave my own righteousness;
I am always standing clothed in filthy garments,
and by grace am always receiving change of raiment,
for thous dost always justify the ungodly;
I am always going into the far country,
and always returning home as a prodigal,
always saying, Father, forgive me,
and thou art always bringing forth the best robe.
Every morning let me wear it,
every evening return in it,
go out to the day's work in it,
be married in it,
be wound in death in it,
stand before the great white throne in it,
enter heaven in it shining as the sun.
Grant me never to lose sight of
the exceeding sinfulness of sin,
the exceeding righteousness of salvation,
the exceeding glory of Christ,
the exceeding beauty of holiness,
the exceeding wonder of grace.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
My Heart Exposed
Colossians 2:4-5 (ESV) 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
I have to admit that I have been exposed. In going to God this morning I have exposed my true heart and desires to Him who knows me best. And if I was honest with myself and Him I would have to say that I hate it. I hate it because to have my true nature and heart revealed is painful and humiliating. When my true heart and desires where exposed clearly for my own eyes I realized one thing: I am not satisfied with Christ.
My desire for food has overtaken my desire for God. I would rather be gluttonous than listen to the voice of God telling me what I am doing to His temple. I would rather allow the lusts of my heart control me than listen to the voice of God telling me what is happening to my relationship with the God of the universe. My heart is exposed.
John Calvin wrote, "Those who are not satisfied with Christ are exposed to all fallacies and deceptions." I have believed in fallacies and deceptions more than the word of God and in doing so I have revealed my dissatisfaction with Christ. I do not say this lightly because I do understand the implications of this revelation. When our hearts are exposed to us we see us for who we truly are: sinful, arrogant, selfish, and utterly depraved. We need Christ for more than salvation. At the cross He paid for my sins but His work does not end there. I have been justified by grace but sanctified daily through the exposure of my heart.
I am praying that my heart stays firm on Christ and that every day my true nature is exposed to Him who continues to sanctify me. My prayer is that you can do the same.
Amen.
I have to admit that I have been exposed. In going to God this morning I have exposed my true heart and desires to Him who knows me best. And if I was honest with myself and Him I would have to say that I hate it. I hate it because to have my true nature and heart revealed is painful and humiliating. When my true heart and desires where exposed clearly for my own eyes I realized one thing: I am not satisfied with Christ.
My desire for food has overtaken my desire for God. I would rather be gluttonous than listen to the voice of God telling me what I am doing to His temple. I would rather allow the lusts of my heart control me than listen to the voice of God telling me what is happening to my relationship with the God of the universe. My heart is exposed.
John Calvin wrote, "Those who are not satisfied with Christ are exposed to all fallacies and deceptions." I have believed in fallacies and deceptions more than the word of God and in doing so I have revealed my dissatisfaction with Christ. I do not say this lightly because I do understand the implications of this revelation. When our hearts are exposed to us we see us for who we truly are: sinful, arrogant, selfish, and utterly depraved. We need Christ for more than salvation. At the cross He paid for my sins but His work does not end there. I have been justified by grace but sanctified daily through the exposure of my heart.
I am praying that my heart stays firm on Christ and that every day my true nature is exposed to Him who continues to sanctify me. My prayer is that you can do the same.
Amen.
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