And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
The way that God causes all things to work together for good (the glib verse we so quickly recite) is found in the verse following that. We may never see the good that God is bringing about in the circumstances in our lives. He doesn't give us specific answers to our "why?" questions. But He does give us an answer...
All these trials work for our good because they conform us to the likeness of His Son.
That's all I need to know.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
And Lord, I know this is a marathon, but...
Last night, for the first time in many years, I felt the full impact of the analogy, "The Christian walk is not a sprint- it's a marathon."
Alone, underneath a gorgeous evening sky, I broke down before my God and my Maker, unable to understand why He had made me this way, and why I struggled to worship completely such a magnificent Lord.
The sheer massivity of my sin, the hopelessness I felt regarding change, and the unworthiness as to why God would save me came crashing down upon me. I felt as though I had trudged through the same thing for so many years that surely, surely God's patience had worn out. Why had He saved me?
But, by the grace of my all-knowing Lord, I was reminded of something I had recently decided to do: actively claim the promises of scripture in my prayers. To "remind" God of what He had said He would do...
Dearest Lord,
I don't know what to do. I lack even the desire to try. I can't. I don't feel. I don't move. I'm so tired. I'm so fallen. But Lord, you said that though "the righteous cry the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles." So deliver me. Rescue me from this pit of despair for I am "weary and heavy laden." Teach me, show me how your "yoke is easy and [your] burden is light." Give "strength to the weary" and though I "lack might" please increases my power. Allow my desires, my passions, to be satisfied in you alone- help me to "hunger and thirst for your righteousness" for then in you I "shall be satisfied." Teach me the full appreciation of your sacrifice, that "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" Restore unto me, the joy of my salvation. Make my joy complete in trusting you- "For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name." Lord, give me the strength, the joy, the contentment, to continue in my service to you, for I know that "the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; how blessed are all those who long for Him." Help me to long, without waning passion, for my God and His glory.
Amen.
Alone, underneath a gorgeous evening sky, I broke down before my God and my Maker, unable to understand why He had made me this way, and why I struggled to worship completely such a magnificent Lord.
The sheer massivity of my sin, the hopelessness I felt regarding change, and the unworthiness as to why God would save me came crashing down upon me. I felt as though I had trudged through the same thing for so many years that surely, surely God's patience had worn out. Why had He saved me?
But, by the grace of my all-knowing Lord, I was reminded of something I had recently decided to do: actively claim the promises of scripture in my prayers. To "remind" God of what He had said He would do...
Dearest Lord,
I don't know what to do. I lack even the desire to try. I can't. I don't feel. I don't move. I'm so tired. I'm so fallen. But Lord, you said that though "the righteous cry the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles." So deliver me. Rescue me from this pit of despair for I am "weary and heavy laden." Teach me, show me how your "yoke is easy and [your] burden is light." Give "strength to the weary" and though I "lack might" please increases my power. Allow my desires, my passions, to be satisfied in you alone- help me to "hunger and thirst for your righteousness" for then in you I "shall be satisfied." Teach me the full appreciation of your sacrifice, that "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" Restore unto me, the joy of my salvation. Make my joy complete in trusting you- "For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name." Lord, give me the strength, the joy, the contentment, to continue in my service to you, for I know that "the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; how blessed are all those who long for Him." Help me to long, without waning passion, for my God and His glory.
Amen.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Quote of the Week:
Bad choices that are not recognized and corrected become part of who we are. (Pastor Steve Viars)
Proverbs 26:11
Proverbs 26:11
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Trust...
"We're just trusting God knows best..."
"It was the providence of God!"
"Well, you know, God is sovereign, so..."
How often do you, as a Christian throw around vocabulary such as "sovereign," "providence," or "trust"? But what are you saying when you glibly spout, or desperately cling to those truths? Are you saying that you trust God now, in this momentous calamity? Are you saying that you see His providence- but only in the good things? Do we only say, "God is sovereign" to those who are hurting- lightly believing a truth when pain affects others, but not ourselves.
I often trust God to fulfill His end goal in my life (to conform me to the likeness of His Son). But I rarely trust God to intervene on a daily, personal, minute level to establish the little steps that are needed to help me reach that end. I view God as intervening on the big ticket issues, but even those, I only like to give Him credit for the really good things.
"Isn't God good because He..."
"I got a promotion/good grade/new friend- look at God's providence!"
But God is not inserting Himself merely at the cataclysmic moments of my life. His presence, His sovereignty, His orchestration is there constantly- working in tandem with mine (and other's) free will, to slowly shape me into the person who is best designed for His glory. His path and thoughts are not mine, so I cannot fully understand how He is working even through the seemingly helpless, pointless, black moments of my life (Rom. 11:33, Isa. 55:9). But I know He is doing this- conforming me not only to the likeness of His Son, but also to the person who can best glorify Him here on this earth. (Rom. 8:29, Eph. 2:10)
"We either unconsciously or deliberately imply that God intervenes at specific points in our lives, but is largely only a spectator most of the time... God's providence is His constant care for and absolute rule over all His creation for His own glory and the good of his people."
**************
Notes:
- Material drawn from "Trusting God- Even when life hurts" (Jerry Bridges)
Additional Scripture
- Psalm 31:15
- Psalm 147:8-9
- Acts 17:24-28
- II Corinthians 9:10
"It was the providence of God!"
"Well, you know, God is sovereign, so..."
How often do you, as a Christian throw around vocabulary such as "sovereign," "providence," or "trust"? But what are you saying when you glibly spout, or desperately cling to those truths? Are you saying that you trust God now, in this momentous calamity? Are you saying that you see His providence- but only in the good things? Do we only say, "God is sovereign" to those who are hurting- lightly believing a truth when pain affects others, but not ourselves.
I often trust God to fulfill His end goal in my life (to conform me to the likeness of His Son). But I rarely trust God to intervene on a daily, personal, minute level to establish the little steps that are needed to help me reach that end. I view God as intervening on the big ticket issues, but even those, I only like to give Him credit for the really good things.
"Isn't God good because He..."
"I got a promotion/good grade/new friend- look at God's providence!"
But God is not inserting Himself merely at the cataclysmic moments of my life. His presence, His sovereignty, His orchestration is there constantly- working in tandem with mine (and other's) free will, to slowly shape me into the person who is best designed for His glory. His path and thoughts are not mine, so I cannot fully understand how He is working even through the seemingly helpless, pointless, black moments of my life (Rom. 11:33, Isa. 55:9). But I know He is doing this- conforming me not only to the likeness of His Son, but also to the person who can best glorify Him here on this earth. (Rom. 8:29, Eph. 2:10)
"We either unconsciously or deliberately imply that God intervenes at specific points in our lives, but is largely only a spectator most of the time... God's providence is His constant care for and absolute rule over all His creation for His own glory and the good of his people."
**************
Notes:
- Material drawn from "Trusting God- Even when life hurts" (Jerry Bridges)
Additional Scripture
- Psalm 31:15
- Psalm 147:8-9
- Acts 17:24-28
- II Corinthians 9:10
Friday, May 29, 2009
Repentance
We are a culture that stands on our own two feet. We are a people reliant on our up-right posture, our confidence, our strength. Should we falter or fall from that expected position, we grasp our proverbial boot straps and pull ourselves right back up. God forbid that we should actually remain on the ground, that we should feel our own weakness, our own humanity.
I have sinned. Often. Greviously. Without thought, without remorse, without change, I have repeatedly stabbed at the heart of love which my Heavenly Father so freely offered when his Son was murdered for my black, persistent depravity. But so flippant am I, so content in God's "amazing grace" that I shake off the remnants of my error, cloaking it as completely as possible, so that I may once again appear confident, upright, in control.
Shame is not in my posture. "Yet you have the brazen look of a prostitute; you refuse to blush with shame." (a) As I was confessing a grave error to my God- He who knows each thought, I was amazed at my flippancy. I wiping down the sink in the bathroom, I said "I'm sorry." just as a four year old would after stepping on your toes. I gave a little shrug and moved into the kitchen to finish dinner, when I stopped.
When God instructed, through His prophet Joel, that His people repent, He said, "Put on sackcloth, O priests, and mourn; wail, you who minister before the altar." (b) When the children of Israel built their golden calf, Moses recounted, "Then once again I fell prostrate before the LORD for forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water, because of all the sin you had committed, doing what was evil in the LORD's sight and so provoking him to anger." (c)
Nothing in my repentance spoke of that searing pain, that fear, that wrenching sorrow that I had sinned so heartily, so prevalently, and so consistently against my God.
I don't stand on my own two feet, I lie prostrate before a God who forgives and forgives again, exhibiting awe-inspiring patience to my selfish actions.
(a) Jeremiah 3:3
(b) Joel 1:13
(c) Deuteronomy 9:18
Note: It is recognized that the verses and examples in this post are from the Old Testament, and while a new covenant has been administered to us as "New Testament" believers, I believe that we all too often lazily pawn off our sin with a thoughtless, "Well, God's love will cover it" not recognizing the true blackness that is sin.
********************************************
There are three Greek words used in the New Testament to denote repentance. (1.) The verb _metamelomai_ is used of a change of mind, such as to produce regret or even remorse on account of sin, but not necessarily a change of heart. This word is used with reference to the repentance of Judas (Matt. 27:3). (2.) Metanoeo, meaning to change one's mind and purpose, as the result of after knowledge. This verb, with (3) the cognate noun _metanoia_, is used of true repentance, a change of mind and purpose and life, to which remission of sin is promised. Evangelical repentance consists of (1) a true sense of one's own guilt and sinfulness; (2) an apprehension of God's mercy in Christ; (3) an actual hatred of sin (Ps. 119:128; Job 42:5, 6; 2 Cor. 7:10) and turning from it to God; and (4) a persistent endeavour after a holy life in a walking with God in the way of his commandments. The true penitent is conscious of guilt (Ps. 51:4, 9), of pollution (51:5, 7, 10), and of helplessness (51:11; 109:21, 22). Thus he apprehends himself to be just what God has always seen him to be and declares him to be. But repentance comprehends not only such a sense of sin, but also an apprehension of mercy, without which there can be no true repentance (Ps. 51:1; 130:4). (Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary)
I have sinned. Often. Greviously. Without thought, without remorse, without change, I have repeatedly stabbed at the heart of love which my Heavenly Father so freely offered when his Son was murdered for my black, persistent depravity. But so flippant am I, so content in God's "amazing grace" that I shake off the remnants of my error, cloaking it as completely as possible, so that I may once again appear confident, upright, in control.
Shame is not in my posture. "Yet you have the brazen look of a prostitute; you refuse to blush with shame." (a) As I was confessing a grave error to my God- He who knows each thought, I was amazed at my flippancy. I wiping down the sink in the bathroom, I said "I'm sorry." just as a four year old would after stepping on your toes. I gave a little shrug and moved into the kitchen to finish dinner, when I stopped.
When God instructed, through His prophet Joel, that His people repent, He said, "Put on sackcloth, O priests, and mourn; wail, you who minister before the altar." (b) When the children of Israel built their golden calf, Moses recounted, "Then once again I fell prostrate before the LORD for forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water, because of all the sin you had committed, doing what was evil in the LORD's sight and so provoking him to anger." (c)
Nothing in my repentance spoke of that searing pain, that fear, that wrenching sorrow that I had sinned so heartily, so prevalently, and so consistently against my God.
I don't stand on my own two feet, I lie prostrate before a God who forgives and forgives again, exhibiting awe-inspiring patience to my selfish actions.
(a) Jeremiah 3:3
(b) Joel 1:13
(c) Deuteronomy 9:18
Note: It is recognized that the verses and examples in this post are from the Old Testament, and while a new covenant has been administered to us as "New Testament" believers, I believe that we all too often lazily pawn off our sin with a thoughtless, "Well, God's love will cover it" not recognizing the true blackness that is sin.
********************************************
There are three Greek words used in the New Testament to denote repentance. (1.) The verb _metamelomai_ is used of a change of mind, such as to produce regret or even remorse on account of sin, but not necessarily a change of heart. This word is used with reference to the repentance of Judas (Matt. 27:3). (2.) Metanoeo, meaning to change one's mind and purpose, as the result of after knowledge. This verb, with (3) the cognate noun _metanoia_, is used of true repentance, a change of mind and purpose and life, to which remission of sin is promised. Evangelical repentance consists of (1) a true sense of one's own guilt and sinfulness; (2) an apprehension of God's mercy in Christ; (3) an actual hatred of sin (Ps. 119:128; Job 42:5, 6; 2 Cor. 7:10) and turning from it to God; and (4) a persistent endeavour after a holy life in a walking with God in the way of his commandments. The true penitent is conscious of guilt (Ps. 51:4, 9), of pollution (51:5, 7, 10), and of helplessness (51:11; 109:21, 22). Thus he apprehends himself to be just what God has always seen him to be and declares him to be. But repentance comprehends not only such a sense of sin, but also an apprehension of mercy, without which there can be no true repentance (Ps. 51:1; 130:4). (Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary)
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)