InChristAlone
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Man's Wisdom Vs. God's Wisdom
Mark 8:31-33
"And he[Jesus] began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again."
"And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him."
"But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, 'Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men."
The setting--Jesus reveals the Gospel to His disciples. He speaks of His earthly suffering, His rejection by the top leaders, His death, and His resurrection. He was not speaking in a low tone or secretly, but openly. I think this also means He spoke plainly enough so that His disciples knew directly what He was referring to.
Peter feels that Jesus' words are not comfortable and that He should not talk of His death. Peter loved Christ, but he saw His death as a type of martyrdom. He did not want to see the One he loved endure suffering. But Peter was forgetting that Jesus was the Christ. Jesus rebuked Peter for his reaction. He also did this openly, maybe because He knew that some of the other disciples felt the same way. He was making a point.
Jesus states that Peter's reaction was of Satan and that the result of Peter's misunderstanding was that he cared more for the things of men than God. Peter spoke as one who did not understand the counsels of God. Peter could have possibly been convinced that Jesus' power would not compel Him to have to suffer. I think Peter believed that Jesus knew all things and therefore, He would see harm and danger beforehand and avoid suffering.
As Matthew Henry puts it, "...[Peter}he knew not that the thing was necessary for the glory of God, the destruction of Satan, and the salvation of man, that the Captain of our salvation must be made perfect through sufferings, and so must bring many sons to glory. "
The wisdom of man is foolishness when trying to determine God's ways. The cross of Christ is still to this day to some a stumblingblock.
Peter looked at Christ's kingdom as being temporal and human. He was so consumed with comfort and complacency that the world had to offer him that he did not understand God's sovereignty in suffering and agony.
As a person becomes so consumed by the things of men and not enough by the things of God, they will see suffering as an enfringement on their own comfortable life.This is not something to let go. This is a sin. My own comfort and ease can become an idol in my life. Suffering and pain will create misunderstanding because I am only understanding how God works through human eyes. I need spiritual eyes to see the glory of the Cross, the glory in suffering and how my faith is being tried in order to show the worth of my God and Saviour and my own worthlessness. The trying of faith should reveal that all hope is in Him.
"The mystery of the Cross I cannot comprehend
The agonies of Calvary,
You the Perfect Holy One crushed Your Son,
Drank the bitter cup reserved for me. "
Praise God for the agonies of Calvary and the bitter cup that Jesus drank for me! As Christ was in the world so are we and as He gloried in His Father's ordaining of suffering, so should we.
"And he[Jesus] began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again."
"And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him."
"But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, 'Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men."
The setting--Jesus reveals the Gospel to His disciples. He speaks of His earthly suffering, His rejection by the top leaders, His death, and His resurrection. He was not speaking in a low tone or secretly, but openly. I think this also means He spoke plainly enough so that His disciples knew directly what He was referring to.
Peter feels that Jesus' words are not comfortable and that He should not talk of His death. Peter loved Christ, but he saw His death as a type of martyrdom. He did not want to see the One he loved endure suffering. But Peter was forgetting that Jesus was the Christ. Jesus rebuked Peter for his reaction. He also did this openly, maybe because He knew that some of the other disciples felt the same way. He was making a point.
Jesus states that Peter's reaction was of Satan and that the result of Peter's misunderstanding was that he cared more for the things of men than God. Peter spoke as one who did not understand the counsels of God. Peter could have possibly been convinced that Jesus' power would not compel Him to have to suffer. I think Peter believed that Jesus knew all things and therefore, He would see harm and danger beforehand and avoid suffering.
As Matthew Henry puts it, "...[Peter}he knew not that the thing was necessary for the glory of God, the destruction of Satan, and the salvation of man, that the Captain of our salvation must be made perfect through sufferings, and so must bring many sons to glory. "
The wisdom of man is foolishness when trying to determine God's ways. The cross of Christ is still to this day to some a stumblingblock.
Peter looked at Christ's kingdom as being temporal and human. He was so consumed with comfort and complacency that the world had to offer him that he did not understand God's sovereignty in suffering and agony.
As a person becomes so consumed by the things of men and not enough by the things of God, they will see suffering as an enfringement on their own comfortable life.This is not something to let go. This is a sin. My own comfort and ease can become an idol in my life. Suffering and pain will create misunderstanding because I am only understanding how God works through human eyes. I need spiritual eyes to see the glory of the Cross, the glory in suffering and how my faith is being tried in order to show the worth of my God and Saviour and my own worthlessness. The trying of faith should reveal that all hope is in Him.
"The mystery of the Cross I cannot comprehend
The agonies of Calvary,
You the Perfect Holy One crushed Your Son,
Drank the bitter cup reserved for me. "
Praise God for the agonies of Calvary and the bitter cup that Jesus drank for me! As Christ was in the world so are we and as He gloried in His Father's ordaining of suffering, so should we.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Purposeful Love: Living For the Glory of God
Mark 5:17-20
"Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled."
The Lord has spoken to my heart through this passage today. I read it and reread it and could not believe how I had missed this before.
This is the story of Jesus casting out the unclean spirits from a man and commanding them to go into swine. I marvel at the reaction of the spirits to Jesus Christ. However, verses 17-20 are what really grabbed my attention.
1) Though Jesus had delivered this man from the power of Satan, the spectators desired that He leave their country. Why? Because they loved the world more than Jesus. They had suffered a severe loss. Their swine had been killed. Their profit from the herd of swine was more important to them than having Jesus with them, whose power had broken the hold of Satan in their country.
2) Jesus left their country. Their hearts were not receptive to Him. He left them to their own cares. What a sad picture of those who reject Christ!
3) The man who had been freed from the demons begged Jesus to permit him to go with Him. He desired to be with Him immediately. Maybe this man was scared, maybe this man could not see his purpose in staying behind, but it says he begged.
4) Notice Jesus' reaction. (this is where it really gets good:)
He did not permit the man to go with Him at that moment. Instead He tells him to go home and tell his family and friends what great things the Lord had done for him and how the Lord had shown compassion on him. Here was the purpose for which he had been created--to spread the glory of God by living for Christ!!! The Lord Jesus Christ is not unkind to save us and leave us on this earth. When we face the pressures of this world as He lives within us, we understand the depth of His love and mercy.
Matthew 26:42 [Jesus' prayer]
" He went away again the second time and prayed, saying, "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."
Oh, the agony seen in the Garden of Gethsemane and oh, the depth of the Father's love! Jesus drank of the bitter cup. His meat was to do the will of the Father. Our Abba Father gave His only Son for us. The Son now intercedes for us and (in a sense) gives us to the Father in order that the glory of God be spread throughout all nations!
I have found myself wondering at times why the moment after we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, that we do not go to be with Him. This passage reiterated that clear purpose. His glory is spread and the depth of His love and mercy is revealed as we live in this present world.
This is why we cannot be 'closed-off ' Christians. Yes, it is true, we are in the world and not of the world. But what is our purpose for being in the world? Is it not to spread the glory of God and to show others the great things the Lord has done for us, to show them the compassion that He has shown us? It is not to avoid contact with the outside world. It is not to shun unbelievers because of our supposed self-righteousness.
What a picture of true enduring love! We have been given the gift of His Spirit. He is alway within us and it is His power that sustains us and keeps us pressing on not for ourselves, but for Him. We do not serve a cruel God because we deal with the pressures of the world. We serve a powerful, loving, merciful, compassionate God whose great glory may be spread through the fine tuning of His instruments. We are His instruments. He is the One Who fine tunes us. The day-ins and day-outs of life are opportunities to prove our love for Him. Every morning that we wake up, we are shown the mercy of a sovereign God. His love has been shed abroad in our hearts. He holds us in His arms each day and we are under the shadow of His wings.
But why, why, why, am I going through this circumstance of life, someone might ask? Why would He allow His child to endure the cold dark world? The answer comes in the form of a question. Why did God the Father send His only Son to die on a cross for our sins? Because He is God and He was glorified through that sacrifice!!
I have often been skeptical of the "God is Love" message that fails to preach of the fear and wrath of God and condones wrongdoing. But there is a balance to be obtained because, in reality, God's love is at the heart of all doctrine. The love of God shed abroad in our hearts is for the glory of God!
The love of Jesus Christ is the most unfathomable love of all! I want my love for Him to be proved. I gladly serve Him in this world covered by His blood so that He, the Love of my life, is glorified above all!
Do I want to merely exist or do I want to live to spread the glory of God? Every day is an endless opportunity to live in His love!
"Father,
Make me an instrument of your love. Lord, work in me to replace selfishness with a hunger for You and a compassion for lost souls. Show me Your glory. Help me to live in such a way that Your glory is experienced and expressed. Thank You for the revelation to Your child. Your love has been so real to me today. Forgive me for complaining when I do not understand. You alone are my reason for living. I thank You. I praise You. I live for You alone.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen."
"Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled."
The Lord has spoken to my heart through this passage today. I read it and reread it and could not believe how I had missed this before.
This is the story of Jesus casting out the unclean spirits from a man and commanding them to go into swine. I marvel at the reaction of the spirits to Jesus Christ. However, verses 17-20 are what really grabbed my attention.
1) Though Jesus had delivered this man from the power of Satan, the spectators desired that He leave their country. Why? Because they loved the world more than Jesus. They had suffered a severe loss. Their swine had been killed. Their profit from the herd of swine was more important to them than having Jesus with them, whose power had broken the hold of Satan in their country.
2) Jesus left their country. Their hearts were not receptive to Him. He left them to their own cares. What a sad picture of those who reject Christ!
3) The man who had been freed from the demons begged Jesus to permit him to go with Him. He desired to be with Him immediately. Maybe this man was scared, maybe this man could not see his purpose in staying behind, but it says he begged.
4) Notice Jesus' reaction. (this is where it really gets good:)
He did not permit the man to go with Him at that moment. Instead He tells him to go home and tell his family and friends what great things the Lord had done for him and how the Lord had shown compassion on him. Here was the purpose for which he had been created--to spread the glory of God by living for Christ!!! The Lord Jesus Christ is not unkind to save us and leave us on this earth. When we face the pressures of this world as He lives within us, we understand the depth of His love and mercy.
Matthew 26:42 [Jesus' prayer]
" He went away again the second time and prayed, saying, "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."
Oh, the agony seen in the Garden of Gethsemane and oh, the depth of the Father's love! Jesus drank of the bitter cup. His meat was to do the will of the Father. Our Abba Father gave His only Son for us. The Son now intercedes for us and (in a sense) gives us to the Father in order that the glory of God be spread throughout all nations!
I have found myself wondering at times why the moment after we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, that we do not go to be with Him. This passage reiterated that clear purpose. His glory is spread and the depth of His love and mercy is revealed as we live in this present world.
This is why we cannot be 'closed-off ' Christians. Yes, it is true, we are in the world and not of the world. But what is our purpose for being in the world? Is it not to spread the glory of God and to show others the great things the Lord has done for us, to show them the compassion that He has shown us? It is not to avoid contact with the outside world. It is not to shun unbelievers because of our supposed self-righteousness.
What a picture of true enduring love! We have been given the gift of His Spirit. He is alway within us and it is His power that sustains us and keeps us pressing on not for ourselves, but for Him. We do not serve a cruel God because we deal with the pressures of the world. We serve a powerful, loving, merciful, compassionate God whose great glory may be spread through the fine tuning of His instruments. We are His instruments. He is the One Who fine tunes us. The day-ins and day-outs of life are opportunities to prove our love for Him. Every morning that we wake up, we are shown the mercy of a sovereign God. His love has been shed abroad in our hearts. He holds us in His arms each day and we are under the shadow of His wings.
But why, why, why, am I going through this circumstance of life, someone might ask? Why would He allow His child to endure the cold dark world? The answer comes in the form of a question. Why did God the Father send His only Son to die on a cross for our sins? Because He is God and He was glorified through that sacrifice!!
I have often been skeptical of the "God is Love" message that fails to preach of the fear and wrath of God and condones wrongdoing. But there is a balance to be obtained because, in reality, God's love is at the heart of all doctrine. The love of God shed abroad in our hearts is for the glory of God!
The love of Jesus Christ is the most unfathomable love of all! I want my love for Him to be proved. I gladly serve Him in this world covered by His blood so that He, the Love of my life, is glorified above all!
Do I want to merely exist or do I want to live to spread the glory of God? Every day is an endless opportunity to live in His love!
"Father,
Make me an instrument of your love. Lord, work in me to replace selfishness with a hunger for You and a compassion for lost souls. Show me Your glory. Help me to live in such a way that Your glory is experienced and expressed. Thank You for the revelation to Your child. Your love has been so real to me today. Forgive me for complaining when I do not understand. You alone are my reason for living. I thank You. I praise You. I live for You alone.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen."
Monday, February 06, 2006
Be Ready Always
I Peter 3:12-16
"For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil."
"And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?"
"But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled:"
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear:"
"Having a good conscience, that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ."
Various thoughts from my journal:
The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth. He is seeking to give strong support to those whose hearts are His. My righteousness is His righteousness. Because of Christ, I am pleasing in His [God the Father] sight. He sees me and He hears my genuine prayers. But His pleasure is not on those who set their hearts on evil. Even those who desire to do evil cannot harm me by words or deeds if I follow after what is good in the sight of God. If I suffer, I suffer for the righteousness of a holy God. This should produce happiness because God's glory is being spread. The enemy tries to terrify me and get me to fall in faith by troubling my mind with doubts and fears.
So, how can I declare the Gospel to the world when I am afraid and feel unworthy to do so? By placing God first in my heart and mind. By setting Him (Who is holy, pure, true) above all else. By thinking about only things that constitute a holy God (Philippians 4:8-9). This is how I can speak that word in due season. This is how I can be ready to answer every man. Others will ask of the hope that is in me. I can answer with meekness and fear if God reigns in my heart. All I am and have been brought to is by His grace and if I boast, I boast in Him, not my understanding or good works. What people need to see in me is the power of Christ, not my determination to be perfectly righteous. I must be willing to admit my weaknesses, admit where I've been wrong, admit that I have to lean on God in order to live righteously. My goal is not to show people Christ according to my wisdom or good works or the standard by which I think they ought to live. I am teaching others what I am still being taught--that there is no hope of becoming righteous outside of Christ and that my purpose in living means glorifying Him, not living for myself. It is about brokenness and surrender. By laying my life at Jesus' feet, I am not being enslaved to His power, but being freed from all bondage and being kept by His power.
I often dwell on my inadequacies and see them as a stumblingblock in my faith. But the truth is that the more weaknesses I have and accept, the more glory is brought to God. However, I cannot hold onto my weaknesses or use them as a crutch, but must surrender them into the hands of an all-powerful God. The more I see I can't do things on my own, the more I rest in His victory. The more I rest in His victory, the more I can be ready always to answer those who ask of the hope that is in me. If I believe that I am nothing without Him and my hope is in Him, then I can express this faith to others and spread the Gospel. I am not trying to get others to see that I am perfect in faith, instead I am expressing to them my unworthiness and Christ's worthiness.
I found this quote in a devotional I am reading:
"It was said of the soldiers of the first Napoleon that they were content to die in the ditch if only he rode over them to victory. With their last breath they cried, 'Long live the Emperor!' It seemed as though they had lost all thought and care of their own interests, so long as glory was given to his name. So should it be of us. Higher than our own comfort, or success, or popularity, should be the one thought of the glory of our God. Let Christ be honored, loved, exalted, at whatever cost to us..."
As I lose thought of all my own interests and die to self, Christ is honored and exalted. I will become effective in sharing the Gospel because I have given up all of my own comforts for His victory.
These are questions I had to ask myself:
As I seek to share the Gospel, is the one thought of my mind the glory of God or how it enfringes on my own personal comfort?
If God is not first in my own heart, how can I move past my own comfort and be effective in sharing the Gospel?
Praise God for how He has spoken to my heart! He is so worthy!
"For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil."
"And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?"
"But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled:"
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear:"
"Having a good conscience, that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ."
Various thoughts from my journal:
The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth. He is seeking to give strong support to those whose hearts are His. My righteousness is His righteousness. Because of Christ, I am pleasing in His [God the Father] sight. He sees me and He hears my genuine prayers. But His pleasure is not on those who set their hearts on evil. Even those who desire to do evil cannot harm me by words or deeds if I follow after what is good in the sight of God. If I suffer, I suffer for the righteousness of a holy God. This should produce happiness because God's glory is being spread. The enemy tries to terrify me and get me to fall in faith by troubling my mind with doubts and fears.
So, how can I declare the Gospel to the world when I am afraid and feel unworthy to do so? By placing God first in my heart and mind. By setting Him (Who is holy, pure, true) above all else. By thinking about only things that constitute a holy God (Philippians 4:8-9). This is how I can speak that word in due season. This is how I can be ready to answer every man. Others will ask of the hope that is in me. I can answer with meekness and fear if God reigns in my heart. All I am and have been brought to is by His grace and if I boast, I boast in Him, not my understanding or good works. What people need to see in me is the power of Christ, not my determination to be perfectly righteous. I must be willing to admit my weaknesses, admit where I've been wrong, admit that I have to lean on God in order to live righteously. My goal is not to show people Christ according to my wisdom or good works or the standard by which I think they ought to live. I am teaching others what I am still being taught--that there is no hope of becoming righteous outside of Christ and that my purpose in living means glorifying Him, not living for myself. It is about brokenness and surrender. By laying my life at Jesus' feet, I am not being enslaved to His power, but being freed from all bondage and being kept by His power.
I often dwell on my inadequacies and see them as a stumblingblock in my faith. But the truth is that the more weaknesses I have and accept, the more glory is brought to God. However, I cannot hold onto my weaknesses or use them as a crutch, but must surrender them into the hands of an all-powerful God. The more I see I can't do things on my own, the more I rest in His victory. The more I rest in His victory, the more I can be ready always to answer those who ask of the hope that is in me. If I believe that I am nothing without Him and my hope is in Him, then I can express this faith to others and spread the Gospel. I am not trying to get others to see that I am perfect in faith, instead I am expressing to them my unworthiness and Christ's worthiness.
I found this quote in a devotional I am reading:
"It was said of the soldiers of the first Napoleon that they were content to die in the ditch if only he rode over them to victory. With their last breath they cried, 'Long live the Emperor!' It seemed as though they had lost all thought and care of their own interests, so long as glory was given to his name. So should it be of us. Higher than our own comfort, or success, or popularity, should be the one thought of the glory of our God. Let Christ be honored, loved, exalted, at whatever cost to us..."
As I lose thought of all my own interests and die to self, Christ is honored and exalted. I will become effective in sharing the Gospel because I have given up all of my own comforts for His victory.
These are questions I had to ask myself:
As I seek to share the Gospel, is the one thought of my mind the glory of God or how it enfringes on my own personal comfort?
If God is not first in my own heart, how can I move past my own comfort and be effective in sharing the Gospel?
Praise God for how He has spoken to my heart! He is so worthy!
