Friday, February 20, 2009

Lessons

I am learning to slow down.
I am learning about repentance.
I am learning about love.

The Word of God must cut straight through to the heart. It must.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Another random and disjointed blog entry

I'm on the ride of my life at the moment. Spiritually speaking. Letting go of what I want in life is so hard, because there is the great fear that I will be made miserable by it. That if this is the one thing that I've always wanted, well, only a fool would stop pursuing that. Only a fool would let it go and seek to want Christ alone, and whatever comes with Him. That is what my mind constantly wants to remind me. But on the other hand, what evidence would I have to show that the Lord is ready and willing to be true to His promises? What proof would I have that He is true to His Word if I was not willing to put my earthly desires aside, to stop striving for them, and to wait for them to come to me in His time? What proof would I have that He is superior to all if I did not seek Him above all else, and be filled? How could I tell someone that He is worth it, if I did not see nor feel His worth? If I did not seek Him as rare and costly treasure? If I did not let Him lead me into a wasteland to be fed by ravens? Oh, what trust! Oh, what sacrifice! How much one must hate the world to follow Him? And yet, there is so much more to be enjoyed in this world when we set aside our own sketches of what it looks like outside, and actually open the door to see for ourselves. We may be so afraid that it will not look like the sketches and ideas we've been clinging to, and that we'll be disappointed by what we see. So we peer intently into the pictures we've drawn, longing to be made joyful by them. Walking in the trust we profess to have in Christ sometimes means putting the sketches down on the table, and going over to the door to open it and look outside at what He has actually made.

Monday, February 09, 2009

I am learning what it means to be content, and to do one's work as unto the Lord. This means not worrying constantly about whether or not I am fit for the job, but whether I am, moment by moment, accomplishing the task. Not whether I can pound out more work than the next guy, but whether I am earning the paycheck my boss has agreed to give me. Work is not to me, but to God and His glory.

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Jeremiah Burroughs in The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

But you will object: What you speak of is very good, if we could attain to it; but is it possible for anyone to attain to this? It is possible if you get skill in the art of it; you may attain to it, and it will prove to be not such a difficult thing either, if you but understand the mystery of it. There are many things that men do in their callings, that if a countryman comes and sees, he thinks it a mighty hard thing, and that he should never be able to do it. But that is because he does not understand the art of it; there is a twist of the hand by which you may do it with ease. Now that is the business of this book, to open to you the art and mystery of contentment.

I hope you find time to read the book.

Monday, February 02, 2009

Dear Diary

Day 33 of my trek through the Bible in one year. Many evil deeds perpetrated on the young earth. Many animals slaughtered. But there is hope.

I wanted to stop at an unusual place. Leviticus 5:4.

Or if a person swears, speaking thoughtlessly with his lips to do evil or to do good, whatever it is that a man may pronounce by an oath, and he is unaware of it -- when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty in any of these matters.

How often do I do this? How often do I make such statements against some thing or some one? And it is their carelessness that causes us to dismiss their value. They were insincere words spoken by us, so they ought not to mean anything. Right?

Now, I am not seeking to be legalistic. But I AM seeking holiness. I have been dealing with a desire to serve God, but with no idea where to start. How can my wicked heart know the right way?

Oh, but there is an answer for that in God's Word.

Psalm 119:9 tells us how. How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.

Psalm 119:162 I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure.

Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

And finally
Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.

Sunday, February 01, 2009

2009 is the year I begin reading the Bible all the way through. Now, there was a big hiccup at the end of Genesis, but I'm back on track in Exodus. I am gaining a lot more from reading the Bible through than I ever thought I would. I remember reading it through as a kid with my parents, but I never understood it. That was because I was not regenerated, and I COULD not understand it. I had to remind myself that I would most certainly get something out of every day, because I am now able to comprehend spiritual things. It is quite amazing how we often have to pull rank on our minds.

So, as I said, I am in Exodus. The children of Israel have just finished partying with the calf, and God has just shown Moses His back. And a few things have impressed themselves upon me, and I thought I would blog about them for once in a long while.

1. God is very jealous for His holiness. The oil and the incense that was ONLY to be used in the tabernacle, for example. And the priest's garments that could not touch anything unholy. Now, think about this for a moment. God is Holy, and He cannot be anything BUT holy. But what about us? We are commanded to be holy (Lev 11:44; 1 Peter 1:16). We are priests (Exodus 19:6; Rev. 1:5-6), and we are His temple (John 2:21; 1 Cor 6:19). And are we so zealous for God's holiness as Moses was? I would say not many. I see how in my life I abuse grace over and over again. And the holiness of God is often far from my mind. It ought to be in front of my eyes.

2. In Exodus 33:18-23 Moses asks God to show him His glory. But the Lord says that no man can see His face and live, but that He will show Moses His back. And I considered how God does this often. We do not see the front side of God in His work, but after He has passed, we see the back of Him in the wake of provision He leaves after Himself for us. All the while, He covers us with His hand and protects us, as the Psalmist calls the Lord the rock of his refuge and strength. Oh, I wish I could say this more clearly.

3. What favor Moses found in God's sight, by the Lord's own choosing. (Exodus 33:17, 19b) And how steadfast he was for God's own glory.