Thursday 29 December 2011
Sunday 25 December 2011
Happy Christmas (as they say in the UK)
Dave Worsley's fun Christian Christmas tidbit (in his words):
The wise men who came to see Jesus were likely from Babylon, having been part of the wise men club that the prophet Daniel had started centuries before. They would have had access to Daniel's prophecies about the time of the Messiah etc. from his prophecies that we read today [in the book of Daniel].
The wise men who came to see Jesus were likely from Babylon, having been part of the wise men club that the prophet Daniel had started centuries before. They would have had access to Daniel's prophecies about the time of the Messiah etc. from his prophecies that we read today [in the book of Daniel].
Saturday 24 December 2011
My Heart Will Choose to Say
Worship is always a choice. At times it's an easy, straightforward one. When life is peaceful and painless, the choice to respond to God in thanksgiving and praise may not be such a hard one to make. But at other times in our lives, worship becomes a much gutsier decision. Caught up amidst a whirlwind of pain and confusion, the decision to cry out, "Yet I will praise You," is a costly act of devotion.
In the life of every worshipper there will come times when worship meets with suffering. And these moments shape what kind of worshippers we will become. Yes, praise be to God for times of abundance and plenty in our lives - those carefree days full of peace and laughter. Yet we praise Him also in the wilderness times - those dark and stormy seasons of the soul when we're left crying out with the psalmist, "How long, O LORD, how long?" (Psalm 6:3).
When trials come, trust must arise. When there's nothing to rock the boat, our trust in God is rarely tested. Seasons of stillness and calm are wonderful; yet before too long the winds will start to gather, and we'll find ourselves caught up once again in the storms of life. The question then is this: Can we still find our way to the place of praise?
We may have faith to believe in God as Lord of the calm - but do we also have faith to believe in Him as Lord of the storm? He is Lord of both the hurricane and the gentle breeze. The One who rules and reigns amidst all of the earthquakes of this life - those times when our whole world seems to be shaking and breaking apart...
If you yourself are in a season of struggle, take a minute even now to remind yourself of the God who sees your struggle. It's possible to talk your soul into a place of hope.
We worship a triumphant Saviour, a victorious King. The all-powerful and all-loving God, who is faithful in all He says and gracious in all He does. The One who has never been anxious, overwhelmed or outsmarted. The God of unbroken promises. When He acts, no one can reverse it. When He speaks, His commands never return empty. The God who never wastes His words.
The doors He chooses to open, no one can close; and the doors He purposes to close, no one can open. No plan of His has ever been thwarted. No one has ever outmanoeuvred Him, outlived Him or outloved Him. He remains as faithful as the day He created you in love, and as powerful as the day He spoke the world into being.
And in your brokenness He stays as close and as involved as you want Him to be.
- Matt and Beth Redman, Blessed be Your Name
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." - John 1:14 (NIV)
In the life of every worshipper there will come times when worship meets with suffering. And these moments shape what kind of worshippers we will become. Yes, praise be to God for times of abundance and plenty in our lives - those carefree days full of peace and laughter. Yet we praise Him also in the wilderness times - those dark and stormy seasons of the soul when we're left crying out with the psalmist, "How long, O LORD, how long?" (Psalm 6:3).
When trials come, trust must arise. When there's nothing to rock the boat, our trust in God is rarely tested. Seasons of stillness and calm are wonderful; yet before too long the winds will start to gather, and we'll find ourselves caught up once again in the storms of life. The question then is this: Can we still find our way to the place of praise?
We may have faith to believe in God as Lord of the calm - but do we also have faith to believe in Him as Lord of the storm? He is Lord of both the hurricane and the gentle breeze. The One who rules and reigns amidst all of the earthquakes of this life - those times when our whole world seems to be shaking and breaking apart...
If you yourself are in a season of struggle, take a minute even now to remind yourself of the God who sees your struggle. It's possible to talk your soul into a place of hope.
We worship a triumphant Saviour, a victorious King. The all-powerful and all-loving God, who is faithful in all He says and gracious in all He does. The One who has never been anxious, overwhelmed or outsmarted. The God of unbroken promises. When He acts, no one can reverse it. When He speaks, His commands never return empty. The God who never wastes His words.
The doors He chooses to open, no one can close; and the doors He purposes to close, no one can open. No plan of His has ever been thwarted. No one has ever outmanoeuvred Him, outlived Him or outloved Him. He remains as faithful as the day He created you in love, and as powerful as the day He spoke the world into being.
And in your brokenness He stays as close and as involved as you want Him to be.
- Matt and Beth Redman, Blessed be Your Name
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." - John 1:14 (NIV)
Wednesday 21 December 2011
Gifts and the Giver
A story is told of a man who enjoyed spending time with his little boy. One day, he took his son to McDonald's. The boy was excited!
As they went, the little boy kept hoping that his father would buy him a big packet of french fries. When the french fries came, the little boy smiled. It was upsized!
But when the father reached out his hand to take some fries from his son, the boy immediately protected the fries with his little arms and looked angrily at his father. "These fries are mine!" he shouted.
The little boy was too focused on having the french fries. And at the end of the day, he had forgotten the whole purpose of the trip.
Like the boy, many of us wonder about the size of fries that God intends to give us. And when we get a smaller packet, we start wondering if we have made God upset. Yet, perhaps God is more interested in us as individuals than the size of the packet of fries on the table.
- Victor Teo, God, Money and the Singaporean Me
"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." - Job 1:21 (NIV)
As they went, the little boy kept hoping that his father would buy him a big packet of french fries. When the french fries came, the little boy smiled. It was upsized!
But when the father reached out his hand to take some fries from his son, the boy immediately protected the fries with his little arms and looked angrily at his father. "These fries are mine!" he shouted.
The little boy was too focused on having the french fries. And at the end of the day, he had forgotten the whole purpose of the trip.
Like the boy, many of us wonder about the size of fries that God intends to give us. And when we get a smaller packet, we start wondering if we have made God upset. Yet, perhaps God is more interested in us as individuals than the size of the packet of fries on the table.
- Victor Teo, God, Money and the Singaporean Me
"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." - Job 1:21 (NIV)
Tuesday 20 December 2011
Jesus Our Great High Priest
*Thoughts from Wai Ling's message at Sky Camp 2011*
"Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
"Such a high priest meets our need - one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
"The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man... But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises." - Hebrews 7:23-8:2, 6 (NIV)
The resurrection is not an afternote to the cross, as if the cross in itself was sufficient to save us and the resurrection merely demonstrated God's power. The cross in itself is necessary but not sufficient to save us.
"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." - 1 Corinthians 15:17 (NIV)
Furthermore, the resurrection is not so much a demonstration of God's power (although it is that) as it is the defeat of death, the reversal of the Edenic curse, the turning point of history, the launchpad for new creation.
According to Romans 4:25, Jesus was raised to life for our justification. According to 1 Corinthians 15:20, Jesus was raised from the dead as the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. According to Hebrews 7:23-8:2, 6, Jesus has a permanent priesthood (as the mediator of the New Covenant) because He lives forever.
No resurrection = no New Covenant!
*****
"Do you not know, brothers - for I am speaking to men who know the law - that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.
"So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." - Romans 7:1-6 (NIV)
The cross marks the end of the Old Covenant and the resurrection heralds the start of the New Covenant. Both are necessary to save us; neither in itself is sufficient.
"Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
"Such a high priest meets our need - one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
"The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man... But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises." - Hebrews 7:23-8:2, 6 (NIV)
The resurrection is not an afternote to the cross, as if the cross in itself was sufficient to save us and the resurrection merely demonstrated God's power. The cross in itself is necessary but not sufficient to save us.
"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." - 1 Corinthians 15:17 (NIV)
Furthermore, the resurrection is not so much a demonstration of God's power (although it is that) as it is the defeat of death, the reversal of the Edenic curse, the turning point of history, the launchpad for new creation.
According to Romans 4:25, Jesus was raised to life for our justification. According to 1 Corinthians 15:20, Jesus was raised from the dead as the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. According to Hebrews 7:23-8:2, 6, Jesus has a permanent priesthood (as the mediator of the New Covenant) because He lives forever.
No resurrection = no New Covenant!
*****
"Do you not know, brothers - for I am speaking to men who know the law - that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.
"So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." - Romans 7:1-6 (NIV)
The cross marks the end of the Old Covenant and the resurrection heralds the start of the New Covenant. Both are necessary to save us; neither in itself is sufficient.
Monday 19 December 2011
God's Sovereign Control
Here is a promise every Christian can claim, either before or after a decision has been made: "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). This awesome promise doesn't enable us to see why God does what He does, nor is it a quick cure for sorrow; but it is a promise we cling to because we know that God is working for our good.
Be encouraged by the comprehensiveness of God's purposes. "All things" means everything works together for good. Life is haphazard, with no neat categories, but God makes them fit together. He finds a place for everything. What does He use to work for our good? He uses His Word and His people, but He also uses our foolish decisions, financial reversals, and people who work against us - "all" means all.
Don't misunderstand. We can't excuse our sinful decisions as fodder for God's good works; but God is greater than our mistakes and wrong choices. Paul says that all things "work together". The word in Greek is synergism, which derives from two words - syn, meaning "together", and ergo, meaning "to work". God works and He works things together. God sees around corners and knows the outcome in ways that you and I cannot possibly fathom; and He works everything together for our ultimate good.
When I was a boy on the farm, I loved to take things apart. My eldest brother was able to take apart a tractor motor, repair it, put it back together, and make it run again. The best I could do was take apart a clock because I was intrigued by all the little wheels. Some were going in the same direction as the hands of the clock, and others were going counterclockwise. Some were going fast and some slow. Because some of the wheels were spinning in opposite directions, it seemed as if some of the parts were working against themselves. But when I looked at the face and realised it kept time accurately, I had to admit that all the parts were working together for good.
Mark my words: When you have a bad day, it may be a very good day from God's standpoint. God is working to bring about your ultimate good. Only He can do that. When He synergises events, they fall together for good. I don't know how God takes sodium and chloride, both of which are poisonous, and puts them together to create salt, without which we could not possibly live. I don't know how God takes sin and disappointment and brings them together and makes something good out of them, but I'm convinced that He does. If you love Him and are called, you're in the circle of those who benefit from this special work of God.
- Erwin W. Lutzer, Making the Best of a Bad Decision
Be encouraged by the comprehensiveness of God's purposes. "All things" means everything works together for good. Life is haphazard, with no neat categories, but God makes them fit together. He finds a place for everything. What does He use to work for our good? He uses His Word and His people, but He also uses our foolish decisions, financial reversals, and people who work against us - "all" means all.
Don't misunderstand. We can't excuse our sinful decisions as fodder for God's good works; but God is greater than our mistakes and wrong choices. Paul says that all things "work together". The word in Greek is synergism, which derives from two words - syn, meaning "together", and ergo, meaning "to work". God works and He works things together. God sees around corners and knows the outcome in ways that you and I cannot possibly fathom; and He works everything together for our ultimate good.
When I was a boy on the farm, I loved to take things apart. My eldest brother was able to take apart a tractor motor, repair it, put it back together, and make it run again. The best I could do was take apart a clock because I was intrigued by all the little wheels. Some were going in the same direction as the hands of the clock, and others were going counterclockwise. Some were going fast and some slow. Because some of the wheels were spinning in opposite directions, it seemed as if some of the parts were working against themselves. But when I looked at the face and realised it kept time accurately, I had to admit that all the parts were working together for good.
Mark my words: When you have a bad day, it may be a very good day from God's standpoint. God is working to bring about your ultimate good. Only He can do that. When He synergises events, they fall together for good. I don't know how God takes sodium and chloride, both of which are poisonous, and puts them together to create salt, without which we could not possibly live. I don't know how God takes sin and disappointment and brings them together and makes something good out of them, but I'm convinced that He does. If you love Him and are called, you're in the circle of those who benefit from this special work of God.
- Erwin W. Lutzer, Making the Best of a Bad Decision
Sunday 18 December 2011
Worship through Work
During the Middle Ages, many people believed that God was concerned only with works of a religious nature - such as saying a prayer, giving alms, or doing a good deed. Then Martin Luther came along and taught that we are all priests before God, meaning that everything we do can be pleasing to God if done for His glory. Thus, a scrubwoman could glorify God by washing a floor (if she did her work as unto the Lord), whereas a pompous priest with a heart far from God would not be pleasing to God, even if dispensing the sacraments.
Luther said it isn't the act, but it's the attitude of worship with which we do our work that makes the difference. Did you know that three-quarters of the people who get the most attention in the Bible never held a religious job but served God in the ordinary things of life? For example, Abraham was a shepherd, Joseph was an administrator, and Luke was a doctor. God turned their day-to-day jobs into a calling.
Meditate on this: "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV). When applied, this principle can brush away whatever stands in the way of finding satisfaction in our jobs and in life itself. Notice that we should glorify God in the ordinary things of life, like simply eating and drinking; indeed everything we do should be done for His glory.
Jesus demonstrated this when He washed the disciples' feet. When He stooped to do the work of a servant or slave on behalf of His heavenly Father, He was content, satisfied that He had glorified the One He loved. There is nothing shameful about a man with a PhD flipping burgers to earn a living. Even there, working a job that seems far beneath His aptitude and training, He can still bring glory to God by a job well done.
The late Ruth Graham, wife of evangelist Billy Graham, disliked washing dishes; but she put a sign above her sink that said, "Divine Service Done Here Three Times Daily." Work can give us a platform from which to witness; but more important, work itself is the witness. We witness to God of our devotion and love...
Elisabeth Elliot, whose husband was killed along with four other missionaries in Ecuador, worked laboriously to break down the local language into writing during a time when there were no computers or photocopiers. Then a suitcase containing two years of work was stolen and she had to start all over from the beginning. When asked if she was angry about the theft, she said, "No, it was my worship to God, and what I did for Him was lost to us, but not to God." She refused to be drawn in by the prevailing belief that you have to be rewarded in this life for all you do; she was not about to trade fleeting success for true significance.
What if God personally appeared to you from heaven and asked you to do for Him what you are required to do when you go to work tomorrow? Would that change your attitude about your present employment? We should not see our jobs as a means of earning a living, but rather as a means to serve the God who has redeemed us.
- Erwin W. Lutzer, Making the Best of a Bad Decision
Given that we spend on average a quarter of our time at work (40+ out of 168 hours a week), it would be a waste - sinful even - if we don't see our jobs as opportunities for the good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
Luther said it isn't the act, but it's the attitude of worship with which we do our work that makes the difference. Did you know that three-quarters of the people who get the most attention in the Bible never held a religious job but served God in the ordinary things of life? For example, Abraham was a shepherd, Joseph was an administrator, and Luke was a doctor. God turned their day-to-day jobs into a calling.
Meditate on this: "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV). When applied, this principle can brush away whatever stands in the way of finding satisfaction in our jobs and in life itself. Notice that we should glorify God in the ordinary things of life, like simply eating and drinking; indeed everything we do should be done for His glory.
Jesus demonstrated this when He washed the disciples' feet. When He stooped to do the work of a servant or slave on behalf of His heavenly Father, He was content, satisfied that He had glorified the One He loved. There is nothing shameful about a man with a PhD flipping burgers to earn a living. Even there, working a job that seems far beneath His aptitude and training, He can still bring glory to God by a job well done.
The late Ruth Graham, wife of evangelist Billy Graham, disliked washing dishes; but she put a sign above her sink that said, "Divine Service Done Here Three Times Daily." Work can give us a platform from which to witness; but more important, work itself is the witness. We witness to God of our devotion and love...
Elisabeth Elliot, whose husband was killed along with four other missionaries in Ecuador, worked laboriously to break down the local language into writing during a time when there were no computers or photocopiers. Then a suitcase containing two years of work was stolen and she had to start all over from the beginning. When asked if she was angry about the theft, she said, "No, it was my worship to God, and what I did for Him was lost to us, but not to God." She refused to be drawn in by the prevailing belief that you have to be rewarded in this life for all you do; she was not about to trade fleeting success for true significance.
What if God personally appeared to you from heaven and asked you to do for Him what you are required to do when you go to work tomorrow? Would that change your attitude about your present employment? We should not see our jobs as a means of earning a living, but rather as a means to serve the God who has redeemed us.
- Erwin W. Lutzer, Making the Best of a Bad Decision
Given that we spend on average a quarter of our time at work (40+ out of 168 hours a week), it would be a waste - sinful even - if we don't see our jobs as opportunities for the good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
Saturday 17 December 2011
Simply Jesus
And, you see, it's easy for Christians in the post-Enlightenment world to say, "Was Jesus God or wasn't He God?" "Yeah, I think He was God," and we put a check by that box and we kind of pat ourselves on the back, "We are orthodox Christians, we're not like those reductionists."
But unless you say that Jesus is the One in and through Whom the Living God launched His kingdom project on a surprised and unready world, then you are hiding behind orthodox doctrine in order to escape the REAL challenge of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
- N. T. Wright, Simply Jesus
It is one thing to say that Jesus is God. It is quite another to say that Jesus is the Word who became flesh and made His dwelling among us, and that we have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
But unless you say that Jesus is the One in and through Whom the Living God launched His kingdom project on a surprised and unready world, then you are hiding behind orthodox doctrine in order to escape the REAL challenge of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
- N. T. Wright, Simply Jesus
It is one thing to say that Jesus is God. It is quite another to say that Jesus is the Word who became flesh and made His dwelling among us, and that we have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
Friday 16 December 2011
Trusting God
The good news is this: God is just as ready, willing, and able to care for matters that result from our own bad decisions as He is for situations that are thrust upon us, either by others or by circumstances beyond our control. God wants us to trust Him with everything.
The path God chooses for us might not be easy, but He walks with us all the way and lightens our load. More accurately, He carries the load for us.
Once we've committed everything to Him, we still pray about our needs; but now we pray with a genuine sense of joy and praise. And if God doesn't act as quickly as we think He should, we do not fret, because we no longer need to concern ourselves with God's affairs! And we don't have to go to sleep at night worrying about God's assets!
My best advice to you is to take time right now and commit your situation to God - the loss of your job, your uncertain future, and even your spouse and children. If you have worried all your life, this transfer of ownership will be a struggle at first. Do it anyway. "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).
Surrender is a proven pathway to peace!
- Erwin W. Lutzer, Making the Best of a Bad Decision
Imagine having a boss who guides us not only in making the best of bad decisions, but also in making the best decisions. If only we would consult him, we would be free to work for him, knowing that he will cover us with his position/rank should things not work out the way they should.
"The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord." - Joshua 9:14 (NIV)
Imagine having God as your boss. Really inquiring of Him in everything. God gives us wisdom to make the right choices and - if we go ahead and make the wrong choices anyway - works all things for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (provided we repent). If only we would commit our way to Him, we would be free to live for Him, knowing that He will cover us with the blood of the Lamb when we sin and fall short of His glory.
"The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 5:20-21 (NIV)
Which is not an excuse to take sin lightly.
"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" - Romans 6:1-2 (NIV)
If we should leave certain decisions to our boss to handle, how much more should we cast all our anxieties on the only wise God!
The path God chooses for us might not be easy, but He walks with us all the way and lightens our load. More accurately, He carries the load for us.
Once we've committed everything to Him, we still pray about our needs; but now we pray with a genuine sense of joy and praise. And if God doesn't act as quickly as we think He should, we do not fret, because we no longer need to concern ourselves with God's affairs! And we don't have to go to sleep at night worrying about God's assets!
My best advice to you is to take time right now and commit your situation to God - the loss of your job, your uncertain future, and even your spouse and children. If you have worried all your life, this transfer of ownership will be a struggle at first. Do it anyway. "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).
Surrender is a proven pathway to peace!
- Erwin W. Lutzer, Making the Best of a Bad Decision
Imagine having a boss who guides us not only in making the best of bad decisions, but also in making the best decisions. If only we would consult him, we would be free to work for him, knowing that he will cover us with his position/rank should things not work out the way they should.
"The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord." - Joshua 9:14 (NIV)
Imagine having God as your boss. Really inquiring of Him in everything. God gives us wisdom to make the right choices and - if we go ahead and make the wrong choices anyway - works all things for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (provided we repent). If only we would commit our way to Him, we would be free to live for Him, knowing that He will cover us with the blood of the Lamb when we sin and fall short of His glory.
"The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 5:20-21 (NIV)
Which is not an excuse to take sin lightly.
"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" - Romans 6:1-2 (NIV)
If we should leave certain decisions to our boss to handle, how much more should we cast all our anxieties on the only wise God!
Thursday 15 December 2011
For and Against Calvinism
Interview with Michael Horton: For Calvinism
Excerpts:
Q: What has the Calvinist-Arminian debate taught you about the importance of holding the distinctives doctrines of the Reformed faith while also maintaining an ecumenical spirit with non-Calvinist evangelicals?
A: We need to recognise that we are all pilgrims on the way, growing in the grace and knowledge of our Saviour. I have learned a lot from reading and interacting with brothers and sisters outside my own tradition. Even when I disagree, I come to understand a different position better and discover where I had assumed caricatures. As I say in this book and elsewhere, there is no Reformed faith. There is only the Christian faith and I affirm the Reformed confession and exposition of that one faith.
Q: Since becoming a Calvinist, have you considered Arminianism plausible or compelling?
A: No. I am so convinced that Scripture grounds all of our salvation in the unconditional grace of the Triune God that if I were to embrace universal election and atonement, I would embrace (at least in principle) universal salvation. The Bible simply doesn't speak of salvation being merely provided, enabled and offered. So I have sometimes found Karl Barth's view logically coherent and in a sense attractive, but without exegetical support.
Q: What do you think is the strongest argument for Arminianism or any of its distinctives?
A: Roger locates the Achilles heel of Calvinism: the problem of evil. However, that's a problem for all of us. Even if God foreknows sin and evil actions of human beings, these actions are eternally certain to come to pass. That's why open theists take the next step and deny God's exhaustive foreknowledge.
Interview with Roger Olson: Against Calvinism
Excerpts:
Q: What has your involvement in the Calvinist-Arminian debate taught you about distinguishing between people and their beliefs?
A: That it's not easy - especially for those on the receiving end of criticism of their theology. I work hard not to be offended by fair criticisms of Arminianism. I have no desire to insult or offend Calvinists even though I strongly disagree with key beliefs they hold dear. I think the main issue is fairness. We both need to state each others' beliefs fairly and then not take offence just because others disagree with our beliefs.
Q: You state that some Calvinists are among the best evangelical Christians you know. What has this debate taught you about the importance of maintaining an ecumenical spirit among evangelical Christians while holding to distinctive convictions?
A: That it's absolutely crucial but never easy. We (both Calvinists and Arminians) need to bend over backward to be generous and fair and loving in our disagreements. Words like "shallow" and "insipid" and "negotiated (Christianity)" and the like do nothing but break the ecumenical spirit. We need to assume the best about each other even as we strongly disagree about points of doctrine.
Q: In a nutshell, what are some of the ways that you think Calvinism does not cohere with Jesus' person and character?
A: Jesus wept over Jerusalem and lamented that He wanted to gather them to Him, but they would not (Matthew 23:36-39). Jesus' genuine compassion for those suffering from the evil of others or their own hardness of heart reveals God's heart of love and desire for all to experience the shalom of His love and peace. Jesus' willing substitutionary death for all people (1 John 2:2) reveals His loving character.
Q: What do you think is the strongest argument for Calvinism or any of its distinctives?
A: God's absolute, infallible, comprehensive foreknowledge might seem to imply foreordination of everything. In the end, however, I don't think it does.
Q: Since tulips [from the Calvinist acronym TULIP - Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace and Perseverance of the Saints] are clearly out of the question, what kind of flowers do you purchase for your wife?
A: Always roses!
*****
The Middle (Knowledge) Way: Molinism
Incidentally, in Salvation and Sovereignty: A Molinist Approach, the author argues for a ROSES [as opposed to TULIP] model of salvation, seen through the lens of Molinism. ROSES is an acronym that stands for Radical Depravity, Overcoming Grace, Sovereign Election, Eternal Life and Singular Redemption. Molinism, simply put, argues that God is able to perfectly accomplish His sovereign will through genuinely free creatures by means of His omniscience.
According to Horton, 'the Achilles heel of Calvinism is the problem of evil'. Calvinism holds that God causes our actions. The problem with Calvinism is that it appears to hold God responsible for our evil actions.
According to Olson, 'the strongest argument for Calvinism is that God's absolute, infallible, comprehensive foreknowledge might seem to imply foreordination of everything. In the end, however, I don't think it does.' Arminianism holds that we cause our own actions. The problem with Arminianism is that it appears to deny God's sovereignty over our actions.
According to Molinism, God weaves His infallible foreknowledge of our actions into a grand tapestry which is predestined (before the foundation of the world) to come to pass in due time. God is sovereign over our actions (in contrast to Arminianism) but is not responsible for our evil actions (in contrast to Calvinism).
God sovereignly works (not causes) our actions for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose ;)
Excerpts:
Q: What has the Calvinist-Arminian debate taught you about the importance of holding the distinctives doctrines of the Reformed faith while also maintaining an ecumenical spirit with non-Calvinist evangelicals?
A: We need to recognise that we are all pilgrims on the way, growing in the grace and knowledge of our Saviour. I have learned a lot from reading and interacting with brothers and sisters outside my own tradition. Even when I disagree, I come to understand a different position better and discover where I had assumed caricatures. As I say in this book and elsewhere, there is no Reformed faith. There is only the Christian faith and I affirm the Reformed confession and exposition of that one faith.
Q: Since becoming a Calvinist, have you considered Arminianism plausible or compelling?
A: No. I am so convinced that Scripture grounds all of our salvation in the unconditional grace of the Triune God that if I were to embrace universal election and atonement, I would embrace (at least in principle) universal salvation. The Bible simply doesn't speak of salvation being merely provided, enabled and offered. So I have sometimes found Karl Barth's view logically coherent and in a sense attractive, but without exegetical support.
Q: What do you think is the strongest argument for Arminianism or any of its distinctives?
A: Roger locates the Achilles heel of Calvinism: the problem of evil. However, that's a problem for all of us. Even if God foreknows sin and evil actions of human beings, these actions are eternally certain to come to pass. That's why open theists take the next step and deny God's exhaustive foreknowledge.
Interview with Roger Olson: Against Calvinism
Excerpts:
Q: What has your involvement in the Calvinist-Arminian debate taught you about distinguishing between people and their beliefs?
A: That it's not easy - especially for those on the receiving end of criticism of their theology. I work hard not to be offended by fair criticisms of Arminianism. I have no desire to insult or offend Calvinists even though I strongly disagree with key beliefs they hold dear. I think the main issue is fairness. We both need to state each others' beliefs fairly and then not take offence just because others disagree with our beliefs.
Q: You state that some Calvinists are among the best evangelical Christians you know. What has this debate taught you about the importance of maintaining an ecumenical spirit among evangelical Christians while holding to distinctive convictions?
A: That it's absolutely crucial but never easy. We (both Calvinists and Arminians) need to bend over backward to be generous and fair and loving in our disagreements. Words like "shallow" and "insipid" and "negotiated (Christianity)" and the like do nothing but break the ecumenical spirit. We need to assume the best about each other even as we strongly disagree about points of doctrine.
Q: In a nutshell, what are some of the ways that you think Calvinism does not cohere with Jesus' person and character?
A: Jesus wept over Jerusalem and lamented that He wanted to gather them to Him, but they would not (Matthew 23:36-39). Jesus' genuine compassion for those suffering from the evil of others or their own hardness of heart reveals God's heart of love and desire for all to experience the shalom of His love and peace. Jesus' willing substitutionary death for all people (1 John 2:2) reveals His loving character.
Q: What do you think is the strongest argument for Calvinism or any of its distinctives?
A: God's absolute, infallible, comprehensive foreknowledge might seem to imply foreordination of everything. In the end, however, I don't think it does.
Q: Since tulips [from the Calvinist acronym TULIP - Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace and Perseverance of the Saints] are clearly out of the question, what kind of flowers do you purchase for your wife?
A: Always roses!
*****
The Middle (Knowledge) Way: Molinism
Incidentally, in Salvation and Sovereignty: A Molinist Approach, the author argues for a ROSES [as opposed to TULIP] model of salvation, seen through the lens of Molinism. ROSES is an acronym that stands for Radical Depravity, Overcoming Grace, Sovereign Election, Eternal Life and Singular Redemption. Molinism, simply put, argues that God is able to perfectly accomplish His sovereign will through genuinely free creatures by means of His omniscience.
According to Horton, 'the Achilles heel of Calvinism is the problem of evil'. Calvinism holds that God causes our actions. The problem with Calvinism is that it appears to hold God responsible for our evil actions.
According to Olson, 'the strongest argument for Calvinism is that God's absolute, infallible, comprehensive foreknowledge might seem to imply foreordination of everything. In the end, however, I don't think it does.' Arminianism holds that we cause our own actions. The problem with Arminianism is that it appears to deny God's sovereignty over our actions.
According to Molinism, God weaves His infallible foreknowledge of our actions into a grand tapestry which is predestined (before the foundation of the world) to come to pass in due time. God is sovereign over our actions (in contrast to Arminianism) but is not responsible for our evil actions (in contrast to Calvinism).
God sovereignly works (not causes) our actions for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose ;)
Tuesday 6 December 2011
Let Go and Let God
As children bring their broken toys,
With tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God,
Because He was my friend.
But then instead of leaving Him
In peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help,
With ways that were my own.
At last I snatched them back and cried,
"How can You be so slow?"
"My child" He said, "What could I do?
You never did let go."
- Let Go and Let God by Lauretta P. Burns
With tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God,
Because He was my friend.
But then instead of leaving Him
In peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help,
With ways that were my own.
At last I snatched them back and cried,
"How can You be so slow?"
"My child" He said, "What could I do?
You never did let go."
- Let Go and Let God by Lauretta P. Burns
Sunday 4 December 2011
The Justice of God
(1) God is just.
"Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing - to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"" - Genesis 18:23-25 (NIV)
"Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free." - Proverbs 11:21 (NIV)
"The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished." - Nahum 1:3a (NIV)
"The wicked will not go unpunished..." - Proverbs 11:21a (NIV)
(2) Being just, God would not allow our sins to go unpunished. In His sovereignty, He ordained that Jesus would take the punishment for our sins, that Jesus would pay the wages of sin (ie. death - even death on a cross!) on our behalf.
"Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." - Isaiah 53:4-6 (NIV)
(3) God demonstrated His justice by presenting Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished - he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." - Romans 3:23-26 (NIV)
"...but those who are righteous will go free." - Proverbs 11:21b (NIV)
(4) Being just, God would not allow Jesus (who lived a perfect life and hence did not deserve to pay the wages of sin - not least on our behalf) to remain dead.
"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him." - Acts 2:22-24 (NIV)
(5) God demonstrated His justice by raising Jesus from the dead.
"David said about him: 'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'" - Acts 2:25-28 (NIV)
To recap...
(1) God is just.
(2) Being just, God would not allow our sins to go unpunished. In His sovereignty, He ordained that Jesus would take the punishment for our sins, that Jesus would pay the wages of sin (ie. death - even death on a cross!) on our behalf.
(3) God demonstrated His justice by presenting Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement.
(4) Being just, God would not allow Jesus (who lived a perfect life and hence did not deserve to pay the wages of sin - not least on our behalf) to remain dead.
(5) God demonstrated His justice by raising Jesus from the dead.
Reflecting on (2) and (4), the justice of God is such that God would not allow our sins to go unpunished and God would not allow Jesus to remain dead.
Through the cross - when (3) God demonstrated His justice by presenting Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement, and the resurrection - when (5) God demonstrated His justice by raising Jesus from the dead, God is both 'just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus' (Romans 3:26b, NIV).
"He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." - Romans 4:25 (NIV)
"Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing - to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"" - Genesis 18:23-25 (NIV)
"Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free." - Proverbs 11:21 (NIV)
"The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished." - Nahum 1:3a (NIV)
"The wicked will not go unpunished..." - Proverbs 11:21a (NIV)
(2) Being just, God would not allow our sins to go unpunished. In His sovereignty, He ordained that Jesus would take the punishment for our sins, that Jesus would pay the wages of sin (ie. death - even death on a cross!) on our behalf.
"Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." - Isaiah 53:4-6 (NIV)
(3) God demonstrated His justice by presenting Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished - he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." - Romans 3:23-26 (NIV)
"...but those who are righteous will go free." - Proverbs 11:21b (NIV)
(4) Being just, God would not allow Jesus (who lived a perfect life and hence did not deserve to pay the wages of sin - not least on our behalf) to remain dead.
"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him." - Acts 2:22-24 (NIV)
(5) God demonstrated His justice by raising Jesus from the dead.
"David said about him: 'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'" - Acts 2:25-28 (NIV)
To recap...
(1) God is just.
(2) Being just, God would not allow our sins to go unpunished. In His sovereignty, He ordained that Jesus would take the punishment for our sins, that Jesus would pay the wages of sin (ie. death - even death on a cross!) on our behalf.
(3) God demonstrated His justice by presenting Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement.
(4) Being just, God would not allow Jesus (who lived a perfect life and hence did not deserve to pay the wages of sin - not least on our behalf) to remain dead.
(5) God demonstrated His justice by raising Jesus from the dead.
Reflecting on (2) and (4), the justice of God is such that God would not allow our sins to go unpunished and God would not allow Jesus to remain dead.
Through the cross - when (3) God demonstrated His justice by presenting Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement, and the resurrection - when (5) God demonstrated His justice by raising Jesus from the dead, God is both 'just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus' (Romans 3:26b, NIV).
"He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." - Romans 4:25 (NIV)
Wednesday 16 November 2011
Random Thoughts
1. Is the cross without the resurrection sufficient to save us? In other words, is the resurrection part of the gospel?
2. What is the ultimate punishment - God's wrath or death? (Are they the same thing?)
2. What is the ultimate punishment - God's wrath or death? (Are they the same thing?)
Monday 14 November 2011
Perfect Peace
At this hour we rest in the promises of our faithful God, knowing that His words are full of truth and power; we rest in the doctrines of His Word, which are consolation itself; we rest in the covenant of His grace, which is a haven of delight.
The person of Jesus is the quiet resting place of His people; and when we draw near to Him in the breaking of bread, in the hearing of the Word, the searching of the Scriptures, prayer, or praise, we find any form of approach to Him to be the return of peace to our Spirits.
The God of Peace gives perfect peace to those whose hearts are stayed upon Him.
- Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening
"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." - Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
The person of Jesus is the quiet resting place of His people; and when we draw near to Him in the breaking of bread, in the hearing of the Word, the searching of the Scriptures, prayer, or praise, we find any form of approach to Him to be the return of peace to our Spirits.
The God of Peace gives perfect peace to those whose hearts are stayed upon Him.
- Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening
"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." - Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
Sunday 13 November 2011
Waiting in Habakkuk
1. Waiting in Haughtiness
"How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save?" - Habakkuk 1:2 (NIV)
"Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?" - Habakkuk 1:13 (NIV)
Who are we to question God? Remember Job.
"Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me."" - Job 38:1-3 (NIV)
"The LORD said to Job: "Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!"" - Job 40:1-2 (NIV)
2. Waiting in Humility
"I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, andwhat answer I am to give to this complaint what to answer when I am rebuked." - Habakkuk 2:1 (NIV)
"See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright - but the righteous will live by his faith." - Habakkuk 2:4 (NIV)
Haughtiness vs Humility
"You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty." - Psalm 18:27 (NIV)
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." - Psalm 51:17 (NIV)
"My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore." - Psalm 131:1-3 (NIV)
3. Waiting in Hope
"LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy." - Habakkuk 3:2 (NIV)
"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." - Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NIV)
"How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save?" - Habakkuk 1:2 (NIV)
"Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?" - Habakkuk 1:13 (NIV)
Who are we to question God? Remember Job.
"Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me."" - Job 38:1-3 (NIV)
"The LORD said to Job: "Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!"" - Job 40:1-2 (NIV)
2. Waiting in Humility
"I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and
"See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright - but the righteous will live by his faith." - Habakkuk 2:4 (NIV)
Haughtiness vs Humility
"You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty." - Psalm 18:27 (NIV)
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." - Psalm 51:17 (NIV)
"My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore." - Psalm 131:1-3 (NIV)
3. Waiting in Hope
"LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy." - Habakkuk 3:2 (NIV)
"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." - Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NIV)
Wednesday 9 November 2011
Tuesday 1 November 2011
God will provide
A story is told of a deacon who came up to his pastor one day and told him, "Considering what I earn and the needs of my family, it is impossible for me to tithe*."
A businessman who happened to be nearby overheard the conversation and approached the deacon. He told him, "Why don't you give ten percent of your income to the Lord every month? I will make up for whatever shortfall you have for the month."
The deacon was delighted and immediately said, "In that case I will tithe immediately."
The businessman replied, "You trust me to provide for you because I told you so. God tells you the same thing in His Word. Do you trust Him?"
*notwithstanding the question of whether tithing is applicable under the New Covenant
A businessman who happened to be nearby overheard the conversation and approached the deacon. He told him, "Why don't you give ten percent of your income to the Lord every month? I will make up for whatever shortfall you have for the month."
The deacon was delighted and immediately said, "In that case I will tithe immediately."
The businessman replied, "You trust me to provide for you because I told you so. God tells you the same thing in His Word. Do you trust Him?"
*notwithstanding the question of whether tithing is applicable under the New Covenant
Wednesday 5 October 2011
When God Writes Your Love Story
Aaron & Becky's story here.
I wasn't able to attend one of my ex-housemates' wedding earlier this year because I was in training, but if all goes well I should be able to attend another's in Zurich at the start of next year!
I wasn't able to attend one of my ex-housemates' wedding earlier this year because I was in training, but if all goes well I should be able to attend another's in Zurich at the start of next year!
Monday 3 October 2011
God is sovereign and good and just
"One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done." - Psalm 62:11-12 (NIV)
Who God Listens To
"We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will." - John 9:31 (NIV)
Sunday 2 October 2011
Pastoral Prayer
Father, we come this morning as one people with one voice declaring our praises to You. We want to acknowledge that Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty. All that we are and all that we have comes from You and we want to thank You and we want to praise You.
May Your Spirit lead our minds away from the many things that bog us down in our lives and lead us to an inner renewal of our soul.
Take our hearts and our minds away from the many things that are occupying our lives, the things that we need to do, the problems we need to resolve, the demands we have both at work and at home.
We seek not to run away from these responsibilities but we seek to not let these things distract us from giving our hearts and minds and our whole beings in worshipping You this morning and to trust that You, O Lord, are in control of every situation in our lives. Help us to cast all our anxieties unto You and lead us in accordance with Your ways.
May our souls be enabled to learn to rest and wait upon You, may our minds be focused on You and our hearts be surrendered to You.
In Jesus' name we pray,
Amen.
- Pastor Andrew Goh, KPRBC (2 Oct 11)
May Your Spirit lead our minds away from the many things that bog us down in our lives and lead us to an inner renewal of our soul.
Take our hearts and our minds away from the many things that are occupying our lives, the things that we need to do, the problems we need to resolve, the demands we have both at work and at home.
We seek not to run away from these responsibilities but we seek to not let these things distract us from giving our hearts and minds and our whole beings in worshipping You this morning and to trust that You, O Lord, are in control of every situation in our lives. Help us to cast all our anxieties unto You and lead us in accordance with Your ways.
May our souls be enabled to learn to rest and wait upon You, may our minds be focused on You and our hearts be surrendered to You.
In Jesus' name we pray,
Amen.
- Pastor Andrew Goh, KPRBC (2 Oct 11)
Saturday 1 October 2011
Unlocking the Second Third Prison
Launched in 2004 by the President of the Republic of Singapore Mr S R Nathan, the Yellow Ribbon Project seeks to engage the community in accepting ex-offenders and their families, giving them a second chance at life and to inspire a ripple effect of concerted community action to support ex-offenders and their families.
The Yellow Ribbon Project seeks to unlock the second prison, the prison of social stigma towards ex-offenders upon their release from the first prison. In fact, the theme of this year's ICPA (International Corrections and Prisons Association) 13th Annual Conference - which Singapore was hosting for the first time and which I had the privilege to attend from 11 to 16 Sep - was Unlocking the Second Prison.
One idea which struck me - and stuck with me - throughout the conference was that rehabilitation should take place before - and in preparation for - future release, not upon release. This got me thinking about a third prison which we all live in, the prison of sin. We may not be prisoners of the law of Singapore, but we are all prisoners of the law of sin, 'for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God' (Romans 3:23, NIV).
"So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin." - Romans 7:21-25 (NIV)
As prisoners of the law of sin, we have lost the freedom which was given to the first Adam. However, by God's grace we have freedom in Christ, the second Adam.
"But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith... It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." - Galatians 3:22-24, 5:1 (NIV)
We unlock the third prison - the prison of sin - by faith.
Rehab, Renew, Restart: An Offender's Journey Through Three Prisons
First Prison - Sentence
1. Remand
2. Conviction
3. Rehabilitation
4. Release
Rehabilitation should take place before - and in preparation for - future release, not upon release.
Second Prison - Society
1. Separation
2. Forgiveness
3. Resocialisation
4. Reintegration
Resocialisation should take place before - and in preparation for - future reintegration, not upon reintegration.
Third Prison - Sin
1. Law (Old Covenant)
2. Cross
3. Resurrection/Justification of Christ (New Covenant)
4. Resurrection/Justification of Christians, Renewal of Creation
New creation has already begun with the resurrection/justification of Christ! We should continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling before - and in preparation for - our future resurrection/justification (ie. in our lifetime), not upon our future resurrection/justification.
"You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone." - James 2:20-24 (NIV)
The Yellow Ribbon Project seeks to unlock the second prison, the prison of social stigma towards ex-offenders upon their release from the first prison. In fact, the theme of this year's ICPA (International Corrections and Prisons Association) 13th Annual Conference - which Singapore was hosting for the first time and which I had the privilege to attend from 11 to 16 Sep - was Unlocking the Second Prison.
One idea which struck me - and stuck with me - throughout the conference was that rehabilitation should take place before - and in preparation for - future release, not upon release. This got me thinking about a third prison which we all live in, the prison of sin. We may not be prisoners of the law of Singapore, but we are all prisoners of the law of sin, 'for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God' (Romans 3:23, NIV).
"So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin." - Romans 7:21-25 (NIV)
As prisoners of the law of sin, we have lost the freedom which was given to the first Adam. However, by God's grace we have freedom in Christ, the second Adam.
"But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith... It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." - Galatians 3:22-24, 5:1 (NIV)
We unlock the third prison - the prison of sin - by faith.
Rehab, Renew, Restart: An Offender's Journey Through Three Prisons
First Prison - Sentence
1. Remand
2. Conviction
3. Rehabilitation
4. Release
Rehabilitation should take place before - and in preparation for - future release, not upon release.
Second Prison - Society
1. Separation
2. Forgiveness
3. Resocialisation
4. Reintegration
Resocialisation should take place before - and in preparation for - future reintegration, not upon reintegration.
Third Prison - Sin
1. Law (Old Covenant)
2. Cross
3. Resurrection/Justification of Christ (New Covenant)
4. Resurrection/Justification of Christians, Renewal of Creation
New creation has already begun with the resurrection/justification of Christ! We should continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling before - and in preparation for - our future resurrection/justification (ie. in our lifetime), not upon our future resurrection/justification.
"You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone." - James 2:20-24 (NIV)
Wednesday 7 September 2011
Let Your Kingdom Come
"Hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven." Let not your prayers be all concerning your own sins, your own wants, your own imperfections, your own trials, but let them climb the starry ladder, and get up to Christ Himself, and then, as you draw nigh to the blood-besprinkled mercy-seat, offer this prayer continually, "Lord, extend the kingdom of Thy dear Son."
Such a petition, fervently presented, will elevate the spirit of all your devotions. Mind that you prove the sincerity of your prayer by labouring to promote the Lord's glory.
- Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening
Such a petition, fervently presented, will elevate the spirit of all your devotions. Mind that you prove the sincerity of your prayer by labouring to promote the Lord's glory.
- Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening
Sunday 4 September 2011
For God Knows Best
There is a time for every season
For nothing will happen without reason
So trust His plan
To guide you to the end
One day you'll understand
That God knows best
A time to harvest, a time to nurse
A time to be first, a time for patience
There's a perfect song
For every season
So trust His heart and trust His plan
For God knows best
Because He knows best
My heart can be at rest
Though it hurts when my faith is put to a test
I will follow God to the end
For to love and obey
Is my life's greatest quest
- Koh Li Ting, 22 Feb 10
For nothing will happen without reason
So trust His plan
To guide you to the end
One day you'll understand
That God knows best
A time to harvest, a time to nurse
A time to be first, a time for patience
There's a perfect song
For every season
So trust His heart and trust His plan
For God knows best
Because He knows best
My heart can be at rest
Though it hurts when my faith is put to a test
I will follow God to the end
For to love and obey
Is my life's greatest quest
- Koh Li Ting, 22 Feb 10
Saturday 3 September 2011
The Righteousness of God
*This post was born out of a cell group discussion on one of the names of God, 'The LORD Our Righteousness'.*
"In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness." - Jeremiah 23:6 (NIV)
As the song Knowing You goes, Jesus is our all, our best, our joy and our righteousness. 'It is because of [God] that [we] are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption' (1 Corinthians 1:30, NIV). But what does this mean? How is Jesus our righteousness? In particular, was Jesus righteous because He fulfilled the law - or did Jesus fulfill the law because He was righteous?
"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." - Romans 3:20-22 (NIV)
v20: To put it carefully, Jesus did not become righteous through fulfilling the law (and neither can we). Rather, Jesus fulfilled the law because He was righteous from all eternity, being one with the Father (who gave the law). It was impossible for Jesus not to fulfill the law, but this does not mean that Jesus became righteous through fulfilling the law.
v21: If Jesus did not become righteous through fulfilling the law, then what did His fulfilling the law accomplish? Jesus was declared righteous through fulfilling the law. Jesus could only be declared righteous (in the act of God raising Him from the dead) because He did fulfill the law. He could not be held liable for the wages of sin (ie. death) because He did not commit any sin.
"But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him." - Acts 2:24 (NIV)
v22: What is the source of our righteousness? It is our union with Christ, with His eternal nature. What is the source of Christ's righteousness (in human terms)? It is not His fulfilling the law, but His dying to the law and being declared righteous in His resurrection from the dead. In other words, it is His justification - and we partake of this in our union with Him.
"So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." - Romans 7:4-6 (NIV)
How This Shapes Our Understanding of the Gospel
The gospel is not about us doing good works and trying to fulfill the law. Of course, understanding the gospel leads us 'to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law' (Romans 13:8, NIV).
It is not even about trusting in the fact that Jesus has fulfilled the law (which He has). Rather, it is confessing with our mouths, "Jesus is Lord," and believing in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9, NIV).
"The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness - for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." - Romans 4:23-25 (NIV)
In conclusion, the righteousness of God is:
1. in His very nature, in the Father, Son and Spirit from all eternity
2. revealed/declared in the life, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus our Lord
"For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."" - Romans 1:16-17 (NIV)
"In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness." - Jeremiah 23:6 (NIV)
As the song Knowing You goes, Jesus is our all, our best, our joy and our righteousness. 'It is because of [God] that [we] are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption' (1 Corinthians 1:30, NIV). But what does this mean? How is Jesus our righteousness? In particular, was Jesus righteous because He fulfilled the law - or did Jesus fulfill the law because He was righteous?
"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." - Romans 3:20-22 (NIV)
v20: To put it carefully, Jesus did not become righteous through fulfilling the law (and neither can we). Rather, Jesus fulfilled the law because He was righteous from all eternity, being one with the Father (who gave the law). It was impossible for Jesus not to fulfill the law, but this does not mean that Jesus became righteous through fulfilling the law.
v21: If Jesus did not become righteous through fulfilling the law, then what did His fulfilling the law accomplish? Jesus was declared righteous through fulfilling the law. Jesus could only be declared righteous (in the act of God raising Him from the dead) because He did fulfill the law. He could not be held liable for the wages of sin (ie. death) because He did not commit any sin.
"But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him." - Acts 2:24 (NIV)
v22: What is the source of our righteousness? It is our union with Christ, with His eternal nature. What is the source of Christ's righteousness (in human terms)? It is not His fulfilling the law, but His dying to the law and being declared righteous in His resurrection from the dead. In other words, it is His justification - and we partake of this in our union with Him.
"So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." - Romans 7:4-6 (NIV)
How This Shapes Our Understanding of the Gospel
The gospel is not about us doing good works and trying to fulfill the law. Of course, understanding the gospel leads us 'to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law' (Romans 13:8, NIV).
It is not even about trusting in the fact that Jesus has fulfilled the law (which He has). Rather, it is confessing with our mouths, "Jesus is Lord," and believing in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9, NIV).
"The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness - for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." - Romans 4:23-25 (NIV)
In conclusion, the righteousness of God is:
1. in His very nature, in the Father, Son and Spirit from all eternity
2. revealed/declared in the life, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus our Lord
"For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."" - Romans 1:16-17 (NIV)
Tuesday 30 August 2011
The Problem of Evil and Why it is Sensible to Trust in God
The problem of evil goes something like this:
(1) Evil exists.
(2) God - if He exists - is either unable or unwilling (or both) to eliminate evil.
(3) If God is unable to eliminate evil, He is not sovereign.
(4) If God is unwilling to eliminate evil, He is not good.
(5) Therefore, God - if He exists - is either not sovereign or not good (or both).
However, (1) need not necessarily lead to (2). Alternatively,
(1) Evil exists.
(2) Either God does or does not exist.
(3) If God does not exist, He is not responsible for evil (if there is such a thing as evil in the first place if God does not exist).
(4) If God exists, He is sovereign and good.
(5) If God exists, He is both able and willing to eliminate evil.
(6) If God exists and evil exists, He has good reason(s) for not eliminating evil yet.
(7) Therefore, the existence of evil does not disprove the existence of a sovereign and good God. In fact, the existence of evil proves the existence of a sovereign and good God.
In particular,
(1) Evil exists.
(2) The opposite of evil exists.
(3) Good exists.
(4) The supreme good exists.
(5) Therefore, a sovereign and good God exists.
Why it is Sensible to Trust in God
(1) God is sovereign and good.
(2) If God is sovereign, He is able to eliminate evil.
(3) If God is good, He is willing to eliminate evil.
(4) Therefore, God is both able and willing to eliminate evil - even though He has not eliminated evil yet.
(5) Therefore, God will eliminate evil one day.
[This is the exact reverse of the problem of evil.
(5) Evil exists.
(4) God - if He exists - is either unable or unwilling (or both) to eliminate evil.
(3) If God is unable to eliminate evil, He is not sovereign.
(2) If God is unwilling to eliminate evil, He is not good.
(1) Therefore, God - if He exists - is either not sovereign or not good (or both).]
Of course, the question is why God does not eliminate evil yet. But that's another story.
"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." - Romans 8:28 (NIV)
(1) Evil exists.
(2) God - if He exists - is either unable or unwilling (or both) to eliminate evil.
(3) If God is unable to eliminate evil, He is not sovereign.
(4) If God is unwilling to eliminate evil, He is not good.
(5) Therefore, God - if He exists - is either not sovereign or not good (or both).
However, (1) need not necessarily lead to (2). Alternatively,
(1) Evil exists.
(2) Either God does or does not exist.
(3) If God does not exist, He is not responsible for evil (if there is such a thing as evil in the first place if God does not exist).
(4) If God exists, He is sovereign and good.
(5) If God exists, He is both able and willing to eliminate evil.
(6) If God exists and evil exists, He has good reason(s) for not eliminating evil yet.
(7) Therefore, the existence of evil does not disprove the existence of a sovereign and good God. In fact, the existence of evil proves the existence of a sovereign and good God.
In particular,
(1) Evil exists.
(2) The opposite of evil exists.
(3) Good exists.
(4) The supreme good exists.
(5) Therefore, a sovereign and good God exists.
Why it is Sensible to Trust in God
(1) God is sovereign and good.
(2) If God is sovereign, He is able to eliminate evil.
(3) If God is good, He is willing to eliminate evil.
(4) Therefore, God is both able and willing to eliminate evil - even though He has not eliminated evil yet.
(5) Therefore, God will eliminate evil one day.
[This is the exact reverse of the problem of evil.
(5) Evil exists.
(4) God - if He exists - is either unable or unwilling (or both) to eliminate evil.
(3) If God is unable to eliminate evil, He is not sovereign.
(2) If God is unwilling to eliminate evil, He is not good.
(1) Therefore, God - if He exists - is either not sovereign or not good (or both).]
Of course, the question is why God does not eliminate evil yet. But that's another story.
"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." - Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Saturday 27 August 2011
Accepting Our Calling
"He chose our inheritance for us," said the psalmist (Psalm 47:4). This means He decided in advance where He wanted us to be in a given time. First of all, He chose the time and place of our birth - the place, parents, and circumstances (Acts 17:26). We had no control over our birth. We did not choose our parents; God did. We did not choose the time and place of our birth; God did.
Secondly, He gave us our bodies - even while we were in our mother's womb. "I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body" (Psalm 139:14-16). This means our brains were formed by Him. Our intelligence was determined by Him. We no doubt can improve on how well and clearly we think, but our basic ability is already set - like it or not. Wow. I love this. It takes the pressure off to perform! Why be jealous of the person who is cleverer than I when it is God who gave them their superior brain?
Third, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven" (John 3:27). Those were John the Baptist's words. It was his reply to the observation that Jesus was gaining more disciples, getting bigger crowds, and upstaging John's popularity. How did John cope? His answer was that God in heaven is the one who bestows success, blessing, favour, and grace. It was easy, therefore, for John to say, "He must become greater; I must become less" (v30). Was John tempted to jealousy? Almost certainly. And this is how he coped.
So with our calling. The same God who gives and withholds mercy is the one who determines our calling. And talent. And promotion. He opens and closes doors. Either way it is in our interest. Be thankful for the closed door as much as you rejoice in the open door. He calls some to be doctors, some to be nurses, some to be preachers, some to be computer experts, some to be astronauts, some to be secretaries, some to be scientists, some to be lawyers, some to be firemen, some to be policemen, some to be politicians, some to be executives, and some to have little or no profile whatsoever.
- R. T. Kendall, Jealousy - The Sin No One Talks About
Secondly, He gave us our bodies - even while we were in our mother's womb. "I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body" (Psalm 139:14-16). This means our brains were formed by Him. Our intelligence was determined by Him. We no doubt can improve on how well and clearly we think, but our basic ability is already set - like it or not. Wow. I love this. It takes the pressure off to perform! Why be jealous of the person who is cleverer than I when it is God who gave them their superior brain?
Third, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven" (John 3:27). Those were John the Baptist's words. It was his reply to the observation that Jesus was gaining more disciples, getting bigger crowds, and upstaging John's popularity. How did John cope? His answer was that God in heaven is the one who bestows success, blessing, favour, and grace. It was easy, therefore, for John to say, "He must become greater; I must become less" (v30). Was John tempted to jealousy? Almost certainly. And this is how he coped.
So with our calling. The same God who gives and withholds mercy is the one who determines our calling. And talent. And promotion. He opens and closes doors. Either way it is in our interest. Be thankful for the closed door as much as you rejoice in the open door. He calls some to be doctors, some to be nurses, some to be preachers, some to be computer experts, some to be astronauts, some to be secretaries, some to be scientists, some to be lawyers, some to be firemen, some to be policemen, some to be politicians, some to be executives, and some to have little or no profile whatsoever.
- R. T. Kendall, Jealousy - The Sin No One Talks About
Monday 8 August 2011
Back to the Word
"This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." - Isaiah 66:2 (NIV)
Thursday 4 August 2011
Rekindle Heart Work
This is no unusual occurrence; it is the general rule of the moral universe that those men prosper who do their work with all their hearts, while those are almost certain to fail who go to their labour leaving half their hearts behind them. God does not give harvests to idle men, except harvests of thistles, nor is he pleased to send wealth to those who will not dig in the field to find its hid treasure.
It is universally confessed that if a man would prosper, he must be diligent in business. It is the same in religion as it is in other things. If you would prosper in your work for Jesus, let it be heart work, and let it be done with all your heart.
- Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." - Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
It is universally confessed that if a man would prosper, he must be diligent in business. It is the same in religion as it is in other things. If you would prosper in your work for Jesus, let it be heart work, and let it be done with all your heart.
- Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." - Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
Saturday 30 July 2011
Patience and Perseverance
*From Nicky's blog*
We must not murmur, we must not complain - but patiently follow wherever the Lord leads, and quietly bear whatever the Lord lays on us. He will not lay on us more than we are able to bear; but with every temptation He will make a way for our escape, that we may be able to bear it.
Patience must calm the spirit, quiet the heart, and close the mouth. Then shall we say with the Psalmist, "I was silent, I opened not my mouth, because You are the One who has done this!" Had it been man - it might have been wrong. Had it been chance - it might have been injurious. But it was You - and, therefore, it must be wise, holy, and kind.
We are required quietly to persevere, to go on, though the way is rugged, though the thorns pierce our feet, though we cannot see one step before us. We must walk by faith, not by sight, believing that we are safe - in the midst of danger; that we are right - though everything is perplexing; and that all will end well - for "We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him, and are called according to His purpose!" Romans 8:28.
- James Smith, Perplexity
We must not murmur, we must not complain - but patiently follow wherever the Lord leads, and quietly bear whatever the Lord lays on us. He will not lay on us more than we are able to bear; but with every temptation He will make a way for our escape, that we may be able to bear it.
Patience must calm the spirit, quiet the heart, and close the mouth. Then shall we say with the Psalmist, "I was silent, I opened not my mouth, because You are the One who has done this!" Had it been man - it might have been wrong. Had it been chance - it might have been injurious. But it was You - and, therefore, it must be wise, holy, and kind.
We are required quietly to persevere, to go on, though the way is rugged, though the thorns pierce our feet, though we cannot see one step before us. We must walk by faith, not by sight, believing that we are safe - in the midst of danger; that we are right - though everything is perplexing; and that all will end well - for "We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him, and are called according to His purpose!" Romans 8:28.
- James Smith, Perplexity
Tuesday 26 July 2011
Household of Faith
So a local congregation, then, is a community of people who trust God like this. It's not even that we understand everything He does. In all of our lives there are mysterious providences. And brother and sister, if you are here today at this meeting, in one of those times when you feel you're under a mysterious frown of God, oh I beg you as a brother-in-Christ, trust Him. He is a faithful God.
There are times in the past when you saw that clearly. There will be a time in the future where you see that again. And you will bring Him glory by continuing to put one foot in front of another and following Him even through the hardest of times. Trusting - gambling as it may even feel to you - on His faithfulness, because He will prove good and true to His Word.
We are a community of people who do that. We don't always understand everything He's doing but we trust His character. You realise, don't you, that our fears about the future are rooted in those places where our will differs from God's will.
- Mark Dever, The Church is the Gospel Made Visible (on Caleb's recommendation)
There are times in the past when you saw that clearly. There will be a time in the future where you see that again. And you will bring Him glory by continuing to put one foot in front of another and following Him even through the hardest of times. Trusting - gambling as it may even feel to you - on His faithfulness, because He will prove good and true to His Word.
We are a community of people who do that. We don't always understand everything He's doing but we trust His character. You realise, don't you, that our fears about the future are rooted in those places where our will differs from God's will.
- Mark Dever, The Church is the Gospel Made Visible (on Caleb's recommendation)
Monday 25 July 2011
O Church Arise
"...one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water." - John 19:34 (NIV)
The piercing of Jesus confirmed that Jesus was indeed dead (and hence that the Mosaic covenant was broken) as He hung on the cross. Jesus became a curse for us by hanging on the cross and broke the curse of the law by dying (and being raised to life).
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."" - Galatians 3:13 (NIV)
"So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God." - Romans 7:4 (NIV)
"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." - 1 Corinthians 15:17 (NIV)
More than that, the piercing of Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies.
"These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken," and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."" - John 19:36-37 (NIV)
One might even say that Jesus' death (and resurrection) gave birth to the church.
"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." - John 12:24 (NIV)
The piercing of Jesus, which confirmed His death, brings us new and eternal life.
"...one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water." - John 19:34 (NIV)
"This is the one who came by water and blood - Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement." - 1 John 5:6-8 (NIV)
"For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life." - Leviticus 17:11 (NIV)
First and Last Adam
Eve was born out of Adam's flesh and became one flesh with Adam in the first Eden.
So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man."
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
- Genesis 2:21-24 (NIV)
Likewise, the church was born out of Christ's death (and resurrection) and will become one flesh with Christ in the new Eden.
""For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church." - Ephesians 5:31-32 (NIV)
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."" - Revelation 21:1-4 (NIV)
When Adam awoke from his deep sleep (a kind of death), he was united with his wife.
"Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." - Song of Songs 8:4 (NIV)
When Christ was raised from the dead, He established a new covenant with His bride and (like a Jewish groom) returned to His Father's house to prepare a place for her.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." - John 14:1-4 (NIV)
"This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." - Acts 1:11 (NIV)
"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - because anyone who has died has been freed from sin." - Romans 6:4-7 (NIV)
When we are raised from the dead, we will be united with Christtill death us do part for eternity.
"Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."" - 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 (NIV)
The piercing of Jesus confirmed that Jesus was indeed dead (and hence that the Mosaic covenant was broken) as He hung on the cross. Jesus became a curse for us by hanging on the cross and broke the curse of the law by dying (and being raised to life).
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."" - Galatians 3:13 (NIV)
"So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God." - Romans 7:4 (NIV)
"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." - 1 Corinthians 15:17 (NIV)
More than that, the piercing of Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies.
"These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken," and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."" - John 19:36-37 (NIV)
One might even say that Jesus' death (and resurrection) gave birth to the church.
"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." - John 12:24 (NIV)
The piercing of Jesus, which confirmed His death, brings us new and eternal life.
"...one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water." - John 19:34 (NIV)
"This is the one who came by water and blood - Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement." - 1 John 5:6-8 (NIV)
"For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life." - Leviticus 17:11 (NIV)
First and Last Adam
Eve was born out of Adam's flesh and became one flesh with Adam in the first Eden.
So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man."
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
- Genesis 2:21-24 (NIV)
Likewise, the church was born out of Christ's death (and resurrection) and will become one flesh with Christ in the new Eden.
""For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church." - Ephesians 5:31-32 (NIV)
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."" - Revelation 21:1-4 (NIV)
When Adam awoke from his deep sleep (a kind of death), he was united with his wife.
"Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." - Song of Songs 8:4 (NIV)
When Christ was raised from the dead, He established a new covenant with His bride and (like a Jewish groom) returned to His Father's house to prepare a place for her.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." - John 14:1-4 (NIV)
"This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." - Acts 1:11 (NIV)
"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - because anyone who has died has been freed from sin." - Romans 6:4-7 (NIV)
When we are raised from the dead, we will be united with Christ
"Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."" - 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 (NIV)
Sunday 24 July 2011
Saturday 23 July 2011
May the Peace of God
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." - Romans 15:13 (NIV)
"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you." - 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)
"May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." - Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV)
Friday 22 July 2011
Inquiring of the LORD
I attended a friend's cell group this evening and was reminded of the following verse:
"The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD." - Joshua 9:14 (NIV)
How about us? Do we inquire of the LORD?
"The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the LORD; so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered." - Jeremiah 10:21 (NIV)
"Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse." - 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 (NIV)
"I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all who live in Jerusalem. I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal, the names of the pagan and the idolatrous priests - those who bow down on the roofs to worship the starry host, those who bow down and swear by the LORD and who also swear by Molech, those who turn back from following the LORD and neither seek the LORD nor inquire of him." - Zephaniah 1:4-6 (NIV)
But
"...seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." - Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
"The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD." - Joshua 9:14 (NIV)
How about us? Do we inquire of the LORD?
"The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the LORD; so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered." - Jeremiah 10:21 (NIV)
"Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse." - 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 (NIV)
"I will stretch out my hand against Judah and against all who live in Jerusalem. I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal, the names of the pagan and the idolatrous priests - those who bow down on the roofs to worship the starry host, those who bow down and swear by the LORD and who also swear by Molech, those who turn back from following the LORD and neither seek the LORD nor inquire of him." - Zephaniah 1:4-6 (NIV)
But
"...seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." - Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
Thursday 21 July 2011
Sunday 17 July 2011
Enlightenment
Today I was telling someone about the purposes of imprisonment (according to the SPS Business Framework) - P.R.I.DE: Punishment, Reformation, Incapacitation and DEterrence - and he suggested that E should stand for Enlightenment.
Saturday 16 July 2011
Planning and Providence
"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." - Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." - Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." - Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." - Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." - Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)
Friday 15 July 2011
Graduation 2011
Since arriving in York on Monday, I've had a blessed time meeting up with friends and seeing them graduate.
I'll be attending a wedding tomorrow and going back to York Baptist Church on Sunday before heading to London on Monday for the final part of my trip (meeting Peter and watching Ming's play).
God has been gracious in taking care of my needs over the course of this trip, providing me with places to stay in York and London, decent train tickets etc. He has also answered a few prayers, though not necessarily in the ways I've expected.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
"Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?" "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." - Romans 11:33-36 (NIV)
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." - Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)
I'll be attending a wedding tomorrow and going back to York Baptist Church on Sunday before heading to London on Monday for the final part of my trip (meeting Peter and watching Ming's play).
God has been gracious in taking care of my needs over the course of this trip, providing me with places to stay in York and London, decent train tickets etc. He has also answered a few prayers, though not necessarily in the ways I've expected.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
"Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?" "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." - Romans 11:33-36 (NIV)
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." - Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)
Thursday 14 July 2011
God is enough
Sometimes we focus so much on what we want God to give us that we forget what God has already given us.
What preoccupies me? What do I daydream about?
"Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Saviour. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob." - Psalm 24:3-6 (NIV)
We bow our hearts, we bend our knees
Oh Spirit come make us humble
We turn our eyes from evil things
Oh Lord we cast down our idols
Give us clean hands, give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Give us clean hands, give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Oh God let us be a generation that seeks
That seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob
Oh God let us be a generation that seeks
That seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob
"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." - Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NIV)
Link: 11 Ways to Find Your Idols (5 May 11)
What preoccupies me? What do I daydream about?
"Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Saviour. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob." - Psalm 24:3-6 (NIV)
We bow our hearts, we bend our knees
Oh Spirit come make us humble
We turn our eyes from evil things
Oh Lord we cast down our idols
Give us clean hands, give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Give us clean hands, give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Oh God let us be a generation that seeks
That seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob
Oh God let us be a generation that seeks
That seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob
"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." - Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NIV)
Link: 11 Ways to Find Your Idols (5 May 11)
Wednesday 13 July 2011
Signposts
God works in mysterious ways. Not once, not twice, but three times - and counting.
Sometimes we can overspiritualise things. But sometimes God gives us signposts to follow.
"Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." - Psalm 37:3-4 (NIV)
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD is the Rock eternal." - Isaiah 26:3-4 (NIV)
Sometimes we can overspiritualise things. But sometimes God gives us signposts to follow.
"Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." - Psalm 37:3-4 (NIV)
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD is the Rock eternal." - Isaiah 26:3-4 (NIV)
Tuesday 12 July 2011
Man's Response
The reception of God's grace is not by imposition of an overwhelming omnipotent sovereignty without willingness on man's part. One could even fail to accept and properly cooperate with God's grace. There is no question that God sincerely desired to bless Israel. Nevertheless, she refused His grace and placed herself instead under His judgment by her rebellion and idolatry.
God's desire for Israel, as for all men, was good: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil..." (Jeremiah 29:11). However, because the blessings of His grace were contingent upon Israel's faith and faithfulness, she reaped instead the judgment of God.
We are even told that by their rebellion they "limited the Holy One of Israel" (Psalm 78:41). Think of that - limiting the omnipotent, sovereign God, which Calvinists say is impossible! Indeed, we are told that the rabbis "rejected the counsel of God against themselves" (Luke 7:30) - but there is no hint that they thereby annulled God's sovereignty or gained control over God.
Paul intimates that Christians can also limit the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives and His empowerment for ministry. The Christian life and victory is not alone by sovereign power, but the believers' faith and obedience as "labourers together with God" (1 Corinthians 3:9) is essential: "Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily" (Colossians 1:29); "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13).
God truly and powerfully works within the believer and we can do nothing but by the leading and empowering of the Holy Spirit. At the same time, however, we must give ourselves willingly to the work of God through us.
- Dave Hunt, What Love Is This?
"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them - yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me." - 1 Corinthians 15:10 (NIV)
God's desire for Israel, as for all men, was good: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil..." (Jeremiah 29:11). However, because the blessings of His grace were contingent upon Israel's faith and faithfulness, she reaped instead the judgment of God.
We are even told that by their rebellion they "limited the Holy One of Israel" (Psalm 78:41). Think of that - limiting the omnipotent, sovereign God, which Calvinists say is impossible! Indeed, we are told that the rabbis "rejected the counsel of God against themselves" (Luke 7:30) - but there is no hint that they thereby annulled God's sovereignty or gained control over God.
Paul intimates that Christians can also limit the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives and His empowerment for ministry. The Christian life and victory is not alone by sovereign power, but the believers' faith and obedience as "labourers together with God" (1 Corinthians 3:9) is essential: "Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily" (Colossians 1:29); "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13).
God truly and powerfully works within the believer and we can do nothing but by the leading and empowering of the Holy Spirit. At the same time, however, we must give ourselves willingly to the work of God through us.
- Dave Hunt, What Love Is This?
"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them - yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me." - 1 Corinthians 15:10 (NIV)
Monday 11 July 2011
God's Sovereign Choice
God did not cause Pharaoh to sin (nor has He ever done so for anyone). Rather, He arranged circumstances and events to put this particular man, whose every quirk and wicked impulse He foreknew in detail, to be in authority at that particular time, in order to use his evil to fulfill His will.
Is an act of that nature the kind of Calvinistic "sovereignty" to which we object? Not at all. We affirm as biblical and reasonable both God's ability and His sovereign right to arrange circumstances and to position on the stage of life those players whom He foreknows, so that His will is effected in human affairs - and to do so without violating their will or encouraging (much less becoming accessory to) their crimes.
- Dave Hunt, What Love Is This?
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." - Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
Is an act of that nature the kind of Calvinistic "sovereignty" to which we object? Not at all. We affirm as biblical and reasonable both God's ability and His sovereign right to arrange circumstances and to position on the stage of life those players whom He foreknows, so that His will is effected in human affairs - and to do so without violating their will or encouraging (much less becoming accessory to) their crimes.
- Dave Hunt, What Love Is This?
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." - Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
Sunday 10 July 2011
The Importance of Baptism
With or without words, baptismal immersion testifies to our identification with the crucified and risen Christ. With words, with the appropriate 'pledge of a clear conscience toward God' (1 Peter 3:21), produced by already existing saving faith, baptism includes a promise to follow Jesus all the days of our lives.
If and when doubts assail us as to whether we truly believed "way back when", we can point to the vows we recited at our baptism. If and when temptations come to turn our backs on Jesus, others have the right and responsibility to ask us, "Are you a person of your word? Are you a promise keeper? You made a sacred oath; are you the kind of person that can be trusted even when the hard times come to be faithful to your covenants?"
- Craig Blomberg, Baptism's No Big Deal, Is It?
From Caleb's blog.
If and when doubts assail us as to whether we truly believed "way back when", we can point to the vows we recited at our baptism. If and when temptations come to turn our backs on Jesus, others have the right and responsibility to ask us, "Are you a person of your word? Are you a promise keeper? You made a sacred oath; are you the kind of person that can be trusted even when the hard times come to be faithful to your covenants?"
- Craig Blomberg, Baptism's No Big Deal, Is It?
From Caleb's blog.
Saturday 9 July 2011
Back to York
It's been a year since I returned to Singapore last Jul and I'm looking forward to a short break back in the UK over the next 2 weeks. I don't have any fixed plans apart from attending a church wedding and maybe a couple of graduation ceremonies in York. It would also be good to spend some time alone with God, reflecting on the past year and praying for the year ahead.
A Time for Everything
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV)
A Time for Everything
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV)
Monday 4 July 2011
Purify My Heart
Christ will be master of the heart, and sin must be mortified. If your life is unholy your heart is unchanged; you are an unsaved person. If the Saviour has not sanctified you, renewed you, given you a hatred of sin and a love of holiness, the grace which does not make a man better than others is a worthless counterfeit.
Christ saves his people, not in their sins, but from them. "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." "Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." If not saved from sin, how shall we hope to be counted among his people?
Lord, save me even now from all evil, and enable me to honour my Saviour.
- C. H. Spurgeon
Christ saves his people, not in their sins, but from them. "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." "Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." If not saved from sin, how shall we hope to be counted among his people?
Lord, save me even now from all evil, and enable me to honour my Saviour.
- C. H. Spurgeon
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold
Refiner's fire
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You, my Master
Ready to do Your will
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within and make me holy
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from my sin, deep within
Wednesday 29 June 2011
One day at a time
"What does your anxiety do? It does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but it does empty today of its strength. It does not make you escape the evil; it makes you unfit to cope with it when it comes. God gives us the power to bear all the sorrow of His making, but He does not guarantee to give us strength to bear the burdens of our own making such as worry induces." - Ian Maclaren
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)
Sunday 26 June 2011
Renewing Our Minds
This morning's message in church was on Ephesians 4:17-24, living as children of light in the likeness of God.
How do we become more like Christ? By being made new in the attitude of our minds.
"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." - Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)
How do we know God's will for our lives? By being transformed by the renewing of our minds.
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
How do we renew our minds?
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." - Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
How do we become more like Christ? By being made new in the attitude of our minds.
"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." - Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)
How do we know God's will for our lives? By being transformed by the renewing of our minds.
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
How do we renew our minds?
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." - Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
Saturday 25 June 2011
Man robs bank for $1
A video has surfaced of an American man admitting how he robbed a bank for $1 so he could go to jail and receive free medical treatment.
James Verone, of Gastonia, North Carolina, was so desperate to get help for a bad back, foot and growths on his chest that he made the calculated decision to stage the unusual robbery.
The unemployed 59-year-old, who cannot afford health insurance, told a reporter how he walked up to the cashier and handed a bizarre note demanding just one dollar from her.
The note also said he was armed, but in fact he wasn't. The suffering man then said that he purposely sat on the couch in the RBC bank to wait for the police to arrest him.
Unfortunately for Mr Verone, because he wasn't in possession of a weapon at the time of the robbery, the police could only charge him with larceny - a sentence that warrants a shorter jail time than what he had initially hoped for.
Speaking from Garston County Sheriff's Office, Mr Verone said that he had never been in trouble with the law before.
"I'm sort of a logical person and that was my logic. This is what I came up with," explained Mr Verone.
According to the jail's inmate handbook, inmates pay a small fee of $5 for initiated visits and declared emergency visits.
The handbook also reads: "However, no one will be denied access to health care whether they have money or not."
Mr Verone hoped his crime would get him a minimum of three years so he can carry on receiving free health care.
Source: Yahoo! News
James Verone, of Gastonia, North Carolina, was so desperate to get help for a bad back, foot and growths on his chest that he made the calculated decision to stage the unusual robbery.
The unemployed 59-year-old, who cannot afford health insurance, told a reporter how he walked up to the cashier and handed a bizarre note demanding just one dollar from her.
The note also said he was armed, but in fact he wasn't. The suffering man then said that he purposely sat on the couch in the RBC bank to wait for the police to arrest him.
Unfortunately for Mr Verone, because he wasn't in possession of a weapon at the time of the robbery, the police could only charge him with larceny - a sentence that warrants a shorter jail time than what he had initially hoped for.
Speaking from Garston County Sheriff's Office, Mr Verone said that he had never been in trouble with the law before.
"I'm sort of a logical person and that was my logic. This is what I came up with," explained Mr Verone.
According to the jail's inmate handbook, inmates pay a small fee of $5 for initiated visits and declared emergency visits.
The handbook also reads: "However, no one will be denied access to health care whether they have money or not."
Mr Verone hoped his crime would get him a minimum of three years so he can carry on receiving free health care.
Source: Yahoo! News
Friday 24 June 2011
Sunday 12 June 2011
Lessons from Monopoly Deal
1. Play the hand you actually have, not the hand you want to have.
Don't base your play on getting that elusive deal breaker. It may never come.
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
"People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." - 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NIV)
2. Play the hand you actually have, not the hand you used to have.
Don't dwell on the cards you've played wrongly or look back on the past with regrets. Believe that everything happens for a reason and move on.
"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." - Romans 8:28 (NIV)
3. Play your hand to the best of your ability.
Sometimes you lose to a better player or a better hand. That's life. What's important is that you've tried your best. I would rather try my best and lose than not try my best and win. If your best is not good enough, it's not meant to be.
"Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you represents determinism; the way you play it is free will." - Jawaharlal Nehru, First Prime Minister of India (1947-1964)
We are judged on what we do with what we have, not on what we can't do with what we don't have.
"For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have." - 2 Corinthians 8:12 (NIV)
Don't base your play on getting that elusive deal breaker. It may never come.
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
"People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." - 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NIV)
2. Play the hand you actually have, not the hand you used to have.
Don't dwell on the cards you've played wrongly or look back on the past with regrets. Believe that everything happens for a reason and move on.
"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." - Romans 8:28 (NIV)
3. Play your hand to the best of your ability.
Sometimes you lose to a better player or a better hand. That's life. What's important is that you've tried your best. I would rather try my best and lose than not try my best and win. If your best is not good enough, it's not meant to be.
"Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you represents determinism; the way you play it is free will." - Jawaharlal Nehru, First Prime Minister of India (1947-1964)
We are judged on what we do with what we have, not on what we can't do with what we don't have.
"For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have." - 2 Corinthians 8:12 (NIV)
Lessons from this morning's sermon on God's perfect plan for marriage
1. Pray together.
2. Read God's Word together.
3. Make decisions together.
4. Serve in church together.
5. Keep courting your wife.
Sunday 5 June 2011
What is your ambition?
"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." - 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV)
Sunday 22 May 2011
Today is a gift
"Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift - that's why we call it the present." - Eleanor Roosevelt
*****
Do not worry about the past. You cannot change it.
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honour me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise." - Isaiah 43:18-21 (NIV)
Do not worry about the future. You cannot control it.
"Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."" - James 4:13-15 (NIV)
Live in the present. You can cherish it.
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:33-34 (NIV)
*****
Do not worry about the past. You cannot change it.
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honour me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise." - Isaiah 43:18-21 (NIV)
Do not worry about the future. You cannot control it.
"Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."" - James 4:13-15 (NIV)
Live in the present. You can cherish it.
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:33-34 (NIV)
Saturday 21 May 2011
Purer in Heart
"Be killing sin or sin will be killing you." - John Owen
"Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation - but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." - Romans 8:12-14 (NIV)
"If you want power in prayer, you must have purity in life." - Charles Spurgeon
"Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Saviour. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob." - Psalm 24:3-6 (NIV)
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." - Matthew 5:8 (NIV)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:6-8 (NIV)
Purer in heart, O God
"Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation - but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." - Romans 8:12-14 (NIV)
"If you want power in prayer, you must have purity in life." - Charles Spurgeon
"Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Saviour. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob." - Psalm 24:3-6 (NIV)
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." - Matthew 5:8 (NIV)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:6-8 (NIV)
Purer in heart, O God
Help to me be
Until Thy holy face
One day I see
Keep me from secret sin
Reign Thou my soul within
Purer in heart
Help me to be
*****
Will you choose to say
"Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence." - Psalm 73:13 (NIV)
or
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." - Psalm 73:26 (NIV)
One day I see
Keep me from secret sin
Reign Thou my soul within
Purer in heart
Help me to be
*****
Will you choose to say
"Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence." - Psalm 73:13 (NIV)
or
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." - Psalm 73:26 (NIV)
Sunday 15 May 2011
A Higher Freedom
Since God by His very nature (love) cannot force anyone to love Him, it would be highly improper to think of a heaven where people were forced to be there. First there must be courtship, and then two can be bound together for life. God had to give us lower freedom (freedom to do evil) in order to achieve a higher freedom for us (freedom from evil).
To carry the analogy further, we are bound by our marriage vows to one and only one person, but we freely chose this state. We are not free to have intimate sexual relations with others (which would be sin), but we chose to be in this state. No one forced us there. Likewise, without a prior state of the freedom to sin we could not properly and satisfactorily reach the higher state of the freedom from sin.
So lower-level freedom (in this world) involves the freedom to sin - the power of contrary choice. In heaven, we trade in this lower freedom for a higher freedom, the way one who is dating trades in the ability to choose many life-partners for the joy and fulfillment of having only one - the one to which we are bound in love (by our free choice) until death.
It would be wrong to claim that we are not free in marriage simply because we should not date or mate with anyone else. Our freedom was expressed at the marriage ceremony when we freely promised to "forsake all others" and cling only to our spouse. Thus we did not really lose true freedom in marriage; rather, we gained a higher freedom that is fulfilled in the bonds of marriage, which we freely chose.
In like manner, when we pass through the veil between this life and the next one, we do not really lose freedom but gain a higher freedom. True, we no longer are free to sin, but that is hardly a loss; rather it is a great gain. To be sure, we no longer have the lower-level freedom to do evil; it is replaced by a higher freedom from all evil.
As to why God could not make this ultimate condition of being freed from all sin up front: Heaven is the end, and earth is the means. One cannot get to the Promised Land without going through the wilderness. Earth is the testing ground; heaven is our final home. We cannot reach home without the proving grounds.
Allowing the choice of good or evil is necessary in achieving the highest good. Again, the highest freedom is from sin (heaven), not of sin (on earth). One is not fit for the freedom from sin unless he has exercised the freedom to sin, for unless he has had the choice of good over evil, he is not ready for a place where good dominates and evil is defeated. Our initial freedom is designed to lead to the ultimate freedom.
- Norman L. Geisler, If God, Why Evil?
Link: If God, Why Evil? (14 May 11)
To carry the analogy further, we are bound by our marriage vows to one and only one person, but we freely chose this state. We are not free to have intimate sexual relations with others (which would be sin), but we chose to be in this state. No one forced us there. Likewise, without a prior state of the freedom to sin we could not properly and satisfactorily reach the higher state of the freedom from sin.
So lower-level freedom (in this world) involves the freedom to sin - the power of contrary choice. In heaven, we trade in this lower freedom for a higher freedom, the way one who is dating trades in the ability to choose many life-partners for the joy and fulfillment of having only one - the one to which we are bound in love (by our free choice) until death.
It would be wrong to claim that we are not free in marriage simply because we should not date or mate with anyone else. Our freedom was expressed at the marriage ceremony when we freely promised to "forsake all others" and cling only to our spouse. Thus we did not really lose true freedom in marriage; rather, we gained a higher freedom that is fulfilled in the bonds of marriage, which we freely chose.
In like manner, when we pass through the veil between this life and the next one, we do not really lose freedom but gain a higher freedom. True, we no longer are free to sin, but that is hardly a loss; rather it is a great gain. To be sure, we no longer have the lower-level freedom to do evil; it is replaced by a higher freedom from all evil.
As to why God could not make this ultimate condition of being freed from all sin up front: Heaven is the end, and earth is the means. One cannot get to the Promised Land without going through the wilderness. Earth is the testing ground; heaven is our final home. We cannot reach home without the proving grounds.
Allowing the choice of good or evil is necessary in achieving the highest good. Again, the highest freedom is from sin (heaven), not of sin (on earth). One is not fit for the freedom from sin unless he has exercised the freedom to sin, for unless he has had the choice of good over evil, he is not ready for a place where good dominates and evil is defeated. Our initial freedom is designed to lead to the ultimate freedom.
- Norman L. Geisler, If God, Why Evil?
Link: If God, Why Evil? (14 May 11)
Saturday 14 May 2011
If God, Why Evil?
I just picked up a copy of Norman Geisler's latest book (If God, Why Evil?) and read a few chapters today. Interestingly, Geisler seems to be a Molinist. At least, his solution to the problem of evil is a Molinist one. Even more interestingly, Geisler's work is endorsed by evangelicals such as Josh McDowell, Franklin Graham, Ron Rhodes, Gary Habermas, Paige Patterson (who also endorsed Salvation and Sovereignty: A Molinist Approach) and Philip Roberts. More Molinists?
A world of free creatures who never choose to sin is logically possible, for there is no logical contradiction in the basic premise. However, it may be that God in His infinite foreknowledge foresaw that no such world would actually materialise. That is, He knew in advance when He created this world that no such world as one with free creatures, all of whom would never sin, would actually come into being. In other words, He foresaw that every world of free creatures He could ever make would have some who would freely choose to sin.
- Norman L. Geisler, If God, Why Evil?
It is possible that God could not have created a universe containing moral good (or as much moral good as this world contains) without creating one that also contained moral evil. And if so, then it is possible that God has a good reason for creating a world containing evil.
- Alvin Plantinga, The Free Will Defence
The nature of an all-good God assures us that this world, which He did create, is the best one achievable without violating anyone's free will. As has been shown, no other world is morally superior to this one in which all moral agents are free, where sin is permitted, where sin is defeated, and where the greater virtues are attained by the maximum number of people. All other worlds are not moral, not possible, not achievable with free creatures, and/or morally inferior. This present world is not the best of all possible worlds, but it is the best of all possible ways to the best of all achievable worlds.
So if God knew this world would be as evil as it is, then why did He choose to make it? Because He is the best of all beings possible and, as such, He must produce the best of all worlds actually possible (if He is going to create). Permitting this evil world is the best of all possible ways to produce the best of all possible worlds.
Our own societies are an illustration of this point. We permit cars, boats, and airplanes knowing there will be accidents and deaths. Nonetheless, we deem that the end of human freedom, mobility, and happiness justifies permitting (though discouraging) the evils we know will sometimes happen. God does the same with His world.
As for the objection that God is employing an illegitimate "end justifies the means" ethic, we note a crucial difference. God is not producing or promoting evil means to attain a good end. He is permitting them. A good parent permits a possible accident every time he permits his teenager to drive the family car; however, he is not promoting it. Likewise, no reasonable person beats his head on a wall because it feels so good when he stops; however, one does permit the pain of the dentist chair in order to produce the good results. God allows evil to produce the greater good.
- Norman L. Geisler, If God, Why Evil?
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." - Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
Link: A Higher Freedom (15 May 11)
A world of free creatures who never choose to sin is logically possible, for there is no logical contradiction in the basic premise. However, it may be that God in His infinite foreknowledge foresaw that no such world would actually materialise. That is, He knew in advance when He created this world that no such world as one with free creatures, all of whom would never sin, would actually come into being. In other words, He foresaw that every world of free creatures He could ever make would have some who would freely choose to sin.
- Norman L. Geisler, If God, Why Evil?
It is possible that God could not have created a universe containing moral good (or as much moral good as this world contains) without creating one that also contained moral evil. And if so, then it is possible that God has a good reason for creating a world containing evil.
- Alvin Plantinga, The Free Will Defence
The nature of an all-good God assures us that this world, which He did create, is the best one achievable without violating anyone's free will. As has been shown, no other world is morally superior to this one in which all moral agents are free, where sin is permitted, where sin is defeated, and where the greater virtues are attained by the maximum number of people. All other worlds are not moral, not possible, not achievable with free creatures, and/or morally inferior. This present world is not the best of all possible worlds, but it is the best of all possible ways to the best of all achievable worlds.
So if God knew this world would be as evil as it is, then why did He choose to make it? Because He is the best of all beings possible and, as such, He must produce the best of all worlds actually possible (if He is going to create). Permitting this evil world is the best of all possible ways to produce the best of all possible worlds.
Our own societies are an illustration of this point. We permit cars, boats, and airplanes knowing there will be accidents and deaths. Nonetheless, we deem that the end of human freedom, mobility, and happiness justifies permitting (though discouraging) the evils we know will sometimes happen. God does the same with His world.
As for the objection that God is employing an illegitimate "end justifies the means" ethic, we note a crucial difference. God is not producing or promoting evil means to attain a good end. He is permitting them. A good parent permits a possible accident every time he permits his teenager to drive the family car; however, he is not promoting it. Likewise, no reasonable person beats his head on a wall because it feels so good when he stops; however, one does permit the pain of the dentist chair in order to produce the good results. God allows evil to produce the greater good.
- Norman L. Geisler, If God, Why Evil?
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." - Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
Link: A Higher Freedom (15 May 11)
Tuesday 10 May 2011
Lessons from Job
"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." - Job 1:21 (NIV)
"I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted." - Job 42:2 (NIV)
"I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted." - Job 42:2 (NIV)
Sunday 8 May 2011
(The Proverbs 31) Woman
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting
But a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised
Give her the reward she deserves
And let her works bring her praise at the city gate
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth more than rubies
Her husband has full confidence in her
And she lacks nothing of value
She brings him good not harm
All the days of her life
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting
But a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised
Give her the reward she deserves
And let her works bring her praise at the city gate
She is like the merchant ships bringing food from afar
She gets up while it is still dark
She provides food for her family
And portions for her servant girls
She considers a field and then buys it
Out of her earnings she plants a vineyard
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting
But a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised
Give her the reward she deserves
And let her works bring her praise at the city gate
She sets about her work vigorously
Her arms are strong for her tasks
She sees that her work is profitable
And her lamp does not go out at night
She opens her arms to the poor
And extends her hands to the needy
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting
But a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised
Give her the reward she deserves
And let her works bring her praise at the city gate
She is clothed with strength and dignity
She can laugh at all the days to come
She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue
She watches over her household
She does not eat the bread of idleness
Her children arise and they call her blessed
Her husband also praises her:
"Many women do noble things
But you surpass them all."
But you surpass them all
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting
But a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised
Give her the reward she deserves
And let her works bring her praise at the city gate
- Deb Fung, Woman
Saturday 7 May 2011
The Potter's Hand
Beautiful Lord, Wonderful Saviour
I know for sure, all of my days are
Held in Your hand
Crafted into Your perfect plan
You gently call me into Your presence
Guiding me by Your Holy Spirit
Teach me, dear Lord
To live all of my life through Your eyes
I'm captured by Your holy calling
Set me apart
I know You're drawing me to Yourself
Lead me Lord, I pray
Take me, mould me
Use me, fill me
I give my life to the Potter's hand
Call me, guide me
Lead me, walk beside me
I give my life to the Potter's hand
- Darlene Zschech, The Potter's Hand
"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and made us waste away because of our sins. Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." - Isaiah 64:6-8 (NIV)
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." - Psalm 139:13-16 (NIV)
"From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us." - Acts 17:26-27 (NIV)
Sang this song at Baptist Worship 2011 today and was reminded of the sovereignty and goodness of God. Do you trust Him?
On another note, I don't know for sure what happens to people who die without hearing the gospel (eg. unreached tribes, babies). From Acts 17:26-27, it seems that wherever and however long (or short) we live, God has sufficiently revealed Himself to us.
"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." - Romans 8:28 (NIV)
I know for sure, all of my days are
Held in Your hand
Crafted into Your perfect plan
You gently call me into Your presence
Guiding me by Your Holy Spirit
Teach me, dear Lord
To live all of my life through Your eyes
I'm captured by Your holy calling
Set me apart
I know You're drawing me to Yourself
Lead me Lord, I pray
Take me, mould me
Use me, fill me
I give my life to the Potter's hand
Call me, guide me
Lead me, walk beside me
I give my life to the Potter's hand
- Darlene Zschech, The Potter's Hand
"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and made us waste away because of our sins. Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." - Isaiah 64:6-8 (NIV)
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." - Psalm 139:13-16 (NIV)
"From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us." - Acts 17:26-27 (NIV)
Sang this song at Baptist Worship 2011 today and was reminded of the sovereignty and goodness of God. Do you trust Him?
On another note, I don't know for sure what happens to people who die without hearing the gospel (eg. unreached tribes, babies). From Acts 17:26-27, it seems that wherever and however long (or short) we live, God has sufficiently revealed Himself to us.
"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." - Romans 8:28 (NIV)
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