I've been thinking a lot lately about the issue of homosexuality that our culture has raised to be such a hot-button issue recently. I am currently sorting through what the gospel says about homosexuality and what it says about our response to it. This post is some of that "sorting". I by no means think I have this all figured out!! Forgive my inadequacies to fully see this in light of Scripture as I desire to. Please comment on this post because I so desire for us to help each other seek Christ as we engage this culture with His gospel!
Unfortunately, we as Christians have done a poor job of engaging our culture regarding this issue. We have bought into the Pharisaical lie that some sins are greater than others. Because of that, we have raised homosexuality to some kind of "greater sin" than other sins. That is wrong and contrary to the gospel. Of course, we all like to see ourselves as better than other people, and I think we as Christians living in the Western world have often fallen into this same trap that the Pharisees of Jesus' day did.
This morning, I read John 8, and was amazed to see this issue that we are facing today so plainly addressed in Scripture. John 8 begins with the account of the woman caught in adultery being brought to Jesus by the Pharisees for Him to either align with Moses' law and condemn her or to oppose Moses' law and set her free.
Obviously, the Pharisees had raised adultery to be a "higher" or "greater" sin than others, much like we have raised homosexuality to be that sin. How did Jesus respond?
Although we don't know what Jesus wrote on the ground, I wonder if he started writing some of the sins committed by the Pharisees who were standing there to condemn her. Regardless of what He wrote, Jesus leveled the playing field. The Pharisees had broken Moses' law (God's law) just the same as this woman had. He made it clear that all sin is equal before a holy God.
Another thing I noticed in this passage is that Jesus alone has power to condemn. I have been guilty of judging and condemning others for their sin because quite frankly, I like to see myself as better than other people. That reveals a confidence in my own self-righteousness, just like the Pharisees had. Romans 8 says that Jesus has justified us before God, so who can condemn us? Clearly, Jesus alone can justify, and Jesus alone can condemn. So, why do I think I can justify myself before God, often by condemning others and in so doing, exalting myself? My sin is the same as anyone else's-- it separates me from God and shows my need for God's grace, ultimately in a Savior.
Since we are all on the same playing field-- sinners in desperate need of Christ-- and since we have no power or authority to either justify or condemn-- what should our response be to those who struggle with same sex attraction or those who identify themselves as homosexuals?
Homosexuality is just like any other sin, and when someone is living in any kind of unrepentant sin, the most loving thing to do is point them to Christ, the Savior who can heal, free, forgive, make new. I would hope that my brothers and sisters would call me out on any unrepentant sin that they see in my life, whether that's self-righteousness or gossiping or lying or a reliance on myself instead of on God. Those sins are equal with homosexuality before God. Those who struggle with same sex attraction and me, who struggles with a host of other things, have equal footing at the cross. In Christ, we stand side by side before the throne of God, both wearing His righteousness as we repent and believe in Him as the only One who can justify us before a holy God.
Let's be faithful to call each other to repentance in how we are responding to homosexuality in our culture. And let's love all sinners, faithfully acting as beggars who have found Bread and want to show other beggars how to find it.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Only that in every way, Christ is proclaimed
Has it really been 2 1/2 months since I blogged last? Man! I've had a lot of posts run through my head in the last 10 weeks, but clearly, my life has been filled with a lack of discipline because none of them have made it to paper. But this one will, not because I'm cool or because I'm good at doing this kind of thing but because the Lord met me this morning in His Word in a way that was
mind-blowing
freeing
convicting
challenging
exciting
beautiful
heavy
and filled with passion all at the same time.
I've been reading through Philippians 1 lately because we are about to start that letter in our worship gatherings on Sundays. Largely because one of my friends is somewhat obsessed with Philippians (all said in love, of course!), I studied it quite a bit in college and even memorized large portions of it, but it's been awhile, a long while, since I've opened it for much study since. All that to say, I'm excited!
I've always read chapter 1 in chunks, in which I don't make connections or recognize the flow of Paul's letter- something I've been realizing that I do on a regular basis with God's Word, forgetting that it's one continuous story of His redemption of His people! Today, though, He gave me eyes to see how this chapter of Paul's letter goes together.
First, Paul reminds them of their identity in Christ- bond slaves and saints. He then assures them of the confidence they can have in Christ that He will complete the work He has begun in them. He prays that their love will grow and reminds them of their sure standing before the Father because Christ has given them His righteousness and will present them as sincere and blameless on the day of Christ. Jesus has solved our greatest problem- sin against a holy and wrathful God- and He has given us absolute, sure, confident standing before the Father because He has clothed us in HIS perfect righteousness!
Ok, so, in light of that beginning, Paul then talks about his current suffering- he was in jail for sharing the gospel. We're all thinking, "Ya, surprise, surprise. Wasn't Paul always in jail?" It's true, he was in prison a lot, but why? It wasn't because he was some super Christian. He was living the NORMAL Christian life. What's the normal Christian life, then?
"Only that in every way...Christ is proclaimed" (v. 18).
Christ is proclaimed.
That's all that mattered to Paul. And isn't that all that should matter to me?
But is it all that matters to me?
If I'm honest even for a second, no.
What else matters to me? My comfort. My plans/dreams. My desires. My relationships. My community.
Hear some selfishness in that? It all starts with MY.
Galatians 2:20 says, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live, I love by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
It is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me. I've been bought with a price. I'm no longer my own. Paul got that. He said, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (v.21). He had hope "that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death" (v. 20).
Why did Paul seemingly care so little about his life here on earth?
Because he had absolute confidence in the One who had dressed him in perfect righteousness and given him right standing before God, so whether he lived or died, he was good with God. That, then freed him up to risk everything for the sake of the gospel, for the sake of Christ.
"Only that in every way...Christ is proclaimed."
I want to live my life like that!!!! In every relationship, in every conversation, in every breath, may Christ be proclaimed! I have a LOOOONG way to go in that, but I'm thankful and excited that He who began a good work in me is carrying it onto completion, which means He isn't giving up on me but is growing me in making my life all about Christ and His gospel.
And more good news with that? We don't do this alone but are meant to do it in community! Paul admonished the church at Philippi to stand "firm in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel" (v.27). That is my prayer for my local church, that we will be united together, not just to center on Christ and exalt Christ but to PROCLAIM Christ in every way, in every conversation, in every breath. God, give us grace to do so!
mind-blowing
freeing
convicting
challenging
exciting
beautiful
heavy
and filled with passion all at the same time.
I've been reading through Philippians 1 lately because we are about to start that letter in our worship gatherings on Sundays. Largely because one of my friends is somewhat obsessed with Philippians (all said in love, of course!), I studied it quite a bit in college and even memorized large portions of it, but it's been awhile, a long while, since I've opened it for much study since. All that to say, I'm excited!
I've always read chapter 1 in chunks, in which I don't make connections or recognize the flow of Paul's letter- something I've been realizing that I do on a regular basis with God's Word, forgetting that it's one continuous story of His redemption of His people! Today, though, He gave me eyes to see how this chapter of Paul's letter goes together.
First, Paul reminds them of their identity in Christ- bond slaves and saints. He then assures them of the confidence they can have in Christ that He will complete the work He has begun in them. He prays that their love will grow and reminds them of their sure standing before the Father because Christ has given them His righteousness and will present them as sincere and blameless on the day of Christ. Jesus has solved our greatest problem- sin against a holy and wrathful God- and He has given us absolute, sure, confident standing before the Father because He has clothed us in HIS perfect righteousness!
Ok, so, in light of that beginning, Paul then talks about his current suffering- he was in jail for sharing the gospel. We're all thinking, "Ya, surprise, surprise. Wasn't Paul always in jail?" It's true, he was in prison a lot, but why? It wasn't because he was some super Christian. He was living the NORMAL Christian life. What's the normal Christian life, then?
"Only that in every way...Christ is proclaimed" (v. 18).
Christ is proclaimed.
That's all that mattered to Paul. And isn't that all that should matter to me?
But is it all that matters to me?
If I'm honest even for a second, no.
What else matters to me? My comfort. My plans/dreams. My desires. My relationships. My community.
Hear some selfishness in that? It all starts with MY.
Galatians 2:20 says, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live, I love by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
It is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me. I've been bought with a price. I'm no longer my own. Paul got that. He said, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (v.21). He had hope "that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death" (v. 20).
Why did Paul seemingly care so little about his life here on earth?
Because he had absolute confidence in the One who had dressed him in perfect righteousness and given him right standing before God, so whether he lived or died, he was good with God. That, then freed him up to risk everything for the sake of the gospel, for the sake of Christ.
"Only that in every way...Christ is proclaimed."
I want to live my life like that!!!! In every relationship, in every conversation, in every breath, may Christ be proclaimed! I have a LOOOONG way to go in that, but I'm thankful and excited that He who began a good work in me is carrying it onto completion, which means He isn't giving up on me but is growing me in making my life all about Christ and His gospel.
And more good news with that? We don't do this alone but are meant to do it in community! Paul admonished the church at Philippi to stand "firm in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel" (v.27). That is my prayer for my local church, that we will be united together, not just to center on Christ and exalt Christ but to PROCLAIM Christ in every way, in every conversation, in every breath. God, give us grace to do so!
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Advent Week 1
If you know me at all, you probably know that I'm a grinch when it comes to Christmas. But this morning, we sang one of the few Christmas songs that I really like, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."
After reading Isaiah 42:1-9 as a church, we sang this song, and the two went hand in hand as God brought to mind my friends in Southeast Asia who do not yet know Christ.
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appears
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us, has come to those mourning in lonely exile. He met me there! My friends in Southeast Asia may not even realize that they are in exile, but they often recognize that they are lonely and mourning; they just don't know about what. Jesus came to be their hope and all of our hope!
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Free Thine own from Satan's tyranny. Jesus will save His own; He will not fail in doing that. He will call those whom He has chosen, and He will free them from Satan's tyranny, because they are His. This is so comforting as I think about my friends whom I left behind in Asia. Jesus will meet with those who are His, and He will free them, just as He has me.
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death's dark shadows put to flight. Only Jesus can enter their darkness and drive it away because only He is Light. The darkness there is so permeating and oppressive and often feels very consuming, so recognizing Jesus as being powerful over that darkness is so comforting! Only Jesus can raise them from the dead of their sins, just like He did me, because only He has conquered death and risen from the grave.
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
My prayer is that God would close their path to misery. The path they're on is a hopeless one, headed for an eternity in hell apart from Christ, but in Christ, they have hope; we have hope. He is the Way. He is the Truth. He is the Life. Jesus, open wide your heavenly home to my friends!
After reading Isaiah 42:1-9 as a church, we sang this song, and the two went hand in hand as God brought to mind my friends in Southeast Asia who do not yet know Christ.
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appears
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us, has come to those mourning in lonely exile. He met me there! My friends in Southeast Asia may not even realize that they are in exile, but they often recognize that they are lonely and mourning; they just don't know about what. Jesus came to be their hope and all of our hope!
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Free Thine own from Satan's tyranny. Jesus will save His own; He will not fail in doing that. He will call those whom He has chosen, and He will free them from Satan's tyranny, because they are His. This is so comforting as I think about my friends whom I left behind in Asia. Jesus will meet with those who are His, and He will free them, just as He has me.
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death's dark shadows put to flight. Only Jesus can enter their darkness and drive it away because only He is Light. The darkness there is so permeating and oppressive and often feels very consuming, so recognizing Jesus as being powerful over that darkness is so comforting! Only Jesus can raise them from the dead of their sins, just like He did me, because only He has conquered death and risen from the grave.
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
My prayer is that God would close their path to misery. The path they're on is a hopeless one, headed for an eternity in hell apart from Christ, but in Christ, they have hope; we have hope. He is the Way. He is the Truth. He is the Life. Jesus, open wide your heavenly home to my friends!
Sunday, November 3, 2013
God's Goodness
The verses on my mind today as I reflect over what God has been doing in my life the past couple weeks:
"Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it" (Ps 37:4-5).
Two weeks ago, I hurt my foot. That might not sound like a big deal, but for someone training for a half marathon, who had made that an idol in her life, it was a big deal. It kind of became the straw that broke the camel's back in my life this month.
For the last 3 years, it seems God has been constantly stripping me, breaking me, convicting me, purifying me, and molding me into I'm-not-sure-what-but-it's-painful. The last month or so, I've gotten to the place where I'm just worn out. I've felt beaten up and broken down and just at the end of my rope.
Then I hurt my foot. Two weeks before my race. Straw that broke the camel's back.
It's not fun to be completely broken. Running had become my only thing that I felt I could do on my own and be good at, at a time where the Lord kept pruning me and showing me all the areas of my life that were not good. But I had taken a gift that He had given me-- running-- and made it an idol. I started worshiping the gift (and myself) rather than the Giver, as the saying goes.
Turns out, God knew exactly what He was doing. As always.
He knew I needed some humbling, some repentance, and some open eyes to see Him.
First of all, He humbled me to realize that I can't do this thing called life on my own. I try all the time. And fail, exhausted. He convicted me of depending on myself for everything and not depending on Him for anything. He opened my eyes to see how He loves me and is taking care of me and how He knows the desires of my heart. He's taught me that as I let go and depend on Him, not only does He take care of everything that I worry about and everything that I previously would've tried to do on my own strength, He works in ways far more abundantly than I could ever ask for or imagine AND He gives me those desires of my heart that I tend to hold onto and try to make happen on my own. What a good and gracious God we have!
Today was my race. I prayed that God would heal my foot and that He would get me to the finish line. I promised Him that I would give Him all the glory because it would clearly be Him doing it, since my foot was injured and since I haven't run for 2 weeks because of it. And you know, He did heal my foot! I had zero pain during the whole race AND He gave my friend and I speed and endurance to finish in the time I had hoped. He is so good to me! I don't deserve any of that, let alone for Him to bless me far more abundantly than I asked for or could've hoped for! He loved me in a very unique way that spoke right to me today and really this whole weekend, and I am so grateful! I am standing in awe of Him who is faithful and good and who gives His undeserving children such good gifts. To Him be the glory!
"Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it" (Ps 37:4-5).
Two weeks ago, I hurt my foot. That might not sound like a big deal, but for someone training for a half marathon, who had made that an idol in her life, it was a big deal. It kind of became the straw that broke the camel's back in my life this month.
For the last 3 years, it seems God has been constantly stripping me, breaking me, convicting me, purifying me, and molding me into I'm-not-sure-what-but-it's-painful. The last month or so, I've gotten to the place where I'm just worn out. I've felt beaten up and broken down and just at the end of my rope.
Then I hurt my foot. Two weeks before my race. Straw that broke the camel's back.
It's not fun to be completely broken. Running had become my only thing that I felt I could do on my own and be good at, at a time where the Lord kept pruning me and showing me all the areas of my life that were not good. But I had taken a gift that He had given me-- running-- and made it an idol. I started worshiping the gift (and myself) rather than the Giver, as the saying goes.
Turns out, God knew exactly what He was doing. As always.
He knew I needed some humbling, some repentance, and some open eyes to see Him.
First of all, He humbled me to realize that I can't do this thing called life on my own. I try all the time. And fail, exhausted. He convicted me of depending on myself for everything and not depending on Him for anything. He opened my eyes to see how He loves me and is taking care of me and how He knows the desires of my heart. He's taught me that as I let go and depend on Him, not only does He take care of everything that I worry about and everything that I previously would've tried to do on my own strength, He works in ways far more abundantly than I could ever ask for or imagine AND He gives me those desires of my heart that I tend to hold onto and try to make happen on my own. What a good and gracious God we have!
Today was my race. I prayed that God would heal my foot and that He would get me to the finish line. I promised Him that I would give Him all the glory because it would clearly be Him doing it, since my foot was injured and since I haven't run for 2 weeks because of it. And you know, He did heal my foot! I had zero pain during the whole race AND He gave my friend and I speed and endurance to finish in the time I had hoped. He is so good to me! I don't deserve any of that, let alone for Him to bless me far more abundantly than I asked for or could've hoped for! He loved me in a very unique way that spoke right to me today and really this whole weekend, and I am so grateful! I am standing in awe of Him who is faithful and good and who gives His undeserving children such good gifts. To Him be the glory!
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Some Sweet Prayers
Every once in awhile, I break out this little black book full of treasures. It's called The Valley of Vision. Full of Puritan prayers, every time I open it, it blesses and challenges my heart. Tonight, I read many, but two in particular stuck out to me. I'd like to share them with you. (I added the bold).
Resting on God
O God Most High, Most Glorious,
The thought of thine infinite serenity cheers me,
For I am toiling and moiling, troubled and distressed,
but thou art for ever at perfect peace.
Thy designs cause thee no fear or care of unfulfilment,
they stand fast as the eternal hills.
Thy power knows no bond,
thy goodness no stint.
Thou bringest order out of confusion,
and my defeats are thy victories:
The Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
I come to thee as a sinner with cares and sorrows,
to leave every concern entirely to thee,
every sin calling for Christ's precious blood;
Revive deep spirituality in my heart;
Let me live near to the great Shepherd,
hear his voice, know its tones, follow its calls.
Keep me from deception by causing me to abide in the truth,
from harm by helping me to walk in the power of the Spirit.
Give me intenser faith in the eternal verities,
burning into me by experience the things I know;
Let me never be ashamed of the truth of the gospel,
that I may bear its reproach,
vindicate it,
see Jesus as its essence,
know in it the power of the Spirit.
Lord, help me, for I am often lukewarm and chill;
unbelief mars my confidence,
sin makes me forget thee.
Let the weeds that grow in my soul be cut at their roots;
Grant me to know that I truly live only when I live to thee,
that all else is trifling.
Thy presence alone can make me holy, devout, strong and happy.
Abide in me, gracious God.
God All-Sufficient
O Lord of Grace,
The world is before me this day,
and I am weak and fearful,
but I look to thee for strength;
If I venture forth alone I stumble and fall,
but on the Beloved's arms I am firm
as the eternal hills;
If left to the treachery of my heart
I shall shame thy Name,
but if enlightened, guided, upheld by thy Spirit,
I shall bring thee glory.
Be thou my arm to support,
my strength to stand,
my light to see,
my feet to run,
my shield to protect,
my sword to repel,
my sun to warm.
To enrich me will not diminish thy fullness;
All thy lovingkindness is in thy Son,
I bring him to thee in the arms of faith,
I urge his saving Name as the One who died for me.
I plead his blood to pay my debts of wrong.
Accept his worthiness for my unworthiness,
his sinlessness for my transgressions,
his purity for my uncleanness,
his sincerity for my guile,
his truth for my deceits,
his meekness for my pride,
his constancy for my backslidings,
his love for my enmity,
his fullness for my emptiness,
his faithfulness for my treachery,
his obedience for my lawlessness,
his glory for my shame,
his devotedness for my waywardness,
his holy life for my unchaste ways,
his righteousness for my dead works,
his death for my life.
God, I'm thankful for my brothers in the faith who wrote down their prayers to you because even 400 years later, I can echo their same words and relate to them where they were at. Thank you for never changing. Thank you for Christ who is my righteousness and who stands before you as my Mediator. Thank you, Jesus, for being everything that I cannot be. Although I am weak and fearful and unfaithful and unbelieving, you are my strength, peace, faithfulness, and belief. Please make my defeats your victories. Bring order out of my confusion. And teach me to believe. For the glory of your name, Jesus, I pray, AMEN!
Resting on God
O God Most High, Most Glorious,
The thought of thine infinite serenity cheers me,
For I am toiling and moiling, troubled and distressed,
but thou art for ever at perfect peace.
Thy designs cause thee no fear or care of unfulfilment,
they stand fast as the eternal hills.
Thy power knows no bond,
thy goodness no stint.
Thou bringest order out of confusion,
and my defeats are thy victories:
The Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
I come to thee as a sinner with cares and sorrows,
to leave every concern entirely to thee,
every sin calling for Christ's precious blood;
Revive deep spirituality in my heart;
Let me live near to the great Shepherd,
hear his voice, know its tones, follow its calls.
Keep me from deception by causing me to abide in the truth,
from harm by helping me to walk in the power of the Spirit.
Give me intenser faith in the eternal verities,
burning into me by experience the things I know;
Let me never be ashamed of the truth of the gospel,
that I may bear its reproach,
vindicate it,
see Jesus as its essence,
know in it the power of the Spirit.
Lord, help me, for I am often lukewarm and chill;
unbelief mars my confidence,
sin makes me forget thee.
Let the weeds that grow in my soul be cut at their roots;
Grant me to know that I truly live only when I live to thee,
that all else is trifling.
Thy presence alone can make me holy, devout, strong and happy.
Abide in me, gracious God.
God All-Sufficient
O Lord of Grace,
The world is before me this day,
and I am weak and fearful,
but I look to thee for strength;
If I venture forth alone I stumble and fall,
but on the Beloved's arms I am firm
as the eternal hills;
If left to the treachery of my heart
I shall shame thy Name,
but if enlightened, guided, upheld by thy Spirit,
I shall bring thee glory.
Be thou my arm to support,
my strength to stand,
my light to see,
my feet to run,
my shield to protect,
my sword to repel,
my sun to warm.
To enrich me will not diminish thy fullness;
All thy lovingkindness is in thy Son,
I bring him to thee in the arms of faith,
I urge his saving Name as the One who died for me.
I plead his blood to pay my debts of wrong.
Accept his worthiness for my unworthiness,
his sinlessness for my transgressions,
his purity for my uncleanness,
his sincerity for my guile,
his truth for my deceits,
his meekness for my pride,
his constancy for my backslidings,
his love for my enmity,
his fullness for my emptiness,
his faithfulness for my treachery,
his obedience for my lawlessness,
his glory for my shame,
his devotedness for my waywardness,
his holy life for my unchaste ways,
his righteousness for my dead works,
his death for my life.
God, I'm thankful for my brothers in the faith who wrote down their prayers to you because even 400 years later, I can echo their same words and relate to them where they were at. Thank you for never changing. Thank you for Christ who is my righteousness and who stands before you as my Mediator. Thank you, Jesus, for being everything that I cannot be. Although I am weak and fearful and unfaithful and unbelieving, you are my strength, peace, faithfulness, and belief. Please make my defeats your victories. Bring order out of my confusion. And teach me to believe. For the glory of your name, Jesus, I pray, AMEN!
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Pipe or Reservoir or...?
“It’s easy in ministry to live more as a ‘pipe’ than a ‘reservoir’.
That is, it’s easy to live merely as a conduit to others of the transforming
truths of God’s Word, rather than as a changed and transformed reservoir who
overflows with lived-out gospel truth” (Taken from Cross Talk by Michael Emlet, p.8).
Honestly, lately I haven’t felt like either a pipe or a
reservoir but a hard piece of ground that the water can’t penetrate.
It’s a yucky place to be. A convicting place. A frustrating
place.
I understand the warning of this quote and I’ve experienced
the ramifications of living as a pipe and not a reservoir. When I came back to
the states from Southeast Asia, I drank up the Word like a thirsty sponge and
thoroughly enjoyed filling up that reservoir once again.
And for the first several months that I was back, I loved
being a conduit of the gospel to others while simultaneously being filled up
myself.
But something has happened in the last several months. I’m
realizing more and more how little I’m sharing the gospel with others, how
little I’m intentionally seeking opportunities and conversations in which I can
share gospel truth.
And I hate it.
While I’m not being that conduit of the gospel, I also feel
like I’m not soaking it in myself. Honestly, I look at my heart and mind and
see far more unbelief than belief.
My pastor opened his sermon this past Sunday with an
illustration showing that as we get older and see greater depths of our sin
while also seeing greater glimpses of God’s holiness, the cross and the gospel
also become greater to us. As I get older, I definitely see my sin in
increasing depths and God definitely keeps showing me greater depths of who He
is (and who I’m not), but that cross element has been missing in my thought
pattern. I have a tendency to focus on how terrible and filthy and unworthy I
am while forgetting what Christ has done.
All that to say, I don’t feel like a pipe or a reservoir
right now, but a piece of hard ground that the rain of the gospel isn’t
penetrating. God, help my unbelief and cause that rain to gently soak and
permeate and consume all of me that it may also overflow to others that I’m
with every day.
Monday, September 16, 2013
How People Change 14
A few crucial truths for me to understand (and believe) from this chapter:
- God doesn't describe me as a withered plant but gives me grace in the desert
- His Spirit in me is a stream of living water, making the change in roots and fruit possible
- Christ has changed my identity-- I am already a fruit tree-- it's not something I have to work for or obtain on my own.
- When I apologize to someone, I need to verbally ask them to forgive me, not just say sorry
- This change is all by Christ, through Him, in Him, and for Him
Thanks for joining me in chewing on this book! There are 2 more chapters, but they are case studies for a married couple and a church who put the truths of Scripture as laid out in this book into practice. A good read, but not really conducive for taking notes on. I pray God has challenged and encouraged and changed your mindset in the skeletal notes from this book. I'd encourage you to go out and buy it-- well worth it!! It's called How People Change by Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp.
Chapter 14: Fruit
2—New and Surprising Fruit
“Given the trials and temptations of this life, we would
expect God to describe us as parched earth and withered plants. Instead, the
Bible reveals an oasis of grace in the midst of the desert” (184).
In the Cave and Okay
2 Sam 14-18 when David is running from his son Absalom; cf
Ps 4.
1.
He doesn’t run away from God
2.
He reminds himself of his identity as God’s
child
3.
He examines his own heart
a.
“In difficulty our hearts are exposed. Trials
give us an opportunity to know and guard them more effectively” (186).
4.
He worships
5.
He ministers
a.
“Even when David’s heart could be sinking and
his mind racing, he is drawn to the struggle of those around him. He serves
them in the best way he can: He prays for them, asking God to shine his
presence on them so that they too can rest” (186).
6.
He rests
“Don’t read Psalm 4 and say, ‘This is what I should be
doing, but I’m not!’ Say, ‘This is what God is doing in me too. These things
are possible for me, because David’s Redeemer is my Redeemer. The God who ruled
David’s heart and gave him peace in a time of torment is in my heart as well. I
can make good choices, do good things, and harvest good fruit, even amid the
hardest challenges of life” (187).
Streams in the Desert
John 7:37-38
Streams of living water = Holy Spirit, who produces life
where there was death (187)
Gal 5:13-6:10
The living water of the Holy Spirit is what changes thorn
bushes to fruit trees, not our own effort (189).
“As a child of God, I am that tree [the fruit tree that
bears fruit even under scorching heat]. Its fruit is God’s gift, produced by
his Spirit. I need not be satisfied with thorn bush responses. It’s not
impossible to be who God says I am—a tree bearing fruit in the middle of the
desert” (189).
New and Surprising Fruit
No credit to ourselves when we think or act rightly because
it’s the Spirit at work in us, giving us what Christ has abundantly supplied
for us (190).
Living with personal integrity:
No fear of looking in the mirror of God’s Word because we’ve
already been forgiven
Abundant resources of grace from God through Christ
A growing range of emotions that reflects Christ’s whole
range of emotions: “The life of faith is a stained glass window, rich with the
color of many different emotions, through which the light of Christ shines” (190).
Letting the Cross shape relationships:
Matt 18:21-35
“Our anger, irritation, impatience, condemnation,
bitterness, and vengeance will never produce good things in their lives (or
ours). But God can produce good things in them when we are willing to incarnate
his grace. We become part of what he is doing in their lives, instead of
standing in the way” (191).
3 steps of asking forgiveness:
1.
I was wrong for…
2.
Please forgive me
a.
“It is not enough to say you are sorry. When we
only do that, we deny people the blessing of actually granting us forgiveness”
(192).
3.
I’m sorry for the pain I caused you
“Do people feel accepted and loved by [me], or criticized
and judged?” (192).
“What attitudes shape my closest relationships? Christ lives
in us to rescue us from ourselves, so that we can be loving and gracious with
one another even though we are sinners” (193).
Things to remember:
1.
You are already a fruit tree because of what
Christ has done for you
2.
Because you are united with Christ and inhabited
by his Spirit, trials and temptations are opportunities to experience the power
of God at work.
3.
God calls you to a new identity….and therefore,
a new way of living.
4.
There is hope because Jesus is all we need
“Each morning that greets me is full of hope
Not because I am successful at what I am doing,
Or because the people near me appreciate me,
Or because circumstances are easy,
But because God is, and he is my Father.
To look at the morning any other way
Is to believe a lie.
To live in hope is to live in truth;
To live in truth is to bring him glory;
To bring God glory in my daily living
Is the highest form or worship” (195).
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