God has something better…

Have you ever said that before? When something doesn’t turn out exactly as you planned, when something that you anticipated fell through, have you ever said “I guess God has something better for me.” Has someone ever said that to you in response to a disappointment? What if He doesn’t? What if the next thing that He has for you is equally as disappointing and frustrating to you? What if the next thing that God has for you will be even more disastrous?

Does that make God unjust? Does that mean that God doesn’t love you? Does that mean that He is not interested in your good? Certainly not. May God be found true though every man is a liar! The wisdom of God is unfathomable. His grace and love toward His beloved saints is supreme, even as His love for His Son is supreme. God is for us!

So what then are we to assume? I’ve been thinking about this over the past few days because of a disappointing turn of events in my own life. And of course, I have an example from my children. My daughter has been running in the house. I recently told her to stop running, since she has gotten older and we realized that it is not really in her best interest to run inside, nor that of her little sisters, and that it is not something that we’ll want her to do in other situations. One of those parenting issues where you realize that you’ve allowed something that you probably shouldn’t have. Anyway, the point at which I have told her to stop running, the issue in correction ceases to be if she is running or not and becomes her obedience to my command. And therefore when I correct her for it – which I have had to – I must be gracious (since I allowed it for some time) and I must correct her on the level of her obedience to my command and her desire to depart from my command to do what she wants (her rebellious nature). I must correct and instruct to the issue and not the symptom. The symptom is running. The issue is rebellion in the heart and the departure from my word. If I merely correct to the running, she will still have rebellion in her heart and will have no idea that it is there. If, however, I correct to the issue of rebellion, then she will be one step closer to understanding the key issue in the gospel.

God is a greater parent that any of us. He knows that there are issues and symptoms. He knows that in our heart of hearts, we are more concerned with our comfort than trust in Him. And so, when we are challenged with an issue and He removes something from our lives or else He redirects in such a way that is different than we expected, instead of saying “God has something better for me” we should understand that what is happening is the better. What He is doing, in ridding us of our self interest is the better thing. He is addressing the issue and not merely the symptom. The issue is not the thing which you have lost or the situation that has not turned out the way that you wanted. The issue is that you are seeking, most likely, what you think is better and not what God thinks is better for you. The issue is that we must learn to trust His way and His word and we won’t unless He challenges our faith so that we must trust Him alone.

May this thought be a blessing for you as it has been for me and my family.

A very sobering story…

Death is not dying

We all walk through the valley of death’s shadow.  All of us who are born in the flesh will die.  When it comes to you, how will you face it?  This is the story of a young woman, who is dying from cancer, sharing her testimony and the gospel to over 600 women at a Church.

In pursuit of prayer

I am pursuing prayer.  That may sound strange, but I feel that my prayer life is of a very shabby sort.  I have been reading E. M. Bounds on Prayer.  That fella knew how to talk about prayer if anyone did.  Much of what I have been reading lately is from the standpoint that preachers, above all others, must be passionate and purposeful about prayer.  Preaching is a spiritual matter.  Prayer is a spiritual matter.  And thus for preaching to have any lasting spiritual benefit, it must be bathed in and fueled by prayer.  As I read the words of his book, understanding that they are not scripture, I am convicted and know without a doubt that it does not currently describe me.  And that ought not be so.

I am a preacher.  I preach and teach the Word of God.  That is how the Lord has thus gifted me and I am in the process of doing that and learning how to be more given to the Lord for that service to His body.  But I also know that “preaching” is not just for the preacher.  For we should all be involved in the preaching of the gospel. And so we should all be passionate about prayer that it might fuel all of our preaching.

I believe that prayer changes things.  I believe that prayer is a necessity.  And I would bet that many of us who know the Lord believe – at least consent to it cognitively and practically (and by practical I mean that we engage in it at least as a ritual).  But I don’t know how many of us could honestly say that we pursue prayer as a necessity of the heart.

David prayed in Psa 16 “I have no other good besides thee” to the LORD.  Prayer is more than just ans exercise.  It is more than just a thing to be done and checked off.  It is communion with the Lord.  After I prayed this morning, I walked away feeling refreshed and encouraged.  But as I continued my day, I realized that I felt refreshed and encouraged (at least in my mind) because I had prayed, and not for the benefit of prayer.  The benefit of prayer is that it draws us nearer to God.  And that is what I needed.  I need that ever satisfying sweet fellowship with the One besides whom there is “no other good” in heaven or on earth.  That fellowship of prayer moves us closer in thought, closer in heart, closer in purpose and closer in love with the One who is alone worthy of our full attention and adoration.  There are not many other things, save communion with the Lord through His Word and fellowship with His people, that should satisfy as much as prayer.  And yet for all of its blessing and grandeur, how much do we actually pursue prayer as the greatest need of our thirsty souls?

In his writings, E. M. Bounds mentioned the example of our Lord who often went off to a secluded place to pray.   Why?  Why should He, the God-Man, need to go off into a secluded place to pray?  Why should He, but for ocmmunion, alone with His Father in heaven.  If our perfect, sinless Great God and Savior should need constan, fervent and passionate communion with His Father in heave – who is now our Father thoruhg Him – how much more should we?

Psalm 16 – 150 Days of Purposeful Meditation (Day 16)

God is faithful.

This Psalm is considered by many, myself included, a Messianic Psalm.  The reason why for this, in part, is the NT interpretation that it’s reference is not David – its author – but in fact Christ the Messiah.

The Psalm itself drips with an overwhelming confidence in the faithfulness of God towards His people.  David calls the Lord “my Lord” and says that he has “no good besides [Him].” That is the height of confidence and trust.  No only to declare the LORD, “my Lord” – my master, my sovereign King, but also to declare that there is no other good on earth or in heaven besides Him.

What other confidence do we have really?  What other thing is there that one might place their confidence and trust in?  When you look around at the things of this world, what is there that is completely trustworthy?  What thing is there that will not rust, spoil or fail?  After all, why would you put your confidence in something that is bound to fail you?

Furthermore what man can you look to who will not ultimately fail you?  If not for their lack of faithfulness, lack of strength, or for their lack of ability to preserve their own life will sooner or later fail you?  Who do you have as your confidence and trust?  David’s confidence and trust was none other than the Lord.  To trust in anything else, to him, was foolish.

He called the LORD “the portion of [his] inheritance and [his] cup.” Not only is there none in the present who may satisfy, there will be none in the future to sustain him but the LORD. And indeed, he has seen the fruit of trust and confidence in the Lord already for he says “the lines have fallen to me in pleasant places, indeed my heritage is beautiful to me.”

He says further “I will bless the Lord who has counseled me, indeed my mind instructs me at night.  I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” What confidence, what trust, what hope do we hear in this description of David’s Lord.

This, however, is where David’s voice ceases…this is the extent of the Psalm which can rightly be ascribed to David.   The interesting question in many of these “Messianic Psalms” is how much or at what point does the Psalm cease to be about David and start to be about the Messiah?  Is there a single intended reference or can it be with reference to both David and the Messiah?  In many of these such Psalms, some have sought to figure out what danger or issue David may have had in mind when he penned this Psalm in order to make it fit both him and the Messiah.  For the New Testament writers, however that is not an issue.  For them it was clear.

Both Peter and Paul ascribed this Psalm to Christ.

Peter says in Acts 2:25-32 “For David says of Him, ‘I was always beholding the Lord in my presence; for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken.  Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted; moreover my flesh also will abide in hope; because thou will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor allow thy holy One to undergo decay.  Thou has made known to me the ways of life; though will make me full of gladness with thy presence.’  Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried and his tomb is with us to this day.  And so because he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants upon his throne, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neighter abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay.  This Jesus God raised up again to which we are all witnesses.”

And Paul Acts 13:32-37 “And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus as it is also written in the second Psalm ‘thou are my Son; today I have begotten thee’ and as for the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no more to return to decay, He has spoken in this way ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David’ Therefore He also says in another Psalm ‘though will not allow thy holy One to undergo decay.’  For David after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation fell asleep and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay; but He whom God raised did not undergo decay.”

According to both Peter and Paul, David could not be the reference to these final verses because David’s body has undergone decay.  However Christ, having been raised from the dead on the third day, did not undergo decay.  He, having been raised, has brought fulfillment to God’s promise (establishing God’s faithfulness to His people and to David) and also signifies, by His resurrection, the future fulfillment of God’s judgment and reign over all the earth (Acts 17).

God is faithful.  He is faithful to Himself, in fulfilling His purposes.  He is faithful to His Holy One, both to David and to Christ.  And He is faithful to His people, in meeting their greatest need by sending His Son Jesus, to redeem us from our sins and to rescue us from the wrath which is to come.

If He has thus proven Himself faithful in these great things…what reason will we ever have to worry?

Too heavenly minded…

I’ve been on a roll the past few days. I think that this is the most that I’ve blogged straight in a few months. I always have thoughts of blogging but don’t seem to find the time to get here to write them down.

Anyway, I was getting dressed this morning, and as I often do, thought to myself…”this could be the last outfit that I put on.” Now to some that might be incredibly morbid or negative. But in my mind, its reality. Death is real. Death can strike at any moment. There is no age, there is no socio-economic status, there is no stage of life nor level of health that can stay death. It comes to all because all sin, and that is the wages of sin.

As a believer I recognize that death is not something to fear. Death does not have mastery over me, no more than it has over my Lord and Master Jesus Christ who overpowered death on the third day after he died on the cross. And so I don’t have to be apprehensive about death. Death will serve to usher me in the presence of my Lord and God sooner than any victory or pleasure that this world could afford. I certainly don’t look forward to the process of dying or to whatever possible means there are of dying. I don’t need to fear dying either but the prospect of dying some horrible death is certainly not appealing to me. Whether it is death or dying, though, I know that I will soon be in the presence of my Lord.

Knowing that, I began thinking again…perhaps I should rather say to myself “this is the outfit that I could be wearing when I go to meet my Lord.” That is a much more encouraging thought. And as I was thinking of it, I was thinking through the remainder of my day. And why it is that I would only have such a thought as I was getting dressed.

Have you ever thought to yourself, in the midst of your day…”this is what I could be wearing when I go to meet my Lord.” Or else “this is what I could be thinking, saying, feeling or watching when I go to meet my Lord.” That is really where the rubber meets the road. That is what Moses prayed, that the Lord would “teach us to number our days.”

It seems that there is much wisdom to be gained by going into the house of mourning. I am reminded of a conversation with a brother just yesterday about the same subject. What difference should it make in our day to day, moment to moment lives to know that at any moment we could be face to face with our Lord and Creator to give an account for what we have done. What difference in our day to day lives should it make to think to ourselves “this is the last word that could roll from my tongue before I stand before the Judge of the Universe, the Holy One.”

Some would say that thinking about spiritual things too much can make you “too heavenly minded to be any earthly good.” I would say that in order for you to be or do any earthly good, you must be heavenly minded. For it is only in recognizing the brevity of your earthly life, the reality of heaven and the Lord of heaven, that you can truly accomplish anything of value not only for this life, but also for that to come. And further it is only in rightly apprehending the spiritual reality of God and eternity that you can live in such a way that you will not be ashamed at His coming or at your going.

“Home is where the heart is…”

Why do we get so attached to our dwelling places?

We are going to be moving soon. Not sure exactly when…or where for that matter. But I feel a tinge of sadness in the whole process. Thinking about the fact that both of my children have been born here and have only known this as “home” is probably part of it. Its a great neighborhood, quiet and safe. You think a lot about safety with a wife and kids at home. Don’t get me wrong, we want to go into Missions and I know how “unsafe” it can be in different parts of the world. And I’d drop what we’re doing and rush off to the field in a heartbeat if I could now. (There was an opportunity to do a trip recently but things worked out differently).

Why do we get so attached to these places? For unbelievers, I know why it would be the case. I can understand why it is so important for someone who has nothing better to look forward to, to spend their time, effort and energy building up and saving up to get that which is bigger and better. To do whatever is necessary to be as comfortable as possible, that for themselves and for their posterity.

But for believers that ought not be so. Comfort should not be our primary aim.  It should not be so difficult to let go of “stuff” like houses and land. We are “aliens” as Peter said. We are “sojourners” and “pilgrims.” We do not belong here and are merely passing through. We ought to, like those in Hebrews, long for a heavenly kingdom, the true sabbath rest. But often that is not the case. Often our attitudes towards life, stuff and our homes is exactly the same as those who do not have our hope.

Perhaps we do not consider often enough that hope which is “imperishable, undefiled and unfading, reserved for us and that for which we are reserved for by God’s power” as Peter says in I Pet 1. Perhaps we do not consider often enough the “eternal weight of glory” that will come to us as we continually deny ourselves and rid ourselves of that which is temporary (like our bodies and even our possessions) as Paul says in Romans 8 and 2 Cor 4-5. Perhaps our hearts are not really where our true treasure is.

I know that I think too deeply about things sometimes. And perhaps this is not that big of a deal. There are a lot of sentimental things that took place in this apartment. But then again…its just an apartment. And there is much life and ministry to be done yet, if the Lord allows. Therefore its not really that important where we live, how much we have, how comfortable we are or what we like. It really matters most how passionately we are pursuing that which truly fulfills, that which truly matters, that which is truly of the Lord. It really matters that we continue “pressing on toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ.” And that we “lay aside any weight or sin which would entangle us” on the way to that prize…even if it means leaving our temporary “home,” any other possessions, people, or certain ambitions and comforts behind.

Pre Fathers Day Thoughts

Discipline and Disciple are in the same family.

Discipline is not merely punitive.  And its not a dirty word.  It is a necessary word to anyone who would call themselves a Disciple.  (For that matter it is a necessary word for anyone who would call themselves a parent, and who would claim to love their children).  Scripture teaches that the Lord loves those whom He disciplines (Heb 12, and Prov).  He wouldn’t bother with us if He didn’t love us.  He would allow us to go off on our own and to run headlong into sin, storing up wrath for ourselves for the day of wrath (Rom 1-2).  But He does love us and so He does discipline us for our good, to conform us to the image of His Son (Rom 8).

This is one of the second lessons that I have sought to teach my daughter.  The first was that of consequence.  That there is a consequence to every action.  Negative to those actions which are wrong and positive to those actions which are right.  If you obey, you will live.  If you disobey you will die.  If she doesn’t understand that then she will never understand the gospel.  I call this a second lesson because the next step in her cognitive development, as she grows to understand life more and her desire for “her way” grows stronger; she must understand that we will continue to discipline her, not for our own sakes, but for her own.  Because we love her (and ourselves obey the Lord’s command) and because we want her to live in God’s world, God’s way, we must discipline her.

If your children are not your disciples, then whose disciples will they be?  Will they teach themselves?  Will they be taught by the world?  If a teacher doesn’t discipline his disciple, is he really a disciple?  No.  Furthermore, if a parent doesn’t disciple or discipline, does he really love his child?  No.

I’m glad for my heavenly Father.  I am glad to know His love.  It doesn’t always “feel” good…but I know that it is good, and that I will be better for it.

Through the Valley

Strange how surprising it can be when you realize that the Lord is trying to teach you something. I was a little discouraged by some things at work today. Right after that I had a meeting with some brothers from the church and my Pastor. After sharing with them and listening to the wisdom that the Lord had given them for me and driving home while listening to a song by Third Day which has as its chorus “I must go through the valley to stand before the mountain of God” it all came together.

Quit complaining! Sometimes the Lord brings difficulty in our lives in order to further shape and mold us. Duh! I feel silly even saying it. Pain is nothing. Generally speaking, pain indicates to us that something is wrong. Our bodies are designed to feel pain so that we know that all is not well. It is the same with emotional/psychological/spiritual pain. We have to be pricked in order to know that all is not well. In order to be reminded that we are still growing and that we still desperately need the Lord.

It doesn’t have to feel good. You don’t have to fully understand it. Even if you could fully understand the reason for your pain or how long it would last; it would still hurt. (I am speaking in relative terms here, I am not going through any intense agony or pain per se, just a little frustration).

I guess when it all boils down to it, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, ask yourself is “what are you learning?” You’re always learning something. You should. Its not really if you are learning something, because if you are a child of God; you must be taught of Him. He will work all things in your life for His glory and your good. Sometimes its learning where you are weak, so that you know how to seek protection/accountability. Sometimes its learning where you are sluggish or lazy. Sometimes its a matter of knowing in what areas you still need to learn because you are ignorant. But it is all for your good. Whatever it is…learn from it. Find out what it is and learn the lesson. Learning it doesn’t mean that the Lord won’t ever bring it around to you again. It simply means that it will have been a fruitful time of discipline/testing for you.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you must pray. Prayer is as essential to the Christian life as is breathing. And that so because there are so many tests and trials which are sometimes too many to count. James said to count it all joy “when” various trials come upon you. Peter said “do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you which has come upon you for your testing… but to the degree that you share in the sufferings of Christ keep on rejoicing” Jesus said, during His first earthly ministry “in this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.” And so many others have said the same. Trials, testing comes upon you (as a Christian) not for your dismay or frustration but for your joy. At least such that you may rejoice when they come because you know that God is at work in you to bring about His glory through your maturity.

“I must go through the valley to stand upon the mountain of God.” Trials must come. Pain must come. Difficulty, in many shapes and sizes, must come. And it must be so because God wills for His children to look like His perfect Son, who was also first tested and tried in the furnace of life. And yet, that is our confidence. That the One to whom we are wed, to the Lord Jesus Christ, has already walked this path. He has already trod this soil. And He has been victorious. And just as sure as His God and Father was for Him; He is also for us!

Grace at Work

“I thank him who has given me strength for this, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged faithful by appointing me to this service, though I formerly blasphemed and persecuted and insulted him, but I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” I Tim 1:12-14

Watching the grace of God at work in someone else’s life can be pretty exciting.  Watching it unfold in your own life can be sometimes overwhelming and humbling.  In the past 7 days I have preached my first wedding and funeral.  Life is full of so many highs and lows and as a Preacher, you must be prepared for all of it.  That the Lord would use me to encourage and exhort some who are beginning their lives together in marriage is extremely humbling.  And just 12 hours later hearing word that in my own family, tragedy…that which is common to all men…had struck, and that my cousin had died suddenly.  And that day my Aunt asked me to speak at his funeral.

A servant obeys his master.  I am a servant.  The Lord commanded and I went.  It was difficult and frightening, knowing that there were many at both of these events who did not know the Lord.  It is always a frightening thing to me to step into the place of “teacher” knowing that we shall receive the “stricter judgment” and that there is life and death hanging in the balance.  But the Lord carried me, His servant, through it all.  Through the challenging and humbling words delivered at the Wedding, and also through the tumultuous and emotional words delivered at my cousins funeral.

I even saw the grace of God at work in my attitude throughout this past week.  I’ll suffice it to say that there were a number of things done and said in the process of planning the funeral by some folks who are supposed to be Christian, which was thoroughly disappointing and discouraging to the family.  And it was personally offensive to me as a servant of the Gospel to be associated with those people.  Paul often spoke of those who would peddle the word of God for gain.  In Phil 1, he mentioned some of those folks who “preached Christ” in order to bring harm to him, while he was in his chains; or else for their own gain.  I don’t even think that these people know Christ, much less can preach Christ.  But they have the pursuit of their own gain in good order.

At any rate, please, if you remember, pray for my family.  Pray that God’s Grace would be more than abundant in the gospel, which was presented – in spite of some – that it would penetrate the hearts of my family to provide comfort and that they might come to know eternal life which is to “know God and Jesus Christ whom He had sent.”  John 17:3

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