Monthly Archives: December 2011

Dec
31
2011

There Is No Sin That I Have Done

Filed under by

I found this song through another website. I was greatly encouraged by the lyrics and the reminder that we are Christ’s.

A Christian is one who has been set free from the power and penalty of sin, both in this life and in the next, through the only means that God has given for such redemption, the substitutionary death of Jesus who took the awful punishment for sin that we deserved. (1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:2) This central message of the Christian faith is our deepest delight and surest anchor and deserves to be on our hearts and lips every day.

via There Is No Sin That I Have Done | Reformed Praise.

Dec
28
2011

Satisfied with each of us individually

Filed under by

What is … amazing is that our Lord and Saviour will himself be thrilled as he looks at us in heaven. Gazing upon his people, he will be filled with affection and delight. “He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied” (Isa. 53:11).

That will be true of his redemptive work in general. Christ will see all his sheep safely gathered in, everyone of the elect in glory. There will be no empty spaces, no one missing or lost. He will feel no sense of incompleteness or regret. He will be satisfied with the results of the labor of his soul.

But the Lord Jesus will also be satisfied with each of us individually. We may find that hard to believe, because we are far from satisfied with ourselves. All too aware of our weaknesses and limitations, we are often discouraged with ourselves, ashamed of what we are. We do not see ourselves as loveable, so how could Christ love us? A nagging fear enters our minds that, although he will be gracious and kind as he welcomes us into heaven, he will at the same time feel a distinct sense of disappointment. We may not be what he hoped for.

We need not be afraid, for we will by then be changed, conformed to his likeness. God’s work of grace in each and all of us will have been brought to such a pitch of perfection that the Lord will be ravished with love for his bride, “a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing” (Eph. 5:27). We will be all he wants, everything he desires. We will be the people he chooses to be with him for ever. “Behold, you are fair, my love!” he will exclaim (Song of Sol. 1:15). We will then be able to say with joyful assurance, “Jesus loves me, this I know.” That will be heaven.

It is himself that Christ will see in us, himself that he will love in us. That is why we are promised that “we shall be like Him” (1 John 3:2). For it is nothing other than his own holy beauty that he will admire.

via We Need Not Be Afraid | Challies Dot Com.

Dec
18
2011

Week 18: Matthew 7:24-29 (NIV)

Filed under by

[24] “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

[25] The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

[26] But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

[27] The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

[28] When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,

[29] because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

 

 

Dec
15
2011

The Light of the World

Filed under by

During this last year, there’s been one song that I’ve listened to more than any other. It’s by Stuart Townend and J.K. Jamieson, entitled “The Light of the World,” set to an Irish-sounding melody. This wonderful song recalls the work of Christ in creation, his work among people up to his death on the cross, and his continued work shining on the earth with “gifts of forgiveness.”

Every time I hear the song, I am struck by the contrasts of the second verse:

The Light of the World
Now shone as a man,
And walked through the valleys
He’d carved with His hands.
A servant to those
He’d breathed into life,
He felt our injustice
And shared in our strife.
 

Jesus was working in creation to make everything we see. He is the image of the invisible God and by him all things were created. Yet he walked as a man through the hills and valleys that he so much enjoyed making. All things were created through him and for him, but he walked here on the earth.

And he didn’t just walk around admiring the views! He became a servant to those he “breathed into life.” What could be more incomprehensible than Jesus Christ coming to serve us – not counting equality with God something to be grasped but emptying himself by taking the form of a servant. Jesus became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. God showed his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

This Christmas season, as we celebrate Jesus’ birth, let us marvel in holy reverence at the Creator of the world walking among us, sharing in our hardships. Let us follow his example of servanthood among our church and also with those on the outside – even among our enemies. Let us deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him. Let us wait expectantly for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

 

Dec
11
2011

Week 17: Matthew 7:21-23 (ESV)

Filed under by

[21] “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

[22] On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’

[23] And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

 

Dec
07
2011

They have received their reward

Filed under by

Carrying on from Matt. 6:1, Jesus gives three contrasts between man-centered and God-centered acts of righteousness using giving, praying, and fasting (Matt. 6:2-18, with an extended discussion on praying).

The hypocrites in Jesus’ examples are those who want to be praised or seen by others. Their motivation is selfish. They contrive to be noticed when giving to bring attention to themselves. They contrive to be seen when praying to make sure everyone is aware of their piety. They contrive to be seen when fasting to ensure everyone sees how difficult fasting is for them. Their works are done to build themselves up.

Jesus speaks firmly that people such as these have received their reward (“Truly, I say to you …”). They have received, in a sense, payment in full. God owes them nothing. When we seek the praise or admiration of others, we are at that moment receiving all the reward we will ever get – their applauses and nothing more.

Yet at the same time, even knowing that such behavior is ultimately selfish and not God-honoring, I find myself desiring to be lifted up. I sinfully want to be acclaimed for what I do. I wonder how often I have deluded myself into thinking my motivation is God-focused. How terrible it would be to find that my works of righteousness had already received their reward. I don’t want such a fleeting reward. I want to hear my Master say, “Well done, good and faithful servant”.

All of us must carefully watch over our focus – our motivation – in doing good works. “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14 ESV)

 

Dec
04
2011

Week 16: Matthew 7:13-20 (NIV)

Filed under by

[13] “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

[14] But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

[15] “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

[16] By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

[17] Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

[18] A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

[19] Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

[20] Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

 

Dec
01
2011

What are you working for?

Filed under by

In the second half of Matthew 5, Jesus instructs us on the righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees. It is instruction that cuts through our façade and pierces to the heart.

Our acts of piety must run deep – our actions must be instructed by a love like God’s love. We should not appear to act as mere men and women, but as men and women wholly committed to a discipleship that costs everything in this world.

Yet it is ever so easy for our hearts to promote ourselves among over and above others. We may pray to hear other’s tell us how well we prayed. We may bring up our giving to be congratulated or admired by others. We may discuss our experiences with fasting to be well-regarded by those around us. It is all too easy make our work into something that gains favor and admiration from others.

And so, Jesus’ warning in Matt. 6:1 is exceedingly relevant for us today. Our righteousness cannot be motivated by a desire to be seen or praised by people around us – else it is no righteousness at all! Right conduct in doing the will of God should not be performed to get attention.

Our motive, our attitudes, our intent – all must be God-centered, not earthly-centered. We must seek the rewards of heaven (Matt. 5:20) and not earthly rewards.