Category: PASSION Reflections

The Shepherd’s Care

On By BrianIn Virtue of Gentleness

GentlenessOfGod

He will tend (feed) his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
– Isaiah 40:11 ESV (KJV)

Isaiah gives us the picture of a gentle shepherd who cares for his sheep.  He tends, feeds, gathers, carries, and leads his flock.

Our God is like a shepherd to us.  He tends and feeds us, taking care of our needs.  He gathers and carries us in his arms.  And he gently leads us along the path we should go.  He doesn’t harshly drive us.  He doesn’t violently beat us. He cares for us with the gentleness of a shepherd.

Is this how you think of God – as a gentle shepherd?

In what situation in your life do you need God to carry you right now?

How do you need God to gently lead and guide you today?

He Is Risen…

On By BrianIn Holidays, Miscellaneous1 Comment

He is risen, so we can have:

Forgiveness of Sins

Removal of Guilt

Cleansing from Shame

Righteousness in Christ

A New Life in Christ

A Relationship with God

Victory over Sin

Victory over Satan

A Mediator with God

Intercession by Christ

The Sending of the Holy Spirit

The Way to Heaven

The Return of Christ

Personal Resurrection

Hope in Death

Confidence in God’s Word

Mercy or Grace

A Strong Basis for Our Faith

Numerous Reasons to Sing

If Jesus Is Dead and Gone…

On By BrianIn Holidays, Miscellaneous

If Jesus is dead and gone, we have:

No Forgiveness of Sins

No Removal of Guilt

No Cleansing from Shame

No Righteousness in Christ

No New Life in Christ

No Relationship with God

No Victory over Sin

No Victory over Satan

No Mediator with God

No Intercession by Christ

No Sending of the Holy Spirit

No Way to Heaven

No Return of Christ

No Personal Resurrection

No Hope in Death

No Confidence in God’s Word

No Mercy or Grace

No Basis for Our Faith

No Reason to Sing

Reflecting on the Five Solas

On By BrianIn Miscellaneous1 Comment

fivesolas

Soli Deo Gloria – To The Glory Of God Alone

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.  In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. – Ephesians 1:3-14 (ESV)

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! – Psalm 115:1 (ESV)

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. – I Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)

Questions for Reflection
In whom are we saved?  So who gets the praise and glory?
How does God’s love and faithfulness to you encourage you to give him glory?
Are you seeking to live for his glory in all of life?  What would that look like?
In what ways are you tempted to live for your own glory?

Reflecting on the Five Solas

On By BrianIn Miscellaneous

fivesolas

Solus Christus – In Christ Alone

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6 (ESV)

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. – Acts 4:12 (ESV)

Questions for Reflection
What is the only way to come to God, the only way to be saved?
Are you looking to Christ alone?
In what ways are you tempted to look to yourself?

Reflecting on the Five Solas

On By BrianIn Miscellaneous

fivesolas

Sola Gratia & Sola Fide – By Grace Alone Through Faith Alone

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it – the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.  For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. – Romans 3:21-24 (ESV)

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)

Questions for Reflection
Do we receive the righteousness of God through faith or works?
Are we justified (declared righteous) by grace or by works?
Are you looking to Christ and resting in his grace?
In what ways are you tempted to try to earn your salvation?

 

Reflecting on the Five Solas

On By BrianIn Miscellaneous

fivesolas

Sola Scriptura – Scripture Alone

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped or every good work. – II Timothy 3:17-17 (ESV)

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. – Psalm 119:105 (ESV)

Questions for Reflection
Where do we learn about salvation?
What should be our guide?
Are you committed to reading God’s Word?
Does God’s Word govern your life?
What other authorities are you tempted to follow instead of God’s Word?

The Theme of Revelation

On By BrianIn Books of the Bible

Theme: Behold the Coming of Our Triumphant King

Behold: Behold the visions John saw and recorded.
Coming: Jesus is coming soon.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
King: Jesus reigns as king over all.
Triumphant King: Jesus will defeat all his enemies when he returns.
Our Triumphant King: No matter how bad things look, we are on the winning side.  Because Jesus wins, so will we.

So let us live with courageous hope.  No matter what we face, we can have courage today because we have a sure hope for the future.

So let us live with faithful endurance.  In the face of persecution, temptations, and suffering, let us endure faithfully for our King.

So let us live with awe-filled worship.  We have a great King who is worthy of all praise, glory, and honor, so let us worship him in awe.

Cultivating Your Prayer Life

On By BrianIn Habit of Prayer

CultivatePrayerIn How Can I Cultivate Private Prayer, Joel Beeke’s third way to take hold of yourself is to speak with sincerity in prayer.  He notes Psalm 62:8 which calls for us to pour out our heart to God.  We cannot just mouth words; the heart, indeed our whole being, is to be involved.

Beeke expands on this thought by quoting Thomas Brooks:

God looks not at the elegancy of your prayers, to see how neat they are; nor yet at the geometry of your prayers to see how long they are; nor yet at the arithmetic of your prayers, to see how many they are; nor yet at the music of your prayers, nor yet at the sweetness of your voice, nor yet at the logic of your prayers; but at the sincerity of your prayers, how hearty they are.

So how hearty are my prayers?  Am I simply mouthing requests without feeling?  Going through the motions of praying through my prayer list?

Or am I crying out to God for help?  Am I groaning for his intervention?  Pleading for his grace and mercy?  Rejoicing in his blessings?

Where is my heart?  And where is yours?

Cultivating Your Prayer Life

On By BrianIn Habit of Prayer

In How Can I Cultivate Private Prayer, Joel Beeke’s second way to take hold of yourself is to maintain the priority of prayer.  He notes Jesus’ commitment to prayer, and then asks:

If the incarnate Son of God needed to pray often to His heavenly Father, then how much more do we need to make prayer a priority in our lives?

So then how much of a priority is prayer in my life?  Do I make time for it?  Even when I’m busy?  Is it the first thing to go in a crunch, or the last?

Do I prioritize time daily for prayer?  Do I prioritize praying together with my church?  For my church?  For my family?  For myself?

CultivatePrayerWhat is it that distracts me from prayer?  What is it that keeps me from prayer?  Are there distractions in my life I need to seriously address to maintain (or even begin to have) the priority of prayer?  Does media eat up too much of my time and crowd out prayer?  What have I prioritized, even without thinking, above communing with God?

I need to rethink my priorities this week, and then make application to my life.  What about you?