Tag: Christianity

The Greatest Good

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes

It is difficult for us to see God’s hand of love in the adversities and heartaches of life because we persist in thinking, as the world does, that happiness is the greatest good.  Thus we tend to evalute all our circumstances in terms of whether or not they produce happiness.  Holiness, however, is a greater good than happiness, so God arranges and orchestrates circumstances to produce holiness before happiness.  He is more concerned about our eternal than or our temporal welfare and more concerned about our spiritual than our material welfare.  So all the trials and difficulties, all the heartaches, disappointments, and humiliations come from his loving hand to make us partakers of his holiness.

– Jerry Bridges in Transforming Grace

Our Only Worthiness

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes1 Comment

Remember we did not declare temporary spiritual bankruptcy.  Our bankruptcy is total and permanent.  The only worthiness we have for entrance into God’s Kingdom is in Christ.  The only worthiness we have with which to come before God is in Christ.  The only worthiness we have to qualify us for ministry is in Christ.  If we are to progress in any aspect of the Christian life, we must look outside ourselves and only to Christ.  It is is him that the grace of God is so abundantly poured out on us.

– Jerry Bridges in Transforming Grace

Fire From Heaven

On By BrianIn Book of Luke, Virtue of Humility

In Luke 9:51-56, the Samaritans reject Jesus, so James and John suggest that they might call down fire from heaven to destroy them.  Jesus rebukes them.  He has come not to destroy but to save. 

Are we more like Jesus, or more like James and John?  Like Jesus, do we seek to love and serve and save those who reject us, oppose us, are against us?  Or like James and John, do we want to destroy them? 

I fear the American church often fails miserably in this, for too often we are not known for our love toward those who oppose us.  Atheists, cults, other religions – we believe these are wrong, but how do we treat them?  With respect, love, and humility, as people made in the image of God? 

Or consider the cultural issues of the day.  Do homosexuals know us by our love, or are we more like James and John?  Could we be losing the culture war because we have made it a war, because we fight like the other side?  Our mission is not to destroy them but love them into God’s kingdom.  If we follow Jesus, we will treat them with humility.  Too often we respond like the Pharisees with pride, an attitude of – “I’m better than you.”  Somehow we forget that we are all sinners, and I have nothing in myself to boast in.  I am saved by God’s grace alone.  That does not mean we shouldn’t stand up for what we believe in, the issue here is how – our attitude.

Closely related to cultural issues is politics.  We may disagree with our President on many things, but what is our attitude toward him?  Proud, angry, and hateful?  Or humble and loving?  Jesus calls us to give up our fire from heaven and to love like he did.

Father, make us more like your Son who came in humility and love.  Remove the pride and hate from our hearts.  Let us treat others with the respect your image bearers deserve.  Amen.

Better Than You

On By BrianIn Virtue of Humility

“An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest” (Luke 9:46).  Can you imagine that?  Grown men arguing about who was the greatest!  And this, just after Jesus, the truly great one, had spoken of becoming low for us! 

To get their attention, Jesus takes a child – with no status, no power – clearly not great.  “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.  For he who is least among you all is the one who is great” (Luke 9:48).  The child, least in their eyes, is great.  Greatness is not about status or power.  It is not about being better than others, exalting oneself above others.

If receiveiving a child is like receiving Jesus, like receiving God, then the child has great significance.  And so do all of us, for we are all made in the image of God.  No one is better or worse than others, we are all equally valuable.  So arguing about who is greatest is nothing short of foolish.

I suspect few of us would argue with someone else about who was greater.  And yet, how easy it may be for us to act like we are greater than another.  How easy to start thinking we are better than another.

I’m better than you because I am a Baptist, a Methodist, a Charismatic, a Calvinist, an Arminian, a Dispensationalist, and the list could go on.  I’m better than you because of my spiritual gifts, and I minister this way, and you don’t.  I’m better than you because my family does things this way, and your family does it that way, and that seems really odd to me.  I’m better than you because I make more money than you, I have a higher standard of living.  I’m better than you because you hurt me which makes you a terible sinner.  I’m better than you…. 

Father, how easy it is for us to begin to think that we are better than others.  The smallest differences can introduce this idea to our minds, and our pride grasps and feeds the idea.  Guard our minds.  Throw down our pride.  Help us to give up our pursuit of being being better than others.  Let us learn from Jesus who, though greater than all, humbled himself and became one of us to save us.  Amen.

Book Look: Jonathan Edwards

On By BrianIn Biography/History, Book Look2 Comments

Jonathan Edwards – Iain H. Murray

Each year I like to read some biographies.  This year my focus is Jonathan Edwards.  Murray gives a mostly readable look at Edward’s life.  He includes interaction with many of Edwards writings published during his life (which slows the pace a bit, but helps you better understand the man and his times).  Murray concludes by considering his legacy.  At 500 pages, it requires some dedication, but is worth the effort.

Book Look: The Cross Centered Life

On By BrianIn Book Look

The Cross-Centered Life – C. J. Mahaney 

I recently reread this book, and have included a few quotes in some past posts.  It is a short book, but it has an important message.  We simply can’t lose sight of the cross, or even more – it must be central to our lives.  He shows how the cross destroys legalism and removes guilt.  And he gives practical suggestions for living with the cross at the center of our lives.  Much worth reading…and rereading.

Web Weekly

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

The summer seems a bit slow in the blogosphere with many taking breaks, but here are a few posts to chew on:

One of my desires is not only to live this three passion life, but to pass it on to my children.  This requires me to spend time teaching my children about Christ and our response to him.  In that vein, Brian Croft has a helpful blog about fathers shepherding their children.

Humility is essential for true compassion for others.  If we love to be first, we simply will not show compassion toward others.  With that in mind, consider Scotty Smith’s prayer for humility.

Marvel

On By BrianIn Book of Luke, God & His Glory, Idolatry

After Jesus came down from his Transfiguration, he cast out an unclean spirit (Luke 9:37-43).  “And all were astonished at the majesty of God…they were all marveling at everything he was doing….”  In his actions they saw the majesty, the greatness, the glory of God, and they marveled, they were astonished, they wondered, they were amazed.  We too should marvel at the glory of God.  So why don’t we marvel more?  Let me suggest two reasons.

First, we are distracted by idols.  Our world is full of stuff marketed in shining wrappings that make it look glorious.  The glory often fades as soon as you buy it, and it eventually ends up in the trash heap, and yet it still allures us, attracts us, distracts us.  We fill our homes and lives with this stuff that distracts us from the true glory of God.

And it is not just stuff.  Power, sex, fame, popularity, and on the list goes.  All these things present themselves as glorious.  And indeed there is nothing wrong with them in their proper contexts.  But we are attracted by the empty promises that these things will satisfy, will fulfill, and they distract us from the one who truly does.  They are idols distracting us from the true glory of God.

Second, we don’t marvel more because we fail to see the glory of God.  His glory is all around us, but we miss it in the hurry of life.  We need to slow down and open our eyes.

We need to open our eyes to his glory revealed in the Bible.  We get so used to the stories, we miss the glory of the one who is acting in incredible ways.  See his glory in the miracles of Jesus, in the proclamations of Isaiah, the glimpse of heaven in Revelation, the praises in Psalms, and on and on it could go. 

We need to open our eyes to his glory revealed in creation.  I love to camp on the shores of Lake Superior each summer.  As I see the powerful waves of the big lake, as I see the incredible sunsets over the lake, I am struck with the glory of God.  But is his glory not revealed where I live the rest of the year?  Of course it is, but I miss it.  I miss it because I am in too much of a hurry.  I miss it because we have manufactured our own indoor world that keeps me away from his creation.  I miss it because I spend too much time on man’s ultimate creation to date – what we are on right now as I write this and you read it.  I need to go outside and see the sunset outside my home.  I need to open my eyes to the wonder of the towering trees in my backyard, the incredible variety of flowers, and the way the garden grows.  I need to see the glory of God’s image in my family, and my co-workers, and my church.  I need to open my eyes and see his glory all around me in his creation.

We need to open our eyes to his glory revealed in his providential working in our lives.  The ways he answers prayer.  The ways he guides our lives, protects us, cares for us, strengthens us, provides for us.

We need to open our eyes to his glory revealed in our salvation.  That he would come to earth as a man.  That he would suffer and die in my place.  That he powerfully rose from the dead.  That the Spirit of God would choose to come into my life and transform me.  That my sins are washed away.  That I have a new life in Christ.  That I am righteous in his sight.  That I am his child.  That I have an inheritance.  That I will spend eternity with God.  We just need to open our eyes to see his glory.

Father, you reveal your glory all around us.  Help us to topple the idols that distract us.  Help us to open our eyes to see your glory.  Help us to be a people that marvel at your glory.  Amen.

Listen

On By BrianIn Book of Luke

During the Transfiguration recorded in Luke 9:28-36, a cloud overshadows them, and a voice says, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”  The Father commands the disciples to listen to Jesus.  We too must listen to Jesus, but how?  He does not walk among us as he did then, so how do we listen to him?

Some might suggest that the words that he spoke while he was here that are recorded in Scripture – the words in red – are his words that we must listen to, but that does not go far enough.  We know that the apostles and prophets wrote the entire Bible as they were led by the Holy Spirit (II Peter 1:20-21).  We also know that the Spirit speaks the words of Jesus (John 16:13-14).  That means that the entire Bible is the words of Jesus.  When we open the Bible and read, Jesus speaks to us.  We must listen.

We must stop and listen.  Peter wakes up to find Jesus talking to Moses and Elijah, and he bgins to chatter on about building three tents.  But is this a time to talk?  Would you interrupt Jesus, Moses, and Elijah?  Wouldn’t you want to hear their conversation?  This is a time to stop all other thoughts, words, and actions, and just listen.

As we gather on Sunday mornings to open the Book which contains the very words of our glorious Savior, this is not a time to get up and wander about, to daydream, to think about lunch or afternoon plans.  This a time to stop and listen.

As we wake up each morning to open the Book to read the very words of Jesus, we must stop all distractions, stop thinking about our plans for the day, and just listen to Jesus Himself speak to us.  Stop and listen.

But we must not just stop and listen, we must also listen and respond.  We cannot listen to Jesus like we often listen to a news announcer – in one ear and out the other as they say.  When God speaks, we must respond.  The Parable of the Sower in the prior chapter reminds us that we must not just hear the Word, but must respond (8:4-15).  Jesus tells us his family are those who “hear the Word of God and do it” (8:21).  We must not just hear the Word; we must do what it says (James 1:22).

So as we gather on Sunday morning to open the Book, do we come planning to not only hear but also respond?  As we open the Book each morning, do we intend to respond?  Do we intend to obey that command, or claim that promise, or believe that truth, or confess that sin, or follow that example?  Do we plan to listen and respond?

Father, you have given us a great gift – the very words of Jesus.  As we open the Book, help us to remember that we are reading the very words of God.  Help us to stop.  Help us to listen.  Help us to respond.  For your glory, we pray.  Amen.

It Is Not About Me

On By BrianIn Book of Luke

In the last post, we considered the identity of Jesus.  We considered his claim to be the King and Savior of the world.  We suggested that either he was the King and Savior or he was an egotistical nut.  Assuming we believe his claim to be the King and Savior (as I do), how should we respond.  Jesus continues in Luke 9 to tell us.

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (v23).  We are to come after him, to follow him, and this following includes self-denial.

I have a card on my computer which says: “Oh yeah.  I keep forgetting.  It’s not about me.  It is about Him.”  Self-denial is living out this card, not living for myself but rather living for him.  If he is my King, I must live for him.  If he is my Savior, I owe him my life.  How might this play out in practical terms?

It means first of all, that I deny my life (v23-24).  Verse 23 says we should take up our cross.  The disciples knew this was an invitation to die.  As Jesus died for us, we should be willing to die for him.  And countless Christians through the centuries and around the world have given their lives for Jesus and continue to do so today.

Yet, he says to take up your cross daily.  This takes us beyond a willingness to literally die to the idea of dying to ourselves; that is, not living for ourselves, but rather giving of ourselves each day for him and indeed for others.  Because it is not about me, I can set aside my agenda to serve Christ by serving people.  Verse 24 goes on to say that if I seek to save my life (live for myself), I will lose.  But if I die t myself, giving of myself, I will find true life.

Secondly, I must deny nt nly my life, but my stuff (v25).  Yes, I can enjoy what God gives me, but I don’t live for it.  I am willing to give it away.  I can give to others rather than hoard my resources seeking to gain the world.

Thirdly, I must deny my reputation (v26).  Not ashamed, I must be willing to lose my reputation for Jesus by telling others about him.  People may laugh, scoff, or ridicule, but it is not about me, it is about him.  It is not about lifting up my name, but his.

Jesus is our King and Savior.  It is not about me.  It is about him.  May God help us live this out more and more each day.