Tag: God

The Savior’s Example, Part 2

On By BrianIn Virtue of Gentleness

GentlenessOfGod

He will not quarrel (strive, argue) or cry aloud (shout), nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised (battered) reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench. – Matthew 12:19-20a ESV (NKJV/CSB/others)

These words are a prophecy from Isaiah 42 that Jesus quotes in reference to himself.  They show a contrast to gentleness, what gentleness is not.

Jesus does not quarrel (strive, argue, fight, brawl).  He does not cry aloud (shout, yell, rant, scream).  In other words, he is not a loud-mouth.  All of this is the opposite of gentleness.  When we are yelling or loud or quarreling with people, we are not being gentle.

But Jesus was gentle with people, and we are given two great pictures of his gentleness.  First, a bruised or battered reed is easily broken, but Jesus is so gentle he doesn’t break it.  Second, a smoldering wick is ready to go out, but Jesus carefully blows it back to life.

These pictures are about people. Jesus reached out to bruised, battered, and smoldering people with a gentle love that healed, restored, and revived.  This gentle love gave new life to the hurting, weeping, sick, and oppressed.  This gentle love gave forgiveness to the sinner.

More often than we think, the people around us are bruised, battered, smoldering, weary, tired, and fragile.  We need to follow Jesus’ example and treat one another carefully, with great gentleness that builds up and gives life.

In what situations in your life do you need to rest in the gentle love of your Savior?

In what situations are you tempted to quarrel or yell?

In what specific ways can you treat others carefully this week to build up and give life?

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?

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?

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

The Unexpected God: How He Meets Us in Disappointment – Brian Tabb (DG)
Unmet expectations. They are the constant thieves of our happiness and contentment. One of the greatest evidences of human falleness and finitude is how quickly we expect the wrong things, or the right things at the wrong time.  But the very heart and center of the Christian faith should remind us daily that our expectations do not typically map onto the grandeur and goodness and wisdom of God. The cross reminds us that God sent us the Messiah we really needed, not the one anyone expected.

Slay Sin by Savoring Christ – Erik Raymond
Too often professing Christians can be lulled to sleep with a false sense of security. Unwittingly they starve themselves of Christ and make provision for the flesh. This is a spiritual suicide mission! Instead of caring for and nurturing the flesh and its desires we are to starve and kill it.

Turn My Eyes from Worthless Things: Curbing Our Infinite Appetite for Distraction – Tony Reinke (DG)
Our endless desire for “the totally irrelevant” has finally been matched by the endless offerings of irrelevance in our smartphones. We love to be fed worthless things.  This onslaught of produced media is a major problem for us all because we can focus our minds only on a limited number of stimuli that come at us. So, how do we discern and navigate the digital age with wise discretion?

10 Prayers to Pray Before Church – Colin Smith
Going to church is not like a trip to the grocery store, visiting a friend, or a Christian task to complete. It is a declaration that worshiping the risen Christ is more important to you than sleeping in, eating brunch, playing sports, or working around the house….  As such, we should not enter church like any other place, but should prepare our hearts in prayer. Let these 10 prayers set your mind on God’s purposes for church and prepare your heart to worship the King.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day celebrating our Savior with your local church!

Isaiah 40-48: Behold Your God

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(44-45) Israel is going to be taken captive by the Babylonians.  Who is God going to raise up, and for what purpose (44:28-45:6)?

God predicted this over 170 years before it happened.  How would this encourage the people of Israel?  How does it encourage you as you think of other predictions from God?

(40-41) To what things is God compared in 40:15-26?  How does God measure up in the comparison?

In what ways can God help us (40:29-31, 41:10)?

How would God’s help comfort Israel in captivity?  Comfort us in our trials?  How should we respond (40:31, 41:10)?

(43-46) What idea is repeated in these verses: 43:10-11; 44:6-7, 24; 45:5-6, 18, 21-22; 46:9?  Why is this important for Israel to grasp in their captivity?  For us to grasp in our daily lives?

(47) What does Babylon claim for itself (v8, 10)?  In what ways are we tempted to act like this?

(41-46) How does God compare to the idols of the nations (41:21-29, 44:9-21, 45:16-20, 46:1-7)?

How does Isaiah’s description of idols in his day also describe the idols of our day?

(43-48) In what ways is God for Israel (43:1-7; 44:21-26; 46:3-4; 48:17-18)?

How would God’s actions for Israel comfort them in their captivity?  Comfort us in our current situations?

(42-45) Who is this servant (42:1-7 Matthew 12:18-21)?  What will he do?  How should we respond (45:22-23, Philippians 2:10-11)?

(40) Who is the one preparing the way of the Lord (v3-9, Matthew 3:1-3)?  Who is this Lord in Isaiah 40?  In Matthew?  Ponder the connection being made!

 

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

What Is It Like to Enjoy God? – John Piper (DG)
The enjoyment of God is the enjoyment of a Person — not just the enjoyment of a thing, or an idea, or a pattern of actions, or a mysterious force. The ultimate joy of God’s creatures is joy in a Person — joy in God.

10 Things You Should Know about the Resurrection – Adrian Warnock (Crossway)
…every Sunday should be Resurrection Sunday. The reason why the early church began to meet on the first day of the week was to celebrate Jesus’s defeat of death. Imagine what church would be like if we consciously gathered every week to celebrate the resurrection?

You Can Forget to Be Irritated – Scotty Smith (DG)
The more I remember God’s lavish, unwavering, inexhaustible love for us in Jesus, the more I forget to be irritated with others.

Worship as a Feast – Dustin Rouse (FTC)
As worshipers who come to church (this is also true, if not more so, for worship leaders), we need to come hungry. You can go to the nicest restaurant with the best reviews, but if you’re not hungry, you will not want to eat. It doesn’t matter what the meal smells or looks like, if you’re full, you won’t want to partake.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day!

Q&A#5: More Verses

On By BrianIn PASSION Catechism

Q/A#5
Q: What is the moral character of God?
A: The moral character of God consists of his perfect love and holiness together, displayed in his mercy, grace, patience, faithfulness, righteousness, justice, and wrath.

Memory Verses
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.  – I John 4:7-8

But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.  – I Peter 1:15

Further Supporting Verses
But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.   – Psalm 86:15

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.  – Psalm 89:14

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.  – Romans 1:18

Q&A#5: Loving and Holy

On By BrianIn PASSION Catechism

Q/A#5
Q: What is the moral character of God?
A: The moral character of God consists of his perfect love and holiness together, displayed in his mercy, grace, patience, faithfulness, righteousness, justice, and wrath.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
– I John 4:7-8

But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.
– I Peter 1:15