The War for Our Souls - Pt 2

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:11-12 ESV).

Our picture today is a rendering of the surrender of General Antonio Lòpez de Santa Anna to the wounded General Sam Houston ending the Texas War for Independence. While the casualties were relatively light compared to modern wars (there were approximately 850 Texans killed and 2500 Mexicans killed), the atrocities of the war were stark. It was common for Santa Anna to take no prisoners, executing the wounded and captured Texas patriots in a bloody show of no mercy. It was no wonder that he donned the uniform of a common enlisted soldier when he realized he had lost the war and his capture was imminent. In our spiritual war Satan has yet to be “captured.” He is defeated, however, he still roams the earth “seeking whom he may devour” (cf. 1 Peter 5:8). Knowing this Peter says, "Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul" (v. 11). The ultimate issue in that verse is that the human soul is in danger of being destroyed. A war is being waged against the soul in this world. If that war is successful, the soul is lost. This is what Jesus meant when he said, "What will it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his soul? For what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26). If the soul is lost, the whole person is lost. And there is no way to negotiate to get it back. When this war against the soul is over, it's over. So this is one of the great issues in the world. It affects everybody without exception. And it affects everybody forever. And yet our world does not give serious attention to it. There is no column in the newspaper, there is no public service announcement on the radio, there is no soundbite on television, there is no values-clarification course in our schools, there is no government agency or even a welfare pamphlet that counsels us how to wage war for the eternal life of our souls. We are told how to wage war against AIDS; against sunstroke; against mosquitoes; against drunk driving and pollen and depression and rape and fire and theft and cholesterol and dandelions. But the world we live in gives no counsel on how to fight for the eternal life of the soul. Our modern world is massively preoccupied with the inconsequential. We are oblivious as a culture to what will one day seem so obvious that we will call ourselves blind for not seeing it, namely, the eternal well-being of the soul and its relation to God. That's the first great issue in these two verses and in the Bible, the salvation of the soul. It's the issue of how to wage war so that we will not lose our souls. We’ll look at that specifically in the coming days. Today, place your complete trust and hope in the finished work of Jesus. It is your only chance for victory!

The War for Our Souls - Pt 1

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:11-12 ESV).

I am returning to two verses we have already used in our journey through Peter’s first letter with our reading today. The key phrase for me is found in the first of these verses: war for your souls. Being a Texan by birth, I am very familiar with the battles that took place to secure the freedom that ultimately led to the inclusion of the state to the union. That war is perhaps best remembered for the Battle of the Alamo where the heroic efforts of both Texans and Tennesseans insured the ultimate victory at San Jacinto. It is one fo the classic examples of losing a battle, but winning the war. The Apostle Peter reminds us of a similar parallel in the death of Jesus. It may have appeared to be an incredible defeat; however, when we understand the ultimate war for our souls, it was a glorious victory! What these two verses of our reading make clear is that there are two tremendous issues in the world. And, one of the reasons we know that we are aliens and strangers in the world is that the modern world we live in does not believe that these two issues are the main issues. If the world believed this, the newspaper and the television and the theater and the university and popular music and industry mission statements and government goals would look and sound very different than they do. But, in fact, we live in a world that shows by its priorities, values, commitments, standards, preoccupations, and pleasures that it does not regard these two issues as paramount. In fact, they are not even on the list of the world's priorities. The two issues that dominate these two verses, and indeed dominate the whole New Testament, are the salvation of the human soul and the glory of God. The two great issues of the Bible are how the soul of man might not be destroyed and how the glory of God might not be belittled. This was what the primary concern in the battle Jesus fought and won on the cross was about. While Calvary might have seemed like the Alamo, where every patriot died; the resurrection was San Jacinto, where the dictatorial reign of death was once and for all time defeated! The devil may not have been wearing a Mexican Army General’s uniform, he never-the-less was beaten into submission and defeat! That guaranteed our eternal life!

Cornerstones and Stumbling Blocks - Pt 3

For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. (1 Peter 2:6-8 ESV). Some of the “quiet walkways” (I can no longer do the longer, more strenuous hikes) have somewhat of a climb to them. They are often built with “stepping stones” like those of our picture today. I have often found that to be both beautiful and much more easily navigated.

Yesterday I raised the question as to why Peter mentions the negative effect of unbelief. I believe it was to stress that it simply cannot win. It can't frustrate God's ultimate purposes. Peter goes on to say (quoting Isaiah 8:14) that Christ, became a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this [doom] they were also appointed. Peter's words at the end of this verse are intended to sever the last strand of self-reliance: "to this [this stumbling, this disobedience] they were appointed." In other words if any proud unbeliever should boast and say, "I have chosen my own destiny, my own disobedience and my own stumbling, to show God that I have the final and ultimate say in my life; I have the power of ultimate self-determination; and I can frustrate the purposes of God with my own self-determining will", Peter responds with the awesome words: No, you can't; you only think you can. But you will discover sooner or later that whatever you choose, and mark this, your choice is real and crucial, whatever you choose, "unto this you were appointed." God and not man will have the last say. No mere human can thwart the ultimate purposes of God—not by belief or unbelief. The reason Peter does this is for our encouragement. What he means is that human choices cannot destroy the temple of God. They are not ultimate. A person can reject the chosen and precious Stone of Jesus Christ. But if they do, two things are still true: the stone will not be rejected by God, but will still be put in the place of honor and glory forever and ever as the chief corner stone; and the one who rejects the stone will never be able to boast over God that he frustrated God's ultimate design for his temple. Even unbelievers fulfill God's appointments. He cannot be defeated. He triumphs even in his own rejection. God's great purposes for the building of his church often come through seasons of rejection, but in the end he remains triumphant and none of us can bring his purpose to ruin. If we reject his way, we cannot destroy his plan. C.S. Lewis said once: "We all serve God inevitably, but it makes a great difference whether you serve like Judas or serve like John." In the end God is triumphant in our belief and our unbelief. He is triumphant in our obedience and our disobedience. Human beings, whether good or evil, rejecting or accepting, believing or unbelieving, cannot thwart the ultimate purposes of God.

Cornerstones and Stumbling Blocks - Pt 2

For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. (1 Peter 2:6-8 ESV).

If you have known me for long, you know that one of our special places is the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. We have spent many weeks in the Smokies during all of the seasons of the year. Honestly, I cannot imagine a place more endearing to us. Throughout the park the Little Pigeon River runs through the mountains. There are some places where the water looks shallow and easily navigated. That is often deceiving. The water can be rushing much faster than it appears, and the holes much deeper. Walking across the rocks is most often a very bad idea! Spiritually the same is true. If we disbelieve the “Stone,” we simply cannot win. This is the reason Peter writes about the negative effects of this same stone. For some it is a cornerstone and for others a stumbling stone. He says, "But for those who disbelieve, 'The stone which the builders rejected, this became the very corner stone.'" (v. 7b). Here he's saying that not believing in Jesus is like rejecting the stone that God has laid as the corner stone. God sends his Son to be the main stone in the building of his church, his people. But some do not trust him; they reject him. The effect of that on the purpose of God is clear. It does not defeat God's purpose at all; however, it destroys the unbeliever. The point is: If you believe on this stone, you can't lose; and if you disbelieve on him, you can't win. Human unbelief does not frustrate or defeat the ultimate purposes of God. If God plans for Jesus to be the chief corner stone, humans can betray him, desert him, deny him, mock him, strike him, spit on him, hit him with rods, crown him with thorns, strip him, crucify him, and bury him, but they cannot stop him from being what God destined him to be, the Living Corner Stone of a great and glorious people. The great news is that it is not too late for you. If you are reading this, you can respond to the calling of the Holy Spirit and believe in Him who is the Corner stone of life! Regardless of how badly you may have stumbled; regardless of the injuries you have sustained in your fall; it is not too late to cross the rushing stream before you successfully. Trust in Jesus… He is the Cornerstone for you today!

Cornerstones and Stumbling Blocks - Pt 1

For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. (1 Peter 2:6-8 ESV).

Not long ago Mary traveled with her sister to Venice, Italy, and cruised the Mediterranean. While they were there she visited the master glass blowing artisans of Murano, Italy. Venice and Murano are famous for more than the canals. All along the old town are artisans who have taken glass blowing to an incredible art form. Because it is an ancient city, the streets are cobblestone. There are plenty of opportunities for stumbling! We have been looking through the first letter of the Apostle Peter over the past few weeks. We have seen how coming to Jesus, God's “Living Stone” causes us to be living stones and shapes us into a spiritual house for God's dwelling and makes us a holy priesthood so that we can offer spiritual sacrifices of praise and obedience that will be acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. The key was Christ. He is the Living Stone which is the foundation of this house and his life is imparted to all the little stones—us believers—who are built into a temple that throbs with life. Today we begin to see the three Old Testament references where Peter got this idea of Christ as a Stone that God set down in Zion. But there is something remarkable about the way Peter quotes these three texts. He doesn't just quote them; he interprets them and gives them a tremendously encouraging twist for people in our situation. The first truth we find is that believing on the “Stone” guarantees our victory. Peter quotes Isaiah 28:16: "Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, and he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed." The point here is that if you trust Christ, God's corner stone, you will not be disappointed. This stone will not prove faulty. If you build your life on this stone, your life will not crumble in the storm. If you hide behind this stone, you will be safe. If you stand on the truth of this stone, you will not be ashamed. If you join with others in the spiritual house built on this stone, you will be proud of your foundation and your fellowship will stand. Then Peter draws out the lesson in his own words: "This precious value, then, is for you who believe" (v. 7); he further says that the preciousness is for believers. If you believe on this stone then he is precious, because you will never be disappointed in him or ashamed of him. Jesus will never let you down. Others may, but Jesus never. Now that is a great encouragement. If there were a way never to be disappointed or a way never to be ashamed, wouldn't you want to know that way? Peter says: the way is to trust what Jesus will be for you as God's "chosen and precious corner stone." God says, "You cannot lose. You cannot be disappointed in having done this. You cannot be put to shame." That’s good news indeed!

Sojourners and Exiles - Pt 2

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:11-12 ESV).

The fact that we are exiles on the earth (v. 11) does not mean that we don’t care what becomes of culture. However, it does mean that we exert our influence as very happy, brokenhearted outsiders. What does this really mean for us in regard to our behavior? We must learn to deal effectively in our culture, especially in America where technology has become a significant challenge to godly behavior. It follows the old adage that we should seek to “bloom where we are planted.” Let me make four suggestions: 1. First, we ought to live faithfully by participating. Our first response to discomfort is to remove ourselves from it. This was probably why God commanded the Jews to stay put and actively participate in what he’d ordained for them. This means hardship is never wasted time, for it can be used in redeeming ways by the Redeemer. Live faithfully in exile by being an active participant. 2. Second, live faithfully by pursuing the Lord. There is wonderful fellowship with Christ in times of exile. Paul’s prayer was to know Jesus in both his resurrection power and in the fellowship of his sufferings (cf. Philippians 3:10-11). Seasons of exile challenge us to pursue the only one who can satisfy when all else fails and changes abound. 3. Third, we live faithfully by submitting to the Father. In times of exile there is so much we cannot understand. Our suffering, then, is an opportunity to release our tight grip on “the way life should be” and yield control completely to the Father’s hands. God may send us directly into the storm to produce in us what we cannot for ourselves. But that is grace! There is profound peace in realizing he is Lord over every circumstance and that we need only to trust him with our welfare. 4. Fourth, live faithfully by responding in Christ. People are always watching us. And how we respond during exile reflects the true state of our hearts. We can grumble and demand our “rights.” However, by seeking Christ during hard seasons and submitting to him anyway, even though we don’t understand his ways, we live radically different than the world does. We live in hope.

Sojorners and Exiles - Pt 1

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:11-12 ESV).

Peter now directs his attention more behaviorally. He has described who we are, now he is setting the stage for material that will give his readers “how we are to act.” He starts with the declaration that we “sojourners and exiles” (v. 11). Mary has just returned from a trip to Europe and parts of Asia. She and her sister flew into London and then traveled to Venice, ultimately making their way by cruise ship to some other Mediterranean countries. Of course, it was essential that she have her passport in order. She is not a citizen of any of those nations. She was a “sojourner.” Peter uses this reference in our reading today. We are pilgrims. We are called exiles. We are refugees. We are sojourners. The Apostle Paul says the same thing whe he writes, “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3). So the question is framed rightly. We are citizens of heaven. We are sojourners and pilgrims on the earth. And that is owing to the fact that this world is fallen, not the fact that it is created. We are going to spend eternity in a created world. But Satan won’t be the god of that world anymore. That is what makes us feel so alien here is that the god of this world is Satan. He holds such extensive sway. The world is permeated with sin. It makes us feel like we are not at home. We are just aching that we be done with sin and be in the presence of holiness. So when I say we are aliens and exiles and sojourners and pilgrims, I don’t mean that the earth is a placed we despise. I mean that the structures we find ourselves in are so permeated with sin. We want something new. In a profound sense, this world is not our home. The Apostle Paul reminds us that when we are away from our bodies we will be “at home with the Lord” (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:8). We are also encourages to not be “conformed to this age” (cf. Romans 12:2). Our lives “are hid with Christ in God” (cf. Colossians 3:3). And, we have been “transferred out of the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of his beloved Son” (cf. Colossians 1:13); and, we have “passed out of death and into life” (cf. 1 John 3:14). We are sojourners and exiles here. Tomorrow we will see how that affects our behavior in this world. Today, embrace the truth that we are not anchored to this world of trouble and trial; we are merely passing through!

Who Am I? - Pt 7

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10 ESV).

What we saw was that our identity led directly to our destiny: we are chosen, pitied, possessed, and holy all for the sake of being a royal priesthood. However, Peter is more specific when he tells us the precise reason for our existence. He says that we exist for this reason: "that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (v. 9b). This is the full-time destiny of a royal priest—to make the glories of the king known. There is a lot of discussion in our day of self-concept or self-identity. How do we view ourselves? It is an important question. And what I hope you hear today is that the biblical truth is that Christian selfhood is not defined in terms of who we are in and of ourselves. It's defined in terms of what God does to us and the relationship he creates with us and the destiny he appoints for us. In other words as a Christian you cannot talk about your identity without talking about the action of God on you, the relationship of God with you, and the purpose of God for you. The biblical understanding of human self-identity is radically God-centered. We are a God-chosen one, a God-pitied one, a God-possessed one, a God-sanctified one. The very language of our identity in this text necessitates that God be included as the one who acts. Our identity is not an end in itself, but for the sake of priestly service, which Peter defines as proclaiming the excellencies of the One who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. God made us who we are so that we might proclaim the excellency of his freedom in choosing us. The excellency of his grace in pitying us. The excellencies of his authority and power in possessing us. The excellencies of his worth and purity in making us holy. In other words he has given us our identity in order that his identity might be proclaimed through us. God made us who we are so we could make known his glory. Therefore being a Christian and making the greatness of God known are almost identical. We can do it in a thousand different ways of love that suit our situation and personality. The key is in acknowledging this truth and behaving accordingly. This is who we are!

Who Am I? - Pt 6

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10 ESV).

Today we come to the fifth and final description Peter uses to explain the characteristics believers have been given in the redemptive act of Christ. He says: we are “… a royal priesthood" (v. 9). Let’s review before we dive into this truth. He has said that we are chosen by God and pitied by God and possessed by God and holy like God. Now he says we are royal priests to God. The point here is first that you have immediate access to God. We don't need another human priest as a mediator. God himself provided the one Mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ. We have direct access to God, through God. And, second, we have an exalted, active role in God's presence. I remember when I was in an active role as a pastor that one of the children’s programs we used was “RA’s.” All three of my boys spent many Wednesday evenings in the activities of “Royal Ambassadors,” which is the designation of the acronym “RA.” The concept which was the basis of the name was in the truth we have in our reading today. We are royal in our adopted lineage; and, we are the representatives of the King to the peoples we are sent to. It was a good program and good theology. In many churches today it has been replaced by “AWANA.” This program is so named as it is derived from the first letters of "Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed.” It is also a good program and undergirded by clear Scripture. However, I wonder if we have somehow lost the concept of our royal lineage and with that the privilege of the “priesthood.” You are not chosen, pitied, possessed, and holy just to fritter away your time doing nothing. You are called now to reflect the glory of God in all that you do. All your life is priestly service. You are never out of God's presence. You are never in a neutral zone. You are always in the court of the temple. So you can see that your identity—the question, "Who are you?"—leads directly to the question, "What are you here for?" Your identity leads to your destiny. You are chosen, pitied, possessed, and holy, all for a purpose, to minister as priests. And the heart of that ministry Peter describes for us very clearly in the last verse of verse nine: “… that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Today, commit yourselves to being who you already are!

Who Am I? - Pt 5

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10 ESV).

As we come to the fourth characteristic Peter lists for us, we also arrive at the most unlikely truth. He says we are “… a holy nation” (v. 9). We have been chosen and pitied and possessed by God; and therefore we are not merely part of the world anymore. We are set apart for God. We exist for God. And since God is holy, we are holy. We share his character, because he chose us, pitied us, and possessed us. We are holy. If we do not act in a holy way, we act out of character. We contradict our essence as a Christian. For our identity is holiness to the Lord: we are holy. The Apostle Peter explains in today’s reading that we are this royal priesthood; we are a holy nation. This truth has much more to say about access rather than behavior. It means we are a people who need none but Christ to stand between us and the Father. Martin Luther pointed out in his Babylonian Captivity of the Church that “all we who are Christians are priests,” and no believer has greater access to the Creator than any other. We know from the Scripture that pastors and elders are appointed to teach the church the will of God from His Word (cf. 1 Timothy 3:1-7), but they do not represent us before the heavenly throne like the Levitical priests did under the administration of the old covenant. In Christ, there is a true priesthood of all believers. All believers have free access into His presence, and all of our lawful vocations are set apart for true God-honoring service. The janitor who does his work to the Lord is in no worse position spiritually than the most gifted preacher on the planet, for all Christians have been declared righteous servants of the creator God. There is enormous freedom in this truth. On more than one occasion I have been told by some of the most Godly saints I have known that they regretted not being able to do more as their physical health deteriorated. My response has always been a request for them to do the most important thing a believer may do, pray. Enter into the presence of God as a priest might and make your intercession known to God. We all have that access and that power! He has chosen us for every circumstance of our life. We are perfect for that moment and that time!

Who Am I? - Pt 4

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10 ESV).

We go back to the beginning of our reading today to see the third descriptor of our identity. Peter says: We “… are a people for God's own possession" (v. 9); and, again we were “… once were not a people, but now you are the people of God" (v. 10a). We saw in the last two days that we are chosen by God; we are pitied by God; and the effect of that pity, that mercy, is that God takes us to be his own possession. Perhaps beginning at the beginning is helpful at the point of our examining this truth. First, we must recognize that God owns everything. Obviously he created all things. Just as I might write a particular devotional, or sermon, it is mine. I created it. Actually, I am writing a new work now. It is a work of fiction. It has some Christian themes throughout, but it is not intended to be anything more than an entertaining work of fiction. I can write that kind of book because I have the power to do so. And, it is mine. I possess it. I can do whatever I desire with the work. Hopefully it will be published and distributed for others to derive the same joy from reading it that I have in creating it. So, with God it is similar. He has created each of us. We are thoroughly unique. We are special in his eyes. However, God has not created us for the pleasure of others. He has created us, chosen us, and redeemed us, so that we might be His inheritance. We are the ones he will spend eternity with. When God says, "I will be their God and they will be my people [my possession]," what he means is that "I will dwell in them and walk among them." (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:16). We are chosen; we are pitied; we are God's possession. We are the ones he will walk among and reveal himself to in a personal relation forever. That thought should change everything in our life. Knowing this we have an unshakable hope. It ought not to surprise us that the Apostle Paul takes this thought and says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39 ESV).

Who Am I? - Pt 3

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10 ESV).

A second thing Peter says that identifies who we are is found in the last part of the reading: "… you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy" (v. 10b). I like the word "pitied" because the word for mercy in Greek here is a verb and the closest word we have in English like "mercied" is "pitied." It's not a bad translation. When God chose us, he then saw us in our sin and guilt and condemnation and he pitied us. We are not just chosen. We are pitied. We are the not just the objects of his choice, but the objects of his mercy. I am chosen and I am pitied, or you could say I am "graced." Perhaps the reading I most go to when I begin to think of this incredible gift from God is found in the writing of the Apostle Paul. To the Romans he wrote: For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:6-11 ESV). God did not just choose me and stand aloof. He chose me and then drew near in mercy to help me and save me. My identity is fundamentally this: I have been shown mercy. I am a "mercied" person. I get my identity not first from my actions, but from being acted upon with pity. I am a pitied one. Now, take caution. This is not the same as saying that we are “pitiful.” Far from it. We are adopted children of the King of the ages! We are the chosen people of the mighty Creator of all things. However, we must recognize that we receive this position because God took pity on us and chose us. This is a grand way of describing the depth of the love of God for us!

Who Am I? - Pt 2

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10 ESV).

I know that it may seem a bit microscopic; however, I believe that we have come to a passage Scripture with our reading today that bears this depth of scrutiny. I remember well my New Testament professor from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary my first semester telling us that the Gospel of John was one of the best book of the Bible for both the beginner and the accomplished theologian. He said, “John is like an old river; it is both narrow and very deep.” These verses are much the same. They are both simple and profound. Keep in mind that Peter is identifying Christians. This is who you are if you are a Christian. This is how you got your identity as a Christian. This is what you are here for as a Christian. The apostle gives us five ways of describing our identity, answering the question of who we are. The first of the is “a chosen race” (v. 9). I know that this is a corporate identity, he's talking about the church, the true Israel. But the implication is individual, because this race is not racial. The chosen race is not black or white or red or yellow or brown. The chosen race is a new people from all the peoples, all the colors and cultures, who are now aliens and strangers among in the world (cf. v 11). What gives us our identity is not color or culture. It is that we are chosen. Christians are not the white race; they are the chosen race. Christians are not the black race; they are the chosen race. We are the black chosen and the white chosen and the yellow chosen and the red chosen. Out from all the races we have been chosen, one at a time, not on the basis of belonging to any group. That's why this amazing phrase is individually crucial for you; you are part of the "chosen race" because the race is made up of individuals who were chosen from all the races. So your first identity is that you are chosen. God chose you. Not because of your race, or for any other qualification, God chose you. Who am I? I am chosen. I do not know why. It was nothing in me of value above other humans. I did not earn it or merit it, or meet any conditions to get it. It happened before I was born. I stand in awe of it. I tremble with joy at it. I bow and accept it. I long to be faithful to its purpose. I am chosen. Let that seep into your mind and heart today!

Who Am I? - Pt 1

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10 ESV).

I had some time on my hands while Mary was away on her excursion to the Mediterranean last week. I decided to get an old movie out and watch it. I chose “I Robot.” It is a fun action movie. I found myself being very thankful for being a human being. While we may not be able to process calculations as quickly, nor have the strength of a robot, we have the astonishing capacity to see and hear and feel, and then to think about all this amazing reality, and then to form judgments about it all and know right and wrong and good and bad and beautiful and ugly, and then to feel profound emotions of love and hate and joy and discouragement and wonder and hope and gratitude, and then to reason and plan our lives in ways that accomplish things. It was one of those rare moments, like a brief brush with eternity. To be alive as a human being with indescribable mysteries at every turn, and to have in front of us an eternal destiny of spectacular glory or inexpressible horror is a weight that can either press you down with fear and trembling or bear you up with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Whether it does the one or the other depends in large measure on whether you know the answer to the big basic human questions or not: Who are you? That simple question is one that we should not take for granted. It is not a privilege given to any animal. Not one of them has ever lost one night's sleep pondering those questions. Only humans ask these questions. Only humans kill themselves and kill others when they don't get true and satisfying answers to these questions. Not often do we find such resoundingly clear answers to questions such as this in such a small space as we do in our reading today. In fact, we get the answers to three of these very basic, essential questions: Who am I? How did I get this identity? Why am I here? As we continue our look at the Apostle Peter’s first letter, we’ll spend some time examining those answers in depth. Today I would encourage you to take a deep breath and go back to the beginning as it were, to go down to the basic foundational questions of life, and listen to the Word of God. Read our passage again. It should cause you to wonder and stand in awe of what he has done for and in us. It certainly does for me.

Got Milk? - Pt 4

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:1-3 ESV).

One last thing in these verses: we should note that the Word is also powerful for destruction. The first verse of our reading describes the destructive side of the Word of God: "Therefore, putting aside [get rid of, destroy] all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.” One of the ways the Word of God creates desire for the milk of God's kindness is by destroying desire for other things. Peter lists some of these things:  Malice: a desire to hurt someone with words or deeds.  Guile: a desire to gain some advantage or preserve some position by deceiving others.  Hypocrisy: a desire not to be known for what really is.  Envy: a desire for some privilege or benefit that belongs to another with resentment that another has it and you don't.  Slander: the desire for revenge and self-enhancement, often driven by the deeper desire to deflect attention from our own failings. The worse light we can put another in by slander, the less our own darkness shows. Malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy, slander are things we must put away, destroy. This is the other side of longing for the spiritual milk of God's kindness in the Word. If you want to experience desire for God's Word; if you want your desires to grow; if you want to taste fully the kindness of the Lord, realize that as our satisfaction in God's kindness rises, the controlling desires of malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy, and slander are destroyed. And the reverse is true: as you resist them and lay them aside, desires for God grow stronger and more intense. Peter's point is: don't think that they can flourish in the same heart. Desire to taste and enjoy God's kindness cannot flourish in the same heart with guile and hypocrisy. So fight against spiritual fatalism from both sides: fight to destroy the desires of guile and hypocrisy; and fight to taste the kindness of the Lord in his Word. The result will be "you will grow in respect to salvation" (v. 2b). Literally: "you will grow into salvation." Salvation is reached by growth. To be sure, God gives the growth, but growth is necessary. Do not fall into the spiritual fatalism that says, "I can't grow; I can't change; and I don't need to." Throw that idea away like an old smelly garment, and seek God with all your heart for help in desiring his Word, and let us grow up together to salvation.

Got Milk? - Pt 3

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:1-3 ESV).

So, if Peter tells us to “desire it,” perhaps we need to know what “it” is! Our reading is from the English Standard Version. It does not say "milk of the word" as in other translations. That's accurate, however, it is a bit limiting. This “spiritual milk" is not merely the Word of God. It is something more specific. Look at the reading again with some explanations inserted. It says, “Like newborn babes [who were born by the Word of God], long [the way babies do] for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if [that is, since!] you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.” (vv. 2-3). Do you see the connection between the intense longing or craving for the "spiritual milk" in verse 2 and the tasting of the kindness of the Lord in verse 3? Put them together: "Long for the spiritual milk, since you've tasted the kindness of the Lord." So it seems to me that the “milk” is the milk of God's kindness. That is what we are commanded to long for. This does not raise a contradiction. Where did the readers taste the kindness of the Lord? The answer is: in the gospel, the Word of God (v. 25). They were born again by that kindness through the Word of God. So the spiritual milk is the kindness of the Lord experienced through the Word of God. Or you could say, the spiritual milk is the Word of God revealing or transmitting the kindness of the Lord. You were born again by that Word, namely, by the powerful kindness of God in that Word, and now go on longing for that Word and for the day-by-day experience, “tasting” of the kindness of the Lord through his Word. If the Word of God is powerful enough to create new Christians through new birth, then the Word of God is powerful enough to create desire in our souls. Again I say: Don't be a spiritual fatalist. The power at work within you just to bring you to life is like the power that raises the dead (cf. Ephesians 1:19-20). Can it not create desire just like it created you? Trust it. To paraphrase Bunyan's poem that I quoted yesterday: Run, John, run, the law commands But gives us neither feet nor hands, Far better news the gospel states: It bids desire and then creates.

Got MIlk? - Pt 2

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:1-3 ESV). Thousands of people live year after year without much passion for God or zeal for his name or joy in his presence or hope in his promises or constancy in his fellowship and feel like that’s just the way it’s supposed to be. They just settle in to the mediocrity of lives that bear no resemblance to that which God desires for his children. As I wrote yesterday, our reading from the Apostle Peter contains a command from God for not to be spiritual fatalists. Peter says, "Like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation" (v. 2). The word for "long" here is very simply the word "desire," it's a command to desire.

What this means is that if you feel stuck because you don't have the kind of spiritual desires that you should, this text says, you do not need to be stuck! It says, "Get them! Get the desires you don't have." If you don't desire the milk of the Word, start desiring it! Now, isn't that amazing!? A command to desire? A command to feel longings we do not feel? A command to feel desires we do not have? Is anything more contrary to spiritual fatalism than that? Fatalism says, I can't just create desires. If they're not there, they're not there. If I don't feel things the way the psalmists seem to feel things when they say, "As a deer pants for the flowing streams so my soul pants for you, O God" (Psalm 42:1). If I don't feel that way toward God, then that's that. I just don't. I'm not like the psalmists. That's what spiritual fatalism says. But God says, "Desire the pure milk of the word!" (v. 2). Now before you raise all kinds of objections, like, “How can you command me to have a desire?” or, “What can I do to obey a command like that?” or, “How do I just produce a desire? My whole problem is that I don't have the strength of desire I want. And you just tell me to desire. You may as well tell a lame man to walk.” John Bunyan wrote a few verses that illustrate an essential truth. It's one of the best statements I have ever heard about the difference between the law and the gospel: Run, John, run, the law commands But gives us neither feet nor hands, Far better news the gospel brings: It bids us fly and gives us wings. In other words in the old covenant God gave commandments, but did not give the power that overcomes the depravity and rebellion of the heart. But in the new covenant, God gives even harder commands, and he also gives the power we need to fulfill them (cf. Romans 8:4-6). We are duty-bound to run, even though our feet are willfully frozen in the ice of sin. The gospel is not different in having no commands, no conditions. In fact, flying is harder than running. The gospel brings much better news than a mere command. It bids us fly and gives us wings!

Got Milk? - Pt 1

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:1-3 ESV).

The slogan "Got Milk?" was licensed to the National Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP) in 1995 to use on their celebrity print ads, which, since then, have included celebrities from the fields of sports, media and entertainment posing in print advertisements sporting a "milk mustache" and employing the slogan, "Where's your mustache?" According to the Got Milk? website, the campaign has over 90% awareness in the United States and the tagline has been licensed to dairy boards across the nation since 1995. Got Milk? is a powerful property and has been licensed on a range of consumer goods. And, milk is good for you. It is no wonder that the apostle uses this image when he encourages his readers to “grow up into salvation” (v. 3). So, as we continue to read through Peter’s first letter, I want us to look at our reading today and make some important observations concerning our growth. One of the great threats to our growth toward salvation (v. 2) is what I would call spiritual fatalism. This is the belief that you are stuck with the way you are now. It is that constant buzzing voice that says, "this is all I will ever experience of God—the level of spiritual intensity that I now have is all I can have; others may have strong desires after God and may have deep experiences of personal pleasure in God, but I will never have those because, well, just because. I am not like that. That's not me." This spiritual fatalism is a feeling that genetic forces, family forces, or the forces of my past experiences and present circumstances are just too strong to allow me to ever change and become more zealous for God (cf. Titus 2:14). Spiritual fatalism is tragic in the church. It leaves people stuck. It takes away hopes and dreams of change and growth. It squashes the excitement of living, which is growth. It's like saying to a gawky child who feels like their body is all out of proportion: “Well that's the way you are, and you will always be that way.” When the fact is they are meant to grow and change. That would be tragic to convince them of this kind of physical fatalism. So it is with the spirit. Only spiritual fatalism is much worse. Because greater things are at stake, and because we never do get to a point where we've arrived at the final stature like we do in our physical bodies. It robs us of our passion for life. It negates the abundance in life Jesus has intended for us. The answer is “pure spiritual milk”! We’ll explore how to get that more. Today, commit yourself to drinking it when you find it!

A Son or a Slave? - Pt 3

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:12-17 ESV).

One of the ways we know we are the children of God is that God has sent his Spirit to lead us. He leads us into warfare with sin, and he leads us into paths of righteousness. Notice our reading again: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” This prompts us to leave our rags behind. The Apostle Paul said, “Whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him” (2 Corinthians 5:9). He did not mean “Our whole futile, aimless, pointless Christian life is a failure since nobody can do it.” He didn’t mean that. He meant what he said in 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12: “[God fulfills] every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Don’t call that magnificent, grace-based Spirit-work filthy rags and displeasing to the Lord. Christ did not die just for our justification. He died for our sanctification. He did not die just to remove the guilt of sin, but the power of sin as well. Sons of God revel in forgiveness and trust the Spirit of the Father to do good. If there are imperfections in our Spirit-empowered good deeds, which there are, that does not make them filthy rags. They are the fruit of the Spirit, and our Father is pleased with them. The day of perfection will come. Oh, it will come. But until then, God knows what he’s working in his children. Mark that: God knows what he is working in his children, and he is pleased with what he is working. “[He is] working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:21). Do you see how that sets us free to serve? There is a huge difference in how this produces contentment and peace of mind and heart.

A Son or a Slave? - Pt 2

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14 ESV).

I want to linger a bit on the first statement of yesterday’s devotional. We really do need to begin to stop acting and talking as if we are slaves instead of sons of God. A part of the propensity toward this error is in how we have seen ourselves before being redeemed. We have been taught, correctly, that we are all as an “unclean thing” (cf. Isaiah 64:6). We even sing it in some of our hymns. We’ve also been taught that about every one of our good deeds as a Christian. That’s not what the Scripture says. Isaiah is not describing the good deeds of the genuine believer, good deeds done in the power of the Holy Spirit. Those were the religious acts done by unbelieving hypocrites. When Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works” (Matthew 5:16), he did not mean “that they may see your filthy rags.” He just didn’t. When Paul said that Christians bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit, the Holy, Holy, Holy Spirit, he did not mean that the Spirit produces filthy rags. When Paul said, “[Christ] gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (v. 14), he didn’t mean Christ died to create filthy rags. What has happened in our grassroots theology is that, in our zeal to clarify the pervasiveness of sin and the perfection of justification, we have undercut the Spirit’s work in sanctification. But the Spirit’s work is very real and very precious and should not be called filthy rags. The Spirit “bears witness that we are children of God.” That witness he bears is his power in us to do things that are no longer filthy rags. He also gives us a sweet assurance that we have an all-caring Father, “Abba! Father!” When that cry rises from the heart in childlike need, it is the Spirit in us. Here’s the key to a non-slave, sonship relation with God: Get to know God in his word. You are no longer slaves who do not know what the Father is up to. You are in the big house. Your slavery is over. You may walk into the Father’s study at any time and interrupt him. His book is 1,200 pages long and full of gold and silver and honey for his children. That’s where you know him and meet him, in his word. Realize that because he gave his Son, your sins are forgiven, and his Spirit enables you to please him.

A Son or a Slave? - Pt 1

[Jesus said] “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” (John 15:12-17 ESV).

There are two very important words in our reading today. The first of those is “servants” (v. 15a). The Greek word is doulos. While the ESV translates it as “servants,” a better translation in our modern use of the words would be “slave.” It describes someone who has been taken into bondage, either with or without their consent. They are completely subservient to another, without choice or compensation. The second word is translated “friends” (v. 15b). This is an accurate translation of the Greek word, phileos. It speaks of that warm, unbreakable tie of familial relationship. It is the deep love of a brother. It can only come from one who is related by being a legitimate member of the same family with the same father. The statement of Jesus is clear. We are also sons and daughters of God just as He is. We are His brothers and sisters, not slaves. I find it incredible in our day that this truth is so often misunderstood or ignored. Over the next few days we will be looking at this principle of behaving like a Son rather than a slave. The first step in not living like a slave but like a son of God is to stop saying mistaken, slave-like things about our Father. One of the marks of a slave is that we act like we live way out on the edge of the plantation in the slave quarters, where nobody knows what the master’s plans are. When you don’t know what the master’s plans are, how he does his business, you can easily say false things about him. One of the first marks of a son, or a friend, is that we know him. We’re brought into his councils. We see how he works. We see how he makes his decisions. We see what he’s up to. We begin to understand his ways and how he goes about running the world. We stop saying things about him that are not true. Just one of those expressions comes in the midst of the pain that often occurs in our lives. Please hear my heart today. I say this out of love. We need to lose the thoughts and words used when we say things like, “I often struggle with knowing in my heart that no good work can ever be enough to please God.” That sounds like we are saying no good work can ever be enough to please God. That is slave talk; that’s not son talk. We are not the prodigal goat, or the prodigal servant; we are the Father’s sons!

Imperishable, Undefiled, Unfading - Pt 2

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV).

The believer’s inheritance is “reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (vv. 4-5). We need never fear the loss of our inheritance, since it is under God’s own watchful care. Not only is God watching over our inheritance, but He also is doing so in the safest of all places: heaven. That’s where “neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal” (Matthew 6:20), and where “nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever [enter], but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27). No one will ever invade or plunder heaven. Therefore our inheritance is eternally secure. Many Christians are confident that God is able to guard their inheritance but doubt that He can guard them. They fear they will somehow lose their salvation and forfeit God’s promises. That’s a popular view, but it overlooks the fact that God does pledge to protect us as well! Peter said, “You . . . are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (vv. 4-5). The word translated “protected” (phrouroumenous) is a military term that speaks of a guard. Peter used the present tense to indicate that we are continually under guard. Implied is the idea that we need ongoing protection because we’re in a constant battle with Satan and his forces. It is God’s omnipotent, sovereign power that guards us and guarantees our final victory. God, the ultimate Judge, has justified us in Christ, made us heirs with Him, and has given us His Spirit to ensure that the good work He started in us will be perfected (cf. Philippians 1:6). He is able to keep us from stumbling, and to make us “stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy” (Jude 24). Not even Satan himself can condemn us (cf. Romans 8L33), so rather than fearing the loss of our inheritance we should continually rejoice in God’s great grace and mercy. No matter what our circumstances might be, consider your eternal inheritance. Meditate on it. Let it fill your heart with praise to the One who has extended such grace to you. Let it motivate you to live to His glory. Don’t pursue the quick fix—some worldly solution to the passing problems of life. This world’s trials aren’t even worthy to be compared with our eternal glory. And always remember that you have Christ, who is all-sufficient in everything now and forever.

Imperishable, Undefiled, Unfading - Pt 1

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV).

Last year I received an orchid in appreciation of some work I had done with a couple. They really gave the gift to Mary, though I was to be the caretaker. In the past I haven’t had a very good track record with orchids. I could keep them alive; however, I could never get them to re-bloom. The one pictured here is that same gift I received on its second round of blooms. It is actually even showier than in this picture as all of the buds have bloomed fully. I have decided it certainly can be described as an “overachiever”! Over the next few devotionals I am going to take us through parts of Peter’s first epistle. Our first look is an examination of what it would be like to have endless riches stored up for you—a future reward that could never be taken away, but that could be enjoyed forever? If you are a Christian, that is an accurate description of the inheritance God has stored up for you. He has made it possible for us to “re-bloom” in a way that the apostle describes as “imperishable,” “undefiled,” and “unfading” (v. 4).  The Greek word translated “imperishable” (aphthartos) speaks of something that is not corruptible, but permanent. The word evokes the image of a land ravaged by a conquering army; so Peter was saying our eternal inheritance cannot be plundered or spoiled by our spiritual foes.  “Undefiled” (amiantos) means unpolluted or unstained by sin, evil, or decay. Unlike this world, in which nothing escapes the stain of sin (cf. Romans 8:20-23), our inheritance can never be contaminated, defiled, or in any way corrupted. It is unblemished and unstained by the presence or effects of sin (cf. Revelation 21:27).  “Unfading,” comes from a Greek term used of flowers. In the context of 1 Peter it suggests a supernatural beauty that time cannot diminish. Peter used the same word with reference to the unfading crown of glory that faithful elders will receive when the Chief Shepherd appears (v. 4). Those three terms—imperishable, undefiled, and unfading— picture a heavenly inheritance that is impervious to death, sin, and the effects of time. Considering the corrupting, damning influence of sin on the world, it is wonderful to know our inheritance in Christ is timeless and will never diminish. That is the life we have in Christ! And, no one, or no thing, can take that away from us once we have it!

A Renewed Mind - Pt 3

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 ESV).

Let me close our brief look at being transformed by saying a double action of the Holy Spirit is required; and, then we join him in these two actions. The reason I say the Holy Spirit is required is because this word “renewal” (v. 2) only used one other place in all the Greek Bible: “[God] saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5). There’s the word “renewal” which we’ve seen is so necessary. And it is renewal “of the Holy Spirit.” The Spirit renews the mind. It is first and decisively his work. We are radically dependent on him. Our efforts follow his initiatives and enablings. Paul says to the Corinthians, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Our minds are renewed by steadfastly gazing at the glories of Christ for what they really are. But to enable us to do that, the Spirit must do a double work. He must work in two directions: from the outside in and from the inside out. He must work from the outside in by exposing the mind to Christ-exalting truth. That is, he must lead us to hear the gospel, to read the Bible, to study Christ-exalting writings of great, spiritual men, and to meditate on the perfections of Christ. This is exactly what our great enemy does not want us to do, “The god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Because to see that for what it really is, Paul says, will renew the mind and transform the life and produce unending worship. And the Spirit must work from the inside out, breaking the hard heart that blinds and corrupts the mind. The Spirit must work from the outside in, through Christ-exalting truth, and from the inside out, through truth-embracing humility. If he only worked from the outside in, by presenting Christ-exalting truth to our minds but not breaking the hard heart and making it humble, then the truth would be despised and rejected. And if he only humbled the hard heart, but put no Christ-exalting truth before the mind, there would be no Christ to embrace and no worship would happen. These are the things for a renewed mind. Are you ready for that today? You can be!

A Renewed Mind - Pt 2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 ESV).

Renewal is the essential means of transformation; specifically, it is “the renewal of your mind.” “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” If you long to break loose from conformity to the world; if you long to be transformed and new from the inside out; if you long to be free from mere duty-driven Christianity and do what you love to do because what you love to do is what you ought to do; if you long to offer up your body as a living sacrifice so that your whole life becomes a spiritual act of worship and displays the worth of Christ above the worth of the world; then we ought to focus on the giving of ourselves to pursuing the renewal of your mind. Of this, the Scripture is very clear. There are many who think that the only problem with the human mind is that it doesn’t have access to all the knowledge it needs. So education becomes the great instrument of redemption, both personally and socially. That common wisdom believes if people just got more education they would not use their minds to invent elaborate scams, and sophisticated terrorist plots, and complex schemes for embezzling, and fast-talking, mentally nimble radio rudeness. That simply has not been proven to be correct historically. The Bible has a far more profound analysis of the problem. Paul explains this a bit more in his letter to the Ephesians, “Be renewed in the spirit of your minds” (Ephesians 4:23). “The spirit of your mind” means at least this: the human mind is not a sophisticated computer managing data, which it then faithfully presents to the heart for appropriate emotional responses. The mind has a “spirit.” In other words, our mind has what we call a “mindset.” It doesn’t just have a view, it has a viewpoint. It doesn’t just have the power to perceive and detect; it also has a posture, a demeanor, a bearing, an attitude, a bent. “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” This is the focus of the new creation. We become different because we think differently. We think like the Spirit of God. This happens as we are exposed more to the Spirit; and, that happens when we read the Scripture, or pray, or fellowship with other believers. We must place ourselves in the context of transformation. Place yourself in a place and position to be transformed. God will do the work of renewal.

A Renewed Mind - Pt 1

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 ESV).

Today I want to focus on the phrase in our reading, “by the renewal of your mind.” The Apostle Paul says we are not be conformed to this world, but “be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” We are perfectly useless as Christ-exalting Christians if all we do is conform to the world around us. And the key to not wasting our lives with this kind of success and prosperity, Paul says, is being transformed. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed.” This word, “transformed,” is used one time in all the gospels, namely, about Jesus on the mountain of transfiguration (the mountain of “transformation” — same word, metemorphōthē): “And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light” (Matthew 17:2; Mark 9:2). This is an important note to come to the truth that the nonconformity to the world does not primarily mean the external avoidance of worldly behaviors. That’s included. But you can avoid all kinds of worldly behaviors and not be transformed. “His face shown like the sun, and his clothes became white as light!” Something like that happens to us spiritually and morally. It takes place mentally, first on the inside; and then, later at the resurrection on the outside. So Jesus says of us, at the resurrection: “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matthew 13:43). Transformation is not switching from the to-do list of the flesh to the to-do list of the law. When Paul replaces the list of the works of the flesh, he does not replace it with the works of the law, but the fruit of the Spirit (cf. Galatians 5:19-22). The Christian alternative to immoral behaviors is not a new list of moral behaviors. It is the triumphant power and transformation of the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ, our Savior, our Lord, our Treasure. “[God] has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6). So transformation is a profound, blood-bought, Spirit-wrought change from the inside out. To use a contemporary phrase, God is not about the business of repurposing something old for a new purpose. He is about making something new! Since He is Creator, He alone can do this. This process begins with trust. Trust Him today!

An Invitation to Mercy

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. (2 Peter 3:8-10 ESV). I hesitate to write about patience today. I’m sure we all could use a little more, after all, everything in the world we live in is teaching us and conditioning us to operate with less and less patience. It seems the world treasures everything only when it is bigger, better, or faster. It shouldn’t be a wonder that we struggle with patience. However, as a result of our struggle with patience, it can be difficult for us to truly understand the patience of God and see the gift of His patience toward us.

We have a tendency to view God through the lens of our humanity. He does not struggle with patience. It is not like He is biting His lip and gritting His teeth to put up with us. Patience is not something He has to work on. He is patience; it is one of His attributes, part of His character. Let me make this clear. If God was not a patient God, we would have no chance. Let me mention three thing that come to mind in this reflection: First, God’s patience is supernatural. Through His infinite lens, “one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” And He loves us. In fact, His patience is fueled by His love for us. God’s patience is for a purpose. It is designed to lead us to repentance. His desire is that we “have another mind” concerning our motives and behavior. He wants us to turn around and go the other direction. So, His patience is meant to lead us to a place where we can recognize His amazing, beautiful grace and mercy. The patience of God points to the Glory of God. When we truly understand the reality of this statement, it is a sobering thought. Not all will call on the name of the Lord, so there is an urgency to this message of God’s patience. A day is coming for each of us when we will have to stand before the most high God. All of our works will be exposed. We will be totally and completely laid bare. On that day the Glory of God will be perfectly and completely revealed. Those who are followers of Jesus Christ will stand before God and when He looks at us, He will see His Son, Jesus Christ. Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, instead of seeing our imperfect works and deeds, God will see the good and perfect works of His Son. His patience and grace will be gloriously displayed. It will be beautiful beyond our imaginations. Don’t miss out on the gift of God’s patience as He pursues you with His mercy and grace. His patience is inviting you to trust in Him as your Savior and Lord.

Mandatory Evacuations and Sheltering in Place

O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncles, and all your wall of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. (Isaiah 54:11-14 ESV)

At the time of this writing the path of Hurricane Dorian is still uncertain, though the best models seem to predict it will skirt the Florida coast and move north toward the Carolinas. With that news the officials of Palm Beach County, Florida, have ordered a mandatory evacuation for parts of the county and a shelter in place order for those living in the western parts of the county. I begin with that news because my son, David, and his family live there. Dorian has become a Category 5 storm, slamming into the Bahamas with winds upward of 175 mph. David has made all the preparations necessary. Their home is as hurricane proof as possible. They have corrugated steel panels that have been placed over all the windows and glass doors. They have secured water and food, batteries, a generator with extra fuel, and are ready to “hunker down” as they are being told by the authorities. I have lived through one of those “sheltering in place.” In 1961, Hurricane Carla made its way onshore and hit Galveston with recorded winds of 171 mph. The rains were torrential and the flooding covering the island. I remember well sitting in my bedroom on the second floor of our home watching the debris carried by the winds with such force they exploded anything in their path. Palm trees were uprooted and blown down, houses were destroyed, and the devastation was incredible. The most interesting thing was that I was not the least bit frightened. My Dad told me it was all going to be fine and the storm would blow over soon. When storms are raging in your life, you must grab a hold of your heavenly Father. He is your refuge, your shelter, the only secure, safe place. He is the bright ray of sunshine in any storm that comes your way. Think of the enemy as the storm and you are a ship out at sea in the whirlwind of the storm. You are being tossed by the waves, which represent anything that is thrown at you to bring you turmoil. You see a light ahead from the lighthouse, who is Jesus your Rescuer, to guide you to safety. You begin to sense the calm inside of you. The fear leaves, and you have the needed hope to weather this storm. This is the wisdom of spiritually “sheltering in place.” If you need to evacuate, the Lord has already taken care of that as well. Trust Him for all your storms in life!

Getting Whay You Want

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. (1 John 5:13-15 ESV).

It's so easy to become disappointed because we don't see life going the way we want it to and we do not see the big picture that God is working through everything to produce in us a character like Jesus Christ. We lose confidence in trusting God and begin to trust in ourselves and what we can accomplish. Pride and arrogance takes over quick and we find ourselves forgetting the goodness and grace of God. Then before we know it, something happens or goes wrong that we cannot control and we blame God. The truth is that nothing apart from God can save us or make us whole. Jesus is the answer and without Him at the center of our lives, we will continue to struggle with having confidence. God's Word is filled with promises of strength and courage if we place our confidence in Jesus Christ. As followers of Christ, there must be a distinctively different basis, direction, and source of our confidence. The Scripture speaks of confidence from a vertical perspective. It is not derived from the relative consistency of our experiences and the development of our gifts, talents, and abilities. It doesn’t come from the strength of our personalities or our track records of success. Likewise, it is not diminished or damaged by inconsistency, failure, suffering, dysfunction, or what so often appears to be the erratic, unpredictable nature of life. Our confidence is anchored in God. He never changes. He is never out of control. He is never taken by surprise. He never loses. Our circumstances don’t affect God; he affects our circumstances. God never missteps. He has no glitches. His ability to function is never overloaded. He never breaks down or crashes. He is our proactive, loving heavenly Father, who not only has a plan for our lives, but also has the resources to make happen everything he intends. Draw very near to Him today in your life. Rest in the knowledge that He only has good in store for you!