Grace abounding

Yesterday I was reading in Knowledge of the Holy about God's infinite grace. Tozer pointed out that we could never know the full weight of our sin and that we did not need to know. What he referred to was Paul's argument in Romans about when sin abounded that grace abounded all the more. God's grace is infinite, it is unlimited. God did not change between yesterday and today. He will not change tomorrow. I know I don't deserve His grace. I am rebellious, full of sin and pride.

As I learn more about the attributes of God it challenges my perceptions of Jesus. Again, I did not deny that Jesus was God, but I did not apply to Him the same attributes that I do to God. God was "up there" and Jesus had been "down here". It did not pose a problem for me that they were of the same essence and did not share the same attributes. If asked "Matt, do you believe that God the Father and Jesus the Son (and for that matter included the Holy Spirit) share the same attributes?" I would have answered, "Yes." But, then say to me "Matt, describe Jesus' attributes." I would have used some generic words about all loving, perfect, caring, compassionate, kind. If pressed to describe even these attributes as infinite or not, I probably would have because I knew it was the right answer, not because that was the Jesus that had been revealed to me. Even now, I am just beginning to learn to apply those same attributes that I am learning about to Jesus.

Change from one beggar to another

Song for today: Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)/Artist Chris Tomlin

Today I did something sinful. I confessed my sin and acknowledged (not with as much gratitude as I should have) the forgiveness I have received and I asked for God’s help not to repeat that failure.

But as we drove to Lakeland to retrieve our children from my parents I spent some time thinking about it. What struck me was this thought and question: My heart finds pleasure in writing here. Would my heart find the same pleasure if instead of writing about God I wrote of the profane things in life? If my actions that bear fruit are not matched by attitudes that bear fruit, I am like a Pharisee and my religious activity an affront to God.

That line of thought held and manifest became the conviction of self-ambition and pride. A concrete lesson waited for me at the exit ramp from the Polk Parkway. I spotted a pedestrian at the intersection where we were getting off while we were still a long way off. When they didn’t emerge from the other side of the vehicles like someone crossing the street with purpose I figured it was someone panhandling and so I locked the doors. As we decelerated and came to the intersection I discovered I was right. I generally don’t give money to panhandlers because I don’t want to enable whatever addiction they’re suffering under. My heart began to melt.

It’s amazing how fast our mind can work. I went from disdaining this guy to thinking that I would just give him the change in the door handle of K’s van (I don’t think we had any cash or I probably would have given that too) and I thought I would add some spiritual words of comfort or encouragement. As he got closer to the van I finally got the window rolled down and the change in-hand. I looked him in the eye, gently placed the change in his hand—neither he nor I even looked to see how much it was. I think he said “Thank you, God bless” and went on to the truck behind us. My weak, soft response to his gratitude was “you’re welcome.” That was it; I had nothing else to say…nothing else to offer at that moment.

In that short amount of time I learned something. A friend from a church we used to attend would frequent say about ministry that “we are just one beggar telling another beggar where to find some bread.” In truth, I don’t think too much about being a beggar myself, but I enjoy telling others where to find some bread. I would much rather direct others to bread than admit my own need for even crumbs. This afternoon I shared in that beggar’s abject poverty and bankruptcy—he and I are on equal footing before God. He and I are deserving of the same judgment from God. We’re spiritually bankrupt and except for the work of God we would be separated from Him for all of eternity.

That panhandler probably has less to overcome spiritually to enter the Kingdom of God than many religious people. They think they have the answers and don’t see their poverty. He may drink or drug himself into a stupor, but he is probably not deluded into thinking that He should be inheriting the eternal presence of God Himself. See what the Bible says in Matthew 21: 28-32. In verse 23 we see that the King was being challenged by the chief priests and elders of the people while in the temple teaching. After a short discussion on Jesus’ authority, the King told a parable:

Matthew 21:28-32 (NASB95)28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in the vineyard.’ 29 “And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 “The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, ‘I will, sir’; but he did not go. 31 “Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. 32 “For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him."

Pray for me, that I would be reminded of my own spiritual poverty and the amazing grace that comes from God. To quote today’s song: “The earth shall soon dissolve like snow. The sun forbear to shine. But God, Who called me here below, will be forever mine, will be forever mine. You are, forever, mine.”

God is the sole source to meet our needs

God as the sole provider was manifested in yesterday’s reading as well. In Hosea 7:8-16 the Bible says that Israel (the Northern Kingdom) was turning back and forth for help to Egypt and Assyria. They should have been seeking God.

Lately in my own life I have been experiencing some of this. Not only in the role of Israel seeking fulfillment, joy, protection, salvation that can only come from God, but also in the role of Egypt or Assyria. I want to be a source of fulfillment, joy, protection, salvation for those around me. Not only is that unrealistic, but it can be incapacitating. The needs of my family and those in my sphere of influence are beyond my capability to fulfill. The list is long and not knowing where to start can mean not starting at all. It is only as I yield to God’s Spirit that I can be a vessel through which He ministers to those around me. My roles as the leader of my home and protector and provider and shepherd are not to be shirked. But ultimately, I should be lovingly (which means sacrificially) pointing my family and those around me to God. If I am not, then I am leading them astray.

The study notes in my Ryrie Study Bible say this about the Scripture quoted below: “This great invitation, extended to all, is threefold: (1) to come and receive salvation; (2) to learn in discipleship; and (3) to serve in yoke with the Lord. The yoke involves instruction under discipline. Yet, in contrast to the teaching of the scribes, Jesus’ yoke is easy. Through the ages these verses have been among the most beloved in the N.T.”

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (NIV) These are the words of the Jesus who bore the penalty of all my sin—through Whom I have received forgiveness and life everlasting in the presence of God. I like to return time and again to the fact that eternity with God will be more wonderful than anything we can imagine because it will be in God’s presence and we cannot imagine that. A converse and sobering fact is that for all those who go into eternity without having trusted in Jesus as Lord and Savior their eternity will be more terrible than anything we can imagine because it is to be without God for eternity. God will not drag people into His presence for eternity if they spent all of this life not wanting anything to do with Him. What kind of god would force his eternal presence on creatures that with responsibility for their freedom of choice chose him not?

God's Attributes are infinite, perfect, never diminished one by the other

In my own words: As I was praying this morning I was thinking about and praising God for how God’s attributes are never sometimes on and sometimes off, even though I don’t completely understand it. When I thought of Old Testament passages it didn’t always seem like God’s righteousness (results of which are judgment and wrath) was accompanied by His love. It worthwhile to note that God’s judgment and wrath are not found only in the OT, but that’s my natural thought about where they are displayed.

Continuing with the thought above…God’s love is not diminished by His other attributes nor His other attributes by His love. One of the verses from my devotion this morning demonstrates this: “Woe to them, because they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, because they have rebelled against me! I long to redeem them but they speak lies against me.” (Hosea 7:13 NIV) I didn’t even pick up on it when I read through the passage (vv. 8-16 was today’s reading) the first time. But here is God pronouncing destruction, yet what does He say? He says, “I long to redeem them…”

In my own life, I fear God’s chastening for my sin (1 Cor. 11:32; Heb. 12:7-10). I do not want to regard iniquity in my heart and disrupt or sever my communion with God. I desire to be conformed to the image of Christ and not only seek to confess my sin, but ask for God’s help in not doing it again. But my natural man recoils from the idea of chastening for my sin. I would interpret suffering those consequences as proof that the sin was my fault (which in reality it is; sin is always the result of a willful choice). I also don’t like the idea of enduring consequences for my sin. I want a happy, successful, care-free life after all. I don’t think those adjectives would characterize Christ’s life: happy, successful, care-free. Jesus accomplished in obedience what was set out from eternity past for Him to accomplish, but that is different from our view of success today. Happiness is determined by our external circumstances, not an internal joy irrespective of external circumstances. How can a Christian be care-free? In one sense I guess we are because God has provided all that we need. Further, our flesh has been crucified and along with its worldly desires. But enduring chastening for my sin doesn’t equate with my idea of care-free. By care-free I mean unhindered to pursue my own agenda. In that regard, the follower of Christ is not care-free; our agenda was crucified with Christ.

But I can trust God that when He chastens me, He does so because He loves me. And I can trust God that in His chastening He will be conforming me to the image of Jesus Christ, my savior and king. I can trust God that even as His righteousness is being displayed, His mercifulness, graciousness and love are on display as well. The Lord my God, in Whom there is no shadow of turning (James 1:17), is my God. In Him I have life now and life eternal. He is my inheritance.

“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.” The Apostle Paul writing to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:15 (NASB).

First picture post

I've never done this before. I have been starting a large project of organizing pictures. I selected Picasa 2 (free through Google) to organize my photos. I noticed a Blog This button. I ended up having to disable my internet filter to get it to work even though the website was already on the list of acceptable websites. I had a blog started here shortly after some friends of ours started one to keep their friends, family and loved ones up-to-date on the progress of their newborn who has had some challenges. God loves them so much, I just checked the blog and it honestly makes me want to cry knowing how much God loves them and their baby and their boys. Honestly, it leaves me with nothing more to say here about me.

Knowledge of the Holy

I have been reading the book Knowledge of the Holy written by A. W. Tozer. It is having a major impact on me. It changed my worship experience yesterday at church. How? As we sang I had that book open and reading through the things I had underlined as key to changing how I think about God. Why is what I think about God important? Tozer underscores the answer to that question when he says in Chapter One: "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." (Proverbs 4:23-Keep your heart with all vigilance,for from it flow the springs of life. ESV)

I must admit, that I really interacted with God as though he was the highest order of created being. My God was one of my own creation, what I wanted because I didn't trust that He held my best interests in view. My God was too small. (see Bruce A. Ware's book Their God Is Too Small - I should clarify that I was not and am not an open theist, but the book has application to what I am speaking to here.) Intellectually I assented to the fact that He was not created, but in practice I didn't want to give God control of my life.

As I have been reading this book for the last several days, I have also been listening to John MacArthur as I walk in the evening. The podcast is "Grace to You". Several of the podcasts have dealt with growing in Christian maturity by focusing on the glory of God.

All of these things are leading me to trust in God in a way that I have never done before. I see Jesus in a way that I never saw Him before. As I learn more about Who God really is the miracle of His incarnation in the person of Jesus Christ becomes more amazing. My heart is responding with joy and pride. Pride in my God Who has saved me, not by setting aside penalty for my sins, but by accepting the penalty Himself. I hope these are the first of many responses that may perhaps be described as "joy inexpressible" (1 Peter 1:8). I belong to Him and He is my inheritance.

Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. No one will go to the Father excepth through Jesus. (John 14:6)