SENT: Compassion

Read Matthew 9:35-38.

What was Jesus doing? He went out to the people. Met them at their point of need. He was interacting mainly with the people Israel. Shows the geographical range and variety of things involved in Jesus’ ministry. He was Teaching. He taught in the synagogues. What did He teach? The Old Testament scriptures. He was also Preaching the gospel of the kingdom, the good news of His appearing and impending death and resurrection. He was also Healing. His all-powerful touch doing mighty deeds. Some of which are recorded in Matt. 8-9. Jesus’ ministry involved teaching, preaching and healing. He did this throughout all the cities and villages. It is easy to think of it being numerically insignificant, being such a small area. Galilee was small, 70 x 40 miles, but according to Josephus, who wrote a generation later, Galilee had 204 cities and towns, each with at least 15,000 people, which if accurate, would make the population around 3 million. It would have taken 3 months to visit them all if you took 2 towns a day. Whatever the case, Jesus was busy!

How did He respond? He saw the need of the people. He saw the crowds. Big word in Matthew. Crowds, multitudes, masses of needy people. Jesus had compassion for them. Saw their condition and felt for them. The Greek word is splagnidzomai. Means to be moved inwardly, to feel deeply, to be emotionally moved on someone else’s behalf. And because of that feeling to act towards them in a way that meets their needs. He felt compassion for them because they were harassed...distressed, weary, lit. skinned. They were experiencing distressing difficulties. Therefore they were Helpless...Dispirited, downcast, worn out, lit. face down. They were unable to care for themselves. Their sinful condition had been aggravated by the religious leaders. Those who were supposed to help them were hindering them, harassing them; putting them in harm’s way rather than leading them to the truth, putting heavy yokes on them they were unwilling to bear themselves. They were Shepherdless sheep.

What did Jesus say to His disciples? He instructed His people. There is a plentiful harvest. There are not many workers. Ask God to send workers. God selects His own servants. He knows who they are, who they will be, who He has chosen, but He invites us into the process by asking us to pray...God uses the prayers of His people in fulfilling His plans…He is asking us to be so compassionately involved that we want what He wants and we bind ourselves to Him in dependent prayer, seeking His will and glory.

What are we to do?
Like Jesus said Be praying . Do exactly what Jesus said to do. This is just as needed today as it was then. And don't just be asking for others to be sent, be willing to go yourself. Ask God to break your heart for people.

Like Jesus did...Be looking for opportunity wherever you are. See the needs, notice the people as those made in God's image. Human, therefore worthy of attention and respect. So many people need Jesus.

Like Jesus, Be serving. Where are you now? Serve there. While you wait, work…be like Jesus…overcome evil with good. Where is your field? Where has God planted you? Bloom there. Biblical compassion inspires mission.

A true church is a missionary church. Not just in sending people far away, but here, there and everywhere. Why? Due to the lost condition of the world, the love of God, and the Great Commission, coupled with the many opportunities God gives us to share the life-giving gospel. All things we see in 9:35-38. At Grace our stated purpose is to worship God, build up believers and reach others for Christ. We exist to glorify God by building a gospel-centered community that proclaims and displays the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What motivates our mission-mindedness must never be a feeling of superiority, or disgust because people are caught in sinful lifestyles, but the fact that God loves them and He has compassion for them. It is the work of the gospel, where we are sent by God to help people – by bringing and living the gospel. John 3:16 does NOT say for God was so fed up with the world, or that God was so disgusted with the sins of the world, or that God was so full of wrath at the world, but God so loved the world that He gave He only Son, so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish (from their sin and the wrath poured out on it by a just and merciful God) but would have everlasting life.

So, be active in living and sharing the gospel and God will show you where to go next. He will show you what your next asignment is.

SENT: Being Christ-centered People in a Hostile World

God has a purpose in saving believers – He is at work in them to will and do His good pleasure, to conform them to the image of Christ – that they would praise the glory of His grace. God’s purpose for His elect involves helping others know the gospel of the grace of God in Christ. We who are saved are SENT by God, on mission, on assignment, on a journey of rescuing the perishing. We exist for His glory – we are to honor Him in all we do - and He is glorified when more and more people come to know Him and praise Jesus Christ.

The idea of being SENT comes from Matt. 9:38 and 10:5. The Greek word is Apostello, from two words - apo meaning from; and stele meaning to send. It means to send from, to send forth on a specific mission. Disciple means learner. Apostle, sent one. The Sermon on the Mount showed us what it means to know and follow Jesus. What we see from the end of Matt. 9 through chapter 10, is a Sermon On Mission, what it means to be Christ-centered people in a hostile world. What it means to be Sent: motivated by compassion, sure of your calling, displaying godly character, exercising caution, commanding courage, embracing crucifixion and receiving God's righteous rewards.

God has a purpose for making us and keeping us here - it is for His glory and our good. It is our joy to discover that purpose and dependently live it out.

What Every Christian Should Do in Response to Evil

What should every Christian do in response to sin and evil that assaults our senses, affects and infects us?

1. Actively Reject Evil. You can’t reject evil passively. It’s like weeds; it will take over unless you take decisive action. Since God doesn’t like evil and sin, we need to be aware of it in our lives! Otherwise, it will be like a pile of dirty clothes or a pile of garbage we never pick up that get smellier and smellier. Our sin makes us stinky. One of the worst aspects of sin is delusion and deception, when you see things wrongly but think you are seeing them rightly. Like looking through a dirty window. 1 John 1:9 Confess sin, live a life of repentance. 1 Pet. 5:8-9 be self controlled and alert, your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, resist him, firm in your faith, knowing all Christians are experiencing the same kind of suffering. James 4:7 Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from every appearance of evil. Not all evil is blatant. Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, his servants do too. 2 Cor. 11:13-15. Is. 5:2 woe to those who call evil good and good evil. God has Satan on a short leash. You walk your dog, you put him on a leash. He can only go so far. Satan is limited by God’s oversight of the universe.

2. Adamantly Rest in God's power. His power restrains evil and restores what sin destroys. Call on Jesus, deliver us from evil. Confess, repent of, forsake sin. Eph. 6:10-13 be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Rom. 8:13 If by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live. Kill sin or it will kill you. John Owen said He who does not kill sin along the way is making no progress in his journey...the vigor, and power, and comfort of our spiritual life depends on the mortification of the deeds of the flesh. We cannot do it apart from Christ; with Him we can do all things pleasing to Him. What God calls us to do He enables us to do by the power of His Holy Spirit. Magic eraser. Rest in God’s conscience-clearing power.

3. Appropriately Reach for what is good. Run to Jesus. Cling to Him. Phil. 3:13-14. The problem of evil has been dealt with decisively and ultimately in the Lord Jesus Christ. Sin is like a disease, and the only medicine for it is Jesus! If a person is truly concerned about the problem of evil, it's ultimate eradication and elimination, they will run, flee to Jesus from the wrath to come. Rom. 12:9 abhor hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good. Rom. 12:21. Do not be overcome by evil, overcome evil with good. If you reach for good you won't choose what's bad for you...shopping. If you reach for stuff that's good for you, flax seeds and fruits and vegetables and hummus and sardines, you won't be tempted to go after stuff that is bad for you like ice cream and bacon and donuts. It must become the habit of your life to seek after that which is good. Prov. 11:27; Matt. 5:16; 1 Pet. 2:12, 15; Gal. 6:9 do not grow weary in doing good. 1 Thess. 5:21 hold fast to what is good.

4. Always Rejoice in God’s goodness and glory knowing the final outcome is assured. 1 Cor. 10:31 do all to the glory of God. Eph. 1:12 be to the praise of His glory. Phil. 2:8-11 For this reason… Because of the cross. God exalted Jesus so everyone would one day bow and worship Jesus. God puts up with sin so those He plans to save would acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ as their only hope for salvation from the just wrath of God and would worship Jesus to the utmost daily and for all eternity. Rev. 5. So while you are here on earthy, 1 Thess. 5:16-17 rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it until the day of Christ Phil. 1:6. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18b.

God puts up with evil in order to bring maximum glory to Himself. God makes sin serve His purposes and plan. God planned for sin and evil to be a part of the picture; that it would result in Jesus Christ receiving maximum glory through the cross. These are hard words to say, but in view of my own sinfulness, & the evil present in the world, and the realization that all is not well in the universe and that many sins, faults, and injuries assault those who seek a God-saturated view of all things – it’s the only answer that will hold up and build substance in us. God is merciful, gracious and holy and terrible things happen and He is not indifferent, absent or surprised by any of it. He predestined all things even evil, sickness, suffering and pain while knowing the end of all things. Joseph told his brothers Gen. 50:20, "you meant it for evil but God meant it for good". This is the way God designed that things would work.

The worst sin ever committed the most heinous crime ever perpetrated was the murder of Jesus on the cross and it was planned by God, it happened according to the predetermined plan of God. Acts 4:27-28, 2:23. The death of Christ was planned by God but carried out by sinful hands. God made sin work against itself at the cross. God made sin serve His purposes at the cross so that we might fulfill our purpose of praising the glory of His grace. We understand the big picture of sin and evil only to the degree we understand the same disease infects us. And there is only one cure...the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. God's ultimate triumph over evil comes through the cross of Christ.

Why God puts up with Evil, Part 4

4th, God puts up with sin in order to display His magnificent glory. Romans 9:23 speaks of those who were "prepared in advance for glory". Glory is the greatness of who God is, seen most in what He does in saving some. Col. 1:27 speaks of "the riches of the glory of the mystery, which is Christ in you the hope of glory".

He patiently endures sin to show mercy to those He chose in Christ from before the foundation of the world. It brings Christ greatest glory for the greatest number of people to be praising the glory of His grace Eph. 1:5-6. We see in Col. 1:15-20 that all things were made by Him, through Him, for Him, and in Him all things hold together. He, through the cross, purposes to reconcile all things to Himself. God in His perfect holiness willed that sin and evil exist and He did so in such a way as to bring Himself maximum glory. He is over all and uses everything to praise Himself.

Because sin exits, God is shown to be even greater in comparison. It’s like comparing the Grand Canyon to a little pile of dirt. God puts up with sin because He desired to show His just wrath, make known His awesome power, extend His undeserved mercy and display His magnificent glory. You could say it like this, life is hard, but God is good, and sin is bad, but we are secure, because God is sovereign. He puts up with sin in order to fulfill His purposes.

Why God puts up with Evil, Part 3

3rd, God puts up with sin in order to extend His undeserved mercy. Romans 9:23 speaks of "vessels of mercy prepared for glory". It is something God decided to do because of His love. God in His wisdom made a world where His wrath and mercy would both be displayed. Grace means getting something you do not deserve. Like someone handing out free ice cream. Mercy (the Greek word eleos) is not getting what you do deserve – extended by God to alleviate the consequences of sin. You deserve a ticket but the officer lets you go with a warning; or kids, you disobey your parents and they don’t give you the consequence you deserve. 1 Pet. 3:18
"Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God". God has dealt decisively and effectively with the problem of sin. Jesus Christ is God's solution to the problem of sin, the only way to salvation. Eternal life comes by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for God's glory alone. John 6:44 "no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him". John 6:65 "no one can come to me unless it has been granted to him by my father". Our hope in Him, an anchor for our souls, based on His unchangeable character shown in His promises and covenant.

Nothing is more amazing than a formerly hell-bound sinner, once alienated and hostile to God, who turns to Jesus in faith and then praises the glory of His grace. The apostle Paul is exhibit A: 1 Tim. 1:12-14. William Carey is a good example: the 1st missionary to India sent by the Baptist Missionary Society, he wrote in his will that he wanted a simple headstone on his grave: William Carey, born August 17, 1761: died 'A wretched, poor, and helpless worm, On Thy kind arms I fall.' On his deathbed he said: "When I am gone, say nothing about Dr. Carey; speak about Dr. Carey's Saviour". There was John Newton, who wrote Amazing Grace, lived to be 82, died in 1807, preached almost to the end of his life. He never ceased to be amazed at God's grace. He told friends: "My memory is almost gone; but I remember 2 things; I am a great sinner, & Christ is a great Saviour".

In God's economy some graciously receive mercy. Where sin abounded grace abounded all the more. Salvation came through Jesus Christ, the 2nd Adam, representative head of the redeemed. God could destroy sinners the first time they sinned, that is His prerogative. God puts up with sin to show mercy. Those who receive it never get over it. He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:3 It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 1 Tim. 1:15.

Why God puts up with Evil, Part 2

2nd, God puts up with sin in order to make known His awesome power. Romans 9:22 He endured with great patience 1 John 3:8 He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might – destroy the works of the devil. God never directly does anything evil, but He brings about evil deeds through the willing actions of moral creatures. The Bible never blames God for evil or says that God ever takes pleasure in it. Deut. 32:4 says He is the Rock, His work is effect, all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice, righteous and upright is He. James says He tempts no one & He can’t be tempted with evil. But God can and does use the imperfectness of sinners for His glory without being contaminated in any way by sin. This is a magnificent display of His power to subject all things to Himself. God uses evil to accomplish His purposes. That is how strong He is. He governs the world, and causes all things to come to pass, including the wickedness and sin of His creatures, without in any way defiling Himself. God brings about sin without sinning. We believe this not because we can reconcile this in our minds, but because the Word of God tells us. Rom. 8:28 God causes all things to work together for good to those called according to His purpose. In a world full of sin God made this promise to us. He could only make it if He were in charge of all things including sin; otherwise unchecked evil could harm Christians permanently, apart from God's plan. Nothing can touch the child of God which first hasn't been approved by God Himself. Job, Satan was given permission. God providentially controls the free acts of men. God sees to it that people do just as He wills, while never violating the free will or responsibility of His creatures, the freedom of man to chose to do the thing that He decreed to be done. Prov. 21:1, 16:1 the heart of man plans his way but the Lord directs his steps. The all-powerful creator of the universe is not a mere spectator, He is in control of all things. He is involved in everything that happens. See Prov. 16:33, is. 46:9-19, Ps. 139:16.

Why God Puts up with Evil, Part 1

Read Romans 9:22-24

Romans 9 does not answer the question of why evil exists or even who authored it, it gives us the answer to the question: Why doesn’t God stop evil in its tracks? In Romans 9:22-24 we see four reasons why God puts up with evil. Rooted in what God desires, what He wants. Romans 9:22 begins what if a rhetorical question introducing a statement of fact. God wanting, willing, desiring, Greek word signifies God true intentions, not like us hoping or wishing for something, like we hope it turns out alright but we have no control of the outcome, this is what God willed, decreed, ordained to happen. Four things God wanted and willed to have happen.

1st, God puts up with sin in order to show His just wrath against sin and evil. Wrath (the Greek word orge) is extreme anger. Many people struggle with anger issues. What makes you angry? It is easy to think that God must somehow deal with things like we do. Sin makes God angry, but not in the sinful way we get angry (we sinfully seek revenge); He does so in a perfectly holy way (He purely seeks what is good and right and just). Romans 9:22 speaks of "vessels of wrath prepared for destruction". He endures with great patience those who are under His wrath in order to show mercy to some. God created everything good. But sin is bad. Sin exists because man is free. Evil is the outworking of man’s sinful choices. We speak of evil as a force, it is not created, it is chosen by God’s creatures. It is the absence of God's righteousness. Because sin infects every human at the core of their being, evil is chosen rather than good. Jeremiah 17:9 says "the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked". We learn about God’s sovereignty in Romans 9, that He is over all, He planned to save some, His character is perfectly consistent, He is just and merciful. We also learn about man’s responsibility: our sins condemn us, we are under God and our choices matter.

The Bible doesn't explain the origin of evil fully. It presupposes that evil exists, in much the same way it assumes God exists. Gen. 1:1
begins, in the beginning God. And Genesis 3:1 starts now the serpent, who we know is Satan, known as the serpent from of old, the deceiver, the father of lies. We read in Isaiah and Ezekiel of Satan's fall, or more accurately, his expulsion from heaven. He was thrown out by God. We know of man's subsequent temptation and fall into sin, believing the lie that has ensnared so many, that God is not good. Romans 5:12 tells us that sin came into the world through one man, Adam, the representative head of the human race. Therefore all people are born in sin, spiritually dead, unable to bring themselves to God or make any movement towards Him at all for good. Read Mark 7:21-23 to see what Jesus says about the human heart. You are not as bad as you could be, utterly depraved, but you are bad enough to deserve hell, totally depraved, totally unable to do anything to help yourself spiritually unless God intervenes.

God’s wrath is in direct response to the unrighteousness and ungodliness that exists. See Rom. 1:18-32, 2:4-6, 3:9-12; 2 Tim. 3:-5; 2 Pet. 2:1-3, 9-15; Jude 14-16; 2 Thess. 2:7-12. Sin is a form of treason against God. His wrath against sin is just. All are naturally dead in sin, cut off from God and unresponsive to Him. Man chooses sin rather than God because he loves evil and not good. Sin enslaves causing man to lose his freedom to choose good. Rom. 8:7-8 says the carnal mind is hostile to God. In God's economy no one is treated unfairly, some receive the justice they deserve. He leaves them in the sin they have chosen.

Substance for Difficult Days

Life is hard. These are difficult days in which we live. Violent crime murders, kidnappings, and other treacheries shock us. Natural disasters tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and more continue to hit. Wars and rumors of wars multiply. Unrest abounds. Political unrest people can’t agree on how to run things, in a post-9/11 world people live in a constant state of uneasiness; relational unrest people can’t get along, adults can’t get past lifelong issues, kids can’t share their toys; it happens in homes, across cities, states, nations and continents. Economic unrest 2 years ago we slid into one of the worst financial crises our country has seen. Scores of people out of work. Spiritual unrest clash of worldviews, a war of ideas about the origin of the world and who oversees it. We live in a pluralistic, relativistic, God-spurning time; man's autonomy celebrated and sin lifted up as ideal. You have to ask WHY all the heartache and confusion? We spend our time on frivolous things, propping ourselves up with whatever we can find to escape the inevitable questions of life.

This is not the time to entertain ourselves and make us feel good about ourselves. Days are coming that will be more difficult. We are living on the Sinking Titanic, business as usual will not do. We need an answer outside of us; we need a Christ-centered, God-saturated, as Jonathan Edwards put it, a God-entranced view of all things. We will need to cling to God’s sovereignty in order to survive these days and the ones to come.

John Piper says focusing on the sovereignty of God in times like these can seem like comforting a bruised heart with a tire iron. We need comfort. But we also need substance, strength that comes from a solid grasp of God's ultimate control of all things. A reason to stand firm and withstand in the midst of horrible circumstances. We must hold unwaveringly to the truth that God is good. He is righteous, just, perfect, holy and loving and is opposed to sin and evil. And God controls everything, including evil.

Non-negotiable Anchors for our Faith

If we would develop Biblical understanding we must hold unwaveringly to certain truths, certain non-negotiables, that are often up for grabs, even seen as unnecessary, like life boats on the Titanic, among many who claim to be Bible-believing, Jesus loving, gospel-centered people. There are absolute truths we need to hold to. Among the most crucial are these:

1. God is perfect, holy and loving, and His wrath is just.
2. The Bible is the one and only inspired, infallible and authoritative Word of God.
3. Sin is a form of treason against God.
4. Jesus Christ is God's only solution to the problem of sin, the only way to eternal life or salvation.
5. Eternal life comes by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for God's glory alone.
6. God controls everything, including evil.

These are difficult days in which we live. And days are coming that will be more difficult. In the midst of it we who are in Christ have unimaginable joy and peace and comfort, knowing God is in control and our future is secure. And without these foundational truths people will be deeply shaken and even moved away from the hope of the gospel when difficult times and circumstances come.

At Grace our stated purpose is to worship God, build up believers and ache others for Christ. Restated in other words, we exist to glorify God by building a gospel-centered community that proclaims and displays the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

These are not days for entertaining ourselves with fun nd games that make us feel good about ourselves. We are living on the Sinking Titanic, frivolous music and mustering courage will not do. We need something outside ourselves, we need a God-saturated view of all things. We need a solid understanding of His sovereignty in order to survive the days ahead. These are days to prepare for the coming onslaught of persecution and hardship oof which the Bible speaks.

John Piper, speaking of these hints, says that speaking of the sovereignty of God in times like these can seem like comforting a bruised heard with a tire iron. But what a deep, abiding grasp of God's sovereignty gives you is substance, strength, a reason to stand firm and withstand in the midst of horrible circumstances. It gives us the best answer to why there is sin and evil running rampant all around.

God is good. He is holy and righteous and just. He is holy, righteous and just. He is in control of all things, even evil. Our hope in Him is an anchor for our souls, a hope built not on empty promises but on the unchangeable character of God displayed in His promises and covenant.

God wills That Sin and Evil exist and bring Him Glory

These are hard words to write, in view of my own sinfulness, and the evil that is present in the world, and the daunting realization that all is not well in the universe and that many sins, faults, pains and injuries assail those who seek a God-saturated view of all things. He is merciful and gracious and holy and horrendous things happen and He is not indifferent or absent or surprised at any of it. He predestined all things while knowing the end of all things. Sovereign in wisdom and in power, He is perfectly good and compassionate and aware that He is working all things after the counsel of His will and working all things together for good for those who love Him. As Joseph told his brothers in Genesis 50, " you meant it for evil but God meant it for for good". This is the way God designed and ordained and decreed that things would work. To God be the glory.

God's Sovereignty is Peerless

God's sovereignty over all is peerless. Unmatched. Without true rival though many pretenders assail His throne. Man, under God, is accountable to Him. We are accountable for our sin; for our thoughts, words and actions; and ultimately whether we reject Jesus or not. We respond to God in light of His sovereignty. And God's sovereignty is not without opposition. Sin and pride push against the immovable rock of God's control of the universe. Nonetheless, God is still and always will be, sovereign. He reigns as King over all.

Lost and Found

A friend of mine called me today to ask me to pray for a local child that was lost. They were out in their neighborhood helping his family look for him. We prayed. We asked God to keep him safe, protect him, lead his family to him. We received a call soon after telling us the good news. The child had been found. He was safe. We praised God.

This brief moment of heartfelt concern for the temporal welfare of one made in the image of God reminds me of the eternal concern we have for those who do not know the grace of God in Christ. Paul, in Romans 10:1 says that his "hearts desire and prayer to God is for their salvation." he earnestly desired the salvation of the lost and therefore prayed to God on their behalf. A pattern for us to follow.

Why is there evil in the world?

Tough question, but it can be answered. Think of it this way. Evil exists because God is good. If God were not good He would be evil. But He is goodness personified in it's most concentrated form. So it only stands to reason that God in His inherent goodness would allow some who are evil to go their wretched ways. It sobers us to think that some do not follow. Those not with Jesus are against Him. They do evil to the utmost. God causes some to turn from their evil and repent and believe. Just look in your own heart and you have a disadvantage. You are not as bad as you could be but you are bad enough to deserve hell. But If you are one of the called, your safety is assured, you will find your way to the celestial city. God has planned it that way. He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it until the day of Christ (Phil. 1:6). The Holy Spirit is the restrainer of evil. But in those who will not believe, evil runs amuck. We need the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Why does God put up with sin?

Simply put, He endures with great patience those who are under His wrath in order to show mercy to some (Romans 9:22-25). He patiently endures sin to show maximum mercy to those He chose in Christ from before the foundation of the world. It brings Christ greatest glory for the greatest number of people to be praising the glory of His grace (Ephesians 1:3-6). All things were made by Him, through Him, for Him, after Him, and in Him all things hold together. He, through the cross, purposes to reconcile all things to Himself (Colossians 1:15-20).

Peace like a River

I have heard that line so many times. I have sung it. I have said it. Peace like a river. I have that kind of peace because of the Lord Jesus Christ and what He has accomplished at the cross and in saving my soul by grace through faith in Him. It is all for His glory.

Often I picture "peace like a river" as this gentle flowing stream of water that meanders through a lush valley, unencumbered, not in a hurry, tranquil, idyllic, almost other-worldly. A scene of serenity. I have seen some brooks and streams like that all over America and the world. But I have also seen raging rivers. Torrents of waters that rush headlong through ravines. Violent forces harnessed only by the banks within which they roam. Is this the kind of river that peace may be compared to? Most the time time I imagine the easiest of rivers. Not a deep or dangerous one.

Maybe the peace is more like a wild river than a docile one. I think of Jesus stilling the storm. Calming treacherous forces. Stronger than all. Therefore I have peace in Christ, from Christ, with Christ in every instance. In the midst of raging storms and times of calm. In every situation Jesus reigns sovereign and supreme. He is the source and the sustainer of peace in my life. As Jesus said "peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:27)

Holy Anticipation

God has done great things. God is doing great things. God will do great things.
He accomplished redemption at the cross of Christ. He is the sovereign Lord of the universe who always does what is good and right.
I am amazed in His presence. He had mercy of my soul and delivered me from the wrath of God through Jesus Christ.
He chose me before the world began, He predestined me to be conformed to the image of Christ.
He is at work in me to will and do His good pleasure. So I am eager to see what He does next. I am eager to see Him face to face.

Sovereign Savior 2

Sovereign Savior
Lord Jesus Christ
You're my deliverer
You are my life

My life You purchased with Your blood
The cross Your glory and my good

God's Prerogative

God is just and He is free to do as He pleases. All His ways are just and right. Romans 9:6 says "for He says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.'" The discussion of salvation and Christian growth lands squarely in the realm of God's prerogative. He chooses freely based on His predetermined plan. Romans 9:16 says "It depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy." It is by God's doing that I am in Christ. As 1 Cor. 1:30 says, "He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus."

It gives me great comfort knowing that I don't choose myself or keep myself a Christian. It is God's work. Being sinful, if it was mine I would mess it up. I surely could not initiate or sustain such wonderful, God-dependent things. It is also a source of amazing assurance that it all depends on God. And it is mind-boggling that He also chooses to use me as His instrument of righteousness for the good of others. He uses me as a conduit of His grace in my life, family, church and community. All praise goes to God for His marvelous grace. The Lord Jesus Christ, my Sovereign Savior, deserves all the credit.

OGK

There are some things that only God knows (OGK) until the time He chooses to reveal them. The Son of God was pleased to die for the sons of men whom He chose in Him before the foundation of the world. Election is backstory. It is what we find out later. At the point of conversion all we know is that we decided to follow. We wanted to believe. What only God knew until He chose to reveal it was that He first chose us. John15:6, "you did not choose Me but I chose you."

Sovereign Savior

Reigning King
My Savior stands
Above the fray
With outstretched hands

Pierced by the nails
The blood ran down
To cleanse my soul
My heart to own

Without the cross
I would not live
For Jesus Christ
My life I give

He spent it all
To set me free
His child I am
For eternity