Monthly Archives: March 2020

Contentment

Posted on by

“Grant me to walk as Christ walked,
to live in the newness of his life,
the life of love, the life of faith,
the life of holiness.”
“When thy Son, Jesus, came into my soul
instead of sin, He became more dear to me
than sin had formerly been;
his kindly rule replaced sin’s tyranny.”
From “The Valley of Vision”

1Timothy 6:6-7 (NASB)
6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.
7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.

I don’t recall another time in my lifetime when our world’s collective health and wealth have both been threatened at the same time. But for many now, the invisible enemy virus and our fear of financial loss holds captive our thoughts day and night.

And yet, the present trials are nothing compared to those of first century Christians. However these current tribulations seem to consume us.

As I read the thoughts of a Puritan in the Valley of Vision, I was reminded how Jesus is more dear to me than sin. As a Christian, these times will reveal the idols that I cling to, allowing me to let go of them and focus on my Redeemer. And trust. And pray that I would walk as Christ walked.

Heavenly Father, grant me to walk as Jesus walked, to always place Him first in my heart with no room for anything else. I pray He would replace all idols and that I would live in contentment a life of holiness. I pray this in the name of my dear Savior. Amen.

Always praying fo the glory of God,

Alone with God

Posted on by

Psalm 139:1-3 (NASB)
1 O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You understand my thought from afar.
3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.

I sit down alone,
Only God is here:
In his presence I open,
I read his books;
And what I thus learn,
I teach.
     —John Wesley

I find that I think about God more when I am alone than when I am with others.  The only exception is during worship or Bible study or some other group activity like a prayer group.  And when I am alone, and my thoughts turn to God, I recognize just how much I am not alone.  I can be more alone in a group of people than when I am alone with God.

Even understanding this, I find it amazing that true humility seems to be difficult for me to feel.  Knowing that God is intimately acquainted with all my ways escapes my constant attention.  When we become Christians, I would think we should be the most humble people in the world.  And yet I am not.  My pride surfaces so easily.  I so easily think better of myself than others.  When I really meditate about that, it can be frightening.  How could anyone be prideful, knowing that God knows us into the deepest recesses of our soul.

I guess we try to protect ourselves by hiding how we really are and put on that mask that we show to others.  I’m afraid that I also do that with God, although hopefully less so.  Maybe it is the fear of seeing the real me.  If it wasn’t for God’s willingness to hear my confessions, I’m afraid that we would never really know anything true about us.  It would all be hidden away.  Without the Holy Spirit that helps us turn toward Jesus, we would never truly change.

Heavenly Father, You know me better than I know myself.  I pray that You would reveal to me the true me and then help me to confess those things to You that do not bring You glory.  Erase the fear of knowing myself.  Holy Spirit, whisper to me how to become more like Jesus and show me how to make that change.  Instill in me true humility.  Save me from my pride.  I pray these things in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God, 

 

Heaven and Hell

Posted on by

Luke 12:4-5. (NASB)
4 “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do.
5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!

Matthew 4:3 (NASB)
3 “ Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus spoke about both heaven and hell. I find it interesting that many today dismiss the concept of hell, saying that it doesn’t exist. Rather they focus on the idea of heaven only. I know of a pastor in a reformed church that didn’t believe in hell. He had no particular reason for believing that, but rather decided that it didn’t exist.

Our image of heaven and hell are somewhat determined by scripture, but God has only given us a small glimpse of these places from the Bible. Images of heaven and hell in our culture tend to be clouds and floating angels for heaven and fire and constant torture for hell.

While Jesus talked about hell, He didn’t tell us that we should believe by the fear of avoiding something bad. In the verse in Luke, He was simply stating the power and authority of God. More often He spoke about the blessings of the gospel and the promise of heaven when we have submitted to His authority.

Over the years, my idea of heaven and hell have changed from the images of our culture to something more basic. I think it came about when meditating on the crucifixion. Jesus was in agony when the Father turned His back on Jesus. He cried out “why have You forsaken me?” This was when my image of hell became the absence of God. Even on earth, all people are blessed with the common grace of God. But in hell, the presence of God is completely absent for eternity. I can’t think of anything more terrifying or agonizing than that.

Jesus, thank you for your words. I cannot image the pure and perfect beauty of heaven, for it will be much more than I can fathom. I look forward to living in Your presence for eternity. Thank You for calling me into Your kingdom. I pray for the salvation of the nations. I pray that all people will come to a saving faith in You. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Always praying for the glory of God,