Numbers 10
The sound of a trumpet signals something. Depending on length or number, it communicates different information, but nevertheless everyone hears the trumpets. It may be a blast the signals that your chiefs are being summoned. You hear the sound, but no immediate action from you is required. It may be mean that everyone's presence is being requested. It may mean that it is time to march, it may mean that it is time to party. Either way, no one can ignore the sound of the trumpet. Everyone hears it, although not everyone is commanded at that moment to respond to it. So too the end of days will be announced by a trumpet blast. A sound will go out and everyone will hear. And in similar fashion, different people will respond in different ways. For some it will signal a time of war while for others it will announce a time of dining and dancing.
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Monday, July 30, 2018
day no. 14,525: vigilantism
Psalm 94
We are called to be Christ-like (Romans 8:29) imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1). But there is one, very particular, way in which we are NOT to imitate Him or be like Him: vengeance. Vengeance belongs to Him (Romans 12:19). He maintains proprietary rights and allows no infringement or artistic license. It is His. When the Bible commands us to forgo vengeance, it does so by telling us why: because vengeance belongs to God and He will repay. So the reason we are to withhold our retribution is because God's retribution is coming and we must place our faith and trust in it. We must believe in His promise. Believing here means we do not take revenge AND that we trust that we will see His vengeance perfectly meted out. Someone has to die. Either God will save our enemies by placing their sin on to Jesus' cross OR He will punish them with unquenchable fire and indomitable worm for all eternity. We trust God by acknowledging that vengeance is necessary AND by allowing Him to administer it on our behalf.
Sunday, July 29, 2018
day no. 14,524: belief is a busy thing
"Oh, it is a living, busy, active, mighty thing, this faith" - Martin Luther
Paul and James are not reaching contradictory conclusions. They are asking different questions. Paul's question is, "What saves?" which he answers by saying, "grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone." James' question is, "What is faith?" which he answers by saying, "living faith is active in good works." Paul and James are not in disagreement. James' letter was written first and sought to qualify what this "faith" that saves actually is. Paul pens his letter to the Galatians reaffirming Habakkuk's declaration that "the righteous will live by faith." Not just that their livelihoods would be shaped by faith, but that their lives would be saved by faith alone. The council in Jerusalem in Acts 15 is called to address the controversy that erupts in response. James is present at the head of the proceedings that result in the validation of Paul's message, the one true Gospel. James was not won over by Paul's argument, James already held the same position. The council was not James against Paul, it was James and Paul against those who would add to Christ's perfectly completed work of dying for our sins and living for our righteousness. Thus, over a thousand years later, Luther says that belief is a busy thing. Faith looks like something. It works. Both in the sense that it employs itself for God's glory in obeying God's commands and in the sense that it effectually accomplishes its intended aim, it hits its target every time. Faith works. It is sufficient to save. It is busy in its belief.
Paul and James are not reaching contradictory conclusions. They are asking different questions. Paul's question is, "What saves?" which he answers by saying, "grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone." James' question is, "What is faith?" which he answers by saying, "living faith is active in good works." Paul and James are not in disagreement. James' letter was written first and sought to qualify what this "faith" that saves actually is. Paul pens his letter to the Galatians reaffirming Habakkuk's declaration that "the righteous will live by faith." Not just that their livelihoods would be shaped by faith, but that their lives would be saved by faith alone. The council in Jerusalem in Acts 15 is called to address the controversy that erupts in response. James is present at the head of the proceedings that result in the validation of Paul's message, the one true Gospel. James was not won over by Paul's argument, James already held the same position. The council was not James against Paul, it was James and Paul against those who would add to Christ's perfectly completed work of dying for our sins and living for our righteousness. Thus, over a thousand years later, Luther says that belief is a busy thing. Faith looks like something. It works. Both in the sense that it employs itself for God's glory in obeying God's commands and in the sense that it effectually accomplishes its intended aim, it hits its target every time. Faith works. It is sufficient to save. It is busy in its belief.
Saturday, July 28, 2018
day no. 14,523: no proxy
“Every man must do two things alone; he must do his own believing and his own dying.” - Martin Luther
No man can believe or die for you. No man can make his belief your belief so as to excuse your lack of belief and no man can die your death so as to provide a way of escape from death for you.
Hebrews 9:27-28
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.
No man except the God-man, Jesus Christ, that is. He lived the life we should have lived and died the death we should have died so that those who are drawn to Him can escape death and enter life everlasting. No man can do this for you. No parent or relative or pastor. Only Jesus.
No man can believe or die for you. No man can make his belief your belief so as to excuse your lack of belief and no man can die your death so as to provide a way of escape from death for you.
Hebrews 9:27-28
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.
No man except the God-man, Jesus Christ, that is. He lived the life we should have lived and died the death we should have died so that those who are drawn to Him can escape death and enter life everlasting. No man can do this for you. No parent or relative or pastor. Only Jesus.
Friday, July 27, 2018
day no. 14,522: the weight of weakness
I came across this quote from Spurgeon the other day...
God doesn’t need your strength; He has more than enough of power of His own. He asks your weakness; He has none of that Himself." - Charles Haddon Spurgeon
It reminded me of these verses...
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
The orientation of all existence is doxology. In other words, the chief end of all things is to bring glory to God. If our strengths stand in the way of His glory, they are our weaknesses. If our weaknesses bring God glory, they are our strengths. If our chief end is in line with His chief end for us, we accept and receive whatever His hand provides or withholds as our greatest good since our aim is His greatest glory. He is not lacking glory that He needs our adoration, rather we are lacking in giving that His glory may become our chief end.
God doesn’t need your strength; He has more than enough of power of His own. He asks your weakness; He has none of that Himself." - Charles Haddon Spurgeon
It reminded me of these verses...
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
The orientation of all existence is doxology. In other words, the chief end of all things is to bring glory to God. If our strengths stand in the way of His glory, they are our weaknesses. If our weaknesses bring God glory, they are our strengths. If our chief end is in line with His chief end for us, we accept and receive whatever His hand provides or withholds as our greatest good since our aim is His greatest glory. He is not lacking glory that He needs our adoration, rather we are lacking in giving that His glory may become our chief end.
Thursday, July 26, 2018
day no. 14,521: a grace positioning system
Numbers 9:22
Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out.
Wherever God lingers, there I want to camp.
Wherever God goes, there I want to roam.
Whenever God moves, I want to be moved.
Whenever He stops, I want to be anchored.
Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out.
Wherever God lingers, there I want to camp.
Wherever God goes, there I want to roam.
Whenever God moves, I want to be moved.
Whenever He stops, I want to be anchored.
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
day no. 14,520: establishment
Psalm 93
No one can cast down what God has established and no one can sustain what God has destined for destruction. Vain glory and pride will exalt themselves and the proverb will come to pass: "the bigger they are, the harder they fall." The lowly will be lifted up and the self-congratulatory will be cast down. No one can usurp this principle. No self exertion or will power or consensus of voices can overhaul what God has established. The meek will inherit the earth. It is theirs by rebirthright. No one can take it from them because it is the Lord's to have and to hold and He has established the heirs.
No one can cast down what God has established and no one can sustain what God has destined for destruction. Vain glory and pride will exalt themselves and the proverb will come to pass: "the bigger they are, the harder they fall." The lowly will be lifted up and the self-congratulatory will be cast down. No one can usurp this principle. No self exertion or will power or consensus of voices can overhaul what God has established. The meek will inherit the earth. It is theirs by rebirthright. No one can take it from them because it is the Lord's to have and to hold and He has established the heirs.
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