What kind of seed are you planting?
Gal. 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
Gal. 6:8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Recently, after hearing a reference to this verse, I was spurred to make this a constant prayer of my life: “Lord, help me not to sow to the flesh but to sow to the Spirit.”
Oh, so many applications came to mind. When I am faced with temptations like wandering eyes or a wandering mind, I pray for God’s help in sowing to the Spirit. Corruption is not to be desired. Corruption is what temptation hopes I won’t notice. But it is inevitable when one “sows to the flesh.”
And in a positive, proactive sense, I pray for God to help me continually to walk in the Spirit and live my life in a way that pleases Him, i.e., to sow to the Spirit. We are currently studying the book of Jude and learning about the instruction to “keep ourselves in the love of God.” Jude is clear, the way to do so is by “building yourselves up in your most holy faith, and praying in the Holy Spirit…[and] waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Those three responsibilities on my part are “sowing to the Spirit.”
I find that I’ve begun to pray this prayer on a very regular basis. And I believe God is answering and helping me to “sow to the Spirit.”
Monday, February 13, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
Do I Want Decisions When I Preach?
I never much liked the term decisions because it’s so semi-Pelagian. What’s that? Well, a semi-Pelagian is a half Pelagian. And I’m not trying to be cute. In simplest terms a Pelagian (named after Pelagius, 4th-5th century A.D.) thinks that man has 100% responsibility and ability to respond to God for salvation. A semi-Pelagian says no, first God must do His part, then man does his part and, finally, putting those two halves together brings the person to salvation...sort of a 50/50 proposition.
The problem is so many Christians are semi-Pelagians and they don’t even know it. In other words, they believe God has done all that He can do and now it’s all up to the lost sinner. He or she must decide whether to believe it or not and whether to do anything about it or not completely on his or her own.
Let’s be very clear. Any response you or I make to God that is pleasing to Him is solely because He in His marvelous amazing grace has enabled us to do so. Philippians 2:13: “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
But back to decisions. Can I live with that term? Well, if by that you mean that while the Word is being preached God the Holy Spirit brings deep conviction upon the heart and mind of an unbeliever, prompting them to despair of any hope for their salvation apart from the saving grace of Jesus Christ, granting them the gift of repentance and faith so that they abandon their sin and surrender to Jesus as their Lord and Savior, then certainly I am hoping and praying for decisions.
But for Christians my real hope and prayer is that you have made a relentless prior decision. My prayer is that before coming to the preaching of the Word you have deeply committed yourself to the idea that you will eagerly listen to the Word of God and you will devote all your being to obeying, by His enabling power, what God reveals to you through His Word…a relentless prior decision. Think of it as a blank contract to which you have already signed your name and are simply waiting for God to fill in the terms of the contract. Let your decision be, in the words of Samuel, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.”
The problem is so many Christians are semi-Pelagians and they don’t even know it. In other words, they believe God has done all that He can do and now it’s all up to the lost sinner. He or she must decide whether to believe it or not and whether to do anything about it or not completely on his or her own.
Let’s be very clear. Any response you or I make to God that is pleasing to Him is solely because He in His marvelous amazing grace has enabled us to do so. Philippians 2:13: “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
But back to decisions. Can I live with that term? Well, if by that you mean that while the Word is being preached God the Holy Spirit brings deep conviction upon the heart and mind of an unbeliever, prompting them to despair of any hope for their salvation apart from the saving grace of Jesus Christ, granting them the gift of repentance and faith so that they abandon their sin and surrender to Jesus as their Lord and Savior, then certainly I am hoping and praying for decisions.
But for Christians my real hope and prayer is that you have made a relentless prior decision. My prayer is that before coming to the preaching of the Word you have deeply committed yourself to the idea that you will eagerly listen to the Word of God and you will devote all your being to obeying, by His enabling power, what God reveals to you through His Word…a relentless prior decision. Think of it as a blank contract to which you have already signed your name and are simply waiting for God to fill in the terms of the contract. Let your decision be, in the words of Samuel, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.”
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Consecrate Yourselves
Recently, I heard a powerful sermon on Joshua 3:5 by Dave Butts.: “Then Joshua said to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.’” In this message Dave gave issued a call to Christians to consecrate themselves before the Lord.
In trying to anticipate possible objections to this concept from some quarters I realized that some of my brothers might suggest that this is Old Testament not New Testament and not a concept that corresponds with grace. Put simply, they might say this is something God does not us in his infinite grace for us.
On the contrary, what could be more NT than the idea of God’s people consecrating themselves? For what does it mean to consecrate one’s self? A quick click of the mouse in Microsoft Word shows these synonyms for consecrate: sanctify, bless, hallow, dedicate, devote, set apart, make holy. All are good and acceptable terms to display the meaning of consecrate in a biblical sense.
But the accusation that this is not NT comes from a limited understanding of grace. As I said argument might be stated thusly: that God is the One who consecrates not us. Of course, this is true in a first cause sense. But what could be more NT than:
• working out what God has worked in (Philippians 2:12-13)
• setting apart what God has set apart (2 Timothy 2:21)
• putting on the new man because God has made us into new creations (Colossians 3:10)
• acting like what we are rather than what we were (Romans 6)
• being holy because God is holy and has made us holy (1 Peter 1:15-16; Hebrews 12:14)
• presenting ourselves as living sacrifices because He by his mercies has made us his own (Romans 12:1-2)
So much of the teaching of the NT on how we are to live is representative of this parallel track. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). We forgive because He forgave us (Colossians 3:13; Matthew 18:21-35).
So I agree with Dave. We should consecrate ourselves in the hope that God will do marvelous things in and through us. Christians, like Joshua and the Israelites, written for our instruction as an example to us, let us consecrate ourselves as we ask God to use us for His glory.
In trying to anticipate possible objections to this concept from some quarters I realized that some of my brothers might suggest that this is Old Testament not New Testament and not a concept that corresponds with grace. Put simply, they might say this is something God does not us in his infinite grace for us.
On the contrary, what could be more NT than the idea of God’s people consecrating themselves? For what does it mean to consecrate one’s self? A quick click of the mouse in Microsoft Word shows these synonyms for consecrate: sanctify, bless, hallow, dedicate, devote, set apart, make holy. All are good and acceptable terms to display the meaning of consecrate in a biblical sense.
But the accusation that this is not NT comes from a limited understanding of grace. As I said argument might be stated thusly: that God is the One who consecrates not us. Of course, this is true in a first cause sense. But what could be more NT than:
• working out what God has worked in (Philippians 2:12-13)
• setting apart what God has set apart (2 Timothy 2:21)
• putting on the new man because God has made us into new creations (Colossians 3:10)
• acting like what we are rather than what we were (Romans 6)
• being holy because God is holy and has made us holy (1 Peter 1:15-16; Hebrews 12:14)
• presenting ourselves as living sacrifices because He by his mercies has made us his own (Romans 12:1-2)
So much of the teaching of the NT on how we are to live is representative of this parallel track. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). We forgive because He forgave us (Colossians 3:13; Matthew 18:21-35).
So I agree with Dave. We should consecrate ourselves in the hope that God will do marvelous things in and through us. Christians, like Joshua and the Israelites, written for our instruction as an example to us, let us consecrate ourselves as we ask God to use us for His glory.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
WITH WARMTH AND JOY (A Love Poem to God for Janet)
Just as each year brings round this time
Of Christmas cheer and grace, so I’m
Reminded how You brought to me
Your gift of life eternally
But grace was not exhausted there
Awakened then was I to where
I came to see in sweet details
Your multi-faceted grace prevails
In every heartbeat, every ray
That gleams the glories of Your Way.
Oh, Thunderous Love and Awesome Might
Thou Flowing River of Delights
How wondrous does Your grace appear
And sweeps away the thin veneer
Of shallow songs and mindless love
That spring so easily above
From hearts not filled with proper awe
From blinded minds that never saw
With eyes of faith your grace displayed
In microscopic gifts conveyed.
Inadequate now as I may be
To adequately express my thanks to Thee
I’m struck by thoughts this twentieth year
Perhaps from me You’d like to hear
A true expression of grateful praise
For one who’s life has filled my days
With warmth and joy abundantly
A gift from You passed on to me
For 33 years so faithfully
With complementing clarity.
So where does one begin to list
Magnificence — lest some be missed
And how can grace be itemized
Though each example...treasured, prized
And where does one enough portray
A life of warmth and Love’s display
Of graceful opulence wrapped up
In one delightful precious cup
Of blessing given to warm my life
A gracious gift — my love, my wife.
From this dear gift I’ve learned so much
And watched as Your perfecting touch
Controls, transforms — Her pliant heart
Conforms to mine as much a part
Of all that You have made of me
And so much more than that is she
But still she loves and grows along
With one so slow, at times so wrong
Her smile still melts enchanting me
Her strength from You is strength to me.
One of my greatest joys with her
Comes each Christmas season sure
As I behold amazingly
How she transforms our home to be
A sanctuary of warmth and joy
That comforts husband, girls and boy(3)
Each decoration, each personal touch
Have mostly come as gifts and such
From special folks who love and care
That God has placed our family here.
My love creates a spirit warm
Our home reflects her heart and charm
She models for me that right response
To those she loves and knows that once
The time is gone to show her love
There’s no more chance for her to prove
That love comes easily for those who know
The grace of God must through us flow
And reach to all around us here
Who in our home can find God’s cheer.
Oh, God of grace and glory please
Grant to my life that I might seize
This opportunity to show
My love for You through her and know
That in my life there’s grace and care
That longs for Your abiding here
I hope and pray that You will sense
A sweet obedient reverence
That fills my heart with warmth for You
And glorifying praises, too.
Who could have known 33 times ago
Of how our lives would deeply grow
Through laughter, tears the years would bring
To all that You designed, oh King.
So deep within this gracious heart
A sacred song serenely starts
Erupting forth delicious praise
For Your great gift, this hymn I raise
With gratitude before You bow
And for my wife I thank You now.
Of Christmas cheer and grace, so I’m
Reminded how You brought to me
Your gift of life eternally
But grace was not exhausted there
Awakened then was I to where
I came to see in sweet details
Your multi-faceted grace prevails
In every heartbeat, every ray
That gleams the glories of Your Way.
Oh, Thunderous Love and Awesome Might
Thou Flowing River of Delights
How wondrous does Your grace appear
And sweeps away the thin veneer
Of shallow songs and mindless love
That spring so easily above
From hearts not filled with proper awe
From blinded minds that never saw
With eyes of faith your grace displayed
In microscopic gifts conveyed.
Inadequate now as I may be
To adequately express my thanks to Thee
I’m struck by thoughts this twentieth year
Perhaps from me You’d like to hear
A true expression of grateful praise
For one who’s life has filled my days
With warmth and joy abundantly
A gift from You passed on to me
For 33 years so faithfully
With complementing clarity.
So where does one begin to list
Magnificence — lest some be missed
And how can grace be itemized
Though each example...treasured, prized
And where does one enough portray
A life of warmth and Love’s display
Of graceful opulence wrapped up
In one delightful precious cup
Of blessing given to warm my life
A gracious gift — my love, my wife.
From this dear gift I’ve learned so much
And watched as Your perfecting touch
Controls, transforms — Her pliant heart
Conforms to mine as much a part
Of all that You have made of me
And so much more than that is she
But still she loves and grows along
With one so slow, at times so wrong
Her smile still melts enchanting me
Her strength from You is strength to me.
One of my greatest joys with her
Comes each Christmas season sure
As I behold amazingly
How she transforms our home to be
A sanctuary of warmth and joy
That comforts husband, girls and boy(3)
Each decoration, each personal touch
Have mostly come as gifts and such
From special folks who love and care
That God has placed our family here.
My love creates a spirit warm
Our home reflects her heart and charm
She models for me that right response
To those she loves and knows that once
The time is gone to show her love
There’s no more chance for her to prove
That love comes easily for those who know
The grace of God must through us flow
And reach to all around us here
Who in our home can find God’s cheer.
Oh, God of grace and glory please
Grant to my life that I might seize
This opportunity to show
My love for You through her and know
That in my life there’s grace and care
That longs for Your abiding here
I hope and pray that You will sense
A sweet obedient reverence
That fills my heart with warmth for You
And glorifying praises, too.
Who could have known 33 times ago
Of how our lives would deeply grow
Through laughter, tears the years would bring
To all that You designed, oh King.
So deep within this gracious heart
A sacred song serenely starts
Erupting forth delicious praise
For Your great gift, this hymn I raise
With gratitude before You bow
And for my wife I thank You now.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Choosing a Good Name
A breath of fresh air has wafted over the college football landscape. Oh, it's not the first time, but it is extremely rare. Matt Barkley has announced that he will stay in school. He's not the first (others come to mind like Peyton, Matt, Tim, Jake, Andrew) and probably won't be the last. But, again, he demonstrates that rarest of qualities in sports of any kind. Some call it loyalty, and that it is. However, a better understanding would be the long lost virtue of keeping one's word. In an age when "me-first, last & always" reigns supreme it is refreshing to see someone live by the proverb: "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches."
What an oddity. In an age that is rampant across the board with a lack of this quality, Barkley's decision almost boggles the mind. The most damning issue in all of this is what we so easily overlook and constantly deny to ourselves that, given the same opportunity in our own life's work or situation, almost none of us would have made the same decision that Matt did. We would all, for the most part, take the money or fame and run. Just like the coaches, teams, players and, yes, fans at all levels of sport.
Let's scan the sports horizon and be reminded how rare this is.
Coaches: Long ago we lost the notion that coaches are loyal to their schools. They recruit players with the idea, but as soon as the bigger better program comes along, forget contracts, forget giving one's word. Bye bye! Remember, all those grieving, angry fans would do the same thing in their own jobs.
Administrators (and influential supporters): Certainly no better. Let a coach go from a winning record to a losing one and forget contracts, forget giving one's word. So long!
Players: Who could expect players to do little else when the example they have from those above them is so obvious. They learn these things at an early age. Families with star players show no loyalty to hometowns and schools, changing schools and towns with impunity (or abandoning them altogether for club teams where there is even less loyalty), some having played in four different locations in a four-year high school career. Why should anyone expect that kid to stay in college for the agreed upon time?
Fans: Here you say is where real loyalty lies. Stick with my team through thick and thin we cry. Well that may be true for a small contingent of fans but for the most part, fans are just as disloyal as coaches, administrators and players. Or haven't you noticed the empty seats when a team doesn't win often enough. Or the empty seats in the second half when the team that does win is suddenly losing badly.
Owners & Player Reps: While we're at it, let's at least point out the hypocrisy and mockery of the professional sports bargaining charade. Both sides long ago lost the respect of sensible people. From both sides of the table the other is demeaned in every way and then when it's all over there is supposed to be team unity? What a joke! And while I'm at it, I'm so weary of hearing the caveat: "It's a business." So? Why does that justify doing everything in one's power to renege on one's word and make the other side look bad. I know plenty of business people, employers and employees, who honor their word and do their jobs faithfully and diligently.
From the first day Matt Barkley walked on the USC campus he has been a role model for young people everywhere. A fine young man who handles himself with maturity and modesty. Though I might not have made the same decision he made (I would hope so but I'm fallible too), I admire him for his. Whatever one says about Matt Barkley in the future for now one thing is clear — he is a man of his word. What a rare commodity in today's sports world.
What an oddity. In an age that is rampant across the board with a lack of this quality, Barkley's decision almost boggles the mind. The most damning issue in all of this is what we so easily overlook and constantly deny to ourselves that, given the same opportunity in our own life's work or situation, almost none of us would have made the same decision that Matt did. We would all, for the most part, take the money or fame and run. Just like the coaches, teams, players and, yes, fans at all levels of sport.
Let's scan the sports horizon and be reminded how rare this is.
Coaches: Long ago we lost the notion that coaches are loyal to their schools. They recruit players with the idea, but as soon as the bigger better program comes along, forget contracts, forget giving one's word. Bye bye! Remember, all those grieving, angry fans would do the same thing in their own jobs.
Administrators (and influential supporters): Certainly no better. Let a coach go from a winning record to a losing one and forget contracts, forget giving one's word. So long!
Players: Who could expect players to do little else when the example they have from those above them is so obvious. They learn these things at an early age. Families with star players show no loyalty to hometowns and schools, changing schools and towns with impunity (or abandoning them altogether for club teams where there is even less loyalty), some having played in four different locations in a four-year high school career. Why should anyone expect that kid to stay in college for the agreed upon time?
Fans: Here you say is where real loyalty lies. Stick with my team through thick and thin we cry. Well that may be true for a small contingent of fans but for the most part, fans are just as disloyal as coaches, administrators and players. Or haven't you noticed the empty seats when a team doesn't win often enough. Or the empty seats in the second half when the team that does win is suddenly losing badly.
Owners & Player Reps: While we're at it, let's at least point out the hypocrisy and mockery of the professional sports bargaining charade. Both sides long ago lost the respect of sensible people. From both sides of the table the other is demeaned in every way and then when it's all over there is supposed to be team unity? What a joke! And while I'm at it, I'm so weary of hearing the caveat: "It's a business." So? Why does that justify doing everything in one's power to renege on one's word and make the other side look bad. I know plenty of business people, employers and employees, who honor their word and do their jobs faithfully and diligently.
From the first day Matt Barkley walked on the USC campus he has been a role model for young people everywhere. A fine young man who handles himself with maturity and modesty. Though I might not have made the same decision he made (I would hope so but I'm fallible too), I admire him for his. Whatever one says about Matt Barkley in the future for now one thing is clear — he is a man of his word. What a rare commodity in today's sports world.
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