So Die to Live, huh?

A Paradox of choices

Yesterday we looked at the exhortation of Jesus to His disciples in Matthew 16.  See yesterday's post for this.

The expanded statement to be drawn from study of this passage is "Die to death in order to live to life".  There is no ultimate self denial, but only the choice to live rather than die and what kind of self denial is that!

That is called grace and that is called surrender and that is called "God is able and I am not".  Ever tried to get out of a Chinese finger trap?  What seems like giving up and surrendering is actually victory and freedom.

Find the expanded idea to die to death and live to life in Romans 6:10 in the example of Jesus...

“10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.” (Romans 6:10, ESV)

The grounding statement in this Matthew 16 passage is found in verses 27.  The whole passage hinges on the fact that Jesus is going to come and He will repay each person according to what we have done.  See Romans 2:6-10 for a comparison...

“6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.” (Romans 2:6–10, ESV)

There are two options in Matthew 16 and here in Romans 2 when we consider the coming of Jesus.  Death or life.  Attain the world or attain your soul.  Seek yourself or seek God.  Follow a lie or follow the truth.  See the two options in Matthew 16-

Option 1 is in verses 24-25.  

Deny yourself this life (later clarified to be "the world") and get some different life (eternal life).  Get Jesus.  Remember that Romans 6:23 says that eternal life is in Jesus.

Option 2 is in verse 26.  

Protect "your life".  Take the world.  Lose your soul.  Don't get Jesus.

The paradox of dying to live comes alive in Romans 2 (pun intended) as Paul writes about how the selfish people (one who obey unrighteousness rather than the truth) will receive wrath and fury but the other people (I guess the unselfish people) will receive glory and honor and peace.  I will take door number two thank you!  But look at what it says.  How does it describe the "unselfish people"?  They seek for glory and honor and immortality!  That doesn't sound very self denying or unselfish, does it?

Or does this maybe reveal the paradox of Matthew 16 for us?  Maybe Paul is taking out the "means" of the kind of self denial that Jesus is explaining in Matthew and jumping right to the "end" of the self denial that Jesus is talking about.  Do you see it?  Do we fail to see that the kind of self denial that Jesus is calling us to for eternal life is no denial at all?  Do we see that it is merely denying ourselves the lies of the world and choosing the truth of what we receive in choosing Jesus?

If we choose to follow Jesus, the world sees us as denying ourselves of certain pleasures and freedoms.  But the truth is that we gain ultimate joy and freedom!  So we are called to give up the pretend happiness and hollow pleasures for the real deal.  Give up the broken copy for the real Mccoy...

“11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11, ESV)

So do we settle for the hollow and fleeting and unfulfilling joys of this world or do we go for the glory and honor and immortality in Jesus?  If we live for His glory we honor God and we live forever.

So let us not be enemies of God by making ourselves a friend of this world...

“4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4, ESV)

But let us be rich toward God and enjoy eternity with Him with all that it offers in great excess to this life...

“21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”” (Luke 12:21, ESV)

As a wise man once said "You gotta do a little dying to do a little living!"  Now let us die to self  with joy and only in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit knowing that we are surely not losing anything valuable but rather, we are gaining Jesus- and He is everything!  

So important questions-

1. How do I do it and in what power?
2. When do I get the gain?

More on these to come...but until then-

“11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:11, ESV)

Soli Deo Gloria!

Die to Live

Reflection on Jesus' exhortation to His disciples in Matthew 16

In Matthew 16:24-28 Jesus explains the we must not seek to save our life, but rather, we should deny ourselves and lose this life in order to save it.  We are to take up our cross and follow Him.

People die on crosses and it seems that we must die in order to live.  So what kind of death is this and what does it mean to deny ourselves?  Is this an ultimate self denial where we are left with nothing?  Are we to refuse all pleasure and find "holiness" in a life of denial of all?

Consider this and search your bible (concordance and/or cross references are very helpful) for some responses to these questions and we will pick it up tomorrow.

Soli Deo Gloria!

The Faith of an Outsider

Reflection on the Faith of the Caananite Woman in Matthew 15

In Matthew 15:21-28 (also Mark 7:24-30) we see the story of a woman who is not a Jew but who has great faith and she receives blessing from Jesus in the healing of her daughter.  This, however, only happens because she is willing to acknowledge her brokenness and her plight of being an outsider, not a member of the family of God.  She rests her faith, it would seem, on the promise of God from Genesis 22:17-18…

“17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”” (Genesis 22:17–18, ESV)

As she addresses Jesus as the son of David, she was surely aware of some Jewish tradition and teaching.  Though she is an outsider she pleads not upon her merit or any sense of Jesus owing her this blessing, but rather she pleads based upon the blessing God promised to all the nations being blessed in the offspring of Abraham.  She perceived that the blessing of Abraham spills over into saving grace for every tribe, people, language, and nation (cf. Rev 5:9).

“22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”” (Matthew 15:22–27, ESV)

Jesus knew this woman and her faith before the interchange began and He lead her to this confession through his statements and He is pleased to bless her.  She did not arch her back to the suggestion that mercy is not deserved or earned.  She did not contest that the family nature of this blessing was unfair or unjust.  Salvation is a family matter and God sent His Son for His lost sheep.  But Jesus explains in John 10 that He has other sheep (other than the house of Israel)…

“15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:15–16, ESV)

So let us not come to God demanding something that is not ours and something that we do not deserve.  Rather, let us cast ourselves at His feet and claim the promises of God knowing that He will not turn away those who genuinely and humbly call upon His mercy in the person of Jesus…

“13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”” (Romans 10:13, ESV)

Some give appearance of relying upon His name and are yet turned away (cf. Luke 9:57-62).  But this woman honors God and understands mercy.  Her faith is genuine and as is the case with all genuine faith, it was an unmerited gift from God (cf. Eph 2:8).

“28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.” (Matthew 15:28, ESV)

Like the Caananite woman here, let us recognize our need and let us give glory to God in trusting in a promise of mercy rather than in our deserving or earning or our twisted sense of entitlement.  Let us rejoice in the Lord and praise His glorious and amazing grace that saves a wretch like me!

Soli Deo Gloria!

The God-Man in Matthew 14

Reflections on the God-Man of Mathew 14-

In the time immediately following his learning of John the Baptist's death, Jesus teaches us with two pictures of His dual nature.  He teaches us that He is the Son of Man and to rely on the Father as He did.  He also teaches us that He is the Son of God and that we can call upon Him in our trials and when we fear our circumstances. We also see the reaction of worship from His children (His sheep) contrasted to the reaction of the masses who do not recognize His identity and who do not honor God or thank God for their blessings.

Read Matthew 14:13-33 and look for the pattern of His dependence on the Father followed by His display of deity.  

Dependence- He is sorrowful and goes off alone after hearing of John's death. verse 13

Deity- He returns and heals the sick as he has compassion for the crowd.  verse 14

Dependence- He prays to the Father for blessing on the meager provisions, depending on the Father to provide for their needs. verse 19

Deity- The food multiplies and all are satisfied by the miraculous provision. verse 20

Dependence- Jesus goes up alone to pray after the crowd eats and he sends the disciples off onto the water. verse 23

Deity- He walks on the water and brings Peter also out onto the water with Him. verses 25-29

Looking again at the same passage (and comparing with the parallel account of the miracles in John chapter 6) look for the response from the crowd versus the response from His disciples.

Crowd- They receive the miraculous gift of provision and yet do not give thanks or recognize His identity and they follow him merely for getting more food (see John 6:26-27)

Disciples- They worship Jesus and ascribe to Him the identity of the Son of God after seeing Jesus walk on water and call Peter do the impossible while trusting Jesus.  They also see Jesus rescue Peter when he feared the circumstances and began to sink.  verse 32

Many will go through life receiving mercy and common grace from God without ever honoring Him or giving Him thanks.  Paul writes of these people in Romans 1:21-32 and says the result of this is that they think entirely wrong about the world and about God and their hearts are darkened to the point that they trust their own wisdom and they refuse to acknowledge God.  The result is not good!  Let us be people who value the giver over the gift and who give thanks and honor to our gracious king.

What other lessons for application do you see in these passages regarding the feeding of the 5,000 and Jesus walking on water?  Post your thoughts as comments…

Soli Deo Gloria!

Discussion Questions for Tonight

I look forward to seeing you tonight men.  I added some discussion questions that are shaded in gray within the lesson that is in the left column of the blog.  Tonight we will hit these few questions as we work through the lesson.  My goal is to get reflections and dialogue on what we see in the scripture about this perfect work of our savior in the excellencies of Jesus.

I have stacked them all below for ease, but in the lesson they are embedded in our discussion...

Question- What is your reaction to this truth that the Son of God, who existed from all eternity in perfect community with the Father and the Holy Spirit freely chose to put on human flesh forever and to bear our weaknesses and sufferings in order to die in our place?

Question- What is your reaction to this knowledge of Jesus’ experience in humanity?  What difference is there in a Savior who walked in our shoes as a brother rather than God simply delivering laws and justly requiring that we keep them?

Question- What is your reaction to this brief explanation of the law of God.  No list of specific do’s and don’ts but a very broad and sweeping requirement of perfect love for God always and forever...is this easier or harder?

Question- What was the victory that Jesus came to win?  Did he come to conquer with might in a display of His deity before an unbelieving world? How did he destroy the power of death?

Question- What model do you see for us in Jesus’ prayer in times of suffering or trial?

Question- Knowing that what we deserve is God’s wrath- What is your reaction to this humble and yet conquering king who came and died and rose and ascended to heaven- who now stands at the throne of the Father to intercede for you and to defend you with the omnipotence of God Himself and the compassion of a brother?

Until tonight...

Soli Deo Gloria!

Pilgrims Together on the Path

In Matthew 13 Jesus tells a parable about a sower and he describes people (the soil) along this path and how they react differently and proceed differently as they hear the Word of God and as they apply it to their lives.  One example is the person who, though they receive the Word as truth and begin to walk in this truth, they ultimately fall from the path and are caught in the thorn bush of the world.

“22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22, ESV)  

Here we see the proof that the seed planting and early growth was indeed "unfruitful".  This reminds me of Hebrews 3:12-14 that I mention often as I see it a war cry of ours...

“12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” (Hebrews 3:12–14, ESV)

Let us stand together as men on this pilgrimage together and let us not be idle in the assumption that all our brothers are far clear of the thorns, rather, let us exhort one another daily.  Let us lash our belts together and not let another be caught up in thorns along the path.

It is a great honor that God uses one person's faith to impact another persons.  So speak faith into one another and be as the men who lowered their paralytic friend through the roof in order that he might see Jesus.  Hear Jesus' words to them...

“4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”” (Mark 2:4–5, ESV)  

Let us exhort one another in faith that we may help each other see Jesus today!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Lesson for this week available

Men,

We meet again Thursday evening and I have amended the lesson for the night and it is posted to the column on the left side of the blog.  I look forward to seeing your Thursday!

I am posting various devotions or encouragements on the blog throughout the week (as I get the opportunity) so consider following by e-mail by putting your e-mail into the dealio on the right side of the blog if you want to see these without having to remember to go to the site...

Until Thursday-

Soli Deo Gloria!

Yoke Check

In Matthew 11 Jesus exhorts those who would be wearied by the yoke of the law to come to Him for discipleship in order to learn and find rest.  A yoke is a tool to allow for pulling or carrying a load and it represents labor.

“25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”” (Matthew 11:25–30, ESV)

Jesus says that we are using the wrong yoke.   

Human effort at getting right with God will not suffice and will make us weary.  If you love me you will keep my commandments (remember that John 14:15 is a promise to claim, not a litmus test to fear)!  We need to take the yoke of faith in Jesus, a yoke of trusting in His work in us, a yoke of finding Him lovely and worthy of our praise.  He speaks about the burden of seeking justification and right standing with God and how the little children who have their eyes opened should not labor under the example of the supposedly wise and understanding folks that are devoted to human effort at achieving justification by laborious efforts to comply with the law.  Rather, we should take on this yoke of faith and know that God's love, which was poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (cf. Romans 5:5) will bring about in us a desire to walk in His ways and it will be a joy, not a burden (cf. 1 John 5:2-5)! 

“5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5, ESV)

“2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:2–5, ESV)

Note that in 1 John 5:2 the greek word for "love" is the verb form of Agape and refers to our loving of God.  But the beauty of verse 3 is that the word "love" here is the noun form and is in reference to God as the subject of the action!  So this means, like we considered in yesterday's Heart Check, that it is God's love in us by His Holy Spirit that he causes us to keep His commandments as a promise and we do so not laboring under a load, but empowered by God Himself!  Strive not in our own strength, for his power is perfected in weakness (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9)!

“9 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.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)

Let us therefore put down the yoke of self-righteous attempts to conform to the law to prove our love.  Let us rather find the victory in surrender to a love of our King.  Let us ask for God to pour His love into our hearts daily and that He would work and will in us what we cannot do for ourselves (Philippians 2:13).  Let us find joy in His ways rather than a task of obedience.

“13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13, ESV)

“20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20–21, ESV)

Soli Deo Gloria!

Heart Check

Read the verse below and then consider how you take it.  What is being said here?  What does it mean and how does it apply to my life?

“15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15, ESV)  

Think for a few more seconds and then consider this question...


Is this a LITMUS TEST to check myself as to whether I really love Jesus or not?

OR

Is this a PROMISE from the Son of God that if I will just love Him, I will- as a result- keep His commandments?


Do we think we should prove to ourselves or to Jesus that we love Him with obedience?

OR

Should we simply ask and seek and fight to look and see Him as He truly is- infinitely lovely and faithful and worthy of our praise- and just maybe in this beholding of the Lamb of God the Holy Spirit might move our affection toward Jesus and perhaps our mind will be renewed and our hearts transformed.  Perhaps we will be moved by the hand of God to trust His Son.


Do I need to look at myself and my behavior for validation when I face doubt?

OR

Do I need to look at Jesus and trust His promises?


Do I need to strive and achieve to "work out my own salvation"?

OR

Do I need to surrender and be amazed at what God is doing in my heart to "work out my own salvation"?


Study your bible and also think about these verses below as you ponder your heart and the way you read such a statement from Jesus...

“26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” (Ezekiel 36:26–27, ESV)  

“18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)  

“6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6, ESV)

“12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12–13, ESV)

“9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9–11, ESV)

“9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”” (Luke 11:9–13, ESV)

“27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.” (John 16:27, ESV)

Remember- Salvation is From God, Through God, and To God!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Lesson 3 (a) tonight @8pm!

Hello men-

Tonight we will look at the first objective from lesson three.  The objective is to display the manifold excellencies of Jesus Christ, our perfect Savior.

This will be the first of three evenings looking at lesson three- The Work of a Perfect Savior.  I have posted the complete lesson for tonight in the left hand column and I encourage you to download and maybe print it to bring with you.

See you tonight-

Soli Deo Gloria!

The Lion and the Lamb

A Prayer by John Piper-

Almighty and merciful God, we exult in the reflection of your might and mercy in your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. We rejoice in the strength of his lion-like power and in the tenderness of his lamb-like meekness. We take heart from his incomparable combination of excellencies. It reassures us that there is none like him, and that he is not a mere man like others. O grant us, in our brash indifference, to tremble before the Lion of Judah and to humble ourselves under his fierce holi- ness. And grant us, in our brokenness and fear, to gather courage from the lion-like Lamb. Oh, how we need the whole Christ! Open our eyes to see the full- ness of his excellence. Remove the lopsided and dis- torted images of your Son that weaken our worship and lame our obedience. May the power of the Lion and the love of the Lamb make our faith in Christ unshakable. So deliver us from small dreams and timid ventures and halting plans. Embolden us. Strengthen us. Make us love with fierce and humble love. Let us share the confidence of the Lion of Judah that gave him the will to die like a Lamb and rise in everlasting joy. And in it all, grant that all might see the glory of Christ and that you might be honored through him. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Soli Deo Gloria!

The Excellencies of Christ

Men- this coming week we will look at the diverse excellencies of Jesus.  By this I mean we will look at the extremes of His character and work that reveal His glory.  Things like the way He is completely conquering and powerful and authoritative but yet He is humble, submissive, and obedient.

Consider reading one of the gospels this week if you have time because we will look at the life and ministry and death of Jesus as part of our study.  Post questions from your reading of the chapters or the gospels as a comment to this and I can come better prepared to the meeting...

Soli Deo Gloria!

Work of a Perfect Savior

Good morning good men-

This coming week we will study the perfect work of our king, the God-man Jesus Christ.  We have looked at how salvation is from, through, and to God so now we will consider that He freely chose to subject Himself to the limitations of humanity, in order that He could suffer and die for us.

Our great God was not satisfied in glorifying His name by destroying all of us for our treasonous hostility and decision to doubt His goodness and to deny Him in preference of self-exaltation.  However, it is critical that we understand and believe that this wrath against us would have been good and right and completely just for God to have exercised.

But to the praise of His glorious grace, He instead made a way that He could not only be our righteous God, but also our Savior.  This would be accomplished in the work of His only begotten Son, who would take on flesh for our sake.

“21 ...And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me.” (Isaiah 45:21b, ESV)

“5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5–8, ESV)

“5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:5–6, ESV)

The chapters we look at this week are below-

Chapter 2: To Please His Heavenly Father

Chapter 3: To Learn Obedience and Be Perfected

Chapter 4: To Achieve His Own Resurrection From the Dead

Chapter 43: To Unleash the Power of God in The Gospel

Prayer for one another-

Almighty God and redeemer of our souls,

Teach us this week of the excellencies of Jesus that are revealed in His work of obedience and righteousness.  Help us to be lifted up in our affections and to see His beauty.  Unleash your gospel power in us and though us that we can be lights and that we can be joyful and satisfied in you O Lord.  We ask this for the sake of your name, amen.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Meeting Tomorrow (5/2)!

Good morning men-

Tomorrow we will meet again at 8pm and I look forward to our lesson.  By tomorrow morning I will post the final lesson to the left column of the blog (click the link below if you are reading this in an email) and I am hoping that you will download the lesson to bring on your device or print it and bring it with.

Morning prayer
Heavenly Father- Please do a work in our minds and in our hearts so that by the power of your Holy Spirit we may understand the scriptures and that we might see your glory and that we might be caught up in your majesty and in your love.  Give us the strength to comprehend the love of your Son and open our eyes to His beauty.  Bring us together tomorrow for this purpose Lord and let us honor you in our discussion and in our meditation on your Word.  For the sake of your name I pray, amen.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Morning Prayer- 4/28/13

Good morning men,

Great God and king of our souls-
Help us this week to consider the truth of our own hearts that are bent on being your enemy and teach us the be in awe and wonder that you have brought us to reconciliation and you have removed the separation by canceling the sin.

Help us to consider the truth of the cross and how you have not wiped away your wrath, but you have diverted it to your Son.  Let us see His beauty and your amazing grace and let us be transformed and motivated.

Help us to see the truth of the access that we have to you in Jesus.  Teach us to trust only in Him as our means of access to you in prayer and may we come joyfully into your presence as the returned prodigal son whom you are eager to dress in a fine robe and to throw a party for.  For the sake of your name and the joy of our hearts I pray- Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria!
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The Great Discovery

This Thursday we will be looking at salvation and particularly at the fact that, by birth, we are separated from God by our sin nature and that we need to be reconciled to God.  We will examine the Old Testament concept of atonement and relate it to what Christ accomplished for us in His life and death.

A Puritan Prayer for us as we ponder the great salvation that comes From God, is accomplished Through God, and is purposed primarily To the glory of God.

Glorious God, 

I bless thee and I know thee.
I once lived in the world, but was ignorant
of its Creator,
was a partaker of thy providences, but knew not
  the Provider,
was blind while enjoying the sunlight,
was deaf to all things spiritual, with voices
  all around me,
understood many things, but had no knowledge
  of thy ways,
saw the world, but did not see Jesus only.
O happy day, when in thy love's sovereignty
  thou didst look upon me, and call me by grace.
Then did the dead heart begin to beat,
  the darkened eye glimmer with light,
  the dull ear catch they echo,
  and I turned to thee and found thee,
  a God ready to hear, willing to save.
The did I find my heart at enmity to thee,
  vexing thy Spirit;
Then did I fall at thy feet and hear thee thunder,
  "The soul that sinneth, it must die!",
But when grace made me to know thee,
  and admire a God who hated sin,
  thy terrible justice held my will submissive.
My thoughts were then as knives cutting my head.
Then didst thou come to me in silken robes of love,
  and I saw thy Son dying that I might live,
  and in that death I found my all.
My soul doth sing at the remembrance of
  that peace;
The gospel cornet brought a sound unknown
  to me before that reached my heart - and I lived -
  never to lose my hold on Christ or his hold on me.
Grant that I may always weep to the praise of
  mercy found,
  and tell to others as long as I live,
  that thou art a sin-pardoning God,
  taking up the blasphemer and the ungodly,
  and washing them from their deepest stain.

"The Great Discovery"- Retyped From The Valley of Vision: Puritan Prayers and Devotions (p.112-113)

Soli Deo Gloria!