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Craving Beauty


Living in Michigan, one sees a fair share of grey, overcast days. It is about this time of year that spring and summer are eagerly anticipated. We look around and wonder when the first buds will show and what our surroundings will look like again when all the flowers are in full bloom; when trees are full of leaves and the sun is high and bright. As a matter of fact, many retreat away from here during the winter to simply get a break from the cold, grey days. And yet, though grey and sometimes dreary, there seems to be a treasure therein waiting to be discovered…

As the days of Lent come to a close, reflection on the crucifixion of our Savior shifts toward an anticipation of the resurrection. As stated in The Village Church’s Lenten devotional:

“Lent is a reminder that the resurrection only occurred after the crucifixion… Lent is a season to prepare ourselves for the joy of Resurrection Sunday as we enter the sorrow and pain which preceded it.”

“Where Advent is a season of ever-increasing light awaiting the incarnation of Christ, Lent is a season of ever-decreasing light approaching the cross.”       

So it seems our surroundings here in Michigan serve as a perfect backdrop on our approach to Easter.  As we crave beauty to bloom again all around us may it serve in causing us to reflect on the Giver of the most beautiful Gift, Jesus Christ, our Savior! And may we echo this prayer found in The Valley Of Vision:

            “What more could be done than thou hast done!

                        Thy death is my life,

                        thy resurrection my peace,

                        thy ascension my hope,

                        thy prayers my comfort.”


Hating Sin As Evidence Of Conversion


Richard Sibbes:

If we would make it evident that our conversion is sound we must loathe and hate sin from the heart; now a man shall know his hatred of evil to be true, first if it be universal. He that hates sin truly hates all sin. Secondly, where there is true hatred it is fixed; there is no appeasing it, but by abolishing the thing it hates. Thirdly, hatred is a more rooted affection than anger; anger may be appeased, but hatred is against the whole kind. Fourthly, if our hatred be true, we hate all evil in ourselves first, and then in others. He that hates a toad would hate it most in his own bosom. Many like Judah are severe in censuring others but are partial to themselves (Genesis 38:24). Fifthly, he that hates sin truly, hates the greatest sin in the greatest measure; he hates all evil in a just proportion. Sixthly, our hatred is right if we can endure admonition and reproof for sin and not be enraged with him that tells us of it; therefore those that swell against reproof, hate not sin; only with this caution, it may be done with such indiscretion and self-love that a man may hate the reprover’s proud manner. In disclosing our hatred of sin in others, we must consider our calling; it must be done in a sweet temper, reserving due respect to those to whom reproof is offered, that it may be done out of true zeal, and not out of anger nor pride.

(HT: Challies)


Bind the Festal Sacrifice to the Horns!


When Jesus was riding into Jerusalem on a young, un-ridden colt, he was consciously fulfilling Psalm 118:25-27, “Save us, we pray, O LORD!

    O LORD, we pray, give us success!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
    We bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us.
Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!”

The crowd, though unaware, fulfilled their prophetic role when they cried, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Luke 19:38).  They knew a teacher, healer, and self-proclaimed King had arrived in the city of Kings, Jerusalem. Their joy was overflowing, but their knowledge was weak.

They quote Psalm 118 in part, not fully. If they had read through verse 27 they would realize that when God’s King arrives, His divine light would shine upon His people. That light meant both grace and justice. For God’s face to shine upon His people means both His amazing grace (Numbers 6:25) and exposure of our sin (Lamentations 4:22). When God looks at us he always intends both.

How would Jesus’ arrival fulfill both God’s grace and justice? The breath-taking answer comes at the end of Psalm 118:27, “Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!” The inner holy chamber was prepared, the sacrificial lamb tied to the twin horns of the altar and blood would flow. At the priest’s report of the Father’s acceptance of the spilt blood, a great festival of joy ensues.

Jesus comes into Jerusalem, receiving a King’s praise, but he is no ordinary King. He is the King who comes to die.  Not to merely approve of some animal being bound to the altar for slaughter, he comes to be slaughtered Himself!  The writer of Hebrews teaches: “He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” (9:12).

Join me in glad worship of the King Jesus in whom justice and grace meet!


Disciplines Of A Godly Woman - A Review


Barbara Hughes is the wife of Pastor Kent Hughes. He pastors College Church in Wheaton, IL. She has supported him in his ministry for over 40 years while raising four daughters. She is a popular women’s teacher and has co-authored other books with her husband. Disciplines of a Godly Woman has been a challenging book for me to read, but has also been a great help in my walk with Christ. I wish I had this book when I was in my earlier years of highschool, college and when I was first married. 

The chapters in this book are laid out in sections. The first section is about the soul.  She goes from discipline in godliness through discipline of the gospel, of submission, of prayer, and of worship. In these chapters, Barbara explains the importance of godliness and how we as “gospel women” need to pursue it with all our might. Once we are pursuing godliness Barbara shares with us the importance of submission. She writes, “A Christian’s life is about bringing the will under submission to God’s will, and submission is an idea that has fallen on hard times. Confusion abounds about rights and boundaries, roles and authority. This confusion muddies our thinking about God and creates roadblocks to our spiritual growth. The only cure is a proper theology about God in order to bring every area of our lives under submission to His will. So each topic we touch on in this book is framed in terms of this surrender.”

Barbara continues the section on the soul by giving good clear definition (along with scripture) of the Gospel. This is the foundation of what everything else in a godly woman’s life is built on. She explains how the Gospel is God’s Gospel. “The Gospel is the foundation for every single thing you are and do.” There are questions in this section to answer. The questions give us clarity and a right view of the Bible. She has laid a good foundation at this point for the rest of the book to be built on. 

Barbara moves from the discipline of submission right in to the discipline of prayer. She begins this chapter with a question, “Why must we pray?” There are two reasons: “Prayer is the source of power for growth and perseverance in our spiritual lives.” She goes on to say, “Prayer bends our wills to God’s will, which is what submitting our lives is all about." She teaches that prayer is not for getting God to do what we want, but is for “the shaping and bending of my will until it aligns with His.” 

Her next section is about character. The chapters are about the mind, contentment, propriety, and perseverance. I found that each of these chapters were challenging in and of themselves. She writes about Philippians 4:8. Barbara talks about Paul’s positive words he chooses here, where he could have written: “Whatever is untrue, whatever is ignoble, whatever is wrong, whatever is impure, whatever is unlovely, whatever is not admirable—if there is anything shoddy or unworthy of praise—do not think about these things.” She continues, “Paul was not naïve; he knew about the dark side of human experience. But he chose not to make negative input a part of his mental programming.So make this truth a foundation for your life as a godly woman: A Christian mind is impossible without the discipline of refusal.  Part of having a Christian mind is saying no to ungodly influences.

Relationships are the topic of section three. She helps us to understand discipline in regards to the church, singleness, marriage and nurturing. As you can see, she applies God’s word to each area of our lives. There are challenges and thought provoking questions in each of these chapters.  After relationships, she talks about ministry and then grace of discipline. At the end of the book she has listed hymns and praise Psalms for your devotional time, a calendar for daily Bible readings, a recommended reading list, scriptures on good deeds along with a list of good deeds to do and other notes. 

This book is great to do as a personal study or to read in a group. The first time I read it, I used it for my devotions. It took me a year. It is an easy read but there is so much written within its pages I didn’t want to miss anything. If you decide to read this book for yourself, I would suggest you have a notebook and Bible in hand and a good highlighter. There is so much richness in this book. While reading this book it was like drinking in fresh cool water on a hot summer day.

Disciplines of a Godly Woman will always be one of my favorite books. It’s one of those books that should be read at least once a year. I have been challenged by it as it has been like a mirror held up to my life. In reading it, God has shown me many areas of my life that I fail in submitting to Him. But Barbara Hughes assures me in her words that God is not finished with me yet. I hope that each woman at Five Points Community Church can have this book in their personal library and that they will be challenged to live a life that is disciplined by the Gospel.


The Divine Warrior, Savior and King


The prophecy of Zechariah near the end of the Old Testament highlights the goodness of God. How is God good? Zechariah’s answer: God protects his people from their enemies.

Hear his battle cry, “The Lord has an eye on all mankind and on all the tribes of Israel…Then I will encamp at my house as a guard…no oppressor shall march over them.” (Zechariah 9:1,8). God loves to protect his people from their enemies, like a divine warrior.  It is his goodness to do so.

That’s why he promises to send a King: “Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he.” His promise is fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ. Matthew, Mark and Luke all see Jesus entrance into the holy city of Jerusalem as the fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy of God’s coming King. It was God’s eternal goodness that sent Jesus to the bloody cross of Calvary.

As a Divine Warrior, God not only saves us from enemies without, but the enemy within. He writes to his beloved, “Because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set prisoners free…” (v.11). The only reason for a blood covenant is to wash away the sins of God’s people. They weren’t just victims, they were victimizers as well. They didn’t only need protection, but pardon as well.

It is God’s great goodness to save us both from our enemies and from ourselves.

Yet His goodness abounds still more: we are not merely saved, but saved to shine. “On that day the LORD their God will save them,…like jewels of a crown they shall shine on His land” (v. 16). Why does God do this: “For how great is His goodness, and how great His beauty!” (verse 17).

Holy week and the events of Christ’s passion signal again: we are protected, pardoned and prized all because God is the supremely good Warrior, Savior and King.

Does not worship well up within you? Glory in His divine goodness.
 


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