Category: Devotional Thoughts

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Family Resemblance

FamilyReunionTree_78134301_std I miss family reunions.  In the past, our family on both my father and my mother’s side, would gather on what always seemed to be the hottest day of summer to rehearse favorite memories and eat great southern dishes.

I don’t think there was any gathering where I didn’t hear an aunt or cousin say, “I can’t believe how much you have grown!  You look exactly like your mother!”, if it was my mom’s side of the family. If it was my father’s family who was gathering together they of course would say, “You look exactly like your father!”

It is not so great at 54 years old to be told how much you’ve grown since last year…but how I still love hearing that there is a family resemblance.

When someone delights in seeing how I am favoring the likeness of my parents, I begin to think about my destiny to favor the likeness of my Lord. The Apostle John puts it this way:

What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are.

But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to.

But friends, that’s exactly who we are: children of God. And that’s only the beginning.

Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see him—and in seeing him, become like him.

All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus’ life as a model for our own. 

1 John 3:1-3 The Message Translation

“Glistening purity?”  Yes, the goal of the Father is to have His children grow in likeness to Him.  to bear a family resemblance.  It is for my character to be shaped so that it will manifest His kindness, mercy, love, purity and wisdom. For my thinking to be reordered so that I think His Word as my first thought and know that following it is not only right but perfect for my life.

“To put it another way, God is making us holy.  But there is a requirement in learning how to submit to God’s authority: humility.  We don’t get very far in the development of holiness if we are defensive about our flaws.

That is why truly holy people are so easy to be with.  They have been around God too long to try to pretend they are perfect. They are the first to acknowledge their pride and their faults.

Then why are holy people so joyful and radiant?

One reason is that they know the answer to their character problems doesn’t reside in them but with God.  They don’t try to please God through efforts of the flesh, such as moralism and legalism, but through their obedient walk in the Spirit.” ((Becky Pippert, A Heart Like His, Crossways Books, 1996, p. 146-7))

610px-Banquet_Piece_with_Mince_Pie-1635-Willem_Claesz__Heda It seems that while families plan reunions to stay close to each other…the Father planned communion.  Through the gift of His Spirit, His Presence is so immediate and near that His character begins to rub off on us. We bear a family resemblance.

He has promised us a great banquet when we meet Him face to face.  I find my silly self “humbly” hoping that He loves to serve fatback in His green beans just the way my mama always would for our family reunions!

Talk about being joyful and radiant!  What joy to eat those beans, some homemade potato salad and brown stone front cake.

“O, what a foretaste of glory divine….”

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Holding On

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.”  John 8:31

Christ is saying, ‘Many hear the gospel and stick with it because it’s useful to them.  They gain money, possessions, and honor from it.  Yes, dear friends, who wouldn’t want that?  That is why I teach that if you live by what I say, you are truly my disciples. There are only a few who hold tightly to the Word when there is a cross to carry.  Where can I find those who will stand firm?  Therefore, I say, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.’

rock-climbing As I read this verse and Martin Luther’s thoughts about what Christ is saying, the idea of “holding on” really captured my attention.  When I think of that phrase, images come to my mind of people clinging to tree trunks in violent storms, of climbers clinging to a rock face for dear life during a challenging climb, or a toddler who feels threatened embracing the leg of his parent.

“Hold on” assumes something precious is at stake and would be forfeited if intentional clinging was forfeited. When I read John 8:31 with those vivid images in my mind I understand why the winds of suffering blow so hard against us in this life.  I sense that our sufferings are coming as the merciful wind of the Spirit pressing us to cling to what is eternally precious.  Beyond that,  the winds that cause us to hold on are the same winds that reveal which followers are true and which are false.

Murray_clinging_to_life_by_a_thread People would gladly believe in Christ if it meant becoming rich and acquiring a kingdom.  But if it involves suffering, then their faith is finished.  So Christ knows many of them won’t keep on following His teaching.  Remaining true to His teaching is rare, especially when evil winds blow.  Many become Christians and hold to the gospel in the beginning.  Afterward they fall away just as the believers in this passage did.  It’s similar to the parable about the seed that fell on the rock.  When the heat of the sun beat down on it, it withered and dried up (Luke 8:6).  But those who stick with the gospel are true disciples of Christ.” ((Martin Luther, Faith Alone, Zondervan, 1998, May 14 Devotion))

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Beyond Cameraman Prayers

“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Matthew 21:22

cameraman So, I ask for relief from financial distress, safety in travel, smooth relationships, healing from every sort of malady that I hear about.

Aren’t they the best prayers?  Don’t those requests reveal my belief in the truth of this verse?

Yes and no.  I think my eye gets so fixated on what comes after the comma that I fail to weigh the significance of the words that come before.  “If you believe…”

The second part of the phrase really has no substance or benefit apart from the first.
It raises the question, what do I have to believe in order for the second phrase to stand in all its truth?  Psalm 145:13 answers that question.

“The LORD is faithful to all his promises.”

“This, then, is the prayer of faith: to ask God to accomplish what He has promised in His Word.  That promise is the only ground for our confidence in asking.” ((Sinclair Ferguson, In Christ Alone, Reformation Trust 2007, p. 146))

So, if I believe — that is, have unswerving confidence in the promises of God, how will that affect my prayer life?  Both Peter and Paul address this question:

“He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”  2 Peter 1:4

“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”  2 Corinthians 7:1

These verses reveal that through God’s promises He reveals His goal of holiness.  The promises that I believe impact what I will pray and what I pray is intended to impact what I become.  With promises in mind, my prayers would be focused not on health, comfort, ease, convenience, prosperity and approval but for God to progress His promised plan of transformation within me!

“It’s as though we each look at life through a video camera and ask for changes in everything except the person filming.  The cameraman is never in view.  We will pray with parents for their straying teenager to straighten out; we rarely pray for the parents not to be fearful, bitter or controlling.  We will pray for a person to get a job; we rarely pray that he would grow in faith as he learns not to fret about money.  We pray for the conversion of someone’s loved ones; we rarely pray that the believer would grow more loving and honest in the way she treats the loved ones.”  ((David Powlison, Speaking the Truth in Love, New Growth Press 2005, p.118))

As a cameraman whose view finder is full of the disruption of joblessness, today I want to believe more and pray something bigger than, “Lord, please bring us a good job.” Today, with reverent trembling I want to pray, “Lord, you have promised to perfect holiness in me–that will mean purifying my heart from so many contaminating loves that reside there. 

Let me love your transforming work and the tools you use to accomplish it. I believe you are accomplishing your promised goal of helping me escape the corruption of this world, so I am bold to ask now, allow me to be a participant in the divine nature. 

That is a promise prayer too wonderful for me to comprehend.  I believe that you are working out 1 John 3:2 and so I say, your will be done Father.  In the name of Jesus.  AMEN

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure

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Nailed!

stations11 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away.

Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins.

He canceled the record that contained the charges against us.

He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross.  

Colossians 2:13-14 NLT

What record of charges is against me?

  • A record of infinite debt that I have amassed as one who daily breaks the perfect law of God.
  • An endless I.O.U. that I have no hope of being able to pay back — all I have to offer in payment is sinful self effort–which only increases the indebtedness.
  • A bill of debt with my signature at the bottom -  I cannot blame or accuse another–that means I have signed my own death warrant. (Romans 6:23)

How did what was nailed to the cross change things?

  • Jesus was nailed to the cross and was crucified – His death paid the sin debt in full. (Colossians 2:13)
  • Pilate insisted that Jesus’ true title be nailed to the cross.  God’s way of teaching that while it appeared Jesus was being shamed; He was actually being exalted. He is “The King of the Jews”. (John 19:19, Isaiah 52:13, Isaiah 53:5)
  • God the Father nailed to the cross our record of charges. That record was destroyed–erased–blotted out–obliterated. (Colossians 2:14)

My sin–O, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole.

Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more;

Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul!

 

from “It is Well With My Soul” by Horatio Spafford

Jesus’ last words were “It is finished.”

This phrase means, it stands finished and it always will be finished.

Like an artist completing a picture that He had begun in eternity past.  CrossSalvationHeavenWhen Jesus said “It is finished,” He meant the picture of redemption is now complete.

His sacrificial death was the final brush stroke needed to pay our debt–nothing more could be added to His finished masterpiece!

 

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My Strength and My Song

“The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.  With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”

Isaiah 12:2-3

singing (Small) “Trust me and don’t be afraid, for I am your Strength and Song.  Think what it means to have Me as your Strength.  I spoke the universe into existence; My Power is absolutely unlimited!

Human weakness, consecrated to Me, is like a magnet, drawing My Power into your neediness.  However, fear can block the flow of My Strength into you.

Instead of trying to fight your fears, concentrate on trusting Me.  When you relate to Me in confident trust, there is no limit to how much I can strengthen you.

Remember that I am also you Song.  I want you to share My Joy, living in conscious awareness of My Presence.  Rejoice as we journey together toward heaven; join me in singing My Song.” ((Sarah Young, Jesus Calling, Integrity Publishing, p. 84))

 

“Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your Presence.”  Psalm 21:6

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A Chance to Die

I have been crucified with Christ. I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not one of those who treats the grace of God as meaningless.

For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die.

Galatians 2:20-21

“The words of our Lord are often swords, quick and m113npowerful, and sharper than any two-edged blade.

And sometimes they are pearls–or even like tiny seed pearls, easily overlooked.  But how beautiful when they are found!

His words about we who are called to be lights in this world are precious seed pearls:

Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (Matthew 5:15-16)

The candlelight will even shine through the windows on the people who pass by in the street outside.  In one of the Indian hospitals, there was at one time just such a “candle”…

One day, in this woman’s hearing, something was said to a younger helper which almost drew from her a flashing, angry remark.  But at that moment, a word was spoken to her inwardly: “See in this, a chance to die.”

And though spoken inwardly, it was far more clearly heard than many a word addressed to the outward ear.

“See in this”–this provoking, this rebuke that should not have been–“a chance to die” –to self, and the pride that comes from defending self.

“See in anything“–anything that rouses you to claim you “rights,” or even to consider them at all–“a chance to die.”

Welcome anything that calls you to your only true position “I have been crucified with Christ…” (Galatians 2:20)

A crucified life cannot be self assertive.  It cannot protect itself. 

It cannot be startled into resentful words.  The cup that is full of sweet water cannot spill bitter-tasting drops, however sharply it is knocked.” ((Amy Carmichael, Gold by Moonlight, p. 80-81))

 

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A Divine Valentine

valentine1 A Valentine may play a love song for you but God sings you the sweetest love song in the universe.

The Lord your God will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet
you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.

Zeph. 3:17

A Valentine may give you flowers but God sent you the most beautiful flower of all.

 

         I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valley.

 

 Song of Solomon 2:1

A Valentine may take you out to dinner, but God has invited you to the most amazing feat ever given.


    Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!

Rev. 19:9

A Valentine may bring you chocolate but God provides you with
something even sweeter.


        How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Psalm 119:103

 A Valentine may be far away, but God is always with you.

     I am with you always.

Matthew 28:20

A Valentine may give you something, but God has given you everything.

 

          God gives us richly all things to enjoy.

 

I Timothy 6:17

      A Valentine may love you for a lifetime, but God loved you before you were born and will love you for all eternity.

Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love and with
lovingkindness I have drawn you.

Jeremiah 31:3