"Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" Jude 3.
Nobody enjoys the company of a contentious person. In this world there is no one more irritating than someone who is argumentative. Indeed, Proverbs teaches that it's "better to live in a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a contentious woman" (Pr. 25:24, NASB). There is however, one time when it is not only acceptable, but quite necessary to be contentious: whenever the gospel is in question. If the historical facts of the gospel or the teaching of Scripture that relate to the gospel (Titus 2:1) are ever threatened with denial, misunderstanding, redefinition, disregard or minimization, then faithful Christians must be anything but agreeable. When the gospel comes under attack, whether from the outside by the pagan culture around us, or from within by the legalistic or cheap-grace Christian subculture, gospel-centered Christians should not smile and nod. We should fight and contend.
There are two enemies to faith-based contentiousness: cowardice and distractedness. My heart is a coward. I don't want to fight and contend for the faith because I might hurt somebody's feelings, disappoint some 'entitled' individual who still believes the culture's lie that they have a right not to be offended by me. If I offend too many unbelievers, legalists or cheap-grace folks, then my life will become much more difficult in the short term than it would have been had I kept false peace with all men.
There is another more insidious enemy, however. Not only do I shrink back from confronting the enemies of the gospel, but I am an enemy of the gospel. My heart is just as capable of self-righteousness as any Pharisee I may know. And I am just as prone to deny the cost of discipleship and daily vigilance in the mortification of sin as any easy believer whose genuine conversation I've ever questioned.
My heart is so distracted. There is only one hope for me if I am ever going to be as contentious for my faith as I am supposed to be. Jesus Christ, my Savior, died on the cross to purchase me for himself, and his Spirit is a fighter. God is at war against my sin. That reality makes me want to fight. "So," I say to my wicked heart, "You're going down." Then I contend for the faith, starting with me.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
Genesis 2:15 - The Working Man
"The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden to work it and keep it" (Genesis 2:15).
Laziness is a vice that clenches every mans heart. Laziness is more than weariness or a lack of energy. Laziness is far more insidious than tardiness or preferring sleep over activity. Laziness is rebellion against God's mandate that we should work. In every lazy heart an argument rages indefinitely. The lazy heart argues, "Lord, I know you have placed me on this earth to get certain works done, but I have a better idea. I'm going to sit this one out instead. I need my beauty sleep." Imagine the punishment Adam would have deserved if the God who had created him and put him in the garden for the sole purpose of toiling and tending to it had found the garden unkempt because Adam had spent the week fishing. That would have defeated Adam's reason for existence in the Garden.
We have been created for work. Humans are created to work. Christians are created in Christ for good works (Eph. 2:10). Life is work. That's why we're made. Our modern sensibilities tell us that we shouldn't work too hard, and that life is too short to be spent working all the time. We should take some time off work and 'live a little.' But if life is work then working a little is living a little and working a lot is living a lot. Yet our cultural workaphobia teaches us that workaholism is the unpardonable sin. When we hear that someone works 70 hours per week our assumption is that he has a serious problem, rather than assuming he is an incredible example of someone who glorifies God by devoting 70 hours each week to his divine mandate, while we may only give 40-50 hours each week to that same noble purpose.
Our heart's inbred laziness has no shortage of creativity in the multi-faceted attacks it levies against us.
Laziness will convince us that our shallow relationships are other people's fault, even though we're sitting around and not reaching out either.
Laziness will fools us into thinking that grace will overcome our sin without us fighting against it tooth and nail.
Laziness will trick us into thinking that spiritual growth can occur without the spiritual disciplines.
Laziness makes us susceptible to believe the false gospel of easy-believism, that we can follow Christ without counting the cost of radical discipleship.
Laziness tempts us to focus on the easier doctrines of cheap grace rather than the difficult doctrine of the love of God which expressed itself in killing his Son for our depravity. Laziness prefers cheap grace because it doesn't make us wrestle to discover the true extent of our indebtedness to real grace.
Laziness tells us not to say anything that might be misunderstood, nor correct anyone who might react against correction, nor argue points of disagreement persuasively in order to prove opponents wrong. These things will only create messes to clean up, something the lazy heart cannot tolerate.
Laziness is everywhere. Fortunately for the Christian it is being defeated by the grace of God in us. Jesus Christ never failed to accomplish a single work that God had given for him to do. Every promise about Jesus was fulfilled. His work at Calvary was completely done. Jesus did not say "It is almost finished, and would be finished if I had got up a little earlier today." No, he said, "It is finished." He drank the cup of wrath for the laziness of the world, so that he could create a church in his image that also finishes the job we are put here to do.
Paul expressed confidence that God is not lazy when he told the Philippians that the work God began was going to be completely finished in his original and perfect timing (Phil. 1:6). God doesn't start a project and quit half way through. He finishes what he starts. By the power of his grace in us we can mortify laziness and do the works that God has created us in Christ to do.
Laziness is a vice that clenches every mans heart. Laziness is more than weariness or a lack of energy. Laziness is far more insidious than tardiness or preferring sleep over activity. Laziness is rebellion against God's mandate that we should work. In every lazy heart an argument rages indefinitely. The lazy heart argues, "Lord, I know you have placed me on this earth to get certain works done, but I have a better idea. I'm going to sit this one out instead. I need my beauty sleep." Imagine the punishment Adam would have deserved if the God who had created him and put him in the garden for the sole purpose of toiling and tending to it had found the garden unkempt because Adam had spent the week fishing. That would have defeated Adam's reason for existence in the Garden.
We have been created for work. Humans are created to work. Christians are created in Christ for good works (Eph. 2:10). Life is work. That's why we're made. Our modern sensibilities tell us that we shouldn't work too hard, and that life is too short to be spent working all the time. We should take some time off work and 'live a little.' But if life is work then working a little is living a little and working a lot is living a lot. Yet our cultural workaphobia teaches us that workaholism is the unpardonable sin. When we hear that someone works 70 hours per week our assumption is that he has a serious problem, rather than assuming he is an incredible example of someone who glorifies God by devoting 70 hours each week to his divine mandate, while we may only give 40-50 hours each week to that same noble purpose.
Our heart's inbred laziness has no shortage of creativity in the multi-faceted attacks it levies against us.
Laziness will convince us that our shallow relationships are other people's fault, even though we're sitting around and not reaching out either.
Laziness will fools us into thinking that grace will overcome our sin without us fighting against it tooth and nail.
Laziness will trick us into thinking that spiritual growth can occur without the spiritual disciplines.
Laziness makes us susceptible to believe the false gospel of easy-believism, that we can follow Christ without counting the cost of radical discipleship.
Laziness tempts us to focus on the easier doctrines of cheap grace rather than the difficult doctrine of the love of God which expressed itself in killing his Son for our depravity. Laziness prefers cheap grace because it doesn't make us wrestle to discover the true extent of our indebtedness to real grace.
Laziness tells us not to say anything that might be misunderstood, nor correct anyone who might react against correction, nor argue points of disagreement persuasively in order to prove opponents wrong. These things will only create messes to clean up, something the lazy heart cannot tolerate.
Laziness is everywhere. Fortunately for the Christian it is being defeated by the grace of God in us. Jesus Christ never failed to accomplish a single work that God had given for him to do. Every promise about Jesus was fulfilled. His work at Calvary was completely done. Jesus did not say "It is almost finished, and would be finished if I had got up a little earlier today." No, he said, "It is finished." He drank the cup of wrath for the laziness of the world, so that he could create a church in his image that also finishes the job we are put here to do.
Paul expressed confidence that God is not lazy when he told the Philippians that the work God began was going to be completely finished in his original and perfect timing (Phil. 1:6). God doesn't start a project and quit half way through. He finishes what he starts. By the power of his grace in us we can mortify laziness and do the works that God has created us in Christ to do.
Passage:
Genesis 2:15
Monday, August 30, 2010
James 3:5-6: The Tongue Is A Fire
"How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness" (James 3:5-6).
The enemy within my soul has the power and desire to not only destroy me, but to ruin others as well. The decay of relationships, destruction of peace and absolution of unity are the attainable goals of an unbridled tongue. There is nothing that inflicts more damage on the church than Christians who do not have the necessary self-control to be disciplined in their speech. At times the church can resemble a middle school playground, where children whisper malicious rumors and half-truth lies, destroying reputations by taking vengeance over pitifully insignificant offenses. Our Americanized church culture has adapted the notion of "free speech" to mean "I can say whatever feels right without guarding against sinful heart motives." As a result, school yard slanderers morph without maturity into back-pew whisperers and busybodies whose childish behavior continues quite embarrassingly into adulthood because it wasn't sufficiently reprimanded. Our enemy's preferred way of stopping the gospel is to convince adults it's perfectly acceptable to act like children; to complain when things don't go their way, tattle when wronged and manipulate the emotions of others when felt needs are not instantly met. When you see the fire of an unbridled tongue, or hear words spoken without restraint, don't waste time and allow it to be kindled by idleness. Put the fire out! For the preservation of the church, put the fire out. Christians who speak like this do not benefit from a hearing, they are served by a muzzle. Actually, someone who speaks with an unbridled tongue needs the rod to drive out that foolishness, but due to limitations in the age-appropriateness of certain forms of discipline, simply keeping quiet will have to do, and for some of us will feel just as painful. At least then we could benefit as Proverbs 17:28 is realized, which says, "Even a fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent."
The enemy within my soul has the power and desire to not only destroy me, but to ruin others as well. The decay of relationships, destruction of peace and absolution of unity are the attainable goals of an unbridled tongue. There is nothing that inflicts more damage on the church than Christians who do not have the necessary self-control to be disciplined in their speech. At times the church can resemble a middle school playground, where children whisper malicious rumors and half-truth lies, destroying reputations by taking vengeance over pitifully insignificant offenses. Our Americanized church culture has adapted the notion of "free speech" to mean "I can say whatever feels right without guarding against sinful heart motives." As a result, school yard slanderers morph without maturity into back-pew whisperers and busybodies whose childish behavior continues quite embarrassingly into adulthood because it wasn't sufficiently reprimanded. Our enemy's preferred way of stopping the gospel is to convince adults it's perfectly acceptable to act like children; to complain when things don't go their way, tattle when wronged and manipulate the emotions of others when felt needs are not instantly met. When you see the fire of an unbridled tongue, or hear words spoken without restraint, don't waste time and allow it to be kindled by idleness. Put the fire out! For the preservation of the church, put the fire out. Christians who speak like this do not benefit from a hearing, they are served by a muzzle. Actually, someone who speaks with an unbridled tongue needs the rod to drive out that foolishness, but due to limitations in the age-appropriateness of certain forms of discipline, simply keeping quiet will have to do, and for some of us will feel just as painful. At least then we could benefit as Proverbs 17:28 is realized, which says, "Even a fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent."
Passage:
James 3:5-6
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Psalm 103:8 - Slow to anger
“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” Psalms 103:8.
God’s people frequently test and always prove God’s patience. We suffer from the disease of chronic lethargy in spiritual matters. Our growth in godliness crawls along at such a sluggish rate that calling it a snails pace could be considered an insult to snails. But God is merciful to us. He doesn’t respond to our slowness in anger, but by being quick to impart grace. God’s anger is the only thing in the universe slower than my heart’s change. His faithful and steadfast love preserves me even when I hypocritically insist on instant change from other people not required of myself. God is content to do long-term work on my heart, launching character renovation and overhaul projects scheduled to take decades to complete. His patience cannot be outlasted by my stubbornness. As amazing as God’s patience is, what makes it truly remarkable is that he did not respond to his own perfect Son the same way. God's patient slowness to anger that I take for granted every day was conspicuously absent at Calvary. The anger poured out on Christ while he was on the cross was anything but slow; it was fast, furious and relentless, unceasing until every sin placed upon Christ had been fully atoned for. Jesus Christ was the only person to not sin, and yet he was punished for sin so that God’s anger toward sinners is slow, and his love for them is steadfast.
God’s people frequently test and always prove God’s patience. We suffer from the disease of chronic lethargy in spiritual matters. Our growth in godliness crawls along at such a sluggish rate that calling it a snails pace could be considered an insult to snails. But God is merciful to us. He doesn’t respond to our slowness in anger, but by being quick to impart grace. God’s anger is the only thing in the universe slower than my heart’s change. His faithful and steadfast love preserves me even when I hypocritically insist on instant change from other people not required of myself. God is content to do long-term work on my heart, launching character renovation and overhaul projects scheduled to take decades to complete. His patience cannot be outlasted by my stubbornness. As amazing as God’s patience is, what makes it truly remarkable is that he did not respond to his own perfect Son the same way. God's patient slowness to anger that I take for granted every day was conspicuously absent at Calvary. The anger poured out on Christ while he was on the cross was anything but slow; it was fast, furious and relentless, unceasing until every sin placed upon Christ had been fully atoned for. Jesus Christ was the only person to not sin, and yet he was punished for sin so that God’s anger toward sinners is slow, and his love for them is steadfast.
Passage:
Psalm 103:8
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
John 2:25 - Christ Knows what is in man
“For he himself knew what was in man” (John 2:25)
The inquisition against my soul is conducted by an omniscient prosecutor. Jesus Christ knows the heart of man more intimately than man knows his private, unspoken thoughts. The heart is cunning and has many effective strategies that easily fool us by cloaking its activity from our frail perceptions. But Christ does not suffer from our blindness. He is not so easily fooled as we are by the deceitfulness of sin. Christ calls Satan’s bluff and sees the truth behind sin’s lies every time. Trusting in Christ requires that we distrust ourselves. Those who are not suspicious of their own hearts must be suspicious of Christ. No one who is confident that he knows himself can fully embrace a gospel message that offers deliverance from self-deception by an all-knowing Savior. Being fully dependent on Jesus Christ requires that we seek deliverance from the ongoing deception of remaining sin. Christ frequently told his opponents what they were thinking before they shared their thoughts aloud. The path to Christian maturity will inevitably lead to a secure trust in Christ which nurtures healthy self-suspicion. But we are not left merely suspicious. Christ knew what was in man and died on account of that depravity. Since he was raised, we have been given the Holy Spirit who searches the depths of our soul. Christ is the great navigator of the human heart who guides us by his Spirit through his gift of repentance to discover paths of righteousness amidst the maze of our own corruption.
The inquisition against my soul is conducted by an omniscient prosecutor. Jesus Christ knows the heart of man more intimately than man knows his private, unspoken thoughts. The heart is cunning and has many effective strategies that easily fool us by cloaking its activity from our frail perceptions. But Christ does not suffer from our blindness. He is not so easily fooled as we are by the deceitfulness of sin. Christ calls Satan’s bluff and sees the truth behind sin’s lies every time. Trusting in Christ requires that we distrust ourselves. Those who are not suspicious of their own hearts must be suspicious of Christ. No one who is confident that he knows himself can fully embrace a gospel message that offers deliverance from self-deception by an all-knowing Savior. Being fully dependent on Jesus Christ requires that we seek deliverance from the ongoing deception of remaining sin. Christ frequently told his opponents what they were thinking before they shared their thoughts aloud. The path to Christian maturity will inevitably lead to a secure trust in Christ which nurtures healthy self-suspicion. But we are not left merely suspicious. Christ knew what was in man and died on account of that depravity. Since he was raised, we have been given the Holy Spirit who searches the depths of our soul. Christ is the great navigator of the human heart who guides us by his Spirit through his gift of repentance to discover paths of righteousness amidst the maze of our own corruption.
Passage:
John 2:25
Monday, August 23, 2010
Jeremiah 2:11 - Exchanging God's Glory
“But my people have exchanged their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate” (Jeremiah 2:11).
The soul’s great sin is its disregard for the glory of God. The Israelites bore the unique mark of the chosen people of God. He had mercifully given them his law, temple, manifest presence, the cloud of his glory and his promises to bless them and make them a blessing to all nations. There was glory in Israel greater than any other place on earth. One would think that the value of this glory would be recognized, treasured and protected with fervent jealousy by those privileged enough to possess it. Shockingly, it was not. Instead of being treasured, the glory of God was traded. Israel quickly and willingly gave up the covenant blessings of the living God in exchange for lifeless, worthless idols. They surrendered their status as God’s chosen ones and preferred to take their place among the condemned nations of the world. Any divine shock at this colossal misappropriation of value and disregard of God’s glory must also be directed at my heart and that of every Christian. For we who cherish and pursue worldly things above Jesus Christ and the law of God commit a sin that exceeds the sinfulness of Israel’s sin. For we have something far more valuable than that which Israel possessed. They only possessed a shadow of the real glory. We have the actual glory, the fulfillment of the law, temple, presence and glory of God in the very person of Jesus Christ who dwells within our own hearts, not just a temple built by human hands. Therefore, when the regenerate soul of a New Testament Christian exchanges the glory of the indwelling Christ for worldly things that don’t profit, how much more shocked and appalled should the heavens be at such disdain of the soul towards its own Savior and God, preferring instead to cultivate an appetite for unprofitable amusements.
The soul’s great sin is its disregard for the glory of God. The Israelites bore the unique mark of the chosen people of God. He had mercifully given them his law, temple, manifest presence, the cloud of his glory and his promises to bless them and make them a blessing to all nations. There was glory in Israel greater than any other place on earth. One would think that the value of this glory would be recognized, treasured and protected with fervent jealousy by those privileged enough to possess it. Shockingly, it was not. Instead of being treasured, the glory of God was traded. Israel quickly and willingly gave up the covenant blessings of the living God in exchange for lifeless, worthless idols. They surrendered their status as God’s chosen ones and preferred to take their place among the condemned nations of the world. Any divine shock at this colossal misappropriation of value and disregard of God’s glory must also be directed at my heart and that of every Christian. For we who cherish and pursue worldly things above Jesus Christ and the law of God commit a sin that exceeds the sinfulness of Israel’s sin. For we have something far more valuable than that which Israel possessed. They only possessed a shadow of the real glory. We have the actual glory, the fulfillment of the law, temple, presence and glory of God in the very person of Jesus Christ who dwells within our own hearts, not just a temple built by human hands. Therefore, when the regenerate soul of a New Testament Christian exchanges the glory of the indwelling Christ for worldly things that don’t profit, how much more shocked and appalled should the heavens be at such disdain of the soul towards its own Savior and God, preferring instead to cultivate an appetite for unprofitable amusements.
Passage:
Jeremiah 2:11
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