The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Romans 12:6,
"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us."
In a chapter where Paul provides instructions to the church members as
to how to live their lives, he points to the enabling each believer
has received from God to build up other believers and exhorts his
readers to utilize these "gifts". Prophesying, serving, teaching,
encouraging, contributing to the needs of others, leadership and
showing mercy are offered as examples. Paul says, "If a man's gift is
prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith." Romans 12:6.
This "faith" Paul refers to in conjunction with a gift of prophesying
is not simply a threshold that is crossed, as with the faith required
for our salvation. It, apparently, comes in varying degrees and
prompts varying levels of performance of the gifting God provides us
with. We are to utilize the gifts given us in the lives of those
around us in accordance with this "proportion" of faith. This
apparently is not faith we "gin up" ourselves, but is faith God
provides. Faith seems to be a part of the "gift" itself. A couple of
verses earlier Paul tells us to view our own selves with the humility
that is "in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you."
Romans 12:3.
Faith that brings us into God's family is not given us, but is what
the gospel message is greeted with by those who embrace Jesus Christ
as their Lord and Savior as their response. Jesus told Nicodemus,
"Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not
believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the
name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come
into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their
deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not
come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But
whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be
seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." John
3:18-21. We will either choose to give up sin to embrace Jesus Christ
or we will choose to give up that opportunity to continue our embrace
of sin. The faith to do so is saving faith and is a threshold God
looks for in us when we are exposed to the gospel.
Paul points to all that God provides us in our service to him and
others in this chapter in Romans. He gives us gifts for service as
well as the faith to employ them such that we might be as productive
as he intends us to be. Whatever we do is provided by him, whether the
enablement of the gift, or the empowerment he provides through faith
given us.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Saints taking up arms - Ruminating in the Word of God.
The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 149:6-9,
"May the praise of God be in their mouths
and a double-edged sword in their hands,
to inflict vengeance on the nations
and punishment on the peoples,
to bind their kings with fetters,
their nobles with shackles of iron,
to carry out the sentence written against them.
This is the glory of all his saints.
Praise the Lord."
These saints in this psalm are presented to us as combatants. As they
praise God, they take up arms to carry out "vengeance", "punishment"
on "the peoples". These enemies have a sentence written against them
and it is to the glory of the saints to take up arms and carry out
this vengeance.
This reminds me of the prophecy concerning Jesus Christ as he carries
out God's vengeance upon his enemies. "I saw heaven standing open and
there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and
True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing
fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him
that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in
blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were
following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white
and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike
down the nations. 'He will rule them with an iron scepter.' He treads
the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe
and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of
Lords." Revelation 19:11-16.
Perhaps these saints in Psalm 149 are these, the "armies of heaven" in
Revelation. In any event, there are those who constitute the enemies
of God who will one day be vanquished by God's people.
When all here seems to be going "to hell in a handbag", we, as God's
people can take comfort in knowing the end of all things as it has
been given us. God prevails, God's people prevail. No one is capable
of standing against God and his people. God pronounces his sentence
against his enemies, and it will be carried out.
These saints are not the picture of milk toast, mild-mannered, meek
and soft-spoken folks given to pleasantries. What we have here are
God's people who take up arms against God's enemies after he has
pronounced his sentence upon them.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 149:6-9,
"May the praise of God be in their mouths
and a double-edged sword in their hands,
to inflict vengeance on the nations
and punishment on the peoples,
to bind their kings with fetters,
their nobles with shackles of iron,
to carry out the sentence written against them.
This is the glory of all his saints.
Praise the Lord."
These saints in this psalm are presented to us as combatants. As they
praise God, they take up arms to carry out "vengeance", "punishment"
on "the peoples". These enemies have a sentence written against them
and it is to the glory of the saints to take up arms and carry out
this vengeance.
This reminds me of the prophecy concerning Jesus Christ as he carries
out God's vengeance upon his enemies. "I saw heaven standing open and
there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and
True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing
fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him
that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in
blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were
following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white
and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike
down the nations. 'He will rule them with an iron scepter.' He treads
the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe
and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of
Lords." Revelation 19:11-16.
Perhaps these saints in Psalm 149 are these, the "armies of heaven" in
Revelation. In any event, there are those who constitute the enemies
of God who will one day be vanquished by God's people.
When all here seems to be going "to hell in a handbag", we, as God's
people can take comfort in knowing the end of all things as it has
been given us. God prevails, God's people prevail. No one is capable
of standing against God and his people. God pronounces his sentence
against his enemies, and it will be carried out.
These saints are not the picture of milk toast, mild-mannered, meek
and soft-spoken folks given to pleasantries. What we have here are
God's people who take up arms against God's enemies after he has
pronounced his sentence upon them.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Friday, July 27, 2012
My way or the highway??? - Ruminating in the Word of God
The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 133:1,
"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!"
Here is a truth that needs no definition, no scrutiny and no
explanation. It's veracity is found in simply living our lives and
experiencing what we know to be true: it is good and pleasant when
living together in unity. We all enjoy life in a fuller and more
pleasant way when we do so in unity, in harmony, when we all are
getting along well together. The difficult times in relationships are
when we are at odds with one another, at each other's throats.
Additionally, we accomplish so much more together.
David adds a bit of dimension here: "brothers". The difficulty found
in disunity is made all the greater when that disunity is between
brothers. It is when we as "brothers" in disunity can find some things
important to us become threatened or lost. We all know how important
the collective of others with us is when we pursue those things in
life that are bigger than any one of us, those things that require
several or many to accomplish. These are the things that become
jeopardized when we fall into disunity. On a small scale, a group
outing or family vacation. On a bigger scale, a business partnership
or family owned business. Churches, charitable organizations, and
political groups all become threatened when unity is lost and factions
and disputes reign.
There is much said about this in the Scriptures, along with
exhortations for the people of God to retain unity in their pursuit of
him and his agenda. The one prayer of Jesus of any length recorded for
us in John 17 focuses on this unity. In his prayer for those of us in
our day he said "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for
those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them
may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they
also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I
have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we
are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete
unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even
as you have loved me."
Paul condemned the loss of unity in the church in Corinth, "I appeal
to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of
you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you
and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers,
some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels
among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, 'I follow Paul';
another, 'I follow Apollos'; another, 'I follow Cephas'; still
another, 'I follow Christ.' Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for
you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?" 1 Corinthians 1:10-13.
God's agenda of building his kingdom here on earth is not furthered
when the "brothers" are not living in unity. It is therefore no
surprise we find Satan busy at work fomenting suspicions, creating
doubts, pulling folks in different directions within the church. For
me, as I look at the array of denominations, the fractious differences
in theologies, the following of personalities, the different notions
of God and his agenda, it is not a "rich diversity" providing strength
to the gospel enterprise that I see. What I see is the dirty work of
Satan within the church leading all too many of those who fail, for
one reason or another, to mature in their salvation.
What is needed is to heed the words of the writer of Hebrews. "We have
much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow
to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you
need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over
again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being
still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about
righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use
have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." Hebrews
5:11-14.
May we all, including myself, mature in righteousness that we may
attain to the unity the Lord prayed for us and so be effective in
furthering the kingdom of God. Unity is good for the pleasantness it
brings, but it also strengthens our effectiveness for the Lord, and
that unity must be based on a maturity gained through our training in
the Scriptures.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 133:1,
"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!"
Here is a truth that needs no definition, no scrutiny and no
explanation. It's veracity is found in simply living our lives and
experiencing what we know to be true: it is good and pleasant when
living together in unity. We all enjoy life in a fuller and more
pleasant way when we do so in unity, in harmony, when we all are
getting along well together. The difficult times in relationships are
when we are at odds with one another, at each other's throats.
Additionally, we accomplish so much more together.
David adds a bit of dimension here: "brothers". The difficulty found
in disunity is made all the greater when that disunity is between
brothers. It is when we as "brothers" in disunity can find some things
important to us become threatened or lost. We all know how important
the collective of others with us is when we pursue those things in
life that are bigger than any one of us, those things that require
several or many to accomplish. These are the things that become
jeopardized when we fall into disunity. On a small scale, a group
outing or family vacation. On a bigger scale, a business partnership
or family owned business. Churches, charitable organizations, and
political groups all become threatened when unity is lost and factions
and disputes reign.
There is much said about this in the Scriptures, along with
exhortations for the people of God to retain unity in their pursuit of
him and his agenda. The one prayer of Jesus of any length recorded for
us in John 17 focuses on this unity. In his prayer for those of us in
our day he said "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for
those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them
may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they
also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I
have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we
are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete
unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even
as you have loved me."
Paul condemned the loss of unity in the church in Corinth, "I appeal
to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of
you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you
and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers,
some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels
among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, 'I follow Paul';
another, 'I follow Apollos'; another, 'I follow Cephas'; still
another, 'I follow Christ.' Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for
you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?" 1 Corinthians 1:10-13.
God's agenda of building his kingdom here on earth is not furthered
when the "brothers" are not living in unity. It is therefore no
surprise we find Satan busy at work fomenting suspicions, creating
doubts, pulling folks in different directions within the church. For
me, as I look at the array of denominations, the fractious differences
in theologies, the following of personalities, the different notions
of God and his agenda, it is not a "rich diversity" providing strength
to the gospel enterprise that I see. What I see is the dirty work of
Satan within the church leading all too many of those who fail, for
one reason or another, to mature in their salvation.
What is needed is to heed the words of the writer of Hebrews. "We have
much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow
to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you
need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over
again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being
still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about
righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use
have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." Hebrews
5:11-14.
May we all, including myself, mature in righteousness that we may
attain to the unity the Lord prayed for us and so be effective in
furthering the kingdom of God. Unity is good for the pleasantness it
brings, but it also strengthens our effectiveness for the Lord, and
that unity must be based on a maturity gained through our training in
the Scriptures.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Why should I look to God? - Ruminating in the Word of God
The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 123:1,
"I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven."
In this "song of ascents" the psalmist tells God he looks to him, he
lifts his eyes to God whose throne is in heaven. What is it he looks
for? Mercy. God's mercy expressed in his delivering of the psalmist's
people from the contempt and ridicule of the proud, their enemies. The
psalmist tells the Lord of the contempt they have had to endure and
how they now seek rescue from him.
Throughout the Scriptures we find that the Lord is the One to seek
when needing help. In Psalm 12:5 we read, "'Because of the oppression
of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,' says the
Lord. 'I will protect them from those who malign them.''' David says
to the Lord, "You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the
poor and needy from those who rob them." Psalm 35:10.
In Psalm 69:32-33 we read, "The poor will see and be glad — you who
seek God, may your hearts live! The Lord hears the needy and does not
despise his captive people." In a prophetic passage about Jesus
Christ, Solomon said, "All kings will bow down to him and all nations
will serve him. For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the
afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and
the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from
oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight."
Psalm 72:11-14.
The truth is we are all needy. We all stand condemned as having
violated God's standards for living and are facing his wrath in a
fiery lake of burning sulfur. This horrific judgment awaits us all
unless we avail ourselves of the offer of Jesus Christ in the gospel,
"Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life
and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
John 5:24.
Here is why we all need to look to God. Here is our utter and total
dependence upon him for deliverance. How wonderful he has made a way
for us! "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me." John 14:6.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 123:1,
"I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven."
In this "song of ascents" the psalmist tells God he looks to him, he
lifts his eyes to God whose throne is in heaven. What is it he looks
for? Mercy. God's mercy expressed in his delivering of the psalmist's
people from the contempt and ridicule of the proud, their enemies. The
psalmist tells the Lord of the contempt they have had to endure and
how they now seek rescue from him.
Throughout the Scriptures we find that the Lord is the One to seek
when needing help. In Psalm 12:5 we read, "'Because of the oppression
of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,' says the
Lord. 'I will protect them from those who malign them.''' David says
to the Lord, "You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the
poor and needy from those who rob them." Psalm 35:10.
In Psalm 69:32-33 we read, "The poor will see and be glad — you who
seek God, may your hearts live! The Lord hears the needy and does not
despise his captive people." In a prophetic passage about Jesus
Christ, Solomon said, "All kings will bow down to him and all nations
will serve him. For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the
afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and
the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from
oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight."
Psalm 72:11-14.
The truth is we are all needy. We all stand condemned as having
violated God's standards for living and are facing his wrath in a
fiery lake of burning sulfur. This horrific judgment awaits us all
unless we avail ourselves of the offer of Jesus Christ in the gospel,
"Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life
and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
John 5:24.
Here is why we all need to look to God. Here is our utter and total
dependence upon him for deliverance. How wonderful he has made a way
for us! "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me." John 14:6.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Monday, July 23, 2012
Different outcomes - Ruminating in the Word of God
The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 112:1,10.
"Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who finds great delight in his commands...
The wicked man will see and be vexed,
he will gnash his teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing."
Two men, two outcomes. One is blessed while the other is vexed. One,
in the end, has blessings: wealth, riches and an enduring
righteousness, a man who is remembered forever. The other will waste
away, his longings coming to nothing.
What is the cause of the difference in outcomes? The first "fears the
Lord" while the second is a wicked man. Why the disparity in approach
to life - why does one fear the Lord with the resulting blessings and
another be vexed at the end in his wickedness?
In the Scriptures I read that some love their sinful ways and, as an
expression of their own free will to do so, they cling to them. When
exposed to the gospel message, they reject Jesus Christ to cling to
their sin. Jesus said, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the
world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds
were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come
into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." Clearly, some
choose to remain in their sinful ways when confronted with the claims
of the gospel message.
How about the blessed man? How is it he places his faith in Jesus
Christ when confronted with the gospel message? Jesus went on to say,
"Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be
seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." These,
rather than cling to sinful ways, come into the light of the gospel
message to embrace the Lord in faith. They want the Lord for
themselves more than they want their sinful ways.
Each of the two men have a heart, each have a will. One will choose
God over the sin in his life while the other will choose the sin in
his life over God. God has chosen the former for himself. God wants
those who want him. These are the ones who receive their blessings
from God for an eternity. The sinful may enjoy what they have for now,
but it will always be short-lived.
May we all turn from our sin to Jesus Christ through the gospel message!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 112:1,10.
"Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who finds great delight in his commands...
The wicked man will see and be vexed,
he will gnash his teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing."
Two men, two outcomes. One is blessed while the other is vexed. One,
in the end, has blessings: wealth, riches and an enduring
righteousness, a man who is remembered forever. The other will waste
away, his longings coming to nothing.
What is the cause of the difference in outcomes? The first "fears the
Lord" while the second is a wicked man. Why the disparity in approach
to life - why does one fear the Lord with the resulting blessings and
another be vexed at the end in his wickedness?
In the Scriptures I read that some love their sinful ways and, as an
expression of their own free will to do so, they cling to them. When
exposed to the gospel message, they reject Jesus Christ to cling to
their sin. Jesus said, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the
world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds
were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come
into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." Clearly, some
choose to remain in their sinful ways when confronted with the claims
of the gospel message.
How about the blessed man? How is it he places his faith in Jesus
Christ when confronted with the gospel message? Jesus went on to say,
"Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be
seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." These,
rather than cling to sinful ways, come into the light of the gospel
message to embrace the Lord in faith. They want the Lord for
themselves more than they want their sinful ways.
Each of the two men have a heart, each have a will. One will choose
God over the sin in his life while the other will choose the sin in
his life over God. God has chosen the former for himself. God wants
those who want him. These are the ones who receive their blessings
from God for an eternity. The sinful may enjoy what they have for now,
but it will always be short-lived.
May we all turn from our sin to Jesus Christ through the gospel message!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Friday, July 20, 2012
Should I fear our God of love? - Ruminating in the Word of God
The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 114:7-8,
"Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
who turned the rock into a pool,
the hard rock into springs of water."
The psalmist calls for the whole earth to tremble at the presence of
the Lord. In mind are the astounding supernatural acts of the Lord at
the time of Israel's exodus from Egypt.
The on-line Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "tremble" as: "to be
affected with great fear or anxiety; to shake involuntarily (as with
fear or cold)" While the stimulus here to tremble is not cold but fear
- fear of God, I note that there are several passages where the
presence of God, his acts or his nature produces, or should produce
trembling.
Consider Psalm 18:7-15:
The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.
He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.
He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies,
great bolts of lightning and routed them.
The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.
See also Psalm 77:13-18:
Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?
You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
The waters saw you, O God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
The clouds poured down water,
the skies resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.
Consider the Israelites at the foot of Mt. Sinai as Moses received the
law from God, "When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard
the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear.
They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, 'Speak to us yourself and
we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.'"
Exodus 20:18-19.
I know that I have a confidence I can approach God on his throne
through Jesus Christ, as the writer of Hebrews tells us, "Let us then
approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive
mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16. I
also know that God loves me and has demonstrated his kindness toward
me, "When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved
us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his
mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the
Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ
our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might
become heirs having the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:4-7.
Does this mean I should no longer "tremble" in God's presence? Not at
all. As Mary acknowledged in her song, "His mercy extends to those who
fear him, from generation to generation." Luke 1:50. And, as Jesus
taught us, "I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after
the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell
you, fear him." Luke 12:5.
While we are told, "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a
slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by
him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'" Romans 8:15, we know that we no longer
have to fear God's judgment of us for our sins. And, John reminds us
we will have no fear on the day of judgment, "There is no fear in
love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with
punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
This, however, does not mean we will not fear God. As Paul says in 2
Corinthians 5:11, "Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,
we try to persuade men." I am also reminded of his words in
Philippians 2:12-13, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always
obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my
absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his
good purpose." Peter tells us to fear our heavenly Father, "Since you
call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your
lives as strangers here in reverent fear." 1 Peter 1:17. And, in 1
Peter 2:17 he tells us to fear God, "Show proper respect to everyone:
Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king."
As the angel in Revelation 14:7 says, "Fear God and give him glory,
because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the
heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." Worship
divorced of fear is an imperfect, crippled and anemic exercise. It is
lacking a full reverence and a full understanding and a full view of
our magnificent, awesome and holy God. Pure, pristine and uncluttered
worship views our God in the full splendor of his glory and
acknowledges his acts that are both wonderful and terrifying.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 114:7-8,
"Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
who turned the rock into a pool,
the hard rock into springs of water."
The psalmist calls for the whole earth to tremble at the presence of
the Lord. In mind are the astounding supernatural acts of the Lord at
the time of Israel's exodus from Egypt.
The on-line Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "tremble" as: "to be
affected with great fear or anxiety; to shake involuntarily (as with
fear or cold)" While the stimulus here to tremble is not cold but fear
- fear of God, I note that there are several passages where the
presence of God, his acts or his nature produces, or should produce
trembling.
Consider Psalm 18:7-15:
The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.
He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.
He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies,
great bolts of lightning and routed them.
The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.
See also Psalm 77:13-18:
Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?
You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
The waters saw you, O God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
The clouds poured down water,
the skies resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.
Consider the Israelites at the foot of Mt. Sinai as Moses received the
law from God, "When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard
the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear.
They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, 'Speak to us yourself and
we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.'"
Exodus 20:18-19.
I know that I have a confidence I can approach God on his throne
through Jesus Christ, as the writer of Hebrews tells us, "Let us then
approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive
mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16. I
also know that God loves me and has demonstrated his kindness toward
me, "When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved
us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his
mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the
Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ
our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might
become heirs having the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:4-7.
Does this mean I should no longer "tremble" in God's presence? Not at
all. As Mary acknowledged in her song, "His mercy extends to those who
fear him, from generation to generation." Luke 1:50. And, as Jesus
taught us, "I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after
the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell
you, fear him." Luke 12:5.
While we are told, "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a
slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by
him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'" Romans 8:15, we know that we no longer
have to fear God's judgment of us for our sins. And, John reminds us
we will have no fear on the day of judgment, "There is no fear in
love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with
punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
This, however, does not mean we will not fear God. As Paul says in 2
Corinthians 5:11, "Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,
we try to persuade men." I am also reminded of his words in
Philippians 2:12-13, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always
obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my
absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his
good purpose." Peter tells us to fear our heavenly Father, "Since you
call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your
lives as strangers here in reverent fear." 1 Peter 1:17. And, in 1
Peter 2:17 he tells us to fear God, "Show proper respect to everyone:
Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king."
As the angel in Revelation 14:7 says, "Fear God and give him glory,
because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the
heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." Worship
divorced of fear is an imperfect, crippled and anemic exercise. It is
lacking a full reverence and a full understanding and a full view of
our magnificent, awesome and holy God. Pure, pristine and uncluttered
worship views our God in the full splendor of his glory and
acknowledges his acts that are both wonderful and terrifying.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Why should I worship God? - Ruminating in the Word of God
The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 95:1-2,
"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song."
This call to worship is based on two clear things: who God is and what
he does. The psalmist acknowledges God as the Creator who resides in
his lofty position. "In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the
mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his
hands formed the dry land." As such he maintains his position as "the
great God, the great King above all gods."
The psalmist also points to our position relative to God, the position
of those who are called to worship the Lord, "Come, let us bow down in
worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and
we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care." God is
our Creator and we are the people of his pasture that he cares for.
Following this a warning is provided. Don't harden your hearts toward
God. Don't test and try him. This wonderful Creator of ours who cares
for us as sheep in his pasture will visit us with judgment in his
anger if we do. An example of his angry judgment is found in the story
of the exodus when Israel failed to trust and follow God into the
promised land.
Both the love and the judgment of God are on display in this call to
worship. I am reminded of Jeremiah 9:24, "let him who boasts boast
about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who
exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I
delight".
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 95:1-2,
"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song."
This call to worship is based on two clear things: who God is and what
he does. The psalmist acknowledges God as the Creator who resides in
his lofty position. "In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the
mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his
hands formed the dry land." As such he maintains his position as "the
great God, the great King above all gods."
The psalmist also points to our position relative to God, the position
of those who are called to worship the Lord, "Come, let us bow down in
worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and
we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care." God is
our Creator and we are the people of his pasture that he cares for.
Following this a warning is provided. Don't harden your hearts toward
God. Don't test and try him. This wonderful Creator of ours who cares
for us as sheep in his pasture will visit us with judgment in his
anger if we do. An example of his angry judgment is found in the story
of the exodus when Israel failed to trust and follow God into the
promised land.
Both the love and the judgment of God are on display in this call to
worship. I am reminded of Jeremiah 9:24, "let him who boasts boast
about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who
exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I
delight".
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
What if I don't embrace the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob? - Ruminating in the Word of God
The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 82:8,
"Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance."
Asaph provides us a glimpse into God's court, where he "presides in
the great assembly", verse 1. In his court God brings an indictment,
"How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the
wicked?" Afterward, God points to the truth of those who are the
objects of his judgment, "They know nothing, they understand nothing.
They walk about in darkness..." Sounds to me quite a bit like the
leaders of our day.
Following God's indictment, Asalph calls on God to judge the earth -
not just a particular group, but the whole earth. As he does so, he
provides grounds for the appropriateness of God doing so: "all the
nations are your inheritance."
All the nations belong to God. All the peoples belong to God. Not some
god that a singular culture has invented but the one, and only one
God, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. The Creator of the heavens
and the earth. He exists in three persons: God the Father, God the Son
(Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit. You might live in Saudi Arabia
with an invented religion - the only God is the God of Abraham, Issac
and Jacob and he is your God. You might might be an Apache or Cherokee
with an invented religion - the only God is the God of Abraham, Issac
and Jacob and he is your God. You might be a progressive, a
homosexual, a communist, an atheist or a feminist, with an invented
religion (if any at all) - the only God is the God of Abraham, Issac
and Jacob and he is your God. You might be a Buddhist, a Hindu, a
Catholic or a Baptist - the only God is the God of Abraham, Issac and
Jacob and he is your God. You may live in Tibet and be the Dalai Lama,
you may be the Pope, you may be Joseph Smith - the only God is the God
of Abraham, Issac and Jacob and he is your God.
I am reminded of Deuteronomy 32:39-41, "See now that I myself am He!
There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have
wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand. I lift
my hand to heaven and declare: As surely as I live forever, when I
sharpen my flashing sword and my hand grasps it in judgment, I will
take vengeance on my adversaries and repay those who hate me."
The wise of all the earth - of all peoples - will heed what God has to
say. The rest will face his horrific judgment: all those who "know
nothing", who "understand nothing" and "walk about in darkness".
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 82:8,
"Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance."
Asaph provides us a glimpse into God's court, where he "presides in
the great assembly", verse 1. In his court God brings an indictment,
"How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the
wicked?" Afterward, God points to the truth of those who are the
objects of his judgment, "They know nothing, they understand nothing.
They walk about in darkness..." Sounds to me quite a bit like the
leaders of our day.
Following God's indictment, Asalph calls on God to judge the earth -
not just a particular group, but the whole earth. As he does so, he
provides grounds for the appropriateness of God doing so: "all the
nations are your inheritance."
All the nations belong to God. All the peoples belong to God. Not some
god that a singular culture has invented but the one, and only one
God, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. The Creator of the heavens
and the earth. He exists in three persons: God the Father, God the Son
(Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit. You might live in Saudi Arabia
with an invented religion - the only God is the God of Abraham, Issac
and Jacob and he is your God. You might might be an Apache or Cherokee
with an invented religion - the only God is the God of Abraham, Issac
and Jacob and he is your God. You might be a progressive, a
homosexual, a communist, an atheist or a feminist, with an invented
religion (if any at all) - the only God is the God of Abraham, Issac
and Jacob and he is your God. You might be a Buddhist, a Hindu, a
Catholic or a Baptist - the only God is the God of Abraham, Issac and
Jacob and he is your God. You may live in Tibet and be the Dalai Lama,
you may be the Pope, you may be Joseph Smith - the only God is the God
of Abraham, Issac and Jacob and he is your God.
I am reminded of Deuteronomy 32:39-41, "See now that I myself am He!
There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have
wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand. I lift
my hand to heaven and declare: As surely as I live forever, when I
sharpen my flashing sword and my hand grasps it in judgment, I will
take vengeance on my adversaries and repay those who hate me."
The wise of all the earth - of all peoples - will heed what God has to
say. The rest will face his horrific judgment: all those who "know
nothing", who "understand nothing" and "walk about in darkness".
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Monday, July 16, 2012
How to know God's will - Ruminating in the Word of God
The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Romans 12:2,
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to
test and approve what God's will is —his good, pleasing and perfect
will."
Have you ever listened to someone tell you of a decision they have
made that sounded goofy, off-the-wall, foolish, lacking "common sense"
and then end their telling of it with "It is God's will for me." You
are left with a feeling that they, too, know it sounds reckless or
wacky and need to validate it, or avoid being challenged on it by
playing what they feel is a trump card - its God's will! Who can argue
with that? Meanwhile you can think of passages of Scripture,
principles and truths within its pages this someone is going to run
against, all the name of "God's will." Over the years there have been
countless times I've witnessed that very conversation by fellow church
members.
Additionally, how many times have you prayed in a group where someone
is sincerely seeking the Lord's will in a matter or, you alone before
the Lord, seek his will on something? And, how often, there appears to
be less than pristine clarity when the time comes to plunge ahead on
whatever the issue was? Did we find God's will? If so, why the nagging
thought of uncertainty on it? Maybe you haven't had the experience,
but I know I have - on more than one occasion.
Why so much uncertainty in seeking the Lord's will on a matter? Why
the confusion, why the many opinions on God's will in a matter? Paul
provides us very direct counsel on it here in this Romans passage. If
we turn from the ways of the world, "the pattern of this world" for
something else: being transformed by the renewing of our minds by the
Holy Spirit, we will be able to "test and approve" God's good,
pleasing and perfect will. Not until we put the ways of this world
behind us to seek him do we begin to understand and know our God. Only
by knowing our God do we understand his desires.
If we maintain our distance, if we fail to draw near him, if we snub
what we know he desires for us in other areas, to think we will
receive a special message from him on something that will give us
advantage, we are most likely fooling ourselves. I am reminded of
James 4:8, "Come near to God and he will come near to you." I am
persuaded God wants us to know his desires and I am persuaded that is
obtainable for us... but not from a distance. How can we know God's
will on anything if we know so little of him? It seems to me the more
I know of him by drawing close to him, leaving this world's ways
behind me, the more I will know of his will.
Just a thought. What do you think?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Romans 12:2,
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to
test and approve what God's will is —his good, pleasing and perfect
will."
Have you ever listened to someone tell you of a decision they have
made that sounded goofy, off-the-wall, foolish, lacking "common sense"
and then end their telling of it with "It is God's will for me." You
are left with a feeling that they, too, know it sounds reckless or
wacky and need to validate it, or avoid being challenged on it by
playing what they feel is a trump card - its God's will! Who can argue
with that? Meanwhile you can think of passages of Scripture,
principles and truths within its pages this someone is going to run
against, all the name of "God's will." Over the years there have been
countless times I've witnessed that very conversation by fellow church
members.
Additionally, how many times have you prayed in a group where someone
is sincerely seeking the Lord's will in a matter or, you alone before
the Lord, seek his will on something? And, how often, there appears to
be less than pristine clarity when the time comes to plunge ahead on
whatever the issue was? Did we find God's will? If so, why the nagging
thought of uncertainty on it? Maybe you haven't had the experience,
but I know I have - on more than one occasion.
Why so much uncertainty in seeking the Lord's will on a matter? Why
the confusion, why the many opinions on God's will in a matter? Paul
provides us very direct counsel on it here in this Romans passage. If
we turn from the ways of the world, "the pattern of this world" for
something else: being transformed by the renewing of our minds by the
Holy Spirit, we will be able to "test and approve" God's good,
pleasing and perfect will. Not until we put the ways of this world
behind us to seek him do we begin to understand and know our God. Only
by knowing our God do we understand his desires.
If we maintain our distance, if we fail to draw near him, if we snub
what we know he desires for us in other areas, to think we will
receive a special message from him on something that will give us
advantage, we are most likely fooling ourselves. I am reminded of
James 4:8, "Come near to God and he will come near to you." I am
persuaded God wants us to know his desires and I am persuaded that is
obtainable for us... but not from a distance. How can we know God's
will on anything if we know so little of him? It seems to me the more
I know of him by drawing close to him, leaving this world's ways
behind me, the more I will know of his will.
Just a thought. What do you think?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Friday, July 13, 2012
Insight into the Scriptures - Ruminating in the Word of God
The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 24:45,
"Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures."
Following the return of Cleopas and his traveling companion back to
Jerusalem to report to the "Eleven" about their encounter on the way
to Emmaus with Jesus, (now resurrected), Jesus appeared to them there.
Jesus told his disciples that all the prophecies about him needed to
be fulfilled, Luke 24:44. Luke then tells us that Jesus "opened their
minds so they could understand the Scriptures." A similar thing
happened in the account of Cleopas and his companion with Jesus in
Emmaus. We are told, "Then their eyes were opened and they recognized
him..." Luke 44:31. An inability to perceive, to know, to understand,
to see, followed by an encounter with the Lord that brought sight,
understanding, perception.
This is the way it is. We live in a lost world of darkness with much
of spiritual reality cloaked from us. We can't see it, we can't
perceive it, we misunderstand, we lack insight. I am reminded of
Isaiah 9:2, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has
dawned." This light is Jesus Christ. He is the "light" that has come
into the world. John 3:19. Jesus Christ brings enlightenment and makes
it possible for us to understand the Scriptures, to recognize him, to
know his purposes and agenda.
Many may claim to have spiritual enlightenment, many may claim to know
the things of God. Many may advance their own ideas about how to
access God. Only through Jesus Christ can we have enlightenment. Only
through Jesus Christ to we have access to God and to eternal life.
Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through me." John 14:6.
The gospel message, "the power of God for the salvation of everyone
who believes", Romans 1:16, can reach into the darkest of hearts. If
embraced in faith, it opens the door to spiritual enlightenment as we
sit at the feet of Jesus spending time in his word. It is through him
we are enabled to understand the Scriptures. Perhaps this is one
reason why so many have different ideas as to what they think the
Scriptures say.
How thankful I am the Lord opens our minds to the Scriptures!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 24:45,
"Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures."
Following the return of Cleopas and his traveling companion back to
Jerusalem to report to the "Eleven" about their encounter on the way
to Emmaus with Jesus, (now resurrected), Jesus appeared to them there.
Jesus told his disciples that all the prophecies about him needed to
be fulfilled, Luke 24:44. Luke then tells us that Jesus "opened their
minds so they could understand the Scriptures." A similar thing
happened in the account of Cleopas and his companion with Jesus in
Emmaus. We are told, "Then their eyes were opened and they recognized
him..." Luke 44:31. An inability to perceive, to know, to understand,
to see, followed by an encounter with the Lord that brought sight,
understanding, perception.
This is the way it is. We live in a lost world of darkness with much
of spiritual reality cloaked from us. We can't see it, we can't
perceive it, we misunderstand, we lack insight. I am reminded of
Isaiah 9:2, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has
dawned." This light is Jesus Christ. He is the "light" that has come
into the world. John 3:19. Jesus Christ brings enlightenment and makes
it possible for us to understand the Scriptures, to recognize him, to
know his purposes and agenda.
Many may claim to have spiritual enlightenment, many may claim to know
the things of God. Many may advance their own ideas about how to
access God. Only through Jesus Christ can we have enlightenment. Only
through Jesus Christ to we have access to God and to eternal life.
Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through me." John 14:6.
The gospel message, "the power of God for the salvation of everyone
who believes", Romans 1:16, can reach into the darkest of hearts. If
embraced in faith, it opens the door to spiritual enlightenment as we
sit at the feet of Jesus spending time in his word. It is through him
we are enabled to understand the Scriptures. Perhaps this is one
reason why so many have different ideas as to what they think the
Scriptures say.
How thankful I am the Lord opens our minds to the Scriptures!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Recognizing the Lord - Ruminating in the Word of God
The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 24:15-16,
" As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus
himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from
recognizing him."
This comes from the account of the encounter between Jesus, on the day
of his resurrection, and Cleopas together with his unnamed companion.
Cleopas and his companion were walking to Emmaus, about seven miles
from Jerusalem when Jesus joined them. Jesus initiated a discussion
with them about everything that had just happened. In their
discussion, Jesus taught them from the Scriptures about how the Christ
had to "suffer these things and then enter his glory". From the
account, it was quite a walk through the Scriptures Jesus took them
through "from Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what
was said in all of the Scriptures concerning himself." as they walked
to Emmaus. I find the entire account fascinating. I wonder what the
encounter must have been like for Cleopas and his traveling companion.
We are told that the two men "were kept from recognizing him". They
were disciples and undoubtedly heard and seen the Lord speak on many
occasions, and quite possibly traveled with him as he carried out his
ministry prior to the recent events. How were they "kept" from
recognizing the Lord? Was it their own lack of perception that kept
them from recognizing him? A lack that required the ensuing Bible
study? Did the Lord cloak himself from them so they would not be
distracted till he was able to teach from the Scriptures that which
was quite possibly used on many later occasions by the early church?
At the end of the day, the men persuaded Jesus to stay with them in
Emmaus. When they ate, and Jesus broke bread, gave thanks and began to
give it to the men, "their eyes were opened and they recognized him".
What caused them to now recognize Jesus? Did the Lord turn a switch to
enable them? Was it the circumstances surrounding the meal? Was it
because they now understood what Jesus had taught them on the way to
Emmaus?
It is all fascinating for me to think of and to picture in my mind
what happened in this account. Later, the two men acknowledged to one
another how their hearts burned within them as Jesus talked and
"opened the Scriptures" on the road with them. They immediately got up
and went back to Jerusalem and reported it all to the "Eleven".
What an account! Regardless of the cause of these men to now recognize
the Lord when they couldn't just hours earlier, reminds me of what
there must be today of the Lord I am not seeing and my dependence upon
him to recognize and know him. I am reminded of what Paul had to say
and how dependent I am upon the Holy Spirit to perceive the things of
God, "We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who
is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us." 1
Corinthians 2:12.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 24:15-16,
" As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus
himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from
recognizing him."
This comes from the account of the encounter between Jesus, on the day
of his resurrection, and Cleopas together with his unnamed companion.
Cleopas and his companion were walking to Emmaus, about seven miles
from Jerusalem when Jesus joined them. Jesus initiated a discussion
with them about everything that had just happened. In their
discussion, Jesus taught them from the Scriptures about how the Christ
had to "suffer these things and then enter his glory". From the
account, it was quite a walk through the Scriptures Jesus took them
through "from Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what
was said in all of the Scriptures concerning himself." as they walked
to Emmaus. I find the entire account fascinating. I wonder what the
encounter must have been like for Cleopas and his traveling companion.
We are told that the two men "were kept from recognizing him". They
were disciples and undoubtedly heard and seen the Lord speak on many
occasions, and quite possibly traveled with him as he carried out his
ministry prior to the recent events. How were they "kept" from
recognizing the Lord? Was it their own lack of perception that kept
them from recognizing him? A lack that required the ensuing Bible
study? Did the Lord cloak himself from them so they would not be
distracted till he was able to teach from the Scriptures that which
was quite possibly used on many later occasions by the early church?
At the end of the day, the men persuaded Jesus to stay with them in
Emmaus. When they ate, and Jesus broke bread, gave thanks and began to
give it to the men, "their eyes were opened and they recognized him".
What caused them to now recognize Jesus? Did the Lord turn a switch to
enable them? Was it the circumstances surrounding the meal? Was it
because they now understood what Jesus had taught them on the way to
Emmaus?
It is all fascinating for me to think of and to picture in my mind
what happened in this account. Later, the two men acknowledged to one
another how their hearts burned within them as Jesus talked and
"opened the Scriptures" on the road with them. They immediately got up
and went back to Jerusalem and reported it all to the "Eleven".
What an account! Regardless of the cause of these men to now recognize
the Lord when they couldn't just hours earlier, reminds me of what
there must be today of the Lord I am not seeing and my dependence upon
him to recognize and know him. I am reminded of what Paul had to say
and how dependent I am upon the Holy Spirit to perceive the things of
God, "We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who
is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us." 1
Corinthians 2:12.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Friday, July 6, 2012
A free ticket to paradise for a criminal? - Ruminating in the Word of God
The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 23:43,
"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
These are the words Jesus spoke to one of the criminals that were
crucified with him. This man asked Jesus to remember him when he came
into his kingdom. Although a criminal and dying a criminal's death, he
embraced Jesus in faith as he hung on his own cross, punishment for
his own criminal behavior. Jesus assured him of his salvation: he
would be with him in paradise that very day.
We often think in terms of good behavior as that which brings us God's
favor. In life, where we are free to make our own choices, those who
choose to do good, early and often, are the ones considered to be more
worthy of God's kingdom. However, this account doesn't quite support
that outlook. This is a man who is a criminal and is now suffering a
criminal's death. How is it he is promised a place in paradise with
the Lord?
In a revealing passage, Jesus told Nicodemus, "This is the verdict:
Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light
because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light,
and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be
exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that
it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through
God." John 3:19-21. Note here that Jesus taught that some refuse to
come into the light because they cling to their evil deeds. It isn't
they refuse to do good because they cling to evil, it is that they
refuse to embrace the Lord in faith because they cling to evil. Jesus'
statement here to Nicodemus is in the context where Jesus is
explaining to him that salvation is by faith, by belief, "whoever
believes in him shall not perish" John 3:16.
The issue is that evil keeps us from faith. Faith brings salvation, it
brings us into God's kingdom, into paradise, it provides us a place at
his table. It is evil that keeps us from embracing the Lord in faith.
This is why a criminal, at the end of his life, undergoing capital
punishment inherits eternal life, while all of the good and moral
chief priests, teachers of the law and leaders of the people who are
looking on, are hell-bound. He exercised his will to embrace the Lord
in faith as he hung on his cross.
I love this account of the criminal who is promised a place in the
Lord's kingdom. It tells me there is hope - hope for even me. If any
opportunity I had for eternal life lay in how good I lived my life,
that hope wouldn't be there. You would all have to get along without
me in the resurrection. However, because I choose to embrace the Lord
in faith (and not because I have always behaved myself) you will all
have to put up with me for an eternity!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 23:43,
"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
These are the words Jesus spoke to one of the criminals that were
crucified with him. This man asked Jesus to remember him when he came
into his kingdom. Although a criminal and dying a criminal's death, he
embraced Jesus in faith as he hung on his own cross, punishment for
his own criminal behavior. Jesus assured him of his salvation: he
would be with him in paradise that very day.
We often think in terms of good behavior as that which brings us God's
favor. In life, where we are free to make our own choices, those who
choose to do good, early and often, are the ones considered to be more
worthy of God's kingdom. However, this account doesn't quite support
that outlook. This is a man who is a criminal and is now suffering a
criminal's death. How is it he is promised a place in paradise with
the Lord?
In a revealing passage, Jesus told Nicodemus, "This is the verdict:
Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light
because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light,
and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be
exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that
it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through
God." John 3:19-21. Note here that Jesus taught that some refuse to
come into the light because they cling to their evil deeds. It isn't
they refuse to do good because they cling to evil, it is that they
refuse to embrace the Lord in faith because they cling to evil. Jesus'
statement here to Nicodemus is in the context where Jesus is
explaining to him that salvation is by faith, by belief, "whoever
believes in him shall not perish" John 3:16.
The issue is that evil keeps us from faith. Faith brings salvation, it
brings us into God's kingdom, into paradise, it provides us a place at
his table. It is evil that keeps us from embracing the Lord in faith.
This is why a criminal, at the end of his life, undergoing capital
punishment inherits eternal life, while all of the good and moral
chief priests, teachers of the law and leaders of the people who are
looking on, are hell-bound. He exercised his will to embrace the Lord
in faith as he hung on his cross.
I love this account of the criminal who is promised a place in the
Lord's kingdom. It tells me there is hope - hope for even me. If any
opportunity I had for eternal life lay in how good I lived my life,
that hope wouldn't be there. You would all have to get along without
me in the resurrection. However, because I choose to embrace the Lord
in faith (and not because I have always behaved myself) you will all
have to put up with me for an eternity!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Missing Persons Report: Jesus isn't here - Ruminating in the Word of God
The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 24:5-6,
"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here..."
This is what the two angels told the women who went to tend to Jesus'
body after it had been placed in a tomb on the previous Friday
following his crucifixion. In John 20:1 we read that Mary Magdalene
went to the tomb early that Sunday morning, while it was still dark,
saw the stone was moved from the entrance, that Jesus' body was
missing and ran back to report it to Peter and John. Jesus was not
there, his body was missing.
As the account continues in John, we read that Jesus then appeared to
Mary after she had returned to the tomb. No longer dead, but now in
his resurrected body, he spoke to her of his returning to the Father,
"I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."
John 20:17. Later we read of the ascension of Jesus into heaven, "He
was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their
sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going,
when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 'Men of
Galilee,' they said, 'why do you stand here looking into the sky? This
same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in
the same way you have seen him go into heaven.'" Acts 1:9-11. He was
no longer to be seen but had been taken into heaven.
I wonder if the two angels that appeared to the disciples and said,
"why do you stand here looking into the sky" were the same as the two
that told the women, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?
He is not here..." On both occasions folks were looking for Jesus
where he wasn't going to be found. Given the circumstances of each
occasion, none could be faulted for doing so.
However, there are many today who will be faulted for looking in all
the wrong places to find Jesus Christ or to find God the Father. The
list of religions that seek to find God is endless. The theologies and
religious practices that have been developed to find the Lord seems
limitless. As Jesus taught, "So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out
in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,'
do not believe it." Matthew 24:26. Looking in all the wrong places
won't be helpful to find the Lord. While many may claim to have found
him, there is only one way. "'The word is near you; it is in your
mouth and in your heart,' that is, the word of faith we are
proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and
believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be
saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified,
and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the
Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to
shame.'" Romans 8:8-11.
Jesus is found only through faith and Paul tells us that faith comes
through hearing the gospel message, "Consequently, faith comes from
hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of
Christ." Romans 8:17. That faith will never be arrived at by
intellectual superiority or special spiritual insight designed only
for the "gifted ones" that are revered as such by the world. Jesus
taught us, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the
kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Luke 18:17.
Jesus is not missing. He is at the right hand of our Father in heaven.
He can be found, not by looking in the wrong places but by listening
to him as he tells us how to find him: through the faith generated
when his gospel is preached. All who embrace Jesus Christ in faith
have found him and a place at his table!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 24:5-6,
"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here..."
This is what the two angels told the women who went to tend to Jesus'
body after it had been placed in a tomb on the previous Friday
following his crucifixion. In John 20:1 we read that Mary Magdalene
went to the tomb early that Sunday morning, while it was still dark,
saw the stone was moved from the entrance, that Jesus' body was
missing and ran back to report it to Peter and John. Jesus was not
there, his body was missing.
As the account continues in John, we read that Jesus then appeared to
Mary after she had returned to the tomb. No longer dead, but now in
his resurrected body, he spoke to her of his returning to the Father,
"I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."
John 20:17. Later we read of the ascension of Jesus into heaven, "He
was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their
sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going,
when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 'Men of
Galilee,' they said, 'why do you stand here looking into the sky? This
same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in
the same way you have seen him go into heaven.'" Acts 1:9-11. He was
no longer to be seen but had been taken into heaven.
I wonder if the two angels that appeared to the disciples and said,
"why do you stand here looking into the sky" were the same as the two
that told the women, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?
He is not here..." On both occasions folks were looking for Jesus
where he wasn't going to be found. Given the circumstances of each
occasion, none could be faulted for doing so.
However, there are many today who will be faulted for looking in all
the wrong places to find Jesus Christ or to find God the Father. The
list of religions that seek to find God is endless. The theologies and
religious practices that have been developed to find the Lord seems
limitless. As Jesus taught, "So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out
in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,'
do not believe it." Matthew 24:26. Looking in all the wrong places
won't be helpful to find the Lord. While many may claim to have found
him, there is only one way. "'The word is near you; it is in your
mouth and in your heart,' that is, the word of faith we are
proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and
believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be
saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified,
and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the
Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to
shame.'" Romans 8:8-11.
Jesus is found only through faith and Paul tells us that faith comes
through hearing the gospel message, "Consequently, faith comes from
hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of
Christ." Romans 8:17. That faith will never be arrived at by
intellectual superiority or special spiritual insight designed only
for the "gifted ones" that are revered as such by the world. Jesus
taught us, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the
kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Luke 18:17.
Jesus is not missing. He is at the right hand of our Father in heaven.
He can be found, not by looking in the wrong places but by listening
to him as he tells us how to find him: through the faith generated
when his gospel is preached. All who embrace Jesus Christ in faith
have found him and a place at his table!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Jesus Christ, a subversive? - Ruminating in the Word of God
The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 23:1-2a,
"Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. And they
began to accuse him, saying, 'We have found this man subverting our
nation.'"
We are told in the previous chapter that the chief priests and the
teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus,
Luke 22:2. Having come up with a way by paying Judas for his act of
betrayal, and arresting Jesus, this was their official complaint.
Jesus was "subverting" the nation. While the arrest and trial of Jesus
was a mockery of justice and a false pretense, there is something of
truth to their complaint against Jesus. He was "subverting our
nation." Not only had Jesus invaded Israel and invited the people to
a new kingdom, the "kingdom of God", his intent was to take this
subversive message to the entire world through Israel.
The world has its own structure, its own hierarchies, its own way of
doing things, all in opposition to its Creator since the garden of
Eden. The world, in its sinful rebellion and animosity toward God
shuns the things of God. I am reminded of how the world is
characterized in Psalm 2:1-3, "Why do the nations conspire and the
peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the
rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.
'Let us break their chains,' they say, 'and throw off their fetters.'"
In this sense Jesus came as a subversive. He was subversive toward the
world of sinful mankind, a world living in opposition to the things of
God. The religious leaders saw their lofty positions in society
endangered, the teachers of the law saw their "wisdom" tied in knots
when they attempted to challenge Jesus. The rulers and authorities
found themselves threatened as the Lord captured the hopes, the hearts
and the minds of many people.
Truly, this world of lost and sinful man was subverted by the Son of
God who came as a penetrating light into its darkness, breaking its
hold on people and freeing them to embrace a new nation, a new kingdom
that he offers to all who will embrace him in faith!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 23:1-2a,
"Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. And they
began to accuse him, saying, 'We have found this man subverting our
nation.'"
We are told in the previous chapter that the chief priests and the
teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus,
Luke 22:2. Having come up with a way by paying Judas for his act of
betrayal, and arresting Jesus, this was their official complaint.
Jesus was "subverting" the nation. While the arrest and trial of Jesus
was a mockery of justice and a false pretense, there is something of
truth to their complaint against Jesus. He was "subverting our
nation." Not only had Jesus invaded Israel and invited the people to
a new kingdom, the "kingdom of God", his intent was to take this
subversive message to the entire world through Israel.
The world has its own structure, its own hierarchies, its own way of
doing things, all in opposition to its Creator since the garden of
Eden. The world, in its sinful rebellion and animosity toward God
shuns the things of God. I am reminded of how the world is
characterized in Psalm 2:1-3, "Why do the nations conspire and the
peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the
rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.
'Let us break their chains,' they say, 'and throw off their fetters.'"
In this sense Jesus came as a subversive. He was subversive toward the
world of sinful mankind, a world living in opposition to the things of
God. The religious leaders saw their lofty positions in society
endangered, the teachers of the law saw their "wisdom" tied in knots
when they attempted to challenge Jesus. The rulers and authorities
found themselves threatened as the Lord captured the hopes, the hearts
and the minds of many people.
Truly, this world of lost and sinful man was subverted by the Son of
God who came as a penetrating light into its darkness, breaking its
hold on people and freeing them to embrace a new nation, a new kingdom
that he offers to all who will embrace him in faith!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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