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 23:5,
"He [Jesus] stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He
started in Galilee and has come all the way here."
When the council of the elders brought Jesus before Pilate for
"justice", Pilate could find no basis for their charge against him.
This is their response to Pilate. They had great concern that Jesus
was stirring up the people. He was disruptive of the established order
of things. Was this true?
Here is a sample of passages that may provide some perspective on their charge:
"All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this
[what Jesus had to say in the synagogue]. They got up, drove him out
of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town
was built, in order to throw him off the cliff." Luke 4:28-29.
"The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to
themselves, 'Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive
sins but God alone?'... Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God.
They were filled with awe and said, 'We have seen remarkable things
today.'" Luke 5:21-26.
"He [Jesus] looked around at them all, and then said to the man,
'Stretch out your hand.' He did so, and his hand was completely
restored. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious
and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus."
Luke 6:10-11.
"'Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key
to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered
those who were entering.' When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and
the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege
him with questions, waiting to catch him in something he might say."
Luke 11:52-54.
"When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people
were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing." Luke
13:17.
No question that the charge Jesus was disruptive was accurate. From
just the first half of Luke's gospel we find multiple accounts of
Jesus challenging the established mindset, the "meme" of day. He
challenged people about their confident perspectives on the things of
God, on their religion, on their way of life. But, this was not
disruption simply for disruption's sake.
Why was Jesus so disruptive? A couple of thoughts come to mind.
When perfection collides with imperfection, the imperfect is bound to
be disrupted. The world, in its collective sinful nature, having
turned its back on God and gone its own way is going to stumble,
stammer and slip into violent perplexity when it encounters its
Creator. Through Isaiah the Lord declared, "'For my thoughts are not
your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As
the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your
ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'" Isaiah 55:8-9. Any
encounter between the Lord and sinful man is going to be disruptive to
man. How could it possibly be any other way?
However, I think something else is going on in the gospel accounts.
Jesus came to offer the kingdom of God. In order to provide folks who
were locked into an encrusted and entrenched mindset an open mind, he
knocked their thinking off kilter. He challenged them. He forced them
to reconsider what they incorrectly thought was true. Going well
beyond all that might be expected, I believe Jesus went to great
lengths to draw people to himself and a part of that was to disrupt
their thought patterns that they might be able to consider the claims
of the gospel and the wonderful invitation he offers over and against
long held erroneous assumptions.
No question in my mind. Jesus was disruptive. For our benefit and with
a clear strategy in mind, he challenged the thinking of the day to
prepare the way for his offer of the kingdom!
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, August 30, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
How do you feel when you sin? - 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 141:3-4,
"Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil
so that I take part in wicked deeds
along with those who are evildoers;
do not let me eat their delicacies."
In this psalm David expresses a concern I feel most believers
experience at times. Having embraced the Lord in faith, experiencing
his forgiveness, love and mercy, we struggle with the notion we will
disappoint him from time to time. In this psalm David possibly has his
view on the Lord as his refuge and desires the confidence that he has
the Lord's help during a time of need. He says, "But my eyes are fixed
on you, Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge —do not give me over to
death. Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers, from the snares
they have laid for me. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while
I pass by in safety." Verses 8-10. Nonetheless, as David expresses his
heart throughout the psalms, it is clear he desires to please the Lord
in his thoughts and actions at all times and manifested terrific
remorse when caught in sin.
The legitimacy of our concern in this regard arises from the fact that
while in these bodies, we struggle with sin. I don't know about you,
but while a believer I have disappointed the Lord, myself and others
from time to time over the years. It is not my desire to do so and
like David, I have experienced the remorse that comes from sin coupled
with a desire and resolution to not find myself there again.
One of the many wonderful things I have found in the Lord is that he
knows our weaknesses and provides for us in this arena of conflict on
those occasions when we find ourselves in its grip. We can take
assurance from the words of the writer of Hebrews, "For we do not have
a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we
have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are —yet he did
not sin. Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence,
so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of
need." Hebrews 4:15-16.
The Lord has also provided us a special help at those difficult times,
"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And
God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can
bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that
you can endure it." I have to admit there have been those times I have
not availed myself of God's "way out", but it nevertheless was there
for my advantage. Knowing it is there, being convinced it is there,
and looking for it has been a tremendous benefit for me over the years
for those many other occasions when I have availed myself of God's
faithful help during those times of temptation.
Additionally, the Lord is faithful in our lives to bring us a level of
maturity and strength relative to temptation. I am convinced none of
us arrive till we are done with these bodies in this life, but while
we remain the Lord brings us a spiritual growth that aids us when
tempted. "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we
know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character;
and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's
love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who
has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5. While "suffering" may indicate
many things, as the chapter continues, Paul has struggle with sin in
mind.
Paul also goes on to say in Romans 8:28-29, "And we know that in all
things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been
called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also
predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be
the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." This is the thought
Paul conveys as he considers "the Spirit helps us in our weakness",
verse 26.
Believers have experienced the love and kindness of God. They are also
indwelt with the Holy Spirit. As such it is a given we will experience
remorse when we fall into sin. As David, we will feel a need to pursue
the Lord's help in our struggle with sin and seek him out to aid us.
The wonderful truth is the Lord knows us and as a further expression
of his love, mercy and kindness toward us, he comes to our aid. If we
fail him we can take comfort in the words of John, "If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify
us from all unrighteousness...My dear children, I write this to you so
that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate
with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning
sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of
the whole world." 1 John 1:9-2:2.
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 141:3-4,
"Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil
so that I take part in wicked deeds
along with those who are evildoers;
do not let me eat their delicacies."
In this psalm David expresses a concern I feel most believers
experience at times. Having embraced the Lord in faith, experiencing
his forgiveness, love and mercy, we struggle with the notion we will
disappoint him from time to time. In this psalm David possibly has his
view on the Lord as his refuge and desires the confidence that he has
the Lord's help during a time of need. He says, "But my eyes are fixed
on you, Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge —do not give me over to
death. Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers, from the snares
they have laid for me. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while
I pass by in safety." Verses 8-10. Nonetheless, as David expresses his
heart throughout the psalms, it is clear he desires to please the Lord
in his thoughts and actions at all times and manifested terrific
remorse when caught in sin.
The legitimacy of our concern in this regard arises from the fact that
while in these bodies, we struggle with sin. I don't know about you,
but while a believer I have disappointed the Lord, myself and others
from time to time over the years. It is not my desire to do so and
like David, I have experienced the remorse that comes from sin coupled
with a desire and resolution to not find myself there again.
One of the many wonderful things I have found in the Lord is that he
knows our weaknesses and provides for us in this arena of conflict on
those occasions when we find ourselves in its grip. We can take
assurance from the words of the writer of Hebrews, "For we do not have
a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we
have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are —yet he did
not sin. Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence,
so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of
need." Hebrews 4:15-16.
The Lord has also provided us a special help at those difficult times,
"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And
God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can
bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that
you can endure it." I have to admit there have been those times I have
not availed myself of God's "way out", but it nevertheless was there
for my advantage. Knowing it is there, being convinced it is there,
and looking for it has been a tremendous benefit for me over the years
for those many other occasions when I have availed myself of God's
faithful help during those times of temptation.
Additionally, the Lord is faithful in our lives to bring us a level of
maturity and strength relative to temptation. I am convinced none of
us arrive till we are done with these bodies in this life, but while
we remain the Lord brings us a spiritual growth that aids us when
tempted. "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we
know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character;
and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's
love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who
has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5. While "suffering" may indicate
many things, as the chapter continues, Paul has struggle with sin in
mind.
Paul also goes on to say in Romans 8:28-29, "And we know that in all
things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been
called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also
predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be
the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." This is the thought
Paul conveys as he considers "the Spirit helps us in our weakness",
verse 26.
Believers have experienced the love and kindness of God. They are also
indwelt with the Holy Spirit. As such it is a given we will experience
remorse when we fall into sin. As David, we will feel a need to pursue
the Lord's help in our struggle with sin and seek him out to aid us.
The wonderful truth is the Lord knows us and as a further expression
of his love, mercy and kindness toward us, he comes to our aid. If we
fail him we can take comfort in the words of John, "If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify
us from all unrighteousness...My dear children, I write this to you so
that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate
with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning
sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of
the whole world." 1 John 1:9-2:2.
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, August 28, 2012
Need someone who is always loving and faithful? - 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 136:23-26,
"To the One who remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
and freed us from our enemies,
His love endures forever.
and who gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever."
The refrain of the twenty-six verses in this psalm is the affirmation
of God's enduring love.
In the verses above, it is the God of gods and the Lord of lords who
is recalled as the One who delivered us from "our low estate". For
Israel, it was her deliverance from slavery in the land of Egypt. For
us, it is deliverance from God's own wrath and judgment of our sins.
Also in the verses above, it is the God of gods and the Lord of lords
who provides food for every creature. Again, in the case of Israel,
God is recalled as the One who provided for the nation while wandering
in the wilderness for forty years. Food, in the form of manna and
quail, and water. For us, we look to the Lord to provide our needs.
Peter puts it this way, "His divine power has given us everything we
need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us
by his own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3.
I am reminded it is the Lord who brings us life, who sustains us
through this life and will bring us safely into his presence, if we
but embrace him in faith. A comment Paul makes always provides us with
the assurance of God's enduring love, "I always thank God for you
because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have
been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your
knowledge — because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.
Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for
our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the
end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus
Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus
Christ our Lord, is faithful." 1 Corinthians 1:4-9.
God is faithful and his love endures forever!
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 136:23-26,
"To the One who remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
and freed us from our enemies,
His love endures forever.
and who gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever."
The refrain of the twenty-six verses in this psalm is the affirmation
of God's enduring love.
In the verses above, it is the God of gods and the Lord of lords who
is recalled as the One who delivered us from "our low estate". For
Israel, it was her deliverance from slavery in the land of Egypt. For
us, it is deliverance from God's own wrath and judgment of our sins.
Also in the verses above, it is the God of gods and the Lord of lords
who provides food for every creature. Again, in the case of Israel,
God is recalled as the One who provided for the nation while wandering
in the wilderness for forty years. Food, in the form of manna and
quail, and water. For us, we look to the Lord to provide our needs.
Peter puts it this way, "His divine power has given us everything we
need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us
by his own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3.
I am reminded it is the Lord who brings us life, who sustains us
through this life and will bring us safely into his presence, if we
but embrace him in faith. A comment Paul makes always provides us with
the assurance of God's enduring love, "I always thank God for you
because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have
been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your
knowledge — because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.
Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for
our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the
end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus
Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus
Christ our Lord, is faithful." 1 Corinthians 1:4-9.
God is faithful and his love endures forever!
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, August 27, 2012
So, what is your temperature? - 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 134,
"Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord
who minister by night in the house of the Lord.
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary
and praise the Lord.
May the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth,
bless you from Zion."
Here is this psalm in its entirety. Three short verses. Although
short, and seemingly innocuous, there is something here that strikes
me as very important. At least for me.
This psalm is yet another call to worship in the book of Psalms, an
invitation to the "servants of the Lord." From one perspective it
might be somewhat surprising that a call is being made for worship, a
call in the form of encouragement. It is to the Lord's servants. If
they are his servants, what is the need for the call to be made? Why
would any encouragement be required of "the Lord's servants" to praise
him? Should they not be doing that already, with full voice, with full
enthusiasm, with zeal and excitement? Are not the Lord's servants
observant of the magnificent perfections and lofty position of the One
they claim to serve? Are they not mindful of the wonderful and awesome
deeds he has done? Why could there possibly be any need whatsoever for
a call of encouragement to the servants of the Lord to worship him?
As one of the "songs of ascents" it quite likely was sung by Jews
returning to Jerusalem for one of the religious feasts on the calendar
given them from the Lord that required their return to Jerusalem to
observe. It is thought that as the worshipers returned to Jerusalem, a
city set in high elevation, they sang these "songs of ascents" as they
ascended to Jerusalem for the observation of the feast.
As I think of the possible setting of this psalm and of these
"servants of the Lord" I am reminded of the Lord's servants today...
especially me. What is my disposition relative to the worship of my
Lord? Do I need encouragement to do so? If so, why? Am I failing to
recognize the pristine beauty of the Lord's matchless qualities? Have
I forgotten or failed to appreciate all he has done for me? I am
reminded of the Lord's admonition at the last supper, "do this in
remembrance of me". How astonishing to think I would need anything for
remembrance of him! And, yet, I have to confess there are times I do
forget. There are times I am not mindful of him. There are times I
fail in appreciation for all he has done for me.
These must be times when I take my eyes off him. Times, possibly, when
the challenges and cares of this world draw my attention from him.
What is it I need at times like this? Although there is no legitimate
grounds for loosing sight of the Lord who loves me, who has died on a
cross for me and has invited me to his family, I need encouragement, I
need a reminder. I suspect many of us do. I know I do.
I am reminded of Paul's exhortation, "Never be lacking in zeal, but
keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." Romans 12:11. Here it
is in a nutshell. Servants of the Lord are to keep their "spiritual
fervor", their zeal for the Lord. How do we do that? Hebrews 3:13
says, "Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so
that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." In 10:25 he
says, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit
of doing, but let us encourage one another —and all the more as you
see the Day approaching." The exhortation here is not to simply meet,
but meet to encourage one another.
As Paul said in Romans 12:11, we are to maintain an ardent zeal for
the Lord, keeping our spiritual "fervor". I liken that "fervor" as a
"fever": something I should be checking on a regular basis, such that
I never find myself wanting for a call to worship the One I should be
worshiping already.
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 134,
"Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord
who minister by night in the house of the Lord.
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary
and praise the Lord.
May the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth,
bless you from Zion."
Here is this psalm in its entirety. Three short verses. Although
short, and seemingly innocuous, there is something here that strikes
me as very important. At least for me.
This psalm is yet another call to worship in the book of Psalms, an
invitation to the "servants of the Lord." From one perspective it
might be somewhat surprising that a call is being made for worship, a
call in the form of encouragement. It is to the Lord's servants. If
they are his servants, what is the need for the call to be made? Why
would any encouragement be required of "the Lord's servants" to praise
him? Should they not be doing that already, with full voice, with full
enthusiasm, with zeal and excitement? Are not the Lord's servants
observant of the magnificent perfections and lofty position of the One
they claim to serve? Are they not mindful of the wonderful and awesome
deeds he has done? Why could there possibly be any need whatsoever for
a call of encouragement to the servants of the Lord to worship him?
As one of the "songs of ascents" it quite likely was sung by Jews
returning to Jerusalem for one of the religious feasts on the calendar
given them from the Lord that required their return to Jerusalem to
observe. It is thought that as the worshipers returned to Jerusalem, a
city set in high elevation, they sang these "songs of ascents" as they
ascended to Jerusalem for the observation of the feast.
As I think of the possible setting of this psalm and of these
"servants of the Lord" I am reminded of the Lord's servants today...
especially me. What is my disposition relative to the worship of my
Lord? Do I need encouragement to do so? If so, why? Am I failing to
recognize the pristine beauty of the Lord's matchless qualities? Have
I forgotten or failed to appreciate all he has done for me? I am
reminded of the Lord's admonition at the last supper, "do this in
remembrance of me". How astonishing to think I would need anything for
remembrance of him! And, yet, I have to confess there are times I do
forget. There are times I am not mindful of him. There are times I
fail in appreciation for all he has done for me.
These must be times when I take my eyes off him. Times, possibly, when
the challenges and cares of this world draw my attention from him.
What is it I need at times like this? Although there is no legitimate
grounds for loosing sight of the Lord who loves me, who has died on a
cross for me and has invited me to his family, I need encouragement, I
need a reminder. I suspect many of us do. I know I do.
I am reminded of Paul's exhortation, "Never be lacking in zeal, but
keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." Romans 12:11. Here it
is in a nutshell. Servants of the Lord are to keep their "spiritual
fervor", their zeal for the Lord. How do we do that? Hebrews 3:13
says, "Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so
that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." In 10:25 he
says, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit
of doing, but let us encourage one another —and all the more as you
see the Day approaching." The exhortation here is not to simply meet,
but meet to encourage one another.
As Paul said in Romans 12:11, we are to maintain an ardent zeal for
the Lord, keeping our spiritual "fervor". I liken that "fervor" as a
"fever": something I should be checking on a regular basis, such that
I never find myself wanting for a call to worship the One I should be
worshiping already.
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, August 24, 2012
Can you live up to God's standards? - 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 119:17-24,
"Do good to your servant, and I will live;
I will obey your word.
Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.
I am a stranger on earth;
do not hide your commands from me.
My soul is consumed with longing
for your laws at all times.
You rebuke the arrogant, who are cursed
and who stray from your commands.
Remove from me scorn and contempt,
for I keep your statutes.
Though rulers sit together and slander me,
your servant will meditate on your decrees.
Your statutes are my delight;
they are my counselors."
In this very long psalm (176 verses!), almost every verse speaks
directly of the Scriptures that contain it. Specific focus is placed
on keeping the law. In this section the words used for the Scriptures
are "your word", "your law", "your commands", "your statutes" and
"your decrees". It is not difficult to see the Scriptures themselves
declare their divine authorship. I am reminded of Peter's observation,
"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came
about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its
origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried
along by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:20-21. All Scripture is
considered prophecy given Peter's explanation of how it came to be:
men spoke what God told them to, in his behalf.
The psalmist commits himself to keeping God's laws in verse 17, "I
will obey your word." However, the psalm begins with a beatitude
concerning those who "walk according to the law of the Lord", and
expresses what seems to be an acknowledgment of being challenged to do
so, "Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I
would not be put to shame..." Verses 5-6.
Paul provides some insight into this. First, he observes that no one
lives their lives in conformity to God's law. We are simply unable,
given the sinful nature we all struggle with. As he deals with those
who feel otherwise, he cuts through all the smoke. He addresses those
who feel they keep the law and look down on all others for not doing
so, "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone
else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning
yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things." Romans
2:1. In Romans 7:6 he simply says of those who have embraced Jesus
Christ in faith, "But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have
been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the
Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code."
If Christians are not expected to keep the law as given to Moses, what
was God's purpose in giving it then? It shows us how needful we are of
his salvation, "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to
those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and
the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be
declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through
the law we become conscious of sin." Romans 3:19-20. In Romans 7:13 he
says, "In order that sin might be recognized as sin, it [the law]
produced death in me through what was good, so that through the
commandment sin might become utterly sinful."
Paul spoke of his own challenges in trying to live by God's law. "So I
find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there
with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see
another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the
law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work
within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from
this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
Romans 7:21-25.
Here is where dusty and dry theology springs to life for me. God gave
his law to Moses and by it I find I am hopelessly doomed to God's
judgment. I sense my own shortcomings and throw myself at God's mercy.
There, I find that God's own Son came and died a miserable death to
pay the penalty for my sins. In a love I cannot comprehend he reaches
out to me in mercy and forgiveness and offers me a place at his table,
a place in his family despite my failures and shortcomings.
I don't know about you, but I have plenty of shortcomings. I know
because God has provided his law. But the rest of the story is he has
also provided forgiveness through his Son who has already paid the
penalty for all our sins. All he asks is that we embrace him in faith,
as Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, 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.
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 119:17-24,
"Do good to your servant, and I will live;
I will obey your word.
Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.
I am a stranger on earth;
do not hide your commands from me.
My soul is consumed with longing
for your laws at all times.
You rebuke the arrogant, who are cursed
and who stray from your commands.
Remove from me scorn and contempt,
for I keep your statutes.
Though rulers sit together and slander me,
your servant will meditate on your decrees.
Your statutes are my delight;
they are my counselors."
In this very long psalm (176 verses!), almost every verse speaks
directly of the Scriptures that contain it. Specific focus is placed
on keeping the law. In this section the words used for the Scriptures
are "your word", "your law", "your commands", "your statutes" and
"your decrees". It is not difficult to see the Scriptures themselves
declare their divine authorship. I am reminded of Peter's observation,
"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came
about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its
origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried
along by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:20-21. All Scripture is
considered prophecy given Peter's explanation of how it came to be:
men spoke what God told them to, in his behalf.
The psalmist commits himself to keeping God's laws in verse 17, "I
will obey your word." However, the psalm begins with a beatitude
concerning those who "walk according to the law of the Lord", and
expresses what seems to be an acknowledgment of being challenged to do
so, "Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I
would not be put to shame..." Verses 5-6.
Paul provides some insight into this. First, he observes that no one
lives their lives in conformity to God's law. We are simply unable,
given the sinful nature we all struggle with. As he deals with those
who feel otherwise, he cuts through all the smoke. He addresses those
who feel they keep the law and look down on all others for not doing
so, "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone
else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning
yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things." Romans
2:1. In Romans 7:6 he simply says of those who have embraced Jesus
Christ in faith, "But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have
been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the
Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code."
If Christians are not expected to keep the law as given to Moses, what
was God's purpose in giving it then? It shows us how needful we are of
his salvation, "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to
those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and
the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be
declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through
the law we become conscious of sin." Romans 3:19-20. In Romans 7:13 he
says, "In order that sin might be recognized as sin, it [the law]
produced death in me through what was good, so that through the
commandment sin might become utterly sinful."
Paul spoke of his own challenges in trying to live by God's law. "So I
find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there
with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see
another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the
law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work
within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from
this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
Romans 7:21-25.
Here is where dusty and dry theology springs to life for me. God gave
his law to Moses and by it I find I am hopelessly doomed to God's
judgment. I sense my own shortcomings and throw myself at God's mercy.
There, I find that God's own Son came and died a miserable death to
pay the penalty for my sins. In a love I cannot comprehend he reaches
out to me in mercy and forgiveness and offers me a place at his table,
a place in his family despite my failures and shortcomings.
I don't know about you, but I have plenty of shortcomings. I know
because God has provided his law. But the rest of the story is he has
also provided forgiveness through his Son who has already paid the
penalty for all our sins. All he asks is that we embrace him in faith,
as Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, 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.
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, August 23, 2012
What is your grounds for praise? - 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 113:7-9,
"He [the Lord] raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes,
with the princes of their people.
He settles the barren woman in her home
as a happy mother of children."
The psalmist begins this psalm by calling on all everywhere and
forever to praise the Lord. He says, "Praise the Lord. Praise, O
servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the
Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun
to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised."
The praise he calls for is not merely the empty praise that is often
heard these days (if at all), but is to be based upon the recognition
of two very important things all worship should be based upon: who the
Lord is and what he does.
This psalmist provides ample consideration of who it is he calls
worship for. It is the Lord who is over all the nations, the One whose
glory is manifested above the heavens, the One who is enthroned on
high in his lofty position, from which he needs to stoop in order to
look down upon the place worshipers reside, verses 4-7.
Next, the psalmist speaks to the wonderful things the Lord does.
Where, in other psalms the righteousness and horrific judgment of God
is contemplated, here it is his kindness and compassion that forms the
grounds from which worship should manifest itself. The Lord cares for
the needy and poor. He takes in hand the plight of those who struggle
with disappointment, despair and discouragement, as in the case of
women unable to bear children in a culture where a wife's worth is
measured by her progeny.
It is this aspect of the Lord's nature that grips my heart this
morning. The Lord has a love for us that I find unfathomable. It is
manifested in his acts of kindness and mercy. To think of the Lord's
kindness, mercy and love is to approach something that is difficult
for me to comprehend. I know of it and I accept and embrace it, but to
wrap my mind around it is impossible. I am reminded of Paul's letter
to Titus, "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.
The love and kindness of our Lord is an amazing thing!
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 113:7-9,
"He [the Lord] raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes,
with the princes of their people.
He settles the barren woman in her home
as a happy mother of children."
The psalmist begins this psalm by calling on all everywhere and
forever to praise the Lord. He says, "Praise the Lord. Praise, O
servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the
Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun
to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised."
The praise he calls for is not merely the empty praise that is often
heard these days (if at all), but is to be based upon the recognition
of two very important things all worship should be based upon: who the
Lord is and what he does.
This psalmist provides ample consideration of who it is he calls
worship for. It is the Lord who is over all the nations, the One whose
glory is manifested above the heavens, the One who is enthroned on
high in his lofty position, from which he needs to stoop in order to
look down upon the place worshipers reside, verses 4-7.
Next, the psalmist speaks to the wonderful things the Lord does.
Where, in other psalms the righteousness and horrific judgment of God
is contemplated, here it is his kindness and compassion that forms the
grounds from which worship should manifest itself. The Lord cares for
the needy and poor. He takes in hand the plight of those who struggle
with disappointment, despair and discouragement, as in the case of
women unable to bear children in a culture where a wife's worth is
measured by her progeny.
It is this aspect of the Lord's nature that grips my heart this
morning. The Lord has a love for us that I find unfathomable. It is
manifested in his acts of kindness and mercy. To think of the Lord's
kindness, mercy and love is to approach something that is difficult
for me to comprehend. I know of it and I accept and embrace it, but to
wrap my mind around it is impossible. I am reminded of Paul's letter
to Titus, "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.
The love and kindness of our Lord is an amazing thing!
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, August 22, 2012
- 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 80:3,
"Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that
we may be saved."
Here is a refrain Asaph repeats three times in this psalm. Israel, as
a nation is languishing in the judgment of God for her sins. Asaph
calls out to the Lord to seek his favor resulting in a restoration of
the nation.
So much of Israel's history is a "type" or pattern of all mankind in
her dealings with God. It is not difficult to see the plight of all
mankind in the world's lost and fallen condition before its Creator
portrayed in the history of Israel. Just as Israel strayed from her
God, so the world has turned its collective back on the Lord and gone
its own way. Struggling in sin, sin's consequences and God's judgment,
we can relate to Asaph's cry for restoration with God.
One theme runs consistently throughout all mankind: something isn't
right about us, something needs to be fixed.
The Wikipedia article on Buddhism states, "The Buddha lived and taught
in the eastern part of Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th
and 4th centuries BCE. He is recognized by Buddhists as an awakened or
enlightened teacher who shared his insights to help sentient beings
end suffering (dukkha) through eliminating ignorance (avidyā) and
craving (taṇhā), by way of understanding and seeing dependent
origination (pratītyasamutpāda) and non-self (anātman), and thus
attain the highest happiness, nirvāņa (nirvana)." My synopsis:
Buddhists believe we have a problem and Buddha can fix it.
The Wikipedia article on Hinduism states "Most Hindus believe that the
spirit or soul — the true "self" of every person, called the ātman —
is eternal. According to the monistic/pantheistic theologies of
Hinduism (such as Advaita Vedanta school), this Atman is ultimately
indistinct from Brahman, the supreme spirit. Hence, these schools are
called non-dualist. The goal of life, according to the Advaita school,
is to realize that one's ātman is identical to Brahman, the supreme
soul. The Upanishads state that whoever becomes fully aware of the
ātman as the innermost core of one's own self realizes an identity
with Brahman and thereby reaches moksha (liberation or freedom)." Even
when a religion such as this thinks man is "indistinct" from the
"supreme spirit", man still needs "liberation or freedom." Again, my
synopsis: Hindus believe we have a problem and they can fix it.
The Wikipedia article on Confucianism states, "The core of
Confucianism is humanism, the belief that human beings are teachable,
improvable and perfectible through personal and communal endeavour
especially including self-cultivation and self-creation." The article
goes on to say that "Confucianism as an ideology is humanistic and
non-theistic, and does not involve a belief in the supernatural or in
a personal god." Nonetheless, if mankind is "teachable, improvable and
perfectible" then it is an admission that man needs to be taught
something, man needs to be improved and man needs to be perfected. My
synopsis: Confucianism believes we have a problem and they can fix it.
You get my point. We all know we have a problem and something needs to
be fixed. Charitable organizations know we have a problem. The United
Nations is founded on the understanding mankind has a problem.
Political parties believe we have a problem... everybody acknowledges
something isn't right about us, something needs to be fixed. It may be
visualized in injustice, in racism, in lawlessness and crime. It may
be visualized in the more base impulses of mankind: the elbowing out
of others to get one's own, narcissism, exploitation of the weak,
selfishness, arrogance, greed.
The Scriptures are straightforward about this, blunt and to the point.
In a string of quotations from the Old Testament (Psalms,
Ecclesiastes, Isaiah) Paul says, "'There is no one righteous, not even
one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.
All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no
one who does good, not even one.' 'Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.' 'The poison of vipers is on their
lips.' 'Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.' 'Their feet
are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way
of peace they do not know.' 'There is no fear of God before their
eyes.'" Romans 3:10-18.
Here is his summary, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God." Romans 3:23. Hence all the religions and all the organizations
to rehabilitate us, all the effort to alleviate the problems we have
in our estrangement with God. Just as with Asaph calling on God's
restoration of Israel through reconciliation with him, all mankind
needs reconciliation with God, God's favor and God's restoration of
us.
While none of mankind's religions will do the job, God has
accomplished this very thing himself for us, "For God so loved the
world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son
into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through
him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not
believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the
name of God's one and only Son." John 3:16-18.
What an amazing thing! The very God mankind has turned his collective
back on is the One who provides reconciliation with himself and a
restoration for us of all he intended for us before the fall of
mankind! All he asks is that we embrace him in faith. Jesus said,
"Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life
and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very
truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will
hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as
the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have
life in himself." John 5:24-26.
Wow!!
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 80:3,
"Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that
we may be saved."
Here is a refrain Asaph repeats three times in this psalm. Israel, as
a nation is languishing in the judgment of God for her sins. Asaph
calls out to the Lord to seek his favor resulting in a restoration of
the nation.
So much of Israel's history is a "type" or pattern of all mankind in
her dealings with God. It is not difficult to see the plight of all
mankind in the world's lost and fallen condition before its Creator
portrayed in the history of Israel. Just as Israel strayed from her
God, so the world has turned its collective back on the Lord and gone
its own way. Struggling in sin, sin's consequences and God's judgment,
we can relate to Asaph's cry for restoration with God.
One theme runs consistently throughout all mankind: something isn't
right about us, something needs to be fixed.
The Wikipedia article on Buddhism states, "The Buddha lived and taught
in the eastern part of Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th
and 4th centuries BCE. He is recognized by Buddhists as an awakened or
enlightened teacher who shared his insights to help sentient beings
end suffering (dukkha) through eliminating ignorance (avidyā) and
craving (taṇhā), by way of understanding and seeing dependent
origination (pratītyasamutpāda) and non-self (anātman), and thus
attain the highest happiness, nirvāņa (nirvana)." My synopsis:
Buddhists believe we have a problem and Buddha can fix it.
The Wikipedia article on Hinduism states "Most Hindus believe that the
spirit or soul — the true "self" of every person, called the ātman —
is eternal. According to the monistic/pantheistic theologies of
Hinduism (such as Advaita Vedanta school), this Atman is ultimately
indistinct from Brahman, the supreme spirit. Hence, these schools are
called non-dualist. The goal of life, according to the Advaita school,
is to realize that one's ātman is identical to Brahman, the supreme
soul. The Upanishads state that whoever becomes fully aware of the
ātman as the innermost core of one's own self realizes an identity
with Brahman and thereby reaches moksha (liberation or freedom)." Even
when a religion such as this thinks man is "indistinct" from the
"supreme spirit", man still needs "liberation or freedom." Again, my
synopsis: Hindus believe we have a problem and they can fix it.
The Wikipedia article on Confucianism states, "The core of
Confucianism is humanism, the belief that human beings are teachable,
improvable and perfectible through personal and communal endeavour
especially including self-cultivation and self-creation." The article
goes on to say that "Confucianism as an ideology is humanistic and
non-theistic, and does not involve a belief in the supernatural or in
a personal god." Nonetheless, if mankind is "teachable, improvable and
perfectible" then it is an admission that man needs to be taught
something, man needs to be improved and man needs to be perfected. My
synopsis: Confucianism believes we have a problem and they can fix it.
You get my point. We all know we have a problem and something needs to
be fixed. Charitable organizations know we have a problem. The United
Nations is founded on the understanding mankind has a problem.
Political parties believe we have a problem... everybody acknowledges
something isn't right about us, something needs to be fixed. It may be
visualized in injustice, in racism, in lawlessness and crime. It may
be visualized in the more base impulses of mankind: the elbowing out
of others to get one's own, narcissism, exploitation of the weak,
selfishness, arrogance, greed.
The Scriptures are straightforward about this, blunt and to the point.
In a string of quotations from the Old Testament (Psalms,
Ecclesiastes, Isaiah) Paul says, "'There is no one righteous, not even
one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.
All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no
one who does good, not even one.' 'Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.' 'The poison of vipers is on their
lips.' 'Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.' 'Their feet
are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way
of peace they do not know.' 'There is no fear of God before their
eyes.'" Romans 3:10-18.
Here is his summary, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God." Romans 3:23. Hence all the religions and all the organizations
to rehabilitate us, all the effort to alleviate the problems we have
in our estrangement with God. Just as with Asaph calling on God's
restoration of Israel through reconciliation with him, all mankind
needs reconciliation with God, God's favor and God's restoration of
us.
While none of mankind's religions will do the job, God has
accomplished this very thing himself for us, "For God so loved the
world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son
into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through
him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not
believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the
name of God's one and only Son." John 3:16-18.
What an amazing thing! The very God mankind has turned his collective
back on is the One who provides reconciliation with himself and a
restoration for us of all he intended for us before the fall of
mankind! All he asks is that we embrace him in faith. Jesus said,
"Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life
and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very
truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will
hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as
the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have
life in himself." John 5:24-26.
Wow!!
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)