A God who is free

Christmas is right around the corner, a time of festivities and joy. And although there is much joy in my heart for this time of year, I've been probing the theme of God's Glory and Lordship over all things.

The reality and implications of this study has been nothing short of frightful and humbling. Embracing the severity of God, that is His strict judgment as documented through out Scripture, is perhaps the most frightful thought I've ever had. Much more frightful than a Hollywood film, much more frightful than any evil in this world, is the understanding that God is free to do whatever He wants! Paul exposits this reality of God in Romans 9.

For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy...So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? Romans 9:15 & 18-21

In my recent reading of Francis Chan's book Erasing Hell, Chan comments on Romans 9 with

It's a passage that isn't preached often, so when believers come across it, many find themselves confused. We find ourselves asking, "Is this saying what I think it's saying? If this is true about God, why hasn't anyone told me this before? Is it because we are embarrassed? Maybe we don't want to admit that we believe in a God who is so free to do whatever He wants.

Chan's book helped me beg the question, how high is my view of God? And maybe this is exactly what we as believers need to probe more often, just how lofty is our view of God? Do I believe who God claims to be? Do I believe that God is free to do whatever He wants? To save or condemn whom He wills? Or as it says in Romans 9:21, "Has the potter no right over the clay?"

For more on Erasing Hell:

Who do you really worship?

Who do you really worship? I read a compelling statement today about the American evangelical church that humbled me greatly. I thought it was worthy of sharing, but also I encourage you, if you are humbled as well, to examine your heart before the God revealed in Scripture. Personally speaking, I need to examine the reality and severity of being a Christian.

We are giving in to the dangerous temptation to take the Jesus of the Bible and twist him into a version of Jesus we are more comfortable with. A nice, middle-class, American Jesus. A Jesus who doesn't mind materialism and who would never call us to give away everything we have. A Jesus who would not expect us to foresake our closest relationships so that he receives all our affection. A Jesus who is fine with nominal devotion that does not infringe on our comforts, because, after all, he loves us just the way we are. A Jesus who wants us to avoid danger altogether. A Jesus who brings us comfort and prosperity as we live out our Christian spin on the American dream...We are molding Jesus into our image. He is beginning to look a lot like us because, after all, that is whom we are most comfortable with. And the danger now is that when we gather in our church building to sing and lift up our hands in worship, we may not actually be worshipping the Jesus of the Bible. Instead we may be worshipping ourselves. David Platt

For more book info:

Make God Your Only Object

Let nothing ever set your heart beating so mightily as love to Him. Let this ambition fire your soul; be this the foundation of every enterprise upon which you enter, and this your sustaining motive whenever your zeal would grow chill; make God your only object. Depend upon it, where self begins sorrow begins; but if God be my supreme deight and only object,
To me 'tis equal whether love ordain My life or death - appoint me ease or pain.'

- C.H. Spurgeon

Love more, worship more, give more, rejoice more, live more for God's glory is known! Give Him honor. 'To Him be glory for ever.' Amen.

Forbidden pleasure...the ultimate weapon against desiring God

http://vimeo.com/67614403

"All we can do is encourage the humans to use the pleasures in ways and degrees he has forbidden. So always try to work any pleasure towards that which is least natural therefore least pleasurable. An ever increasing craving for an ever diminishing pleasure is the formula! Get the man's soul, give him nothing in return, this is what really gladdens our father's (Satan) heart!" - Screwtape the demon

We have a ruthless enemy, an enemy that does not rest but roams like a lion looking for whom to devour. An enemy that has seen the development of man from its conception. Our enemy knows us well, perhaps even better than you know yourself. Not only is our enemy ruthless, but it is also crafty and deceptive. We have an enemy that takes truth and makes it appear "subjective." The enemy takes the good, tworts it, mangles it and sells it as a hot commodity. Appealing to the eyes, soothing to the flesh, detrimental to the soul, and deathly to our relationship with the Lord.

Friends, be on guard! Our Father is good, and He has given us the wisdom and guidance to fight the good fight and to live abundantly!

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

Preserve me, O God (chasinggodblog.wordpress.com)
Stages of Sin from St. Bernard of Clairvaux - Fasten Your Seatbelt! (adw.org)

For more on The Screwtape Letters:

Whoever keeps...

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. "Scoffer" is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride. Proverbs 21:23, 24

How often do we find ourselves careless with our speech and further yet, how careless are we with the way we express our speech to others? Friends this should not be so, and that's why this passage in Proverbs 21 is so precious and practical for me. It reminds me to "keep" my mouth. But what does it mean to keep ones mouth?

In the original Hebrew translation of this passage the word used for keep is שָׁמַר (shamar), which contains a plethora of definitions including:

To watch
To observe
To guard
To be careful
To be aware
To cling to
To observe oneself

And much more! This one word in the old Hebrew testifies to the beauty and depth of the Hebrew language. Although the word שָׁמַר is small in spelling, even smaller than its english contemporary keep, it packs meaty implications. That one word is a treasure chest of wisdom, and when you consider we have an entire Bible filled with millions of words like it, we realize we have much to learn, and we are all in progress! It's no wonder the Scriptures make the simple wise as said in Psalms 19:7

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

The point I'm making is, to follow any one of the definitions in the word "keep," would be enough to transform my speech, however, we are given many definitions to consider making our maturity process even more dynamic! You would think that knowing the implications should change ones speech and yet, knowledge is not enough to transform speech. Infact, I have found that some of the most insensitive people I've encountered in my life have been other Christians with a lot of knowledge! I've been amazed of what has come out of the mouth of "Christians." However, it realy shouldn't be all that surprising, considering that knowledge puffs up..

Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that"all of us possess knowledge." This"knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. 1 Corinthians 8:1-3

As the passage in Proverbs continues to unravel, we see that humility is at the core of a person who keeps his mouth by pointing out that it is the scoffer who is arrogant and prideful, and in return do not examine themselves. Jesus exposited on the root of humility when he was asked which was the greatest commandment in the law:

And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 22:35-40

Perhaps we can learn a thing or two of humility, if we learn to love our Lord. From love of the Lord stems love for our neighbor and the fulfillment of all the commandments! All that is righteous, good and pure, depends on loving the Lord. So if you love the Lord, meditate on His words, hear His commands, let them echo in the depths of your mind, and maybe you will "observe" words that are gracious, and then edifying speech will be kept on your tongue, and flow from your mouth!

That my joy may be in you...

"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." John 15:11

It's positively amazing to understand what joy means in the passage of John! It’s also depressingly amazing how this passage is misinterpreted and often taken out of context in the prosperity gospel messages throughout America. I’ve heard my share of teachers say, "Jesus just wants you to be happy!" It certainly aligns with the American constitutional philosophy, “the pursuit of happiness.” But is this what Jesus really meant?

"That your joy may be full…"

The original greek word for joy in this sentence is χαρά (Chara) which means delight. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, delight means :

a high degree of gratification
joy
extreme satisfaction

More than a feeling of happiness, this passage in John talks about an extreme/divine satisfaction that originates from Christ Himself!

"That my joy may be in you…”

Christ essentially said that He wants His extreme satisfaction to be in us and He wants our extreme satisfaction to be full. So if you are like me, and find yourself downcast, stressed, worried, or doubtful, simply remember the words written long ago. Words that testify to Christ giving His people--not only salvation, but also an extreme, divine and overflowing satisfaction for all circumstances! Paul talks a lot about this in Philippians.

It’s important to remind ourselves we not only have access to the fruits of the spirit, but we also posses them daily– a gift from Christ to you, to help you persevere and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord. Through Christ, we’ve been given an understanding of joy, not only an emotional joy, but also an extreme form of gratification.

So no matter how hopeless your situation might “feel/appear" like, the reality of Christ-like joy tells us we have satisfaction right now, and we have plentiful gratification. Even death itself becomes a grateful reward for us who long to see Christ Jesus face to face. To God be the glory. And may your day be filled with JOY!

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