Colin S. Smith's Blog, page 33

Three Wise Points Made in James 5

Therefore, brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. (James 5:7)

If there is one activity that almost every human being
dislikes, it is waiting.

Waiting at the DMV, waiting in line at an amusement
park, or waiting to turn sixteen so you can get your driver’s license just to
name a few. The reason that most people do not like waiting is because they
feel it is a waste of time. When you are in line at the DMV there is little
else you can do other than wait.

Waiting just seems like it can only be a nuisance.

James 5 and Waiting

In James 5, however we see that James commands the
church to wait and be patient in suffering. He uses an agrarian analogy that
his audience would relate to. Planting and waiting for crops to grow and
produce fruit is a long and agonizing process they would have known well.

First, the growing process is slow and can sometimes
be a letdown. Second, there are many things that can go wrong during that time
to hurt the plants. However, when the farmer endures and is patient, the end
product is well worth it, as he can feed his family and sell the rest for
profit.

So, what exactly is James commanding us to be patient
for? The answer is the Lord’s justice.

We must keep in mind that James was writing to
churches scattered all over the place and all of which were under intense
persecution. He knew the temptation to want to give up, forsake the name of
Jesus, and leave the church to escape this cruel punishment would be very
tempting.

That being said, he commands them to be patient and thus endure under suffering. The language he uses is quite strong, as these verses are littered not simply asking or suggesting but commanding. James really makes three points through verses 7–11 that I think are wise for us to consider today.

1. Strengthen your heart (James 5:8)

In this context to strengthen means: “to set fast,
i.e. (literally) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or (figuratively)
to confirm.”

This is a call to not be unsure about the hope that
you have in Christ, but rather to have a certain and unwavering resolve to fix
our eyes on Christ and turn away from evil. He also gives a rational for this
difficult command and that is “because the day of the Lord’s coming is near.”

When the Lord comes, He will judge and there will only
be two verdicts: in Adam or in Christ. By fixing our resolve on Jesus, we will
endure and when the day of the Lord comes, we will be counted as righteous
because of Christ. This is what gives us unwavering hope: that one day Christ
the Lord will come and set all things right.

2. Patience with one another (James 5:9)

James exhorts the church to be willing to look over an
offense with one another. Enduring the suffering of this life is not something
that we are to do alone, and that is why we have the local church.

The body of Christ is meant to be in unity (1 Corinthians 1:10) understanding that while we all sin, that we await the coming of Christ in which we will all be counted as righteous. Therefore, we must not get caught up in judging and grumbling at one another’s every fault and sin.

James follows this imperative not to grumble by saying
“the Judge stands at the door and knocks.” This was to put earthly discord in
perspective of the fact that as the church there was no need to judge one
another since God would take care of that.

Rather, we should look to our brothers in sisters in
faith as people that can encourage us, and that we can encourage to persevere
under suffering. Now, this is not to say that we should accept or tolerate sin!

But we need to be loving and encouraging one another
through this life and persevering together. Our goal whether it is
encouragement or rebuke is to help one another persevere in our faith.  

3. Patience brings blessing (James 5:10–11)

James reminds the church that the people who suffered
for the name of the Lord are considered blessed. This is profound because it
fights back against the prevailing thought of the culture. Where the culture
sees the blessed life as having money, family, a good job, and long vacations, James
says that those who are blessed are those who lived a life who were patient
under suffering and persevered to the end.

He uses the specific example of Job. Job was a
righteous man who loved the Lord, but God allowed him to lose all he had and
become extremely ill. Yet Job did not lose his faith and continued to seek after
the Lord. He was patient in suffering and though his faith struggled amid his
pain, it did not fall away.

We see from this example that not only is this a mark
of a true believer, but that it brings about blessing. Notice after he remarks
on the patience of Job, he points out God’s compassion and mercy. This
illuminates the wonderful truth that suffering is temporary, and that one day
God will restore all his people.

We Need Patience

This message of James to be patient in suffering is a
word that we need today.

When we see the world we live in grow more and more hostile to God, and when we are treated as outsiders for having a faith in the Lord, it is easy to lose heart. Take heart Christian that this patience in suffering will produce in you great blessing that will be realized when God judges you has righteous because of His son.

On that day you will be so glad that you persevered!

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8 Verses to Memorize about Biblical Gentleness

1.) Psalm 18:35

You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.

David had many enemies. The Lord not only protected him but also gave him victory over them. Due to this, David became a great man. But what does David thank for his becoming great? God’s gentleness. God’s gentleness brings greatness!

There is a truth to remember here. Wherever we see evidence
of greatness in our lives, we know God has been there first.

2.) 1 Corinthians 4:20–21

For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

Paul here is admonishing some of his readers for not
behaving as they ought to behave. And he is giving them a choice: Will they
continue to be stubborn, and require greater discipline in order to bring them
back to right living? Or, will they be teachable, and allow Paul to speak with
a spirit of gentleness?

In this instance, gentleness from Paul would be a confirmation of Christlikeness in the Corinthian church. He’s not saying they don’t have more to learn—for even Paul wasn’t perfect (Philippians 3:12)—but with the church being humble, he could teach them with gentleness.

3.) 2 Corinthians 10:1–3  

I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ…

In Christ we find the greatest example of meekness and
gentleness. This list of eight verses is hardly even scratching the surface of
what gentleness is and what it looks like in practice.

If you want to see real, biblical gentleness, open your bible to one of the gospels, and reflect on Jesus’s words and actions.

4.) Galatians 5:22–23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

For some, gentleness can be a tough thing. We want to move fast, swing big, and talk bold. Not that these things are necessarily against being gentle, but there are some personalities that have to be more intentional about it than others.

If we feel like there is a limit to our gentleness, we know that limit does not come from Scripture! Here Paul says there is no law against it. So, we all should be looking to increase our capacity for the fruit of the spirit. If God has not put a limit on it, why should we?

5.) Ephesians 4:1–3

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The Bible teaches that, as Christians, we have been called
by God. Since we are merely pardoned sinners, this can get to our heads. Whether
on the front of our mind, or in the back of our mind, we can feel like we are
better than others.

But this is so far from the truth! Paul says that “the
calling to which [we] have been called” necessitates we walk in humility and
gentleness.

Christian, don’t forget that it is God’s gentleness that
made you great, and that you are called to proclaim His glory—his gentleness—to
the world.

6.) 1 Timothy 6:11–12

But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith.

The Christian life is the active life. Sin does not just
leave us alone, we have to flee from it. And we are also told to pursue righteousness
and other good things including gentleness. To say we must pursue it implies we
are not perfect at it right away—there is more room for growth.

It’s interesting to me how the words gentleness,
which ends a sentence, and fight, which begins the next sentence, are
placed back-to-back. It’s not a contradiction! This verse is showing us that
sin will try to keep us back from spiritual growth, but we have to fight for
it!

As odd as it sounds, we have to fight for gentleness!

7.) 2 Timothy 2:24–25

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.

Public speakers face a particularly tough test when it comes
to gentleness. If you are verbally questioned, having your ideas questioned in
front of other people, you will be tempted to prove your rightness by showing
your strength. You will be tempted to yell, to ridicule, to make fun, or other
sinful things.

But where does our power really come from? We were made
great by God’s gentleness. Our power is in God’s Word.

Rely on these things, rather than your own display of strength.

8.) 1 Peter 3:14–16

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

In the last verse and in this one, we see that the biblical
response to evil and suffering is gentleness. Gentleness is powerful enough to
convert a person to Christ, while unrighteous anger and spite may only drive
them farther away!

In everything we do, we aim to bring glory to Jesus Christ.
And these 8 verses help us see that gentleness is a great way to point to God’s
goodness!

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Your Greatest Dread or Greatest Delight

God calls all Christians to personal holiness. To be holy means someone is God’s man or God’s woman, and this is a lifelong pursuit. However, because of sin, holiness is hard.

Those who seek the Holy God will face trials, and often be plagued by feelings of uncertainty, loss, inadequacy or failure. But personal holiness represents more than achieving moral behavior; holiness depends on whether God is your greatest dread or greatest delight.

God as your Greatest Dread

The holiness of God will be your greatest dread if you are engaged in these two things:

1.
Idolatrous Rebellion

Sin is an act of idolatry because it is the worship of what
is created rather than the Creator. Sin is also an act rebellion. By disobeying
the cosmic King, people commit treason against an infinite God. Thus, sin represents
a slanderous crime of eternal consequence!

Sin separates people from the blessing of God, for God cannot dwell with anything unholy. This was why Israel could not approach the presence of the LORD on Mount Sinai in Exodus. God warned Moses no one could see His face and live (Exodus 33:20). No matter the age, Sinners cannot stand in the presence of a holy God because we have no right to be there.

In the future, hearts far from God will experience the terror of God in his inescapable holiness. Revelation 6 says that one day, there will be nowhere to hide. All people, from the greatest to the least, will be exposed in their sin.

People will cry out to the mountains and rocks, saying, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, … [for] who can stand?”  (Revelation 6:16-17).

“It [will be] a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). The LORD is Holy, and He alone deserves our praise. With that in mind, beware the temptation to commit shallow worship.

2.
Shallow Worship

In Isaiah 6, the prophet came face to face with the LORD in His awesome holiness. Judah had rebelled by pursuing idols, and their worship of God reflected their divided and unholy hearts.

This also happens today. Shallow worship makes church about us and less about Christ. In our distracting age, delight in other things divides our love for the LORD. As a result, shallow worship undervalues sin and causes us to forget what God says.

Even though Isaiah spoke against the idolatry of the people,
this prophet who delivered the Word of the LORD, realized his own words were not
what they ought to be. In that moment, Isaiah knew how much he utterly fell
short of God’s holiness, and so he said:

Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts! (Isaiah 6:5)

You might have the same reaction to reading about God’s
holiness. But there is hope! The Lord has given sinners a sure salvation.

In the following verses we read that amid the darkness,
Isaiah was confronted, not in judgment, but with grace. Instead of being cut
down by a flaming sword, an angel seared Isaiah’s lips with a burning coal, pronouncing:

Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for. (Isaiah 6:7)

Instead of experiencing the sword of God’s judgment for sin,
Isaiah experienced the atonement of God’s Savior. And this transformed Isaiah’s
dread into delight.

How can the holy God become your ultimate delight?

Holy Delight

Just as Isaiah saw the Holy God, we are beholding the holiness of God whenever we read the Bible, for the holiness of God has been revealed most fully and meaningfully to us in the person and work of Jesus.

1. Behold Christ

Isaiah’s lips were cauterized by a coal from the altar of sacrifice, where sins were forgiven through the shed blood of a sacrificed lamb, and Jesus is the holy lamb of God, who came to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). He makes holy all who trust in him.

Why? “For our sake, God made him to be sin who knew
no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians
5:21).

How? Jesus Christ “is the propitiation for our sins,
and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).

When we are look to Jesus, he takes our sinfulness and we gain his holiness. Further, beholding Christ is the power for personal holiness, “for by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10:14, NIV).

To delight in the Holy God, you must look to Jesus Christ.

2. Believe Confidently

Delight in God also fuels personal holiness because Christ is holy (1 Peter 1:14-15).

When the coal from the altar touched Isaiah, it also gave
him compelling confidence in the LORD. So much so, that he commanded the LORD
to send him back to the people! God’s means of atonement removed Isaiah’s
dread, and gave him even greater delight.

Faith looks back to Christ on the cross, looks up to Christ in heaven, and looks ahead to Christ’s glorious return. The Holy Lamb of God can take away your dread, and the Holy Spirit promises to help you in your weakness, and conform you to the holiness of Christ (Romans 8:26, 29).

When you seek the Lord who is holy faithfully and fervently, His holiness will satisfy you. The Holy God will either be your greatest dread or your greatest delight. I pray the latter is true.

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What A Wise And Discerning Counselor Looks Like

“Let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:33) 

“Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are.” (Genesis 41:39) 

The keys words here are discerning and wise. What does it mean to be discerning and wise? What would it mean for us? Lots of things, but in the story of Joseph, it means two things:

1. Restrain indulgence in times of plenty

In years of plenty, it is easy to become extravagant and wasteful. Joseph says, “We need to make sure that does not happen.” Don’t waste what you have been given. When God prospers you, it is easy to begin throwing it around.

2. Take reasonable measures to provide for the future

Joseph discerns that this will mean putting a fifth of the harvest in store for seven years. He sets out a very specific plan as to where these savings are to be stored and how this stewardship is to be exercised. This is remarkable wisdom from a 30-year-old man! 

George Lawson asks the question, “How does Joseph’s policy to store up food relate to the words of Jesus, when he says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19). 

Lawson says, “[Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth] is not intended to prohibit us from providing in time of plenty for a time of scarcity as far as it can be done without neglecting the necessary duties of charity and piety according to our circumstances.” 

Our first duty is to be faithful in our giving to God (piety) and generous in our giving to others (charity). After we have done that, then we should consider what we can do for the future. Saving is never the first thing for the Christian; it comes after piety and charity. 

What made Joseph such a wise and discerning counselor?
1. The wise counselor speaks the Word of God.

It is very striking that God is not spoken of a single time in the first 15 verses of Genesis 41. 

The palace is wrought with anxiety: A troubled king is facing the relentless pressure of overwhelming responsibility, and pundits are pouring over the mysteries of life and the disturbing prospects of the dream. 

All these people! All this anxiety! Yet the name of God is not even spoken. Why? Because there isn’t anyone in the whole palace who knows God or who is walking with God. But then Joseph is called, and when he arrives, he speaks on behalf of God: 

“It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer” (Genesis 41:16). 
“The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do” (41:25). 
“It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do” (41:28). 
“The doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about” (41:32). 

So Pharaoh says to his servants, “Can we find a man like this in whom is the Spirit of God?” (41:38). Now Pharaoh is speaking about God, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are” (41:39). 

In this story, Joseph points us to Jesus, who says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). 

Jesus is the wise and wonderful counselor who comes to you in the mysteries of your life, when you are pressed down by the burdens of your responsibilities, and you don’t know where to turn or what to do, and He says, “Come to me.”

2. The wise counselor is appointed and honored.

“You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command.” (Genesis 41:40) 

Pharaoh wants all the people to know that authority has been given to Joseph, so he takes his signet ring, puts it on Joseph’s hand, and clothes him in garments of fine linen (41:42). He puts a golden chain round Joseph’s neck, a big change from the collar of iron (Psalm 105)! He has Joseph ride in a chariot, and has his servants call out before him, “Bow the knee!” (41:43). 

You can’t read this as a Christian without thinking about Jesus the wise and faithful one who has been raised from the dead. He was exalted to the highest place that at his name every knee should bow (Philippians 2:9-11). 

Jesus comes to us with the message of grace in a world of trouble, and when you see who He is, the wise response is to honor Him and appoint Him as Lord and Master over your life. To take up the words of Pharaoh, “Place him over your house, over your life. Bow the knee! Order your life at his command.”

3. The wise counselor supplies the need of the people.

Here again Joseph points us very wonderfully to Jesus. Joseph sets up these centers for gathering grain in every city. The location is important: Easy access for all the people 

The seven years of plenty came and went, and then the time of famine arrived, “When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do” (Genesis 41:55). 

The king doesn’t say, “Go to the storehouses.” He says, “Go to Joseph! He is the one who has what you need. He is the one who will open the doors of the storehouses. He is the one who will feed you.”  

You read that and hear the voice of Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor, saying: 

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). 
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37). 
“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37). 

Go to Jesus to receive what you need. He has a storehouse of forgiveness, with enough to cover all your sins; a storehouse of strength, sufficient for you to stand and endure; a storehouse of wisdom, for all the perplexing decisions of life. 

Christ is the one who opens the storehouses of grace! They are all His. When you come to Him, He will make sure that you have all that you need. 

Photo Credit: Unsplash  
This article was adapted from Pastor Colin’s sermon, “Wise and Discerning,” from his series Snapshots of a Godly Life, Part 1. 

5 Key Connections: Thanksgiving 2019

Here are 5 key passages from articles on Unlocking the Bible about all things related to thanksgiving. Enjoy Thanksgiving 2019!

Make the Choice to Be Thankful for Jesus(Colin Smith)

The thankful person remembers the people who contributed to his or her life. The ungrateful person forgets these contributions and takes all the credit.

Think of all the people who have contributed to the course of your life. Parents and Sunday school teachers, people who have given to you, those who love you. People who have worked with you to achieve things that were important. Friends who were thoughtful. That person who said something at just the right time when you needed a word of encouragement.

70 Prompts for Giving Thanks to God (Lianna Davis)

God, you have:

1. given me a way to rejoice at all times (Phil. 4:4; 2 Cor. 6:10).

2. comforted me in all of my sorrows (1 Cor. 1:4).

3. not treated me as I deserve (Ps. 103:10).

4. given me all of the good gifts that I enjoy (1 Tim. 6:17; Jas. 1:17).

5. been the perfect peace of my soul, though I still sorrowfully sin (Rom. 5:1).

Thanksgiving: A Gospel Guide (Kristen Wetherell)

The person who trusts in the Lord “is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither” (Psalm 1:3). Christ nourishes our deepest desires by giving to us himself: holy, perfect, loving, kind, faithful, strong, true, and eternal. He is the solid rock on which believers stand, steadfast and sure. Nothing else, not even the greatest Thanksgiving feast, compares to his glory!

Make Your Dinner Table a Place of Worship (Colin Smith)

Make your dinner table a place where you worship. Don’t let the television replace the table. Whether it is at the beginning or the end of the meal, use this most common event as an opportunity to give thanks. We sometimes talk about “saying grace” and that can become a habit, but it is a good habit that we need to keep fresh and meaningful.

Three Perspectives for Christian Thankfulness (Davis Wetherell)

As Christians, God not only calls us by name but also calls us by His name. Think of name here indicating something related to status, to worthiness, to glory, and to power. We are called by His name, and we share in His glory.

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A Christian’s Response to Discouragement at Work

Work
is an essential aspect of our lives. After all, as Christians we are to work
hard for the glory of God.  Yet
it happens that even when we do so we can still feel unappreciated in the work
that we do. What are we to do in response to this feeling?  

Remind Yourself Why You Work (Colossians 3:17)

Everything the Christian does is for the Lord and to
be done for His glory. Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, in word or
deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the
Father through him.”

Notice what Paul says to the Christians at Colossae.
They are to “do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,” meaning whatever
they do and whatever tasks or work they are engaged in, it’s all to be done for
the Lord.

At the heart of Paul’s discussion in Colossians 3:17 is the idea of what theologians call our vocation, namely what we do to make a living to provide for our families. And Paul is speaking to here in the context in Colossians 3, which discusses how to put off the flesh and put on the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:12).

This, in particular, is why Christians can work hard
and for the glory of God.  Christians are
those who are submitted to the Lordship of Christ over all. Christ is Lord, not
of some aspect of our lives but of every facet of our lives.

Know Your Work Is Not in Vain (1 Corinthians 15)

Christians must recognize that that the labor they do is not in vain because the Lord is triumphant (1 Corinthians 15:14-19). Even so, work is to be done according to the ways of God for such work is done for the Kingdom (1 Corinthians 3:10-15).

Tucked away towards the very end of Corinthians is 1
Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor
is not in vain.”

Christians can “be steadfast, immovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not
in vain” because of Christ. Christians can whatever they do it all for the
glory of God, whether it’s noticed or unnoticed.

Remember God Sees and Knows Your Work (Proverbs 15:3 and Hebrews 6:10)

There is not one square inch in the Christian life
where God doesn’t see and know you, dear Christian. He sees when you do the
dishes, vacuum, clean the house, when you change a diaper (even if it’s not
your kid), or clean up a mess, not your own.

God does see all the work we have, but even more so,
He sees and knows our hearts. At root, our identity in Christ isn’t to be
rooted in whether people know us or celebrate our work or not. Our work is to
be done before the face of God. Rather than being discouraging, understanding
our Christian lives and work in this way is encouraging.

Our God sees and knows us at work, so we can focus on
Him in every phase of life.

Be Thankful to the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Let’s say at church you greet people, but no one ever
says thank you for greeting them. Do you feel entitled to get a pat on the back
for greeting someone? Or are you there to greet people to make them feel
welcome? The difference is significant.

Everything in our Christian life is to be done for the
glory of God. We exist in other words to abound as Christians in the work of
the Lord and to do it in the strength He supplies with thankfulness:

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

A Right Perspective About Work

When we have the right perspective towards our work,
whatever that is, we will get less discouraged by whether people pat us on the
back and say, “Good job.” When people thank us, we should be genuinely thankful
for the encouragement but not let it determine our worth nor define our
happiness.

Our identity is not in what we do but in Christ. What
Paul is trying to get the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 15:58 to understand is work
is essential, and they are to abound in the work they’ve been called to and
wherever He has placed them. Christians are to work hard wherever they are, for
they work for the glory of God and the good of others. Our reward is not for ourselves;
it is for others to see Christ being formed in us and Christ being demonstrated
through us.

If you feel discouraged today by going unnoticed, focus on the Lord. He is your true joy and the delight of your soul. We all have seasons where we get lots of encouragement and some seasons where we get none. In either season of life, the Lord knows and sees our real heart motivation. So, we can rest in Him and entrust the results of our work to Him, for He is the rewarder of both.

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Three Perspectives for Christian Thankfulness

This
Thanksgiving, I plan to embrace thankfulness. I want to be thankful. I do feel
a slight resistance, because in the back of my mind I hear: It’s cliché to
be thankful around thanksgiving. Everyone does that!

That
very well may be, but I will not let that voice keep me from the spiritual blessing
that comes from practicing a spirit of thankfulness.

In
light of this, I want to provide three perspectives of thankfulness that are
available only to the Christian. The three perspectives are the following: the
past, the present, and the future.

Thankfulness for the Past

I want to highlight two things that happened in the past of every Christian. These two things are verses that come from Isaiah 43, and I was greatly encouraged by them. I hope you will be too.

1.) “I have
called you by name, you are mine.” (43:1)

What an amazing verse! For it tells us a wonderful truth about our salvation: It was no accident. It was no impersonal act. Instead, it was intentional, personal. God called you by name.

In
this verse, we don’t get the sense that God stands before all the Christians of
the world and says to the collective group, “You are mine.” In this verse, he stands
before all the Christians of the world and he points to each person individually:
“Davis, you are mine.” “Rebecca, you are mine.” “Paul, you are mine.”

And Paul affirms this in Galatians, when he writes, “[God] set me apart before I was born, and… called me by his grace” (1:15). Don’t overlook those last three words, by his grace. For what do we know about Paul? He was a Christian killer. He was a murderer, a zealot, and the worst of Pharisees.

So, now we see that being called out by name is not only special but also scary. Part of the deal when God calls you out by name is that God calls out your sin.

Called by His Grace

But
thank God, He called us by his grace: “those whom he called he also
justified” (Romans 8:30). In other words, part of the deal when God called you by
name is that he is called out your sin and forgave it.

Let
me repeat our verse from Isaiah 43, now with the line that comes right before
it:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name, you are mine.”

2.) “called by my name” (43:7)

Here’s some context for that phrase:

“bring my sons from afar
    and my daughters from the end of the earth,
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
   whom I formed and made.”

As
Christians, God not only calls us by name but also calls us by His name. Think
of name here indicating something related to status, to worthiness, to
glory, and to power. We are called by His name, and we share in His glory.

To
go back to the section of Romans 8 I quoted above, here’s what Paul says next after
how everyone who is called is also justified: “those whom he justified he also
glorified” (8:30). Notice the past tense—glorified. This is another way
of saying that we are called by His name.

I can’t say it any better than how Galatians 2:20 puts it: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”

This
is what we have to be thankful for—and it’s just our past! We have been called
by name and we are called by Jesus’s name.

Thankfulness for the Present

Christians
are rightfully occupied with the past, because of the earthly life of Jesus and
the biblical story, and occupied with the future, because of the glorious
promise of eternal life. But what about the present? It’s pretty amazing too!

Thanks
to what the Lord has done for us in the past, we are presently children of God.
Here are some notes on the present life of the Christian:

We Walk by the Spirit

Galatians
2 told us that we have been crucified with Christ, and it is now Christ who lives
in us. We have died to the flesh, and we now walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5 shows
us what we are growing in throughout our present lives: “love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (5:22–23).

Consider
what our present lives would have looked like had we a different past without
Christ: “sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity,
strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness,
orgies, and things like these” (5:19–21).

Needless
to say, I am thankful for the Spirit-led life I now live.

Jesus and the Holy Spirit are Supporting Us

[Jesus] always lives to make intercession for[those who draw near to God through him]. (Hebrews 7:25)

The Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:27)

There’s
no doubt about it—this life is a hard life to live. And it can be difficult, or
even impossible, to be thankful for the tough trials we go through.

But
what we can always be thankful for is how Jesus Christ, our Savior, and the
Holy Spirit are both for us and empowering us. We never have to go through this
life alone, as we know for sure that God is always with us.

Aren’t you thankful Christian that your present life is and forever will be on the front of Jesus’s mind and ever-present in His heart? He loves you. That’s your present: Living in the love of Jesus.

Thankfulness for the Future

A
great past and wonderful present would be overshadowed, and perhaps even ruined,
by a bad future. There is much to be thankful for in our current life, but if
we did not have more joy to look forward to then we would be left incomplete.

Philippians
1:6, however, gives us this promise: “And I am sure of this, that he who began
a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” The
Bible is sure. So we can be sure.

I want to write a book in the future. But I cannot be thankful for writing a book yet because I do not know if it will happen. However, I can be thankful for the completed work of Christ in me, I can be thankful for eternal life, because I know for sure it will happen.

To
close, 1 Corinthians explains a special joy we have waiting for us in the
future.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (13:12)

There
is much to say about this verse, but the only thing I want to highlight now is
the phrase “face to face.” In the future of every Christian is the moment when
we will bodily stand next to Jesus and look at Him face to face.

What Will That Moment Be Like?

I saw a video where a dad, now home after a long time away in the military, surprised his son by joining into his fencing practice. (Fencing participants wear protective headgear covering the face.)

A
few moments after they got started, the dad spoke to his son and the son
recognized his father’s voice. Then they took off their masks and made eye-contact.
What happened next? They didn’t stay separated! They embraced each other in a
tear-filled hug.

This is what your future holds, Christian. The moment you get to see Jesus Christ face to face and embrace Him.

Photo Credit: Unsplash

3 Perspectives for Christian Thankfulness

This
Thanksgiving, I plan to embrace thankfulness. I want to be thankful. I do feel
a slight resistance, because in the back of my mind I hear: It’s cliché to
be thankful around thanksgiving. Everyone does that!

That
very well may be, but I will not let that voice keep me from the spiritual blessing
that comes from practicing a spirit of thankfulness.

In
light of this, I want to provide three perspectives of thankfulness that are
available only to the Christian. The three perspectives are the following: the
past, the present, and the future.

Thankfulness for the Past

I want to highlight two things that happened in the past of every Christian. These two things are verses that come from Isaiah 43, and I was greatly encouraged by them. I hope you will be too.

1.) “I have
called you by name, you are mine.” (43:1)

What an amazing verse! For it tells us a wonderful truth about our salvation: It was no accident. It was no impersonal act. Instead, it was intentional, personal. God called you by name.

In
this verse, we don’t get the sense that God stands before all the Christians of
the world and says to the collective group, “You are mine.” In this verse, he stands
before all the Christians of the world and he points to each person individually:
“Davis, you are mine.” “Rebecca, you are mine.” “Paul, you are mine.”

And Paul affirms this in Galatians, when he writes, “[God] set me apart before I was born, and… called me by his grace” (1:15). Don’t overlook those last three words, by his grace. For what do we know about Paul? He was a Christian killer. He was a murderer, a zealot, and the worst of Pharisees.

So, now we see that being called out by name is not only special but also scary. Part of the deal when God calls you out by name is that God calls out your sin.

Called by His Grace

But
thank God, He called us by his grace: “those whom he called he also
justified” (Romans 8:30). In other words, part of the deal when God called you by
name is that he is called out your sin and forgave it.

Let
me repeat our verse from Isaiah 43, now with the line that comes right before
it:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name, you are mine.”

2.) “called by my name” (43:7)

Here’s some context for that phrase:

“bring my sons from afar
    and my daughters from the end of the earth,
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
   whom I formed and made.”

As
Christians, God not only calls us by name but also calls us by His name. Think
of name here indicating something related to status, to worthiness, to
glory, and to power. We are called by His name, and we share in His glory.

To
go back to the section of Romans 8 I quoted above, here’s what Paul says next after
how everyone who is called is also justified: “those whom he justified he also
glorified” (8:30). Notice the past tense—glorified. This is another way
of saying that we are called by His name.

I can’t say it any better than how Galatians 2:20 puts it: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”

This
is what we have to be thankful for—and it’s just our past! We have been called
by name and we are called by Jesus’s name.

Thankfulness for the Present

Christians
are rightfully occupied with the past, because of the earthly life of Jesus and
the biblical story, and occupied with the future, because of the glorious
promise of eternal life. But what about the present? It’s pretty amazing too!

Thanks
to what the Lord has done for us in the past, we are presently children of God.
Here are some notes on the present life of the Christian:

We Walk by the Spirit

Galatians
2 told us that we have been crucified with Christ, and it is now Christ who lives
in us. We have died to the flesh, and we now walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5 shows
us what we are growing in throughout our present lives: “love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (5:22–23).

Consider
what our present lives would have looked like had we a different past without
Christ: “sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity,
strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness,
orgies, and things like these” (5:19–21).

Needless
to say, I am thankful for the Spirit-led life I now live.

Jesus and the Holy Spirit are Supporting Us

[Jesus] always lives to make intercession for[those who draw near to God through him]. (Hebrews 7:25)

The Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:27)

There’s
no doubt about it—this life is a hard life to live. And it can be difficult, or
even impossible, to be thankful for the tough trials we go through.

But
what we can always be thankful for is how Jesus Christ, our Savior, and the
Holy Spirit are both for us and empowering us. We never have to go through this
life alone, as we know for sure that God is always with us.

Aren’t you thankful Christian that your present life is and forever will be on the front of Jesus’s mind and ever-present in His heart? He loves you. That’s your present: Living in the love of Jesus.

Thankfulness for the Future

A
great past and wonderful present would be overshadowed, and perhaps even ruined,
by a bad future. There is much to be thankful for in our current life, but if
we did not have more joy to look forward to then we would be left incomplete.

Philippians
1:6, however, gives us this promise: “And I am sure of this, that he who began
a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” The
Bible is sure. So we can be sure.

I want to write a book in the future. But I cannot be thankful for writing a book yet because I do not know if it will happen. However, I can be thankful for the completed work of Christ in me, I can be thankful for eternal life, because I know for sure it will happen.

To
close, 1 Corinthians explains a special joy we have waiting for us in the
future.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (13:12)

There
is much to say about this verse, but the only thing I want to highlight now is
the phrase “face to face.” In the future of every Christian is the moment when
we will bodily stand next to Jesus and look at Him face to face.

What Will That Moment Be Like?

I saw a video where a dad, now home after a long time away in the military, surprised his son by joining into his fencing practice. (Fencing participants wear protective headgear covering the face.)

A
few moments after they got started, the dad spoke to his son and the son
recognized his father’s voice. Then they took off their masks and made eye-contact.
What happened next? They didn’t stay separated! They embraced each other in a
tear-filled hug.

This is what your future holds, Christian. The moment you get to see Jesus Christ face to face and embrace Him.

Photo Credit: Unsplash

The Bad Fruit of Comparing Ourselves with Others

Social media overflows
with mantras meant to encourage us in our struggle with comparison. Half-truths
sounding delightful to the ears of sinners, beckon us to fix our eyes on
something other than the person next to us. Unfortunately, they fail to point
us to the right place. Maybe you have heard something like this:

“We won’t be distracted by comparison if we are captivated with purpose.”

Wait, is being
captivated with our purpose truly the safeguard from a life of joyless
comparison? Here’s another:

“The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our
behind the scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.”

Heard this one before?
Is that actually the reason? No, insecurity in the human heart finds its
root in something much deeper. 

The majority of the conversation surrounding comparison point both men and women to themselves. They force-feed us lies, telling us if we find our purpose and focus on our own highlight reel, then we’ll be freed from comparing ourselves to others. Honestly, is this working for anyone?

The Bad Fruit of Comparing Ourselves to Others

We have got to stop
pretending like comparison isn’t a sin. It’s not just a burden placed on us
that steals our joy. Comparison burns a hole in our communion with God and our
community with those around us. Here are some rotten fruits that grow in our
hearts through this sin:

Envy

Most often, comparison
acts as a glorified word for envy. This shows up in our desire for our neighbor’s
gifts or success, whether in their career, marriage, or something else they
have that we lack.

Pride

Often intertwined with
envy, pride is another bad fruit that grows from holding ourselves up to others
on a scale. Pride surfaces when we think we deserve the God-given gifts others
have when truthfully we deserve no good thing.

On the other hand, the arrogance in our hearts is exposed as we look at the sin of others and decide our sin is less despicable to a holy God. Or maybe it’s our theology we compare. We think we deserve the leadership role or book contract because we’ve read the Puritans and have our systematic theology down pat. 

Ingratitude

When we compare our lot
to the lives of our fellow believers, we show we’re ungrateful for the many
gifts we’ve received from God.

Sometimes, we covet something in an unbeliever’s life, revealing our priorities are misaligned. Why would we envy their life when our portion is the Lord? We get Jesus! He is a treasure that far exceeds anything our neighbor possesses (Psalm 73).

Competition

Comparison can drive us
to sinful competition with other believers. We might find sinful motivations in
our heart for serving at church or studying our Bible. If we can do more and do
it better than them, we’d get the praise and recognition we “deserve.”

Being Unloving Toward
Others

In all these things, we
find a common thread: we’re doing a terrible job at loving others.

Captivated by Christ

If we’re encouraged to focus on our gifts, talents, and goals rather than those of others, we’re missing the mark. I’m betting you still feel insecure sometimes. Or maybe you’ve still had moments where you pridefully look down on someone whose sin is obviously far worse than yours. “I’m a sinner, but at least I don’t sin like they do.” Well, if that doesn’t sound strikingly familiar…(Luke 18:11).

The truth is, whether
comparing ourselves to another leaves us feeling downtrodden or pretty great
about ourselves, we need a renewed vision—a renewed heart.

The key is Christ. We
need to be captivated by Jesus. 

The Good Fruit of Comparing Ourselves to Christ

What would happen if everyone took their eyes off of themselves and turned them upon Jesus like the old hymn encourages us to do?

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
Look full in his wonderful face,
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
in the light of his glory and grace.”

Good fruit will spring
up in our hearts when we fix our eyes on Him rather than our circumstances,
ourselves, or anyone else.

A Correct View of Self

When we ponder Jesus and
all He is and has done, we’re reminded of how truly amazing it is that He’d
come down to rescue us. Daily gazing upon His holiness corrects our view of
ourselves. We will recognize how far from holy we are and how much we need His
grace.

In comparison to Christ, we could never measure up. He is holy and good and we are not (Romans 3:10-12). He is preeminent; we’re the dust of the earth (Colossians 1:18; Psalm 103:14). He is the Potter and we are the clay (Romans 9:21). 

Even in the virtues
where we bear His image we discover our bankruptcy in comparison to Jesus.
We’ll never be as kind, loving, just, or faithful. This truth should lower our
faces to the ground in worship of the King who reigns over all. 

Humility

Seeing ourselves rightly
leads to a deeper humility toward God and others. Humbled hearts are thankful
hearts. Humbled hearts know they’ve received more than they deserve. This
becomes a safeguard against envy and enables us to rejoice with others in what
they receive.

Likewise, we will grow
in grace for others, knowing we are a great sinner who has been forgiven of
much.

Growth in Holiness

Eyes focused on Christ
will behold His holiness and become more like Him day by day. We’ll grow in
holiness and preach Jesus to the world through our lives. Our hearts will
cherish Him more and lead us into worship and loving obedience to His
commands. 

Loving Others Well

In all this, a greater
love for others will blossom in our hearts. Instead of coveting their
circumstances, we will rejoice with them. Rather than wishing to be gifted in
the ways God has made our fellow saints, we’ll appreciate their giftedness. And
instead of looking down on others for their sin, mercy will mark our thoughts
and interactions with them. 

Finally Free

Ungodly comparison often feels like a trap we fall into. But truly, it’s a heart issue we must tackle. It’s not a snarethat lives outside of us, but a sin that springs up from within.

Freedom for the
Christian is possible. The Holy Spirit enables us to look to Jesus, behold His
beauty, and walk in faith, enjoying His good gifts. Then we will be free from
looking at others and bemoaning our supposed lack or cowering over others in
pride.

Truly, we lack no good
thing.

The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. (Psalm 34:10)

Photo Credit: Unsplash

Three Compulsions in the Human Heart

John Owen said, “Always be killing sin, or sin will be killing you.” I’ve used the word “compulsions,” because I want us to see that sin is much more than a list of the things we do that are wrong. Sin is a power that resides in the human heart against which we must do battle. Here are three forms of it you’ll find in the human heart, and how to respond to it.  

1.) Envying 

Suppose someone you know comes into money. You’ve been friends with another person (or couple) for some time and your life has been much the same as theirs. Then one day they come into money. Maybe they married into money, or else their business thrived, or they were given some unusual success, and very quickly their life is quite different from yours. 

The godly response to this is to rejoice with those who rejoice, which is always harder than to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15). The godly response is to find as much pleasure in what has come to them as you would if it had come to you! But that isn’t easy. 

Coveting and Envying 

When good comes to another person, one of two temptations will come to you: One is to covet, and the other is to envy.  

Coveting is when you want what they have. Envying is when you don’t want that person to have what they have been given. Coveting wants to gain something for yourself. Envying wants to deny something to someone else. 

There is a desire to hurt in envy. Coveting is saying, “I want the same as you.” Envy says, “I don’t want you to have more than me.” There is a meanness of spirit about it. “Envy makes the bones rot” (Proverbs 14:30). It eats you up from the inside. 

If God blesses you, don’t be surprised that others may envy you. Rejoicing with those who rejoice is a rare grace in a selfish world. It is a beautiful grace, but it is not a common grace. Very few people have the grace to do this well. 

The Root of Resentment 

This sin of envy is the root of the resentment towards God that lurks in the human heart. God has said that His loved and favored son, Jesus Christ, will be exalted. Before Him every knee will bow. But there is a compulsion in the human heart that says, “We do not want Him to have that. We will not have this man to reign over us.” 

2.) Resisting  

It is a great mistake to make decisions about God when you are still far from Him. If you would let Him come near, if you would open your Bible with a humble heart, you would end up taking a better path. But if you insist on making your decision about God while you are still far from Him, there can only be one outcome. 

Joseph’s brothers made their decision about Joseph while he is still a long way off, and so when he arrived their minds were already made up. They took him and threw him into the pit, and then they sat down to eat (Genesis 37:25). 

How is that possible? We know from Genesis 42:21 that they saw the distress of his soul. Joseph begged them, but they did not listen. How could their hearts have been so hard? The Bible speaks very clearly about the effects of sin in the life of a sinner. Here’s what it says: 

If you look at a number of different translations of Ephesians 4:19, speaking about the condition of sinners, each one adds to our insight about men and women “having lost all sensitivity” (NIV), who “have become callous” (ESV), “being past feeling” (KJV). 

Sin has an erosive effect on the conscience and in the heart, so that sinning gets easier for the sinner over time. Sensitivity towards the pain of others is diminished. Awareness of guilt before God no longer feels like an issue. The more you sin, the easier it gets to sin more. 

3.) Lying  

Some people live in open defiance of God, but most people are much more subtle. Most people present themselves as the Father’s loyal sons. They place the mask of religion over their own resistance to the claims of Jesus Christ. They come to worship, and they lie to God. 

Sin is a power, a compulsion in the human heart. Apart from the grace of God, the human heart is going to manifest itself in envying, resisting, and lying. 

Comfort for the Believing Heart  

Envying God as you deny the crown rights of Jesus Christ over your life. Resisting God as you decide against Him, even when you are far from Him, and then harden your heart against His pleadings and shut your ears to His voice. Lying to God as you come into His presence as if you were one of His loyal and faithful servants, when the truth is that you are actively resisting and rejecting His son.  

The only hope for the human heart is the compassion of the Savior, the Deliverer of the sent Son of God. The Son who is our hope is alive. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to seek and save the lost. 

His own people conspired against him. He was sold for silver. He was beaten, crucified, dead, and buried. But God raised Him up out of the pit and exalted Him to the highest place. The One who was despised is the One on whom our hopes depend, and the day is coming when we will see His face! 

We know what it is to grieve. But our grief is different because we have hope! There is comfort for the believing heart. Weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning. 

Three Prayers of Response  
1.) Ask God to fill you with the compassion that sends, seeks, and suffers.  

God, deliver me from being easily discouraged in seeking. Give me the relentlessness of the good shepherd who goes after the sheep and simply will not give up. Give me strength to endure suffering, and help me to remember when doing your will is costly that the good shepherd gave His life for the sheep. 

2.) Ask God to deliver you from the compulsion that envies, resists, and lies.  

Deliver me from a sour spirit that sees the blessings of others and asks, “What about me?” Teach me to rejoice with those who rejoice. Bring me to your feet so that I may hear you when you say, “Come, let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18). Save me from a life of pretense. Deliver me from using religion as a mask to cover my resistance to the claims of Jesus Christ on my life. 

3.) Ask God to strengthen you through the comfort of His son who lives.  

Father, help me in the grief and sorrow of loss to know that your son lives, and that in Him sorrow can never have the final word. 

Photo Credit: Unsplash 
This article was adapted from Pastor Colin’s sermon, “Hated and Despised,” from his series Snapshots of a Godly Life, Part 1.