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Do You Want to Read Your Bible More Consistently?

For many Christians, reading the Bible consistently is a challenge.

In 2017, the American Bible Society reported that only 20% of Americans read their Bibles at least four times each week. This means that 80% of Americans read Scripture less frequently than that, if at all.

But God says his words are like food—“Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3). And no human can survive without food. If we’re not eating, we starve.

And if we aren’t feeding on God’s Word consistently, so will our souls.

Read Your Bible, Feed Your Soul

When our newborn baby entered the world, everything changed—especially our sleep patterns. There were mornings when my husband and I struggled to peel ourselves out of bed to meet with the Lord in his Word. But the struggle was worth it. Most mornings, we fought the temptation to keep sleeping (only by God’s grace) and were extremely grateful we did, as it meant starting our day in communion with him through Scripture and prayer.

It meant feeding our souls.

Hearing God speak through our Bibles was a game-changer for us:

He hid his Word in our hearts and would bring it to mind by his Spirit.
He renewed our minds, setting them on eternal matters, and gave us eyes to see through this perspective moment-by-moment.
He gave us his armor to help us fight sin and temptation.
He reminded us that Christ is our highest joy and our most valued treasure.

I’ve heard it said, you don’t remember every meal you’ve eaten, but the meals you’ve eaten have sustained you. We may not recall every Scripture we’ve read, but God sustains our trust in him as we choose to consistently feed on his Word.

14 Ideas to Make Your Reading More Consistent

There’s no one way to open Scripture—everybody’s devotional time will look different—but there is a right way to pursue it: consistently.

As you seek God in his Word, ask him to give you an ever-deepening desire for this pursuit. Ask him to help you put away the distractions of tiredness, tasks, and trivialities. Ask him for eyes to see the glory of Christ in Scripture, and for ears to hear the good news of the gospel in everything you read.

God sustains our trust in him as we choose to consistently feed on his Word.
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Then, commit to reading every day—even if only for five minutes at first—and pursue specific ways to make this reading a habit. Here are several ideas for you, in no particular order:

1. Put your phone away!

Our phones are wonderful tools, but can be incredibly distracting. Leave your phone in another room while you read so you aren’t tempted to check messages or scroll social media.

2. Get a new Bible.

A brand new Bible can be a great motivator to build a reading habit. With clean pages, you have a fresh template on which to mark up passages, take notes, and apply what you read.

3. Use helpful tools.

On a similar note, helpful tools can also motivate regular reading. Bleedless pens (like Micron), colored pencils, commentaries, Scripture journals, and Bible software (like Logos) promote active reading.

4. Schedule it.

Scheduling your Bible reading can seem cold and heartless. But don’t we schedule what’s important to us, like family outings, dates with our spouses, and our kids’ school events? Our delight in people motivates this—how much more our delight in God? Schedule your Bible reading time as a divine appointment you don’t want to miss.

5. Read in the same place every day.

A habit sticks the stickier we make it, so choose one location for your Bible reading. For me, this is the couch in our living room. Perhaps for you it’s on the train as you commute to work, during nap time, or at your kitchen table. You’ll be less likely to skip your time of communion with the Lord if it’s in the same place every day.

6. Remove distractions.

Besides your phone, what distracts you from reading Scripture? Is it the laundry pile? The dirty dish tower? Your full inbox and schedule? The research paper due next week? Whatever the task, it will be there after your Bible reading is done, and you’ll be more likely to engage with these tasks in a Godward manner as a result of temporarily setting them aside.

7. Start small.

It can be easy, especially for Type-A personalities, to immediately go full-throttle. But it’s important not to overreach, or you risk falling behind and feeling defeated (unless it’s most helpful for you to go full-throttle!). Start with what you know you can handle: Read five minutes a day the first week; 10 minutes a day the second week; and 15 minutes a day the third week. Increase your reading time each week until you get into a routine that works for you.

8. Join/complete a Bible study.

I’ve found that going through a guided Bible study helps me stay consistent in God’s Word. You might join a group through your church, or choose a study to do by yourself.

9. Sign up for daily devotional emails.

Be intentional about reading throughout the day by signing up for a devotional or two online. You’re more likely to sow God’s Word into your heart if you read these as they arrive in your inbox, rather than intending to read them later. Some of my favorites are LifeKEYS, Solid Joys, and Morning and Evening.

10. Ask for accountability.

Who might you ask to check in with you every so often about how your Bible reading is going? Recruit a trusted friend in the Lord to routinely ask you about your time in Scripture.

11. Use a Bible reading plan.

Similar to choosing the right tools, a reading plan can help you form a regular habit of opening your Bible. There’s no pressure to complete the plan in a year, as most of them encourage (mine has taken me three years to finish!). But a plan will give you guidance through Scripture and prevent the discouragement that can come from feeling lost in possibilities.

12. Involve your family.

While time alone with the Lord is important, family Bible reading is another eternally significant habit to form. Read a verse or passage of Scripture during dinnertime; read to your kids before bed; or invite them to sit with you as your read in the morning.

13. Sit under sound, biblical preaching.

What does this have to do with reading your Bible consistently? Everything. You will learn from your pastor how to study your Bible as you listen to him unfold God’s Word each weekend. Take note of how he comprehends, interprets, and applies the text, and ask God to help you do this each day when you read.

14. Remember God’s grace.

Whether you spent five minutes or five hours in God’s Word yesterday, or you didn’t make it into Scripture at all, God’s grace in Jesus Christ has the final say on your acceptance in his sight.

His grace covers you when you forget, fail, and choose other pursuits—but he doesn’t intend to leave you there. The promise of his grace is to change your heart and therefore your desires, through the blood-bought, finished work of his Son. And the outcome of this grace is consistent communion with God in his Word, for the praise and glory of Jesus Christ and your highest joy.

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Published on June 26, 2018 22:01

Lord, Teach Us to Pray

It always startles me that the disciples never said to Jesus, “Lord, teach us to preach.” They heard the greatest sermon ever preached by the greatest man that ever lived, the Sermon on the Mount, and yet not one of them ever said, “Lord, teach me to preach.” They never said, “Lord, teach us to do miracles.”

They did say, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

And I’ll tell you, if there’s any prayer that needs to be prayed in the church of God today, as far as I’m concerned, it is, “Lord, teach us to pray.” (Leonard Ravenhill)

I no longer pray like I did as a child. Like the apostle Paul, when I became a man, I gave up childish ways (I Corinthians 13:11). In the context of prayer, this meant relinquishing “Now I lay me down to sleep…” at bed time and “God is great…” at meal time for more personal words with the Almighty.

Still, I sporadically find myself at a loss for the prayers I long to see escape my lips. When I pray, I have to apply conscious effort to stave off the repetition I clung to as a child via memorization and habit.

Thankfully, in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6), Jesus teaches a simple but profound framework for speaking with God when we’re at a loss for what to pray.

Why We Pray

At the outset of his teaching Jesus begins by saying, “And when you pray,” not “And if you pray.” God assumes an ongoing relationship with his people through prayer. Refraining from prayer, even though “your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (v. 8), facilitates self-centeredness and an attitude of independence from God. Neglecting prayer disconnects us from conscious dependence on God. In short, prayer is not a monologue—but a dialogue.

As John Calvin puts it,

Believers do not pray, with the view of informing God about things unknown to him, or of exciting him to do his duty, or of urging him as though he were reluctant. On the contrary, they pray, in order that they may arouse themselves to seek him, that they may exercise their faith in meditating on his promises, that they may relieve themselves from their anxieties by pouring them into his bosom; in a word, that they may declare that from him alone they hope and expect, both for themselves and for others, all good things. [1]

How to Pray
Praise for God

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (vv. 9-10)

The Lord’s Prayer begins with what I like to call projection; that is, projecting our praises to God for his hallowed (holy, consecrated) nature and sovereign authority over all life (Colossians 1:16-17).

As selfish creatures, we’re prone to launch into demands at the outset of prayer. But starting with worship resets the heart into a posture of humility as it allows the mind to dwell on the countless kindnesses that God has already shown.

The psalmist David writes,

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. (Psalm 9:1-2)

In these two verses, David, like Jesus, sets an example for us, beginning his prayer with gratitude to God. Next, he recalls God’s “wonderful deeds” towards him. But as verse two nears an end, he turns his attention right back to finding joy alone in the Most High.

Jesus teaches us in The Lord’s Prayer to begin prayer worshiping God for his holiness, and for the desire to see his sovereign will unfold here on earth as it is in heaven.

Petition for Daily Bread

“Give us this day our daily bread…” (v. 11)

After Jesus highlights projecting our praise to God, he petitions for God’s provision in two ways in verses 11-12.

Jesus references bread here first, which points us back to the bread that fell from heaven for the Israelites. In Exodus 16, the author writes,

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.” (v. 4)

“Daily bread” and “a day’s portion” of bread tell us plainly that God provides what’s needed for the day. “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus,” adds Paul in Philippians 4:19.

In short, rely on God’s endless riches for the day’s needs, and circle back to joyful worship in the evening, thanking him for being the one who provides without fail.

Petition for Forgiveness

“…and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (v. 12)

In addition to the petition for daily bread, Jesus teaches us to make a petition for forgiveness, while reminding us that we need to forgive others.

Why we need forgiveness for our sin against God can be answered in many ways, but Dr. John Piper provides a succinct answer:

It is about me getting to God [see 1 Peter 3:18]. I am made for God. I am made to know him and love him and be with him in a fellowship that is satisfying to my soul and, because it is satisfying to my soul, it is glorifying to his name. (Desiring God)

Forgiveness through the death of Jesus on the cross is the only way we can be brought back into this relationship with God.

How this verse tests our ability to let go of being wronged! There’s rarely a day that goes by that I don’t cry out to God for the forgiveness of my sins, but I tend to be more silent about forgiving others. “As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive,” Paul writes in Colossians 3:13. After concluding the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus goes on to say that our sins will not be forgiven by God if we do not forgive others who wrong us (6:14-15).

The message is clear: Forgive much, for you have been forgiven much.

Protection from Evil

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (v. 13)

The Lord’s Prayer concludes with a call for both guidance and deliverance—guidance away from enticing sin and rescue from evil. In fact, “evil” is a word that’s only amplified in malevolence with the addition of a “d” at the beginning.

But this final verse of The Lord’s Prayer reminds us of the famous psalm: Psalm 23. In it David writes, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (v. 4).

John Calvin provides a concise summary of verse 13, writing, “Whoever implores the assistance of God to overcome temptations, acknowledges that, unless God deliver him, he will be constantly failing.”

The apostle James affirms Calvin’s words, adding that we are tempted to sin by our own selfish lusts (James 1:13-14). But men and women who hold up under such temptations and trials are promised the crown of life (see James 1:2-18).

Jesus teaches us to implore God’s assistance for his protection from all evil, whether that be the devil, or our own sinful hearts.

Benediction

Most Bible translations do not include the benediction at the conclusion of The Lord’s Prayer [2], but it would serve us well to revisit the King James translation for the purposes of returning one final time to praising the Lord: “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (Matthew 6:13, KJV).

If you are ever unsure what to pray, return to The Lord’s Prayer. It’s short but so wonderfully profound and restoring. Start by praising God for who he is. Next, petition him for forgiveness and provision. Finally, seek his counsel to steer clear of the snares of the world and of your own sin, for he is the mightiest Deliverer.

[1.Calvin, John. “Commentary on Matthew 6:4″. “Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible”. https://www.studylight.org/commentari.... 1840-57.][2. http://www.kjvtoday.com/home/is-the-d...] [Photo Credit: Lightstock]

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Published on June 25, 2018 22:01

Becoming a Selective Listener—In the Best Sense

Our so-called “information age”—when information has become the going commodity—involves voluminous data, assertions, thoughts, and opinions whizzing both from and toward us online. Within this environment, not only do false teachers exist—as in historical times—but they have now inherited the power to ask for attention through greater reach, even paying for more influence.

Has ever a time existed when selectivity about whom we follow for spiritual guidance been a more vital skill?

Unwise Listening

Regardless, this is not a new challenge. Even many years ago, Reformer John Calvin recognized a human propensity toward being unwise listeners. He noted,

Men, of their own accord, choose to be deceived rather than to be properly instructed […] the world will have ears so refined, and so excessively desirous of novelty, that it will collect for itself various instructors, and will be incessantly carried away by new inventions.

Following Calvin and his wariness for theological ingenuity, to cultivate biblically-formed, selective listening skills can be considered a duty. In fact, being a passive listener does not appear to be a biblical category—and by “passive listening” here, I mean falsely believing that I am not choosing the messages I am influenced by because they come toward me online, outside my seeking. Instead, being swayed by fancy-sounding, yet sub-biblical teaching is, according to Calvin, a choice.

Selective Listening and Scripture

Psalm 1:1 shows a progression for falling away from the truth of Scripture: walking with wicked counsel, standing in the way of this counsel, and then openly sitting in congruence with evil. Again, Calvin writes that Psalm 1:1

…shows how by little and little men are ordinarily induced to turn aside from the right path. They do not, at the first step, advance so far as a proud contempt of God but having once begun to give ear to evil counsel, Satan leads them, step by step, farther astray, till they rush headlong into open transgression.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 reveals a similarly flawed pattern—listening to teachers who are not sound, taking action by turning from truth, and, finally, wandering off altogether.

Both patterns begin with listening.

When commenting on Psalm 19 and then on 2 Timothy 3:16, D. A. Carson laments that too often, our selective listening ironically applies to the Scriptures themselves:

Many people choose snippets and themes that soon constitute a grid for eliminating the rest [of Scripture]…Worst of all, Christians invest so little time and energy in learning what they claim to be the Word of God that it falls away by default.

The danger in contemporary evangelicalism is not formal rejection of Scripture, but an unrealistic assumption that we know the Bible while in fact we press “on” (in reality, slouch backwards) toward endless conferences on leadership, techniques, tools, gimmicks, agendas.

Becoming a Selective Listener by Knowing Scripture

Following from Carson’s thoughts, listening well to the full counsel of Scripture (Acts 20:27) grows wise listeners with the ability to select influences well. If you do not know where to begin, here are some thoughts I have collected while learning from others in my family, church, and Bible college/seminary on delving into further study of the fullness of Scripture:

Being swayed by fancy-sounding, yet sub-biblical teaching is, according to Calvin, a choice.
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1. Check your assumptions.

Begin your study of Scripture with an assumption that God is perfect and that, therefore, his holy words are always and absolutely best. If you come across a verse or concept that seems “off” to you, assume that your understanding can grow, rather than conjecturing a problem with God’s word choices or character.

2. Be a learner.

Go straight to the passages that are most challenging for you, and be prayerfully willing to engage in a learning process that humbly gleans from the wisdom of those who have already spent their lives in study. Everything changes when we become Christians—we are reborn into new people, and are given spiritual sight and hunger for God’s Word. Becoming Christians does not automatically make us experts on Christ and his Word, but propels us toward learning. So building Scriptural knowledge and wisdom is simply part of walking with Christ.

3. Look back to different times.

Do not be overwhelmed with the quick, current Christian publishing environment—thinking you need to keep pace. While having present-day books is important (especially for putting theology into today’s language and for responding to current theological challenges that were not historically encountered head-on), not to mention enjoyable, becoming separated from the theological problems of one’s own generation often best comes through historical works. Read classic, doctrinal resources—primary sources. Some ideas of authors are: Irenaeus, John Chrysostom, Augustine of Hippo, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Hodge, or Carl F. H. Henry.

4. Find a scholarly mentor.

If possible, search for a scholarly mentor who loves the gospel and is versed in the historic tradition of the Christian faith. Pursue this so that (1) you can ask questions about difficult areas of interpretation and viewpoints that differ from yours, and (2) you can be introduced to areas of thought outside of your context of which you would not have known to inquire.

But first, ask a potential mentor about his or her beliefs. Here are some ideas:

Does he or she convey the full gospel message including the unpopular aspects—like repentance, the reality of hell, God’s holiness and wrath, and the necessity of receiving it with the kind of grateful response that leads to growth in righteousness?
Can he or she affirm the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy?
Is he or she committed to a literal, historical-grammatical hermeneutic?
Who are his or her theological influences, and similarly, what does this person believe about the gospel and Scripture?
Does he or she see the significance of describing differing viewpoints with accuracy?

If this kind of relationship is not available to you, “mentors” come in various forms; I have been shaped through pages of books, words of sermons, and lectures in the classroom or through recordings. Through these means, mentors can be numerous. For no scholar stands alone; faithful Christian scholars consider themselves part of a wider, conversing community—ideally seeking to challenge, correct, and steer each other collectively into the best possible exegesis. Much can be learned from listening in to these kinds of conversations through multiple sources.

Gladness in Growth

Transferring the plentiful information available to us into wisely-held knowledge almost invariably produces a keen awareness about how much one has yet to learn, and how little is already grasped. Do not take these thoughts as a reason for discouragement, but a cause for gladness that you have a concrete indication you are following those ahead of you.

Keep following; I will too.

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Published on June 24, 2018 22:01

Key Connections (June 22, 2018)

‘Happy Wife, Happy Life’: And Other Misleading Advice to Young Husbands (Greg Morse, Desiring God)

God entrusts you to speak, to sacrifice, to crush serpents. He calls you to be true to your nature — the one he gave you — and play the man that you are. And that man is not timid, not unassertive, not feeble in the faith: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).

Discernment Demands Humility (John MacArthur, Grace to You)

Unless we are willing to examine all things carefully, we cannot hope to have any defense against reckless wandering faith. The desire for discernment is a desire born out of humility. It is a humility that acknowledges our own potential for self-deception—“the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Three Takeaways from TGCW18 (Kristen Wetherell, kristenwetherell.com)

God’s command is simple: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (Matthew 17:5). But obedience to it? Far from simple, for we’re naturally drawn to whatever will itch our ears and suit our passions. We’re a rebellious people who’ve wandered and turned away from listening to the truth (see 2 Timothy 4:2-4).

Promises for Pessimists (Reagan Rose, The Master’s Seminary Blog)

God has not given us the platitudes of worldly optimists. He has given us firm handholds for hope in “His precious and magnificent promises” (2 Peter 1:4). And that should make us the most optimistic people of all.

Prayer, Piety, and the Glory of God: The Lord’s Prayer in the 21st Century (Al Mohler, AlbertMohler.com)

Jesus commends another type of piety—a secret piety that will be rewarded by the Father. The contrast is stark. We can pursue the glory of the Father by humbling ourselves, or we can pursue our own glory by exalting ourselves before others. We simply cannot do both.

To Parents Whose Kids Have Abandoned the Faith (Colin Smith, Unlocking the Bible)

If God could only wait for us to make the first move toward him, there would be little hope for your rebel son or daughter. But God is free to step into any life, at any time, and that means there is always hope.

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Published on June 21, 2018 22:01

To Parents Whose Kids Have Abandoned the Faith

One of the heaviest burdens a believing parent can bear comes when a son or daughter abandons the faith they once professed.

It happens. And when it does, you may find yourself wondering where you went wrong. Did we fail in our teaching? Did we fail in our example? Should we have immersed our son or daughter in a different program, moved to a different church, or opted for a different school? The ‘what ifs’ and the ‘if onlys’ never end.

The story of Judas will help you with these questions.

The Story of Judas

Judas walked with Jesus for three years. He saw the greatest life that has ever been lived up close and personal, and was discipled by the Lord Jesus Christ himself.

Judas knew the teaching of Jesus. He had heard the Sermon on the Mount, so he knew that there is a narrow road that leads to life and a broad road that leads to destruction.

And Judas was a direct witness to Jesus’ miracles. When Christ calmed the storm, Judas was in the boat. When he fed the 5,000, Judas distributed the loaves and fish, and when our Lord raised Lazarus from the dead, Judas was a witness to his divine power.

With his own ears, Judas heard the finest teaching. With his own eyes, he saw the clearest evidence. In his own life, he had the best example, and yet this man still walked away from the faith he had once professed. The finest teaching, the best example, and the most compelling evidence cannot, in themselves, change the human heart.

Hope in Biblical Stories of Transformation

If you find yourself grieving over a rebel son or daughter, you are not alone. The world’s first parents knew this pain. The first child to be born into the world ‘went away from the presence of the Lord,’ (Genesis 4:16).

God is free to step into any life, at any time, and that means there is always hope.
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Isaac and Rebecca knew the same sorrow over Esau, who chose a path of sexual indulgence and never repented (Hebrews 12:16-17), and while David had great joy over Solomon, his rebel son Absalom broke his heart (2 Samuel 18:33).

Parents in pain need comfort, encouragement, and hope, and we can find these in two of the best known Bible stories.

1. Peter

Peter denied the faith he had professed with venom. Like Judas, he walked into great darkness, but his story had a better outcome: Peter was restored.

Christ is able to restore your son or daughter; and if their faith was genuine, you can be confident that he will. The evidence of true faith is that it perseveres. So if a person has abandoned the faith they once professed, and it was a true faith, they will come back.

But what if your son or daughter has never had a genuine faith? What if the faith they professed was only an empty shell? Or what if they have never confessed faith in Christ at all?

In that case you can find hope in the story of Saul of Tarsus.

2. Saul of Tarsus

Walking on the road to Damascus, Saul was full of rage and anger towards Christianity. He despised the gospel and was ‘breathing fire and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord,’ (Acts 9:1). That’s pretty intense hostility. One thing is certain; Saul was not seeking faith in Christ. The idea of becoming a follower of Jesus would have been repugnant to him.

But the risen Christ stopped this man in his tracks. ‘Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?’ (Acts 9:4). Saul was not looking for Jesus, but Jesus came looking for him; and Saul, who hated Christians, became Paul the apostle.

Christ did not need Saul’s permission to intervene in his life. He swooped into this man’s life uninvited, and brought about an astonishing transformation.

If God could only wait for us to make the first move toward him, there would be little hope for your rebel son or daughter. But God is free to step into any life, at any time, and that means there is always hope.

[This article was first published in Mature Living Magazine as the July, 2017 publication.][Photo Credit: Lightstock]

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Published on June 20, 2018 22:01

Dear Brother, Consider the Shadow of Shaddai

Dear brother,

I know your vocation requires your astute awareness of your position under the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1). After reading 1 Samuel 18-19, along with Dale Ralph Davis’ commentary [1] this morning, I sat on the couch strategizing how to share what I had read with you. For God’s Spirit used it to remind me of how he’s shielded me from seen and unseen enemies, from the fulfillment of my own desires, and from particular experiences.

You are now—and you continue to be—so in need of reminders that you too reside under the Great Wings (Psalm 91:4). So it’s my hope that what you read here will magnify the Almighty and inspire you to trust him for his vigilant protection over you, his servant.

The Story of David’s Danger

Here’s 1 Samuel 18-19 in short:

David’s dearest friendship is endangered as he receives the love, favor, and sworn allegiance of Jonathan, prince and son of his enemy, King Saul (18:3-4). David’s workplace then proves unsafe when his employer—also King Saul—twice overcome with an evil spirit, tries to pin him to the wall with a spear (18:10-11; 19:9-10). This erratic employer also becomes David’s father-in-law, only through a scheme to eliminate David by challenging him to kill 200 Philistines (national enemies) and prove it through less than dignified means. This feat will win him the bride, Michal (18:25).

Saul then stalks David in his newly-wed homestead, forcing David to flee out a window with the help of his sketchily secured wife (19:11-12). Saul’s henchmen pursue David to the prophet Samuel’s house. They, along with Saul, are knocked silly with prophecy by God’s Spirit, and David escapes again.

Yahweh’s Protection

I praise God for Dr. Davis’ careful discerning hermeneutic here:

…the Christian should ask the question: How much of David’s experience can I write over into my own life? Can I simply say that what God has done for David, he’ll do for me? I cannot do that for myself…My life holds a far more modest place in God’s kingdom plan and the scheme for my life is almost totally hidden from me. I have no clear and specific promise or appointment as David did for the kingship.

Nevertheless, when all qualifications are stated, it seems I can still claim “Davidic protection” in principle, that is,

I can be confident that God will keep me until whatever he has ordained for me to be or to do is accomplished. Some would perhaps crave more; but that is no small comfort.

I do not need to share David’s experiences; it is enough to know David’s God.

As long as the Angel of Yahweh keeps pitching his camp around those who fear him and delivering them (Ps. 34:7) I should be content.

No, I may not (I hope) shinny out of a window at night to run from my killers and write Psalm 59 because of it, but if David’s God is my God I can still enjoy his quiet, diverse, instructive protection. (163, emphases mine)

Three Ways God Protects His People

David’s God is your God. He will keep you until whatever he has ordained for you to be or do is accomplished. Here’s how your God protects his servants:

1. In secret

God has revealed through a myriad of promises that he means to protect you, his child (Psalm 5:11; 20:1; 91:14). But he does not always reveal the means by which he’ll keep this promise.

You don’t have to see the Lord’s “secret service” members at work; they are there (Psalm 91:11-12). He is active and effective in eliminating your enemies. You may be asleep to the workings of his heavenly elite on your behalf, but you have the promise that he’s disseminating your dangers.

But God’s favor toward you is so strong, he’s content to fight for you out-of-sight.
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You know that our worst enemies are unseen (Ephesians 6:12). It seems we are in far more danger than we can perceive, no matter our occupation. But God’s favor toward you is so strong, he’s content to fight for you out-of-sight. He’s committed to combat on your behalf, though it might take you until eternity to praise him for it.

You must trust that he keeps his promises, for he never lies (Titus 1:2). He’s said he’ll protect you, and he’s hard at work whether you see it or not.

2. Through his self-sufficiency

We can sometimes identify an ally in God’s work, but we must remember that our deliverance comes ultimately from the Deliverer, who commands and completes our rescues. God rescued David through the help of his friends—and he might do the same for you—but when his Spirit struck Saul with prophecy, he made it clear that he can protect without human means. He can strike someone silly if he needs to. See,

Providing the “way of escape” is supremely the work of Yahweh. True, he may use human instruments (a Jonathan or a Michal) to provide such protection, but sometimes he bypasses them (e.g., Samuel) in order to make clear that “salvation is from the Lord” (Jon. 2:9 NASB). The means of deliverance must never eclipse the source of deliverance, and sometimes the Deliverer makes that point abundantly obvious. (161)

God has not only promised you his support, he’s also quite capable of delivering on his promise, through whatever means he chooses.

3. With success

Now hold your enemies in mind, and ponder this great encouragement:

David’s protection should have proven instructive to Saul…He should have seen the hopelessness of his murderous schemes…You can bash yourself against omnipotence but the success rate is nil. Heaven laughs at such stupidity (Ps. 2:4)…There is a whole eschatology (scheme of last things) in 1 Samuel 19:18-24 and it should steel the faith of all who love the appearing and the kingdom of the David to come [Jesus Christ!!] (see Ezek. 34:23-24). (162)

You know this, but it’s always worth repetition: The worst danger to face mankind is universally inescapable apart from the pure grace of God. And you have miraculously come through it.

You were God’s own enemy (Romans 5:1). And “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31)—the most fearful thing. You had no way to escape the eternal judgment of God’s vengeful wrath for your sin, which you actually deserved.

But God intervened.

He opened your eyes to see the danger you faced. You experienced the miracle of conviction over your sin, because God granted it. Through his Word he revealed to you the message of salvation and gave you faith: that you could be reconciled to God through the death of his Son, Jesus Christ, and be saved by his life (Romans 5:1).

He gave you Jesus’ righteousness—a uniform any military decoration pales in comparison to.

He gave you his status: a prince in the kingdom of God—a higher position than any this world can offer.

He gave you his favor and his love—a bulwark mightier than death itself.

And he gave you his Word that you will be rewarded for his righteousness with an eternity in perfect safety with God, who is the very fount of joy and life.

And so you find yourself under the Shadow of the Almighty. You are his child, and he has sworn to you his protection.

God Will Spread His Protection Over You

In David’s story, David was God’s king, and he would be crowned no matter how many minions Saul sent against him. God will have his way in your life, too. Whether in secret, in your sight, or by a million different means, your God—David’s God—will spread his protection over you.

You will face many enemies, whether men, or angels of darkness, or weapons, or your own weakness and sin.

But he’s “able to keep you from stumbling”—so that your own sinful heart will not conquer in the end. He’s able “to present you blameless before the presence of his glory”—silencing the accusation, attacks, discouragement, and despairing whispers of your unseen enemies, while triumphing over your physical enemies by raising you in glory with him for all eternity. And he’s able to do these things “with great joy” because you are no longer his enemy, but his redeemed son through Jesus Christ (Jude 24-25).

He’s not only able, he’s willing, and he’s promised to do these things for you:

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;

I will protect him, because he knows my name.

When he calls to me, I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will rescue him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him

and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:14-16)

Love,

Eden

[1. Dale Ralph Davis, 1 Samuel: Looking on the Heart (Focus on the Bible Commentary Series), (Scotland: Christian Focus Publications, 2000).] [Photo Credit: Lightstock]

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Published on June 19, 2018 22:01

What to Do With Your Shame

I sighed, staring at the mess that had accumulated upstairs. We are in the midst of renovations, and there are unpacked boxes that we have nowhere to put. I said I was annoyed with the mess, but I was actually ashamed — ashamed when people asked to see upstairs or see our renovations, ashamed when people asked how we had progressed, and ashamed that the mess found its way downstairs.

I complained to my husband, “Once the renovations are finished up here, then I won’t be ashamed anymore. I’ll finally be able to take pride in our home.”

He looked at me with his kind, brown eyes. “I don’t think pride is the answer, honey. Yes, the upstairs will be done, but then what? Then will you be ashamed of the kitchen and dining room, because they haven’t been renovated? And what about the porches? Then what about the car? Pride is never the answer. Pride is sinful. As believers, we are called to thanksgiving.”

Maybe you’re not ashamed of your house. Maybe you’re ashamed of your body, your finances, your job, or your past. Whatever it may be, I want to warn you of the trap that I fell into, and point you back to Christ.

What To Do With Our Shame

When we are ashamed of something, we feel embarrassed; or, like we aren’t meeting an expectation that society has set. Our reaction to these feelings may be to find a reason to boast. We want to replace our shame with dignity. Find a quick, positive attitude about it. This seems like the natural response. The opposite of shame is pride, so it must be the answer.

1. Don’t Boast in Yourself

However, God’s Word never calls us to take pride in ourselves or what we have. In fact, it speaks against the prideful person:

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2).
“Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished” (Proverbs 16:5).
“Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin” (Proverbs 21:4).
“Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Proverbs 26:12).
“For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar” (Psalm 138:6).

Pride is sin — disobedience to God. Pride is care for ourselves and our own glory; it’s our want of praise.

2. Humbly Consider God’s Grace

Isaiah 48:9-11 says,

“For my name’s sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.” (emphasis mine)

In this passage, the prophet Isaiah speaks God’s message to Israel—a disobedient people who strayed from God and his commands over and over again. God reminds Israel here that he shows them grace, not because they deserve it, but for his own name’s sake, so that he will be glorified.

We need to be reminded that the grace we received from God was not given because we deserved it.
Click To Tweet

Like Israel, we need to be reminded that the grace we have received from God—the forgiveness of our sins through Jesus Christ, the gift of eternal life, and our many earthly blessings—was not given to us because we deserved it.

As Christians, we should be such a humble people because we know how much undeserved goodness God has shown us. God asks us in his Word, “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). A humble heart says, “I can do nothing good on my own, and I can have nothing good by my own efforts. Thanks be to God, who is worthy of all my praise and gives good and perfect gifts.”

3. Turn Your Focus Onto God

The apostle Paul could have become ashamed of himself during his ministry. He was often brought low by imprisonment, beatings, and people speaking poorly of him. This was a man who had gone from being a renowned Jewish leader to a suffering, poor follower of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:22-30).

But Paul declares in Romans that instead of being ashamed of the gospel, he boasted in the power of his God:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’ (Romans 1:16-17)

The gospel tells us that we are all sinners in need of Jesus Christ, the perfect God-man, to live the righteous life we cannot, and die in our place, absorbing the wrath from God that we deserve. It tells us that we must respond to this good news by repenting of our sin and following Christ. Yet, people hate this idea that they need a Savior and must submit to God.

Paul could have been ashamed of the gospel, embarrassed by what people might think. But instead, he found courage and joy to proclaim it when he recognized that in it the power of God is revealed. When he focused on God’s power as he proclaimed the good news, he had no reason for shame.

4. Give Thanks to God

Rather than turning inward and trying to find a reason to boast, we can leave shame behind by giving thanks and glory to God:

When you are ashamed of your past sins, remember Christ’s complete atonement that dealt with each of them (Colossians 2:13-14). Praise him that you no longer bear those sins or need to pay the heavy price for them!

When you are ashamed of your lack of material possessions, remember that it is God who has given you what you have (Matthew 6:28-30). So exalt in God as the perfect Giver of all things, and as your Sustainer.

When you are ashamed of your lack of knowledge, remember that God is the one who supplies all wisdom in his Word (Psalm 19:7). Thank God for how he gives wisdom so generously when we humbly seek it.

When I was ashamed of my home, I had to turn to God in thanksgiving for the house he has provided and the money to do renovations.

Whatever it is you feel shame about today, confess it to God in prayer, and seek to glorify him. Trying to cover up your shame with boasting only adds sin to sin, but we are most content and joyful when we glory in God.

[Photo Credit: Unsplash]

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Published on June 18, 2018 22:01

What To Do With Your Shame

I sighed, staring at the mess that had accumulated upstairs. We are in the midst of renovations, and there are unpacked boxes that we have nowhere to put. I said I was annoyed with the mess, but I was actually ashamed — ashamed when people asked to see upstairs or see our renovations, ashamed when people asked how we had progressed, and ashamed that the mess found its way downstairs.

I complained to my husband, “Once the renovations are finished up here, then I won’t be ashamed anymore. I’ll finally be able to take pride in our home.”

He looked at me with his kind, brown eyes. “I don’t think pride is the answer, honey. Yes, the upstairs will be done, but then what? Then will you be ashamed of the kitchen and dining room, because they haven’t been renovated? And what about the porches? Then what about the car? Pride is never the answer. Pride is sinful. As believers, we are called to thanksgiving.”

Maybe you’re not ashamed of your house. Maybe you’re ashamed of your body, your finances, your job, or your past. Whatever it may be, I want to warn you of the trap that I fell into, and point you back to Christ.

What To Do With Our Shame

When we are ashamed of something, we feel embarrassed; or, like we aren’t meeting an expectation that society has set. Our reaction to these feelings may be to find a reason to boast. We want to replace our shame with dignity. Find a quick, positive attitude about it. This seems like the natural response. The opposite of shame is pride, so it must be the answer.

1. Don’t Boast in Yourself

However, God’s Word never calls us to take pride in ourselves or what we have. In fact, it speaks against the prideful person:

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2).
“Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished” (Proverbs 16:5).
“Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin” (Proverbs 21:4).
“Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Proverbs 26:12).
“For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar” (Psalm 138:6).

Pride is sin — disobedience to God. Pride is care for ourselves and our own glory; it’s our want of praise.

2. Humbly Consider God’s Grace

Isaiah 48:9-11 says,

“For my name’s sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.” (emphasis mine)

In this passage, the prophet Isaiah speaks God’s message to Israel—a disobedient people who strayed from God and his commands over and over again. God reminds Israel here that he shows them grace, not because they deserve it, but for his own name’s sake, so that he will be glorified.

We need to be reminded that the grace we received from God was not given because we deserved it.
Click To Tweet

Like Israel, we need to be reminded that the grace we have received from God—the forgiveness of our sins through Jesus Christ, the gift of eternal life, and our many earthly blessings—was not given to us because we deserved it.

As Christians, we should be such a humble people because we know how much undeserved goodness God has shown us. God asks us in his Word, “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). A humble heart says, “I can do nothing good on my own, and I can have nothing good by my own efforts. Thanks be to God, who is worthy of all my praise and gives good and perfect gifts.”

3. Turn Your Focus Onto God

The apostle Paul could have become ashamed of himself during his ministry. He was often brought low by imprisonment, beatings, and people speaking poorly of him. This was a man who had gone from being a renowned Jewish leader to a suffering, poor follower of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:22-30).

But Paul declares in Romans that instead of being ashamed of the gospel, he boasted in the power of his God:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’ (Romans 1:16-17)

The gospel tells us that we are all sinners in need of Jesus Christ, the perfect God-man, to live the righteous life we cannot, and die in our place, absorbing the wrath from God that we deserve. It tells us that we must respond to this good news by repenting of our sin and following Christ. Yet, people hate this idea that they need a Savior and must submit to God.

Paul could have been ashamed of the gospel, embarrassed by what people might think. But instead, he found courage and joy to proclaim it when he recognized that in it the power of God is revealed. When he focused on God’s power as he proclaimed the good news, he had no reason for shame.

4. Give Thanks to God

Rather than turning inward and trying to find a reason to boast, we can leave shame behind by giving thanks and glory to God:

When you are ashamed of your past sins, remember Christ’s complete atonement that dealt with each of them (Colossians 2:13-14). Praise him that you no longer bear those sins or need to pay the heavy price for them!

When you are ashamed of your lack of material possessions, remember that it is God who has given you what you have (Matthew 6:28-30). So exalt in God as the perfect Giver of all things, and as your Sustainer.

When you are ashamed of your lack of knowledge, remember that God is the one who supplies all wisdom in his Word (Psalm 19:7). Thank God for how he gives wisdom so generously when we humbly seek it.

When I was ashamed of my home, I had to turn to God in thanksgiving for the house he has provided and the money to do renovations.

Whatever it is you feel shame about today, confess it to God in prayer, and seek to glorify him. Trying to cover up your shame with boasting only adds sin to sin, but we are most content and joyful when we glory in God.

[Photo Credit: Unsplash]

The post What To Do With Your Shame appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

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Published on June 18, 2018 22:01

The Cure for Bitterness

Have you ever been wronged by someone, and then found yourself seething with anger and bitterness? In our broken world filled with sin, this is not an uncommon experience. Maybe a friend has betrayed your trust and left you feeling wounded. Maybe someone misunderstood your words and assumed the worst, slandering your reputation. Or maybe your child was hurt by a classmate, leaving the momma bear in you ready to roar.

As we ponder the ways we’ve been hurt by others, it can be easy to let bitterness consume our souls.

Bitterness is like a slow poison, one negative thought leads to another, and soon we’re tossing and turning at night, replaying hurtful interactions and making a new plan to get even. The book of Hebrews warns us about allowing bitterness to take root: “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled” (Hebrews 12:15).

Inconceivable Betrayal

Joseph knew what it was like to be hurt by those closest to him. He was the favored son, and everyone knew it.

Jealousy consumed Joseph’s brothers as they saw the beautiful coat given to him by their father. To make things worse, Joseph told them about a dream he had in which his brothers’ sheaves of wheat bowed down to his sheaf, and the sun, moon and stars bowed to him as well. This was not the smartest move on Joseph’s part and only served to enrage the brothers even more.

His indignant brothers planned to kill Joseph (Genesis 37:18) by throwing him in a pit and saying an animal devoured him. Then an opportunity arose to sell him into slavery…

If anyone had a right to feel bitter, angry, and betrayed, it was Joseph. He had been stripped, thrown into a pit and left to die, then removed and sold into slavery—all by his very own brothers. Of all the relationships in the world, our familial ones should be the strongest; we are knit together through sharing the same home, experiences, memories and parents.

Joseph likely felt inconceivable hurt.

Sovereign Providence

Yet, in the midst of horrific betrayal and pain, the Lord was with Joseph. As our children’s read-aloud story Bible repeatedly says, “Was Joseph happy? No. But God was with Joseph.” The Lord caused Joseph to gain favor in the eyes of Pharaoh, as he interpreted his dreams and predicted the seven-year famine. Eventually Pharaoh made Joseph ruler over all of Egypt.

It was during the famine that Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt in search of food. Here was Joseph’s chance to get even: He could have made them grovel. He could have made them starve. He could have humiliated them in front of an entire nation. Yet Joseph did none of these things.

The cure for bitterness is not found in getting even, but by giving grace.
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Instead of punishing them for their evil deeds, Joseph extended grace upon grace. He didn’t want them to feel guilty for sending him to Egypt, but instead assured them it was God’s plan. “And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life” (Genesis 45:5).

Three times he mentions the phrase “God sent me.” Joseph is a sterling example of trusting the sovereignty of God in the face of trials. He didn’t allow bitterness or anger to consume him, so he was able to freely forgive his brothers. Not only did he want to free them from any feelings of condemnation, he went on to provide food and land for his entire family (v. 11). His love and forgiveness were demonstrated in an outpouring of generosity.

Divine Rescue

In multiple ways, the life of Joseph foreshadows the life of Christ. Both men were falsely accused and humiliated before others, yet both were exalted in the end—Joseph becoming ruler in Egypt, and Jesus being resurrected from the dead. And just as Joseph trusted the sovereignty of God in the midst of betrayal, so Jesus willingly stepped forward to be arrested by the Jews and taken to the cross. He knew the pain and suffering that would come and gladly accepted it for the joy set before him (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Ultimately we see how Jesus is so much greater than Joseph. Just as God used the evil things done to Joseph to physically rescue his people, God used the evil things done to Jesus to eternally rescue his people. Jesus didn’t just save his people from starvation, but from the eternal punishment of hell. Just as Joseph was punished for wrongs he did not commit, our Savior suffered and died on the cross, not because of wrongs he had done, but because he was dying for the sin of his people.

Now, those trusting in Christ have been given the Holy Spirit to help us fight bitterness through confession, prayer, and meditating on God’s Word.

Three Pursuits to Fight Bitterness

When we’re faced with our own temptations to bitterness and anger, here are three biblical pursuits for us:

1. Trust the sovereignty of God.

Whatever trial you’re facing today has been orchestrated by the hand of God. The promotion at work you were not given, the empty arms that long for a child, the words that questioned your integrity—God sees and hears and knows. Nothing is wasted. Cling to the fact that God has a purpose for your good and his glory in the midst of your suffering (Romans 8:28).

2. Extend God’s grace.

Instead of giving someone a taste of their own medicine; instead of slandering their reputation; and instead of harboring bitterness and resentment, live out the gospel of grace by extending forgiveness. Just as Christ has freely forgiven us, so we need to forgive those who have sinned against us (Matthew 6:12).

3. Demonstrate love in a practical way.

Just as Joseph gave land and food to the very people who sought to destroy his life, so we can look for ways to express our love and forgiveness in a tangible way, when appropriate. Buy someone a small gift, take them to coffee, or send them a text to let them know you’re praying for them.

If we’re not careful to fight bitterness, we’ll soon be consumed by the poison that leaves us in the pit of despair. True freedom and joy is found by embracing the gospel of grace and extending it to the very people we’re least inclined to love. The cure for bitterness is not found in getting even, but by giving grace—just as God in Christ has done for us.

[Photo Credit: Lightstock]

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Published on June 17, 2018 22:01

Key Connections (June 15, 2018)

What Are You Waiting For? (Jon Bloom, Desiring God)

It might feel to us like the things we’re waiting on God for are the main things. But someday we might discover that the most important fruit ever produced in our lives came from faithfully doing good while we waited.

Jen Wilkin Has Found God’s Will for Your Life (The Gospel Coalition, Rachel Gilson)

Wilkin—speaker, writer, Bible teacher, and regular TGC contributor—sets the terms herself. She gives us a new primary question to ask: Not “what should I do?” but “who should I be?” Don’t be fooled by the first-person nature of the questions; this is a profoundly God-centered book. Wilkin’s essential commitment is that only God’s character can provide a sure foundation for a righteous life.

5 Reasons You Should Preach through Leviticus (Juan Sanchez, 9Marks)

Leviticus doesn’t merely detail animal sacrifices and holiness codes. It does that, but it does so much more. It exposes the heart of a gracious God who provides a substitute for the sin of his repentant people. That substitute not only received the death penalty in our place, he also obeyed in our place, gaining for us all the blessings of holiness.

To Follow Jesus Is to Be Sent (J.D. Greear, International Mission Board)

Everyone who has received the gospel of reconciliation is sent to carry that gospel to others. Every believer is sent. You’re either on the mission field or a missionary.

Shun What Is Evil (John MacArthur, Grace to You)

Our focus should be on knowing the truth. Error is to be shunned. Granted, we cannot recede into a monastic existence to escape exposure to every evil influence. But neither are we supposed to be experts about evil. The apostle Paul wrote, “I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil” (Romans 16:19).

The Wheel Illustration (Ray King, The Navigators)

For the believer, the “old life” has gone and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17), and Christ dwells through us instead (Galatians 2:20). God creates within us the desire to do what He wants us to do in order to express His lordship in our lives.

Bible Q&A: What Does It Mean for God to Be Our Father? (Colin Smith, Unlocking the Bible)

Who is God to you? A stranger? A power? A tyrant? Or have you come to see that in Jesus Christ he is your loving heavenly Father? Have you come to see that God delights in his children, that he gives good gifts to his children, and that he lavishes his love on his children?

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Published on June 14, 2018 22:01