Colin S. Smith's Blog, page 84

For the Discontent and Frustrated

There are many instances when we are tempted to grumble or even cry out in complaint over the frustrations in our life, when things aren’t going our way.

You’re on your daily commute to school and realize a traffic jam up ahead is stopping the flow of traffic. During the day at work, your boss is apparently having a bad day and made you the object of his unreasonable wrath. Or, it’s 10:30 p.m. at night, and you have to get up early the next day because you have a lot to do.

Yet, in God’s Word, Paul tells us, “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6-11).

How can we be content with our circumstances—even the “meaningless” frustrating ones—in a world laden with pain, disappointment, and sadness?

We must rest in Christ at all times. And God’s Word reveals to us the blessings Christ has provided for his people in the past, present, and future, that help us overcome discontentment.

Faithful Father at Present

Paul knew what it was like to suffer. He was the object of lashings, beatings, stoning, shipwreck, and various sources of danger on his journeys (2 Corinthians 11:25-28).

And through God’s Spirit Paul says in Philippians:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. …Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7)

You see, if you belong to Christ, your Heavenly Father is watching over you to such an extent that not a hair drops from your head or a tear from your eyes without his knowing. He has intimately known you since before your conception in your mother’s womb (Psalm 56:8, Psalm 139:13-14; Luke 21:18, Matthew 10:29-31).

Because you have an ever-present Father who cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7), you can bring all your anxieties, frustrations, and doubts before His throne while thanking him for the blessings in your life.

In those moments of great frustration and discontent, go to him in prayer.

And once you entrust yourself to the Father in prayer, you will find that the anxiety and uncertainty which assaulted you has subsided. Why? Because peace that only comes from God’s Spirit is guarding your heart as he promised (Philippians 4:7).

In the present, we entrust ourselves in prayer to our loving and caring Heavenly Father who is sovereign over all of creation.

Heavenly Hope to Come

Not only do we have our Father’s attentive ear and promise of peace here and now, but we also have an inheritance awaiting us that is “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,” which no thief can steal, no disaster can destroy, no age can rust or decay, and no corruption can defile (1 Peter 1:4, Matthew 6:19-21, Romans 8:38-39).

The Father will guard and sustain his children by his power “through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5). And we who heard the gospel and believed “were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14).

God’s Spirit through Paul encourages us, saying that, “the sufferings at this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). For God has given his people present victory over sin’s power, giving us his help to overcome discontentment now. And he has promised future eternal victory over death, sin’s penalty, and sin’s presence at work in our hearts, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So we shall one day proclaim:

Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting? (1 Corinthians 15:54-55)

We hope in the future God has promised us, knowing an inheritance is coming that will eternally overshadow our current sufferings.

Wonderful Works of the Past

How easily I forget the “Ebenezers” of my life (1 Samuel 7:12), when God bestowed his goodness upon me in practical obvious ways. Then, I complain and grumble about moments of dis-ease in my life.

In God’s Word, the psalmist Asaph challenges us: When you are discontent and discouraged in your circumstances—from heartbreak, sickness, loss of family, job-loss, or loneliness—remember God’s faithfulness and love in days past.

I will remember the deeds of the Lord;

yes, I will remember your wonders of old.

I will ponder all your work,

and meditate on your mighty deeds.

Your way, O God, is holy.

What god is great like our God? (Psalm 77:11-13)

God promises to provide for the daily needs of his children. Recall and relish the faithfulness of God in the past. Such remembrance overcomes any present doubts of His love in your frustrating circumstances.

How have you seen God provide for you recently in the midst of great need?

Our Greatest Blessing

Asaph’s psalm continues:

You with your arm redeemed your people,

the children of Jacob and Joseph. (Psalm 77:15)

Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross to redeem his people is God’s ultimate work and display of awesome love for you as his beloved child in the past.

Jesus offers himself saying, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

In his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul counts the blessings that we have in Jesus Christ: redemption in our relationship with God and forgiveness of our sin before him through Jesus’ blood that was shed for us on the cross (Ephesians 1:7). This blessing Jesus lavished upon us out of the riches of his steadfast love and marvelous grace that is never-ending and new every morning (Lamentations 3:21-23).

In Christ and through the Holy Spirit, God revealed to us the mystery of his infinitely wise will, which is hidden from the man dead in his sins and trespasses (Ephesians 1:8). This mystery is a plan to unite all things in Jesus, under his Lordship (Ephesians 1:10).

Death and sin ruled over all of mankind because of our rebellion, beginning with Adam (Romans 5:12-14). Now, through his perfect life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has triumphed over sin and death. He reigns and gives his eternal life to those who repent of their sin and receive by faith his abundance of grace and free gift of righteousness (Romans 5:17, Revelation 1:18).

Learning to Be Content

Rest in Christ, your greatest blessing, by coming to God in supplication, and asking him with thanksgiving and joy, either for the hundredth time, or for the first time.

Recount his goodness to you in days past, especially in the cross—and in the gift that Jesus Christ offers you today.

And hope in the future he has promised you, looking to things unseen and eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Only by the grace of God can we be freed from the chains of discontentment, and in Christ we have been freed (Galatians 5:1).

The Lord, by his Spirit, will help you say with Paul, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need” (Philippians 4:11-13).

[Photo Credit: Unsplash]

RELATED POSTS:

Why is Godliness with Contentment Great Gain?
Seven Blessings for Empty-Handed Believers
Learn the Art of Contentment

The post For the Discontent and Frustrated appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

Let the Fear of the Lord Deliver You

The Bible speaks about two different kinds of fear.

There is a fear that God commands and a fear that God forbids, a fear that builds you up and a fear that tears you down, a fear to gain and a fear to lose. There is a fear that Christ brings and a fear that Christ relieves. The fear that you want to gain is what the Bible calls “the fear of the Lord.” The fear that you want to lose is the fear of anything and anyone else.

I wonder what kind of fear you would want to lose? Fear of failure? Fear of other people? Fear of loss? Fear of pain? Grow in the fear of God, and you will find strength to face all your other fears.

Let’s begin with the Scriptures that tell us about the fear that Christ brings: “the fear of the Lord.”

The Fear of the Lord is a Blessing to be Sought
It is the beginning of wisdom.

This is the first building block for putting your life together. That’s where wisdom begins: in the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10).  You don’t want to get to the end of your life and feel like a fool. Wisdom begins when God carries more weight in your life than anything or anyone else.

It is a fountain of life.

Life wells up in those who live in the fear of the Lord! This is a beautiful picture—a fountain of life (Proverbs 14:27). Who would not want this?

It keeps us from evil.

In the Bible, the distinguishing mark of “the wicked…[is that] there is no fear of God before his eyes” (Psalm 36:1-2). That’s why they do wicked things. They don’t think there are any consequences. God carries no weight with them. The apostle Paul quotes from this Psalm as the bottom line in his analysis of evil in Romans 3:

There is no one righteous. No one seeks God…Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness…The way of peace they do not know…There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Romans 3:14, 17, 18)

When Jesus was on the cross, one of the criminals beside him was cursing and swearing and hurling insults at Him. The other one said to him, “Don’t you fear God?”  He is asking: Don’t you have any sense of what it would be like to go out into eternity?

The opposite is also true: “Through the fear of the Lord, a man avoids evil” (Proverbs 16:6). That’s why you want this fear. It’s going to be a restraint, a defense, a protection for you.

It is a New Testament command.

Sometimes when we hear about “the fear of the Lord,” we think “Oh, that’s Old Testament stuff. We’re New Testament Christians. We’re about the love of God.”

The command to fear God is found in the Old Testament, but it’s quite clear in the New Testament, too. “Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17).

If you give proper weight to other believers, you will love them. If you give proper weight to those who govern you, you will honor them — that’s very important in our current debate.

If you give proper weight to God, you will fear Him. “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water” (Revelation 14:7). Don’t think of “the fear of the Lord” as an Old Testament relic that we can dispense with because we’re all Christians.

It’s a distinguishing mark of people who are filled with the Holy Spirit.

The prophet Isaiah gives us a seven-fold description of the Holy Spirit: “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:2).

The Holy Spirit is “the Spirit of the fear of the Lord.” When the Holy Spirit is present, the fear of the Lord will be a distinguishing mark — it will be evidence of His presence.

Isaiah goes on to say that the Holy Spirit will rest on the Messiah, and he says of Christ, “He will delight in the fear of the LORD” (11:3). When you get to the Acts of the Apostles, it’s no surprise then that the Holy Spirit, who was in Christ without measure, is poured out on His people. The church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, and it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord (Acts 9:31).

What about your growth in the fear of the Lord? “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord” (Psalm 112:1). If you are going to walk in the fear of the Lord and teach it to your children, you have to know what it is. So what is this fear of the Lord?

The Fear of the Lord Will Help You Overcome Other Fears

I choose these words carefully — I did not say, “It will end all other fears.” I said, “It will help you overcome other fears.”

John Flavel, who lived in a time when Free Church ministers were facing persecution, imprisonment and in some cases death, knew what it was to battle with fears. He wrote very insightfully about it in Triumphing over Sinful Fears:

We must not expect a perfect cure for our fear in this life. While there are dangers and enemies, some fears will work in the best hearts. If our faith could be perfected, our fear would be perfectly cured. But while there is much weakness in our faith, there will be much strength in our fear (p. 62).

Don’t expect all fear to be gone this side of heaven. The real issue is, “How do you face your fears?” There will always be fears to face, but the fear of the Lord will help you face yours.

What are you afraid of? Physical pain? “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). That’s what Jesus said when His disciples were afraid of physical pain. Flavel says, “Christ’s greatest argument for extinguishing our fear of those who kill the body is the soul’s security” (p. 62).

They can’t kill the soul; only God can destroy the soul. He won’t do that for you — you’re His child. He will preserve your soul, and one day He will raise your body from the dead. Take that in and let it strengthen you.

Do you worry about money or about losing your job? The prophet Isaiah went through this experience. He has a son, and God tells him that before the little boy can say “Daddy!” the wealth of Samaria will be plundered (Isaiah 8:4). Isaiah is facing the imminent danger of complete economic collapse. Does that sound familiar?

Here’s what God said: “Do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, and he will be a sanctuary” (Isaiah 8:12-14). That’s the word of God to a man facing imminent economic disaster: “You have a God who cares for you.”

Today, ask Christ to lead you into the fear of God, and let the fear of God deliver you from every other fear.

[Photo Credit: Unsplash]

RELATED POSTS:

The Fear of Man Will Crush You
Rejoice in Your Long-Term Security
Screwtape’s Advice on How to Attack a Man’s Faith

The post Let the Fear of the Lord Deliver You appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

Why is Godliness with Contentment Great Gain?

Godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6)

Godliness is a God-centered life. It grows, not through the pursuit of a process, but through the presence of a person. Jesus Christ is the mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16).

His presence in your life is your hope of becoming the person God calls you to be. Christ in you [is] the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).

Contentment is finding joy in what God has given to you. The opposite of contentment is greed which destroys your capacity to enjoy what God has given.

Contentment is a Christian grace that grows over time. It does not come quickly, easily or naturally. Paul says “I have learned to be content” (Philippians 4:12).

How did he learn it? He tells us “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content” (Philippians 4:12). He is saying: “There were times when I had plenty. But then God brought me to situations where I was ‘in need.’ And through that I learned something: I discovered the secret of being content.”

God used the experience of loss to produce the good fruit of contentment in Paul’s life. Have you discovered the secret of being content?

Jeremiah Burroughs described contentment as “a rare jewel.” How can you find joy in what God gives you, especially when it is less than you had before? Burroughs has great wisdom on how to obtain this jewel:

A Christian comes to contentment, not so much by way of addition as by way of subtraction… Contentment does not come by adding to what you have, but by subtracting from what you desire. The world says that you will find contentment when your possessions rise to meet the level of your desires… The Christian has another way to contentment, that is, he can bring his desires down to his possessions.

Great gain

“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Timothy 6:6

Not just gain, but “great gain.” Paul says “If you have godliness with contentment, it will be of huge advantage to you.” Why is this? It has to do with the consequences of not being content.

Why is godliness with contentment great gain?


1. You cannot keep what you gain

“…people who want to get rich” (v. 9)

If getting rich is your goal, you cannot keep what you gain. “We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (v. 7). You may get rich, but you cannot stay rich. You cannot keep what you gain in this world.

2. You will encounter powerful temptations

“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction… the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil (v. 9, 10)

If you set your heart on money, you expose yourself to powerful temptations that ruin many people.

3. You may wander from the faith

“Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith” (v. 10)

In the parable of the sower, our Lord speaks about “seed that is choked by thorns and thistles.” The seed is God’s Word. The thorns and thistles are “the worries of this life, and the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things” (Mark 4:19). Money chokes the fruit of God’s Word in the lives of some people.

4. You will experience great sorrow

“Some people, eager for money, have… pierced themselves with many griefs” (v.10)

Money is a great servant but a terrible master. If you set your heart on money, money will break your heart. You will not keep what you gain. You will fall into powerful temptations. You may wander from the faith. You will pierce yourself with many griefs and sorrows.

That’s why godliness with contentment is great gain. When you have less, learn the art of contentment. This rare jewel is not found when you have more, but when you have less.

Bring your desires down to the level of your possessions. Learn to enjoy what God has given more than you grieve what He has taken away. Practice the art of godly contentment and you will find that it is great gain.

From the sermon Gospel Lifestyle in the series 10 Distinctives of a Gospel-Centered Church . [Photo Credit: Unsplash]

RELATED POSTS:

Learn the Art of Contentment
Is Christ Both Necessary and Sufficient for You?
Cyber Monday, Bumper Stickers and Joy to the World

The post Why is Godliness with Contentment Great Gain? appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

Let’s Be Like the Shepherds

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night…And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-12)

With Christmas upon us, I reminisced about my childhood years in private school. Every year at church, we performed the Christmas story as recorded by Luke. The roles my classmates and I anticipated to play were Mary and Joseph. If not chosen for those main roles, we hoped to dress up in the elegant and flashy three kings’ costumes. No one wanted to play the part of a raggedly-dressed shepherd with minimal speaking roles.

How often have we downplayed the roles of the shepherds in the Christmas story? These men of humble means said little, as recorded in Scripture. Though we can assume the shepherds actually had much to say regarding the astounding news, God’s Word leaves us to ponder the shepherds’ actions. Their response to Christ should be models for us today, even 2,000 years later:

They Wasted No Time

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. (Luke 2:15-16)

The shepherds wasted no time in receiving the good news of the Messiah (v. 16). Though these men were terrified (v. 9), they made no excuses. We don’t hear about their concern for what others would think of their news, nor their skepticism. They responded in belief, assurance, and trust: “Let’s go” (v. 15).

We too, without hesitation, should receive and respond to the Lord’s Word given to us in Scripture. Unfortunately, the stresses and misplaced priorities of our lives tend to overshadow our commitment to hearing it. Search your heart and ask God to show you by his Spirit how you may be ignoring his message. Waste no time, friend.

They Spread the Word

And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.  And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. (Luke 2:17-18)

After witnessing the newborn King, the shepherds spread the good news (v. 17) and all who heard it were amazed (v. 18). The life-saving gospel we know today began spreading across the world in a humble city and through humble people.

The Lord still speaks to us today as he did with the shepherds. Though he may not send a multitude of heavenly hosts, he has given us his Word—and this Word, through the Spirit of Jesus Christ, now abides within us as we abide in him (1 John 2:24).

Like the shepherds, waste no time in sharing the four non-negotiable truths of the gospel: Jesus Christ is sovereign Lord, and he will judge the world for all sin; but if you put your faith in Christ alone for salvation, he your Savior will free you from condemnation before God and will restore you to right relationship with him.

Don’t keep this good news to yourself, Christian. Share the life-saving truth about Jesus Christ.
Click To Tweet

From the moment he was born, in a stable no less, Jesus lived among the lowly. He humbled himself as a servant by descending to earth in human form, becoming poor that we may become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant (Philippians 2:6-7). And Jesus willingly laid aside his majesty in order to serve people who disobeyed him through willful and indwelling rebellion since their birth (Psalm 51:5).

Though this sin is an offense to him and should cost us condemnation and eternal suffering, Christ willingly laid down his life to pay our penalty before the Father, giving a sinful people the free gift of salvation—justification before God, a heart that’s being changed to be more like him, and the hope of eternal life with him (John 10:18, Ezekiel 36:26, Romans 6:23). He said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Don’t keep this good news to yourself, Christian. Share this life-saving truth with your loved one who only knows Jesus in terms of religion and legalism. Sit down with your friend who has asked you questions about your faith in Christ. Give the gift of this truth to your neighbor by inviting them to church with you. May you be led and assured by what Jesus said, “Therefore whoever confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32), and “whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37).

They Glorified and Praised the Lord

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2:20)

Perhaps you came to know Christ through dramatic circumstances, or maybe you have known him as Lord and Savior since childhood. Regardless, your calling is to glorify and praise the Lord in all you say and do (1 Corinthians 10:31) and continually offer a sacrifice of praise to him (Hebrews 13:15).

In knowing the truth of the gospel, may you echo John’s praise in Revelation:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! …To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:12-13)

An Illustration of the Christian Life

John MacArthur said:

The shepherds’ story is a good illustration of the Christian life. You first hear the revelation of the gospel and believe it. Then you pursue and embrace Christ. And having become a witness to your glorious conversion, you begin to tell others about it. (Grace to You)

Dear Christian, may you joyfully follow the shepherds’ example by wasting no time: Respond to and share the gospel, and may you glorify and praise God for all the gifts lavished upon you through Jesus Christ.

[Photo Credit: Unsplash]

RELATED POSTS:

The God Who Shepherds His People, Part 1
The Shepherds: He Is the Savior
The Good News for All Time

The post Let’s Be Like the Shepherds appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

Key Connections (December 22, 2017)

How to Share Your Story This Christmas: Counsel from Charles Spurgeon (Tony Reinke, Desiring God)

“Go home, young man, and tell the poor sinner’s story; go home, young woman, and open your diary, and give your friends stories of grace. Tell them of the mighty works of God’s hand which he hath wrought in you from his own free, sovereign, undeserved love. Make it a free grace story around your family fire.

When you are at home for Christmas, let no one see your face till God has seen it. Be up in the morning, wrestle with God; and if your friends are not converted, wrestle with God for them, and then you will find it easy work to wrestle with them for God.” (Charles Spurgeon)

Seek Mercy from the God of Heaven (Denice Parker, tenthousandbeside.com)

The more time we spend in Daniel, the more I think God wants us to believe this: not merely that he can help, but that he will.  We can’t hold him hostage or presume upon him to follow our prescription in each situation, thats not faith.  Using God to get what you want is idolatry.  But we can trust him – his goodness and love – to do what’s good.  That he has a plan and he’ll work it out and it will be best for everyone.  He will defend his own name and provide for his children in a better way than we could have asked for.

A Christmas Lament (David Roark, The Village Christ)

Advent gives us a season to do this. It reminds us that the Christian life doesn’t come with a big bow on it—not yet, at least—but that there is space to be honest about the brokenness of our hearts and our world. Yet, even though we are distraught and disoriented by such fallenness, we are not without hope. We know that our King has come and He will come again. We know that He will, finally and forever, bring perfect peace and endless light. He will wipe away all our tears, and death will be no more. He will establish His kingdom and uphold it with justice and righteousness. And of His kingdom there will be no end.

Why Does Church Matter? (Justin Huffman, Servants of Grace)

No other activity in the name of Christ can take the place of regular involvement in, and commitment to, a local church. No student organization, seminary, online discussion forum, or small group Bible study can substitute for that organism which God designed and implemented Himself—the local church. While many good evangelistic and philanthropic efforts are undertaken by various Christian organizations, they cannot—and should not aim to—be a substitute for church. The local church has a unique purpose and position in the plan of God.

A Lesson from Paul on Transformation (Judy Allen, Unlocking the Bible)

And God’s Word tells us here that: When we surrender our lives to God in view of his mercy, worship him with everything we are, resist the pattern of the world, and renew our minds by his Spirit, then we will be able to discern God’s will. For most of us, transformation doesn’t happen so rapidly like it did for Paul. And even Paul spent three years in Arabia before he actually began to preach the gospel (Galatians 1:11-17). The transformation on the road to Damascus was no doubt the start of a lifelong work of God. Are you willing, in light of God’s mercy, to offer your existence to him, to resist the world, and to renew your mind? I hope so, because as we do these things, the Spirit will transform our minds to be more like that of Jesus Christ.

The post Key Connections (December 22, 2017) appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

Clang! The Harsh Notes of Discipline

Dissonance is a musical term that means “lack of harmony among musical notes; a tension or clash resulting from the combination of two disharmonious or unsuitable elements.”

The dissonance in my life right now is excruciating. In this season I’m battling darkness, despair, and depression. I ache for the relief from discord. I ache for the swell of happy notes that pierce the soul with joy.

Still, I’m sitting in dissonance—under the loving discipline of the Lord.

Discipline: The Treatment for Sons

Dissonance in musical terms is an excellent parallel idea for the reality of spiritual discipline believers in the Lord Jesus experience:

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11)

Because he has adopted us as sons, God the Father disciplines us as his children:

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.  (Galatians 4:4-5)

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? … but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. (Hebrews 12:7, 10)

And, because of his faithfulness—his commitment to us—he will not cease from his labor to mold us into the image of Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). He will not leave or forsake us, which means he will not refrain from refining us (Hebrews 13:5). That is our comfort during the discipline of sanctification.

Our Great Shepherd does not reside on a distant mountain. He is in the pasture with his sheep. He’s aware of their surroundings because he led them there and he will not abandon them to the wolves, the weather, or themselves. So even his rod of discipline and his staff are our comfort (Psalm 23:4).

Discipline Comes From Our Heavenly Father

In his first letter, Peter writes to persecuted believers living in a dissonance and discipline of their own. How did he encourage these exiles struggling so badly?

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. (1 Peter 1:1-2, emphasis mine)

Peter has barely put quill to parchment when he begins reminding his readers of the Lord’s character and the good news about Jesus. He takes them back to truth that God sovereignly reigns over and governs the whole universe in his perfect wisdom.

By rehearsing the truths of the Lord’s character, Peter helps fix their gaze not on their dispersion but on the One who dispersed them—not on the discipline but on the great wisdom of their Father, not on the rod, but on their Shepherd. He tells them they are exiles not according to a cosmic accident or mistake, but according to the foreknowledge of their Heavenly Father.

Discipline is Designed

Right out of the gate, Peter addresses our fear of abandonment during hard times with a powerful truth: The trial through which he is disciplining us is not hidden from him—it’s designed and deliberate.

In fact, Peter explicitly states that each member of the Trinity is present and active in the trauma and tension of his audiences’ circumstances for a distinct reason:

…So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:7)

We see the foreknowledge of the Father orchestrating through the Spirit every event for the sanctification and refinement of his children in order to produce in them more obedience to and worship of his Son.

Discipline Produces Praise for Christ

That’s the silent work God accomplishes through the discipline, the dissonance. Not only does discipline make us more like Christ, but it also generates more praise for him, who entered our discord and sin, taking it upon his holy shoulders.

When we listen to the Word of God, we hear that it was Jesus who hung in the ultimate discord. And he endured it for us.

He was forsaken by God so we never will be.

He undeservedly drank the wrath we sinners deserve so we could know His grace.

Because of his faithfulness God will not cease from his labor to mold us into the image of Jesus.
Click To Tweet

At the cross, we see God’s supreme conducting skills working in the dissonance and turning it into something beautiful.

Heaven’s Maestro will not fail. He knows what he is doing. He will not let the dissonance clang forever. “For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:3) And the Lord says that we must “let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:4).

Discipline is for Our Good

Our Father is composing a masterpiece of such wonder and majesty that we wouldn’t believe it if he told us (Habakkuk 1:5, 1 Corinthians 2:9). He is active in the frustrated notes. He is not idle. Through such discipline, he is fulfilling his promise to produce great joy for us, and greater glory for himself, though we may not see it now.

Clashing notes make resolve sweeter. Harsh tones make the finale more dazzling. The discomfort makes the relief more satisfying.  

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17-19)

Trust that your Heavenly Father is at work in these seasons and has sovereignly arranged each “dissonance” not to kill our joy but to kindle it as we see him glorified. For “he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness” (Hebrews 12:10). He is teaching us to trust him while making us more like him. May we let that truth be our motivation to sit in discipline and not despise it (Job 5:17, Proverbs 3:11).

Do we really believe even this is the Father’s love toward us in Christ? Do we trust that knowing Jesus is better than knowing what he’s doing?

I’m praying we would have a wholehearted obedience to rejoice in the dissonance—God’s loving discipline—in this life and rest in God, the Composer and Conductor.

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:28-29).

[Photo Credit: Unsplash]

RELATED POSTS:

The Most Important Motivation for Spiritual Discipline
Is Justification Without Sanctification Possible? | Video
Three Reasons to Be Glad When Trials Come

The post Clang! The Harsh Notes of Discipline appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

Eat! To the Glory of God

Before completing my first marathon in 2008, food was exclusively framed from a fitness standpoint.

We eat food for a myriad of motivations—for fitness, for how it affects our physical appearance, for pleasure, for comfort, for nourishment, for weight loss, and more.

What did Paul mean when he wrote, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (I Corinthians 10:31)? The surrounding verses provide us with some helpful answers.

A Question of Conscience

Prior to speaking of doing everything for God’s glory, Paul addressed the Corinthians about food sold at the meat market. “Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.” (1 Corinthians 10:25). What’s the question that provokes the conscience, you ask?

Paul instructed the Christ followers in Corinth not to ask the question of whether the food for sale at their markets had been sacrificed to an idol. He clarifies the situation two chapters earlier: “But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled” (1 Corinthians 8:7).

Paul says not to raise the question of whether to eat this meat sacrificed to idols because, “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (1 Corinthians 10:26, NIV). He instructed God’s people to simply give thanks and partake as he did (I Corinthians 10:30).

In his letter to the young Timothy, Paul writes, “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, since it is made holy by the word of God and by prayer” (I Timothy 4:4-5).

Everything is Permissible

What is eaten will understandably vary between people, but God’s Word says that all foods are permissible for Christians.

Everything is permissible because Christ, the perfect sacrifice, died for our sins, and clothed us in his purity. Paul writes that Jesus is our “righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). And, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Therefore, we who follow Jesus are pure and righteous before God in Jesus Christ, regardless of what enters our mouth.

There is a caution that follows this exhortation, though.

Not Everything is Beneficial

But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. (1 Corinthians 8:9)

 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.  Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. (I Corinthians 10:23-24).

Our relationship with food impacts our relationship with others. Paul speaks of our eating habits becoming stumbling blocks for others. Though verses 9-13 tend to be applied today to drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes, food is by no means exempt from this command.

In other words, what foods we eat are less important than the place they occupy in our lives.
Click To Tweet

For example, let’s say someone you know is fasting from meat for a season, be it a few weeks or a few months. The next time you meet up for a meal, you might consider ordering an alternative to meat so as to not create a temptation for them to “wound their conscience” (I Corinthians 8:12).

Love God by loving those closest to you in terms of what you eat (or don’t eat) for their sake. Why? To be imitators of Christ. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3). Real love, as Jesus loves, means taking care that we don’t becoming a stumbling block for another. And Paul writes a severe warning that to neglect the care of my brother’s conscience by causing them to stumble is to sin against Christ (1 Corinthians 8:11-12)

Flee From Idolatry

I’ve yet to be served food that was sacrificed to an idol, but it’s not a stretch – not by any means – to assert that food has become an idol for many people today. Anything that takes priority over God in our life, even food, is an idol.

Be it through Godiva chocolate, Chipotle burritos, or Chick-fil-A waffle fries, the happiness food promises beyond our nourishment is short-lived and contends with our affections for the Lord. We have been restored to God through Christ, and should thereby guard against allowing anything to compete for our complete attention on and affection for him.

Paul writes, “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry” (I Corinthians 10:14). In other words, what foods we eat are less important than the place they occupy in our lives. The rightful place, says Paul, is inside the body.

What foods we eat are less important than the place they occupy in our lives.
Click To Tweet

Should food be enjoyed as a gift from God? Absolutely. But keep in mind that “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food” (I Corinthians 6:13).

Paul tells us that God wants us to live by the maxim “eat to live” instead of “live to eat.” The former is concerned with livelihood; the latter, gluttony. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul spoke of the enemies of Christ allowing their stomachs to become their god. “Their glory is in their shame,” he lamented (Philippians 3:19).

Eating and Drinking to the Glory of God

Food is not our master; Christ is our Master. He is our Lord. Food, sadly, can and will become our master if our love for it or for its effect—weight loss, muscle gain, a better body image—eclipses our love and pursuit of Jesus. Food, like money, can become a demanding master, and we know that man cannot serve (worship) two masters (Matthew 6:24).

What’s your relationship with food? Is it governed by emotions or by the Good Book? Does it have a rightful place in your life, or is it exalted above God? Let’s take a moment and recap.

First, God’s Word given through Paul to the Corinthians instructs us to eat and drink to the glory of God. Enjoy food as a good and perfect gift coming down from the Father, before whom you have been made pure in Christ (James 1:17).

Second, make sure it has a rightful place in your life as your physical nourishment for the day so that you can serve the Lord well. Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6:35), who provides eternal sustenance. So go to him with the hunger of your soul, that you may be satisfied.

Lastly, consider others and the impact your eating habits and choices of food and drink will have on them.

[Photo Credit: Unsplash]

RELATED POSTS:

Be Nourished by the Bread of Life
Mouth: Feasting on the Bread of Christ
Enjoy the Blessing of God

The post Eat! To the Glory of God appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

Where Are You Hiding?

I once had a sweet picture of my grandchildren dressed in costumes as my screen saver. Sitting side by side, 18-month-old Riley was dressed as a tennis ball, tiny baby Hannah was a flower, and two-year-old Benjamin was Spiderman!

It’s a sweet picture, but at the same time it troubled me that I couldn’t see Benjamin’s face, which was covered up by a mask. His blue eyes and endearing smile were both hidden! As I have pondered this, it struck me that perhaps that’s exactly how God feels when we wear masks that attempt to keep him (and others) from looking into the eyes of our hearts.

Into Hiding

In the beginning, Adam and Eve enjoyed intimacy with God and one another without fear or shame until their disobedience sent them into hiding among the trees of the garden.

And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ And he said, ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.’ (Genesis 3:8-10, emphasis added)

Though Adam and Eve had enjoyed perfect union with their loving Creator, sin left them naked and ashamed (Genesis 3:8-13).

From our very first breath, we are bent to rebel against God’s authority. Romans 3:11-12 says, “None is righteous, no one seeks God.” Thankfully, he faithfully pursues us, lovingly calling, “Where are you?” God wants us to see that we are lost and need him to save us.

Jesus Christ provides the only way back into the relationship that sin destroyed. He alone can cover our nakedness and shame by clothing us with his own righteousness. Through the blood of Christ shed for us on the cross, God invites us out of hiding and into the light of His presence.

Sadly, even when we are clothed in Christ, we often continue to live just like those still in hiding. Failing to grasp the full gospel, we often continue to struggle with guilt, shame, and fear, living defeated lives that condemn us for past or present sins. We hide behind masks that, in actuality, keep us from experiencing the joy and peace that is rightfully ours in Christ.

Out of Hiding…But Still Hiding

So, let’s take a look at a couple of the common masks we wear and how the gospel can lead us out of hiding.

The Mask of Self-Sufficiency

Hidden behind this mask is a failure to grasp the truth of our depravity; and when we don’t see the depth of our need for Christ, we won’t rely on Jesus for help. By avoiding certain behaviors such as lying, stealing, lusting, and so on, we can “feel” like we are doing pretty well.

This is where self-effort and self-sufficiency sneak in, leading us to believe that we are capable of living the Christian life all on our own. It isn’t until we tire of running into walls of exhaustion, frustration, anger, bitterness, guilt, and so on that we finally start to wonder if we’re missing something! All our best efforts to be good Christians have not brought the peace, joy, and inner rest God promises to us in his Word.

Those who are serious students of God’s Word eventually come to realize that God’s perspective of sin is far more than simply messing up. Alan Kraft says:

Sin is the deeply rooted tendency in all of us to live with self as the center of our lives rather than God…[We] have a tenacious desire to be the center of the universe. We want to be noticed, affirmed, valued, worshiped, in control, to be comfortable, to be successful. These are not just casual interests—very often they drive our lives.

Jesus Christ meets us right here in our pride and self-centeredness. In 1 Timothy 1:15 Paul says, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” Over the course of his life, Paul became increasingly aware of his sin, enabling him to more fully experience the sufficiency of Christ. “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me….for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10)

The more we understand God’s holiness, the more we see our sin. And awareness of our sin opens our eyes more fully to God’s mercy and grace. Placing our trust in Jesus rather than in our own effort, we realize that God has given us the gift of total acceptance. In other words, we really can come out of hiding.

The Mask of “Everything’s fine, thank you.”

Hidden behind this mask are many things, but most of all, fear. When we are clothed in Christ, we are adopted into God’s family where we should also find acceptance and encouragement from the body of believers. Sadly, we have all experienced some measure of betrayal, hurt, and rejection. This can send us scurrying back to our masks, adding more layers to our wall of self-protection.

But the gospel invites us to be honest with others and ourselves. This does not mean we walk around telling every person we meet all of our problems. But it does mean we find a few close friends and older spiritually mature believers in Christ who will lovingly help us see God’s perspective on these things. When we isolate ourselves from others we become more vulnerable to Satan’s lies, keeping us in bondage to the very things we long to be free of.

Let’s consider a few examples of when should seek the help, counsel, and comfort of mature believers:

When we are hiding the pain of infertility, miscarriage, chronically ill children, or other mental/physical health issues, forfeiting the ministry of comfort, help, and prayer.
When we are hiding in fear of an emotionally/physically abusive spouse, forfeiting protection, prayer, and help that could possibly save the marriage. 
When we are hiding ineffective parenting, or a struggling marriage, forfeiting tools of biblical wisdom and practical help, along with support and prayer.
When we are hiding sins committed in our past or sins we are struggling with in the present such as overspending, over-eating, starving ourselves, pornography, or substance abuse, forfeiting the reminder that the gospel has set us free from submitting to a yoke of slavery to these habits and behaviors (Galatians 5:1).

Our True Hiding Place

Nothing is hidden from the Lord. God knows better than we do the depth of our sin problem. But he is fully committed to raising his children with loving discipline until we are mature and complete in Christ. Meanwhile, he invites us to take off our masks so he can look into our faces and delight in us as we learn from him and grow. And when we are tempted to go back into hiding behind masks of fear, hurt, and shame, he reminds us that he is our true hiding place, and in him is the safest place to be (Psalm 32:7)!

[Photo Credit: Lightstock]

RELATED POSTS:

No Better Place to Hide from God
God’s Flashlight
Come Into the Light

The post Where Are You Hiding? appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

A Neglected Discipline

I like eating. It’s enjoyable to taste things; it feels good to feel full.

But we are called as Christians to be filled first with Jesus and his Word, the love of the Father, and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 8:3, Ephesians 3:19, Romans 15:13). It’s too easy to try and fill our lives with the things of the world, especially in those areas where we still struggle to submit to God’s control.

I’ve learned a lot about my tendency to fill up those “empty” places with things other than Jesus over the last 10 years, and much of it I learned when I started exploring fasting. But fasting can seem like a hard practice to get into. Here are three reasons we neglect this discipline.

Three Reasons We Neglect Fasting:
1. It’s not understood

I personally believe that fasting is the least understood spiritual discipline. From the pulpit, Bible studies, and Sunday school, we hear about the importance of spending time in the Bible, in prayer, and in God-given rest. We hear how we need to be active in the body of believers and support the work of the Church. But we rarely have a deep, informative discussion on how and why we are commanded to fast.

2. It seems joyless

We often focus on the command to rejoice in Jesus and in his work (1 Thessalonians 5:16), celebrating our Savior and our new status as children of God who are part of his family. Fasting—since it means giving up something enjoyable—doesn’t seem to complement such joy. Celebration usually includes food, so fasting seems joyless.

3. It’s painful

Fasting means depriving oneself, which is not something we do well, or easily. One of the most pervasive and ingrained effects of sin is a feeling of entitlement, which goes directly against the idea of submitting to suffering, much less choosing to suffer hunger pains of our own accord.

Even though it can seem painful, joyless, and unfamiliar, fasting is a spiritual practice that complements other spiritual disciplines such as praying and daily Bible reading. It is also something that Jesus expected of his followers.

And with regard to any of Jesus’ commands, we know that:

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3)

What Jesus Tells Us About Fasting

Jesus did a prolonged fast before the true start of his earthly ministry.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” (Matthew 4:1-3)

It’s dependence on God’s Word.

Jesus was about to begin his official ministry. Just prior to this, it says in Matthew 4:1 that, “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” The very first temptation that Satan tried was the one that appealed directly to Jesus’s physical state as if to say, Use your phenomenal cosmic powers to feed yourself, Jesus.

But he answered, “It is written,‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)

Jesus overcomes this temptation with Scripture, showing that the needs of the soul are more important than the needs of the body. No matter how pressing physical desires may seem, God’s Word is sufficient for our needs. Jesus fasted to identify with us in our suffering and temptations (Hebrews 2:18), but also to prove that God’s Word takes priority over our physical urges. Jesus fasts to exercise his dependence on God’s Word.

Fasting reveals a very small taste of the suffering Jesus went through for humankind. It’s a small experiential example of what he gave up for us to save us from our sin. When we fast, we exercise dependence on Christ and him alone.

It’s an act of obedience, humbling ourselves before God.

Jesus also taught about fasting in the Sermon on the Mount.

And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18)

Notice that Jesus says “when you fast,” not “if”. Fasting is a command from the Father to his children to be obeyed in humility.

As with any practice of righteousness, it’s tempting to fast for the attention of others. Jesus admonishes those who show the discomfort of their fasting outwardly. You should not fast for others, but in obedience to God and to seek to deepen your relationship with him. Fasting is an act of humbling oneself—actively putting our desires behind those of God.

It’s temporary.

Jesus taught about when it’s appropriate to fast when asked about the behavior of his disciples:

Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day.” (Mark 2:18-20)

First, notice that Jesus says that the wedding guests “will fast” when the bridegroom is taken away. While not a command directly to his followers, Jesus’s words make it obvious that fasting is expected of us.

More importantly, notice the reason Jesus gives why the disciples don’t fast yet: Jesus is God with us, the Messiah, the Savior of the world. He is the King of all creation, and he is the bridegroom of the Church. In his presence, there is eternal joy and unending celebration—no need to fast.

Fast in Faith

But, while we wait for him on earth now, there are reasons to fast. We’re commanded to share in Christ’s suffering, and to humble ourselves before God (2 Corinthians 1:5). Forgoing our physical needs helps us to focus on our spiritual needs. And, we let our physical hunger mirror the hunger we should have for God, and for Jesus’s triumphant return.

For, when he returns, fasting will pass away. And those who belong to Christ will have an eternity of closeness with God, the abolition of sorrow, and the satisfaction of all longing.

For those in Christ, fasting allows us to share in his suffering, and humble ourselves in obedience before God. It also exercises our faith in the truth that our dependence for our provision is on Christ alone.

[Photo Credit: Unsplash]

RELATED POSTS:

What Does It Mean to Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness?
Don’t Lose Spiritual Disciplines for Fear of Legalism
Four Keys to Practice Spiritual Disciplines

The post A Neglected Discipline appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

Key Connections (December 15, 2017)

Do You Pray Like the Devil? (John Piper, Desiring God)

What Paul means is that without the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, no one can say “Jesus is Lord” with a joyful and glad embrace of the Lord Jesus as one’s supreme treasure. The devil admits his power and final victory, but he hates it. Only by the Holy Spirit can we love it. And that is what makes us Christians — not just believing the same true facts that the devil believes.

A Son is Given (Justin Huffman, Servants of Grace)

Isaiah prophesied, and it has already been fulfilled regarding Jesus, that “his name shall be called” by many and mighty titles. But has he been called that by you? Is Jesus wonderful to you? Is he your counselor? Have you submitted to him as your almighty God, have you been comforted by him as your everlasting father? Are you trusting in him, not only for peace in your soul but for the necessary peace that must be made between you as a sinner and God as your holy judge? For those who do believe in him, Jesus offers this tremendous and lasting comfort: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).

Lessons From the Dark Valley of Depression (Mary Somerville, Biblical Counseling Coalition)

This suffering (depression) is a tool of God’s grace to make me more like Jesus (Rom. 8:29). He’s seeking to make me look like His Son! Has God promised me personal happiness—good health, a comfortable, predictable life, and a host of people who appreciate me? No, He’s offering me much more than that! His goal for my life is not first my happiness, but my holiness.

Why God Delays in Answering Prayer (Charles Spurgeon, Challies.com)

Our Father has reasons peculiar to Himself for thus keeping us waiting. Sometimes it is to show His power and His sovereignty, that men may know that Jehovah has a right to give or to withhold. More frequently the delay is for our profit. Thou art perhaps kept waiting in order that thy desires may be more fervent.

An Open Letter to Myself: On Motherhood, Writing, and Identity in Christ (Kristen Wetherell, Kristen Wetherell)

You can count it all joy when you meet the trial of sleeplessness, for the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4). God will let none of your sleep-disturbed nights and sleep-deprived days go to waste. He can take something that seems so hard and unnatural and turn it into good, for his honor and praise. Dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly trust in Jesus’ name.

Deserving or Delighting in God’s Generosity? (Jennifer Brogdon, Unlocking the Bible)

God may give others more than we think they deserve, and he may give us less than we think we deserve. But praise God that he has not given those of us in Christ what we actually deserve! Every gift God gives comes by grace—from our salvation to the reward of our work (Romans 2:6).

The post Key Connections (December 15, 2017) appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.