Another Week Has Gone

Last Sunday I was talking with a couple who have several children yet always seem to “have their act together” on Sunday morning. The mom explained to me that she lays out her children’s clothes on Saturday evening and works with her husband to make sure that they are “good to go” on Sunday morning.

I commended them for this routine, saying that in addition to avoiding frenetic, last-minute preparations on Sunday morning, it helps the family to get into a mindset for worship on Saturday evening. My parents did the same thing, as did my wife and I when our children were young.

Ecclesiastes 5:1 says, “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.” That is to say, we are not to approach worship haphazardly, but whole-heartedly.

Ken Ramey rightly warns,

When you fail to plan ahead, Sunday morning ends up becoming a chaotic crisis, and by the time you get to church, you are frustrated and frazzled and your heart is in no condition to receive the Word. But when you plan well and are able to arrive in a relaxed, leisurely way, you will be in a much more receptive frame of mind.

To help us to prepare well for Sunday worship, Ken Ramey offers some practical suggestions that are summarized well by Tim Challies, which you can read by clicking here.

The purpose of this post is to aid you in such preparations with a Saturday evening prayer. This comes from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions. Because they were written a few centuries ago, the language of these prayers is a bit antiquated, like the King James Version of the Bible. But, as one pastor-friend of mine put it, “When used slowly, for meditation and prayer, these [prayers] have often been used by God’s Spirit to kindle my dry heart.”

So here is a prayer that I trust will end your week on a worshipful note in anticipation of the Lord’s Day.

LORD’S DAY EVE

GOD OF THE PASSING HOUR,

Another week has gone and I have been preserved in my going out, in my coming in.

Thine has been the vigilance that has turned threatened evils aside;

Thine the supplies that have nourished me;

Thine the comforts that have indulged me;

Thine the relations and friends that have delighted me;

Thine the means of grace which have edified me;

Thine the Book, which, amidst all my enjoyments, has told me that this is not my rest, that in all successes one thing alone is needful, to love my Savior.

Nothing can equal the number of thy mercies but my imperfections and sins.

These, O God, I will neither conceal nor palliate, but confess with a broken heart.

In what condition would secret reviews of my life leave me were it not for the assurance that with thee there is plenteous redemption, that thou art a forgiving God, that thou mayest be feared!

While I hope for pardon though the blood of the cross,

I pray to be clothed with humility,

to be quickened in thy way,

to be more devoted to thee,

to keep the end of my life in view,

to be cured of folly of delay and indecision,

to know how frail I am,

to number my days and apply my heart unto wisdom.

Amen.

God's Word and White Noise

During the summer months, my wife and I have had multiple fans blowing in our bedroom throughout the night. We have a ceiling fan above us, an oscillating fan near my side of the bed, and another fan next to the window on Ruthie’s side of the bed.

At least we know what it’s like to be surrounded by fans. (Sorry for the bad pun, but I couldn’t resist.)

Now that summer is past and the weather is cooling, it makes sense to stop using the fans. But we’re having. hard time doing so. The reason has less to do with temperature and more about the white noise. As one fan enthusiast points out,

white noise essentially works to mask the difference between background sounds and ‘peak’ sounds (such as an ambulance siren or a door slamming) to maintain more consistency in your environment.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, “white noise creates a constant ambient sound that reduces disturbances … that would [otherwise] be disruptive….”

This brings to mind a conversation I had with my teenage son a number of years ago. I asked him what it was like to have me as both his pastor and his parent, specifically as it concerned my teaching him God’s Word. He said, “To be honest, I have to guard against it sounding like white noise. The same voice I hear on Sunday is the same one I hear all throughout the week.”

Hearing God’s Word as white noise in that sense poses a danger in that we can become “dull of hearing” (Heb. 5:11) and spiritually “sluggish” (Heb. 6:12). That’s a condition we want to avoid because it will debilitate us, and, if left unchecked, will destroy us.

But I think that comparing God’s Word to white noise can be used positively in this sense: The constant hum of God’s holy word in our lives reduces the disruptive sounds that would otherwise disturb us.

The psalmist said, “Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people” (Ps. 85:8). The word of God has a comforting effect on his people. The more we listen to it, the more it soothes and stabilizes us. “Abundant peace belongs to those who love your instruction; nothing makes them stumble” (Ps. 119:165).

How easy it is for us to get rattled, anxious or unsettled by the disruptive sounds of daily life. Yet as we tune into God’s Word every day, we experience for ourselves the sweet, soul-calming truth of Isaiah 26:3: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

Work While It Is Day

“We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:4). So said Jesus to his followers before healing the blind man.

Even as the eternal Son of God, Jesus had a limited time on earth to finish the work that his Father had given him.

The same is true of us. In his book, The Conviction to Lead, Albert Mohler writes,

If we had limitless time, we would lack any awareness of urgency. We would have no incentive to prioritize. Mortality is not only the great equalizer, it is the great motivator. Time and opportunities are precious and perishable.

If we forget this, we lose all perspective. And perspective is essential to leadership.

To remind himself of his own mortality, Mohler keeps a model of a human skull on the corner of his desk. He quips, “You probably do not have a skull on your desk, but you had better have one in your imagination.”

Jesus plants such an image in the minds of his disciples when he exhorts them to “work while it is day.” Typically, this is when work gets done. “Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening” (Psalm 104:23). So Jesus uses the “day” as a synonym for a person’s lifetime, and “night” as a reference to his death. The Puritan commentator Mathew Henry wrote,

The consideration of our death … should quicken us to improve all the opportunities of life.

In this, Jesus is our supreme example. As his earthly mission was about to culminate in his work on the cross, Jesus testified to the Father, “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work you gave me to do” (John 17:4).

Now Jesus calls on us as his followers to do the same. “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord” (Rom. 12:11). We need to hear this exhortation afresh in a culture where the average person spends two and a half hours per day on social media.

In his helpful book Do More Better, Tim Challies defines productivity as “effectively stewarding your gifts, talents, time, energy, and enthusiasm for the good of others and the glory of God.” I have this definition posted right on my bulletin board next to my desk as a constant reminder of what true diligence entails. Perhaps I should put a skull on my desk as well!

Whatever our vocation, our work in the world is to enlighten it. “You are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true)” (Eph. 5:8-9). “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).

Lord Jesus, thank you for finishing the work that the Father gave you to do. In doing so, you saved us and also set a perfect example for us. Please help us to leverage the time and opportunities that you have given us this day to be a blessing to others and to bring glory to you. We pray this in your name. Amen.

Putting Life's Pieces in Place

My heart went out to the young man sitting across the table from me. We had been meeting for several weeks. Over that time I had seen in him grow more into the man God had created and called him to be. The more my friend studies the word of God, the more he strives to be a man of God.

But as he thought about his various roles and responsibilities, particularly as a husband and father, he seemed a bit overwhelmed by how far he has yet to go.

I sought to encourage him, first by telling him the progress I had already seen in him. But then I shifted from looking back to looking ahead, saying, “You’re halfway there because you’ve already got the right picture in place!”

Immediately I thought of the thousand-piece puzzle my wife and I had put together over our vacation this past summer. As you can see from the picture below, it was a slow start.

As the hours and days wore on, we wondered if we would ever be able to put all these pieces together!

But the key to our success was the picture on the puzzle box cover. We looked at that picture countless times as we put the puzzle together. It showed us where all the pieces needed to go and how beautiful the puzzle would be once it was finished.

That’s how Scripture functions in the life of the Christian. Paul told Timothy, the young man he was mentoring, “Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 1:13).

The ancient Greek word for “pattern” (hypotypōsis) referred to an artist’s sketch, a model representation which set the standard for the finished work.

Ultimately, sanctification is God’s work. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Eph. 2:10 NLT). Because God always finishes what he starts, Paul could confidently declare to all Christians, “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6).

This promise should promote not passivity on our part, but rather proactivity and perseverance. That’s why Scripture says, “Work hard to show the results of your salvation with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Phil. 2:12-13 NLT).

By the time my wife and I left for home, our puzzle was complete. What joy and satisfaction it brought!

Imagine what it will be like when it’s time to leave for our heavenly home, and God’s masterpiece is complete. May our anticipation of that day give us all the motivation we need this day to put a few more pieces into place.

Highways of the Heart

Thousands of years before Rascal Flatts ever sang “Life is a highway,” another group, “the Sons of Korah” sang about the highways of the heart, shouting to the Lord,

“Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.” (Psalm 84:4-5)

To appreciate these lyrics, we must first understand the context. “Zion” was the name of the hill on which the city of Jerusalem sat, so it became a synonym for Jerusalem itself and, most importantly, the dwelling place of God. Thus the psalm begins, “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!” (Psalm 84:1).

In verses 2-3, the psalmist expresses his own longing to be in the place where God is worshiped, noting that even the little birds instinctively make their nests and raise their young in the nooks of God’s house!

Such is the spirit of those who love to worship God! In their hearts “are the highways to Zion” (Ps. 84:5). In ancient times, many worshipers would travel for days on hot, dusty roads, to get to the temple in Jerusalem. The psalmist salutes these dedicated saints in verses 6-7, saying,

“As they go through the Valley of Baca [“Weeping”] they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.”

That is to say, when the way grows hot and weary, they dig little pits to receive rainwater for their refreshment. They go “from strength to strength,” finding the nourishment they need until they can get to God’s house.

For them it’s not about the building; it’s about the greatness of the God who is worshiped there! They’ll do whatever it takes to be in God’s presence with his people. Why? Because they know and testify to God,

“A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gate-keeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.

For the Lord God is our sun and shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” (Psalm 84:10-11 NLT).

The psalmist ends on a high note, exclaiming, “O Lord of hosts, blessed [happy, content, joyful] is the one who trusts in you!” (Psalm 84:12).

Life is a highway, and so is your heart. Where is it taking you throughout the week and on any given Sunday?

Beauty Isn't Boring

If you have ever beheld a magnificent sunrise or sunset, a majestic mountain range, or brilliant foliage gracing a landscape, you know how mesmerizing such beauty can be.

Beauty isn’t boring!

This thought dominated my mind as I read the end of John 6 this morning. After Jesus fed the five thousand, “many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you want to go away as well?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the wonderful words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:66-69)

Whereas the vast majority of the people that Jesus fed were interested only in physical bread rather than in Jesus, the Bread of Life, Peter and the other apostles (except Judas) had come to recognize Jesus’ true identity and worth. For them there was no turning back. Jesus alone had the “wonderful words of eternal life.”

That phrase brought the words of an old hymn to mind:

Sing them over again to me,

Wonderful words of life!

Let me more of their beauty see,

Wonderful words of life!

Beauty isn’t boring! We always want to see more of it! That’s why we have a hard time tearing ourselves away from a stunning landscape.

Or consider the way of a man with a woman, especially on their wedding day. He is not content with one look, or even two or three looks. The fact is, he can’t take his eyes off her. Having seen her beauty, he craves more of it. “Let me more of her beauty see!” He longs to know her intimately.

The same is true spiritually when we come to know Jesus for who he really is — “the Holy One of God” and the Savior of all who believe.

True believers never move beyond the gospel but only more deeply into it.

Why?

Because beauty is never boring.

National Day of Encouragement

National Day of Encouragement? How did I miss this? I knew nothing about this holiday until one of my friends told me about it after church today. Apparently this special day has been celebrated since 2007, thanks to some high school students who came up with the idea as a way to resolve the biggest problem facing young people today: a lack of encouragement. Two years later, the U.S. Senate agreed to a resolution designating September 12 as “National Day of Encouragement.”

The dayofencouragement.org website says that this day “is dedicated to uplifting those around us and making a positive impact” — much like American citizens did on the day after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

I found out about National Day of Encouragement a day late — on September 13. But I have to say that I really didn’t miss out on anything, because I was encouraged greatly by gathering with our church family today!

• It was our biggest turnout since our building reopened for public worship on July 12.

• We celebrated the Lord’s Supper for the first time in months.

• We sang “The Wonderful Cross” along with other hymns and songs of praise.

• We prayed together and heard God’s Word proclaimed.

• Specifically, we were reminded from Scripture that our God is infinitely powerful, extremely merciful, and always faithful.

Yes, September 13 was definitely my Day of Encouragement.

Nobody understands the value of encouragement more than God himself, for he has said, “encourage each other every day” (Heb. 3:13). I thank God for how his people — our church family — encouraged me today!

A Wedding Reminder

As I entered our church sanctuary early this morning, I took this picture at the back of the aisle. “A picture is worth a thousand words,” and “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

The significance of both these sayings converged in my mind as I thought about how the cross should always be front and center in marriage, just as the cross is in this picture. Beneath the cross is the communion table, which reminds us of the mystical union between Christ and his redeemed bride, the Church.

The aisle reminds me that the wedding ceremony is the first step in a lifelong covenant of companionship between a husband and wife. Ruthie and I were married 30 years ago last month. We were right around the same age as the wonderful couple I married today: Michael Smith and Kierra McClure.

The opening lines of the ceremony, which I read this morning, remind me of just how significant and sacred the institution of marriage is. I’ve copied and pasted this part of the ceremony here for the edification of all believers, particularly husbands and wives.

Marriage is a wonderful and sacred union ordained by God himself, who instituted marriage at the beginning in the Garden of Eden, before sin entered the world. The Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Then God created woman from man's own substance and brought her to the man.

Our Lord Jesus honored marriage by his presence and first recorded miracle at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. And he confirmed it as a divine ordinance and as a union not to be severed when he declared, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Furthermore, the Holy Spirit sets forth the sacred and exalted nature of marriage when he compares it to the mystical union between Christ and his redeemed bride, the church, saying, "This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church."

For this reason, marriage is commended by the apostle Paul to be honorable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God.

I’m so glad that Mike and Kierra recognize the honor and sanctity of marriage, and have made God’s Word the foundation of their relationship, and the gospel the fountain of their union. What about you?

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures” (Prov. 24:3-4).

One Woman's Testimony

Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

John 4:39-42

As I read this text regarding Jesus’ interaction with the woman at the well (to read the whole account, click here), three aspects of her testimony stuck out to me.

1. She had sinned much. As Jesus pointed out earlier in their conversation, this woman had already been married five times, and the man she was now living with was not her husband.

2. She knew little about Jesus. At first he was nothing but a stranger to her (John 4:9). Then she perceived that he was a prophet (John 4:19). Soon she asked, “Can this be the Christ?” (John 4:29).

3. She impacted many. Even though her initial testimony was nothing more than “He told me all that I ever did” (John 4:39), a whole town came out to see Jesus, and soon “many more believed because of his word” (John 4:41).

This woman’s testimony reminds us that the power of the gospel comes from God, not ourselves. As John Newton, the author of the hymn Amazing Grace, put it, “I am a great sinner, and Christ is a great Savior.”

Matthew Henry observed “how God is sometimes pleased to use very weak and unlikely instruments for the beginning and carrying on of a good work…. Our Savior, by instructing one poor woman, spread instruction to a whole town.”

Never underestimate the power of your own personal testimony!

Speaking of which, I found the graphic at the top of this article on a church’s website page dedicated to helping people to produce their own “MyStory Gospel Tract.” To find out more, click here.

Eggshell vs. Satin

Now that our youngest son is in college, my wife Ruthie has been refreshing his room. One of her key tasks has been patching and painting the walls. We didn’t have the original paint, so my wife took a sample to the local home center to see if they could match it. When they found out that she needed just enough to touch up the patched places on the wall, they let her have a few sample amounts for free (which we appreciated).

Hours after Ruthie was done painting, she asked me to go upstairs and look at her paint work, because it didn’t look quite right. It didn't seem to blend in with the paint already on the wall. At first glance I couldn’t tell much of a difference, but as soon as I looked at it from a slightly different angle, letting the light reflect on it, the contrast was unmistakeable. The new paint had a gloss to it, whereas the existing paint had virtually no sheen at all.

This feature is known as a paint’s finish — the measure of a paint’s reflectivity when dry. Paints come in a variety of finishes: flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss (in order of lowest to highest reflectivity). Two of the most popular interior paint finishes are eggshell and satin.

Home improvement expert Bob Vila explains the primary differences between the two:

• Satin reflects slightly more light than eggshell, which sharpens the contours of walls to add depth, whereas eggshell looks more one-dimensional.

• Satin is more durable — an advantage in high-traffic spaces. Eggshell paint is more easily damaged by impacts and abrasions.

• Satin is easier to clean, whereas eggshell requires more elbow grease due to its rougher surface.

• Eggshell conceals surface flaws better than satin.

Regarding that last point, home improvement expert Bob Vila explains,

Although satin can fend off scratches, dents, and scuffs better than eggshell, if your painting surface already has these marks, eggshell will conceal them better. That’s because the lower reflectivity dulls the appearance of damages, making the surface look clean and flawless. (www.bobvila.com/articles/eggshell-vs-satin/)

As I considered the contrast between eggshell and satin, along with their respective advantages and disadvantages, it occurred to me that we see a similar contrast in the spiritual realm among Christians.

Many professing believers are “eggshell Christians,” whose primary aim is to conceal their flaws so that they look impressive to others, having no discernible blemishes or short-comings. But such people also tend to be one-dimensional and more easily damaged by other people’s words and actions.

“Satin Christians,” however, are not concerned about concealing their flaws but about reflecting the light of Christ. Consequently, they are more durable and able to handle the “high traffic areas” of Christian living without getting so easily damaged by other people’s words and actions. Satin Christians are also easier to clean because they don’t allow sin to work its way into the texture of their lives. Far from being one-dimensional, they display a gospel-depth that is real and beautifying.

Those are the kind of people I admire. That’s the kind of Christian I want to be.

The luster of our lives should always be Christ — his glory, his truth, his love.

Small Flock, Huge Heart

Recently I became friends with a pastor who has a small flock but a huge heart. When I come across such men of noble character, I am eager to “esteem them very highly in love because of their work” (1 Thess. 5:13).

I’ve never met this pastor in person, but he has a true shepherd’s heart. He literally lives up to his name (spelled “Shepard”).

My interaction with him began almost a month ago while I was helping my brother and his family find a new church following their move to Mississippi. I live 1200 miles away (in upstate New York), so I was not familiar with any churches in their particular town. However, I know a pastor who lives about 90 minutes from them, so I called my friend, hoping that he could help us out.

He was happy to oblige and went well beyond what I had requested. He made some contacts of his own, which resulted him in calling this Pastor Shepard and talking to him for well over an hour. He asked him questions concerning his background, his teaching, his philosophy of ministry, and more. My pastor-friend was encouraged by their conversation, so he gave me this guy’s number and encouraged me to call him.

So I did. We too talked for over an hour. Since my pastor-friend had already vetted him, I spent most of my time talking about my brother and his family. Without going into unnecessary details, I told him about their situation:

• My brother was newly married and had just been restored to the Lord after a two-year drift.

• My brother’s wife, who had been irreligious, had just received Christ as her Lord and Savior.

• She had been a single mom with three children. The oldest two were twins, and the first one had died one month after birth. The surviving twin, age 7, has cerebral palsy. Her younger sister is two years old.

I wanted this pastor to have this basic background information so that he could pray for them and be on the lookout for them the following Sunday.

I called my brother and told him about all that had transpired and encouraged him to attend this pastor’s church on Sunday. He promised that he would.

Prior to Sunday, Pastor Shepard called me again to let me know that they had been praying for my brother’s family. This touched me deeply.

When my brother and his family showed up on Sunday, they were warmly greeted by everyone. The sermon was solid. The congregation’s love for Christ was evident.

However, the church was smaller than my brother had anticipated. Just a few dozen people. Plus, they were quite advanced in their knowledge of the Bible, as evidenced by the pastor’s sermon. He covered a lot of ground, and my brother’s wife had a hard time tracking with him. Furthermore, there was no children’s program, which my brother and his wife were hoping for, given that their seven-year-old daughter has special needs.

So the next Sunday they checked out a bigger evangelical church in town. These folks were also welcoming, the sermon was easy to follow, and the church had a children’s program. So my brother’s family went there the following week as well. On that visit, one particular lady greeted their family enthusiastically and informed them that she was the aide assigned to their daughter at school! How amazing that God orchestrated events so that this aide attended the same church! In light of these developments, my brother and his wife sensed the Lord’s leading them to make this church their home.

Well, yesterday Pastor Shepard texted me, asking if I had a moment to talk. No doubt he wanted to follow up on the situation with my brother, most likely because they had not been to his church for the last two weeks. I felt bad, given all the time, prayer and effort that he had already poured into my brother’s family. I called him back, trusting that he would understand, even if he was disappointed.

Once again, Pastor Shepard exceeded my expectations. Not only did he understand, but he was also quite empathetic and continued to exhibit genuine love and concern for my brother and his family.

• He said that he would reach out to them one more time just to reiterate their care for them.

• Rather than seeing the other church as competitors, he regarded them as co-laborers and was happy to hear that my brother and his family felt at home there.

• He told me (and this is almost verbatim because it made such an impression on me), “Matt, if in the future you ever need us to do anything for your brother and his family, simply say the word, and we will be there for them.”

Sometimes the pastors with the smallest churches have the biggest hearts. They exhibit the compassion of Christ himself, always looking out for the interests of others instead of just their own interests (Phil. 2:3-5; cf. Jer. 3:15). “And when the chief Shepherd appears, [they] will receive the unfading crown of glory” (1 Pet. 3:4).

Considering that Christ himself will honor such men, let us do the same. “Esteem them very highly in love because of their work” (1 Thess. 5:13).

Waves of Grace

Throughout most of my childhood years, our family lived in a suburb of Chicago, so while Lake Michigan was close by, the nearest ocean was 800 miles away. Yet every year our family would head southeast to spend a week at the beach. It was, without question, my favorite week of the year. Mom would smother us kids in sunscreen, and we would play all day in the sand and surf.

The best days were the ones with the big waves. One by one they would come crashing in, bowling us over and turning our bodies every which way. Sometimes it was scary, but in a fun sort of way. Over time we learned to body surf, and that was the most thrilling experience of all. I remember feeling like Superman as the rush of surging water propelled me to the shore. Just like The Beach Boys sang, “Catch a wave and you’re sitting on top of the world!”

The thrill of this experience came to mind during my Scripture reading this morning as I encountered these words in John 1:16: “For from his fullness, we have all received, grace upon grace.” The context makes it clear that the apostle John is talking about Jesus. In verse 14 he writes, “And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory as of the only Son from the Father full of grace and truth” (emphasis mine). Jesus is full of grace, and it is from his fullness that we as believers have received “grace upon grace.”

The Amplified Bible translates John 1:16 the way: “Out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift].” Like mighty waves of the ocean crashing in succession on the shore, God’s grace is continually poured out on us.

On the back cover of Max Lucado’s book, Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Can Imagine, grace is described as

God’s tumbling, rumbling reservoir of strength and protection. It comes at us not occasionally or miserly but constantly and aggressively, wave upon wave. We’ve barely regained our balance from one breaker, and then bam, here comes another.

Yes! “Grace upon grace” (John 1:16)! As Max Lucado reminds us, “[God] has enough grace to pardon every sin, solve every dilemma, wipe every tear, and answer every question. It’s more than we can deserve and greater than we can imagine.”

Unlike the ocean, which was 800 miles away where I lived and something I got to enjoy only once a year, God’s grace is always with us and something we can enjoy every moment of every day. How? By faith. As we wade into God’s Word and ask the Holy Spirit to bring it home to our hearts, he will.

Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus

Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free – 

Rolling as a mighty ocean

In its fullness over me.

Underneath me, all around me

Is the current of your love – 

Leading onward, leading homeward

To your glorious rest above.

Oh, the deep, deep love -

All I need and trust -

Is the deep, deep love of Jesus.

(To listen to a beautiful rendition of this hymn, click here.)

Charlotte's Web

Today I began refreshing my blog site and refining its theme. Whereas previously it was “truth be told,” that theme seems to be a bit broad. Plus, I’m seeing many cranky “truth-tellers” out there in the blogosphere! What people need today is gospel encouragement. Hence I have created a new blog title that is both an acronym and an exhortation:

G.E.T.

Gospel Encouragement Today

Social media is flooded with negativity. My goal is to stem the tide, and hopefully turn it, by posting daily doses of gospel encouragement. Most of these will be based on my daily readings, personal experiences, and interactions with others.

Today’s post is titled “Charlotte’s Web.” I’m not referring to the children’s novel by E. B. White, but an altogether different web in which a woman named Charlotte Elliot was entangled. Like many people today, Charlotte “suffered from chronic pain, depression, and feelings of uselessness.” I read about this poor lady, who lived in the 1800s, in Shelby Abbott’s brand new book, DoubtLess: Because Faith Is Hard.

In recounting this woman’s hardship, Shelby writes,

At one point, she was visited by a clergyman who said to her, “You need to come just as you are to the Lamb of God.” She listened but refused his advice until one day, coming to the epiphany that God wasn’t in a relationship with her because she was useful. She had a breakthrough moment that inspired her to write the world-renowned and beloved hymn, “Just As I Am.” the hymn became a staple for hymnals and was widely used as the altar call song for the Billy Graham crusades….

In the third stanza of the hymn, Charlotte wrote, “Just as I am, though tossed about / with many a conflict, many a doubt / fightings and fears within, without / Oh Lamb of God I come, I come.”

Isn’t that what Jesus tells us to do? “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).

Thankfully, Charlotte didn’t let her tangled mess of troubled feelings keep her from coming to Jesus. She discovered that “she could come to God just as she was because of Christ’s atoning sacrifice for her….” God not only received Charlotte as his beloved child, but the Lord also used her transparency to impact millions of people across the world with the truth of the gospel.

Who knows how God might work in and through you, if you will but come to Christ just as you are and receive him for all that he is.

Pastoral Exhortation

Before we sing our next song, I want to share a brief word from my heart to yours. I love this church, and I thank the Lord for calling me here to serve as your senior pastor nearly ten years ago.

Some of you have been here for decades – a select few for more than half a century. You have seen this church weather many storms and come through stronger as a result. This is a tribute to God’s grace and your grit.

But now we’re in a crisis that’s quite unlike anything we’ve seen before. The drastic change it has brought to our lives is unsettling enough, but it’s been made worse by all the differing opinions, preferences and politics involved. On top of all that, the COVID crisis has catalyzed other crises – such as racial tensions, public riots, and political finger-pointing.

The world has responded as we would expect it too – with the “works of the flesh,” as listed by Paul in Galatians 5: “enmity, strife, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions … and things like these.” The Bible says, “that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

God’s people, the citizens of heaven, are different because his Spirit lives in us and produces his fruit in our lives – godly qualities that go together like a sweet cluster of grapes: “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” These qualities are not generated naturally, but supernaturally – by the Holy Spirit of God as we yield our spirit to his.

Jesus said, “As I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” It’s the love of God in us and through us that makes us different from the world around us. And make no mistake: The world is watching us – on social media, the public square, and everywhere else.

Many of us have strong opinions concerning the coronavirus and how to regulate it, and we believe that we have compelling reasons for our position. The same is true of our political views. We all come from different backgrounds and experiences that shape our perspectives – even as we do our best to think biblically and live accordingly. The truth is, we are all works in progress. “And,” to borrow the words of the apostle Paul, “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, because I hold you in my heart … [and] all of you share in God’s grace with me” (Phil. 1:6-7a).

The beauty of God’s grace is seen as people are reconciled to God and to one another through the power of the gospel. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:9-10, “God is faithful, who has called you in to the fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” The only way we can truly “agree with one another in what [we] say,” and “be perfectly united in mind and thought” with “no divisions among [us],” is if we keep our focus on Jesus and the gospel.

Let’s show the world what we’re made of. Let’s show them that the gospel which unites us is stronger than anything that can divide us. Let us obey, in the power of the Holy Spirit, all the “one another” commands of the New Testament – Let us love one another, forbear with one another, forgive one another, serve one another, encourage one another, build up one another – sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to one another.

Our next song, “Speak, O Lord,” is a prayer for the Lord to have his way in our hearts as his Word is proclaimed. I can’t think of a more fitting song for such a time as this. May we sing it with “holy reverence and true humility.”

The Final Judgment - Are you ready?

When is the last time you heard a sermon on the righteous judgment of God? Last Sunday I preached on this topic to my congregation as part of our series on the Apostles’ Creed. This ancient statement of belief was formulated in the centuries following the time of the apostles to sum up their teachings, particularly the core doctrines of the Christian faith. 

After affirming several truths about Jesus Christ, including his ascension to the right hand of God the Father, the Apostles’ Creed declares, “From there he shall come to judge the living and the dead.” 

Jesus said in John 5:22-23, “The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father who sent him.” In Revelation 20:11-15, the apostle describes the Final Judgment, saying, 

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

I preached a sermon on this text when I was only 13 years old. The title of my sermon was “The Four Impossibilities of the Great White Throne Judgment.” As I think about this text nearly forty years later, I’m more sobered than ever by those four impossibilities.

1. It will be impossible to avoid the judgment.

2. It will be impossible to alter the records.

3. It will be impossible to argue your case.

4. It will be impossible to appeal the verdict.

Warren Wiersbe wrote, “The White Throne Judgment will be nothing like our modern court cases. At the White Throne, there will be a Judge but no jury, a prosecution but no defense, a sentence but no appeal. No one will be able to defend himself or accuse God of unrighteousness. What an awesome scene it will be!”

The Good News is that we can be delivered from this judgment that we deserve on account of our sin by repenting and believing the gospel. The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 5:8-9, “God demonstrated his love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” Three days after his death, Jesus arose from the dead, thereby proving his power and victory over death, sin, and Satan. Now Jesus sits enthroned at God’s right hand, granting forgiveness and eternal life to all who will trust in him alone for salvation.

“The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:35-36).

How grateful I am to God for saving me at such a young age. How I thank him for parents and pastors who warned me of the coming judgment and urged me to put my faith in Christ. It was during this season of life, when my siblings and I were still quite young, that my dad crafted a poem concerning the Final Judgment. He wrote, 

I often watch my children play,

And how amazed I am that they

Are occupied for hours on end

By games that start with “let’s pretend.”

They play at “house”, they play at “store,”

They play at “school”; they play at “war."

They play at “cops and robbers”, too.

There’s nothing little minds can’t do.

Yes, “let’s pretend” contributes joy

To every little girl and boy;

And drab and dull would childhood be,

If it were not for fantasy.

The thought that weighs upon my mind is:

Some don’t leave those years behind.

Concerning things “beyond the veil,"

They still let fantasy prevail.

They make believe religion saves,

And scorn the thought that sin depraves – 

And so delude themselves within

That God is dead or winks at sin.

They make believe there is no hell;

They make believe their souls are well.

They reason, under false pretense,

That works will be their sure defense.

Behold the final, fearful end

Of those, like babes, who still pretend!

For in eternal things, you see,

There is no room for fantasy.

For fantasy oft times conflicts

With that which God on high edicts;

And fiction from the days of youth

Must not displace the written truth – 

Because the Bible doth reveal

That mankind’s need for Christ is real.

Imagination has a role –

But not in matters of the soul. 

And what of you, good Christian friend?

Do you serve God or just pretend?

Do you the Holy Spirit grieve

With service only “make believe”?

These are good questions worth considering. How would you respond?

Are you prepared to meet your God?

"I Sing Because I'm Happy" - But What If I'm Not?

A couple of Sundays ago, our congregation sang “His Eye Is on the Sparrow.” The first words of the chorus filled the room: “I sing because I’m happy….”

But what if I’m not? Should I still sing, or would that make me a hypocrite?

This question was posed to me in a recent email by one of our church members in response to our current sermon series, Let Us Sing!, which is based largely on Keith & Kristyn Getty’s outstanding book, Sing! How Worship Transforms Your Life, Family, and Church. In chapter two, the Gettys point out, “There are more than four hundred references to singing in the Bible and at least fifty direct commands” (p. 24). One such command appears in Psalm 149:1: “Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints.” The Gettys note, “The command in Psalm 149:1 contains no caveats or conditions” (p. 14). The bottom line is: “we are commanded by God to sing - so we must do it. Not to sing is to disobey” (p. 13).

The New Testament reinforces this command, telling us that we are to be “singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Col. 3:16; cf. Eph. 5:19-20).

This creates a bit of a quandary. Should I still sing when my heart isn’t into it, or am I actually sinning by doing so?

TO sing or not to sing?

A thoughtful church member raised this question during a small group discussion. He confessed,

Sometimes I’m singing even though I’m distracted in my mind/emotions, and I’m just singing the words so that nobody looks at me and sees me not singing. This is probably more pernicious than just not singing because inwardly I’m withholding praise from God, and outwardly I’m attempting to deceive my brothers and sisters with the false image that I am praising God. That’s a double sin versus just not singing.

He’s right. And his concern raised questions about what a person should do under certain circumstances, such as:

• “I had a fight with my spouse on the way to church, and I’m feeling terrible and guilty and angry and can’t genuinely sing praise.”

• “I recently lost a loved one or am doing through a trial and am feeling emotionally sad, on the verge of tears, but the songs are upbeat and happy.”

• “I’m questioning, wrestling, struggling with my doubts about God, my salvation, and my faith — and don’t feel like I can honestly sing the lyrics. Maybe God feels distant to me, but the lyrics are the opposite of that.”

These are excellent questions that deal with real-life issues! That’s why I wanted to post and respond to them in a blog rather than to respond in a personal email, so that everyone can benefit from this exchange.

In short, I would say that the very time you feel like singing the least is the time that you should sing the most. Why? Because in those moments of guilt, anger, sadness, anxiety, doubt, and loneliness, you need to stop listening to yourself and start talking to yourself.

TALK TO YOURSELF

This is what the writer of Psalm 42 does.

• In verse 3 he describes his present condition, saying, “My tears have been my food day and night, while they sat to me all the day long, ‘Where is your God?’”

• In verse 4 he recounts his former condition, saying, “I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise….”

• In verse 5 he gives himself a good talking to! “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981), senior minister at Westminster Chapel in London, preached a series of sermons on Psalm 42 that were published in 1964 and became one of his most popular books, Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure. Lloyd-Jones writes,

Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself? Take those thoughts that come to you the moment you wake up in the morning. You have not originated them, but they are talking to you, they bring back the problems of yesterday, etc. Somebody is talking. Who is talking to you? Your self is talking to you. Now this man’s treatment [in Psalm 42] was this: instead of allowing this self to talk to him, he starts talking to himself.

Lloyd-Jones goes on to apply the pattern of the psalmist to present-day Christians:

The main art in the matter of spiritual living is to know how to handle yourself. Yo have to take yourself in hand, you have to address yourself, preach to yourself . . . and say too yourself: “Hope thou in God” - instead of muttering in this depressed, unhappy way, and then you must go on to remind yourself of God, Who God is, and . . . what God has done, and what God has pledged Himself to do. Then having done that, end on this great note: defy yourself, and defy other people, and defy the devil and the whole world, and say with this man: “I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance, who is also the health of my countenance and my God.”

John Piper, in his helpful book, When I Don’t Desire God, agrees with Lloyd-Jones’ application of Psalm 42 and asserts that the gospel is the main source for truth about “Who God is,” and “what God has done,” and “what God has pledged himself to do.” Piper states,

These are the great discouragement slayers. They are all in the gospel. In the final analysis, the cross of Christ alone that can kill the joy-killers in our lives.

Meditating on gospel truth gets us moving in the direction we need to go.

And that’s where congregational singing can have such a positive impact! Gospel-centered singing is how we teach and admonish one another in the Lord, letting “the word of Christ dwell in [us] richly” (Col. 3:16). Since congregational singing is about ministering to “one another,” we are to sing not only for our sake but also for others’ sake. It’s not about making ourselves look good to them, but to do good to them! We sing not to impress others, but to bless others! Scripture says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15). There are several ways to apply and benefit from the corporate dynamics of congregational singing:

1. By singing gospel truths, I am talking to myself instead of listening to myself. I am reminding myself of who God is, what he has done, and what he will do. I can sing even when I’m not happy, because the truth of God doesn’t change, even though my circumstances and feelings do.

2. When I’m feeling spiritually weak, I can have my faith strengthened and hope renewed by listening to all the other voices around me singing the word of Christ.

3. I can and should rejoice in others’ blessings, even as they help to lighten my burden.

4. Since over a third of the psalms in Scripture are “laments,” pastors and song leaders should include songs that deal with the painful realities of life while pointing people to the Lord, who is our strength, our song, and our salvation (Ps. 118:14).

That’s why the very time you feel like singing the least is when you should sing the most. The reasons we don’t want to sing (anxiety, fear, guilt, etc.) are the very reasons that we need the gospel! We all fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23).

Read that paragraph again. Think about it! In our best moments, can we honestly say that we worship God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength (Luke 10:27)? No, our best efforts fall short of giving God the full praise and worship that he is due. That’s why we need a Savior; that’s why we need the gospel! Singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs remind of our constant need for Christ and that “he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25).

Gospel-centered singing helps get my heart where it needs to be. We saw a good example of this in our own church last Sunday. Midway through the sermon, the congregation joined me in singing “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” As we raised our voices together, many eyes filled with tears as we reminded one another of God’s faithfulness through every season of life. People that came in with heavy burdens felt them lifted as we sang and went home with their hearts encouraged. By singing gospel-centered songs together,

• Fighting spouses experience repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation in Christ.

• Our sense of loss or loneliness is met with the comfort of Christ who has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5).

• Doubts and fears are overcome as we sing the truths of Scripture, since “faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17).

The 18th century evangelist John Wesley declared, “Sing all. See that you join with the congregation as frequently as you can. Let not a slight degree of weakness or weariness hinder you. If it is a cross to you, take it up, and you will find it a blessing.”

A Poetic Charge to the Bride and Groom

My dad, James William Fletcher, is known by his family and friends for his knowledge of Scripture and knack for writing poetry. Those two strengths converged on the wedding day of my son Elijah and his beautiful bride Natalie. They had asked my dad (Elijah’s grandfather, a.k.a. “Pepaw”) to deliver the charge to the bride and groom, but they did not know until during the actual ceremony that my dad had prepared the entire charge as a poem.

Although written specifically for Elijah and Natalie, this charge can benefit all married couples who will take its biblical principles to heart and put them into practice. For this reason I have posted here my father’s charge for your encouragement.

Elijah and Natalie, thank you for having me

Speak at your wedding today.

It will be my great pleasure, and something I’ll treasure

The rest of my natural days.

But I do have to ask:  Am I up to the task?

‘Cause I’ve never done this before;

So you might be nervous this part of the service,

You really don’t know what’s in store.

Like, what if I’m boring?  Those folks will be snoring, 

You don’t want them falling asleep;

The rhyme’s for your sake, just to keep ‘em them awake,

And you’ll get a copy to keep.

Despite the fun format, I want to be sure that

You know it’s a serious time;

The vows you’ll be taking, the commitment you’re making,

Will be in God’s presence divine.

My principal function is giving instruction,

But not in the wisdom of men.

For truth that’s inviolable, look in the Bible,

And that’s where my charge will begin.

I’ll deal unilat’rally, starting with Natalie;

Not ‘cause she’s a beautiful belle;

I’m observing the order the apostles accord her,

In Ephesians, First Peter, as well.

What a blessed condition to be in submission

To your husband as unto the Lord!

Our culture rejects it, but Jesus expects it,

And pleasing Him yields its reward.

You see, Paul in Ephesians states clearly the reason:

The husband is head of the wife;

Even as Christ is the head of the church,

For He is her Savior and Life.

Your adorning should not be just outward each morning--

Cosmetics and the aesthetics of hair;

Not overly caring about what you’re wearing,

There’s no lasting value in there.

But do as God’s bidden, let it be the hidden

Person within, free of vice,

Even the gem of a meek, quiet spirit,

In the sight of our Lord of great price.

To grandson Elijah, it just might surprise ya,

That you are not getting off free.

In fact, I’ll be tougher - and probably rougher -

Than you thought your Pepaw could be!

Don’t make her submission your lifelong ambition--

It’s not about power or force;

It means in God’s wisdom and marital dictum,

That you ride in front on the horse.

First off, you’re to love her, above every other,

Yes, love her as Christ loved the church;

He gave Himself for her—that’s really important. 

Do likewise: put Natalie first.

At home be the leader, and spiritually feed her,

Put her needs ahead of your own;

Remember she’s special, and life’s weaker vessel,

And she is the heart of the home.

Listen intently, and handle her gently;

Attend to her ‘motional needs,

Always protect her, and never neglect her,

For that’s how a husband succeeds.

Well, I’m already tired, and my time has expired;

So I better be winding it down;

But here is the gist, and I’ll leave you with this,

To keep you on rock solid ground:

 Just love one another; and pray for the other,

Surrender to each in the Lord;

Give each other space, and do it with grace.

That’ll strengthen, it’ll lengthen love’s cord.

 October 12th, 2019

James W. Fletcher

Grandfather of the Groom

Stop Being a Secret Disciple

Jesus said in John 12:32, “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself.” Jesus wasted no time in doing that. As soon as he died, he drew two men to himself: Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.

After Jesus died, God stirred the hearts of two men who came to see that half-commitment won’t cut it; King Jesus deserves full honor. You see, up until the time that Jesus died, both Joseph and Nicodemus had been secret disciples. They didn’t want to be seen with Jesus or speak up for him because they feared the other Jewish leaders who hated Jesus and wanted to kill him.

Joseph and Nicodemus had been on the fence when it came to following Christ. But when Jesus died, all that changed. The apostle John tells us in chapter 19, verses 38-42 of his gospel, “After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about 75 pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no on e had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.”

We know from the other Gospel writers that this tomb was actually Joseph’s tomb, and that Joseph was a rich man. God used Joseph to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy that Jesus would be “with a rich man at his death, because he had done no violence, and had not spoken deceitfully” (Isa. 53:9). In addition to being buried in a rich man’s tomb, Jesus was anointed with an immense amount of spices, the aroma of which would have filled the entire area. Jesus died like a criminal but was buried like a King. R. C. Sproul likened it to getting buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. That’s what Joseph and Nicodemus wanted to do – honor their king. Since they had done so inadequately during their life, they made sure they did so after his death. They realized that half-commitment won’t cut it; King Jesus deserves full honor.

By their actions, Joseph and Nicodemus demonstrated two qualities of devoted disciples:

1. They identified with Jesus publicly.

2. They gave to Jesus lavishly.

How do believers identify with Jesus publicly today? Through baptism. Baptism is going public with your faith. It’s how you go on record as being a Christian. After the resurrection, before Jesus ascended to heaven, he commanded his church to baptize disciples. That’s why the church commanded sinners who were turning from their sin and trusting in Christ to be baptized. We see this all throughout the New Testament.

According to the New Testament, an unbaptized Christian is a contradiction in terms. Jesus says, “Why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). If you have put your faith in Christ alone for salvation but have never been baptized, stop being a secret disciple! Go public with your faith!

A fully devoted disciple not only identifies with Jesus publicly, but he also gives to Jesus lavishly. Joseph gave up his own burial plot! Nicodemus brought 75 pounds of spices, which would have cost him a lot!

Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” To find out where your treasure is, look at your bank record, your credit card statement. They’re like spiritual EKGs, detecting whether your heart is healthy or not.

The New Testament teaches that we are to give according to what God has given us. Moreover, we are to give sacrificially; otherwise, we’re not loving Jesus lavishly. Remember, God gave his own Son for you. Don’t give him chump change. And whatever you give, do it joyfully, “for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7).

Jesus got a burial fit for a King – and God used two men to make it happen. Two men who had been secret disciples. But they came to see that half-commitment won’t cut it; King Jesus deserves full honor.

What about you? Will you go public with your faith? Will you give lavishly to Jesus? Baptism reveals our initial commitment. Our bank statements reveal our ongoing commitment.

Jesus went to the cross for you. To what lengths will you go for him?

Christ and the Kidron

Most of us have heard the expression, “There’s more to it than meets the eye.”  This means that there’s greater depth to a matter than what’s initially apparent.  Such is the case with a little phrase tucked in the middle of John 18:1, which says,“When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.” This verse follows Jesus’ prayer for his disciples in chapter 17 and sets the stage for what happens in the Garden of Gethsemane. 

“Across the Kidron Valley” is a phrase that we could read with little to no thought to get to the dramatic scene that takes place in Gethsemane. But there’s more to this phrase than meets the eye. It’s the tip of a biblical and theological iceberg that holds tremendous significance.

The Old Testament tells us that during the period of the divided kingdom, there were at least three cleansings of the temple that took place to purge Israel from idolatry. The first cleansing took place around 900 B.C. under King Asa, the third king of Judah, who destroyed the idols and burned them in the Kidron Valley. A similar cleansing occurred 200 years later under King Hezekiah. Then a third cleansing took place a century later, under King Josiah, around 622 B.C., shortly before the Babylonian Captivity. Israel’s idols were broken down and burned to ashes in the Kidron Valley.

Despite these cleansings, Israel kept returning to her idols. That was her problem … and ours. John Calvin described the human heart as a perpetual idol factory, always leading us to worship something other than God. This pattern continued throughout the Old Testament – and it would have continued, had God not intervened. At the outset of the Babylonian Captivity, the Lord promised that a day was coming when he would cleanse his people from idolatry and give them the power to follow him faithfully. Speaking through his prophet Ezekiel, the Lord said,

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

- Ezekiel 36:25-27

This promise would come at a price – the precious blood of God’s own Son. Hebrews 9 says that just as death is necessary for a will to take effect, so Jesus’ death was necessary for us to inherit this inner cleansing that God promised. So Jesus deliberately crossed the Kidron, ready to pay the price for us to receive the the blessings of the New Covenant – namely, pardon for sin and the power to obey God.

Hours earlier, a quarter-million lambs had been sacrificed on the altar of the temple, in preparation for Passover. This produced massive amounts of blood that had to be drained from the temple courtyard, along with all the water from the ritual cleansings. Where did all that blood and water go? To the Kidron Valley just outside the Temple walls! So as Jesus walked across the Kidron that night, water and blood flowed through the valley – a harbinger of the water & blood that would flow from his own body as he was pierced for our transgressions.

There’s one more thing you should know about the Kidron and how it relates to what happens in John 18. Second Samuel 15 tells us that King David crossed the Kidron when he was fleeing from his son Absalom. Scripture says that David “went up the slope of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went.” To make matters worse, David was then told that Ahithophel, his close friend & advisor had betrayed him. It was on this occasion that David wrote Psalm 41, where he says, “He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.” This is the verse that Jesus quoted just hours before crossing the Kidron, during the Last Supper, when he predicted that one of his own disciples would betray him. Jesus said, “I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he” (John 13:19) – literally, that you may believe that I AM.”

This is God going to the garden! Jesus isn’t on the run, he’s on the move! He deliberately goes to the place where he knows Judas will betray him. Jesus goes there in order to complete the mission that God the Father gave him – to provide salvation for all who would believe in him. Jesus went “across the Kidron Valley,” which symbolized what he would accomplish at the cross.

Quite often, there is more to the text than meets the eye! If we are willing to dig into God’s Word, we will discover a treasure trove of truth that will enrich and encourage us.

A Simple Remedy for Self-Pity

This past week I came across a quote by Ray Pritchard, who wrote, "Self-pity is the enemy of all spiritual growth." That statement really resonated with me, so much so that I replied to Pritchard (in a tweet) saying, "This is the simplest, most practical & helpful statement on personal sanctification I've read in quite a while. Thank you!"

Whenever we have a "pity party," usually only three people show up: me, myself, and I. Because we're focused on our ourselves, we're not "looking to Jesus" as Scripture instructs us (Heb. 12:2). Furthermore, we're probably sinning by complaining (Phil. 2:14) rather than rejoicing in the Lord (Phil. 4:4). And we're certainly not looking out for the interests of others, which means that we are not having the mindset of Christ (Phil. 2:4-5).

All of us get down from time to time. If I'm not careful, I can easily fall prey to self-pity. One of the best ways to counteract this tendency, I have found, is to take a "Thank-You Walk." It doesn't have to be long; most of mine are 10-15 minutes. During that time I'll praise God for who he is, and I'll thank him for his many blessings. Scripture says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength" (Prov. 17:22). As one author notes, "being grateful floods the body and brain with positive endorphins and emotions and combined with walking is a powerful energy booster." (Jon Gordon, The Energy Bus, p. 52). Such are the psychosomatic benefits of praise and worship. God has wired us this way!

So why not give it a try? Shut down the self-pity party and go for a "Thank You Walk" instead. In a matter of minutes you'll feel like a new person!