Stop and Think (Before You Go to Church)

Last night before going to bed, I watched the final moments of the NFL game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Chicago Bears. The game was of interest to me because I grew up in Chicago as a Bears fan (and was elated when they won the 1986 Super Bowl during my senior year of high school), and I had pastored 12 years in Boston, where our family became big fans of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots (who won six Super Bowls together).

But the veteran quarterback made a colossal mental error at the worst possible time, and his team ended up losing the game 20-19.

Mental errors result in missed opportunities.

This same principle applies to worship. Our mental engagement, of lack of it, directly impacts the outcome of our time together as God’s family. So stop and think before you go to church.

Psalm 95 helps us to do that. This text tells us not only what to do when we gather for worship, but also why. As I read this psalm, it occurred to me that our weekends can get so busy, that we can just “get up and go” to church on Sunday without really thinking about what we’re doing. So I’m grateful for how this psalm helps me to pause before I praise, so that I make the most of this precious opportunity to worship God with his people.

WHAT We’re To Do

Oh, come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! … Oh, come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! (Psalm 95:1-2, 6)

This exuberant call to worship includes several key exhortations:

“Let us come” — This command is repeated three times for the sake of emphasis. The only way that we can worship God corporately is to gather with his people for that purpose. The New Testament word for “church” is ekklesia, which means “assembly.” We must actually come together in order for corporate worship to happen.

“Let us sing” — “with thanksgiving.” The gratitude in our hearts will gush forth in vocal “songs of praise” (v. 2). Twice the psalmist says, “Let us make a joyful noise.” The point isn’t whether you’re on perfectly on pitch, but that you’re pouring forth praise! The best choir in the church is the congregation. Individually, we may not sound all that great, but when we put our voices together as a thankful throng, we make beautiful music together!

“Let us worship … bow down … kneel” — Such actions show reverential awareness of God’s transcendence, namely, that he is both above and independent from all creation. There is no other created thing that can match his infinite power, thwart his sovereign purpose, or withstand his holiness. Humble worship will mark those who recognize the “ infinite distance …between us and God, and how much we are in danger of his wrath and need of his mercy” (Matthew Henry).

WHY We’re To Do It

Why are we to worship God together and so expressively? Psalm 95 gives us two good reasons:

“For the Lord is a great God” — In verses 4-6, the psalmist extols God’s greatness: “He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains. The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too.” Read those verses again and ponder their significance. God created it all; God owns it all.

“For he is our God” — Considering the infinitude of God’s greatness, power, and majesty, it is utterly shocking and stunning to think that is our God! He is the “rock of our salvation" (v. 1). The God who is infinitely above us came and made his home among us in the person of Jesus Christ. In love he offered himself as an atoning sacrifice for our sin, so we could be forgiven, reconciled to God, and live with him forever. “He is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand” (Ps. 95:7; see also Ps. 23).

In John 10:27, Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.” For this reason we are told, “Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts” (Ps. 95:7-8). When God speaks, we must listen, lest we be like the wilderness generation of the Israelites of whom God said, “'They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways. Therefore I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest’” (Ps. 95:10-11).

Talk about a missed opportunity! Unbelief bars us from the rest that God has prepared for those who love him. Charles Spurgeon wrote,

There can be no rest to an unbelieving heart. If manna and miracles could not satisfy Israel, neither would they have been content with the land which flowed with milk and honey.

This warning regarding worship is so important, that it is referenced three times in the book of Hebrews (Heb. 3:7; 3:15; 4:7). In Hebrews 4:7, the emphasis is on the word today, emphasizing the urgency of listening to God with a soft heart today.

So stop and think before you go to church. Then make the most of this God-given opportunity to worship him joyfully with his people. He is a great God, and he is our God!

A Fountain Opened

On our back patio is a rock formation with a fountain that flows into a pool of water beneath it. The constant flow of water is pleasant to the eye and ear, creating a delightful ambiance. The fountain is the centerpiece of that peaceful setting.

With the sound of our own fountain in my ear, I read this morning of another fountain described in Zechariah 13:1, where the prophet testified,

On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.

The word “fountain” suggests an abundant, ongoing supply. And the purpose of this fountain is special — utterly unique, in fact — for it cleanses not dirt from the body but sin and guilt from the soul.

How so? What is the nature of this unique, transforming fountain? We don’t have to guess, because the Lord himself, speaking through Zechariah, tells us in the preceding paragraph:

And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one hours for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one gives for a firstborn son. (Zech. 12:10)

Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, this prophecy foretold of his death and the proof of it by the piercing of his body on the cross by a Roman soldier’s spear (John 19:34-37). Soon thereafter the God-fearing Jews in Jerusalem were “cut to the heart” and repented as the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost and Peter proclaimed the gospel (Acts 2:32-37).

Praise God, that same fountain of cleansing is still available for sinners today! This is Good News! Matthew Henry wrote, “those who look upon Christ pierced, and mourn for their sins that pierced him, and are therefore in bitterness for him, may look again upon Christ pierced and rejoice in him, because it pleased the Lord thus to smite this rock, that it might be to us a fountain of living waters.”

It was this good news, especially as the fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy, that inspired William Cowper to write one of his most beloved hymns in 1772 — a song that still resonates deeply in the hearts of Christians today.

There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel's veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its pow'r,
Till all the ransomed Church of God
Be saved, to sin no more.

E'er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.

When this poor lisping, stamm'ring tongue
Lies silent in the grave,
Then in a nobler, sweeter song
I'll sing Thy pow'r to save.

The last book of the Bible contains yet another prophecy concerning the Pierced One. In Revelation 1:6-7, the apostle John writes,

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

Those who mourn for their sin now will have no need to wail when the Lord Jesus returns to judge the earth, for they will have been saved from the wrath to come (1 Thess. 1:9-10). There is enough mercy in God and merit in Christ to cleanse the greatest of sins and sinners. That is the Good News of Jesus Christ!

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

If not, come in faith to the Fountain, and you’ll find forgiveness full & free.

If you have already come to Christ, then live to the praise of the One who was pierced for you.

Good Dog!

Given the above title and photo, I’m quite sure that at least my wife will read this article! Pictured here is our dog Nova, a three-year-old Golden Retriever with whom I compete regularly for my wife’s affections. But with my wife now in Virginia, Nova and I are “bonding” (is that the word for it?) and working out our differences.

Actually, he’s a good dog — rather chill and easy-going. Each day I take him for his walk, which includes pulling out a plastic bag and picking up his you-know-what, which I deposit in the bin beside our house after our walk.

Usually before disposing of the bag, I take off Nova’s leash and let him back inside the house. But yesterday I didn’t do that. I figured I’d drop off the bag first, then have us both go in together. So I had the bag in one hand and the leash in the other.

As usual, Nova was a bit tired from his walk and was lagging behind me.

But just when I was about to round the corner from the front of our house to the side, I felt my arm jerk back hard. Nova had stopped dead cold and was pulling back, refusing to go forward.

This was totally unlike him, so I figured that maybe he saw something that scared him. I took a quick glance around but didn’t see anything, so I said, “C’mon, let’s go!” I went to move forward but then got yanked back again. Nova was pulling back hard!

“What is his problem?!” I thought, getting more irritated.

Then it dawned on me: By rounding the corner of the house, I was coming within a few feet of our invisible fence. “But, wait, that can’t be it” I thought, “because Nova’s wearing his leash collar, not his invisible fence collar.”

But that didn’t matter. Nova had been trained not to cross that line — not even to come near it. He refused to follow me when I moved that direction.

Within seconds a Scripture verse came to mind — Paul’s words to the church at Galatia:

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8).

These believers had been evangelized by Paul, discipled by Paul, instructed by Paul, trained by Paul. Nevertheless here Paul tells them that if he himself veers away from the gospel of Christ, they must not follow. Instead, they must remain true to the gospel. Paul issues a similar warning to church leaders in Acts 20:29-32 and in his letters to young pastor Timothy (1 Tm. 1:3-7; 2 Tim. 2:16-19; 3:12-16).

These warnings are serious and every bit as relevant in our day as they were in Paul’s.

Right now in my hand I’m holding a book on basic Bible doctrine that was praised by respected evangelical leaders like John Piper, J. I. Packer, Mark Dever, and Joni Eareckson Tada. This excellent theological resource was used to disciple many Christians.

But last year the author renounced his faith. He walked away from the gospel.

When a trusted Christian leader turns away from the gospel, don’t follow.

Here’s where my canine provided a good example for Christians. There’s a boundary that must never be crossed, a gospel that must not be abandoned, no matter what. Even if your favorite preacher, pastor, teacher, mentor, or ministry leader goes that direction — even one who has fed and cared for you well — don’t follow his lead. Stand your ground. Stay true to the gospel.

Thirty and Counting!

Despite what you may think, I’m not talking about my age (haha)! Today marks the 30th straight day that I’ve published Gospel Encouragement Today (GET). This was my goal when I started — to do thirty consecutive daily devotionals, after which I’d evaluate things and determine my next steps..

Before I get to that, let me share with you briefly why I started this project in the first place. I initiated it, first, for my own sake.

Truth is, I battle discouragement, anxiety, and negativity just like anybody else. Yet Scripture says that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh. 8:10). Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. Now this he said about the Spirit” (John 7:38-39). True joy flows from the Holy Spirit within us, not from happy circumstances around us.

The Lord has taught me the same lesson that he taught George Müller two centuries ago — “a truth” Müller said, “the benefit of which I have not lost, though now … more than forty years have since passed away.” Here’s the lesson, in Müller’s own words (it’s a lengthy quote but well worth reading):

The point is this: I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not, how much I might serve the Lord, how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished. For I might seek to set the truth before the unconverted, I might seek to benefit believers, I might seek to relieve the distressed, I might in other ways seek to behave myself as it becomes a child of God in this world; and yet, not being happy in the Lord, and not being nourished and strengthened in my inner man day by day, all this might not be attended to in a right spirit.

Before this time my practice had been to give myself to prayer…. Now I saw the most important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the Word of God and to meditation on it, that thus my heart might be comforted, encouraged, warned, reproved, instructed … [and] be brought into experimental communion with the Lord. …

The first thing I did, after having asked in a few words the Lord’s blessing upon His precious Word, was to begin to meditate on the Word of God; searching, as it were, into every verse, to get blessing out of it; not for the sake of the public ministry of the Word; not for the sake or preaching on what I had meditated upon; but for the sake of obtaining food for my own soul. …

The result of this is, that there is always a good deal of confession, thanksgiving, supplication, or intercession mingled with my meditation, and that my inner man almost invariably is even sensibly nourished and strengthened and that by breakfast time, with rare exceptions, I am in a peaceful if not happy state of heart. Thus also the Lord is pleased to communicate unto me that which, very soon after, I have found to become food for other believers, though it was not for the sake of the public ministry of the Word that I gave myself to meditation, but for the profit of my own inner man. …

I dwell so particularly on this point because of the immense spiritual profit and refreshment I am conscious of having derived from it myself, and I affectionately and solemnly beseech all my fellow-believers to ponder this matter….

Okay! If you’ve read this far, then hopefully you’ll read just a little more of my own thoughts.

Scripture commands us as believers to “encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thess. 5:11). Yet over the course of the last year, I had not seen many edifying posts and comments on social media. Quite the contrary, I have seen a lot of negativity!

The positive posts I did see were mostly superficial and centered on the happiness of the moment (e.g. birthday or anniversary celebration, family vacation, and the like). Certainly there is a place for that, but it doesn’t do a whole lot for the person who’s lonely, worried, or depressed.

So my goal was to share with others the joy that I myself have attained through daily meditation on the word of God, and how the truth of the gospel relates to everyday life.

Recently my son wanted the recipe for a breakfast dish his mother had made. He loved it so much that he wanted to fix it for himself. My wife had gotten that recipe from my aunt, after having tasted her breakfast dish! In much the same way, I’m hoping that as people read these daily devotionals, they will want to meditate more on God’s word themselves and share it with others.

Looking Back … Looking Ahead

Writing these daily devotionals is a significant time commitment. Each article takes, on average, almost two hours a day to complete. If I am going to sustain this blog ministry over the long haul, I’m going to have to write a little less. Just a little.

So my plan is to continue writing five articles per week, Monday through Friday, and then take the weekends and vacations off. My hope is that with this slight modification in output, I’ll be able to sustain this blog ministry for the foreseeable future.

I welcome your feedback and would appreciate your “sharing” on social media any articles that you think are worth passing on to others. After all, everyone could use some Gospel Encouragement Today!

The Apple of His Eye

Most people would be surprised how many modern-day idioms come from the Bible. These would include such expressions as:

At the eleventh hour - Matt. 20:6

At their wit’s end - Psalm 107:27

By the skin of my teeth - Job 19:20

Feet of clay - Daniel 2:33

Nothing new under the sun - Ecclesiastes 1:9

Eat, drink, and be merry - 1 Cor. 15:32

Many more examples could be cited. During my Bible reading today, I came across another idiom in Zechariah 2:8, where the prophet declares, “For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye ….”

In this section of Zechariah’s prophecy, God tells his people to leave Babylon and get back to Jerusalem, because God was about to plunder that nation for plundering his people — because they are “the apple of his eye.”

The “apple of the eye” refers to the pupil, the most sensitive and tender part of human anatomy. Figuratively, it refers to someone who is cherished above all others. That’s how then Lord regards his people!

We are the apple of his eye.

The Lord said this initially about the Jewish exiles who were to leave Babylon and rebuild Jerusalem. God promised that he would punish their enemies. This promise was fulfilled partially in Queen Esther’s time, when “the Jews had rule over them that hated them” (Esther 9:1).

But ultimately God’s promise was fulfilled in Christ’s victory over his spiritual enemies at the cross when God stripped them of their power and disgraced them in public by triumphing over them in Christ (Col. 2:15).

Going back to the Lord’s word through Zechariah, he said, “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord. And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people” (Zech. 2:10-11a). Not just Israel, but “many nations.” That is to say, God’s promise would ultimately be fulfilled in the church, when Jews and Gentiles would be gathered together as “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God … being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (see Ephesians 2:13-22).

If you have put your trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, embracing him as your Lord and Savior, you are part of God’s people! You are the apple of God’s eye! In Revelation 3:9, the Lord Jesus says to his church, “I will make [your enemies] come and bow before your feet and they will learn that I have loved you” (cf. Psalm 110:1; 2 Thess. 1:5-12).

Knowing that we as believers are the apple of God’s eye, we have two key responsibilities in relation to this truth — and both duties are described using the same idiom!

1. Pray. Knowing that God keeps his promises, every believer can pray, as David did, “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings” (Ps. 17:8).

2. Obey. Speaking through Solomon, the Lord says in Proverbs 7:2, “Keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye.”

The Lord says of his people, “I will be to her a wall of fire all around … and I will be the glory in her midst” (Zech. 2:9). God is the Protector of his church and the glorious Presence within her!

Why? Because God’s people are the apple of his eye!

Hymns to Remember: Rock of Ages

“You are my mighty rock, my fortress, my protector, the rock where I am safe, my shield … and my place of shelter.” (Psalm 18:2 CEV)

This morning at Webster Bible Church, we’ll conclude our worship service by singing the hymn, “Rock of Ages.” Its author, Augustus Toplady, was born in England in 1740. His father died soon after Augustus was born, so he was raised by his mother. Around the time he was 15, Augustus came to faith in Christ while attending a Methodist revival held in an old barn. He was ordained to the ministry in 1762.

Toplady wrote many hymns, but “Rock of Ages” is by far his most famous. At one time it was reported to be in more church hymnals than any other English hymn. The first stanza was published in 1775 in The Gospel Magazine. The full version of the hymn was printed the following year in Toplady’s book Psalms and Hymns for Public and Private Worship.

As the story goes, Toplady was moved to write the hymn after getting caught in a storm while traveling through the English countryside. He found shelter in the cleft of a great rock. Stirred by the situation and scenery, Toplady scribbled down some of the initial lyrics right then and there. Below is a picture of the Burrington Combe gorge in North Somerset, England, where the alleged incident took place, as noted by the plaque that is mounted there.

Burrington Combe gorge in North Somerset, England

I have always loved this classic hymn, because it expresses so well — on a very personal level — what Jesus accomplished by his atoning sacrifice for undeserving sinners like me. It reminds me that Jesus is my only refuge. There is no salvation apart from him, yet he provides it fully and freely to all who trust in him.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law’s commands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.

Augustus Toplady died in 1778 of tuberculosis, when he was only 38 years old. Despite his short life and ministry, I’m glad that God used him to write a hymn that celebrates the wondrous power of the gospel and has encouraged the people of God down through the centuries. May we continue to sing it with reverent joy, to the glory of God our Savior.

(For more information about the history behind this hymn, check out Tim Challies’ article, “Hymn Stories: Rock of Ages.”)

"I Am Writing..."

For the last month I have been writing daily devotionals to encourage others with the truth of the Gospel — the “Good News” of what God has done, is doing, and will continue to do in the lives of his children — so that we can maintain a positive outlook despite all the problems around us.

So you can imagine how encouraged I was when I opened my Bible today and read 1 John 2, where in the span of three verses (1 John 2:12-14), John uses the word “write” (γράφω, graphó) six times!

“I am writing … writing … writing … I write … write … write …”

John repeatedly mentions his writing to emphasize the continuing effect he wants his words to have on the hearts and minds of his readers. In doing so, John recognizes that they’re all at different levels of spiritual maturity.

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.
I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children, because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

John writes in order to encourage and reassure all believers in all stages of spiritual maturity. Why? Because no matter how far we’ve come on our spiritual journey — whether we’re “newbies” or “veterans” — all Christians need encouragement!

Up to this point in his letter, John has dished out some strong words. He has just warned his readers about false teachers who want to deceive them (1 John 2:11), and he is about to say that if you love the world, you don’t have the love of God the Father in you (1 John 2:15). But in between these stern statements, John inserts this short section to encourage his readers.

The German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, “Correction does much, but encouragement does more.” The Bible does both, for “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). As this text shows, even the more negative elements of Scripture are written to have a positive end.

That’s why John wrote the way he did, and he wants his readers to know that. Steven Cole rightly declares, “To grow, we must be assured and encouraged about what God has done and is doing in our lives.”

That’s why John wrote his letter, and that’s the reason I write this blog.

“I am writing …”

Thanks for reading.

Jolt to the World

The news hit hard & fast this morning: “President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump test positive for Covid-19.” One news agency reported, “The diagnosis amounts to the most serious known health threat to a sitting American president in decades. At 74 years old and obese, Trump falls into the highest risk category for serious complications from the disease,” which has contributed to the death of more than 200,000 Americans and more than 1 million people worldwide.

On Facebook a friend of mine wrote,

… the virus is still out there and doesn’t care who you are. The President has testing capabilities for those who come into his orbit … and it still got to him.

The President, who is arguably the most powerful person in the world, could not withstand the infectious nature of this disease.

But what’s far more amazing — and this is where we find true gospel encouragement — is that the infinite God of the universe came into our orbit voluntarily and took on himself all the sickness and sins of humanity.

He himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.

But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds.

— Isaiah 53:4-6

Not only did Jesus take on our sins and sickness, but by doing so, he made us whole. He was beaten so that we could become healthy! “For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder [champion] of their salvation perfect through suffering” (Heb. 2:19). “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him” (Heb. 5:8-9).

Our church family has been studying the book of Hebrews for the better part of 2020. As we have encountered these verses, we have experienced gospel encouragement amidst the spread of Covid-19. Despite the sufferings of this present time, we look forward by faith to that Day when our salvation will be fully realized, for we belong to an eternal kingdom that cannot be shaken (Heb. 11:28).

The coronavirus is no match for Jesus Christ. In the face of this “jolt to the world,” we can sing “Joy to the World!”

No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found.

Endless Vitality

For the last twenty-two years, our family has lived in New England and upstate New York, where we have enjoyed the dazzling colors of the fall foliage. But we don’t see any palm trees! They tend to grow in warmer coastal regions, which is why we associate them with vacation destinations and beautiful islands.

Throughout history, palm trees have symbolized health, vitality, longevity, and fruitfulness. Spiritually, this is how Scripture refers to the righteous — those who love the Lord, take him at his word, and live accordingly.

This morning I read Psalm 92, which closes with beautiful imagery:

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God.

They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Last summer I visited the land of Israel and saw many palm trees. But the species of tree to which the Psalmist was referring, the Judean date palm, which grew in Israel thousands of years ago, “produced a larger, more durable and sweeter variety of date than the fruit we see today.” In an Smithsonian Magazine article earlier this year, Brigit Katz noted,

In ancient times, the region of Judea was known for its plump, delicious dates, which delighted the palates of classical writers like Pliny the Elder; in his sweeping natural history treatise, the Roman author marvels at the Judean date’s “unctuous juice” and “extremely sweet sort of wine-flavour like that of honey.”

Such was the tree the psalmist had in mind when he wrote, “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree.” The image is that of fruitfulness and vigor. “They still bear fruit in old age” (vs. 14). The life span of a palm tree is about 100 years old. Throughout its life, it continues to bear fruit, making it an appropriate simile for a godly person. Bible scholar Derek Kidner notes,

It is a picture … which sets a pattern of spiritual stamina for our encouragement and possibly our rebuke.

That is to say, elderly Christians should be encouraged to know that they are still of great value and benefit to others as they proclaim the Lord’s greatness (Ps. 92:15). But in some cases “senior saints” need to be rebuked because they have grown spiritually lazy in their latter years and no longer look for ways to serve others. (Indeed, I’ve heard more than one elderly believer say, “I’ve put in my time,” indicating that they’re over and done with ministry.) That’s not the biblical picture presented here! Older saints have invaluable wisdom, seasoned counsel, earnest prayer, and precious memories of God’s faithfulness to share with others!

Never underestimate the value of godly, older Christians — whether that be you or someone else.

“They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God” (Ps. 92:13). That’s how believers stay fresh and green: they are rooted and grounded in God, continuing to worship him with the gathered church through all seasons of life.

This is the one other tree referred to in Psalm 92 as a symbol of godly people. “They grow like a cedar in Lebanon” (Ps. 92:12) — the largest trees of the Near East, a symbol of majestic size and strength. Such vitality, stability, fruitfulness and strength result from worshiping God. (As I pointed out in another article, “A Steady Heart,” my own father exemplifies this truth.)

Today on #ThankfulThursday, our church family is celebrating the lives of three men in our congregation who went home to be with the Lord this past month. By God’s grace, they all “by reason of strength” (Ps. 90:10) lived into their 80s. Each of them had “evergreen hearts” filled with spiritual vitality that generated faithful service to others. They remained fruitful until the end and finished well.

May we do the same.

Despite the Train Wreck, Take Heart!

Somehow I survived the last night’s 90-minute brawl. Er, I mean, debate. Actually, no, I really do mean brawl.

It did not leave a positive impression of either candidate. One member of our church quipped, “I don’t know which I want to see end first — Covid-19 or the 2020 election. ” I think many Americans are feeling the same way!

The best thing that has come out of the debate, at least in terms of social media, are the GIFs from last night and this morning. I’m tempted to share a few of them, but I don't want to get side-tracked. Besides, I’m sure you’ve seen your fair share of them already.

But here’s a list of “mixed reviews” on last night’s debate, as posted this morning by a friend of mine:

The Republications: “We won!”

The Democrats: “We won!”

Christians: “Come, Lord Jesus!”

Babies awaiting abortion: groan

Satan and his devils: “We won!”

BLM: ”Doesn’t change anything for us!”

Social injustice advocates: “Ditto!”

Spirit of God: “I will not always strive.”

Christ: “I’ll be coming soon!”

God: Laughs

Any one of the above reviews could be expounded on at length, with accompanying Scriptures. But if we restrict our focus to the “Trinitarian commentary,” coupled with the Christians’ cry, “Come, Lord Jesus!”, we have all that we need to remind ourselves of who’s in charge and where our hope ultimately lies.

The last review refers to Psalm 2, which begins with a rhetorical question: “Why do the nations rage [noisily assemble] and the peoples plot in vain?” (v. 1). A few verses later the Psalmist boldly asserts, “He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision” (v. 4).

This is not a laughter of hilarity but of holy mockery. God then declares, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill” (v. 6). Thank God that Jesus reigns! Our King of righteousness and peace rules from heaven now and will return to establish his universal reign on earth. That’s why we exclaim, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

In the meantime we continue to pray for our leaders, our nation, and our world. (Having just read Daniel 9, I’m thinking that’s a good place to start.)

At the beginning of this post, I said I wasn’t going to share any GIFs. But since this blog exists for the sake of gospel encouragement, I’m going to end today’s devotional by pasting a tweet by Dustin Benge that got my day off to a great start. May it brighten your outlook, too!

"You Are Greatly Loved"

Could any greater message be communicated from the Most High God to us? Yet that is exactly the message that God delivered to Daniel — not once, but three times!

““O Daniel … you are greatly loved” (Dan. 9:22, 23)

“O Daniel, man greatly loved . . .” (Dan. 10:11)

“O man greatly loved . . .” (Dan. 10:19)

In these verses, God affirms his love for Daniel as an individual person. I’ll say more about that in a moment. But first it should be noted that God has a universal love for all of humanity. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

God loves us not because we’re great, but because he is extremely gracious. “God is love” (1 John 4:8). “The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made” (Psalm 145:9). Theologians refer to this as God’s “common grace” — his compassion and kindness toward all humanity.

In his heart-stirring book, The Love of God, John MacArthur writes,

Common grace does not pardon sin or redeem sinners, but it is nevertheless a sincere token of God’s goodwill to mankind in general. … If you question the love and goodness of God to all, look again at the world in which we live. Someone might say, “There’s a lot of sorrow in this world.” The only reason the sorrow & tragedy stand out is because there is also much joy & gladness. The only reason we recognize the ugliness is that God has given us so much beauty. The only reason we feel the disappointment is that there is so much that satisfies.

God’s love for the whole world is seen in his common grace, his compassion, and his call to repent and believe the gospel. This leads to our next point:

God loves everyone universally, but He does not love everyone equally.

Scripture teaches that God set his love on certain persons from eternity past and predestined them to eternal life. The apostle Paul tells us why: “God chooses people according to his own purposes; he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works” (Rom. 9:11-12 NLT). We are saved solely by the grace of God through faith in Christ, to the praise of God’s glory (Eph. 1:12; 2:8-9).

This is the kind of special, electing love that God had for Daniel. As I read the three affirmations of God’s love for Daniel in context, I was encouraged by four things God did for Daniel as an expression of his love for him.

1. God responded to his prayer. In Daniel 9, the prophet poured out his heart to God, confessing his and his people’s sins, while acknowledging God’s faithfulness and asking the Lord to hear his prayer and pleas for mercy. While Daniel was still praying, Gabriel appeared to him and said, “O Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved” (Dan. 9:22-23). Likewise, Jesus assures believers, “whatever you ask the Father in my name, he [will] give it to you” (John 15:16; cf. 1 John 5:14-15).

2. God revealed his word to Daniel. “And he said to me, ‘O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you … for now I have been sent to you’” (Dan. 10:11). Scripture says, “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant” (Ps. 25:14). Jesus prayed for his people, saying to the Father, "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). Moreover, Paul declares, “these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God” (1 Cor. 2:10).

3. God renewed Daniel’s strength. Upon feeling the weight and magnitude of God’s word, Daniel felt overwhelmed and said, “‘now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.’ Again, one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me. And he said, ‘O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.’ And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, ‘Let my Lord speak, for you have strengthened me’” (Dan. 10:17-19). God does the same for us! “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace” (Ps. 29:11; cf. Isa. 40:25-31). Matthew Henry rightly noted, “One touch from heaven brings us to our knees, sets us on our feet, opens our lips, and strengthens us, for it is God that works on us, and works in us, both to will and to do that which is good.”

4. God raised up benefactors for Daniel and his fellow Jews. “And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him” (Dan. 11:1). God raised up a pagan king and established his rule in order to do good for Daniel and his people. How? By causing the kingdom of Babylon to fall, thus paving the way for the Jews’ eventual return from captivity to rebuild the temple and city of Jerusalem. In fact, God later raised up the Persian Emperor Cyrus the Great, who issued the decree authorizing the Judean exiles to return home and rebuild the Temple. This was a direct fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy decades earlier (see Jer. 29:1-14; Ezra 1:1-4). Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” Throughout history, God has raised up friends for the church, such as Frederick the Wise, who protected the Reformer Martin Luther when he was being persecuted. Numerous other examples from history could be cited. (To read an interesting article along these lines, check out the Christianity Today article by Daniel Block entitled “Is Trump Our Cyrus? The Old Testament Case for Yes and No.”)

All the things God did for Daniel, God continues to do for each child of his. In fact, we have but skimmed the surface of God’s unfathomable love toward us!

Could we with ink the oceans fill, and were the skies of parchment made,

Were every stalk on earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade,

To write the love of God above would drain the oceans dry,

Nor could the scroll contain the whole though stretched from sky to sky.

Covid Can't Harm You!

Earlier this month, The Washington Post reported,

Infectious-disease experts are warning of a potential cold-weather surge of coronavirus cases — a long-feared “second wave” of infections and deaths, possibly at a catastrophic scale.

In the face of such a dire forecast, we can draw comfort from Scripture.

This morning I read Psalm 91, which emphasizes the safety and happiness that comes from knowing God and trusting him. The psalm begins with a powerful declaration (v. 1), followed by a personal prayer (v. 2):

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

When calamity comes, people run for cover toward whatever place they think will provide protection. But here in Psalm 91 we learn that the only safe and invincible fortress is God himself. The psalmist appropriates this truth personally by going to God in prayer, after which he immediately reassures the reader, saying, “he will deliver you.” The “you” is singular, indicating the care that God shows individually for every person who trusts in him!

In verse 3-6 he describes the manner in which God protects us from the many dangers that threaten us. In verses 7-8 he says, “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.” John Calvin notes that “God, as the righteous judge of the world, cannot but punish the wicked according to their sins, and extend protection to his own children.”

God’s protection over every single one of his people is reiterated with a bold statement in verses 9-10. Keep in mind that each “you” is singular, applying to you personally as God’s child:

Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place — the most High, who is my refuge — no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.

Does this mean that no Christian can contract the coronavirus … or cancer … or some other deadly disease? No, of course not. Such a statement must be interpreted in the light of Scripture as a whole. The truth is that when trouble comes our way, there is ultimately no real evil in it, because in the end it cannot destroy us. On the contrary, God causes all things — including the very worst things — to work together for our good (Rom. 8:28).

How does God make this happen? (This for me was the most eye-opening part of the psalm.)

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways (Ps. 91:11).

The “you” is still singular, whereas “angels” is plural. Feel the weight of what God is saying here! John Calvin captures the point perfectly:

[God] does not assign one solitary angel to each saint, but commissions the whole armies of heaven to keep watch over every individual believer.

Maybe you should read that again!

“Are [angels] not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?” (Heb. 1:14)

Calvin goes on to say,

It were something, no doubt to know that even one angel was set over us with this commission, but it adds weight to the promise when we are informed that the charge of our safety is committed to a numerous host, as Elisha was enabled, by a like consideration, to despise [regard as unworthy of concern] the great army of adversaries arrayed against him (2 Kings 6:16).

Interestingly, the devil tried to use Psalm 91:10-11 to tempt Jesus to jump off the highest point of the temple (Luke 4:9), but “Jesus answered him, ‘It is said, '“You shall not put the Lord your God to the test”’” (Luke 4:10).

This is another observation that I find fascinating. When the devil quoted Psalm 91:10, he left out the phrase “in all your ways.” Not only does this phrase reassure us that wherever we go, God’s angels will guard us, but this phrase also reminds us that we bear a personal responsibility in the matter. God’s promise is never intended to incur recklessness on our part, but responsible Christian living. In other words, we should not expect the angels to bail us out of the consequences of our bad decisions!

Wisdom keeps us from being careless. Faith keeps us from being captive.

Psalm 91 ends with a direct statement by God regarding his protection of each person who belongs to him:

Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. (Ps. 91:14-16)

God doesn’t promise that life will be easy and that no troubles will come our way. But he does promise us divine protection and deliverance. As Calvin so eloquently put it,

The salvation of God extends far beyond the narrow boundary of earthly existence; and it is to this, whether we live or come to die, that we should principally look. It is with such a view that the Psalmist, after stating all the other benefits which God bestows, adds this as a final clause, that when he has followed them with his fatherly goodness throughout their lives, he at last shows them his salvation.

Amen, and amen!

Linger Longer

Every morning I wake up early with the coffee already brewed and ready to pour. Two things about my morning coffee: (1) I don’t like for it to get cold; (2) I don’t like to get out of my chair to reheat my coffee in the microwave.

So for years I’ve used a coffee warmer that sits on the table right next to my easy chair. Because this little device keeps my coffee warm, I can linger longer. (This is the time I read my Bible, pray, and do some extra reading.)

But I also need help keeping my heart warm, too. Usually Bible reading is not a problem for me. But I find that my prayers are often proportionately shorter than they should be.

When I come before the throne of grace, I need to linger longer.

In this regard the prayers of the Puritans have been a wonderful resource for me. The weight of their biblical substance and the warmth of their tone help me to linger longer in God’s presence.

As I mentioned in a previous post, 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.”

Last weekend I shared a prayer to be offered on the eve of the Lord’s Day. But here is another prayer meant to be offered actually on the Lord’s Day.

May it warm your heart.

Don’t rush through it.

Linger longer.

The Lord’s Day

O LORD my LORD,

This is thy day,

the heavenly ordinance of rest,

the open door of worship,

the record of Jesus’ resurrection,

the seal of the sabbath to come,

the day when saints militant and triumphant unite in endless song.

I bless thee for the throne of grace,

that here free favor reigns;

that open access to it is through the blood of Jesus;

that the veil is torn aside and I can enter the holiest

and find thee ready to hear,

waiting to be gracious,

inviting me to pour out my needs,

encouraging my desires,

promising to give more than I ask or think.

But while I bless thee, shame and confusion are mine:

I remember my past misuse of sacred things,

my irreverent worship,

my base ingratitude,

my cold, dull praise.

Sprinkle all my past sabbaths with the cleansing blood of Jesus, and may this day witness deep improvement in me.

Give me in rich abundance the blessings the Lord’s Day was designed to impart;

May my heart be fast bound against worldly thoughts or cares;

Flood my mind with peace beyond understanding;

may my meditations be sweet,

my acts of worship life, liberty, joy,

my drink the streams that flow from thy throne,

my food the precious Word,

my defense the shield of faith,

and my heart be more knit to Jesus.

Amen.

Our Election, God's Selection

As Election Day draws near, people are getting nervous. Someone told me the other day he’s “scared to death” that Biden will be our next president.

While your anxiety may not be that intense, would it be fair to say that you’re somewhat worried about the upcoming election?

From a human standpoint, I get it. There’s much at stake as we consider our country’s moral degradation and the influence that the U. S. President has in setting our national agenda. His views on abortion, gay marriage, civil rights, law and order, and other issues will impact hundreds of millions of Americans, including you and me. We’re rightly concerned not only for ourselves, but also for our children and grandchildren. Yes, much is at stake in this year’s election. That’s for sure.

But this morning as I read the first few chapters of Daniel, I was reminded of who’s really in charge.

Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might.

He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings . . . (Dan. 2:20-21).

Daniel was a Jew taken as a captive to Babylon when he was still a teenager. He served under the pagan king Nebuchadnezzar who had a massive ego, a fiery temper, and impulsive tendencies. That’s a bad combination! When Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that he could not understand, he demanded that his wise men both tell him the dream and interpret it. When they couldn’t, he commanded that they all be destroyed! Thankfully, God mercifully gave Daniel the ability to tell Nebuchadnezzar what he dreamed and interpret it for him. In fact, the praise-filled prayer quoted above was Daniel’s response to God’s revelation.

Instead of worrying, Daniel worshiped. So did Asaph in Psalm 75. He begins by saying, “We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds” (Ps. 75:1). Asaph recognizes that God alone is worthy of such praise, “for not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God who executes judgement, putting down one and lifting up another” (Ps. 75:6-7).

That’s the point that God was communicating to Nebuchadnezzar through his dream. The Babylonian kingdom and all subsequent kingdoms (Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, etc.) would be shattered by a kingdom that would never fall — God’s kingdom. It “shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever” (Dan. 2:44).

The one who rules this kingdom is none other than Jesus Christ, for he is “the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Tim. 6:15; cf. Rev. 19:16). All who trust in him alone as Savior have, by sheer grace, become citizens of God’s eternal kingdom (Phil. 3:20; 1 Pet. 2:9-10).

When Jesus “suffered under Pontius Pilate,” Jesus said to him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:11). Truth is, God appoints rulers to suit his own sovereign, good purpose. “And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, and are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

So don’t sweat this year’s election. Yes, do exercise your rights and responsibilities as an American, but do so knowing that you are foremost a citizen of God’s kingdom, and his kingdom rules over all (Ps. 103:19).

Our election is God’s selection.

He is King of kings and Lord of lords.

So replace worry with worship!

Simplify!

This weekend my wife Ruthie and I are having a yard sale. For weeks we (well, mostly Ruthie) have been clearing out our bedrooms, closets, bookshelves, cabinets, crawlspace and more. It’s amazing how much stuff accumulates over time. Every now and then we have to de-clutter and simplify!

Sometimes we have to take the same approach to our life as a whole. Why? “For to me to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). That was the apostle Paul’s testimony, and we like to think that it’s ours also. But other priorities and pursuits clutter our lives and crowd out Christ.

So de-clutter your life for Christ’s sake!

I say that with the utmost reverence. In 2 Corinthians 11:3, Paul warns us not to be “led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” When that happens, we feel stressed instead of blessed. That’s then we know it’s time to start cutting out activities and commitments that lead to spiritual distraction rather than devotion.

Once we de-clutter our lives, we will experience benefits like becoming less busy and more organized. These are wonderful blessings, but they are secondary. As Don Whitney notes,

We prune activities from our lives, not only to get organized, but also that our devotion to Christ and service for His kingdom will be more fruitful. We simplify, not merely to save time, but to eliminate hindrances to the time we devote to knowing Christ. All the reasons we simplify should eventually lead us to Jesus Christ.

I benefited greatly from reading Don Whitney’s biblical and practical book, Simplify Your Spiritual Life: Spiritual Disciplines for the Overwhelmed. This resource was a real encouragement and help to me, so I commend it to you. Just like my wife and I go through our house and consult one another on what we should keep and what needs to go, Don Whitney comes alongside of us as a wise friend and helps us to evaluate and simplify our spiritual life.

My wife and I aren’t making a lot of money on our yard sale, but at least we’re de-cluttering and reorganizing our house. But the return you’ll get on de-cluttering your life and getting your spiritual house in order is priceless. Nothing is more rewarding than a life of simple devotion to Christ! So why not start simplifying your life today?

A Steady Heart

He is not afraid of bad news;

his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.

— Psalm 112:7 —

For the last year, my 83-year-old father has been in atrial fibrillation (AFib). Yesterday my dad underwent a electric cardioversion for a second and final time. Our family fasted and prayed the day before the procedure. Hundreds of other friends also sought the Lord on Dad’s behalf.

The procedure was unsuccessful.

As believers, we know this outcome had nothing to do with a lack of God’s power but had everything to do with his purpose.

Physically, Dad’s heart is out of rhythm. But spiritually, it’s as steady as ever.

This was evident in Dad’s email to everyone late yesterday. I share it here because (1) many of you prayed for my dad, and (2) we want your own heart to be strengthened and encouraged in whatever trials you’re facing. So here is the email my father sent out to the family (via his brother Harry) just hours after the cardioversion:

If you would, please pass on my heartfelt gratitude for all those took of their precious time away from other things and prayed for me. Had my heart been restored to normal rhythm, I would be expressing profound thanksgiving. And I want you to know that I am not one whit less thankful—and I really mean it from my heart—even though seemingly nothing was changed. Each and every one has benefitted from having prayed, and I have benefitted more than anyone. I am humbled that so many would pray in a concentrated way, realizing it was truly a labor of love. I am thankful that God brought me through the procedure without incident. I was again blessed with the knowledge of a faithful and loving wife with me all the way…indeed, for an entire extended family being with me. No, all of the prayers have not been in vain at all, for it’s been an opportunity to again express our dependence upon the Lord, to look to Him for the ultimate answer, to rejoice in His perfect will at this time. He openeth, and no man closeth; He closeth and no man openeth. I am thankful for that great truth, for the sovereignty of God. I have been brought closer to Him through all of this, as I’m sure you have been. So thanks be to God, and to all of you. Your work was a good work, and we have yet to see the final outcome, whatever it may be, for this is but a stop on the way. Thank you to each one again, “The prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

The moment I finished reading Dad’s email, the words of Psalm 112 came to mind: “He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid.”

Perhaps you read that and think, “I wish I could be like that.” The good news is, you can! The psalm begins with this exclamation: “Hallelujah! Happy is the person who fears the Lord, taking great delight in his commands.” Those who rightly fear (revere) God need not fear anything else! “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment” (2 Tim. 1:7).

As we delight ourselves in the Lord, he makes our hearts strong and steady. Biblically, our heart is the core of who we are, the animating center of all that we do. That’s what truly drives us.

Praise God, my dad’s heart is strong and steady. How’s yours?

Praying Friends

“You also must help us by prayer . . .” (2 Cor. 1:11).

I woke up this morning thinking about my dad and the heart procedure he would undergo this morning. Yesterday our extended family had participated in a day of prayer and fasting for my father, for which we were truly grateful. But with his actual procedure taking place this morning, I wanted more people to pray.

So I logged onto Facebook to get the word out. I saw that my brother had already beaten me to it, so I simply shared his post and reinforced it with one comment: “Friends, please pray for my dad.”

Within the first couple of hours I had already received nearly a hundred responses from my friends. A quick scan of their names reminded me of how much God has blessed me with a wide circle of friends:

• Church friends (past and present)

• High school friends

• College friends

• Seminary friends

• Missionary friends

• Pastor friends

• Professional friends

• Neighbor friends

The list goes on. Eleanor Roosevelt observed, “Many people will walk in and out of your life. But only true friends leave footprints in your heart.”

In some cases, they leave knee prints. Such are my friends that pray for me.

Everyone needs prayer. Even the best of Christians. Take the apostle Paul, for instance. The Bible verse posted at the top came from Paul’s pen. He wrote to fellow believers, “You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted to us through the prayers of many” (2 Cor. 1:11).

Paul had many friends who prayed for him because he was always praying for them (see Eph. 1:15-23; 3:14-21; Phil. 1:9-11; Col. 1:3-14; 2 Tim. 1:3 and others). Because Paul’s prayers are actually the words of Scripture, they serve as a wonderful model for us as we pray for our friends.

But that’s a topic for another time. Today I simply want to thank God for my praying friends.

If you’re reading this post, you’re probably one of them.

I thank God for you!

Be All There

“. . . Look with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that I shall show you . . .” (Ezek. 40:4).

When Scripture speaks, God speaks. That’s why it’s called the Word of God. Nothing in life is more important than God’s revelation to us.

• Scripture is necessary for salvation, because “faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).

• Scripture is necessary for spiritual vitality, for “man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4; cf. Deut. 8:3).

• Scripture is necessary for knowing God’s will. “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deut. 29:29).

Since nothing is more vital than God’s Word, it deserves our full attention. “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it” (Heb. 2:1).

So God says: “Look with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that I shall show you” (Ezek. 40:4). Though spoken initially to Ezekiel, these are God’s words to us as well. The activity of the eyes, ears, and heart indicate that we are to be fully engaged with God’s Word.

We’re all familiar with the abbreviation I.O.U. Well, John Piper uses the plural form (I.O.U.S.) as an acronym to ready his heart to receive God’s Word. I have found this to be helpful as well, which is why I’m sharing it with you.

I - “Incline my heart to your testimonies and not to selfish gain” (Ps. 119:36). Matt Smethurst remarked, “Every day I need to be peeled away from my pathetic preoccupation with self. You do too. Thankfully, God loves to de-magnetize our hearts from what is worthless, and re-magnetize them toward what is priceless, all for the sake of our joy. This is where prayer comes in; we just have to ask.”

O - “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (Ps. 119:18). The Bible is like no other book. It’s one thing to read it with the eyes of our head (which we can do with any book), it’s an altogether different thing to read it with the eyes of our heart. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit who produced these words (2 Pet. 1:22) enables believers to comprehend them (1 Cor. 2:10-13). All we have to do is ask.

U - “Unite my heart to fear your name” (Ps. 86:11). Once again, Smethurst notes, “We must pray earnestly for a united heart, lest it drift toward being divided, distracted, and distant from the words of the living God.”

S - “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love” (Ps. 90:14). The problem isn’t just that our hearts are distracted from God; they are also dissatisfied in God. We get fooled into thinking that happiness is found elsewhere. That’s why we need the Lord to satisfy us with his unfailing love. He is our all in all. As C. S. Lewis wrote so eloquently in his book, The Weight of Glory, “He who has God and everything else has no more than he who has God only.”

So when you open your Bible, be all there, because that’s where God himself meets you — and there’s no better place to be.

One Stick in God's Hand

When my boys were young, they would often battle one another with sticks. Most of the time it was a playful skirmish, but every now and then a real fight broke out.

For centuries, Israel was a divided nation. The Northern Kingdom (called Ephraim, or Joseph, Ephraim’s father) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah) were constantly at war. In Ezekiel 37, God compared them to two sticks that were constantly clashing — beating and bruising one another.

But God was about to do something wonderful, and he had his prophet Ezekiel deliver the good news with a simple but effective object lesson:

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, ‘Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.’ Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, ‘Belonging to Joseph (that is, to Ephraim) and all the Israelites associated with him.’ Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand. “When your people ask you, ‘Won’t you tell us what you mean by this?’ say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph … and join it to Judah’s stick. I will make them into a single stick of wood, and they will become one in my hand.’ (Ezekiel 37:15-19)

Thanks to the Lord, the people of Israel would no longer be divided. Instead of beating and bruising one another, they would support and serve one another. They would be as one stick in God’s hand. He would be their strength, keeping them together by his grace, and wielding them powerfully for his glory. God’s love for them would impel them to love one another and to make a mighty impact on the rest of the world. “Then the nations will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 37:28a).

This prefigured God’s greater work among the Jews and Gentiles, uniting them as one “holy nation, God’s special possession” (1 Peter 2:9). Through the gospel, God has made us into a single stick of wood in his hand!

Right now the U.S.A. is engaged in a real fight over racism - and it cuts both ways. Frankly, to affirm that we are “one nation under God” is a real stretch when we see how many Americans are actually treating one another. Try as it may, the government can never bring about true unity.

But God can, and he does so through the gospel. That truth should be the foundation of all our conversations as believers. Thanks to Christ, we are one stick in God’s hand. As we show God’s power by loving one another, encouraging one another, serving one another, forgiving one another, and by obeying all the other “one another” commands with the Holy Spirit’s help, then all the nations will know that our God is the Lord, whose kingdom rules over all (Psalm 103:19).

God's Part, Our Part

“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 36:26-27)

This promise from God was fulfilled, in part, when he brought the people of Israel back from their captivity in Babylon. But just as the promise of their return in Ezekiel 34 flowed into a promise of the coming of Christ, the great Shepherd, so here it transitions into a promise of the Holy Spirit.

Earlier, in Ezekiel 11:18-20, God promised that he would not only cleanse his people from their sin. but he would also “remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” That is to say, God would change the very inclinations of their heart.

As Dane Ortlund notes,

When the Bible speaks of the heart … it is not speaking of our emotional life only, but of the central animating center of all we do. … It is our motivation headquarters. The heart, in biblical terms is not part of who we are but the center of who we are. Our heart is what defines and directs us.

(Gentle and Lowly, page 18)

God causes his people to obey him, not by external coercion, but by internal conversion. Notice again what God says will happen when he puts his Spirit within us: “[I will] cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules” (Ezek. 36:27). Matthew Henry rightly notes,

If God will do his part according to the promise, we must do ours according to the precept.

God’s promises must drive us to his precepts as our rule, and then his precepts must send us back to his promises for strength, for without his grace we can do nothing.

Don’t miss the significance of those last seven words: “without his grace we can do nothing.” This truth comes straight from the lips of Jesus in John 15:5. Jesus goes on to say in verse 8, ““By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

This proof is the evidence of God’s promise, “you shall be my people, and I will be your God” (Ezek. 36:28). This really is the essence of happiness. Revelation 21 gives us a glimpse into eternity and what it will be like for all those who have been saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle John writes,

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.” (Rev. 21:3-7)

Imagine a football player being told, just before he’s getting ready to take the field, “You are going to win this game, big-time!” How would he respond? Would he just sit on the bench or give at best a lackluster performance, thinking, “Well, I’m going to win anyway, so why bother?”

No, he won’t think that way at all — not if he’s a football player at heart!

The same is true of God’s people. Because God has given us a new heart, we give it all we’ve got, relying on God’s grace to give us the victory. “Salvation belongs to the Lord” (Psalm 3:8). that’s God’s part. To trust God and obey him is our part. That’s how we prove that we are his people.

And that’s the greatest privilege and joy there is.