Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Two Life Giving and Heart Rejoicing Works of the Cross

In a recent book by Dr. John Piper the author states two completed works of what our Savior provided on the cross. Tuck this statement away. Pray through it. Sing it.
Rejoice in it: "The perfection we do not have Jesus provided. The judgment we do not want Jesus bore." (page 74; Finally Alive)

Note: www.desiringgod.org offers all of John Piper's books online to download and read for free.

Friday, March 20, 2009

TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT OUR TREASURE

In my time with God this morning I was reading in Luke and chapter 12:34 was impressed upon me. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
I asked myself the question that I've considered many times before. "Where is my Treasure?" Of course the Christian answer, the fine sounding answer is "My treasure is Jesus." But Jesus tells us that if we want to know where our treasure is, then we must find where our heart is at. And if we want to find where our heart is at, then we must find where our treasure is at. For they are both in the same place. If we find one then we find the other. In this very text Jesus is saying to us that we live for our treasure. If our treasure is of this world, then we think, act, and spend accordingly. If our treasure is truly in heaven, then we think, act, and spend accordingly.
Today I am looking at what takes my thoughts captive, what takes my money, my time, my energies, my affections. I want to find out what is tapping into my energy and affections, and identify what is stealing that which only belongs to Jesus. I want to again get a much better glimpse of the true Treasure, Jesus Christ my crucified and resurrected Lord, and all that He is, all that He has promised, and I want to find myself and all of my possessions captive to this One Great Treasure, Him Who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Yes indeed, our heart and our treasure are always in the same place. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Thursday, March 19, 2009

One Sure Mark of a Disciple!

What is one identifying mark of a disciple of Jesus Christ that is unmistakeable and obvious to all who see it? Love? Generosity? Joy? Knowledge? Passion? Compassion? Patience? Yes, but in addition to these...

The church in the west is filled with folks who may be identified with the above list of characteristics. But we may be lacking something else that, unless addressed, we will not grow as disciples, that is, followers of Jesus Christ.
THE QUESTION TO ASK OURSELVES IS THIS: "AM I TEACHABLE?" When I was growing up as a young man my father would tell me quite often "no one can teach you anything. You already know it all." I would get defensive, I really did think that I knew it all, and I wouldn't learn. This has caused much unpleasant hardships in my life.

Are you teachable? Or do you know it all already? In today's world the Christian has access to all kinds of information and instruction on the radio, picks up enough knowledge to be confused, and then thinks that they've got all the knowledge they need. Speaking with many pastors, they wrestle with having unteachable folks in their congregation and on their staff. Yet the greatest mark of discipleship is humility. When we recognize that we have much to learn, and know far less than we think we know, then we are really beginning to learn. "The man who thinks that he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know." (1 Corinthians 8:2)

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Bitteness and then Sweetness!

Great pastor and author Thomas Watson wrote "Until we taste the bitterness of our sin, we cannot taste the sweetness of God's grace."

How true this statement is. Truth that is not regarded as necessary, is truly disregarded. But when we taste the foulness of our thoughts, words, behavior, and actions, in light of what God says, and we taste our own sin as foul, then the amazing message of the gospel, the death of Christ to atone for our sin, becomes very sweet! Then we can begin to understand the many different hymns and verses "Amazing love, how can it be, that Thou my God, shoulds't die for me" and of course "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me..."

Go and meet with God today, ask Him to make known to you your own sin, and the bitterness of it, and then ask Him to make known to you the sweetness of His death defying love. Then worship God for His amazing love and grace made known to you.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

THE ROOM IS CLEAN, BUT WILL IT STAY THAT WAY?

"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking to find rest, and finding none it says "I will return to my house from which I came."
The text continues to explain that the house was "swept and put in order". We see that Jesus is speaking of a person who has been freed from an unclean spirit, or demon. The person looks as though all is now well. He is clean and in order. But we learn in this text that the unclean spirit comes back, and with his friends who are more evil than he is.

WHAT'S MY POINT?
An attempt to clean ourselves by our own effort is insufficient, and so is doing things so as to look like you have your life in order. So many people seem to practice this sort of religion. It is a man made and powerless religion that is unable to keep one's self free from the powers of darkness. You may think "I get cleaned and then I start to get my life in order." But notice that this doesn't stop the unclean spirit from returning. We must be cleansed by the blood of Christ, and have our house, our being, not empty, but full of God and obedience to His word.
Jesus follows up this unclean spirit story with "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it." Yes, that is the way to fill a house and leave no room for the unwanted and evil guests. CLEAN BUT EMPTY IS NOT THE CONDITION WE ARE TO LEAVE OURSELVES IN, BUT CLEAN AND FULL, FULL OF GOD'S WORD, FULL OF OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S WORD AS WE TRUST HIM TO KEEP OUR HOUSE CLEAN.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

THERE ARE NO FENCE SITTERS WITH JESUS

Jesus said very clearly that "you're either with me or you're against me."
"He who is for us is not against us." "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." (Luke 11:23)

John MacArthur's grandpa said this important truth in a simple way that we will all do well to consider. He said "There are only two groups of people in all the world, and everybody is in either one or the other group. The saints and the aint's." Which are you in? There are no fence sitters.