Much happens in our reading today, and here is another excellent reflection by D.A. Carson in regard to the change in Jacob:

“What a transformation in jacob (Gen. 32)! Superficially, of course, not much has changed. He left Beersheba for Paddan Aram because he was afraid for his life; his brother Esau had reason enough, according to his own light, to kill him. Now he is returning home, and Jacob is still frightened half to death of his brother. No less superficially, one might argue that much has changed; Jacob fled the tents of his parents a single man, taking almost nothing with him, while here he returns home a rich, married man with many children.

But the deepest differences between the two journeys are reflected in Jacob’s changed attitude toward God. On the outbound trip, Jacob takes no initiative in matters divine. He simply goes to sleep (Gen. 28). It is God who intervenes with a remarkable vision of a ladder reaching up to heaven. When Jacob awakens, he acknowledges that what he experienced was some sort of visitation from God (28:16–17), but his response is to barter with God: if God will grant him security, safety, prosperity, and ultimately a happy return home, Jacob for his part will acknowledge God and offer him a tithe.

Now it is rather different. True, God again takes the initiative: Jacob meets angelic messengers (32:1–2). Jacob decides to act prudently. He sends some of his people ahead to announce to Esau that his brother is returning. This spawns devastating news: Esau is coming to meet him, but with four hundred men.

On the one hand, Jacob sets in motion a carefully orchestrated plan: successive waves of gifts for his brother are sent on ahead, with each of the messengers carefully instructed to speak to Esau with the utmost courtesy and respect. On the other hand, Jacob admits that matters are out of his control. Bartering is gone; in “great fear and distress” (32:7) Jacob takes action, and then prays, begging for help. He reminds God of his covenantal promises, he pleads his own unworthiness, he acknowledges how many undeserved blessings he has received, he confesses his own terror (32:9–12). And then, in the darkest hours, he wrestles with this strange manifestation of God himself (32:22–30).

Twenty years or so have passed since Jacob’s outward-bound journey. Some people learn nothing in twenty years. Jacob has learned humility, tenacity, godly fear, reliance upon God’s covenantal promises, and how to pray. None of this means he is so paralyzed by fear that he does nothing but retreat into prayer. Rather, it means he does what he can, while believing utterly that salvation is of the Lord.

By the time the sun rises, he may walk with a limp, but he is a stronger and better man.”

Carson, D. A. (1998). For the love of God: a daily companion for discovering the riches of God’s Word. (Vol. 1, p. 57). Crossway Books.

Today we continue to read of Jacob with Leah and Rachel and the increase of his wealth even though Laban does not deal all that uprightly with him. The Lord continues to show his faithfulness to his own covenant. God continues to bless Jacob, not because of his stellar character, but because of his own covenant faithfulness.

On a side note, I was reading again this morning from Sibbes and this is just a little of what he wrote about tenderness of heart again:

“Heb. 3:13, ‘Let us provoke one another daily, while it is called to-day, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.’ Let us use all means to keep our hearts tender. Oh, it is a blessed estate! We are fit to live when our hearts are tender; fit to die, fit to receive anything from God, fit for duties of honesty to men, for any service to God. But when we have lost sense and feeling, it must be the almighty power of God that must recover us again, and not one amongst an hundred comes to good. Therefore labour to preserve a tender, soft, and melting heart.”

Sibbes, R. (1863). The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes (A. B. Grosart, Ed.; Vol. 6, p. 37). James Nichol; James Nisbet and Co.; W. Robertson.

Consider Proverbs 4:23 and ask yourself - what is the state of my own heart?

Today I’m a bit late and I’m also going to introduce a guest blogger - D.A. Carson. In his devotional through the M’Cheyne reading plan he comments on these chapters and I’ve always found his words insightful. So here they are:

Here is his take on chapter 28:

“The name bethel means “house of God.” I wonder how many churches, houses, Bible colleges and seminaries, Christian shelters, and other institutions have chosen this name to grace their signs and their letterheads.

Yet the event that gave rise to the name (Gen. 28) was a mixed bag. There is Jacob, scurrying across the miles to the home of his uncle Laban. Ostensibly he is looking for a godly wife—but this reason nests more comfortably in Isaac’s mind than in Jacob’s. In reality he is running for his life, as the previous chapter makes clear: he wishes to escape being assassinated by his own brother in the wake of his own tawdry act of betrayal and deceit. Judging by the requests he makes to God, he is in danger of having too little food and inadequate clothing, and he is already missing his own family (28:20–21). Yet here God meets him in a dream so vivid that Jacob declares, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven” (28:17).

For his part, God reiterates the substance of the Abrahamic Covenant to this grandson of Abraham. The vision of the ladder opens up the prospect of access to God, of God’s immediate contact with a man who up to this point seems more driven by expedience than principle. God promises that his descendants will multiply and be given this land. The ultimate expansion is also repeated: “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring” (28:14). Even at the personal level, Jacob will not be abandoned, for God declares, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you” (28:15).

Awakened from his dream, Jacob erects an altar and calls the place Bethel. But in large measure he is still the same wheeler-dealer. He utters a vow: If God will do this and that and the other, if I get all that I want and hope for out of this deal, “then the Lord will be my God” (28:20–21).

And God does not strike him down! The story moves on: God does all that he promised, and more. All of Jacob’s conditions are met. One of the great themes of Scripture is how God meets us where we are: in our insecurities, in our conditional obedience, in our mixture of faith and doubt, in our fusion of awe and self-interest, in our understanding and foolishness. God does not disclose himself only to the greatest and most stalwart, but to us, at our Bethel, the house of God.” (D.A. Carson, For the Love of God, Vol 1)

• How do chapters 29 & 30 also show God’s faithfulness in the midst of a pretty messed up situation?

• What does this tell us about our God and how does that bolster our faith?

Another shorter post this morning (I was up a little late last night - Go Blue!!!). Looking at the story of Esau and Jacob it’s a bit of a mess. The family situation is not what you would call healthy. Yet God still works through it all. God chooses Jacob to be the one through whom the blessing will continue. Take some time and reflect on Romans 9:10-16.

• What questions do you have?

• What does this tell us about God and his work for our salvation?

• What comfort does this bring?

Just a simple thought this morning to ponder. In Genesis 25:23 we read:

“The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son.” (NLT)

• What sticks out in this?

• What is abnormal, or different?

• What does this tell us about God and his sovereign grace?

• What should this develop in the hearts of believers?

This was from a reading from Richard Sibbes today. He used Proverbs 28:14:

Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always,

but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

“As a wheel must first be made round, and then turned round, so the heart must be first altered, and then used in a renewed way. A tender heart, so soon as the word is spoken, yields to it. It quakes at threatenings, obeys precepts, melts at promises, and the promises sweeten the heart. In all duties concerning God, and all offices of love to men, a tender heart is thus qualified. But hardness of heart is quite opposite. For, as things dead and insensible, it will not yield to the touch, but returns back whatsoever is cast upon it. Such a heart may be broken in pieces, but it will not receive any impression; as a stone may be broken, but will not be pliable, but rebound back again. A hard heart is indeed like wax to the devil, but like a stone to God or goodness. It is not yielding, but resists and repels all that is good; and therefore compared in the Scripture to the adamant stone. Sometimes it is called a frozen heart, because it is unpliable to anything. You may break it in pieces, but it is unframeable for any service, for any impression; it will not be wrought upon. But on the contrary, a melting and tender heart is sensible, yielding, and fit for any service both to God and man.”

Sibbes, R. (1863). The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes (A. B. Grosart, Ed.; Vol. 6, p. 32). James Nichol; James Nisbet and Co.; W. Robertson.

Caravaggio - The Sacrifice of Isaac (1602)

A Sunday morning post will be short as well. As we read through the story of Abraham and Isaac on the mountain together there are many questions that arise, and more than this short space will allow. But don’t bypass the questions. This is the beauty of reading Scripture - it points us deeper and deeper into the heart of God.

Yet for now, reflect on these words from Hebrews 11:

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

• What does this tell us about Abraham?

  • Consider Abraham’s previous interactions with the Lord, how did those enable Abraham to do what he did?

• How does this whole incident point us to God and the life and work of Jesus, culminating in his death on a Roman cross?

Philippe de Champaigne - Le sacrifice d’Isaac

A very short entry this morning. There is obviously much that could be written about, but I simply want to reflect on Abraham’s role in interceding for Sodom…well, for any righteous in Sodom & Gomorrah. However, there are none righteous (cf. Romans 310-18) so what is our hope? This interaction between the Lord and Abraham points to a greater interaction of intercession (that of the Lord Jesus Christ), but also to his work of giving himself as a substitutionary sacrifice on behalf of sinners.

Reflect on these verses:

• Romans 8:34

• Hebrews 7:25

• 2 Corinthians 5:21

• Romans 8:1

Humans are very flawed. I am very flawed. You are very flawed. We are a mixed bag. At times we can do things that are more along the lines of noble and wonderful; at other times we can all act like complete buffoons. Take Abram for instance. In Genesis 12 he tells Sarai his wife to say she’s his sister (which is partially true on a technicality) out of fear that something will happen to him…with seeming little regard to what could well happen to her. The Lord rescues him and Sarai from that situation. But then he rescues Lot from a very bad situation and gives honor to Melchizedek, and in that we see faith in the Lord as the one who has and will provide. A mixed bag.

That leads us to Genesis 15:

1 Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.”

2 But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. 3 You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.”

4 Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” 5 Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”

6 And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.

Abram had believed God. He left his country and his family and followed the call of the Lord. But at this point in his life he has no children, no heirs of his own. But the Lord promised that Abram would have a son of his own - and Abram believed. He was counted as righteous. This is such a beautiful truth. It’s a truth our lives with the Lord depend upon. 

Heidelberg Catechism Question 60:

How are you right with God? Only by true faith in Jesus Christ. Even though my conscience accuses me of having grievously sinned against all God’s commandments, of never having kept any of them, and of still being inclined towards all evil, nevertheless, without any merit of my own, out of sheer grace, God grants and credits to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner, and as if I had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for me—if only I accept this gift with a believing heart.

Reflection:

• Read Romans 4 and reflect on the words that Paul wrote in regard to righteousness by faith and why that matters.

• How do you have a tendency to believe your standing with God depends on your actions? How does Scripture answer that?

• What are the benefits of believing the promise of God? Try and come up with more than just one or two - sit a while and contemplate what the Lord gives to those who believe in his good promises.

There is a great deal in the reading this morning that one could sit back and reflect upon: from Babel to Abram’s call to the situation with Lot and Sodom to Melchizedek (this rather strange figure to whom Abram pays a tithe). Where I was drawn to reflect though was early with Babel and what it tells us about God and humanity.

If you go back to 9:1 you read: And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” (ESV). Then look at 11:3,4: They began saying to each other, “Let’s make bricks and harden them with fire.” (In this region bricks were used instead of stone, and tar was used for mortar.) Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world” (NLT).

• What do you already notice (or notice again) about humanity?

• What was their motivation?

• What does this tell us about our nature? (Pride, etc…)

But let’s keep reading (verses 5-9): But the LORD came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building. “Look!” he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! Come, let’s go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.”

In that way, the LORD scattered them all over the world, and they stopped building the city. That is why the city was called Babel, because that is where the LORD confused the people with different languages. In this way he scattered them all over the world (NLT).

• Look at verse 6 (and perhaps look in other translations) - what is the issue with this? Why is God concerned with the people being united? What are they united for? What ought they be united in?

• What does this tell us about God and his involvement with mankind?

• How does the call of God to Abram in Genesis 12 add to and address this incident at Babel?

This morning in our reading from Genesis we see God’s consistent initiation with humanity. God moves towards sinful humanity while humanity has consistently moved away from and rebelled against God. Yesterday in 6:18 we read: But I will confirm my covenant with you…(NLT). Today we see that covenant made explicitly. We also see God’s character even in a simple statement like 8:1: But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and livestock with him in the boat…(NLT). It is not that God forgot, but it’s a way of signifying that God will take an action based on a commitment. God’s commitment is his covenant with Noah, a covenant of grace.

It would be helpful to take some time and consider what it means that God relates to humanity through covenants. This is where the resources we have as a church are so valuable. As a denomination we subscribe to the Westminster Confession of Faith and in Chapter 7 it addresses God’s covenant with man.

Westminster Confession of Faith

If you look at 9:8-17 you see the covenant God made with Noah. The rainbow in the sky is the sign of that covenant. And it is a sign of peace, as the bow is pointed upward, away from the earth.

What can you reflect on from this text? from the covenant made with Noah?

What does this tell us about ourselves? about God?

The Westminster Larger Catechism question and answer 20 states:

Q. What was the providence of God toward man in the estate in which he was created?

A. The providence of God toward man in the estate in which he was created, was the placing him in paradise, appointing him to dress it, giving him liberty to eat of the fruit of the earth; putting the creatures under his dominion, and ordaining marriage for his help; affording him communion with himself; instituting the Sabbath; entering into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience, of which the tree of life was a pledge; and forbidding to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon the pain of death.

In our reading of Genesis 4-6 this morning we read of the first murder. It did not take mankind long to fall into an estate of sin and misery (see WLC 23). And in chapter 6 we come to the familiar start of the recounting of Noah and his life and work and the favor he found with the Lord. But in between there is chapter 5 - the one we are all tempted to skip because, quite honestly, genealogies aren’t all that fun to read. But it’s included for a reason. So then, what can we learn from a listing of names?

Well, that’s my question this morning for us - what can we learn? Maybe take a moment and reread this chapter.

• What do you notice that is repeated (at least 8 times)?

• What is that repetition telling us?

• To what does this point?

  • Where in Scripture does the repeated phrase get dealt with? (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57; Revelation 21:4)

• How does this fuel your worship of our God?

Happy New Year! I hope everyone’s day started off well and that your reading of Genesis 1-3 also went well.

Just a couple of thoughts this morning. First - I don’t know how consistent I’m going to be at utilizing this blog, but I’m going to try and put down some thoughts at least weekly in regard to our reading. Please let me know if there would be certain aspects/topics that would be more helpful.

Second - the translation. For those using the NLT this will read easy, but different. It is much more of a dynamic translation (see here), but if it does what it did for me for you - which was to get me to pull out my ESV/NIV/NASB - that’s good. It will get you digging deeper into Scripture and hopefully meditating on it more.

Third - meditation…take some time and think over 3:21 - And the Lord God made animal skins for Adam and his wife.

• Why include this detail?

• What does it signify?

• What might it point towards?

• How does it rectify what Adam and Eve had done to try and cover their own sin?

• What does this tell us about God’s character? About humanity?

There are many other questions you could ponder in regard to this text, feel free to share your thoughts/meditations in the comments. If you want to dig a little deeper take a look at the Westminster Confession of Faith chapter 7.3, 8.6.

Looking forward to reading through Scripture with you all this year and seeing how God grows us more and more in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This morning a portion of my reading was in 2 Chronicles 34. This section recounts part of the reign of King Josiah. His reign was the last large scale attempt at reformation in Judah. The previous King, Manasseh, had done what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel (2 Chronicles 33:2).

But Josiah was different. In the eighth year of his reign, while still just a boy, he began to seek after God. We are told that he walked in the narrow way, he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left (2 Chronicles 34:2). He began making reforms early in his reign - removing the false worship from the land. And then while work was being done on the house of the LORD, the Book of the Law was found (2 Chronicles 34:14,15). This was likely Deuteronomy, but no matter what book it was, when the King heard it read he tore his clothes and he sent Hilkiah to inquire of Huldah the prophetess because of what he had heard. He stated: For great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do according to all that is written in this book (2 Chronicles 34:21b).

Josiah is told that judgment will come, but because he humbled himself before the Lord, he himself would not see the disaster that was inevitable. Yet he did not rest in that news, but instead gathered the leaders of Judah and read to them…yes - he read, the King read - the Book of the Covenant and he made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book (2 Chronicles 34:31). And he made the leaders enter in as well. And the last words of this chapter are: All his days they did not turn away from following the LORD, the God of their fathers (2 Chronicles 34:33).

That is a beautiful testimony to the leadership of Josiah. He was a man with a heart tender towards the Lord. He exemplifies to me the posture the Lord calls for in Isaiah 66:1,2:

Thus says the LORD: 

“Heaven is my throne, 

and the earth is my footstool; 

what is the house that you would build for me, 

and what is the place of my rest? 

All these things my hand has made, 

and so all these things came to be, 

declares the LORD. 

But this is the one to whom I will look: 

he who is humble and contrite in spirit 

and trembles at my word. 

What we need more and more is greater trembling before God’s Word. We need humility and contrition. And that all presupposes that we know God’s Word. Humility before Scripture assumes that we are reading Scripture. Let me encourage you…please make reading, studying, meditating, and memorizing God’s Word a priority in your life. Ask God to strengthen your resolve and your desire to know him. None of us are leaders of nations, but many are leaders of our homes and we have influence elsewhere…may it be a lasting influence of following after the Lord all our days.

Here’s a song to encourage us all in our attitude before the Lord.

Wes King from Common Creed

Ok - don’t get used to this again, but in my prayer time this morning I was directed to sing the song “Jesus I My Cross Have Taken” as I read and prayed through a chapter in the book Prone to Wander. I’m going to put down all the lyrics because it’s a beautiful song. This has been a hard year, and it may still get more difficult as we head into the fall and winter. I love the line in the third stanza: “Life with trials hard may press me; Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.” Then turn to all of stanza 5…just take in the truth of this great song. There is sweet rest with Jesus. May you and I rest in that each and every day!

1. Jesus, I my cross have taken, 
All to leave and follow Thee. 
Destitute, despised, forsaken, 
Thou from hence my all shall be. 
Perish every fond ambition, 
All I’ve sought or hoped or known. 
Yet how rich is my condition! 
God and heaven are still my own.

2. Let the world despise and leave me, 
They have left my Savior, too. 
Human hearts and looks deceive me; 
Thou art not, like them, untrue. 
O while Thou dost smile upon me, 
God of wisdom, love, and might, 
Foes may hate and friends disown me, 
Show Thy face and all is bright.

3. Man may trouble and distress me, 
’Twill but drive me to Thy breast. 
Life with trials hard may press me; 
Heaven will bring me sweeter rest. 
Oh, ’tis not in grief to harm me 
While Thy love is left to me; 
Oh, ’twere not in joy to charm me, 
Were that joy unmixed with Thee.

4. Go, then, earthly fame and treasure, 
Come disaster, scorn and pain 
In Thy service, pain is pleasure, 
With Thy favor, loss is gain 
I have called Thee Abba Father, 
I have stayed my heart on Thee 
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather; 
All must work for good to me.

5. Soul, then know thy full salvation 
Rise o’er sin and fear and care 
Joy to find in every station, 
Something still to do or bear. 
Think what Spirit dwells within thee, 
Think what Father’s smiles are thine, 
Think that Jesus died to win thee, 
Child of heaven, canst thou repine.

6. Haste thee on from grace to glory, 
Armed by faith, and winged by prayer. 
Heaven’s eternal days before thee, 
God’s own hand shall guide us there. 
Soon shall close thy earthly mission, 
Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days, 
Hope shall change to glad fruition, 
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Co 1:4–9)

Provided to YouTube by TuneCore Jesus I My Cross Have Taken [Andrew Osenga] · Indelible Grace Music Pilgrim Days: Indelible Grace II ℗ 2008 Indelible Grace M...

It’s been a good while since I last posted anything here, but in light on Sunday’s message I wanted to follow up a bit with some further encouragement to read, study, meditate upon God’s Word. If we want to grow in our relationship with the Lord, we must be in God’s Word. It is one of his ordinary means of grace. Our Confession of Faith states: “The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture…” (WCF I.6)

There is tremendous beauty and benefit in God’s Word. Take a moment to read through Psalm 19:7-11 and just list the characteristics of God’s Word. Respond in thanksgiving and prayer asking that God would give you that view of his Word each and every day and that he would help you to see the beauty.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, 

reviving the soul; 

the testimony of the Lord is sure, 

making wise the simple; 

8 the precepts of the Lord are right, 

rejoicing the heart; 

the commandment of the Lord is pure, 

enlightening the eyes; 

9 the fear of the Lord is clean, 

enduring forever; 

the rules of the Lord are true, 

and righteous altogether. 

10 More to be desired are they than gold, 

even much fine gold; 

sweeter also than honey 

and drippings of the honeycomb. 

11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; 

in keeping them there is great reward.  (Psalm 19:7-11)

A video of Christians in China opening their bibles for the first time. Do you respond the same way when you open yours? The lady is saying: "Thanks be to Go...

Here is the video that was shown during the message. Pray that you would have that same longing and that you would recognize the preciousness of God’s Word.

One more thing - I just saw this app this morning called Redeeming Time (put out by the same developer of PrayerMate - which I have benefited from for years). We have a massive tendency to waste time on our smartphones - scrolling and doing mindless things. This app helps you see how much reading of God’s Word you could do in whatever time you have - 5 minutes, 10, 15…whatever it may be. And it has the Bible built in. Give it a shot and see what you think. It certainly won’t be a waste of your time.

https://redeemingtime.app/

The letter of 1 John is one that many people are familiar with. There is a focus on multiple themes; from the truth of Jesus as the Son of God and as our advocate, to obedience as evidence of our love and of our faith that is manifested in love for others. But what I want to meditate on this morning is 5 verses found in chapter 4.

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Here we hear the call to love one another. This is not an unfamiliar call (cf. John 13:34,35; 15:12, Romans 12:10; 1 Thess. 4:9, 1 Peter 1:22; 4:8). This is something we all believe and hopefully we strive to do. And how vitally important this is in the time in which we find ourselves. Not only to help care for others in the midst of our ‘shelter in place’ order, but also to be loving and gracious toward others who hold different persuasions in regard to what should be done next as we move out of this season of sheltering. Love is an amazing attribute that we all hope and pray grows more fully in us.

Yet as great as the display of love between humans can be truly beautiful, there is a much greater love - that is the love of God. And John makes clear that his love is most plainly and undeniably seen in Jesus Christ. God sent Christ so that we could live. Ponder that for a moment! And he didn’t just send Jesus to give us some steps to follow in order to know how to live. He sent Jesus to be the propitiation for our sins. Now there is a million dollar word: propitiation. What does that mean?

To propitiate is to turn away wrath. It is the satisfaction of God’s demand for justice. God is holy and righteous - and that cannot be ignored. Our sins cannot merely be swept aside (cf. Romans 3:21-26). They must be dealt with. They must be atoned for. That is what Jesus did for his children. He took the penalty that our sins deserved. He died in our place. This is unquestionably the greatest love ever witnessed.

In the Heidelberg Catechism Question 37 asks (this in reference to a line in the Apostles’ Creed): “What do you understand by the word ‘suffered’?”

Answer: “That during his whole life on earth, but especially at the end, Christ sustained in body and soul the wrath of God against the sin of the whole human race*. This he did in order that, by his suffering as the only atoning sacrifice he might deliver us, body and soul, from eternal condemnation, and gain for us God’s grace, righteousness, and eternal life.”

Jesus took the blame and bore the wrath - and because of him - through our faith in him - we stand forgiven at the cross. Take time to meditate on this glorious truth…this wonderful manifestation of the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

"The Power of the Cross" Official Lyric Video As performed by Keith & Kristyn Getty Stream this song and others on our official Spotify channel: https://open...

* For those who read this and wonder if it goes against the “L” in the TULIP - it does not. This, according to Ursinus (the primary author of the catechism), refers to the sufficiency of Christ’s death. It is absolutely sufficient for all, but it is efficient only for those who are God’s sheep (cf. John 10:11, also John 6:37, Matthew 1:21, Acts 20:28, Ephesians 5:25).

This will likely be the last post for a little while. I am taking this next week off and I’m not sure whether I will be posting anything. If I do, I don’t know what time of day it will be posted, and I seriously doubt it will be daily.

But for today, I turn back to the Psalms. In particular Psalm 130.

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! 

2 O Lord, hear my voice! 

Let your ears be attentive 

to the voice of my pleas for mercy! 

3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, 

O Lord, who could stand? 

4 But with you there is forgiveness, 

that you may be feared. 

5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, 

and in his word I hope; 

6 my soul waits for the Lord 

more than watchmen for the morning, 

more than watchmen for the morning. 

7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! 

For with the LORD there is steadfast love, 

and with him is plentiful redemption. 

8 And he will redeem Israel 

from all his iniquities. 

Here is a lament over sin. The language and tone that the psalmist uses expressions desperation. This is a cry for mercy. These are the words of someone who understands the weight of sin. Sin is rebellion against God and it is an affront to his character.

On top of that the psalmist knows that if the Lord kept account of our sins and held them over or before us - none of us could stand. If he held us accountable with strict justice…we would be lost. And then we come to the great conjunction - “But.” God is not one who holds sins over those who are penitent. With God there is forgiveness (cf. Psalm 103:3; Nehemiah 9:17; Ephesians 2:4-10). That forgiveness that God gives restores our relationship to him. It allows us to walk in proper fear (cf. Psalm 128:1). We are forgiven to be free to obey, not to continue to walk in disobedience.

The psalmist then waits in hope. He waits with eager anticipation - more than the watchmen (the sentry or night guard) waits for the morning. And he closes the psalm with encouragement. It is a call to all of God’s people to hope in the Lord. His soul had been refreshed and now he calls on others to find that refreshment - the blessing of forgiveness. Because - with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. What an amazing description!! What an amazing God! And we see that so fully displayed in Christ Jesus - the one who died so that we might be declared righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Romans 5:6-8: 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Here’s a song I love (though I wish it were played a bit faster).

Where do we find our calm? I remember as a child seeing the old Calgon bath commercial. It advertised that a bath with Calgon was a place where an exhausted mother could go to escape and find some peace. It seems we all need some Calgon these days. But we really need something much greater. We need to stop trying to figure everything out. Everyone wants an answer. Quite often demanding an answer. That will rarely bring calm and peace (truly…I don’t believe it ever will).

You can turn to one news station and ten minutes later turn to another and get whiplash from the massive differences in how things are reported. It’s overwhelming, and honestly, I don’t think it’s good for our souls. We often have this complex that we have to know all the answers. Well, let me put it simply. We don’t know all the answers. We (you) are not God. This does not mean we shouldn’t seek to be informed or to grow in our understanding of the way life works. But what it does mean - is that we need to learn to rest rather than to be constantly chasing after things that are perhaps a bit bigger than us.

Psalm 131 is a short and simple song of David. It is a psalm of confidence and of great rest. The controlling image is of a weaned child…calmed and quieted in his mother’s arms. It is so peaceful. It is true contentment. How does David get to that point? He humbles himself. He does not chase after things in arrogance and pride that are too big for him (cf. Deuteronomy 29:29). He places his hope and his trust solely in the one who has the power and ability and the wisdom to handle everything. He hopes and rests in God.

In some sense, this is an Old Testament version of Romans 8:28. We can rest and trust because we believe that God is working in all things…and we don’t need to know all the specifics. Let us look to God in calm and rest. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus (his life, death, and resurrection a perfect example of God working all things). Calm yourself in his presence. Trust and hope in the Lord, from this time forth and forevermore.

1 O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; 

my eyes are not raised too high; 

I do not occupy myself with things 

too great and too marvelous for me. 

2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul, 

like a weaned child with its mother; 

like a weaned child is my soul within me. 

3 O Israel, hope in the LORD 

from this time forth and forevermore. 

Here is the song “Psalm 131” by the band Waterdeep.

Psalm 65 is a hymn of praise to God, and it is very clear that God has worked awesome deeds (65:5). It is amazing to see how God blesses his people and cares for them, but what I want us to see this morning is the first words of verse 2:

O you who hear prayer,

That’s it. A stunningly simple statement, but yet farther reaching than we can imagine. God hears our prayers. Is that not a massive encouragement? Is that not a shot in the arm? God, the one who created all things, hears the prayers of his people!

Not only that but the Lord Jesus taught us to pray. Look at Luke 11 and what we call the Lord’s Prayer. We see prayers throughout Scripture: from Moses to Paul and everywhere in between. The reason they all prayed is because God hears our prayer. They prayed and confessed sin. They sought strength in the midst of daunting circumstances. They prayed thanksgiving and praise. They prayed laments. In essence, they poured out their hearts to God because they knew that apart from God they could do nothing (cf. John 15:4,5).

So then - here is the simple encouragement today. Let us pray. Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence because we have a great high priest who has gone before us and it is in him that we draw near (Hebrews 4:14-16). So pour out your heart before him…he delights to hear from his children.

Here is a song for this morning. It is called “A Christian’s Daily Prayer.”

As morning dawns and day awakes,
To You I bring my need
O gracious God, my source of strength,
In You I live and breathe
Each hour is Yours by wisdom planned,
Each deed empowered by sovereign hands
Renew my spirit, help me stand;
Be glorified today

As day unfolds, I seek Your will
In all of life's demands
And though the tempter tries me still,
I cling to Your commands
Let every effort of my life
Display the matchless worth of Christ
Make me a living sacrifice;
Be glorified today

As sun gives way to darkest night
Your Spirit still is here
And though my strength fades like the light
New mercies will appear
I rest in You; abide with me
Until our trials and suffering
Give way to final victory
Be glorified, today

Get the song: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/a-christians-daily-prayer-live/1300512803?i=1300513221 Free sheet music: http://sovereigngracemusic.org/music...

And since I love the sound of thousands of men singing - here is another version of it live.

Provided to YouTube by Absolute Marketing International Ltd A Christian's Daily Prayer [Live] · Sovereign Grace Music · Bob Kauflin Together for the Gospel I...