A Must Read on Reading
January 27, 2007 | Leave a Comment
By Al Mohler. I would encourage everyone to read it. In my opinion, we can’t speak too much about this subject. We do not realize how illiterate we are becoming as a culture. I know that I, for one, always wish I had read more. How many of us will come to our final day regretting the massive amounts of time we spent on current media compared to the few hours we spend in books? For us, a life of no regrets means more reading. So I need to stop blogging and pick up a book!
Joe
John 1:3
January 27, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Lar,
It is good for us to return to the gospel of John. Now that is a great understatement huh? For sure it is! Anyhow, you charged me with commenting on verse 4 during your weekend away (which I am of course praying for brother!), but after reviewing our posts so far, I think verse 3 is deserving of more words. After all, it doesn’t seem like we are in any rush to get through the book. And it surely won’t hurt lingering over the Scriptures!
John 1:3 reads, “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
Again, we find John emphasizing the fact that Jesus is Divine. Of course, he is not doing so explicitly in this verse, but implicitly. By saying that all things were made through Jesus Christ–the Word–John is clearly implying that He is above the created order. That is to say that Jesus Christ is Creator!
Yet the word through is an important one. Though the Triune God always acts in harmony with Himself in His three Persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit do perform different functions or roles. There is a clear economy of action within the Trinity–or it should be said, a glorious economy of action within the Trinity. Though they act as One and as equals, God the Father is clearly stated to be the One from whom are all things, while Jesus Christ is the One through whom are all things. And that is an important distinction. 1 Corinthians 8:5-6 makes this plain.
“For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth–as indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’–yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.”
Lest we think that this somehow implies an inferiority of the Son to the Father, we are wise to look at the created order and in particular, the marriage relationship. The Bible makes plain that the husband and wife are equal persons. Both have been created in the image of God (”So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27) However, in the marriage relationship, the male and female perform different roles or function. The Bible makes plain that the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church and as God is the head of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:3 says,
“But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.”
This points plainly and significantly to the great reality that there can be and is equality within the Persons of the Trinity (and in this case specifically, the Father and the Son) while those Persons perform different roles or functions and in fact, submit to one another. Marriage is beautiful when the husband is properly and faithfully performing his role as the head and the wife is properly and faithfully performing her role in submission to her husband. Such marriages are supposed to be a faint reflection of the submission within the Trinity. Marriage is a high calling indeed!
Back to the point, however, we can see that the world was created by the Father through the Son. Other verses could be cited, but suffice it to say that verse 3 of John chapter 1 makes plain the Lordship of Jesus Christ over all things as Creator and God. “Without [Jesus Christ] was not any thing made that was made.” Such truth should make us fall down at His sovereign feet in adoration in worship. And it should especially do so when we keep at the forefront of our minds what He, the Creator, has done for us!
Lines such as these in Scripture should and must cause worship deep within our souls for the One who, though He created all things, submitted Himself to the rules of the created order, to that we might be reconciled to our God and take part in His great work of redemption! Let us labor to keep such glorious truth in view as we worship our Maker and Sustainer–Jesus Christ. And let us never fear of exulting in Him too much!
I’m praying that your preaching this weekend might point those listening to seek Him harder and rejoice in Him more. May the Lord grant you mercy brother.
Basking in the One through whom God the Father created all things,
Joe
Saturday Morning Prayer
January 27, 2007 | Leave a Comment
“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14).
Father, we yearn to be free from this world and its crippling, soul-decaying lusts. We are hungry to be alive to You and all that You are. We confess that the road is difficult, and our flesh is weak. We are powerless apart from Your grace. Please Father, for the sake of Your name and for the glory of Your kingdom, mold us, transform us, and conform us to Your image and likeness. Crucify us to this dark world, and let us delight no longer in the bait of Satan. May we become, both in our hearts and in our actions, a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for Your own possession, that we may proclaim the excellencies of You who have called us out of darkness into Your marvelous light. For it is there, in Your light, that we long to dwell. We ask these things for Christ’s sake, and in His name.
Out For the Weekend
January 26, 2007 | Leave a Comment
I want to thank those who have been praying for me over the past week or two as I’ve been preparing messages for a retreat that begins tonight. I’m taking off in around an hour, so I’m going to leave the blog in the capable hands of Joe for the weekend (assuming he still has internet access!)
I do have a couple of prayers scheduled to go up in the morning on Saturday and Sunday, but I’ve found that setting the posts to go up at a scheduled time does not always ensure that they actually get posted. So hopefully they will go up as scheduled. Otherwise, Joe can fill us in on life in Spain (and hopefully give us some thoughts on John 1:4!).
Thanks again for the prayers, and if anyone reads this over the weekend, keep them coming! I will need it with five messages to be preached over the next 36 hours!
Larry
I’m Back for Good (if the Lord wills)
January 26, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Yo brother,
Sorry about missing you yesterday and this morning (for you), but for some reason our telephone and Internet were non-existent since early yesterday morning. It was an interesting turn of events, as you might imagine. We were excited to get things back in order and in contact with everyone, but then we find out that for whatever strange reason, there was a central communication issue that led our line to be cut. No matter the horizontal reason, I trust there were some good vertical ones that I one will day learn of in Heaven.
At the very least, I thought it to be a situation that highlights the importance of saying that phrase, Lord willing, or ‘if the Lord wills.’ I use it quite often, but I’m not sure that I used it in my last post. But isn’t it O so true! How often we take for granted a certain situation or circumstance (either present of future) that never comes to pass. Or at least doesn’t come to pass to the degree that we might like.
Also, it is worth noting the way that the Lord will many times grant a blessing for a season only to take it away at another time. Or take it right away for a season. It’s as if He gives us a taste of a certain blessing at the front, then takes it away, so that we will fully appreciate and enjoy it down the road when it returns. I have seen this time and again in my life, from the little things to the big things. And I believe it proves true in all of our lives. And if we haven’t seen it yet, maybe this post will help shine some light on either a past or future circumstances. The Lord isn’t interested in simply granting blessings for blessings sake. Instead, He grants blessings with a view to having them appreciated and enjoyed in such a way that He is honored.
Often, this means He will grant a taste of the blessing, then take it away, only to give it again. Why? For our good and His glory–so jealous is He for the two! If nothing else, we can know for certain that our sovereign God delights to work for His people in such a way that He aims to bring utmost satisfaction in His Son. And He does this through both the big things and the small things. There is nothing outside His sovereign control. The death of a sparrow or the coming and going of an Internet connection. Nothing takes Him off guard. Nothing happens without a purpose and a plan. There is such comfort and joy in this truth!
Also, one more thing is worth noting: I find it interesting and awe-inspiring that the Lord tends to do a great work through the little inconveniences of life. I think we miss Him here quite often. Sure, it is wise to talk about learning from God and drawing closer to God during the difficult seasons of life, but what about when your little girl pees her pants (which literally just occurred and interrupted this post!)? Or when you lose the Internet you just got? Or when your AC is down? Or when someone stops by at the most invonvenient moment? Etc. Etc. How we respond in these unexpected moments speaks volumes about where we really are with the Lord. For such moments, I am very thankful and thus, rejoice. The Lord is working on us in a thousand different, and perfectly wise ways. Most of the time, we don’t even know He is working–and that makes it all the more glorious!
Alright, enough for now brother. Lord willing, I am back on line for good, with many more posts coming!
Beholding His glory and grace in the details and inconveniences of life with you,
Joe
p.s. I wrote most of this post before catching up with the past few days posts. Incidentally, I think much of it fits perfectly with your last post re: gratitude. The presence of thanksgiving–continual thanksgiving that is–is an incredible deterrent to poor and sinful responses to the inconveniences of life (which are of course, the Lord’s good and providential will). Nothing brings peace like thanksgiving. It is quite possibly the best way to fight when we begin to feel ourselves a bit out of sort. So with all that being said, Amen to your last post brother. Let us rejoice in His good graces and gifts, being thankful always in obedience to His word!
Gratitude
January 26, 2007 | Leave a Comment
God has reminded me over the last week how ungrateful I am. It is an ugly sight. He used these words in Acts 17 to bring great conviction:
“He himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.”
It is staggering to me how little I am give Him thanks for giving me everything. I have been trying to discipline myself to give thanks more often, in my heart and with my lips. The other day as I began devotions, the Lord brought to mind all the grace that I had already partook of in the 15 minutes I had been awake. Which of these gifts am I deserving of?
A warm, comfortable bed with a lovely wife next to me, and a growing baby inside of her.
Hot water that could just be turned on with a turn of a knob. This is unheard of in other parts of the world.
Clean clothes to put on.
A granola bar and bottle of water to help me stay alert in the Word.
After walking outside into the biting cold (I do devotions in the office across the driveway), how precious is the gift of indoor heating, and the fact that I have a place to live to escape this awful cold. Thousands do not have the same gift.
A quiet office, with the only noise being the noise of the heater kicking on.
The Word of God in my own native language, with which I can grow in the knowledge and love of the Creator of the Universe, who became a Man and shed His blood to atone for my rebellion so that I could enjoy Him forever.
And with each passing hour, with each passing minute, I have more and more to be thankful for. I am learning that gratitude is a discipline. If I was in a glorified body, I suppose it would not be a needed discipline. I would give thanks effortlessly. But I am still in flesh and blood, and my foolish, sinful heart still holds on to the twisted notion that I am entitled to certain comforts and privileges.
But the day will come when I will have a glorified body, and my war against sin will be over. And for that also, I can give thanks.
I encourage our readers to pause and take 5-10 minutes to simply give thanks to God for His bountiful blessings in Christ. It is healing to the soul, and without it, we cannot properly honor God:
”I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving” (Psalm 69:30)
Larry
Friday Morning Prayer
January 26, 2007 | Leave a Comment
“12Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14)
Remind us this day, Lord, that we have not yet attained the prize of the “upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” We have been saved from darkness and brought into Your marvelous light, but we still see dimly, as in a mirror. We have not yet been perfected, but we can still press on to take hold of You, because You have graciously taken hold of us. Forbid that we should become lazy and sluggish in our journey through this life. “What lies ahead” is eternal glory and joy in Your presence. Help us to follow hard after You, earnestly seeking that eternal prize.
Larry
Pursuing Racial & Ethnic Diversity
January 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Joe (and the rest of Blog Nation),
I’m wondering what your thoughts are on this article; John Piper always seems to be involved in some controversial issue, and this article is sure to produce some disagreement. What do you think?
Running to Win
January 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Joe,
Well I guess you must be having a pretty busy day, I was hoping to see a post from you today! I mean, it’s already after 6PM in Spain! I was in meetings from 7-11 this morning, so I’m a bit delayed in getting anything up today. I have to get working on sermon #5 for this weekend, so I really don’t have time to write much more than the passage that I am about to study for my message. It is a good reminder to us all:
“24Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)
Striving to so run as to win the prize,
Larry
Thursday Morning Prayer
January 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment
“6In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7)
Father, You are not ignorant of the trials and pains we experience in this life. Not only are You aware of them; You have designed them for loving and merciful purposes. “so that” — purpose — “the tested genuineness of your faith…may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” In our pain, You mean to purify our faith which results in glory and honor at Your appearing. Help us, Lord, to be willing to suffer on this day with joy (James 1:2-4), knowing that You are working in our deepest pain to glorify Yourself and to prepare us for glory. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). Whether our pain is small (a head-cold) or great (the death of a loved one), give us eternal eyes to see Your grace which is all-sufficient in our deepest time of need.
Larry
An Exhortation (for Joe)
January 24, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Joe,
It is good to have you back indeed. It was around 3PM and I was in the midst of message preparation and was thinking how I probably should post something on the blog but was feeling particularly uninspired. How nice it was, then, to see you had posted a Tozer quote. Yes, having you back is going to be pretty nice indeed!
Your last reflections on the use of work in glorifying God made me think of a recommendation you made some time ago of the book God at Work. I thought I would link to it in case anyone is interested in that one. I haven’t read it, but I know that you and Michelle spoke very highly of it.
Well, since you’re back in the swing of things, I’ve got a job for you: John 1:4, brother. Our Gospel of John category has been pathetic! I will get back into it with you, but I charge you to get it D.U.N.N.!!!!
Larry
Back to some Tozer
January 24, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Lar,
I know you posted a Tozer quote in my honor a few weeks back, but I had to share this one. I enjoyed seeing a little personality from A.W.–which he surely had plenty of.
“Some are concerned because there are not more miracles and wonders wrought in our midst through faith. In our day, everything is commercialized. And I must say that I do not believe in commercialized miracles.
“Miracles, Incorporated”–you can have it!
“Healing, Incorporated”–you can have that, too! And the same with “Evangelism, Incorporated” and “Without a Vision the People Perish, Incorporated.” I have my doubts about signs and wonders that have to be organized, that demand a letterhead and a president and a big trailer with lights and cameras. God is not in that!
But the person of faith who can go alone into the wilderness and get on his or her knees and command heaven–God is in that. The preacher who will dare to stand and let his preaching cost him something–God is in that. The Christian who is willing to put herself in a place where she must get the answer from God and God alone–the Lord is in that!” (Faith Beyond Reason, 33-34.)
And I would add the Christian who, after waiting upon the Lord, goes to work and lives and labors in such a way that others see the worth and beauty and sacrifice of Jesus–God is in that! Naturally it is close to my heart right now b/c of two practices a day. But the Lord has been doing a good work of renewal in my mind regarding the nature of work or ‘vocation’ and its central place in the manifestation of the glory of God. Lord knows, we are all desperate to know that every minute detail of our lives count for the glory of God. But when it comes to work, we are talking hours upon hours! It is vital that we have a sound theology for such labor!
Alright, enough of my commentary, Lord willing, I will catch you tomorrow. Remember, it’s getting a bit late here.
Seeking Him with you,
Joe
Room for God’s Wrath
January 24, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Joe,
I am certainly glad to have you back, to lighten up the blogging load for me! And there are other reasons of course as well. It will especially help this weekend as I’ll be away at the retreat, hopefully you can pick me up a little!
Anyway, Vern Poythress writes on whether today’s evangelicals have room for the wrath of God in their thinking. It is a bit long but worth the read. His conclusions are,
“First, we repeatedly confront the danger of compromising the Christian faith in an effort to match the cultural norms of tolerance and civility. Second, we are in danger of muting the note of judgment and wrath in the Christian message, because that note is not only unpopular but not tolerated. Third, biblical Christianity is deeply offensive to mainstream modern culture, and we might as well get over as quickly as possible the idea that we can make it palatable.”
Now that you know the conclusions I guess you don’t have to read the article. But I think his biblical reflections are worth the time!
Larry
Let’s Get This Fiesta Started!
January 24, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Because we are back on-line at mi casa mi hermano (that is, ‘my house my brother’ in case you didn’t know)! I am excited as you can tell by the two exclamation points in the first two sentences. Now, I realize that you have been having quite a blog ‘party’ without me these two weeks, but I do hope I can add a little something to the mix. Though I still can’t believe that I missed the first explosion of comment conversation, I trust there will be more in the days and years ahead. Of course, maybe it was necessary for me to get away in order to get that conversation going, considering I have a tendency to talk so much. But hey, this is the Internet here. You can’t stifle conversation here can you?
Anyhow, I just mentioned to Erin the feeling that I received when I knew that we were back on-line in our house. It was pretty interesting in my opinion, because it was almost immediately that I felt something of a ‘connectedness.’ And I suppose this is one of the things that the Internet serves to do–to connect. However, I found it interesting that the sense was immediate. Of course, I’m not overly concerned with being connected to the world, but to those I am closest to and, of course, Blog Nation. And that was really my focus here. Being in a foreign land without the Internet really is a blessing for a season, b/c it is something of a wilderness experience. And Lord knows, each of us need more of those now and again. The Lord teaches us a great deal when we get away from the daily mix of things. So this time has been a blessing.
One other thought connected to that concerned the ‘big picture view’ of the Internet in relation to connectedness. Twenty years ago, who would have thought of such a thing? Who would have imagined, not to mention, assumed (as I do now), that I could be in semi-consistent contact with those closest to me half-way across the world? And of course, I am not the only one, but my point here is simply that because the Lord is the Lord over the Internet, we can be sure that He is doing some sort of connecting work. And as I have mentioned before, as Christians, we are wise to do our best to discern how we might use such technology to make known His greatness throughout the four corners of the globe. Much could be said, but that is enough for now.
So Lar, let’s ‘roll’ once again brother. I am looking forward to it. As you said before, now this blog can serve one of the reasons that we started it. Your monologue has been great, I am sure, and ministered to many, but as the wise old preacher said, two are better than one!
Catch you soon, brother (if the Lord gives me breath and sustains our connection!),
Joe
Wednesday Morning Prayer
January 24, 2007 | Leave a Comment
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11).
Guard us Father, from the deadly perils of pride. We thank You for coming to live in flesh and blood and showing us the pathway to glory is through humility. “Though he was in the form of God, [He] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,” (Phil. 2: 6-10)
Help us, Father, to be like Christ. May we regard ourselves as least of all people, Lord, if only our lives might be used to point people away from us and to Your riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Larry
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