every single thing.

Every single thing that happens to us expresses God's love to us, and comes to us for the furthering of God's purpose for us. Thus so far as we are concerned, God is love to us--holy, omnipotent love--at every moment and in every event of every day's life. Even when we cannot see the why and the wherefore of God's dealings, we know that there is love in and behind them, and so we can rejoice always, even when, humanly speaking, things are going wrong. We know that the true story of our life, when known, will prove to be, as the hymn says, "mercy from first to last" -- and we are content.

_j.i. packer, Knowing God, page 123

Unbelievable.

"He has saved us from the power of darkness and carried us into the kingdom of the Son of His love...And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight"

So incredibly amazing we need the Holy Spirit to believe it.

Colossians 1:13, 21-22

"I will help you."

"It is but a small thing for Me, your God, to help you. Consider what I have done already, What! Not help you? Why, I bought you with My blood. What! Not help you? I have died for you; and if I have done the greater, will I not do the less? Help you! It is the least thing I will ever do for you; I have done more, and will do more. Before the world began I chose you; I gave up My life for you; and if I did all this, I will surely help you now. In helping you, I am giving you what I have bought for you already. If you had need of a thousand times as much help, I would give it to you; you require little compared with what I am ready to give. It is much for you to need, but it is nothing for me to bestow. Help you? Fear not! If there were an ant at the door of your granary asking for help, it would not ruin you to give him a handful of your wheat; and you are nothing but a tiny insect at the door of My all-sufficiency. I will help you."

O my soul, is this not enough? Do you need more strength than the omnipotence of the united Trinity? Do you want more wisdom than exists in the Father, more love than displays itself in the Son, or more power than is manifest in the influences of the Spirit? Bring here your empty pitcher! Surely this well will fill it. Hurry, gather up your wants. and bring them here--your emptiness, your woes, your needs. Behold, this river of God is full for your supply; what else can you desire? Go forth, my soul, in this your might. The Eternal God is your helper!

Fear not, I am with you, oh, be not dismay'd!
I, I am your God, and will still give you aid.

chs | morning by morning, January 16

The Father and The Son

The great ol' story is the story of the Father and the Son working together to save a rebellious humanity by making the ultimate sacrifice. The Father must part with the Son and the Son must be depart from the Father. The Father must punish the Son and the Son must bear the punishment of the Father meant for sinners. The Father must abandon the Son and The Son must be forsaken by the Father. The Father must make the Son to be sin on sinners behalf and the Son must suffer the Father's punishment for sin on sinners behalf.



Isaiah 52:13-53:12 depicts the story best, as Franz Delitzsch said "it looks as if it had been written beneath the cross upon Golgotha."

Behold, my servant shall act wisely;
he shall be high and lifted up,
and shall be exalted.
As many were astonished at you—
his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,
and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—
so shall he sprinkle many nations;
kings shall shut their mouths because of him;
for that which has not been told them they see,
and that which they have not heard they understand.
Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.

There must have been deep anguish in the Father's heart when He righteously poured out His wrath upon the Son and there was deep agony weighing upon the Son when He drank the cup of the Father's wrath but there was another emotion. Isaiah 53:10 says it was "the will (or pleasure) of the Lord to crush Him." How could that be? How could the Father ever will or take pleasure in that? Well let me illustrate it by quoting a story that John Piper wrote to highlight this mind numbing verse:

Once there was a land ruled by a wicked prince. He had come from a foreign country and enslaved all the people of the land and made them miserable with hard labor in his coal mines across the deep canyon. He had built a massive trestle for the trains that carried his slaves across the canyon to the mines each morning, and it was heavily guarded.

Two men were still free in this land—one old and the other young. They lived on an inaccessible cliff overlooking the trestle. They hated the trestle, and they resolved together to blow it up. They planned and they prayed and they reminded themselves of the reality of heaven.

The night for the deed came. Their hearts were pounding with joy. It was a hard plan. It would be possible to time the guard's trek so that the explosive could be carried quickly to the vulnerable spot on the trestle. But it is certain that the man would be seen on the way back. To make sure the trestle blew up the young man would detonate it by hand on the trestle.

But they believed in heaven and they loved the people of the land. And so even this sacrifice made their hearts leap with joy. The hour came. They folded their map, stood from the table, and embraced each other. When the young man got to the door, he turned with the explosive on his back, looked at the old man, and said, "I love you, Father." And the old man took a deep breath—with joy—and said, "I love you too, Son."

So, may this Good Friday be a time when you drink richly of the love of God and search deeply the wounds of the Savior.

The law-preaching epidemic

“A sermon that mentions Jesus but still has you driving the verbs is still about you, not Jesus. The Gospel is all about what Jesus does for you. A sermon about what you do for Jesus isn’t the Gospel. For the Gospel to be preached, Jesus must be driving the verbs.”

-Todd Wilken

The indicative of scripture always drives the imperative of scripture. Doctrine drives application. Gospel drives obedience. We should hold truth about God before the people... not pull out life-application from scripture and feed it to the people. That becomes law-driven - which is what a majority of churches do today. Modern day phariseeism: All "how-to, do do do". Instead be gospel driven: "We can't. He did. Behold - Him."

Typical preaching only distills “Biblical Principles” which do not see the text in its redemptive-historical context. Thus it is only natural that the application part of such a sermon will tend to merely exhort people to conform to the principles.

-Tim Keller

i don't have to LIKE...

Have you ever heard this:

"I have to love (insert person's name), but I don't have to like them."

Well that has always bothered me. How is that possible?
I'm not saying I love people perfectly, I'm just saying that the phrase doesn't make sense.
This sunday John MacArthur was reading through Romans (the weekly pre-sermon reading of the Word)
He happened to read this passage which reminded me of the above phrase:

Romans 12:10: "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."

There are a couple of words/phrases that shoot down the "i don't have to like" statement.

1. "Be devoted" : Usually, when someone says "i love them, but i don't have to like them" it is usually accompanied with a statement about not having to be around them, or not having to be friends with them. Well "Be devoted" is a command that would make that idea impossible.

2. "brotherly love" : This idea is more than friendship. It is a strong family tie. This also knocks down "i don't have to be friends..."

3. "honor one another above yourselves" : This is pretty much self-explanatory. "above yourselves"... Honestly... this doesn't mean saying "well they don't like me either, so i'm loving them by not hanging out with them." No, what it means is that you are loving them and serving them in a self-sacrificing way that would cause a loving response.

Think about it... we were enemies of God. What did he do? Unleash a furious, righteous wrath on us? Nope, He unleashed a furious, righteous wrath on Christ because of His love... and yes, that means He LIKES us too.


(photo: my friend b.j., i like him)

love in action

Speaking the truth to someone often doesn't feel good. The Holy Spirits work of conviction hurts. Pride is subtle and will cause a person to immediately question the sincerity of the truth. Love comes into question.

However, the Bible clearly teaches that letting someone go on with out truth or correction is a lack of love.

Look at what Hebrews says about God regarding discipline and love:

Hebrews 12:6-8

"And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?:

'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.'

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons."

The Bible not only says that sparing discipline is a lack of love, but it calls it "hatred":

Proverbs 13:24

"He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently."


"The great mark of a believer is love for one another as God’s children. Love always necessitates discipline. If genuine love is to be manifested in the local church, biblical discipline must be practiced.

It is not an act of love when discipline is avoided. It is not an act of love if the local church does not practice biblical discipline. It is selfish and unfaithful to let a person continue sinning unchastened. Intervention can perhaps prevent the ultimate discipline.

The process sounds hard and cruel, but it is true Christian love. A believer cannot grow and mature if he persists in sin. God’s goal in discipline is always to bring about maturity in Him."

-Gil Rugh

It's like if your friend had dirt on their face - if you cared about them you would tell them. If you didn't want to offend them, so you remained silent about it, it wouldn't be considered noble or loving.

Speaking truth in someone's life is love. Without the speaking of truth, there is no love. Without love there is no truth. It goes hand in hand. So don't stay quiet. Let it be known.

Get Your Cyborg Name

harvest time.

Matthew 9:36-38:

"Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.'"

love.

Proverbs 17:17

"A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity."

This verse is so simple, yet so deep and rich. Honestly, it has hit home and rung true recently for me. Thank you, to you guys for

1. LOVING me. True love. Not just a casual affection, but a genuine godly love.
2. Loving me AT ALL TIMES. Not just when you run into me or happen to see me. But seeking me out and inquiring and praying. I definately need you.

So thank you.

I love you.

gossip.

This is on my dad's refrigerator. It is a great reminder.
I've always heard it said, "If you are not part of the problem or the solution, then don't say anything."
Some use this rule liberally and jump at the chance to be part of the "solution".

If you think you can be a part of the solution... then please do so. But when participating in the solution, only talk to those involved and that means no outside "consultation" from others.

Psalm 101:5

"Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence;
whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure."

Proverbs 17:9

"He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the
matter separates close friends."

Ephesians 4:29

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only
what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it
may benefit those who listen."

2007 Water ski trip

This years Water ski trip was a success. For once in my life I come back home content and happy about the worship and teaching that went on in the wilderness rather than the fun we had. Being surrounded by other christians who sincerely loved christ 24 hours a day was the most awesome thing that I've ever experienced. It was something that I had lacked since I stopped going to Friday morning prayer.

Worship was like nothing else. The songs. The band. The people. Everything was bent towards God's glory. The band provided such a awesome example of how we should worship Christ. They urged us not to sing if it wasn't sincere, that we should sing knowing what we were singing rather than just sing because everyone else was singing. The music was centered around God's attributes and the Gospel.

The teaching was deep but easy enough for us teens to understand. The first night we jumped straight in and Chris Muller taught us on God's sovereingty and the difference between being dead or alive in christ. After that, for the next couple of nights, Scott taught out of 1 thessalonians giving some elements that a true christian should possess.

being with The youth was another learning experience for me. I had never really met any other christians who were so devoted and with such love for our Lord. For about a week or two before camp, I had fallen in a spiritual slump. And I'm embarrassed to say, wasn't devoted as I should be. I pretty much just did whatever. Behaved wrongly. But being with these other students, with the other teachers, with our own church, was just so uplifting.

In only four days I learned so much on how to Love God. Even though I had been raised in the church, I felt like an unbeliever discoverung Christ and what its like to be in his family for the first time.

One thing we learned was that since God is sovereign, there are no accidents. I'm Glad that the Lord has opened my eyes to this. Everything that happens, happens for the Glory of God.

Please pray for me that I would continue to Love God the way that I have. That I would never lose sight of what Jesus has done and that I would just continue to Grow.

a heart for the lost.

Luke 19:41

"And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it,"

Like Christ, we should broken hearted over the lost. When we see this sinful world, our hearts should ache with compassion. We should use this sorrow to motivate us to share the Gospel.

Acts 17:16

"Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols."


"that he who can behold sin without sorrowful feelings has not the mind of the Spirit."

-J.C. Ryle

This verse

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

I think sometimes we over look this verse because we all know it. Just read it. It is amazing how much Almighty God loves this broken world. He loves it so much that he sent his son to die so that we could be saved from eternity in hell. Lets not overlook this verse anymore.

Fear of Man 2

Romans 8:31-35

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

We should not be afraid of what this world can do to us. Romans clearly says that because of Christ's death and resurrection, nothing can separate us from God's love. Not trials, not stress, not persecution, not hunger, not shame, not danger, and not even death. So why do continue to fear these things. Why do we fear what man can do to us when we know that because of Christ's blood we have God's love. Because of the amazing sacrifice Christ made, we owe him nothing less than everything. Because of Christ's sacrifice how can we let the fear of man stop us from doing what Christ has commanded us.

Matthew 28-18-20

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

We can not let the fear of what man can do to us stop us from doing what Christ has commanded us. Let this encourage you to hold fast to God's love and to no longer fear man.

Jesus paid it all

Isaiah 1:18

though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.

This verse is amazing. We are so sinful, yet because of the blood of Christ we are made clean. We are stained with sin, yet Christ's blood washes us white as snow. I think as Christians we take the blood of Christ for granted. Without his blood we are stained and deserve hell. How can we go on sinning when Christ suffered and died that we might be made right in God's eyes. How can we possibly love anything more than our savior.

Jesus Paid It All:

"I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”

For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim,
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.

When from my dying bed
My ransomed soul shall rise,
“Jesus died my soul to save,
”Shall rend the vaulted skies.

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down
All down at Jesus’ feet.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow."

Because of Christ's sacrifice we owe him everything.