'How sweet are Thy words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103)
The power of God's word to nourish and uplift, beloved, came home to my wife and me this past week in a wonderful and heart-touching way! She was sitting in the living room and I working at my desk on some notes for an upcoming message. Suddenly, I stopped still and began to listen. My mother-in-law was singing! She was not merely repeating words said to her but was actually singing on her own as she lay in her hospital bed to which she has been confined for a very long time. You must understand that at this stage in her 92-year old life her bedroom is pretty much her whole world. For the most part she lies in bed either sleeping or watching television or eating a meal. That is her life. That is her world.
But it was not primarily the fact that she was singing that caught our attention as we both stopped what we were doing to listen in amazement. It was what she was singing! I rose from my chair and went to the door of her room, standing just outside in the hallway so that I could hear every word. Again you must understand that Bev's mom does not speak, not on her own anyway. All she can say in response to anything is "No way." But this time she was singing - her choice of words without prompting and her choice of song. Would you like to know what she was singing?
At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away;
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day.
Grammy was worshiping the Lord, singing to Him the love of her heart, and that with a body that has been greatly damaged by stroke and seizures. As limited physically as she certainly is, unable to do much of anything for herself anymore, she was demonstrating that her spirit knows no bounds, that her heart is as free and flying as high as it could possibly be. Instead of bemoaning her fate, she has chosen to sing to the Lord about her redemption and to glory in the cross that gave her that redemption.
I cannot tell you in words that will convey it the joy that flooded over me as I stood outside her door and listened to her song of praise. And as I have thought about that moment in the several days that have passed since it happened, these words of the psalmist came to my mind. In her own special way, Bev's mom was telling her Savior "how sweet" His words are to her taste, how much sweeter even than honey they are to her. How often have I, when suffering far less than what she has suffered, forgotten to give glory to God and to sing His praises in the midst of my circumstances. What a wonderful lesson I learned in that moment, beloved! I want to never again forget how sweet are God's words to my spirit, how even sweeter than honey they are to me. I want to focus all the time on what God in His grace and because of His mercy has done for me. I want to join Grammy in her song and praise His lovely name!
Ron
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Open Wide!
"Therefore, we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:16)
Ok, I admit it! I am getting older. This morning I learned that I need to undergo a dental process known as receiving a "partial." Now not that it matters one bit, mind you, but my wife has worn a partial for a number of years. And she's younger than I am! The stark reality in any case is that I am aging and that parts of me are wearing out and in need of either replacement or repair. Can I get a witness?
Actually, the Apostle Paul told everyone this a long time ago when he wrote to the believers in Corinth and reminded them that we are all "decaying" day by day. Now I'll be the first to admit that, in our native tongue, "decay" is not a very palatable term. But there it is, the reality of life for all of us. We're decaying! In the original language of the New Testament, this word means literally "corrupt across" or "corrupt throughout." Passively, as it appears here, it refers to that which is perishing and which will ultimately end in death.
Wow, now there is some really good news for a Tuesday morning, isn't it? Actually, beloved, that isn't even Paul's point at all. The good news we find in his contrasting statement that, though we are all indeed dying slowly, we can all be undergoing a marvelous divine renewal at the very same time! This renewal is taking place in our "inner man" in our personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We are growing more and more like Jesus as and to the extent that we allow His Spirit to carry on this glorious work of renewal within each of our hearts. We of all people have reason to rejoice, then, for we are being prepared moment by moment to live with Jesus Christ forever!
Oh yes, and about that "decaying" thing? Paul told those same Corinthian believers that even our physical bodies will undergo divine transformation in preparation for living together eternally with our Redeemer.
"For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality" (1 Corinthians 15:53)
How, then, do you view your daily life, regardless of the chronological age at which you find yourself right now? As I see it, we have two choices: to view our living as dying or to view our living as divine transformation. Personally I choose the latter. Bring on that "partial," then, and I'll wear it with pride! There is something going on in my life that outshines every possible vestige of "decay" that I might have to undergo. I'm getting ready for eternity. How about you?
Ron
Ok, I admit it! I am getting older. This morning I learned that I need to undergo a dental process known as receiving a "partial." Now not that it matters one bit, mind you, but my wife has worn a partial for a number of years. And she's younger than I am! The stark reality in any case is that I am aging and that parts of me are wearing out and in need of either replacement or repair. Can I get a witness?
Actually, the Apostle Paul told everyone this a long time ago when he wrote to the believers in Corinth and reminded them that we are all "decaying" day by day. Now I'll be the first to admit that, in our native tongue, "decay" is not a very palatable term. But there it is, the reality of life for all of us. We're decaying! In the original language of the New Testament, this word means literally "corrupt across" or "corrupt throughout." Passively, as it appears here, it refers to that which is perishing and which will ultimately end in death.
Wow, now there is some really good news for a Tuesday morning, isn't it? Actually, beloved, that isn't even Paul's point at all. The good news we find in his contrasting statement that, though we are all indeed dying slowly, we can all be undergoing a marvelous divine renewal at the very same time! This renewal is taking place in our "inner man" in our personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We are growing more and more like Jesus as and to the extent that we allow His Spirit to carry on this glorious work of renewal within each of our hearts. We of all people have reason to rejoice, then, for we are being prepared moment by moment to live with Jesus Christ forever!
Oh yes, and about that "decaying" thing? Paul told those same Corinthian believers that even our physical bodies will undergo divine transformation in preparation for living together eternally with our Redeemer.
"For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality" (1 Corinthians 15:53)
How, then, do you view your daily life, regardless of the chronological age at which you find yourself right now? As I see it, we have two choices: to view our living as dying or to view our living as divine transformation. Personally I choose the latter. Bring on that "partial," then, and I'll wear it with pride! There is something going on in my life that outshines every possible vestige of "decay" that I might have to undergo. I'm getting ready for eternity. How about you?
Ron
Monday, March 26, 2012
Doing What Is in Your Heart
"Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father David, 'Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart. Nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who will be born to you, he shall build the house for My name'" (2 Chronicles 6:7-9)
The land was at peace from war. The people were joyfully unified under a single king and that was David, the man after God's own heart. And even as he lounged in the beautiful cedar palace that had been built for him out of precious lumber provided by Hiram, king of Tyre, still there was something unsettled in David's heart. You see, he enjoyed a luxurious palatial mansion while the Ark of the Covenant sat in a tent. And to the king such an inequality was just not right. David thus determined in his heart that he would build a true temple for the honor and glory of Jehovah.
In these words, beloved, we hear Solomon, the son of David, speaking to those who gathered for the official dedication of the very temple that David had wanted to build. What had happened, however, was that David had not built the temple but Solomon had! God had spoken to David through Nathan the prophet and had let him know that it simply was not His purpose to allow David to build the temple. Consider with me several key truths relevant to us today, beloved, that can be drawn from the example of the king of Israel desiring to do what was in his heart to do.
Note first that it is always a good thing to genuinely desire to be of service to God. In explaining to David why he could not build the temple, God in no way disparaged the desire that was in His servant's heart. In fact, God went so far as to let David know that he "did well" by having such a desire. Thus, though David's desire to build a temple for God was a very noble purpose, the ultimate purpose of God was nobler still! There may be times in life, beloved, when you and I want very much to do this or that in service to God, but it simply will not be part of God's purpose for us to do that. Whenever that may happen, be encouraged in knowing that God is still well-pleased that such a noble desire is in your heart. That is a good thing!
Note also how David responded to God's gentle but resolute refusal to allow him to build the temple. Today we are so prone to see "foot-stomping" or "name-calling" in the visible church whenever we are not allowed to do whatever it is that we want to do. We see people even leave churches because something they want to see happen does not go their way. That is so very sad indeed! Note closely how David responded to God's "no" by trusting God's judgment and accepting God's nobler purpose over his own noble desire to serve the Lord. How do you and I respond whenever God says "no" to something that is very important to us? It is always a good thing to accept God's nobler purpose when it is different than the desire of our hearts.
But note finally, beloved, how David took God's gentle "no" and turned it into a very positive "yes" in a way that proved not only to be a blessing to his own heart, but to the entire nation of Israel as well.
"Then King David said to the entire assembly, 'My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is still young and inexperienced and the work is great; for the temple is not for man, but for the Lord God. Now with all my ability I have provided for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, and the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and the wood for the things of wood, onyx stones and inlaid stones, stones of antimony and stones of various colors, and all kinds of precious stones and alabaster in abundance'" (1 Chronicles 29:1-2)
Do you see it, beloved? Instead of stomping his foot or storming away in anger, David accepted from God what he could not do and then settled down immediately to do what he could do! If David could not himself build the temple, then he could gather and provide the materials that Solomon would need to build it. And that is precisely what David did. When God for whatever reason says "no" to whatever it is that you want to do, beloved, know first that as noble as your desire may be, His desire is nobler still. Know also that He is well-pleased with the genuine desire of your heart to serve Him. And know finally that, while He may not let you do what you want to do, you can always be willing to do whatever you can. It is a good thing to always do what we can for God whenever we cannot do what we want to do.
Is there a genuine desire in your heart to serve God? Have you taken it to Him to find if your noble desire fits His ultimate purpose? Are you willing to accept either a "yes" or a "no" and to then do what you can for His glory?
Ron
The land was at peace from war. The people were joyfully unified under a single king and that was David, the man after God's own heart. And even as he lounged in the beautiful cedar palace that had been built for him out of precious lumber provided by Hiram, king of Tyre, still there was something unsettled in David's heart. You see, he enjoyed a luxurious palatial mansion while the Ark of the Covenant sat in a tent. And to the king such an inequality was just not right. David thus determined in his heart that he would build a true temple for the honor and glory of Jehovah.
In these words, beloved, we hear Solomon, the son of David, speaking to those who gathered for the official dedication of the very temple that David had wanted to build. What had happened, however, was that David had not built the temple but Solomon had! God had spoken to David through Nathan the prophet and had let him know that it simply was not His purpose to allow David to build the temple. Consider with me several key truths relevant to us today, beloved, that can be drawn from the example of the king of Israel desiring to do what was in his heart to do.
Note first that it is always a good thing to genuinely desire to be of service to God. In explaining to David why he could not build the temple, God in no way disparaged the desire that was in His servant's heart. In fact, God went so far as to let David know that he "did well" by having such a desire. Thus, though David's desire to build a temple for God was a very noble purpose, the ultimate purpose of God was nobler still! There may be times in life, beloved, when you and I want very much to do this or that in service to God, but it simply will not be part of God's purpose for us to do that. Whenever that may happen, be encouraged in knowing that God is still well-pleased that such a noble desire is in your heart. That is a good thing!
Note also how David responded to God's gentle but resolute refusal to allow him to build the temple. Today we are so prone to see "foot-stomping" or "name-calling" in the visible church whenever we are not allowed to do whatever it is that we want to do. We see people even leave churches because something they want to see happen does not go their way. That is so very sad indeed! Note closely how David responded to God's "no" by trusting God's judgment and accepting God's nobler purpose over his own noble desire to serve the Lord. How do you and I respond whenever God says "no" to something that is very important to us? It is always a good thing to accept God's nobler purpose when it is different than the desire of our hearts.
But note finally, beloved, how David took God's gentle "no" and turned it into a very positive "yes" in a way that proved not only to be a blessing to his own heart, but to the entire nation of Israel as well.
"Then King David said to the entire assembly, 'My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is still young and inexperienced and the work is great; for the temple is not for man, but for the Lord God. Now with all my ability I have provided for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, and the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and the wood for the things of wood, onyx stones and inlaid stones, stones of antimony and stones of various colors, and all kinds of precious stones and alabaster in abundance'" (1 Chronicles 29:1-2)
Do you see it, beloved? Instead of stomping his foot or storming away in anger, David accepted from God what he could not do and then settled down immediately to do what he could do! If David could not himself build the temple, then he could gather and provide the materials that Solomon would need to build it. And that is precisely what David did. When God for whatever reason says "no" to whatever it is that you want to do, beloved, know first that as noble as your desire may be, His desire is nobler still. Know also that He is well-pleased with the genuine desire of your heart to serve Him. And know finally that, while He may not let you do what you want to do, you can always be willing to do whatever you can. It is a good thing to always do what we can for God whenever we cannot do what we want to do.
Is there a genuine desire in your heart to serve God? Have you taken it to Him to find if your noble desire fits His ultimate purpose? Are you willing to accept either a "yes" or a "no" and to then do what you can for His glory?
Ron
Thursday, March 15, 2012
The Manner of a Betrayer
"And they all left Him and fled" (Mark 14:50)
When it comes to being a betrayer, beloved, Judas Iscariot sure gets all the press. And rightly so! Surely no word in the English language is any uglier than "betray." And to sell out someone for money is certainly the most venomous act imaginable. So stand up in that spotlight, Judas. You earned it!
But was Judas the only betrayer on that night of horrors? I don't think so. Mark has recorded for us here that at the point when the disciples saw that Jesus was taken there in the Garden of Gethsemane, they bolted and scattered like scared rabbits. But is that even the moment when in their own way they too betrayed the Lord?
Back up with me just a bit before Judas and the mob of religious leaders, Roman soldiers, and temple police descended upon them that night. It was still quiet and they had the garden to themselves. Jesus had only made one request of them. He had told them that He was heading for the cross but they absolutely refused to accept it. So when He asked them to watch and pray with Him, they did not see the need. What did they do? It is difficult to believe what they did!
"And He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, 'Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?'" (v. 37)
Not only did Peter and James and John fall asleep on that occasion, beloved, but Jesus went away and prayed twice more and each time came back and found them in slumber. It was as if He had never made any request of them at all! Finally, when Judas and the others were in sight, Jesus had to wake them one final time so that together they could go and face what was coming. And at that moment, having slept away their opportunity to stand with Him, they ran away!
As I think about my own life today, I must confess that there has been at times the manner of a betrayer in me as well. I know that there have been occasions when I should have prayed but did not, should have been alert but was not, should have spoken but stayed silent, should have stood up but fell back. And in those times, beloved, I was as much a "betrayer" of the Lamb of God as were the disciples that night. Think of the opportunities you may have missed yourself to stay the course, to reach out in love, to speak an encouraging word, to extend much-needed forgiveness. There is something, then, of a "betrayer" in all of us.
The thought of the disciples running away from the soldiers and temple police that night, and especially the memory of my own such failures, have filled me with the determination that they will not occur again. As a follower of Christ I am determined to stand with Him, to speak for Him, to go where He goes and to be everything He wants me to be. Want to come along?
Ron
When it comes to being a betrayer, beloved, Judas Iscariot sure gets all the press. And rightly so! Surely no word in the English language is any uglier than "betray." And to sell out someone for money is certainly the most venomous act imaginable. So stand up in that spotlight, Judas. You earned it!
But was Judas the only betrayer on that night of horrors? I don't think so. Mark has recorded for us here that at the point when the disciples saw that Jesus was taken there in the Garden of Gethsemane, they bolted and scattered like scared rabbits. But is that even the moment when in their own way they too betrayed the Lord?
Back up with me just a bit before Judas and the mob of religious leaders, Roman soldiers, and temple police descended upon them that night. It was still quiet and they had the garden to themselves. Jesus had only made one request of them. He had told them that He was heading for the cross but they absolutely refused to accept it. So when He asked them to watch and pray with Him, they did not see the need. What did they do? It is difficult to believe what they did!
"And He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, 'Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?'" (v. 37)
Not only did Peter and James and John fall asleep on that occasion, beloved, but Jesus went away and prayed twice more and each time came back and found them in slumber. It was as if He had never made any request of them at all! Finally, when Judas and the others were in sight, Jesus had to wake them one final time so that together they could go and face what was coming. And at that moment, having slept away their opportunity to stand with Him, they ran away!
As I think about my own life today, I must confess that there has been at times the manner of a betrayer in me as well. I know that there have been occasions when I should have prayed but did not, should have been alert but was not, should have spoken but stayed silent, should have stood up but fell back. And in those times, beloved, I was as much a "betrayer" of the Lamb of God as were the disciples that night. Think of the opportunities you may have missed yourself to stay the course, to reach out in love, to speak an encouraging word, to extend much-needed forgiveness. There is something, then, of a "betrayer" in all of us.
The thought of the disciples running away from the soldiers and temple police that night, and especially the memory of my own such failures, have filled me with the determination that they will not occur again. As a follower of Christ I am determined to stand with Him, to speak for Him, to go where He goes and to be everything He wants me to be. Want to come along?
Ron
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Grabbing for the Brass Ring
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9)
Anyone who has been around as long as I have will surely remember personally the "brass ring" that riders of the old carousel at the fun park used to try to grab as they rode 'round and 'round on their paint-gilded hobby horse. For those of you younger than that, well, you'll just have to watch some old movies of that era. What fun it was to try to "grab the brass ring" as you whirled around and past it each time. Reaching... reaching... reaching... stretching a little further each time until you got it. The part I can't remember is whether or not you got a free ride on the carousel when you did succeed in grabbing that ring. Hmm! Maybe someone older than I can help me out with that one.
Today it seems that when it comes to the mercy and forgiveness of God, many of us are likewise trying to "grab the brass ring" as we go around in life. We love to quote this very same verse of Scripture each time that we mess up and stand in need of forgiveness. Unfortunately, that same forgiveness so readily available to us becomes for us a "brass ring" that is right there within reach. Mess up, ask forgiveness. Mess up, ask forgiveness. Mess up, ask forgiveness. 'Round and 'round she goes. After a while, you don't even notice or care about the messing up part anymore simply because, after all, you've always got God's "brass ring"!
Maybe it's time to climb down off that carousel for a moment and take a closer look at something else that the Apostle John wrote in this same passage.
"My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin" (2:1)
Hold it right there! Did you catch that, beloved? God's willingness to forgive us when we mess up is not just some spiritual "brass ring" that dangles in front of us and all we have to do is not think about it but just grab it next time around. He clearly wants us to think about our choices before we make them. In fact, John makes it clear that God would rather not have to forgive us at all! As willing as He is to forgive and cleanse us when we do sin, He would much rather that we not need that forgiveness in the first place.
I don't know about you, but I think that I've ridden that old carousel enough. I'm ready to start taking more seriously the need to walk in holiness before Him and not just be glad I've got a brass ring to grab so that I can be forgiven. Want to join me?
Ron
Anyone who has been around as long as I have will surely remember personally the "brass ring" that riders of the old carousel at the fun park used to try to grab as they rode 'round and 'round on their paint-gilded hobby horse. For those of you younger than that, well, you'll just have to watch some old movies of that era. What fun it was to try to "grab the brass ring" as you whirled around and past it each time. Reaching... reaching... reaching... stretching a little further each time until you got it. The part I can't remember is whether or not you got a free ride on the carousel when you did succeed in grabbing that ring. Hmm! Maybe someone older than I can help me out with that one.
Today it seems that when it comes to the mercy and forgiveness of God, many of us are likewise trying to "grab the brass ring" as we go around in life. We love to quote this very same verse of Scripture each time that we mess up and stand in need of forgiveness. Unfortunately, that same forgiveness so readily available to us becomes for us a "brass ring" that is right there within reach. Mess up, ask forgiveness. Mess up, ask forgiveness. Mess up, ask forgiveness. 'Round and 'round she goes. After a while, you don't even notice or care about the messing up part anymore simply because, after all, you've always got God's "brass ring"!
Maybe it's time to climb down off that carousel for a moment and take a closer look at something else that the Apostle John wrote in this same passage.
"My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin" (2:1)
Hold it right there! Did you catch that, beloved? God's willingness to forgive us when we mess up is not just some spiritual "brass ring" that dangles in front of us and all we have to do is not think about it but just grab it next time around. He clearly wants us to think about our choices before we make them. In fact, John makes it clear that God would rather not have to forgive us at all! As willing as He is to forgive and cleanse us when we do sin, He would much rather that we not need that forgiveness in the first place.
I don't know about you, but I think that I've ridden that old carousel enough. I'm ready to start taking more seriously the need to walk in holiness before Him and not just be glad I've got a brass ring to grab so that I can be forgiven. Want to join me?
Ron
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