"A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations." - Psalm 100:1-5 ESV
I really like this Psalm.
I didn't want to make 'a joyful noise' to the Lord when I woke up. It has been a hard couple of days for me for whatever reason. Motivation is a little harder to find.
Then I followed the progression of this Psalm...
The Lord is God.
He made us.
We are his people.
We are cared for like sheep.
There is a gate we can enter into.
Enter it!
Pick the attitude of thanksgiving when you enter.
Thank Him personally.
His Love is a forever Love.
He was faithful. He is faithful. He will be faithful to ALL generations.
This Psalm changed my mind and my heart began to follow. I found a motivation that is strong. I found it inside the gate of His property.
"I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me." - Psalm 119:93 KJV
Precepts.
They can enliven us because there is a kingdom right behind, beneath and above them. Evil ones can kill us but God's Heavenly ones can bring us into the gates where there is life.
--
Showing posts with label Christocentric Theology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christocentric Theology. Show all posts
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Come Unto Me
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28 ESV
"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." - Ephesians 4:11-16 ESV
The Apostle Paul says a lot in the Ephesians passage but I see it all as pointing back to Jesus' 'Come unto me.' statement. Leadership is to bring people to Jesus. Leadership points people to Jesus. Leadership teaches people who Jesus is and how accessible His Is. It is always going to be needed because there are always people new to the faith or a generation coming up that need this kind of direction.
I can measure today's success very easily. Did I go to Jesus? Did I point people to myself, or themselves or to a gracious Saviour?
It is amazing how a person can wake up and be 'heavy ladened.' I'm going to Him and laying those burdens down. I suggest you do the same. They will only get heavier as the day goes on. He wants to be your burden bearer. He wants to wash your feet. He wants to spend the day with You.
Let's grow into this together.
--
"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." - Ephesians 4:11-16 ESV
The Apostle Paul says a lot in the Ephesians passage but I see it all as pointing back to Jesus' 'Come unto me.' statement. Leadership is to bring people to Jesus. Leadership points people to Jesus. Leadership teaches people who Jesus is and how accessible His Is. It is always going to be needed because there are always people new to the faith or a generation coming up that need this kind of direction.
I can measure today's success very easily. Did I go to Jesus? Did I point people to myself, or themselves or to a gracious Saviour?
It is amazing how a person can wake up and be 'heavy ladened.' I'm going to Him and laying those burdens down. I suggest you do the same. They will only get heavier as the day goes on. He wants to be your burden bearer. He wants to wash your feet. He wants to spend the day with You.
Let's grow into this together.
--
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Brought Beyond The Natural Boundary
We had a good time on outreach on Saturday and I am still pondering seed thoughts from the lunch rap time.
Jezebel brought Ahab past his moral boundary.
"(There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the LORD like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited." - 1 Kings 21:25 ESV
He did evil because she incited him.
We are brought past moral good into spiritual life by Christ.
"Then he said to them, 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.' And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.' And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, 'So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.' Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, 'My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.' And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, 'Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.' " - Matthew 26:38-45 ESV
Those men had reached the limit of their natural capacity. Jesus took those few steps beyond. He went to a place no other man could go and brought us with Him.
There are people all over the world being incited by the Jezebel's in their life. They do what they know they shouldn't with a little push to help them.
We can live another life and be brought past what is natural by faith in Christ. He Is the One with the power. He Is the faithful One. We fix our eyes on Him and step out on the water to come to Him and it brings us beyond morality into a spiritual life.
--
Jezebel brought Ahab past his moral boundary.
"(There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the LORD like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited." - 1 Kings 21:25 ESV
He did evil because she incited him.
We are brought past moral good into spiritual life by Christ.
"Then he said to them, 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.' And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.' And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, 'So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.' Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, 'My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.' And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, 'Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.' " - Matthew 26:38-45 ESV
Those men had reached the limit of their natural capacity. Jesus took those few steps beyond. He went to a place no other man could go and brought us with Him.
There are people all over the world being incited by the Jezebel's in their life. They do what they know they shouldn't with a little push to help them.
We can live another life and be brought past what is natural by faith in Christ. He Is the One with the power. He Is the faithful One. We fix our eyes on Him and step out on the water to come to Him and it brings us beyond morality into a spiritual life.
--
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Beguiling Speech - Colossians - Part 43
Today's word is pithanologia (Strong's G4086) which is translated 'beguiling speech' or in the this translation 'plausible arguments'...
"For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments." - Colossians 2:1-4 ESV
We have all heard theology where people use many scriptures and have convincing arguments but what is being said simply isn't true or is based on a false premise but contains nuggets of truth.
God gives us elements here that can help us discern truth. This teacher loves souls. There is an interest in the growth of the hearer. They are centered in on Christ and His work.
All the mysteries of assurance, understanding and knowledge center around Jesus.
There are teachers who center around science, philosophy, family, morality, history and end times prophecy. They say fascinating things but Jesus is a footnote if He is even mentioned at all. Those folks will gain thousands of followers because what they say resonates with mankind's desire to better themselves but unless there is transformation and evangelism it is all a big distraction.
Don't get me wrong... If the Gospel is preached I'm sure God is using those folks in some ways. They have some affect on culture but what people really need is transformation and illumination. They need assurance and an impartation of God's life.
I'll take a simple man who just lets the Bible speak over an intellectual giant who reads things into the Bible any day.
I plan to read this passage again and again today...
"For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments." - Colossians 2:1-4 ESV
I don't want a theology of plausible arguments. I want Jesus and Him alone.
Maybe there are concepts that are woven into our thinking from past associations or a pre-salvation thought life that have remained in our thinking but they just aren't true. We don't need to ever be introspective but if those things are there I want this scripture to wash us so that the line of thinking that isn't firmly on the foundation of Christ will be exposed and dealt with. Those things 'make sense' but they rob us of joy and assurance. They are incompatible with wisdom from above.
"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." - James 3:17-18 ESV
Wash us God. We want to see a harvest of righteousness. We want to see Jesus.
--
"For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments." - Colossians 2:1-4 ESV
We have all heard theology where people use many scriptures and have convincing arguments but what is being said simply isn't true or is based on a false premise but contains nuggets of truth.
God gives us elements here that can help us discern truth. This teacher loves souls. There is an interest in the growth of the hearer. They are centered in on Christ and His work.
All the mysteries of assurance, understanding and knowledge center around Jesus.
There are teachers who center around science, philosophy, family, morality, history and end times prophecy. They say fascinating things but Jesus is a footnote if He is even mentioned at all. Those folks will gain thousands of followers because what they say resonates with mankind's desire to better themselves but unless there is transformation and evangelism it is all a big distraction.
Don't get me wrong... If the Gospel is preached I'm sure God is using those folks in some ways. They have some affect on culture but what people really need is transformation and illumination. They need assurance and an impartation of God's life.
I'll take a simple man who just lets the Bible speak over an intellectual giant who reads things into the Bible any day.
I plan to read this passage again and again today...
"For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments." - Colossians 2:1-4 ESV
I don't want a theology of plausible arguments. I want Jesus and Him alone.
Maybe there are concepts that are woven into our thinking from past associations or a pre-salvation thought life that have remained in our thinking but they just aren't true. We don't need to ever be introspective but if those things are there I want this scripture to wash us so that the line of thinking that isn't firmly on the foundation of Christ will be exposed and dealt with. Those things 'make sense' but they rob us of joy and assurance. They are incompatible with wisdom from above.
"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." - James 3:17-18 ESV
Wash us God. We want to see a harvest of righteousness. We want to see Jesus.
--
Monday, December 28, 2015
Jesus, Grace And The Full Reward
"And now I ask you, dear lady - not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning - that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son." - 2 John 1:5-9 ESV
Notice how John warns against losing what we have worked for and not what Christ has done. All of this is said in the context of teachers and teaching. We can't lose what Christ has done but we can lose a very precious possession.
I am convinced that the full reward is a grace understanding centered on the the deity and incarnation of Christ. Anyone who undermines the incarnation is seeking to undermine the authority of grace. The word full (used in verse 8) is the Greek word Pleres (Strong's G4134). It speaks of a container that is full to the brim. That fullness displaces everything else.
Grace must displace everything else or it is not grace. God has either given it or we have earned it. There is no middle ground. If God has given it then we can't lose it. It isn't based on us in the first place.
The incarnation makes the gift possible.
Sleeping beauty stays asleep with no Messiah to wake her up. People find that fairy tale to be dated and sexist because it makes one person reliant on another but it is a perfect parallel for us. We need Messiah and if we forget Him, dilute His work or push him to the side God ceases to be 'in' what we are participating in.
I saw a couple of 'so called' christian movies this Christmas season. They mentioned god and spoke about compassion, forgiveness, reconciliation and redemption but guess who was missing? All those things are wonderful things but they are just not possible without Messiah. True forgiveness without Jesus is a fairy tale because true forgiveness needs the cross.
"Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." - Hebrews 4:11-12 ESV
"But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh." - Jude 1:20-23 ESV
Yes. Don't let anyone mess with the grace framework centered on Christ Himself. Guard it. It is what will build up and reach those who doubt. It is our doorway into rest.
--
Notice how John warns against losing what we have worked for and not what Christ has done. All of this is said in the context of teachers and teaching. We can't lose what Christ has done but we can lose a very precious possession.
I am convinced that the full reward is a grace understanding centered on the the deity and incarnation of Christ. Anyone who undermines the incarnation is seeking to undermine the authority of grace. The word full (used in verse 8) is the Greek word Pleres (Strong's G4134). It speaks of a container that is full to the brim. That fullness displaces everything else.
Grace must displace everything else or it is not grace. God has either given it or we have earned it. There is no middle ground. If God has given it then we can't lose it. It isn't based on us in the first place.
The incarnation makes the gift possible.
Sleeping beauty stays asleep with no Messiah to wake her up. People find that fairy tale to be dated and sexist because it makes one person reliant on another but it is a perfect parallel for us. We need Messiah and if we forget Him, dilute His work or push him to the side God ceases to be 'in' what we are participating in.
I saw a couple of 'so called' christian movies this Christmas season. They mentioned god and spoke about compassion, forgiveness, reconciliation and redemption but guess who was missing? All those things are wonderful things but they are just not possible without Messiah. True forgiveness without Jesus is a fairy tale because true forgiveness needs the cross.
"Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." - Hebrews 4:11-12 ESV
"But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh." - Jude 1:20-23 ESV
Yes. Don't let anyone mess with the grace framework centered on Christ Himself. Guard it. It is what will build up and reach those who doubt. It is our doorway into rest.
--
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Coming Clean
Talking to God this morning about myself and about people. Shedding some tears and bearing my soul. Some of the tears are for the people and some are just tears because I doubt that God is listening in the way I want Him to.
Ever been there?
I know God hears and I also know enough theology to understand some things about sovereignty and holiness. I can quote Bible verses at God like I sometimes do to people. I know He is listening because my life is hidden in Christ who Is in God. Christ is seated at God's right hand in Heaven as we speak so I know I have an audience. Yet...
This closeness reveals my depravity. I am undone in the presence of holiness. I weep because I sometimes feel like a dirty fraud. I weep for myself and then repent because I am so selfish.
"Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem." - 2 Chronicles 1:14 ESV
"Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity... I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind... Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun." - Ecclesiastes 1:2, 14, 2:11 ESV
God came through for Solomon and Israel in so many ways. The land was prospering and so was Solomon. Solomon was a powerful, rich and wise man. But he was miserable at this stage of his life.
You can say that Solomon was saying that believing God has value and Earthly accomplishments are vain. You can make him sound spiritual if you want to but I think he is just miserable because God isn't blessing the work of 'his' hands. Solomon is blessed because of Abraham. Isaac and David his father and not because of Solomon.
Solomon had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen in his little nation the size of New Jersey. He was a powerful man that could direct that power but it wasn't ever going to be about him and his plan.
"He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and did not wholly follow the LORD, as David his father had done." - 1 Kings 11:3-6 ESV
Idolatry is when we look for Gods that will bless our plans.
"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ" - Ephesians 1:2-9 ESV
Yes. Knowing this I become a spiritual optimist.
Tears of frustration become tears of joy.
God isn't going to bless the people I'm praying for based on me. They need work, comfort, companionship and hope and I can move my Earthly chariots (if I have them) in positions to defend them but the bottom line is that God must come through for them and in a very real way He already has. He came through long before we were born. That victory was revealed Easter morning when a man rose from the grave.
That victory can be manifested in our moments. That is what I find myself asking for.
I pray a 'grace be unto you and peace' prayer based on the risen Son... not based on myself. I start with myself sometimes but God shifts me to Jesus. I realize that the only reason I even care is because He cares and Is moving me to pray and weep.
I come clean about my selfishness and God cleanses me with His grace and mercy.
God has covered me with His robe of righteousness. My tears are dry.
Thank you God... a thousand times over... 'Thank You.'
--
Ever been there?
I know God hears and I also know enough theology to understand some things about sovereignty and holiness. I can quote Bible verses at God like I sometimes do to people. I know He is listening because my life is hidden in Christ who Is in God. Christ is seated at God's right hand in Heaven as we speak so I know I have an audience. Yet...
This closeness reveals my depravity. I am undone in the presence of holiness. I weep because I sometimes feel like a dirty fraud. I weep for myself and then repent because I am so selfish.
"Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem." - 2 Chronicles 1:14 ESV
"Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity... I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind... Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun." - Ecclesiastes 1:2, 14, 2:11 ESV
God came through for Solomon and Israel in so many ways. The land was prospering and so was Solomon. Solomon was a powerful, rich and wise man. But he was miserable at this stage of his life.
You can say that Solomon was saying that believing God has value and Earthly accomplishments are vain. You can make him sound spiritual if you want to but I think he is just miserable because God isn't blessing the work of 'his' hands. Solomon is blessed because of Abraham. Isaac and David his father and not because of Solomon.
Solomon had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen in his little nation the size of New Jersey. He was a powerful man that could direct that power but it wasn't ever going to be about him and his plan.
"He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and did not wholly follow the LORD, as David his father had done." - 1 Kings 11:3-6 ESV
Idolatry is when we look for Gods that will bless our plans.
"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ" - Ephesians 1:2-9 ESV
Yes. Knowing this I become a spiritual optimist.
Tears of frustration become tears of joy.
God isn't going to bless the people I'm praying for based on me. They need work, comfort, companionship and hope and I can move my Earthly chariots (if I have them) in positions to defend them but the bottom line is that God must come through for them and in a very real way He already has. He came through long before we were born. That victory was revealed Easter morning when a man rose from the grave.
That victory can be manifested in our moments. That is what I find myself asking for.
I pray a 'grace be unto you and peace' prayer based on the risen Son... not based on myself. I start with myself sometimes but God shifts me to Jesus. I realize that the only reason I even care is because He cares and Is moving me to pray and weep.
I come clean about my selfishness and God cleanses me with His grace and mercy.
God has covered me with His robe of righteousness. My tears are dry.
Thank you God... a thousand times over... 'Thank You.'
--
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Show Us The Father
A Greek scholar named Kenneth Wuest has a three volume set. It is a badly indexed treasure chest of theology (maybe the newer versions have a better index). I woke up wanting to read some of the golden nuggets in volume III this morning. So good...
On page 85 Wuest translates John 1:18 this way:
"God in his invisible essence no one has ever seen. The only begotten God who is constantly in the bosom of the Father, that one has fully explained him."
"Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? ' " - John 14:9 ESV
The Father was and is very pleased with His Son. Jesus as a man who was seen... reflected the heart of the Father who was not seen.
Most of the day yesterday I was thinking of this verse from Luke 10.
"And he said to them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.' " - Luke 10:2 ESV
Jesus diverted the pressure to God. His instruction pointed to God. He fully reflected His Father's heart of grace and His Father's willingness to provide provision for the work at hand.
There are seasons when God's willingness seems hidden from us. Jesus is the revealing of the Father. He goes and sends people. He is the gentle shepherd with healing in His hands.
Today if Christ is our sufficiency we will see and experience the Father.
"I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God." - John 16:25-27 ESV
Today can be a day of asking and of 'plain speech'. I believe God will do things in our midst and show us His thinking if we approach Him through the doorway that is His Son's life.
--
On page 85 Wuest translates John 1:18 this way:
"God in his invisible essence no one has ever seen. The only begotten God who is constantly in the bosom of the Father, that one has fully explained him."
"Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? ' " - John 14:9 ESV
The Father was and is very pleased with His Son. Jesus as a man who was seen... reflected the heart of the Father who was not seen.
Most of the day yesterday I was thinking of this verse from Luke 10.
"And he said to them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.' " - Luke 10:2 ESV
Jesus diverted the pressure to God. His instruction pointed to God. He fully reflected His Father's heart of grace and His Father's willingness to provide provision for the work at hand.
There are seasons when God's willingness seems hidden from us. Jesus is the revealing of the Father. He goes and sends people. He is the gentle shepherd with healing in His hands.
Today if Christ is our sufficiency we will see and experience the Father.
"I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God." - John 16:25-27 ESV
Today can be a day of asking and of 'plain speech'. I believe God will do things in our midst and show us His thinking if we approach Him through the doorway that is His Son's life.
--
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