Category: Good Life Journal

Journal Ro 6 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.

 

For as by the one man’s disobedience (Adam) the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience (Jesus) the many will be made righteous.

 

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but…where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

What shall we say then?  Are we to continue in sin so that grace may abound?  By no means!!  How can we who died to sin still live in it?  Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

 

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that (just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father), we too might walk in newness of life.”  Ro 5:18 through Ro 6:4

Observation: Significant words to a significant precept: The Salvation of Grace through Faith wasn’t bestowed with an expectation that sinning is now somehow OK…

Analysis: A simple principle that is also somehow complex on multiple planes of understanding.

The Gospel, the Cross, Jesus dying for our sin and opening the door for lowly man to have a relationship of family (albeit through adoption) with the Father, wasn’t Plan B to a Plan A failure (Eden).  The Cross was always Plan A.

Simply: Salvation is free in that I didn’t have to pay or exchange value for it.  To be fully understood, Man does NOT have any intrinsic value that could be exchanged for salvation.

Salvation has a cost in that Jesus consciously became the sacrifice, the Atonement to pay for our Sin (capitalized because the Atonement was for our sinful condition being the children of Adam, not initially for any identified, defined, individual sin I may have committed).

Salvation comes to Man, through willful choice (Human Responsibility), through Faith (that is, having mental and emotional alignment and confidence) that Jesus did this generally for Creation and for me specifically and is Sufficient to satisfy the Wrath of Holy God against Sin.

Therefore, since He has done this, Man should have a self-expectation to “walk in newness of Life”, like Paul writes above.  This is the symbolism of baptism: He died and rose from the Grave; I symbolically die in baptism (a water grave) and rise in symbolic life, determined to be like Him and to pursue Him all my days.

Confirming that there are a number of Spiritual (supernatural) changes in Man by the Holy Spirit, the point here and in the above scripture passage, is that Grace through Salvation is not without responsibility—Actual sinful actions and attitudes are not, should not be embraced as “Everything is ok, I am now saved, all I have to do is claim the Blood.”

There is something inherently wrong here that should be questioned to the Face in the Mirror.

Prayer: Lord God, this was very difficult for me to understand until I started to separate God’s Sovereignty from Man’s Responsibility 20 years ago.  Even then it was difficult to orient my thoughts accordingly.  Is it because sinful man messes this up in their thoughts?  I wonder…

Still, it seems that I must write 4 to 5 times what Paul writes to get this doctrine in clarity.  My goodness, that man was smart.

Help me to continue to emphasize the Gospel in every facet.  I could stay on the Gospel for the rest of my life and never completely plumb the depths.  Thank you for the Gospel.

 

Amen

Ricky Two Shoes

 

Journal Ro 5 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this Grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Ro 5:1-2

Observation:  Paul writes to the Romans in a very systematic way; almost like an outline where there is a statement and an obvious outcome and repeats the process again.  These two sentences are just one example of the teaching process in his writing.

Analysis: It appears that each chapter of Romans resides on the shoulders of the precepts talked about in the previous chapters, and specifically the individual chapter before.

While these two sentences enforce “justification by Faith”, the precedent principle is that before this, man did (and does not) have peace with God; Man needed a solution applied that would allow him to “have peace with God.”

That would be Jesus.  But, how?

These are the type of questions that believers, reading through the Bible and especially books like Romans, should be asking themselves.  At one point in my life, I could read (and did), underline (and did) the phrase, “…we have been justified by faith…”  Verse 2 was made into a song by Buck and Annie Herring (2^nd Chapter of Acts—can’t hardly find these CD’s anymore—70’s and 80’s…) and reinforced the Doctrine of Salvation by Faith.  (By the way, look for Christian songs that pound doctrine.  Avoid those that don’t.)

How did Jesus bridge the chasm?  How did He become our propitiation?  Why did His blood atone for our sins (and Sin)?  Why was Jesus the only person that had enough worth to do this?

Or the very obvious, “What is the word, Therefore, there for?”  What was it in Chapter 4 (or 3 or 2 or 1) that drew an obvious conclusion in the first sentence of Chapter 5?

In reading (out loud is very good, there is an intrinsic blessing), and writing in your journal (also very good, it makes us think coherently and gives us subjects to ask questions/talk about), we can come up with the “Wait a minute!!  What did that mean?  Let me read that over again…” moment—not the re-reading because we had a  fogged out moment, but the re-reading that comes because the Holy Spirit prompted us “So you think you understand, huh?  Spirit says, I bet not.  Try again.”

Prayer: Father, You are very aware that I can (and have) studied to reinforce “know it all” arrogance.  And I am very aware that you have disciplined me, closed off doors, to keep humility forefront in me—not only in the local Church, but in business, in relationships, etc.

I am committed to the road you are leading me upon.  Working ever to mortify that sin in me,

Amen

Ricky Two Shoes

 

Scripture

Vs 19 “He (Abraham) did not weaken in his faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead … or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb.

Vs 20 ” … he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God.”

Vs 21 “fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”

Vs 22 “That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness.”

Observation

Abraham had not received the fulfillment of the promise of God, yet he was glorifying God.

As a result of this, he grew strong in his faith.

Abraham knew the promise God made to him, and he glorified God before the promise was fulfilled.

He based his faith on who God is (“fully convinced that God was able”), not on the circumstances of his own life (“he was as good as dead”).

Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of this kind of faith.

Application

How often do I reverse the order of Abraham’s actions?

With me is it usually:

Step 1 – Something good happens in my life!

Step 2 – I’ll credit God for it happening!

Step 3 – I glorify God for his goodness.

(And maybe even “step 4”, where I glorify myself for being such a “good Christian” who credits God for the good things in my life & doesn’t take credit myself. … But I’ll leave that thought for another time.)

“To God be the glory!” is a common refrain to God’s goodness in life.

But this is in response to “good things happening”.

And it’s almost become “cliche” in Christian circles … Like saying “God bless you” after a sneeze.

How sad, could I really let glorifying God become cliche, trite, … a superficial response?

With Abraham he first glorified God!

And then his faith grew strong!

And later God’s promise (to be a father of generations and nations) was fulfilled.

Those words … “he grew strong in his faith AS HE GAVE GLORY TO GOD” ring in my ears and heart.

It’s so much easier to “grow in faith” as God gives to me!

But then, is that faith? Or is that merely thankfulness?

Abraham was righteous because of FAITH, not because he said “Thank You”.

Perhaps my favorite definition of “faith” is: Believing God is who He says He is and will do what He says He’ll do.

This is precisely the faith Abraham shows.

And it’s in seeing this faith that the words of Jesus makes sense, “A wicked generation demands a sign”.

How many future generations of Abraham would demand signs & miracles … including my own generation?

But Abraham glorified God BEFORE the sign of a fulfilled promise.

To glorify God the way Abraham did is not as a response to God, but as a “pre”-sponse to God.

What does that look like for me? …

God seems silent. I will glorify God.

God seems absent. I will glorify God.

I can’t see God “showing up” in my days. I will glorify God.

When my life isn’t “all good” or even terrible. I will glorify God.

I will glorify God because of who He is, not because of my circumstances.

And my faith will grow stronger.

And I will be counted as righteous.

Prayer

Father God, thank you for the gift of faith.

Holy Spirit encourage me and empower me to exercise this gift of faith even when I don’t see the evidence or promise of God revealed.

Jesus I pray that I would live to glorify God in my everyday actions just as you did.

In Jesus name, Amen!

Scripture –

Romans 3:23-25 – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.  This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

Observation –

No one is righteous, everyone is a sinner and has missed the mark of a righteous and holy God. We can be justified with God through his gift of grace when we place our faith in the redemptive work of Jesus.  The shedding of blood by Jesus to pay for our sins when we believe allows God to be just and righteous and see us as cleansed by the work of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection to overcome death.

Application –

We all have sinned fall short of the glory of God and are deserving of His wrath.  This is the bad news before the good news.  But I must realize the gravity of my sin and my need for a savior to rescue me from death to life.  I have to remember that God doesn’t force rank sin where some sin is more acceptable than others.  With that, we are living in a time where God’s natural order is being put in question as evil is being portrayed as good and good as evil.  Now the Good News, by the grace of God He offered the sacrifice of his Son for us while we were sinners against Him.  This is a free gift but I and everyone must choose to receive Jesus or deny Him.  There is nothing I can do on my own to be righteous before a holy God other than believe in the name of Jesus.

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for the truth in your Word and your grace in having sent Jesus to pay for my sins when I place my faith in His name and follow Him.  Let the Spirit guide to live this out and clearly articulate your love and grace to extend your glory.

Journal Ro 2 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Therefore, you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges (condemns).  For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself…because you, the judge, practice the very same things.

 

We know that the judgment of God rightly (judiciously) falls on those who practice such things.

 

Do you suppose, O man— (you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself)—that you will escape the judgment of God?  Or….do you PRESUME on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”  Ro 2:1-4

Observation:  Why do Believers fall into this error: Assumption of moral superiority that FINALLY I have been made better than my former mates, and/or Presumption that God has made me morally able to put my “lessers” in their place?  What is the difference between humility and hypocrisy?

Analysis: I remember a time in my life where my nose was tilted like a ski slope.  I was the walking, talking epitome of the story about the Rich Man and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14), “I am so glad that You have justified me, and I am not like that tax collector: dirty, rotten, scoundrel that he is…”

I am still like the rich man, although I fight to mortify that sin every day.  I am growing to be like the tax collector, knowing richly I am a sinner, will always be a sinner, but also knowing that I have a Savior who redeems me from my sin.

Key? Cultivating humility; real, biblically based, candidly and personally understood, humility.

For me to understand and communicate, I must break down doctrines into component parts.  The most basic categories are possibly God’s Sovereignty and Human Responsibility.  I think that no matter how any particular, individual scripture is phrased, the two categories remain as holy guidance.

I am guided to understand that biblical humility is not the mental picture of sackcloth and ashes, “a woe is me” attitude, “I am only dirt” mental attitude.  Biblical humility can be understood as the difference between Creator and Created (among other descriptors).

Paul is making sure an emphasis on communicating believers is told plainly that, despite being in that category of Saved, there is still a sin component that resides within, that must be put to death, that is just like every other person, and with every condemning judgement against another, is condemning myself.  There is a verse: “How can I judge the one who falls, when I know in my heart, I am just like them all…My righteousness only resides in You.”

That is why humility will begin with a fierce, candid look in the mirror—not condemning oneself—because without faith in the Atonement, we are already and always condemned in the Sight of Holy God.  It is Jesus that changes that reality for us.

With that understanding of Sin, deserved Wrath, and Merciful Atonement, we can preach the Gospel to ourselves and then to others without hypocrisy.

Prayer:  Ah, shucks, Lord: whenever I start to write, this is what pops up.  It is like a “whack a mole” fair/circus game.  But I can’t get away from how important this is!!  I am no Spurgeon but even he hammered on the Gospel every chance he got.  I am no John Owen, but he devoted scads of time peeling apart Sin—not the sin of unbelievers, but the Doctrine of Sin as applied to believers.

Help me to understand and communicate with ever increasing clarity.

Heal my wife.

 

Amen

Ricky Two Shoes

 

4/18/22 Monday

Journal Ps 69; 118 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high!  I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.

When the humble see it, they will be glad—You who seek God, let your hearts revive!!  For the Lord hears the need and does not despise his own people who are prisoner.” Ps 69:29-33

Observation:  One of the realities of the Psalmist is his candor.  He is not afraid, nor does it look like he is creating a false narrative of his own experiences to make a point of God’s saving love towards man…

Analysis: I will say it again: I think God’s point of the Psalms towards those who believe is to give man an example to be transparent and operate in candor; that is, don’t fall into the narrative that I always should have a “positive” confession and avoid saying negative things about my life.

Much of the Psalms fall into this type of rhythm, like the above: “I am afflicted and in pain…”  The Psalmist makes no bones about what he is feeling, what he is experiencing.  Does this statement involve physical pain as well as emotional pain?  It could: there is no reason to eliminate one (like physical) in favor of the other.

Am I crushed in spirit? Since there is nothing new under the sun (Ecc 1:9), probably all men throughout all time and time to come will experience such crushing.

Therefore, the Psalmist is committed to be honorable and transparent—he will communicate his agony no matter how small or large it is, and he will not protect his pride but is determined to be humble in approaching the Most High: “I hurt, O God, I am in agony in my heart; I am in distress for my own seem to dislike and hate me without cause…”

I think that most people have issues in expressing themselves like this; I know I do.  Guessing, I think that there is a thought that saying the above out loud is somehow shameful; “God knows my heart, there is nothing gained by saying it out loud—especially in front of others…”  (Perhaps this is the fallacy of the “unspoken” or “silent” prayer in the midst of a church gathering; is it pandering or subtly enforcing an attitude of pride?  Just thinking with my fingers…)

After the good confession of personal affliction and the emotion involved, there comes the objective FACTS of the Gospel: “But You are good to me, you are my Salvation!!  You will (present and future tense) set me on High…)  I am writing the word Fact instead of Truth because in context they are interchangeable BUT in today’s parlance Truth is malleable; it means whatever (again in today’s parlance) we want it to mean depending on the POV one has.

This is why the objective Facts of the Gospel are to be embedded in our hearts and mind; every point, every doctrine and precept, everything—and is why the Facts of the Gospel should be pursued to be a reflexive response to the infidelity of the World.

Be faithful to expose and unveil your heart to God.  He sees it anyway, but that is not the point.  Like Adam and Eve covered themselves in the Garden, they did it out of equal parts pride (I don’t want You to see me exposed) and shame (My covering is because I love myself more than I love You, O God).

Prayer: Father, help me to navigate my shame.  I am confused and feel like I am adrift.  Heal my wife; give me a renewed sense of purpose in You.  Restore our relationship with my family and our children.  Gift us with the relationship with our grandchildren we so long for.

Make me faithful in writing again.

Amen

Ricky Two Shoes

Scripture –

Psalm 16:11 – You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Observation –

For the person who fears God and takes refuge in Him, God reveals the path of life that is only found through a relationship with Jesus to follow Him.  There is true joy only available through commune with God even during hardship.  Trusting in the name of Jesus and His finished work on the cross leads to eternal life in Heaven.  Contrast this with those who are deceived and follow their own god whose path is that of sorrow and destruction.

 

Application –

There are only two paths and two kinds of people.  God reveals himself to me through His creation and His living Word. God who created the heavens, earth along with everything in itcreated me in His image.  God loved me so much that He sent Jesus to die for my sins and be resurrected to defeat death so I could repent be reconciled and have everlasting life with Him. I choose to follow Jesus and grow in my relationship to follow His path which leads to life.  This is my greatest need met by the blood of the Lamb. With God there is a fullness of life and joy that is not circumstantial.  The alternate path is to deny the one true God and His truth to seek after created gods with subjective truth claims.  This path is one which is turned away from God leading to death and eternity is too long to get it wrong!

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for making known to me the path of life is only through Jesus.  Let the power of the Holy Spirit guide me to share your love to extend your glory here and amongst all people!

Scripture –

John 16: 13–14 – When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.  He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Observation –

Jesus is telling the disciples about the coming of the Spirit and how the Advocate will work.  The Holy Spirit is part of the Triune God sent from God and therefore is truth.  The power of the Spirit is to guide believers in the truth of the Father and the Son.  The Spirit will allow those in Christ to see things in the future. The Spirit will teach, show and remind us of Jesus to glorify Him.

 

Application –

I must listen and submit to the Spirit to give me strength and encouragement!  The Spirit is of power not of fear to remain strong in my faith as we enter into a more secular society full of moral relativism.   God’s word is truth as it is revealed to me by the Spirit.  Truth is not subjective, fluid or changing due to cultural trend and pressure.  I have to believe in the entirety of the Bible as the Spirit filled written word of God suitable for instruction. I know I can trust in God’s word as it is unchanging and prepares me.  When I listen and follow the Spirit I am walking on a path towards Jesus to point others to give God the glory.

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for your love, grace and your steadfast truth!  Let the power of the Spirit guide me in your truth to share the hope  I have in you in a winsome way.  Give me strength in my faith and a sense of urgency to proclaim your gospel here and to the nations to extend your glory!

Journal John 15 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Remember the word that I said to you: “A servant is not greater than his master.”  John 15:20

Observation:  What is a precept?  What I am looking at is a precept, a principle, that I should imbed in my thinking, so I do not go astray.

Analysis:  Precept (noun): A general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought.  Synonyms are principle; rule; tenet; canon; code; doctrine; guideline; working principle, law, ordinance…

Learning precepts or principles is a biblically recommended mode of study.  Isaiah says: “To whom will he teach knowledge, and to who will he explain the message?  (To) those who are weaned from the milk…those taken from the breast?  For it (learning) is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little….” Is 28:9-10

The Psalmist says: “I will delight in your statutes (rule); I will not forget your word.” (Ps 119:16); and “Make me understand the way of your precepts and I will meditate on your wondrous works.” (Ps 119:27) There is way more the Psalmist says about learning in Chapter 119.

I know of “hiding Your Word in my heart…” (Ps 119:11), but the continued point that is being made here is not just memorizing verses, but finding out the precept, the principle to be learn behind it.  When I remember John 3:16, do I know and begin to understand the precepts to be gleaned from it? How does it lead me to the Doctrine of Salvation; of God; of Christ?  What other principles can be unpacked?

“A servant is not greater than his master…” is only one of those precepts.  The identified precept of the initial scripture reference folds nicely into the admonition of “…not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think…” (Ro 12:3a; another precept).

I use it to remember what my expectations in life should be.  If things go south, what was it like for Jesus?  Am I expecting my lot in life to be better than Jesus or the disciples?  What about the church fathers on whose shoulders we stand upon?

To be sure, there is a lot of stuff “out there” that is being offered up as church doctrine, as precepts of the church.  It takes being a Berean to dig in the scriptures and, like Paul told Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly (or accurately) handling the word of truth.” (2 Tim 2:15) Check out the Letters to Timothy for the summary admonitions to pay attention to Doctrine.

Memorizing scripture is invaluable, hiding (or, as I tell myself, stuffing) the Word in my heart.  At some point, I have to organize Scripture into precepts and finally into doctrine so that I am able to, like Priscilla and Aquila did to Paul, explain the ways of God more accurately (Acts 18:26)

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, you are our Teacher.  You open the Word for us and help us, permit us, to understand the Father’s ways.  You have given us oodles of men through the ages that we can stand on the shoulders of.  Their work can assist us to see Your Ways more clearly, and to explain them accurately with clarity.

Help me to think that way, avoiding any puffing up of myself or my thoughts and imaginations.  Help me to use the precepts, principles, and generally accepted, historical doctrine to establish my roots, organize my mind, and speak/write clearly.

Amen

Ricky Two Shoes

Journal John 13 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: (Jesus speaking) “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.  If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

 

Truly, truly, I say to you: A servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” John 13:13-17

 

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  (Result) By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  John 13:34-35

Observation: Jesus gives a baseline for action so that the world will know about being Jesus’ disciples—love one another.  What does that mean?  It is worthy of some study and meditation, right?

Analysis: I wrote the other day about using my imagination to fill in the narrative in the gospels to create context.  That is not the same as being firm in accounting for what God says to be aware of and pursue.

Take these references for example.  Think about the audience Jesus is addressing.  Notice that Jesus is referencing specifically the disciples.  Restated, Jesus’ instruction could be: “The world will know I am real and recognize Me if you do this thing: Peter, love John.  John, love James.  Somebody love the Zebedee brothers, please.  Even somebody be explicit in loving Judas…”

Is this a (or THE) precursor to executing the Great Commission effectively?

How do I know if I am a disciple?  Is it because I self-identify as a disciple of Jesus?  In many cases today, I think that is the only answer to give—but is it an incomplete, inadequate answer?

There are oodles of scripture references that only pertain to disciples in the local church.  Folks, including me, stretch these out to folks in the world, unbelievers, as a measure of witness, love, and care—being, by extension, the Hand of our Lord to the world.  I really cannot argue about that.

But what about hurting people within the local church?  What about their growth?  Their mental health, feeling like they should be pursuing a Cause greater than themselves?  Who is caring about establishing and enforcing a biblically based full Vision of the Gospel?

I am going to be candid: I am not the right example of any of the above, except for being one of those who wishes it were different.  My wife and I stay home here in Parrish because of medical issues and get in public infrequently.  I can’t say I long for fellowship (I have a few friends that stay in contact with me, but they are not from this fellowship).  Bluntly, I know we do not belong to any of the internal cliques that have naturally and organically grown from constant personal exposure.  I know how this works because it was the same in the former church I attended, only I was the one in a clique and people left because they couldn’t get into it.  So, it is true: What goes around, comes around.  I reap what I sow—in this case feeling as left out as others did with me.

So, what brings on this creeping mudslide of whining, grumbling, and complaining?  I don’t know, except an attitude of unease.  Maybe my age, my impending retirement, a feeling of lacking a purpose…except, I look into the mirror and see that my purpose, a vision, is still there even if I have to battle my feelings to square my shoulders for the battle to come.

Humbling myself, not to think of myself of more importance than I ought, purposing to walk worthy of the Gospel no matter what in my given walk of life.

Serve the local church.  Look to the health of the church inward as well as preaching the Gospel outward.  Wash a foot or two…

Prayer: Father, through all of this, help me to surrender and humble myself to have a mind of service, lessening my desire to be served.

 

Amen

Ricky Two Shoes

Journal John 12 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Isaiah said these things because he saw his (Jesus’) glory and spoke of him.  Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it (so that they would not be put out of the synagogue—

for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. John 12:41-43

Observation: This is the pitfall of many people: Desiring the praise of man.

Analysis: I recognize my particular struggle here.  I have had this struggle for a long time.  There is probably a mitigating scripture verse somewhere in the Bible…but for the life of me, I haven’t found one yet.

Doesn’t this scripture reference sound like (applied to the face in the mirror) there is a tendency to avoid doing the right thing in the Gospel so that I won’t be talked about badly in the local church or community?

It is difficult because I don’t know if man is built to be completely ego-less.  Man needs the pat on the back, the engaging and specific compliments—Man needs to be “encouraged day by day, as long as it is called today, lest any would fall into deceitfulness of sin.”

Here is my conclusion: 1) It is wrong to go looking for a compliment, to boast about yourself; 2) It is equally wrong to not be discerning when others need to be noticed, mentioned, congratulated, and encouraged.

I can get soooo wrapped up in myself that I am unaware of others.  I am not discerning enough about others, which makes me wonder: How do I increase in discernment?

I am not asking “why” I need to increase in discernment (personally, I think that is kind of obvious.  If I need to augment my eyesight, I get glasses or even binoculars.  If I need to add something to my hearing, I get hearing aids. If I need to increase my awareness on a “spiritual” level, increasing discernment is the answer.)

So, again, how?  Increasing discernment is two-fold.  On the physical side, I can start cultivation of “…(d)oing nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count(ing) others more significant than yourselves.” (Phil 2:3) and listening more than speaking; asking questions and asking again; showing and having true interest in another’s life.  That’s the Human Responsibility towards living the Gospel.

The spiritual: Discernment is a Spiritual Gift—ask for it, meditating on how not to abuse it—for the Gift of Discernment is just not convenient for understanding another’s issues, problems, and needs, it is the doorway to the gifts of Words of Knowledge and ultimately prophecy (as is practiced and is taught through the New Testament. (c. 1 Cor 14)).

The Authorities (referenced in the passage) and the Pharisees looked for applause and glory.  I look for applause and glory—can’t help it, it is part of the Sin of Adam.  But I can fight it in a healthy manner in the Name of Jesus, for God deserves all the Glory available in Creation.  You know, that is one of the results of the Gospel—that, at the end of all things, God will be singularly, effectively, and in an all-encompassing way, be Glorified.

Prayer:  Lord, there is an End to all things, a last Day, on the way to being the New Heavens and New Earth where you will be on the Throne and Joy will ring out over all Creation.

Until then, You call Man to hear and respond to the Gospel.  To those that do, You call to pursue Yourself, grow in maturity in all things, being part of a local church, who reflects the power of the Gospel.

Help me increase in discernment, O God, that I may serve my fellow believers in an ever-growing manner.  I want to grow in humility…

Amen

Ricky Two Shoes

 

Journal John 11 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “After saying these things, (Jesus) said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.”  The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”  (Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep.)

Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died—and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.  But let us go to him…” John 11:11-15

Observation:  Can the disciples be more obtuse?  Could they follow the nuances and hints that Jesus provided?  Were they really a group of 12 mules that needed to be hit with a two by four often so that they would “get it?”

Apparently.  And am I any different?

 

Analysis:  Many times, I get a kick out of what the Holy Spirit drops in my imaginative heart as a picture of what may have happened.  Note that I am not trying to take away from the Scriptures, but just imagine…

Scene: Jesus turns to his followers, his twelve buds and says that Lazarus has fallen asleep.  Ok, everyone sleeps sometime during a 24-hour period more often than not.  The disciples, obviously puzzled in some way, attempt to reassure Jesus that everything is ok, if Laz-baby was just sleeping, he is going to wake up…

This is what I imagine: Jesus, facing away towards Bethany, stops, hangs his head for a moment, then as he was raising his head again towards the skies, rolls his eyes and says, “Lazarus has died, guys…” perhaps thinking, “I will be glad when they finally develop the skill to read between the lines.”

Today for me, it was the utter delight in imagining how this tableau was working out—entertaining as all get out—also being very serious in realizing how the disciples were acting is probably the very same way I act.  Maybe not every day, but most likely more days than I am willing to admit.

Delight is the right word.  I delight in seeing the same old story afresh—not changed, but broadened, made more real, more embraceable—and more deadly serious.  When I delight in the Word of God, it not only makes me happy, content, and satisfied…it also narrows my eyes, sets my jaw, squares my shoulders, knowing that because the Gospel (shown through this section of Scripture) alerts me to the Kingdom is close at hand.

Readers: Delight in the Word of God.  The Bible can be read and read and read over and over again.  It can be studied.  It can be memorized.  But these actions and tasks don’t lead to Delight!!  Apply yourselves in looking to delight in the Word of God.  Ask for help from the Holy Spirit.  Dial up an Elder or Deacon for assistance.  That’s what they are appointed for.

 

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, I want to grow in delight of your Word.  I want to laugh, frown, be fierce and passionate.  I want to dance, shout in joy, hang my head in meditation and, when appropriate, shameful gladness, grateful for your Mercy every day.

I don’t want to read for somebody else; I want to read like every last word was written for me, about me, and for my education, growth, and to pursue maturity in You.

Amen

Ricky Two Shoes

Scripture –

John 9:31-33– We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshipper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind.  If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.

Observation –

This part of John 9 is full of irony as the man born blind sees that Jesus is deity while the Pharisees are blind and more worried that Jesus healed on the Sabbath and how he accomplished the miracle.  The man who Jesus healed lays out a case that Jesus has to be from God or he wouldn’t have had the power to heal a man blind since birth which had never been done since the world began by Jesus.  God listens to those who worship Him and do His will.

Application –

Jesus was with God in the beginning and all things were created through Him!  Like the blind man, I need to recognize who Jesus is, worship Him and follow Him to do His will. I can’t be outside the will of God and expect Him to listen to me.  There are some things I won’t know or understand this side of heaven, but I know I can trust in the steadfast love of Jesus to change hearts and lives.  I must submit to God and allow the power of the Spirit to work in my life to share the love of Christ and glorify Him.

Prayer –

Father,

Give me eyes to see like you see and a heart full of compassion as you have to love others. Let the power of the Holy Spirit guide me to full of joy and use my part in the story to extend your glory.

Journal John 8 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.  Now (dramatic pause imagined here) in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.  So…what do YOU say?

(They said this to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him).

 

Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.  And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them: “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:4b-7)

 

Observation: I think that this section of verse has been used to demonstrate the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and, by extension, probably the whole human race as well.

 

To battle that hypocrisy, Jesus brought in for us a major principle of the Gospel—something for me to understand my own mind and heart with.

 

Analysis: I run into this just about every day.  I look at someone or something and immediately have a twinge of “I am glad I am “saved” and not like these poor people.” (refer to Luke 18:11)  I can’t help it: my innate sin nature, manifested in pride and ego, is still there and must be addressed daily (c. Ro 7:5 and the following: “For if you live according to the flesh (my innate sin nature) you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death (mortify) the deeds of the body, you will live…” Ro 8:13).

 

I have seen where there has been a lot of speculation about “what did Jesus write in the dirt?”  I guess it is ok to engage in this speculative exercise (I have!!), but isn’t the key statement to consider this: “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her?”

 

I think this is the issue with an inadequate explanation of the Gospel to folks.  “I just got saved and am now declared “righteous” in the eyes of Jesus.”  An unfortunate byproduct of this is the possibility of elevating myself above the “unrighteous.”

 

This engages what I wrote about in John 5: I “judge” others in an unrighteous manner; I go from benign “evaluating” to something close to “condemnation.”

 

Take the example of today’s beggar on the corner.  Approaching a person like this, I immediately go into evaluation mode: “Am I going to give alms to a beggar like I am commanded?”  Whoops: this looks like a drunk or a drug user…  Whoops, they are holding up a sign needing funds for diapers and rent…  What about who could be illegals looking like they may be living out of their car or appear to be Muslim?

 

In going through these thought processes, am I really figuring the weight of my stone?

 

Let me be clear: Jesus said that the poor will always be among us, and I am not implying that every beggar should be given something. But I must understand and embrace (in actual humility) the saying “There, but for the grace of God, go I…”

 

The point is that while in Salvation my Justification is settled, in my every day walk my Sanctification is an ongoing effort that Men should be constantly engaging with to “mortify the sin in my body.”  I think that is the point that Jesus was making to the Pharisees and communicating through His Holy Word for us to pay attention to.

 

This is the Gospel.

 

Prayer:  Triune God, please stoke my passion toward you, in order that “Walking worthy of the Gospel ” becomes more important to me every day!!

 

Amen

Ricky Two Shoes

 

Journal John 6 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”

But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this?  Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all.  The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life—but there are some of you who do not believe…” (for Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him).  And (Jesus) said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father.”

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.  So, Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”  Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life…” John 6:60-68

Observation:  Does Jesus communicate controversial things?  Perhaps to those folks who have preconceived notions about what the Kingdom is about and how they are to navigate in this world…

 

Analysis:  I must remember that there is a difference in the Gospels between run of the mill “disciples” and the “Twelve.”  Making sure that I understand the context of the scripture I am reading makes a difference with understanding who is being referenced.

Earlier in John 6, Jesus spoke about eating his flesh and drinking his blood.  Even as a metaphor this can be pretty extreme to some ears and ends up clanking against a stony heart.  I wonder why Jesus didn’t change gears and attempt to explain “I am the bread of life” in another way and explain he is not promoting cannibalism?  (Bread of life; Manna given in the Wilderness: there is a correlation to be studied and analyzed here.)

The point that strikes me today is that the “disciples” challenged Jesus and erected defenses—instead of asking questions.  A “disciple” by definition is a learner, a student.  While no teacher worth his salt would mind engagement by a student, the attitude of the student is important.  “Do I want to learn, or have I learned enough to deviate along my own path?”

Doing devotions with my wife this morning, we discussed how different denominations came to be: they seemingly latched upon a particular “doctrine” to major in, gathered like-minded people (disciples) and started churches along those doctrinal lines.

Is this how denominations start? “These sayings are hard…” perhaps implying that I don’t want to work that hard, there has to be an easier way…I just want to “do good things”, I don’t want to make a spectacle of myself (let me set in the back by the door), I don’t want to think or study, but I do want to feel good after Sunday service.  How much has that has described me over my years…

I notice that Jesus didn’t chase after the “disciples” (‘No!! Come back, I will explain everything!!’) but He did look at the Twelve: “What about you all?  Leaving too?”

For me, where am I to go?  Only You, Lord, have the words of life—even if they are hard to hear.

 

Prayer: Lord, this is so familiar to me.  I still have questions about the sayings you told us.  I am learning (talking with my wife during devotions and more) to be comfortable with that mighty theological response, “I don’t know.”

Please keep my head on straight.

Amen

Ricky Two Shoes