Journal Mk 9 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “And he (Jesus) was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.  And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

 

And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here.  Let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah…” (for he did not know what to say (he was babbling), for they were terrified).

 

And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”  And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

 

And as they were coming down from the mountain, (Jesus) charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

 

So, they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean.  And (later?) they asked him…  Mark 9:2b-11a

 

Observation: Good example from Peter, James, and John (however accidental this may have been): Think before you speak, ask questions, don’t take a stand too quickly… “Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?  There is more hope for a fool than for him.” (Prov 29:20)

 

Analysis: Am I susceptible to read Scripture by myself and come to a snap conclusion of what it means?  And worse yet, develop a (gasp) firm conviction without further pursuit?

 

Here are these 3 guys, witnessing something miraculous and astounding, scared out of their gourds, and regulated to babbling uncontrollably or standing in stunned silence.  After God speaks out of the clouds, they shut up.  (Hopefully I would have too.)  Then Jesus told them to keep this as a secret until after the Ascension.

 

Side note: Would I have kept this secret?  After all, it was just the Three: would I have whispered to any of the other Nine?  “Psst: Keep this to yourself but I really think you ought to know—Guess what I saw with Jesus…”

 

My point would be that I would tend to be quick to develop a position on what I just was told (or read)—being hasty.  What I see reported about the Three is that they “kept the matter to themselves, questioning what…this might mean”, and asked for clarification later.

 

Jumping to a conclusion and quickly making it a conviction to be argued about is a tendency for Man.  We are so quick to develop a “conviction” that suits us and is maybe only part of the Story we need to know about.  Perhaps it is directionally tantamount to “…having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions…” (2 Tim 4:3) This doesn’t mean to develop protections from false teachers/teaching, but it does mean to ask questions to trusted partners in Christ, and that frequently.  The Word of God should not be far from our mouth and frequently spoken of.

 

Example: Who ponders “why did Jesus have to die?” and the follow up, “why did He die for me?”  Just asking these two questions affects how the Holy Spirit, through the Bible, speaks…

 

Prayer: Speak to us, Holy Spirit.  Let the Word of Life spill from our lips, daily…

I have encountered that this kind of reflex only happens with practice and reinforcement.  Help me to continue to dig into the living water that is Your Word.

AMEN

Ricky Two Shoes…

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

Scripture: “Now they (the disciples) had forgotten to bring bread and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.  And he (Jesus) cautioned them, saying: “Watch out!  Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

 

And they (the disciples) began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread.  And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing with one another the fact that you have no bread?  Do you not yet perceive or understand?  Are your hearts hardened?  Having eyes do you not see and having ears do you not hear?  And do you not remember?

 

When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets of broken pieces did you take up?”  They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven (loaves) for the 4,000?  How many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?”  “Seven (baskets).”

 

And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”  Mark 8:14-21

 

Observation: Every so often I run into a passage that makes me go, “Huh?”  This is one of them…

 

Analysis: I am so simple-minded at times.  “Please Lord: make the complex straight and simple.  What do you want me to see out of this?”  Did the Disciples just now hang their collective heads and say to themselves, “What am I missing?  Am I dumber than a box of rocks?”

 

For me, I tend to take passages like the above and think, “Huh.  That is somewhat interesting” and skip to the next passage(s) to find something that is a little more straightforward.  If it doesn’t “speak to me”, why spend any time on it?

 

Sometimes I chalk it up to “It is a mystery… (Deut 29:29)” and deal with it that way.  Other times (and maybe the most appropriate response) is the understanding of “I need a little more seasoning through the Scriptures to understand what the Holy Spirit is trying to say.”  That is not to say studying what leaven is; how are the Pharisees and Herodians the same and different from what Jesus teaches; look up all the references to bread and leaven in the Bible, etc.

 

[One thing that the Holy Spirit just brought to mind is that leaven makes bread have pockets of air and hot air at that.  Are Pharisees full of hot air?  When I am full of hot air, am I acting just like a Pharisee?  That is going to stick in my mind for a while…]

 

Point of this posting: Journaling is valuable in keeping thoughts fresh and referenceable.  A year from now I may pull up this same journal post and wonder again what Jesus is challenging the disciples about.

 

He is challenging me, too.  “Do you still not understand?”

 

Prayer:  Father, every day is to approach you in a fresh manner.  Just like Jeremiah wrote in Lamentations: “Your mercy is new every day” (Lam 3:20 something), and so You are.  I don’t get to approach you for something that was done in the past, but for the Grace available today.

AMEN

Scripture –

Proverbs 6:23 – For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life.

Observation –

In this section of Proverbs 6, the Father is issuing a warning to the son about the dangers of adultery.  The father tells the son to keep the commandments and here we see in verse 23 that the commandments represent a lamp which brings light in darkness.  The teaching is light and rebuke brings corrective discipline to those who God loves.  The discipline of turning back onto the path of following Jesus is one of life versus a path leading to death.

Application –

The truth in Proverbs 6:23 regarding the warnings against sexual promiscuity are equally applicable in today’s culture but the verse also reminds me just to follow God’s word in all situations I encounter.  God’s word is a lamp that is going to lead closer to him so I have to be in the word to know it and have the Spirit guide me.  The teaching of Jesus is light and the way of the world is darkness. You are either in the Word or the world.  I see this as analogous to being on a path and coming to a fork where one path is lit a little way so you can see your first steps, maybe not all the way down the path bit you know you’re heading towards the light.  The other path is dark and don’t know where you are heading except blindly into destruction.  I need to be strong in my faith for myself and take council of other believers and be prepared to share any reproof in love with a brother who is wandering as life is the consequence.

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for the truth and light in Jesus.  Let the Spirit guide me to trust you completely, follow you faithfully and live to make your glory known.

 

 

Journal Mk 3 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Again he (Jesus) entered the synagogue and a man was there with a withered hand.

 

And they (the Pharisees) watched Jesus to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath (so they might accuse him).

 

And (Jesus) said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.”  And he said to (the Pharisees), “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or…. to do harm; to save life, or….to kill?”  But they were silent.

 

And (Jesus) looked around at them WITH ANGER, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man: “Stretch out your hand.”  He stretched it out and his hand was restored.”  Mark 3:1-5

 

Observation:  This is a significant story, like most all the stories of the Gospels are.  But what do I think of it?  Am I thinking “those dumb Pharisees” or am I thinking “Is that how I react?”

 

Analysis: Most folks don’t like to think of Jesus demonstrating anger—or any “foul” reactions at all.  After all, Jesus is “love”, right?  That means He is always…. what?

 

To read the Scriptures is to shift my perception of the nature of the Trinity as appropriate.  Because the Triune God is so many things (Communicable and Incommunicable—suggestion: dive into a good systematic theology book this year.  Recommended: Bible Doctrine, ed. Wayne Grudem), poor mortal man like I am, I must think about God as He presents himself.

 

Here, Jesus is schooling the group of Pharisees in what is right and what is wrong.  Here, He is Headmaster and Teacher—think about him as a Vocational instructor.

 

There is a right way and there is a wrong way to do stuff; and a wrong way is to not do anything.  As a shop instructor would teach “measure twice, cut once”, so Jesus is teaching, “Are you to do good, or to withhold?”  “If you see something that needs fixing (like a lame guy), are you to wonder whether it is ok to do that, or not?

 

Vocational, as it applies in this posting to myself, is not being a Professional in the since of being a pastor or some such, I am referencing being a vocational disciple.

 

Being a Christian Disciple is not like having a full-time job (or many part-time jobs).  It is not even what I do after my workday is over.  It is certainly not what I become on Sundays and Wednesdays.

 

Being a disciple is learning, training, practicing all those things that the Bible wants me to learn and to be.  It can be structured (like in a classroom), or unstructured (like learning woodcraft or fieldcraft).

 

Maybe Jesus was angry and grieved because of the thought, “Have not learned anything from my Father?  Have you cloaked His Word under your hardheartedness and traditions … and failed to respond to my Spirit?”

 

Writing this to me, the face in my mirror…

 

Prayer:  Lord, if there is one area I am released to be angry about, it is concerning me and my performance.  It is about putting into practice that stuff I know and have learned from You?  It is getting it out of my head and putting it into exercise.

Learning to be a disciple is multifaceted: I don’t tackle everything you send my way with the same hammer.  Sometimes I pound, sometimes I tap, sometimes I must wait to see the image in the stone before proceeding.  All the time, I need to pursue being a Trained Disciple.

Bring revival

AMEN

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

Scripture: “No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment.

 

If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made.

 

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins.  If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins.

 

But new wine is for fresh wineskins…” Mark 2:21-22

 

Observation:  New wine—fresh move of the Spirit of God?  Sounds right.  If that is, then what are old wineskins?  And what do I do with New Wine?

 

Analysis: I think these are a couple verses that fall into the bucket of “If anyone has ears to hear…”

 

As a new Christian in my teens, I thought I knew what this meant: Old traditions, old organizations, old structures equated with old garments and old wineskins.  With the Charismatic movement in full swing, it seemed there was no room for the move of the Spirit.

 

It was easy to get into a church and blend in…no change wanted or demanded…just say “I believe” and I am in the club.

 

That was nothing I wanted.  If I were to give my life for something, I needed to be “all in.”

 

“All in” from what was demonstrated to me was: Go to church, give, and witness.  If I wanted to really be serious, go to school and get a Reverend in front of my name.

 

The more I read the Bible, the less those two options were obvious.  In fact, neither made sense when I was encountering daily life.  Did I want to be a Christian in name only or did I want to be a “Sky Pilot” (as my grandfather called it)?

 

Neither.  I wanted to be committed in being a “boots on the ground”, serious everyday Believer—a person who “studied to show himself approved, rightly handling the Word of Truth”, making headway every day in doing it right, walking worthy of the Gospel, honorable, and humble before his God—public when needed, in secret most times, but certainly walking different than the world around me.

 

Serious, effervescent, lively, practicing the Gifts, immersing myself in the Word, working to surrender every part of my life as I took strength to do.  “Renewing my mind” was at the top of my list.

I think that is what New Wine is about.

 

Prayer:  Lord, older now, but no less serious—at least in my mind.  Too somber, though.  Too sad for my circumstances; prone to tears in that I still struggle to make an impact on my life.

Maybe the circle of influence that you have decreed is supposed to be small.  So be it!  I follow you and not my wants and desires.

Make me fulfill your purposes all my days.

Bring revival,

AMEN.

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

 

Scripture: “And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples (for there were many that followed him.)

 

And the scribes of the Pharisees (when they saw that [Jesus] was eating with sinners and tax collectors), said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

 

And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”” (Mark 2:15-17)

 

Observation: Reputations. Who do I hang out with? Who are ok to hang out with? Should I have a “religious-based” distinction? Should I care about my “reputation?” Should I fear for my life, or being tempted?

 

Application: This passage is puzzling in a way to try and put an absolute to it. Should I find that hanging out with the unrighteous is ok, or should I avoid ‘those heathen sinners?’

 

What if that describes my family? My work friends? Shucks, even churchy people?

 

I think that one of the main points in this passage (if not THE main point) is making distinctions. Perhaps the sin is found in making distinctions, period.

 

“[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt: ‘Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all I get.’

 

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God! Be merciful to me, a sinner.’

 

I tell you, this man (the tax collector) went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be justified.’” Luke 18:9-14

 

Anyone who has a head on their shoulders can see the Pharisee is not justified in their attitude and therefore, no matter their religious significance in society, is in the wrong before God. So, if I am in the temple, then saddle up next to the tax collector and humble myself.

 

That is the temple. But what if I am at Applebee’s? Or how about their unbelieving/weak sibling or adult child who is living in sin with another consenting adult? What should my attitude be then?

 

I can talk about any Sunday School answer, from either side. Of course, love must find a way—but, candidly, I am struggling. Do I get haughty and condemning or do I get complacent and accommodating? How do I stand up for the Faith with someone I am close to? What do I do if I need to stand up to my Pharisee relative? What if I am (gasp) the Pharisee?

 

The only straightforward response I can wield is to the Face in the Mirror—otherwise, the answer can be cloudy and murky and full of questions of personal motivation.

 

For those looking for an answer, aspire to always be the tax collector, not the Pharisee. Otherwise…

 

Prayer: Lord God, please give me wisdom to represent the Gospel well. I don’t want to be a bullheaded fool for You and not learn how to be persistent in showing the way to the Gospel.

 

AMEN.

Ricky Two Shoes

 

Journal Mark 1 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

 

Scripture: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way…the voice of one crying in the wilderness:

Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight…’” Mark 1:1-3 

 

Observation: God is good to reveal his word, always. There are clues to direct; clues to clarify; clues to wonder and reflect.

Where are they found? In his word…

Application: Every year I try to make the same resolution successful: Be a man of the Word.

Looking back, I take comfort in knowing that God makes this a cumulative journey. He also makes this a miraculous journey—mostly because using the space between my ears, any progress in holiness that I might have attained must surely be the result of a miracle.

Once upon a year in the past, I vowed to emulate Jesus by prefacing any reference to the Scriptures with, “As it says…” or “As it is written…” or any derivative of those.

A few years later, I attempted to make the Bible integrated in my life and especially, speech—remembering and applying the scripture, “from the mouth flows what is in the heart…”:

“…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matt 12:34), and,

“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil heart produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks…” Luke 6:45

Paul wrote to Timothy, “…Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” (1 Tim 6:11b) If I look up “pursue” in my handy-dandy ESV.orgsearch engine, I see a number of things the Bible indicates to pursue or chase. The thesaurus function suggests a clever description: Hunt it down like a hound dog after a scent.

This year for me suggests a new outline in pursuing Godliness: Gap management. The idea comes from:

• The Holy Spirit, duh.
• Reapplication of work training documents.
• And the scripture 1 Tim 4:7b-8a:

o   “Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come…”

Sounds like a return on investment now and later…

Gap management, applied to walking worthy of the Gospel, is for me to identify one or two things this year that is supposed to occur in my CHARACTER and performance relating to CHARACTER,

“…asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…” Col 1:9b-10

I aspire to this in 2023. What are my gaps? How to address them? What will be my plan and effort to address them? I cannot do this alone, but I will put EFFORT into the pursuit.

Prayer: Father, help me to review basic doctrine again. You have reminded me that doctrine shapes how I think, how I act, how I make decisions, how I think about you. From there, doctrine shapes my character.

I want to be of good character and please you in every aspect of my life until that Last Day.

AMEN.

Ricky Two Shoes

Scripture –

Psalm 147:11 – but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Observation –

The Psalmist points earlier that the all-powerful Lord whonamed every star in the universe, whose greatness is beyond measure, cares for his people.  God heals the wounds of the broken and downtrodden.  God’s pleasure in not in man’s strength or the accomplishments of His creation but rather when His people have an awe and reverence for God.  Their hope rests not on their condition but on the ever present unchanging love of God for His creation.

Application –

If in my life as a believer and follower of Jesus I want to please God, I must have a correct understanding of my relationship to God and submit in a healthy fear before our holy God.  My hope can only be in Jesus and his redemptive work of salvation on the cross for all who believe in His name.  God’s love is the most powerful thing in the world and His Word is steady and unchanging unlike the things of this world that will leave me unsatisfied and down a path towards destruction.  I can fear the creator God, ruler of the universe, place my faith in Him and be prepared to share the hope I have in Christ or place my trust in an unsteady, changing world that is opposed to God and won’t bring satisfaction or peace.

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for the truth in your word from Psalm 147.  Let the Spirit guide me to fear you not man and my hope be in your steadfast love. Guide my actions and words to be yours to share your gospel and disciple others to bring you glory in Jesus name.

Journal Ps 133 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

 

It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!  It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion!

 

For there (brothers dwelling in unity) the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.  Ps 133:1-3

 

Observation: How important is unity, harmony, among believers?  There is life, blessing, forevermore.  A good thing to pursue!!

 

Analysis:  Today is Christmas, a time to celebrate and give thanks for His Birth.  Decorations have been set up, trees decorated – some over the top – presents purchased or made under the tree, houses lit up and power bills soar.  Families gather and good cheer abounds almost miraculously.

 

It is not like that for everyone.  Christmas can be among the worst times of a year because of loneliness, feelings of superficiality, and separation.  It can be the epitome of 365 days of the same longing for friends and family and an acute awareness of division and estrangement.

 

It is like that for my wife and me.  We are acutely aware of what should be happening with our hearts, and yet, the fight is fierce to get there.  The tendency is to separate, and decisions are made to be alone to struggle and not share sorrow.

 

If someone were to seek counsel from me, I could probably provide a 5-step scriptural essay to fuel a biblical response to NOT do what I do in 30 minutes.  Or give a practical instruction to address the despondent attitude.  But…they are not working for me, right now, today.

 

The first verse of Ps 133 addresses the good things about dwelling in unity; feeling the sensation of purpose within a group…family.  I don’t get the oil in the hair and beard and clothes—must have been a thing back then—but I do get the idea.

 

Today, we are staying to ourselves because if I am going to be sad and despondent, we will do so alone.  We don’t want to whine ‘Woe is me’, and yet that is exactly what I am doing here.

 

Writing this is for all the folks that are feeling like this in some way.  The first way to cut yourself out of this is to understand that we have a Savior, and the scriptures indicate that Jesus experienced feelings and emotions JUST LIKE THIS—in order to understand what individuals go through.

• “Therefore, he had to be made like his brothers IN EVERY RESPECT, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” Heb 2:17
• “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are (yet without sin).” Heb 4:15

 

Start here, confess these feelings to your Savior, knowing that He encountered them and overcame them, so that He knows what is being felt.  It may be difficult to drop them 2 feet from a lump of gray matter between the ears to a heart that is trying to be faithful.  Keep at it, try not to relax through the holidays—fight.

Others that are not experiencing these feelings: I don’t think it is fair to call on you, on your jubilee of Christmas, to deal with this.  These are actions that are best being cumulative over the year, not dealing with in an emergency room manner.  Go where God leads you—but listen and don’t ignore like I do.

Prayer: Father, please help us to get through this.  Change our hearts, and our minds to think in a manner worthy of the Gospel.  We are holding uncharitable thoughts leading to bitterness, just because we have nobody to talk to, no one who we feel understands, but is willing to deal straight with us.  I can remember bits and pieces of Your Word, but the anguish drowns out the application.

Help us, O God.  We need your mercy.

AMEN

Rick Sutton

 

Scripture –

Revelation 21:3-4 – And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.  He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.  He will wipe away every tearfrom their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Observation –

John is describing the new heaven and the new earth.  There will be no need for a tabernacle as God will be with His people who have conquered by following Him.  God has power over everything and in verse 4 we read that death is defeated.  The Good News is realized in its entirety as God’s redemptive plan is complete where there is no more pain and suffering.

Application –

God’s created order will be restored with the return of Jesus and He will be with us.  All the burdens, strife and trouble of this world will be gone.  We can have eternal rest and peace through our enduring faith in Jesus or face banishment in the lake of fire.  This give me great hope in the return of Christ to wipe away our tears and also places a sense of urgency to know that there are many people who do not know the Good News of Jesus.

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for your revelation to John to show me the fulfillment of your redemptive plan with a new heaven and earth where you dwell with us. Let the Spirit fill me with this hope to tell others and share your glory!

Journal Haggai 1-2 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Thus says the Lord of Hosts: Ask the priests about the law: ‘If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches it with his fold-bread or stew or wine or oil or any kind of food—[do these things] become holy?  The priests answered and said, “No.”

 

Then Haggai said, “If someone who is ‘unclean’ by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?”  The priests answered and said, “It does become unclean.”

 

Then Haggai answered and said, “So it is with these people, and with this nation before me”, declares the Lord, “and so with every work of their hands.  And what they offer there is unclean.”” Hag 2:11-14

 

Observation:  Outward compliance with death inside, or inward compliance not showing outwardly…God uses Israel and Judah for some pretty head scratching thinking…perhaps it should be referred to as the principle of Paying Attention.

 

Analysis: Grace and the Law.  Law of Life vs. Law of Death.  Paul goes into this a lot in his letter to the Roman church—how to understand the Gospel.

 

Haggai addresses the priests: “If meat, carried separately to the Temple for sacrificial purposes, touches other foodstuffs, do these other foodstuffs become holy—just for touching or being in close proximity?”  “Goodness, no, say the priests.  Give me a more difficult question…”

 

“Ok, how about this? If you were in contact with a dead body and become unclean by contact with said dead body, AND if you touch the holy meat or any of these other foodstuffs, do these become unclean?”  “Oh, yeah they do, Haggai.”

 

So, the principle, broadly stated, would be, “How close does something consecrated need to come to become “un-consecrated?”  And then, there is the sub-question of “proximity” to be an influence of holiness?

 

Some could think the Bible is a bit unclear, saying “Flee sin” (1 Tim 6:3-11) and thinking about a wife staying with a husband for instance (1 Cor 7:14-16), conferring a measure of holiness to the household simply by proximity (and faithfulness).

 

I don’t think the Bible is contradictory at all, there are just places that I don’t have an understanding yet.  Christians can be fooled that maturity takes a long time to attain, say 2 or 3 years, and voilà!!  I must be mature because I am 3 years older than I was.  I am a standing testimony of how wrong that thinking is.  Maturity is a linear effort to be wiser than the day before and not a title to be chased or a ring to be grasped.

 

Therefore, holiness has a proximity challenge.  It is good to be in the proximity of the faithful—just like the meat in the fold of the garment—but I must not relinquish my understanding to a conviction that the principle that “just because I go to church” makes me holy.  It doesn’t.

 

Pursue God.  Pursue Him for all that he is worth. Mark 13:13b, “But the one who endures (persists, prevails, stands) to the end will be saved.”  The idea with this verse is not a “wait it out” thought.  It is the “chasing, pursuing the prize”:

• “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize?  So, run so that you may obtain it.” (1 Cor 9:24).
• How about this one: “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward (high) call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:14)

 

Prayer:  Father, it took some time to see the principle that Haggai was conferring.  Still don’t know if I got it right.  Thank you for letting me sense what I did.

Please guide my wife and I through this sad time, keeping our focus upon You.  Make gratefulness rise in our hearts and especially in our minds.  Help us to be strong in our thinking and not succumb to despair in any grade or form.

AMEN

Rick Sutton

Journal Rev 18 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “…for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.  Pay her back as she herself has paid back others and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.

 

As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her alike measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, “I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning (grief, sorrow) I shall never see…”  Rev 18:5-7

 

Observation:  What shall I take from this?  A minefield…

 

Analysis: While this is projection unto the Queen of Babylon, it is also representative of the attitude of humans.

 

Soberly consider…

 

Prayer: Father.  I see pride; pride of life; pride of independence and indulgence.  I am not a puritan (in the negative, common sense of the word), and I like my stuff.  But I do not want to be what I read above.

Sharpen me and keep me sharp.  I want to remember and fully, publicly acknowledge that what gifts I have are only by Your hand and Your Goodness alone.

Revival, O Lord, cause revival.  AMEN

Rick Sutton

Journal Rev 17 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute.  They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, for God has put it in their hearts to CARRY OUT HIS PURPOSE by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled…”  Rev 17:16-17

 

Observation: All this effort to define the beast, the prostitute, the 10 horns, and etc. etc., and not the issues of significant importance.

 

Analysis:  I can immerse myself in the royal story of Revelation and unleash my imagination, thinking that I can uncover some clue that will give me “understanding”.  Many have devoted their lives and scholarship to the End of Times, forgetting that God has that under wraps and in his pocket—not to be revealed until He is ready: “But concerning that day and hour NO ONE KNOWS, not even the angels of heaven, NOR THE SON—but the Father only.”  Matt 24:36

 

So, my two-cents to folks who are interested is to get into Revelation and all the End Time stuff; knock yourself out—but have Matt 24:36 on a sticky note taped to your forehead.  Note to self: We have been in the End Times since the Ascension of Jesus.  Hard to think about, but true.   Also, another scriptural reference to consider: “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deut 29:29).  Basically, I read this as the words of the End Times are to wonder about, but I must major in Doctrine, Precept, and Principle that I can excel in doing His Will.

 

Getting back to the selected scripture: Can I represent the Gospel from Romans 9?  How about Matt 22?  “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (v14) It is the mystery of God’s Sovereignty. “…for God has put it in their hearts to carry out his purpose (of aligning with the beast) and hating the prostitute…” (above v17) and in Romans 9, “…So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills…” (v18)

 

What does this mean?  From Genesis to Revelation, God is Sovereign.  When anyone says, “God is in control”, it doesn’t mean “except for this, or this, or that…”; we are testifying of His unknowable Purposes AND are testifying that they are GOOD.  All that will be saved from Judgment and subsequent Wrath throughout time are known to Him.  There are also those that God will harden to carry out His purposes to the End.

 

I was in a car accident yesterday.  Nothing big; still had to go through the motions of authorities, reports, insurance and the like.  Why did God orchestrate that accident, because, make no mistake, it was his Sovereign hand.  To test me?  To see if I would respond according to what He is working in me?

 

That would mean that my responses are unknowable to God—but that can’t be true—He is omniscient.  What does make sense is that He showed me where I am succeeding and deficient— tests come so I can see and make changes.

 

In my surrender to God, things changed.  I have been born again, operating system rebooted if you will from a Full Sin Nature, to something that can now be overwritten by the Blood of the Lamb.

 

There are those that will always have a Full Sin Nature.  Weep for those, but never let your heart get hard about it.  But because none of us are GOD, we are commanded to preach the GOSPEL to everyone so that the chosen out of the called can respond.

 

Prayer:   Lord, I should have prayed with that young lady this afternoon.  This culture I now live in has me squirrely about touching females, even holding their hand to pray.  Still, it was fear gripping me: I don’t need to lay hands to pray, I can PRAY.

 

Forgive me my pride of life, O Lord.  I did well, I know I did, but I did not give glory to you until way after I left the scene of the accident.  I feel like the silly disciples: “Look at what I did, Master!!”  “Guys, just be happy your names are written in the Book of Life, OK?”

 

AMEN

Rick Sutton

Journal Rev 16 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was—for you brought these judgments.

For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink.

 

It is what they deserve!”  Rev 16:5b-6

 

Observation:  Hard as it is to apply to the face in the mirror, this is a foundational principle of the Gospel that does not get thought about seriously enough, much less talked about.

 

Analysis: At times I succumb to thinking that the Wrath of God is for other people and not me.  After all, I confess Jesus as my Savior; I don’t have to concern myself about God’s Wrath as it applies to me.

 

If I sit and think about it hard enough, I can begin to list the thoughts of my testimony from that evening in front of the Holy Spirit and describe my journey from then to now: 1) To be a real Christian; 2) To avail myself of His transforming power; 3) To be faithful and renounce sin—mortify sin in my body; 4) To enjoy His promises for my family; 5) To be a faithful teacher to my own soul and to my family, etc. etc.

 

I failed often, but it didn’t keep me from getting back up and mounting that horse again (although I wallowed in self-pity and faithlessness many times).

 

For about the last 25 or so years, I decided to review my personal foundations to the Biblical Foundations I should have.  One of the questions in my review was: Saved from what?  What did Jesus save me from?  The answer is more complex (and simpler) than saying stuff like from sin, from myself, from hell, from the devil, from the world, and things like that.

 

I needed to ask the right question.

 

I started with God’s Attributes and Character.  If these are all unimaginably equal (including God is Good) then, while I can be comfortable with God’s Love being equal to God being Good, what I wondered about is God’s Wrath being as Good as God’s Love?  I am still wondering about that and how to communicate that as the Gospel.

 

Through this journey, THE foundational issue for the Gospel is that “All have sinned, all have fallen short of the Glory of God…”  Holiness cannot abide the presence of unholiness (ex. Isaiah 6).  Succinctly said: ALL mankind DESERVES God’s wrath, even those who are claiming Jesus as their Savior.

 

The Grace of God is shown by Him not pouring out His Wrath; being patient for all Mankind; to show Mercy upon whom He will show mercy, and all that.  Because I am not eternal and omniscient, I cannot do anything but separate all of this into something similar to an outline, step by step, precept by precept, principle by principle:

 

1. I deserve, and always will deserve God’s Wrath on unholy creatures; specifically, Me.
2. I am saved ONLY by His Grace and Mercy alone, not for anything I have done, or any “potential” of service.
3. Salvation is a promise for the End of my days; execution of that Promise is before the Throne alone.  That is the epitome of the Atonement.
4. I live my days in the confidence of that Promise of Salvation.  In other words: Faith.

 

Here’s something that just popped into my mind: Salvation is only meaningful if Wrath is inevitable and universal.

 

Prayer:  This is difficult to write, O Lord, even though the core of the argument is factual.

It feels like a downer, I would rather have emphasis on your Love, but I cannot escape Biblical facts.  Review of this principle should cause an eruption of Praise just like the elders and host of heaven—because they understand the Facts is why they shout praise and celebrate the Lamb who is the Lion.

AMEN

Rick Sutton

Revelation 15

Scripture

 

VS 1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues,

which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

 

 

VS 4 Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name?

For you alone are holy.

All nations will come and worship you …

VS 8 … and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power,

and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.

 

Observation

 

Here we get another picture of the incremental final judgement of God.

 

A couple of things are highlighted as the attributes of God in this …

The purity of His Glory!

And

The power of his wrath!

 

Nothing and No one who is subject to God’s judgement can enter the sanctuary except God’s glory …

God’s glory is pure … “for You alone are holy”.

 

What’s more is while nothing can enter the purity of his glory,

Nothing will escape the power of his wrath … “no one could enter the sanctuary until … the wrath of God is finished”.

 

God’s wrath will be poured out on everything and his judgment will be over all.

 

One thing is noted after the wrath of God is finished …

“All nations will come and worship You …”

 

Application

 

‘Wrath of God” … it’s a phrase that brings instant reaction … “fear”, “cringe”, “pause”.

And rightfully so … it will be poured over all the earth,

 

“Glory of God” … it’s a phrase that brings … unfortunately, “confusion” often.

It shouldn’t, though.

This is what “fills the sanctuary”.

It’s also what allows me to endure the wrath of God.

Why, though? … So, that I may also “enter the sanctuary”.

Why, though? … To “come and worship” a Holy God.

 

How can I have peace and rest knowing such judgement is to come?

And when chaos seems to reign today?

 

Faith …

Faith that Christ’s sacrifice is worthy to endure the wrath for me.

Faith that God’s glory will overwhelm me with worship for Him.

 

I can rest knowing this.

 

Prayer

 

Thank you again God for your word

And thank you for your wrath

And your glory

And your worship

In Jesus name

Amen