Category: Good Life Journal

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

Scripture: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God.  You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.

 

But solid food is for the mature — for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”  Heb 5:12-14

 

Observation:  I think this section is easy to apply to other people, not so much to myself—mostly because I think more of myself than I ought. (Ro 12:3)

 

Analysis:  The whole armor of God includes cultivating situational awareness—training for discernment.

 

I think that the point of this passage is not who is mature or immature, who is still existing on milk (easy to take, easy to digest, not much effort involved) or solid food, but the two points of being 1) Skilled, and 2) Practiced (or practicing).

 

Distinguishing good from evil in this context is not the outward characteristics of the world.  Murder, theft, and lying are pretty easy to define as “evil”, offensive to what is identified as “moral behavior.”  But even those are not categorically “evil”—Jesus died for these practices so that the practitioners could be forgiven from these evil ways.  (Yeah, I know that I have just talked out of both sides of my mouth, but bear with me.)

 

To even get close to distinguishing good from evil, I have to know what constitutes evil; what is the cornerstone, what is the keystone of evil?  From the scriptures I think it is clear: the keystone of evil is the attitude that I do not need God; that somehow, in some way, I have independence from or of God—even for a moment.

 

When I put that filter on and practice using it, then I start to see and discern biblically.  First practice field?  The mirror.  Because I don’t particularly like looking at myself (“Examine yourself: See if you are in the faith.” 2 Cor 13:5), evilly, I can start looking at others and begin the “I am better than you” Pharisaical approach to Christianity.

 

Not to be misunderstood: Being aware of and evaluating others is part of the tasking Jesus gives his own.  But not for condemnation purposes. Having nothing new under the sun, this kind of discernment belongs in the category of merciful practice (grace) towards others.  The only fierceness belongs to us and the face in the mirror (fierce personal transparency, or confession of sin).

 

Knowing the Gospel in an ever-deepening manner, in every nook and cranny of life is the consumption of solid food to be pursued.  Knowing the Gospel in Joy; knowing the Gospel from the mountain top to the valley below; the cry of the lonely and forgotten; the accolades of accomplishments—all needs the lens of the Gospel.

 

Pursue God, avoid living on milk, gain wisdom in discernment.  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who practice it have a good understanding (discernment or grasp on things).  His praise endures forever!” Ps 111:10

 

Prayer:  Father, help me remember these words, especially looking at others with mercy.  I don’t want to preach with even the hint that I am “helping or saving” someone.  Do all need you?  Yes.  Can I draw them to you?  No, but I can be an instrument of your grace.  I just don’t need to attach any self-importance to that.  Only You can draw men to yourself (takes the starch out of that “free will” thinking).

 

I wonder if, before the Throne, I get to ask this question (although I will bet the answer will already be self-evident, but just for stories sake): Lord, did I choose You?  What do you think?  It felt like I chose You but the older I got, the more I wondered.  What did I say and rest in that, my son…

 

AMEN

Rick Sutton

 

Journal Heb 4 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it…

 

…for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works (as God did from his).  Let us, therefore, strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.”  Heb 4:1 and 10-11

 

Observation:  When you see the word “therefore”, you have to see what it is there for…

 

Analysis:  Fear, a powerful motivator.  Seems out of place with how Christianity is presented today.  Yet, the Bible cannot be read without running into this word from time to time.

 

The Writer continues to tell the story of Redemption, focusing on Israel.  In Chapter 3, God redeemed Israel from Pharaoh and Egypt, leading them through the symbolic baptism of the Red Sea with Moses at the lead.

 

After the disobedience at Sinai (throwing a dance in honor of a golden cow), God gave them to wander around for 40 years—and not letting Israel enter “his rest” (Canaan) until that generation was gone, kaput, not around anymore.  That is the “promise of entering his rest” reference in Verse 1.

 

What about the second part?  If I read the sentence carefully, I see the following:

1. Entering God’s rest equals resting from my works (just like God did from his).
2. Being driven, striving to enter that rest seems to be given and expected.
3. There is a potential of failure inherent in this process.

 

If someone reads this differently, I would like to know.  But it is how the sentence is constructed.

 

So, to “enter His rest”, one must rest from his (the individual’s) works.  In other words, my works are not the value transacted to gain His rest.  “All my works are as filthy rags”, says Paul.  No value, not the “key” to enter the rest of God.  So, stop working?

 

No, of course not.  Strive to enter His rest—must expend effort to enter the Rest of God.  Introspection and review of the Gospel is the key here.  The “Awe” of the Gospel, not just mental alignment of the Gospel, is what “renews my mind and heart.” (Ro 12:2)  I start reacting like I have to do something to gain “favor” with God, are the steps to the “path of destruction” and the wandering of Israel.

 

Can I fail?  The Word insinuates that so it must be true in some respect, it is a theological speed bump.  Separating God’s Sovereignty from Human Responsibility for a moment, His love is everlasting, no question.  He is for us, not against us, etc. etc., but my RESPONSIBILITY is to respond to Him—starting with, not obedience to His instructions, but to KNOW Him and His ways.

 

I have to carve this theological pie into slices because Knowing Him is systematic.  Of course, obedience to His command is important.  Of course, the spiritual disciplines are important; of course, doing what is expected is important—but it is not the Fullness of God.

 

“I will be your God” is what God told Israel.  Everyday I awake, I have to ask that question of myself and affirm “You, O Lord, are my God.  You have said, “seek my face.”  My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.”” Ps 27:8

 

Prayer:  Father, help me to truly fear You in the context that you mean.  Help me to not put my own spin on it to make me feel better about myself.  Install in my heart a holy fear.

 

AMEN

Rick Sutton

Scripture

 

6 … but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son.

And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

 

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice,

8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,

on the day of testing in the wilderness,

 

14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

15 As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

 

16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled?

 

Observation

 

The author is expressing the supremacy of Christ.

He is over God’s house!

 

The author also expresses the significance of believers.

They are God’s house!

 

But there are a couple of “if’s” mentioned …

“If” we hold confidence in “Hope”.

And

“If” we hear his voice and do not “Harden our Heart”.

 

Application

 

Where is my confidence?

Am I confident in Christ’s supremacy?

Am I so hopeful in this confidence that I actually boast in it?

I will boast in those things I am most confident in.

 

Also, do I hear his voice?

I must consider the tenderness of my heart if not.

Even those who saw many works and wonders of God still rebelled and did not make it to the promised land

 

Seeing God work wonders does not make me confidence.

Seeing God as my Supreme Savior gives me confidence!

God has made me, and believers in Him, His house.

 

Am I a confident dwelling place of God Himself?

 

Prayer

 

God, soften my heart

Help me hear your voice

Make my confidence always be in you

In Jesus name

Amen

Scripture –
Hebrews 2:9-10 – But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering death , so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.  For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in brining many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.

Observation –

The author of Hebrews is listing out in detail the sacrifice Jesus made for all so we can see and remember how we are saved.  By God’s grace Jesus was made low, died a suffering death to cover the sin of everyone for all time is glorified forever because of His obedience to the Father.  Jesus, the creator who brought everything into existence overcame death and the grave to bring salvation to those who believe was made perfect through his suffering on our behalf.

Application –

Jesus, the creator who brought all things into existence, came to earth as a man and lived a perfect sinless life to die for me when I have no means of atoning for my sin on my own.  As I think about this, it is amazing how great God’s grace and love is for His children.  I must remember this is God’s plan for redemption for all from the beginning of time and live as someone who has faith not fear of death and share the Good News of Jesus with all in a winsome way.

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for your grace and love in sending Jesus to overcome death and be our salvation. Let the Spirit lead me to grasp this daily as my greatest need and live it out in a way to honor you.

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

Scripture: “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets.  But, in these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son—whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

 

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the EXACT imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” Heb 1:1-3

 

(God, through the prophets said) “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

 

They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed.  But—You are the same and your years will have no end.” Heb 1:10b-12

 

Observation: One of the hardest things followers of Jesus must do is to get the story straight, to get it right.  Taking shortcuts is a sure way to get lost.

 

Analysis: From the eyes of an outsider looking in, much of current denominational theory seems to emphasize one facet of the Gospel or of the Bible over others.  It is like taking one cut of the Jewel and saying “this is the best part” but not taking the time to wonder at the rest of the remaining Jewel.

 

The Writer of Hebrews appears to start at the beginning: Jesus.  But not the Jesus of the Cross just yet, but the Jesus who is the Creator and Sustainer of all things.  And then, if there are folks who want to separate God the Father from Jesus the Son, he then writes that Jesus is not only the radiance of the glory of God, but he is the exact, repeat, exact imprint of His nature—Everything God is like is found in Jesus; not part, not “like God”, but the full meticulous and precise imprint of God’s nature.

 

Here’s what happened to me: I found a subject in the Bible that tickled my fancy and I poured myself into it.  Long story short, I became judgmental to others because they didn’t share my enthusiasm “on my revelations.”  Then, after I accepted correction (either from the Holy Spirit or from the local Priscilla and Aquila explaining the Way of God more accurately (c. Acts 18:26)), I cooled my jets, at least for awhile until the “next enthusiasm” gripped me.  Then it started all over again.

 

I think, at least describing me, it comes from a short attention span, cultivated by the media I grew up with.  The Writer of Hebrews isn’t coming from those cultural guardrails, he is taking the description of the Redeemer step by step through the ages, ultimately until he writes about how we are to execute our lives against this marvelous Glory.

So, what, I am asked?  And your point is….?

 

Line upon line, precept upon precept—that is what the Psalmist says.  Hard not to jump to the bells and whistles of the Gospel and stay there—but there is a greater symphonic mystery to chase down.

 

Prayer:  Lord, satisfaction in You comes quickly with so very little, considering there so much more to feast upon.  Increase my hunger for you and to know you more…

 

AMEN

Rick Sutton

Scripture:

 

[10]Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. [11]Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. [12]For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. [13]Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. [14]Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, [15]and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. [16] In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. [17]Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 

[18]And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

 

Observation & Application:

 

How could the church at Emphasis  not love these words as Paul describes the armor of God and the power of God within us? How can we, as we read these words, not love what we read? We have the power in the Spirit to fight all evil surrounding us! We have defensive and offensive armor from God for our use in the spiritual battle.

 

We have the strength of the Lord within us and must call upon that strength, that protection, that power, to stand against Satan’s evil schemes. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power”. This is a prerequisite for putting on the full armor of God. The armor is heavy though. We must first be strong enough to handle the armor. We get this strength from spending time with Jesus, from spending time in the Word, from being obedient, and through meditation and filling our mind and hearts  with thoughts and actions that glorify Him.

 

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”. Our troublesome neighbor is not our enemy but the evil controlling him is. Our evil rulers are not our enemy but Satan’s power over them is. Satan and his minions are the real enemy and they will reign in this world until Jesus Christ returns.

 

Not only must we be alert for the evil surrounding us and Satan’s influence in this world, this is a call to action. A call to actively fight, with the power of the Spirit within us, armed with the full armor of God, against evil. We are living in turbulent times with evil running seemingly unchecked at times. We are to actively fight and pray against the evil forces invading and changing our churches, governments, schools, and families.

 

And pray.. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. How are we to pray? In the Spirit. With open hearts we are to let the Lord’s Spirit within us lead us in all kinds of prayers and requests – nothing is too small and nothing is too big to pray about.

 

Prayer:

 

Lord we love you. Help us remember these basics Lord. That we have the power of your Spirit within us to fight evil. Lord, help us stay grounded in your Word. As we arm ourselves with the full armor you provide us, lead us and show us where to fight. We know that, in the end, you will return to judge but meanwhile, above all we pray that we honor you in our fight against evil. In Jesus mighty name we pray, amen.

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

Scripture: “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking (which are out of place) but instead let there be thanksgiving.”  Eph 5:4

 

Observation: Because this is Paul, there is a number of important issues in chapter 5.  This one stood out for me because, if there was one particular thing that has gotten a ton of apologetics/arguments/defense over my years it has been, “What is ok to say?”

 

Analysis:  Down to brass tacks: Is it ok to cuss once in a while?  Is it ok to tell a “slightly blue joke” every so often?

 

Up front: This is a “man in the mirror” question.  This is not a journal entry on hanging around people who cuss and thinking I have to correct them.  There isn’t anything that makes me cringe more than someone apologizing, “I’m sorry for my French; you are religious, aren’t you?”

 

But what about me?  When I am leaning into repeating a blue joke from my past, expecting a laugh, do I feel good about it?  What is my  conscience  saying to me?

 

Am I ignoring my conscience?

 

Here is how some of the commentary goes: “It isn’t anything Jesus hasn’t heard before.”  And every excuse has that comment at its root, no matter what is said.  It sounds like I am making excuses for myself, when I know it is affecting my heart.

 

Outside of our children, whom we have authority and responsibility for raising in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, should we be correcting others willy nilly?

 

The great commission is about 1) Preaching the Gospel, and IMPORTANTLY 2) Making Disciples.  But what it isn’t is teaching moral behavior in place of and as a substitute for the Gospel.

 

Notice I didn’t answer the question?  Look in the mirror and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart concerning this.

 

Prayer:  Father, what do you say to me about this?  Please keep me authentic, not a moral parody of your Word.

 

AMEN

Rick Sutton

Scripture

 

Vs 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

VS 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world

Vs 3 … carrying out the desires of the body and the mind,

and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

 

Vs 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

 

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,

which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

 

Observation

 

In this chapter Paul lays out one if the clearest descriptions of the gospel … saved by grace through …

And he emphasizing the salvation is a gift of God, not our own doing of “works”.

 

Paul also emphasizes the distinct lives we live before the saving and after.

Interestingly, Paul uses the same word for both ways of living: “walk”.

 

“Sins … in which you once walked”

And then …

“Prepared good works … that we should walk in them.”

 

Application

 

So many times it’s easy for me to think of having to blaze a trail in life.

I need to make my own way … Figure it out for myself.

In fact, it’s often even thought of as a virtuous way to live.

Frank Sinatra famously said it long ago, …. “I did it MY WAY”!

 

But God has prepared a way!

He has prepared the works!

I simply just walk in the way he has already prepared!

 

I am going to be walking one way or the other.

Waking in sins of the world or walking in the prepared ways of God.

 

In other words I will be fulfilling one desire or the other:

“Desires of my body and mind” … or … works “God prepared beforehand”

 

What’s the pivot point between these two ways of living? My union with God through Christ!

 

This walking Paul speaks of reminds me of the simple description of Enoch in the OT:

“Enoch walked with God.”

And he is then referenced again in the NT as having the faith that pleases God in Hebrews:

“Enoch walked with God.”

 

Prayer

 

Thank you, God, for your Word

Thank you that your grace joins us

Help me walk in your works and ways

Help your desires become my desires

In Jesus name

Amen

Scripture–

Ephesians 1:16-19 – I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power towards us who believe, according to the work of his great might

Observation –

Paul is giving thanks for the believers in Ephesus and praying for them.  Paul is praying for wisdom in knowing God.   Paul is also praying for hearts to be opened to the hope of the riches of His glory.  Paul also is praying for the saints to grasp the immeasurable power of God to work for those who believe.

Application –

What a great opening to a letter of encouragement to fellow believers.  I should be mindful to always be thankful for my brothers and sisters in Christ, build them up and remember them in my prayers.  My prayers should always be for self and other believers to have a deeper knowledge of God.  A part of knowing God better is understanding our hope is not in this world but in the riches of the inheritance to come.  Do I sometimes limit my view of God’s great power to work in our lives?

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for the truth in your word and the encouraging prayer of the apostle Paul.  Let the Spirit guide me to encourage fellow believers, seek to know you better, understand our hope is in you and your great power to work for those who believe in the name of Jesus.

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

Scripture: “…the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  I do not nullify the grace of God—for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

 

O foolish Galatians!  Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.

 

Let me ask you this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law or by hearing with faith?

 

Are you so foolish (synonym: stupid)?  Having begun by the Spirit are you now being perfected by the flesh?… Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith…” Gal 2:20b through Gal 3:5

 

Observation:  I fall into this error in reading frequently: Thinking that the change in chapter is a change in subject.  Especially with Paul, it is not. Chapter 3 is a continuation of Chapter 2 where he is pounding on the subject of Grace for justification vs. Works for justification.

 

Analysis:  Paul is riled up.  Who can you think of in a position of authority in the church that would continually say: “Are you that stupid?”

 

Someone asked me recently, “Does bewitched used here mean that someone cast a spell upon that church?”  Of course not.  In this case it means “captured” or “charmed away” from the truth to a lie; convinced to believe away from what was previously taught.

 

Paul goes on to reiterate: Were you redeemed through something you did?  Did you follow some sort of formula for success?  If so, why did Christ die?  Symbolism?

 

If works JUSTIFY you before the Throne, give you points so that the more positive points you accumulate over negative points, then why the Cross?  Why the Spirit?

 

It is important to keep the two (Grace and Works) separate in conversation and do not try to conflate/blend them.  The Sovereignty of God in Grace saves.  After this, the Responsibility of a Human is to do works TESTIFYING of that same Grace.  It is our responsibility to understand that even in the absence of Works, the Grace of God still stands AND IS dominant.

 

Are works important?  Yes.  The Spirit makes sure we can see how important it is in James.  But notice in all of Paul’s letters he emphasizes Grace and the Gospel.  Why?  I can only guess from reading and seeing into my own heart that Doing stuff is so much easier; I can tally up my scores and satisfy my self-esteem—and fool myself that God is using the same method of scoring.

“The old has gone, the new has come…”  We are a new creature in Christ.  What used to work prior to conversion may not work in the Spirit.  The head is sick (Is 1:5) and needs renewing (Ro 12:2)

Press into asking questions…

 

Prayer: Lord God, you see my heart and how I wallow in self-pity.  I pray you make these words effective, first in my own life and then maybe in others.  Please make my ambition holy in you and you alone.

 

Let me learn about the Gospel in practice; not just the theology or doctrine but the practice, especially in my home and family.

 

AMEN

Rick Sutton

Journal Is 5-6 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the LORD or see the work of his hands.

 

Therefore, my people go into exile for lack of knowledge, their honored men go hungry, and their multitude (are) parched with thirst.”  Is 5:12-13

 

“Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and shrewd in their own sight!”  Is 5:21

 

Observation:  Think that God doesn’t have an opinion about growing in the knowledge of Him?  He is clear: Think again!

 

Analysis:  I think it is clear there is a hierarchy of what God wants us to put effort in.  Before anything else it is: Know Him.  Then it is: Grow in Him.  Then it is Grow in the Knowledge of Him.  Then, maybe, for #4 it is “declare the deeds of the Lord, how He provided for our Redemption.”

 

Isaiah is prophesying to Israel, God’s chosen people.  The analog to Israel is the Christian church, you and me.  Surrendering to Jesus is only opening the door; we are called, like CS Lewis says in the Chronicles of Narnia, “Further up and further in.”

 

We can consider ourselves so shrewd, so wise, so smart with so little knowledge.  I can forget to regard the works of HIS hands and, even when I start to see them, I can think so little of them because “the sky is always that color, so what?  The tides move in and out because of the moon in its place.  Celestial dynamics at work.” And so forth.

 

Because I don’t see and ponder; I don’t read and study and take advantage of His Instruments of Grace lovingly given us; I don’t celebrate with gratefulness what He has done, is doing, and will do by His promises—I grow stale and stagnant.  I become a one trick pony, growing old but never growing.

 

At the beginning of Chapter 5 in Isaiah, he prophetically talks about the vineyard and its failure, not living up to the promise the Beloved prepared for it.  All it produced was “wild grapes.”

 

That can be me.

 

Check out Luke 20.  Jesus is paraphrasing Isaiah 5.

 

Prayer:  Astonishing that You parked in Isaiah during your three-year ministry.  I never saw that before.  What else are you graciously going to reveal?

 

Keep me from being a one trick pony, or really a donkey.

AMEN

Rick Sutton

PS: Bet you thought I was going to Is 6.  Gotcha!

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

Scripture: (Paul speaking) “We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person IS NOT justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ—so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law BECAUSE by works of the law no one will be justified.” Gal 2:15-16

 

Observation:  The church at Galatia is having mongo problems keeping the Gospel the Main Thing; similar (if I can pull this example into focus) to when the Children of Israel abandoned God at Sinai and put their own spin on things when Moses went to meet with God.

 

Man is always tempted to put their own spin on things…

 

Analysis: Chapter 1 of Galatians recounts this:

“I am astonished that you are so quickly DESERTING him (Jesus) who called you in the        grace of Christ and are turning to a DIFFERENT gospel—not that there is another one             (an effective Gospel), but there are some who trouble you and want to DISTORT the Gospel of Christ.” Gal 1:6-7

 

What gospel are these folks deserting to?  Comes back to some theological words: Justification and Sanctification.

 

Paul is way more succinct and has better explanations than I have, but it is clear in this section of scripture that, “…a person IS NOT justified by works of the law but (IS justified) through faith in Jesus Christ…”  And that seems to be the issue of desertion.

 

Certain people came into that local church and started to distort the Gospel of Grace into a gospel of works: “Certainly God will accept you more fully if you were to, say, for example, get circumcised just like Moses commanded…”  Today, it usually comes out in commands of obedience, but phrased in such a way that the recipient focuses on obedience of doing stuff instead of the Grace that is found in Christ.

 

What about most folks?  Does the focus of my life revolve around doing things to gain God’s favor?  Paying my tithe?  Witnessing?  Not cheating on my taxes?  Making church service on Sunday?  Putting “spiritual” things on my wall and a whole bunch of other stuff?

 

Why is “doing stuff” to gain favor from the Lord so easy to do?  It is because it is a way to keep score.

 

If I do [this] or [that] God looks favorably upon me.  SCORE!!

If I don’t do [this] or [that] God looks DISFAVORABLY upon me.  PENALTY.

 

And the above is NOT the Gospel.  It is the DISTORTION that Paul is referring to.

 

Paul refers to it similarly to the Church at Ephesus (who had the same issues comprehending):

(Paul hammering the point) “For by Grace you have been saved (through faith).”  And he keeps hammering: “…(T)his is NOT your own doing; (this salvation, obtained by Grace) is the GIFT of God—NOT a result of works.  (It is this way) that no one may boast (that I did something to obtain my salvation or God’s favor).” (Eph 2:8-9; paraphrase mine)

 

Dear friends, this was not a message to the unsaved, it is a message to the local Church.  Why?  Because we forget.

 

Prayer: Help me to remember the Gospel every morning, to see your mercy upon opening my eyes, and to declare your underserved goodness with my morning breath!

 

AMEN

Rick Sutton

 

“For we are his workmanship,

Created in Christ Jesus for good works,

Which God prepared beforehand,

That we should walk in them.”  Eph 2:10

Psalm 118:22-23 – The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.  This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

Observation –

Psalm 118 displays God’s trustworthiness and his steadfast love for his chosen people, Israel.  We know God is the same and unchanging forever.  In verse 22 we see a reference to Israel being rejected by the other nations.  The people of Israel also turned their back on God and sought sinful ways.  This verse is also a foreshadowing of Christ who was God’s son without sin who took on the sin of the world but was not recognized by the Jewish leaders as the Messiah.  Jesus took the place where the law failed and made the only way to be reconciled to the Father.  This is God’s plan from the beginning of time to send his one and only son that whoever believe in his name is a saved adopted child of God and that is glorious to see and know his love.

 

Application –

Where everyone falls short of the mark of a Holy God, Jesus is perfect and succeeds.  Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one can know the Father apart from Jesus.  When I think of the abounding love that God had in sending Jesus and the grace he has for us it is overwhelming the mercy he has for me. When I receive the love of Christ, the most powerful thing to change hearts and lives through the power of the Spirit in me to love others and have mercy as I have been loved.  This is God’s plan and design for us to know him, follow him and use or role to glorify Him.

 

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for your love grace and mercy in sending Jesus so we can repent be reconciled and have a relationship with you to know you and make you known.  Let the Spirit give me eyes to see others as you and a heart to care/love as you do.

Journal PS 115-116 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.

 

Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.” Ps 116:1-2

 

Observation: The other day I wrote about a “conditions-based” approach to Worship.  Here is a verse which seems to align with that—except that it doesn’t.

 

Analysis: “If/then” relationships and approaches to life are always with us.  Most of the time with me it is “if you will do [this], then I will do [that].”  It is kind of saying if you will surrender first, then I will surrender second—but the first time you retreat, so will I.

 

I can have two positions about God: 1) He is a stern taskmaster, demanding obedience, not really caring about supplying what I want at all, or 2) He is a loving God, attentive to my prayer.

 

Not getting into the theology behind the Gospel in these two “positions”, David is verbally focusing on one: I love the LORD because He loved me first.

 

Even if I am not responding to God’s poking at me to respond to Him, the FACT is that He loved me first.  That is why I can call on His Mercy and know that He is listening, actively listening and that all the days of my life.

 

Even dead in my sin; even when the noise of this reality is flooding my ears with static, God hears.  My complaining?  God hears.  My shouting so that I cannot hear?  God hears.

 

God didn’t supply my wants (sometimes mistaken for, and positioned as needs)?  He heard…He just knows what is best to bring us to the path of righteousness and conform us to the image of the Son.  (Ro 8:29)

 

Prayer:  Father, thank you for hearing my prayer and training me to pray unceasingly.  Let my mind be full of the wonder that is You and meditate on your Word with increasing regularity.

 

AMEN

Rick Sutton

Journal PS 107-109 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!  For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

 

Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man.  And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

 

Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man.  Let them extol him in the congregation of the people and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

 

Whomever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.”  Ps 107:8-9; 21-22; 31-32; 43

 

Observation:  There is a recurring theme, not only in the Psalms, but through the entire Bible:  Thanksgiving to God no matter what the circumstances are.

 

Analysis:  Lately, there are a ton of stories in the news.  Evil seems to be rampant: Wars; atrocities near and far; financial mismanagement; attacks on police, men, women, children.  Children being disobedient, elders being ignored in favor of childish selfishness…famine, disease—anybody can name even more than I have written here.

 

There are some that will place the blame on the enemy.  Ok, not going to argue on that, but the OT reading yesterday says this, “Consider the work of God: Who can make straight what He has made crooked?  God has made one as well as the other…” (Ecc 7:13-14a) All things are of his hand.

 

But why?  I think that it is to elicit this response from man: “Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love!”

 

Further, if we aren’t thankful, declare gratitude, for what He is doing not only in our immediate lives but in the world today, we could be coming to God with a condition-based approach to worship the Almighty: “I will worship when you are good to me, and only complain when you are not.  I will look for other remedies to soothe my soul (like golden calves maybe)” — the approach of the children of Israel when Moses went up to meet God on Sinai.

 

Is my soul longing for Him?  Is my soul hungry?  Are my declarations of worship sacrifices of thanksgiving—being thankful and singing songs of Joy when there aren’t worldly logical reasons to do so?  Do I tell these to the congregation and to the Elders in hopeful acknowledgement of His future goodness?  Am I faithful?

 

I have been asked “Why does God do this?  Why shouldn’t I assign this to Satan, to the Enemy?”  Succinctly, because God is Sovereign and is enacting his Plan of the Gospel.  All things that happen is to bring about Salvation to the Elect and redemption to Creation.

 

Ok, theology happens.  What is my responsibility?  Cultivate gratefulness.  Cultivate thankfulness.  Pursue it fiercely.  “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES; for this IS the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  Do not quench the Spirit…” (1 Thes 5:16-19a)

 

To the astute: Remember none of us will approach the Throne of Grace with this response taken seriously by the Judge of All Things: “The devil made me do it…”

 

Prayer:  Father, let me look clear-eyed at my circumstances today and, no matter what I see, give you sincere thanks and express gratitude for your mercy and grace.  Many may do me wrong: it is your way of showing me where I am deficient in gratefulness.  The world may be going to pot: it is your way of me reliably cultivating my dependence upon you.

 

I am reminded again of the good that you have brought into my life.

 

AMEN

Rick Sutton