Category: Good Life Journal

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

Scripture: “To Timothy: My true child in the faith…

This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you; that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience.  By rejecting this some have made shipwreck of their faith…” 1 Tim 1:2, 18-19

Observation:  Discipleship is an investment that goes way beyond the mere function of discipling.  It is investing and being an investor in a man’s soul…

I can live to see wonderful returns…I can also live to see the investment plummet.

Analysis:  The subject of discipleship in the Church (especially the American Church) is a tricky thing in this and the last few generations.

Fear and independence coupled with commitment and priority issues has hampered (if not crippled) growth in the local church.  That is the 50,000-foot look.  What about the ground floor where I live?

I know my struggles: Laziness.  Apathy.  Filling my time with busyness.  If I am forced to work at being a disciple independently, I will find a pace that I am comfortable with…

And won’t press into the Kingdom.  I will stroll…

I have been told I have made some impact in a life or two, but have I graduated to the point of having a “true child in the faith?”  Is that even an aspiration?  To both questions, one of fact, the other rhetorical, the answer is no.  But that isn’t the point, I think.

I have neither been a good disciple nor a good discipler.  The fact that I recognize this changes my perspective to one of desperation to be both.  One is a choice, the other is not except to be prepared for the Holy Spirit to open a door.

It is the desperation to walk in holiness that drives a man to be a disciple.  To walk in holiness, it is apparent that a person needs to have someone to walk with.

Paul reminds Timothy about previous prophetic action concerning him and firmly reminds him to be earnest, sincere, and focused about his faith—while in parallel reminding Tim about two guys who didn’t pay attention and shipwrecked their faith.

What does to be “shipwrecked” mean?  Engaging the ol’ imagination thesaurus, ‘getting off course, being caught by a tide, getting into a situation where the rudder isn’t catching the water to steer out of trouble, not doing the proper things in the proper order with the proper effort and finally—smashing into rocks.

I remind myself to engage the “instruments of Grace” that God gives us such as: His Word; friendship and fellowship; the local church; the function and discipline of prayer; Doctrine; reading strong books; and so much more.  There is one more I am reminded of: our Spouses (if married).

But there is one that takes the forefront and is not called out enough: Determination.  If I am not determined to walk worthy of the Gospel, then is being shipwrecked in my future?

Personal determination is the beginning point of discipleship.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, fear and impending apathy is creeping.  Shake the cobwebs from my eyes and mind, O Lord.  Enliven my heart.  Remind me to pray for Kel and the elders more.  Remind me to pray for the folks You bring to my mind and, if no one comes to mind from this local church, present them to me and/or help me seek them out.  I want to excel in You.

Cause revival.  AMEN

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

Scripture: “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

 

At the same time, pray also for us that God may open to us a door for the word; to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear: which is how I ought to speak.

 

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders (making the best use of the time).

 

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”  Col 4:2-6

 

Observation:  Nitty gritty stuff.  I see the heights of doctrine and…. here’s how to put it into practice.  Paul is so good at this…

Analysis:  What popped out at me thinking about this posting was “declare the mystery of Christ…”

I have been stumbling and fumbling at this Road for several decades and still, if I were to be asked, “Please dear sir, explain to me the “mystery of Christ?  I surely want to know…”, I probably couldn’t do it in any sort of systematic way.

Christ isn’t a mystery, right?  Died, cross, sin, salvation, resurrected, coming back sometime soon, etc. etc.  All true, but all buzz words still.

But why is He all these things?  What possessed Him, caused the decision to die for Sin?  To be the Atonement for all Creation?  To deliver from death’s (read: Wrath) clutches?

The “mystery of Christ” equals a prison sentence for Paul and the buds of Paul.  I wonder which part of that message got him locked in the pokey.  “Be saved for God loves you?”  Or, might it have been, “God is Holy, you are not and are deserving of God’s Holy Wrath.  Repent, and be rescued from this wicked generation—of which you are a part of…”?  Paul was probably slicker than I am today, but I am probably not far off on the essential message.

If I notice, this is the tangential message to the Church in his letters.  Paul references outsiders (like he does here) but his letters?  His letters exhort the local Church and the believers.

It is a mistake to read the Epistles and say “that is for unbelievers” for there are functional unbelievers in the local churches.  Watch me, and from time to time, I will demonstrate what functional unbelief looks like.

It is why I must, it is imperative, that I review the Gospel, the Cross every day.  I must, otherwise I forget.

Here’s the mystery of Christ from my perspective, and why it will always be: “Why did You die for me?”

Prayer:  Lord, what I know as the Gospel was conceived and developed in Eternity, and before Time began.  The phrase that started it was “Let there be light.”

Inconceivable to my puny mind.  And the angels are still scratching their collective heads (including the fallen).

What a Wonder!!  What a Marvel!!  What Amazement!!  No wonder that the 24 elders fell on their face.  Glory and Honor to Your Name!  AMEN

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

Scripture: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

 

Set your minds on things that are above—not on things that are on earth—for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ (who is your life) appears then you also will appear with him in glory.

 

Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you…”  Col 3:1-5a

 

Observation:  Pursuit of Holiness.  Spoken of in many ways and in many places in the Scriptures, as it is here.

 

Analysis: I wonder if the message of “Pursue holiness” resonates in the hearts of folks today?

If it did, what would be seen?

In the process of building disciples, I am very much a proponent of a “step growth” plan.  After all, I can readily see in my life that I cannot do all things at once.  If I did (and I have tried that before), it comes out as a mish-mosh of Christianese in speech and a start-stop collection of the teaching of the day OR a pursuit of whatever I think my heart is telling me as an emotion.  (The subject of “calling” is in this category.)

God uses this “willy-nilly” approach, but I am reminded it is seed cast upon sandy soil: takes some root and can even flourish as long as intemperate weather stays away.  But the optimum growth comes from deep, dark, rich soil—the kind found when it is tilled, watered, fertilized—lovingly cared for.

Another analogy is the building figure: what does a building need?  A strong foundation.  To be sure, the bigger the vision for the building, the stronger foundation needed.  And if it is to be the Church, strong is required.  Weak foundations are evident if the Building Inspector visits.

Pursing holiness looks like it is one of those indispensable pillars in being a Christian and the building of the local church.

I have been pulling out older CD’s (in this case, Sonicflood) for the car of Christian music and have been reminded again of the attitude of pursuing holiness.  The Holy Spirit uses music for so many things.  In my admittedly meager collection I see I have more music that drives me to worship BECAUSE it drives me to sound doctrine than I have for anything else (except Elvis, Ray, and the Beach Boys—I do have a few of those)

“Seek the things and are above…. Set (my) mind on things that are above… Put to death what is earthly in (me)…”  These are directive statements for the believer.  These are implicit directives about pursuit of holiness.

These are also imperatives that are to be fiercely embraced.

Prayer:  Lord God, I am sitting here typing and thinking.  I am grateful for so many things, having the thought of how mundane my gratefulness must sound.  And yet, I am very aware that gratefulness starts somewhere, and it is my obligation to expand my gratefulness to all sorts of the areas of my life.

But I cannot skip holiness.  I can’t skip over holiness by doing something else I am more comfortable doing.  In this case, Serving You is not the same as “serving you by going something for you.”

You don’t necessary want me to be a soldier, a farmer, a builder, even a pastor—those are things, tasks, positions that You ordain for the local Church to function.  But what you WANT me for is to be built, actively looking to be built, into the image of the Son.  That is the way of holiness in You.

Cause revival.  AMEN

Scripture

2 … be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

 

4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.

 

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

 

9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

 

13 And you, who were dead … God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses … nailing it to the cross

 

16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.

 

17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,

19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body … grows with a growth that is from God.

 

20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

 

Observation

Paul recognizes people in this church are seeking after things that are very normal things to seek after:

“riches”, and “assurance”, and “understanding”, and “knowledge”, and “treasure”

 

Paul also lets the church know that there are only two ways to live:

1. “Of the world” or  2) “in Christ”

 

So, Paul writes 2 very important words for the purpose of how he is going to describe these two ways of living:

“Be Encouraged!”

 

Paul’s writing to “encourage” them to live “in Christ” and it’s striking the words he uses to distinguish the 2 ways of living.

 

Huge, all-consuming terms are used to describe living “in Christ”:

“all the riches”, “full assurance of understanding”, “all the treasures”, “all rule and authority”, “fullness of deity dwells in the body”!!!

 

Now consider the words Paul uses to describe living “of the world”:

“plausible arguments”, “captive”, “empty deceit”, “elemental”, “a shadow”, “puffed up without reason”, “an appearance of wisdom”, and ultimately, “of no value”

 

Application

What do I want? … What do I really, really, really want?

Do I want “riches”, and “assurance”, and “understanding”, and “knowledge”, and “treasure” ?

Of course I do!! And here’s the best part about wanting those things … Paul does not have a problem with the church (or me) wanting those things!

He even specifically says, “Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism … and severity to the body …”

 

But Paul wants me to know I already have all things “in Christ”!!

Is it a mystery of how I can have those things? Perhaps, but it’s God’s mystery.

And “God’s mystery is Christ”!

 

Paul uses a rather disparaging phrase twice to describe these ways of the world … “elemental spirits of the world”.

I should keep this phrase in my mind … Do I want to live “elementally”? I sure hope not. I want to grow in maturity.

 

Then I should also keep in mind the phrase Paul uses to describe this maturity in Christ … “growth that is from God”!

Anything else has “no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.”

 

Prayer

Thank you, God, for Your Word

Help me know I have everything I could want or need in You

Help me show and share and live this way

Help me see how wonderful this is compared to “the indulgences of the flesh”

In Jesus name

Amen

Scripture: “I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.  Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women who have labored side by side with me in the Gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers (whose names are in the book of life).

 

Rejoice in the Lord always…” Phil 4:2-4a

 

Observation:  Real life in the local church: what do I think this “disagreement” was about?

Analysis:  Church life is messy.

If I think about all the letters of Paul to the various local churches, and take all the “bible candy” out, I am left with a not so favorable view of Christian churches.  In Philippi, Paul starts with longing to see the good work begun and finished well.  He continues to explain what godliness looks like and exhorts the reader to grasp and take hold of it.  Paul exhorts to abhor self-centeredness and to grip what biblical servanthood is about.

And then we have him directly addressing two LEADING ladies to stop fighting; leading in the sense of they have visible reputations of laboring in the Gospel.

Leading ladies; earned the chops necessary to be called that.  Examples set by the Holy Spirit to emulate; to imitate (cp Heb 13 for a stretch comparison).  I wonder what they were disagreeing about.

Again, church life is messy.  But, does it have to be?  My thoughts?  It cannot be gotten around for this reason: The Local Church is an instrument of Grace to make Disciples; to knock off the edges of Sin on route to the core; to learn how to walk in humility and, particularly, in holiness.  A group of people called by God for the purpose of?… being sandpaper to each other.

I think of the four Chapters of Philippians and review significant communications:

• And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment so that you may approve what is excellent… (verse 1:9)
• Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others… (verse 2:3-4)
• Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus… (verse 3:13-14)
• Whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about THESE things… (verse 4:8)

Did Paul set up this letter just for Euodia and Syntyche, obliquely addressing their behavior?  I don’t think so, that is not the Holy Spirit’s style.  But, does all of this address their behavior?  Yes, and so many more at Philippi—including me.

Walking in joyful holiness and humility is not easy.  I have so much “me” to brush aside.  It takes an attitude to hate sin and work at not letting sin have a foothold in my heart.

I am laughing at myself, cringing that it took so long to ignore the “Rejoice in the Lord” scripture section that for decades took my attention from Eudy and Cindy and their uppity fighting with each other.  How many have I done the same way with other fellows and forgot all the pointed reminders that the Holy Spirit had Paul write?

Goes to show that there are interesting things in between the “wall hanging” references.

Prayer:  Father, thank you for showing me this today.  With the thoughts that I discussed with my wife this morning, I am reminded not to do anything from selfish conceit.  Move me, shape me into the image of your Son, my Lord.

Cause revival.  AMEN

Scripture

Philippians 3:13-14 – Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it on my own.  But one thing I do:  forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Observation

Paul is encouraging the Philippian Church in faith to know Christ through His sufferings and the power of the resurrection.  Paul is focused on the prize of the upward call of God in Jesus.  Paul lets the Philippians know he did not nor will he get where he is striving by himself only through the power of the Holy Spirit.  We have to look forward not backwards to the eternal goal and calling of Jesus.

Application

I must always remember that nothing I do, attempt to do or even accomplish is of my own apart from Christ and the Spirit working in me.  The goal for Paul, writing from prison, is the same for me, the upward call of Christ Jesus.  This means I have to keep my eyes focused on the prize and strain which can cause discomfort.  I can’t allow myself to be distracted by events, conditions or prevailing ideology of the day.  In my walk I love the analogy of Pastor Tony Evans. I have to be forward focused looking clearly out the big front windshield of the car while only glancing at what is behind to learn not to have the enemy use it to try and disqualify me. Press on and move forward the Kingdom.

Prayer

Father,

Thank you for your love, grace and mercy you give freely to us in Jesus.  Let the power of the Spirit lead and guide me to stay focused by following you to bring you glory and further your Kingdom!

 

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

Scripture: “I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.  Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women who have labored side by side with me in the Gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers (whose names are in the book of life).

 

Rejoice in the Lord always…” Phil 4:2-4a

 

Observation:  Real life in the local church: what do I think this “disagreement” was about?

Analysis:  Church life is messy.

If I think about all the letters of Paul to the various local churches, and take all the “bible candy” out, I am left with a not so favorable view of Christian churches.  In Philippi, Paul starts with longing to see the good work begun and finished well.  He continues to explain what godliness looks like and exhorts the reader to grasp and take hold of it.  Paul exhorts to abhor self-centeredness and to grip what biblical servanthood is about.

And then we have him directly addressing two LEADING ladies to stop fighting; leading in the sense of they have visible reputations of laboring in the Gospel.

Leading ladies; earned the chops necessary to be called that.  Examples set by the Holy Spirit to emulate; to imitate (cp Heb 13 for a stretch comparison).  I wonder what they were disagreeing about.

Again, church life is messy.  But, does it have to be?  My thoughts?  It cannot be gotten around for this reason: The Local Church is an instrument of Grace to make Disciples; to knock off the edges of Sin on route to the core; to learn how to walk in humility and, particularly, in holiness.  A group of people called by God for the purpose of?… being sandpaper to each other.

I think of the four Chapters of Philippians and review significant communications:

• And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment so that you may approve what is excellent… (verse 1:9)
• Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others… (verse 2:3-4)
• Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus… (verse 3:13-14)
• Whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about THESE things… (verse 4:8)

Did Paul set up this letter just for Euodia and Syntyche, obliquely addressing their behavior?  I don’t think so, that is not the Holy Spirit’s style.  But, does all of this address their behavior?  Yes, and so many more at Philippi—including me.

Walking in joyful holiness and humility is not easy.  I have so much “me” to brush aside.  It takes an attitude to hate sin and work at not letting sin have a foothold in my heart.

I am laughing at myself, cringing that it took so long to ignore the “Rejoice in the Lord” scripture section that for decades took my attention from Eudy and Cindy and their uppity fighting with each other.  How many have I done the same way with other fellows and forgot all the pointed reminders that the Holy Spirit had Paul write?

Goes to show that there are interesting things in between the “wall hanging” references.

Prayer:  Father, thank you for showing me this today.  With the thoughts that I discussed with my wife this morning, I am reminded not to do anything from selfish conceit.  Move me, shape me into the image of your Son, my Lord.

Cause revival.  AMEN

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

Scripture: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

 

Have this mind among yourselves…though (Jesus) was in the form of God, (He) did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but (He) emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men…(Jesus) humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross….

 

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…” excerpts from Phil 2:3-12

 

Observation:  If I were to title this section like Bible editors do, I would call this “Get your head on straight” instead of “Christ’s example of humility.”

Analysis: How difficult is changing a habit?

I have read that if I can do something for 30 days in a row, without fail, I am well on my way of making that “something” a habit.

Let me try that against all forms of selfish expression.  All forms.  For only 30 days.  Guaranteed to lose.  I am, at my core, a selfish creature.

I am not a fatalist.  I am, however, learning that being transformed into the image of the Son, being a Disciple, walking worthy of the Gospel is something I do with a lifetime in mind—not a month, reset my reflexes, and off I go on the path of righteousness without fail.

Let me review humbleness: Being humble is not a bunch of particular outward actions, although it can look like it.  Hang my head.  Nope.  Being demure.  Nope.  Being a person that can get run over a lot.  Nope.  Fake humility can look like these things and more.

Real humility isn’t based on a score card; it is based on a mindset, an attitude set like flint on a particular goal.  Biblical humility starts with an understanding where I stand before God without Jesus, and then what it took for God to bridge that gap. (see Is 59:11-21 for a description of that separation).

Grasping Biblical Humility as an everyday practice is tough.  I think about the reference above: “(Jesus) humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death…”  The line before referenced, “…by taking the form of a servant…”  I find it conceptually easier to embrace humility of being a servant—much more difficult (if at all) think about humility through death.

I think that is why Paul takes humility as a step process: Start with thinking and considering others more important than myself; not avoiding looking after my own interest but expanding and not neglecting to look after other’s interests as well.

I must start somewhere.  Steady plodding reaps results.

Prayer:  Father, how important is humility?  James says without humility I will never see You.  And how difficult is it to lay aside pride and embrace humility?  Muy difficult, even in the best of situations.

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

Scripture: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

 

Have this mind among yourselves…though (Jesus) was in the form of God, (He) did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but (He) emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men…(Jesus) humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross….

 

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…” excerpts from Phil 2:3-12

 

Observation:  If I were to title this section like Bible editors do, I would call this “Get your head on straight” instead of “Christ’s example of humility.”

Analysis: How difficult is changing a habit?

I have read that if I can do something for 30 days in a row, without fail, I am well on my way of making that “something” a habit.

Let me try that with all forms of selfishness.  All forms.  For only 30 days.  Guaranteed to lose, but a good start nevertheless…

I am not a fatalist.  I am, however, learning that being transformed into the image of the Son, being a Disciple, walking worthy of the Gospel is something I do with a lifetime in mind—not just a month, reset my reflexes, and off I go on the path of righteousness.

Let me review humbleness: Being humble is not a bunch of things, although it can look like it.  Hang my head.  Nope.  Being demure.  Nope.  Being a person that can get run over a lot.  Nope.  Fake humility can look like these things and more.

Real humility isn’t based on a score card; it is based on a mindset, an attitude set like flint on a particular goal.  Biblical humility starts with an understanding where I stand before God without Jesus, and then what it took for God to bridge that gap. (see Is 59:11-21 for a description of that separation).

Grasping Biblical Humility as an everyday practice is tough.  I think about the reference above: “(Jesus) humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death…”  The line before referenced, “…by taking the form of a servant…”  I find it conceptually easier to embrace humility of being a servant—much more difficult (if at all) think about humility through death.

I think that is why Paul takes humility as a step process: Start with thinking and considering others more important than myself; not avoiding looking after my own interest but expanding and not neglecting to look after other’s interests as well.

I must start somewhere.  Steady plodding reaps results.

Prayer:  Father, how important is humility?  And how difficult is it to lay aside pride and embrace humility?  Muy difficult, even in the best of situations.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in me seems to be the right cry for my time.  AMEN

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

Scripture: “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all—for your progress and joy in the faith—so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus (because of my coming to you again).

 

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you  or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel and not frightened in anything by your opponents.”  Phil 1:25-28

 

Observation: The more I read into the scriptures, the more I seem to see that the toil and work is not stuff to do, but to progress in maturity.

Analysis:  Maturity is such a misunderstood and misapplied word.

“What is maturity”, I think?  I could look up a definition but today, what really counts, is how I “see” it.

Maturity is not getting old and counting years accumulated as somehow maturity.  Anyone who knows me would question whether I was “mature” or just a 15-year-old kid in a 64-year-old body.  And they would be correct in questioning that—I couldn’t blame them.  My wife still has trouble figuring out what age husband she is living with.

Why is this subject so difficult?  Is it because many feel like “maturity”, especially “maturity in Christ or the Gospel” is something that happens through the passage of time or osmosis?

Is “maturity” something to actively pursue, to long for, to resolutely build into?  I think the answer is yes.

Being mature in the Gospel, in Christ, is more than just being settled in the subject of faith.  There are at least two steps in projecting maturity: 1) being committed, being resolute for my manner of life being worthy of the Gospel, and; 2) showing it (cp 1 Tim 4:15).

I don’t want my life, even at my age, to slow down the maturing act of the Gospel.  Fierce pursuit after God isn’t just a young person’s gig.  Ferocity after the Gospel, growing in maturity, progressing deeply after the Word, Precepts, Doctrine is something to run after all the days of my life.

We just finished Hebrews.  Note: “Exhort one another, day after day…”; “Stir up each other…” right out of the Book of Hebrews.  I don’t do this enough, and to you folks whom I talk to often, I am so sorry I don’t.  By not doing these things, by neglecting the practice, I actively disobey God.

Note to self: I wonder why I seem to be ramping up about being fierce?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, my soul is stirred because of You!  Allow these writings to continue to stir me up for days, weeks, months to come. Work in me a certain resolve (the only word I can think of lately) to ramp up my pursuit of You.

So far, I have this practice of writing.  I await other avenues that you open, if any.  Let my manner of life be a testimony of Your activity, Your Grace.  AMEN

Journal Ps 119:153-176 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Great is your mercy, O Lord; give me life according to your rules…Consider how I love your precepts!  Give me life according to your steadfast love…I hope for your salvation, O Lord, and I do your commandments…I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight.  Let my soul live and praise you and let your rules help me.”  Excerpts from Ps 119:156; v159; v166; 174-175

 

Observation:  I am struck by how different the Psalmist speaks verses how I speak.  I don’t talk like this; I use different phrases and words.  So different, in fact, I wonder if I worship the same God he does?

 

Analysis:  Ok, not really—but it makes me think and consider.  I must think about it; I shouldn’t gloss over the differences, especially if the Holy Spirit is highlighting it.

I think of this sentence (which started me on this rabbit trail): “…give me life according to your [BLANK].”  If I were to place this on a “fill in the blank” sort of questionnaire, I would probably finish it with “GRACE.”  No surprise there, I think.

What puzzles me is that I don’t readily think of any number of words that would go into that blank.  Oh, I can come up with a dozen or so words, but the FIRST word?  The first word would not be RULES.

And that bothers me.

Going back to an earlier post about “the first thing that pops up in my mind?  That is the idol of my heart” and considering “Can I make grace an idol?”  Difficult to think about and I do not have a ready answer.

I believe what is certain is that if I stop at “GRACE” and never learn of the Gospel past “GRACE”, somehow, I am not doing what is expected of a believer and that is Pursuing Him.

Do I long for His presence, but am bored with His Word?  Do I like the feeling I get when exerting myself in demonstrative worship, but can’t work up the gumption to sit with a book and a pencil and paper and study precepts?  Doctrine?  Do I like easy to read stuff but avoid old, dead, guys?  Can I get excited at strong preaching or do I like lukewarm, non-offensive, obliquely referenced preaching?  Do I get offended easily when confronted with the Word of God?

Do I actively and mentally equate the following: Life—rules; Precepts—life; Hope of salvation—doing commandments; longing for salvation—delighting in the Law; Let my soul live and…your rules help me.”

Candidly, I don’t.  Not all the time, anyway.  I work at this…not well, not often enough, but yeah, I work at this.  It is the cumulative work of decades to get to where I am.

Today I am thinking about the 15-25-year-old folks in the local church.  15-25 is where most of my growth happened in me (at least I think so).  When I see 15-25 people, do I think I see reflections?  If I don’t, why?  Is it me?  Is it them?  This weighs on my heart and I don’t know why.

Prayer: Lord, only You know.  Only You.  My grandchildren are not far from this time.

Cause revival.  AMEN.

Scripture

123 My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
125 I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!

129 Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.
131 I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments.

136 My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.
139 My zeal consumes me, because my foes forget your words.

143 Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight.
144 Your testimonies are righteous forever;
145 With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord! I will keep your statutes.
146 I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies.

148 My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.
149 Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O Lord, according to your justice give me life.

152 Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever.

Observation

I wanted to select fewer verse this am, but I guess to have so many is fitting being this is the longest of psalms.
What jumps out to me this morning are all the “my” and “your” references.

And, more specifically, contrast the significance of what the “my” is doing!

My eyes are longing …
My mouth is panting …
My eyes are streaming …
My zeal is consuming …
My heart is crying …

And what all these actions of the author are a plea for?

Your righteous promise …
Your testimonies …
Your commandments …
Your statutes …
Your steadfast love …

Application

The actions of this psalm’s authors make me question whether I share the same actions?
What do I long for? … What do I pant for? … What do I cry out for? … What consumes me? … What does my heart cry for?

Do I, like the psalmist, “awake” … “meditating on your promises”?
Or do I awake meditating on my anxieties and “to do’s”?

Do I, like the psalmist, “shed tears” because “people don’t keep your law”?
Or do I shed tears because people don’t do what I want them to?

Does “zeal for your word”, like the psalmist, “consume” me?
Or does zeal for my word consume me?
So much of me contrasts with the psalmist.

Fortunately, this is what I can share with the psalmist …
Because of “your steadfast love” … God “hears my voice”!
And because of “His justice” … God “give me life”!

Prayer

Thank you, God, for your word!
Give me the zeal and passion for it of the psalmist
Give thirst for it and understanding of it
In Jesus name
Amen

Scripture:

[97] Oh how I love your law!
It is my meditation all the day.

Observation:

As the longest chapter in the bible, Psalm 119 is packed full of gems. The psalmist loves God’s word so much that he meditates on it every waking hour. He goes on to give some reasons why he loves the Word of God – makes me wiser than my enemies, more understanding than my teachers and the aged, sweeter than honey to my mouth..

Application:

Loving the Word doesn’t just mean to understand the Word and to abide by it. Loving the Word means that deep within our heart we love God’s promises, love God’s commands, and love God’s righteous judgement. It means that we listen to the Lord and love being obedient to His will for us. As true believers, it is not a chore to love the Word. It is a feeling deep within the heart that nobody can take away.  Being filled with the Spirit and continuing to follow Jesus, this love for the Word becomes stronger and stronger.

This is the word given to us by our creator, our Lord, our Father in heaven. We have been chosen by him and adopted into his royal family. He is our Father, we are his sons and daughters. He loves us more than anyone on this earth ever could. How can we, as true believers, not love the Word given to us by our Lord under these circumstances?

Meditating on God’s Word all the day is to love our Lord, and the Word He gives us, so much that we fill your mind and heart with it. It means truly listening to what God has to say and being obedient to Him. It means absorbing it and letting it permeate our thoughts and actions. It means every word we speak and every action we take is filtered by His embedded will for us. It means being truly dependent on Him and it means truly repenting when our sinful nature gets the best of us.

Prayer:
Lord I love you. Thank you for choosing me and loving me. Thank you for leaving your living Word and your Spirit to guide me. In Jesus’ holy name I pray. Amen.

Journal Ps 119:73-96 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice because I have hoped in your word.

 

I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

 

Let your steadfast love comfort me (according to your promise to your servant).  Let your mercy come to me, that I may live, for your law is my delight….as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.

 

Let those who fear you turn to me that they may know your testimonies…May my heart be blameless in your statutes…”  excerpts from Ps 119:74-80

 

Observation:  Affliction as a faithful action by God towards me: that’s not the way I usually think of affliction.

Analysis:  As a point of analysis of the Gospel, why does affliction happen?

I typically want to assign affliction as an attack of the enemy.  It is also a result of the degradation of the flesh because of Sin—disease and stuff increase over time (years, generations, centuries…) because of Sin.  I can’t get around that fact.  It is the theological equivalent of the 2^nd Law of Thermodynamics: Entropy—fire gets cooler, not hotter.  Ice melts.  Metals rust.  Plants turn to compost.  People get old, not younger.  (see Ro 8:20)

While affliction can be an attack of the enemy, it is never an independent, unilateral attack.  I must refer to Job 1 through 3 to get a glimpse into that process.  The singular foundational thought that must predominate in any analysis (what I am thinking) is that God is totally and absolutely Sovereign in all of Creation and nothing is done without Him involved—even attacks by the enemy.

But then, if affliction reflects God’s faithfulness, then why?

I see two reasons found in this selection of Scripture:

1. Affliction focuses my hope, reliance, and dependence on God, and;
2. I become a walking, talking testimony of God’s faithfulness.

It is difficult to consider the upside in affliction.  When I hurt, I hurt.  When my wife hurts, she hurts, and I hurt for her.  How do I cope with that knowledge?  I had a situation recently where a couple lost a child in pregnancy.  “Why do bad things happen to good people?” was asked.  Theologically, I know the answer.  It was difficult to testify of the Goodness when considering goodness was far from their minds.

I wish I had a good answer.  I am getting there, day by day, because of spending time in trying to further understand the Gospel from beginning to End and all the branches and facets that are irrevocably part of the Gospel—like affliction.

I figure when I can speak firmly of my Hope while streaming tears of pain and sorrow yet full of joy and worship, I will have done well…

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I will never know Your pain and suffering.  How expansive it must have been, and I have sorrow with a boo-boo on my shin.

The trap of comparison is fully on display in my statement.  My light and momentary affliction can NEVER be compared to Yours.  It is not the amount of pain I experience instead of Yours; it is how I draw near to the Father, fully convinced in my heart of the Hope.

Help me yield my heart daily to You, O Lord.  AMEN