In Honor of Humility

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit,
to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.Isaiah 57:15

There is, in these United States, an affection for labels. We label everything from food to furniture, from lotions to lumber. We have even chosen to label generations. We have baby boomers, baby busters, generation Xers….

Because of this propensity to paste on descriptive labels I hesitate to add yet another. Nevertheless, I suspect that most readers will concur with the idea that our present age could be labeled as “Proud” or “Arrogant”. We see it in the world of sports. When was the last time you heard an interview that didn’t drip with “in your face” arrogance? At least every four years we observe it in the political arena. I wonder what would happen if a candidate would speak kindly of his opponent and refuse to resort to “mud slinging”? It is as easily discerned in parents as it is children. It invades the world of the corporate executive as well as that of the common laborer.

Living in such a world the child of God must be careful to remember that the One who inhabits eternity chooses to dwell with those who are humble. Strong condemnations of the proud are found from one end of the Bible to the other. In fact it is true that the biblical picture of pride is never a good picture. These observations compel the sensitive believer to abhor all evidence of pride in his own life and to diligently pursue humility. We have found it impossible to know the heart of another person and have learned that outward expressions of humility can at times be misleading. At the same time we have experienced the work of the Holy Ghost in our own lives either convicting of the sin of pride or confirming the presence of genuine humility.

Today would be a great time to ask the God who searches the inward man to try your heart and reveal it’s true nature. Then again tomorrow, and Tuesday, and Wednesday …… I’m beginning to see a pattern here. May God work in each of our lives to produce a pattern of genuine humility, lowliness of spirit.

Black and White

A recent post on godwardpassion.blogspot.com touched on the matter of graylings. I encourage those who read this blog to also read Pastor Phil's blogs. In his discussion on graylings Phil pointed out the reality that the Scriptures are essentially black and white. I suspect that such a deep conviction comes from his agreement with the puritian who is reported to have said that he is precise in his theology because he serves a precise God.
Please understand me at this point. There is nothing about Phil's blog that I would change. There is not a point of it that I would disagree with in the least. That comment may cause some concern to brother Siefkes!!! What I want to do in the next few paragraphs is to ponder the problem of not finding gray areas.
Some key observations must be noted before going any further. First, I am not suggesting that the Word of God has gray areas. Neither am I arguing that we should compromise on the truths of Scripture. What I am contending is that humility produces a certain amount of "grayness" in the servant of the Lord.
Let me attempt to illustrate. I suspect that each one of us can think of someone who is nearly a total stranger to compromise. People who just absolutely must have their own way in every thing. Some of these have been men who pretend to shepherd the flock of God while in reality they are ravening wolves who rather than feed the flock feed their own egos. Others have been leaders in local congregations who view themselves as members of a corporate board riding herd over a shepherd rather than servants of God seeking His glory. I also suspect that each of us has looked in the mirror from time to time and seen such a person. In all honesty we who stand so firmly on the Scriptures also have intense feelings about other things as well. Perhaps it is the brand of car you drive, perhaps it is the political party that you identify with, perhaps it is particular college or seminary you affiliate with, perhaps it is your favorite professional sports team. The list can be endless and the issues can range from the serious to the ridiculous.
Lest we all miss the point of this blog let me attempt to conclude it with several observations.
First, it seems to be very evident that while there are some issues that we feel very strongly about we should be very careful to put the Scriptures on the pinnacle and allow nothing else to approach that exalted position. Second, we must keep in mind that while there has been much harm done to the cause of Christ by those who have compromised on the non negotiables there has also been a great deal of damage inflicted by those who been, well "hard headed" about the non essentials.
May God grant us the wisdom to differentiate between the black and white and the gray. May He grant us the grace to be humble and gracious while standing firm on the fundamentals (the true fundamentals not the emotional fundamentals that have at times risen to prominence). May He give to us a humble, teachable spirit that He may be glorified.

Encouragers

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
1 Samuel 30:6

Many who read this blog will not be surprised to know that I am absolutely convinced of the absolute sovereignty of God in all things. This divine control extends to what may be considered the mundane things of life. Consequently, I refuse to speak of mere coincidence or luck. (Some readers cannot believe that I even typed the word!)

In recent days, as well as through many years the Lord has orchestrated the events of our lives so that my wife and I have repeatedly come in contact with people who, in the course of service, have become weary in well doing. These servants of the Lord have felt the jabs of persecution and trials that come because of their obedience to Christ. As one would expect, as fellow believers, we have wept with those who wept and have sought to encourage them.

Thinking upon those situations brought me to consider the words of 1 Samuel 30:6, and the fact that David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. From that phrase we find several pointed lessons. First, we see that God’s grace is sufficient to bring encouragement in the most difficult situations. Second, while we recognize the importance of godly friends, we also acknowledge that encouragement must ultimately come from God. Thirdly, we realize that, as those who would be encouragers, we must be sure to point the weary to Him.

May we be able encouragers – pointing one another to the Great Shepherd of our souls!

Monday Musings

This morning as I walked to the study I invested some of the time pondering what should appear as my next blog. The following are two unrelated matters from our meetings yesterday.

During our adult Sunday School time we considered Titus 3:8-11. In verse 8 the Apostle Paul reminds Titus that "these things are good an profitable." The question before the expositor is "What things?" The answer to that question seems to me to go back to verses 5 through 7 and embraces the gospel as well as the life of good works mentioned in verse 8. This reality strikes me as being very important in our day as well. Ours' is a world that majors on self gratification. We live in a culture that is characterized by the pursuit of instant pleasure and asks “What’s in it for me?”. This is undoubtedly an era when the professing Christian community is driven by felt needs, perceived needs. Far too often the misguided whims and wishes of a depraved humanity are the hands that steer the ship of churches and ministries. Therefore, it is essential that we refuse to retreat from the conviction that the Gospel of Grace is profitable. It is imperative that we cling tenaciously to the truth that the Gospel of Christ alone can meet the real need of all mankind. It is necessary that we boldly declare that the great truths of Holy Scripture alone are eternally profitable, operating to the boundless advantage of the true believer.

In our evening service we resumed our study of the book of Hebrews by turning to the first three verses of chapter 6. At the end of the third verse there is a very interesting and oft overlooked phrase. The author of the epistle has presented the need for the readers to move away from their dulness of hearing (5:11) and be moved on to perfection. The Geneva Bible translates that idea "let us be led forward unto perfection". When we come to the third verse the writer records a statment of commitment "This will we do." and the reader is ready to rejoice. Then, suddenly, the eyes spot the little phrase "if God permit" and we are forced to consider the unpleasant reality that God does indeed harden hearts and blind eyes. In the words of 2 Chronicles 36:16 there does come a time when there is "no remedy". John 12:40 also declares that God is the one who blinds eyes and hardens hearts.

May I suggest that one of the factors contributing to the dullness of hearing in churches today is that this teaching has been neglected. People have not been confronted with the reality that it is possible to reject the Scriptures and oppose the preaching of the gospel to the point where hardening sets in. The average church attendee has not been warned that such conduct can, and does, reach the place where “will not hear” results in “cannot hear.”

Some will say that a Pastor should leave such things unsaid lest we create false doubt in the mind of those who hear. In my understanding of Scripture the sacred responsibility of the shepherd to teach the truth. It is not the duty of the Pastor to produce assurance of salvation - that is a ministry of the Spirit of God. May God grant that through the faithful teaching and preaching of the Scriptures that His Holy Spirit would bring folk face to face with the reality of their true spiritual condition.

Was Ever Love as Great as This?

I found the following poem this morning as I was preparing to preach from Hebrews 6:1-3.
I searched the web to find music to go with the words in hopes that we as a local assembly could learn a new song with great words.
My search for music was futile but I did find the author of the poem to be Pastor Charles Seet of Singapore. Brother Seet has composed a number of poems that will prompt the reader to marvel at the great grace of God. "Was Ever Love as Great as This? is worth reading and reflecting upon

WAS EVER LOVE AS GREAT AS THIS?

Was ever love as great as this:
That God, enthroned on high
Should all His heav'nly glories miss
To come to earth and die?

Was ever love as great as this:
What man can comprehend
How One with spotless Holiness
Can be a sinner's friend?

Was ever love as great as this:
Who wore the crown of thorn;
Whose loving eyes were brimmed with tears
While men laughed Him to scorn?

Was ever love as great as this:
That paid the deadly price
To buy unworthy souls from sin
With one full sacrifice?

Was ever love as great as this:
That seeks the erring sheep
And labours on with burning zeal
In spite of mountains steep?

Was ever love as great as this:?
That pleads for me below
And as my High, devoted Priest
Make blessings overflow?

Was ever love as great as this?
What words can fully show
The height, and length, the depth and width
Of love I long to know?

You can view Brother Seet's poems at signet.com.sg/~sbseet/index.htm