Peter's Pen 1st Peter 4:17-19

1st Peter 4:17-19

17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And

 “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.   ESV

Some key points:

Judgment begins with the household of God.

That being the case, consider the plight of the ungodly and the sinners.

If you suffer here and now - according to God's will - trust God and keep serving Him.

A powerful contrast for us to consider.  Judgment of us and judgment of "not us."  

Judgment is a scary thing - period.  Well it should be.  Having known the conviction of the Spirit concerning out condition outside of Christ we can extrapolate what it will be like at the throne.  

Note Peter writes:  "If the righteous is scarcely saved . . . ."  That ought to get our attention.   "Scarcely" means "with much work," "with difficulty."  Let me give you a picture of this:

Eph. 2:1-10

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.    ESV

We can never rightfully conceive of the cost God paid for our redemption.  Certainly He chose a manner of death for His Son that demonstrates the pain and horror of that price but we will never comprehend the true meaning or the agonizing experience of those moments when Christ called out:

Mark 15:34

“Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  ESV

One has to wonder how hard it was for God to put His Son through that.  I know, I can't know the mind of God - and I don't want to humanize Him - but though the suffering of crucifixion is mind boggling - being abandoned - even for a nano-second - by God with whom He had experienced intimacy and glory is utterly beyond my ability to comprehend - or even attempt to comprehend.

We can not afford to ever view our redemption as a minor thing.  If we ever do we must know that our hearts have grown hard and calloused.  Somehow we must keep in the front of our minds the fact of the cost of our redemption.  Think brother and sister, He suffered the punishment for our sin - indeed He became sin for our sake and took upon Himself the whole wrath of God that was rightfully ours to bear.

While Peter's "therefore" is to admonish us to trust our souls to God when we are suffering it is also to turn our minds from our suffering to the great grace and mercy of God poured out for us through Christ.  It is a, "remember," admonishment.  If indeed God has saved us from His wrath why would we doubt Him when we suffer?  Why would we "go on strike," or cease our exercise of our duties just because it's hard?  

The truly "hard part" involves another - we are just the blessed recipients.  We could do nothing and were not asked to do anything in order to be redeemed.  Not only that but we are not required (as if it were possible) to do anything to stay redeemed.  We are simply admonished to trust God and continue to do good (His good).  Certainly - not the hard part!!!!!!!  

2 Cor. 4:17-18  For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 

Peter's Pen 1 Peter 4:15-16

1st Peter 4:15-16

But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.   ESV


I find it interesting that the Spirit moved Peter to admonish us to not suffer as, muderers, theives, evildoers or meddlers.  What's the difference?  Actually, none.

Let me wax weird for a moment.  Murder is taking the life of another human being outside the context which God has provided.  Theft - now it gets interesting - is another form of taking life - isn't it?  I work hard for 12 hours to earn the money to buy say an iPad.  You steal my iPad.  Have you not also stolen 12 hours of my life?  I know that's weird but remember, money is "coined life."  Money we earn represents so much of our time and energy (life).  If you take what we earn you have stolen that time and energy.

Then Peter says we are not suffer as "evildoers."  Now that's kind of vague - isn't it?  No, not if you spend anytime in the Bible at all.  Sin is evil - evil is sin.  God determines what sin - hence what evil - is.

Now here's he hard part.  Culture/society may define as evil what God calles good - it certainly calls good what God calls evil.  Uhhhhhhhhhh......  OK, it's not hard - we are to obey God and not man (when man is in opposition to God).  We have a belief in "sin."  We have accepted God's criteria for goodness, holiness, rightness....etc.  Our culture wants to redefine many sinful things as, if not good, at least OK.

Now culture/society will do what it wants.  We can't - at least not and claim any degree of faithfulness.

Now let me address "meddlers."  This is a person who, with little or no regard for their own affairs, takes (note: takes) supervision over the affairs of others.  There is a flavor to this word that indicates one has the perspective of an enemy.  there is an element of hostility in this meddling.

Huh?  Well, we are not to address anyone's affairs outside the context of the Gospel.  If they are not believers then their affairs, however they are conducted, are not our affairs.  We may not demand or expect Christlike behavior form those who not Christ's.  No matter how weird, perverse, offensive, evil or sinful someone's behavior is we have no place or right for comment or recourse concerning it outside the laws of the land and the context of the Gospel.  We are not to be involved outside of these boundaries.

Here's the definition of the word from Kittles Thoelogical Dictionary:
Since it is not found outside the NT, we must deduce its meaning from the context. The context, however, allows of various possibilities: a. 'one who has his eye on the possessions of others'; b. 'an unfaithful guardian of goods committed to him'; c. 'one who meddles in things that do not concern him,' and d. 'a calumniator or informer.'
TDNTA

So it's a broad term - almost like "covet" or the result of coveting.

But the main point ot this assage is that if we suffer at all (legitimately) it must be bcassue we serve the King of Kings and lord of Lords.  It is our walk in and towards His righteousness for which we are to be persecuted.  We should not rejoice in suffering we incite through cruelty, unkindness, gracelessness, mercilessness or any other sin.  Rather we are to rejoice in only that that suffering that results from righteousness - that is we rejoice in the sufering that comes from our being faithful to Him.
   

This and That: Keeping the heart.

This and That – Heart Problems

Gen 6:5  The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  ESV
Mat 15:19  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.  ESV

Jas 1:26  If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.  ESV

I’m working on a bigger piece about our hearts and how it is so very important that we “keep” or “guard” them.  We need to take on the responsibility of doing this much more than we do.

Pro 4:23  Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.  ESV

The word “keep” here means to guard or protect.  It carries the idea of protecting, preserving and maintaining something entrusted to us.  And indeed we have been entrusted with a great gift.

Eze 36:26  And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  ESV

Though our heart is new it is still subject to our old ways – our flesh.  Having a new heart does not automatically erase all our old pleasures, desires, wants or weaknesses.  It is a new heart in an old bag of bones.

Ever bought a new shiny car?   I get a kick out or people and how protective they can be.  They take up two parking spaces, they don’t drive in the rain or snow, they try to not part under trees of power lines.  They do everything they can to keep the car as pristine as possible.  But I’ve also noticed that once they ge that first ding their commitment to keeping that car pristine waxes.  It’s like, “Oh well – never mind.”

We do that with our new hearts.  Certainly we keep our hearts away from the BIGGIES we indulged in but we don’t notice the little dings and dents.  This is not a good thing.

We make a great show of admiring purity but do we really?  A bride who has slept with her groom before the wedding (or slept with somebody) will typically still want to wear white.  We are consumed with looking the part – the pure part – but how concerned are we about actual purity?
coat will we tolerate before we take it to Goodwill?

We have “dress” clothes that we wear when we want to impress and we have grubbies we wear when we’re cleaning out the storage room.  We don’t want to blemish our dress clothes so we have others we don’t care if we blemish or not.

Remember when you were a kid and you got a new article of clothing and your Mom wouldn’t let you wear it except a certain times because whe didn’t want you to ruin it?  Remember how she freaked when you got something on it?

So, how’s the new heart?  There isn’t anything more preciouse in all of creation.  Got a few stains here and there?  Maybe they’re not visible but they’re there – right?

David prayed,
Psa 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  ESV
That “clean” means pure.  It is a pure heart that we have been given – how well have we done in keeping it that way?

If you’re like me you know well that we don’t do a very good job.  Of course we also know that:
1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  ESV

But do you realize that this verse is right between:
1Jn 1:8  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  ESV
And
1Jn 1:10  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.  ESV

What will it take for us to see the keeping of our new hearts as the most fundamental of our Christian duties?  How can we come to the point where we make it our consuming passion to honor God by keeping/guarding this precious gift He has so graciously given us?  When will we be sensitive enough to be as repulsed by a small stain on our new hearts as we are about a small ding on our new car or a small stain on our new shirt?

When we make keeping/guarding our hearts a matter of paramount importance in our prayers, asking God to convict us that we might guard our hearts, begging Him for the sensitivity to perceive that attacks and threats – then we will have begun.  I believe that when we begin to take this matter to Him and seek His power and guidance He will provide it.  But as long as we remain comfortably complacent our hearts will suffer – and hence our walk will suffer – and in this, the glory and honor of God will suffer.

John Flavel and me Keeping the heart. 001

Duties Included in Keeping the Heart
Flavel, John (2010-08-03). Keeping the Heart. Kindle Edition.

"Frequent observation of the frame of the heart.  The heart can never be kept until its case be examined and understood."

Proust wrote, “No man is a mystery, except to himself.”

How many times have you thought, “I can’t believe I did/said that!”  Well, there ya go.  We need to examine our hearts regularly.  But we need help to do it well.  We talk of being able to do all things through Christ who is our strength.  Well, here’s one of the “all things” we avoid. 

Means:  Make a list.
What makes you laugh?  What makes you cry?  What hurts you and provokes anger?  What brings you satisfaction?  What brings you security?  What do you ache for?  What do you fear?
Which of those things are in line with your profession – or not?
Why?

It includes deep humiliation for heart evils and disorders.

OK, “humiliation” is a tough word – but it is also a good intervention word.  Flavel is talking about what you may have just discovered in the above exercise.  These “evils” and “disorders” have to be robbed of their power in your heart and the best way for that to happen is to lay them out before God.

Consider the sacrifice Christ made for those things.  Consider how He did so to enable you to humiliate them – to see and acknowledge their shameful presence in your heart.  BUT – do so ONLY if you are firmly aware of the fact of God’s grace in your life.

This isn’t about beating yourself up.  It is about beating the bugs out of the rug – the evil and disorder out of your heart.  Denial is so easy and so seeing becomes hard.  Denial is so easy and so dealing with evils and disorders is so messy.  The longer the evil and disorder remains denied the longer it works against your growth, stability and comfort.

I knew a man who after a year of literally living on OTC indigestion medicine finally went to the doctor.  To his horror, he had stomach cancer and it was too late to really do anything curative about it.  So it is with the evils and disorders that live in our hearts – though we are alive “in” Christ these things make our hearts dead to Him.  They are like the veil in the Temple were it to be repaired.  We cannot fully know the comfort and security of being His because of these things.
Means:  From the list take the evils and disorders you find to the throne of grace. 

Confess them and confess their hurtfulness to your spiritual health. 

Ask God to help you to begin to remove (humiliate) them. 

Ask Him where to start. 
Perhaps even keep a list in your wallet or purse so that when you pray you can always have a reminder of your deep heart need.

It includes earnest supplication and instant prayer for purifying and rectifying grace when sin has defiled and disordered the heart.  “Whatever thou deny me: give me a heart to fear thee, to love and delight in thee.”

This is praying “for.”  Above we took the load to Him.  Here we ask for what we need, “purifying and rectifying grace.”

Means:  Good old regular and strong, “on your knees” prayer.
Make use of David’s prayers such as we find in Psalm 23 and following.

Make use of the recorded prayers of others as can be found in the book, Puritan Prayers.

Thou hast struck a heavy blow at my pride, at the false god of self, and I lie in pieces before Thee. But Thou hast given me another master and lord, Thy Son, Jesus, and now my heart is turned towards holiness, my life speeds as an arrow from a bow towards complete obedience to Thee. Help me in all my doings to put down sin day. Grant me grace to bear Thy will without repining, and delight to be not only chiselled, squared, or fashioned, but separated from the old rock where I have been embedded so long, and lifted from the quarry to the upper air, where I may be built in Christ for ever.  Anonymous (2010-07-01). Puritan Prayers (Kindle Locations 105-110).  . Kindle Edition.

Write out your prayers.

It includes the imposing of strong engagements upon ourselves to walk more carefully with God, and avoid the occasions whereby the heart may be induced to sin.

This is head work.  How do you avoid those things which encourage, sustain or implant evils and disorders in your mind?  It is not only a matter of what you decide to forego or abstain from, but a matter of what you will take up, engage in and practice.
What will you choose to replace that which you find to your detriment?  How will you fill the minutes, the hours?  What will serve you to your benefit and growth in godliness?

These are not “laws,” but choices.  These do not determine “if” you are His but rather “how” you are His and how you give His Spirit the means and opportunity to heal, restore and strengthen you.  It can be as simple as not watching a TV show to as complex of breaking off an relationship.
Where upon your path do you stumble?  What is it that you stumble over?  Who is it that is a stumbling block to you?  These are the things concerning which you need to make strong resolutions – choices.

Though God can use these things, He cannot bless them.  Their use is limited to His conviction of your heart.  The blessing comes from taking the medicine He prescribes.  Though the medicine taste bitter, even nasty, we know it is all and only for our good and His glory.

Means:  Make a list, pray about where to begin and then begin.  Do so being as gentle and gracious with yourself as is He.
Who
What
When
Where
Choices have two ends: the choice to “not,” and the choice "to.”  As we choose to not we must choose to do.  In that list, make a column of what will replace that which you have marked for elimination.  Prayer, study, fellowship with other believers, worship – all these are good and godly replacements.
Our modern age supplies us with countless opportunities for choosing good things (as it does for evil).  I know that when all else fails I listen to sermons by Alistair Begg or read books written by one of the Puritans.  These choices may not be for you, they are but two options.

It includes a constant and holy jealousy over our own hearts.  He that will keep his heart must eat and drink with fear, rejoice with fear, and pass the whole time of his sojourning here in fear. All this is little enough to keep the heart from sin.

This is a choice as well.  You must choose to save your heart for God and godly things and resent that which works against it. 

You who are fathers – would you have less concern for your heart as you would for the safety and purity of your children – your daughter?  You mothers, would you feed your newborn from a dirty bottle?  Young people, would you allow harm and evil to come to your dearest friends?  So, as you would wish yourself to be in regards to these who are so dear to you – be so to your own heart.

Pray to live knowing that it is not only your heart, but it is His as well.  Think of the price He has paid so you might walk after Him in security and confidence.  Would you cheat on one who was so dedicated to you, who had given so much for you?  Consider those times when someone you considered close shunned or betrayed you – what was that pain like?

Or think of something in which or of which you place great meaning.  Would you allow someone to damage or destroy it?  Are you cautious about who uses it – perhaps even who sees it?  What greater meaning can any “thing” have than the redemption of your heart and His promise of His provision?
It is not sin to be selfish with your heart which He has redeemed.  It is sin to allow it to be used and abused, tarnished or torn by sin and the agents of sin.  We may give our hearts to others through Him but for no other reason than His service.

Means:  Who or what would draw your heart from you – from Him?  They have no such right, no such authority.
Keep your heart from their influence and certainly from their grasp.
It includes the realizing of God’s presence with us, and setting the Lord always before us.
This well could have been the first on the list for it is certainly the most important.  The old quip that “character is what a man is when no one is watching,” is not off the mark.
God is always watching – and He knows our suffering and difficulties.  He knows our grief.  He knows our needs.  He knows our weakness.
He wants His highest good for our lives here as well as in heaven. 
It is hard to really understand, but true that God is our truest friend.  He will never forsake or abandon us.  He is always at work for our betterment in His grace and glory.
He is the one who can not only search our hearts, but heal them and strengthen them as well

Urged by my need, invited by Thy promises, called by Thy Spirit, I enter Thy presence, worshipping Thee with godly fear, awed by Thy majesty, greatness, glory, but encouraged by Thy love.  Anonymous (2010-07-01). Puritan Prayers (Kindle Locations 121-122).  . Kindle Edition.

Bless me by revealing to me more of His saving merits, by causing Thy goodness to pass before me, by speaking peace to my contrite heart; strengthen me to give Thee no rest untiI Christ shall reign supreme within me in every thought, word, and deed, in a faith that purifies the heart, overcomes the world, works by love, fastens me to Thee, and ever clings to the cross.  Anonymous (2010-07-01). Puritan Prayers (Kindle Locations 125-128).  . Kindle Edition.

This and That: Pour it all out to God!

Pour out to God in prayer those fears which the devil and your own unbelief pour in upon you in times of danger. Prayer is the best outlet to fear: where is the Christian that cannot set his seal to this direction?   Flavel, John (2010-08-03). Keeping the Heart (Kindle Locations 669-670).

Psa 118:5 
Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free.  ESV

In times of danger – no matter its magnitude – fear is natural.  Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the acting upon it.  What greater thing could we do than to go to our Father with all our fears.

Isn’t Christ, our intercessor and Great High Priest, seated with the Father speaking of us and for us?  Does not Christ appreciate and understand our weaknesses and vulnerabilities’?

If, as we see in the quote above, Satan knows and exploits our fears, does not our Father know more and better?  In all things fearful is it not enough that nothing can separate us from the love of God?  Surely upon that assurance we can stand.

But we are weak as babes in our walk with Christ – as we should be. Though we lived in the wiles of the Devil and the fantasies of the flesh, we do not know living in the security and power of our Lord.  So we tremble and quake as Satan and our budding/immature faith both work to our distress.

Trusting God is not something that just comes.  It is gained by experience, informed by His Word and enhanced by His Spirit.  I have trusted God in many situations and yet every new situation raises the hair on the back of my neck.

I wonder, “God was faithful there and then but this is here and now.”  Even though I know that when it was then and there for me, He was already readying here and now for me.  But I still fear.

I’ve noticed something, though, about that fear.  It is characterized by the question, “What am I (or we) going to do”?  Perhaps that’s where we get tripped up.  We face a circumstance and supposing we must or can do something, we start with ourselves.  Seeing no help for or in ourselves, we fear.  Because we are already afraid we think we don’t have faith.  Because we think we don’t have faith we doubt God will help us.

Perhaps we’re starting at the wrong place.  Perhaps we need to take the circumstance (and our fear) to Him immediately and ask Him what we need to do (if anything).  Perhaps we need to slow down, examine the circumstance and take our thoughts and concerns to Him and have a talk. 

I wonder if at times I irritate Him (LOL).  I try to take circumstances to Him and leave them with Him but it doesn’t work very well.  I’ve found that I need to stay before Him and take the time to pour out my ideas and thoughts concerning the circumstance.  If I don’t, I find myself fretting and distracted.  So I try to go to Him and just babble out my ideas, my tangential concerns, my solutions, my fears.  It seems that this process has a quieting effect on my soul.

But just recently, I’ve discovered that I rise from prayer too swiftly.  I’ll pray and then get into bed and I’ll just go on trying to fix the problem in my head.  I think that, at those times, I need to get back on my knees and continue the conversation – obviously, I wasn’t done (or maybe He wasn’t). 

Ok – for those of you who are thinking, “Do I have to be on my knees,”  I’ll just tell you that I do.  As I’ve intentionally worked on my prayer life, I’ve discovered that it just feels more like prayer when I’m kneeling.  Do I have to?  I don’t think I have to for Him – but I do for me.  That’s just me – and we all know I’m just not right. 
Prayer is worship – but it is conversational worship.  I speak, He listens.  How He responds is unclear to me – I haven’t heard voices yet.  But I trust Him to respond because He always has.  Either through the Word, a change of circumstance, another believer, a random sermon I hear, a random book I read, or even a random thought, He answers.  Oh, I know none of those things are really “random.”  They are intentional and purposeful – so maybe utterly unexpected is a better term.  But the point is, He answers.

Concerning the verse I used above.  Notice that the writer says that God set him free.  The term distress has the sense of “tightness,” like when your chest gets tight when you are anxious.  Now the writer doesn’t say what his freedom looked like.  Was the circumstance changed or was his anxiety relieved?  But would we complain of either?  I hope not.

Don’t let yourself think that you should only do this for the “big stuff.”  Make it a habit to do it with everything.  “Pour,” it all out to God.  What seems trivial today may loom large tomorrow, so you may as well get a head start on it. 

VOTE-VOTE-VOTE TRUST HIM and VOTE

The politician is made of willow; he can side with all parties; his religion is cut according to the fashion of the times; he can bow either to the east or to the west. Zeal for truth is blotted out of the politician's creed.

In short, the politician is like a chameleon, who can change into all colors and be as his company is. He can be either serious or feathery. He can imitate either Cato or Cataline. I grant that Christian prudence is commendable, but the serpent must not devour the dove.  Thomas Watson (2010-04-27). The Duty of Self-Denial (Kindle Locations 156-163).  . Kindle Edition.

Go to the polls and vote – Vote your conscience but examine it first.

I voted – it hurt – but I voted.

Remember that politics is about power – men seek power to fulfill the desires of their hearts.  Power corrupts.  If the heart is already corrupted then corruption is multiplied exponentially 

This is a tough time for believers.  All the political concerns are not germane to our mission ,our duty here.  We are resident aliens – citizens of another Kingdom.  But we have the opportunity to make a statement.

I was recently asked if a believer could make a choice between the lesser of two evils.  My considered response was that if that is the only choice we have, if in not making that choice we fail in our responsibility to others (believers and non-believers) we sin.  Of course I also believe that when it comes to the powers of this world there are no choices except between evils.

Remember though – our God is sovereign – the power and authority of government is on loan from Him.  

Trust Him – cast your vote!

Peter's Pen 1st Peter 4:14

1 Peter 4: 14  If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.   ESV

The gist of this passage is, "If you are insulted for the very name of Christ ((and you are/will be)) . . . ."

We are to expect to be insulted (reviled, upbraided, rejected) regardless of the good you do.  This is not something that may happen but something that does and will happen.  We are not to be "surprised" at it as we are not to be surprised at the fiery trial.

It's easy to see, on the grand scale, the insults aimed at Christ and His followers.  Through the justice system, corporate policies and even cultural groups, the name of Christ and His followers are insulted.

But what about on an intimate personal level?  When was the last time you were personally insulted because of your faith, because of your Lord? 

For us, in this country, it doesn't happen often.  Usually, we see it and experience it in public confrontations over some issue concerning which we climb out of our cozy safe places and make a public show or statement (en masse).  But a personal, one to one insult?  I think they are too rare in our culture.

Why?

Because we stay in our comfortable little enclaves and when we are among non-believers it's difficult, if not impossible, to tell us from them.  We "tolerate" things we know are wrong.  We stand silent - or worse, we take part - in many of the sins we consider, "just being human."  No one can tell we are His unless, for some reason, we tell them we are His - but in this culture - we're not telling them much.

We may tell them we "go to church."  We may even tell them that we are very active in church.  But we will rarely go so far as to tell them what that means in the context of the world and our lives outside of that cozy enclave we call church.

Where do "they" see His light in your life?  Where do you stand for His holiness, righteousness and/or justice?

An example of where we fail to stand plainly for Him is our attiude toward Israel (the nation state).  We may rail against the persecution of believers in Iran or Pakistan or New York City, but we are nauseatingly silent concerning the persecution of Christians in Israel.  Both Jewish and "Palestinian" believers are openly persecuted with a wink and a nod from the government.  Democracy?  Freedom?  I think not.

If anything, Israel is more socialist thaN democratic.  Freedom of speech and freedom of religion may be "technical" rights but they are not "protected" rights.  Government agencies, when they aren't working with them, turn a blind eye to those groups that harass, persecute and even do violence against the followers of Yeshua the Messiah.

And yet - for a big part - the church here proclaims it an "evil" to not support Israel regardless of the fact that it is a godless, secular state that allows - even cooperates - in the persecution of our brothers and sisters.  We have accepted what we have been told about the founding of Israel and its place (that is of the modern Israel) in the biblical big picture.  Here, where we need to stand up and cry out against the persecution of believers, we are silent - or worse, we ignore the evil and support the evil doer.

The cry against the early believers was two-fold.  They we called atheists and disturbers of the cultural/social/political order.  Like our culture, the Roman culture was pagan but that paganism was part and parcel of Rome.  You could not separate the "gods" and their worship from the political or social order.  Believers, in rejecting (let us say not tolerating) this pagan life-style were indeed opposing the empire.  (Oh, they were called atheists because they rejected all the "gods" of the empire - they were very specific mono-theists - they were --- wait for it ---- exclusive.)

Are you, in the practical living from day to day, a friend of God or a friend of the world?  Do you, "go along to get along"?  Do you stay silent when the Spirit is prompting you to speak?  Are you "apologetic" about your faith?

Want to try an experiment?  Take your Bible to work every day for a week.  At your break or lunch, take time to read it.  I suggest that once people notice, they will begin to act differently.  If you are asked if you are a believer respond with a joyous, "Oh yes, very much so!"  You will find it fascinating how people respond - and who responds how.

Certainly, we are to be gracious and kind to non-believers but that does not mandate that we tolerate or ignore, much less accept, sinful behavior in our presence.  It is, as Peter says, "the Spirit of glory and of God," that rests on us - but we have to ask, can "they" tell?  Can they discern it?  Or, have I done a good enough job of concealing it so that they think I'm one of them?  Have I hidden, covered my light so well that they don't see it?

If I am not insulted, reviled, rejected, or at least kept at a "safe" distance because of my faith - why is that?  It they are friends with the world and hence at enmity with God, why do we get along so well?  Why do I "fit in" with the enemies of my Lord and Master?

I was once fired from a job because I stood up for my faith.  It's a great feeling.  Oh, it was a tough time, but it was a great feeling.  But, I realized that experience also made me "gun shy" and hence a condition I have repented of and am seeking to correct.  What about you?  How do "they" tell you are His?  Or can they?

Peter's Pen 1s Peter 4:12-13 Oops out of order

Peter's Pen 1st Peter 4:12-13

I Peter 4: 12-13:  Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.   ESV

I'd like to paraphrase this verse - just to give some flavor -- "Beloved, when  the flames of persecution lap about your knees (and they will), don't say nobody told you, don't even wonder why, expect it all the time!!!!"

Get the drift?  Don't act dumb or do a "poor little me" when the world, the flesh and/or the devil turns on the burners!!!  From Jesus' own mouth we have been well warned that persecution isn't a "maybe," it is a, "oh- yeah!"

It is not about you and me, it's is about Him and the fallen one's hatred for Him and all that is His.  No whining!  No shock!  Rather, an, "I was expecting that," would be most appropriate.

But let me wander from the "Big One," to the issue of being prepared for the, "Big One."

We are never NOT under attack - never - not ever - no way - no how!

TV shows, politics, commercials, movies, magazines - all of these are attacks upon our hearts which incite our affections and lead to a fight for our consciences and holiness.  Whatever the "world" or Satan throws at us - no matter how minor, no matter how subtle, no matter how apparently innocuous is an attack, anything that conjures the idea that Christ is not utterly sufficient and/or that God is not utterly providential, is an attack.

Subaru is my favorite example.  Do you know that if you buy a Subaru, you will have "love" in your life?  That's what their ads say.  Watch for the little "love" graphic on their ads.

What about Victoria's Secret?  Why do I (or you ladies for that matter) need to see half naked women in their underwear?  Will this underwear make you a better person?  They want you to think so. [Maybe not so much being better - - but definitely more desirable]

What about sporting events hype?  Does it really matter who gets the funny ball to the end of the cow pasture?  Is this an important event or is it just a way for sellers to present you with the proposition that if you buy their stuff you will be a good person?  Why are cheerleaders half-naked?  Does that make the team better?


We have to accept that what the world (and the devil through it) offers us is nothing but temptation to be dissatisfied with our state.  Whether it's a car, underwear, the latest digital gizmoe - they all want us to feel we NEED their product to be - well - at least normal.

The problem is we blow off these little trials, ignoring their cumulative effect on our hearts and minds.  I believe that the more sensitive we are and appropriately responsive we are to these things, the less we will be shock by the "Big One."  I mean really, how "real" are the oh so popular "reality shows?"  Is that what He says is "real" life?  It may be for the unredeemed but for us it is a lie right out of the very pit of hell.

If we have been paying attention, it is clear that little by little the culture, indeed even our political and judicial systems, are slowly eroding our freedom to live as His.  Whether they do it via proclaiming some sin is a right or a norm, or through chipping away at our freedom to express - even raise our kids according to - our faith; they want to destroy us.

If the "powers that be" forgot their differences in Christ's day and conspired to kill Him, what makes you think they're not doing the same thing about us today?  Are you that naive?  Our battle is not a cultural battle nor is it a political battle - it's not even a religious battle.  It is a battle for His glory and honor as displayed by our active and faithful service in this world.

If you think I've gone off the deep end into the weirdness of "conspiracies and cabals," you haven't read much of your Bible lately.  Who are our enemies?  Who is "out to get us"?  That would be - the world - the flesh and the devil.  Hello-----anybody there?

So many believers are going to be shocked out of their socks when the "Big One" begins.  They're going to proclaim how nice they were and how they can't believe what's happening and how they've not bothered or hurt anybody.  They are going to feel "betrayed" by the "world" who has always been cooperating with the devil and working on the flesh for their destruction.

I am growing more and more convinced that because of the -- ok this is a tough one - the whoring of the church - the pimping out of the Gospel - we have lost our focus, which is for each individual believer - with the help, encouragement and support of every other believer - to grow more conformed to His likeness every moment.  How does that work when you can't wait to get out of church to see "the game"?  How does that work when we are as engaged by the world's "entertainment" offerings as the non-believer is?  How does that work when we make the accumulation of material things just as much a priority for ourselves as the world does for itself?

Dearest ones, how have we gotten so immured, so numb to the little, pernicious and persistent evils?  How have we come to tolerate - in our homes and even in our churches - the pandering of (and to) the world's standards, goals and priorities?  How have we come to be insensitive to evil - for that's what it is – evil?  We have refused to say "No," to the world - unless it's what we see as a ''big sin."  We have learned to wink and nod at evil because if we didn't, we would be weird - strange creatures - subject to vilification and finger pointing and marginalization ---- Oh, wait, isn't that happening anyway?

But, we will ever, I fear, be willing to feed the beast that seeks to consume us.  We will feed it until there is nothing left for it to eat but - well - us.  When we run out of treats for the beast, we will express shock and dismay when its teeth sink into our throats.

OK - one example.  The big thing right now is buying precious metals - hedging our wealth against the potential financial crisis.  What makes us think that when it finally hits the fan, we'll be allowed to keep any of it?  All that has to be done is for us to be found to be even a quasi-criminal enterprise and they can come and take it.

What part of the following are you refusing to accept?
John 15:19:
If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.   ESV

What part of that is a lie?

What about:
James 4:4:
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  ESV

Hello!!!!!!!!  Anyone home?

In the second verse of our passage, Peter admonishes us to rejoice when we suffer for Christ or suffer as Christ's.  Yeah, like that's gonna happen.  I fear that we're trying so hard to be "friends" with the world that we will resent any suffering imposed upon us.  Why?  Because we refuse - absolutely refuse - to "take up our crosses," and follow Him in the little everyday compromises offered us by a world that wants to destroy us.

Just let me ask,
What's on your TeVo or your DVR?  What "shows" are your shows?   What is it in your world that you just can't do without, just can't miss, gotta see, hear, have ............?

If we can't take up our crosses, we will not rejoice when trials and persecution are imposed upon us.  Not only that but, if we can't or won't recognize and accept that a lot of what we hold should rightfully be laid down, I don't know how much we'll rejoice when He returns.

John Flavel + Me - Keeping the Heart

Duties Included in Keeping the Heart

Flavel, John (2010-08-03). Keeping the Heart. Kindle Edition.
Frequent observation of the frame of the heart.  The heart can never be kept until its case be examined and understood.

Proust wrote, “No man is a mystery, except to himself.”

How many times have you thought, “I can’t believe I did/said that!”  Well, there ya go.  We need to examine our hearts regularly.  But we need help to do it well.  We talk of being able to do all things through Christ who is our strength.  Well, here’s one of the “all things” we 
avoid.  

Means:  Make a list.
What makes you laugh?  What makes you cry?  What hurts you and provokes anger?  What brings you satisfaction?  What brings you security?  What do you ache for?  What do you fear?
Which of those things are in line with your profession – or not?
Why?

It includes deep humiliation for heart evils and disorders.
OK, “humiliation” is a tough word – but it is also a good intervention word.  Flavel is talking about what you may have just discovered in the above exercise.  These “evils” and “disorders” have to be robbed of their power in your heart and the best way for that to happen is to lay them out before God.

Consider the sacrifice Christ made for those things.  Consider how He did so to enable you to humiliate them – to see and acknowledge their shameful presence in your heart.  BUT – do so ONLY if you are firmly aware of the fact of God’s grace in your life.

This isn’t about beating yourself up.  It is about beating the bugs out of the rug – the evil and disorder out of your heart.  Denial is so easy and so seeing becomes hard.  Denial is so easy and so dealing with evils and disorders is so messy.  The longer the evil and disorder remains denied the longer it works against your growth, stability and comfort.

I knew a man who after a year of literally living on OTC indigestion medicine finally went to the doctor.  To his horror, he had stomach cancer and it was too late to really do anything curative about it.  So it is with the evils and disorders that live in our hearts – though we are alive “in” Christ these things make our hearts dead to Him.  They are like the veil in the Temple were it to be repaired.  We cannot fully know the comfort and security of being His because of these things.

Means:  From the list take the evils and disorders you find to the throne of grace.  
Confess them and confess their hurtfulness to your spiritual health.  
Ask God to help you to begin to remove (humiliate) them.  
Ask Him where to start.  
Perhaps even keep a list in your wallet or purse so that when you pray you can always have a reminder of your deep heart need

It includes earnest supplication and instant prayer for purifying and rectifying grace when sin has defiled and disordered the heart.  “Whatever thou deny me: give me a heart to fear thee, to love and delight in thee.”

This is praying “for.”  Above we took the load to Him.  Here we ask for what we need, “purifying and rectifying grace.”

Means:  Good ole regular and strong, “on your knees” prayer.
Make use of David’s prayers such as we find in Psalm 23 and following.
Make use of the recorded prayers of others as can be found in the book, Puritan Prayers.

Thou hast struck a heavy blow at my pride, at the false god of self, and I lie in pieces before Thee. But Thou hast given me another master and lord, Thy Son, Jesus, and now my heart is turned towards holiness, my life speeds as an arrow from a bow towards complete obedience to Thee. Help me in all my doings to put down sin day. Grant me grace to bear Thy will without repining, and delight to be not only chiselled, squared, or fashioned, but separated from the old rock where I have been embedded so long, and lifted from the quarry to the upper air, where I may be built in Christ for ever.  Anonymous (2010-07-01). Puritan Prayers (Kindle Locations 105-110).  . Kindle Edition.

Write out your prayers.

It includes the imposing of strong engagements upon ourselves to walk more carefully with God, and avoid the occasions whereby the heart may be induced to sin.

This is head work.  How do you avoid those things which encourage, sustain or implant evils and disorders in your mind?  It is not only a matter of what you decide to forego or abstain from, but a matter of what you will take up, engage in and practice.

What will you choose to replace that which you find to your detriment?  How will you fill the minutes, the hours?  What will serve you to your benefit and growth in godliness?
These are not “laws,” but choices.  These do not determine “if” you are His but rather “how” you are His and how you give His Spirit the means and opportunity to heal, restore and strengthen you.  It can be as simple as not watching a TV show to as complex of breaking off an relationship.

Where upon your path do you stumble?  What is it that you stumble over?  Who is it that is a stumbling block to you?  These are the things concerning which you need to make strong resolutions – choices.

Though God can use these things, He cannot bless them.  Their use is limited to His conviction of your heart.  The blessing comes from taking the medicine He prescribes.  Though the medicine taste bitter, even nasty, we know it is all and only for our good and His glory.

Means:  Make a list, pray about where to begin and then begin.  Do so being as gentle and gracious with yourself as is He.
Who
What
When
Where

Choices have two ends: the choice to “not,” and the choice "to.”  As we choose to not we must choose to do.  In that list, make a column of what will replace that which you have marked for elimination.  Prayer, study, fellowship with other believers, worship – all these are good and godly replacements.

Our modern age supplies us with countless opportunities for choosing good things (as it does for evil).  I know that when all else fails I listen to sermons by Alistair Begg or read books written by one of the Puritans.  These choices may not be for you, they are but two options.

It includes a constant and holy jealousy over our own hearts.  He that will keep his heart must eat and drink with fear, rejoice with fear, and pass the whole time of his sojourning here in fear. All this is little enough to keep the heart from sin.

This is a choice as well.  You must choose to save your heart for God and godly things and resent that which works against it.  

You who are fathers – would you have less concern for your heart as you would for the safety and purity of your children – your daughter?  You mothers, would you feed your newborn from a dirty bottle?  Young people, would you allow harm and evil to come to your dearest friends?  So, as you would wish yourself to be in regards to these who are so dear to you – be so to your own heart.

Pray to live knowing that it is not only your heart, but it is His as well.  Think of the price He has paid so you might walk after Him in security and confidence.  Would you cheat on one who was so dedicated to you, who had given so much for you?  Consider those times when someone you considered close shunned or betrayed you – what was that pain like?

Or think of something in which or of which you place great meaning.  Would you allow someone to damage or destroy it?  Are you cautious about who uses it – perhaps even who sees it?  What greater meaning can any “thing” have than the redemption of your heart and His promise of His provision?

It is not sin to be selfish with your heart which He has redeemed.  It is sin to allow it to be used and abused, tarnished or torn by sin and the agents of sin.  We may give our hearts to others through Him but for no other reason than His service.

Means:  Who or what would draw your heart from you – from Him?  They have no such right, no such authority.
Keep your heart from their influence and certainly from their grasp.

It includes the realizing of God’s presence with us, and setting the Lord always before us.

This well could have been the first on the list for it is certainly the most important.  The old quip that “character is what a man is when no one is watching,” is not off the mark.
God is always watching – and He knows our suffering and difficulties.  He knows our grief.  He knows our needs.  He knows our weakness.

He wants His highest good for our lives here as well as in heaven.  

It is hard to really understand, but true that God is our truest friend.  He will never forsake or abandon us.  He is always at work for our betterment in His grace and glory.
He is the one who can not only search our hearts, but heal them and strengthen them as well

Urged by my need, invited by Thy promises, called by Thy Spirit, I enter Thy presence, worshipping Thee with godly fear, awed by Thy majesty, greatness, glory, but encouraged by Thy love.  Anonymous (2010-07-01). Puritan Prayers (Kindle Locations 121-122).  . Kindle Edition.

Bless me by revealing to me more of His saving merits, by causing Thy goodness to pass before me, by speaking peace to my contrite heart; strengthen me to give Thee no rest untiI Christ shall reign supreme within me in every thought, word, and deed, in a faith that purifies the heart, overcomes the world, works by love, fastens me to Thee, and ever clings to the cross.  Anonymous (2010-07-01). Puritan Prayers (Kindle Locations 125-128).  . Kindle Edition.

This and That Kind of a weird good news 101612

There still remains some wildness in the thoughts and fancies of the best Christians, to humble them; but if you find a concern before to prevent them, and opposition against them when they come, and grief and sorrow afterward, you find enough to clear you from the charge of reigning hypocrisy.  John Flavel

For all the bad press the Puritans get it's amazing how it's refuted when we actually read their works.  But they we a practical and realistic people who knew that living here for Him is a moment by moment fight.  They also knew that sometimes we get whipped.

They knew that the great victory was sure but they also knew some battles would go to the other side.  Their works are full of comforts like those above.  Read and consider the following:

If any upright soul should hence infer, 'I am a hypocrite too, for many times my heart departs from God in duty; do what I can, yet I cannot hold it close with God!' I answer, the very objection carries in it its own solution. You say, 'Do what I can, yet I cannot keep my heart with God.' Soul, if you do what you can, you have the blessing of an upright, though God sees good to exercise you under the affliction of a discomposed heart.  John Flavel

Though I hate to use the term, this middle ground or no-mans-land where the fighting is tooth and tallon is where we tend to be condeming when we ought not.  From the above quote we can see that the Puritans understood the nature and measure of the battle we fight and they considered fighting them evidence of our uprightness in Him.

Who else but a believer would be concerned with potential hypocricy?  Who else but a believer would have any conerns God-ward?  Who else but a believer would concern themselves with living out the faith?

We need to see our struggles as comforts and encouragements - as evidences that we are of the faith.  To be able to see and to be broken by the fact that we are not good enough to apporach the throne is to celebrate and acknowledge His grace and love.  Dead men and women do not so worry and distress themselves.  They can't, they are dead.  They may pretend to life, somehow being animated in a religious fashion but they are dead pretenders, hypocrites.

You, however, who have great and grave concern for the honor and glory of God in your lives, should, even in the midst of your weeping, rejoice that God has so softened and enlivened your heart that you may be broken.  Oh that all men and women would be so tender hearted - so sensitive to sin.  A hypocrite never fears hypocricy for it is their normal condition.  You, however, find even the hint of hypocricy in your life to be a matter of crying out to God and drawing closer, tending to your duties with greater diligence and calling our for His provision in a loud and weeping voice.  

You also are blessed in recognizing the weakness of your strength and your need for Him.  You do all you can and it is not enough.  But dear brother and sister it would never be enough - it could never be enough.  This fact is as critical to the Gospel as any other.  Indeed it is the very furrow in which the seed of the Gospel is planted and grows.  How blessed are we who know our need for Him in all things especially in living for Him.

It fascinates me though that so many books are written about material, physical and even emotional struggles as being indicative of the state of our walks and yet so few books are written about the state of our hearts.  Is not the heart the very core of the matter?  Does not our Lord tell us that it is out of the heart evil comes?  And yet we see so few works addressing the heart.

You are at great loss materially and you question if you are His?  You are ill and wonder about His love?  You are living with some psychological or psychiatric conition and you doubt your usefulness to Him?

The problem is not your money or your helth our your mental condition.  the problem is your heart.  Poor, terminally ill or crazy as a loon, you are His, He loves you forever and is using you to His glory and honor.  You may not see it, you certainly may not feel it but I don't see the air and I don't feel the air and yet air is.  I'll be bold - He can not NOT love you and us you.  He paid too great a price to redeem you to let you sit on the bench.

Everyone of the struggles that make you cry out and reach out to Him is, at least in part, His calling you closer to Himself.  He will do it in His own way according to our need but it is done out of love.

This and That Fancies 101512

Beg of God a mortified fancy.   Flavel, John (2010-08-03). Keeping the Heart (Kindle Location 816).  . Kindle Edition.

If imaginations be not first cast down, it is impossible that every thought of the heart should be brought into obedience to Christ. The fancy is naturally the wildest and most untameable power of the soul.   Flavel, John (2010-08-03). Keeping the Heart (Kindle Locations 819-820).  . Kindle Edition.

“fancy”:
to believe mistakenly or without evidence
to believe without being certain

“fanciful”:
marked by fancy or unrestrained imagination rather than by reason and experience
existing in fancy only <a fanciful notion
marked by or as if by fancy or whim <gave their children fanciful names.

The fancy is naturally the wildest and most untameable power of the soul.
We dream.  We imagine how it might be.  In desperation or ignorance we grasp at straws.  We build castles in the air – out of air.  We live in an “if only,” world.

If only this and if only that and our lives would be good.

We harbor fears, terrifying fears.

This is “fancy,” the imagination running amuck, the imagination not captive to the Word and the Spirit.

If imaginations be not first cast down, it is impossible that every thought of the heart should be brought into obedience to Christ.   Flavel, John (2010-08-03). Keeping the Heart (Kindle Locations 819-820).  . Kindle Edition.

Godly hope is perverted by fancy.  Fancy looks to the flesh for solutions.  Fancy is an idolater.  Fancy robs us of our ability to comprehend the Word, yield to the Spirit and submit to God.  We run here and there looking for something or someone to provide for our needs and bring us contentment, and we find it not.

Jer 2:12-13  Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD,  (13)  for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

This is the power of fancy, of ungodly imaginations.

The object can be a person, a group, a gadget, luck, or even a misunderstanding of the Word or the leading of the Spirit.  When the imagination is not fenced in by the truth, by the sovereignty, providence and truth of God, it is deadly.

There is little in our world as deadly to our fancy/imaginations as is the entertainment we select for ourselves.  TV, movies, books, etc. are, for the most part, fiction.  Even the “reality” shows we watch are hardly “real.”  Oh, maybe they’re not scripted but “real”?  I don’t think so.

We watch, read or listen to the offerings of the world so we might relax and be entertained and, yet, how often do we really reflect on what we are watching in the light of God’s truth?  The old quip, “If Jesus came to your home would you watch, read, or listen to what you now engage in while He was there”? is not without merit.

Patti and I used to watch a show called The Gilmore Girls.  It was cute and relatively clean but over time we realized how dysfunctional almost every character on the show was.  As we looked at the show in light of the truth, I actually got to where I was nauseous whenever it came on.  We realized that we were being entertained by one of the clearest demonstrations of man’s hopelessness we had ever seen – and we had found it – “entertaining.”  It was poison – plain and simple.

Then there are the Real Housewives of . . . . . shows.  Really?  These are housewives?

There is no God in their world – only self and yet we watch these shows as though they were entertaining.  If we must watch. it should be to identify men and women who are willing to expose their godless and hopeless lives to the whole world – so we can pray for them – by name and need.    [WHY MUST WE WATCH???]

**Patti's comments:
"I still don't see a need to expose our minds and hearts to these shows as opposed to any other type of programs- promoting-glamorizing-endorsing ungodli-unrighteus behavior.  they are not exactly documentaries of some aberrant society or sect.  these shows bring fame to the people and draw many into unhealthy fantasies about that lifestyle.  Yes, the actual desperation and hopelessness can be seen-but reality is only seen by those who already know it is there - not to those who are still aspiring to obtain that status.  Certainly, a steady diet of these shows is not necessary to determine the need and lostness of the people in them, any more than it is needed to determine the depravity portrayed in "fictional" shows.  So much for my soap-box!"

Oh, let’s not forget the “rehab” shows where we get to see how well a godless person can overcome an addiction.  Yeah, Dr. Drew is a sweet and caring guy – but why do so many of his patients show up again and again and again?

All of this manure gets in our minds.  It contradicts the truth and seduces us into some vague middle ground where the truth is not.  Just like arsenic, it is cumulative and over time it will poison our godliy thinking to death.  It weaves itself into our thought patterns whether we realize it or not.  Ultimately, it will win – unless we cut it off, repent and turn to that fountain of living water.

Soli Deo Gloria: Means essentially that everything that is done is for God's glory to the exclusion of humankind's self-glorification and pride. Christians are to be motivated and inspired by God's glory and not their own.

We have to ask if our fancies and imaginings are for the glory of God.  But without the tools and effort, how can we tell?  Ignorance and apathy are boon companions.

How ignorant are you of how to glorify God?  How apathetic are you concerning your Christian disciplines and duties?  One will always feed the other.

We are far from where He would have us and though He has promised to see us through to the end, the quality of the journey has a good deal to do with our exercise of the graces, duties and disciplines He has laid out for our benefit.

Though the context is not parallel to this discussion, the statement is nonetheless applicable when Paul proclaims:
1Co 2:2  For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

I think we are safe in taking this proclamation as our motto, our battle cry in the world – everyday – in our labor and in our leisure.  I see no danger in praying that in our labor and our leisure we be enabled and convicted to know nothing except Christ, and Him crucified.

Such a fence around our fancies and imaginings will serve us well in mortifying (killing) them so that they cease to poison our minds, hearts and actions.

Peter's Pen 1st Peter 4:8-11

1 Peter 4:8-11

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.     ESV

Above all !!!!!!!
Is there any part of "above all" I need to explain?
This isn't calling us to some mushy, touchy feely relationship with one another - although there's nothing wrong with that.  But it is calling us to a very real, truth (scripture) based intimate relationship with one another.

"Earnestly" = without ceasing, fervently - or as I prefer "stretched out."

There's a hint here we need to pay attention to.  Peter writes, "Show hospitality to one another without grumbling."  
This is a "secret displeasure not openly avowed."  In short, we are to love one another without reserve or resentment.  Ouch!  But let's be honest, we all struggle with the fellow believer who is (actually or seemingly) always in need, always asking, always struggling.  It seems that no matter the length or depth of our "hospitality," they never grow; they never make the progress we think they ought to make.

But, have you ever thought about the idea that they may be in your circle of influence for your sake?  Have you ever stopped to consider that it is not really their need God desires to meet but a need of your own that you haven't seen or addressed?

Paul writes of all his suffering as being for our sake; for our blessing and benefit.  Did you ever consider that though Paul coming to town would be exciting, it also brought danger and opposition?  Did those early believers ever get tired or resentful of Paul's constant danger and need?  I don't think so.

One thing we forget when we are challenged in this way.  We are to do what we can, not what we can't.  We are to sacrifice - yes.  Commit physical or material suicide? No!  There are limits to what God provides to us for others.  Certainly we tend to think others may ask too much, but perhaps we want to keep too much.

Also, we must consider, clear minded and soberly (verse 6), if and how we are called to meet their needs.  Sometimes "No," is the right answer.  Sometimes we have to be wiser than they are as to what they need.  Sometimes we have to give or do more than we are comfortable with.  This is the "stretched out" part of the love we are to give.

God may not have provided me with enough to meet all their needs.  Through prayer and counsel, I must determine what, if anything, I can do through His provision.  Yes, we can do too much for those in need, keeping them from the repentance and growth God desires for them.

This is the point of verses 10-11.  We are to do everything we can with what He has given us that He might be glorified.

We are to serve with, "the strength (or means) that God provides."  Hello!!!!  This is never some "from the hip" kind of service.  This is a considered prayerful and honest service.  NOT some knee jerk, unthinking reaction to a need.

Especially in these cases, we desperately need our minds to inform our affections (feeling).  We may have deep and powerful feelings about their condition but it is prayerful thought and even wise counsel that will lead us to the best service.

Not to be too simple but that's why God made Deacons.  Duhhhhhh.....  It is a New Covenant order for the needs of the flock to be brought to the Deacons and through their prayer and consideration needs are met.  It should not be a matter of a brother or sister going house to house, person to person, but rather a matter of them taking their need to those called and commissioned to that work.  It really is a great system that relieves them of the embarrassment of feeling like they are begging.  It also enables us to have confidence in the needs being presented by the Deacons and how we respond to them.  Confidentiality and confidence in asking and receiving as well as giving and doing are built-in blessings of the Deaconate.


 

This and That Keeping the Heart 101012

This and That,  Keeping the Heart  101012

Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.    ESV

The MANNER of performing it, is with all diligence.  The Hebrew is very emphatic; keep with all keeping, or, "keep, keep"—set double guards. This vehemence of expression with which the duty is urged, plainly implies how difficult it is to keep our hearts, how  dangerous to neglect them!  John Flavel

Solomon speaks properly enough when he says, "Keep your heart," because the duty is ours, though the power is of God; what power we have depends upon the exciting and assisting strength of Christ. Grace within us is beholden to grace outside us. "Without me you can do nothing." So much for the matter of the duty.  John Flavel

So, the "keeping" of our heart is a duty - but a duty we are ill equipped to perform.  But it is certainly a duty in which we can submit to and beg the power of our Redeemer.  John Flavel

We are not utterly powerless.  We can ask.  We can desire.  We can intend.  We can sumit.  We can seek.  All this we can and should do - but it must be done in His strength for our own is never sufficient.

We talk about all kinds of "spiritual growth" in terms of what "we" should "do."  This is a dagerous way to look at it.  I certainly have learned its dangers in my own life.  The danger of our "doing" is that we can "do" all we want but it take Him and His work to produce what He wants.

All too often, when we start "doing" we begin to think it is something we have to do for Him to like us - much less love us.  We also carry a terrible dread of failure (which we really shud if we're attempting it on our own).  Too often the "doing" leaves Him out and becomes all about us.  And of course at that point we have failed.

There are actions we can take that He will bless - but He keeps the heart.  We can pray, study, seek counsel, read great books, write/journal - there's not much of a limit to the actions we can take - but the "doing" is all of Him.

Phil. 1:6  And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.   ESV

Phil. 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  ESV

1 Thes. 5:23-24  Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.   ESV

Alistair Begg said recently, "The heart of man's condition is the condition of man's heart."  We need to take that personally.  He died to give us new hearts and He sent His Spirit to guide us in taking good care and making good use of them.  That is our starting place.  

A note to my readers - all three of you (?)
I'll be doing some "This and Thats" on keeping the heart in days to come.  Peter's Pen is ongoing but a switch to a new computer by my editor and a restructure of the files is delaying the posting.

Look, I know you're busy people and perhaps being anaonymous is good for you - but some input from you on the blogs would be a real blessing.  Not only that but I'll be more than glad to address any issues you would like me to.

You can email me at ms@tc2v1.com.  Thanks and God bless you all!