Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?   (Mat 6:26)

Continuing His lesson Jesus gives us an example from nature.

He asks us to consider our "value," to our Father.

Birds can't sow, reap or gather - yet they are provided for.

If you can't sow, reap or gather - does thin not suggest that God will feed (provide for) you?

Is this just about food?  I think not!  This is about value.

Actually I believe it's about who we look to in order to determine our value.

Birds?  I'm of greater value that birds?  Actually the idea here is that we are "of so much MORE value" than birds. 

Birds have a role in God's creation no less critical to the sustaining of that creation than anything else.  God maintains everything they need to fulfill their role in His creation.  There are lots of birds - that takes a lot of maintaining.  It's not a simple thing nor is it insignificant!

Then there is "us."  We were God's viceroys in the Garden.  Note:

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 
(Gen 1:26)

The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 
(Gen 2:15)

God's intention for us was to be His means of maintaining His creation.  We were to work and keep the garden which in turn would provide for all the creatures of the creation.  Pretty important stuff!  

Now, in this fallen world our role has changed.  Now we are called to show forth His glory, to be holy as He is.  We are his witnesses, living testaments to His glory and goodness.  How much value can we put on that?

Consider:

". . . . when He comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed."   (2Th 1:10)

Whose "value" do we choose accept?  His or the world's?  Who do we look to?  How do we measure it?  

The redemption of the creation - the birds - cost Him His Son.  However the price was demanded for our sin not for the birds' sins (birds don't sin they just suffer its effects).  So He paid the demanded price - for OUR sin - that He might redeems His creation.

Where in our fleshly spectrum of value do we really put that?  Is it first or just a close second?  Do we really accept that we are valuable enough for God to give His Son?  Are we willing to accept that his love for us was so great that he sent His Son to be a man, to suffer and be tempted as a man and then be killed as a criminal?  How valuable does that make us?

Are we willing to accept and live with Jesus as our total net worth?  Are we willing to be rejected and scorned and put down by the world so that we might live out His gracious gift for and to us?

Or do we play with the world's criteria for worth and value measuring our lives by their standards?  And how well have those standards served Him or His creation?  How cruelly have the standards of the world dealt with the world?

Think on what God has done for and in you.  Consider what you might be tempted to trade it for.  In times of weakness and suffering it is not uncommon for us to fall into "if only," and to see ourselves as worthless failures.  It is a struggle to cling to God's love and the value He has given us - He has made us ultimately valuable - He has given us a worth beyond words - Pray and think on that.

Father,

In these tough times I see my sin and my errors.  I see how I have been deceived and schemed by the world, the flesh and the devil.  Now, in my distress those three cruel enemies taunt me and pour shame upon me.  Help me Father, to cling to Your gracious gift as the only thing that matters.  Let the cruel accusations and aspersions of those three enemies drop from my mind and heart.  Deafen my ears to them, let me be comforted and let by Your Word and Your Spirit as I seek to  follow You in whatever circumstance I find myself in.

Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.   (Pro 30:7-9)

In the name of Jesus and for His glory, amen.

Peter's pen 1 Peter 5:12-14

1 Peter 5: 12-14

By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. 13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. 14 Greet one another with the kiss of love.
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.   ESV

In closing, two points:

1.  This is the true grace of God.
2.  Stand firm in it.

As I have throughout this series, I highly recommend the works of John Flavel, John Owen, William Gurnal, Thomas Watson and other great Puritan preachers.

I'll also take a chance on a book just published that I haven't read (I am waiting for the digital edition).  It is titled A Puritan Theology; Doctrine for Life.  Right now it is available at a really big discount (print version) at:

http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec/product_id/8650?utm_source=A_Puritan_Theology&utm_medium=email&utm_content=cover_image&utm_campaign=A_Puritan_Theology

NOTE:  I finished reading  A Puritan Theology and I highly recommend it.  I also recommend The Marrow of Theology William Ames as a primer in Refomed eoloy, docine and pracice.

God bless and keep you all -- Next series???  Don't know yet.   Any suggestions?

Peter's pen 1st Peter 5:10-11

1 Peter 5: 10-11
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.  ESV

Suffering?  Yep!  We are knocked off course, doubtful, weak and wobbly.  We will be as He restores, confirms, strengthens and establishes us.  Welcome to following Jesus!

Being His and not yet being with Him is suffering.  Get it?  All the threats, dangers, turmoil, trials, tribulations and persecutions are here, not there.  The greater our longing to be there - the more we sense that separation and suffer here.

Now, that's a left-handed blessing.  It is our suffering here, not yet with Him, that confirms we are His.  Who else would care?  For whom else would it even be an issue?  Yes, non-believers "suffer" here, but having no hope of heaven they suffer normally.  We, on the other hand, should sense an keener edge on our suffering.  We yearn for that time, that promised and assured time when:

Rev. 21:3-5
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”  5 And he who was seated on the throne said,

 “Behold, I am making all things new.”  ESV

Peter’s Pen 1st Peter 1:13-16 (D)

1Pe 1:13-16  Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  (14)  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,  (15)  but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,  (16)  since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

Eph 2:8  For by grace you have been saved through faith;

and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; NASB

Whenever we are convicted of our sin, we need, of course, to repent.  Repentance has been described as doing a 180 degree turn.  That’s not a bad description.  But there’s more to it within that description.  But, we’ll look at repentance later.

If this passage has made you concerned about your walk with Him, it’s supposed to.  It was written to believers just like you and me.  They were no less gobsmacked by this than we are.

I know that when I read passages like this, passages that call me to a holy life – holy living, I’m confronted with all the ways I fail to do so.  How about you?

That’s why planting Eph. 2:8 firmly in your mind and heart is so very important.  It is all about what He has done, is doing and will do for us.

I struggle with what feels like and is a battle between what He says I am and what I do (or don’t do) – my sin.

Dear brother and sister – feel the conviction but keep in mind it is for our good not our harm.  God is gracious and merciful and loving enough to keep us sensitive to our sin.  When we are convicted, we need to rejoice that we are able to be convicted.  Yes, we need to understand that having a conscience that is oh so sensitive is a sure sign that we are indeed His.  It is only in Him that is matters.

In Hebrews we read:

Heb 12:5-6  and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM;  (6)  FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."

Heb 12:11-13  All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.  (12)  Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,  (13)  and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

The passage ends with, “but rather be healed.”  This is the goal of our Lord’s discipline, our healing. 

Sin is toxic.  Sin builds barriers between us and our Lord.  Sin hurts!  We need to be healed not only from the sickness of the soul that sin brings but sin itself.  And so God, in His mercy and grace provides, for us a medicine – a disciplining - that we might be healed. 

One thing I would have you note is Vs. 12 of the Hebrews passage.  As I read that I am reminded not only of my desire for my weakness and feebleness to be healed, but that I also have a responsibility in your lives, as I can, to be a part of that strengthening.  WE are to minister to one another as we walk in the Way. 

But, alas, we are so prone to hide our need for strengthening.  We are so prone to hide our weakness.  This is so very heartbreaking.  Yes, we go before the Lord with our needs and seek His kind care.  But we, His people, are called to minister His grace and mercy to one another.  As a young person once said to me, “I need Jesus with skin on.”  That is the ministry we have to one another.  To be His hands, feet, ears, eyes, arms and hands to our brothers and sisters.  But for that to happen we need two things.

First, we need the heart to walk into the messiness of sin in the lives of our brothers (as well as the heart to have them walk in ours).  We need to pray that we will be willing to do what we can – even if it is just being there -  regardless of the circumstances to strengthen our brothers and sisters (and of course to be strengthened by them).

Second, we need to pray that we will cease to hide our weakness, our needs, whatever they are.  We need to trust Him that we might cry out to our brothers and sisters expecting only that He is in control and He will be with them and us. 

I think that if we plant the banner of Eph. 2:8 firmly before us, we will be able to do both. 

Paul writes:

Rom 12:15-16  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.  (16)  Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly (those who are cast down, depressed, distressed). Do not be wise in your own estimation.

If what Paul says is true:

Rom 8:38-39  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,  (39)  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Then let us pray that we will not allow sin to separate us from the ministry and care of His people.  By His grace, wisdom and power we are able to do His work not only in “the world” but in the church as well.

Peter’s Pen 1st Peter 1:13-16 (C)

1Pe 1:13-16  Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  (14)  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,  (15)  but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,  (16)  since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 

V14

Note please the “as.”  It’s not easy to obey – especially as we grow up considering ourselves to be savvy and smart, thinking we can figure it out. 

But we are not asked to obey as grown-ups but as children.  This word translated “children” carries the idea of dependent, student, disciple.  Thayer, in his definition, writes this:

. . . the name transferred to that intimate and reciprocal relationship

formed between men by the bonds of love, friendship, trust,

just as between parents and children, . . .

This is not the same word that Jesus uses in the gospels when He says to allow the “little children” to come to Him.  Is the difference really important?  In a way, yes.

When we “come” to Him, we come as little children – as infants.  We come utterly dependent upon Him (which we always are).  As we grow in Him, we learn to make use of all the graces and mercies He has given us.  We learn to read the Word, to pray, even to do works of ministry.  Though we look to Him as infants, He grows and matures us so that we are of wider use.

So, Peter is recognizing that we are growing-up in Him and Peter enjoins us to obey Him in the maturing relationship we have.  And, Peter has a particular aim for this obedience –

do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, v. 14

Now here is a Peter/Paul moment -  Paul writes in Romans:

Rom 12:2  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Let’s take a look at this “conformed” thing.  Both men use the same word:

συσχηματίζω    suschēmatizō

Zodhiates writes in reference to the Romans passage:

An expanded rendering might read, ‘Stop being molded by the external and fleeting fashions of this age, but undergo a deep inner change by the qualitative renewing of your mind.’ Such a transformation can be wrought only by the Holy Spirit.

Of the 1^st Peter passage, John Gill writes:

. . . to be fashioned (conformed) to the lusts of it is to indulge them, to make provision for them, to obey them, to live and walk in them; which should not be done by the children of God, . . .

So we have a “don’t” here in 1^st Peter and a clearer “but” that fits with it in Romans.  The “but” here in 1^st Peter, at least for me, is overwhelming.

Now I’ve heard and read a lot of things that dance around this and try to weaken it, but it says what it says!  “Be holy as He is holy.”

OK – REMEMBER >

Gal 3:11  Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith."

Rom 4:5  And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

Rom 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Eph 4:24  and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Peter has been laying the foundation for your assurance in Christ – I think the Spirit did this because this verse is a whopper.  For me it highlights my sinfulness and unless I see my sinfulness through the blood of the Savior, I will have no hope.

Faith – no matter how weak is sufficient to be His. 

Eph 2:8  For by grace you have been saved through faith.

And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Peter calls us to “holy conduct.”  That means in your mode of living. 

I’ll do one more on this passage -