Showing posts with label praise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label praise. Show all posts

Friday, August 24, 2012

Worminess??? Why not??


C.H. Spurgeon used the word “worm” to refer to himself in contrast to the holiness of the Lord.  He uses “worm,” a lot. 

I get tickled at folks who just cringe at this appellation (like I used to).  It is kind of an icky way to view one’s self.  But if we just keep in mind the term is used in contrast to the wonder, righteousness, holiness and glory (to name a few attributes) of Christ, then I think we will be able to handle it well.

But I also think the “world” desperately wants us to ignore or reject that “worminess.” 
My first reaction to this was negative.  Hey, I work with people who are trying to improve their skills, talents, relationships, etc.  Calling them “worms” would not be productive – except in those few instances where my client is a believer.  But even still it’s a tough thing to accept.


Worms have no small importance in God’s creation!  They are no less important in “tending” God’s creation than we are.  They are part of the plan too.

No, I’m not expecting anyone other than believers to “get’ this.  And let’s not take this analogy too far. 

If I am a believer, my “worminess” has purpose and meaning.  The article above says, “Having worms around in your garden is a real good sign that you have a healthy soil.” 
Now that kind of relates to our role as His worms here.  We are light, we are salt and whoa to the places that have neither.  Of course, we are worms as well and whoa to the place that has no worms.

Think about this.  We consider ourselves, mankind, the pinnacle of creation – the “top.”  But where would we be without worms?  Wormlessness is not good – physically or spiritually.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Peter’s Pen 1st Peter 1:6 & 7


1Pe 1:6-7  In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,  (7)  so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Remember the “exiles” thing?  Well here it is again in another way.

Notice Peter starts by acknowledging the effect what he has just written would have on his readers.  The word rejoice refers to singing, dancing (Oh?), etc.  There’s a subtly here.  It is “in this” – what Peter has just shared – that we find something to rejoice about.  It is “in Jesus” we have the reason to rejoice.

though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
Well, exiles can expect that.  We’re not “home” yet. 

We are grieved both by being here and by not yet being there.  We experience sadness and sorrow.  “Put on a happy face,” is not found in the Bible.  Neither is “Grin and bear it.”  Sorrow and sadness are not inappropriate for the believer!

Paul wrote:
2Co 1:8  For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.

Yet he followed it with:

2Co 1:9  Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.
Note the end of verse 9.  There was a reason.  Peter expresses the same thing in this passage:
so that the tested genuineness of your faith—
more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—
may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ

The ‘tested genuineness of your faith,” really causes some believers a lot of worry.  They read that and have a sense that they have to prove their faith to God.  First, that’s impossible.  Second, that’s not the point.  Third, that’s exactly what the devil wants us to think.

God knows our faith – mustard seedy as it is.  We don’t need to prove anything to Him.  Remember – He made us His – He guards us.

What Peter is saying to you and I is that through various trials God proves He is faithful.  It’s His trustworthiness that is proven – His faithfulness to us as His children.

The, praise and glory and honor Peter writes of is what we will explode into when that glorious day comes when we are “home” with Him.