01
Jun '20
Frustrated. Angry. Tired. But Hopeful!
01
Jun '20
My wife and I read through the Bible together each year. Our reading plan had us in Hosea this morning. Two verses from Hosea 4 made me think of the United States in general and American Christianity in specific.
- Hosea 4:1 caused me to think of this land that I love: “Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel: for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.”
- Hosea 4:6 brought American Christianity (and I mean that in the loosest sense) to mind: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”
I am not making an exegetical argument. Just relating what ran through my mind as I read those verses this morning, June 1, 2020.
Frustrated. Angry. Tired.
There is no doubt that the reason my mind ran the way it did is because I’m frustrated, angry, and tired of the hate and the hysteria. Frustrated, angry, and tired of the injustice that is all too common and not at all one-sided. Frustrated, angry, and tired of leaders who are hirelings instead of shepherds, who seem only concerned with their own agenda and popularity, often at the expense of what is best for their community and this country.
I’m frustrated, angry, and tired of people who claim to care for others. People who claim they want justice. Who say they want to right wrongs, but who only perpetuate more hate, increased violence, and further suffering.
I’m frustrated, angry, and tired of the self-righteous. Pharisees are not a thing of the past, nor are they restricted to fundamentalism as many professing believers like to trumpet. Modern Pharisees do not all look alike or operate under the same banner. But self-righteous, judgmental, hypocrites who create their own standard, one they can’t hope to keep but with it condemn all others, still exist. They post on social media frequently.
BUT HOPEFUL!
I am frustrated, angry, and tired, but I’m also confident in the Lord Jesus Christ! God reigns. Heaven rules. There is no reason to be hopeless. There is every reason to be hopeful. So, I will not give in to my feelings of frustration, anger, and fatigue. Instead, I will trust my Lord and His Word. “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:29-31)
That means instead of singing this world’s chorus, I will endeavor to see others as Christ does. I will seek to model grace and truth with my life, and graciously speak the truth with my mouth. God’s Word is truth. I will trust my Lord to renew my strength, and seek, by His grace and power, to not sin in my anger, frustration, and fatigue. I will seek to honor Christ.
The Love of God
Let’s end where we began. The theme to Hosea’s prophecy is that nothing can eclipse God’s love for His covenant people. As discouraging as the two verses from Hosea 4 quoted at the start are, Hosea 11:4 is twice as encouraging: “I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.” Those marvelous words remind me of the 19th century hymn written by James Small: “I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a Friend! He loved me ere I knew Him; He drew me with the cords of love, And thus He bound me to Him. And round my heart still closely twine Those ties which naught can sever, For I am His, and He is mine, Forever and forever.”
God is love. God’s people often fail to demonstrate a whole-hearted love for Him. But God is always ready to receive and restore those who confess and forsake their sin.
If you are a believer who has succumbed to going with your feelings instead of trusting God’s promises, repent and be restored.
If you are an unbeliever, confused by all the hatred and injustice that you see, turn to and trust in the God who is love and only just. He will receive you and make you new. His grace is amazing. He is love.
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31
May '20
Worship on the Lord’s Day
31
May '20
Psalm 122:1, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.”
This morning at 11am we will gather up on the hill to fellowship, to sing praises to our God, to open His Word, and to pray together. This morning as we pray to our Lord and in His name, we will also specifically pray for our troubled nation. Please join us this morning as we magnify the name of Jesus, encourage one another, and pray for the courage to speak and model grace and truth with clarity and charity in our hurting and divided land.
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30
May '20
Saturday with Spurgeon
30
May '20
The Humbling Impact of Grace
“So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both his feet.” 2 Samuel 9:13
Mephibosheth was no great ornament to a royal table, yet he had a continual place at David’s board, because the king could see in his face the features of the beloved Jonathan. Like Mephibosheth, we may cry unto the King of Glory, “What is thy servant, that thou shouldst look upon such a dead dog as I am?” but still the Lord indulges us with most familiar intercourse with himself, because he sees in our countenances the remembrance of his dearly-beloved Jesus. The Lord’s people are dear for another’s sake. Such is the love which the Father bears to his only begotten, that for his sake he raises his lowly brethren from poverty and banishment, to courtly companionship, noble rank, and royal provision. Their deformity shall not rob them of their privileges. Lameness is no bar to sonship; the cripple is as much the heir as if he could run like Asahel. Our right does not limp, though our might may. A king’s table is a noble hiding-place for lame legs, and at the gospel feast we learn to glory in infirmities, because the power of Christ resteth upon us. Yet grievous disability may mar the persons of the best-loved saints. Here is one feasted by David, and yet so lame in both his feet that he could not go up with the king when he fled from the city, and was therefore maligned and injured by his servant Ziba. Saints whose faith is weak, and whose knowledge is slender, are great losers; they are exposed to many enemies, and cannot follow the king whithersoever he goeth. This disease frequently arises from falls. Bad nursing in their spiritual infancy often causes converts to fall into a despondency from which they never recover, and sin in other cases brings broken bones. Lord, help the lame to leap like an hart, and satisfy all thy people with the bread of thy table!
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29
May '20
Call It Out
29
May '20
Psalm 7:1, “O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:”
Persecution is not a thing of the past. Many believers around the world still face severe persecution for their faith. Indeed, this is a promise to any who live a godly life in Christ Jesus. Perhaps the most powerful and regularly used instrument of persecution is the tongue. Deliverance is found only in Christ Jesus. The Lord died on the cross so that He might be your God, yours by a special covenant sealed by His precious blood. Trust in the One who was persecuted to death, yet lives, and you will likewise be delivered, now and for eternity.
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28
May '20
Fruitfulness is Linked to Faithfulness
28
May '20
John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
Every road has two ditches. One says, “I can’t do anything.” The other, “I can do it all by myself.” Remember Jesus never said, “Without Me you cannot do the big stuff.” The issue is not that we can do some things in our own strength. The issue is that we can do nothing apart from Christ. Fruitfulness in God’s work has one requirement: faithfulness in God’s Son. The only way a believer will make any progress in becoming more like Christ, is by relying on the Holy Spirit rather than our own abilities. To abide in Christ requires trusting Him, no matter what. He will take care of the rest.
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27
May '20
A Stormy Weather Prayer
27
May '20
Psalm 55:5-6, “Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.”
This psalm was written during stormy weather, not a thunderstorm or a hailstorm, but a people storm. Those are often the worst kind. The Lord’s servants sometimes get weary, not necessarily weary of the work, just weary in the work. David’s heart was broken. His spirit beaten down and his energy level was not what it used to be. He wanted to escape, but no matter where we run, we are still there. When an overwhelming storm hits, don’t run to the hills. Instead, fall on your knees. Trust God. He is faithful to hear, save, and deliver you (Psalm 55:16-18).
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26
May '20
The True Mother of Victories
26
May '20
Psalm 21:7, “For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.”
This is a psalm of confident thanksgiving. By it, we are taught to thank God for past and present victories. We are also taught to anticipate future successes. Our confidence for all this is grounded in the steadfast love of the most High God. Spurgeon said it best, “The joy of faith and the victory achieved was due to precious grace. A holy confidence in Jehovah is the true mother of victories.”
Trust God no matter what and be assured that whatever changes or reversals you experience in the moment, your ultimate wellbeing is secure, because every hope rooted in and leaning on the gracious promises of our Lord Jesus will be fulfilled.
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25
May '20
Memorial Day Thoughts
25
May '20
Memorial Day is one of the most justified holidays on the American calendar. Our nation is right to remember and honor those who have sacrificed their lives to defend our lives and liberties. Freedom is never free. I have spent a considerable amount of time in Arlington National Cemetery, where line after line of simple white markers declare liberty’s price. The sacrifices of those who have paid that price is worthy of recognition. Those markers are simple but powerful symbols of sacrifice. Symbols are powerful things.
God and Memorials
God is big on memorials. They are found scattered throughout the Scriptures. One example is from 1 Samuel 7:12, “Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.” That particular memorial was used by Robert Robinson in the hymn Come Thou Fount. The second stanza says:
Here I raise mine Ebenezer; Hither by Thy help I come; And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home. Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wandering from the fold of God; He to rescue me from danger, Interposed His precious blood.
God is our stone of help; which is what the word Ebenezer means. The hymn beautifully reminds us of our need for memorials. God has been, and will continue to be, my Savior and my sustainer. Therefore I can be “Confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in me will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ,” Philippians 1:6.
On this Memorial Day let’s remember the sacrifice of men and women who have paid the ultimate price to defend the temporary freedoms we enjoy in this life. On this day, and everyday, let’s remember and announce to all who will hear the eternal liberty and security that is found in Christ alone.
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24
May '20
Look Higher
24
May '20
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” – Psalm 121
Psalm 121 does not promise believers the absence of troubles, but rather assumes them. From the first verse it acknowledges our need of help: “Where does my help come from?” Life is difficult and dangerous. This doesn’t mean we take unnecessary risks or act carelessly. This does mean that life is not safe and cannot be made safe. Believers cannot bypass the troubles endemic to a fallen world.
Trusting Psalm 121 does not mean that you should shun earthly helps. Go to the doctor when you’re sick. Plan wisely for retirement and work your plan. Pray for your civil leaders and be a good citizen. Be helpful to others. Just do not forget, all of these are created means of help. They are finite and therefore limited. But God is the Creator. He is infinite and His power is unlimited. So, when you’re looking up to the hills for your help, LOOK HIGHER!
Psalm 121 is our text this morning. We look forward to gathering together at 11am. The service will also be live-streamed.
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23
May '20
Saturday with Spurgeon
23
May '20
WALK WITHOUT STUMBLING
“He will not suffer thy foot to be moved” Psalm 121:3.
If the Lord will not suffer it, neither men nor devils can do it. How greatly would they rejoice if they could give us a disgraceful fall, drive us from our position, and bury us out of memory! They could do this to their heart’s content were it not for one hindrance, and only one: the Lord will not suffer it; and if He does not suffer it, we shall not suffer it.
The way of life is like traveling among the Alps. Along mountain paths one is constantly exposed to the slipping of the foot. Where the way is high the head is apt to swim, and then the feet soon slide: there are spots which are smooth as glass, and others that are rough with loose stones, and in either of these a fall is hard to avoid. He who throughout life is enabled to keep himself upright and to walk without stumbling has the best of reasons for gratitude. What with pitfalls and snares, weak knees, weary feet, and subtle enemies, no child of God would stand fast for an hour were it not for the faithful love which will not suffer his foot to be moved. “Amidst a thousand snares I stand Upheld and guarded by thy hand; That hand unseen shall hold me still, And lead me to thy holy hill.”
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