Jesus Christ your King

Jesus Christ your King

Genesis 4-6 | Psalm 2 | John 2

The Psalms are a collection of songs and prayers to God from various people (e.g. Kings David and Solomon) living in the Old Testament era. With content ranging from praise of the glorious God to questioning his motivation or character, it is fascinating that many of the situations and emotions described in the Psalms have parallels in the modern world.

The Psalm for reading today is divided equally into four sections. The first (vv.1-3) criticises mankind for conspiring together "in vain" against the Lord, the second (vv.4-6) tells of God's response: that He has installed His King (Jesus) on Zion with power to rule "with an iron sceptre" (which is a terrifying promise of judgement to those rebelling). The third (vv.7-9) is in the voice of the Divinely appointed King (Jesus), and promises His absolute reign and authority on earth, while the fourth (vv.10-12) is an invitation for those rebelling to "Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling" and to "Kiss the Son", as "Blessed are all who take refuge in Him".

It may be hard to imagine yourself as ever having 'conspired against God', but Romans 3 tells us that "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away." It is ignorance of God (that is: ignoring God) and making our own plans for our lives that is rebellion and conspiration against God.

As Christians, we are saved by the grace of God, through faith in Him (cf. Eph. 2:8), and this faith is expressed by the "giving of our lives" to God - that is, by living with Him as more than our guide, but in control, conforming our lives to His Will.

I heard an illustration of human life that I will borrow and change - it likens each individual's life with the movement of a car, in which we are the drivers. To ignore God in our life is akin to driving through the streets choosing the direction as we go, based on how appealing it looks from the turn. In this way, we may go around in circles, we may come to dead-ends and we may get horribly lost. If you think about it, this is a rather aimless approach to life and equates with those described in the first section of today's Psalm - those who ignore God. To these God responded by installing His King who promises absolute reign and authority and calls indivduals to take refuge in Him.

And so the second approach to life would be the "I take refuge in the King" scenario. Here, individuals consult the King to know where they are supposed to be headed (through prayer and reading the Bible) and consult the road map (you guessed it - the Bible) to see how to get there. In this way, in general we will know which turns to take and which to avoid. We may find ourselves on the "Highway to Heaven", we may find ourselves seemingly going nowhere, we may take many interesting turns and from time to time we may have to get on the tollway (where the cost of travelling down that road is painful but necessary). At some points we may forget which way is best or right, or we may ignore what we know to be best simply because another street looks too appealing - but it is neverthless true that with the guy who designed all the roads being the guy who leads you through them, we're travelling the right(eous) road in life.!

It makes me sad to consider all the times I have ignored blatant directions from God and took 'wrong turns' in life. I can always, always look back on such decisions as mistakes that put me on the wrong course. Similarly, however, I can look back and see where the eternal map-maker guided me back on course. Can you do the same? What things have you deeply regretted doing in your life? How did God respond... and where are you now?

Pray now, that God will strengthen you to trust in Him for all things, and to enable you to follow His direction in all areas of life - especially when a wrong turn neverlethess looks appealing, or in times when you are unsure of which way to go. 

God's Covenant

God's Covenant
Genesis 7-9 | Psalm 3 | John 3

After God's judgement on the earth recorded in Genesis chapters 6-8, we immediately find God blessing Noah, the one obedient inhabitant of the earth before the flood, and the head of the only living family on earth after the flood. This blessing came in the form of a covenant (which means 'agreement') from God to mankind, that "Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth".

Tomorrow we will read of a covenant that God makes with one man, Abram (Gen. 12:2-3), that He will bless him and his descendants for all generations to come. Throughout our reading of the Old testament we will see that this covenant is renewed repeatedly with Abram's descendants, who eventually form the nation of Israel.

The notion of covenant is important throughout the Bible, indeed the major Biblical divisions of the "Old Testament" and "New Testament" refer respectively to the Old Covenant and the New Covanant. The beginnings of the Old Covenant are traced to the previously mentioned Abram, as God chose him and his descendants as His people, promising him (and them) land, great numbers of offspring, great general blessing and that all people on earth would be blessed through him/them. It is in this final promise, that "all people on earth would be blessed through him", that we realise a great plan of some sort is evident in God's actions.

From the 'original sin' of Adam and Eve, to the murder of Abel, to the sins of the people in the time of Noah, it is abundantly clear that mankind had become inherantly rebellious. Even after the destruction of the earth by flood, sin remained prominent amongst the eight human survivors - no sooner had the 'righteous' Noah survived the great flood than he "became drunk" and lay naked... and his son Ham enjoyed the spectacle of his father's failings, gossipping about it to his brothers (which was not particularly honouring to His father). At any rate, the problem of sin that started with Adam and Eve would continue on the earth forever, and God would always be justly angered and hurt by this constant rebellion - remember yesterday's Psalm: "Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?"

Romans 6:23 tells us that "the wages of sin is death". This is a universal truth or law akin to the saying "what goes up must come down". Sin has the consequence of death. If you fail to do with your life what you are supposed to do, that life will be taken from you. Adam and Eve found this out the hard way - they were made to live forever without suffering, but their sin meant that they died. And this is the situation of the human race - sin is inherent within us and we will all die.

God could not stand that His beloved creation were inevitably subject to death in this way. We will read that God introduced a sacrificial system to Abram's descendants where the punishment of death was inflicted on a prized animal or similar possession of the person deserving death rather than on the person himself. In this way the importance and destructiveness of sin was highlighted and God's merciful provision was shown yet again. However, we find that this system too, left much to be desired - how can a flawed sheep be a substitute for a man? How can any animal be a substitute for a man who is supposed to be flawless?

Enter Jesus, A descendant of Abram, known as "the Christ" and also known as God's Son. John 3:16, arguably the most quoted verse of the Bible, tells us that "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." Jesus was a perfect man who made Himself the substitute for all other men. The "New Covenant" is built on Jesus' blood. It is an agreement from God to man that whoever puts their faith in the blood of Jesus will not persih but have eternal life.

It is easy to read that verse as promising that which we know we will not receive - eternal life on earth. Our lives now are flawed, and all who believe in Jesus are still destined to die one day. But they will not perish in the eternal death that follows physical death for those who rebelled in their physical lives. Instead they will receive eternal life as it was meant to be: in paradise with God.

When believers speak of their eternal focus, it is this to which they refer. Eternal life as it was meant to be. No suffering. No more death. No illness. No hatred... God has promised through the blood of His Son.

Pray and thank God for providing and sacrificing His Son for you; and ask for constant reminder of your eternal focus, that you may be seeking eternal reward, not temporary luxuries in this fallen world.

The end of all things is at hand.

The end of all things is at hand.

I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. The heavens and the earth, which are now, ... are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled.
We have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. We ... look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

1 Pet. 4:7. Rev. 20:11. 2 Pet. 3:7. Ps. 46:13. Matt. 24:6. 2 Cor. 5:1. 2 Pet. 3:13,14.

First day of fall

Today is the first day of Fall. Fall has always been my favorite time of year. To me, fall seems as if it is a time of slowing down. The slowing of our frenzied life of summer, when the eve’s begin to get cool. It’s a time for opening the window while you’re sleeping and listening to the crickets instead of the hum of the heater or the air conditioner. It’s a time of balance, where the world stands still for a moment, the moment between growth and death. It’s a maturing time, when the soil seems to hold a special loam and the richness of the leaves and even the air that we breath has a musky yet snappy smell, that tells you “time has passed and the world is about to sleep.”Fall is a respite between the hot day’s of summer and the bone chilling day’s of winter, where everything seems to be in balance. It helps you prepare for the breakneck speed of the upcoming holiday season, while affording you the opportunity to drink that hot cup of spiced apple cider.

Fall is a time of wandering the pumpkin patch for that special big one, and apple orchard’s for hand picked “Grannys” that will make a wonderful pie.
It’s the time to rake leaves, which is just another way of “starting fresh.” It’s a time for replenishing the pantry with hardy vegetables that will be turned into crock pot stews. It’s a time when the twilight arrives early and you can walk the neighborhood in the dark at 6:00, unencumbered by loud music, traffic and lawnmowers.

O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. He ... became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. In the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Matt. 26:39. John 12:27. John 6:38. Phil. 2:8. Heb. 5:7,8. Matt. 26:53. Luke 24:46,47.

Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.
His Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things. If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
I and my Father are one. The Father is in me, and I in him. My Father, and your Father; and ... my God, and your God. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one.
The Church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Having ... these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

John 1:16. Matt. 17:5. 1 John 3:1. Heb. 1:2. Rom. 8:17. John 10:30,38. John 20:17. John 17:23. Eph. 1:22,23. 2 Cor. 7:1.

I delight in the law of God after the inward man.

I delight in the law of God after the inward man.

O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure enlightening the eyes. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass.

Rom. 7:22. Ps. 119:97. Jer. 15:16. Song of Solomon 2:3. Job 23:12. Ps. 40:8. John 4:34. Ps. 19:8,10. James 1:22,23.