Justice or mercy — or both?

Loving parents fall into a quandary when they make a rule that requires strict obedience, their child breaks that rule, and the parent feels terrible about inflicting punishment. If there is none, rules will be meaningless. If inflicted, the relationship will likely suffer.

Think of God in Eden. “Do not eat that fruit” and when it happened, the justice of God pleads for punishment, but the mercy of God pleas for pardoning. What is a loving God to do? How does the all-wise God deal with this situation?

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Jesus died to take our punishment — “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” And the love of God sent Him to satisfy the demands of both justice and mercy. Justice is served by the shedding of His blood without one drop of our own.

As Charnock writes, the riches of grace are twisted with the terrors of wrath and the depth of God’s mercy is wound about the flaming sword of justice and that sword of justice protects and secures the depth of mercy. Because of what Jesus did, justice cannot complain for want of punishment, nor mercy for want of compassion. This infinite sacrifice satisfies justice and delights mercy and shouts out to us the wisdom of God.

How amazing that God is righteous without being cruel, and merciful without being unjust. His mercy shines in the midst of all that sin deserves. Yes, all have sinned and fall short, but we…

…are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (Romans 3:24–25)

As Charnock points out in his section on the wisdom of God, both justice and mercy would be unknown if one of them been sacrificed for the other. Had we been solely fostered by mercy, justice would have forever been secluded. Had we being guilty and been absolved, mercy might have rejoiced, and justice might have complained; but had we been solely punished, justice would have triumphed, and mercy grieved.

Because of God’s wisdom, justice and mercy are both satisfied. The death of His sinless Son is a horror, but if God went one way or the other, we would face “either an unrighteous mercy, or a merciless justice.” Instead, His love gave us a righteous mercy, and a merciful justice.”

Not only that the wisdom of God comes in a great variety of ways, all mysterious and every example fillsl me with wonder. This list describes His redemption plan and how it brought the glory of God with the salvation of man, the defeat of the apostate angels, the discovery of the blessed Trinity in God’s nature, and all He does in combined and distinct acts and expressions of goodness. Salvation reveals the conjunction of three natures, infinitely distinct from one another; the union of eternity and time, mortality and immortality, and death is made the way to life, with shame becoming the path to glory.

Not only that, the weakness of the cross is the reparation of man, and the creature is made wise by the foolishness of preaching. Fallen man grows rich by the poverty of the Redeemer, and we are filled by the emptiness of God. The heir of hell is made a child of God by God taking upon Himself the “form of a servant” and children of men advanced to the highest degree of honor by the Son of God becoming of “no reputation.”

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. (Hebrews 2:10)

And Jesus in the garden praying with drops of blood and saying: “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42) Was there no other way? Had the sinless Jesus something else in mind? Likely not, but even if He did, He yielded to death that we might live.

PRAY: I cannot fathom Your wisdom, Lord God, nor question it. You choose the only way to punish sin yet save sinners. My heart rejoices at the great decision You made so I could be set free to love and serve You. Not my will but Yours be done.

 

Being Like Jesus?

 Being filled with God’s Spirit makes all the difference to how I feel about present duties, situations, and the people around me. Again, I consider His list:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23)

Compare that to Jesus. His love is demonstrated by the way He was with every task at hand right up to the end when He said, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42) He did not say that He was unwilling to do it, nor complain about how hard it was. His mind was on the will of God and his heart was more concerned about the will of God and the fate of sinners.

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:12–13)

As for joy, Jesus was obviously a joyful person. He rejoiced to find lost sheep, to be with sinners, and to attend events like weddings. Also, He said, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11) His prayers were also joyful:

In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.” (Luke 10:21)

The gospels are filled with evidence of His patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. He could have been demanding, harsh, and treating sinful people as they deserved, but instead, He did not. He was faithful to His calling and like the psalmist, demonstrated these words: “I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8)

Self-interest is never mentioned. He did not dwell on or even reveal what He meant by “not my will” and that is a big motivation for me. While I need to recognize and confess sin whenever I ‘walk in the flesh’ and succumb to temptation, and even when I “rejoice in my weaknesses” — the goal is to glorify God and get back on track. Jesus didn’t sin even though He was tempted in every way like I am. He kept His mind on the will of His Father and revealed the way to conquer Satan’s efforts to sidetrack Him. He is the greatest example of self-control, not self being in charge but self not being an issue.

PRAY: Jesus, Your desire is that I be like You, and as I look at You and what You are like, that so easily is my desire too. I know that some people hated You for Your total goodness. Your life is a rebuke, an exposure of sin, yet sin is a burden You carried so that even those who put You to death could hear You say, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Oh to be like You!

Willing?

 
A British statesman and Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom was criticized for his policies and replied: “Gentlemen, get larger maps.”

I get that. Yesterday God clearly told me to do the right thing, and the decisions made to obey Him produced what Jesus calls “abundant” life — clearly better in comparison to what it would have been had I selected my options.

Today’s devotional says something similar. An abundant life in Christ is not about using my  talents, doing great deeds, having fervent emotions, or being given wonderful revelations. It is simply to want what God wants and do what He says. Stop waiting for some grand experience or feeling, just listen to the indwelling Holy Spirit and follow His directions. These are simple truths, learned early yet it seems to take me years to consistently do life His way. I am a most stubborn saved sinner.

God’s plan is to transform me into the image of Christ. His glory was having His will set to do the will of His Father. When faced with His own “Do the right thing” He replied, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42)

Even though Jesus makes a distinction between His human will and the Father’s will, God does not leave me to “do the right thing” by the power of my human will. He says;

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12–13)

Now may the God of peace . . . equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20–21)

How does He do this? That is not a short answer. The reality is that He does do it. Paul knew that:

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10)

God’s grace is shown in His love and when loved like He loves, doing His will is a delight — not because my life is godly but because His love shows me that His will is best. Even when what He wants seems unpleasant to me, satisfying Him gives me delight — and that is what makes life abundant.

His love is not the same as human love, which expects a return. God loved me while I was a sinner and He had no return whatsoever. The NT expresses it like this:

I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? (2 Corinthians 12:15)

Essentially, the writer was saying, ‘I do not care whether you love me or not, I am willing to destitute myself completely, not merely for your sakes, but that I may get you to God.’ He reflects God’s love…

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)

This love is tied to obedience for it produces a glad willingness to do what God asks. It may mean household chores, calling a shut-in, giving finances, sitting with a senior, and doing everything without asking why or being concerned about what’s in it for me. Obedience without reserve.

PRAY: Jesus, You speak to me continually about making right choices and following through with obedience. You know I have days of feeling useless, or filled with fatigue, or just wanting to do nothing. May grace and love motivate me to pay close attention; not only listening with obedience but  doing Your will from the heart and with great joy.

Confess, be filled, accept His will

When my husband was saved, we had a discussion with one of the elders in the large church we attended. He had a cup in front of him and used it to illustrate the Christian life. He held the cup upright and said that when we confessed our sin for salvation and for each sin after being saved, God would fill us with the Holy Spirit. The cup remained upright.

Then he said that each time we disobeyed God, the cup tipped over — or in other words, we were filled with ourselves and the Holy Spirit was no longer in control. He said that we needed to deal with that sin so we could be upright and again filled with God’s Spirit.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

A new Christian discovers the joyous wonder of what it means to be forgiven and clean. We realize the power of the Lord Jesus and become amazed at His ability to give us victory. We are  delighted that “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)

However, the illustration with the cup didn’t end there. The elder tipped it then set it upright several times, and said, “You have to realize that this is the Christian life and how God works to deal with the sin that He has saved you from.”

Today’s devotional writer points out that Christians tend to feel that a life of inward rest and outward victory is their inalienable birthright. We remember that initial joy that made us certain of victory but it isn’t long before our experience becomes one of few and fleeting victories and our defeats are many and disastrous.

I remember when my early visions of triumph grew dim and I began to match that overturned cup. My faith seemed to be an never-ending cycle of failure and victory, one hour sinning and the next repenting. I soon thought 1 John 1:9 had to be the most important verse in the Bible regarding Christian growth and victory over sin.

Then I started to think that this experience was more like being a soldier. Enlisting makes me one but in name only. Life would be the bootcamp where I learned to live like what I already was.

I had to learn this reality: Jesus came to save me now, in this life, from the power and dominion of sin and to make me more than a conqueror through His power. The Bible declares it in the purpose of His death and says it everywhere. Not one hint is given that this deliverance is limited and partial, nor that we have to be satisfied with continually being tipped over.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:1–8)

The solution is keeping short accounts, not accepting that tipped-over condition as the norm. I’m to set my mind on Him and consider the old me dead to sin and alive to God.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

PRAY: Lord, it is harder to set my mind on the truth of what You have done in me when my body is plagued with weakness and feels yucky. Help me keep short accounts and take care of myself without letting this recovery time fill me with fleshy self-pity. Of course I want the joy of the Holy Spirit but I will accept whatever You want for me.

God’s gift of love includes other gifts . . .

Study of spiritual gifts has revealed three types. One is that God gives gifted people to equip the saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11).

Another is motivational gifts, or a built-in way of thinking. Each of us can have and use these motivations, but some will be more dominant than others. That is, a teacher will love gathering information and passing it on. This motivation is not confined to teaching; think a librarian or research assistant. These gifts are part of who we are and how we think.

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:6–8)

I’ve seen how these gifts show up in Spirit-filled Christians, yet they also can be seen in a negative way when a Christian is walking in the flesh. For instance, instead of encouraging growth and a forward look, a fleshy Christian comes across as a used-car sales person or a manipulator. A leader can be bossy instead of a visionary person who can delegate.

A third description focuses on gifts given to deal with the needs before us in a godly way.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:27–31)

The last line reveals that to use these gifts requires more and points to the love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, yet this is true for all three categories. Without the love of God, our actions are selfish and sinful and do more harm than good. Today’s devotional says that abusing gifts means seeking prominence for ourselves rather than ministering to one another. They can function properly only in a spiritual person who displays not only the gift but the fruit of the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:22–24)

The love chapter repeats this in these words:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1–3)

In other words, love must be the motive and driving force behind everything we do. This is not the mushy love of films nor the love of chocolate nor even the love of family. It is the sacrificial love of John 3:16, a love that gives, is costly. What a shame that even the people of God can use some of love’s characteristics to manipulate and use people for personal gain. This reminds me of the woman who said, “I love to help people because it makes me feel so good.”

If love feels good, why then did Jesus sweat blood and pray, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done”? (Luke 22:42) This act of love shows me that using the gifts He gave me to obey the motivations He gives me will not always be comfortable or without cost.

PRAY: Lord, there are days when I want to pull away from praying, calling people, serving needs, and even writing these words for the world to see. Apart from loving obedience, what is the point? I gain nothing except an occasional glimpse of what You do with these sacrifices. Forgive me for selfishly wanting some glory. It all belongs to You for You alone are worthy. Enable me to remember always why loving You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength is costly; it cost You Your life to love me.

PONDER: Thinking of how God loves me, and how His love changes lives, consider ways I can show His love to others whose lives are in dire need of a glimpse into the heart of God.

 

 

 

Praying in God’s will

 

Mothers know the frustration of a crying baby that cannot tell her the problem that makes him cry. Many moms will say, ‘Oh, if you could only talk. Then I could help you.’

Is this something like the frustration felt when the Bible tells us: “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 John 5:14) and we have no idea what His will is, so we don’t know how to pray?

The difference is that God does talk to us. His will is revealed in His Word; we just need to read it. Well, there is more to it than mere reading. Jesus tied knowing the will of God with having a heart to do what it says:

If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. (John 7:17)

With obedience tied to revealed understanding, it makes sense that obeying what I already know is vital to knowing more. God will teach me, but if I’m not listening and doing what He says, then the lessons are either repeated or stopped and my life can grow stagnant.

“The word of the Lord [came] to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem” (Daniel 9:2).

Jeremiah and Daniel both obeyed the Lord and both understood what He was going to do; the captivity of His people would last seventy years. These servants of God conformed their lives to His will and prayed accordingly. Their prayers, and the prayers of all God’s people are far more effective in the lives of humble, submissive hearts. Jesus is our example:

For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. (John 6:38)

I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. (John 17:4)

Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done. (Luke 22:42)

He teaches us the same thing in how we should pray: “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9–10).

Daniel read Jeremiah’s prophecy of seventy years in Babylonian captivity, accepted it as God’s will and began to pray for its fulfillment. This is not being resigned to fate but an active participation in God’s plan as He revealed it.

Note also that Daniel didn’t try to change God’s will, but did what he could to support it. The key to this is realizing God is not like a crying baby that cannot speak. He does speak and the more I read what He says AND do what He says, the more of His will is revealed to me and to each of His servants.

When I pray according to God’s will, I can be confident that He hears me and will grant my requests. 1 John 4:15 follows with: “And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” (1 John 5:15) This ‘knowing’ is the knowing of faith, the confidence God gives to His people when we ask, believing what He says and cooperating with it.

Jesus, I’m excited to read this, excited to have the freedom to be in Your Word, and excited that You reveal or remind me of Your will each day so that I can pray it back to You. if there is any area in my life where my will is contrary to Yours, show me and enable the necessary changes.

READ: Revelation 22:6–21. This is God’s will. Read it carefully and several times, taking note of how I can better respond to Him, both in my life and in my prayers.