God’s to-do list . . .

Joshua 4; Psalms 129–131; Isaiah 64; Matthew 12

One day I was praying about the mess in the world and fretting over bad news, even telling God what to do about it. In almost a humorous whisper, I heard Him say, “Elsie, get out of My to-do list.”

Since then, I’ve paid careful attention to what God alone can do. Those thoughts shape my prayers, especially these days. I see a great need in the world and in the church for Jesus Christ to be exalted and worshiped. He alone can bring order to chaos. He can also use the chaos to unite His people in faith.

This morning, I’m encouraged to read of how He did that in history. His Word affirms that He can do it again. The verses from Joshua show His power to exalt Christian leaders and put people in awe of His Son. On the day that His people crossed the Jordan into the promised land, “The Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.” (Joshua 4:14)

The people who honored Joshua had also been in awe of Moses. He had given them God’s law and even though they struggled to keep His law, they respected it also. Could it be that before the world will honor Jesus, they must also respect the righteousness of God that is revealed in His commands? If that is required, is there any hope for humanity? So many seem to despise the Lord. How can they change their minds?

Sadly, Romans 3 says no one seeks God but the rest of the NT tells how God seeks the lost and how His mercy and grace change lives. When I pray, I’m encouraged by the history of redemption and also verses like this from the OT that show the power of God to turn sinful people around: “May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward!” (Psalm 129:5)

That verse led me to check out Zion. Was the Psalmist using poetic language for something other than a place? I found Zion is the name of a religious center, not only for Israel, but for the entire world. The OT prophets also indicate that Zion is the central location for God’s future great deeds of salvation. He will cleanse sin and redeem sinners. He will “lay a precious cornerstone in Zion” referring to Jesus Christ. He will secure His people from their enemies and our lives will become fruitful as God saves us and rules over us.

Lest anyone thinks that sin is an obsolete word and that people are basically good, Jesus Christ did not agree. He said to the religious leaders of His day:

“You brood of vipers! How can you speak good when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.” (Matthew 12:34–35)

Only the blind fail to see evil in this world. Killing, strife, greed and much more are rampant. The daily news puts pleas in my heart and mouth. I pray that God would act in power and grace, turning things around and bringing glory to His Name. I agree with Isaiah’s prayer:

“Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence— as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.” (Isaiah 64:1–4)

APPLY: Humanity is helpless to fix the mess we are in. All we can do is speak to the One who can . . .  and look to His mercy to help us. “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.” (Psalm 130:5) He gives me a to-do list and still says that I must stay out of His list — for no one can do what God can do, no matter how hard we try.

 

Peace, be still . . .

After reading another argument for ‘limited atonement’ in today’s devotional, I searched several commentaries and theology books to see if there is a reasonable way to think about this issue. I didn’t expect much because theologians have debated it for years, but I did find two very satisfactory articles that put my mind to rest.

First, the Bible gives verses that support all views, but all agree that Christ died to reconcile us to God and sinners must accept what He has done and put their faith in Jesus Christ. One viewpoint assumes that if Christ died for all but some do not believe, then His death was not sufficient. This means their sin is punished twice. , once on Christ and again on the person who perishes. (Hang in there, the second article is a sigh of relief.)

To this assumption, one article asks this question: Did the Israelite who refused to apply the Passover blood to the door of his house have his sins paid for twice? When the Passover Lamb was killed, sins were covered, but if he did not put the blood on the door, death came to that house. Was this a second payment for his sins? Of course not. The first and sufficient payment was simply not applied to that house. Death after failure to apply the blood was a just retribution for not appropriating the sufficient sacrifice. Then this author says the atonement of Christ paid for the sins of the whole world, but the individual must appropriate that payment through faith. He quotes these verses:

“In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:19-20)

Briefly, it says ‘the world was reconciled to God, but those reconciled people need to be reconciled to God.’ The death of Christ pays for all the sins of all people. However, no individual has his account settled with God until he believes. If he never believes, then even though the price has been fully paid, he cannot enter into the glory of forgiveness. The death of Christ is like a wealthy benefactor paying the tuitions of all students in all schools everywhere. If that happened, what should we be telling students? The good news that their tuitions are paid. Christ died for all. Then what should we be telling the world?

Not everyone accepts that approach, but the second article settles this in my mind. I’ve slightly edited it just to shorten it a little. The author says:

“Finally, we may ask why this matter is so important after all . . . it would be healthy to realize that Scripture itself never singles this out as a doctrine of major importance, nor does it once make it the subject of any explicit theological discussion. Our knowledge of the issue comes only from incidental references to it in passages whose concern is with other doctrinal or practical matters . . . A balanced pastoral perspective would seem to be to say that this teaching of particular (limited) redemption seems to us to be true, that it gives logical consistency to our theological system, and that it can be helpful in assuring people of Christ’s love for them individually and of the completeness of his redemptive work for them; but that it also is a subject that almost inevitably leads to some confusion, some misunderstanding, and often some wrongful argumentativeness and divisiveness among God’s people—all of which are negative pastoral considerations. Perhaps that is why the apostles such as John and Peter and Paul, in their wisdom, placed almost no emphasis on this question at all. And perhaps we would do well to ponder their example.” (Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine.)

There are biblical truths that are revealed yet other issues that are unclear and best left until God chooses to make them plain. He does exhort us to unity and to love one another, not argue issues that we don’t understand or cannot reconcile. As the first author quoted put it, what are we supposed to be telling people, that ‘Christ only died for some people’ or that ‘Christ died for your sins’?

^^^^^^

Jesus, today’s devotional does not give me anything that helps me in a practical sense other than I love You because You died for my sin and saved me, and that I need to stop reacting to the idea of limited atonement and get on with sharing the good news of what You have done, and rejoicing in the fact that You are God and You know what You are doing!

God is Who He is…

Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any. (Isaiah 44:8)

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. (Psalm 84:11)

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

If I deny or forget that God rules over all, then in my mind He is no longer personal and does not answer when I call. If that were so, then the cares of this life would eventually become unbearable and hope would vanish. If God is only the Creator (or worse, merely the spirit of creation), then no one can answer when I confess my sin and ask for forgiveness.

Sometimes I’ve felt alone and wanted a God that I could see. Today’s devotional writer, George H. Morrison, says that “things” cannot enter my heart, only personality and the influence of a living spirit. He says God is nearest when He is seated on the throne in heaven, not when He seems to walk by my side. If my God was only a companion for my hurts and loneliness, then I would be robbed of the God for whom I crave.

At first read, that didn’t make sense, but the devotional adds if God was just here as my personal genie in a bottle and nowhere else, I would lose the personality of who He is, a sovereign and transcendent God. It is by His fullness that I can be strengthened to meet life’s challenges and endure life’s pain. If He is only with me to do whatever I want or think I need, then I lose the sense of His wisdom and power.

If God is not fully God (in my mind), then there is no accountability either. I would stop growing and shedding sin if all God did was hold my hand and affirm that He loves me no matter what. While that is true, God also rebukes and trains, disciplines and stretches His children. He has a much higher vision for my life than merely filling all the empty places and ensuring I am totally comfortable and happy all the time.

God is my Rock to stand on, my solid place. If I selfishly tell Him how to run my life, then my concept of God is weakened. He remains the same, but the meaning of His mercy, grace, and salvation becomes a mere shadow. As always, I must let God be God. I cannot invent Him, or change what He is like just to suit my days, nor can I ignore all that He is because I only need part of Him right now. While He promises to supply all my needs, He knows better than I what those needs are. While He promises to never withhold good from me as I walk with Him, He knows better than I what is good for me. Again, I must let God be God.