God reveals the things we need to know…

 

We woke this morning to a cold house. Our furnace quit during the night. It is -21o Celsius outside with a windchill and was colder than that all day yesterday. I’m thankful for wool sweaters and the promise of a repair person to come soon. 

I’m also thankful for a big-picture God. He gives me this to think about right now:

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. (Revelation 1:1–3)

Most people are fearful of this last book of the Bible. It begins with this promise though, so I will look for that blessing and even read it aloud. Here is more good news:

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:4–8)

Before writing anything, John heard a voice and saw Jesus:

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. (Revelation 1:17–20)

It gave me joy to realize that Jesus explained to John what he was seeing. This Jesus whom I trust does not always explain the things that I see or that happen to me, but what I need to know, He is willing to make known to me. 

For your servant’s sake, O Lord, and according to your own heart, you have done all this greatness, in making known all these great things. (1 Chronicles 17:19)
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29)

Some things that Jesus explains in today’s reading include a warning not to abandon the love I have for Him, but continue to love Him and show it in the way I live.

I’m also not to fear suffering, even being persecuted to death. I’m not to deny faith in Christ or fall into legalism or false teaching, but remain faithful to what I know and hold fast to Him, listening to His words and waiting for Him and whatever He invites me to do. 

John saw a scroll and many angels declaring only Jesus is worthy to open it because of His death and resurrection. He also heard all creatures worship Him. 

Next, Jesus releases riders on horses to conquer, to take peace from the world, to control food supplies, and to slay one fourth of the earth. He also revealed those slain for their faith, saying more would join them. A great earthquake follows with destruction and all crying that the wrath of God had come. 

PRAY: Jesus, the descriptions in this last part are not pretty, but my desire for justice feels an odd anticipation. You will deal with all sin and evil in those who call on rocks and mountains to hide them from You. No hiding. No one will stand unless they stand with faith in You. I feel sorrow for them, yet am at peace that Your holy plans will happen. 

I’m also thankful for the small stuff — a quick cleanup of a frozen vent and our heat came back on. I’m so thankful that Your will for our good also never changes.

Knowing the Way

 

In meandering through social media posts, most are silly, irrelevant, or even fabrications, but sometimes one pops out as an important truth. This reminds me of a Christian education course that stressed, “All truth is God’s truth.” That is, the source may not be a Bible verse, but biblical truth is expressed in the quote or idea.

The problem with finding truth that way is a great need for discernment. Some ideas might seem right, “but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25) “The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.” (Proverbs 18:17)

Discernment is sometimes hard to come by. Besides, I’m a hard sell. By that, I mean the harder someone tries to convince me, the more I resist their pitch. Is it true? Or does it only seem right? From the verse that prefaces today’s devotional, if I have any discernment, it is likely because people are praying for me!

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, (Colossians 1:9)

The original readers were challenged by false teachers who tried to convince them that Christ is not enough for salvation. They appealed to our human desire to ‘do something’ to earn favor with God. However, that desire could easily be tied to this OT definition of sin:

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

Sin is simply going my way instead of God’s way. It is ignorance or rejection that there is a God, or refusal to admit I am a sinner, or rejection of God’s remedy for sin — which is the Gospel of Jesus who died for my sin, was buried, and rose again. My way of doing things can look good to me, even after salvation. The notion that I can do nothing apart from Christ is correct, but it can be unappealing, even a blow to my ego.

The alternative is being controlled by the knowledge of God’s will through the Word of God — as the Spirit of God imparts it. Human reasoning and ‘good’ ideas don’t cut it. Only God can transform my life, no matter my abilities, education, determination, self-esteem, or any other ‘positives’ because only God has that power. If I do His will, it must be for His glory, not mine.

MacArthur rephrases Colossians 1:9 this way: “I pray that you will be continually controlled by the life-transforming knowledge of God’s will, which the Holy Spirit imparts as you prayerfully study and meditate on God’s Word.”

Scripture and the Holy Spirit tell me how to live and give me the power to obey. It doesn’t take long to discover that philosophies and other alternatives do not work, or if they do, it is because the Spirit uses ‘all truth’ to teach and enable me. This is never the intent of those who post words that sound true and might be true, but I need to discern the intent, or even more, what that ‘cute’ saying does to me. Does it bypass faith in Christ and elevate me? Does it appeal to that desire to do it my way?

For example, I did an online search for “be kind quotes” and found many. Most were not from Christians and hinted that doing kindness would benefit me in some way, like winning friends or being a more important person. In contrast, the NT says kindness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that comes from “God our Savior” to whom belongs all glory. I wonder then how the ‘kindnesses’ of those without faith in Christ can be the same as the kindness that comes from Christ? 

This reminds me of the woman who said, “I love to help people because it makes me feel so good” which makes me aware that motivations to do good can be selfish, whereas the kindness of God involves eternal ramifications for those who experience it.

Doing the will of God is not about what it does for me, even though it usually feels good later. Instead, obedience is about glorifying God and loving others. The difference may be invisible to undiscerning eyes, but Paul’s prayer makes it plain that doing His will requires more than an effort to replicate His actions. I need Jesus or all that I do is a waste.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4–5)

Jesus, I am so grateful that You are sufficient for every need. Give me all the discernment necessary to separate true from nice-sounding but misleading stuff. You know my heart. Guard me from trying to do my own thing rather than listening to You.

READ: John 15. What does it say about Jesus and His role? What does it say about me and what He wants from me? 

 

 

Illumination comes from the Holy Spirit . . .

Today’s devotional reading logs in as a pro-hyper-Calvinism vs. Arminianism, a debate that has gone on for centuries. Theologians cannot agree even though supporters on each side think their view is the correct view. I prefer to read devotionally rather than gnaw away at an issue that divides and look for something God wants me to understand and apply to my life.

For this, the last five verses in the reading did just that. While there are differing ways to interpret these words, in their context they speak to our human problem of not wanting to listen to God and the eventual judgment on those who persist in exalting themselves instead of the Lord:

“At that time Jesus declared, ‘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. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’” (Matthew 11:25–30)

God calls those who understand them “little children” and I’m thinking why does He do that? Is it because little children know how to live in carefree dependence? When loved and cared for by parents who are wise and kind, these little ones are not burdened by anything too weighty for them. They know not to pick up something too heavy or stress over things beyond their understanding. For them, life is mostly play.

For many, we ‘out-grow’ childhood and begin to question things, gripe about life’s perplexities and discomforts, and are never satisfied. We get suborn about change and refuse to go back to the that child-like faith that carries very light burdens.

This is a choice. To take the yoke with Jesus means trusting Him as I would trust a loving parent. As a child, I never worried about anything. I’m to live in Christ the same way. He knows all the answers and takes care of everything. I don’t have to know or carry more than I can handle. He carries all the burdens that are too heavy for me. Also, He can reveal or not reveal; I don’t have to try to figure out the tough stuff with my tiny brain. If it is for me to know, He will show me.

Not only that, I’ve learned that when God reveals a truth, I do not need to ‘prove it’ to others, or debate it, or argue my point. I used to think I could convince others by rhetoric, but know better, mostly because God has shown me that my arguments are usually evidence that my source of whatever point I’m trying to make does not come from the Spirit of God, but from my flawed human reasoning. When God says something, I don’t have to prove it, just quietly believe it and obey what He wants me to do.

^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, You always declared truth without getting into any “I touched you last” debates. You knew what was from Your Father. That was enough for You. You lived like a child depending on his parents and carried only the burdens You were given. In that frame of mind, You could deal with everything that came at You, including the challenges of the Pharisees, who by the way, never could get the best of You. You not only gave them wise and simple answers to their ‘difficult’ questions, but also realized there is no point in debating or that insisting other people have the same knowledge that You have. It comes through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, and because that is what they needed, You joyfully didn’t bother with any debates.