God's Word

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB)
 
Sometimes God's Word is a source of comfort and strength.  Other times it delivers powerful conviction. 
 
Certainly this passage suggests that an encounter with God's Word is intended to bring about change in our lives.  Whether it is for education or training in righteousness, or correction; God's intention is clear.  He means to bring about change in our lives, "so that the [men and women] of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."  For all of us that requires some sort of change. 
 
Once again, I am reminded of the Old Testament image of the implements used in worship in the Tabernacle.  These implements were sanctified, that is, set apart, cleansed, for holy use. 
 
Under the New Covenant, those implements are us.  It is God's intention, as today's passage suggests, that we be sanctified, set apart for God's holy use.  For all of us this requires God's redeeming grace.  For all of us this requires the gift of the blood of God's only Son.  Only by accepting this gift can we make a difference for God, equipped for every good work.
 
The result is change.  But change can be really, really hard.  Left to our own devices, we will return to our old ways, the habits and lifestyles that place us on the throne that belongs to God.  This is why it is really, really important that we encounter and engage God through the study of His Word daily. We need to take the time to wrestle with it, ask the tough questions, and seek His answers.
 
From start to finish it took me seven long years to get my college degree.  When it comes to the Word of God, I am so aware that I must be a lifetime student.

Speaking With Spiritual Authority - Is Your Message Veil Worthy?

Exodus 34:29-35 (NASB77)
²⁹ And it came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses' hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him. ³⁰ So when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. ³¹ Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers in the congregation returned to him; and Moses spoke to them. ³² And afterward all the sons of Israel came near, and he commanded them to do everything that the LORD had spoken to him on Mount Sinai. ³³ When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. ³⁴ But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would take off the veil until he came out; and whenever he came out and spoke to the sons of Israel what he had been commanded, ³⁵ the sons of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone. So Moses would replace the veil over his face until he went in to speak with Him.


There are people in my life that I pay special attention to if they have something to say.  Especially if they have something to say about spiritual matters.  And even more especially if it has something to do with my spiritual health and well being.

What gives these people the right or authority to speak to me about these things?  Why do I stop and listen?  Is it the person, the message or both that catches my attention?  Why is it that these people earn my special respect?

Today's passage may give us some insight into these questions.  As we consider Moses, because of his stuttering problem, he would not be considered to be a great public speaker.  I don't think people would flock to hear the marvelous tone and eloquent vocabulary of Moses.  His past was even a bit sketchy.  Would we be impressed by his resume?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  What was it about Moses that made people stop and listen to him that day so many years ago?

The reason people stopped and listened was because Moses had been in the presence of God.  Scripture tells us that Moses' face glowed in Exodus 33:11.  We read that God spoke to Moses face to face just as a man speaks to his friend.  It was evident to all that Moses had been in God's presence. His life, in fact his face, reflected that fact.  He was changed, even in appearance, because he had been with God.

There is something about the important people in my spiritual life that I recognize as God's spirit upon them, too.  How they live their life, and the things they say reflect the fact that they have spent time with God.  They too, shine for the Lord.  If they have been in God's presence, they speak with spiritual authority.  I know their words will be kind and constructive.  They will be redemptive to my soul.  They will not be harsh and destructive.  They will not promote themselves at my expense.  Rather, they will build me up.  They will invite me to join them in the awesome presence of God.  The power of God speaking through their words will heal my soul.

I have to return to A.W. Tozer who said in The Pursuit of God, "Men of the breaking hearts had a quality about them not known or understood by common men.  They habitually spoke with spiritual authority.  They had been in the presence of God and they reported what they saw there."


Pastors, elders, deacons, parents, teachers, government officials have authority due to their position.  Their power is in their position.  They may earn our respect or not.  Their lives may reflect God or not. They may or may not have spiritual authority as well as positional authority.   But there are also people who have no special position, who possess spiritual authority by the powerful presence of God in their lives.


I need people like the ones Tozer described to be involved in my life,  "[people] of breaking hearts who have a quality about them not known or understood by common men."  


I want to be a person who has been in the presence of God, who can report what was seen there.  My friends, this can only happen through diligent prayer and the study of God's Word.   Please join me.

What's Behind the Curtain?

Mark 15:37-38 (AMP)
³⁷ And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed out His life. ³⁸ And the curtain [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.




I love Fall here at the Lake House.  We've had the first cold nights of the season and the result is the changing color of the leaves reflecting on the lake.  Each day brings a new degree of beauty.

When I first get up in the morning, this is my view of the lake.

You really can't get very excited about the foliage by the lake from this view can you?  The light shining through the curtain may tell you that there is something on the other side.  But really there is no way you can describe what is out there, let alone tell anyone about it.  In fact there's not much to tell.  You might be curious to see what is out there based on the fact that I've told you that I've seen it and I think it's beautiful.  But maybe not.  Maybe you're content to admire the curtains.  If that's the case, this is all you'll see.  Enjoy.

In the Old Testament Tabernacle and later the Temple, a blue, purple and scarlet curtain separated the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place.  In the Temple God resided in the Most Holy Place, behind the curtain, separated from His people.  He would be present, but separate.  Only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place.  God's people could only observe the work of His hands.  Even then it was not face to face.  Sinful man cannot stand in the presence of God and live.  This was a very different scene than what we witness in the early chapters of Genesis, before man's fall, when God walked in the Garden with Adam and Eve and they were not ashamed of their nakedness before Him.

Our sin is just like Adam's.  We want to be god.  We were made to worship, so we focus that worship either on ourselves, or where it was intended, the one true God.

A.W. Tozer said, "Self is the opaque veil [curtain] that hides the face of God from us.  It can be removed only in the spiritual experience, never by mere instruction."

God gave His one and only Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice, to pay the punishment for our sin.  And at the moment He gave up His life, the curtain into the Most Holy Place in the Temple tore in two, granting us access to our most holy and loving God.

He invites us to throw off the "opaque veil of self" and enter into His presence and worship the Lord God through Jesus Christ His Son.

Tozer said, "Such worship ... can never come from a mere doctrinal knowledge of God.  Hearts that are 'fit to break' with love for the Godhead are those that have been in the Presence and have looked with opened eye upon the majesty of the Deity.  Men of the breaking hearts had a quality about them not known or understood by common men.  They habitually spoke with spiritual authority.  They had been in the presence of God and they reported what they saw there."

Hebrews 10:19-23 (NIV)
¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

I Feel Like Leaping

Malachi 4:2 (NIV)
² But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.

This verse was shared with me during my face down eye recovery time to encourage me and to give me something to look forward to; the day I would feel like leaping.

As I meditate on this verse, I am reminded how awesome God is and how it is His desire to provide what is needed and what is best for me.  He has forgiven my sins and called me to Himself.  God is good and everything He does in my life is good.  He brings joy and gladness to my heart and praise to my lips.

Come leap with me!

For to me, to live is Christ, Part 2

Philippians 1:21 (NIV)
²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

During my recovery from eye surgery, I wish I could have used the time to catch up on my reading.  But that was just not possible.  At first I couldn't read at all, or even watch TV.  Eventually, I was able to watch a little TV and read newspaper headlines, look at pictures, and read magazine article titles.  Friends and family kept in touch either by phone or they were kind enough to send email in a large bold font.  Thank you so much for your prayers, kind words of encouragement, and uplifting Scripture.  How grateful I am for the written word and for the Word!

Recently the title of an article from Discipleship Journal caught my attention. (Titles are usually in larger font which was helpful.)  Why I'm Not a Committed Christian (And Why That's a Good Thing) by Bob Butler begged for further reading.  The article introduces us to Dr. Josef Tson from Romania.  He is a pastor and author, and president of the Romanian Missionary Society.  He survived years of persecution and exile under Communist rule.  When asked about his perception of Christianity in America he replied, "The key word in American Christianity is commitment."  


The author goes on to say, "Rather than being a positive thing, he (Tson) saw it as an inadequate replacement of an older Christian teaching: surrender."

Tson described the difference, "When you make a commitment, you are still in control, no matter how noble the thing you commit to.  One can commit to pray, to study the Bible, to give his money, or to commit to automobile payments, or to lose weight.  Whatever he chooses to do, he commits to.  But surrender is different.  If someone holds a gun and asks you to lift your hands in the air as a token of surrender, you don't tell that person what you are committed to.  You simply surrender and do as you are told . . . Americans love commitment because they are still in control.  But the key word is surrender.  We are slaves to the Lord Jesus Christ."

The author, Bob Butler, shares his reflection on Dr. Tson's statement.

"As I pondered, I realized Tson was right in identifying the root issue as control.  My commitments seek to gain blessings of God without giving up autonomy.  My commitments may be righteous or noble but are merely promises about what I will do and depend entirely on me.  I am retaining control to some degree, as if I could negotiate with God's sovereignty.

 Surrender concedes that in the battle of wills, God has already won.  Surrender begins with the understanding that I am not God's partner -- not even a junior partner.  He is my creator and absolute Lord.  I am ruined and worthless without Him.  Surrender is really so distasteful to us because it exposes the core issue of our sin: pride."

The heart of a man who is fully surrendered to Christ is seen as you read Paul's letter to the Philippians in its entirety. It's a bold thing to say, "For to me, to live is Christ." (Phil 1:21)  But it's clear from his writing that Paul can make that claim. In chapter 3 he lays out his credentials for us to see.  Yet he considers them rubbish because he had surrendered them for the sake of Christ.

 Philippians 3:7-8 (NASB77)
⁷ But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ,"

So I've been pondering the aforementioned article as well as Paul's letter to the Philippians for several days.  Check out the article for yourself and join me in asking, "What would surrender look like in my life?"   I'd be interested in your thoughts and comments.

To read Why I'm Not a Committed Christian (And Why That's a Good Thing) in its entirety, click on the link below. 

 http://www.navpress.com/dj/content.aspx?id=4422

For to me, to live is Christ

Philippians 1:21 (NIV)
²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

I like to be happy, and lots of things can make me happy.  Spending time with my wife, children and grandchildren makes me happy.  Ice cream can make me happy.  I'm happy when I'm on vacation in Nova Scotia where my everyday concerns seem so far away.

I think we would all agree that given the right circumstances or situation, or flavor of Four Seas ice cream, it is easy for us to find happiness.

I drafted the opening paragraph on the evening of July 25th before going to bed to reflect on the character of Paul who despite his situation (imprisonment) found great joy in Christ. (Phil. 1:21)

What about me?  Can I make that same statement?  I want to say, "Well, yeah.  Of course, it's true."

But on the evening of July 26 my situation changed.  I wasn't thinking of ice cream or vacations.  I was in the hospital awaiting emergency eye surgery.  I was thinking, "What's going on?  Will I get my sight back?  Will it hurt?"

In those hours I could claim the sufficiency of Christ, but it was in the back of my mind and I kept having to bring it forward.  Calmness and fear kept passing by me like two very different looking horses on a carousel.

A second, more involved operation was required a week later.  The healing process involves some pain and discomfort, even though the original symptoms were painless.  It involves some discipline.  Following the doctor's orders is not easy.  More procedures are required in the coming months.

A dear friend of mine has asked and will ask again, "So what has God been talking to you about during this time?"

So today, August 28th, here is my answer.  God has given me the precious gift of time alone with Him.  I have never fully appreciated how precious it is.  I am His child despite the fact that in so many ways I am not like Him.  He loves me enough to not let me stay the way I am, but in His time with me He desires to shape my heart to be like His.  He is not finished with me.  There is still work to be done.

Like Paul, I want a heart that prays for my brothers and sisters.  I want for them what Christ wants for them; hearts that abound in love, in real knowledge and all discernment, so that they may discover and approve the things that are excellent, so that they may be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ.  I want for them to be filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes from Christ to the glory and praise of God. (Phil 1:9-11)

I want that heart.  I need that heart.

I want and need people to pray that prayer for me.  I am so grateful for a friend who keeps asking, "What is God talking to you about?"  I desperately need that.  Please keep asking.

For to me, to live is Christ.

This Place of Highest Privilege.

Romans 5:1-5 (NLT)
¹ Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. ² Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. ³ We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to endure. ⁴ And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. ⁵ And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.




Lynne and I are celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary.  We will be celebrating with our kids and grandchildren in Pawtucket, RI at a PawSox game sandwiched within a Christian music festival.  It's so us!  Still crazy after all these years!  How ironic.  Our first date was to a Christian music event.  We were very young then, and in love.  We pretend to believe we're still young, no doubt we are still in love.

I truly believe God brought us together.  Lynne grew up in a wonderfully devoted Christian family.  I grew up in a good home with very little religious exposure.  Lynne led me to the Lord when I was 18.  We were both 20 years old when we married.

The verse above was the theme verse for our wedding.  Lynne and I had met each other a little over three years earlier and already the Lord had done so many wonderful things in our lives.  We believed then that through our common faith God had brought us to that place of high privilege, the wedding altar.  We took nothing for granted, but stood in awe of Him as we exchanged our vows of devotion and commitment to one another before our Saviour, our families and our friends.

We knew we would have days not nearly as wonderful as that one.  We knew there would be trials and difficulties.  But we knew that together with God we would grow through these trials.  We knew He would never leave us or forsake us, because He loved us.  We knew that wherever Christ was, regardless of circumstance, that was a place of highest privilege.

Christ himself modeled what our relationship should be.  I am told in Scripture to love Lynne as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her in order to make her holy and clean.  I surrender myself to her in order present her before God and others as beautiful and holy.  Likewise Scripture tells us that she is to be submissive to me as she would to the Lord.  But before that we are told to submit to one another in reverence to Christ. In a nutshell, we give ourselves to each other as we give ourselves together to Christ.  God promises to fill our hearts with His love.

Christ in all his teaching emphasized humility and servant hood.  My family and friends, contrary to the world's thinking, that is where God gives us strength and blessing.  We serve God as we serve one another.  God is present in this act of worship.  That is a place of highest privilege.