The Emphasis of Sanctity

"To be like Christ. To displace self from the inner throne, and to throne Him; to make not the slightest compromise with the smallest sin. We aim at nothing less than to walk with God all day long, to abide every hour in Christ and He and His words in us, to love God with all the heart and our neighbor as ourselves...It is possible to cast every care on Him daily, and to be at peace amidst pressure, to see the will of God in everything, to put away all bitterness and clamor and evil speaking, daily and hourly. It is possible, by unreserved resort, to divine power under divine conditions to become strongest through and through at our weakest point."

~The "creed" of the Keswick Convention, where
Amy Carmichael was first called to foreign missions

A Table in the Wilderness

"[Israel] spoke against God; they said, “Can God really spread a table in the wilderness? True, he struck the rock, and water gushed out, streams flowed abundantly, but can he also give us bread? Can he supply meat for his people?” Psalm 78:19-20

This verse is recounting some of the events that took place in the book of Exodus. But circumstances like this one have occurred over and over again, especially in my own life. The following quote is from a man I know nothing about, but what he says seems to be truth. He says: "To live is to encounter silent seasons of the soul, When every prayer will seem to go unanswered - As we face events beyond our understanding or control. Yet in the quiet darkness, Christ is working. His silence in the shadows doesn't mean he doesn't care; A part of faith is trusting without reason, Believing, when he can't be seen or heard, that he's still there...So when answers fail to come, don't be discouraged. Keep leaning on his steadfast love and trusting in his will, For knowing "why" won't really make a difference - But growing close and knowing Jesus will." ~B. J. Hoff

There are indeed seasons of the soul; some feel like a well-watered soul and abundance in growth, while others feel like parched desert and isolation. The parched desert of isolation is where Israel had found themselves. But rather than seeking to learn from God, they blamed him and grumbled. How often do I do that? How prevalent is the mindset that God is holding me at arms length or with-holding some good thing from me? Thoughts like these do not serve a Christian well. Instead, they turn into self pity and drive a soul farther into the desert. I am writing this more to myself than to anyone else; do not criticise the workings of an infinite God, a perfect maker, supreme designer, and the orchestrator of all history. "Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face." Can the God of the universe spread for me a table in the wilderness and provide my soul with bread and meat? Yes, in the wilderness, and even in the presence of my enemies. Ephesians 3:20, Psalm 23:5 Seasons are short, especially in light of eternity. Why grumble about what is received from the hand of a loving and purposeful God?

For My Sake

The other day I was looking for some encouragement and opened my Bible to John 17. I was reminded of a message that Nathan Rages preached on verse 19. Jesus prays: "For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also might be sanctified in the truth." The point of the message was that when we think of the word sanctify, we think of being made holy or more like Christ. So how could Jesus, who was perfect, sanctify himself? The meaning of the word in this context is to be set apart for something. So what Jesus was really saying is that he set himself apart. For what purpose? "That they themselves also might be sanctified in the truth." In other words he did it that we might be saved. He did it "for our sakes." As his second point, Nathan said each thing that Christ did or went through, he did for our sakes. Because of this verse I can say that Christ was born to dwell on earth for my sake; he lived a perfectly sinless life for my sake; he spoke parables and sermons for my sake; he endured hardship for my sake; he resisted temptation for my sake; he gave himself up for my sake; he faced death on a cross for my sake; and he rose again to reign in heaven for my sake. All of this so that I might also be sanctified--set apart, but also made holy and more like Christ.

You can listen to Nathan's message by clicking here: http://www.hwymchapel.org/html/sermons.html

Boasting in the Cross

If we desire that there be no boasting except in the cross, then we must live near the cross--indeed we must live on the cross. This is what Galatians 6:14 says: "Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Boasting in the cross happens when you are on the cross. Is that not what Paul says? "The world has been crucified to me, and I [have been crucified] to the world." The world is dead to me, and I am dead to the world. Why? Because I have been crucified. We learn to boast in the cross and exult in the cross when we are on the cross. And until our selves are crucified there, our boast will be in ourselves.

Don't boast in anything except in the cross. How shall we become so radically cross-exalting? How can we become the kind of people who trace all our joy back to joy in Christ and him crucified? Answer: The old self that loves to boast and exult and rejoice in other things died. By faith we are united to Christ. His death becomes the death of our self-exalting life. We are raised with him to newness of life. What lives is a new creature whole single passion is to exalt Christ and his cross. To put it another way, when you put your trust in Christ, your bondage to the world and its overpowering lure is broken. You are a corpse to the world, and the world is a corpse to you. Or to put it positively, according to verse 15, you are a "new creation." To the you is dead. A new you is alive. Ad the new you is the you of faith. And what faith does is boast not in the world, but in Christ, especially Christ crucified. This is how you become so cross-centered that you say with Paul, "I will not boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." The world is no longer our treasure. It's not the source of our life or our satisfaction or our joy. Christ is.

~John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life

Christ-Bearers

I have spent my life plumbing the depths of what it means to be a Christian. I am, as of this morning, still learning. One thing I learned a long time ago is that we have to receive the life of Christ ourselves before we can live it. We have to live it before we can give it to others. Receive, live, give. The theologians call this "incarnation," and it applies as much to us Christians as it does to our Lord Himself.

Before Jesus was born, a young virgin named Mary responded to a heavenly summons and allowed God's Spirit to become flesh. She gave her body to be the chalice into which the life of God was poured. What Mary did is what you and I are meant to do, every one of us, every day, no matter where we are or what the circumstances--to carry Christ into this world. We are like chalices, empty vessels willing and ready to be filled with the life of God. Cleaned out in the process, we are poured out for others. Our lives illustrate what God is like much more by what we are and do than by what we say. We incarnate Christ by taking up our crosses and following Him, doing exactly as Jesus did when He was obedient to the Father.

The word incarnation means "taking on flesh" or "being manifested in a human body." It comes directly from two words meaning "in the flesh" or "the enfleshing." God, who is the Spirit, took on visible form for thirty-three years in the person of Jesus Christ. When Jesus died, the world could no longer see Him or touch Him. But because He gave us His Spirit when He rose from the dead and returned to His Father, Jesus made sure that the world could continue to see God in the flesh. The same Spirit that is in Him is in us Christians, "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). Even though Jesus may have become invisible to the eyes of people in the world, you and I are quite visible to them and to each other. In us, the world may in fact see God.

When the angel went to Mary, he said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words (Luke 1:28-29). The angelic message was alarmingly clear and Mary's response was awe--and bewilderment. When something interrupts what we are doing, most of us fret. God's message to Mary would have seemed to most engaged girls an enormous inconvenience, even a disaster. For her, it caused a moment of puzzlement (how could this be?). Then, as far as we know, she raised no objections about what would happen to her or [Joseph]. Her answer came very simply, "Be it unto me according to Thy word." Like someone holding out a cup to be filled when a drink is offered, we need to put our hearts forward right when God offers to pour Himself into us for an assignment, large or small. It's the attitude of a Christ-bearer.

Our life may seem more complicated than Mary's, but the basics are the same. We live in a continuum of visible, tangible things. We live with the washing machines that break down and the dinner that burns and bills to pay and traffic jams. It is an act of obedient surrender as you tend your small child with all his mess and endure sleepless nights and juggle your responsibilities at work and at home.

The baby Jesus would not only be fed at Mary's breast and learn at her feet, but He would one day feel the blindfold, the ropes, the lash, the thorns, and finally the blood, nails, and splinters of the cross. The Lord of the universe had taken on the body of an ordinary, vulnerable, mortal man in order that He might suffer and be totally emptied and annihilated--to bring God's life into the world. "The bread which I will give is my own body and I shall give it for the life of the world" (John 6:51). What bread do you and I have to give to the world?

We are meant to be chalices, life-bearers. As God's expression of what He is like, we become broken bread and poured-out wine. There is no greater fullness.

~Be Still My Soul, by Elisabeth Elliot, pages 7-11

Beauty is Vain - Tim Conway

I know this sounds like something intended solely for all of the guys out there, but there is much more to it than that. This exhortation contains advice for ladies too, such as traits to look for in a godly man, and how to conduct yourself in a manner that is pleasing to God. It also has some good thoughts on the importance of seeking godly counsel. I hope you are encouraged as much as I was.

Being Led

Finishing the Race

"The last days of William Carey were the best. His sun went down in all the splendour of a glowing faith and a burning self-sacrifice. Blow succeeded blow, but only that the fine gold of his trust, his humility, and his love might be seen to be the purer."

~George Smith, biographer

"With respect to myself, I consider my race as nearly run. The days of our years are three score years and ten, and I am now only three months short of that age, and repeated [illness] has weakened my constitution. But I do not look forward to death with any painful anticipations. I cast myself on and plead the efficacy of that atonement, which will not fail me when I need it."

~William Carey

"At this time I paid him my last visit. He was seated near his desk in the study, dressed in his usual neat attire; his eyes were closed, and his hands clasped together. On his desk was the proof sheet of the last chapter of the [translated] New Testament, which he had revised a few days before. His appearance, as he sat there, filled me with awe; for he appeared as then listening to the Master's summons, and as waiting to depart. I sat, in his presence, for about half an hour, and not one word was uttered; for I feared to break that solemn silence, and call back to earth the soul that seemed almost in heaven. At last, however, I spoke; and well do I remember the identical words that passed between us, though more that thirty-six years have elapsed since then. I said, 'My dear friend, you evidently are standing on the borders of the eternal world. Do not think it wrong then, if I ask what are your feelings in the immediate prospect of death?' The question roused him and he earnestly replied, 'As far as my personal salvation is concerned, I have not the shadow of a doubt. I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day. But when I think that I am about to appear in the presence of a holy God, and remember all my sins and manifold imperfections, I tremble.' He could say no more. The tears trickled down his cheeks, and after a while he relapsed into the same state of silence from which I had aroused him. Deeply solemn was that interview, and important the lesson I then received. Here was one of the most holy and harmless men whom I ever knew. Whilst thus convinced of the certainty of his salvation, through the merits of that Saviour whom he had preached, yet so impressed with the exceeding sinfulness of sin, that he trembled at the thought of appearing before a holy God! A few days after this event, Dr. Carey retired to his bed, from which he never rose."

~Mr. Gogerly, close friend

John Piper--Glorifying God

"The word glorify is like magnify. Magnify has two distinct meanings. In relation to God, one is worship and one is wickedness. You can magnify like a telescope or like a microscope. When you magnify like a microscope, you make something tiny look bigger than it is. A dust mite can look like a monster. Pretending to magnify God like that is wickedness. But when you magnify like a telescope, you make something unimaginably great look like what it really is. With the Hubble Space Telescope, pinprick galaxies in the sky are revealed for the billion-star giants that they are. Magnifying God like that is worship. We waste our lives when we do not pray and think and dream and plan and work toward magnifying God in all spheres of life. God created us for this: to live our lives in a way that makes him look more like the greatness and the beauty and the infinite worth that he really is. In the night sky of this world God appears to most people, if at all, like a pinprick of light in a heaven of darkness. But he created us and called us to make him look like what he really is. This is what it means to be created in the image of God. We are meant to image forth in the the world what he is really like."

~Don't Waste Your Life, page 32

Like Grass of the Field

"As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him." Psalm 103:15-17

"All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." 1st Peter 1:24-25