Rejoicing in the doctrines of grace

“I believe that very much of current Arminianism is simply ignorance of gospel doctrine; and if people began to study their Bibles, and to take the Word of God as they find it, they must inevitably, if believers, rise up to rejoice in the doctrines of grace.”–Charles Spurgeon

(HT: Symphony of Scripture)

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Things I am thankful for this week

A day or so late. Sorry, getting back in the blogging mode slowly, catching up after vacation

1. A restful vacation in which I was able to get caught up in my Bible reading, spend some extra time in prayer, and spend some special time with my family
2. Safety as we logged over 1700 miles
3. Seeing some friends in Greenville that we hadn’t seen for a year and yet we were able to pick up with each other as if it had only been a few days–and very good spiritual conversation
4. Getting back into the ministry flow with a refreshing time with God’s people discussing Psalm 51
5. Hearing some young Christians express their clear faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
6. Two men in our church received full-time job offers with benefits. Both men had been working in temporary positions for awhile and we had been praying for months for this provision!
7. Moving toward the 1000 mile mark in biking (975 this summer). Beautiful, clear, calm days for the most part this week
8. Hearing the 1812 Overture at Erie’s Heritage Festival Days on the shores of Lake Erie Saturday evening.
9. Our religious freedom that God has granted us. We don’t worship with fear that our buildings or houses will be burned to the ground as in other places of the world
10. Hearing how God is working in the lives of various brothers in Christ: reading solid books, growing in the Word, faithfully witnessing, persevering through trials!

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Planning to pray

“Unless we plan to pray we will not pray. The reason we pray so little is that we do not plan to pray. Wise planning will ensure that we devote ourselves to prayer often, even if for brief periods; it is better to pray often with brevity than rarely bus at length. But the worst option is simply not to pray—and that will be controlling pattern unless we plan to pray. If we intend to change our habit, we musts start here.”–D. A. Carson, A Call for Spiritual Reformation

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BUT NOW!

In Colossians 1:21-22, Paul depicts a strong contrast between what we once were before Christ saved us and what we are now:  a classic “before and after” scenario.  Before we became Christians we were alienated from God, hostile in our minds and wicked in our actions.  Then in verse 22 we learn that after coming Christ we are reconciled to God by the death of Christ on the cross. The contrast in the Greek is stark, reading literally “But now!” Matson has composed this wonderful poem regarding how we were once alientated from God but now we stand confident in God’s presence: (emphasis added).

Lord, I was blind; I could not see
In Thy marred visage any grace;
But now the beauty of Thy face,
In radiant vision dawns on me.

Lord, I was deaf; I could not hear,
The thrilling music of Thy voice;
But now I hear Thee and rejoice,
And all Thine uttered words are dear.

Lord, I was dumb; I could not speak,
The grace and glory of Thy name;
But now, as touched with living flame,
My lips Thine eager praises wake.

Lord, I was dead; I could not stir,
My lifeless soul to come to Thee;
But now, since Thou has quickened me,
I rise from sin’s dark sepulcher.

Lord , Thou hs made the blind to see,
The deaf to hear, the dumb to spek,
The dead to live; and lo, I break,
The chains of my captivity.

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Two Conquerors

From my message yesterday at GHBC from Zechariah 9, the first half of which refers to God using Alexander the Great to mete out his judgment on pagan nations and the second half of which refers to the comings of Jesus Christ.

The Conquerors
Jesus and Alexander died at thirty-three,
One lived and died for self; One died for you and me.
The Greek died on a throne; the Jew died on a cross;
One’s life a triumph seemed; the other but a loss

One led vast armies forth; the other walked alone,
One shed a whole world’s blood; the other gave His own.
One won the world in life and lost it all in death;
The other lost His life to win the whole world’s faith.

Jesus and Alexander died at thirty-three,
One died in Babylon, and One on Calvary.
One gained all for himself; and One himself He gave.
One conquered every throne; the other every grave.

The one made himself a god, Our God made himself less.
The one lived but to blast, the other but to bless.
When died the Greek, forever fell the throne of swords;
But Jesus died to live, forever Lord of Lords.

Jesus and Alexander died at thirty-three,
The Greek made men slaves, the Jew made men free.
One built a throne on blood; the other built on love.
The other was born of earth;  the other from above.

One won all of this earth, to lose all earth and heaven.
The other gave up all, that all to Him be given.
The Greek forever died; the Jew forever lives.
He loses all who gets, and wins all things who gives.
–Charles Ross Weede

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