no easy roads

Since I'm in Old Testament Biblical Theology for a week, here's a clip from the intro:

If you approach the Old Testament from a historical perspective, you begin to realize that no one has had an easy walk with God. 

- Dr. Gilbert Braithwaite.

Being Searched by God

5-10. "SEARCH ME, O GOD"

"I, the Lord, search the heart" (Jeremiah 17:10).
During the early, carnal years we are afraid to face up to the sinful nature within, not fully realizing that it was dealt with in condemnation to God's full satisfaction at Calvary. When we come to see that all the old nature was taken down into the death of the Cross, and in Christ Jesus we are completely clear of its penalty and power, then it is that we begin to welcome the work of the Cross upon all that of which the Holy Spirit convicts us.
"The natural man cannot bear the thought of being searched by God; he cannot stand to think of being found out in his true condition and character. But to the truly hungry believer it is a positive comfort to be assured that God knows everything about us; He knows the very worst that can be discovered. He has searched out all that we are, and in spite of all He has thoughts of blessing concerning us. There is, therefore, no fear of anything coming to light that might cause Him to change or reverse His thought of blessing and acceptance." -C.A.C.
"Our acceptance with God in Christ is perfect, and therefore unimprovable. It never alters; never varies. And it is very important for us not to mix the acceptance itself with our enjoyment of it. Our acceptance is 'in Christ,' and therefore eternal; the enjoyment is 'by the Spirit,' and therefore (because of the working of the flesh) often hindered." -J.B.S.
"The sense of His goodness removes the guile of heart that seeks to conceal its sin." -J.N.D.
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" (Jeremiah 29:11).

Laptops vs. Learning

Here's an interesting discussion, and I mention it partly because it's valid and partly because I like the blog overall.
These things are worth thinking through, especially in light of our tendency to do lesser things with our lives. :) Hmm... starting to feel a twinge of guilt ...

Have you found favor in the sight of God? (2)

Well, if you haven't read the prior post, you should probably skip to the next post down for a bit; otherwise, this may not make much sense. As I was pondering more on the idea that the people of God must know that their leader knows God and has His favor, I clarified some thinking in my mind and decided to blog that as well.
The man of God does not set out to demonstrate how well he knows God. Rather, it is God that demonstrates to the people how well the chosen leader knows Him.

Joshua 3:7
The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.

Joshua 4:14
On that day 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.

God will make His man an example as He sees fit and when he sees fit. Our task is to be the man of God in private that He might exalt us if that is His plan.

Have you found favor in the sight of God?

Exodus 33:12-17

12 Moses said to the Lord, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ 13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” 14 And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. 16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?" 17 And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”

Friends, I am blogging this because it is something that I have been thinking on for a while. For those who read this blog, some are already leaders among the people of God, and some are training to become leaders. So, I ask you this question:
If the man of God is not known to have found favor in God's sight, how can he lead the people of God?

note: The distinctive of the people of God is the presence of God. (Ex. 33:16-17)

This is further seen in Josh. 1:17 where certain of the people promise to follow Joshua as they followed Moses, "Only may the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses!"

What the people of God seek is the man of God who has the favor of God to lead them! Am I that sort of man?

The Righteous will live by Faith

Do we live by this kind of faith? the kind of faith that says if there is no food in the cupboard, the refrigerator, or the pantry, and there is no money, I will JOY in the God who saved me.

Hab. 3:17-19a

17 Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
19 God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer's;
he makes me tread on my high places.

What does Providence mean?

Here's a quote I just read in Walvoord's The Holy Spirit:
"While in the providence of God, Satan is allowed freedom and great power in this age, his end is sure, and those who reject Christ will share his destiny."
Is this the way I think of God's providence, a Sovereign Lord's guidance of the universe that perfectly knows EVERY detail of life and guides impeccably through it all.

The Work of the Holy Spirit in our lives

So, what would stop me from reading my textbook by Walvoord on the Holy Spirit? Other than the obvious answer (a lot of things), the correct answer is "a quote from Abraham Kuyper's The Work of the Holy Spirit." The portion that Walvoord quoted struck me hard enough that I went and found the book in the library to read more. Kuyper's first chapter has the following quote as its second paragraph. (Just from the sampling I just got of the book, I recommend it.)

"The need of divine guidance is never more deeply felt than when one undertakes to give instruction in the work of the Holy Spirit—so unspeakably tender is the subject, touching the inmost secrets of God and the soul’s deepest mysteries.

We shield instinctively the intimacies of kindred and friends from intrusive observation, and nothing hurts the sensitive heart more than the rude exposure of that which should not be unveiled, being beautiful only in the retirement of the home circle. Greater delicacy befits our approach to the holy mystery of our soul’s intimacy with the living God. Indeed, we can scarcely find words to express it, for it touches a domain far below the social life where language is formed and usage determines the meaning of words." 

(Kuyper,  3)

As the Lord commanded him

It is very interesting in the Pentateuch to consider the phrase "According to all the Lord had commanded Moses" or "as the Lord commanded Moses" (sometimes "Moses" is simply "him"). It occurs approximately a hundred times in these 5 books. Often it refers to an action taken by Israel or Moses.
When this phrase is related to Israel, it is very interesting to consider that when the Lord gave them specific external commands they had a tendency to obey exactly and promptly. When however, the commands were internal, the tendency was to give lip service but avoid true obedience. If faith was required (internal obedience), the chances were much more likely that they would disobey. This brings to mind the question of how I obey: do I obey when the command is visible, yet disregard the commands of faith. It is not that the invisible command is more important than the visible; it is simply that a heart of belief will fulfill not only the command that is seen but also the command that requires spiritual sight. There is no distinction in commands to the heart of faith - God spoke, revealing what must be done or believed. The person of faith will walk in confidence in God's commands and their authority in every area and action of his life. May I learn to live in this way in every area of life.

WHAT MY OBEDIENCE TO GOD COSTS OTHER PEOPLE

Oswald Chambers has a very penetrating and worthwhile devotional on whether we are willing to obey God at the cost of hurting others. Read the whole article.

If we obey God it is going to cost other people more than it costs us, and that is where the sting comes in. If we are in love with our Lord, obedience does not cost us anything, it is a delight, but it costs those who do not love Him a good deal. If we obey God it will mean that other people’s plans are upset, and they will gibe us with it — “You call this Christianity?” We can prevent the suffering; but if we are going to obey God, we must not prevent it, we must let the cost be paid.