Increasing and Decreasing - John 3:27-30

“John answered and said,
‘A man can do nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.
You yourselves bear me witness, that I said,
‘I am not the Christ’, but ‘I have been sent before Him.’
‘He who has the bride is the bridegroom;
but the friend of the bridegroom,
who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly
because of the bridegroom’s voice.
And so this joy of mine has been made full.
He must increase, but I must decrease.’”
(vs 27-30)

Not too many entries ago I learned a lesson in humility from my dear brother John the Baptist. In John 1 folks had taken notice of his giftedness of tongue and holiness of life and they wanted to know about him. “Hey, who are you?” It was red carpet rolling time and he could have milked their question for all it was worth. “Well, I am the only person besides Christ who is specifically prophecied of in the entire Old Testament. I suppose you could say I’m ‘the man.’” But John is not about the business of promoting himself – He is about the work of promoting Christ. “I am just a voice, a simple voice sent to plead and implore you to behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He’s the important one, I’m just a noisy gong sent to set your attention on Him. Behold the Lamb, not me!”

Well, John the Baptist is giving lesson number two in humility to us here in his final recorded sermon. A dispute has arisen among his disciples. They’ve become a bit jealous of Christ’s disciples. “Wait a minute, why are folks going to them instead of to us? Hey John, what’s up with that?!” John doesn’t bite as we would. He has no pity party that the Jesus group is growing more than the John group. He’s not about clubs, He’s about Christ! And if people are coming to Christ – that’s what really and truly matters! Well we would do to heed his words and follow his example.

His response? “A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven.” John has consistently reminded folks that One greater than himself was coming. “Look to the Lamb, not to me!” John also has come to the point of realizing that we have NOTHING to be presumptuous or proud about. EVERYTHING we have is a gift from God – EVERYTHING! We have created and accomplished NOTHING on our own – every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights in whom there is no shadow! Therefore, everything we have should be used for the furthering of the Kingdom of God not for the furthering of the kingdom of us! What John has and is, what his disciples have and are, what you and I have and who we are is all from and all for Jesus Christ – the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. We would have nothing without Him. We would be nothing were it not for Him. Therefore, let us use what we have been given – all that we have been given – as a means of seeing more men, women, and children glorifying Him, not glorifying us. John understood that and wants his disciples to as well!

He understands it to the point of telling them plainly, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” It doesn’t matter one iota if John the Baptist drifts off of the scene as long as Jesus the Savior moves to center stage. John is disposable – so am I – so are you. The sooner we realize that fact the more boldly, humbly and fervently we will serve. May everyone I encounter see more of Jesus and less of Lori. Don’t behold me, behold Him. I can give you nothing of eternal significance. Christ can give you everything of eternal worth. As one who has heard John’s call from the mouth of another who heard it from another who heard it from another, etc.; as one who by grace has responded to that call I now join with John begging others to look not to me but to Christ. It is He alone who takes away the sin of the world. It is He alone that is worthy of our attention and devotion. Look to Him dear one. Let Him increase and let everything else in this fallen and feeble world decrease.

May we all learn from John the Baptist. “Let us endeavor in life and death, to hold the same views of our Lord Jesus to which John here gives expression. We can never make too much of Christ. Our thoughts about the church, the ministry, the sacraments [and ourselves], may easily become too high and extravagant. We can never have too high thoughts about Christ! We can never love Him too much. We can never trust Him too implicitly, lay too much weight upon Him, and speak too highly in His praise. He is worthy of all the honor that we can give Him. He will be all in heaven. Let us see to it, that He is all in our hearts on earth.” (J. C. Ryle)

Increase dear Savior. Increase in my heart. Increase in my mind. Increase in my living and in my loving. Swallow me up Lord Jesus and move me out of the way that You might shine. Make me a mirror that reflects your glory not a sponge that seeks my own.

Decreasing, by grace,
Lori

Making Shipwreck of Our Souls - John 3:14-21 (Part 3)

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;
that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life.
For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him
should not perish, but have eternal life.
God did not send the Son into the world
to condemn the world, but that the world
should be saved through Him.
He who believes in Him is not judged,
he who does not believe has been judged already,
because he has not believed in the name
of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the judgment,
that the light has come into the world,
and men loved the darkness rather than the light;
for their deeds were evil.
For everyone who does evil hates the light,
and does not come to the light,
lest his deeds should be exposed.
But he who practices the truth comes to the light,
that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
(vs 14-21)

With such a grand display of such amazing love one might ask, “Why wouldn’t everyone jump on the band wagon?” This is the deal of deals. This is the free gift of a life time – of an eternal life time. Yet, while myriads accept the gift by faith, many mock it, scoff it, ignore it, disdain it, and refuse it. Why?

The last 3 verses of this text give a plain answer. “Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil.” We sinners love our sin. We love the darkness in which we believe we can hide out with our sin. Loving our sin and the shadows which cover it, we want nothing to do with a light that will expose it. “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”

We won’t be able to blame God for our lost condition if that is where we find ourselves on the last day. The fault is our own – all our own. We have worshipped our lusts as lord of our life. And that lustful love of darkness will be our ruin!

God has loved us. He has loved us to such a degree that He has sent Christ to die for our sins if only we will believe on Him. Clearly God is willing to save. Certainly He has sent light into the darkness. Sadly, many have loved the darkness and have therefore hated their only hope. “His blood will be on his own head, if he makes shipwreck of his soul. The blame will be at his own door, if he misses heaven. His eternal misery will be the result of his own choice. His destruction will be the work of his own hand. He loved darkness, and therefore darkness must be his everlasting portion. He would not come to Christ, and therefore he could not have life.” (Ryle)

Dear reader, what do we love? Darkness or light? Are we fearful of the exposing light of the gospel or do we long for it to search us and chase out our darkness? “He who practices truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

Here are the final words of Christ’s sermon preached to Nicodemus. Here we have most clearly heard Christ Himself expound the gospel. He has held forth the necessity of a new birth – “you must be born again.” He has foretold the ordained death of Himself as the only atoning sacrifice for sinners – “so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” He has trumpeted the need for justifying faith as the only way to heaven – “whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” “He who believes in Him is not judged, he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Christ has kicked out from under us the crutch of any excuse for our unbelief – “Light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil.”

Do we believe? Do we love the light? Are we resting in Christ alone and living as those who are resting in Him? Let us look upon Him, believe on Him, live for Him, and die in Him knowing that we will go to Him! O Lord, increase our faith and search our hearts, test our ways, chase out the shadows that we still long to lurk in. Let us love Your light for in it there is life. In it and in no place else there is life. Life eternal!

Believing, by grace,
Lori

Amazing Love - John 3:14-21 (Part 2)

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;
that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life.
For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him
should not perish, but have eternal life.
God did not send the Son into the world
to condemn the world, but that the world
should be saved through Him.
He who believes in Him is not judged,
he who does not believe has been judged already,
because he has not believed in the name
of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the judgment,
that the light has come into the world,
and men loved the darkness rather than the light;
for their deeds were evil.
For everyone who does evil hates the light,
and does not come to the light,
lest his deeds should be exposed.
But he who practices the truth comes to the light,
that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
(vs 14-21)

Are there any better known words in all of Scripture than John 3:16? “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” Here is, as Luther put it, “the gospel in miniature.” Here is the crux of it all in capsule form. Here is the finest cliff note version of the gospel that you’ll ever see.

Well known words, yet not known well enough. Familiar words, yet perhaps so familiar that we miss their grandeur. This day, my heart and mind have been stirred anew at the awesomeness of their message and I pray that yours will be as well.

Note, first of all, that it is from God that all of these blessings flow. “For GOD so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son...” The salvation of sinners was all His idea. He is the grand initiator. He is the first cause. He is the spring from which this grand fountain flows. He is the great and divine mover who gets salvation’s ball rolling. We owe all to Him and to His love.

Secondly, note how great this love that begins with God is. “For God SO loved the world…” Have two tiny letters ever communicated as much as the word “so” does in this verse. Bishop Sanderson is quoted as saying, “How much that ‘so’ containeth no tongue or wit of man can reach.” God SO loved the world. We see the enormous depth of that “so” when we see the end that it accomplished. “God SO loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” God loved sinful, fallen, rebellious man SO much that He gave Christ to die for us!! Can it truly be? Could God have loved the world so much that He gave Jesus to die in our place that we might live in His? “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all!”

Ryle writes in his commentary notes the following regarding verse 16:

“A more startling declaration is impossible to conceive. A more wonderful verse is not to be found in the Bible! That God should love such a wicked world as this, and not hate it – that He should love it so as to provide salvation – that in order to provide salvation He should give, not an angel, or any created being, but such a priceless gift as His only begotten Son that this great salvation should be freely offered to everyone that believeth – all, all this is wonderful indeed!”

Were it not “impossible for God to lie” I’m not sure that I could believe it. It is beyond amazing. It is beyond miraculous. It is beyond comprehension. Yet its truth is that which has changed my life and scores of others! “God so loved the world – and me as one who lives and breathes His air in this fallen world – that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

This is indeed amazing love. Christ came not to judge us but to save us (vs 17). The channel through which this salvation is applied to us is by the means of belief. “…that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” It is not of works, lest any man should boast. It is not of blood line or wealth or education or any THING. It is of faith – “and this is not of yourselves it is the gift of God” (Eph 2:8-9).

I turn again to Ryle and his comments on these verses for they ring forth as a clarion call to those in need of saving mercy.

“Faith in the Lord Jesus is the very key of salvation. He that has it has life, and he that has it not has not life. Nothing whatever beside this faith is necessary to our complete justification; but nothing whatever, except this faith, will give us an interest in Christ. We may fast and mourn for sin, and do many things that are right, and use religious ordinances, and give all our goods to feed the poor, and yet remain unpardoned, and lose our souls. But if we will only come to Christ as guilty sinners, and believe on Him, our sins shall at once be forgiven, and our iniquities shall be entirely put away. Without faith there is no salvation; but through faith in Jesus the vilest sinner may be saved.”

Dear ones, – God loved. God SO loved that He gave. God SO loved that He gave His only begotten Son. God So loved that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. God loved and God gave. The crucial question for each of us is have we believed? That is the question of questions. At the end of this life it is the only question that will matter of all the questions ever asked of us. Our answer to that question is the hinge pin upon which the gates of heaven and hell swing. There is no other question of such inestimable value. There is no answer which will bring about such eternal consequences. Oh sinner, do you believe?

Believing, and praying that you will as well,
Lori

Lifted Up - John 3:14-21 (Part 1)

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;
that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life.
For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him
should not perish, but have eternal life.
God did not send the Son into the world
to condemn the world, but that the world
should be saved through Him.
He who believes in Him is not judged,
he who does not believe has been judged already,
because he has not believed in the name
of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the judgment,
that the light has come into the world,
and men loved the darkness rather than the light;
for their deeds were evil.
For everyone who does evil hates the light,
and does not come to the light,
lest his deeds should be exposed.
But he who practices the truth comes to the light,
that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
(vs 14-21)

How wise we would be to take these eight verses and hide them in our hearts. They contain the richest meat of the gospel and the most satisfying wine of God’s love. As I meditate on the truths contained here I am overwhelmed at the fact that these verses have served as the bridge upon which multitudes and myriads have crossed over from death to life. Here the love of the Father, the gift of the Son, the dark and blinding nature of sin, and the necessity of believing on Christ are plainly proclaimed. And it is through this very proclamation - “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life”- that millions throughout the ages, as many as the sands on the seashore and as many as the stars in the heavens, have embraced Christ as their Lord and Savior.

There is much to dwell upon here and I will probably spend several days feasting upon this grand banquet. May we pace ourselves, savoring every morsel rather than gorging ourselves and missing out on the pleasure and purpose of this grand meal!

In verse 14 we are pointed to the necessity of Christ being “lifted up” on the cross as a propitiation for our sins. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so MUST the Son of Man be lifted up.” Christ references the time when the bronze serpent was lifted up in the camp of the Israelites in order to save them from the plague of serpents (Num 29). Their sin had brought about a great trial and the only hope for a cure and for salvation was for them to look in faith upon the serpent fashioned of bronze as it was lifted up in the camp. Here is a picture of Christ and in John 3, Christ makes it perfectly clear that the bronze serpent is a shadow and type which He will fulfill.

Ryle writes: “The brazen serpent, lifted up in the camp of Israel, brought health and cure within reach of all who were bitten by the serpents. Christ crucified, in like manner, brought eternal life within reach of lost mankind. Christ has been lifted up on the cross, and man looking to Him by faith may be saved.”

He goes on to challenge us with these words: “The truth before us is the very foundation-stone of the Christian religion. Christ’s death is the Christian’s life. Christ’s cross is the Christian’s title to heaven. Christ “lifted up” and put to shame on Calvary is the ladder by which Christians “enter into the holiest,” and are at length landed in glory.

“It is true that we are sinners – but Christ has suffered for us! It is true that we deserve death – but Christ has died for us! It is true that we are guilty debtors – but Christ has paid our debts with His own blood! This is the real Gospel! This is the good news! On this let us lean while we live. To this let us cling when we die. Christ has been “lifted up” on the cross, and has thrown open the gates of heaven to all believers.”

Friends – Christ was lifted up for us! Look to Him. Look only to Him. Look always to Him. For whoever looks to Him, whoever believes on Him will in Him find eternal life.

Looking,
Lori

A Teacher Without Understanding - John 3:9-10

“Nicodemus answered and said to Him,
‘How can these things be?
Jesus answered him and said,
‘Are you the teacher of Israel,
and do not understand these things?’”
(vs 9-10)

The conversation continues. Christ and Nicodemus have been talking about the necessity of the new birth and Nicodemus is astonished, astounded, and stumped! “How can these things be?” Here is the teacher of the law – a Pharisee of Pharisees – the man – the big man – and he doesn’t have a clue about the true meaning of the Word that he is supposed to be holding forth to the nation of Israel. He is a blind guide. “How blind must the sheep be if the shepherd is in such a state?” (Ryle)

The brightest and best, the most learned and lauded may in reality be dumb as dirt to true truth! Men are men and men are fallible – no matter how good they may look to other men – no matter how great they may sound - no matter how much they may be loved. Men miss the mark at times and Nicodemus had missed it majorly!

Book smarts don’t cut it without the Spirit and that’s what Nicodemus needed. He needed the new birth even to understand that there could be a new birth. So do we. “Who has put wisdom in the innermost being, or has given understanding to the mind?” (Job 38:36). It is the Lord Jesus Christ who grants wisdom and gives understanding. May He renew our minds as He rebirths our hearts.

In His glorious grace,
Lori

The Necessity of New Birth - John 3:3-8

“Jesus answered and said to him,
‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again,
he cannot see the kingdom of God.’
Nicodemus said to Him,
‘How can a man be born when he is old?
He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb
and be born, can he?’
Jesus answered,
‘Truly, truly, I say to you,
unless one is born of water and the Spirit,
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Do not marvel that I said to you,
‘You must be born again.’
The wind blows where it wishes
and you hear the sound of it,
but you do not know where it comes from and where it is going,
so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
(vs 3-8)

Nicodemus has come under the cloak of darkness to talk to Jesus. He is confident that Christ has come from God. That confidence is seen in his words to our Lord - “no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus responds to this statement by abruptly pointing Nicodemus to the necessity of being born again. He doesn’t reply at all to Nic’s declaration. There is no "Hey, thanks for noticing my works and their message. You're right God is with me and as a matter of fact I am God." There's no chit chat that ensues from Nicodemus' statement, instead Jesus begins to preach to the fearful Pharisee regarding the urgency of regeneration. And this sermon that Christ preaches is one of the most powerful messages ever proclaimed. How many multitudes have come to saving faith because of the words spoken to Nicodemus as they are recorded in John chapter 3?!

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Hear Christ clearly – you CAN NOT see, know, understand, or behold the kingdom of God apart from being born again. A mighty, magnificent, and miraculous change is needful for salvation. A supernatural work of God must occur!

“The change which our Lord here declares needful to salvation is evidently no slight or superficial one. It is not merely reformation, or amendment, or moral change, or outward alteration of life. It is a thorough change of heart, will, and character. It is a resurrection. It is a new creation. It is a passing from death to life. It is the implanting in our dead hearts of a new principle from above. It is the calling into existence of a new creature, with a new nature, new habits of life, new tastes, new desires, new appetites, new judgments, new opinions, new hopes, and new fears. All this, and nothing less is implied, when our Lord declares that we all need a ‘new birth.’” (J.C. Ryle)

Why is new birth necessary? Verse 6 answers the question clearly. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” We are born of the flesh and of the flesh of Adam at that! We have to be born again because we are naturally born dead in sin (Eph 2:1-5, Col 2:13.) We come into this world as children of wrath (Eph 2:3) and as hostile enemies of God (Rom 5:10, 8:7-8). There is NOTHING in us that seeks after God, longs for God, wants to get to God, or takes pleasure in living for God (Rom 3:9-18). We naturally won’t seek Him out anymore than a bank robber goes looking for the nearest police station after his latest heist. We are born guilty rebels and left to ourselves will never turn to God. Hence the need for a new birth. We must be born again. We must have a new nature given which will replace the old one. We must have new life breathed into us to replace the spiritual death and decay that totally encompasses us. We must have it done to us for we will not and cannot do it for ourselves!

“The very name which our Lord gives to it is a convincing proof of this. He calls it “a birth.” No man is the author of his own existence, and no man can quicken his own soul. We might as well expect a dead man to give himself life, as expect a natural man to make himself spiritual. A power from above must be put in exercise, even that same power which created the world (2 Cor 4:6). Man can do many things, but he cannot give life either to himself or to others. To give life is the peculiar prerogative of God” (Ryle).

Well may we remember that God is sovereign in giving us this new birth just as He was sovereign in giving us our first birth: “For Thou didst form my inward parts, Thou didst knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Ps 139:13). “Know that the LORD Himself is God; it is He who made us and not we ourselves” (Ps 100:3).

Make no mistake, Christ minces no words but plainly declares to Nicodemus and to us “You must be born again.” There are many things that will NOT keep us out of heaven. We DON'T have to be rich or educated or beautiful but we MUST be born again. Without the new birth heaven will never be our home and God will never be our Father.

Oh, it is a grand mystery as mysterious as the wind. I can’t see the wind. I know not where it comes from. I can’t explain it with perfect knowledge. But I am well aware of its effects. I see them each time a leaf blows by. I feel them with each gentle breeze and with each stormy gale. So it is with the new birth. It is a mystery but the life changing effects of this mysterious Spirit can be clearly seen in a life that has been regenerated.

That man, woman, or child becomes one who loves Christ, hates sin, pursues righteousness, loves his fellow believers, loves the Word. Just look through the book of 1st John to see some of these life changing marks of new birth.

So the pressing question is have I, have you been born again? Has this mighty change been wrought in our lives? Are the marks of the new birth seen in us? Ryle closes his comments on this section with this piercing thought:

“Happy is the man who can give satisfactory answers to these questions! A day will come when those who are not born again will wish that they had never been born at all.” Oh beloved, flee to Christ the Author and Perfector of the new birth!

Born of water and of Spirit,
Lori

A Changed Man - John 3:1-2

"Now there was a man of the Pharisees,

named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;

this man came to Jesus by night,

and said to Him,

'Rabbi, we know that You have come from God

as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that

You do unless God is with him.'"

(vs 1-2)

As I began studying John 3 this morning, I was stunned at the thought of how many people have entered the kingdom of heaven through the words of this chapter - multitudes and myriads, as many as the sands of the seashore and as the stars of heaven!! John 3 has clearly been a picture of the power of God unto salvation.

Before us is Christ's encounter with an honest Pharisee. Here Christ preaches the necessity of the new birth and of justification to one who should have known it well but sadly knew it not at all. Here Christ holds forth the love of God for a sinful world and the beauty of grace as the hingepin to the door of heaven. Oh, these words are wonderful words of life. They have given life to thousands if not millions and clearly they are words that gave life to Nicodemus.

This morning I want to simply pause and consider the change wrought in this fearful Pharisee. Notice how he comes: "this man came to Him by night."

Nicodemus was scared! He was afraid of what his friends might think, of what his family might think, of what the "church" might think. So, he came under cloak of darkness that none of them would know! "He came by night because he didn't have the courage to come by day." (Ryle)

What struck me as I read was how different Nicodemus is by the end of John's gospel. He is truly made a new creature - a bold creature. Here he hides and sneaks about. At the end of this book he is as bold as a lion. In John 7 we see him taking on the entire Jewish counsel on behalf of Christ - he's not timid there. In John 19 we see him, along with Joseph of Arimethea, caring for Christ's crucified body. He is tending to the needs of his Lord even when all of the disciples have scattered to save their own skin. Nicodemus is a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come.

Nicodemus is no longer coming by night. He has tossed off the shadows for the sun - or perhaps it is more proper to say for the SON! He cares not who knows or who sees him loving Christ. He is changed and he is transformed. That's what Christ does. That's the fruit of being born again. Is it the fruit of our lives? Which Nicodemus am I- the man of John 3 or the man of John 7 and 19?

Praying for the boldness of the latter that comes from the grace of Christ,

Lori

He Knows All Men and Me! - John 2:24-25

"But Jesus, on His part,

was not entrusting Himself to them,

for He knew all men,

and because He did not need anyone

to bear witness concerning man

for He Himself knew what was in man."

(vs 24-25)

The Children's Catechism asks "Can you see God?" The answer given is "No, I cannot see God but He always sees me."

God always sees. He always hears. He always knows. Nothing can be hidden from God. All is open and laid bare before Him with whom we have to do. He knows our actions. He knows our thoughts. He knows everything!

Clearly, this text shows us that Christ - the 2nd person of the Trinity - is omniscient. He knows our names and our natures. He knows not only our actions but our attitudes. We are an open book to Him. He knows what is IN us - fully, completely, perfectly. That is a fact of Scripture. The question we must ask ourselves is what does the knowledge of that fact stir up in me?

J.C. Ryle's comments are soul searching. "The truth now before us, is one which ought to make hypocrites and false professors tremble. They may deceive men, but they cannot deceive Christ. They may wear a cloak of religion, and appear like white sepulchres, beautiful in the eyes of men. But the eyes of Christ see their inward rottenness, and the judgment of Christ will surely overtake them, except they repent. Christ is already reading their hearts, and as He reads, He is displeased. They are known in heaven, if they are not known on earth, and they will be known at length to their shame, before assembled worlds, if they die unchanged.

"But the truth before us has two sides, like the pillar of cloud and fire at the Red Sea. If it looks darkly on hypocrites, it looks brightly on true believers. If it threatens wrath to false professors, it speaks peace to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. A real Christian may be weak, but he is true! One thing, at any rate, the servant of Christ can say, when cast down by a sense of his own sin and infirmity, or pained by the slander of a lying world. He can say, 'Lord, I am a poor sinner, but I am in earnest, I am true. Thou knowest all things, and Thou knowest that I love Thee. thou knowest all hearts, and Thou knowest that, weak as my heart is, it is a heart that cleaves to Thee.'

"The false Christian shrinks from the eye of an all-seeing Savior. The true Christian desires his Lord's eye to be on him morning, noon, and night. He has nothing to hide."

How do you view the ever searching, all knowing eye of Christ? I, for one, despite my great weaknesses and my continual sins, am thankful that He knows me - even better than I know myself. Look on Lord Jesus, search me, test me, try me and by grace help pluck the black threads that ever run through my life. You know my guilt, You know my desire to be without guile, You know that my heart longs for you as the deer pants for the water! How thankful I am that you know all things and love me nonetheless!!

Seen by Him,

Lori

Zeal for God's House - John 2:13-17

"And the Passover of the Jews was at hand,

and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

And He found in the temple those who were

selling oxen and sheep and doves,

and the moneychangers seated.

And He made a scourge of cords,

and drove them all out of the temple,

with the sheep and the oxen;

and He poured out the coins of the moneychangers,

and overturned their tables;

and to those who were selling the doves He said,

'Take these things away,

stop making my Father's house a house of merchandise.'

His disciples remembered that it was written,

'Zeal for Thy house will consume Me.'"

(vs 13-17)

The last we saw of Christ, He was celebrating with a bride and groom. The occasion was a joyous one where laughter, joy, feasting and gaiety abounded. The tone is much different in this second public appearance of Christ.

He comes to the temple - His Father's house here on earth - and He finds idolatry, greed, and selfish gain rather than true worship of the God who made heaven and earth. Christ's wedding joy is replaced with holy anger and He of whom everything in the temple is a shadow is about to cast out darkness in order that the true light might once again shine forth in that place!

What strong emotion we see come from our Lord where His church is concerned. This fervent zeal is exhibited when He sees His house being desecrated and profaned. Interestingly, it happens twice in His ministry - once at the beginning (of which this is an account of) and again at the end (see Mt 21:12).

Christ is angry - seriously angry - at these events. Recognizing that He is the sinless Christ we must acknowledge that obviously his anger is righteous and with an equitable purpose. Let it be noted from these things that Christ does not take any pleasure in irreverent behavior in His house! He is serious about His church and her worship. We would be wise to find ourselves serious as well!

I am again pierced to the quick by J.C. Ryle's words and application of this text to my heart. He writes:

"The passage is one that ought to raise deep searchings of heart in many quarters. Are there none who profess and call themselves Christians, behaving every Sunday just as badly as these Jews? Are there none who secretly bring into the house of God their money, their lands, their houses, their cattle, and a whole train of worldly affairs? Are there none who bring their bodies only into the place of worship, and allow their hearts to wander into the ends of the earth? Are there none who are 'almost in all evil, in the midst of the congregation'? (Pr 5:14). These are serious questions! Multitudes, it may be feared, could not give them a satisfactory answer."

How true, Mr. Ryle, they are serious questions and I am smitten by them. Where is my God-centeredness in worship? How often is it about me rather than about Him?

We would all do well to heed Solomon's counsel from Ecclesiastes 5 - "Guard your steps as you go to the house of God, and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil."

May God grant me the grace to be reverent in my worship. May He enable me to guard my steps as I enter His courts that I might enter them with sincere thanksgiving, awe, and praise. As He twice cleared the earthly temple may He clear my heart that I might be, by grace, considered to be one without guile in the area of worship.

In His glorious grace,

Lori

A Wedding Feast and A Cleansed Temple, A Picture of What Lies Ahead - John 1

"And on the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee...

and Jesus also was invited to the wedding." (vs 1)

"And the passover of the Jews was at hand,

and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen

and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers seated.

And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all

out of the temple...." (vs 13-14)

There is some interesting foreshadowing here in John 1. I had never paused to dwell on it until today, but having now done so it thrills my heart.

Has it ever crossed your mind that Christ's first public works were attending a wedding feast and cleansing a polluted temple? It struck my mind this morning that those will also be among His first works when He returns. He will purify His church and set up the great Wedding Feast for His washed up bride!

Lord, haste the day!!

In His glorious grace,

Lori

Water to Wine: A Miracle of the Will - John 2:1-11

"And on the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and Jesus also was invited, and His disciples. And when the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, 'They have no wine.'

And Jesus said to her,'Woman, what do I have to do with you? My hour has not yet come.'

His mother said to the servants,'Whatever He says to you, do it.'

Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification,

containing twenty or thirty gallons each. Jesus said to them,'Fill the waterpots with water.'

And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, 'Draw some out now, and take it to the headwaiter.' And they took it to him.

And when the headwaiter tasted the wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, and said to him, 'Every man serves the good wine first, and when men have drunk freely, then that which is poorer; you have kept the good wine until now.'

This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him."

(vs 1-11)

In these eleven verses I could spend alot of time dwelling on Christ's presence at a wedding which shows His blessing upon the institution of marriage. I could write about His gentle reproof of His mother - which shows that she is not the sinless saint that Rome would like us to believe - and which does convict me that familiarity with Christ should not breed presumption upon Christ. (Just because we're "tight" doesn't mean He is there to do our bidding. We would do well to get that in our heads - Christ owes us nothing and is not obliged to act according to our whims but according to His sovereign will.) I digress.... I could dwell on the wine controversy - was it wine? was it Welch's? Come on - the text is clear.

This morning what has struck me the most is the way in which Christ performed this miracle. There is no record of His ever looking at the water pots. He doesn't touch them, or command them, or even pray over them. He simply willed it and it was!! This is power and in this act He "manifested His glory."

Ryle brings this home to us in a greatly encouraging fashion. He writes in His commentary on John:

"It is a comfortable thought that the same almighty power of will which our Lord here displayed is still exercised on behalf of His believing people. They have no need of His bodily presence to maintain their cause. They have no reason to be cast down because they cannot see Him with their eyes interceding for them, or touch him with their hands, that they may cling to Him for safety. If He 'wills' their salvation and the daily supply of all their spiritual need, they are as safe and well provided for as if they saw Him standing by them. Christ's will is as mighty and effectual as Christ's deed. The will of Him who could say to the Father, 'I will that they whom Thou hast give Me be with Me where I am,' is a will that has all power in heaven and earth, and must prevail."

This Christ of such divine, determinative and dynamic will is the Lamb of God who has come to take away our sin. His will has accomplished that for all who believe. His will has caused us to believe. This omnipotent Christ is the One who is ever living to make intercession for us. It is He who stands as our Advocate at the right hand of the God the Father Almighty. It is this Powerful Shepherd of the sheep who stands watch over our souls and keeps us from the treacherous schemes of the wolf. It is the Sovereign King who subdues us and all of our enemies.

The same will that changed water to wine changes us! Oh, friends - how safe and secure we are - no matter what things look like. The same Christ who attended this wonderful wedding feast has an even greater feast prepared for us and NOTHING shall stand in the way of our reaching that event. He has willed that He shall lose none of us - and He shall not. Rejoice, you fainthearted. The will of Christ will keep you!

Humbled that I am kept and longing for the wedding,

Lori

No Guile - John 1: 47-51

"Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him,

and said of him, 'Behold, an Israelite indeed,

in whom there is no guile!'

Nathanael said to Him, 'How do you know me?'

Jesus answered and said to him,

'Before Philip called you,

when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.'

Nathanael answered Him,

'Rabbi, You are the Son of God;

You are the King of Israel!'

Jesus answered and said to him,

'Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree,

do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.'

And He said to him,

'Truly, truly, I say to you,

you shall see the heavens opened,

and the angels of God ascending and descending

on the Son of Man.'"

(vs 47-51)

It's happened again. A passage I've read dozens and dozens of times has struck me in an entirely new and brighter light. Here is Nathanael - the friend of Philip - the questioner of Christ - being spoken of in a complimentary light by the Lord of the universe.

Jesus sees him coming and states: "Behold, an Israelite in whom there is no guile!" Wow!! The weight of that statement zapped me this morning and I've been drinking it in ever since and praying about its sanctifying application to me!

Guile is not a word we use regularly in our conversations today. It means to be skillful in craftiness and full of deceit. That was NOT Nathanael. He was an honest man. He really was who he appeared to be. He was true to his profession and his character and confession matched up with it. Nathanael was real. Oh, that more of us were like Nathanael!

"Nathanael, there can be no doubt, was a true child of God, and a child of God in difficult times. He was of a very little flock. Like Simeon and Anna, and other pious Jews, he was living by faith, and waiting prayerfully for the promised Redeemer, when our Lord's ministry began. He had that which grace alone can give, - an honest heart, a heart without guile.

"His knowledge was probably small. His spiritual eyesight was most likely dim. But he was one who had lived carefully up to his light. He had diligently used such knowledge as he possessed. His eye had been single, though his vision had not been strong. His spiritual judgment had been honest, though it had not been powerful. What he saw in Scripture he had held firmly, in spite of the Pharisees and Saducees, and all the fashionable religion of the day. He was an honest Old Testament believer, who had stood alone. And here was the secret of our Lord's peculiar commendation! He declared Nathanael to be a true son of Abraham - a Jew inwardly, possessing circumcision in the spirit, as well as in the letter, - an Israelite in heart, as well as a son of Jacob in the flesh.

"Let us pray that we may be of the same spirit as Nathanael. An honest, unpredjudiced mind, - a child-like willingness to follow the truth, wherever the truth may lead us, -a simple, hearty desire to be guided, taught and led by the Spirit, -a thorough determination to use every spark of light which we have, these are possessions of priceless value." (J.C. Ryle)

"An Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile!" Matthew Henry wisely points out that Christ refers to Nathanael as one without guile not as one without guilt! That's an important distinction. Try as I may, be as guileless as grace allows me to be, this side of heaven I will always be a sinner - a redeemed sinner - but a sinner nonetheless. I need not confuse the two. I need to be honest and real, even about the fact that I wrestle and struggle and battle with the flesh - even as Paul was in Romans 7 (see verses 14-25).

Natathanael was declared by Christ to be a guileless man - boy, I want that to be a truth that can be said about me. "Lori is a Christian in whom there is no guile! - She's real and honest and genuine- even in her struggles." Only Christ can make me so - and only His declaration of it as being so really matters.

Nathanael, the guile free Israelite, is about to become the guile free follower of our Lord. Christ sees him coming at a distance and commends him. Nathanael wants to know how Christ even knew his name. "'How do You know me?' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Before Phillip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.'" Does not verse 48 show us that Christ knows us long before we ever know Him?!?! Take comfort Christian, take warning unbeliever. We cannot hide from Him - everything is open and laid bare before Him - He sees, He knows, He takes notice of ALL that we say, think and do!

"Nathanael answered Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel." Nathanael, who only a few moments ago questioned Christ, now declares Him to be the Messiah. Here his guileless character bears the most beautiful of guileless fruit. This true Israelite in whom there is no guile meets the Messiah he has so faithfully waited upon! And that's not all...

Christ promises him much more in verses 50-51. Those who, with guileless faith believe the gospel can trust that much more awaits them. "Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.... Truly, truly, I say to you, you shall see the heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

Nathanael did see much more. As we walk with the Messiah, so shall we. Oh, Son of God - make me a woman in whom there is no guile and grant me that I may see you with the eyes of faith in this life and face to face in the next.

In His glorious grace,

Lori

Come and See - John 1:43-46

"The next day He purposed to go forth into Galilee,

and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, 'Follow Me!'

Now Philip was from Bethsaida,

of the city of Andrew and Peter.

Philip found Nathanael and said to him,

'We have found Him of whom Moses

in the law and also the Prophets wrote,

Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.'

And Nathanael said to him,

'Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?'

Philip said to him, 'Come and see.'"

(vs 43-46)

Contained within the final 12 verses of John 1 we have the conversion of 5 different individuals, each in amazingly different ways. Andrew and the un-named disciple are converted under John's preaching. Peter comes to Christ through his brother's testimony. Philip was looked square in the eyes by Christ and told to "Follow Me!" And then there is Nathanael (whom I intend to look at in more detail tomorrow). Nathanael is found by Philip and Philip proclaims to him that this Jesus of Nazareth is the One whom all the Old Testament prophets have spoken of.

The Old Testament is the story of Christ. He is found in every sacrifice, typified in every priest, portrayed in every king, exemplified in every judge, and is the sum total of the whole revelation from Genesis to Malachi. Philip realized these things almost immediately and was ready to proclaim this truth to Nathanael.

Nathanael was not quite so quick to buy it all. As a matter of fact, being rather learned in the Old Testament, he goes so far as to challenge Philip. "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Is not the Messiah to come from Bethlehem? What are you talking about Philip?"

Philip responds in a way that we could all learn a lot from. He doesn't chide nor does he reprove Nathanael for his doubt. He doesn't set out to reason him into the kingdom of Christ. He simply bids him "Come and see!"

We would do well to follow his example. We need to have confidence in the power of the gospel, in the person of Christ, and in the persuasiveness of the Holy Spirit. Let us bring people to Christ - the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world - and let us trust them to His care.

True, there are times when a reproof and a reasoned response are quite necessary. But I fear that far too often we begin our gospel encounters thinking that our own power of persuasion will draw men and women into the kingdom. I know I have been guilty far too many times.

We need to learn from Philip. I know that I can honestly testify that I "have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." I suppose I can more accurately testify that He has found me. In light of that fact may I be much more quick to look to those who challenge, laugh, and even scorn my Savior and invite them to "Come and see!" Trusting all the while that the same Sovereign God who opened my eyes might be pleased to open theirs as well!

In His glorious grace,

Lori

A Brother to Be Emulated - John 1:40-42

"One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him,

was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

He found first his own brother Simon,

and said to him,

'We have found the Messiah.'

He brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him, and said,

'You are Simon the son of John;

you shall be called Peter.'"

(vs 40-42)

Quite a few years ago, I sat under a sermon on this passage and the pastor commented that whenever you see Andrew you see him bringing someone to Jesus. Here is the first example and it is the example of his witness to his own brother, Peter.

Again, this morning, J.C. Ryle has challenged and encouraged my heart. Therefore, I share his words of wisdom with you once more.

"Well would it be for the Church of Christ, if all believers were more like Andrew! Well would it be for souls if all men and women who have been converted themselves, would speak to their friends and relatives on spiritual subjects, and tell them what they have found! How much good might be done! How many might be led to Jesus, who now live and die in unbelief!

"The work of testifying the Gospel of the grace of God ought not to be left to ministers alone. All who have received mercy ought to find a tongue, and to declare what God has done for their souls. All who have been delivered from the power of the devil, ought to 'go home and tell their friends what great things God has done for them' (Mk 5:19). Thousands, humanly speaking, would listen to a word from a friend, who will not listen to a sermon. Every believer ought to be a home missionary - a missionary to his family, childrne, servants, neighbours, and friends. Surely, if we can find nothing to say to others about Jesus, we may well doubt whether we are savingly acquainted with Him ourselves."

Andrew is a brother worthy of our emulation. Only through the grace and mercy of Christ will we be able to do so. Oh, Lord, make me like Andrew - pointing others to behold the Lamb of God who has changed my life!

In His glorious grace,

Lori

The Payoff of Patient, Persistent Preaching - John 1:35-40

“Again, the next day John was standing with two of his disciples,
and he looked upon Jesus as He walked, and said,
‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’
And the two disciples heard him speak,
and they followed Jesus.
And Jesus turned, and beheld them following,
and said to them, ‘What do you seek?’
And they said to Him,
“Teacher, where are you staying?’
He said to them, ‘Come and you will see.’
They came therefore and saw where He was staying;
and they stayed with Him that day,
for it was about the tenth hour.
One of the two who heard John speak,
and followed Him, was Andrew,
Simon Peter’s brother.”
(vs 35-40)

John's great sermon was not lengthy nor verbose, but it was full of grace, truth and power. In the previous verses he simply challenged his listeners to “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

Here, on another day, he preaches basically the same message. We find no mention of any converts from John’s original oration of this truth, but here in verses 35-40 we see the first converts to the cause of Christ. This sermon moves Andrew and another to follow Jesus.

I picked up J.C. Ryle again this morning and was greatly encouraged by his thoughts on these verses. He writes:

“We see, for one thing, in these verses, what good is done by continually testifying of Christ. The first time that John the Baptist cried, ‘Behold the Lamb of God,’ no result appears to have followed. We are not told of any who heard, inquired, and believed. But when he repeated the same words the next day, we read that two of His disciples ‘heard him speak, and followed Jesus.’

“This simple story is a pattern of the way in which good has been done to souls in every age of the Christian Church. By such testimony as that before us, and by none else, men and women are converted and saved. It is by exalting Christ, not the Church – Christ, not the sacraments – Christ, not the ministry; - it is by this means that hearts are moved and sinners are turned to God. To the world such a testimony may seem weakness and foolishness. Yet, like the ram’s horns before whose blast the walls of Jericho fell down, this testimony is mighty to the pulling down of strong-holds.

“The story of the crucified Lamb of God has proved, in every age, the power of God unto salvation. Those who have done most for Christ’s cause in every part of the world, have been men like John the Baptist. They have not cried, ‘Behold me’ or ‘Behold the ordinances’ or ‘Behold the Church’, but ‘Behold the Lamb!’ If souls are to be saved, men must be pointed directly to Christ.

“One thing, however, must never be forgotten. There must be patient continuance in preaching and teaching the truth, if we want good to be done. Christ must be set forth again and again as the ‘Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.’ The story of grace must be told repeatedly, - line upon line, and precept upon precept. It is the constant dropping which wears away the stone. The promise shall never be broken, that ‘God’s Word shall not return unto Him void.’ But it is nowhere said that it shall do good the very first time that it is preached. It was not the first proclamation of John the Baptist, but the second, which made Andrew and his companion follow Jesus.”

Good words. May God cause us to be faithful, patient and persistent proclaimers of the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

In His glorious grace,
Lori

Behold, the Lamb of God - John 1:29

"The next day he saw Jesus coming to him,

and said,

"Behold, the Lamb of God

who takes away the sins of the world!"

(vs 29)

Here is a dynamite packed verse. These words about the Messiah are precious and are filled to overflowing with encouragement, challenge and hope for us.

John the Baptist, this amazing man of humble boldness, sees Christ coming and makes a glorious declaration - one that we would do well to add to our regular conversation about our Lord. His sermon that day is: "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!"

This morning, I want to take a step by step look at what John says.

"Behold..." - We would all do well to stop and behold the Lord Jesus Christ. We ought to gaze upon His nature and works. We should look upon Him in faith, repentance, praise, and awe. We have much need to marvel at His marvelous mercy. It would behoove us to behold Him - to truly behold Him! We should fix the eyes of our heart upon the incarnate Word who has become the sacrificial Lamb! Matthew Henry writes: "It is our duty to behold Him! See what He has done and let that increase our hatred of sin and increase our love of Christ!" Am I living my life with the eyes of faith focused in a beholding fashion upon this Lamb who has died for me? Sadly, I must answer, "not nearly enough"!

"...the Lamb of God..." - J.C. Ryle's comments stirred my heart this day and I share them here:

"This name did not merely mean, as some have supposed, that Christ was meek and gentle as a lamb. This would be truth, no doubt, but only a very small portion of the truth. There are greater things here than this! It meant that Christ was the great Sacrifice for sin, who was come to make atonement for transgression by His own death upon the cross. He was the true Lamb which Abraham told Isaac at Moriah that God would provide. He was the true Lamb to which every morning and evening sacrifice in the temple had daily pointed. He was the Lamb of which Isaiah had prophesied, that He would be brought to the slaughter. He was the true Lamb of which the passover lamb had been a vivid type. In short, He was the great propitiation for sin which God had covenanted from all eternity to send into the world. He was God's Lamb!

"Let us take heed that in all our thoughts of Christ, we first think of Him as John the Baptist here represents Him. Let us serve Him faithfully as our Master. Let us obey Him loyally as our King, Let us study His teaching as our Prophet. Let us walk diligently after Him as our Example. Let us look anxiously for Him as our coming Redeemer of body as well as soul. But above all, let us prize Him as our Sacrifice, and rest our whole weight on His death as an atonement for sin. Let His blood be more precious in our eyes every year we live. Whatever else we glory in about Christ, let us glory above all things in His cross. This is the corner stone, this is the citadel, this is the root of true Christian theology. We know nothing rightly about Christ, until we see Him with John the Baptist's eyes, and can rejoice in Him as "the Lamb that was slain."

"...who takes away the sin of the world." - This Lamb came to accomplish something. He came to save and that is exactly what He did! Again I turn to Ryle:

"Christ is a Saviour. He did not come on earth to be a conqueror, or a philosopher, or a mere teacher of morality. He came to save sinners. He came to do that which man could never do for himself, - to do that which money and learning could never obtain, - to do that which is essential to man's real happiness: He came to 'take away sin.'

"Christ is a complete Saviour. He "taketh away sin." He did not merely make vague proclamations of pardon, mercy and forgiveness. He 'took' our sins upon Himself, and carried them away. He allowed them to be laid upon Himself, and 'bore them in His own body on the tree.' The sins of every one that believes on Jesus are made as though they had never been sinned at all. The Lamb of God has taken them clean away.

"Christ is an almighty Saviour, and a Saviour for all mankind. He 'taketh away the sins of the world.' He did not die for the Jews only, but for the Gentile as well as the Jew. He did not suffer for a few persons only, but for all mankind. The payment that He made on the cross was more than enough to make satisfaction for the debts of all. The blood that He shed was precious enough to wash away the sins of all. His atonement on the cross was sufficient for all mankind, though efficient only to them that believe. The sin that He took up and bore on the cross was the sin of the whole world."

Oh friends, what glorious truths! Does not your heart leap at the thought of them? How we need to behold Him! Behold the Lamb of God - the great Shepherd of the sheep who became the gruesome sacrificial Lamb - He is our Surety and our Sacrifice - in Him alone is our redemption!

Behold Him who takes away the sin of the world. This Lamb has removed from me the guilt and the power of sin - and not only from me but from multitudes more numerous than the sands of the seashore and the stars of the heavens. How great, how mighty, how marvelous, how awesome and how worthy of our adoration and praise is this Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

May John's sermon be our own and may it ring truer and sweeter to us every moment of our lives.

"Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!"

Longing to behold Him more and more,

Lori

A Lesson in Humility - John 1:19-27

"And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, 'Who are you?' And he confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, 'I am not the Christ.' And they asked him, 'What then? Are you Elijah?' And he said, 'I am not.' 'Are you the Prophet?' And he answered 'No.' They said then to him, 'Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?' He said, 'I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'make straight the way of the LORD,' as Isaiah the prophet said.'

Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said to him, 'Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?' John answered them saying, 'I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. It is He who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.'"

(vs 19-27)

Jesus is recorded as saying "Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist" (Mt 11:11). Truly he was a great man as far as men go.

As great as John was he is also one of the greatest examples of humility that we find in the entirity of Scripture. There is much to learn and much to emualte in him.

Something about this baptizing preacher caught the attention of the religious leaders. They wanted to know more about him and so they sent an investigating party to find out what they could of him. "Who are you?" they ask.

John could have told them a mouthful. He could have tooted his own horn. He could have patted himself on the back. He could have - but he didn't. He took no credit or honor to himself but pointed them to the Word of God and to the promised Messiah.

"Who am I? I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'make straight the way of the LORD,' as Isaiah the prophet said. I am not He, I am simply a messenger earnestly crying out for you to be ready for His coming. It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."

Oh friends, if John the Baptist - the only prophesied one outside of Christ in the Old Testament - considered himself far too unworthy even to be a shoe slave of Christ, how much more unworthy should we count ourselves? I for one am far too proud and am praying for grace to learn a lesson in true humility from this precious crier of Christ.

Unworthy in myself, made worthy in Christ,

Lori

Born of God - John 1:12-13

"But to as many as received Him,

to them He gave the right

to become children of God,

even to those who believe in His name,

who were born not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God."

(vs 12-13)

There are beautiful truths contained in these two verses. Here we find the promise of our adoption in Christ: receive Him and receive the right of sonship. Think about it, we who were naturally born children of wrath, orphans of sin, and absolute enemies of the living God are - through faith in Christ - made sons and daughters and heirs eternal. Is anything more amazing or more precious to meditate upon?

These verses remind us, as Matthew Henry has said, that "grace does not run in the blood as corruption does." Sin is genetically inherited, but grace is sovereignly given!

We cannot earn salvation by our birth right. It is not guaranteed to us because it is owned by our parents. We cannot will it into existance and as John 1:5 reminds us, we never even would want to will it if left to ourselves for the darkness of sin is so deep and its effects so blinding that we cannot even comprehend our need for the Light!

Beloved, salvation is a free gift of God. We are not naturally born children of God - we are naturally born children of the devil - and that is why we must be adopted. We belong to another and must be legally transferred into the guardianship of a new Father. It is Christ who legally seals the deal and makes us His siblings.

Oh, do we think often enough regarding that which Christ has done on our behalf? "The Son of God became a son of man, that the sons of men might become sons of God!" Your adoption is not of your doing but of God's. Your status as His child is grounded in His divine will not in yours. We owe ALL to Him and none to us. May that fact humble our pride and magnify our love for our Father and for our Elder Brother.

Amazed to be His child,

Lori

The Excellency of Christ & The Evil of Sin - John 1

"In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things came into being by Him,

and apart from Him

nothing came into being that has come into being.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

And the light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness did not comprehend it."

(vs 1-5)

Just before we left for our month-long sabbatical, I finished an in-depth study through the book of Hebrews. Those of you who follow this blog are well aware of that and are probably glad that I've finally moved on to something else! :)

Hebrews was an incredibly beneficial series for me. In it I found great help and hope as I gazed upon the substitutionary work of Christ, my Great High Priest. That study helped me begin to take my eyes off of my own faithLESSness and fix my sight upon His completely sufficient faithFULness on my behalf.

While Phillip and the kids and I were away, I began looking at the gospel of John. The current path that all-wise Providence has personally placed me on is causing me to become increasingly aware of my great need for Christ and therefore, I have conscientiously sought to camp out in the gospel of this dearly beloved disciple.

John's gospel is full of Jesus - His person and His power, His miracles and His majesty. Those are things that I desperately need to dwell on. So, here I am - and if you're reading this, here you are too!

The book begins with a powerful declaration of just who Jesus is. These 5 verses contain an incredibly succint and amazingly magnificent statement on the person and nature of our Savior. These are precious words worthy of our utmost attention - so may we heed what we read!

First - we are told that Christ, the living Word, was "in" the beginning. The text does not say that He was "from" the beginning as was the world. No, Christ has always been! Matthew Henry writes: "The world was FROM the beginning, the Word was IN the beginning. The Word had a being before the world had a beginning." The Lord Jesus Christ is eternal. He was not made but is the Maker of all. "All things came into being by Him, and apart from him nothing came into being that has come into being."

Second -it is clearly implied that Christ, the living Word, is both with God and IS God. In verse one we see both the distinctiveness between the Father and the Son as well as the unity of the two. Christ was "with" God - distinction. Christ "was" God - unity. Here is a glimpse at the truth of the Trinity. One God existing in three persons one in substance and power and eternity. Got it? Understand it? Of course not - at least not fully!

The Trinity is a mystery to be believed from the Word of God not a doctrine to be fully understood. We can see it throughout the pages of Scripture, yet we struggle to connect all the dots in our frail and feeble minds. Instead of floundering in frustration over our inability to fully grasp the mystery, we should actually find great comfort in our mental shortcomings. God is infinite and we are finite. He is incomprehensible and we, as mere creatures, will never be able to fully take in all that He is. Can a mere tea cup hold all the waters of the ocean? No! And if it could then the ocean wouldn't be all that great and grand after all!

In the same way, if we could grasp all that God is, if we could contain all of the intricasies of deity in our human minds, if we could succinctly and sufficiently answer all of our questions about Him then, in reality, He wouldn't be any greater than we are at all, and certainly not worthy of our worship and our lives! Personally, as I grow older, I am finding great comfort in the unanswerable mysteries of His majesty. Moses writes:

"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things
revealed belong to us and to our sons forever..." (Dt 29:29).

There is much that is secret and much that belongs only to the omniscient mind of God. Those things I will never be able to comprehend and that inability points me to my utter dependence upon Him. However, there is much more that He has revealed in His Word than I will ever be able to fully take in. You know, I'd save myself a lot of trouble if I spent more time meditating on the revealed rather than musing over the secret!

Finally - it is declared that Christ, the living Word, is the source of all the life and light that we have. "In Him was life and that life was the light of men." Any understanding, any deliverance from the deeds of death and darkness, any spiritual insight that we have has come from Him. We owe all that we have to Christ.

Jesus Christ is God. He is eternal God. He is creator God. He is life giving God. He is light giving God. How great, how awesome, how mighty, how majestic is the Lord Jesus Christ!! Do we ever dwell on Him enough?! This is He who left heaven's throne room to enter earth's cattle stall!

J.C. Ryle, in his commentary on the book of John poses an incredibly thought provoking idea regarding the greatness of Christ. His words have caused me to pause this day. He writes:

"Would we know for one thing the exceeding sinfulnesss of sin? Let us often read these first five verses. Let us mark what kind of being the Redeemer of mankind needs be, in order to provide eternal redemption for sinners. If no one less than the eternal God, the Creator and preserver of all things, could take away the sin of the world, sin must be a far more abominable thing in the sight of God than most men suppose. The right measure of sin's sinfulness is the dignity of Him who came into the world to save sinners. If Christ is so great, then sin must indeed be sinful!"

That sheds a new light on John 1:1-5 for me and I pray the Holy Spirit will use it to shine a new hatred of sin and love of Christ in my heart - and in yours too. My Jesus, I love thee - but not nearly enough. Increase my passion for you and decrease my passion for sin.

Looking to Him in whom is life and light,

Lori

A Blessed Benediction - Hebrew 13:20-21

"Now the God of peace,

who brought up from the dead

the great Shepherd of the sheep

through the blood of the eternal covenant,

even Jesus our Lord,

equip you in every good thing to do His will,

working in us that which is pleasing in His sight,

through Jesus Christ,

to whom be the glory forever and ever.

Amen."

(vs 20-21)

This book that began with Christ - the final Word, and that has been filled with Christ - the Great High Priest, now ends with Christ - the Great Shepherd of the sheep.

Hebrews has been about Jesus. My husband sent me to this great book because of its Christocentric nature and he was right. I have seen Jesus as the Prophet, Priest and King. Who He is, what He has done, and the difference that should make in my life has been evident.

Now, in these closing words I see Him once again. Here is the God ordained Great Shepherd of me, this dumb and often straying sheep. Here is the Shepherd who gave Himself for me. Christ shed His blood that I might not have to shed mine and yet in His divine power He did not remain dead but rose victorious from the grave sealing my salvation through the blood of the eternal covenant!

It is in Him, through Him and by Him alone that I am equipped to do that which God has called me to. On my own I can do nothing. In Him I can do all things. It is through Christ that God works in us that which is pleasing in His sight.

How great is this Christ who has done it all. It is He who has made us. It is He who has saved us. It is He who keeps us from falling. It is He who enables us to obey. It is all of Him and none of us.

No wonder the apostle loudly proclaims "to whom be all the glory forever and ever. Amen."

May that Amen resound from our lips and lives by grace through faith in this glorious Christ! To Him be ALL the glory forever and ever. Amen!

In His glorious grace,

Lori

Closing Comments on Christian Character - Hebrews 13

I've always read these closing verses of Hebrews and wondered what in the world was going on. They've seemed somewhat disjunctive, unconnected, and as if the apostle was running out of time in his sermon and just needed to rattle off some random thoughts. This morning, I'm seeing them differently.

While it is true that these are his closing thoughts to the people of God, they are thoughts with a purpose. Here he is holding out to us a final list and a firm call to those duties which belong to us as the called of Christ. I noted 10 specific duties today.

1. Brotherly love. "Let love of the brethren continue."

Henry writes: "The spirit of Christianity is a spirit of love. The true religion is the strongest bond of friendship. Christians should always love and live as brethren and the more they grow in devout affection to God their heavenly Father, the more they will grow in love to one another for His sake."

Do I love the brethren and if I answer yes to the question, then what does it practically look like in my life? We are to love in action and in deed and not simply in word and tongue.

2. Hospitality. "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it."

We are to allow our brothers and sisters not only into our hearts but into our homes. Are our homes open to the body of Christ and if not, why not?

3. Christian sympathy. "Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body."

We may be free now, but freedom is not a promised privilege this side of heaven. Many across our world are suffering in bonds for the cause of Christ. How are our hearts towards them and how fervent are our prayers for them?

4. Purity and chastity. "Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge."

Here's a cultural argument starter for you! Yet clearly, that which is a flagrant and flamboyantly proud sin in our day and time was an issue in theirs as well. There is nothing new under the sun. God has created man and woman. God has instituted marriage. God has invented sex. Who knows best how and in what context we should relate to one another? Clearly it is God! He who thought up this intimate idea of pleasure and procreation certainly knows best how it should be used.

Years ago when I was in youth ministry this issue regularly came up, particularly with my kids who were from non-Christian families. "What could it hurt?" they would ask. I often responded to them in this way: "If I were to toss a pile of wood in the middle of the room and set it on fire would that be a good thing?" "NO - you'd burn the church down!!" "Come on though, it's just a fire. It'll be the same light and heat that we often enjoy in front of the fire place - what's wrong with it?" "It'll burn down the church, Lori. There's no fire place to keep it contained." "Oh, so burning the fire in the context of the fireplace is a good and safe thing that will bring us light and heat in a wonderful environment and we will find much joy and peace through using that wood and that match as it is intended. But if we do it outside the bounds of the fire place we'll be in a big mess."

Sexual intimacy is the same. In the context in which God has created and intended it (the fireplace of marriage) it is a good and wonderful thing that will bring much pleasure - without pain or guilt - for a lifetime. However, when done outside of the bonds of marriage (the fire in the middle of the room) it will most certainly bring some form of destruction. Either it will burn down the whole house or will at a minimum bring about smoke damage and a burned hole in the carpet.

Keep the marriage bed pure - before and after marriage. Keep it pure in your actions and in your thoughts. Trust the God who created it to know best how to use it!

5. Christian contentment. "Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said: 'I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,' so that we confidently say, 'The LORD is my helper, I will not be afraid, what shall man do to me?'"

This one truly struck a note with me this morning. I have MUCH need for contentment as do we all. I can grumble and complain witht the best of them - and sadly, often do! On this issue, Mr. Henry wrote:

"We must take care to keep this sin down and root it out of our souls. We are to be satisfied and pleased with such things as we have. What God gives us from day to day we must be content with. Paul, though abased and empty, had learned in every state and in any state, to be content."

Friends, the text here gives us the grand motivation for contentment. It is because God will never desert or forsake us. We can be content with our lot because we always have God in our lot. Our discontentment boils down to idolatry. We want something more than God. We deem that He is not enough for us and therefore we are discontent and covetous. Oh Lord, help us to repent of this sin and to see you as our all in all. You are our helper and our provider - what more could we need - what better could we devise for ourselves than what You have ordained?!

6. Duty to ministers. "Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate thier faith."

We are not to forget those who have built us up in the faith. We need to pray for them, encourage them and follow them as they follow Christ.

7. Duty to suffer. "Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Hence, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach."

A servant is not above his master and we are not above the suffering Savior. May we be willing to follow in His footsteps and carry whatever cross our calling demands.

8. Duty to praise God. "Let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name."

We were created to worship God. We were saved by Christ that we might be able to. Are we serious about this duty? Do we relegate it to one hour, one day a week or is the praise of God continually on our lips, in our hearts, and reflected in our lives? It is a continual sacrifice of praise that we are to offer to this glorious God!

9. Duty of giving. "And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased."

For the Christian, life is not about getting but about giving freely from the grace we have received. God has given that we might give.

10. Duty of obedience and submission to leaders. "Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will given an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. Prya for us...."

It is interesting to me that our ecclesiastical ministers are mentioned twice in this chapter. Here we are reminded that "Christians must submit to and be instructed by their leaders and not think themselves too wise, too good, or too great to learn from them. They must obey them. " The duties of leaders are also held forth. "Ministers are to watch over the sould of their people. Watch against all that is hurtful and watch for all opportunities that will be helpful."

This is a duty that is often disdained but may we delight in it and seek to be in a church whose leaders are truly carrying out their duties that ours may not be a drudgery. May we learn from, submit to and pray for those whom God has placed in authority over us.

10 duties. I can NOT do them on my own. They will weigh me down and wear me out if done in my own strenght. I will falter and fail repeatedly if I strive to do them myself. However - I can do all things THROUGH Christ who strengthens me. So, to Him I flee this day in humble reliance for the grace and power necessary to do my duty and to live as He would have me. I pray you will do the same.

In His glorious grace,
Lori

Strengthening Weak Hands, Feeble Knees, and Lame Limbs - Hebrews 12:12

"Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak

and the knees that are feeble,

and make straight paths for your feet,

so that the limb which is lame

may not be put out of joint,

but rather be healed."

(vs 12)

Oh what a precious verse! What a privileged command! What a daunting duty!

Here on the heels of a wonderful sermon on God's Fatherly discipline we have these words regarding our need to care for the weak, feeble and lame. Are we caring?

I have to admit that I have been in that weak and feeble and lame state and sadly have found that many within the body of Christ could have cared less. (Sorry, just being honest.) There have been times when I have been incredibly open regarding my weaknesses and struggles and have even gone so far as to give some very simple tangible things that my brothers and sisters could do to help strengthen me. Repeatedly I have seen many friends bail. Thankfully I have seen others pick up the slack and stand in the gap in remarkable ways and help carry me until I have been able to walk again on my own.

The picture in this text is of one who is weighed down from the burdens of affliction, discipline, suffering, etc. This is not one who is fighting against God's discipline, but one who is honestly weak and full of sorrow from it. This is one who needs our help.

"A burden of affliction is apt to make the Christian's hands hang down, and his knees grow feeble, to dispirit him and discourage him; but this he must strive against; that he may the better run his spiritual race. Faith, and patience, and holy courage and resolution, will make him walk more steadily." (Matthew Henry). This he must strive against and friend, this we must help him strive against. We are not lone wolves - we are the body of Christ and we need each other - desperately!!

What are we doing with those around us who are weak, feeble and lame? The admonition for us all is to "strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed."

Praying for grace to walk strong and to serve strong,

Lori

Discipline with a Purpose - Hebrews 12:4-11

"You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation with is addressed to you as sons, 'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the LORD, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.'

It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of Spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness.

All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."

(vs 4-11)

I don't know about you, but I have some experience with discipline. I've experienced it as a child. I've doled it out as a parent. I've had it administered to me in correct ways and in incorrect ways and must admit that I've dished it out both properly and improperly. I've been on the receiving end of it from family, friends and from administrations of higher learning. I've been a part of churches that have used it to restore straying sheep to the fold. Discipline is not an unfamiliar thing to me.

These verses talk to us about the discipline that God pours out upon His precious and prized children. His discipline is perfect - it is without sin or selfishness, without angst or anger, and without retribution or revenge. God disciplines His children with a purpose and that purpose is "that we might share in His holiness."

Several important things regarding God's discipline are pointed out in these 8 verses.

1. No matter how bad things seem to us while we are under God's discipline we have NEVER come close to experiencing what Christ did on our behalf!! "You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin."

Certainly, many of us have suffered much but we most certainly could have and honestly deserve to suffer more! Christ deserved NONE of what he endured and yet He took it upon Himself for our sakes. Christ took our spanking! In the garden his sweat turned to drops of blood from the sheer weight of the trial He was facing for us. There was nothing pleasant about what He bore for us and His prayer at Gethsemene illustrates that truth clearly.

Now, I'm not suggesting a false smile nor a "oh it's no big deal" attitude regarding our sufferings. However, while we should be honest about our circumstances we also need to keep them in an eternal perspective and fix our eyes on the Author and Perfector of our faith that we might not grumble and complain under His rod. We need not "magnify our afflictions but note the mercy of God in them" (Henry). The next few verses will begin to amplify just how great the mercy of God's discpline is.

2. God's discipine is not to be despised. "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the LORD, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the LORD loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives."

Our natural tendancy is to wiggle and squirm and attempt to wrestle our way out of the disciplining arms of our Father. We don't like to be corrected. No one likes a reproof much less the rod that often accompanies it. Yet, we are told not to despise the discipline of our Lord.

Matthew Henry reminds us that "they are divine chastisements from our heavenly Father. He has His hand in them all; of this He has given us due notice, and we should not forget it." Henry goes on to say, "Those afflictions which may be truly persecution as far as men are concerned are actually Fatherly rebukes and chastisements as far as God is concerened. Men persecute us because we are religious; God chastises us because we are not more so." Wow!!

He continues, "God has directed His people how they ought to behave themselves under all their afflictions. they must not despise the chastening of the Lord. Those who make light of affliction make light of God and make light of sin. They must not faint when they are rebuked."

I suppose the question is am I wiggling like a 2 year old trying to escape the chastising grip of God or am I resting in His divine sovereignty, great compassion, and perfect wisdom to dole out to me what He deems best for me?

3. God's discipline is a mark of sonship! "It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discpline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitmate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits and live?"

Verses 5-9 go into great detail regarding the fact that fathers who truly love their children discipline them in order to see them grow into mature, wise, and righteous adults. The book of Proverbs tells us "He who spares the rod hates his son." A child left to himself will digress, daily, into more and more of a sinful creature. I don't have to teach my children to be selfish but I must train and teach them to be selfless. I don't have to schedule lessons to teach them how to lie but must work diligently to see them formed into truth tellers. There is no need for me to sign them up for a class on "how to grumble and complain" but there is much need to direct their little hearts and minds toward the biblical principles of contentment and thankfulness. I love my kids, therefore I discipline them - with purpose - to see them conformed more and more to the image of our heavenly Father.

So it is with God.

Mr. Henry's words are poignant. "Afflictions, though they may be the fruits of God's displeasure, are yet the proofs of His paternal love to His people and of His care for them. The best of God's children have their faults and follies, which need to be corrected. He will correct sin in His own children; they are of His family. In this He acts as becomes a father; no wise and good father will wink at faults in his own children as he would in others. to be suffered to go on in sin without a rebuke is a sad sign of allienation from God; such are bastards, not sons. They are the spurious offspring of another father, not of God."

The next time you find yourself facing God's discipline remind yourself that it is a precious privilege reserved for His adopted children. It is a sign of your sonship and it comes to you in holy love!

4. God's Fatherly discipline comes to us with the purpose of making us holy! "But He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness."

God is not frivolous in his dealings with his children. He uses His rod to drive the folly and sin out of our hearts and lives. It is as the refiner's fire which is used to burn off the worthless and degrading dross. Discipline heeded makes us even more precious because it makes us more like our Father. In your experiences with heavenly discipline have you submitted to and learned from your Father? Are you reflecting His holiness or your bitterness? Are you more beautiful because you look more like Him or are you stained and scarred because you've loved your sin more than your Savior? Child of God, if you've not learned your lesson yet then know that He will not cease in His holy and loving discipline of you until you do.

5. God's Fatherly discipline hurts. "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."

I'm not going to candy coat it - there's nothing pleasant about the rod! It hurts! It's painful! It is distressing! The apostle doesn't pretend that it isn't. He shoots straight with us and that's important. "Afflictions are not grateful to the senses, but grievous." We need to recognize that and acknowledge the truth of the fact, otherwise we'll be caught off guard and "tank" in the midst of the pain!

We need to know that discipline is uncomfortable. We also need to know that the discomfort will bring forth a peaceful fruit. I've birthed 2 children. My labor with Joshua was 63 hours long. (That is not a typo - yes, I said 63 hours.) It was painful, it hurt, it wore me out - but the fruit was a beautiful baby boy whom I love with all my heart. In the same sense, the sorrow of discipline - if we will by grace be trained by it - will yield the "peaceful fruit of righteousness."

Friends, how do you view discipline? Do you have your eyes fixed on your own sufferings rather than on the suffering Christ endured for you? Do you despise it or are you willing to embrace it for what it is - a sign of your sonship, a means to partaking of God's holiness, the seed of the fruit of peaceful righteousness? Do you trust your Daddy? That really is the bottom line - do I trust my heavenly Father to know best what I need most?

Praying for grace to be trained by His loving rod of reproof,

Lori