Mark 1:40-42
40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.
In this early section of Mark’s gospel, Jesus is demonstrating his identity and his compassion. We have seen him healing the sick and driving out demons. He is doing miracles that show his authority over both the physical and the spiritual hardships of this world.
This healing is singled out. A leper comes to Jesus and humbly asks for healing. Jesus most certainly could have commanded the disease to be healed. But, the way that Jesus does this has my attention.
First, we see that Jesus is moved with compassion. He cares about this man’s hurts. Second, Jesus actually reaches out and touches this man, something that nobody in their right mind would do in that day. But Jesus did it, because Jesus was defeating the darkness and bringing healing and restoration in the man’s brokenness.
It is good for me to see this part of my Savior. He is powerful. He is also kind. He heals, which is great. That he is moved with compassion, that he touches the untouchable, that is more than great. He is far more kind that me. He is far more willing to get dirty in order to make the world into what God designed it to be. He is worthy of not only our worship but also our admiration, our awe, our love.
Lord Jesus, thank you for healing this leper in this way. Thank you for showing us that you are not only powerful, but you are also kind. Help me to remember this tenderness that you display. Help me to display such tenderness to others.
Daily Reading Notes for 04/06/2016
Deuteronomy 6:20-25 (ESV)
20 “When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you?’ 21 then you shall say to your son, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 And the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes. 23 And he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers. 24 And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. 25 And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us.’
Here we see Moses instructing the Israelites about how to explain the purpose of the law and the ceremonies to their children who did not witness the Exodus. In this little passage two things stand out to me.
First, in verse 22, Moses highlights the powerful and deadly things the Lord did to the Egyptians, saying, “And the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household.” God used his might to lead the people out of Egypt. He sent a series of plagues upon Egypt, plagues resulting in death and destruction. The Lord also swallowed up Pharaoh’s army in the Red Sea, drowning soldiers and horses alike.
The reason that this stands out to me is that it is so far from being culturally acceptable today. The truth is, though many people generally say that they are OK with the idea of God, they are not, not at all. It seems to me that most Americans I know do not like God any more. They do not want to allow for the possibility that God is exactly who he claims to be or that he has done what he has claimed to do. Most people I hear want to sit in judgment over God, allowing him to be or do the things they approve of, but rejecting the notion that God might be or do things that do not fit modern, American views of morality, tolerance, or gentleness.
But, we must recognize that God is far greater than us. His ways are perfect. His holiness is as far from our ability to capture as the heavens are above the earth. God is not like sinful man. Nor is God subject to our present version of morality.
This week, I have been reading other ancient creation stories. In both the Greek and Babylonian creation accounts, the elements are all separate beings, forces which often oppose one another in a battle for supremacy. In both instances, one deity rises above the other through violent conquest in order to become supreme. But, in all of those other stories, the deity is subject to external standards of what might be called justice, rightness, etc.
But our God is not like the mini-deities in the creation stories of other religions. He is not one among many. He is not subject to external sources of morality. What makes right actually right is that it comes from the character of God. God’s character is not measured against another standard, because God’s character is the standard for what is perfect. Thus, when God forgives graciously or when God destroys justly, he is right, because he is, by definition, the measure of righteousness.
Also, in verse 25, Moses said, “And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us.” The call to the Israelites was to remember and to obey. I wonder how far obedience has been removed from modern Christian teaching in the 21st century. I’m a big opponent of legalism. I hate the idea of making up rules God did not make or thinking that certain behaviors are what earn our favor with God. Yet, I also understand that the word of God does call the people of God to obey the commands of God. We are not told to simply sit around, be forgiven, and wait for Jesus. We are told by God to grow, to know his word, and to do what he commands. We do not obey to earn righteousness, but because of the grace of Christ already given to us.
Lord, this morning I ask that you would help me to remember first that you are who you are, perfect, holy, and righteous. I do not have any right to look at your actions and judge them. Your actions are right because they are your actions. You are the standard of righteousness. You are not subject to my opinion or to the opinions of all of humanity combined. You are the Holy One, and I submit to your rule.
I also ask that you would help me this day to remember the call to obedience. Please, Lord, help me not to take your grace for granted. Yes, you have granted grace to me as a gift. Yet, you also have commanded me to follow you. So, help me to obey your commands for your glory and for my joy.
Daily Bible Reading Notes for April 5, 2016
Deuteronomy 5:24- (ESV)
24 And you said, ‘Behold, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man, and man still live. 25 Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, we shall die. 26 For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire as we have, and has still lived? 27 Go near and hear all that the Lord our God will say and speak to us all that the Lord our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it.’
28 “And the Lord heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the Lord said to me, ‘I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken. 29 Oh that they had such a mind as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!’”
Just after reminding the people of the Ten Commandments, the terms of God’s covenant relationship with the nation of Israel, Moses reminds the people of their response to hearing the voice of God. The nation was terrified by the incredible experience of hearing God’s voice speaking out of the fire atop the mountain. So, the people begged that God not speak where they could hear him. They asked that God use Moses to speak to them instead.
God, for his part, commended the people for their fear. He saw it to be good that the people would realize that his voice and his holiness are actually scary. He said that it would be good if future generations would grasp the fact that we do not naturally have the right to hear the voice of God and treat him and his word with proper respect.
What grabbed my attention here is the way in which God is pleased with the fear of God among the Israelites. I think of that in comparison to how I and others often speak of being in God’s presence. And, this all causes me to be of two trains of thought.
First, I recognize that it is good to fear the Lord. Modern people do not often fear God. This is true of the lost and the saved alike. Far too many people among the saved do not consider the presence of God to be a frightening place. Far too many of us have given into the softened modern notion of God as a simple grandfather whose lap we hop into. We do not see him as the one whose throne is full of lightnings, thunders, and earthquakes as is seen in Revelation4.
It would be wise, very wise, for us to realize that any communication with the Lord is communication with the Holy One. It would b wise to remember that we are sinners, and we do not naturally have the right to approach him. In fact, should we approach him sinfully, without his protection, he would rightfully destroy us.
On the other hand, I also recognize that God has given us the right to approach him in a way that is far greater and far closer than he gave the Israelites. He has given us his Son. He has given us his Holy Spirit. And now he allows us to approach him freely and confidently as we see in Ephesians 3:12. God is our loving Father. He welcomes us.
I’m not totally sure how to build the proper balance. God welcomes us. God loves us. Yet, God is the consuming fire and Holy One. He is worthy of our respect, our fear, and our aw. At the same time, he has given us his love and his welcome. To borrow from the idea of C. S. Lewis, he is not tame, perhaps not even safe, but he is good.
Lord, you are holy. I have no right, in myself, to approach you. I pray, therefore, that you will remind me of your greatness, your majesty, and your holiness. You are King, and I am your subject. Help me not to approach you in any form of irreverence. At the same time, you have also welcomed me into your family in Christ. So, I also ask that you help me to understand your love and your welcome. Lord, help me to worship you and approach you rightly, in the way that will best glorify your name.
Daily Reading Notes 4/4/2016
Acts 26:16-18
16 “But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Above is Paul’s description of what the Lord Jesus said to him upon his conversion. Paul had a mission given to him from the moment of his salvation, one clearly prepared for him from long beforehand. Though Paul had been an active persecutor of the church, God was going to use Paul in ministry.
Paul’s job would be to be “”a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you.” Jesus has revealed himself to Paul. Later, Jesus would teach Paul the truth of God. And Paul’s job would be to serve God in that truth and to tell others the truth that God had shown him.
Jesus would send Paul to the gentiles. Paul’s sharing of the gospel would have an amazing result in their lives, “to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me [Christ].”
The reason that this all stood out to me today is that Christians have so much of the same mission. We are to be servants and witnesses to the word of God. We are to obey God’s word. And we are to share God’s word with a world that vehemently opposes it.
What will happen when we share the truth of God with the world? Well, of course we know that not everybody will believe. But, some will. Some will turn from darkness to light. Some will turn from the rule of the devil to the family of God. Some will find salvation through faith in Christ.
This all reminds me that my job is to love God, love his word, and tell the truth. That is all of our calling. And I need the help of God to do this well.
Lord, I thank you for salvation in Christ. I thank you for your word. I thank you that you have chosen to let me know how it is that I might obey and serve you. I pray, Lord, that you will grant me the courage, wisdom, and opportunity to share your truth with others. Help me to be honest and genuine with others. Help me to see others move from darkness to light. I ask that you would use me to help people to become part of your family and to follow your word faithfully. I cannot do this on my own. I lack the power and the wisdom if you do not give it to me through your Holy Spirit. Let me be a witness to you and a faithful servant of your word.
What is Good Friday?
Today we celebrate Good Friday. What happened?
In the early hours of the morning, just after midnight, Jesus and his disciples would have been in the garden where the Lord went to pray. There Jesus was arrested by a group of soldiers and temple police led by the treacherous Judas Iscariot. Over the next several hours, Jesus went through no fewer than six trials, all of which were illegal, none of which produced any actual evidence of wrong doing. Three times, Jesus would be pronounced innocent by Pilate before the Roman governor gave in to mob mentality and sentenced Jesus to death.
Yet, what was most important happened mid-morning. After being abused by soldiers, Jesus was led out to a hill where he was crucified. So many of us are tempted to dwell on the physical details of this brutal form of execution, but these are not the focus of this day. The central focus of this day is the drama going on in the spiritual realm.
As Jesus was dying on the Roman cross, God the Father and Jesus, God the Son, were involved in the most important exchange in history. The Father looked at his Son, and he counted Jesus guilty of all of the sins that he would ever forgive. Then over the period of those six hours one Friday nearly two thousand years ago, the Father punished Jesus with his full and just wrath for the sins of all of his children.
As Jesus died, he declared, “It is finished.” In that declaration, the Lord told all who would hear those words that the price for sin had been fully paid. The Father’s wrath had been fully satisfied. Jesus’ mission of living a perfect life and dying a sacrificial death was accomplished. And then, the Savior died, willingly giving up his spirit in order to complete the transaction.
When Jesus died, the curtain in the temple in Jerusalem was torn in two from top to bottom. God was clearly telling the world that no longer would the sacrificial system be the way that people would approach him for forgiveness. Afterward, Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb, and many wondered what had happened.
How does all of this work? God is perfect, infinitely so. Our rebellion against God is, therefore, an infinite offense. The just punishment for the crime of offending the God of the universe is rightly one of infinite consequence. Jesus, the infinitely perfect Son of God, willingly took upon himself the judgment of God for all of the sins that God would ever forgive. This means that, in the end, all sins will be justly punished by God. Those of us who find ourselves under God’s grace because of faith in Christ have our sins paid for because the Father poured out the judgment that we deserve on Jesus. Those who refuse this offer of God’s grace will personally face the right wrath of God for their sins.
Why is today Good? It is Good Friday because, in the most loving act of human history, the Son of God suffered the wrath of God that we deserved in order that we might be forgiven. None of us could survive the punishment we deserve. Jesus took that punishment for all who will come to him, reject their sin, and embrace him as Savior and Lord.
Personal Testimony and Evangelism
Can I use my personal testimony as a way to share the gospel with others? This is a difficult question, because it totally depends on what kind of testimony you give. There are some testimonies that only focus on the person and their experience. Other testimonies interweave my story with the biblical truth claims of the gospel. Only those which make clear the truth claims of Scripture—the universal need of all people to repent and turn to Jesus—are truly evangelistic testimonies.
Consider the following 2 paragraphs from Mark Dever, 9 Marks of a Healthy Church (Wheaton: Crossway, 2004), 133:
Some think of a personal testimony as evangelism. Certainly a testimony of what God has done in our lives may include the Good News, but it also may not include it. In telling other people how much Jesus means to you, you may not have told them the Gospel at all. Have you explained what Christ did by dying on the Cross? It is good to share your own testimony of what God has done in your life, but in your testimony, you may not actually make clear what Christ’s claims are on other people.
Testimony is, of course, very popular in our postmodern, “that’s good-for-you” age. Who would object to your thinking you’ve gotten something good from Christ? But wait and see what happens when you try to move the conversation from what Jesus has done for you to the facts of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ and how that all applies to your nonbelieving friend. That’s when you discover that testimony is not necessarily evangelism.
Simply put, if all I do is tell a person that trusting Jesus made my life better, all I have done is made an experiential claim with no demands on the life or beliefs of another. It is little different than telling someone that, since I began taking a certain kind of vitamin, I have a great deal more energy. My conversation partner is likely to say to me that they are glad that my experiment with religion worked for me, even though they have no intention of trying that. They may walk away from that conversation assuming that they are free to try their own way and it be just as valid as my experience.
How then do you use your testimony and actually include enough Scripture to follow it up with a call for another person to respond? I would recommend using Ephesians 2:1-10 as a base text that you can pattern your testimony around. If you have a Bible available, you can actually use the text to help a person see your testimony and their condition before God. If you use Ephesians 2:1-10, you can share your testimony in 4 steps:
1. Who I was (v1-3) – Begin your testimony with what God says about all of us before our salvation. We were dead in sins and trespasses (v1). WE all followed our own desires, the pattern of the world around us, and the tricks of Satan himself (v2-3). Because of your sin, you were under the curse of God’s wrath, and rightfully so (v3). Had nothing changed, hell would have been your ultimate destination, as it is the ultimate destination for all who are not forgiven by God.
2. what God did to make you alive. God, the perfectly holy Creator, sent his Son to earth to pay the price for our sins. Jesus died and then rose from the grave to grant forgiveness to all who will come to him. For all who become God’s child, God will grant eternal life and forever kindness.
3. How you responded (v8-9) – Jesus did all the work, but he requires us all to respond to him in faith. We are saved by God’s grace through trusting in Jesus Christ. You did not do anything good to be saved. God graciously allowed you to place your trust for your eternity in the finished work of Jesus. This is how any will be saved.
4. What is different (v10) – God not only forgave your sin if you are a Christian, he also changed your life. Now you live to do the good works for which God created you. These works do not contribute to your salvation at all. Instead, the good things that you do now give you joy as you give glory to your God.
It would be wise to construct your testimony, your true story, around the points above and Ephesians 2:1-10. Don’t spend a great deal of time dwelling on the gory details of your sinful past—this tends to glorify your sin rather than God. Instead, get to the cross and help them to know how you trusted Christ, received forgiveness, and now have joy in following him. Don’t make yourself look perfect; be honest. Simply tell the truth and use the Scripture as your authority for the truth of the change in your life.
Then, as you wrap up your testimony, point out to your friend that Ephesians 2:1-3 says that all of us are in need of God’s grace. Verses 4-7 tell us that Jesus has done the work for all who will trust him to be forgiven. Then let them know that, if they wish to become God’s child and be forgiven of their sin, they too must come by God’s grace through faith in Jesus as verses 8-9 say. If they will come, they will be able to live out their ultimate purpose that God planned for them from before the dawn of time as we read in verse 10.
The Heart of Revelation – A Review
J. Scott Duvall. The Heart of Revelation: Understanding the 10 Essential Themes of the Bible’s Final Book. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2016. 224 pp. $12.44.
It is a joy to read a book on Revelation that is neither a commentary nor a fantastical fiction but actually a helpful and thoughtful volume. J. Scott Duvall has given us such a work in the recently released The Heart of Revelation.
Unlike many books on the Bible’s final book, The Heart of Revelation is a thematic study. The author works through ten key themes that are prominent in the book. These themes include God, worship, the people of God, the Holy Spirit, our enemies, the mission, Jesus Christ, judgment, the new creation, and perseverance.
What is lovely in this book is the author’s simple presentation of difficult topics. Duvall offers clear and sensible explanations for themes and characters that could both have been present in the first century and which could be still to come.
What is even more helpful in this book is the author’s ability to demonstrate how the themes and promises in the book of Revelation are helpful to the present-day church. Duvall shows the church how God’s word in Revelation applied to the persecuted first century church, the church throughout history, and the present and future church. This is no study stuck in AD 70 or in a possible future; it is a study of a helpful and beautiful book of the Bible that shows us Jesus and encourages us to live for his glory regardless of the age in which we read it.
I would happily recommend this book to pastors and church members. It would work well for a thematic group Bible study or for personal encouragement. I especially would hold this book up to those who are frustrated and tired of eschatological wrangling. This book is going to be helpful as it shows us how the book of Revelation offers strength and courage to a church living in an age when Christianity’s popularity is waning.
I received a free copy of this book from Baker Books in exchange for an honest review.
Genuine Christian Confidence (Psalm 27:3-5)
Psalm 27:3-5
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in his temple.
Where does David get the confidence that will allow him to stand before an enemy army without fear? Is it foolish self-confidence? Is it unfounded? Is he giving into an Old Testament version of prosperity preaching?
I think that David’s ability to speak the confidence that we see in verses 3-4 is found in his perspective in verse 5. David believes that God will care for him and make things work out OK. This is not because David thinks that every season of his life will be easy. But, David is confident in the ultimate desire of his heart. David desires to dwell with the Lord forever. He desires to be in the presence of God ultimately. He has, to put it simply, an eternal perspective.
Truly, the sort of confidence that David displays in verses 3 and 4 was easier for me to have early in my Christian journey. True, that confidence was mostly uninformed, but still, I had it. I just knew that anything I tried for the Lord would be met with rousing success. I believed that I could pray about which sidewalk to walk down, and if I listened well, God would lead me to a person who needed to hear the gospel. I believed that a simple preaching of the word would radically sweep over all who heard it in such a way that churches I was in would grow and grow and grow, and do all that growing with passion and joy. I never counted on hardships or failings. I did not understand, at that point, how God would work as much in my failings and weaknesses as in the strengths he had given me.
But the truth is, though my eagerness to expect instant success may not be as strong, there is a sense in which I can live with a greater confidence. I am confident that, in the end, God will work all things for his glory. Whether through my success or my failure in projects on earth, God will be magnified. His kingdom will come. His will shall be done. He will save souls. He will grow churches. He will allow some churches not to grow. He will give health. He will be glorified as we walk through sickness. He will be magnified in his perfections. He will ultimately win. And I will be allowed to be a part of that victory, not because of my great contributions, but because of Jesus and the grace that God has given me through him.
Lord, I ask for the confidence that I see David have in this psalm. I ask for that confidence, not in a foolish, self-confident, rose-colored-glasses sort of way. Rather, I ask for the kind of confidence that you gave David because of his knowledge of your power and his deep desire to see you in your glory. I want to see your glory. I need the eternal perspective that David displayed. I ask that you help me remember that you will be ultimately victorious, that your kingdom will come, and that you will build your church for your glory. I desire to be a part of that victory, not because I think I’m anything anymore, but because I simply long to experience your glory—which is why you made me in the first place. Through the strengths you have given me or the weaknesses I have brought to the table, please shape my life for your honor.
The Whole Christ – A Review
Sinclair B. Ferguson. The Whole Christ: Legalism, Antinomianism, and Gospel Assurance—Why the Marrow Controversy Still Matters. Wheaton: Crossway, 2016. 256 pp. $19.32.
How do we balance an understanding of the grace of God with a call to proper obedience to Christ? How do we find genuine assurance of salvation? Who has worked through these questions before and how can their experience help us today? In The Whole Christ, Sinclair Ferguson helps answer these questions and many more with great depth and insight.
It is good for Christians to read books on theology. It is good to read books on church history. In this case, we find both in a very readable and fascinating volume. The Marrow Controversy of the early 18th century is the background for Ferguson’s discussion of issues related to the grace of God, the law of God, legalism, and antinomianism. And, even if none of those words mean a great deal to you, any Christian will find a lot to learn in these pages.
To me, perhaps the greatest points in the book are the balance Ferguson weaves between law and grace. The author does a fine job of demonstrating to his readers how obedience earns us nothing while at the same time declaring that obedience is the heart’s response to grace. The author also shows us how a genuine assurance of salvation is based fully on the truth of the person and work of Christ and is not based on our ability to self-evaluate.
Readers who pick up this book need to be ready to dive deep into gospel, into grace, into theology of law, into issues related to assurance of salvation, and into the history of the Marrow Contraversy. However, those who are willing to work through these heavy topics will find some very encouraging and helpful truths to apply.
I received a free audio copy of this work as part of ChristianAudio’s reviewers program in exchange for an honest review. The audio version is one of the best read books I have received from ChristianAudio, a group which always puts out fine quality.
Daily Reading Notes 2/3/2016
Exodus 8:19 (ESV)
Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.
What is your evangelistic methodology? Do you believe that, if your argument is convincing enough, people will come to faith? It won’t happen, not unless God has already changed the heart.
Take as an example the actions of Pharaoh above. He has already seen the clear power of God at work in Egypt. Here, his own best magicians are looking at him and telling him that the events they are witnessing are the “finger of God.” Men whose lives had been devoted to false gods in the land have admitted to the king that the real God is behind what is happening. But, because his heart was hard, Pharaoh does not believe.
Yes, we are called by God to be ready to answer anyone who would have questions for us about the hope in us (1 Peter 3:15). We are to speak graciously and be ready to answer the world around us (Colossians 4:5-6). But we are crazy if we think that our answers are the things that will bring people into the kingdom. Our answers matter, do not get me wrong, but our answers are only tools that God may choose to pick up or lay aside as he chooses to make alive a dead heart or not.
What should we learn then? God is in control. His power is sovereign. He is the only one who can break through a dead, hard heart. And so we give him all the glory at anyone’s salvation. We certainly learn to defend the faith and clearly present the gospel. We pray with all our hearts. Yet, we know that, in the end, God is the ultimate decision-maker.
Pastor Travis Peterson 