Ever since I first learned of Daniel, he has struck me as a man of impeccable character. I am reading through the first chapter and already see his character shining brightly.
Nebuchadnezzar comes against Jerusalem and besieges it. He takes captive some of the youth that seem good to him. He will have them taught and trained in the literature and ways of the Chaldeans. In three years, the youth will stand before the King. Daniel is one of the youth that were taken captive.
Right out of the shoot, Daniel sets himself apart by making a resolve against the food and drink that is placed before him. He is assigned a daily portion of the food and wine that the king himself ate. Daniel says "uh huh," "I am not eating that," "it will defile me." Daniel asks the person who is overseeing him to give him vegetables and water instead.
Was Daniel promoting vegetarianism? I think not, as this seems a modern idea. Was it wrong for Daniel to drink wine? No, because nowhere in the law of the Jewish Scriptures was this prohibited. Whatever Daniels reason for obtaining from that particular food and drink was I am not sure. What does strike me though is the resolve he makes in his heart.
Are you a person who makes resolves. A resolve is a stake in the ground on some issue. It stems from a conviction in the mind and emotions of a person. It says "that is not even an option for me to do 'X'."
My wife and I were at a Desiring God conference where Sinclair Ferguson was speaking. He opened his Bible to the book of First John and started making resolves. Everywhere there was a command, or some kind of exhortation, he personalized it into a resolve.
I am wishy-washy on a lot of issues. I do not like that I am, though I trust God will continue to sanctify me more into the image of Jesus. Maybe you are like me in some way and need to think about making more resolves for yourself.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Disqualified
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self- control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
I am a husband and a father of four. God has appointed me to lead my home. The reason God has appointed me is merely because I am the man. This may not sound so wonderful to a feminist generation, but it is God's design. This in no way means that my wife has less value than me. We are both created in God's image and have equal standing before God. The difference is simply in role, and authority.
If this doesn't make much sense, think of the Trinity. Christianity affirms the try-unity of God. God the Father is God, Jesus the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. All three persons of the trinity are equally God. All three persons are fully God, yet they differ in authority and function. Jesus is fully God, yet He has subjected Himself under the authority of the Father.
That being said, I am appointed to lead my home. Since I am appointed to do this, I am always doing this, whether I am doing this well, or doing this very poorly; I am always leading. Douglas Wilson said that even the derelict father that has walked out on his family is still leading from the empty seat at the dinner table.
As the leader, I lead nightly Bible studies with my family. Which means that I am daily preaching. What struck me this morning from the above text is the consequence of being hypocritical. If I preach, "x," and I do not do "x" myself, I become disqualified.
You see while I am preaching to my family, I am explaining the rules to them of the race. It is the race of the Christian faith, and I am teaching the rule book. If I teach the rules and do not obey them myself, I am disqualified from running. Even if someone does not pull me instantly out of the race, the camera's are still on in heaven. And the cheater, who breaks the rules, will never earn the prize.
I am a husband and a father of four. God has appointed me to lead my home. The reason God has appointed me is merely because I am the man. This may not sound so wonderful to a feminist generation, but it is God's design. This in no way means that my wife has less value than me. We are both created in God's image and have equal standing before God. The difference is simply in role, and authority.
If this doesn't make much sense, think of the Trinity. Christianity affirms the try-unity of God. God the Father is God, Jesus the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. All three persons of the trinity are equally God. All three persons are fully God, yet they differ in authority and function. Jesus is fully God, yet He has subjected Himself under the authority of the Father.
That being said, I am appointed to lead my home. Since I am appointed to do this, I am always doing this, whether I am doing this well, or doing this very poorly; I am always leading. Douglas Wilson said that even the derelict father that has walked out on his family is still leading from the empty seat at the dinner table.
As the leader, I lead nightly Bible studies with my family. Which means that I am daily preaching. What struck me this morning from the above text is the consequence of being hypocritical. If I preach, "x," and I do not do "x" myself, I become disqualified.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Passing a Judgement vs. Making a Judgement
Yesterday my family and I listened to a message from Grace Family Baptist Church by Voddie Baucham. Here is a link if you are interested. Listen
I thought I would share what I learned about judging. He said that the new staple verse people quote is "do not judge, least you be judged." And this can be paraphrased by simply saying "hey, don't judge me." The tricky thing about judging is that we are commanded not to make judgements like in Romans 14:10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. And we are commanded to make judgements like in 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “ Purge the evil person from among you.
Voddie made a distinction that I thought was very helpful. He said there was a difference between "passing" a judgement, and "making judgements." We make judgements all the time. We can not function in this world if we do not judge things. We are even commanded in Scripture to not only made a judgement toward another person who is in sin, but also to go to the person (Matthew 18). But passing a judgment is something only God is qualified to do.
Passing a judgement is judging the motives and intentions of another person. We don't even know our own motives very good, how could we be qualified to pass a judgment on another persons motives. Voddie said we lack the "authority" to pass a judgement, we lack the "in-site" to pass a judgment, we lack the "purity" to pass a judgment, and we lack the "occasion" to pass judgments. Jesus alone has the in-site, the authority, the purity and the occasion.
If you have a spare 45 minutes this week, head over to the link and have a listen. It was very helpful for me. Happy Monday!
I thought I would share what I learned about judging. He said that the new staple verse people quote is "do not judge, least you be judged." And this can be paraphrased by simply saying "hey, don't judge me." The tricky thing about judging is that we are commanded not to make judgements like in Romans 14:10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. And we are commanded to make judgements like in 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “ Purge the evil person from among you.
Voddie made a distinction that I thought was very helpful. He said there was a difference between "passing" a judgement, and "making judgements." We make judgements all the time. We can not function in this world if we do not judge things. We are even commanded in Scripture to not only made a judgement toward another person who is in sin, but also to go to the person (Matthew 18). But passing a judgment is something only God is qualified to do.
Passing a judgement is judging the motives and intentions of another person. We don't even know our own motives very good, how could we be qualified to pass a judgment on another persons motives. Voddie said we lack the "authority" to pass a judgement, we lack the "in-site" to pass a judgment, we lack the "purity" to pass a judgment, and we lack the "occasion" to pass judgments. Jesus alone has the in-site, the authority, the purity and the occasion.
If you have a spare 45 minutes this week, head over to the link and have a listen. It was very helpful for me. Happy Monday!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
A Reminder of Truth
Eph 6:14-18 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication
Psalm 119:160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me
John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth
Saturday, December 10, 2011
A Key to be Compassionate
There are many verses in the Bible that speak to the fact that Christians ought to be compassionate people. 1 Peter 3:8 for instance says Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Colossians 3:12 reads Put on then, as God's choses ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.
Is compassion a gift? I am not really sure. It may not be a specific gift from the Holy Spirit, but there do seem to be people who are just naturally more compassionate than others.
I finished reading Hebrews this morning and landed on something that will help those of us who are not as compassionate as we ought to be. Hebrews 13:3 says Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
The Bible teaches elsewhere that Christians are in one unified body together with Jesus. He is our head, we make up the other parts. To be a more compassionate person, we are to think about people we know who are suffering in some way. Think deeply about their circumstances and pretend we are there with them, suffering all the same things they are suffering. This draws our minds away from self (for just a moment), onto another person's problems. Our emotions begin to be moved toward them and what they are feeling. Then we move this emotion back upon ourselves, picturing us there, suffering all the same things they are.
So the key to being a more compassionate person is to use your mind to think upon another person who is suffering. Then use your imagination to pretend you are right there with them, suffering right along side them all the same things. Who should you spend time thinking about this morning?
Is compassion a gift? I am not really sure. It may not be a specific gift from the Holy Spirit, but there do seem to be people who are just naturally more compassionate than others.
I finished reading Hebrews this morning and landed on something that will help those of us who are not as compassionate as we ought to be. Hebrews 13:3 says Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
So the key to being a more compassionate person is to use your mind to think upon another person who is suffering. Then use your imagination to pretend you are right there with them, suffering right along side them all the same things. Who should you spend time thinking about this morning?
Friday, December 9, 2011
Running the Race
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV)
Hebrews 11 just finished the great "faith" chapter. It told of the heroes of the faith in the Old Testament. Now in chapter 12 we have this imagery of these heroes of the faith watching in an arena as we modern Christians run this race of faith.
When I was a kid, my parents had these two blue weights filled with sand. They would go around some part of your body, like your wrist. You would wrap them around and velcro them, sort of like the thing they place around your bicep to check your blood pressure in the hospital. Thinking back on it now, I would guess they were designed to be on a persons wrist while they ran.
Well I decided to strap them around my ankles and go for a run. They were not very tight so they would bang around on my leg. My ankles would then hit each other with every stride I made. So to remedy this, I would need to run bow legged. To be frank, this experience absolutely sucked!
Sin is like this. It attaches itself around us and hinders us from running a smooth race. We are encouraged this morning to unstrap the weights. They are not helping us to get to the finish line.
(Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV)
Hebrews 11 just finished the great "faith" chapter. It told of the heroes of the faith in the Old Testament. Now in chapter 12 we have this imagery of these heroes of the faith watching in an arena as we modern Christians run this race of faith.
Well I decided to strap them around my ankles and go for a run. They were not very tight so they would bang around on my leg. My ankles would then hit each other with every stride I made. So to remedy this, I would need to run bow legged. To be frank, this experience absolutely sucked!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Going Boom Without Faith
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
(Hebrews 11:1 ESV)
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
(Hebrews 11:6 ESV)
My son is about a year and a half old. He is beginning to talk a bunch. I told him three days ago that the object in my pocket was a screwdriver. He looked at it, and played with it a while, and put it back in my pocket. I came home yesterday and he looked in my pocket and said "do-di-der," which is screw-dri-ver.
I told him that the thing he was looking at was called a screwdriver. He believed me. He didn't believe me that it existed, because he saw that it did. He simply believed me that the thing had a name, and it is called a screwdriver.
Yesterday we were all in the kitchen, except for my son. My wife walked out in the living room and saw my son sitting on a table in the living room. The table was right next to the staircase railing. He could have easily fallen over the railing and down 12 steps. I pulled him off the table and told him of the consequences that would happen if he would have gone "boom" down the steps. He looked at me like he was not very convinced that would happen to him.
Both instances my son was called to have faith in something I was telling him. The first thing (the screwdriver) he gave evidence of his faith by reciting to me at a later date the name of the thing. He remembered it and I trust he will continue to believe the name of the thing is a screwdriver. But the second thing I was telling him he could not see. I was describing a thing (a circumstance that would happen if he fell) that he had not witnessed. He did not see it happen. I was calling him to have faith in a thing he could not see.
Without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith is the assurance and conviction of things I can not see. I am told things exist that my eyes can not lay hold of. I am unable to see God, yet I am called to believe that He exists. I am called to place my faith in the words of Scripture. Like my son is called to have faith in my words that he would be hurt if he went boom down the steps. I am called to trust what the Bible says is true, even though I may not see it for myself.
If I do not believe God's words are true, I am like my son, leaning over the railing, smiling back at me and saying "no go boom down stairs."
(Hebrews 11:1 ESV)
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
(Hebrews 11:6 ESV)
My son is about a year and a half old. He is beginning to talk a bunch. I told him three days ago that the object in my pocket was a screwdriver. He looked at it, and played with it a while, and put it back in my pocket. I came home yesterday and he looked in my pocket and said "do-di-der," which is screw-dri-ver.
I told him that the thing he was looking at was called a screwdriver. He believed me. He didn't believe me that it existed, because he saw that it did. He simply believed me that the thing had a name, and it is called a screwdriver.
Yesterday we were all in the kitchen, except for my son. My wife walked out in the living room and saw my son sitting on a table in the living room. The table was right next to the staircase railing. He could have easily fallen over the railing and down 12 steps. I pulled him off the table and told him of the consequences that would happen if he would have gone "boom" down the steps. He looked at me like he was not very convinced that would happen to him.
Both instances my son was called to have faith in something I was telling him. The first thing (the screwdriver) he gave evidence of his faith by reciting to me at a later date the name of the thing. He remembered it and I trust he will continue to believe the name of the thing is a screwdriver. But the second thing I was telling him he could not see. I was describing a thing (a circumstance that would happen if he fell) that he had not witnessed. He did not see it happen. I was calling him to have faith in a thing he could not see.
Without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith is the assurance and conviction of things I can not see. I am told things exist that my eyes can not lay hold of. I am unable to see God, yet I am called to believe that He exists. I am called to place my faith in the words of Scripture. Like my son is called to have faith in my words that he would be hurt if he went boom down the steps. I am called to trust what the Bible says is true, even though I may not see it for myself.
If I do not believe God's words are true, I am like my son, leaning over the railing, smiling back at me and saying "no go boom down stairs."
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