Redeemed, and so happy in Jesus

O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities. – Psalm 130:7-8

The problem with many Christians, myself included is that we are not astounded and utterly blown away by how magnificent the love of God is.  God’s love is steadfast, it is a love that never changes, if we are in Christ we cannot sin our way out of His love or make Him lose His grip on us.  His love will never fail us and is more than sufficient to guide and provide for us.  There are no conditions on God’s love, we can’t do anything to earn it, we must only receive it as broken sinners in need of mercy.  Take a moment to marvel at the fact that we can never exhaust His love, let this amazement lead to worship since it is far past finding out or understanding.

It is crucial understand that God’s love is costly. God cannot love us as we are because we are wicked and sinful, but by the blood of Christ God has made a way for us to draw near. He has redeemed us from our sins and iniquities through the atoning work of Christ on the cross when He died in our place and took the wrath we deserved.  For us to be redeemed the Son of God had to step down from His throne, take on human flesh, suffer on a cross and take our punishment so we can have His righteousness.  Because of this redemption satan has no power over us, the law does not dictate us and sin is no longer our only option.  Only if we’ve been empowered by Christ redeeming work can we have the ability to live holy lives and have the hope of life forever with God.

Redemption is only possible because God is infinite in mercy.  When we realize the benefits of redemption it should completely change our whole outlook on life.  Life no longer becomes about us, but living for God, not out of legalism, but as an overflow of gratitude because of what He has done in our lives.  John Loftness once said, “It is hard to have a bad day when you are a Christian,” and if you ask C.J. Mahaney how he is doing he will tell you “Better than he deserves.”  The reason these men can respond this way is because they are aware of the great love they are recipients of and the plentiful redemption that God has offered.  This means that for the adopted child of God anxiety triggers such as finances, job, and other things that are concerns of this world have lost their power to steal joy from those who have placed their hope in Christ.

*Title of this blog post came from the hymn “Redeemed.”

abiding in John’s gospel

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you…As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love…You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. – John 15:7,9,16

In John 15 Jesus expounds on what it means to abide. If we are to do anything good and bear fruit for Jesus, we must abide. Abiding is a continual attitude that we need Jesus to deny our flesh and live for Him. To abide is to have a heart attitude that cries out “abba, father, help me to glorify you.” We can have confidence that this is a request that God will honor because if we ask in His name then He will answer. Jesus has chosen us for this purpose and He will supply everything that we need to live for Him. To abide is to live fully reliant on God to transform us to be like Jesus. If we are not abiding in Christ, we can never be made like Him.

Those that abide in Christ live their life with a constant awareness of Christ love for them. They are not defined by money, jobs, status or anything if this world, instead they define their life by the love that was shown to them on the cross. If I am abiding in Christ then I am not controlled by my flesh, but instead being controlled by the love of Christ. His love will compel me to no longer live for myself, but to live for Him loves me and gave Himself up for me. To abide is continually be in awe and amazed by Christ love. An abiding life is one that finds it greatest and highest delight in knowing more and more of Christ love displayed on the cross to me.

Lastly, if I am to abide in Christ then His Word must be integral to my life. Jesus’ Words give life and they are access to remaining in Him. The Bible draws us close to God’s heart and reveal Jesus to us. Without going to God’s word and having it in us we cannot remain in communion with Jesus. J.C. Ryle states about this aspect of abiding in John 15:7 “To have His words abiding in us, is to keep His sayings and precepts continually before our memories and minds, and to make them the guide of our actions and the rule of our daily conduct and behavior.” This form of abiding will always be failing if not for Jesus promise that He will strengthen those who remain in Him if we ask. If we ask for a greater ability to abide, then he will do it.

Underserving

I’ve been reading in the Psalms for several months and feel fairly familiar with them.  Maybe it’s because I’m reading in three other places, but the Psalms feel very familiar for me right now.  It has been rare this time around that I will come across a Psalm where it feels fresh and new.  Recently I was reading Psalm 138 and I was struck by the Psalmist appreciation of God as he saw God’s protection and guidance in his life.  I immediately thought, I want a heart like that.  I ended up writing two poems about this Psalm, one centering on thanksgiving and the other on God’s care.  I am posting the first poem today and the second tomorrow.

If I spent the rest of my life praising your wonderful name,
It would be a failing attempt at finding a way to express
The thanksgiving I have for your death on the cross for my sins.

Above all things you are highly exalted.
The glory you have is unimaginable.
All of creation will one day bow down to you.

I am so underserving of your love and faithfulness.
Why would you adopt someone as lowly as I?
I am but a worm, with nothing to offer.
You are great in majesty and words fail me.

Psalm 61

A truth I have been meditating on this year is God as my refuge.  This is a theme that is found in Psalm 61 and the basis of today’s poem. I love the picture of God being a refuge and strong tower.  I can do nothing to keep myself safe, but run to Him.  I am not promised ease, but I am promised a hiding place to find solace and rest.  Nothing this is because I’ve earned it or deserved it, but because God has reached down to me and adopted me as His child.  I can do nothing to merit this relationship, but it’s all of grace.

Hear my cry, O God,
listen to my prayer;
2 from the end of the earth I call to you
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I,
3 for you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.

(Psalm 61:1-3)

Psalm 61

When my heart is faint and weary,
I cry to you, my God, my hope.
Whether I am in the midst of life or the quiet
I am assured you hear my call for help.

You are so far above the earth,
But you reach down to aid me
And take me to the rock that is my hiding place,
My shelter and comfort where your spirit reminds me of truth.

In times of trouble you are my refuge.
Inside your strong tower no harm can come to me.
I will not retaliate against my enemy,
You will vindicate and protect me,
By your steadfast love and watchfulness I am kept safe.

1 Chronicles 16:23-24

This is a prayer I’ve always loved.  I am not typically a big fan of the Chronicles.  It feels a lot like a rehash of the Samuel and the Kings.  For some reason during this time around of reading it I am getting more into it.  I recently came across this prayer which has always been one of my favorites.

23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Tell of his salvation from day to day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and he is to be held in awe above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place.

28 Ascribe to the Lord, O clans of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him!
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; [1]
30 tremble before him, all the earth;
yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
32 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!
33 Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.
34 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

In case you are wondering, here is why I love it

1. V.23 it has a call to always be thankful for our salvation and never have a day where that isn’t our main blessing.
2. v.24 and 28-29, it reminds me of God’s glory and that the things that our culture says is glorious is nothing compares to what will be revealed when we see Christ as He is at His return.
3. v.25 any gods my heart my make are nothing in comparison to Him.  The truest sense of awe is what I feel when I marvel at His character
4. v.26 He is the maker and creator of all things.  Compared to Him I am nothing.  That He would love a sinner like me and condescend to my level to be in relationship w/me is mind blowing.
5. v.27 He needs to be my first priority every day because in His courts I am see true splendor and majesty.  In His presence I find strength to accomplish His will and joy in any and all circumstances.
6. v.30-33 Creations bows before Him and proclaims His glory.  With our advanced technology we cannot forecast the weather, but the winds and waves obey Him.
7. v. 34 He is good and does good.  The highest source of goodness and found and exhibited in the cross.
8. v. 34 His love is unfailing and never ends.  He defines love because of Christ love which sought me out when I was His enemy.

Forgiven

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.  (Matthew 18:21-22)

At the cross I am made aware
Of your boundless grace towards me.
I was a rebel and revolted against the King,
But by Your blood I have been given pardon.

No longer in bondage I now live for freedom.
Bitterness and anger are no longer my master
My judgment of others has been liberated
So that I can view them with kindness.

The most High and Holy One has shown me mercy
Despite my countless sins and heinous attacks against His throne.
I am a recipient of unimaginable depths of love,
Therefore how can I not show that same love to all.

Echoes of Calvary

He brought me to the banqueting house,
and his banner over me was love.  (Song of Solomon 2:4)

Nothing speaks louder than the cross.
Echoes of calvary shout mercy and justice,
All else is drowned out
By God’s love song to me.

As I live under the shadow of the cross
His banner over me is love.
Divine love has conquered sin
So that I may be a child of mercy.

As blood flowed down from hands and feet
By the One who drank the cup meant for me
Holy justice has been satisfied
So that I may live in a state of grace
With the hope of being in glory with you.

Indwelling sin

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” Matthew 15:18-20
My heart is desperately wicked,
Out of it comes the most unimaginable thoughts.
I am even surprised at times
By my own evil desires.

There is a deceitfulness in my heart
That is without rival or compare.
Despite the fact that Christ has purified my heart
I still do not do the good that I desire to do.

I am aware more each day that I am in need of a Savior,
And that my sins sent Jesus to the cross.
Father, wearily I cry out, reconcile me to yourself again,
Fill me anew with your Holy Spirit.

Thank you for your heart of compassion to me.
I have failed you time and time again,
But by the grace of your unfailing love to me
You are faithful beyond measure
And have given me never ending unconditional mercy.

Husbands love your wives

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,” Ephesians 5:25

 

            As I contemplate my call to be a husband, I am made more aware of how I need to be made more like Christ.  I vowed on my wedding day to love my wife unconditionally.  To love her unconditionally I must love her like Christ because He is the standard for unconditional love.  When I was dead in sin, Christ laid down His life for me (Romans 5:6-8).  Even when my wife doesn’t deserve it and is hard to love, I must still love her because love is not based on feeling.  Love is not about convenience, but about giving up every thing and laying my life down because that is how Christ has loved me.

Matthew Henry on marriage

“The love of Christ to the church is proposed as an example of this, which love of his is a sincere, a pure, an ardent, and constant affection, and that notwithstanding the imperfections and failures that she is guilty of.” Matthew Henry on Ephesians 5:25