Isaiah 25:10-11
(10) For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain, and Moab shall be trampled down in his place, as straw is trampled down in a dunghill.
(11) And he will spread out his hands in the midst of it as a swimmer spreads his hands out to swim, but the LORD will lay low his pompous pride together with the skill of his hands.
Like us, the Moabites tried their best to fix what was wrong. They thought that they could get out of the muck and mire that they found themselves in. However, God already had plans to keep them down there.
This would be depressing were it not for the promises made throughout the New Testament for believers. Yes, there are times when we find ourselves in the mire. There are times when we try to pull ourselves out, but God keeps us in there. The good news for us that there is a sanctifying aspect to that. 1 Peter and James are two places that tell us that God does not waste trials in our lives. Of course, there is also Romans 8:28.
God will knock down the pride of our striving. He will keep us in the mire when we need to be brought low. I can't say that it is easy to embrace, but it's something to think about.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
All Part of the Plan
Isaiah 25:1
(1) O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
There was an episode of Cheers where Sam and Woody conspired to throw off Gary's Olde Towne Tavern's annual bid to win the bloody mary contest. Woody and Sam had a fight and Woody ended up working for Gary. They got a fake judge who declared Gary's to be the winner. After the judge left Sam and Woody started answering questions for the regular patrons about the elaborate ruse. Woody kept saying, "All part of the plan," until Gary came back for the real contest and Woody said, "Not part of the plan."
Nothing can happen to make God say, "Not part of the plan." Of course, this begs the question about the Garden of Eden. I don't think God wanted for Adam and Eve to sin, but He knew it would happen. Therefore, Jesus has always been part of the plan.
The things God does are part of a plan that was formed before the universe existed. He has it all under control. Only God could do this as we cannot possibly comprehend the myriad of variables that goes into even a single life, let alone the billions on the planet. The point of all this is that we have a God who is worthy of our praise and worship. He is in control and we can rest easy in that knowledge.
(1) O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
There was an episode of Cheers where Sam and Woody conspired to throw off Gary's Olde Towne Tavern's annual bid to win the bloody mary contest. Woody and Sam had a fight and Woody ended up working for Gary. They got a fake judge who declared Gary's to be the winner. After the judge left Sam and Woody started answering questions for the regular patrons about the elaborate ruse. Woody kept saying, "All part of the plan," until Gary came back for the real contest and Woody said, "Not part of the plan."
Nothing can happen to make God say, "Not part of the plan." Of course, this begs the question about the Garden of Eden. I don't think God wanted for Adam and Eve to sin, but He knew it would happen. Therefore, Jesus has always been part of the plan.
The things God does are part of a plan that was formed before the universe existed. He has it all under control. Only God could do this as we cannot possibly comprehend the myriad of variables that goes into even a single life, let alone the billions on the planet. The point of all this is that we have a God who is worthy of our praise and worship. He is in control and we can rest easy in that knowledge.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Getting Busy
Isaiah 22:8-11
(8) He has taken away the covering of Judah. In that day you looked to the weapons of the House of the Forest,
(9) and you saw that the breaches of the city of David were many. You collected the waters of the lower pool,
(10) and you counted the houses of Jerusalem, and you broke down the houses to fortify the wall.
(11) You made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you did not look to him who did it, or see him who planned it long ago.
Jerusalem was under siege. The people had to get busy defending it, but they forgot one important fact. The Lord withdrew His covering over Judah. That meant that ultimately all their work would be in vain and they would still suffer defeat.
I spend a lot of time listening to stuff about church planting. There is a great emphasis on the characteristics of good church planters. This is all right and good. However, there also is an emphasis on how the Lord works the life of a church plant. That isn't something that we can control, but it's something we need to acknowledge.
It's easy to get too high or too low as we seek to accomplish mighty things for God. However, ultimately He is the one who does or does not provide the increase in the ministry. He is the one who builds up local churches. I believe it is vital to properly assess potential church planters, particularly in terms of their personal holiness. I have a hard time imagining how God would bless a church plant led by someone who struggles with habitual pornography use, for example.
The point of all this is that God is the one who builds the church. God is the one who builds nations. God is in control. The sooner we realize this the sooner we can direct our efforts appropriately and with the appropriate focus.
(8) He has taken away the covering of Judah. In that day you looked to the weapons of the House of the Forest,
(9) and you saw that the breaches of the city of David were many. You collected the waters of the lower pool,
(10) and you counted the houses of Jerusalem, and you broke down the houses to fortify the wall.
(11) You made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you did not look to him who did it, or see him who planned it long ago.
Jerusalem was under siege. The people had to get busy defending it, but they forgot one important fact. The Lord withdrew His covering over Judah. That meant that ultimately all their work would be in vain and they would still suffer defeat.
I spend a lot of time listening to stuff about church planting. There is a great emphasis on the characteristics of good church planters. This is all right and good. However, there also is an emphasis on how the Lord works the life of a church plant. That isn't something that we can control, but it's something we need to acknowledge.
It's easy to get too high or too low as we seek to accomplish mighty things for God. However, ultimately He is the one who does or does not provide the increase in the ministry. He is the one who builds up local churches. I believe it is vital to properly assess potential church planters, particularly in terms of their personal holiness. I have a hard time imagining how God would bless a church plant led by someone who struggles with habitual pornography use, for example.
The point of all this is that God is the one who builds the church. God is the one who builds nations. God is in control. The sooner we realize this the sooner we can direct our efforts appropriately and with the appropriate focus.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Crazy Unity
Isaiah 19:24-25
(24) In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth,
(25) whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance."
It's amazing to consider the unity that this passage predicts. These are countries that didn't get along very well. And yet here is the promise that they would all worship together.
I am reminded of a passage that I have recently memorized in my walk through Galatians:
Galatians 3:27-28
(27) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
(28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Christ unites all of us together in Him. All of our distinctions evaporate as we enjoy our unity in Him. The problem I have with this is that I don't always live like I really believe it. I realize that I'm not always pursuing the unity that we are to have with each other in Christ.
I still maintain that doctrine is important. Truth will unite us and divide us to some extent. However, ultimately there must be unity in the body of Christ.
(24) In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth,
(25) whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance."
It's amazing to consider the unity that this passage predicts. These are countries that didn't get along very well. And yet here is the promise that they would all worship together.
I am reminded of a passage that I have recently memorized in my walk through Galatians:
Galatians 3:27-28
(27) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
(28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Christ unites all of us together in Him. All of our distinctions evaporate as we enjoy our unity in Him. The problem I have with this is that I don't always live like I really believe it. I realize that I'm not always pursuing the unity that we are to have with each other in Christ.
I still maintain that doctrine is important. Truth will unite us and divide us to some extent. However, ultimately there must be unity in the body of Christ.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
More on Less Babylon
Isaiah 14:22
(22) "I will rise up against them," declares the LORD of hosts, "and will cut off from Babylon name and remnant, descendants and posterity," declares the LORD.
I noticed something as I read the notes for this and a similar prediction about Moab in chapter 15. There will be no remnant left. God planned to utterly wipe them out. And, as I noted yesterday, He did.
I contrast this with the promises to Israel. God always promises that a faithful remnant would survive, though a tiny one at times. I'm still not quite sure how that relates to the church, but the point is that the seed of Abraham would always be represented.
It seems amazing to me that so many people get bent out of shape about election in the New Testament when the same principles were clearly at work in the Old Testament. God chose a people. Even when they broke the covenant He remained faithful. We know that God doesn't change, so it must be that the same principles are at work today.
I know that I rejoice in being a wild plant grafted onto the olive tree!
(22) "I will rise up against them," declares the LORD of hosts, "and will cut off from Babylon name and remnant, descendants and posterity," declares the LORD.
I noticed something as I read the notes for this and a similar prediction about Moab in chapter 15. There will be no remnant left. God planned to utterly wipe them out. And, as I noted yesterday, He did.
I contrast this with the promises to Israel. God always promises that a faithful remnant would survive, though a tiny one at times. I'm still not quite sure how that relates to the church, but the point is that the seed of Abraham would always be represented.
It seems amazing to me that so many people get bent out of shape about election in the New Testament when the same principles were clearly at work in the Old Testament. God chose a people. Even when they broke the covenant He remained faithful. We know that God doesn't change, so it must be that the same principles are at work today.
I know that I rejoice in being a wild plant grafted onto the olive tree!
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