Leave Me Tomorrow

Dost Thou Not Care?

I love and love not: Lord, it breaks my heart

  To love and not to love.

Thou veiled within Thy glory, gone apart

  Into Thy shrine, which is above,

Dost Thou not love me, Lord, or care

  For this mine ill? —

I love thee here or there,

  I will accept thy broken heart, lie still.

Lord, it was well with me in time gone by

  That cometh not again,

When I was fresh and cheerful, who but I?

  I fresh, I cheerful: worn with pain

Now, out of sight and out of heart;

  O Lord, how long? —

I watch thee as thou art,

  I will accept thy fainting heart, be strong.

‘Lie still,’ ‘be strong,’ today; but, Lord, tomorrow,

  What of tomorrow, Lord?

Shall there be rest from toil, be truce from sorrow,

  Be living green upon the sward

Now but a barren grave to me,

  Be joy for sorrow? —

Did I not die for thee?

  Did I not live for thee? Leave Me tomorrow. 

~Christina Rossetti

A God We Can Count On: Confessing Ps 23 "The LORD is my shepherd"

[1] The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

[2] He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. 

[3] He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake. 

[4] Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me. 

[5] You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows. 

[6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

(Psalm 23 ESV)

Psalm 23 is such a well-known passage. It gets quoted and read time and time again, in books, in movies, in times of illness, in times of trial, at funerals, etc. It has become one of those Bible passages which over-familiarity has made into a cliché.

The thing is, it shouldn't be a cliché. There is a reason that so many Christians have found comfort in these words. There is a reason that so many books and sermons and meditations have been written on and about the Twenty-Third Psalm.

It is a confession of faith in a God we can count on.

"The LORD is my shepherd."  

I was reading through this passage the other day and was struck by the fact that this passage literally says "YHWH is my shepherd";Yahweh is the name,  "I AM WHO I AM", revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14. There is no other or better place to start in our confession but with Who God says He is. God IS. This is where we have our genesis. This is our foundation. The rest of the psalm is predicated on this first short phrase. Because "I AM WHO I AM" is our Shepherd, we can rest in His unchanging character. He is unchanging--because we are so temporal and whimsical, we cannot seem to remember this for long, but it is God's immutability that is our assurance when we look at His other attributes.

His grace is unchanging.
His faithfulness is unchanging.
His mercy is unchanging.
His holiness is unchanging.
His justice is unchanging.
His love is unchanging.

This list could continue on for pages and still--He is eternal and He does not change.

The littleness that is us cannot comprehend the magnitude of this blessing. But we can rest in the comfort that He is YHWH and He will not change.

[21] But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
[22] The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
[23] they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
[24] “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”

(Lamentations 3:21-24 ESV)

Rubble

And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. Nevertheless, we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst of them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease. 

 Nehemiah 4:8-11

The enemies of Nehemiah and those rebuilding Jerusalem want to stop the work on the walls, while the builders themselves are discouraged because of the amount of work that is before them.

Many hindrances and weaknesses may come against us, tempting us to give up building our walls against the Deadly Three: Satan, our sinful flesh, and the world. In my last post, I discussed how we are to fight against the opposition from outside our walls The burning arrows are an obvious threat and we can usually see them in time to get our shields up, whether we are alone or in a group (testudo), and protect ourselves. I touched on another danger that we face, the nearly-silent flights of arrows that rain down upon us out of the night. However, the danger does not only come from outside our fortifications, it can also come from within, and often it is when we are preoccupied with these inward perils that the stealth arrows arrive from without. Even though we have set a watch against such sneak attacks, the guards are tired, distracted, or just plain curious, peering down into the castle to see what’s going on there.

Nehemiah and his companions were experiencing this problem. In Jerusalem, the builders are willing, but their first “wind” is gone. They are tired and sore– “The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed”–and the job is enormous! Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem is no mean feat, but a monumental task—literally. Jerusalem is the capital city of Israel/Judah(the tribes are at this point split into two nations, each with their own king) and an ancient city at that, one that had been present when Israel arrived out of the wilderness to conquer Canaan. It was also the site of the glorious Temple of God built under King Solomon, and as one would expect such an important religious centre to do, Jerusalem had grown over the centuries. The Babylonians had torn down both the Temple and the city walls, and now a relatively small group of people were attempting to rebuild (see Nehemiah 3 for a list of those involved).

The builders are tired, particularly the bearers of burdens, who carry the stone and brick, and “there is much rubbish”–as one would expect when a city has been destroyed. It seems that there was so much rubbish, that it got in the way of the builders, delaying the work: “[A]nd there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.”

This is a great discouragement, but it also comes at a bad time. Judah’s enemies, and therefore Jerusalem’s, are mustering to stop the rebuilding entirely.

And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst of them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease. (vs.11)

While Judah has inward trouble, their outer enemies also conspire against them. These enemies want to sneak in and surprise the workers, killing them and thus stopping the building.

However, the builders are not taken unawares. They have friends outside Jerusalem who know what Sanballat and his allies are planning.

And it came to pass that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you. Nehemiah 4:12

The warning of these Jews is emphasized– “[T]hey said unto us ten times”.Commentators agree that these were Jews who were not helping in the work rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, but remained in their homes among the heathen. Yet they still had enough fellow-feeling with their countrymen in Jerusalem that they came to give urgent warning: Sanballat and his allies will attack any place they can, therefore, beware!

Nehemiah doesn’t take this warning lightly, even though these other Jews were not helping in the building.

Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, theirs spears, and their bows. (vs 13)

In every place that Sanballat’s men could gain access, Nehemiah places heavily-armed families (probably including the women) to keep them out. It is interesting that Nehemiah first writes that he set a guard in the lower places, the most likely places of attack, and also on the higher places. Nehemiah is not going to give Sanballat opportunity to scale the walls.

We too should be setting guards all along our walls, in the more vulnerable places and in the more secure places—nowhere should there be an opportunity for any of the Deadly Three to breach our defenses. In a variation of the well-known saying, “The best offense is a good defense.” Even after the walls are complete, they must be guarded to prevent the enemy from sneaking in and working us ill from within. What good are walls if the enemy is not kept out?

Notice that it is after Nehemiah has prayed to God and set a round-the-clock watch that this warning is brought to him. An application can be made here: Staying in relationship with God and calling on Him in times of attack and temptation, whether it be a full-out assault or an insidious one, will be our best bet for victory. We need to have the Lord on our side if we want to win.

But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge. Ps. 94:22

Defend your Fortifications

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
Nehemiah 4:7-9

When enemies threaten the walls of Jerusalem, walls being re-built for protection from such enemies, Nehemiah does as we should: he and those with him prayed and set a constant watch so that they would not be taken unawares.

We must build walls against our own enemies: Satan, the flesh, and the world. The building of such walls will be challenged. Therefore, we must pray to God for his strength and protection, and set a constant watch, so that we do not fall prey to temptations and “hinder” or even, break down, the building of the walls.

We can see in these verses that prayer alone is not enough to protect us–we must also be active in patrolling our fortifications. If we are not on guard and alert to the danger that surrounds us, our enemies can silently slip past our walls and destroy both them and us.

Some may protest that posting a guard is tantamount to heresy–this is “works,” not faith, and therefore, we are not trusting God for our complete protection. However, we are also commanded to

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23.

The word translated “keep” in the King James Version is the Hebrew verb meaning “guard, watch over.” It is plain that we are to guard our hearts, as other translations, such as the NIV, translate this verse. We are to have faith in God, but after placing our faith in God, we cannot just lie back and expect Him to do all the work. We cannot be passive.

Paul commands us to do as Nehemiah: pray and set a watch.

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Eph 6:18 emphasis mine)

However, while we must pray and set a watch, we must also continue constructing the walls of protection. But how can we labour profitably when we are in constant danger? Nehemiah has a solution:

Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows… And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons;…They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded[archaic =loaded], every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. Nehemiah 4: 13, 16a, 17,18a

The builders are armed, so that they can defend themselves in case of attack. We must follow their example, and here the term “militant Christian” is very applicable. Earlier in Ephesians 6, Paul commands us to “put on the whole armour of God” (Eph. 6:11), to be armed “that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (same verse)

We are to

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Eph 6:14-17)

Notice that we are not to take the “wiles of the devil” lying or even sitting down, but are commanded to stand. The Greek here can be translated “stand firm or immovable.” In other words, we must be ready to fight and hold the line, not allowing our enemies to gain even an inch of ground. The Christian life is not one of passivity, but activity. We must be girded for battle; we must be warriors!

The only way we can fight, however, is if we have the equipment to do so. Paul tells us that we are to be fully clad for battle. We cannot just go out onto the battlefield with only our sword–we would be utterly vulnerable. Notice that while we have one weapon “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” we have to don a lot of armour:

“loins girt about with truth;”“the breastplate of righteousness;”“shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”“the shield of faith;”“the helmet of salvation.”

Every vulnerable place is protected: our hips (loins), heart, feet, and head. These are the places where temptations are most likely to strike: through our desires/lusts (loins), our emotions (heart), our daily walk/life (feet), and our intellect (head).

I purposely neglected one piece of armour: “the shield of faith.” This piece of armour provides protection wherever is it needed, but also has a special function. Paul says,

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

The importance of bearing a shield is made clear in the following example.

In the movie, Timeline, scientists have discovered a way to teleport objects and people from one place to another. However, by accident they discover that they can use this technology to go back in time. A freak wormhole connects the teleportation device to a time in medieval France just before a horrific battle takes place between the English, who have captured a French castle, and the French, who have this castle under siege.

During the seige, the English longbow men shoot burning arrows down upon the French troops. The only way the French can protect themselves is by raising their shields over their heads. The shields of the soldiers overlap, forming a large shell of protection from the fiery arrows.

This defensive technique was also used by the Roman legionaries during New Testament times, and was known as testudo, which means tortoise in Latin. Testudo was primarily used to protect the soldiers from arrows and other missiles.

It is significant that Paul says “Above all”. The phrase “Above all” could be replaced by “Most importantly” or “More than these,” and the meaning would seem to be unchanged. However, as indicated by my example, “above all” illustrates one of the ways “the shield of faith” can protect us. Not only can we use it in hand-to-hand combat, but we can raise it against “the fiery darts of the wicked” that come at us from above, seemingly out of nowhere. The “shield of faith” can be used singly, but it is especially effective when used in groups. The shields of other Christians added to mine can provide a larger space of protection, a bigger shell.

The English in Timeline do not send only burning arrows against the French, but also send unlit arrows which descend upon the unsuspecting French, invisible against the night sky. These arrows are undetectable until they are close enough that the French soldiers can hear the wind whistling through the fletchings (the guiding feathers on the ends). Even though they will not set fire to the grass or the soldiers’ clothes, these arrows are more deadly, since soldiers cannot see them and therefore cannot prepare for their impact as quickly as they can for the “fiery darts.”

Not all of the arrows against us will be burning and obvious. Some will appear suddenly out of the night and catch us off our guard if we are not careful and alert. Nehemiah took precautions against such stealthy night attacks:

And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another.In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day.
So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes,So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes,saving that every one put them off for washing.Nehemiah 4:19-23 (emphasis mine)

Nehemiah set a guard, gathered his people together, and remained clothed, ready for battle. He also placed his faith in God, confident that He would fight for them. The belief that “our God shall fight for us” did not mean that Nehemiah and his fellow-builders could let down their guard or put down their weapons–they still had to fight–but because the Lord was on their side, they could count on Him giving them the victory. Just as all those who believe in Him can.

I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.Ps. 118: 5-8

Book Talk: The Knowledge of the Holy ~ A.W. Tozer

The Knowledge of the Holy ~ A.W. Tozer

"Always the most revealing thing about the Church is her idea of God, just as her most significant message is what she says about Him or leaves unsaid, for her silence is often more eloquent than her speech. She can never escape the self-disclosure of her witness concerning God" (Chp 1, pg 1). 

This book shows us how we can know and worship God better by learning about His attributes, defined by Tozer as "whatever God has in any way revealed as being true of Himself" (12) [italics original].

Tozer makes it clear that we must be careful to maintain a true understanding of Who God is, otherwise

"Left to ourselves we tend immediately to reduce God to manageable terms. We want to get Him where we can use Him, or at least know where He is when we need Him. We want a God we can in some measure control. We need the feeling of security that comes from knowing what God is like, and what He is like is of course a composite of all the religious pictures we have seen, all the best people we have know or heard about, and all the sublime ideas we have entertained" (8).

 We have to be careful not to reduce God in this way because otherwise what we are worshiping is no longer God, but an image, and we have become idolators. Tozer makes this clear in his first chapter:

"Among the sins to which the human heart is prone, hardly any other is more hateful to God than idolatry, for idolatry is at bottom a libel on His character. The idolatrous heart assumes that God is other than He is--in itself a monstrous sin--and substitutes for the true God one made after its own likeness" (3).

By studying the attributes of God as revealed in Scripture, we can, with the Holy Spirit's help, worship the true God, not our own idols of Him.

      "An attribute . . . is not a part of God. It is how God is, and as fair as the reasoning mind can go, we may say that it is what God is, though, as I have tried to explain, exactly what He is He cannot tell us. . . .

      The divine attributes are what we know to be true of God. He does not possess them as qualities; they are how God is as He reveals Himself to His creatures. Love, for instance, is not something God has and which may grow or diminish or cease to be. His love is the way God is, and when He loves He is simply being Himself." (16).

This is a short, but very, very sweet book. Tozer's living relationship with God comes out in every line and continually points the Christian to Him. A true blessing to read!

A Still, Small Voice

That look—the one only a parent (or a teacher) can give to an erring child—its message is unmistakable—stop it or face the consequences. The parent doesn't have to say a word—no yelling required—but the child gets the message.

God often works with us in the same way. We can see this with Elijah in 1 Kings 19: 9-18. Elijah is on the run after Jezebel has threatened to kill him. He has gone through the wilderness and has been met and nourished by God for the journey, and finally he comes to a cave where he decides to stop. After Elijah decides to stop running, God comes to him and confronts him with a question. “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah doesn't really answer the question, but instead trots out his excuses: “I've been doing all this good stuff for you, Lord, but those unbelievers are trying to kill me, the only prophet left.”

God doesn’t reply to this, but instead tells Elijah to “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” Elijah obeys and is shown three powerful elements–wind, earthquake, and fire. But the Lord is in none of these. Then he hears “the sound of a low whisper” a small, still voice (NKJV) and this is the Lord.

Despite His power, God doesn't often come with a pounding at the door or a thunderbolt or a whirlwind or something else equally earth-shattering. Often He comes with a gentle tap—the “still small voice” which is just as much God's call as any of the “obvious” calls and/or warnings He may send. The trouble is that the quiet prod at the conscience or the tender oh-so gentle reminder can be so easily pushed away. God's “low whisper” is easy to ignore—especially when our life is going well. It is more easily ignored than the wind, earthquake, and fire. Yet His whispers are no less convicting than these. 

The little voice that speaks in your heart—the one that reminds you of the things you have or haven't done—the things you've been neglecting—that voice is easy to stifle with busyness and other things.

This tendency to let the busyness of life (whether intentionally or not) drown out the still small voice is what part of what Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung outlines in her book Glittering Vices as being a big part of the vice of sloth. She writes that “the apathetic inertia of the lazy person andthe perpetual motion of the busy person [ . . . ] both reveal a heart afflicted by this vice.” Traditionally, the vice of sloth is opposed to diligence; however, DeYoung points out that it is not just about the difference between apathy and work ethic. Instead, she says that busyness and workaholism are “sloth's classic symptoms.” 

Sloth isn't just about not doing things; it IS about not doing what you shouldbe doing.

God comes with a still, small voice. He waits to be gracious to us (Isa30:18) —He does not willingly grieve the children of men (Lam 3:33b). But if He has to be rough with us, He will be. Just look at how he deals with Israel's inconstancy throughout the Old Testament. However, He is merciful and very, very patient. He even repeats Himself to get the message into our thick skulls and stony hearts.

Looking at how God deals with Elijah, we can see that repetition plays a large role. God asks Elijah twice “What are you doing here?” and even though He gets the same self-centred answer from Elijah both times, He still persists, reminding Elijah that He is in control, NOT Jezebel.

God doesn’t leave us alone; He repeats Himself—a lot—because He wants us with HIM.

Sometimes it might be easier to get the earthquake— because we would have a clear sign—but then we wouldn't have to follow God's command, to listen and be obedient.

1 Kings 19: 9-18
9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold,the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.

13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Wilderness: Part 4 “Running Away”

1 Kings 19:1-18 ESV

1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow. 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers. 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, Arise and eat. 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you. 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, What are you doing here, Elijah? 10 He said, I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away. 11 And he said, Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, What are you doing here, Elijah? 14 He said, I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away. 15 And the Lord said to him, Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him. (italics mine)

Elijah flees, afraid for his life, yet, a day’s journey into the wilderness, he asks God to “take away” his life, claiming, “It is enough.” The phrase is a foreshadowing of Christ’s “It is finished”, but Christ’s work was complete, truly finished, while Elijah’s is “enough” only in his estimation. Yet God takes pity on him, and feeds him, two times telling him to “Arise and eat.” After his journey (40 days and 40 nights, yet another foreshadowing of Christ, this time of his time being tempted in the wilderness), he lodges in a cave. It seems as though he takes up residence there for a time.

God comes to him, and asks “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah whines out that “those unbelievers are trying to kill me, the only prophet left.”

God doesn’t reply to this obvious excuse, but instead tells Elijah to “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” Elijah obeys and is shown three powerful elements–wind, earthquake, and fire. But the Lord is in none of these. Then he hears “the sound of a low whisper” a small, still voice–This is the Lord.

Once again the Lord asks “What are you doing here, Elijah?” And Elijah repeats verbatim his first answer to the question. And again the Lord tells him to “Go,” but this time sends him away–he is sent to “the wilderness of Damascus”–he has a job to do there.

All this time, Elijah has been in the wrong wilderness!!

He ran away, afraid to be killed for his faith, yet asks the Lord to take away his life. Elijah has been hiding in the wilderness. He excuses his actions–they want to kill me–forgetting that his life is not in his own hands, but in God’s Hands. Only God has control over it. And God has the right to command him–whether to life or to death. Elijah has the duty to obey–no questions, no trying to hide from something he can’t control–no excuses. God shows him that even one still, small voice is important–that he cares for that voice–feeding it so that it will not faint and die on the journey–40 days and 40 nights. God doesn’t have it in for Elijah, and Elijah is not left to Jezebel’s whims–God is always in control. But Elijah must reminded of this, even after the great acts he did in God’s name just before this (see preceding chapter).

Sometimes God calls, allures, us into the wilderness to commune with Him–sometimes we run there, trying to escape His plans, and hiding from His purpose for us. We think–I’d rather die by God’s Hands, than by “others”, forgetting that we always die when God decrees it. We can never hide from death because God is in control of both our living and our dying.

Are you in the wilderness because God has allured you there or because you are hiding from His purpose? Ask–Am I being refreshed and thriving here or am I parched and withering?

God “knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.” (Ps. 103:14) He feeds us in the wilderness, even when we are trying to leave Him, trying to run away.

When we run away from God’s will for us, we enter the wrong wilderness, a wilderness where there are no living streams to quench our thirst–we enter a wilderness of our own making, a wilderness away from God. Yet, thanks be, God “never leaves us or forsakes us,” even though we may try to leave Him. He is so merciful, even repeating Himself to get the message into our thick skulls and stony hearts. Looking at the above passage, we can see that repetition plays a large role. God doesn’t leave us alone; He wants us with HIM.

Elijah was fleeing from Jezebel, who desired to kill him. We may be fleeing our own Jezebel–those sinful parts of us that want to kill off the good. However, we can also be fleeing what is right–standing up against our evil nature. We chicken out, running away from the situation, pretending it doesn’t exist and praying for God to “take us now,” so that we don’t have to fight anymore. We don’t like killing ourselves, our old nature–that would be self-sacrifice–something we really don’t like. Our old nature is so attractive, after all. We’d rather run away and avoid the situation, than face it and die. When we run away from the fight, we are running away from God. We don’t, it seems, think He is worth our life. So rather than do the right thing, even though it will cost us something important, we run like cowards, and wonder why God has “left” us alone.

We must pray:

Ps. 139

[1] O LORD, you have searched me and known me!

[2] You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

you discern my thoughts from afar.

[3] You search out my path and my lying down

and are acquainted with all my ways.

[4] Even before a word is on my tongue,

behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.

[5] You hem me in, behind and before,

and lay your hand upon me.

[6] Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

it is high; I cannot attain it.

[7] Where shall I go from your Spirit?

Or where shall I flee from your presence?

[8] If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

[9] If I take the wings of the morning

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

[10] even there your hand shall lead me,

and your right hand shall hold me.

[11] If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,

and the light about me be night,”

[12] even the darkness is not dark to you;

the night is bright as the day,

for darkness is as light with you.

[13] For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

[14] I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;

my soul knows it very well.

[15] My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret,

intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

[16] Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

the days that were formed for me,

when as yet there was none of them.

[17] How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

[18] If I would count them, they are more than the sand.

I awake, and I am still with you.

[19] Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!

O men of blood, depart from me!

[20] They speak against you with malicious intent;

your enemies take your name in vain.

[21] Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD?

And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?

[22] I hate them with complete hatred;

I count them my enemies.

[23] Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts!

[24] And see if there be any grievous way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting!

(Psalm 139 ESV)

Ps. 143:8,10 “Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me to know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul…10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

Gleanings: The Pursuit of Christ

"[Union with Christ] reminds us that the pursuit of holiness is also the pursuit of Christ. We aren't interesting in being virtuous just to be good people. Our first love is Jesus. Holiness is not ultimately about living up to a moral standard. It's about living in Christ and living out of our real, vital union with him" (98). [my emphasis]

Kevin deYoung, The Hole in our Holiness 

Gleanings: Grumbling. . .

For You It's Sin, For Me It's Service

"I’m not a grumbler, a complainer, and it’s a good thing, too, because complaining is one of those sins that I find especially offensive. Jerry Bridges counts it as one of Evangelicalism’s “respectable sin,” one that falls under our collective radar. He is probably right. But I’m onto it. I can spot it blindfolded at a hundred yards."

Tim Challies hits this one rather slyly on the head. . . Read the rest at challies.com: For You It's Sin, For Me It's Service

Wilderness: Part 3 “Therefore, behold, I will allure her”

Even so would he have allured thee out of the jaws of distress into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and the supply of thy table [would be] full of fatness. Job 36:16 (Darby Translation)

Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness. Job 36:16 (KJV)

Indeed, God would have allured you out of the mouth of distress into a broad place where there is no situation of perplexity or privation; and that which would be set on your table would be full of fatness.
Job 36:16 (Amplified Bible)

Then indeed, He enticed you from the mouth of distress, Instead of it, a broad place with no constraint;
And that which was set on your table was full of fatness. Job 36:16 (New American Standard)

Indeed, He lured you from the jaws [a] of distress to a spacious and unconfined place. Your table was spread with choice food. ([a]Lit from a mouth of narrowness) Job 36:16 (Holman Christian Standard)

The word in the above Bible verse is translated in various ways: allured, lured, enticed, removed. At first I thought that this was the same word as used in Hosea 2:14 (Therefore, behold, I will allure her….), however, this, I discovered, is not the case. I went looking for different verses using this word and discovered that the word translated “allure” in Hosea 2:14 (pathah) is completely different than that in Job 36:16 and is used in more pejorative contexts, particularly those involving deceit and persuasion. The word “allured/removed/lured/enticed” in Job 36:16 (cuwth) is also used in contexts of persuasion, but it actually is a more literal translation in that it does mean “allure, entice” (it can also be used when someone instigates someone to evil). The definition of the second word (cuwth) does not involve seduction(the first, pathah, does); this word seems to apply to a more forthright type of persuasion, rather than one of deceit/trickery.

It is interesting that it is the deceitful/seductive “allure” that is used in Hosea 2:14. Because Israel is so foolish, God must seduce her into the wilderness, playing on her gullibility and sensuality (she has gone “whoring” after other gods) to get her alone with Him.

This makes sense when viewed in light of a following verse, Hosea 2: 16: And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi, and shalt call me no more Baali.

Ishi means in this context (see KJV) “Husband”, while Baali means “My Lord” or “Master” (Baal is also the name of a heathen god). Israel views the Lord as a taskmaster who has laid requirements upon her, while He wants to be her Husband and His laws are only just. Israel (and all man) broke God’s laws in the Garden of Eden, ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and now has to live by laws. If Man had not fallen, we would not have to have laws: we would have lived by God’s will naturally.

Israel’s rightful Husband must seduce his Bride in order to get the chance to regain her affections.

In Job 36:16, God removes Israel from a place of want (“strait” place, “mouth of distress”, “mouth of narrowness”) to a broad place where all her needs are met. Her appetite is sated with fat. (Besides being very desirable in a situation of starvation, fat is also a wonderful vehicle for flavour. God gives His people sustenance and savour in the food He puts before her. In the old temple sacrifices, God always required the fat, the part with the most caloric value.)

God allures Israel from the jaws of distress. Israel doesn’t want to leave, even though she is starving. God has to persuade her, entice her, from a place of want. He lures her to a place where she has plenty to eat. This applies to physical needs as well as spiritual ones.

Wilderness: Part 2 “A Refuge in the Wilderness”

Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.

Hosea 2:14 KJV

Who is that coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? Song of Solomon 8:5a ESV

And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest. Ps. 55:6-8 KJV

The wilderness is not just a place of desolation, but also a place of refuge. God leads us, “allures” us into the wilderness to be alone with us. The wilderness is a place of silence and rest. It is harsh and apparently barren, but it is also a place to be alone in meditation, away from the bustle and noise of everyday life (“the windy storm and tempest” that buffets us). We can listen in the wilderness, like Elijah, for that “still, small voice” which is the voice of God(1 Kings 19:12).

Before Christ began his ministry, directly after his baptism, he spent time in the wilderness, forty days and forty nights. “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness”(Luke 4:1). Christ was tempted of the devil there, it was a time of testing, as it often is for us as well; however, later Christ went away from the crowds to pray and commune with God. “And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone” (Matt. 14:23). An apparently barren place becomes a fruitful place of prayer.

Being led, allured, into the wilderness does not mean that our spiritual life is put on hold, while we struggle through a desert on our own, beset by the temptation to give up and yield to the seductions of the world. God brings us into the wilderness to “speak comfortably” to us, as an alternate translation(Darby) says, “to speak to [our] heart[s]“. 

The silence allows us to hear Him speak; in the wilderness His voice is not drowned out by the tempests and distractions of the world. By the grace of God, we can find wells of life-giving water in the wilderness, like Hagar(“And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water” Gen. 21:19a).

We must be careful to take advantage of our wilderness times and use them to grow closer to God, rather than away from Him. Prayer is important here and meditation on God’s word. Sometimes, it will seem that God is not listening to us and we will beg like David,“Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were”(Ps. 39:12), and claim like him that God has promised that “He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them” (Ps. 145:19). 

We must not become discouraged, but let God pursue us even as we pursue Him.

Book Talk: Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye? Trusting God With a Hope Deferred ~Carolyn McCulley

Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye? Trusting God With a Hope Deferred ~Carolyn McCulley

Disregarding the whole argument of whether or not singleness is a gift, and if it is, what kind of a gift it is (c.f. Barry Danylak's take on this in Redeeming Singleness), this is a very practical and encouraging read. Carolyn McCulley uses the well-known passage on the Proverbs 31 woman to advise single women on how to live their lives now to God's glory.

She outlines how we can learn to approach our relationships as single women in a godly manner and also how we can practically live out our faith in areas such as hospitality, money, service, our words, and more.

This is not just a "fluff" book on what it means to be single in the church or how to get married ASAP, but rather an in-depth guide to living a productive life as a single (McCulley compares this to using our "talent" of singleness--Matt 25).

One I recommend.

Gleanings: 5 Important Character Qualities for Singles

Convicting and helpful words from Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye? Trusting God with a Hope Deferred  by Carolyn McCulley.

     "As I've pondered the common temptations of singleness, I've noticed five character qualities that help exhibit a more noble character in this season:

• Trust in God when your hopes are deferred 

•  Contentment while you're waiting 

•  Faithfulness to sow to the future even when you're in tears 

•  Graciousness when others receive what you would like 

•  Humility to pray to be  a blessing, rather than to receive a blessing 

     This isn't an exhaustive list, of course, but I think as we explore each quality, we will find in our singleness some practical ways to honor God before the watching world" (53).

 

 

 

Wilderness: Part 1 “And speak to her heart”

“Therefore, behold, I will allure her,and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.

(Hosea 2:14 ESV)

For the LORD comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song. (Isaiah 51:3 ESV)

In Hosea 2:14, we told that we are brought by God into the wilderness. The wilderness is usually regarded as a bleak place, scarce of water and harsh. But God takes His Bride there, the Bride that had run from Him to other lovers, in order to be alone with her, to woo her back to Him. The last portion of the verse speaks of this. It says “I will…speak comfortably unto her” (KJV) or as another translation puts it, “I will…speak to her heart” (Darby). The Hebrew word translated as “comfortably” in the KJV, actually means “inner man, mind, will, heart”, so the Darby translation really is closer in meaning to the original (as far as I can discover).

The heart is the centre of a person; it is our most vulnerable spot. I am not talking physically, though this is also true, but mentally, spiritually. When God speaks to our heart, He speaks to us, the true “us”, the one that hides behind the things we can do and the life we lead and the ambitions we pursue. He speaks to the real “me”, that core of soul that makes me “me” — and He uses words of love.

My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
Song of Solomon 2:10-13 (KJV)

The word “speak” in Hebrew, Dabar, has many interpretations, declare, speak, command, converse, threaten, warn –some rather chilly, disturbing words– but there are some more meanings, “promise” and, surprisingly, “sing”. In this context (“My beloved spake”), singing would fit the context as well as the poetry. We are crooned to by God, wooed with love poetry. Twice, we are begged to “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.”

God wants to be our loving Husband, but we keep running away. So He takes us into the desert, where we have no luxuries to distract us. He wants all our attention focused on Him. We are to look to Him for everything necessary for life in the desert — food and water. But God is not stingy. He doesn’t starve us.

In Isaiah 51:3, He says that He will comfort us. The wilderness shall become like the garden of the Lord, like Eden.

The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. Isaiah 35:1

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

A place of barrenness becomes a banqueting house when Love brings us there.

The next verse in Hosea 2 speaks of Israel singing in the desert, which is now become fruitful–literally.

God does not only give His Bride water, but wine (vineyards).

 And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt. (Hosea 2:15 ESV)

A place of trouble, the valley of Achor, where Achan and his family were stoned after he stole goods from the city of Jericho, becomes a door of hope. The place where we stole from God (stole the glory and love that is rightfully His as our true Husband, giving it away to false lovers) becomes the scene of reconciliation and grace. New hope will spring up here, a new life with Christ as our Ishi, our Husband.

Book Talk: Redeeming Singleness: How the Storyline of Scripture Affirms the Single Life ~Barry Danylak

Redeeming Singleness: How the Storyline of Scripture Affirms the Single Life ~Barry Danylak

“This book is not like many others you will pick up about a Christian perspective of singleness. It does not focus on the personal experience of singleness, or on a cultural analysis of the phenomenon of singleness in the contemporary church. Nor is it a conventional presentation of the biblical teaching on the subject, or an attempt to glean from exemplary models of single people from Scripture or church history. This book is also not a how-to manual either for living the single life well or for most expediently relieving oneself of the status. There are many other well-written books that focus on all these areas. The starting point for this book is to reflect on the purpose of biblical affirmation of the single life by exploring how singleness itself fits into God's larger purpose of redeeming a people for his glory. The fruit of such reflection will contribute toward constructing a biblical theologyof singleness.” (Introduction 15)

As singles it can frequently feel as though we fall outside God's plan for the Church. We find it difficult to know what our place is in an institution that is structured primarily around family. Barry Danylak outlines the history of singleness in the church, showing how the Cultural mandate given to Adam and Eve (“be fruitful and multiply” Gen 1:28), the covenants made with Abraham and his descendants, and the changes in focus which occur in the New Testament church are all connected to God's ultimate purpose: redeeming His people.

“Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the promised seed of Abraham, and in him are Abraham's true offspring, heirs of the eternal inheritance promised by God. Since all the blessings of the new covenant are realized through our reconciliation to God through Christ, marriage is no longer a fundamental marker of covenantal blessing as it was in the covenant of Sinai. Singleness lived to the glory of God and the furtherance of his kingdom testifies to the complete sufficiency of Christ for all things. The Christian is fully blessed in Christ, whether he or she is married or single, rich or poor, in comfort or duress. The distinctive calling of singleness within the church testifies to this truth.” (Epilogue 213)

Danylak distinguishes between being called to be single and having the gift of singleness: “[T]he gift of singleness is not simply the situation or status of being unmarried. Unless one marries the day after puberty, one will inevitably live part of his or her life as a single person. There are some who may have to live their entire lives as single people, without the gift of singleness—not ever finding a suitable mate. As we noted earlier, Jesus recognized that some are eunuchs not because they chose to be but because of factors outside their control. However, those who have the gift of singleness can remain single by choice” (200).

Having a clear theological basis for singleness as an acceptable (though still difficult) role in the New Testament church is a real comfort. It feels at times as though as singles we are being left on the sidelines and are not living full Christian lives. Danylak's book assures us that our lives as singles in the New Testament church are just as theologically sound and complete as those who are married.

This definitely a book to have—as a single or married person—it is good to be reminded that our ultimate fulfillment is not to be found in our marital status but rather it is to be found in Christ.

Book Talk: Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry ~Paul David Tripp

Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry ~Paul David Tripp

“Dangerous Calling reveals the truth that the culture surrounding our pastors in spiritually unhealthy—an environment that actively undermines the well-being and efficacy of our church leaders and this the entire church body. 

Here is a book that both diagnoses and offers cures for issues that impact every member and church leader, and gives solid strategies for fighting the all-important war that rages in our churches today.” (Inside cover flap)

A highly engaging read. I found this a personal blessing as well as an insight into the difficulties surrounding pastoral ministry. Insert “Christian” where Tripp writes “pastor” and much of what he says can be directly applied to the pew-sitting Christian.

As a bluestocking who likes to engage with ideas and information, it is good to be reminded that 

“There is a huge difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is an accurate understanding of truth. Wisdom is understanding and living in light of how that truth applies to the situations and relationships of your daily life. Knowledge is an exercise of your brain. Wisdom is the commitment of your heart that leads to transformation of your life” (26-27).  

And also that

“Bad things happen when maturity is more defined by knowing than it is by being. Danger is a float when you come to love the ideas more than the God whom they represent and the people they are meant to free” (42).

It is easy to forget that what we know is not as important as Who we know, and that our relationship with God should not be taking second place to our learning and reading about Him.

Book Talk: The Jane Austen Guide to Happily Ever After ~Elizabeth Kantor

The Jane Austen Guide to Happily Ever After ~Elizabeth Kantor

“Women today and settling for less than we want when it comes to men, relationships, sex, and marriage. But we don't have to, argues Elizabeth Kantor. Jane Austen can show us how to find the love we really want. 

In The Jane Austen Guide to Happily Ever After, Kantor reveals how the examples of Jane Austen heroines such as Elizabeth Bennet, Elinor Dashwood, and Anne Elliot can help us navigate the modern-day minefields of dating, love, relationships, and sex. By following in their footsteps—and steering clear of the sad endings suffered by characters such as Maria Bertram and Charlotte Lucus—modern women can discover the path to lifelong love and true happiness.” (Inside cover flap)

I read this one through (twice in a row!) with pencil in hand and sticky flags at the ready. Kantor speaks about the “Cult of Sensibility” which has invaded and permeated our ideas of what Romantic love is all about (Chp 2). She uses Jane Austen's heroines and heroes to give us practical lessons and guidelines for how we should be directing our love lives: such as taking love seriously (Chp 5), looking for the “rational happiness” that Elizabeth Bennet speaks of (Chp 6), and “being prudent in real love” like Anne Elliot (163) and the importance of discerning a man' intentions before we commit our emotions into the relationship as a way of guarding ourselves from heartbreak (Chp 12).

I highly recommend this one for both the lessons and also for the great insights in the characters and construction of Austen's great novels. Although this is not specifically written from a Christian point-of-view, Kantor does reference her own faith occasionally, which I found very encouraging.

The Desires of your Heart

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Ps 37:4

Many people, including myself, have taken this, and other similar scriptures as a promise that God will fulfill us by granting us the things we want. We want so many things, and so often our wants are quite legitimate biblically-speaking: godly children, a Christian spouse, a job where we can work as God intends us, etc. We seem to take such verses as Ps 37:4 as promises from God that if we do what he wants, He’ll give us what we want. However, I was reading through verses on the heart, and when I got to this one, I was suddenly struck by a new reading of this verse—at least, it was suddenly new to me. Thinking back to all the reading I have done, the sermons I heard, etc., it is not really a new concept at all, but I felt it was important to reorient this verse in my own heart, and hope that it will help shed new light in other people’s hearts as well.

Too often we try to use scripture against God. We take verses promising that obedience will be rewarded, and try to use obedience to get what we want. This is obviously a works-oriented approach to Christianity, and one that it is all to easy to slip into. If God demands obedience, and promises to reward our obedience, it becomes very easy for our sinful humanity to begin demanding His reward on our own terms. When we do not seem to get our “deserved” reward for our obedience to God’s will, we get angry or hurt, and begin to believe the same lie that Satan used to tempt Eve: we think that God is holding out on us. We cry, “I’m doing everything He asked (to the best of my ability): why doesn’t He give me what I want?”

Why doesn’t He give me what I want? “What I want” is not important; what God wants is. God does not have an immense tally sheet in heaven where He checks off our obedience against our disobedience and if obedience wins we get rewarded. One sin, no matter how “small,” is enough to send us to Hell. One sin blots out any of the good we may think we can do. Our obedience is not the measuring line by which we are rewarded, because God demands perfect obedience and we, no matter how we try, cannot ever do His will perfectly. Christ’s obedience is the measuring line—and it is Christ’s desires that are fulfilled.

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” This is where the eyes of my heart were suddenly opened. This text is not an equation where “Delighting myself in the Lord” = “Getting what my heart desires.” No, it promises something far better. In this text, God promises to give us the desires of our hearts. He is not promising to give us want we want, but rather promising to give us desires that come from Him. His desires. Not our Wants, the things we think we “need” or the things we lust after, but His desires. “Delighting in the Lord” = Being Gifted with the desires of God. 

Our little Wants become even smaller as we immerse ourselves, delight ourselves, in the Lord. And as our Wants shrink, He gives us holy Desires to take their place. We must not keep a death-grip on our Wants, or try to manipulate God into giving us what we think we need; instead, we must, by the Holy Spirit’s power, surrender our small Wants and pray to be drawn by God and given His desires.

Jesu, joy of man’s desiring,

Holy Wisdom, Love most bright;

Drawn by Thee, our souls, aspiring,

Soar to uncreated light.

Word of God, our flesh that fashion’d,

With the fire of life impassion’d,

Striving still to truth unknown,

Soaring, dying, round Thy throne.

Through the way where hope is guiding,

Hark, what peaceful music rings!

Where the flock, in Thee confiding,

Drink of joy from deathless springs.

Theirs is beauty’s fairest pleasure;

Theirs is wisdom’s holiest treasure.

Thou dost ever lead Thine own

In the love of joys unknown.

Traditional Hymn

Amazing Love

A lot is said about love in Christian circles. Many of Christians probably have their favourite verse or verses on love. John 3:16 comes to mind. There is even the well-known "Love" chapter, 1 Corinthians 13,  to refer to if we can't find an appropriate one fast enough.

There are so many verses on love in the Bible, that we can, perhaps, become used to them at times. Oh, we think, another verse about love.

Love, love, love.

Love is used so often in everyday conversation and it can be used so thoughtlessly that it can become, at times, just another four-letter word. And that is all that it is—unless--we remember that love is, first and foremost, an action verb.

Love is not just something we have—it is something we DO.

What does it really mean to lovesomeone? We could find millions of examples in literature and history. However, we might see it every day, but not really see it. How do we know what love in action really looks like?

We can see love in action most clearly by looking at Christ.

• He humbled Himself in order to love His people.
• He loved those unlovable people, who made life difficult for Him.
• He loved His friends, even when they let Him down.
• He loved His chosen people, even when they rejected Him.
• He loved even in the depths of hellish pain and agony and death.

And why? Because we needed it—we "needit every hour".

And He keeps loving His people despite their shortcomings.

In Psalm 36 (ESV), the Psalmist says:

5 “Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds."

7 “How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”

The extent of this love is truly amazing and awe-inspiring! The fact that, despite our down-right unlovable-ness, we are still loved by God and He saves us from ourselves is something to make one sink to their knees in wonder. 

He. Loves. Me. 

Really? Me? The one who grumbles and whines about how hard-done by  she is? The one who inwardly is spiteful and haughty and condescending?  The one who has so many times forgotten Him? The one who doesn't love her neighbour as herself most, if not all, of the time? 

And yet, He loves me. 

As I thought about love, I put some new things on my mental to-do list. Some things I need to remember to do as I go through the rest of the year:

1. I need to love people even when I don't feel like it.
2. Love when they don't love me back.
3. Love even when it hurts.
4. Love because they need it.
5. Love because He first loved me. 
   
   
   
   
    
   
   
   
   
   And can it be that I should gain
   An interest in the Savior’s blood?
   Died He for me, who caused His pain—
   For me, who Him to death pursued?
   Amazing love! How can it be,
   That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
   Amazing love! How can it be,
   That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
   
   
   
   
   
   He left His Father’s throne above
   So free, so infinite His grace—
   Emptied Himself of all but love,
   And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
   ’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
   For O my God, it found out me!
   ’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
   For O my God, it found out me!
   
   
   
   
   
   Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
   Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
   Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
   I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
   My chains fell off, my heart was free,
   I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
   My chains fell off, my heart was free,
   I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
   
   
   
   
   
   No condemnation now I dread;
   Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
   Alive in Him, my living Head,
   And clothed in righteousness divine,
   Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
   And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
   Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
   And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
   
   
   Charles Wesley 1738