Think out Laud
Chris Kelly's journal---a blog for to publish his feeble attempts to praise Jesus Christ, bare his soul, and think out loud about these Interesting Times.
Colossians 3:11-17
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
There are so many words in this passage that I could meditate for many days and not finish exploring their meanings. But I think v.14 shall suffice to feed my soul for one day.
What binds together? As mortar to bricks, love is the uniting factor among men. And even virtues can be in conflict without love. So we must bind our virtues together by covering them with love
As the body has many parts, but they are covered with skin (and clothes), so after we have clothed ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, we must accessorize with love.
What does this mean practically? It means that love is the primary thing people should see in me, not all my other vitues. Kindness without love is false. Gentleness without love is like a wolf in sheep's clothes. Patience without love runs out quickly. But if my motivation in all of these is love, I can stand the test of time.
That may be what really makes a spiritual man great: He stands the test of time, he does not fall away, he does not run and hide. For the longest time, he is ignored, left in obscurity, while many stars and idols rise and fall. Then in his old age, he is suddenly highly regarded and sought after. I don't know. But love makes all other virtues genuine.
What this means to me is that, while I am nurturing this or that virtue, I must not neglect love. I must show it, pour it on, even if it's not always from my heart, so that I may have a habit and lifestyle based on love. To "put on love" doesn't mean "feign" love; it means we must PRACTICE love, not just wait to FEEL it or receive it. It means reaching out to people who are lonely, wounded, selfish and lost. Like a shepherd who loves his sheep, even if they wander off, we Christians must go out to reach people, find them where they are hiding, or where they are lost and wandered off, and reach them, like the beautiful picture of Jesus reaching down to a sheep in dire straights, on the edge of a precipice. Going out of our way to make friends with neighbors, workmates, kids on the block, it's not easy. People are fearful of strangers, as well they should be. But love will reach them.
And practically it also means I must not work too hard on my own self-improvement, but bear others. I'm tempted to get involved in politics or tax-revolts these days. But I must know that Jesus paid his taxes and did not fight for his rights. To be fully devoted to Jesus, until Christ is all in all, forgiving others (even wicked governments) as Christ did, then I can really "let the peace of Christ rule in my heart". We were "called to peace", not tax revolts. We were called to admonish one another in wisdom, to sing psalms and hymns, and to praise Jesus Christ, not decry corruption or fight human battles.
While I admire the patriots, I am not going to fight with them. I am going to fight against a bigger foe: Satan and the grip he has on the minds of men. Lord, help me this day do battle with the forces of evil in the heavenly realms, and conquer in the name of Christ all the strongholds of hell. Give me greater courage, and fearless resolve. IJNA
Colossians 3:1-10
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set you hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
There is nothing in this world worthy of setting our minds on. Some set their mind on The Whitehouse. Some want to be an American Idol. But Christ is seated at the right hand of God, and when he appears, we will shine with him in his glory. Jesus said, "Whoever overcomes will sit with me on my throne." [Rev 3:21] Let me set my mind on THAT glorious victory!
What does it mean that my life is "hidden with Christ in God"? We hide things that we are soon going to reveal in glory. The author and publisher of a book are very careful to keep the contents secret until the day of publication. The bride is kept hidden away until she walks down the aisle. A new work of art is kept under a cloth until the day of it is "unveiling". And so forth. WE are like God's masterpiece, still under development, still in the works, unfinished, under construction.
We wonder why we are not glorified already, since we have given our lives to Christ. I wonder why my labor hasn't borne fruit already, and why I'm still unknown, though God has promised "I will make your name great". God isn't finished with us. We are "hidden", not ready to be revealed and put on display. But glory will come soon enough. For "if anyone remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit."
So until then, we must "put to death the earthly nature." Especially sexual immorality and idolatry. These things are heating up God's wrath, and his wrath is coming because of these things. We must live a HOLY life. Holy isn't a relatively better level of morality. It means "devoted to God". This is austerity at an extreme. But if we have that "living hope in the kingdom of God" why would we set our hearts on things below, and fill our minds with smut?
May God set us free from the constant temptations by helping us to execute (as in "put to death") our old nature. It sounds drastic, almost Muslim. But it isn't physical death which can save us, as they very wrongly suppose. It is the LIVING for Christ, not dying for him, that matters. He has DIED FOR US. So we must LIVE FOR HIM.
To take off our old self and put on the new self, the Image of God, isn't idolatry nor a mere disguise. It is to put off old practices and put on new ones, walking in the footsteps of Jesus and saying the things he said.
Lord, raise up people like this among us, who are hidden with Christ, not self-advertising, self-enamored idols as we Americans are tempted to be. Lord, forgive me for my greed and immoral thoughts. Give me the glorious hope of sharing your glory.
Today I was inspired by the trailer for a film recommended by John Armstrong called "The Call of the Entrepreneur". I can't wait to see it. What drives entrepreneurs is similar to what drives Christ and all who serve Him. No, not the desire for mere monetary profits, but the desire for God's Kingdom to come, for HIS gain and greater glory.
So Paul writes in Colossians 1:24ff that the sufferings of Christ haven't been completed, but something is still lacking. The suffering of Christ completes God's salvation. But we must carry the good news to our generation. "I have become its [the church's] servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness." God has made this mystery known to the Gentiles, what he calls "the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Glorious riches. That's the entrepreneur's hope. The Christian sees Christ's reign in the souls of men as the greatest riches. When they know the mystery of God, the salvation of Christ, the hope of eternal life, the knowledge of God, it is not my loss for their gain, but gain enough for all without end to become rich, that is, to "inherit the earth".
So, Paul concludes, "We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me." We have a great hope, that we may present the saints spiritually perfected in Christ. This is the simple work of preaching the word, sowing the "seed", and nurturing it in the souls of those who hear it. It is the shepherd's job, the pastor, the Bible teacher and counselor.
We are real Entrepreneurs. Like our Lord Jesus, we will suffer great loss for a time, risk our very lives and futures. But in the end, we will inherit the earth! How pleasant is the risk that has Jesus Christ's backing. To this end I labor.
Father, forgive my unwillingness to take risk. Make me a spiritual entrepreneur, a church planter, a pioneer, an evangelist and not just an evangelical spectator, right here and now in Virginia, and to the ends of the earth. Help me as I pray to prepare short works, and longer works, for your glory and the edification of your people. IJNA
2 Chronicles 12
"After Rehoboam's position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the Lord."
The law of the Lord is not like knowledge of this world. Knowledge puffs up, but God's word always humbles and presses us on to a deeper love, humility, faith and holiness. It's a little lonely when times are wicked and not many people follow the Lord. One who is hoping for popularity, like a king, will easily forget the law of the Lord and just read popular books and entertain false prophets and other celebrities.
But there are a few men like Shemaiah who will speak the truth even though it is unacceptable to most. His message was accepted. They did humble themselves. But God did not say, "OK. You're good now. I'm pulling Shishak out. He said rather, "You will be subject to the Egyptian king, but he will not destroy you." Ouch! There was some good in Judah. But it needed God's harsh discipline.
I think America needs this kind of harsh discipline. I wish it were not so. But my spirit says, "I and my people have sinned against the Lord." We cannot prosper any longer as we are. May God have mercy on us and help us to repent, be it ever so painful, that we may please and glorify the Lord.
But now to the original question: Why do the successful think they can ignore God and his Word, and go on prospering? It really makes no sense. V.1 says that all Israel abandoned the law of the Lord. Obviously success makes people proud. This was why God invented thorns and sweat in Genesis 3, as well as pain in childbirth. And it is why we have only a few years to live, rather than 969 years. We need adversity. We need enemies who will not give up. It sounds ridiculous, but the world needs Shishak types, like Osama bin Laden and Ahmadinejad. God himself raises such men up, like thorns upon the world, so that men may not put their hope in government, but in God.
2 Chronicles 11:1-23
The division of the kingdom of Israel was probably the most tragic event in Israel's history. Rehoboam wanted to keep the nation together. Like Abraham Lincoln, he was ready to wage war to preserve the union. In the case of the Unites States, God aided the North and humbled the South. In the case of Israel, God did not.
Instead He sent Rehoboam home. He said through Shemaiah the prophet, "This is what the LORD says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing."
It is truly hard to accept that the division of Israel was God's doing, His perfect will. It was, in fact, an act of judgment upon Israel. To divide His holy nation, His own Church, doesn't seem consistent with the hope of Jesus that "they may be one, Father, even as we are one." [Jn 17:21] We kid ourselves if we think that unity of men is God's main hope. It is certainly high on Jesus' list of prayer topics. But in a fallen world, it isn't always God's will. Children who have a bad influence on one another need to be separated. Enemies need to be separated. Even divorce, which God hates, is permitted because of the hardness of men's hearts.
How can we resist Him, insisting on unity when God has decreed division? Who ever hardened his heart against the Lord and prospered? Rehoboam did not. He obeyed, probably sorrowfully, returning home from battle on the word of one obscure prophet.
If the Church in the world today were spiritually strong, I would say that unity is possible for Her. But because of immorality and complacency of unimaginable scale in so many churches, and a kind of malaise of success in big American churches, and the lack of missions in all but a few churches, I cannot see it in the near future.
If the division of Israel, God's treasured possession, was God's own doing, why should He deal differently with his Church today? If our goal is our own name, will He not confuse our language again and scatter the proud? Will he answer the prayers of those who want unity for merely human ambition? He may preserve some unions. But not for corrupt churches who flout his express mission in order to build towers up to heaven and enjoy themselves.
May God have mercy on us to live humbly and walk before God, not merely as individual Christians, but also as churches and fellowships. God will give unity to those who are of the mind of Christ.
Ruth 3-4
Ruth didn't have a lot of confidence that Boaz, a noble Jew from the tribe of Judah, would accept her, a despised Moabite woman, for his wife. She barely knew him. Was he kind? Was a a womanizer? Why was he still a bachelor, though he was not young? Was he gay? But she didn't question or vacillate. She obeyed Naomi's directions and went to him at night and lay down by his feet. To a pure young woman like Ruth, to go to a man at night was bold, even scandalous. But by faith she did as directed. Boaz treated her with respect and offered to marry her. He had to check first with a kinsman who was a nearer relative to make sure he didn't want to marry the Moabite widow of Mahlon, Elimelech and Naomi's son.
All was done in a very circumspect manner; still it was bold. This is the kind of bold, but circumspect obedience we Christians need in seeking those who will be united with Christ. It may be awkward at times. For example, God has called me to be a campus shepherd. To talk to young people is awkward, since I am no longer young and don't have a campus job. But it is God's will. To preach openly is awkward, since it is rarely done any more. To engage in "recruiting" often leads people to think I am representing a strange cult.
But it is time to throw off the restraints and boldly invite people to become Jesus' bride, to call them out of the world, and lead them to the Promised Land. May God give us boldness like Naomi and Ruth, and increase his kingdom through us, even if we are "Moabites" in the eyes of most.
I wonder if Boaz had any idea that his Moabite wife was really a woman of faith. And I wonder if he might have thought about the future of his descendants, that from his line kings would come, King David and his dynasty, and ultimately Jesus the Messiah. He probably did not. But he must have hoped that his sons would be great, and his daughters noble like Ruth.
Lord, grant me the boldness of Naomi and Ruth, and the gentleness and grace of Boaz, that I may do your work, quietly and patiently, not out of ambition or human desire, but keeping in step with your Spirit and will. May your kingdom come through me and my house, and your name be hallowed in Virginia. IJNA
Why should God give us the Holy Spirit? Why do we want Him? The two questions go together, and the right answer for each affects the other. Motive is important with God, so ours needs to be pure.
Consider Simon the sorcerer in Acts 8. When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." He wanted the Spirit and more. He wanted to be like the Apostles, who could impart the Spirit. He wanted this enough to sacrifice his wealth for it.
He reminds me of myself. I want the Spirit too, so that I may raise up Christian believers like Peter and John. But the trouble is this: I want the Spirit for the purpose of making ME greater, and that conflicts with the mission of the Holy Spirit, which is to make Jesus known. With a wrong motive, in Peter's words, "You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God." The only cure is to "Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord." [Acts 8:21,22]
In addition to a right motive, I must learn to depend on the Spirit rather than myself, and GO BOLDLY in HIS power. Jesus said the purpose of the Spirit is simply to make us his witnesses. [Acts 1:8] So as we go out, He comes in; He empowers us when we are doing His work, not before.
I want to overcome the habit of waiting for something to happen, and start making it happen by faith. Then, as I go forth, I know and trust that I will receive power.
Still, there was a time when the disciples were told to wait in Jerusalem UNTIL they received the promised Holy Spirit. Like them, there may be things I must wait for his inspiration. But I know whether I wait or go forth, if I obey his commandment, especially the Great Commission, He will empower me. "Getting ahead of God" by some is considered a very serious sin, to be avoided at all costs. But it is not nearly so serious as doing nothing, which is to disobey Him.