(As I was looking over the whole study I realized I had left out verses . I have added them to the study and are posted on January 23. I had accidentaly left that section as a draft as I was writting and I guess I thought I had posted. So if you want to take a look, you need to scroll all the way down and click older posts...then look for January 23.)
For today...
I so appreciate your words of encouragement towards this study. My hope is that all of us have not only heard from God's Word but also understood it and most important begun to apply it. So here are a few questions, for you to think about.
What was most challenging to you from this look at the Proverbs 31 Woman?
What encouraged you the most?
Is there an area you can commit to prayer to ask God to help you?
If already you have applied some Truth, can you share some of the results?
This is really a chance for us to encourage one another.
I know it can be hard to leave a comment (aside from the fact that you have to go through all that stuff on the computer!) .
Thanks for stopping by for the study. Not sure what to do next...if you have any ideas, let me know!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Proverbs 31: 28
Our final look at this Proverbs 31 woman ends with verse 28
I don't know about you, but these past few days studying the Proverbs 31 Woman has been challenging ,encouraging and a true blessing. This standard that God has displayed for us is definitely the Gold Standard. It is , however, one which we can look at and feel totally inadequate and incapable of attaining. And I think to feel that is accurate and OK. Over and over in Scripture we see pictures of men and women who rise up and set a standard that all of us hope to one day attain. Paul, Esther, Moses...are great ones. But most of us know, that God takes mere, fragile, imperfect men and women and makes something extraordinary through them. They are not the object of our desire, but instead it is their close walk to God Himself that we desire...and that is truly attainable. It is their obedience to follow Christ at all costs that makes them great...but it is also Christ working in them that provides all they need to follow. As we all know, we can not live this Christ-centered life part from Him. It is Him in us the does the "good work". So please , lets not feel defeated but be encouraged that with Christ all things are possible!
The goal is high but the means to it is Glorious!
I think what I most appreciate about this verse as we end our study is that it is a blessing...one which all of us ,as mothers, desire.
What does it mean "her children rise up and bless her"? She has given everything to her husband and family and what does she get back? They honor her, they hold her in the highest esteem. There are some, who right now, are in trying times with children...disciplining is not easy. Often, we get weary of the duty of being a Mom, but can I encourage all of us to know that at the end there is a great blessing. We may not see the fruits of our labor yet, but if we keep Christ the focus we WILL persevere and in the end we will see Godly fruit in our children. We must remember that our role as a Moms is to "train-up". Training takes diligence, consistency, gentleness at times and a firm hand at others. And it is training with an "upward" focus. That means a Bible-centered, Christ exalting focus. So many times we use contemporary experts as our guide, when we ought to take our guidance and instruction from God Himself.
John MacArthur states it this way :
"She is constantly before their eyes. Her tender guidance, her wise counsel, her loving discipline, her holy example, her HARD work...all of these things never cease to fill the memories of her children. They then, begin to fill the lives of their children and that's how righteousness is passed from generation to generation."
That's our legacy. That's our inheritance for our children. And it does take the LORD.
And one last thought...notice her husband praises her. That's what a life-long marriage produces. An appreciation for one another.
Can we commit our lives, our children, our marriages to God and His perfect ways? Can we find strength to live as the "Excellent Wife" as we look to Christ Himself to provide all we need? I believe we can.
Tomorrow...just some questions to ponder.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Proverbs 31:25;30
I am really interested to know what you all thought of yesterday's post...Has it been eye opening looking at this Proverbs 31 woman? What has been the most challenging for you?
Today, I just want to look at two small verses which pack a punch!
To continue the thoughts from yesterday....her beauty does not come from external adornment. Yes, she does purchase fine linen and makes beautiful clothing for herself and her family, but the key point here is that it is not her focus. Here, these verses clarify it more beautifully...she is clothed in "strength and honor". In the NAS it says "strength and dignity". We already saw that the word "strength" comes from the Hebrew word chayil denoting a military term "might, power, valiant, army" The Excellent Woman finds her strength IN the LORD. And the word "dignity" in the NAS denotes "the recognition belonging to a person of honor, renown." In the Greek language it is doxa and "it is not so much the outside appearance attracting attention to the person or thing, but that glory shown from within reflecting in the appearance which attracts attention." So this woman shines from within and therefore she has strength and dignity.
And look what it says next..."she shall rejoice in time to come".
The NAS says "she smiles at the future"
How can she smile? Because she knows her life is right with God and that secures her for the future. If your life is right with God the promises of God are an unfolding blessing. She knows in Whom she trusts. She is clothed in spiritual character and her life is secure in God. She is faithful and pure and therefore has nothing to fear.
What brings fear? Sin and the consequences of sin bring fear. There have been times in my life when I have feared what tomorrow had...usually it was because of my sin in the present. Whether I did not confess it or I tried to cover it up...fear always was present. If we live in guilt then we will fear discipline in the future. Years ago I read and article called "Are you a repenting repenter?" This woman must have been a repenting repenter...daily confessing and repenting of her sins.
Finally in verse 30 we get to the foundation for her excellence as a wife, homemaker, woman and mother.
"Charm is deceitful, beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD she shall be praised"
Charm in the Hebrew means " gracefulness of form, it relates to her shape" And "beauty" has to do with the face...both of those can be deceitful. Everything on the outside can look so good, but it can be a cover up for what is inside. As a nation we have such a pre-occupation with appearance yet our hearts are wicked. Some of us are broken inside. What does it matter if we all just look the part if we have not been cleansed inside? Sooner or later charm and beauty will fade.
Not only does this woman know The LORD but she also she fears Him. That is her true beauty...not passing with wordly measures but constant and radiant. Notice the word LORD is in all caps that is "Jehovah". A noted Jewish commentator, Moses Maimonides, says in regard to this name, "All the names of God which occur in Scripture are derived from His works except one, and that is Jehovah; and this is called the plain name, because it teaches plainly and unequivocally of the substance of God" LORD is the one who has always been and will forever be. All the other names of God express some form of relationship... Elohim, Adonai...but Jehovah is separate...Jehovah is the Master, Ruler, He is the Covenant Keeper. Totally separate and independent. In HIM is where the Excellent Woman finds her strength and dignity. Why does she not fear tomorrow? She "fears" Him...this does not means fright but instead a reverence not to sin against. All she does, she does before Him...with reverence and a worshipful heart.
This verse ends with a glimpse on how does her family, friends and loved ones respond to her. They praise her. That is God's mark of approval on her. She is praised. When we live a life in reverence to God, set apart for Him and to Him there is praise among God's people. That is the blessing of her life of obedience.
NEXT: we will see how she is remembered and valued.
References today came from:
The "Key Word Study Bible"; Lexical aides to the New and Old Testament.
"The Names of God" by Nathan Stone
John MacArthur Study Bible
I list these if anyone would like to study further.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Proverbs 31:22; 25
Beauty is a hot topic today. At every check out counter there is a magazine cover exalting beauty. Over and over we are told what it takes to be beautiful...face-lifts, extreme exercise routines, diet, work out, sexiness, make-up or the right clothes are what sets the standard for beauty. Every year People Magazine does an article on "the Most Beautiful People"...wecovet beauty as a nation...we must look good at all cost.
What does the Bible consider beauty? I know many of us know Godly beauty is different than physical beauty. Is there a warning for us as women?
So what can be understood by the phrases in Proverbs 31? Doesn't it appear that she does pay attention to her appearance? We have to look at Scripture as a whole...Scripture will verify Scripture. We can see that this excellent woman takes care of her appearance BUT within the context of Scripture, we see that it is NOT her focus. Yes, she does care how she looks, BECAUSE it benefits her husband. There is a sense that she cares for herself BECAUSE she cares of her husband's and family's reputation.
When it speaks of her coverings for her bed and purple linen clothing, it can be inferred that she seeks for the best quality. She probably does not have a closet-full but instead what she has is of good quality and beauty.
But just a quickly as we learn that she pursues quality, we are told that what is most valuable is her strength and dignity. What this means is: Don’t focus our main attention and effort on how we look on the outside; focus it on the beauty that is inside. Exert more effort and be more concerned with inner beauty than outer beauty.
That is what Peter is telling us in 1 Peter 3:4...
What a warning to us...notice than when there is a preoccupation on external beauty that begins the fall of a nation...When we are consumed by temporal, fleshly things and forget the eternal and godly, God begins to judge a nation.
Let me ask...from these verses, do you think we are heading there?
Tomorrow we will look at true beauty again.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Smile it is Friday
Irene sent this funny clip...I am reallly not sure if it is true or maybe I have my wires crossed!
Have a great weekend! Thanks Irene!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Proverbs 31:20-24
As we have been moving through this description of the excellent wife we have looked at her devotion to her husband/home and her character as a wife. Today these verses I have grouped together because they show us her attentiveness to others. We pick up in verse 20:
I am going to save verse 22 for next week (She makes coverings for her bed. She is clothed in fine linen and purple) and group it with her discretion for beauty. For today we will look at her relationship to others and how that impacts those around her.
There is no doubt in our minds that we live in a self-centered world. When relationships break we hear "He could not fulfill my needs" or "What can you give or do for me?" Children are taught that they will get everything they want from the most frivolous to the most costly. Parents buy, manipulate, go into debt and even steal to make their children happy. What this often creates is a self-centered world perspective. There is little empathy for those less fortunate. As a society we don't know how to give sacrificially...how to serve just for the simple pleasure of a sacrifice. We can see pictures and read of people who may be suffering, but few get out of their comfort to help.
This woman, we have been looking at for a couple of days, exhibits this quality of selflessness. We saw it with her husband and family and know we see it as she moves out of her main sphere of influence and into her neighborhood. The verse says
We are not told how far this act of service extends. We know she travels far to buy and sell. So we can assume that her sphere of influence is not just next door. What I love about this verse is the expression "she opens her arms". This phrase gives me the picture of holding nothing back. The expression "open arms" can go hand in hand with "open heart". She gives as she comes across those who have a need. I think of all the places she moves through and as she sees a need, she supplies freely towards that relief.
Thoughts like this make me think of how often do I run into someone in need but have no time to help. Often, where we used to live, on the way to school there would be homeless people selling newspapers out in the street. I would often even avoid the outside lane so they would not come right up to the window. How many of us have driven past someone at a stop light asking for help? This woman kept her heart open to those in need. She demonstrates compassion to the poor and the unfortunate who have needs. And it isn't that they come to her, but it is she that goes to them.
I can't help but think, as she did this on a regular basis that her family watched. There is no greater example we can set up for our children than to show them empathy for the less fortunate. To teach and model selflessness to our kids, gives them the right perspective of what they have. God is the giver and we are the custodian. If we have anything of value it is a mercy of God. So if that becomes the foundation, then we can freely release and give.
What a wonderful thing it is to teach our kids to give. To always be ready to let go and let others have. As we display this we teach them also that they are not the center of the world, but just instruments to be used by God to serve.
The words "she extends her hands" means she works...actually helping...physical work. She just doesn't give and then leave...she invests her energy , gets right in there and works. There are many ministries around us. How about reading to kids at a center for abused women. What about serving lunch at a homeless shelter? Mission trips? What a difference we can make if we "open our arms" to those less fortunate?
We see that her influence goes first to her home then outside her home. All of this "good" she does benefits her husband and family. So much so, that we see in verse 23
This is very interesting. All this influence she has in her home, neighborhood and community elevates her husband to a position of honor. In the Middle East at this time, at the gate of the city, men who would discern the law would judge disputes. This comes from Deut. 16:18 ""you shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your towns...they shall judge the people with righteous judgement" Here at the gate, is where the "seat of justice" was...where disputes where settled and only the most honored men could make such judgements. Her husband is now there...rendering righteous opinions to resolve disputes among the people of the town. The point is, this man has a great reputation among the leaders of the city and this reputation is undergirded by his wife, because she is doing everything to make him everything he ought to be. She contributes to his success by working behind the scenes so he is unburdened with distractions. She has done all she can to build his reputation...she speaks best of him to others, she does not tear him down publicly and she speaks of him with the highest respect and admiration. WOW!
So many applications here...How do we speak about our husbands to others? Even to our children? I once heard a woman say our children should think their fathers hung the moon! But how sad that often they hear the opposite.
That's the excellent wife...she is hard to find...but not impossible!
Tomorrow we will look at her discretion for beauty...inside and out.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS SO FAR? I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN COEVERING A LOT...IT SURE IS QUIET OUT THERE!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Proverbs 31:13-19
Yesterday we read about the "Excellent wife" and her character. She is physically, morally and spiritually strong. Her husband puts full confidence in her. He trusts her with everything that is precious to him. She always seeks his best and does him good all the days of her life. She lives a life without reproach from him.
It is interesting that the author of this section, King Lemuel's mother, wanted him to know the value of finding a good wife. Women back then were thought of as property, almost slaves...definitely "second class". Very often men developed their friendships with other men and really only kept wives as servants. The King would probably have many wives but here, his mother is telling him to prize just one! And she begins telling him about her from the focus of her character. If women were thought of as servants, the qualities most desired was the ability to work hard. But his mother knows that real strength starts morally and spiritually.
She moves from an excellent wife's character to a her devotion as a homemaker. Lemuel's mother knew that her son duties would be as King and therefore would require someone who would be committed at home. She has established in his mind, the priority of a woman of character and now begins to explain she must also be devoted to her home.
She makes the transition from depicting her as a woman of virtuous character to a woman who works with her hands. Even with all the wisdom she has, she is not above hard work. Verse 13 begins by describing her as one who selects the best possible for her family. In regards to clothing, food and taking care of everyone in her house, she looks for quality. She is willing to go a bit further to find the best quality and best price. We see that from her depiction as a "merchant ship" or "ships of traders" ... she is ready to go that extra mile.
She is also a planner. She squeezes the most of her day. She is the first to rise in the morning. In these times, there was always a light kept on in a home. It was the duty of the wife to make sure the light did not go out. Should it go out, animals may attack. The wife's duty was to rise and make sure the wick had not been extinguished or the oil ran out through the night. What a responsibility we have to keep the "light" in our homes. Do we rise early for prayer and a quiet time? Do we make sure there is enough oil in our spiritual light so that we can encourage our family through God's Word? If our light is dim, how can we direct or correct?
From her duties inside the home, we also see her entrepreneurial spirit. Many here say, "look, she works out of the home!" And it is true. She does work outside the home. The key here is that she works outside while still maintaining the energy she needs to run her household. Her primary focus is her home and if she does anything outside, she still saves her best for her family. Some of us work very hard outside our homes and at the end of the day, we have nothing left for our husband and kids. We have given our best (energy, creativity, words, temperament) to our co-workers and have nothing when we get home. Some women can manage both beautifully. I think if we struggle with this, we need to check our hearts and let God's Word filter out the truth.
We see that she works vigorously, both in and outside her home. She has physical strength and energy to accomplish this. How does she find her physical strength? She works! Often housework is the best workout! When I have mopped floors, carried laundry, stepped up ladders to dust at the end of a day like that, I have sweat and my muscles hurt. I have had a workout!
Who is this "Excellent Wife" ? So far we have seen she has moral, spiritual and physical strengths. Her primary focus is her husband and home. She puts all her energy, talents, skills at home. She is clever, energetic and spiritually grounded as she maintains the "light" in her home. She is a woman of virtue. No wonder it is said of her "she is worth far more than rubies".
I have a lot to think about. A lot to aspire towards...how about you?
Tomorrow...we continue to look at her generous heart.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Proverbs 31:10:12
Picking up where we left off yesterday after the introduction to Proverbs we start looking at verses 10-12.
"A wife of noble character,
who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life"
These verses deal with the "Excellent Wife" and her relationship in marriage. This is her character as a wife. King Lemuel's mother begins to highlight to her son the character an excellent wife possesses. She first describes her as "noble" in the NIV . In in NAS she is described as "excellent". In the original Hebrew text Chayil , it means "might, strength, power. " The main meaning of this noun which occurs 244 times in the Heb. O.T. is "strength", "army" and "wealth" The same meaning is denoted for the entourage of the Queen of Sheba in 1 Kings 10:2 and II Chr. 9:1. (The key word Study Bible Lexical Aid to the O.T.)
This "excellent wife" has strength not only physically but also morally and spiritually. She is a substantial force and that is why she is prized. She has physical strength, that is how she is able to do all she does. We will see that as we move further down the text. She also has moral substance and that is why her husband has "full confidence" in her. He can trust her with all the matters of home life. It says that he "lacks nothing of value". Implied here is that all his possessions he securely entrust to her care. No separate bank accounts. No "this is mine and this is yours". He trusts her with all he has and therefore he can concentrate and put all his efforts on providing for her and his family. She is not a distraction in his mind while he is at work. In Proverbs 12:4 we saw that and excellent wife is her husband's crown. His thoughts rest in her care of what is precious to him. She is trustworthy and a good caretaker of what he brings home and therefore there is a great intimacy in their marriage.
This assumes that the woman is in charge of all domestic matters. Even finances! It is the same meaning as in 1 Timothy 5:14 "that the woman is to be the ruler of the house" Part of that is that she is to manage her home. Now, some of us have husbands managing finances. If that is how he choses to run his home, that is fine. If he runs the finaces because we can't manage it, then we need to find ways to correct our way. If managing the homes finances is something helpful to him, we need to pray for self-control and discipline in doing that.
Notice also that NOT much emphasis is given to her beauty. To often today we put much value on the physical beauty. We can even give special attention to those who are more attractive than others. As a society we dismiss virtue, character and substitute those qualities for personality, looks or education. Here, King Lemuel's mother wants to begin by exalting what is of true value, true beauty in a wife. She describes her as more "precious than rubies" The word actually describes precious stones of any kind. Some translations use the word "pearls" The point being, this is a very valuable woman--not easy to find.
The last part of this section ends with "she does him good and not evil all the days of her life" v12. She has his best interest always in her heart. She builds him up. Edifies. Encourages. She is devoted to his well-being... "all the days of her life" includes bad times, good times, prosperous time and lean times. It also includes when he is sad, mad, happy, discouraged or anxious. Her love is never measured by the circumstances but it is constant, dependable and perseveres. Her love must be deep and grounded in God's love for her to love this way. Later we will see that.
It is important to make a little side note here. Because she loves him so completely and desires his highest good, she can humbly and respectfully confront his sin. She can lovingly restore him. She tenderly confronts...always submissively and never unkindly. That is part of wanting him to be the best he can be before God. That is what loving our husband is about. Loving at all times...when it is difficult to love. Loving is seeking their best interest. Loving is doing all we can to encourage him in his walk with God. Being an instrument in God's hand for his sanctification requires patience, tenderness, godliness and most of all prayer.
Doing good is ultimately what prayer contains and achieves. When we pray for our husband our hearts grow tender...we release anger, anxiety and God can clarify our misconceptions. Prayer seeks God's good for our husband. Prayer corrects our thinking and actions. Prayer that is purposeful and centered on the best for our husbands will achieve much.
So the questions to ask ourselves as we begin to see this woman of substance and excellence are:
What can we do for our husband so when they leave home they can leave fully trusting everything to us?
How spiritually strong are you? Morally strong? Physically strong? And then what can we do to grow in those strengths?
Last, how are we praying for them? Do we pray desiring their good at all times?
Tomorrow we will look at her character as a homemaker.
Let me know your thoughts.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Proverbs 31 Woman: Introduction
Today begins our study on the Proverbs 31 Woman. She has a wonderful reputation and she is synonymous with "Excellence" As we begin this look at her, may I just say to all... lets humbly look at ourselves under her light...not to be condemned if we see how short we come but to be encouraged that "with God all things are possible". Let's remember God would not give us this view if it was not something He desires for us. We are all a work in progress...but it is He who works IN us. Let's begin by praying and trusting God that "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion in Christ" Let's keep our eyes on Him the author and perfecter of our faith.
On a side note: as we begin to commit to the memorization of Scripture, our verse this week comes right from what we will be looking at. It is not exactly from this chapter, but from Proverbs which I would commend to all of you to read Proverbs at some time. Proverbs is a practical book filled with timeless words and truths that can easily be remembered and applied. It is also great to teach kids.
OK let's just do a quick overview of Proverbs. First the book begins with the descriptions of wisdom and states that "Blessed is the man who finds it" Wisdom is described as more precious than jewels...long life is in her right hand...she is the tree of life. As I was going through the book, I found so many truths:
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue" Prob 18:21
"He who gives and answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him" Prov 18:13
"By wisdom a house is built and by undersatnding it is established" Prov 24:3
"The fear of the Lord is the fountain of life" Prov 14:26
"Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects discipline" Prov 13:18.
DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVORITES?
Second, the subject of "women" is not uncommon in Proverbs. There is a "woman" mentioned at the beginning of Proverbs who is referred to as "adulteress". She is the opposite of the "excellent woman".
Her lips "drip honey" and she has a smooth tongue (Prov. 5:3)
She seduces (Prov. 7:15-21)
She flatters with lips (Prov. 7:5)
She forsakes her husband for another man and plans to take the life of innocent victims.
Along with the "adulteress" there are many other women depicted in Proverbs.
Chapter 7 verse 11 talks about a nagging woman, "It is better to live in a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a contentious woman"
Prov. 11:22 says "A ring of gold in a swine's snout, so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion" Discretion here has to do with understanding or perception.
Prov. 21:19 says "It is better to live in a desert land that with a quarrelsome and bad-tempered woman"
And in Proverbs 12:5 a clear contrast is made "A excellent wife is the crown of her husband BUT she who shames him is as rottenness as his bones"
So the book of Proverbs has many things to say..about life, about relationships, friends, raising children and work standards. At the very end of this extensive treatise of life comes the excellent wife...it is as if after all this instruction, here at at the end, is the prize.
Proverbs tells us that as wives and mothers, we have a great deal of influence not only with our husband but our family. There is a great example of this in Scripture. 1 Kings chapter 21, tells us about Ahab's wife Jezebel. Ahab was incited to wickedness by his wife Jezebel..he brooded and pouted because he could not get a vineyard he wanted. Jezebel plotted and had the owner of the vineyard killed so Ahab could have his field. We may not "kill" someone so our husbands can have what they want, but how often do we kill someone's reputation by what we say about them? We can plot and scheme to "help" our husbands instead of praying and calling them to wait on the Lord.
There is nothing better than an "excellent wife" and nothing worse than the opposite. Tomorrow we will start looking at verse 10. But just as an introduction to this chapter, we know it is written by a mother to her son. These words are written in an acrostic style. That means every verse begins with the first letter of the Hebrew language. There are 22 verses from verse 10 to 31 and there are 22 characters in the Hebrew alphabet. Why would it be written that way? So it could be easily remembered. As mothers we know the things our children need as adults. Today we instruct them on money, washing clothes, good sportsmanship but how many of us with sons instruct them on finding an "excellent woman"? We may point out she is pretty but what about virtues? This mom knew, that more than anything her son would need was to find was a noble woman...and excellent wife. The insight and guidance she provided him becomes a timeless truth for us. The question we need to ask...how well do we instruct our children towards this?
These verses are not only a barometer to ourselves but great insight for instruction to our children or grandchildren. Proverbs 31 gives us a lot to look at and apply in the next weeks.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Smile it is Friday!
So many enjoyed the clip from last week, I found this second one. Again this is from Covenant Life Church. If you are ever around Gaithersburg, MD please go visit.
Remember it takes a minute to download and sometimes you need to double click.
The final tally is in, and our next study will be on: Proverbs 31
God provides so much insight for us through this wonderful passage. Thanks to all who voted!
I also hope you enjoyed all the "Wisdom" shared this week by such godly men and women as John Piper, Noel Piper and John MacArthur.
Could you let me know:
Which excerpt inspired you the most?
Which one challenged you?
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND...BE A BLESSING!
http://covlifemedia.org/video/FamilyRoom/Ask_Fred_part2_finalcut.mov
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Wise thoughts on saving faith and reason
One of my favorite pastors, John Piper explains the difference between saving faith and any other faith. If you would like to read the full sermon go to http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/ConferenceMessages/ByConference/35/2016_Faith_and_Reason/
Here is just a precious nugget:
"... the Pharisees are asking for a sign when they have all the signs they need. They are asking for a sign to give the impression that there is not enough evidence that Jesus is the Messiah and so they are justified not to receive him, when the problem is really a spirit of adultery. They don’t want this bridegroom. They prefer another. But Jesus’ response is to show them that they have all the signs they need and they are perfectly able to use their senses and their minds to make valid judgments when they are trying to draw valid inferences about what they want. The explanation of their skepticism about Jesus’ is not lack of evidence or lack of rational powers. The explanation is: They are adulterous. They don’t want Jesus as their bridegroom. Their heart is evil, and their evil hearts disorder their rational powers and make them morally incapable of reasoning rightly about Jesus.
This is what Paul said in Ephesians 4:18 about fallen man in general: “They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.” In other words, at the bottom of human irrationality and spiritual ignorance is hardness of heart. That is, our self-centered hearts distort our reason to the point where we cannot use it to draw true inferences from what is really there. If we don’t want God to be God, our sensory faculties and our rational faculties will not be able to infer that he is God.
In 2 Corinthians 3:14, Paul says the mind is “hardened” (epōrōthē). In 1 Timothy 6:5, he calls the mind “depraved” (diephtharmenōn). And in Romans 1:21, he says that thinking has become “futile” (emaraiōthēsan) and “darkened” (eskotisthē) and “foolish” (asunetos) because men “by their unrighteousness suppress the truth” (Romans 1:18). In other words, unrighteousness disorders the capacity to see the truth. The corruption of our hearts is the root of our irrationality....
Nevertheless, the New Testament speaks of the use of our minds everywhere in the process of Christian conversion and growth and obedience. For example, at lease ten times in the book of Acts, Luke says that Paul’s strategy was to “reason” with people in his effort to convert them and build them up (Acts 17:2, 4, 17; 18:4, 19; 19:8, 9; 20:7, 9; 24:25). And Paul said to the Corinthians that he would rather speak five words with his mind to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue (1 Corinthians 14:19). He said to the Ephesians, “When you read this, you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:4). In other words, engaging the mind in the highly intellectual task of reading and construing Paul’s language is a pathway into the mystery God has given him to reveal.
And perhaps most helpful of all is the word to Timothy about the relationship of reason and divine illumination. In 2 Timothy 2:7, he says, “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” So many people swerve off the road to one side of this verse or the other. Some stress “think over what I say.” They emphasize the indispensable role of reason and thinking. And they often minimize the supernatural role of God in making the mind able to see and embrace the truth. Others stress the second half of the verse: “And the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” They emphasize the futility of reason without God’s illumining work. “The Lord will give you understanding.”
But Paul will not be divided this way. He says: not either-or, but both-and. “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” The willingness of God to give us understanding is the ground of our thinking, not the substitute for our thinking. “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding.” There is no reason to think that a person who thinks without prayerful trust in God’s gift of understanding will get it. And there is no reason to think that a person who waits for God’s gift of understanding without thinking about his word will get it either.
Paul commands us to think about what he says. Use your mind. Engage your reasoning powers when you hear the word of God. Jesus warned what happens if we don’t and what blessing may come if we do. In the parable of the soils, he said concerning the seed sown on the path: “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.” Understanding with the mind is not optional. Our lives hang on it. And concerning the seed sown on good soil, he says, “This is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty” (Matthew 13:23).
It is true that, as Paul says in Romans 10:17, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” But Jesus says that hearing without understanding produces nothing. When we hear the word of God, Paul says, we must “think over” what we hear. Otherwise, we will fall under the indictment of Jesus: “Hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand” (Matthew 13:13).
So, even though our natural minds are depraved and darkened and foolish, nevertheless, the New Testament demands that we use them in coming to faith and leading people to faith and in the process of Christian growth and obedience. There is no way to awaken faith or strengthen faith that evades right thinking.
Before we ponder how that can be, in view of how corrupt we are, we turn briefly from the focus on reason to consider the nature of faith.
The Nature of Faith
The only kind of faith that matters in the end is saving faith—the faith that unites us to Christ so that his righteousness is counted as ours in justification, and his power flows into us for sanctification. In other words, I am not interested in faith in general—the faith of other religions that is not faith in Christ, or the faith of science in the validity of its first principles, or the faith of children in their parents, or any other kind of faith that is not in Christ. I am only interested in the faith that obtains eternal life. The faith that saves. The faith that justifies (Romans 3:28; Galatians 2:16) and sanctifies (Acts 26:18; 1 Peter 4:11).
To get at the nature of that faith, it is helpful to ponder why faith alone justifies. Why not love, or some other virtuous disposition? Here’s the way J. Gresham Machen answers this question in his 1925 book, What Is Faith?
The true reason why faith is given such an exclusive place by the New Testament, so far as the attainment of salvation is concerned, over against love and over against everything else in man . . . is that faith means receiving something, not doing something or even being something. To say, therefore, that our faith saves us means that we do not save ourselves even in slightest measure, but that God saves us.2
In other words, we are justified by faith alone, and not by love, because God intends to make it crystal clear that he does the decisive saving outside of us and that the person and work of Christ are the sole ground of our acceptance with God. A hundred years earlier Andrew Fuller (the main rope-holder for William Carey in England) gave the same explanation.
Thus it is that justification is ascribed to faith, because it is by faith that we receive Christ; and thus it is by faith only, and not by any other grace. Faith is peculiarly a receiving grace which none other is. Were we said to be justified by repentance, by love, or by any other grace, it would convey to us the idea of something good in us being the consideration on which the blessing was bestowed; but justification by faith conveys no such idea.3
So, what sets faith apart from other graces and virtues is that it is “a peculiarly receiving grace.” That’s why Paul says in Ephesians 2:8, “By grace you have been saved through faith.” Grace from God correlates with faith in us. And the reason is that grace is God’s free giving and faith is our helpless receiving. When God justifies us by faith alone, he has respect not to faith as virtue but faith as a receiving of Christ. So it is the same as saying that not our virtue but Christ’s virtue is the ground of our justification.
Now the key question is: What does faith receive in order to be justifying faith? The answer, of course, is that faith receives Jesus Christ. “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). “To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Faith saves because it receives Christ.
But we must make clear what this actually means, because there are so many people who say they have received Christ and believed on Christ, who give little or no evidence that they are spiritually alive. They are unresponsive to the spiritual beauty of Jesus. They are unmoved by the glory of Christ. They don’t have the spirit of the apostle Paul when he said, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8). This is not their spirit, yet they say they have received Christ.
One way to describe this problem is to say that when these people “receive Christ,” they do not receive him as supremely valuable. They receive him simply as sin-forgiver (because they love being guilt-free), and as rescuer-from-hell (because they love being pain-free), and as healer (because they love being disease-free), and as protector (because they love being safe), and as prosperity-giver (because they love being wealthy), and as Creator (because they want a personal universe), and as Lord of history (because they want order and purpose); but they don’t receive him as supremely and personally valuable for who he is. They don’t receive him as he really is—more glorious, more beautiful, more wonderful, more satisfying, than everything else in the universe. They don’t prize him or treasure him or cherish him or delight in him.
Or to say it another way, they “receive Christ” in a way that requires no change in human nature. You don’t have to be born again to love being guilt-free and pain-free and disease-free and safe and wealthy. All natural men without any spiritual life love these things. But to embrace Jesus as your supreme treasure requires a new nature. No one does this naturally. You must be born again (John 3:3). You must be a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15). You must be made spiritually alive (Ephesians 2:1-4).
Therefore, saving faith is a receiving of Christ for who he really is and what he really is, namely, more glorious, more wonderful, more satisfying, and therefore more valuable than anything thing in the universe. Saving faith says, “I receive you as my Savior, my Lord, my supreme Treasure; and I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Which is why Jesus said, “Therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). And again, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37). And again, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matthew 13:44).
The infinite glory of Jesus makes him infinitely valuable and infinitely satisfying. Saving faith receives this Christ. Not that we experience the fullness of joy now, or the climax of satisfaction in this life, but we taste it (Psalm 34:8) and we know where it is found (John 6:35) and we “press on to make it [our] own, because Christ Jesus has made [us] his own” (Philippians 3:12)..."
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
More wise words...
A few years back John MacArthur gave a sermon on the "Humiliation of Christ". As an introduction to his wonderful expository style preaching, he begins with a quote from C.S. Lewis' book "Miracles". It is a beautiful depiction of Christ...I hope you dive in and marvel at Christ' humility and deity.
John MacArthur begins:
OUR SURVEY CONTINUES THIS WEEK...
Please let me know the subject you are interested in ...
Parenting:
1-Disciple for small children.
2-Discipline for teens
3-Devotions time with kids
4-Teaching and modeling purity to our girls
5-Protecting our boys from worldly lust
Women:
1-Proverbs 31 Woman
2-Godly friendships
3-Home missions
E-mail your pick to girlschat@gmail.com
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Sharing wise thoughts...
I am sorry for the late post. It has been a full day and it looks like it will not slow down all week. Between doctor appointment, dental appointments, science projects (I thought I was out of that stage but I see not yet) baseball tryouts and all the other home duties... I find myself running out of time. So, please allow me to share with you this week the wise thoughts and insights of men and women whose ministry has greatly encouraged many. Today I share the thoughts of Noel Piper, wife of John Piper (whom many of you are familiar with and are very grateful for his ministry) She share her thoughts on submission and letting her husband lead. ENJOY THE RIDE!
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"Sunscreen on, helmets buckled, pedals in sync, and we were on our way. After a few minutes, Johnny called over his shoulder, “You’re doing pretty well for your first time on a tandem.” Without a thought, I replied: “I guess all these years of marriage have been good practice.”
Here are some random lessons learned last week riding along the Cannon Valley Trail behind my husband on a bicycle built for two:
If I throw my weight around, we wobble and swerve.
My initial “seasickness” eases when I quit resisting and let him lean the bike into curves and turns in the path.
I often feel as if I’m not really adding much to the effort. But I must be doing my part, because if I lift my feet, he feels it and asks, “Are you still there?”
My instinct is to press harder on the pedals to make sure I’m carrying my share of the load. But when I do, he says, “Slow down. Don’t push me so fast.”
Looking over his shoulder, I can see a lot of what he sees, but not what’s immediately in front of us. Good thing he’s the one steering, braking, and changing gears. On the other hand, I’m more free to look around and point out the mile markers and the turtles basking on a log.
I can’t brake or steer, but I do have the power to stop the bike and ruin the ride. If I stand still on the pedals and refuse to move, he can’t make them turn.
I love it when we’re on level ground and using a gear that sets a slow, steady pedaling that surges us forward. But I need warning when he changes to a setting that requires fast foot strokes. When I’m caught off guard, my feet are slung from the pedals and it’s a trick to get them back in place without snarling the progress up a steep hill.
When I realize I’m gripping the handlebars, I have to remind myself, “Let go! You’ve always wanted to ride ‘no hands.’ Now you can!”
When I’m ready to turn back, he’s aiming for one more mile marker. When I’m ready to finish easy, he says, “Let’s see if we can beat our record.” With that kind of encouragement, I do what never would have happened if I’d been on my own.
Near the end, when I see one more hill, I open my mouth to say, “Let me off. I’ll walk up.” Then I realize how foolish we’d look, me plodding alone and him trying to keep the bike going by himself. So I shut up and keep pedaling.
And I discover that, when we pedal together, impossible inclines become possible.
Perhaps the 19th century songwriter was wiser than he knew when he created a marriage proposal that said, “You’ll look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two.” It makes me think of what Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:22-24: “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.”
Monday, January 14, 2008
Did you know?
THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING CLIP...It takes about ten minutes to go through it all but you really get the gist of it within 3 minutes.
It is just food for thought....it also serves as a good place to search our own hearts to see where we stand. I did not know the history behind this.
OUR SURVEY CONTINUES FOR ONE MORE WEEK...
SO FAR "PROVERBS 31 WOMAN "TOPIC LEADS..
Please let me know the subject you are interested in ...
Parenting:
1-Disciple for small children.
2-Discipline for teens
3-Devotions time with kids
4-Teaching and modeling purity to our girls
5-Protecting our boys from worldly lust
Women:
1-Proverbs 31 Woman
2-Godly friendships
3-Home missions
E-mail your pick to girlschat@gmail.com
Also don't forget our Bible verse memorization on the left column
Friday, January 11, 2008
Smile it is Friday!
As we start the year some of us are trying to establish "Date Night" . This little clip from Covenant Life Church is a great "how NOT to" guide. I will leave it up to you if you want to show your hubby. By the way this a wonderful Church whose Pastor Joshua Harris has written some of the books that were in our Christmas Gift-Giving list and former Pastor is husband to Carolynn Mahaney our first Book Club study.
Please notice we have started the verse memorization on the left column...and we also have opened up the comment link so you may leave your thoughts. Just click on the "comments" link after the post.
Have a great weekend!
http://www.covlifemedia.org/transfer/Ask%20Fred%20Part1-rough.mov
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Holiness part 4
I finish today this brief look at Holiness. I did make it my only new year's resolution because I believe if I pursue holiness then I can achieve many other things. I have learned that Holy really means separated and consecrated...it means God has called me and separated me for Himself. I have been called out of the world and into God's kingdom. I also have discovered what holiness looks like...I must love righteousness and hate evil. I must hate the things that God hates and as I looked at Proverbs 6:16-19 the first thing He hates is a "Haughty look". Of course there are many other things listed in Scripture which God hates:
"Lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans...one who spreads strife" V17-19
God also hates ritualistic empty-hearted worship. Isaiah 1:12-14
God hates the act of divorce. Mal 2:16
As RC Sproul puts it in his book "The Holiness of God"
Then can I ask...Do you want more of Him?
Is that your confession? Is it your desire to now Christ in His fullness? Do you long to grow in holiness?
Would you commit to that? Then let's do it together! Encouraging one another towards that goal pleases God.
To help in that, I will be adding each week a verse to memorise. Look for it on the left hand column. Write it down...memorize. Let me know how it affected your thinking. Let's encourage one another. Let's make 2008 a year to draw closer to Christ, know Him better and grow in godliness.
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The survey continues:
I would like to know what you would like to focus on next. Please let me know the subject you are interested in ...
Parenting:1-Disciple for small children.
2-Discipline for teens
3-Devotions time with kids
4-Teaching and modeling purity to our girls
5-Protecting our boys from worldly lust
Women:
1-Proverbs 31 Woman
2-Godly friendships
3-Home missions
E-mail your pick to girlschat@gmail.com
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Holiness part 3
Andrew Murray in his book "Path to Holiness" makes this application: "I have only as much faith as I have of the Spirit. This then, is what I most need to live entirely under the influence of the Spirit"
What is it he needs? He needs more faith. In Scripture we see that a God can add to our faith. Jesus added and completed John the Baptist's faith when he was in jail. Jesus sent "word" back to John to cancel his doubts. (Doubt really is unbelief...unbelief is lack of faith) The apostles asked for their faith to be increased. And each time it was increased, it was by the words of Christ. Christ is the Living Word. (We talked about that last month. You can go back to Archives or Past Posts section to the left column and re-read it if you need refreshment)
To live a "spirit filled life" is to live saturated in the Word. That is where our unbelief becomes belief. That is the case for everyone who desires to live a holy life. But it is not as if God has to keep adding everyday more of His Spirit so we may be Holy.
2 Peter 1:3-4 states
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires"
Did you get that in the first sentence? ALL that we need to live a life that is godly and holy has been given to us in Christ. Our response to this great exchange is to live fully appropriating what has been deposited.
I heard a story not to long ago of a man who died alone in his home. No one knew much about him. He died in the poorest of conditions. His home was in shambles. His clothes appeared to not have been washed or changed in months. When police began to try and find his identity they were astonished. Seems to be this man was the son of one of the wealthiest families in California. As police began to research financial records they found he was worth millions! Yet with all that at his disposal, this man chose live a life of a pauper. That is how most of us live...we live as paupers not utilizing the riches of our adoption into God's family. We live meagerly, from struggle to disappointment as we move through this life. But that is not how it should be...we have a great resource to draw everyday from.
That is the life I desire in 2008.
I would like to know what you would like to focus on next. Please let me know the subject you are interested in ...
Parenting:
1-Disciple for small children.
2-Discipline for teens
3-Devotions time with kids
4-Teaching and modeling purity to our girls
5-Protecting our boys from worldly lust
Women:
1-Proverbs 31 Woman
2-Godly friendships
3-Home missions
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Holiness part 2
Looking further at this new year's resolution to "Be holy" I am again humbled at the very thought. I know myself....I know those secret emotions, thoughts and desires. I look at all of that and think "I am so far from holiness" "How could I ever..." That's it! I can't...but listen to this
" The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it" 1 Thess. 5:24.
As I am understanding this, there is a sequence:
1-God is Holy.
2-He calls us to be holy.
3: Christ is our provision for holiness.
When we are saved we are given everything we need to live a life of holiness. It is just a disciplined choice, on an hourly basis, to live in the fullness of Christ. That is what the Bible calls "Being filled with the Spirit" Eph. 5:18.
So how would a life filled with the spirit look like? Here are just but a few of the ways:
1--I must love righteousness and hate wickedness. That means what God hates, I must be on His side. I remove myself from earthly allegiance towards heavenly allegiance. When God says in Proverbs 6:16
"There are 6 things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to Him:
Haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers."
Do you find it strange that on the very top of God's list of the things He hates is "haughty eyes"? Why would it not be murder, or blaspheme or adultery? Why would He call out haughtiness? I believe that this one sin alone, is the birthing ground for all else. Haughty here means arrogance and pride. It is the sin which caused Satan to be cast out of heaven...it is the sin that caused Adam and Eve to fall. Haughtiness sets itself up against God...it says "I am my own God" "I direct my path...I will do as I please" Haughtiness sets itself up against others. "I am right!" "I will not submit!" "I am better at this than you!" And haughtiness sets itself up as ruler and king. Haughtiness chooses its own way over anything.
If I am to live a life that is holy...and reflect Christ in me, then here is where I must begin.
Isaiah 66:2 says "This is the one I esteem:
he who is humble and contrite in spirit
and trembles at my word."
James 4:10 tells us to "humble ourselves before the Lord"
Matthew 23:12 tells us that "whoever humbles himself will be exalted"
Isn't it just like God to take whatever seems contradictory and make it right in His economy? He calls us to humble ourselves so we may be exalted...in our own way of thinking those two words seem contradictory...but in His mind they are in perfect harmony. That is because as we humble ourselves it is Christ in us who exalts us. It is His character that rises up as our haughtiness is broken. This is the greatest of exchange...the lowly for the highest!
So that is my first step in seeking to love a holy life...humble myself before God. Let Christ be exalted in me.
When I desire to lash back...I will choose gentleness and meekness. When I want it done my way...I will chose God's way... quietness and kindness. And trust God with all the outcome. He is sovereign and "will work ALL things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose" Romans 8:28
Tomorrow part 3.
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The survey continues. Please look at the post from yesterday to make your choice. Then e-mail to girlschat@gmail.com
Monday, January 7, 2008
What is Holiness? Part 1
We returned January 3 from a week in Colorado. 10 suitcases had to be packed BUT even worse...10 had to be unpacked! Ski jackets had to be washed, ski pants, thermal underwear...(I have to say those of you who may live in cold climates, I don't know how you do it...I was exhausted just getting dressed!) Anyway...all that is now done...suitcases are back in storage, clothes are all neatly stored or back in drawers and it does feel like a new start.
The Greek word for Holy is HAIGOS it means "set apart, sanctified, consecrated. It has a common root HAG-, with HAGNOS which means chase and pure. Its fundamental idea is separation, consecration, devotion to the service of God, sharing in God's purity and abstaining from earth's defilement." Greek Word Study Bible.
This seems like a daunting task...something I can not attain. And that is true...on my own I CAN NOT...but I am "In Christ" and God would never call us to be holy unless that was already attained through Christ. Did you see that?...it is already fullfiled in Christ. It is not as if I have to work my way towards Holiness...I have the fullness of it in Christ. What I must strive for is appropriating His holiness. Louis Sperry Shafer puts it this way, "It is not a matter of acquiring more of the Spirit, but rather the Spirit of God acquiring more of the individual" I must live and submit ALL of me to the powerful influence of His Spirit...That is how I must live...that is holiness.
So my new year's resolution is to yield more of my thoughts, desires, values, motives, goals, priorities and everything else to His ways, His thoughts, priorities etc.
Can I do this? YES! In Christ all of God's promises are Yes!
