Patience for Patients

John C. Kwasny May 1, 2020

10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.  (Romans 12:10-12)

Anyone who knows me well understands how much I love etymology, the study of the origins of words.  It just fascinates me to learn how our words, terms, and colloquial phrases originate, as well as how far from original meanings we have strayed.  Then, there’s also the variety of ways we can use the same word to communicate things that are very different.  A term that is on my mind lately is PATIENT.  I wonder why?  Just think about it with me for a moment.  While, as Christians, we are repeatedly commanded to be patient, none of us ever wants to be a patient—especially in our current pandemic.  A patient (noun) is literally “one who suffers,” and to be patient (adjective) is “to suffer long.”  So, when you are a patient in a hospital or even at home, you are suffering with a disease or illness that needs care and cure.  You are a sufferer.  But, when you are striving to be patient with another person or within the context of a hard situation, you are also a type of sufferer—you are having to suffer long. In a sense, we all have been treated as patients over the last couple of months, haven’t we?  Of course, some among us throughout the world are actual patients in hospitals and medical care facilities, suffering from the ravages of Covid-19 (as well as many other unrelated diseases and conditions).  The rest of us are still being somewhat quarantined, limited in our activity, and even having to live with the possibility that we may be asymptomatic carriers of the virus.  So, we are all patients, even if we are not all sick.  Or, to use the original word meaning: We are all sufferers during this current crisis.  And, again, no one ever wants to be a patient, not even for a short time.  To be a patient always tests our patience.  To suffer always forces us to deal with the challenge of learning how to be long-suffering.

In Romans 12, Paul presents us with a laundry list of very brief, precise, and difficult commands:  Love one another.  Show honor to one another.  Do not be lazy.  Be fervent.  Serve God.  We need the work of the Spirit to do any of these well.  But, then, he pens three more imperatives that we so desperately need to hear right now: Rejoice in hope.  Be patient in tribulation.  Be constant in prayer.  Read those again.  Rejoice in hope.  Be patient in tribulation.  Be constant in prayer.  Are you rejoicing in hope that we will get through this pandemic, unless the Lord Jesus returns?  Are you patient (suffering long) in this time of tribulation?  Are you constant in prayer, for not only the end of our suffering, but for the specific needs in your life and those around you? 

As the old, well-worn joke goes: no one ever really prays for patience.  But as patients, God always grants new opportunities for you to be patient.  Patient with your spouse, your children, your parents.  Patient within your current circumstances.  Patient with our leaders.  Patient with those around you who may be fearful or insensitive to you.  As co-sufferers in this world together, let’s pray and seek to be able to suffer long in Jesus Christ, our Suffering Servant. 

The COVID-19 Good Samaritan

Dean Williams April 30, 2020                                                                               

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.” (Luke 10:30-34)

This parable was spoken by Jesus as a response to the question, “Who is my neighbor?” The question was posed by a fellow Jew, one who would have been in complete shock when he heard the parable. You see, it was common knowledge that the Jews and Samaritans absolutely hated each other.  Here, Jesus directly attacks and dismantles that culturally held norm. He does so by communicating two things: (1) our acts of compassion should not be confined solely to those who we consider to be in our inner circle; and (2) our love and care for those around us should be evidenced by volitional acts of engagement, which might include addressing the immediate needs of those around us who might be experiencing some form of distress. There are two quick insights to offer here:

First, regarding lesson #1, “Our acts of compassion should not be confined solely to those who we consider to be in our inner circle”:  In this parable, Jesus dramatically drives home this point by noting it was a Samaritan, not a priest (whose job it was to intercede for his people), nor a Levite (who was called to assist the priest in his duty to serve the people), but one who was completely outside the accepted circle of friends, family, and associates.

Secondly, regarding lesson #2, “Our love and care for those around us should be evidenced by volitional acts of engagement, which might include addressing the immediate needs of those around us who might be experiencing some form of distress”: In this parable, the Jewish victim had an immediate need for medical care. Not only did the Samaritan man attempt to address the man’s physical needs by first tending to them himself, but he also provided his own personal resources; his oil, wine, money, and his ride (donkey). It would be fair to say that the Samaritan’s actions were sacrificial in nature. After all, he was going against the norm of his day, and this could have subjected him to both the ire of those around him and a loss of resources which he could have used for his own benefit or pleasure.

Today, I would like us to consider two thoughts that are related to this parable. First, we should be able to see ourselves as the victim in this parable, not because we were members of God’s covenant community and were rescued by an outsider. Clearly, that is not the case for most of us (Gentiles). But because we were in desperate need of being rescued from the wrath of God and the unending ravages of sin in our lives. Sin stripped and beat us out of any hope of being reconciled to God. But the good news, the Scriptures tell us, is that while we were yet sinners, our neighbor and friend, Jesus, died for us. He sacrificed himself on our behalf, giving up the greatest resource in existence, life itself (Phil. 2:5-8). And because of his actions, we have been made whole.

The second thing I would like us to consider is our response to what Christ has done for us, and how this parable should guide that response. To do this, let me first refer you back to Philippians 2:5, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” Exactly what mind or mindset was the apostle Paul alluding to here? The answer is found in the preceding verses which state, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” These verses describe the mindset that contributed to Jesus’ ministry to the poor, the broken hearted, the special needs community, and to many who were bound in the irremovable chains of sin. It ultimately resulted in the greatest act of sacrifice in the history of mankind, Christ’s death on the Cross.

For us, this mindset should be accompanied by a heart filled with gratitude, recognizing that we fit the description, spiritually and otherwise, of every area of need that Jesus lovingly and sacrificially addressed. This, in turn, should prompt us to clothe ourselves with the same mindset of service and sacrifice, while asking the question, “How now should we live and serve?” Well, I am glad you asked. In the coming weeks and months, we can expect to see, and experience, the negative consequences associated with the current pandemic. Many will have suffered the loss of their jobs.  Familial strains and hostilities are commonplace right now and might be even more prevalent in the days to come. Post-traumatic stress related emotions will start to manifest themselves in some who suffered in ways disproportionate to what most of us either have, or will have experienced during the pandemic (health, family, unable to grieve for or bury loved ones, job, finances…). What we have before us is a COVID-19 Samaritan call to be a blessing to those around us, to be the hands and feet of Christ, to a lost and dying, and now physically ailing, world.

As we consider these things, I echo an inspired voice from the past, Mordecai (Esther 4:14b), saying, “And who knows whether we have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” I pray our joint response will be to strategically, or even clumsily, map out ways in which we can be the Lord’s hands and feet in just “such a time as this.” 

 

 

Counsel for Pandemic Parenting

April 29, 2020

Biblical Counseling and Training Ministries (BCTM) sent out a helpful article for parents this past week sharing some suggestions about how to process these quarantine weeks and months with our children. I hope it will be an encouragement to you as you seek to continue to raise your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

3 Practical Ways to Help Our Children During COVID-19

by Sara Littlejohn, MAC 
Counselor, BCTM-East MS


It was eleven o’clock on a school night and my 7th grade daughter sat on the edge of my bed sobbing, “It is all just too much!” We were on day two of distance learning and day 20 of social distancing. I crawled up next to her and whispered, “I know, I know, it is all too much for me too!”  I wrapped her up in a hug and told her I wanted her to go to bed and whatever had gone sideways with her day - with her school assignments, with her heart and mind - we were going to evaluate it under the light of a new day. 

There is no prize being handed out to the set of parents who quarantine the best during COVID-19. Some families are genuinely enjoying the extra time with their children at a slower pace of life. Some families are really struggling, feel like they are drowning, and making it through each day is a complete victory. As thoughtful and compassionate believers, we would be wise to give each other an extra ounce of grace to run the full spectrum of parenting emotions during this quarantine.
 
Whether you are living your best quarantine life right now or just surviving this quarantine life, here are a few suggestions that might help your kids process what is going on around them. And if it all feels like it is just too much and you cannot handle one more suggestion, that’s ok! Hug those babies and keep moving forward. 

Find the Heart
Right now our kids are experiencing a broad range of emotions: disappointment, fear, loneliness, exhaustion, confusion, relief, happiness, depression, anxiety and so many more. One helpful thing to do is find a healthy outlet for our kids to express what they are feeling and experiencing.

As parents, we do not like seeing our children anxious, disappointed or sad. But it is very important to invite our children to share with us what they are feeling and experiencing. They are real people, with real feelings and real experiences. And they are carrying all of it around in their tiny bodies. We might assume we know what they are feeling and experiencing, but until we give them the opportunity to tell us, we cannot be certain.

By inviting our children to share with us what they are feeling and experiencing we are directly reflecting how our Heavenly Father invites all of us to share with Him what we are feeling and experiencing.

Inviting our children to share with us what is going on inside of them will look differently for each. Some kids will love to journal their thoughts, feelings and experiences. Some kids will better be able to express their feelings through drawing you a picture, a Play-Doh sculpt or a Lego tower. Some kids will want to sing you a song or even put on a play about how they are feeling. Get creative here! Give them a simple prompt, “Journal, draw, sculpt, build with Legos, sing me a song, or put on a play about how you feel about the Coronavirus.” After they complete the prompt have them explain their project to you to the best of their ability. As a parent, this can be a rich time of uncovering what is going on in their little hearts and minds. Besides helping you understand your children, giving them this kind of opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings in healthy, constructive ways might also keep them from more unhealthy and destructive expressions later on. 

Remember, after you invite your children to share their experiences and feelings with you, you want to respond by thanking them for sharing with you personal and important things. Don’t try to fix their feelings or minimize their feelings. Instead, ask them if there’s anything you can do to love and encourage them right now. Or even better, pray with your children after they share. You can teach them by example how to take those personal experiences and feelings they just shared with you to the Lord. Together, in word and deed, you can boldly approach the throne of grace knowing you serve a God who hears the prayers of his children.

Find a Rhythm
Many of us have undergone a major shift in our schedule and daily routine. We are all searching for something predictable and familiar. Finding a new rhythm will not look the same for every family, but it can be helpful to establish one while we all learn to wait well. 

Some families will benefit from a daily schedule with activities designated for each hour. I would digress in my sanctification if I tried to implement this in our home, but many of my cherished friends and family are thriving in this approach. Some families (like mine) are benefiting from a list of things that need to be accomplished and then going about doing them throughout the day. Regardless of how you find your new rhythm, make it one that is fitting for both you and your children. Don’t try and be a superhero. Be reasonable and keep your expectations on yourself and your kids sane. Remember, no prizes are being handed out for the most beautiful, crafty and organized quarantine. Your new daily rhythm might look like keeping all the people under your roof alive, fed and clothed. Celebrate even these seemingly small accomplishments! 

While the rearrangement of our days can be disillusioning, remember to point your heart and your children’s hearts to a rhythm and a foundation that never shifts beneath us: the God who is our sure foundation and our stability during this time (Isaiah 33:6). He is the God that supplies us every day with our daily bread (Matthew 6:11). He is the God who never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). We cannot promise our children or predict for our children how these next few days, months and years are going to unfold, but we absolutely can point them to the God who holds our every single day. 

Find Hope
It is not a matter of if we are going to blow it as parents during quarantine, but really a matter of when (and how often) we are going to blow it. We are going to lose our patience, say unkind words, be selfish, get frustrated and lose our way. But what an opportunity to practice repentance and humility before our children. If you sin against your child, repent. If your child sins against you, forgive. Isaiah 40:11 reminds us that our Savior gently leads those that are with young. I don’t know about you, but I need a gentle Guide right now. We are with our young a lot right now, and Jesus never stops pouring out His grace and His kindness toward us as we navigate this new terrain. It's alright to admit how confused, upset, irritated, or anxious you are right now - that's exactly why you need a Savior! So put your hope in him, and point your kids toward him (not yourself) for hope as well.

A new day did come for my struggling 7th grade daughter. The sun came up and a new day dawned, and while our troubles did not disappear we were able approach them with new energy. A new day is also going to come for each of us. COVID-19 does not get to write the final chapter of our days and even our lives. Our hope, our children’s hope and the only hope for this broken world is found in the Living Hope that is Jesus Christ. May just an ounce of this hope sprinkle onto our everydays as we seek to gently lead our children as we are gently led by the Good Shepherd himself. 

How Not to Lose Heart During a Pandemic Quarantine

April 27, 2020

During our Question/Answer time following the morning service yesterday (you can find the service and the Q/A here), the first question was a great one, and I was only able to give a partial answer off the cuff - but several more answers have come to mind in the past day and a half. The question was this: “What are some ways to stay positive and not descend into the spiral of negativity which is so easy to get trapped in during this time?” The question recognizes how difficult the past two months have been - many feel trapped, stuck at home, stuck with their families, unable to go where they are used to going and do what they are used to doing. It is easy to get discouraged, to lose heart, to grow weary - even to grow discontent, bitter at God, covetous of the way we were able to live before this pandemic. To be sure, these are days of sorrow and loss, so if we are grieved and saddened and mourning, such emotion is to be expected and affirmed. Too often we try to do every thing we can not to be sad. Yet sadness, in a fallen world, is an appropriate response. But like the apostles, God calls us to be “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (II Corinthians 6:10) - to grieve as those with a great hope (I Thessalonians 4:13). How do we do that?

I answered this question by reminding us how important it is to begin and spend and end our days in the word of God and in prayer. Meditating on God’s promises, God’s character, and God’s grace to us in Jesus Christ throughout the day will enable us not to lose heart as we struggle through a pandemic quarantine (see II Corinthians 4:16-18). But there are other good and helpful answers to this question. Here are a few (starting the list with the number 2 so that we don’t forget #1 above):

2. Spend time with other people. Now maybe you think, “This is exactly what I’m not able to do!!” or “It’s the people around me that are causing me to be so negative!!” It may be true that you aren’t able to be with people as easily as you once were. But I encourage you to be creative in how you spend time with others. Perhaps it something as simple as an old fashioned phone call, or as high tech as a Zoom or Facetime video chat. Perhaps you sit in someone’s driveway and talk to them or eat lunch together from a distance. Perhaps you participate in the new social distanced practice of drive-by home parades, and talk from your cars. If you’re able to combine #1 and #2, all the better - how we need to be encouraging one another with the word of God, strengthening one another in the Lord (I Samuel 23:16; I Thessalonians 5:11). Make sure to spend time with people who are going to comfort and sympathize with you, but who will also challenge and rebuke your discontentment, and exhort you to put your trust in the Lord with them.

3. Get outside. This may seem like an “unspiritual” answer - but when you recall that God has made us body and soul, and that God has made all things to display His glory, then Christians must never forget that one of the best ways not to lose heart is to spend time in nature, in God’s creation. Not only will you get needed vitamins (and recognizing that our souls are affected by our bodies, how important it is during these times to recognize the connection between physical health and spiritual health), but you will get needed perspective. God is sustaining all creation, and He will sustain you all your life. See the majesty and goodness of God in plants, animals, bodies of waters, the blowing wind, the brilliant sun. Read Psalm 8, Psalm 19, Romans 1:18ff., Acts 14:17 - then go out and see the power and kindness of God.

4. Serve someone. One of the best ways to fight negativity and discouragement and a downcast spirit, is to focus on someone other than yourself. Often our negativity is sinful: it’s selfish, self-centered, envious, jealous, bitter, prideful, discontented, covetous. Fight off these bad fruits by seeking to do good to someone around you. Love your neighbor, whether through writing them a letter, making or baking them something, buying something for them, doing something unexpected for them, etc. Joy comes from making someone else happy. Be a blessing to someone else in need - and you won’t only see that your needs are not perhaps as large as you’ve made them out to be, but you will also gain the blessing promised in Jesus’ word: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Undoubtedly there are more ways not to lose heart as we suffer through this season of affliction - so please leave your answers in the comment section below!

God-Confidence brings Contentment

John C. Kwasny

April 24, 2020

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”  (Hebrews 13:5-6)

We are inching closer to being able to re-open some businesses, having more movement in society, and getting our economy going in the right direction again.  I know we all wish that day would come sooner than later--especially for all who are unemployed or are losing significant income as business owners.  One of the most disgusting political ploys during this pandemic has been the irrational pitting of those who “love money” against those who “love people.”  It goes something like this: If you are in some way concerned about the economy, then you don’t care that people are dying from Covid-19.  This effort has created a warped either/or: it’s either the economy, or it’s public health.  We’re being told that if we truly loved people we wouldn’t even care how long we have to do without money to provide for our families.  Now, hopefully, you can see through this illogic and know that you can actually be FOR people living AND FOR people making a living.  It doesn’t have to be one or the other.  We need to protect human lives AND we need the engine of the economy to start humming along again.

Yet, in a time when all of our incomes have been impacted to a small, medium, or even large certain extent, it is important to examine our hearts to see if we are, in fact, driven by the love of money.  No, you may not be an Ebenezer Scrooge; but, have you found yourself fearful and anxious as your savings has dipped or your income has fallen?  Have you had to give up some creature comforts that have caused a bit of sadness or even depression?  It would do us good to remember what the writer of the Hebrews says:  that the opposite of the love of money is the dreaded word, “contentment.”  Be honest, you don’t like that word either, do you?  Sure, we all want contentment in our lives, but to actually, actively BE CONTENT is another matter.  We are, by nature, discontented beings.  It takes the work of the Spirit in our lives to find that secret of daily contentment.  Unfortunately, we only learn if we are truly content when we are in the midst of trying times--like the present!

But don’t miss HOW the Spirit produces contentment in our hearts: It happens when we put our confidence in God alone.  Now, I don’t know about you, but I often put my “money-making” confidence in my own skill, giftedness, employability, and overall ability!  But God’s Word calls on us not to be more self-confident, but increasingly God-confident.  Look at Hebrews 13:5-6 again.  The author declares that we can truly be content because God has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Let those words sink in and wash over your mind.  What an amazing truth!  Then, he doubles down and says, “So we can CONFIDENTLY say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’”  (Would it be wrong to add, “what can the coronavirus do to me?”)  The truth is, the level of our contentment tells us where our confidence really lies.  Only when we are confident that the Lord is our greatest helper, and that He will never leave us or forsake us, will we be able to grow in Godly contentment through this time! 

Good Words from an Elder Statesman


Dean Williams

April 23, 2020

A few weeks ago, I shared my thoughts concerning the inestimable value of our seniors. I gave particular emphasis to the debt of wisdom and practical knowledge they possess as a result of their decades long walk with the Lord. The same exact sentiment applies to the long serving Teaching Elders in our Presbytery, the Presbytery of the Mississippi Valley. One such elder is William C. Hughes, known to most of us as Bill Hughes. Bill is an 81-year-old Teaching Elder who is currently the primary Pulpit Supply Minister to Carthage Presbyterian Church (CPC), in Carthage, Mississippi. Prior to his semi-retirement, he spent almost 23 years at First Presbyterian Church, Jackson. While there, he served in various capacities, most notably as Administrative Pastor. Bill lives here in the city of Ridgeland, and I am beyond delighted to say that he is a neighbor of mine. The following are the contents of a COVID-19 related letter that Bill recently shared with the members of CPC. I pray its contents would beautifully speak to our hearts as well:

Under the sovereign hand of God, the Coronavirus has appeared so suddenly. For most of us, our world has been filled with upheaval and uncertainty, both in our health, and our finances. For all of us, there have been various adjustments to our way of life, this, as we respond to the new demands of these COVID-19 days.

I’m reminded of the scene in the book of Joshua (Chapter 3), where the people of Israel are on one side of the Jordan River and the Promise Land is on the other side. The day before they were to cross the river, they had no idea how they were to get across. Much like us today, they must have wondered, how do we face our uncertain future?

The river Jordan, at this time in history, was in flood season, and there were 2 ½ million people on one side of the Jordan. And making matters worse, God had told Israel to stay and watch the raging river, for 3 days; night and day. They saw the problem in front of them, much like our Mississippi River and Pearl rivers only a few weeks ago. God promised Israel they would cross the Jordan on dry land in order to enter the Land of Promise. Yet, here they were.

The Coronavirus is our Jordan, hindering our progress in living, posing setbacks, establishing brick walls, causing us to be faced with storms and raging waters. Our solution is the same as was Israel’s. We need to understand our helplessness before God. God is with us, and in control, in these troubled waters. In crossing through our Jordan(s), don’t take your eyes off the Lord Jesus, and don’t look at the troubled waves and water. Keep your eyes fixed on Christ, for He alone can carry you through on dry land.

Here are some practical questions to ask: Lord, what are you teaching me right now? What is it you want me to learn? How do you want me to grow more like you in this? Lord, what sin do you want to purge from me?

The 84th Psalm is a beautiful expression of love for the sanctuary of God to all who worship and love Him. As the sovereign Lord has allowed this scourge upon our land, I pray that we would seek refuge in Him through His Word. Perhaps a consequence of these COVID-19 days, will be that we will see how perishable this world, and all that’s in it really is, and that our God is in control and full of love for us who know Him.

-- William C. Hughes

More Questions and Answers!

April 20, 2020

Yesterday we tried something new - a brief time of questions and answers after the morning worship. Our goal was to have some interaction that we’re prevented from having since we aren’t gathering corporately right now, as well as to provide an opportunity for further unpacking of the rich truths of God’s word. We received great questions via text, Facebook, and YouTube, and most of them arose out of the sermon I had just preached on I Peter 1:1-2. (If you would like to hear the sermon or see yesterday’s Q/A time, please click here.) We’ve had good feedback from you on this experiment, and do plan on continuing it while we’re only live-streaming our services.

Due to the limited time, we weren’t able to answer all the questions we received. So I want to take this chance to answer some of those briefly.

1. Can you offer any words of encouragement for Christians to pursue personal holiness and ministry to our communities and neighbors in times of trials (like now) when many times our gut instinct is to just wait for “normal” to return?

I’m immediately reminded of C. S. Lewis’ statement in his essay “Learning in Warfare,” found in the book Weight of Glory: “If we let ourselves, we shall always be waiting for some distraction or other to end before we can really get down to our work.  The only people who achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly that they seek it while the conditions are still unfavorable. Favorable conditions never come.” Lewis was talking particularly about the work of education, gaining knowledge as a student. But replace “knowledge” with “holiness” or “ministry opportunities” and you have a great answer to this question. Yes, the pursuit of holiness and ministry is made more difficult in some ways given our circumstances. But from another point of view, other ministry opportunities - like phone calls, Zoom chats, letter writing, driveway conversations with neighbors, shopping for shut-ins - are more convenient and more normal during these days. And certainly there an abundance of ministry opportunities in these fearful days! In addition, our new circumstances of sheltering in place with family members, dealing with so much loss, all the uncertainty surrounding this virus, etc., are showing us new areas of sin and unbelief that we need to put to death and apply the gospel to, and new areas where we can strive to be holy as God is holy. Even if things never go back to “normal,” the call to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and to help others do the same, remains our duty (II Peter 3:18). And our God is sufficient at all times to help us by His Spirit to become more like Jesus. Nothing is too difficult for Him, so let us press on for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ, however abnormal the times are.

2. I don’t understand the distinction you made between the two different definitions of sanctification. How can one live a life of holiness without being daily made more like Christ?

I hope that I didn’t communicate that we can live a life of holiness without being daily made more like Christ, for that is not at all what I intended to say at all! Rather, the distinction I was making was between what we might call positional/definitive sanctification, and what we might call progressive sanctification. Sanctification is both an act and a process. Peter in I Peter 1:2 is referring to the former. The Holy Spirit sets us apart from sin and consecrates us to God at the beginning of the Christian life so that we might begin to live a set apart life in our daily experience. Every Christian has been sanctified in Christ Jesus (I Corinthians 1:2; 6:11) and is being sanctified in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:19; I Thessalonians 4:3; 5:23). The act of the Spirit’s setting us apart/sanctifying us is the basis of His ongoing work in making us more and more holy. The Bible uses the language of “sanctification” in both ways, though more frequently it is speaking of a definitive sense - although we typically use the language to refer to the process of growing in Christlikeness (as do the Westminster Standards). Both senses are absolutely vital to a right understanding of the Scripture, and to our glorifying and enjoying God. So let us pursue holiness, knowing that we are already saints - holy ones - in the Lord Jesus by His Spirit.

3. There are some pastors who call themselves apostles. What should we think about that?

This is an unfortunate and unbiblical practice that I wish would end. It is clear that the apostles were foundational to the church of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:20; 4:11), and that there were specific qualifications to be an apostle. The apostles had seen the Lord Jesus Christ in human form and performed signs and wonders to attest their calling. Though Paul was not a part of the original group of apostles, but was one untimely born, he saw the Lord and performed the signs of an apostles: “Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?…The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works” (I Corinthians 9:1; II Corinthians 12:12). Pastors who call themselves apostles not only denigrate the biblical office of apostle, but may also be claiming an authority that belonged only to those the Lord Himself gave this title and status.

4. Can we be too heavenly-minded that we’re no earthly good?

Possibly, if being heavenly-minded wrongly leads one away from engagement in the world to live a life of service and good works toward the saints and those outside the church. But this question hints at a false dichotomy, as if heavenly-mindedness and earthly-goodness are incompatible. True spirituality, true heavenly-mindedness, should always catapult us from the presence of God into the brokenness of this world with love and grace. As we seek the things that are above, and set our minds on things that are above, not on the things that are on earth (Colossians 3:1-2), then the way we relate to other people, the way we do our jobs, the way we approach the lost, will be transformed (see Colossians 3:5-4:6). Those who are closest to the Lord Jesus through prayer and His word should be the quickest to desire to “do good to everyone, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).

5. How does predestination practically change the way I live in my suffering?

When we know that God has chosen us for salvation from before the beginning of the world, then no matter what we go through, we know that He is working it for our good and our final salvation (Romans 8:28). We know that trials are not coming because He is still angry with us, for He has chosen us to be covered by the blood and righteousness of Jesus His Son, on whom He poured out His full wrath in our place (I Corinthians 11:32; Hebrews 12:1-12). We know that no difficulty or hardship can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39). We know that we can endure all things for the sake of those whom He has chosen for salvation, as Paul did in prison (II Timothy 2:10). There are many other ways to answer this question, but these four are sufficient for now. The next two sermons in I Peter will touch on this theme in part, so stay tuned!

20 Quotes from Dane Ortlund's New Book "Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinner and Sufferers"

This book is awesome. This is incredible Christology with heart-warming devotion. This is a book that anyone can read. I can’t say enough about it.

Let me tell you, these 20 quotes were hard to choose. I’ve underlined over 50% of the book with many times writing “wow”, “good”, or “stunning” beside something underlined. I’ll let these 20 quotes say more than I can:

  1. “Meek. Humble. Gentle. Jesus is not trigger-happy. Not harsh, reactionary, easily exasperated. He is the most understanding person in the universe. The posture most natural to him is not a pointed finger but open arms.” p.19

  2. “The point in saying that Jesus is lowly is that he is accessible. For all his resplendent glory and dazzling holiness, his supreme uniqueness and otherness, no one in human history has ever been more approachable than Jesus Christ.” p.20

  3. “If we are asked to say only one thing about who Jesus is, we would be honoring Jesus’s own teaching if our answer is, gentle and lowly.” p.21

  4. “What helium does to a balloon, Jesus’s yoke does to his followers. We are buoyed along in life by his endless gentleness and supremely accessible loneliness. He doesn’t simply meet us at our place of need; he lives in our place of need. He never tires of sweeping us into his tender embrace. It is his very heart. It is what gets him out of bed in the morning.” p.23

  5. “Time and again it is the morally disgusting, the socially reviled, the inexcusable and undeserving, who do not simply receive Christ’s mercy but to whom Christ most naturally gravitates.” p.27

  6. “When we are speaking of Christ’s heart, we are not so much speaking of one attribute alongside others. We are asking who he most deeply is. What pours out of him most naturally?” p.29

  7. “It is impossible for the affectionate heart of Christ to be overcelebrated, made too much of, exaggerated. It cannot be plumbed. But it is easily neglected, forgotten. We draw too little strength from it. We are not leaving behind the harsher side to Jesus as we speak of his very heart. Our sole aim is to follow the Bible’s own testimony as we tunnel in to who Jesus most surprisingly is.” p.29

  8. “The same Christ who wept at the tomb of Lazarus weeps with us in our lonely despair. The same one who reached out and touched lepers puts his arm around us today when we feel misunderstood and sidelined. The Jesus who reached out and cleansed messy sinners reaches into our souls and answers our half-hearted plea for mercy with the mighty invincible cleansing of one who cannot bear to do otherwise.” p.32

  9. “He does not get flustered and frustrated when we come to him for fresh forgiveness, for renewed pardon, with distress and need and emptiness. That’s the whole point. It’s what he came to heal. He went down into the horror of death and plunged out through the other side in order to provide a limitless supply of mercy and grace to his people.” p.37

  10. “When you come to Christ for mercy and love and help in your anguish and perplexity and sinfulness, you are going with the flow of his own deepest wishes, not against them.” p.38

  11. “Our difficulties draw out a depth of feeling in Christ beyond what we know.” p.49

  12. “He doesn’t handle us roughly. He doesn’t scowl and scold. He doesn’t lash out, the way many of our parents did. And all this restraint on his part is not because he has a diluted view of our sinfulness. He knows our sinfulness far more deeply than we do. Indeed, we are aware of just the tip of the iceberg of our depravity, even in our most searching moments of self-knowledge. His restraint simply flows from his tender heart for his people.” p.54

  13. “Jesus can no more bring himself to stiff-arm you than the loving father of a crying newborn can bring himself to stiff-arm his dear child. Jesus’s heart is drawn out to you. Nothing can chain his affections to heaven; his heart is too swollen with endearing love.” p.55

  14. “Look to Christ. He deals gently with you. It’s the only way he knows how to be. He is the high priest to end all high priests. As long as you fix your attention on your sin, you will fail to see how you can be safe. But as long as you look to this high priest, you will fail to see how you can be in danger. Looking inside ourselves, we can anticipate only harshness from heaven. Looking out to Christ, we can anticipate only gentleness.” p.57

  15. “Fallen, anxious sinners are limitless in their capacity to perceive reasons for Jesus to cast them out. We are factories of fresh resistances to Christ’s love. Even when we run out of tangible reasons to be cast out, such as specific sins or failures, we tend to retain a vague sense that, given enough time, Jesus will finally grow tired of us and hold us at arm’s length.” p.63

  16. “We cannot present a reason for Christ to finally close off his heart to his own sheep. No such reason exists. Every human friend has a limit. If we offend enough, if a relationship gets damaged enough, if we betray enough times, we are cast out. The walls go up. With Christ, our sins and weaknesses are the very resumé items that qualify us to approach him. Nothing but coming to him is required—first at conversion and a thousand times thereafter until w are with him upon death.” p.64

  17. “If you are part of Christ’s own body, your sins evoke his deepest heart, his compassion and pity. He takes ‘part with you’—that is, he’s on your side. He sides with you against your sin, not against you because of your sin. He hates sin. But he loves you. We understand this, says [Thomas] Goodwin, when we consider the hatred a father has against a terrible disease afflicting his child—the father hates the disease while loving the child. Indeed, at some level the presence of the disease draws out his to heart to his child all the more.” p.71

  18. “The sins of those who belong to God open the floodgates of his heart of compassion for us. The dam breaks. It is not our loveliness that wins his love. It is our unloveliness.” p.75

  19. “Christ’s heart is a steady reality flowing through time. It isn’t as if his heart throbbed for his people when he was on earth but has dissipated now that he is in heaven. It’s not that his heart was flowing forth in a burst of mercy that took him all the way to the cross but has now cooled down, settling back once more into kindly indifference. His heart is as drawn to his people now as ever it was in his incarnate state. And the present manifestation of his heart for his people is his constant interceding on their behalf.” p.79

  20. “He rises up and defends your case, based on the merits of his own sufferings and death. Your salvation is not merely a matter of a saving formula, but of a saving person. When you sin, his strength of resolve rises all the higher. When his brothers and sisters fail and stumble, he advocates on their behalf because it is who he is. He cannot bear to leave us alone to fend for ourselves.” p.91

For the Amazon link to the book, click here.

Here are some of the endorsements on the back of the book:

“I have read no book that more carefully, thoroughly, and tenderly displays Christ’s heart.” Paul Tripp

"Written with pastoral gentleness and quiet beauty, it teases out what twenty biblical texts contribute to this portrait of the heart of Christ, all of it brought together to bring comfort, strength, and rest to believers." D.A. Carson

"Dane Ortlund masterfully handles a treasure trove of Puritan wisdom and deftly presents it to the Christian reader." Rosaria Butterfield

“My life has been transformed by the beautiful, staggering truths in this book. Dane Ortlund lifts our eyes to see Christ’s compassion-filled heart for sinners and sufferers, proving that Jesus is no reluctant savior but one who delights in showing his mercy. For any feeling bruised, weary, or empty, this is the balm for you.” Michael Reeves

“Dane Ortlund writes about what seems too good to be true―the Lord delights to show mercy to you and to me―so he works very carefully through key texts and enlists the help of saints past. I was persuaded, and I look forward to being persuaded again and again.” Ed Welch

“Dane Ortlund helps us rediscover the heart of Jesus that is the very heart of the gospel. This delightful book opens up the sheer immensity of Jesus’s tender love for us. As you immerse yourself in Christ’s very heart, you’ll find your own heart warmed at the fire of the love of God. Ortlund opens up a neglected theme among the Puritans (in bite-sized chunks that won’t overwhelm you), where you’ll discover their grasp of the beauty of Jesus’s love. Your soul needs this book. I highly recommend it.” Paul E. Miller

Is It All Over?

John C. Kwasny April 17, 2020

7 “Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? 8 Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” 10 Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.” 11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. (Psalm 77:7-11)

I just want to go back to the way things used to be.  I want life to be normal again.  I want to be freed from this governmental leash!  These, and other related sentiments, have certainly been bouncing around in most of our minds and hearts lately.  As time has marched on, the responses to these desires have changed.  At first, there were all sort of “guarantees” that this would all end soon, the invisible foe would be vanquished, and life would go back to normal again.  While there are still some voices out there send those messages, the louder chorus sounds more like this: Things will never be the same.  There will only be a “new” normal.  The government must put in more restrictions and limits to keep us all safe into the future.  No more handshakes.  No more large gatherings.  Proof of immunity before you can leave your home.  Masks everywhere.  So, what do we do with all of this?

While this moment in time is “novel” for most of us, it’s nothing new in the history of mankind.  There have always been major crises, even worldwide ones, which have threatened the established order.  Many of them did create a new normal, and changed how people lived their lives.  Others (like Y2K, for example) threatened to undo absolutely everything, but never materialized.  There have always been doomsayers telling us that “it’s all over.”  There have always been those who use these opportunities to control how people live, supposedly in order to save mankind (or the planet).  And there have always been the rest of us who easily submit out of either fear or duty.  So again, I ask, what will we do with all of this?

In whatever ways this nation and the world continues to respond to this virus in the coming weeks and months, our response as Christians must be tethered to REMEMBERING the Lord.  In Psalm 77, The author beautifully articulates the deeper thoughts of our hearts during times like this:  Will the Lord spurn us forever?  Will He never again give us favor?  Has His love for us ceased?  Are His promises over?  Has He forgotten to be gracious?  Do you have any (or all) of these questions in your heart as well?  If so, the right answers come only when we say with the Psalmist: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.”  Only then will we remind ourselves that NO, the Lord will not spurn us forever; YES, He will give us favor, mercy, and grace; NO, His love for us has not ceased!

But we must look back and remember in the right ways.  Not just longing for the good old days when we could go to a ballgame, a concert, or even gather for worship on Sunday.  Not just looking back and wanting the “old” normal rather than the new one.  We are to look back in order to remind ourselves of WHO God is and WHAT He has always done for His people.  Just another reason to stay in God’s Word every day!  And, for spending time rehearsing what He has already done in your own story, as well as all of history.  So, is life really over?  Not when your life is in union with Jesus Christ who loves you with an everlasting love, and is the Lord of all Creation!  Remember Jesus, the greatest “deed” of the LORD!         

 

 

 

 

In Pursuit of Godliness

April 16, 2020

Godliness is at least one of seven qualities (II Peter 1:5-7) we’re asked to add to our faith after we become Christians. Its significance is noted by the amount of times it appears in Scripture. There are at least 16 references to godliness in scripture. All of them are in the New Testament, mostly occurring in I Timothy and II Peter. The following is an excerpt of a blog post on godliness, authored by Mr. Loren Lung, a pastor, commenting on I Timothy 4:7-8:

“Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (I Timothy 4:7b-8)

There was a woman on the television the other night who went on a diet. She exercised and watched what she ate. The weight began to fall off. She went from 240 pounds down to 110 pounds. She had surgery to cut off extra skin. She was a real success story.

But along the way she became a different person. Her friends all said she had changed for the worst. She became conceited and arrogant. She got involved in all sorts of questionable practices and divorced her husband who had supported her through her efforts. She even began to snub the very people who had helped her to achieve her new and “improved” life.

Physical training and discipline are important for weight loss and certain other issues, but if you really want to change in a truly meaningful manner, with lasting significance, then you had better train in godliness. The Apostle Paul tells Timothy that training in godliness is beneficial for both this life, and that which is to come.

Godliness is taking on the very attributes of God. It includes unconditional love, forgiveness, grace, mercy, and selflessness. These are in stark contrast to what the world provides.

For this woman, she wanted to look good. And when she reached that goal, she wanted all the worldly rewards that went with it. She sacrificed her principles and any relationship that didn’t benefit her new life.

Godliness often stands in stark contrast to this world. This world is about selfishness, getting ahead, and stepping on whoever it takes to get there. Godliness is about putting God’s will and others ahead of our own needs. That is why Jesus said, “If anyone wants to come after me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). It involves putting your own wants and desires aside and dying to this world.

Prayer: Dear Lord, you are the wonderful example of love and grace. Please help me, by the power of your spirit, to train in godliness so that I can live in a manner that brings glory to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Prayer – secret, fervent, believing prayer – lies at the root of all personal godliness.” (William Carey)

“How do you train yourself to be godly? You certainly want to practice the spiritual disciplines of prayer and Bible reading and Christian fellowship. But you also want to practice making right decisions and putting God first in your life. You want to learn how to center your whole life around God. And most of all you want to practice trusting God every day of your life.” (Ray Fowler, Baptist Pastor)

It's Friday, but Sunday's Comin'

April 10, 2020

John C. Kwasny

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.  (Hebrews 12:1-2)

One of the more influential Christian authors in my high school and college days was a pastor named Tony Campolo.  Some of you probably haven’t heard of him.  For those who have, please don’t be concerned about my spiritual discernment--this was in the days before he became an ultra-liberal evangelical socialist (and I was young and foolish).  His early books were engaging, hilarious, and always convicted me to live out my Christian life in this world, in ways that really made a difference.  One such book had the great title: It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Comin’.  It came from a sermon delivered by a southern African-American preacher—a phrase that acted like a refrain after each of his points.  He must have repeated, “It’s Fri-i-day…but Sunday’s Comin’” hundreds of times in his sermon.  And yes, you guessed it: It was his Good Friday message!

I love the way Hebrews 12:1-2 gives us a vivid image of how to live from a “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s comin’ mentality.  The writer paints a picture of a race, like one that is run in an Olympic stadium (yes, I too grieve the loss of that event this year). You, Christian, are the athlete running the race of life.  God has set your race before you.  In the stands are all those who have already finished their race.  But, where are you to look?  At the “great cloud of witnesses”?  No.  At the other runners?  No.  At the circumstances around you?  No.  Only to Jesus, described here as both the “founder” and the “perfecter” of our faith.  There He is, sitting at the right hand of God!  He endured the cross on Friday, rose again on Sunday, and is now in Session with the Father until He returns for us one day.  On our risen Lord is where our eyes should always stay!

But don’t miss the important charge given to us as we run this race of the Christian life: “Lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely.”  These have always been extremely convicting words to me.  I am often weighted down with the cares of this world.  I have sin which still clings way too closely to my heart.  How about you?  And, what do these things do to us?  Just slow us down.  Impede us from running in a way that loves God and other people.  Keep us from being the godly men and women, boys and girls, that God has called us to be.  In the end, they distract us from looking up to Jesus, living in the joy that comes from His embracing of the cross.  So, go ahead and lay aside every weight and sin that is holding you up today.

On this strangest of Good Fridays you may have ever experienced, remember that Sunday is still comin’.  The darkness that was dispelled on Friday burst forth into glorious light on Sunday!  Whether or not we EVER emerge out of our social isolation again, resurrection is coming because Jesus is alive.  Jesus, our resurrection firstfruits, conquered death and sin and coronavirus for us, guaranteeing our everlasting “resurrection Sunday.”  It’s Friday, but Sunday’s comin’!  

What Does the Bible Say About Fasting?

April 6, 2020

In light of the coronavirus pandemic that is wreaking such physical, emotional, and economic havoc among the nations of our world, four denominations are jointing together this Friday for a day of prayer and fasting: the PCA, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC), the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARP), and the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA). Fasting is not a religious practice most evangelicals are familiar with - it’s typically associated in our minds with Romanism or Islam. Our lack of knowledge of fasting, both intellectually and experientially, is unfortunate.

Biblically speaking, religious fasting is not a mindless act of ritualistic formalism or asceticism (though it certainly can devolve into that). It’s not a technique to help you lose weight (though some may fast as a dietary method). It’s not waking up too late for breakfast, or being so busy you forget to eat lunch. Rather, it is to deny oneself intentionally some or all food or drink for a period of time in order to humble yourself before the Lord and to seek Him earnestly and intensely in prayer during that time. It is all too possible for fasting to become legalistic (“I fast twice a week,” Luke 18:12) or formalistic, just going through the motions, or to be seen by men (see Isaiah 58:1-12 and Matthew 5:16). But Jesus assumed that His people would fast: “But you, when you fast…” (Matthew 6:17). When the disciples of John the Baptist asked why Jesus’ disciples didn’t fast, He answered, “The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast” (Matthew 9:15).

As Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:17-18, fasting is something one can and ought to do individually before God, as we see in the lives of David (II Samuel 12:16; Psalm 35:13; 69:10; 109:24), Ahab (I Kings 21:27), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:4), Daniel (Daniel 9:3), Anna (Luke 2:37), and our Savior Himself (Matthew 4:2). But it also can be practiced corporately, as we see when the sons of Israel were defeated by the tribe of Benjamin during a civil war (Judges 20:26), when Israel gathered together to confess its sin in the days of Samuel (I Samuel 7:6), when Israel mourned the deaths of Saul and Jonathan (I Samuel 31:13; II Samuel 1:12), when the Moabites and Ammonites came to fight against Jehoshaphat and Judah (II Chronicles 20:3), when Ezra set out to lead the exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem (Ezra 8:21, 23), when Israel gathered to confess its sins in the days of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 9:1), when King Ahasuerus decreed the destruction of the Jews, and when Esther prepared to go before him concerning that edict (Esther 4:3, 16), and when the Ninevites desired to repent (Jonah 3:5). It was the prescription of Joel to the people of God as a sign of their repentance (Joel 1:14; 2:12-15). We see churches in the apostolic period fasting and praying together as they set apart men to gospel ministry (Acts 13:2-3; 14:23).

Clearly then, there is biblical warrant by command and by example to engage in this practice. Our Reformed forefathers who wrote the Westminster Standards recognized solemn fastings as one part of religious worship (Westminster Confession of Faith 21.5; Westminster Larger Catechism 108). Though they saw no biblical warrant for holy days other than the Lord’s Day, or for particular stated days or seasons of fasting such as Lent, yet they did see a place for fasting: “There is no day commanded in scripture to be kept holy under the gospel but the Lord’s day, which is the Christian Sabbath. Festival days, vulgarly called Holy-days, having no warrant in the word of God, are not to be continued. Nevertheless, it is lawful and necessary, upon special emergent occasions, to separate a day or days for public fasting or thanksgiving, as the several eminent and extraordinary dispensations of God’s providence shall administer cause and opportunity to his people” (Westminster Directory for Worship, 1645).

Fasting is an expression of humility (Isaiah 58:3, 5), of mourning (Nehemiah 1:4; Joel 2:12), of contrition (Nehemiah 9:1-2), and of dependent supplication (II Samuel 2:21; II Chronicles 20:3; Ezra 8:21; Daniel 9:3). By forsaking food and/or drink, the one fasting declares that his or her need for God far surpasses his or her need for daily bread. Whether that need is forgiveness, guidance, intervention and deliverance, or strength to go on (or all of the above!), fasting is a physical action that should flow from the heart, in which the physical hunger or thirst reminds us of and manifests our deeper hunger and thirst for God. As David Mathis beautifully explains, “Fasting, like the gospel, isn’t for the self-sufficient and those who feel they have it all together. It’s for the poor in spirit. It’s for those who mourn. For the meek. For those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. In other words, fasting is for Christians. It is a desperate measure, for desperate times, among those who know themselves desperate for God” (Habits of Grace, 121-122).

The COVID-19 crisis is undoubtedly a time in which fasting and prayer is right and good, so I encourage you to join brothers and sisters around the country this Friday in seeking the Lord’s face for mercy and grace. Instead of eating breakfast and/or lunch and/or dinner, pray. If this Friday is not a good time for you, then perhaps pick another day. For resources to help guide your time of prayer, check out this short article by Richard Pratt, or this list of suggested prayers. May the Lord hear, may the Lord draw near, may the Lord answer our cries to Him for help.