Soli Deo Gloria

“The true test of discipleship is our witness to the world and not just the promises we make to God. Does our own discipleship pass this test? People make many promises when they are alone with God -– promises about living a better life, spending more time in prayer, or giving more money to charity. But the real test of our discipleship is what we say and do when we are under pressure to take a stand for Christ. What do we say then?

Unless we speak up for what we believe, then we ourselves become the deniers of Christ. I deny Christ when I talk with my friends about being involved in church, but not about what it means to know Jesus. I deny Christ when there is so little that is distinctive about the way I live people at work or school do not even know that I’m a Christian. I deny Christ when I am so afraid about what people think that I shrink back from telling people the biblical truth about controversial issues like abortion, or homosexuality, or the unique claims of Jesus Christ as the world’s only Savior. I deny Christ when I say something a Christian shouldn’t say or do something a Christian shouldn’t do because I want to have fun or to be popular. But if I cannot speak up and say something for Jesus, then what kind of disciple am I anyway?”

- Philip Graham Ryken (From his reformed expositional commentary on Mark)

“I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction”   (Isaiah 48:10).

This has long been the motto fixed before our eye upon the wall of our bedroom, and in many ways it has also been written on our heart. It is no mean thing to be chosen of God. God’s choice makes chosen men choice men. Better to be the elect of God than the elect of a whole nation. So eminent is this privilege, that whatever drawback may be joined to it we very joyfully accept it, even as the Jew ate the bitter herbs for the sake of the Paschal Lamb. We choose the furnace, since God chooses us in it. We are chosen as an afflicted people and not as a prosperous people, chosen not in the palace but in the furnace. In the furnace beauty is marred, fashion is destroyed, strength is melted, glory is consumed, and yet here eternal love reveals its secrets and declares its choice. So has it been in our case. In times of severest trial God has made to us our calling and election plain, and we have made it sure: then have we chosen the LORD to be our God, and He has shown that we are assuredly His chosen. Therefore, if today the furnace be heated seven times hotter, we will not dread it, for the glorious Son of God will walk with us amid the glowing coals.

- Charles Spurgeon

“When the fear of people overcomes the fear of God, we are likely to deny the gospel. Unless we are willing to stand up for God at work on Monday, we are just pretending at church on Sunday.” – Philip Graham Ryken

Mark Driscoll has been one of those pastor/theologians over the years that I have never really been sure about. It’s as though he has two mouths. At one moment what seems to come out is pure doctrine and Christ-exalting exegesis of Scripture and then in the same breath what comes out is like vinegar and gall with use of filth words that are simply not appropriate for the pulpit. Honestly I have not spent a lot of time reading Mark’s books or listening to his sermons. I’m more of a Paul Washer kinda guy – give me the passion of Driscoll without the filthy mouth.

For one brother in Christ the line has been drawn with Driscoll. Apparently his wife and children were listening to Pilgrim Radio recently and Driscoll was preaching on the air when expletives and words not appropriate for little ears much less the pulpit were being pumped over the airwaves. This man is furious that his wife and children heard this on a Christian radio station. After reading his article I see more of why many people, even in the reformed circles, are having more and more of a hard time putting up with Mark Driscoll. Don’t get me wrong. I believe that Mark is a sincere, Christ-loving follower of Christ who is trying too hard to be relevant. (Oh what a dangerous word.)

Here is the article of the gentleman who is fed up with Driscoll’s potty mouth. He has excellent points that we should all ponder when it comes to the state of the pulpit – especially in American Christianity.

“If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.” – Martin Luther

“Most Christians in our culture live like everyone else. There is little distinction between our lives and the lives of the pagans down the street. We wear the same clothes, watch the same movies, read the same books, send our children to the same schools, and sign the same divorce decrees as everyone else. Furthermore, there ought to be a sign posted in every Christian bookstore that reads, “The views expressed in these books do not necessarily express the views of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” I’m not saying, don’t read Christian books. I’m just saying, read them with discernment.”

- Voddie Baucham

HT: Defending Contending

This evening, while my wife is recuperating from surgery on her shoulder, I was doing a study on Exodus chapter 22. As I read through this chapter, I see the utmost care God takes to protect those who could easily be taken advantage of and the helpless.  I see also the sobering reality that His law demands that all must answer to Him in both what they do maliciously as well as heedlessly. This of course draws me to rejoice in the grace and love of my Savior knowing that by His grace through faith I am clothed in the perfect righteousness of God. How humbling and how exhilarating. May the Word of God and His perfect Law cut us like a knife, piercing the heart and draw us more and more to the beauty, magnificence, mercy and grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His glorious cross-work.

While doing a search on Exodus 22:31, the last verse in that chapter, my good ol’ Bible software pulled up Matthew Henry’s great commentary entry. I paused at the last sentence of Henry’s entry and took a moment to reflect on the precious truth that “there is enough in Him to satisfy all the desires of our souls.” Oh how the world and our own flesh tempts us to temporary pleasures that pale in comparison to the infinite fountain of joy that is in Christ our All in all. May we see the lusts of the flesh as but dung compared to the infinite pleasure and joy found only in Christ our Savior, King and Prophet.

“Let these scriptures lead our souls to remember, that if the grace of God has indeed appeared to us, then it has taught us, and enabled us so to conduct ourselves by its holy power, that denying ungodliness and wordly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, Titus 2:12. And the grace of God teaches us, that as the Lord is our portion, there is enough in him to satisfy all the desires of our souls.” - Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Exodus Chapter 22 

Father, I pray that my eyes be opened more and more to Your glory in the face of Your Son Jesus Christ. Help me to always remember that Your grace is sufficient and that I am called to be holy as You are holy. May I, through the power of Your precious Spirit, mortify the deeds of the flesh and always look to the sweet joys of walking in the Spirit. Grant me always to look to the cross of Christ and look upward to Your throne and see my Great High Priest living forever making intercession for me. Oh the joys of Christ. Forgive us of our foolish ways dear Lord and Father of mankind. May we always set our eyes and minds on things above and not on things of the earth. Amen.