Thursday, October 31, 2013


“The true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God.” -Martin Luther

Monday, October 21, 2013

The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.  Psalm 93:1

If there was ever any question about who is in charge in this life and in our world and over our lives, this psalm settles it.  The psalmist says clearly in the first part of Psalm 93:1, “The Lord Reigns.”  There is not a more powerful statement in all the Bible than that.  The psalmist continues with, 

He is robed in majesty.

Notice he does not say, “The Lord appears to be majestic.”  He does not say, “The Lord looks the part.”  At that time, if a king or ruler was not that mighty and powerful and majestic and impressive, they wanted to at least look the part.  Notice, the psalmist says, “God does not look the part—he does not just appear to be impressive, but is truly magnificent.”  He says, “He is robed in majesty.”  He does not say, “He is robed in something that makes him look majestic.”  He says, “God's robe is majesty—He is clothed in garments of greatness!” 

The psalmist also says,

(The Lord) has put on strength as his belt.

Not only is the Lord clothed in greatness and majesty, but He is also clothed in strength and power.  Though there were rulers who look impressive outwardly and appear to be mighty and powerful, behind the veil they were not.  They were like OZ.  Though they seemed regal, majestic and powerful, behind the veil they were impotent, powerless, helpless and cowardly.  The psalmist says, "This is not true of God.  He does not look the part; He is the part.  He is clothed with glory, honor, greatness and power."  Therefore, He is to be looked to and trusted in and followed as the King of all kings.

"Quote" of the Week

"All Creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and with us sing, Alleluia!  Alleluia.  Thou burning sun with golden beam, thou silver moon with softer gleam!  O praise Him, O praise Him!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!" 


"Let all things their Creator bless, and worship Him in humbleness, O praise Him! Alleluia!  Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son, and praise the Spirit, Three in One! O praise Him, O praise Him!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!"   All Creatures of our God and King, Lyrics by Saint Francis of Assisi 

Monday, October 14, 2013

Though Leslie and I take good care of our girls, there are times when they worry that we are going to deprive them of something.  For example, I normally have breakfast set out for them every morning, but there are times when I do not.  When this happens, one or the both of them will panic.  They are little creatures of habit and get worried when breakfast is not ready when they wake up and will say, “Dad, what about breakfast?  Did you forget about breakfast?  Are we not going to have breakfast?”  And at times I reassure them that breakfast is on the way, but there are other times I will try and reason with them by pointing them to the past.

I will say, “In your few short years you have been alive, has there ever been a time when mommy or daddy has not fed you?  Have we ever withheld food from you?”  And of course they will say, “NO.”  Then I will tell them, “If that is the case—if we have fed you day after day, breakfast, lunch and dinner; what makes you think that today will be any different?”  At times, to keep my girls from worrying in the present, I will remind them of the past. 

In the same way, there are times in our lives when things do not happen according to our plans, and we get all worked up and question God.  There are times when we feel as if He is depriving us of what’s best.  During these times, it is important for us to be reminded of the work that He has done for us and His people in the past—to hear stories of his continued love and faithfulness toward those He loves so that we would not worry but trust in him in the present.

"Quote" of the Week


"The Lord...has shown his steadfast love throughout the history of God’s people: from creating the world, to bringing Israel out of Egypt and leading them through the wilderness, to giving them victory over those who opposed them as they took the Promised Land...God’s works of creation, providence, and merciful deliverance show the steadfast love that has now been climactically revealed through salvation in Christ (John 1:14)."  -C. John Collins

Monday, October 7, 2013

THE GOSPEL IS GOD-CENTERED

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.  Psalm 30:11-12

David realizes the reason God has spared him and restored him is for worship.  He says, “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.  Why?  That (key word here)  my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.”  David clearly states here the reason God has redeemed Him—the reason He has restored Him, is so that he would in turn sing praises to Him and not be silent.

David reminds us that God has selfish reasons for redeeming.  The reason He redeems us is for worship.  This is so important for us to remember because we have a tendency to make salvation all about us.  We often present the gospel as if it was centered upon us.  Nothing could be further from the truth. 

God’s gospel does not center upon us—it is not all about us, it centers upon Him and is all about Him.  Believers, God did not save you ultimately for you, but saved you for Him.  God saved you because He desires worship from you.  Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.  So glorify God in your bodies.” 

Believers, we have been made and have been set apart by God for God.  Therefore, the proper response from us should be the same as David in Psalm 30.  Our response should be to worship Him.  

"Quote" of the Week

"Our evangelistic task is not to persuade people that the gospel was made for their felt needs, but that they were made for the soul-satisfying glory of God."  -John Piper