natah נָטָה: to bend down or stretch out.

21 Monday Oct 2024

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Psalm 86:1 (NASB95): Incline Your ear, O Lord, and answer me;
For I am afflicted and needy.

David is pleading with God to hear his prayer. This plea brings to my mind a couple questions.

First, does God not hear us if we don’t ask Him to? No, that is not the point. This prayer speaks of the condescension of God to actually hear the pleas of His people. It’s an acknowledgement of God’s exaltation and man’s lowly state.

I often find myself, while speaking to God, my heavenly Father, forgetting that He is also the creator and sustainer of all that exists. Forgetting that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Forgetting that He alone is completely and exclusively sovereign over everything. It cannot be overstated that when we pray to Him, when we worship Him, and when we praise Him, our regard for Him must be in a manner that is worthy of Him. A.W. Tozer, in his classic book, The Knowledge of the Holy, says this:

The heaviest obligation lying upon the Christian Church today is to purify and elevate her concept of God until it is once more worthy of Him – and of her. In all her prayers and labors this should have first place. We do the greatest service to the next generation of Christians by passing on to them undimmed and undiminished that noble concept of God which we received from our Hebrew and Christian fathers of generations past. This will prove of greater value to them than anything that art or science can devise.[1]

Second, is David feeling, as I sometimes do, as though his prayers are not penetrating even the ceiling above him? Is it as if his words bounce off the ceiling and right back to himself? I don’t know what David was feeling when he wrote this song, but I confess my own weakness here.

When these feelings come over me, it can be the most lonely and desperate feelings imaginable. In those times, I must remind myself of the truth that God has not moved—I have. It’s easy to get wrapped up life’s disappointments, difficulties, and deceptions. However, God’s truth is never faltering nor failing. He is still our loving heavenly Father who knows and cares for us; and, uses the trials of life to grow us and conform us to the image of His son.

“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified,” (Romans 8:26–30, NASB95).

[1] Tozer, A.W.. The Knowledge of the Holy (p. 4). Fig. Kindle Edition.

Psalm 85

30 Monday Sep 2024

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“I will hear what God the Lord will say; For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; But let them not turn back to folly.”
‭‭ Psalms‬ ‭85‬:‭8‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

It’s tempting, when we read Scripture, to insert ourselves into the narrative and make us the beneficiaries and recipients of the promises God made to His people in ages past. However, when we do that we risk missing the point and blinding ourselves to the truths that provide insights into the nature and character of God. Insights that bring us to our knees in thankfulness and worship of the one true God worthy of our praise.

This, of course, does not mean that Scripture is not filled with promises for us that we can fully and completely trust. God gave us His Word that we would live by it, learn by it, and grow by it. But in order to effectively do that, rather than inserting ourselves into it, we should be inserting it into us, (Psalm 119:11).

It is the deepest desire of all who know the one true God to hear Him, to know His truth, and to feel His personal, caring touch. The fact of the matter is, God speaks to us in His Word. Within its pages are the truths, the promises, and the imperatives we need to live the kind of lives God intends for His people. By reading and studying, we can know His perfect will. A will that He has not kept secret from us, but by neglecting His Word, we keep it from ourselves.

God knows our needs and desires. He knows our hearts, better than we know them ourselves. And, by studying His Word, we can know His.

Psalm 84:8-12

24 Wednesday Jul 2024

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“O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah.” (Psalm 84:8, NASB95)

Do I deserve God’s attention? Am I worthy of His ear? Do I take this for granted?

God promises to hear the prayers of His people who come in humility with contrite hearts, (James 4:6; Psalm 51:17). At the same time, I must always remember that my prayers and petitions are directed at the God and creator of all that is; the Sovereign over everything; the One who keeps the universe together. The truth that God promises to hear when we cry to Him stands as evidence that God is personal; and, God is gracious. To ask God for His attention is right, but I must never entertain the notion that I deserve the ear of Almighty God.

Why I’m a Cessationist

01 Wednesday Nov 2023

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Much has been written in support and in criticism of a cessationist view of what is commonly called the “sign” gifts. These miraculous gifts were those given to specific individuals, decreed by God Himself, at a specific time, and for God’s specific purposes. The “sign” gifts include prophecy, speaking in tongues, healing, knowledge, etc. Scripture reveals to us that these gifts were given to lend credence and authority to the message given by the apostles during the church’s infancy, (Acts 13:6-12; Romans 15:17-19).

While many boldly claim the office of apostle today, Scripture clearly tells us what is required of a true apostle of Jesus Christ. According to Acts 1:21-22, in order to hold the office of apostle, a man must have accompanied Jesus during His earthly ministry, and he must have been an eyewitness of Christ’s resurrection. The last living apostle was John, who tradition tells us, died near the end of the first century A.D. So, how are people able to claim the office of apostle? Simply because they speak to, and prey upon, people who are ignorant of the Bible and do not take the time to study it for themselves, (2 Timothy 4:3).

What is a miracle?

Like so many other words, the word miracle has been overused and abused. We often refer to things that occur entirely according to the laws of nature as “miracles”. We call a mother giving birth to a healthy child a miracle. We call a drug that brings about an expected recovery, a “miracle” drug. While the birth of a child is certainly a blessing from God, and a cause for rejoicing, there is nothing more natural than human reproduction.

So what is a miracle? A miracle is divine intervention, suspending the laws of nature, in order to bring about a divine result. Scripture is full of stories of God doing miraculous things from creation itself, to the resurrection of Eutychus in Acts 20. I want to be clear. I am not arguing that God, by His power, cannot or does not do miraculous things. I am simply arguing that the miraculous gifts given to men in order to strengthen and give credence to their testimony of Christ, are no longer necessary, because we hold in our hands the complete, inerrant, infallible, authoritative, and sufficient Word of God.

Paul’s First Letter to the Church in Corinth

The 13th chapter of 1st Corinthians has come to be known as “The Love Chapter.” It’s called this as it is rightly referred to as the definition of true, Christian love. However, this chapter is really a continuation of Paul’s treatise on spiritual gifts that he began in chapter 12, and continues into chapter 14. Here, Paul is speaking of the meaninglessness of miraculous gifts when demonstrated apart from love. Then, beginning in verse 8, he says something interesting:

“Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away,” (1 Corinthians 13:8–10, NASB95).

So, the question before us is, the perfect what. There are many who say this refers to the second coming of Christ. I believe this to be a strain on the context of the passage. The nearest antecedent that “the perfect” must be referring to is knowledge and prophecy. What is perfect knowledge and prophecy? The inerrant and infallible Word of God.

There are others who will say that “the perfect” refers to the eternal state. They base this view on the following verses:

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love,” (1 Corinthians 13:12–13, NASB95).

According to this view, Paul is anticipating full, perfect knowledge when we come into glory. Again, I don’t see this view as consistent with the context. Paul is more likely admitting His own incomplete insight, and anticipates a time when it will be complete (perfect).

Perfect/teleios

The word here translated “perfect” is teleion. Every place in the New Testament where teleion or teleios is used, it refers to something becoming, or something that has become complete, mature, full, etc. Here, the immediate context is referring to what will become complete in knowledge and prophecy. With the completion of the canon of Scripture, special knowledge, prophecy, and miraculous gifts are unnecessary. Also, it would be very strange for Paul to refer to Christ with any other word than Christos.

The time of the apostles is over. As the church, our commission is to take the gospel to a fallen and lost world. Our authority is Jesus Christ who has given us His revealed Word. We are equipped by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ with power and authority. As previously stated, none of this is to say God cannot, or even does not, do miraculous things.

There are many godly and gifted preachers and teachers, brothers and sisters in Christ, who do not hold to a cessationist view. But, just as with Paul and the Bereans, their teaching must stand the scrutiny of Scripture. God continues to do amazing things and we respond to Him in praise and worship. But, as Jesus said, let us beware.

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15–20, NASB95)

Is Preaching Prophecy

05 Monday Jun 2023

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While preaching and prophecy are similar, I find it an exegetical stretch to equate the two. Scripture doesn’t seem to do this. In fact, whenever they are mentioned together, they are clearly separate gifts and functions. The prophet and the preacher, in a sense, speak for God, but not in the same way. Both preaching and prophecy are given with authority and directed by the Holy Spirit, but it could be said that they are two separate branches from the same vine.

What is preaching? A simple definition could be the faithful exposition of divinely inspired text that has been preserved and handed down through the ages. Preaching examines, interprets, and applies the biblical text, often by referencing the preaching done by generations of predecessors. While the text that informs the act of preaching is inerrant and infallible, the preaching itself is not.

What is prophecy? Prophecy is special revelation directly from God, given through a human agent—a prophet. It is authoritative, inerrant, and infallible. Prophecy is not always foretelling, but is always forthtelling. True prophecy is absolutely, and entirely true.

I know that many gifted and respected preachers claim that preaching is prophecy. I think this stems from a brand of cessationism that, I believe, incorrectly interprets 1 Corinthians 13:8-10. Often called the “love” chapter, the context of chapters 12-14 is actually spiritual gifts. Chapter 13 speaks of the superiority of love over other gifts including tongues, knowledge and prophecy. What follows is telling.

“Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.” (1 Corinthians 13:8–10, NASB95)

The gifts of tongues, knowledge and prophecy were critical gifts in the infancy of the church. Special knowledge and prophecy molded and directed the formation of the church prior to the completion of the canon of Scripture. Tongues lent credence to message given. A correct view of this passage, I believe, hinges on one’s interpretation of “the perfect”.

If you interpret “the perfect” to be the coming of Christ, or the eternal state, tongues, prophecy, and knowledge have not ceased. So, you must give an account of how those gifts are manifested today. If, however, they have ceased, ”the perfect” must be something that has already come. It should also be noted that the Greek word for perfect is teleion, which can also mean “complete”. From the context, what is, or will be, complete? It must refer to complete knowledge and complete prophecy. I maintain that the best interpretation is, in light of the context, that “the perfect” is the complete canon of Scripture.

To put it another way, every place in the New Testament where teleion or teleios is used, it refers to something becoming, or something that has become complete, mature, full, etc. Here, the immediate context is referring to what will become complete in knowledge and prophecy. When referring to Christ, Paul rarely uses this kind of language—he uses the word, Christos. The perfect in prophecy, tongues, and knowledge is the complete canon of Scripture. The Bible, that we hold in our hands, renders special knowledge and prophecy unnecessary.

It should be noted that verse 12 speaks of a future time, future for Paul at least, when he will see fully and know fully. Many use this to support the notion that Paul is speaking, generally, of the eternal state. However, this falls far short of making a definitive case for a broad definition of knowledge and prophecy.

I should say that this interpretation is not my own. It was first brought to my attention by one of my theology professors. At first, I pushed back on it, but after spending time studying and reading, I became convinced that the majority view of this passage was not the most contextually viable.

The primary reason for my commitment to a narrow definition of prophecy is the preponderance of individuals claiming to have received specific and special revelations directly from God. People who make bold claims to have so special a relationship with God that they continually receive personal messages from Him. This is simply modern-day Gnosticism. We must always exercise discernment when evaluating the words of all those who assume the role of preacher or teacher. As Jesus said:

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15–16, NASB95)

Psalm 84:5-7 God’s strength/Our strength

18 Tuesday Apr 2023

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“How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, In whose heart are the highways to Zion! Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a spring; The early rain also covers it with blessings. They go from strength to strength, Every one of them appears before God in Zion,” (Psalm 84:5–7, NASB95).

So much attention is given to our need to find strength within ourselves in order to navigate life’s, often unanticipated, troubles. We are told that we possess all that is necessary to stand against the various crises that life throws at us. Unfortunately, this is a lie. It’s only when we look outside ourselves that we find the strength we need.

This song tells us that the truly blessed are those whose strength is supplied by, and completely rests on, God Himself. They have learned, by life’s realities, that their own strength is entirely inadequate, and fails to sustain them in difficulty and trial. When we look to the Lord to supply us with the strength we need, not only does He fill it, but He also plants in us a deep, abiding affection for Him as our Father. Only when we humble ourselves and look to God to supply our strength, does the path to Him open, and His presence becomes our deepest desire.

The valley of Baca does not refer to a geographical location, but it’s a place we are all familiar with. It literally means valley of weeping, or valley of tears. It refers to those times when our grief, and sense of powerlessness become so overwhelming that we can hardly stand on our own two feet. But, during life’s darkest moments, God’s very presence can transform them into a well of refreshment that floods our souls with true joy.

The fruit of the Spirit–love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control can be summed up as the strength God supplies in the Holy Spirit. The full armor of God in Ephesians 6, is made available to us in the strength God supplies. Facing our own weaknesses opens our eyes to our dependence on God’s strength, and in our weakness we are the most useful for His purposes.

My hope is built on nothing less that Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name… Rock of ages, cleft for me; Let me hide myself in Thee.

God Can Do Anything! Can’t He?

08 Wednesday Mar 2023

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Are there things God simply cannot do? This is a question often posed by those attempting to understand the incomprehensible nature of God. To deal with this issue, let’s first be sure that we are getting our theology from Scripture, rather than songs we hear on Spotify. We must always check our perceptions against what God, Himself, has revealed in His word.

God can only do what is within the reality of His divine nature. By saying, “God can do anything He wants to do,” in itself, places a qualification on what God can do.  For example, since God is absolutely holy, He cannot possibly want to lie, cheat, steal, or in any way be tempted to do so. To want to sin would be a violation of His nature. In the same way, He could not simply ignore His justness and forgive mankind’s sin without atonement for it being made. To satisfy this, atonement was provided by God Himself in the person, Jesus Christ.

It must be affirmed that one attribute of God does not in any way negate or preclude another divine attribute. In other words, His love does not negate His justice. Nor does His omnipotence make it possible for Him violate His holiness. The question is often asked, usually by a scoffer, “Can God make a rock so heavy that He cannot lift it?” The question itself is incoherent because it places God at odds with Himself.

It is also important to understand that His attributes were not created nor established by Him. As God’s existence is self-evident, His attributes are also self-evident. His attributes make up His eternal divine nature. In other words, God did not create the concept of goodness—He is, in His nature good. He cannot simply choose to be evil, because that would violate His holiness. Evil is not an attribute unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God’s goodness. The ten commandments, or the moral law, are not simply ten things God decided to impose upon mankind. They are a reflection of the character and nature of God Himself.

Regarding this important issue, one must look at the attributes of God that Scripture reveals. What follows is just a sampling of what Scripture teaches about the nature and character of God:

God is Wise (Romans 11:33; Isaiah 40:28)

That God possesses all wisdom, which includes logic, intelligence, coherence, etc., precludes the notion that God can do what is unwise, illogical, unintelligent, or incoherent.  For example, He cannot create a square triangle, nor make 2+2=5.

Along this same line of thought, God cannot allow Himself to be deceived. To fall under deception would be a violation of His absolute wisdom.

God is Infinite (Psalm 147:5; 2 Chronicles 6:18)

This attribute may be one of the most difficult ones to comprehend. In speaking of God as being infinite, we are not simply referring to His height or breadth. By saying God is infinite we mean that He exists outside and beyond the limitations of time and space. Also, that God is infinite has bearing on all His other attributes. His wisdom is infinite. His holiness is infinite. His knowledge is infinite, etc. Contemplating God’s infinitude is both humbling and overwhelming. As Thomas Watson said in his book, A Body of Divinity, “Oh what a poor nothing is man, when we think of God’s infiniteness! As the stars disappear at the rising of the sun, oh, how does a man shrink into nothing, when infinite majesty shines forth in its glory!”

God is Eternal and Eternally God (1 Tim. 1:17; 1 Tim. 6:16)

Since God is eternal and eternally God, He cannot choose to cease being God, nor in any way diminish His own existence.

God is All-knowing

Since God knows all things and created all things, He has no capacity to learn. He cannot experience surprise or wonder.  This does not mean that He cannot create something new, like a fourth primary color, or a new created being. Such a being, however, could not possibly share in the divine nature of the Godhead for this would violate God’s immutability (that He is unchanging, Hebrews 13:8; Malachi 3:6).

God is Loving

While God’s love is often regarded as universal, this actually goes against what Scripture reveals. God, in His holiness cannot love what is evil, (Proverbs 6:16-19; Malachi 2:3; Romans 9:13).

God is Holy

In His holiness, God cannot allow sin to go unpunished. He cannot simply decide to forgive sin without it being atoned for, (Exodus 34:6-7). This is why Jesus had to die, (Romans 6:23). Christ’s death satisfied God’s wrath, which is a manifestation of His divine justice. Additionally, since God cannot sin it is impossible for God to repent, (Numbers 23:19).

God is Omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-12)

God’s omnipresence precludes that possibility the He can discover anything new. As was stated before, this does not mean that He cannot create something new.

God is Omnipotent (Ephesians 1:19; Daniel 4:35)

I’ve touched on this attribute already. It means that God has absolute power. On this attribute, people often struggle with the existence of evil if God is simultaneously good, omniscient, and omnipotent. This is commonly referred to as theodicy. There are multiple problems with this view, but for the sake of space, I will quote the theologian Carl Henry, “Any conception of omnipotence that requires God to contradict Himself reflects a conjectural and ridiculous notion of absolute power.”

Much more could be written on this subject, and indeed it has. Still, people struggle with these questions. As we study, it is vitally important to ensure that our view of God is worthy of Him. He has revealed much about Himself in both creation and His Word. But of course, this revelation is in no way exhaustive. God is infinite, and as His people, we will spend eternity learning about Him.

Psalm 84:1-2 – the House of God

28 Wednesday Sep 2022

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“How lovely are your dwelling places, O Lord God of hosts!
My soul longed, and even yearned for the courts of the Lord;
My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.”
Psalm 84:1-2, NASB

To be invited into the courts of the king has always been a huge honor. Especially, if the honor is bestowed upon one who has found his sovereign’s favor. To find the favor of the King of kings brings joy beyond imagination. Is this our mindset when we gather together for worship on Sunday morning? Do we regard the place where we gather as sacred and holy? My fear is that in our zeal to emphasize that the church is not the building but the people in it, we have lost all regard for the place itself.

It’s true that the church building holds no particular quality that renders it special in God’s economy. However, when Sunday morning comes and God’s people gather for true worship, it is transformed into the throne-room of Almighty God. It has nothing to do with the wood, brick, and mortar, but is entirely due to who is there. In that place, the saints of God are assembled to offer praise and worship to the King. And, it is His presence that makes that place special.

Followers of Christ have always been transient. We go from place to place wherever God calls us. We don’t have a single place on earth that we regard as sacred. We don’t worship a building. That being said, let’s not lose the idea of God’s house. It’s not the brick, stone, wood, or carpet that make it so. It’s what happens there. Wherever we gather, be it a building, a room in a school, or a clearing in the woods; it’s God’s house because God’s people are gathered there to honor, worship, and praise their sovereign King.

Thy Clouds which are Fountains

01 Tuesday Mar 2022

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I think too many of us walk through life like Eeyore. It’s not that we are without joy. It’s just that the hard things in life tend to weigh so heavily on us that they seem to overtake our demeanor to the point that it impacts almost everything. The truth of the matter is that life is hard, and not only did God warn us of this reality, He told us to be happy about it.

There’s a line in the great hymn, “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise,” that says, “Thy justice like mountains, high soaring above; Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.” Maybe it’s time for us to recognize the clouds of life for what they are – fountains of God’s love for us – and therefore, let us be grateful. Romans 5:1-5 tells us:

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us,” (NASB95).

God allows and uses, and at times ordains, the trials of life to grow and strengthen us into something useful for His purposes. He uses the hard times to conform us to the image of His Son. Sometimes, He uses these trials to discipline us. To bring us to our knees in contrition and brokenness. After all, we are sinful. Remember David’s words in Psalm 51 – that great prayer of contrition following his sin with Bathsheeba.

“Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice,” (Psalm 51:8, NASB95).

He doesn’t pray for God to mend his bones. They were a result of the reality of his sin. Rather, he prays for God to help him see his brokenness as cause for rejoicing. Likewise, the clouds of life are real. Let us see them as God’s fountain, showering us with what we need to be the people He intends for us to be. After all, are not His ways higher than our ways? His thoughts higher than our thoughts?

Immortal, invisible, God only wise
In light inaccessible, Hid from our eyes
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise!

 

Revelation 2 – Ephesus: A Church’s Love Abandoned

18 Friday Feb 2022

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Recently, my daily bible reading schedule brought me to Revelation 2, where Jesus is speaking to the church in Ephesus. He commends them for their perseverance, intolerance of sin, and their testing of false teachers. Then in verse 4, He tells them what He has against them—that they have “left [their] first love.” I recall, some years ago, a sharp debate over this statement in Sunday school over whether their “first love” was love for Christ, or love for one another. What am I to make of this? The text itself implies that the Ephesian church would plainly know what Christ was referring to.

Is this an important issue? I believe it is, as it was enough for Christ to hold them accountable.  He tells them that, unless they repent, He will “remove [their] lampstand out of its place.” In other words, the church in Ephesus will cease to exist in Christ’s eyes.

How do I answer this apparent dilemma? I think I’ll let Scripture speak for itself.  Remember John’s words in the 4th chapter of his first epistle.

We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also,” (1 John 4:19–21, NASB95).

This statement makes my love for God and love for my brothers and sisters in Christ, inseparable. I cannot love God without loving my brother. This leads me to another question. Is love what I do, or is it both what I do and feel. Scripture clearly tells us love is primarily something I choose to do, not always something I feel. In other words, it’s possible to love those I don’t necessarily, at a given time, feel affection for. That being said, my failure to love others demonstrates that my love for God is not real—remember, to love is a choice.

When asked for the greatest commandment, Jesus responded by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5.

Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:29–30, NASB95)  

He then followed that up with the 2nd most important, quoting Leviticus 19:18.

“The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31, NASB95)  

How, then, do I love God, whom I have not seen?

  • With my heart – a deep and heart felt affection for God, my Father.
  • With my soul – in response to the testimony of the Holy Spirit on my spirit that I am His child, (Romans 8:16).
  • With my mind – my thoughts, my meditations, my prayers will reflect a regard for God that is worthy of Him.
  • With my strength – the energy I expend, and what I choose to do, will demonstrate my love for God.

So then, how do I love my neighbor as myself? By applying the same effort in meeting the needs of my neighbor that I apply to meeting my own. In the 10th chapter of Luke’s gospel, Jesus was asked “Who is my neighbor?”.  Jesus responded with the well-known parable of the Good Samaritan. If I strive to love others in the same way as this Samaritan, that love will testify to a deep love for God.

The unfortunate reality is that all this is easier said than done. Why? The apostle Paul says it best…

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want, (Romans 7:18–19, NASB95).

So, we continue the struggle to be the people we are called to be.  I am encouraged know that Paul, this great man of God also tangled with his own failures.  Here’s his answer to the struggle.

Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin, (Romans 7:24–25, NASB95).

He followed that up with this wonderful statement…

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death, (Romans 8:1–2, NASB95).

So, be encouraged. God will finish the work begun!