“Brethren, there is an abiding fullness of truth in Christ; after you have heard it for fifty years, you see more of its fullness than you did at first. Other truths weary the ear. I will defy any man to hold together a large congregation, year after year, with any other subject but Christ Jesus. He might do it for a time; he might charm the ear with the discoveries of science, or with the beauties of poetry, and his oratory might be of so high an order that he might attract the multitudes who have itching ears, but they would in time turn away and say, ‘This is no longer to be endured. We know it all’.”

“All music becomes wearisome but that of heaven; but oh! if the minstrel doth but strike this celestial harp, though he keepeth his fingers always among its golden strings, and be but poor and unskilled upon an instrument so divine, yet the melody of Jesus’ name, and the sweet harmony of all his acts and attributes, will hold his listeners by the ears and thrill their hearts as nought beside can do. The theme of Jesus’ love is inexhaustible, though preachers may have dwelt upon it century after century, a freshness and fullness still remain.”

From a sermon entitled “The Fulness Of Jesus The Treasury Of Saints,” delivered February 28, 1869.

When we use the statement, “I believe in…,” is it really what we are trying to say. For example, if I say, “I believe in God” or “I believe in magic,” what I am saying is I believe that God exists; or I believe that magic exists. However, I don’t think that what a person means when they say, “I don’t believe in rock music” is that they do not believe that rock music exists. If they really believe that, they need to get out more or get a better grip on reality. It does exist. As a matter of fact, it is very prevalent. On the other hand, I think that what they really mean is, “I don’t believe that we should listen to rock music,” or, “I believe that rock music is wrong.” If this is what people think, then why don’t they just say it?

My friend and I were talking today, and he told me that he had a headache. I offered him Advil, but he replied, “No, I don’t believe in Advil.” After talking for a few seconds, I found out that what he really meant was, “I don’t believe that Advil works for me.” I knew that he had enough understanding to know that Advil exists.

“Picky Ricky” you call me? Maybe, but I think that if more people actually thought more about the statements they make, there would be fewer misunderstandings and more common sense in this world. So, do what your mom told you when you were a kid, “Think before you speak.”

A quick disclaimer: I thought that I might mention that I have discovered most of these sloppy speech patterns in myself. So, don’t be surprised if you find any sloppiness here. I am working on it too.

this is “grace at work”

In a line from the song that I quoted in my previous post, it states that “God’s gotta change her heart before He changes her shirt.” This is so true. Christ didn’t demand that the publicans and sinners clean up their act before He ministered to them. The good news that He had for them was that through Him God changes hearts. The product of that is that the outside will change if that is what the Spirit of God chooses to do. Ultimately, God’s work is His, not ours. It is something that He will do. He doesn’t need us. He will use us if it is His will.

And an additional thought: If morality is the issue, who determines it? Who makes the calls? Unfortunately, usually it is the one who yells the loudest. Unfortunately because Christ says that the meek will inherit the earth. Normally it is not the meek who are yelling the loudest, if they care at all.

this is “grace at work”

Christ said that he came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. This not to say that righteous people do not need Christ’s call. On the contrary, the Pharisees considered themselves to be righteous, yet they were only righteous in their own eyes. Before God, they were condemned. As a matter of fact, it was the view of their own righteousness that condemned them. They were self-righteous, not Christ-righteous.

This may seem obvious to most (or maybe not), but it is one thing to agree with the bare facts; it is another thing to live this way. People who promote morality rather than (and/or) without Christ, run a high risk of winning others to self-righteousness rather than to Christ. Christ came to deliver us from our self-righteousness. “HE became sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God IN HIM.” I fear that there are many people who view there own lives as good and moral, and may even have had at one point an experience of prayer and confession, but they have never heartily repented of their trust in themselves and turned their trust to Christ’s perfect and complete work on the cross. I am saying all this so that it is clear that a striving for morality may, in fact, turn others from freedom in Christ rather than to Him. A complete trust in Christ is necessary before anyone begins to address godly living.

Christ addressed immorality on many different occasions, but every time it was with the intention of turning people to trust in Him, not to make them moral. Good works, godliness, morality come because of a complete dependence on the righteousness of Christ.

Gal 3:1-3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. (2) Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? (3) Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (ESV)

The work of Christ is what we need to begin and to continue. Without complete dependence on Him, we are striving for a righteousness of our own. However, a dependence on our moral living will only damn us.

In conclusion, we are urged to call people to dependence in Christ, not to morality. Morality will damn. So, I whole heartily agree, that “that America does not need morality, they need Christ!”

this is “grace at work”

Mark 5 tells the story of Christ’s interaction with a woman who has had a major problem with internal bleeding. She had suffered from it for twelve years. She had been to see many doctors but her problem had only gotten worse. Having spent all her money on doctors her situation seemed hopeless. (Sounds very similar to the ones to whom Isaiah is calling in Isaiah 55)

This particular day she recognized Jesus; one who could heal her from her infirmity. However, because of the nature of her sickness, according to the Mosaic law she was considered to be unclean. And any whom she touched also would be considered unclean. Yet, in spite of the looming circumstances she continually told herself that if only she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, she would be healed.

Fighting through the crowd, the woman managed to come close enough to Him to touch His hem. Immediately, she sensed that she had been healed. Rather than the unclean defiling the clean, the pure one had cleansed the impure. (Matthew’s account of this story is told in Matthew 9:20. Surprisingly enough, at the beginning of the chapter Christ is eating with Matthew, the publicans and sinners. Christ tells the critical Pharisees that those who are healthy do not need a physician, but those who are sick. Then He told them to learn what he was saying. Immediately He gives them a lesson of faith and an incredible demonstration of God’s power.)

Christ sensed in Himself that power from Him had gone out. He immediately turned around and asked who had touched Him. Walking in the middle of a crowd of people, Christ’s disciples thought that it was ridiculous for Him to ask who had touched Him. (This has been the difficult yet wonderful part for me.) Many people had been pressing on Him. Many bodies and hand brushed up against Him, and many people made contact with Him. The crowd pressed on him. (It would be similar to the few experiences I have had in NYC where I had to keep my hands continually on my wallet and other valuables because of the many people that were crowded around me during rush hour.) But among the Many who had made contact with Him, only one had truly touched Him.

How often people claim to have had an encounter with Jesus. On September 11, the whole United States was praying (or so they thought.) But how many were just brushing Him rather than touching Him. Every weekend many go to church and pray, but they are just moving past Him or crowding Him but never truly touching Him in faith. Augustine said, “multitudes still come similarly close to Christ in the means of grace, but all to no purpose, being only sucked into the crowd.”

So, when I pray, as I live, I must remember my desperate need. I must recognize that I am bankrupt. I have no resources of my own. I am completely dependent on Him. And just as the woman, I must fall down and confess to Him the truth of my situation and the truth that He is God. My helpless, hopeless, resourceless state is the theater of His glory (borrowed slightly from Calvin.)

this is “grace at work”

I hope that what tried to explain here is clear, The thought that I had reminded me that this world, this universe, operates within the sphere of Christianity, not the other. The very essence of the universe is present because Christianity exits. Other religions exists because of man’s treason and rebellion against the Lord and God of Christianity. Therefore any form of religion, even agnosticism and atheism, are elements that operate under the umbrella of truth which lies at the core of Christianity. They are not equally competing and opposing forces that are vying for there place in the universe. There is not a separate existence apart from Christianity. They exist because God exists; and, therefore, Christianity exists.

This may seem like a mess of obvious and scattered thoughts. But, the reason that this is so significant to me is because I so many times think and behave as though I have an option to operate either within or without the umbrella of Christianity. I am often very aware of my righteous standing before God and my life predestined to Christlikeness. But, at times I pursue idols of the heart (Calvin called our hearts “idol factories”) thinking that I somehow escaped out from under the umbrella of God. We cannot operate outside of the truth of God and the existence of Christianity. Again, idols are idols, Islam is subservient, and atheism is rebellion, etc., because the world is Christian.

Please share any thoughts.

this is “grace at work”

In context, this passage is to the Old Testament Israel nation whom God had chosen in Abraham. But those Gentiles that trust Christ as the perfect sacrifice and mediator become heirs of the promises to Abraham. So, by the work of Christ, this passage reflects the love and mercy to us (those who believe) as God’s sovereign choice. God’s heart was not drawn to his own by an attractive population. Nothing -beauty, appeal, number, obedience- has swayed the heart of God to His people other than His loving choice. Just as God brought the Israelites out of Egyptians hands, God has brought us out of bondage to sin because it was His pleasure to do it. He is keeping the promises that He made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to His people. He will continue to keep all His promises because of His lovingkindness to us. God is bound by nothing other than His loving choice that brings Him pleasure. My heart is driven to an overwhelming passionate reponse to the goodness and greatness of God. I want to worship Him with all my life. My will should be to keep His commandments and worship Him. He has acted towards me in love, O, that I could respond infinitely so. Rejoice, for He has shown mercy to us in bondage and has made us partners in the promises to Abraham and joint heirs with Christ because He wanted to.

Lovingly Chosen,
Ricky

I want holiness to drip out of me and I pray that love for my God will be the driving force. I want to worship my God with all that I am, for His praise and His glory.

Ricky