living today in light of that day

living today in light of that day

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Friendship in Proverbs 17



Whoever covers an offense seeks love,
but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
(Proverbs 17:9 ESV)


A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
(Proverbs 17:17 ESV)

photo: August 13, 2011 at hunting cabin in Tioga County, PA

Monday, January 16, 2012

Who is like our Lord?


 The LORD is merciful and gracious,
  slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
 He will not always chide,
  nor will he keep his anger forever.
 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
  nor repay us according to our iniquities.
 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
  so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
 as far as the east is from the west,
  so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
(Psalm 103:8-12 ESV)

Who is like our Lord?


That was shared during our worship service yesterday. It is both convicting and comforting to know there is no one like our Lord. None compares to his mercifulness, graciousness, slowness to anger, and abudance of steadfast love. Because I am in Christ, I do not need to lead a fearful life, waiting to be crushed, pushed down, or stifled. No, his wrath has already been poured out on Christ. I need not fear that from him anymore. And if the fear of the Lord is greater in me than fear of man, if his greatness is greater than anything else in my mind and heart, I need not fear what man can do to me.

 So we can confidently say,
 “The Lord is my helper;
  I will not fear;
 what can man do to me?”
(Hebrews 13:6 ESV) 

God is not like man. Man is made in his image and made to reflect him, but none truly compares with the Father. None truly has steadfast love or has sacrificed as much to lead and love me as the Son. When his image bearers fail to shine forth his glorious image, ask "who is like our Lord?"
Do not, oh my soul, confine your God to the failures of man.

photo: shadows in the kitchen 9/20/08

Friday, January 13, 2012

Romans 12

So thankful to my Father, who is not finished with me yet and who cares for me down to every detail. I am, and always will be, in desperate need of Christ. He is faithful to meet that need, to meet me in my weakness and grow me in the godliness he calls me to.
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. -Romans 12:9-21
Thanks to Kurt Weaver for pointing me to Romans 12 today.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Hope for the Broken



Paul Tripp, in Forever:
The fact that this world is not an endless cycle of dashed hopes and fading dreams but by God's plan is marching toward a moment when all that is broken will be restored can fill you with a reason to get up in the morning and press on. Yes, life is hard and you will face things you never imagined you would face, but this world is not all there is. You are not living in the final chapter of the story. What is broken will be fixed, what has been bent will be straightened, and what has decayed will be restored. Eternity really does give you a reason to continue, even when nothing right now seems as if it is working. Eternity challenges my feelings of futility by reminding me that what I am experiencing right now is not permanent.
Wow, talk about hope! I'm growing more convinced of my need for an eternal perspective and clinging to Christ.
"All that has been broken will be restored." Brokenness does not have the last word. All of creation yearns for the return on the Lord, when he will put everything right. And he gives grace for us to hold on until then. We have hope, and God is with us even now. We live in the reality of the already but not yet.
The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
(Proverbs 10:28)
May I delight and take joy in God's goodness today, for he is very good. I want each day to be a treasure hunt for him.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Taste

"We get a taste of God's good gifts in the here and now to keep us hungering for the full meal that is waiting for us in eternity."
Paul Tripp in Forever: Why You Can't Live Without It

Faith like Sarah

"And you are [Sarah's] children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening."
- 1 Peter 3:6