08.01.14
Isaiah 66.2b “These are the ones I look on with favor: those
who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” – God
I read this verse today and somehow it disturbed
me. I dare not wear it as a Pharisee’s merit badge because those are not valued
in Heaven, and they are a source of immense discomfort on earth. The hunger we have is revealed by what we eat.
I can’t think of the last time I trembled at God’s word.
I value it. I love it. I learn from it. I quote it. I just can’t think of a
time when I was in terror of it,
trembling. I haven’t opened my Bible in a long time and just simply exclaimed: Awesome! I think I tend to think of His
word as a couch in the other room – nothing too awesome about that.
I know I’ve been humbled and have been humble but it
takes a different measure of humility to be in such humiliation as to tremble,
shaking at God’s word. The writer of Hebrews says this: “The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with
fear." (12.21) He was quoting Moses from Deuteronomy 9.19: “I feared the anger and wrath of the Lord,
for he was angry enough with you to destroy you. But again the Lord listened to
me.” That takes some kind of humility and contrition. Lots of it. I don’t
have much. But I want some. There are those who have it.
I sit humbled tonight at my lack of humility and my lack
of contrition and terror of the word. (It has
to be terror sometimes otherwise I won’t/don’t move.) And so, Isaiah’s words
caught my eye and wrapped themselves around my heart.
I don’t want to put on a show. I don’t want to wear
garments that don’t fit or look like they were made for someone else. I do want
to fall on my face before Him who says: “These
are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit,
and who tremble at my word.” I want to fall on my face pleading for mercy
at my care-less-ness, cynicism, and apathy. My worship must include humility,
contrition, and terror. At least in some measure.
I also remember this:
“One thing God has
spoken, two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to
you, God, and with You, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward
everyone according to what they have done.””
Psalm 62.11-12
Father today, numb, dumb, and resting on my thumb, I
plead Your mercy. I pray for a fresh encounter with You and for Your word to
stir up in me – terror. I know You don’t hate me because with You is unfailing love. I just want to learn to respond with
some measure of humility and contrition and I pray not to lay awake at night
wondering if I’ve somehow missed it. I ask for Your help as I do what I do and to
find You rewarding me for what I’ve done. Thank You for Your goodness,
kindness, but thank You for Your sternness as well. I want to be one of "these" Your son. Amen.
1 comment:
IS GOD'S GRACE IRRESISTIBLE? BY STEVE FINNELL
The doctrine of irresistible grace, that was promoted by John Calvin, teaches that God's grace is applied only to those to whom He has determined to save, overcoming their resistance to obeying the call of the gospel, imputing them with faith in Christ so that they might become saved.
God's grace is available to all who hear the gospel.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
God's grace is available to all men, however, most men reject the salvation offered by God. Men have a choice, grace is not irresistible.
Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Men can and do resist the Holy Spirit.
Acts 7:51 "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.
Men have a choice to accept or reject the gospel. Men do resist the Holy Spirit.
Luke 9:5 "And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them."
Why would Jesus say whoever will not receive you, if grace was irresistible? Grace is resistible.
Luke 13:34 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!
Jesus wanted to save all Jerusalem, however, they resisted that call. Men have free-will to accept or reject God's salvation.
Men have always and will always have a choice to obey or disobey God.
Joshua 24:15 "And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served, that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Men still have have choice of whom they will serve. God does not force men into service.
Faith comes by hearing the gospel preached. Faith does not come because of irresistible grace.
Romans 10:17 So the faith comes by hearing , and hearing by the word of God.
Men accept the word of God by faith. Men are not imputed with faith by irresistible grace given by the Holy Spirit. Men have a choice.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcome it not as the word of men, but as truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
GOD WANTS ALL MEN TO BE SAVED
1 Timothy 2:3-4...God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
If irresistible grace were true, then all men would be saved.
The truth is, all who hear the gospel can be saved, but not all men are obedient to the gospel plan of salvation.
GOD'S GRACE IS NOT IRRESISTIBLE!
(Scripture from: NKJV)
YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY BLOG. http//:steve-finnell.blogspot.com
Post a Comment