Life's Blessings, however small, always appear exceedingly precious when viewed against the backdrop the the wrath I deserve.
- Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer
Monday, June 21, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
God's Goodness 2
Happy Birthday Charles Haddon Spurgeon and Happy Birthday Brian.
Today I major on the goodness of God:
Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. Psalm 73:1
When I read this, I am immediately reminded that my heart is not pure. I am well aware of the depth of darkness of my own heart, of my sinfulness, selfishness and pride. But the full picture is the one painted by the gospel. It reminded me that God has exchanged my heart of stone for a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19). He has exchanged my sinful life for his perfect one. He has exchanged my mind for the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). Therefore, that promise of God's goodness it to me. God is good to me, and hie has been good to me.
He is good to me in the big things and the small.
In the greatest big thing, he sent His Son. If I had not received this free gift of salvation, I would be destined, as treasonous enemy of the cross to eternal punishment. But God, as the greatest expression of his goodness, has given me a pardon. Greater than a pardon, he had the entire punishment paid by his very own son.
And in the day-to-day things...my wife's illness that had us very concerned. And yet we get a diagnosis that almost immediately says - "done", "over", "all better" - move on with your life, just take these pills for the next couple of weeks. There are so many bad things it could be, but they are eliminated. She is recuperating nicely.
Thank you Lord, for the big and the small, the great and the tiny. You Truly are good to me.
Today I major on the goodness of God:
Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. Psalm 73:1
When I read this, I am immediately reminded that my heart is not pure. I am well aware of the depth of darkness of my own heart, of my sinfulness, selfishness and pride. But the full picture is the one painted by the gospel. It reminded me that God has exchanged my heart of stone for a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19). He has exchanged my sinful life for his perfect one. He has exchanged my mind for the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). Therefore, that promise of God's goodness it to me. God is good to me, and hie has been good to me.
He is good to me in the big things and the small.
In the greatest big thing, he sent His Son. If I had not received this free gift of salvation, I would be destined, as treasonous enemy of the cross to eternal punishment. But God, as the greatest expression of his goodness, has given me a pardon. Greater than a pardon, he had the entire punishment paid by his very own son.
And in the day-to-day things...my wife's illness that had us very concerned. And yet we get a diagnosis that almost immediately says - "done", "over", "all better" - move on with your life, just take these pills for the next couple of weeks. There are so many bad things it could be, but they are eliminated. She is recuperating nicely.
Thank you Lord, for the big and the small, the great and the tiny. You Truly are good to me.
Friday, June 18, 2010
God's Goodness 1
I believe in the sovereignty of God. My faith is strong that God is powerful, wise and in control of all situations. Not so much when it comes go God's goodness. I understand the cross, and that he died for me, but I don't have that functional, heart-level understanding of God's goodness specifically and individually to me. Therefore, when bad things happen, I question them and worry about them. I can counsel others that God is good, because I believe that. But it almost as if I am too insignificant the think that mighty God would orchestrate things for my good.
But that simply is not accurate. All the promises in scripture are mine too. The work of the cross was for me too. The gifts, the callings are also and specifically for me.
So I want to grow in this area. And to do that I want to recount God's many blessings to me, that are specifically mine.
Now the gospel is for all, but it is also specifically for me. It is a general blessing, but too great and too powerful to pass up. God said, I will exchange my son to purchase me. Not because of anything I have done, but solely and purely because of God's great love for me.
Do I get that? Do I even have a clue? I need to mediate on that.
Preaching the gospel to myself each day keeps before me the startling advocacy of God for my fullness, and it also serves as a means by which I feast anew on the fullness of provision that God has given to me in Christ. (Milton Vincent)
But that simply is not accurate. All the promises in scripture are mine too. The work of the cross was for me too. The gifts, the callings are also and specifically for me.
So I want to grow in this area. And to do that I want to recount God's many blessings to me, that are specifically mine.
Now the gospel is for all, but it is also specifically for me. It is a general blessing, but too great and too powerful to pass up. God said, I will exchange my son to purchase me. Not because of anything I have done, but solely and purely because of God's great love for me.
Do I get that? Do I even have a clue? I need to mediate on that.
Preaching the gospel to myself each day keeps before me the startling advocacy of God for my fullness, and it also serves as a means by which I feast anew on the fullness of provision that God has given to me in Christ. (Milton Vincent)
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