Why would the Lord ever save me?

I'll never know the answer to that in it's fullness. Yes, I know He loved me, even before I was born. Even before He created Adam, our first father. He save me in spite knowing how much I would blaspheme His name, and hate the things of the Lord, and be only self-centered, and a lover of myself.

But because of the Scriptures, I know He saved me. In fact He "foreknew" me. It's an intimate word "knew", in the original language. Jesus Christ "knew" His elect children, as did the Father, and loved them, and so He predestined them "according to the good pleasure of His will" (Eph. 1:5).

And whom He predestined, He also called. He called me out "of darkness, and into His marvelous light" by His great mercy. And He justified me, through the blood of Christ, our risen Lord and Savior. And He has, and shall, glorify me with Himself.
Amazing! Truly amazing! A sinner like me, who didn't want God, but only wanted to live as I wanted; as a rebel.

God did "foreknow" me, as He does all His elect. It's a verb, God "knew". And it's an intimate saying, as we read, "Adam knew his wife Eve". Very intimate indeed.

But there are those whom, on the last day shall say, "Lord, Lord, didn't you know us, for we did all sorts of things for you?"

Jesus Christ, the holy Lord of lords, will say, "I NEVER KNEW YOU! DEPART FROM ME!"

How could any seven words be more fearful to hear?

God knows those who are His.

And those who not His? He does not know them. And that is 100% His decision whom He will show mercy to, and whom He will not bestow His mercy upon. However, we all, everyone of us deserves to hear the words, "I never knew you: Depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness, you sinners!"

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, (by whose grace we are saved)." (Eph. 2:4)

We are all children of wrath, but God chose to foreknow, chose from His heart to love us, those whom He would come and save from our sins, and so make of children of peace.

It's a very personal salvation. God knows His sheep by name. He calls us one by one to Himself, and God the Father has given us to His Son, and Jesus, His Son, laid down His life, (though He never had to), but freely He gave His life. So by His blood, and broken body, we are forever forgiven of our sin, and robed in the righteousness of Christ our Lord, the Holy King, and eternal Lamb of God!

To His name and Person, the holy Triune God, be all glory! All glory! We deserve none. Zero. And I love it. I love the Lord. I love Him, because He first loved me, before the foundations of the world. Though I'll never understand why; even in eternity, I probably won't.

"..For Your name's sake lead me, and guide me." Psalm 31:3

[Life of Martin Luther and the heroes of the Reformation]




"Happy is he who can say with Paul: 'I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.' ....So then I live in the flesh, but not of or after the flesh, but by the faith of the Son of God." -Martin Luther

To live for Christ, because He first loved us, and took all our sin, and gave us His righteous standing, is 100% pure grace and mercy from above. God gives us His Holy Spirit to shed love abroad in our hearts, so that we love Christ and our neighbor; to empower us, so that we speak the truth boldly, and to help us be steadfast in righteous living, all for His glory.

How does this Christ and me, both of us, who are living in this world, really work? That's the mystery isn't it. I live in the flesh, and yet I was crucified with Christ; killed with Jesus on the Cross. Yet I'm alive and living, but it's not me, but Christ living in me.

More Luther: "..a Christian uses the world and all the creatures so that there is no difference between him and the indifel. For in their apparel, feeding, hearing, speaking, gestures, countenances, and such other things, they are alike, and seem to be all one (as Paul speaks of Christ: 'He being found in fashion of a man'--Philippians 2:8), yet indeed there is a great difference. Paul before his conversion spoke with the same voice and tongue wherewith he spoke afterwards; but his voice and tongue were then blasphemous and spoke against Christ and His Church. After he was converted, he had the same flesh, voice and tongue, nothing outward was changed; but his voice and his tongue now uttered spiritual and heavenly words, thanksgiving and the praise of God--these came of faith and the Holy Ghost."

May the Lord help us come to a greater understanding of what it means to live for His name's sake. Amen.

From, 'The Life and Diary of David Brainerd'

"Tuesday, April 6. I walked out this morning to the same place where I was last night, and felt as I did then; but was somewhat relieved by reading some passages in my diary, and seemed to feel as if I might pray to the great God again with freedom; but was suddenly struck with a damp [a sense of heaviness, making it hard to pray], from the sense I had of my own vileness. Then I cried to God to cleanse me from my exceeding filthiness, to give me repentance and pardon. I then began to find it sweet to pray; and could think of undergoing the greatest sufferings, in the cause of Christ, with pleasure. Found myself willing, if God so order it, to suffer banishment from my native land, among the heathen, that I might do something for their salvation, in distresses and deaths of any kind.

Then God gave me to wrestle earnestly for others, for the kingdom of Christ in the world, and for dear Christian friends. I felt weaned from the world and from my own reputation among men, willing to be despised and to be a gazing stock for the world to behold. It is impossible for me to express how I then felt. I had not much joy, but some sense of the majesty of God, which made me as it were tremble. I saw myself mean and vile, which made me more willing that God should do what He would with me; it was all infinitely reasonable.

...Oh, that all my late distresses and awful apprehensions might prove but Christ's school to make me fit for greater service, by teaching me the great lesson of humility!" -David Brainerd

This is a good book to read, and an exceptional servant of the Lord to listen to. He understood how vile he was, though his vileness is no where near the genuine vileness so many display boldly in the Church today. His sin was detested by his own heart, because he saw how holy God was, and how great Christ's love was toward him.
May I glean a little of this same closeness to the presence of Christ that David Brainerd experienced, even though at times it made him fall on his face for his sinfulness. Yet, for the greater part, he was allowed to taste the sweetness of Christ's love, peace, and joy.

Some encouragement to pray for our Pastors

Here's a brief list of things we can pray for our pastors, given to us by Ligon Duncan. I feel if I have some ideas on how to pray, then I may just pray a bit more, and even with more heartfelt requests to our Lord and Savior.

Check this link out from T4G wbesite.
T4G

RAVENS 27 DOLPHINS 9. WE SQUISHED THE FISH!!! ... SWEET!!!!

The Baltimore Ravens are the real deal. Not a powerhouse yet. But we can hold our own with any team. So, is the Super Bowl a far fetch for us Raven fans? I think not.

It was such a pleasure to watch the Ravens win in a strong way again. The wins that are comeback wins, or the ones we hold on to, are great after they are over, but watching them is nerve-racking. Even though, these type of games are much more worthy a win, and are cause for greater joy. Especially the following day as we discuss the game with other fans and friends.

I have high hopes the Ravens can beat the Tennessee Titans next Saturday @ 4:30 pm. And then it's off to either Pittsburgh, or San Diego. I'd much rather have the Chargers than the Steelers. But I believe the Ravens can handle either of these teams as well.

Then, Super Bowl here we come! And I imagine the Giants will be our Foe. The same Foe back in 2000. And it would be the 50th anniversary of Baltimore playing New York for the championship. Though we are no longer the Baltimore Colts, we surely should be, if the Colts would have had a half way decent owner, which they did not. An owner like the Ravens owner, who left the Browns in Cleveland.

I love football. It was one of my gods, until I came to Christ. Now it's not a god, but I still enjoy the game--probably too much at times, says my wife. I should listen to her, but it's so hard. Though she likes to watch football with me at times. I guess that could be a resolution for me. Only so much football per season. Sounds doable. But only by His grace. For it's His grace that provides for our obedience, and for our doing the right thing. If we do it on our own, then we will either be proud, or end up depressed.
Sorry, didn't mean to be so preachy, but it just sort flowed so I figured I'd write it down.

God bless all who come here. Amen.

"God accepteth no man's person." Galatians 2:6

I thought these words from Dr. Luther were encouraging. And I'm going to need a lot of that in the coming days, with the economy the way it is.

"God is no respector of person, ...It is not the dignity or authority of men that God regards. .... So the prince, the magistrate, the preacher, the schoolmaster, the scholar, the father, the mother, the children, the master, the servant, are persons, and outward veils, which God will have us acknowledge, love, and reverence, as His creatures. This is necessary in this life, but He will not have us so reverence them and put our trust in them that we forget Him. To this end we should not too much magnify the outward persons, or put to great trust in them; God leaves in them offenses and sins, yea, great and foul sins, to teach us what difference there is between persons and God Himself. ...

Let us then use bread, wine, apparel, possessions, gold, silver, and all other creatures; but let us not trust or glory in them. We must trust and glory in God alone." -Martin Luther, from his Commentary on Galatians. (It was first published in 1535. In 1577 it was translated and published in English.)

It's going to be quite a hard season for my faith methinks in these next days. I'm "smack dab" in the midst of this economy fiasco, and money is going to be sparse for my business. If you have a moment, I could use a prayer to our Lord to fill me, and my partners, and my employees, with His peace and wisdom. And I also wouldn't mind, --not that I can ever complain--, if the Lord prospered us with some good hard work. However, (and I really mean this), the bottom line is this: "The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, our sovereign God and Savior, and Friend." So whatever happens, He is a good and sovereign Father. And He deserves all my love and obedience. Amen, and amen.

My First books for 2009: "Profiles of Courage" & "The Life and Diary of David Brainerd"

I received two very interesting books for Christmas to read. The first, "The Life and Diary of David Brainerd", I received from my friend and pastor, Dave Shive. And the "Profiles of Courage, by JFK, I received from my wife.

I also received an audio CD of "Here's Johnny!" by Ed McMahon. I've never listened to a book before; this shall be my first. And Ed McMahon, himself records the reading on the CD's.

Here's a quote from the "Life and Diary of David Brainerd", by Philip E. Howard, Jr.: "...I quarreled with the law of God, as unreasonably rigid. I thought if it extended only to my outward actions and behaviors I could bear with it; but I found it condemned me for my evil thoughts and sins of my heart, which I could not possibly prevent."

David struggled intensely with his being a condemned sinner before he finally came to trust Christ completely.

Here's another quote: "I was spending some time in prayer and self-examination, when the Lord by His grace so shined into my heart that I enjoyed full assurance of His favor, for that time; and my soul was unspeakably refreshed with divine and heavenly enjoyments. At this time especially, as well as some others, sundry passages of God's Word opened to my soul with divine clearness, power, and sweetness, so as to appear exceedingly precious, and with clear and certain evidence of its being the Word of God. I enjoyed considerable sweetness in religion all the winter following."

So far in David Brainerd's diary, this wonderful man of the Lord records himself experiencing darkness like I have never known, and knowing the presence of the Lord as i wish I could. It's a very good book so far, and I think it will be an encouragement to my soul to carry on in the faith. And so perhaps I'll be able to encourage others to keep on as well. And so be pleasing to our Lord, as we trust Him, and live by faith through his grace.

Happy New Year to all!

May we all prosper this year, as our souls prosper in the things of God, and as we "seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness". Amen.