Make All Things New

James 4:6 reads, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” I have heard it said that it may take humiliation to humble us. While that is certainly true, and I am no fan of my own pride, I have been thinking about this warning. Is it really good advice to tell someone that if they don’t grow in humility they may need to fear being humbled? Doesn’t that, ironically, appeal to their pride?

Growing in humility simply to avoid humiliation isn’t true humility is it? It is actually fostering false humility in order to avoid looking bad (humiliation). But perhaps it would be better for us to grow in humility through humiliation. Perhaps a true sense of my humility is how I walk through humiliation rather than how I avoid it?

Thoughts?

In a previous post I mentioned that Mark Driscoll would be interviewed for ABC’s Nightline. Well, here it is:

(HT Jason Garwood)

Today I am experiencing something that is quite difficult for me to receive… the love of Christ shown through fellow believers. I never really thought I would have such an issue with this but apparently I do. It stems from my own pride – I hate my pride. It sickens me and pray that it would be killed through the work of God the Spirit in me.

The short story is that we have a large, dead tree in our front yard and I really don’t have the extra money to pay to have it taken down. On new year’s eve, a large branch of the tree fell just missing our front porch. While we were thankful for God mercy in not destroying our house (or worse!), our neighbor was just upset that the tree was still there. I want to be a good neighbor and I understand (most) of his concern, we were just stuck with how to remove the tree. I had been praying about it for a while and finally approached an elder in our church. He is out there as I type this with some other guys taking the tree down. The wood will be helping another family in the body to heat their home. I am certain my neighbor will be happy (he made a formal complaint with the borough even though we agreed to have it taken down by the end of the this month). So, it appears that everyone will be happy and God will be glorified through this whole experience. Yet, I remain uncomfortable receiving the comfort, love and care that my brothers in Christ desired to show me. I don’t want to be at work in my office while they are work at my house. My pride tugs at me to go and pay them back for their efforts. But alas, I won’t be able to. I have other things to do. I have no way of really paying them back and ultimately, they wouldn’t desire remuneration.

So, I wonder…how does my pride prevent me from full embracing a greater grace and mercy that was shown to me through Christ on the cross? How does my desire to payback subtly deny my ability to accept grace? In short, is my response to people taking this tree down for me similar in any way to my response to what God has done for me through the gospel?

Freely it has been given, based on no merit of our own. No matter how hard we work in this life, no matter how much “good” we give back, we can not earn what God has freely given through His Son. And I am exceedingly grateful for this! I hope that you would be too. I am thankful for the love Christ has shown to my brothers and I am thankful for the love Christ has shown through my brothers. May their service today be a reminder of Christ’s service to those who would believe. And may the Lamb receive the glory of His suffering!

Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church in Seattle will be featured on ABC’s Nightline tonight.

My seven year old daughter, Ella, had a birthday party today. She and another of her friends celebrated their birthdays together today. The theme was “fancy tea party”. The house was decorated up and Jill had spent hours baking (not bad for a lady nearing the birth of our fourth child – she is spectacular!). All the girls got dressed up and ready to act as adults. It was really a good time for them. And I got to be a part of it!

I took the time to get some father-son time with my two year old boy, Timothy. We had a nice afternoon eating a donut and talking about some things. Not too much that a two year old can talk about (though Timothy is quite a talker!). And I got to be a part of it!

It would be so easy for me to drift out of these important moments. I can see how I would sinfully desire to make excuses for not being at Ella’s party or not taking Timothy out alone for a couple hours. “It’s not that important.” “They’ll never remember me not doing that.” “I could really use this time for me.” On and on the excuses could come. That may be shocking to read (it’s painful to write) but I just know my heart. I would be wickedly selfish if not for God’s continued grace in my life.

So many fathers just walk away. Lots of dads are there in person but absent in spirit. Because of Jesus, I have a chance. I have a chance to count my children more important than myself. (Philippians 2:3) I have a chance to train them up in the way they should go. (Proverbs 22:6) I have a chance to tell them of the great acts of God so that some day they may set their hope in Him. (Psalm 78:5-7)

What an amazing challenge and thrill it is to be a daddy! Thank you Jesus for saving me not only (and ultimately) from God’s wrath but also from my selfishness. Thank you that because of You, I might find joy in the little things.

I have been thinking much about how to some, ministering the gospel within an urban setting almost assumes a ministry to the poor and destitute. So often when I share with people that my family and I are going to Philadelphia to pursue urban ministry and possibly church planting, the response includes something about how poor and broken the inner city is. While I recognize that there are some very impoverished areas in Philadelphia, why do so many assume that is where we are going or that that is what defines the city? Perhaps this is just a misunderstanding. Perhaps there is no real prejudice here. Perhaps the assumption is just out of concern for us. I don’t know. What I know is that I have lived in cities and I have lived in suburbs and I have seen wealth and poverty in both. Perhaps the polarity is more extreme within cities – the poor are poorer and the rich are richer.

The truth is that going to the city doesn’t necessarily mean ministering to impoverished people. To me, the insinuation that urban equals poor shows at best a lack of engagement with the city and at worst, a bit of condescending attitude. All levels of the socioeconomic scale are represented in a city like Philadelphia. But that really shouldn’t be the point, should it?

What I am wrestling with here is trying to understand my own (and others) presupposition when it comes to the city. In light of wanting to understand my own heart better, I desire to also understand the prejudices within it.

Do I see the city as a poor place? Do I speak of it as a place that needs people from the “wealthier” suburbs to come and rescue it? Do I sense a call to ministering to poor people in tough neighborhoods?

When I think of cities, my initial thought is of many positive things: neighborhoods filled with many people, diversity of ethnic cultures (and foods!), arts and culture, etc. For me, thinking of going to the city isn’t looking at a sacrifice but rather an opportunity. An opportunity to share the gospel in a context which I enjoy.

Of course, I don’t want to be naive to the real needs of the people of the city. Yes, there are many poor and needy people and yes I hope to help meet those needs. But those needs are readily apparent and in some ways easier to meet. The real need, whether rich or poor, is to be reconciled with God through Jesus Christ. That is the need which I want to meet, even in some small way. The gospel is needed in the city for the city.

Last summer I had the pleasure of reading The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes. It was an excellent book that grew my affections for Christ. Sibbes focused the book specifically on Isaiah 42:3 and how gentle the Messiah, Jesus, is. I highly recommend reading this book.

Today I was blessed anew by looking at some of the characteristics of the Messiah found in Isaiah 42 and wanted to share some things I saw in the text… Jesus is chosen and upheld by the Father, and one in whom God’s own soul delights. (Isaiah 42:1) The Savior is humble and modest, not intentionally drawing attention to Himself. (Isaiah 42:2) Jesus is empathetic. He will enter in to the suffering of the broken and share in their pain while working for their justice. (Isaiah 42:3) The Messiah is continually optimistic and perseveres. (Isaiah 42:4)

May we who call on Jesus as our messiah, grow more into His likeness. O God, because you have chosen us and rescued us, because you, uphold us, I ask that you grow us in humility and modesty. Help us to think of others more highly than ourselves. Keep us from making much of ourselves and grant us the boldness to make much of You. Grow us in compassion and empathy. Enable us to not only recognize the suffering around us, but help us to bear that suffering for others so that they might come to love you more. Thank you for the hope that we have in You. Thank you for the joy that this hope bring us now. We look forward to the day when You will rejoice over us with gladness and exult over us with loud singing. (Zephaniah 3:17) Amen.

Last Saturday could have been a very difficult day. In fact, in many ways it was difficult. Friends whom I dearly love, had come to the culmination of a challenge that God has taken them through. Last year they experienced the joy of expecting their sixth child – six times blessed by our Lord. This joy was soon turned to sorrow as they were told that the baby had serious malformations, ones which cause nearly all expectant parents to abort. They chose to turn the sorrow of this news into delight for the Father as they affirmed that life is only the Lord’s to give and take away. They would love and care for this baby as any other for as long as God willed.

I have been greatly encouraged with how they have responded to this situation with trust in God’s sovereign plan and goodness. It has been challenging for them to be sure. But I will never forget the times I have seen them, through tears, proclaim that “He is good.”

My understanding is that the doctors had never had anyone who did not have an abortion in this situation so they didn’t know what to expect throughout the pregnancy, birth and beyond. A C-section was planned for Wednesday but she went into labor yesterday. By God’s mercy, she delivered a baby boy. I don’t yet know the details, but Caleb died shortly after birth. I have not spoken with my friends yet but I do mourn with them while also joining them in praises for our good and merciful God.

When I found out late last night about this situation, I was also told that the father (who leads our church’s men’s ministry) would obviously not be preaching this morning at our men’s breakfast. So, I was asked if I had anything to share with the men. I got home kind of late and started praying and studying as well as talking with Jill. Around 11:30 pm, God put a passage on my heart that initially struck me as odd. I shared from John 11:17-53, the resurrection of Lazarus.

In times of suffering, loss and trial, looking at Christ and resting in His promises is a source of hope. I shared with the men how Jesus is so focused on sharing truth (He is the Resurrection and the life), sharing tears (He enters into our pain perfectly), being appropriately angry (angry at sin and death that has set this world wrong), and offers grace (His life for ours). He will not just make up for, but actually undo all the suffering in this world. Things aren’t the way they are supposed to be but through faith in Christ, we have a hope in the Day when all will be set right.

I know my friends know this and that is good. However the fact that they BELIEVE it is even greater. Their believing in the promises of God through such difficult times not only encourages others around them, it magnifies the worth of Jesus Christ and offers true hope and healing for themselves and those who might see.

Thank you Father for your goodness seen most clearly in your Son. Thank you Jeff and Carol for being mirrors that reflect the value of Christ to all around you during this time. In what could be the saddest moment of your life together, you have pointed us to Christ and reminded us that there is hope. Hope in a day when there will not only be “no more crying” but no memory of what was sad. Things will not only be made new, but sin will be undone – as if it never happened. Christ will be recognized as enough then and I thank God for your reminding me that He is enough now!

“She has a tatto that says ‘I heart John Piper… in Greek.” LOL

From C.H. Spurgeon:

“Ye are Christ’s.”-1 Corinthians 3:23

Ye are Christ’s.” You are His by donation, for the Father gave you to the Son; His by His bloody purchase, for He counted down the price for your redemption; His by dedication, for you have consecrated yourself to Him; His by relation, for you are named by his name, and made one of His brethren and joint-heirs. Labour practically to show the world that you are the servant, the friend, the bride of Jesus. When tempted to sin, reply, “I cannot do this great wickedness, for I am Christ’s.” Immortal principles forbid the friend of Christ to sin. When wealth is before you to be won by sin, say that you are Christ’s, and touch it not. Are you exposed to difficulties and dangers? Stand fast in the evil day, remembering that you are Christ’s. Are you placed where others are sitting down idly, doing nothing? Rise to the work with all your powers; and when the sweat stands upon your brow, and you are tempted to loiter, cry, “No, I cannot stop, for I am Christ’s. If I were not purchased by blood, I might be like Issachar, crouching between two burdens; but I am Christ’s, and cannot loiter.” When the siren song of pleasure would tempt you from the path of right, reply, “Thy music cannot charm me; I am Christ’s.” When the cause of God invites thee, give thy goods and thyself away, for thou art Christ’s. Never belie thy profession. Be thou ever one of those whose manners are Christian, whose speech is like the Nazarene, whose conduct and conversation are so redolent of heaven, that all who see you may know that you are the Saviour’s, recognizing in you His features of love and His countenance of holiness. “I am a Roman!” was of old a reason for integrity; far more, then, let it be your argument for holiness, “I am Christ’s!”