Tonight we had somewhat of a breakthrough in our family worship time. We typically do this after dinner, though it is sometimes hard to maintain in the midst of a busy week. When we do gather for this time, it usually looks more like Owen and Daddy worship rather than Whole-Family worship, since Kristen is on Baxter and Baxter is everywhere. But tonight, Baxter had a breakthrough experience of content, joyous, and relatively focused participation in family worship. (By the way, our family worship time isn't anything spectacular, just a brief prayer, a hymn that Daddy picks, a reading and explanation of probably 1-2 verses of Scripture, a question or 2 from the kids' catechism, a song that Owen picks, and a closing prayer...maybe 5-10 minutes total.)
The point at which Baxter was most fully engaged was when Kristen and I were asking our 2 boys a series of questions flowing out of the first part of Psalm 119:12: "Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes!" We would say, "Boys, which is better: hamburgers, or God?", to which they would respond "GOD!!!" (Baxter: "GAAAHHH!!!" with right hand raised high pointing to the ceiling [we will eventually straighten out his current view that the presence of Almighty God is centralized in our family room ceiling]).
But as is often the case, what I was saying to our boys actually helped and humbled me a great deal. Which do I think or feel or act-as-if is better: God, or hamburgers...God, or Dairy Queen...God, or Alias (yes, we are watching old seasons...thank you Netflix)...God, or (fill in the blank)? I need to believe the Scriptures that "Your steadfast love is better than life" (Psalm 63:3), and "in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:11), and "to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). Any joyful experience of hamburgers or any other created thing must be a joyful experience of God as the one who gives those good gifts, and whose goodness is displayed continually to us through them. God is better than hamburgers.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Possessive-pronoun Christianity
Martin Luther once said, "The life of Christianity consists in possessive pronouns." In other words, the vitality or essence of genuine Christianity centers around whether you can truthfully and sincerely say, not just "Jesus is the Savior of sinners," but "Jesus is my Savior from my sin" (my being the 1st person possessive pronoun).
This is true for the beginning of the Christian life, which is marked by personal trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ (His life, death, and resurrection as a substitute and representative for sinners). Recognizing that we are willful and active sinners who stand under the terrible wrath of our perfectly holy and just Creator God, we humbly and wholeheartedly entrust ourselves to the only solution to our problem of sin, Jesus Christ and His atoning work on the cross. In receiving and depending upon Him alone for salvation, we are saying, "Jesus is my Savior from my sin and its consequences and its power and ultimately its presence."
This is true also for the continuation of the Christian life, which is marked by continued trust and utter dependence upon God. "The LORD is my shepherd" (Psalm 23:1). "I say to the LORD, 'You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you'" (Psalm 16:2). Etc.
If you are uncertain of where you stand spiritually (i.e., whether or not you are currently standing under the just wrath of God, or whether you are standing under His grace through Christ by faith, Romans 5:1-2), then I encourage you to consider whether you have truly embraced Jesus Christ as your Savior for your sin. Believe in Christ. Receive Him. Come to Him. Entrust yourself to Him. Possess possessive-pronoun Christianity.
If you are already in Christ, then I encourage you to consider the impact of this insight from Luther (really, from God in Scripture) upon your daily living. Do you live like God is your God, like the Lord is your shepherd, like He is your Creator and Redeemer, your sustainer, your provider, your strength and shield, your guide and friend, your highest joy? I encourage you to inject this insight into key spots of your day, such as straightaway when you wake up, when you face adversity, whenever you pray, and when your head hits the pillow at night. In His gracious plan of redemption, God has taken the initiative to make us His people (Jeremiah 31:33), and so should we not make and keep Him our God?
This is true for the beginning of the Christian life, which is marked by personal trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ (His life, death, and resurrection as a substitute and representative for sinners). Recognizing that we are willful and active sinners who stand under the terrible wrath of our perfectly holy and just Creator God, we humbly and wholeheartedly entrust ourselves to the only solution to our problem of sin, Jesus Christ and His atoning work on the cross. In receiving and depending upon Him alone for salvation, we are saying, "Jesus is my Savior from my sin and its consequences and its power and ultimately its presence."
This is true also for the continuation of the Christian life, which is marked by continued trust and utter dependence upon God. "The LORD is my shepherd" (Psalm 23:1). "I say to the LORD, 'You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you'" (Psalm 16:2). Etc.
If you are uncertain of where you stand spiritually (i.e., whether or not you are currently standing under the just wrath of God, or whether you are standing under His grace through Christ by faith, Romans 5:1-2), then I encourage you to consider whether you have truly embraced Jesus Christ as your Savior for your sin. Believe in Christ. Receive Him. Come to Him. Entrust yourself to Him. Possess possessive-pronoun Christianity.
If you are already in Christ, then I encourage you to consider the impact of this insight from Luther (really, from God in Scripture) upon your daily living. Do you live like God is your God, like the Lord is your shepherd, like He is your Creator and Redeemer, your sustainer, your provider, your strength and shield, your guide and friend, your highest joy? I encourage you to inject this insight into key spots of your day, such as straightaway when you wake up, when you face adversity, whenever you pray, and when your head hits the pillow at night. In His gracious plan of redemption, God has taken the initiative to make us His people (Jeremiah 31:33), and so should we not make and keep Him our God?
Thunder and the Sovereignty of God
Owen and thunder don't get along too well. In fact, I don't believe there is anything in this universe that he is more scared of. Tonight there was thunder at the Purdy house.
It took quite a bit of praying and comforting and story-reading and window-checking, but he finally went down ok. As I sat down on the couch to a good book (Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, John Currid), I realized something about the whole situation. Owen was calm mainly because the thunder had stopped, but at any moment it could start again. In an instant, our whole night could change. This was especially striking to me because in sitting down to a good book, I was subconsciously (then consciously) finding my hope and satisfaction in the absence of thunder and the presence of a good book. How would I respond if suddenly the thunder returned, and I needed to help my son for another 30 minutes? Every single clap of thunder falls under the sovereign rule and plan of almighty God (i.e., whenever it thunders, it is God who has made it thunder, Job 38, Psalm 104). Would I respond with self-centered discontentment, since my will is being crossed? Or would I respond with prayerful and trusting contentment, knowing that God's will (that it thunder and that I put my book down and help my sweet son) is infinitely wiser and better than mine. "Not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42) was Jesus' prayer in the garden of Gethsamane, and I realized that I should have the same posture of heart.
I did not have to fear what the next moment would bring (or, what God would bring in the next moment). Though it did not thunder and Owen went calmly and quickly to sleep, it was a steadying and peace-giving comfort to know that I live under the sovereign hand of God. This God "does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, 'What have you done?'" (Daniel 4:35). He also "causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). Even thunder claps.
It took quite a bit of praying and comforting and story-reading and window-checking, but he finally went down ok. As I sat down on the couch to a good book (Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, John Currid), I realized something about the whole situation. Owen was calm mainly because the thunder had stopped, but at any moment it could start again. In an instant, our whole night could change. This was especially striking to me because in sitting down to a good book, I was subconsciously (then consciously) finding my hope and satisfaction in the absence of thunder and the presence of a good book. How would I respond if suddenly the thunder returned, and I needed to help my son for another 30 minutes? Every single clap of thunder falls under the sovereign rule and plan of almighty God (i.e., whenever it thunders, it is God who has made it thunder, Job 38, Psalm 104). Would I respond with self-centered discontentment, since my will is being crossed? Or would I respond with prayerful and trusting contentment, knowing that God's will (that it thunder and that I put my book down and help my sweet son) is infinitely wiser and better than mine. "Not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42) was Jesus' prayer in the garden of Gethsamane, and I realized that I should have the same posture of heart.
I did not have to fear what the next moment would bring (or, what God would bring in the next moment). Though it did not thunder and Owen went calmly and quickly to sleep, it was a steadying and peace-giving comfort to know that I live under the sovereign hand of God. This God "does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, 'What have you done?'" (Daniel 4:35). He also "causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). Even thunder claps.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Right and wrong exhaustion
It's just me and the boys this weekend. Kristen is away on a weekend trip with the girls she lived with in college, and we are grateful that she can be there. However, it hasn't been easy. I've been pretty sick, along with Baxter, and Owen says he is sick, though he hasn't shown any symptoms (though when asked, he does give a staggering list of symptoms which would foil the most capable diagnostician, such as "I'm sick in my mouth, but it comes in my throat and goes out my mouth when I cough..."). Needless to say, I'm exhausted tonight. (By the way, these trips are great for a number of reasons, including the chance to get some quality "boy play time," as Owen calls it, as well as the chance to experience what it's like every day for Kristen...motherhood is indeed a high and valuable and thoroughly-exhausting calling!)
But is it wrong to be exhausted after a long day of taking care of children? Kristen and I talked about this recently. I think there is a right exhaustion and a wrong exhaustion. There is a kind of godly, biblically-faithful, and God-honoring exhaustion, and there is a kind of ungodly, unbiblical, and self-exalting exhaustion. The difference centers mainly around where we have been drawing our strength from in our labors. If our source of strength throughout the day has been ourselves, then we will often end up exhausted with the kind of exhaustion that leaves a bad taste in our mouth. It's the kind of exhaustion that is hopeless and unsatisfying. But if our source of strength throughout the day has been the Lord, then we will close the day with a sweet, peaceful, fulfilling kind of exhaustion. That is a hope-filled and satisfying exhaustion, stemming from the honest and humble realization that the day's energies have been fully spent for the glory of God.
If we are fulfilling our God-given callings with all diligence, faithfulness, and humble dependence on God and "the strength that He supplies" (1 Peter 4:11, Ephesians 6:10), then it is right for us to be exhausted. In a very real sense, we should be exhausted in this way.
When we are exhausted, I think we should be asking ourselves, "Am I exhausted because I've been living my day as if God didn't exist, self-sufficient and relying on the wisdom of man? Or am I exhausted because I've been vigorously carrying out the roles and responsibilities God has given to me, looking to Him continually for supplies of grace and strength, spending myself for the advancement of His kingdom, and living with all my might while I do live?" (Jonathan Edwards, Resolution #6). Next time you sigh that big sigh, or speak about how exhausted you are to your spouse or friend, take a moment to consider these things, asking the Holy Spirit to convict you of the sin of self-sufficiency and to enable you to live out Colossians 3:23-24: "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."
But is it wrong to be exhausted after a long day of taking care of children? Kristen and I talked about this recently. I think there is a right exhaustion and a wrong exhaustion. There is a kind of godly, biblically-faithful, and God-honoring exhaustion, and there is a kind of ungodly, unbiblical, and self-exalting exhaustion. The difference centers mainly around where we have been drawing our strength from in our labors. If our source of strength throughout the day has been ourselves, then we will often end up exhausted with the kind of exhaustion that leaves a bad taste in our mouth. It's the kind of exhaustion that is hopeless and unsatisfying. But if our source of strength throughout the day has been the Lord, then we will close the day with a sweet, peaceful, fulfilling kind of exhaustion. That is a hope-filled and satisfying exhaustion, stemming from the honest and humble realization that the day's energies have been fully spent for the glory of God.
If we are fulfilling our God-given callings with all diligence, faithfulness, and humble dependence on God and "the strength that He supplies" (1 Peter 4:11, Ephesians 6:10), then it is right for us to be exhausted. In a very real sense, we should be exhausted in this way.
When we are exhausted, I think we should be asking ourselves, "Am I exhausted because I've been living my day as if God didn't exist, self-sufficient and relying on the wisdom of man? Or am I exhausted because I've been vigorously carrying out the roles and responsibilities God has given to me, looking to Him continually for supplies of grace and strength, spending myself for the advancement of His kingdom, and living with all my might while I do live?" (Jonathan Edwards, Resolution #6). Next time you sigh that big sigh, or speak about how exhausted you are to your spouse or friend, take a moment to consider these things, asking the Holy Spirit to convict you of the sin of self-sufficiency and to enable you to live out Colossians 3:23-24: "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
"I am living for _____."
So Kristen and I had an intriguing (and brief) conversation this morning as we were driving in the car with our 2 boys. We had just stopped into Starbucks on our way to the church, where Kristen and Owen and Baxter attend a Tuesday morning women’s Bible study called Wellspring (the boys, being boys, don’t attend…there is a nursery we like to call “Bible study”). Kristen had been the one to go inside to get our drinks (thank you disappointingly-finite gift card!), and she was now telling me about her experience. She made a comment about how interesting it is to see who visits Starbucks at 9:00am on a Tuesday morning (e.g., the post-school-drop-off Moms initiating their to-do list activities with a nice Starbucks treat), and then said, “I wish there could be some kind of ticker above everyone’s head, that says how often they come to Starbucks each week, and how much they spend on coffee, and what they are off to do that morning.” (We make these kinds of comments to each other often, especially when we are driving on the highway, wondering where everyone is going, and what they are doing, and what their story is.) The thought that popped into my mind right then arrested me because it was so challenging to me. I said to Kristen, “I wonder what it would be like if the ticker said, ‘Right now, I am living for _____’.” We kind of sat in silence for a few moments, then made a few comments about how convicting and challenging that is to us, and then I think Owen interjected an unrelated comment and we ended up wondering together about how often firefighters wash their fire trucks (and why).
But isn’t that a good challenge for us to consider? How would you finish that statement, right this very moment? “I am living for _____ right now.” How we fill in that blank cuts right to the heart of the matter. What is it that drives us? What fuels us? What is it that keeps us going? What or who are we living for? Are we ultimately living for ourselves, or for our Creator and Redeemer? This morning, my ticker would have run something like this: “Right now, I am living for the self-focused momentary physical pleasure of a tall Java Chip Frappucino and the anticipation of the satisfaction (however fleeting) of clearing my email inbox so that they are zero unread messages.” I honestly don’t think it went very far beyond that. I was living for myself. (Important nuance: it is not that we can’t thoroughly enjoy a Frappucino as a gracious gift from God and an incomparable but helpful glimmer of the goodness of His character, or that we can’t vigorously apply ourselves to the God-given tasks that we have, laboring diligently as unto Him and not unto men…that just wasn’t the posture of my heart this morning.)
Our merciful God tells us in His Word, in a rich variety of ways, how we should fill in that blank. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). We should be able to say, “Right now, I am living for the glory of God.” And if at any time or in the midst of any task we can’t say that, we should ask the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sin, we should turn to Jesus Christ in full repentance, and we should seek His grace and strength to change us and enable us to live for Him and not for ourselves. We should resolve, along with Jonathan Edwards, “never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer [allow] it, if I can possibly avoid it.” Our times are in God’s hand (Psalm 31:15); we are not our own but have been bought with a price and so are to glorify God in our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). So, I urge you to ask yourself frequently, “What would my ticker say right now?” And allow God to do His mighty work on your heart and life.
But isn’t that a good challenge for us to consider? How would you finish that statement, right this very moment? “I am living for _____ right now.” How we fill in that blank cuts right to the heart of the matter. What is it that drives us? What fuels us? What is it that keeps us going? What or who are we living for? Are we ultimately living for ourselves, or for our Creator and Redeemer? This morning, my ticker would have run something like this: “Right now, I am living for the self-focused momentary physical pleasure of a tall Java Chip Frappucino and the anticipation of the satisfaction (however fleeting) of clearing my email inbox so that they are zero unread messages.” I honestly don’t think it went very far beyond that. I was living for myself. (Important nuance: it is not that we can’t thoroughly enjoy a Frappucino as a gracious gift from God and an incomparable but helpful glimmer of the goodness of His character, or that we can’t vigorously apply ourselves to the God-given tasks that we have, laboring diligently as unto Him and not unto men…that just wasn’t the posture of my heart this morning.)
Our merciful God tells us in His Word, in a rich variety of ways, how we should fill in that blank. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). We should be able to say, “Right now, I am living for the glory of God.” And if at any time or in the midst of any task we can’t say that, we should ask the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sin, we should turn to Jesus Christ in full repentance, and we should seek His grace and strength to change us and enable us to live for Him and not for ourselves. We should resolve, along with Jonathan Edwards, “never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer [allow] it, if I can possibly avoid it.” Our times are in God’s hand (Psalm 31:15); we are not our own but have been bought with a price and so are to glorify God in our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). So, I urge you to ask yourself frequently, “What would my ticker say right now?” And allow God to do His mighty work on your heart and life.
Welcome
Welcome to my first blog ever! Having been encouraged to start a blog by a few different sources (mainly my sweet wife, Kristen), I decided to try my hand at it. I can't promise how often I will put something up here, but my main goal is to offer brief and edifying meditations on living life for God and before God. By "front burner," I mean those lines of thinking that are on the forefront of my mind that I discern would be of some benefit to you as the reader. I hope you will enjoy the material and that the Lord will use it to challenge you, to inform your thinking, and to increase your joy in our great God.
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