The Essentials

These have been days of my 3 foot knot (see previous post). This week, though, has been good. I came to the prayer room in confusion, crying out (literally) for revelation of who Christ is. I needed to know the essentials again. I needed to lay down all of the thoughts and teachings and strivings and seek the man Jesus. As is his nature, he was faithful to draw close and reveal Himself in a very real and intimate way. For five days now I have been reminded of who Jesus is and his desire for his children. Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” and all the things we need will be given to us. The Holy Spirit revealed Christ to me as love, as one who gives rest, as one who’s yoke is easy and burden is light. He is the giver and sustainer of life, the bread of life and living water. He is the light that has overcome the darkness through the power of the cross. These are some of the things that the Lord revealed me this week. They are some of the essentials of our faith. They reminded me that all of the deeper things of God are found in Christ. Mike Bickel wrote that our view of God is determined by how we view those in authority over us. I have often felt that I am not able to meet the expectations of those in authority over me, therefore, God must be disappointed in my lack of achievement. As the Spirit was speaking these essentials to me this week, He also reminded me that “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). To know Jesus is to know the Father. All of these things are who the Father is. It is such a basic, yet liberating truth. So, Jesus is untangling my knot. It is only He that can do it. My flesh is too weak and my depravity too great. The girl leading worship in the prayer room right now has been singing, “The king of the universe desires me, the King of the universe died for me that I may spend eternity with Him. He has always been faithful to me.” It may not look or feel like we think it should but the author of Hebrews leaves us this encouragement:

“ Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Christ Jesus, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20-21)

On Extension Cords and Affections: Part One

So, I have been thinking a lot. I have been thinking about a lot of things. I have been thinking so much, on so many things that my mind has become a tangled mess. It’s kind of like wrapping up the 100 foot extension cord around your elbow and hand, only to have a 3 foot long knot when you try to unwrap it. Such is the state of my brain. In the midst of the convolution o’ thought, I have run across a quote on our affections for Christ and the world. It has spoken to my current state of longing and self-pity! It is a bit long, but I encourage a thorough reading. It is a powerful and invigorating statement. So, until I untangle…

Excerpt from Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards

“In things which concern men’s worldly interest, their outward delights, their honor and reputation, and their natural relations, they have their desires eager, their appetites vehement, and their love warm and affectionate, their zeal ardent; in these things their hearts are tender and sensibly affected, and greatly engaged; much depressed with grief at worldly losses, and highly raised with joy at worldly successes and prosperity. But how insensible and unmoved are most men, about the great things of another world! How dull are their affections! How heavy and hard their hearts in these matters! How their love is cold, their desires languid, their zeal low, and their gratitude small. How they can sit and hear of the infinite height, and depth, and length, and breadth of the love of God in Christ Jesus, of his giving his infinitely dear Son, to be offered up a sacrifice for the sins of men, and of the unparalleled love of the innocent, the holy, and the tender Lamb of God, manifested in his dying agonies, his bloody sweat, his loud and bitter cries, and bleeding heart, and all this for enemies, to redeem them from deserved, eternal burnings, and to bring to unspeakable and everlasting joy and glory; and yet be cold, and heavy, insensible, and regardless! Where are the exercises of our affections proper, if not here? What is it that does more require them? And what can be a fit occasion of their lively and vigorous exercise, if not such a one as this? Can anything be set in our view, greater or more important? Anything more wonderful and surprising? Or more nearly concerning our interest? Can we suppose the wise creator implanted such principles in the human nature as the affections, to be of use to us, and to be exercised on certain proper occasions, but to lie still on such an occasion as this? Can any Christian who believes the truth of these things entertain such thoughts?