Two Infinitely Strong and Tender Truths

“ . . . declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’” (Isaiah 46:10)

The word “sovereignty” (like the word “Trinity”) does not occur in the Bible. We use it to refer to this truth: God is in ultimate control of the world from the largest international intrigue to the smallest bird-fall in the forest.

Here is how the Bible puts it: “I am God, and there is no other. . . . ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose’” (Isaiah 46:9–10). And: “[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). And: “He is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does. For he will complete what he appoints for me” (Job 23:13–14). And: “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases” (Psalm 115:3).

One reason this doctrine is so precious to believers is that we know that God’s great desire is to show mercy and kindness to those who trust him (Ephesians 2:7; Psalm 37:3–7; Proverbs 29:25). God’s sovereignty means that this design for us cannot be frustrated. It cannot fail.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, befalls those “who love God” and “are called according to his purpose” but what is for our deepest and highest and longest good (Romans 8:28; Psalm 84:11).

This is why I like to say that the mercy and the sovereignty of God are the twin pillars of my life. They are the hope of my future, the energy of my service, the center of my theology, the bond of my marriage, the best medicine in all my sicknesses, the remedy of all my discouragements.

And when I come to die (whether sooner or later), these two truths will stand by my bed, and with infinitely strong and infinitely tender hands lift me up to God.

John Piper 

Are you ready for “The Devil after the Dove”?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

Neither give place to the devil. Ephesians 4:27

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Have you ever gotten into an argument with a family member on the way to church? Don’t look so pious! Every preacher knows the devil will try to attack God’s children right before church, on the way to church, after church—and on the way home in the car! There is a spiritual principle here we need to learn. It’s what I call “the devil after the dove” principle.

When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove. Right after, He was led into the wilderness, where He was tempted by the devil. So it will be with you.  When God does something great, or when you get the approval of God about something, you can expect the attack of the enemy, sure as night follows day. So don’t let it take you by surprise. Instead, be prepared. Then when the attack starts, you can say, “Hmmm. Wait a minute—I know what this is all about…”

Leonard Ravenhill said, “When God opens the windows of Heaven to bless us, the devil will open the doors of hell to blast us.”

ACTION POINT:

Don’t be caught off guard. Have you had a wonderful spiritual experience recently? Then you'd better not say, "I've got it made," because the devil, your enemy, is going to counter-attack! Friend, there's never a time to say, "I'm just going to coast all the way to glory." You’d better not start coasting. If the devil tempted Jesus, be sure he will tempt you as well.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Let Us Adore the Lamb

I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. (Revelation 5:4)

Have you ever thought of your prayers as the aroma of heaven? This is the picture we get when we read Revelation 5. Here is a glimpse of life in heaven.

In Revelation 5, we see God almighty on the throne with a scroll in his hand. The scroll had seven seals. They all had to be pulled off before the scroll could be opened.

I think the opening of the scroll represents the final days of history, and the pulling off of the seven seals represents the kind of history we will pass through as we move toward those days.

At first, John wept that there was no one worthy to open the scroll and look into it (Revelation 5:4). But then one of the elders in heaven says, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals” (Revelation 5:5).

By dying on the cross, Jesus had earned the right to open the remainder of redemptive history and lead his people victoriously through it.

In the next verse, the Lion is pictured as a Lamb, “standing, as though it had been slain” (Revelation 5:6). Isn’t this a beautiful image of Jesus’s victory on the cross? Standing, not lying, though it had been slain!

It is as sure as though a lion had devoured the foe — but the way he achieved the victory was by letting the foe slay him like a lamb!

So, now the Lamb is worthy to take the scroll of redemptive history from God’s hand and open it. This is such a kingly act that the twenty-four elders of heaven (God’s worship council, as it were) fall down before the Lamb in adoration.

And do you know what the golden bowls of incense are? Revelation 5:8 says they are “the prayers of the saints.” Does not this mean that our prayers are the aroma of heaven, sweet smelling before the throne of God and before the Lamb?

I am strengthened and encouraged to pray all the more often and all the more vigorously when I think that my prayers are being assembled and stored up in heaven and offered to Christ repeatedly in heavenly acts of worship.

Let’s all bless and honor and adore Christ here below with our prayers, and then doubly rejoice that the worship council of heaven offers them again to Christ as sweet smelling incense before the Lamb who was slain.

John Piper 

Living the Beatitudes Brings Persecution

BIBLE MEDITATION:

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 5:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Before you can really understand what Matthew 5:10 means, you have to understand and be living the rest of the Beatitudes.

If you are living a life that is poor in spirit, that mourns over your sin, that lives meekly through His strength, that hungers and thirsts after righteousness, that is merciful, pure in heart, and making peace…then you will be exceedingly glad for the persecution that comes your way.

You see, the world is going in the opposite direction and they are trying to push you into their mold. Yet you are a twice-born person among once-born people, and you are going to go against the tide.

ACTION POINT:

It costs to serve Jesus Christ—every day and every step. But you are blessed! When was the last time you took some flak for Jesus? If you are experiencing persecution, remember Jesus said, “Great is your reward in heaven.”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

God Cares for You

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6–7)

Why is anxiety about the future a form of pride?

God’s answer would sound something like this (paraphrasing Isaiah 51:12):

I — the Lord, your Maker — I am he who comforts you, who promises to take care of you; and those who threaten you are mere men who die. So, your fear must mean that you do not trust me — and even though you are not sure that your own resources will take care of you, yet you opt for fragile self-reliance, rather than faith in my future grace. So, all your trembling — weak as it is — reveals pride.

The remedy? Turn from self-reliance to God-reliance, and put your faith in the all-sufficient power of the promise of his future grace.

You can see that anxiety is a form of pride in 1 Peter 5:6–7. Notice the grammatical connection between the verses. “Humble yourselves . . . under the mighty hand of God . . . [now, verse 7] casting all your anxieties on him.” Verse 7 is not a new sentence. It’s a subordinate clause. It starts with a participle: “Humble yourselves . . . [by] casting all your anxieties on him.”

This means that casting your anxieties on God is a way of humbling yourself under God’s mighty hand. It’s like saying, “Eat politely . . . chewing with your mouth shut.” Or, “Drive carefully . . . keeping your eyes on the road.” Or, “Be generous . . . inviting someone over on Thanksgiving.” Or, “Humble yourselves . . . casting your fears on God.”

One way to humble ourselves is to cast all our anxieties on God. Which means that one hindrance to casting your anxieties on God is pride. Which means that undue worry is a form of pride. No matter how weak it looks or feels.

Now, why is casting our anxieties on the Lord the opposite of pride? Because pride does not like to admit that it has any anxieties. Or that we can’t take care of them ourselves. And if pride has to admit that its fears are unmanageable, it still does not like to admit that the remedy might be trusting someone else who is wiser and stronger.

In other words, pride is a form of unbelief and does not like to trust in God for his future grace. Faith, on the other hand, admits the need for help. Pride won’t. Faith banks on God to give help. Pride won’t. Faith casts anxieties on God. Pride won’t.

Therefore, the way to battle the unbelief of pride is to admit freely that you have anxieties, and to cherish the promise of future grace in the words, “He cares for you.” And then unload your fears onto his strong shoulders.

John Piper 

Are you a member of the “Peace Corps”?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Several decades ago, you were really somebody if you joined the Peace Corps. But all this time later, between brothers and sisters around the world, how much peace has been established as a result?

Some people think Christians aren’t supposed to oppose anything, cause no trouble, and get along with everybody.

A professor in a liberal seminary was teaching exactly that: Christians are supposed to go along with everything because we're supposed to be peacemakers, not troublemakers. A student who knew his Bible said, “Professor, if we’re just supposed to be peacemakers in that sense and get along with everybody, how did Jesus manage to get Himself crucified?” Good question, isn't it?

Friend, I want to tell you, Satan and his kingdom will never be at peace with us, and we're not supposed to be at peace with them.

Do you know the best way to bring peace on earth and goodwill to all men? Introduce men, women, boys, and girls to Jesus Christ. That’s really the only way. Churches are filled every Sunday, yet where do people go during the week? Are they sharing God’s salvation story with the lost? It’s not your faithful church attendance that’s going to bring peace on earth, but your faithful sharing of the Gospel.

ACTION POINT:

Jesus said His mission was not to be a diplomat, not to be a peacemaker, but to bring death to hatred, strife, and sin through His reconciling blood. There is no other way to a holy God but through the cross. Are you living like a child of God and telling others about Jesus?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

What is the burning focus of your life?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

This beatitude narrows our focus into one rich goal—to be pure in heart. “Pure in heart” doesn’t mean you don’t look at pornography or think vile thoughts. That should be a result of being pure in heart. But to be pure in heart really means to have an undivided heart, a heart that is unmixed, like a metal without alloy, or milk that's undiluted. It means singleness of mind, the issues of life brought down to one burning focus, concentrated in my devotion to Jesus Christ. It means loving Him, serving Him, desiring Him with a pure heart. 

ACTION POINT:

Is Jesus Christ the burning focus of your life? Then the promise of this scripture passage is that you will see God. “Now, wait a minute,” you say. “No one has seen God.” Friend, you’re right. The heart that is pure knows the unknowable, does the impossible and sees the invisible. With a pure heart you will see God, not with your physical eyes, but with your spiritual eyes. He will become all the more clear!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers