Perplexing Times

The study series we’re doing in our Sunday School class right now is about the challenges of life and how they can cause us to grow and mature in our faith. One type of challenge is dealing with life events we just don’t understand. Why do some lives contain so much tragedy? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do seemingly evil people prosper? These are questions most of us struggle with, and through that struggle we learn to trust God. The Bible tells us:

“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12

There is an old Southern Gospel song that addresses this issue. It says there are many thing we just won’t know until “Farther Along.” It has been recorded by many well known artists including Johnny Cash, Glenn Campbell, Elvis Presley. The version I like was done by Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton. I hope it strengthens your faith, and you enjoy it as I do. Follow the link below:

Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris (Trio) – Farther Along – YouTube

For another Dolly Parton song see:

God’s Coloring Book

Learn This Word

This is an excerpt from a sermon my husband gave recently.  He says if you only learn one word in Hebrew, this is the one to know.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

Let Israel say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”
Let those who fear the Lord say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 118:104

In the Psalm above there is a phrase that is very familiar to most people who have read or listened to someone speak on the Bible — steadfast love.  Steadfast love, love that doesn’t die, doesn’t wane, doesn’t falter, is always active before those who have eyes to see.  Steadfast love is a love which, as Paul writes in the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians, never ends.

Now that beautiful phrase is the English translation of a Hebrew word —hesed.  There are two translations for the word–steadfast love and loving kindness.  There have been other attempts to capture what the word means, but those seem to be the best we’ve found.

But even the best scholars and translators have really been unable to capture the fullness of the Hebrew.  There is a deepness and a richness to hesed which defies our attempts to make it simple.  Maybe the best way is to use a series of adjectives.  Heses is God’s persistent, extravagant, unyielding, unrestrained, even furious love for His people.  It is a love that never falters and never ceases.

Hesed is a love that neither you nor I, nor any person who lived apart from Jesus could actually possess, for in each of us is the sinful nature that will make any love we give to be about us, at least in some way.  I love my wife, I love my children, I love my grandchildren.  But my love isn’t hesed because there is a sense in which I feel fulfilled by loving them, and there is also a sense that my love might die under certain circumstances.  And we’ve all seen how, when love dies, it can leave a pretty messy situation behind.  But God doesn’t love us like that.  His love can’t die, because His entire nature is to love.  From all eternity, the Father has loved the Sone and the Spirit while the Son has loved the Father and the Spirit and the Spirit has loved the Father and the Son.  And there is nothing impure or selfish in that love within the Trinity.  So when God shows forth His love to us, it is that kind of love which He shows.  But even more, hesed is not simply an emotional love–it is a love of action which leads to merciful and compassionate behavior on the part of the One who loves.

To be continued ….

For more on God’s love see:

Martin Luther on God’s Love (Agape)

Extravagant Love

Heaven is a World of Love by Jonathan Edwards — Book Review

 

 

I Can Do Better

This was the daily quote in my devotional reading recently:

“Do not try only to abstain from sin, but strive, by God’s grace, to gain the opposite grace.  If thou wouldest not slip back into sin, thou must stretch forward to Christ and His holiness.  It is a dull, heavy, dreary, toilsome way, just to avoid sin.  Thou wouldest not simply not be impatient;  thou wouldest long to be like thy Lord, who was meek and lowly of heart.  Thou wouldest not only not openly murmur;  thou wouldest surely long, like the beloved Apostle, to rest on Jesus’ breast, and will what He wills.”

Edward B. Pusey

I realized this is what I have been talking about with my reunion group friend. I have shared that I can usually refrain from “outward” sins.  In other words, I do a pretty good job of avoiding sinful behavior.  However, I still struggle with things like a poor attitude, lack of gratitude for the good things God has given me, or uncharitable thoughts.  The author of this quote has it exactly right:  I need to pray to not only to do what is right, but to really want to do it.  I need to do good not just because it is my duty, but because it brings me joy to please God.

This reminds me of the famous love verses from 1 Corinthians, chapter 13:

” If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[ but do not have love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

If I obey God without love for Him and for others in my heart, it’s meaningless.  I’m like the Pharisees in the Bible, and Jesus called them “white-washed tombs.”  In other words, they looked good, but were dead inside.  I must develop the qualities of a truly loving disciple.

^“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”  1 Corinthians 4-7

This certainly isn’t easy, and I can’t do it on my own.  I need the help of the Holy Spirit.  I’m praying for that.  Will you join me?

For more quotes by E. B. Pusey see:

Advice From E. B. Pusey

Victorious Faith

Being More Than Conquerers

 

Heaven is a World of Love by Jonathan Edwards — Book Review

This book is part of the Crossways Short Classics series, which introduces readers to some great heroes of the faith who wrote many sermons, essays, lectures and other short pieces that are well worth reading.  Jonathan Edwards was one of those heroes, and he was immensely productive — the Yale University Press edition of his collected works contains twenty-six volumes.

This short book (about 100 pages) is an exposition of 1 Corinthians 13:

“Charity never faileth;  but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;  whether there are tongues, they shall cease;  whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”

If your contact with Edwards has been limited to his famous sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, this book may surprise you, because it is almost all about love.  The love that we will both give and receive in heaven.  Love is that “great fruit of the Spirit” which will remain when all the other fruits are no longer needed.  It will flow like a fountain from the Father, Son and Spirit.  This love is holy and perfect.

Love in heaven will::

• Always be mutual
• Never be interrupted or damped by jealousy
• Will not be hindered in its’ expression by anything internal or external
• Be expressed with decency and wisdom
• Unite all the saints in close and dear relationships
• Allow all believers to share in property and ownership of one another
• Conspire always to promote more love
• Continue forever

In consequence of this heavenly, perfected love:

• Behavior toward God and one another will be perfect
• There will be perfect peace and joy
• There will be no contention and strife

It’s hard to wrap our human minds around this agape love, and it is something that as Christians, we hope for.  There is also a section about hell, where everything is hate.  God hates the inhabitants there, and they hate Him and one another.  There is no union, or friendliness or peace.  Edwards warns those who refuse to repent, that this will be their final destination.

A brief biography of Jonathan Edwards in included.

VERDICT:  3 STARS.  I found it a bit repetitious, and I disagree with Edwards’ belief that some saints will experience more love in heaven because they are holier.

For more about the Puritans see:

An Introduction to John Owen by Crawford Gribben–Book Review

Beyond Stateliest Marble by Douglas Wilson — Book Review

The Lutheran Ladies recieved a free e-copy of this book in return for a fair and honest review.  Disclaimer pursuant to FTC 16 CPR 255.

If you would like to purchase this book follow the link below:

https://www.crossway.org/books/heaven-is-a-world-of-love-tpb/