Ordinarily Useful - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. 1 Corinthians 1:28-29
David was the most unexpected man to ascend the throne of Israel. The people had chosen a man named Saul. He stood taller than everyone else and was somewhat charismatic. People liked him. At first it looked as though Saul would be a good king. But it wasn't long before he was filled with pride and began blatantly disobeying God. The Lord warned him, yet Saul kept disobeying. Finally, the Lord said in effect, "You're done. I'm going to replace you."
Along came David, with reddish hair and probably some freckles. The people who watched Samuel anoint him as the next king of Israel perhaps thought that Samuel was going senile. Are you kidding me? Him? You're choosing David of all people?
Yet God sees things differently than we do. David was just an ordinary shepherd boy, yet he was chosen by God.
Why do you think God seems to go out of His way to choose the most unqualified people? It's a very simple answer: so He'll get the glory. As 1 Corinthians 1:28-29 tells us, "God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God" (NLT).
You have nothing to say about the circumstances you're facing right now. But you have a lot to say about how you will react and what you will live for.
God isn't looking for talented people, gifted people, or handsome people. I'm not saying that He won't use those people. But God is looking for available people, and He can do a lot with a little. He can do extraordinary things through very ordinary people. God uses ordinary people to change the world.
Accepting God's Gift of Love
1 John 4:7-12Many people simply can't believe that the Lord loves them. Others believe that He loves them, but only when they are pleasing Him in some way. Why is it so hard for us to accept His unconditional love?
One reason is that we have a hard time loving others without condition. We might say the words "I love you" to our spouse, children, friends, co-workers, or fellow believers but all too often are calculating in our mind whether or not they've lived up to our standard. We sometimes excuse ourselves from loving certain people because their behavior upsets or annoys us. The fact that we place restrictions on extending favor causes us to wrongly assume that the Lord does likewise.
If you feel unloved or struggle to accept yourself, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of our heavenly Father's love for you—and to sink it deep into your heart. Receive the truth that He reveals. It will be a completely different story about your value as an individual.
The Beginning of the Creation
“For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.” (Mark 13:19)
The phrase “from the beginning of the creation” or equivalent occurs at least six times in the New Testament, indicating beyond question that the world was created at a definite beginning-point of time. All other cosmogonies, on the other hand, are evolutionary cosmogonies, which deny a real beginning for the space/time cosmos at all.
What almost seems a redundancy in our text is the phrase “the creation which God created.” Evidently the Lord thought it vital to stress the fact of divine creation, especially as the great last-days “affliction” draws near.
That the “creation” mentioned in this verse refers explicitly to the cosmos is evident from the parallel passage in Matthew 24:21, where the same prophecy is rendered as follows: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time.” Here “world” is actually the Greek kosmos, referring to the ordered universe of heaven and Earth. Thus, according to the Bible, the entire universe (including even time itself) came into existence at the “beginning” when God created it, as recorded in Genesis 1:1.
Note especially the significance of Mark 10:6 in this connection: “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.” Jesus was here quoting from the account of the creation of Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:27) and included what seemed an almost incidental confirmation that God created them, not after many billions of years of cosmic evolution, but from the very beginning of creation! Man and woman were not divine afterthoughts, as evolution would imply, but were the very reason why God created the universe in the first place. HMM
The Ordinances of Men
“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.” (1 Peter 2:13-14)
The phrase “ordinances of man” literally means “human creations.” Since only God can really create, that means we must regard laws of legislatures or presidential orders or even kingly decrees as having divine authority. Therefore, in order to maintain a good witness before men, God expects us to submit to all these man-made laws and directives.
That even includes such unpopular laws as speed limits. Christians should not be tax cheats or anything that tends to undermine legitimate authority, and certainly should never break any of the multitude of laws that are based upon or consistent with the laws or commandments of God. We rightly must honor our leaders, not only great presidents such as Washington and Lincoln, but all who have positions of authority. Remember that “there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God” (Romans 13:1), even though there are occasions when (for good and justifiable reasons) God gives power to unworthy men.
Such ungodly leaders will be themselves judged by God in His own way and time. Our job is simply to “render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor” (Romans 13:7).
The one great exception to this principle, of course, is when their laws go against the laws of God. Then, “we ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29) and be willing to take the consequences. “If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf” (1 Peter 4:16). HMM
Spirits of Truth and Error
“We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” (1 John 4:6)
Here we are given assurance that we will be able to tell the difference in people by the way they respond to the Word of God. The emphasis is on the believer’s ability to discern a spirit (attitude or character) of truth or error among those to whom we witness.
This is important because we are told not to cast “pearls before swine” (Matthew 7:6) and to “shake off the very dust” from our feet against those who will not receive our witness (Luke 9:5).
Others disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness when they are really the ministers of Satan (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). How can we tell which is which?
The spirit of truth is relatively easy to discern. Those who hear the Word (Mark 4:18-20) and receive the Word with all readiness of mind (Acts 17:11) are of the truth (John 18:37). Such people come willingly to the light (John 3:21) and ask for a “reason of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).
The spirit of error can be more difficult to discern. Its source is Satan (John 8:44), who deceives (Revelation 12:9) and uses his servants to manipulate and mislead (Ephesians 4:14).
Some of these run among God’s family and live “in error” (2 Peter 2:18). They can be fruitless trees and “raging waves . . . foaming out their own shame” (Jude 12-13), or like “tares” among the wheat that even the angels have trouble recognizing (Matthew 13:38-40). These won’t listen to truth.
Our job is to be ready to give the answer to the one and to reject the other. HMM III
How to Please the Lord
“Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.” (2 Corinthians 5:9)
In this verse, Paul expresses the strong desire to be “pleasing to” (the idea behind “accepted of”) the Lord Jesus Christ. It should likewise be our own ambition—whatever we do and wherever we are—to please Him. This, of course, will make a difference in what we do and where we go!
The Scriptures give us a number of specific ways in which we can be confident of pleasing Him. For example: “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves” (Romans 15:1). That is, our criterion should be pleasing Him—not ourselves. Similarly, we are warned that “they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:8). That is, our thoughts and deeds must not be governed by worldly considerations.
By suffering, willingly, for His sake, we can please Him. “If, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable [‘well-pleasing’] with God” (1 Peter 2:20).
“Without faith it is impossible to please him” (Hebrews 11:6). We must walk by faith if we would please the Lord. This is not faith in the abstract, but specific truth—faith to believe the revealed Word of God and to act on that faith.
God is pleased with generosity. “But to do good and to communicate [to share what we have with others, for His sake] forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16). This certainly includes sharing the gospel, as well as our material possessions. “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God” (1 Thessalonians 2:4).
Finally, when our ways please the Lord, we have this gracious promise: “Whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 John 3:22). HMM
Responding to God's Love
John 3:16
God has to be true to Himself. People are foolish to entertain the hope that He will ignore justice and sacrifice holiness in order to allow unbelievers into heaven. Living a mostly moral life will not satisfy a righteous Judge.
As much as the Lord loves us and desires to save us from our sins, He cannot deny His holiness by accepting sin in His presence. The Father is pristine perfection--a holy Being who, by His very nature, must condemn all sin. Therefore, it is the height of egotism to think that God will bend both His law and His nature to welcome one whom still bears the stain of wrongdoing.
Let me make it very clear that trusting Jesus is far more than giving intellectual assent to His existence--that's something even the Devil acknowledges. A true believer enters into a relationship with the One who loves his soul enough to save him from eternal punishment.
Those who remain tightly wrapped in their mantle of sin cannot hope to sneak into heaven. God's holy nature demands perfection, and since we can't provide this for ourselves, the Lord has given it to all who believe in Him. He has exchanged our filthy rags for a cloak of righteousness (Zech. 3:4).
The Power of the Holy Spirit
Luke 24:44-53
The principle we will explore today is basic but so powerful that it determines whether we experience victory in our lives.
You are probably familiar with the book The Little Engine That Could, in which a small engine keeps repeating the words "I think I can." By using sheer willpower, she pulls an entire train over the mountain. That's a nice children's story, but the truth of the Christian life is very different. In the real world, our efforts and determination often fall short. Only by walking in the power of the Holy Spirit can the godly life be achieved.
Obedience to Christ is too difficult for anyone relying on his own strength. And discerning what to do in every situation is far too complicated for a fleshly mind. For some reason, though, Christians often try to live life by depending on their own energy and reasoning. Defeat and failure are unavoidable without His power in our lives.
Do you recognize your need for the Lord? Begin each day confessing your dependence upon Him. Ask to be filled with His Spirit so that all you think, do, and say will be an overflow from Him. Then trust Him to work in mighty ways through you. Watch what almighty God can do.
Don't Fear the Giants - by Greg Laurie -
The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine! 1 Samuel 17:37
Imagine for a moment that you're David, out in the field tending your flock, when suddenly you're brought in to meet the prophet Samuel. He pours oil on your head and says you're the next king of Israel. You receive no crown. You find no chariot with Secret Service protection waiting. So you go back to your flock of sheep, and everything goes back to normal.
I wonder if a lot of the psalms David wrote came to him as he was tending his sheep. I wonder if maybe one day he started thinking about how dependent those sheep were on him-how he even needed to take them to the stream to drink. And maybe this came to mind: "The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams."
Then one day David's father sent him to visit his brothers on the front lines with Israel's army. The Israelites were facing off with the Philistines in the Valley of Elah, where an oversized man named Goliath was taunting Israel's army every day. Everyone was terrified, including David's brothers and King Saul.
David asked, "Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?" Then he told Saul, "Don't worry about this Philistine. I'll go fight him! . . . The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!" (1 Samuel 17:26, 32, 37 NLT).
Fast-forward to the end of the story, and we find David taking Goliath down with a sling and a stone. David was looking at his giant in the light of God. He wasn't looking at God in the light of his giant.
Open to Attacks - by Greg Laurie -
After moving from Hebron to Jerusalem, David married more concubines and wives, and they had more sons and daughters. 2 Samuel 5:13
By the time David was fifty years old, he had been ruling Israel for twenty years. He had gone from victory to victory. He had distinguished himself in so many ways: man of God, skilled musician, gifted poet, wise and compassionate ruler, and a man of great courage.
And that's when the devil hit him. When things are going well, that's usually when the devil attacks. When there is no illness, when there are no unpaid bills, when there isn't a crisis we're facing, we may not hang on to the Lord as tightly as we once did.
On the other hand, when we're going through a crisis, we're dependent on God. Maybe it's even one of the best times of our lives spiritually because we've never been closer to Christ.
When David was facing the giant Goliath, he was trusting in the Lord. When David was running from Saul while he hunted him down like a wild dog, he was calling out to God. When he was anointed as Israel's king and ascended the throne, he prayed for God's help.
But twenty years had gone by, and David was kicking back and taking somewhat of a spiritual vacation from God, which never works. So the devil attacked. David had set himself up for this particular attack, because in direct disobedience to God, he took concubines (see 2 Samuel 5:13).
God had given this command in Deuteronomy 17: "The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will turn his heart away from the Lord" (verse 17 NLT). That's what was happening to David. His heart was slowly but surely turning away from God, and he was being consumed by lust.
This serves as a warning for us today: the devil will attack when we're the most vulnerable.
When the Lord Comes
�After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.� (Genesis 15:1)
This is the first of the great �I am�s� of Scripture, and it was given to Father Abraham at a time of both great victory and great despondence. The Lord had enabled Abraham�s little army to vanquish a much larger Amorite host, but then, still childless, he was suddenly overwhelmed by his loneliness and vulnerability in an alien land.
Then Jesus came! When Christ much later affirmed His eternal self-existence to the Pharisees (�I am,� He had said), He claimed that Abraham had seen His day and rejoiced (John 8:56). This experience, recorded early in Genesis, was, no doubt, that great occasion. As the living Word (John 1:1) by whom all things were made (v. 3), He assured Abram that He, Himself, would provide all needed protection (�thy shield�) and all needed blessing (�exceeding great reward�). And then it was that �he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness� (Genesis 15:6). The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal existing Creator and Redeemer of all things, is no less able today than then to be our protection�and our provision, as well.
Note also that it was the Word of the Lord which came to Abram in a vision. This is the first use of the Hebrew word dabar in Scripture to mean �word,� and here it is the Word of God personified. This still further identifies the vision with the pre-incarnate Christ, who would eventually become God�s incarnate Word (John 1:1, 14).
Thus, as to Abram, God says, �Fear not!� Adam, indeed, was justifiably afraid when he heard the voice of the Lord (Genesis 3:10), for he had only a fig leaf for a covering. But, like Abram, we have a strong shield, which is none other than the Lord Himself. HMM
�After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.� (Genesis 15:1)
This is the first of the great �I am�s� of Scripture, and it was given to Father Abraham at a time of both great victory and great despondence. The Lord had enabled Abraham�s little army to vanquish a much larger Amorite host, but then, still childless, he was suddenly overwhelmed by his loneliness and vulnerability in an alien land.
Then Jesus came! When Christ much later affirmed His eternal self-existence to the Pharisees (�I am,� He had said), He claimed that Abraham had seen His day and rejoiced (John 8:56). This experience, recorded early in Genesis, was, no doubt, that great occasion. As the living Word (John 1:1) by whom all things were made (v. 3), He assured Abram that He, Himself, would provide all needed protection (�thy shield�) and all needed blessing (�exceeding great reward�). And then it was that �he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness� (Genesis 15:6). The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal existing Creator and Redeemer of all things, is no less able today than then to be our protection�and our provision, as well.
Note also that it was the Word of the Lord which came to Abram in a vision. This is the first use of the Hebrew word dabar in Scripture to mean �word,� and here it is the Word of God personified. This still further identifies the vision with the pre-incarnate Christ, who would eventually become God�s incarnate Word (John 1:1, 14).
Thus, as to Abram, God says, �Fear not!� Adam, indeed, was justifiably afraid when he heard the voice of the Lord (Genesis 3:10), for he had only a fig leaf for a covering. But, like Abram, we have a strong shield, which is none other than the Lord Himself. HMM
When the love of many waxes cold - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com
Speaking of the chronology of the end of days, Christ said in Matthew 24:12,"And because lawlessness shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." This is certainly a sign of the end times. It is not meant to be America-centered, but it is part of a prophecy that will occur in the end of days when the Beast (commonly referred to as the antichrist) rises to power and, as prophesied in Daniel 11:36, "...shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods..." The lawlessness, the iniquity of not following God's law, foments hate-a shadow of which is darkening America today.
Those who do not follow God's law; those who mock God; those who deny God and his power are the leaders of this hate movement in America, and around the world for that matter. They accuse anyone who disagrees with their sordid immoral beliefs of the most horrible of things. Yet, they, themselves, are the ones practicing the evils. They are quick to jump on any incident to accuse others of the content of their own hearts. Hence, we have things like, "It is evil to build a wall to protect national security," but it is kind and loving to allow an invasion of people intent on taking advantage of welfare programs and health benefits at taxpayers expense, commit horrible crimes, and scoff at Americans in the process.
Christ summed up God's law in Mark 12:28-31: "And one of the scribes came and having heard them reasoning together and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is "Hear O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And you shall love the Lord thy God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is none other commandment greater than these." Herein we can discern that the absence of God's law is the absence of love.
This is what we are facing here in America. There was a time in America's history that the majority of people aspired to follow God's law. Many who didn't at least were aware that following God's law did no harm and invoked no harm. Today, those who mock God are the loudest hatemongers in society. They conduct their hate by disguising it as love, empathy, equality, and emotion. In reality, these are justifications to disparage anyone who disagrees with their individual beliefs. As is written in 2 Timothy 3, these are proud lovers of their own selves who say and do evil things, are false accusers and rebellious. Even so, we, as disciples of Christ, are to continue in the holy scriptures, wise unto salvation through faith in Christ.
Divine Roadblocks - by Greg Laurie -
Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. - 2 Samuel 11:2
David could not have avoided the first look at Bathsheba. But he could have avoided what he did next: he immediately acted on what he saw and called for one of his servants to find out who she was. A servant told him, "She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite" (2 Samuel 11:3 NLT).
You have to give that servant credit. He knew exactly what was going on with David. Here's an interesting thing to consider: sometimes other people have a better sense of what we're doing than we have. The servant knew David. He knew David was a womanizer. And he knew what David saw. So he said, "She is Bathsheba . . . the wife of Uriah the Hittite." In other words, "She's married and you're married, so forget about it."
But David didn't forget about it.
God was putting a roadblock in David's life to keep him from sinning. And God will put roadblocks in our lives as well. Have you ever noticed that when you try to do something wrong, God doesn't make it easy for you? He makes it difficult.
That's why I think it's so ridiculous when someone claims to have somehow "fallen into" adultery. Really? Just like that-kind of like tripping over a rug? Someone says, "Here I am in adultery. How did this happen? How did I end up in the bed of someone else? How did this happen?"
Did they just "fall into" the hotel room or wherever? I don't think so. They didn't fall into anything. They planned it. They plotted it, they executed it, and then they lied to cover it up. People don't simply "fall into" adultery. They have to jump through a lot of hoops to end up there.
Already Judged John 3:17-18
As a society, Americans are fond of their rights. We're very protective of our liberties, even when they might bring harm rather than good. That can be true of spiritual matters as well. For example, exercising the "right" to reject God's plan of salvation leaves a person in a condemned condition.
I have heard the following phrase often in my years of ministry: "I don't believe God is going to condemn me to hell." I agree, but not with the comment's intended meaning--that a person is worthy of heaven on the basis of his own merit. You see, it is true that the Lord doesn't condemn people to hell. He allows them to opt for that eternal destination themselves. They have a right to choose.
God says that those who do not believe in Jesus Christ have been judged already (v. 18). In other words, by rejecting--or politely ignoring--their need for a Savior, unbelievers have chosen to remain unsaved and unforgiven. Scripture teaches that there will one day be a judgment, but God has already determined that those who trust in Christ will stand with Him while the rest will be sent away (Matt. 25:34-46). An unrepentant man or woman is not condemned by God but, rather, has chosen to remain in the company of all those condemned by their own free will.
God desires that everyone come to a saving knowledge of His Son Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9). To that end, He has granted each person the right to decide whether or not to follow in obedience. However, those who reject the Savior are forewarned that they have settled for condemnation.
As a society, Americans are fond of their rights. We're very protective of our liberties, even when they might bring harm rather than good. That can be true of spiritual matters as well. For example, exercising the "right" to reject God's plan of salvation leaves a person in a condemned condition.
I have heard the following phrase often in my years of ministry: "I don't believe God is going to condemn me to hell." I agree, but not with the comment's intended meaning--that a person is worthy of heaven on the basis of his own merit. You see, it is true that the Lord doesn't condemn people to hell. He allows them to opt for that eternal destination themselves. They have a right to choose.
God desires that everyone come to a saving knowledge of His Son Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9). To that end, He has granted each person the right to decide whether or not to follow in obedience. However, those who reject the Savior are forewarned that they have settled for condemnation.
The Lord and Inspiration
�And the Lord called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying . . .� (Leviticus 1:1)
This introductory verse to what many erroneously consider a dry and difficult book of the Bible actually introduces a remarkable phenomenon. All the rest of the chapter consists of a direct quotation from the Lord Himself. In fact, most of the rest of the book also consists solely of the direct words of God, except for an occasional interjection of a statement that God was still speaking. In all, 717 of the 832 verses in Leviticus (that is 86 percent) consist of the very words of God, directly quoted. This is more than any other book of the Bible, except for the books of the prophets, some of which also consist almost entirely of verbatim statements from God. The same situation is found in lesser, but still substantial, degrees in other historical books, not to mention the extensive quotations from the sermons and discourses of Christ in the four gospels.
While it is true that the Holy Spirit used many different means by which to convey the Scriptures (all of which are verbally inspired and fully inerrant) to writing, it is also true that, on many occasions, what amounts to the �dictation� method was used by Him. Evangelicals have often been intimidated by the scientists� ridicule of this �mechanical theory� of inspiration, but they should not be. God is well able to use whatever means He chooses to reveal His word to men, and we should simply take Him at His word!
Leviticus is a guidebook for the consecration and cleansing of God�s people�especially His priests. In the New Covenant, all believers are priests, and therefore are expected to be consecrated and pure. �But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light� (1 Peter 2:9). HMM
�And the Lord called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying . . .� (Leviticus 1:1)
This introductory verse to what many erroneously consider a dry and difficult book of the Bible actually introduces a remarkable phenomenon. All the rest of the chapter consists of a direct quotation from the Lord Himself. In fact, most of the rest of the book also consists solely of the direct words of God, except for an occasional interjection of a statement that God was still speaking. In all, 717 of the 832 verses in Leviticus (that is 86 percent) consist of the very words of God, directly quoted. This is more than any other book of the Bible, except for the books of the prophets, some of which also consist almost entirely of verbatim statements from God. The same situation is found in lesser, but still substantial, degrees in other historical books, not to mention the extensive quotations from the sermons and discourses of Christ in the four gospels.
While it is true that the Holy Spirit used many different means by which to convey the Scriptures (all of which are verbally inspired and fully inerrant) to writing, it is also true that, on many occasions, what amounts to the �dictation� method was used by Him. Evangelicals have often been intimidated by the scientists� ridicule of this �mechanical theory� of inspiration, but they should not be. God is well able to use whatever means He chooses to reveal His word to men, and we should simply take Him at His word!
Leviticus is a guidebook for the consecration and cleansing of God�s people�especially His priests. In the New Covenant, all believers are priests, and therefore are expected to be consecrated and pure. �But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light� (1 Peter 2:9). HMM
To the Praise of His Glory
�Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.� (Ephesians 1:5-6)
Theologians of great ability and unquestioned sincerity have argued the meaning of predestination for centuries. Since the question involves the eternal, inscrutable counsels of the infinite Creator, it is evidently impossible for finite humans to comprehend its full meaning. But we don�t have to understand it before we can rejoice in its truth. The Scriptures (especially our text) teach that the purpose of God�s predestinating work is that we might glorify Him and His amazing grace! We have been predestinated to become adopted sons of God, �to the praise of the glory of his grace.�
Then it is said that we have been predestinated to a great inheritance, in order �that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ� (v. 12). We have been �sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,� and, again, this is all �unto the praise of his glory� (vv. 13-14).
Note also that He has �predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself� (v. 5). �We have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will� (v. 11). We have also been predestinated �to be conformed to the image of his Son� (Romans 8:29)�predestinated unto eternal holiness, sonship, heirship, and Christlikeness! Surely such gifts are cause enough for us to praise eternally the glory of His grace.
That is, indeed, what we shall do in the ages to come. �Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen� (Ephesians 3:21). And since we are to be testifying to the praise of the glory of His grace throughout all ages, it behooves us to do so now as well. HMM
�Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.� (Ephesians 1:5-6)
Theologians of great ability and unquestioned sincerity have argued the meaning of predestination for centuries. Since the question involves the eternal, inscrutable counsels of the infinite Creator, it is evidently impossible for finite humans to comprehend its full meaning. But we don�t have to understand it before we can rejoice in its truth. The Scriptures (especially our text) teach that the purpose of God�s predestinating work is that we might glorify Him and His amazing grace! We have been predestinated to become adopted sons of God, �to the praise of the glory of his grace.�
Then it is said that we have been predestinated to a great inheritance, in order �that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ� (v. 12). We have been �sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,� and, again, this is all �unto the praise of his glory� (vv. 13-14).
Note also that He has �predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself� (v. 5). �We have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will� (v. 11). We have also been predestinated �to be conformed to the image of his Son� (Romans 8:29)�predestinated unto eternal holiness, sonship, heirship, and Christlikeness! Surely such gifts are cause enough for us to praise eternally the glory of His grace.
That is, indeed, what we shall do in the ages to come. �Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen� (Ephesians 3:21). And since we are to be testifying to the praise of the glory of His grace throughout all ages, it behooves us to do so now as well. HMM
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