Greater Sense of Wonder

Excerpt from John Piper:  How Do I Explain Election Over Brunch?

Audio transcript

Andrew from Benton, Kansas, writes in: “Pastor John, You once described how you would explain Christian Hedonism to somebody over lunch (at Pizza Hut). Realizing divine election may take a bit longer, what is the easiest way to share this with someone, and with what key Scripture would you explain it, over, say, a weekend brunch?”

Ok, so we are moving from a Christian Hedonism Pizza Hut lunch to an election lunch. [A weekend brunch.] Brunch, brunch, ok. All right. Good.

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But the aim of the conversation would be to awaken in both of us a greater sense of wonder that we are saved and that we owe it all to God, that apart from him we can do nothing and, therefore, all of our lives should be lived in the constant amazement that we are saved and that he would die for us and that he would give us sight instead of blindness and light instead of deadness. In fact, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:28–29, “God chose, God elected, things that are not to bring to nothing things that are so no that no human being might boast.” In other words, election strips us of boasting, but “let him boasts, boast in the Lord” (v. 31). So the bottom line of the goal of that lunch is humility in us and all glory to God.

Help Us Love Good and Hate Evil

Bethany post:  Why We Want Objective Good

Our post-modern culture may teach that there is no such thing as an objective good or an objective evil, but no one really wants to believe that this is true. For when there is no objective standard, then “might makes right” — and that is unacceptable.

When there is an objective standard, John Piper says, “the simplest peasant in Russia, the simplest Jew in Germany, the simplest slave in Georgia or the simplest Christian prisoner in Rome can say to the most powerful Stalin, the most powerful Hitler, the most powerful plantation owner or the most powerful Caesar, ‘Excuse me. No, sir, this is wrong. Your power does not make it right. There is a God above you and there is a right and a wrong outside of you and your might does not make it right.’”

God defines objective good and objective evil. Good is that which honors Him and helps others, and evil is that which dishonors Him and hurts others. And He calls us to conform our emotions to this reality.

Yet loving an objective good and hating an objective evil – although somewhat easy to talk about when it comes to international injustices – gets complicated when we start talking about our own hearts.

In the Gulag Archipelago Alexander Solzhenitsyn reflected, “Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either, but right through every human heart, and through all human hearts … even in the best of all hearts, there remains a small corner of evil.”

Prayer

Lord, Jesus himself is the ultimate objective good. There is nothing better for us than him. In light of this reality, we beg you to give us your mercy for the miracle of new affections. Help us love good and hate evil, especially the evil in our hearts. Lift our eyes to Jesus, who died at the hands of evil to bring us the ultimate good. Let us not merely reject evil and choose good; let us hate evil and cling to good. Change our affections and, thereby, change our lives. Amen.

The Heavens Proclaim His Righteousness

The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
    let the many coastlands be glad!
Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
    righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him
    and burns up his adversaries all around.
His lightnings light up the world;
    the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
    before the Lord of all the earth.

The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
    and all the peoples see his glory.

Ps 97: 1-6

God Centeredness

Don Carson:  Deuteronomy 10; Psalm 94; Isaiah 38; Revelation 8

INTERSPERSED WITH THE HISTORICAL RECITAL that makes up much of the early chapters of Deuteronomy are bursts of exhortation. One of the most moving is found in Deuteronomy 10:12-22. Its magnificent themes include:

(1) A sheer God-centerdness that embraces both fearing God and loving God (Deut. 10:12-13). In our confused and blinded world, fearing God without loving him will dissolve into terror, and thence into taboos, magic, incantations, rites; loving God without obeying him will dissolve into sentimentalism without strong affection, pretensions of godliness without moral vigor, unbridled lust for power without any sense of impropriety, nostalgic yearnings for relationships without any passion for holiness. Neither pattern squares with what the Bible says: “And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him . . .?” (Deut. 10:12).

(2) A sheer God-centeredness that pictures election as a gracious act. God owns the whole show — “the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it” (Deut. 10:14). He can do with it as he wishes. What he has in fact done is “set his affection” on the patriarchs, loving them, and in turn choosing their descendants (Deut. 10:15; cf. Deut. 4:37).

(3) A sheer God-centeredness that is never satisfied with the mere rites and show of religion: it demands the heart (Deut. 10:16). That is why physical circumcision could never be seen as an end in itself, not even in the Old Testament. It symbolized something deeper: circumcision of the heart. What God wants is not merely an outward sign that certain people belong to him, but an inward disposition of heart and mind that orient us to God continually.

(4) A sheer God-centeredness that recognizes his impartiality, and therefore his justice — and acts accordingly (Deut. 10:17-20). He is “God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome” (Deut. 10:17). Small wonder then that he accepts no bribes and shows no partiality. (Never confuse election with partiality. Partiality is favoritism that is corrupted by a willingness to pervert justice for the sake of the favored few; election chooses certain people out of God’s free decision and nothing else, and even then justice is not perverted: hence the cross.) And he expects his people to conduct themselves accordingly.

(5) A sheer God-centeredness that is displayed in his people’s praise (Deut. 10:20-22). “He is your praise; he is your God” (Deut. 10:21). Those who focus much on God have much for which to praise. Those whose vision is merely terrestrial or self-centered dry up inside like desiccated prunes. God is your praise!

Satisfy Us in the Morning

Steven Dilla post:  Morning Rhythms | Park Forum

Psalm 90.14Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 

A recent study reveals it takes 90 minutes for the average Londoner to transition from bed to walking out the door each morning. The average resident of Shanghai invests just 9 minutes grooming for the day, while two thirds of Parisian women apply makeup and perfume each day.

On the other hand, only fifty six percent of New Yorkers shower each day (rush hour subway, anyone?). For those who do, showering and grooming averages 30 minutes each morning.

Few people practice ideal morning rhythms. Looking at New Yorkers alone, 59% say it’s important to exercise in the morning — just 16% do. For those with children, 77% say morning playtime is important — only 21% engage in it. 

The number one place for New Yorkers to self-reflect is the shower (let’s face it, it’s the only place we’re consistently alone), but stress, problem solving, and scheduling too easily consume reflection time. If we’re honest it’s far too easy to invest a disproportionate amount of time in the morning focusing only on ourselves.

Psalm 90.14 records a simple and beautiful prayer, “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love.” The Psalmist longed for a joy that would be present in the good and bad of life. He knew this kind of transcendent joy could be found in one source alone: satisfaction in the love of God — every morning. 

Scripture reading, prayer, and reflection on the character and nature of God each morning is time well invested. Morning rhythms rooted in Christ move us beyond ourselves opening up time to pray for people who may not have anyone else praying for them, and centering our lives on the only source that delivers what we need most.

PrayerGod, satisfy us with your love — let us long for nothing else, as you are what we need the most each day; may everything in our life be what you want. Provide what we truly need today. Give us your wonderful grace and allow us to extend that grace to those who hurt us. Lead us in your ways, God, and remove evil from our heart, mind, and life.

Steadfast Love

I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;
    with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 89:1

Follow the Way

Jon Bloom post: Dear Graduate

A significant journey is ending for you. No doubt you are eager to get going on the next one. But go ahead, savor the moment. Such clear rites of passage don’t come often in life. And thank God. Education is a profound gift.

And on behalf of your parents (as a parent of a graduating child myself), be gracious with their nostalgia and tears. It’s rite of passage for them too.

You’re probably receiving a lot of advice. But before you set off down the winding road before you, here are a few travel notes from my own journey. They may help you navigate what lies ahead.

The Road to Joy Is Hard

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13–14)

This road of life you’re gazing down is a road to life, but only if you follow the Way (John 14:6). The road is going to get very hard at times. Other roads will look very appealing to you when you are weary, discouraged, confused, angry, tempted by some desire, or grieving. They will appear much easier. Beware. The path of least resistance is the path of least reward. Jesus goes much further: A path like this leads to destruction.

“The path of least resistance is the path of least reward.”Tweet

Don’t let anyone tell you that life is all about the journey. It’s not true. The journey is all about the destination. What matters most is where you end up. You will have to forego many short-term pleasures and refrain from many “life experiences” in order to reach “that which is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:19). Go for joy. Be a thoroughgoing Christian Hedonist. Seek the greatest treasure which gives the highest pleasure. Even though the road to it is hardest. Don’t settle for piddly pleasures. If God is your treasure, you’ll gain everything. If he’s not, you’ll lose it all.

Trust God’s Promises, Not Your Perceptions

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5–6)

Know the Book. Do not neglect the Book. Memorize the Book. Store the Book in your heart (Psalm 119:11).

Daily Bible reading has nothing to do with your performing a ritual for God’s approval, but has everything to do with your spiritual survival. The Book will keep you sane, because the Book tells you what’s real. What you perceive with your senses, how you interpret your perceptions, and how your emotions respond are unreliable indicators of reality. They will frequently not tell you the truth. And when they do, their reports will often be faulty because they are based on a very thin slice of reality. They can’t tell you the big picture. You need to know what God says is true and stand there.

“Life is not all about the journey. The journey is all about the destination.”Tweet

Many, many times it will look to you like God’s promises are not real or will not come true. At those moments — I can’t stress this enough — don’t trust your perceptions. I have learned this lesson over the past 30 years in many different, and at times severe, ways. I tell you the truth: Not once have God’s promises failed me, but my perceptions have failed me again and again.

So, live in the Book and it will help you live.

Pray “Whatever It Takes” Prayers

“And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Luke 11:9)

Ask God for everything. The world tells you that you are the master of your fateand must fend for yourself. But God wants you to believe that you “cannot receive even one thing unless it is given [you] from heaven” (John 3:27) and that “apart from [Jesus] you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Jesus invites you to ask, seek, and knock. Take him up on it.

And when praying for your own heart, don’t be afraid to pray, “whatever it takes.” God loves those kinds of prayers. He takes them seriously and answers them. You will not always recognize the answers initially, because they will come in waysyou don’t expect. And they will often be harder than you expect. Because of this reality, some people fear praying in this way. Don’t be afraid. You will not regret such prayers. Through them God will reveal himself in ways you never knew before and you will receive some of the best gifts of this life.

Be You

“Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!’” (John 21:21–22)

Always remember, Jesus wants you to be you. He wants you to become a more sanctified, excellent you (1 Thessalonians 4:3). But he doesn’t want you to be anyone else. You bear God’s image in a unique way. You have a unique calling on your life.

You will be tempted all along the way to compare yourself with others. Sometimes you will feel the pride of superiority; sometimes you will feel the pride of inferiority. In all your comparisons, Jesus’s word to you will be, “What is that to you? You follow me.”

At the end of your journey, the status and achievements the world most admires will mean nothing. All that will matter is whether or not you faithfully stewarded what Jesus entrusted to you.