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The Mind of Christ: Ours to Employ

8/30/2023

This week we begin our journey on what it means to cultivate the mind of Christ and how we can go about it. The good news is that is for all of us... and not just a few. We are working through a series by TM Moore. You can find his resources at Ailbe.org.

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Worship God as He Has Commanded

8/26/2023

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The Heidelberg Catechism: Lord's Day 35

96. Question: What does God require in the second commandment?

Answer: We are not to make an image of God in any way,[1] nor to worship Him in any other manner than He has commanded in His Word.[2]

[1] Deut. 4:15-19; Is. 40:18-25; Acts 17:29; Rom. 1:23. [2] Lev. 10:1-7; Deut. 12:30; I Sam. 15:22, 23; Matt. 15:9; John 4:23, 24.

97. Question: May we then not make any image at all?

Answer: God cannot and may not be visibly portrayed in any way. Creatures may be portrayed, but God forbids us to make or have any images of them in order to worship them or to serve God through them.[1]

[1] Ex. 34:13, 14, 17; Num. 33:52; II Kings 18:4, 5; Is. 40:25.

98. Question: But may images not be tolerated in the churches as “books for the laity”?

Answer: No, for we should not be wiser than God. He wants His people to be taught not by means of dumb images[1] but by the living preaching of His Word.[2]

[1] Jer. 10:8; Hab. 2:18-20. [2] Rom. 10:14, 15, 17; II Tim. 3:16, 17; II Pet. 1:19.

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Prayer Journal: Week 35

8/26/2023

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Prayer is simple, as simple as a child making known its wants to its parents. (Oswald Chambers)

This Week’s Scripture

·         Acts 7:55-60
·         Psalm 31:1-16
·         1 Peter 2:2-10
·         John 14:1-14

Adoration

Psalm 31:1-2
In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
    let me never be put to shame;
    in your righteousness deliver me!
2 Incline your ear to me;
    rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me,
    a strong fortress to save me!

Fairest Lord Jesus (verses 1&4)
Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature, O thou of God and man the Son,
thee will I cherish, thee will I honor, thou my soul’s glory, joy, and crown.
Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations! Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, and adoration, now and forevermore be thine.
(Joseph August Seiss)

Take time now to offer God your praise and worship.

Confession

And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” (Acts 7:59-60a)

Heavenly Father, let my love for you make my soul steadfast and reliable toward you; let love for you bring wholeness and integrity to all parts of my life. Open me up to taste ever more of your goodness and your love, that my desire will always be for you and that I may give you the cheerful, constant, and wholehearted love praise, and service that is your due. Amen. (John Wesley)

As David did in Psalm 139, ask the Lord to search you and know you through and through. Confess the sins God brings to mind, knowing you are forgiven and that He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Thanksgiving

Holy God, you have revealed yourself to your children and called upon us to taste and see that you are good. You revealed yourself most especially through your Son, our Lord, who is the living stone rejected by men, but chosen and precious in your sight. You are graciously building us, your adopted sons and daughters, into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, that we might offer you spiritual sacrifices, acceptable in your sight. Through Christ you have made us a holy nation and people of your own possession. We were once not a people but now we are your people. Once we were without mercy in the world but now we have received your mercy. O Lord, your loving generosity to us is more than we deserve and more than we can comprehend. Yet what we can grasp is enough. And for it we give you our unceasing praise and thanksgiving. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen. (based on 1 Peter 2:2-10)

Spend some time reflecting on the prayer of thanksgiving above and then thank God for who he is and the many ways he has poured out his goodness and grace in your life.

Supplication (Petitions – prayers for yourself)

·         Spiritual Warfare
·         Growth in Christlikeness
·         Increasing faithfulness in the spiritual disciplines
·         My health
·         For my ordinary appointments and activities to become divine appointments and activities.
·         Other needs

Supplication (Intercession – prayers for others)
·         My Family
·         Mercy for those who are poor and hungry
·         Justice for those who are oppressed and persecuted
·         Peace for those in the midst of war, crime, and violence
·         Other needs

In commanding us to glorify him, God is inviting us to enjoy him. (C.S. Lewis)

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The Pulley

8/26/2023

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by George Herbert

When God at first made man,
Having a glass of blessings standing by,
“Let us,” said he, “pour on him all we can.
Let the world’s riches, which dispersèd lie,
Contract into a span.”

So strength first made a way;
Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honour, pleasure.
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that, alone of all his treasure,
Rest in the bottom lay.

“For if I should,” said he,
“Bestow this jewel also on my creature,
He would adore my gifts instead of me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature;
So both should losers be.

“Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep them with repining restlessness;
Let him be rich and weary, that at least,
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
May toss him to my breast.”

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Taking Jesus at His Word

8/25/2023

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John 4:50 - Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed.

If the Royal Official Could

The royal official did not first wait for a miracle before he believed. He did not wait for Jesus to first “prove himself” worthy of trust. He took Jesus at his word. He believed Jesus. Jesus told the man his dying son would live. That was all the official needed from the Lord. To be sure, Jesus did not owe the man such kindness, but he was pleased to bless him anyway. That is the definition of grace.

How I wish this verse described me more. To take that step of faith, without prior confirmation of the desired result, can be frightening. Yet I sometimes find myself still wanting that confirmation in advance. Sometimes the Lord is pleased to throw me a bone, despite my small faith. But he would rather have me remember the hundreds upon hundreds of ways he has already proved himself capable and faithful to me and my loved ones throughout my life.

A Work in Progress

And yet I am encouraged. Despite my shortcomings the Lord is still drawing me closer to himself and conforming me more and more to the image of his Son. Slowly (so very slowly) I am maturing in my faith. The trust I long for comes more often than when I first began my pilgrimage. Is that your story too? Can you relate to that?

How precious it is to believe, and then have the eyes to see the blessing and the hands to receive it. The royal official believed first, then experienced the miracle. This is not a presumptuous faith, holding God to promises he never made. It is a dependent faith, one that cries out to God, “My hope is in you and you alone O Lord”.

Prayer and Scripture must undergird our growth in Christ. Reading God’s Word, reminding ourselves daily of his goodness and greatness, and then praying and meditating upon it builds us up with encouragement and confidence for both present and future faith. And this is needed. With such confidence in God, many throughout Scripture were able to face impossible odds and come out victorious on the other side. The nature of our victories may vary, but we too may be confident when we take the Lord at his Word.

Walking Points

What is the hardest part for you about trusting God?
In what situations do you find yourself wanting that “prior confirmation” before stepping out in faith and trust? Why do you think that is?
What are some things you can put in place today to help you grow in your ability to take the Lord at his Word in your daily life?
Tell a fellow Christian your plan and begin praying together for your faithfulness to grow.

Trustworthy God, to whom else shall I turn? You alone have the words of eternal life. You alone are worthy of my hope. Forgive me for those times when I have not trusted you, when I have first turned to other places and people to meet my needs. Out of pure grace you have been faithful to me and my loved ones, time and time again. Your track record in my life is long and spotless. And yet, my faith in you can still be feeble and fleeting. Forgive me. Please give me greater confidence in you, a longer memory of your great work in my life, and help me to draw closer to you, that I might know you better and love you more. In Christ I pray. Amen.

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