28“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 (NASB95)
Growing up, I have early memories of my parents teaching me about sin. Not “how to” sin…because I already had an advanced degree in the subject. My parents tried to teach me about sin’s consequences. Their analogy made sense at the time, as a child, but I have come to realize its shortcoming as God reveals in the Scripture.
My folks told me that when I sinned, it made God sad. When I did right, it made God happy. Their explanation reduced my relationship with Jesus to a string of Emojis with me in control.
Again, I am not throwing shade at my parents. The explanation connected when I was a child, but as we grow in our understanding of God, so must our grasp of His redemption. The Lord’s redemptive care toward us does not vacillate based on our actions. Jesus doesn’t smile when we pause to let a person cross the street in front of our car, and then frown or turn his back when we lose our minds in the Walmart parking lot. He doesn’t extend redemption to us when we behave and then pull it back or begrudgingly leave it on the edge of the table when we mess up.
The goodness, sufficiency, and graciousness of God’s redemption does not shift and Christ’s love toward us does not ebb and flow according to some transactional exchange. If so, we ARE ALL DOOMED! Why?
Because we all sin (Romans 3:23). Not, “we once sinned but have given it up,” but our nature is one bent toward sinning. If that word seems harsh…. our nature is bent toward “self-interest and appeasement” rather than “God-interest and worship.” And this does not surprise the Lord one bit. In fact, He knows and knew about our sinful nature before we were ever born and Jesus came to redeem us…not in spite of our unfaithfulness, but precisely because of it.
21For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He watches all his paths.
Proverbs 5:21 (NASB95)
21“For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, And He sees all his steps.
Job 34:21 (NASB95)
Friend, to state it differently, you cannot make Jesus love you more or love you less. You cannot cause Him to rejoice or second guess when He considers your salvation. This truth does not promote sinful license of bad behavior; rather, it empowers us to live freely and to freely choose to worship a God who came to seek and to save that which is lost.
These words from a book of Puritan prayers that I use in my personal worship time, The Valley of Vision…really grip my heart and I hope will be an encouragement to you today:
Thy presence is to me a treasure of unending peace;
Walk in freedom brothers and sisters. Live your life as one of exuberant worship before the King…for His Redemption is not a quid pro quo transaction, but is sola gratia (by grace alone), flowing like a merciful river from the heart of love that can only be His.
Have you ever heard a sad tale of a Christian who blew it? Maybe as you heard the story, you asked yourself, “How could anyone fall for that?” I have certainly asked that question. On both sides: As it relates to others and with myself, “How could I fall for such a simplistic temptation?” I have often said that spiritual warfare would be fairly easy if the devil knocked on your door in the morning with a pitchfork, a red suit, and a long pointy tale. The problem is he, in many cases, wears a dress.
The Bible says that the devil disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14). Sometimes, the schemes of the enemy are simply to baptize sin in spiritual waters and present it to us as if we were the Judge of the facts.
Proverbs 7, one of the ten introductory chapters of Proverbs, expresses wisdom from Solomon (for the most part) as addressed to his son in order to equip and provoke his son toward godly living. Here he addresses the weak-kneed response toward sexual temptation. You could really insert any temptation into the story because the tactics are similar across the spectrum.
10The woman approached him, seductively dressed and sly of heart…
13She threw her arms around him and kissed him, and with a brazen look she said,
14“I’ve just made my peace offerings and fulfilled my vows.
15You’re the one I was looking for! I came out to find you, and here you are!
Proverbs 7:10, 13-15 (NLT)
The writer positions the teacher as a wise onlooker observing an unfolding scene involving a naïve young man and a cunning woman. This woman is stunning in appearance and seductive in her demeanor. She is outgoing as she sought out the man (vv.11-12). When she spots him, she seizes and kisses him, appealing to his senses and feelings, not reason, logic, or worship. She exudes confidence (v.13), taking full charge of the situation, and then makes the case that this is not only not bad…but is a gift from God. The man is precisely what she prayed for earlier in the day! She answers his mental objections…not objecting to the immorality of the situation but to the potential consequences of the sin. Her home offers privacy and comfort. Her arms offer fulfillment, enjoyment, and sensual adventure (vv.16-18). The deed will be a secret as the husband is away (vv.19-20). The liability of her coming back to tell tales is minimal as she is married, after all. And she continues to persuade and entice (v.21).
22Suddenly he follows her as an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool,
Proverbs 7:22 (NASB95)
I am always arrested by the “suddenly” of this verse. For us, we see the situation unfolding over several minutes or maybe hours. But at some point, the decision is made, and the consequences are attached. Certainly, the husband may never learn of the unholy liaison. The man, however, is immediately aware. And God is righteous in judgment.
How can one combat such overwhelming attacks? Solomon says to be attentive to the Word of God, guard your heart, and avoid dark alleys on the wrong side of town (vv.24-25). Choose to pursue the Person and Presence of God through His Word. The Scriptures not only explain the expectations of discipleship but offer wisdom on navigating the distracting schemes intended to take us off the path we were made for. We must choose not to let the consideration of sin enter our hearts, and we must recognize our weaknesses, avoiding situations that could exploit them.
Effectively battling for holiness involves both pursuit and avoidance. Otherwise, we will find ourselves suddenly facing the consequences of yielding to the enticement of the devil in a red dress.
What comes to mind when you think about the blessing of God? For many, the mind races to those things of material significance. A new car, a promotion, a fat retirement account, or perhaps increased influence among men. These are all potential evidence of God’s blessings. After all, James tells us that every good thing comes from God (James 1:17).
But what if the evidence of God’s affirmation, the outpouring of His benevolence, the portrait of His effusive grace was something more subtle?
Notice the words of the Psalmist:
1How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways.
2When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, You will be happy and it will be well with you.
3Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine Within your house, Your children like olive plants Around your table.
4Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the Lord.
One condition and the exhibits of God’s blessing:
The Condition– Fear God and walk in His ways. These are one and the same thing. I know we like to separate them in modern culture and create some spiritual category for those who might claim to love God but walk in willful rebellion. This is a foreign idea to the Scriptures. While all people do, in fact, sin against God…the disciple of Jesus looks to Christ’s atoning work for that sin, repents of sinning, and pursues holy living. This is an ongoing and ever-progressive work for the disciple. As Martin Luther wrote and nailed to the door of Wittenberg Chapel, “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said ‘Repent,’ he intended that the entire life of believers should be repentance.”
The Exhibits:
You shall eat of the fruit of your hands (v.2). This speaks of God’s provision for all our needs and our enjoyment of them. These provisions, contextually speaking, were not only personal but familial. It speaks of the ability to provide for one’s family through his labor. Now, before you @me and start quoting Miley Cyrus lyrics about buying your own flowers, the idea in biblical times was clear. Part of God’s blessing was evident in man’s ability to care for those in his household.
Your wife shall be a fruitful vine within your house. This image would connect with the agrarian mindset of the audience. God’s blessing will be evident through many children from your wife. Large families were considered a blessing from the Lord. Furthermore, the imagery of the vine is used elsewhere to speak of refreshment and lavish enjoyment.
Your table will be surrounded by children like olive plants. Both olive plants and vines are rich in biblical imagery and communicate rich blessings. The children around the table are not commodities to be used or consumed but plants that take quite some time to grow to maturity. They must be tended, nurtured, and cultivated. When this is done, they produce blessings in abundance. This picture communicates to us both responsibility and reward. Children are not inconveniences. They are not interruptions to our otherwise fruitful lives. They are not a means to a particular end. They are blessings that have been entrusted to our stewardship of developing and shaping to know and love God.
I know that the image of success and the evidence of God’s blessing may look different in the mind of the novice or the unbeliever. But for God’s people, satisfying provisions, a fruitful marriage, and the opportunity to develop our children into followers of Jesus, as we walk in the fear of God, are evidence of a life well-lived and God’s gracious blessing.
A dad was once trying to explain the vastness of God to his five-year-old daughter. In a fashion that was both cute and revealing, she posed the question, “If God is so big and I am so small, how can He fit in my heart?” Therein lies the question that has perplexed many who have considered God. Is He truly that big, that powerful, that wise, and that controlling? And if so, how is that not supposed to terrify me but be a source of peace?
Psalm 29 connects the dots. In the eleven verses, David uses eight to describe God’s immense power and control, one to apply why that is hopeful, and two to direct our response.
1Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in holy array.
Psalm 29:1–2 (NASB95)
These first two verses contain four imperatives:
Ascribe– Give or Come! It carries the idea of honoring God for His attributes. Give to God the Glory and Strength and Honor due His name!
Worship– Bow Down. To respond in humble adoration before the glorious God who alone possesses strength, honor, and glory!
In the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the first question places the spotlight on the ultimate purpose for our existence as the People of God: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”[i] As the people of God…our created purpose, the “why” of our existence is to make much of God. However, we are not Public Relations Agents who are spinning a narrative that somehow moves God to “influencer” status in the world. On the contrary, we simply observe who He is and what He does and respond accordingly.
In verses 3-10, we are presented with truths about the Person and practices of God. Actually, David doesn’t move far from considering the voice of God. His voice is powerful and majestic. With it, He can strip trees bare like an F5 tornado, cause deer to give birth, make calves skip, control fires, and shake the earth more powerfully than any earthquake ever recorded. Even when the world helplessly reacted to the global flood of God’s righteous Judgment in Genesis 7-8, God was not feverishly running to and fro; rather, He sat on His throne, where He resides forever.
If that is overwhelming to you, join the club! Consider how lightly we may take the presence of the Lord, His sovereign rule over all of Creation, and His righteous, unmatched power to give life or to take it. Think for a moment of those offenses toward Him, those acts of willful disregard for His explicit instruction…and consider that He has not destroyed you and me right where our rebel feet stand. Then consider that He reigns, not only over those who know Him by Covenant, but over every despot and dictator, every monster or monarch that has ever terrorized the world or raised a hand against God’s people. Every abuser and those abused both exist under the righteous reign of God.
This God…is for us. That’s how David ended the Psalm.
11The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.
Psalm 29:11 (NASB95)
We should not take that to mean that God will subordinate His holiness to reflect our hellish rebellion; rather, He will work in us all that is needed to conform us to the Image of Christ. And that work will not be deterred. All the weighty resistance of the enemy is no match for the strength God provides us. No seemingly unrestrained chaos can overwhelm the peace that God provides. He reigns on His throne and with His voice exercises control over all things. For not even one sparrow, Jesus said, falls from the sky apart from the Father’s permission.
A trip through parts of the American South will surely reveal gardens and fields growing watermelons. Some small. Some big. Those descriptors probably leave a little room for speculation unless you have something to compare it to. Did you know that the largest watermelon on record was recorded in 2013? It was grown in Sevierville, Tennessee and weighed 350.5 pounds. To put that in perspective…that is 35 pounds heavier than the average NFL Offensive Lineman[i]. Now that’s an image to consider!
David opens this Psalm reflecting on the wickedness of man. He speaks of the ungodly as consumed with evil. He goes to sleep thinking about evil. His words effuse evil. He chooses paths of evil. He approves of all evil.
Now contrast that with God.
5Your lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
6Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; Your judgments are like a great deep. O Lord, You preserve man and beast.
Psalm 36:5–6 (NASB95)
Just as we better understand a “big watermelon” when compared to an NFL football player, we can better grasp God’s goodness when compared/contrasted with the likes of evil man.
Against the backdrop of the ungodly, we start to get a picture of the goodness of God. His compassion, provision, and lovingkindness (He-Sed). Further, not only is God “good” in every way that mankind is bad, but God is loving toward even the most evil among us…or in us. He is the Good Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to pursue the wanderer. He lays down His own life to reconcile and restore the rebel! He is FOR YOU!
7How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
8They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights.
9For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.
Psalm 36:7–9 (NASB95)
Those that turn to Him, that trust Him, that depend on Him, that follow Him…experience not just meager provisions but abundant living (See John 10:10b). Remember, this infinitely good God of He-Sed sought out you and me while we were living in active, willful rebellion against Him. Every aspect of His reign in our lives was rejected by us…and yet He showed us His love in coming toward us. While evil people think nothing of God, God is never far from considering those who are evil and He desires to draw us back to Himself so that we would be His people and He would be our God.
Let me say right out of the gate (pun intended) that it can be frustrating to travel with me. Many travelers fit neatly into one of two camps: They like to arrive, clear TSA, and walk right onto the plane as its boarding; or they want to be safely at the gate at least an hour before the jet bridge opens. Typically, I fit in the latter camp. For a lot of years, it stressed me out to arrive at the airport less than an hour before my flight. Numerous scenarios would circle my mind of things that might hold me up. After all, it is plausible for a circus transport to overturn on the highway near the airport and to be caught in a stampede of lions chasing clowns down the highway. However, once I was sitting at the gate, everything seemed to take a calming posture. But arrival at the gate is not the arrival.
“Of course, Captain Obvious!” After all, who thinks that arriving at the gate is the end of the journey? Honestly, some professing Christians I have known through the years.
I visited some parents once who prayed for their child to be saved. The day their child trusted Jesus, the mom said, “Finally! My work here is done.” To her, salvation was getting out of hell. It was payment for sin. It was what scholars refer to as Justification. The Bible speaks of this over and again in terms of a judicial finding. But the Bible also speaks of Salvation as a process, what we call sanctification. This is the abundant life that Jesus said He came to provide for us (John 10:10).
12Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
13Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12–14 (NASB95)
I find it curious that the Apostle Paul seems to emphasize sanctification over justification consistently in his writings. Of course, there is a Damascus Road moment for Paul. He never loses sight of that moment when Jesus arrested his soul and Paul was saved. But there is also a consistent witness of Paul “working out” his salvation (Phil 2:12), walking out his faith (Eph 5:8), constantly expanding the reach of the gospel (Romans 15), and as in our text to consider, pressing forward toward the goal of the prize.
I wonder if the apathy toward the faith that some describe to me isn’t rooted in a misunderstanding that making it to the gate is the end of the journey. If so, no wonder there’s no wonder in the gospel! No airport is that exciting. But if you see arrival at the gate as the starting block rather than the finish line, what great joy awaits you still as you journey throughout the land of purpose and traverse the mission in the company of grace.
Sometimes people are shocked when I tell them that the longer I walk with Jesus, the further I realize I have to go. This doesn’t mean that I am uncertain of eternity; rather, it is a clear-eyed observation that I am a work in progress and the closer I get to reflecting holiness, the more aware I am of the unholy parts of my own life. This does not discourage me. It humbles me. It provokes repentance. It prompts movement. It reminds me that arrival at the gate is not arrival.
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