Did John the Baptist ever get jealous of Jesus? I bet he was tempted. Check out John 3:26 -

And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness - look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”

Just a short time before this John the Baptist was the toast of the town. People were flocking to him by the hundreds, all eager to repent and be dunked in the Jordan (hence John’s nickname). John was the evangelical rock star of the day, and his ministry was flourishing.

Then Jesus comes along and everything changes. Jesus heals festering lepers, puts life into rotting corpses, and preaches with heart-riveting power. People aren’t so interested in JTB any more. The success of Jesus takes away from the success of John.

Yet how does John respond to all this? You’d think he might throw a pity party and go munch on some grasshopper comfort food. But he doesn’t. He says:

The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease

At a wedding, the groom is the center of attention. Friends of the groom stand off to the side and joyfully let all glory fall on the groom. John knew that Jesus was the groom of history, and John found his joy in seeing Jesus magnified, even at the expense of his own success. John was happy to see himself grow smaller in the eyes of the world if it meant Jesus would become more famous.

There’s going to be many times when we’re surpassed by other people in realms of serving God. Someone will come along who teaches children more effectively, or does a better job leading small groups, or is a more effective worship leader, or writes better blog posts, or plays drums better. That’s why it’s crucial for us to cultivate John’s attitude of humility now.

We exist to glorify Christ. If someone else can do it better, let them. Let’s rejoice when others surpass us spiritually. God will be glorified and we’ll be filled with joy.

+photo by dariuszka

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Christians should learn big words.

No, not big words like extemporaneous or preponderous or perspicacious. Although it might not be a bad idea. I mean words like propitiation, atonement, substitution, reconciliation.

Why learn these big words? To impress folks at parties or prayer meetings? “So as I was driving my Jag to my stock broker’s house, I was just so thankful for penal substitution.”

We should learn certain biblical and theological words because they will help us love God more. They will help us appreciate the depths of what he’s done for us, in turn fueling our love for him and joy in him.

Take, for example, “propitiation.” It’s one of the most important concepts in the New Testament. Why?

Our biggest problem is sin, for sin brings the wrath of a just and holy God upon us. Though sin ruins relationships, destroys our peace of mind, and enslaves us, the worst thing about it is that it brings God’s righteous, furious anger upon us.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth (RO 1.18).

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him (JN 3.36).

God’s righteous anger isn’t simply against sin, but sinners. Here’s our problem – how do we get God’s wrath off us and make him favorable toward us? All the good deeds in the world - giving to charity, going to church, praying - none of these things fend off God’s retribution that’s bearing down on us.

Here is where propitiation comes in.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a PROPITIATION by his blood, to be received by faith… (RO 3.23-25).

Propitiation is God’s action in removing sin that blocks our fellowship with him AND quenching his wrath, making him favorable, or “propitious” toward us.. It would not have been enough merely to remove our sin. God’s wrath also needed to be removed in order for his face to shine upon us.

So God put Jesus forward as a propitiation, a Substitute for sinners, and poured out his wrath on him. In his passion, Christ drank to the dregs the “cup” of God’s unimaginable fury against sin, absorbing it in his own person, thus removing that fury forever from the redeemed.

We could never have put away our sins or quenched God’s anger. But God did what we couldn’t do when he provided Jesus as a propitiation. And we’re the beneficiaries, for now he will be forever favorable and gracious toward us. Praise God!

Propitiation – not a bad word, huh? Read The Atonement by Leon Morris or In My Place Condemned He Stood by J.I. Packer and Mark Dever and learn some more big words.

I recently realized that the story of Noah and the ark isn’t a nice story. In fact, it’s kind of shocking to my modern sensibilities. In case you’ve forgotten what happens, here’s a quick run down.

God looks upon the world and sees that all of mankind is utterly depraved. We’re not just talking about a few cuss words now and then. This the depths of wickedness. Genesis 6:5 says:

The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

This doesn’t just describe the people living in Noah’s day. This is a snapshot of humanity today. This is a snapshot of our wicked hearts before Christ takes over. Every intention of every thought is continual evil. Perpetual perversity. That’s sickening.

How does our wickedness affect God? Genesis 6:6

And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

Our willful rebellion against God causes Him sorrow and grief. Our rebellion makes us repulsive in God’s eyes. It disgusts him.

So God brings justice to bear upon humanity. In one swift motion, he opens the floodgates of the earth and sends millions of people to a watery grave and an eternity of wrath. And this was the right thing for God to do. God’s holiness makes all punishment of sin just and right. This wasn’t God flipping out on humanity. This was good, beautiful, justice.

Yet in the midst of all this justice, one man received mercy. Noah was spared. I can imagine Noah standing on the deck of the ark, and seeing human bodies floating in the water, and asking the question, Why did I receive mercy?

All of us should be asking Noah’s question. I should have perished beneath the waters. I was a rebel against God, full of wicked thoughts and perverse desires. Justice cried out that I be crushed under the wrath of God, just like everyone who died in the flood, and just like everyone else who has died apart from God. Yet I received mercy. Christ was buried beneath the floodwaters of God’s wrath, and I received mercy and forgiveness.

Why me? I don’t know. But I’m so grateful for the mercy of God. Aren’t you grateful for the mercy?

+photo by cikaga jamie

Here are some items well worth your time:

John Piper on using your economic stimulus payment for the glory of God.  Get it here.

John Piper on how to fight the sin of pride, especially when you’re praised.  Check it here.

An incredible video about a young Christian man without any limbs.  See it right here.

Picture of guys doing really, really dumb stuff.  Identify by clicking here.

What role does suffering play in the life of a Christian? In this short excerpt from a panel discussion at Together for the Gospel, John Piper gives a very insightful answer.

All the audio from the conference can be downloaded here.

Pastors can offend in many ways. I know I have.

One Sunday when preaching on reaching out to strangers I noticed a student who looked distinctly international to me. Swelling with love for foreigners, I gushed, “I’m so glad to see we have someone from another country with us this morning. Sir, what country are you from?” He looked around, unsure if I was addressing him. “Yes, you sir, what country are you from?” He replied loudly, “McKeesport, Pennsylvania.” End of sermon.

I once asked a lady when she was due. She wasn’t. I’ve failed to appreciate people for serving, failed to visit people when they were sick. I’ve called people by the wrong name – I guess I really shouldn’t guess at people’s names, but when they’ve told me 20 times I hate to keep asking. “So, ummmmm…..Chhhhhelsea, how are you?” “It’s Bernadette.”

At times I’ve offended by my preaching. Sometimes because the truth is offensive. Sometimes because I just say stupid things.

If your pastor offends you, what should you do? Hang a Michael Bolton poster on his office door? (I probably just offended someone). Stew in resentment? Leave the church? Here are a few suggestions:

First, pray.

Next ask yourself, what does this offense reveal about my heart? What am I craving? Honor, recognition, or approval? Sometimes a strong reaction can indicate sin in our hearts. James 4 says the root of all anger is our cravings – we want things and don’t get them. What is it you’re wanting and not getting? Sometimes we have unmet expectations we’ve elevated to idol status. The pastor should visit me when I’m sick. He should notice when I’m absent. He should consult me before making decisions.

Ask, is this one of the “multitude of sins” love covers or a serious sin or pattern of sin that God wants to help him with?

If you can’t cover it in love, go to him. But before you go, ask, what are my motives for going to him? Do I want to help him or blast him? Am I going out of genuine concern for God’s glory, his good, or the good of the church? Am I going in anger or love?

Try to believe the best. Maybe he just forgot. Maybe he didn’t get your message. Maybe he didn’t mean it that way. Maybe he just didn’t think that comment through.

Forgive him in advance.

Go humbly. Go with thankfulness for the grace you see in his life. Go in a spirit of inquiry. Don’t come in accusing. Assume that you might not see the whole picture or don’t see the situation correctly. Try to get the facts. Find out if he actually said what you thought he said. Ask him to help you understand why he made the decision he made. Then speak the truth in love.

And tell him your name is actually Valerie. And that you’re from Belize.

How about you? What other suggestions would you add?

My baby girl is blind. She’s seven months old, cuter than a basketful of puppies, and completely blind. Don’t get me wrong, her eyes work just fine. She can see her dad’s ugly mug with no problem. But she’s spiritually blind. She doesn’t know Jesus yet, and people that don’t know Jesus don’t have spiritual eyes. It’s hard, but it’s true. Listen to John 3:3 -

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Unless someone is born again they can’t even see the kingdom of God. Complete and total spiritual blindness.

This verse compels me to pray passionately for my little girl. I pray that God will invade her life at a young age and open her eyes to the glories of Christ. I pray that God will breathe spiritual life into her heart. I can teach her about Jesus, but I can’t make her love Jesus. I can tell her about heaven, but I can’t get her into heaven. Only God can do this.

This truth would be terrifying if not for the sweet words found just a few verses later:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

God loves Charis. Deeply, passionately. He desires that she would place saving faith in Christ. These truths put faith into my prayers. Yes she’s spiritually blind. Yeah, she is dead in her sins. But she’s got a dad who loves her and prays for her, and she’s got a God who loves her even more. My hope is not in my ability to save Charis. My hope is in my great, loving God who brings dead people to life.

Today, as you pray for your children, pray that God would give them spiritual eyes. As you pray for your unbelieving friends, ask God to breathe life into them. We can’t save anyone, but we serve a God who sent his son to save sinners. That’s our hope.

Can I recommend a resource that will serve your soul? Sovereign Grace Music just released the CD “Come Weary Saints”, and I really believe that it will deeply encourage you. Here’s how the CD is described:

As Christians, we know that our greatest problem—separation from God—has been solved. Jesus Christ, the only Savior, has taken our sin upon himself, enduring God’s wrath in our place and rising from the dead to assure us of our forgiveness.

But all our problems don’t end when we turn to Christ. We still get sick. Marriages end. Children die. Our plans, great or small, are disrupted. We grow weary in the battle.

Scripture assures us that God is sovereignly using our difficulties as tools to make us more like his Son. “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Ro 5:3–5) While we know these things are true, in the midst of our hardships we can lose perspective. Problems can loom large, and our hopes can grow dim.

Come Weary Saints is an invitation to redirect your focus to the God whose love has been forever demonstrated at the cross of Calvary. As you listen to these songs, may your faith and joy in the Savior be strengthened for the challenges you face, now or in the future.

For those of you who go to my church, you can get the CD in the bookstore. For the rest of you, you can get the CD here. You can also get a free download from the CD by clicking here.

A believer recently said to me, “I feel like God doesn’t love me. He doesn’t seem to hear my prayers.”

Sometimes it seems like nobody’s home in heaven. Many believers can identify with David’s cry:

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,
and by night, but I find no rest. (PS 22:1-2)

David felt forsaken. It seemed like God was deaf and distant. What do we do at these times?

David encouraged himself by reminding himself of God’s past faithfulness to Israel and to himself:

In you our fathers trusted;
they trusted, and you delivered them.
To you they cried and were rescued;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame (4-5).

Yet you are he who took me from the womb;
you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts.
On you was I cast from my birth,
and from my mother’s womb you have been my God (9-10).

The Bible records centuries of God’s steadfast love to his people. He gave Abraham a son, delivered Joseph from prison, Israel from Egypt, Daniel from lions and Paul from the Jews. God always comes through for his people.

And can you not recall many examples of God’s goodness to you?

Past grace guarantees future grace so David goes on to confidently say:

I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you. (22)

David was sure he’d praise God for his goodness down the road, because God had been good to him in the past. He who didn’t spare his only Son but gave him up for us all will give us all the grace we need to glorify him. God hasn’t brought you this far only to abandon you. You will yet praise him in the future.