Mind-numbing, but I appreciate it

One of the great benefits of living in a technologically advanced age is the sheer amount of resources that are available. Sometimes, it can be a distraction, but most of the time it is extremely valuable.

As I thought about the morning and early afternoon, I realized that I had...

• listened to an audio interview of David Powlison
• read a commentary on Mark by David Garland
  
• listened to a podcast discussion of the Sovereign Grace leadership team on "The Pastor and Time."
• read a commentary on Mark by R.T. France
• read an online article about premarital counseling by Winston Smith
• skimmed a couple of pages in a book on 1 Corinthians 12-14 by D.A. Carson
• listened to a couple of podcast episodes of "Ask Pastor John" by John Piper

It is amazing the resources at our disposal. God will surely hold us accountable for our stewardship of them.

A couple of reminders

Sometimes, you get reminded of truth in a couple of different ways. I was reminded of some of the great words of Psalm 130:6 today. The psalm is so helpful in reminding us of our need to wait on the Lord for everything.

Here is where I got the reminders...

• A song called "Out of the Depths" (iTunes link) that is on the latest CD from Sovereign Grace called Psalms.
  
  
• A really old book dealing with Overcoming Sin and Temptation by John Owen

I definitely recommend both of these and have appreciated their ministry to me.

I Stand in Awe

I have talked about some 'lost verses' of hymns. I also came across the second verse of a newer song. Mark Altrogge, who wrote the song, added the second verse years after it was originally recorded, but I love the emphasis on the cross and the scriptural imagery.

I STAND IN AWE

You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom
Who can fathom the depths of Your love
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty enthroned above

And I stand I stand in awe of You
I stand I stand in awe of You
Holy God to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You

You are beautiful beyond description
Yet God crushed You for my sin
In agony and deep affliction
Cut off that I might enter in
Who can grasp such tender compassion
Who can fathom this mercy so free
You are beautiful beyond description
Lamb of God who died for me

Prayer for the election - 5

We should pray that God would make His body wise in applying Scripture to our privilege and responsibility of voting.

We should be the last ones to be swayed by uninformed political emotionalism.

Ephesians 5:15-17 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

What a prayer

I was just reviewing some verses that I plan on teaching through tonight.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

As I read them, I began to be blown away at how Paul communicated something so incredible in a few words.

Some thoughts...

• Paul prays that Jesus Himself would do all these things. Not an angel, not another person.
• Jesus and God are presented on an equal platform. They are both God.
• God loved us. John 3:16 may be quoted often, but it is always powerful.
• He gave us eternal comfort and good hope.
• The comfort and hope come through the means of God's grace, the undeserved riches of Christ, that are mine because of His death.
• Our hearts can be comforted
• All of this results in the fact that we can have a life filled with good words and good deeds.
  

Prayer for the election - 4

We should pray that God would use us (as His body) to provide relief, support, and love for people when they look for it to come from other sources like the government.

Too often the government has failed at what the church has been commissioned to do which is to share the good news with accompanying good deeds.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Galatians 2:10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

Prayer for the election - 3

We should pray that God would show us how to think, live and love in a kingdom that is not yet of Christ.

Since there is no earthly government that is not flawed, we need wisdom from above to engage in this world in a Christ-honoring way.

Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”

1 Peter 2:12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Prayer for the election - 2

We should pray that God would keep us from trusting in government or earthly leader to be our Rescuer.

If our confidence is in the policies of a political party or the vision of a politician, we will be regularly disappointed. God alone is our Rescuer who in Christ can save us, give us hope, and be ultimately worthy of our confidence.

Psalm 33:17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Prayer for the election - 1

I mentioned in a previous post that I would be sharing how I am praying for the election.

We should pray that God would give grace to submit to His will and to our God-ordained leaders.

We must recognize that God has a plan for November 5, January 20, and every day following. It is our duty and privilege to submit to it, regardless of who is in office.

1 Peter 2:17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Romans 13:1-5 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

1 Timothy 2:1-5 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Your kingdom come, your will be done

Over the last few weeks, many organizations and individuals have asked for the church to engage in the political process of this election. As I have prayed about what our role as a church (not just individual Christians) should be, I have felt led to pray in these directions. So, rather than distribute a “voter guide” or other political material, I feel compelled to share with you a resource that will guide my prayers over the next several days. I will begin sharing each day until the election, a way that I am praying. The first requests will be for our lives to honor Christ, and the next set of prayers will focus on the gospel being spread.

If you desire to have a voter guide, I am quite sure there is no shortage of them on the internet. Here is one that deals with issues related to Delaware. Additionally, I have in a previous post called attention to a forum that the candidates for president participated in that was very helpful to me personally.

May God use this election (and every event of life, for that matter) for us as the people of God to show our love for Christ and our obedient loyalty to His Word.