M2MS 11/27/09

When you have sinned, don't allow yourself the luxury of self-pity, run to Jesus for forgiveness! (1 John 1:9)

Disordered Loves

In his Confessions, Augustine of Hippo (354-430 A.D.) defined sin as disordered loves. He was the first to suggest the concept that we all operate from a deficit orientation. This is the idea that we have a hole in our souls and it can only be filled by God. All sin is an attempt to fill the void by loving good, created things, when it can only be filled by the only ultimate thing: the love of God. This is the essence of idolatry: making good things into ultimate things.

When we do this disordered loves have three negative results in our lives: They starve us; they emotionally enslave us; and they divide us.

Augustine suggested that the solution is found in true beauty. There is nothing more beautiful than Christ. As this truth is grasped in our souls we begin to reorder our love toward Christ. Our disordered desires become transformed by the grace of God so that we focus our devotion on Him alone. This is a lifetime process: a journey characterized by repentance and faith. Augustine said, "Our hearts are restless, Lord, till they rest in thee." May my life continually be reoriented to the one who alone is true beauty and satisfaction.

You might want to check out David K. Naugle's book, Reordered Love, Reordered Lives: Learning the Deep Meaning of Happiness.

Perfect Union

"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him." (John 14:23).

"Oh, to be bound up in the bundle of life with the living God and with Christ, who has life in Himself! Oh, let this be the whole strength of the aim of our souls, and let us be so moved and affected with it, so as not to lack a part and share in and with this good company! They were sufficient company to Themselves when They inhabited eternity and They are sufficient to make us so, by taking us up into Their intimate converse. . . . Oh, what sweetness will there be one day in heaven in the fullness of converse and manifestation of these three persons. It will be, if not all, yet the great discourse that will be had and heard in heaven with our poor souls by the three persons, bringing all the delights they have had in you from eternity down into your hearts, and revealing them to you all eternity."

Oh LORD, may I have a taste of this glorious union - never to crave for the dry morsels of this barren world again.

Excerpt from A Habitual Sight of Him: The Christ-Centered Piety of Thomas Brooks.

M2MS 11/25/09

The more proud you get the more you become out of touch with reality. Humility will liberate you from self-deception. (Proverbs 11:2)

M2MS 11/24/09

Keep the main thing the main thing: "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things. " (1 Timothy 4:7-8)

M2MS 11/18/09

All of life is repentance: the constant process of forsaking wrong and embracing right. (2 Corinthians 7:8-9)

M2MS 11/15/09

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less. (C.S.L.)

M2MS 11/14/09

Sin is deceptive: it not only makes us sick, but also senseless.

M2MS 11/13/09

"I shall not want." (Psalm 23:1) The secret of contentment in a consumer world is being thatnkful to the Good Shepherd for EVERYTHING.

M2MS (Memos to My Sons)

A humble attempt to encourage my sons as followers of Jesus. I will try to keep my messages to 25 words. l2l, dad.

started 11/12/09

Change Is Essential

In Herman Melville's Bartleby, The Scrivener, he tells the story of a Wall Street Lawyer who hires a young man named Bartleby as a scrivener. The Lawyer soon discovers that Bartleby is not willing to do anything in the office except his proficient task of copying documents. In time he continues to respond to every request with his signature, "I would prefer not to." One weekend the lawyer discovers that Bartleby was taken up residence in his offices. Eventually the young scrivener is refusing to do his copying tasks. Frustrated, the lawyer tries to convince Bartleby to resume his work or be fired. He responds with, "I would prefer not to at this time." Yet the influential boss is unable to make Bartleby leave. Embarrassed by the comments of business associates who are baffled by the lawyer's inability to deal with the idle employee, the lawyer decides to move his offices to another location. Bartleby remains unmoved at the old office suite until he is finally removed forcefully by the authorities and placed in jail. The lawyer visits him and attempts to extend kindness by providing for his meals. However, even this act is rebuffed by the popular response, "I would prefer not to." Tragically, when the lawyer returns again, he discovers that the young man has starved to death because of his preference.

This story is a graphic reminder that change is essential to life. Life cannot be lived simply by personal preferences. There are truths in this world that are unchangeable and if we do not submit and respond to these with our own change we will die. The greatest truth is that we must accept and obey the will of God. This is the essence of repentance. It is the humble recognition of personal wrong and the desire and will to change by accepting God's way. This is the only path to life. "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret . . . See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done." (2 Corinthians 7:10-11). Although the act of repentance may be painful and humbling it is still the only way to life and joy.

Knowing the Love of Christ that Surpasses Knowledge

"I pray that you . . . know this love that surpasses knowledge." (Ephesians 3:19). John Bunyan observes that there is great benefit in knowing that Christ's love is beyond our understanding. Satan will come to us in times of moral failure with his accusations. These are designed to drive us away from Christ.

"Says Satan, do you not know that you have horribly sinned? Yes, says the soul, I do. Says Satan, do you not know that you are one of the vilest in all the pack of professing believers? Yes, says the soul, I do. Says Satan, does not your conscience tell you that you are, and have been, more base than any person can imagine you to be? Yes, says the soul, my conscience tells me this. Well then, says Satan, now I will appeal to you. Are you not a graceless wretch? Yes. Do you have a heart that is sorry for this wickedness? No, not as I should. Then, says Satan, is not your heart convinced that God will disregard you? Yes, says the sinner. Why then, despair and go dispose of yourself, says the devil. And now we are at the end of the thing designed and driven at by Satan. But what shall I now do? asks the sinner. I answer, remember the words of Ephesians 3:19, Christ loves with a love that surpasses knowledge. And answer Satan saying, though I cannot think that Christ loves me, though I cannot think that God will save me, yet Satan, I will not yield to your accusations. For God can do more than I think He can."

Excerpts from John Bunyan's All Loves Excelling.

How High is the Love of Christ?

There are high and mighty people and powers in this world that attack the faith of God's people in this world and threaten peace and justice. God is above all authorities on this planet (Ecclesiates 5:8). There are the powers of darkness that rally themselves against all those who are loved by Christ. "By these we are tempted, sifted, opposed, threatened, undermined . . . we should most certainly be so, were it not for the Rock that is higher than they." (Psalm 61:2). "These are they that our King has taken captive, and has ridden in triumph over their necks." (Ephesians 4:8; Colossians 2:15)

"There are heights also that build up themselves in us . . . we are so inclinable to swerve from right doctrine into destructive opinions. It is from these that we are so easily persuaded to call into question our former experience of the goodness of God towards us and from these that our minds are so often clouded and darkened that we cannot see afar."

"The answer is ready. Get Christ, and go to heaven. . . . in God there is a power that is able to subdue all things to Himself." I have found in the journey that whatever I focus on, I will eventually find. It is therefore essential that I intentionally set my mind and heart on the Lord and His values and purposes for me and this world (Colossians 3:1-3).

Excerpts from John Bunyan's All Loves Excelling with personal reflections.

How Deep is Christ's Love?

"Christians have sometimes their sinking fits, and are as if they are always descending. . . Now guilt is a heavy load and burden. The devil and sin, and the curse of the law and death, are gotten upon the shoulders of this poor man, and are treading him down, that he may sink into and be swallowed up of his miry place." (Both Job [Job 30:19] and David [Psalm 69:2,14] share their personal experience of being stuck deep in the mud.)

I have known these deep feelings of shame and regret. They overwhelm me with hopeless thoughts of despair, to the point that life is wasted. David groans, "Deep calls to deep" (Psalm 42:7). What is that? In the previous verse he reveals, "My soul is downcast within me" (Psalm 42:6). "Down? That is deep in the jaws of distrust and fear. And, LORD, my soul in this depth of sorrow calls for help to your depth of mercy; for though I am sinking and going down, yet not so low but that your mercy is yet underneath me: by your compassion open those everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27), and catch him that has no help or resolve in himself. . . . They are said to be everlasting arms that are underneath; that is arms that are long and strong, and that can reach to the bottom and also beyond all the misery and distress that Christians are subject to in this life."

"Although the depths of calamity into which the godly may fall may be as deep as hell, yet this is the comfort, the mercy of God for them lies deeper. And this is that which made Paul unafraid of this depth, 'For I am convinced that . . . neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.' (Romans 8:38-39). Mercy lies deeper for the godly to help them, than can all other depths to destroy them. This is at which he stands and wonders, saying, 'Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!' (Romans 11:33). God is able to find a way to save His people, notwithstanding all the deep contrivances that the enemy has and may invent to make us fall short of reaching home."

I would do well, as did David, to use these truths as spiritual medicine when I find my soul sinking deep into the pit of despair, and preach to myself: "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God." (Psalm 42:5, 11; 43:5). And secondly, pray for His help: "Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; O LORD, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy." (Psalm 130:1-2). He alone must be my hope in this life.

Excerpts from John Bunyan's All Loves Excelling along with personal reflections.