Amazing Grace

I am in a book study with some single ladies from my church. The title of the book is "This Great Salvation, Unmerited Favor, Unmatched Joy." It is Gospel saturated. As such the chapter this week focuses on the wrath of God.  The subject of sin has been lost in our culture and unfortunately in far too many churches in our nation. Rather the focus is on self esteem and boosting our egos.  God's focus has never changed. As a thrice holy God His wrath is as J.I. Packer says "God's resolute action in punishing sin." R.C. Sproul has said that Christ's death on the Cross isn't only to save us from hell but more accurately to save us from the wrath of God the Father. The better you know how deeply sinful you are, the more true fear of the Lord you will possess and the greater your appreciation will be of His grace.

Hell is a frightening reality.  The Scriptural references are sobering. Much is said by Christ about hell. Much also is written about God's wrath at the sins of people. Don't be deceived.  God will express His anger and wrath at sinful creatures who refuse the Cross of Christ. Either Jesus bore the penalty for our sin or we will bear it.  Sin is so heinous to God it will take an eternity of punishment.  But there is hope.  God has sent His Son to reconcile us to a holy God.  The Father gave His Son to suffer the judgment due us.  Through faith in Jesus Christ we are declared righteous in the eyes of God. Not that we are righteous but God attributes Christ's perfect righteousness to our account and our sin to His. We deserve eternal punishment in hell but God offers eternal life through His Son.  Our need is not for greater self esteem, our need is for the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ.

The Levite Blessing

We studied Genesis 49 in Bible Study tonight. The chapter details Jacob's blessing to his 12 sons. Two of them, Simeon and Levi, are told that they were cruel and brutal. Jacob remembered the massacre of men in Shechem in revenge for the rape of Levi and Simeon's sister Dinah.  The two brothers talked Shechemites into accepting circumcision as a means of integrating the two cultures including intermarriage.  Then when the men were particularly vulnerable the brothers took their own men and slaughtered everybody and looted the town.

Much later God blessed the Levites at the golden calf incident.  While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Law Aaron and others were busy building the golden calf as their god.  Moses came down from the Mount and was furious. Aaron lamely said that he didn't do much. He threw the gold into a fire and a calf came out.  Exodus 32: 24:  I [Aaron} said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” Aaron shifted a bit of the blame.

It was the Levites who stood for the Lord and killed some 3000 men who had so grievously sinned against  the True God of Israel. Exodus 32: 25- 29:   Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control—for Aaron had let them get out of control to be a derision among their enemies— ²⁶ then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered together to him. ²⁷ He said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Every man of you put his sword upon his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate in the camp, and kill every man his brother, and every man his friend, and every man his neighbor.’” ²⁸ So the sons of Levi did as Moses instructed, and about three thousand men of the people fell that day. ²⁹ Then Moses said, “Dedicate yourselves today to the Lord—for every man has been against his son and against his brother—in order that He may bestow a blessing upon you today.”

God blessed the Levites by choosing them as the priestly line.  These people carried the Ark of the Covenant, ministered later in the tabernacle and temple and the High Priest was chosen from among their ranks.  God in His grace took a curse and made it into a blessing. How comforting to know that God can relent and take our bad circumstances and use them for our good and the good of others.  When we repent, God can do marvelous things in our life.

Joseph's Attitude on the Job

Last night I went to BSF.  The teaching leader taught on Genesis 39 and 40.  She said that a successful day is to stay in conscious contact with God all day.  Joseph grew so very close to the Lord.  He was aware of God's presence throughout the day.  She then asked the class how much do we grumble or complain.  Boy was I dead in the water. She mentioned that Joseph was the best slave he could be while working for Potiphar.  Work is a gift from God. It is good to work as unto the Lord and pour ouselves out for our vocation.  Joseph certainly was one to pray over his duties because Potiphar knew Joseph was a man of God.  How often do we pray at work?  Joseph was a witness to the living God.  Are we the same on at our jobs? How often in our daily conversations do we give Him all the glory?

I was very convicted this morning as I drove Sister Frances. My attitude was sinful and inside I grumbled far too much.  I had to intentionally take my thoughts captive.  I prayed throughout the day for the Lord to help me change my grumbling attitude. It improved by the end of the day but I was far from a "Joseph" for sure. Gratefully God's mercies are new every morning and tomorrow is the start of a new day.

Grace in the Genealogy of Jesus

I read the story of Tamar and Judah in Genesis 39 tonight for BSF.  Tamar was a Gentile woman who married Judah's sons.  Long story short she ends up sleeping with her father-in-law dressed up as a prostitute. Judah is ready to have her burned but Tamar pulls out a few things given to her on the day of the trespass. Judah owns up to his sin and she gives birth to twins.  She like Ruth and Rahab are listed in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.  What grace of God to include these women in the Savior's line.

As I think about God's grace it truly is more immense than man can imagine.  We deserve nothing but eternal punishment for sin.  But God.  Ephesians 2: 4-8: "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),  and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God..."

We are saved by grace and frankly we are sanctified by it too.  God works in us and He accomplishes the good work He started. Yet we are to obedient to the Lord and His Word. I think the inclusion of the Gentile women indicates God's love extends to all peoples at all times.  The Tabernacle and later the Temple had a court of Gentiles.  Any who spiritually thirsted were welcome. His grace is magnificent.  Once again it is truly amazing.