Adorn the Doctrine of our Lord and Savior

…adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect. 

Sometimes we live in a tunnel, with only a dim light somewhere far off that gives us hope that perhaps there is an end to the madness we are facing.  In moments like that when someone asks us to explain why we would believe in a god, it can strike one as a really really good question.  

As Americans we have been taught that we deserve life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, that these things are inalienable rights from our God. So fundamental are these rights that President Bush decided to create the Bush Doctrine to global problems using this foundation.  So when an American asks another who is in a tunnel why do you believe in god, it is natural to look at ourselves and see how god is not providing these inalienable rights and lose faith.

The problem is, these rights do not exist!  We were not created with these rights; we were created as Paul says in Titus 2:10 “to adorn the doctrine of Christ.”  Think about it, life is not a right – it is a gift, liberty is no where promised in the bible - as we are either “slaves to sin” or “slaves to righteousness.”  The pursuit of happiness borders or is hedonistic and is not a God honoring standard or goal.

Which of those rights would have helped Peter and John while standing before the Jewish leaders in Acts 4?  How about for Stephen as he was facing death in Acts chapter 6? Or even Peter as he was facing the angry Jewish Christians for baptizing Gentiles of all people!

 Instead, if there is one common theme that comes through in the book of Acts, one thread that established their purpose for their life and ministry, it was not American values - but rather it was recalling and proclaiming the glory of God.  (cf. Titus 2:10).

Peter did it in Acts 2 as he recalled God at work in the history of the Jewish race.  In Acts chapter 3 Peter healed people to show them the power and authority of God. In chapter 4 where he says, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”  In Acts chapter 5  Peter says to the high priest, “we must obey God rather than men.” In Acts chapter eight the Freedmen Acts “were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he (Stephen) was speaking.“  In Acts chapter 7 Stephen was repaid for his efforts by being stoned to death, but not before he gave a systematic survey of the glorious works of God in Jewish history. In Acts chapter 8  the Ethiopian eunuch, who was in charge of all the treasures of the queen of Ethiopia, was led to Christ by Philip explaining to him a passage in Isaiah.   In chapter 9 Ananias was directed by God himself to go to a tormentor named Saul whom God had met on the road to Damascus.  In chapter 10 God displays his vision to Peter who then speaks of the glory of God to the gentile Cornelius and his whole household was saved!   In Chapter 11 when Peter is facing the wrath of his Jewish Christian brethren for having led gentiles to the Lord his answer which settled the matter was “therefore, if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?  

We can continue on and on, but the point has been made.  So, how does this relate to our Christian in a tunnel?  Well, each of the individuals we have mentioned died for their proclamations.  They did not just lose a job or a friend.  They did not worry about their life, liberty or happiness.  In fact, Paul later explains that he is constrained, as a debtor to all, to proclaim the gospel.  He says in all circumstances he had learned to be content.  All the bravado and miracles by them that occurred in this special time – was in the end met with the long tunnel by each of them.

The key answer for our Christian in the tunnel was given by Peter when he wrote in 2 Peter 1, “knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ made it clear to me, I will be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.”

We will unpack this further in my next blog post.

Bob Carroll

July 22, 2012 - The Jerusalem Council

Lesson and class discussion of Acts 15:1-35 using John MacArthur's commentary, led by Holly Lundberg.

July 15, 2012 - Paul's First Missionary Journey

Lesson and class discussion of Acts 13:1 - 14:28 using John MacArthur's commentary, led by Bob Carroll.

July 8, 2012 - The Gospel to the Gentiles

Lesson and class discussion of Acts 9:32 - 12:25 using John MacArthur's commentary, led by Bob Carroll.

June 24, 2012 - The Gospel Begins to Spread Beyond Jerusalem

Lesson and class discussion of Acts 8:4-40 using John MacArthur's commentary, led by Holly Lundberg.

Chocolate Covered Raisins

I am living in what is commonly called the sandwich generation. In my particular case, the sandwich is a triple decker club in that we still have young children living at home as well as older children who are having their own children along with aging parents. I recently became a grandmother so I'm very interested in what my new role is going to be. So far I've just been in awe of our beautiful granddaughter, but it's just been 2 weeks. What can I give my grandchildren that is different than what their parents can give them? I had the opportunity today to see what my role could be.

My mother-in-law is definitely having ups and downs with her health, more and more downs lately. But when she is feeling good, she enjoys giving our 3 youngest piano lessons. She used to be able to come to our house and give their lessons which was super convenient, but she recently suggested that I bring them to her house this week instead. While I know that this is great bonding time for them, it is at least a 3 hour proposition. I selfishly did not want to take the time but couldn't in good conscience refuse so off we went.

I predetermined that we would start with the youngest and go up from there and hope to be done before bedtime. I listened as she patiently listened to each one as they commented before and after every measure they played. She encouraged them throughout their lessons and praised each small accomplishment making them feel like piano virtuosos! While we were waiting on one, the other two played with the various geriatric contraptions they found like long handled pinchers to reach things, back scratchers, and the like. You never know what a child finds interesting and what he can do with it! My father-in-law who is a wood craftsman and the most generous man I know, gave them their very own back scratcher and wooden boxes that he had made along with chocolate covered raisins and any other edible treat he had on hand. I don't know who enjoyed the time more, my children or their grandparents.

I'm again amazed at God's patience with me, to open my eyes to see the blessing that a grandparent can be. Grandparents have the time or take the time to be encouraging while parents are prone to watch the clock. My mother used to say, "We have all the time in the world." to my older girls and she meant it. Taking the time to listen and make them feel special is a precious gift they give to my children. I hope that I can be that kind of grandparent. I guess I need to load up on chocolate covered raisins too!

Thankful

There is simply no way to witness the birth of your first grandchild and not be affected. I really didn't know what to expect from the experience since this was my first. In many ways I found it affected me more than the birth of my children, probably because I didn't have much time to reflect as a new mom. I found myself overcome with emotion at God's goodness and ridiculous love to bless us with a beautiful baby granddaughter. The fact that He has chosen this as one way to show us a glimpse of how He feels about us was such a good idea. Since He is perfect, His love is perfect so I cannot ever really grasp how much He loves me.

As much as I would like to sit in adoration of my new granddaughter,  I feel compelled to find a way to show my thanksgiving. More comfortable in doing, surely there is something I can do or give Him. Then I start to think,what can I give someone who has everything? literally! I found my answer in Psalm 100.

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His Name. For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.

Amen.