There Is a Joy that Brings True Happiness

"But Lord, keep me far from one error. May it be far from the heart of Your servant who here confesses unto You, that I should feel momentary earthly joy and suppose that I had reached true happiness. There is a joy that brings true happiness, but it is not given to the ungodly. It is only for those who love You for Your sake."

-St. Augustine, The Confessions of St. Augustine

Do Not Rebuild

In his letter to the Galatians, the apostle Paul gives us an excellent principle by which to live in the new year: do not rebuild.

In chapter 2 Paul tells us that the apostle Peter was eating and mingling with the Gentiles, but when a pack of Jews showed up, Peter and the other Jews "acted hypocritically" (Galatians 2:13). However, Paul saw right through their actions. He knew that the man who had walked with Jesus knew quite well that Christ died for the Jew and the Gentile (Romans 1:16). So he called them out, "If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews" (Galatians 2:14).

Now Paul knew that someone had begun preaching a false Gospel among the Galatians; one that required circumcision for salvation. So for Peter to withdraw from the non- circumcised to be with the circumcised would only further confuse the Galatians. But Paul makes clear to the Galatians that the circumcision issue here turned out to be the hypocrisy of Peter.

In Acts 10:9-16 Peter has a vision in relation to clean and unclean food. After Peter argues about the cleanliness of the food, he is told, "What God has made clean, do not call common" (10:15). Peter was freed to eat as he pleased. The vision has continued purpose. Peter, in a conversation with Cornelius, a Gentile, relates his vision to their interaction, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without objection" (10:28).

Back in Galatians, Paul knows that Peter has been told he could eat as he pleased, like a Gentile, and Paul knows that Peter has been told that he could associate across Jew/Gentile lines. So why ever would Peter withhold his fellowship with Gentiles when the Jews showed up? Why should the man who eats like a Gentile act as though Jews are more apt for salvation because of circumcision?

Paul continues.

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

-Galatians 2:15, 16

Then in verse 17 Paul says, "But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not!"

John MacArthur explains this verse in The MacArthur Bible Commentary:

"If the Judaizers' (the circumcision-happy Jews) doctrine was correct, then Paul, Peter, Barnabas, and the other Jewish believers fell back into the category of sinners because they had been eating and fellowshiping with Gentiles, who according to the Judaizers were unclean. If the Judaizers were right, then Christ was wrong and had been teaching people to sin because He taught that food could not contaminate a person (Mark 7:19)."

Paul then nails his point home in verse 18, "For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor."

Peter "stood condemned" (2:11). Although he had heard the words come out of Jesus' mouth "Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled" (Mark 7:18-19)? and had a mighty vision in Acts 10, he still rebuilt the notion that practicing Jewish tradition somehow was contributory to salvation and proved himself a transgressor.

Paul wants so badly for the Galatians to understand that "a person is not justified by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ" (Galatians 2:16). He must ensure that the law, as a salvation requirement, is torn down and he must not allow it to be rebuilt by Peter, the Judaizers, or even himself. Like he says in chapter 1,

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

-Galatians 1:8, 9

These principles are so helpful for us entering into a new year. Two-thousand eight was a year of God tearing down my self-righteous attitude, exposing idols, and refining my views of "not justified by works of the law, but though faith in Jesus Christ." I am praying that 2009 would be a year where things that I view as supplements to salvation would be stripped away. And at the same time that I would not "rebuild" what has already been "torn down" "like a dog that returns to his vomit" (Proverbs 26:11). 

In 2009, do not rebuild.

God Answers All Types Of Prayers

Rebekah and I spent this weekend in Florida visiting her family. On Saturday night, as we were going to bed, we prayed together. The Lord prompted me to pray out against materialism in our lives. And the answer came quickly.

Today, upon returning home, we received a completely unexpected medical bill for $282.72 and immediately any talk of "it would be nice to have this or that" was squelched.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21

Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:9-11

In relation to the latter Scripture reference, when fish is asked for, a serpent is not given. It is also then implied that if a serpent is asked for, a serpent is not given. God is not sitting up in heaven waiting for us to ask for the right thing. He knows what's best and He executes it. "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). The idea is not that we get when we ask, but rather that God knows the good that we need. So if I were to request affluence and God gave me a medical bill, I had requested a serpent, but God delivered a fish.

With this in mind the medical bill is more encouraging to me than affluence. Why? Because when I prayed with my wife for God to mitigate against materialism, He heard my prayer, and it was in line with His perfect will. I asked for a fish and I received a fish.

Thank you, Lord.

Sometimes I Think I Am Good Enough...

How is it that I could ever think that I alone have enough merit to please God?

"You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." -Matthew 5:48

That's not possible for me alone, but isn't the Gospel great? The merit that I am incapable of generating is simply projected onto me in exchange for my sin, and ultimately the wrath of God, all by the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. What a great transfer!

So how could I ever slip into a pattern where my gratitude is diminished because I feel that I have the right to any of this?

Oh, Lord! Keep me from this behavior...

Rule Over Me

Dear Jesus,

Rule over me. Rule over my heart, my soul, and my mind. Rule over the words that I speak. Rule over the papers that I write. Rule over the blogs that I type. Rule over my school and my work. Rule over the car that I drive, the horn that I honk, and the gestures that I make. Rule over what my eyes see. Rule over the television I watch. Rule over my web browser. Rule over my mouse clicks. Rule over my Facebook profile, my Google homepage, and my email account. Rule over what my ears hear. Rule over the music I listen to. Rule over the conversations I engage in. Rule over the food that I eat. Rule over the drink that I drink. Rule over what my hands touch. Rule over my day. Rule over my night.

I pray that I would worship you, and you alone, as King.

Amen.