Having said that, we also know that our suffering and self-denial as Christians are not in vain. According to Paul, they are working for us an eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17). Jesus himself said, “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life” (Mark 10:29-30).

However, every Christian will admit that the journey can sometimes be arduous despite all these exceedingly precious promises. And the question is, from where can we get the joy to soldier on until the end?  In 2nd Corinthians 7:5-7, Paul shares one of his own experiences with afflictions and where he found joy to persevere. In verse 5, he spoke about the challenges he and his fellow workers faced in Macedonia. He says, “we were afflicted at every turn.” The affliction was not only from the outside but “fighting without and fear within.” 

Many of us go through times when we wonder if what we believe is true. That’s what makes the Christian life even harder sometimes; the battle is not only out there but also within. Even Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane was praying to be spared from the impending suffering, which he was aware of from the foundation of the world (Luke 22:41-42). We also read about John the Baptist, the greatest of all born of women, sending his disciples to inquire if Jesus was indeed the Messiah, because he was beginning to have doubts (Matthew 11:2-3). 

But amid all this fighting, Paul tells us that he found comfort and joy from the growth and advance of the gospel. He was overjoyed as he received word from Titus about the growth of the saints in Corinth and their continued steadfastness in the faith. As you read the entire chapter of 2 Corinthians 7, you cannot help but ask yourself, what brings you joy as a Christian?

In his sermon on the Mount, Jesus told his disciples to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” It is refreshing and convicting at the same time as you read about how Paul embodied this truth in his own Christian life. In all his letters, it was the growth of Christians and the advance of the gospel that brought him joy.

What about you? What brings you comfort and  joy as a Christian? As I look at my own life, I’m ashamed that often the source of my joy has nothing to do with the growth and advance of God’s kingdom. I complain if things don’t go my way. I get angry at God when my prayer request for things that will bring me comfort and convenience are not answered. But that was not the case with Paul.

Even though many of us mentally assent that our true reward and inheritance is in heaven, the source of our joy is often sadly rooted in things on this earth. It is no wonder many of us do not know deep and enduring joy in Christ. One moment we’re happy, and the next moment we weep and mourn as the world does. This is because the sources of our joys are not rooted in eternal things.

I pray  God will open your eyes to see the true inheritance kept in heaven for you, such that nothing on this earth will satisfy or rob you of your joy. Oh, that your true joy will be found in the growth of God’s people and the advance of his kingdom!

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Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me,bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy (Psalm 103:1-4).

You remember the Biblical charge “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and might”? (Deut. 6:5; Matt. 22:37). Here is a demand on the totality of our whole being–holding nothing back. Without any trace of doubt, King David wouldn’t be oblivious of this. Thus in his moment of praise, he employed his whole soul and all that is within him.

From my experience, the natural response when one ponders what God has done in their lives should be praise. According to Matthew Henry,

“We make nothing of our religious performances if we do not make heart-work of them, if that which is within us, nay, if all that is within us, be not engaged in them.” ¹

In 1 Chronicles 17:16-20, after God has given David a promise to establish his house and his throne, he went into the temple and poured his heart out in praise to God. David was a man with an appreciative heart, as we must also be. In many places in Scripture, we are admonished to give thanks to God. Infact, Jesus threathened, so to speak, that if we do not praise God, God is able to raise stones to praise him. That my dear friends is sobering.

Looking closely at David’s praise, here are three things he praises God for.

God’s Holiness

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

The starting point of David’s praise is the acknowledgment of God’s holiness. That infact appears to be the proper pattern of Scripture. And Jesus taught it in what is commonly called The Lord’s Prayer saying; “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” (Matthew 6:9). “Hallowed be your name”: that is reverence! When we approach God in praise, we must come with awe and adoration of his holiness: “Reverence for God’s self-revelation is the heart of the third commandment (Ex. 20:7) says R.C. Sproul. ²

God is holy–he is purely distinct from all others. Holiness is the highest of God’s attributes. All other things from God flows from his moral perfection. He is pure and there is no darkness in him. (1John 1:5). After they had crossed the red sea and the Israelites had witnessed all of God’s power, Moses, together with the people broke forth in praise singing: “Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15:11 ).

Acknowledging God’s holiness puts our lives in proper perspective. He is holy and we are not. Albeit, we have been called upon as believers to partake in God’s holiness: “Be ye holy, for it is written, I am holy.” (1Pet 1:16). This command looks daunting because the standard for holiness is God’s standard. How then can we sinful humanity get to be holy as God? “No attribute of God is more dreadful to sinners than His holiness.” This dread showed in the Prophet’s Isaiah encounter of God’s holiness in a vision, he literally shuddered: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:5). For us who have come to saving faith, we are indeed sure of this one truth that God will work through us to attain the desired result–holiness (Phil. 1:13).

God’s Benefits

forget not all his benefits

What a loaded phrase. The Psalmist prompts himself not to forget all what God has done for him. Humans do forget but as believers we must not allow our hearts to fossilise in forgetfulness in our walk with God. Paul writing to the Philippians repeatedly prompted them to rejoice. And is quick to note that “To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.” (Phil. 3:1). You see, one of the ways by which we learn is repitition—constant reminders.

Martin Luther in his commentary on Galatians says this about gospel preaching: “Most necessary it is, therefore, that we should know this article well[the gospel], teach it unto others, and beat it into their heads continually.” That speaks about repitition—constant reminders about gospel truth so we don’t forget. Have you ever paused to ponder your life before God? As the hymn writer said: “Count your blessings, name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” Do you consider all what God has done in your life? Can you pay back? Then praise him.

God’s Salvation

Who forgives all your iniquity

Dear believer, “do you thank God for your salvation and that of other believers”? Perhaps many of us may thank God for numerous things in life but not our salvation. We may take it for granted that we are saved. If that is the case, you must repent because salvation came at a high cost—the cost of the life of Jesus Christ. See, he has redeemed our life from the pit—from desruction; from death, from eternal damnation. In our natural, unbelieving state as humans; God still saved us. That calls for praise. Praising God for our salvation appears to be the pattern of Scripture. David in this Psalm makes the work of God’s salvation the basis of his praise: “Bless [him] … who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.”

Apart from David, we see other biblical characters praising God about salvation. When Paul pondered the great work of salvation wrought by God the Father through Jesus Christ the Son and applied to our hearts through the Holy Spirit; he burst forth into doxology.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved (Eph. 1:3-6).

The Apostle Peter in like fashion as Paul, gave us words celebrating the great work of God’s salvation: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you (1 Pet. 1:3-4).

In salvation, God has extended his mercy to us who are unworthy. We who are undeserving of anything from God yet he has saved us: “who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.” We can only be grateful and live our lives for him. Amen.

Notes:
1 Matthew Henry, “Psalms 103”, https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/psalms/103.html, accessed 31st March, 2019

2. R.C. Sproul, The Reformation Study Bible (Orlando: Florida, The Reformation Trust, 2016) 1763

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The greatest promise of Christianity is not “come to Jesus and all your problems will go away.” Rather the greatest promise of Christianity is that God promises to be with his people regardless of the situation they find themselves in. It was this promise that caused the Apostle Paul to be content even when God did not heal him of his ailment, because God promised him something greater than physical healing, his grace (2 Cor. 12:7-9). It was this same promise that made Samuel Rutherford, the Scottish Pastor to write,

“It is better to be sick, providing Christ come to the bedside and draw by the curtains, and say, “Courage, I am Thy salvation,” than to enjoy health, being lusty and strong, and never to be visited of God.”

(Rutherford, 2005)

What causes a man not to fear evil even when he is going through the valley of the shadow of death? King David was a man who had his fair share of persecution and affliction. In Psalm 23, he summed up the believer’s greatest promise. In the darkest hours of his life, it was not his position, wealth or health that brought him the greatest comfort, rather it was the presence of God. Although many Christians point to Psalm 23 as promising wealth and abundance for the Christian, yet a closer look at the text shows that David was not talking about wealth and health. Throughout the chapter he was exulting in the presence of God and what that meant for him.

In verse 1, he writes, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” The emphasis here is on the Lord being his shepherd rather than he not wanting anything. We know this is true because throughout the Psalm he mentions different situations of life, and in each case his greatest comfort regardless of the situation was the presence of God. When he talked about his daily needs, he wrote, I don’t worry about it because the Lord is my shepherd, he will provide. In his adversity he writes, I fear no evil because the Lord is with me. When his enemies assailed him, he wasn’t worried because the Lord was there with him. And he summed up his ultimate desire in 6b, that “[he] shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

What is the greatest promise you hold on to as a Christian? Jesus once asked the people who were following him, “what are you seeking?” (John 1:35-38). We all go through different circumstances of life; affliction, persecution, sickness, betrayal, various kinds of needs and the list goes on, but in all these circumstances, the greatest comfort of the Christian is not so much the physical deliverance as the promise that God will be with us. This is what David meant when he wrote in Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…” The presence of God changes everything in the believer’s life. That is why the three Hebrew boys could walk around in fire, because the presence of God was with them (Dan. 3:8-30).

The presence of God should therefore become every Christian’s greatest pursuit, which leads also to the most important question, how do we find the presence of God? Is the presence of God only in heaven? Jesus said in John 14:23, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” We will not only know the presence of God when we die and get to heaven, right here on earth we can know the blessedness of God’s presence.  It was said of the Puritan Richard Sibbs by Izaac Walton that,

“Heaven was in him, before he was in heaven.”

(Beeke, 2007)

Jesus teaches us clearly that we find God’s presence in his word. As we study God’s word and meditate on it and pray and obey, we are transported through the eyes of faith by the power of the Holy Spirit into the very presence of the Most High, where the child of God finds true joy and pleasure forevermore. David tells us in Psalm 16:11b that in God’s “…presence there is fullness of joy; at [His] your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in, the presence of God is the Christian’s greatest comfort.

How are you doing in the holy disciplines of studying, meditating and praying the word of God? You want joy? Look no further. You want pleasure? Don’t look hard! They are as close to you as your Bible and the space around your bedside. Don’t short-change yourself my Christian friend. Don’t trade true joy and pleasure for crumbs being peddled around as blessings. Don’t exchange the presence of God for a promise of health and wealth in this present world, because this world and all that is it in is passing away. God has promised us something greater than earthly wealth and health, he has promised us himself!

 

Notes

Beeke, J. R. &. P. R. J., 2007. Meet the Puritans. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Reformation Heritage Books.

Rutherford, S., 2005. The Letters of Samuel Rutherford. Florida: Chapel Library.

 

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As a sequel, this is the third and final in a three part series; Psalm 25: Praying A Psalm. Previously, we looked at Prayer For Guidance  and Prayer For Protection. Today’s title is Prayer For Forgiveness of Sin.

Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD”(v.6) “For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great.” (v11). “Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.” (v18).

As you ponder over life, what do you consider your greatest need? If God did ask you to make one request, what would that be? According to the bible our greatest need is not food or clothes, neither is it shelter. Our greatest need is deliverance from our greatest predicament, which is the wrath of God. The bible tells us in Romans 3:23; “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God“. We have all rebelled against a holy God, we have each gone astray and told God to get out of our lives. We have lied, we have cheated, we have stolen, we have murdered with our hearts. We have committed adultery in our hearts, we have coveted our neighbour’s property. Every sin, you name it we have committed it. And you know what that means? The answer is found further on in the same book of Romans 6:23, reads “For the wages of sin is death….” David understood this well. He knew the predicament of every human soul. In Psalm 130:3, he writes; “If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?”

Our sin is so great that we need a great Saviour. No amount of good deeds can atone for our sins. Unless the LORD shows mercy we are lost and lost forever. Augustus Toplady captured this so well in the hymn, Rock of Ages, in the 2nd and 3rd stanzas he writes:

All the labours of my hands
Could not meet Thy law’s demands
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow
All for sin could not atone,
Thou must save, and Thou alone
Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling
Naked come to Thee for dress,
Helpless, look to Thee for grace
To Thy fountain, Lord I fly,
Wash me Saviour or I die.

Christ is the only perfect sacrifice for our sin. He left all His glories and splendour and came into our world to identify with us. He lived the perfect life that we could not live, and died the death we deserved. He was crucified on a heinous cross but on the third day he was raised from the dead, which was a seal of the Father’s approval. The verdict was that anyone who will repent from sin and put their faith in Christ, will be credited with the perfect life of Christ. “…the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God…” This is the only hope to find forgiveness with a holy God. We see across the entire bible that, our hope of forgiveness is not found in some good deed we have done. David understood this as he repeatedly appeals not to his own goodness or righteousness, but to the goodness and mercy of God.

This should be a great encouragement to all of us. God knows exactly where you are, right now at this moment, he sees all the dirt and mess you’re in right now. Today may be the day of your salvation, do not harden your heart because this offer is not open ended. In the book of Acts 17:31, Peter said “…he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

On that day it will be too late. On that day Jesus will not be a Saviour, he will be a judge. I plead with you not to wait till that day but turn from your sin today and trust in Jesus for the salvation of your soul.

Sin is destructive. It goes against everything God wanted for us, joy, peace, love and fellowship. So when we conceal it, it saps away our joy and peace. In verse 16-18, David recounts his afflictions and troubles and pleads for forgiveness. He prays “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.  The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.”  There is no joy in concealing  sin. We must be constantly confessing and forsaking our sins. When we harbor sin, our fellowship with God is broken and the joy of the Lord is taken away. (Psalm 32:3-4).

These are the three requests David makes of God. What weaves them together is the desperation expressed in all of them. In this Psalm we see a great God and a great sinner. Our need is so great that only a great God could meet it. Our enemies are many and relentless; our need for guidance is more acute than ever before in a world of competing voices and our need for forgiveness is so essential that without it we are doom to perish forever. As you examine your prayers over the last few months, what do they say about you? Do they reveal a person who is passionate about pleasing the Lord and advancing his Kingdom purposes or it just about you and your self-serving wants?

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There are many groupings and associations in the world today. These groups all have particular marks or characteristics that define them as distinct from others. It could be a country or a social club or even a religion. This equally is true for the Christian faith. When someone professes Christianity, how can we determine he or she is genuine? Or consider your own self; how do you know that your profession is genuine?

In Colossians 3:1-17 Paul provides us with about three marks of a Christian by which we may know if a person’s profession is genuine.

1. Heavenly Mindedness 
2. Fights Sin
3. The Peace of God

In today’s article, we will look at the first mark.

Heavenly Mindedness

A genuine believer is heavenly minded. Paul’s opening statement is a conditional argument, “if then you have been raised with Christ….” It is very important to notice the difference here. Paul is not saying that if you live like this then you will become a Christian. On the contrary, he is saying that it is because you say you are a Christian that I expect you to live this way. You don’t become a Christian by following a set of rules. Salvation is entirely a gift of God. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Eph. 2:8-9).

The verse 1 says, “since you have been raised with Christ”; the question to ask is, “what does it mean to be raised with Christ?” Christ was crucified for the sins of the world, was buried and on the third day, He rose from the dead having defeated Satan and death: “By canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (Co. 2:14-15). Anyone who has repented of their sin and put their trust in Christ in effect has gone through this experience with Christ symbolically (Rom. 6:4). A Christian is therefore the person who has been raised with Christ. His old nature is dead and the New man has been ushered in. It is this new person that Paul is writing to.

Have you been raised with Christ?

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth(vv.1-2).

What Are Your Pursuits?

“Seek the things that are above“… This reflects pursuit. We are all treasure seekers, we are always looking for something. Some seek money, others for success and others for a good reputation, achievements, happiness etc.

According to Paul, the Christian is seeking for treasures in heaven. What we set our minds on reveals a lot about what is in our hearts. Our pursuit is a window to our hearts. I may say that I am a Christian, how do you know my belief is genuine or not? Paul says here that one of the ways to know is to look at what I constantly set my mind and my pursuits in life on.  Are you heavenly minded? When we look at your ‘to do list’ will we see a person who prioritizes things that are eternal? Does your spending reflect the life of someone who believes that this world is not their home and that they are only stewards of these gifts?

What Occupies Your Thoughts?

“Set your minds on things that are above“… This refers to what we constantly think about. In effect, it is the default mode of our minds. Where does your mind naturally drifts to? When you buy any electronic gadgets, there is an option under settings which says “reset to factory settings”. When you select this option, it returns all aspects of your gadgets to its original factory settings.

In the same way, the default setting of the Christian’s mind should be on things that are above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. When you wake up in the morning, when you are in the traffic jam, when your day is done and reclining to bed. What is it that engages your mind?

So What Are The Things To Set Our Mind On?

Romans 14:17 gives us a glimpse into what Paul probably meant in Colossians 3:1. He mentions three things:”…righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” We can safely conclude that when Paul tells us to set our minds and our hearts on things that are above, these are some of the things he is talking about. Is your life centered on righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit? Are you seeking to live a life that is marked by righteousness and holiness?

Why We Must Be Heavenly Minded

Paul tells the believers the reason why he expects them to live this way. “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God”(v.3). The Christian is dead to this world, and if that is the case we cannot live according to its standards any longer.  “When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory”(v.4). It is this hope of glory that makes the genuine Christian so fixated on Christ and his kingdom.

When we fully grasp what God has promised in Christ in the next world, nothing in this world will appeal to us. Jesus said in Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Our treasure is in heaven, and that is why we must not be lured by the deceitfulness of sin. When Paul came to the full understanding of this, he said ‘…I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord”. He also said, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”.

What about you Christian? Is it possible that you are not heavenly minded because you don’t have any treasure in heaven? As Jesus said, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The second mark, “They Fight Sin” will be treated in the next post.

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Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you (Philippians 3:1).

Philippians is one of four letters written by Paul while in Prison (Philippians 1:13).  The other three are Ephesians,  Philemon and Colossians. These four are therefore termed Prison epistles because they were written in prison. The prison epistles contain some of the most  profound doctrines taught by Paul in Scripture.

Surprisingly, though written in Prision, the book of Philippians contains exhortations for joy, unity and encouragement to pursue Christlikeness. This is very instructive for us in that, whatever condition we find ourselves in as believers, we still have reasons to be thankful and joyful. Paul I believe offers here the antidote in dealing with life’s challenges.

1: Rejoice in the Lord

“…rejoice in the Lord”(v1a).

We must come to terms with the truth that the Christian faith is not an immunisation from the troubles of this world. In fact, being a Christian rather opens us up to the many challenges this world posses. That said, where does a believer derive hope and joy from in the face of adversity? The answer is, “in Christ”. Ours is not sheer optimism. It is faith in One who holds our future and knows beforehand all that happens to us.

The Christian has not been promised an easy life as stated earlier. In fact, Jesus explicitly taught of the adversity that lies ahead for a believer. “In the world you will have tribulation”(John 16:33a). However, Jesus didn’t end there. He continued “But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (v33b). Here is the reason we can have joy even in affliction: Christ has overcome the world. He is Lord over everything that threatens our peace and joy.

Paul is in prison yet he writes such comforting words: “rejoice in the Lord”. The believer’s joy is unassailable. It is not external, it is not circumstantial. It is not based on his or her social standing or material prosperity. One of the many phrases in the Bible  I have come to love is the phrase “in Him”(Acts 17:28, Colossians 2:2-15). The believer’s joy is in a person; Christ Jesus! Christ must the source of our joy. He must be the only one we derive our joy from. Peter will ask in John 6:68, “to whom shall we go?” Sadly, many believers derive their joy (which is no joy at all) from many places apart from Christ.

Paul here reminds the Philippians where to derive their joy: “in the Lord”. And it is appropriate you and I heed to the same charge: “rejoice in the Lord”.

2: Constant Reminder Of Gospel Truth

“To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you”(1b).

It seems placing emphasis on the same truth is in view here. Paul probably might have thought the recipients  of this letter might be wondering why he is repeating himself on the same subject of rejoicing. In the previous chapter, he had already written about joy: “Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me” (Philippians 2:18). Paul will pick up the same theme in Philippians 4:4 where he says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice”.

It is  crucial to note we are humans and the tendency to forget is a trait we all struggle with. So to Paul, constant reminder of the same truth is not out of place. You and I need to be constantly reminded of gospel truth. We need to be constantly reminded of our source of life. We need to be constantly reminded of what is required of us as believers. Paul says, it “is safe for you”.

True joy begins with an acknowledgment of the true source of life, joy and strength. Joy indeed is one of the characteristics of a life that has Jesus Christ as its source. “The joy of the Lord is our strength.”(Nehemiah 8:10). Joy is a fruit of The Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

Do you seek joy? True joy? Seek it in the Lord: “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord…”(Philippians 3:1).

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