Archive for September, 2010

14:10 Heart Secrets

Sunday, September 26th, 2010

Andrew Murray

Andrew Murray

The heart knows its own bitterness, and a stranger does not share its joy. Proverbs 14:10.

In one of his sermons, Keith Daniel tells how the godly Andrew Murray in his old age fell flat in the street.

So greatly did South Africans respect this holy man, that a silence fell upon all who saw what happened. Was he having a heart attack? A stroke? Under pressure from a policeman, Murray hesitantly explained that his collapse had been because for the first time in many years he had lost his sense of the presence of God.

Who, standing by, would have guessed that?

This led me to a meditation. What is the most significant day in all eternity?

Not the day of creation.

Not the day the universe dissolves.

Not judgment day.

It was the day God in effect tore himself in two when he broke communion with himself because of our sin, and Jesus cried, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This was the most profound day in heaven or on earth. We may never be able to fully understand the agony of that moment, nor the joy that followed Christ’s restoration.

Oh God, although unable to penetrate your heart fully, may we comprehend something of this and never take Good Friday or communion lightly again.

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3:1-2 Long Life

Sunday, September 19th, 2010

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Proverbs 3:1,2.

Science confirms this proverb. A careful study made in 1999 by Robert A. Hummer et al showed that people who attend church or synagogue regularly more than once a week live longer—on average 7.5 years longer.

Part of this may be due to the fact that belief changes conduct. Changed conduct often leads to greater peace, financial prosperity, and self-control. John Wesley is said to have mourned over his new converts, lamenting that they would now prosper, giving up wicked and costly habits, and prosperity would make them grow cold toward God.

Life on earth may be lengthened by faith practices. Faith in Christ leads to far more than a few years longer on earth, however. It leads to eternal life. “Truly, truly, I say to you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death to life.”

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19:29 Beatings for Fools

Sunday, September 12th, 2010

The Flagellation of our Lord Jesus by William-Adophe Bouguereau (1880).

Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools. —Proverbs 19:29

Caning is a punishment seldom used in America these days although common to Western countries up to a century ago. In other parts of the world it is still used. Singapore, for example, employs caning—a fact brought to the attention of Americans in 1994 with the punishment of an American teenager accused of vandalism and theft.

That corporal punishment, properly applied, can restrain lawless and foolish behavior was generally conceded until the last century. I know that the fear of a spanking kept me from much wrong-doing as a child, although it did nothing to eradicate my sin desires.

God has penalties for those who mock and rebel against him. The more light we have, the greater our penalties. As Jesus told his listeners “And that servant, who knew his master’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes” (Luke 12:47).

In his compassion for us, God does not make his true children bear the penalty of their sin. Christ took that penalty for us. As we are told in a Messianic prophecy: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was on him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

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19:11 Patient Lalla

Sunday, September 5th, 2010

The Lost Prince

The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger and his glory is to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11

One of the most beautiful incidents I have seen in any movie involves the behavior of Lalla, who is rearing John, the epileptic son of George V and Mary in The Lost Prince.

Frustrated at the restrictions and training forced upon him, John’s brother George lashes out against Lalla with cruel words, the gist of which is that all her efforts are futile. Instead of reacting sharply, Lalla pulls the boy to her and kisses the top of his head soothingly. In that gesture was something of the spirit of Christ who from the cross begged forgiveness for those who had nailed him there.

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