The Grace of God Magnified

I was reading through John 1 last night before going to bed and it was such an encouragement to me. It's not always like this, but there are times when reading from the Word is like having a tall, cold glass of ice water on a hot summer day. The refreshment from reading the Bible last night was like that. The verse that arrested me was John 1:16, "For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace." The fullness is probably referring back to vs. 14, "...and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." As Christ is full of grace and truth, we reap the full benefit of it -- kai charin anti charitos, "and grace upon grace." The anti, preposition was used in that day to describe exchanges made in sale purchases. The thought is that in exchange for grace we receive more grace! What an amazing statement of the abundant grace of God! This is particularly amazing in consideration of my own sinfulness. I don't give God a reason to shower grace on me. It is completely in spite of my failures that He is gracious! Even as an unbeliever, He showed me the common grace that He gives to all men (e.g. good health, education, family, friends, food, etc.). But now as a believer, I have exchanged that common grace for even greater grace in Jesus Christ. There is unending blessing in living for the Lord. Truly as the psalmist writes, with the Lord as my shepherd "my cup overflows" (Ps. 23:5).

Rejoicing and Weeping

As we discussed Romans 12:15 this past Sunday, one thing that came to mind is that if a church really does practice this principle of rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep, it would really be an indication of a true family like relationship in that when you have a close-knit family, you really do see this happen.

When my wife Angela succeeds at something or accomplishes something significant, I really am truly happy for her and with her. I remember when she was pregnant with Jenna and just about finished with her Master's thesis that she gave birth and so she had to delay the conclusion a bit. When she did, I was just amazed at how she was able to do that with having a baby at the same time. I remember when Jenna started taking her first steps and saying her first words - those were just incredible days being able to share in the thrill of her joy. I remember when Kara scored her first goal in soccer - I was so proud of her, especially after the fact that when she had first started she would barely move. I remember when Alyssa did her first ballet performance in the Nutcracker - she was so excited and while admittedly I am not a big ballet fan, I am a big fan of Alyssa and was excited with her. Even with Olivia, when she gets excited about something, she gets even more excited when I get excited with her. Just playing with her is that way.

I also remember when Angela's dad passed away recently - it hurt to see Angela cry and there wasn't much else I could do than to cry with her. I remember seeing my girls cry at the funeral - it was their first significant loss that they had experienced and all I could do was hold them. I remember when my brother-in-law Peter was going in for surgery for the tumor in his lower back and seeing Jinny cry and I couldn't help but cry as well.

I have also been reminded of many who have rejoiced with me in times of blessing. It is actually quite amazing to think that there are people who would take the time to celebrate things in my life when I really don't consider my life so significant. But people have been incredibly generous and overwhelming in their love and care that I can only see the grace of God being what lies behind their actions.

As I shared this past Sunday, it many ways it is very difficult and challenging to rejoice with others because it often causes us to be tempted with envy and jealousy. It is difficult not only to watch people get engaged, get married, have children, purchase a new car, move into a new home, or have the latest and most up to date laptop or mobile phone, but to be content with what we do have and just be happy for people.

I would encourage you to really consider the application that was given on Sunday. Prepare to celebrate with someone - there are graduations coming up, birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions that come up in people's lives that you can use as an opportunity to rejoice with them. If you already know of some special occasions coming up, plan for it now. We often get tired of going to graduations or weddings or bridal showers or baby showers because we've been to so many and they don't seem special any more. But we have to remember that it is special for THAT individual and it would be selfish of me to simply think that "I'm tired of these things" when in fact it's not for your sake but for that individual's joy. Sure, it might be hard to be fully excited for someone else but then again it is a choice - you can and should consider how you might rejoice with others.

Also be prepared to weep with someone. When someone is going through a hard time and they have been hurt, be prepared just to listen, to give a shoulder to cry on, to have a heart instead of just trying to fix their problems. Sometimes the most significant thing you can do is just come alongside and really try to empathize with someone. You might not necessarily have to cry real tears but do you seek to even try to understand a little bit of the pain that someone is going through? It can really make a difference. It has for me. Just having my wife listen to me let out my pain and instead of an immediate rebuke or cold statement of fact, just holding me and letting me cry is probably the most loving thing she has done.

Let's really grow as a family and rejoice and weep with each other.

The Crystal Clear Truth About Marriage

This past Saturday we had Chris and Nelly's wedding at the Crystal Cathedral, home of the self-esteem "gospel" and the "Hour of Power" sermons that have been on TV for as long as I can remember (though I don't have any TV connection now so I might be outdated). The people there were very nice, in fact, were very helpful and even funny. The church was not as big as I thought it would be but the inside had an impressive Sony jumbotron and it really was a big glass castle like I thought it would be. The men's restroom was equally impressive, especially now after looking at blueprints for restrooms in consideration of our new facilities. I would have to say it was easily the most impressive wedding site I've presided over, with the dramatic rising of the sidewalls (though I didn't see it) and the fountain shooting high at the entry of the bride.

I was a little nervous as I anticipated the handoff from Pastor Bob as he was doing the introduction. I had written my notes word-for-word (if you didn't notice) because I often get nervous at weddings and don't want to just ramble. I also was told that we had to get everything done in 30 minutes, so there was a real time constraint that put a considerable amount of pressure. There is always one thing that I do try these days at weddings and that is to make sure that the gospel message is somehow integrated. With the passage from Ephesians 5:22-33, it was an easy transition to make since being married is all about glorifying Jesus Christ and to point people to the Savior at a wedding only makes sense since a Christian wedding is exactly about making Christ the focal point.

But it's one thing to think about how those who are of a different theological persuasion might think. In studying 1 John, the one thing that has been sticking out to me is how important it is to be discerning for the purpose of honoring Jesus, not just to win a debate. It's even more than being able to point out false teaching - it's about pointing to the One who is the authoritative teacher of truth as He is the Truth.

Getting married is more than just about a man and a woman getting together. It is about a man and a woman getting together so that Jesus Christ would be magnified in their lives being together as a reflection of the relationship between Christ and His bride, the church. This really changes everything. It should remind the man that he is to love his wife like Christ loves the church. This is not just some cheap sappy love leeched off of movie scenes. This is about true, sacrificial love that seeks to sanctify and nurture and cherish someone day in and day out, regardless of the circumstances that might come. It is to look at Christ and in Him see the ultimate model of true love (not Princess Bride). For the woman it is to submit to her husband in a loving and respectful way that the church is to do before Christ. Admittedly this is not anywhere near what the world would see as desirable but because of Christ, it is not only the most profitable, it is the most glorifying to Christ. It is here that we must really ask ourselves if we really believe this to be true. Do we really value Christ so much that all things are done in reference to Him? Or do we still look, however subtly, for some kind of self-gratification at the expense of Christ receiving the firstfruits of our heart?

In anticipation of our DTR2 series which should come this fall, I want to remind those of you who read this (all 5 of you) to really think carefully about how you view marriage. I believe that there are too many people who still have worldly worldview when it comes to marriage and even though you might acknowledge what the Bible has to say, when it comes to the actual planning of a wedding and the preparation for a life time, there are sadly many who are still so very far away from having Jesus be Lord over their life in the practical things of life. While we might say that we adhere to true Biblical teaching, many people's lives would contradict that if examined carefully.

It is definitely one thing to combat false teaching with the truth of God's Word. It is another thing to confirm the preciousness of God's truth by abiding in it. Whether in marriage, whether in the work place, whether in friendships, whether in the local church, as believers we are called to make Christ the crown jewel which shines brightly for all the world to see.

This is the crystal clear truth. Don't look to a crystal buildling. Look to the precious treasure of Jesus Christ.

Mother's Day

The role of a mother is easily appreciated on one hand but not considered to be so significant on the other. How does this kind of contradicting treatment come about? It reveals how conflicted we are as a society. When it comes to emotional support, everyone (well almost everyone) instinctively turns to their mothers. From the little child to the NFL linebacker on television, "Mom" is easily the number one choice. But when it comes to understanding the significance of motherhood, society is quick to take away with one hand what it gave with the other. Motherhood is disparaged to be a role that is altogether useless when it comes to self-fulfillment. There are no promotions in motherhood (other than adding another kid?). There are no raises. The macaroni pencil cups and crayon colored cards on Mother's Day are poor substitutes for plaques and corporate recognition. Who wants to stay stuck at home with a crying baby who throws up and makes a mess of the place when you could have your own corner office and accolades of your peers ringing in your ears instead of the baby monitor? But after the workday is over, when Friday comes, what seems lasting in life? As the years go by, the investment of time and energy going into all kinds of pursuits, how does it add up? As Solomon the Wise said so long ago, "Vanity of vanities!" It's so easy to think you are doing something "significant" with your life but in the end, you could have wasted your life chasing the wind.

I think motherhood can be appreciated in several ways.

1) Appreciate your own mother. While they might not have been perfect and some might have outright failed their children, God gave you your mother to honor and appreciate. Show the love of Christ to your mother this Mother's Day.

2) For ladies who are mothers, thank God that He gifted you with motherhood. Don't take for granted that you were blessed with children. There are many who wish they could be mothers but for one reason or another, God has chosen not to grant children to them. It is not something you can treat lightly. Children are indeed a blessing from the Lord and should be treated as such. While Mother's Day might seem to be a day where mothers expect to be treated well, use Mother's Day as an opportunity to thank God that you were given such a stewardship. This stewardship was not meant for you to build trophies for yourself but to invest the love and truth of God into your children so that they might be offered to God. While only God can provide salvation, parents, and mothers in particular play a vital role in planting the seeds and in modeling the character of Christ (i.e. consider the example of Timothy and the investment by his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois).

3. For ladies who are not biological mothers, remember that God is always faithful and while you might not have your own biological children, you still have the opportunity to share the love of Christ in the way of a "mother" for many who don't have a "mother" to care for them. This could start even at the church, as there are many who do not have very close relationships with their own mothers, or possibly have unbelieving mothers who were not able to invest in them spiritually. Prayerfully consider how you might invest your life and give of yourself. You could go as far as even considering adopting a child, whether locally or internationally. But just because you are not a biological mother doesn't mean that you can't provide a mothering relationship to others.

4. For the men, never disparage the role of motherhood. We live in a day where the roles of men and women are turned upside down and unfortunately there are those who have denigrated the role of women in both the home and the church and it doesn't help the ladies when the men don't do their part to support the ladies in their roles. So please affirm the ladies as they would prayerfully move forward in their lives. Never joke around about "wearing slippers and a bathrobe all day" and that their job is just to have babies. That would be insulting both to them and to God, who is the one who designed women to do what is so special and unique in contributing to society.

5. For the church, let us not just celebrate another Hallmark occasion with a token day given to mothers but let's appreciate the mothers in our midst and see the hard work and toil that they give as their spiritual service of worship (Romans 12:1). Let's come alongside them and encourage them through our ministries at the church and give them assistance by teaching their children the truth of God and in affirming the things that truly matter in life.

As this coming Sunday is Mother's Day, let's make the most of it to glorify God.

Do You Love Being A Member at LBC?

After our meeting last night for the members of Lighthouse, I had a chance to read over the self-evaluations that I had asked everyone to fill out and it was both encouraging as well as a bit sad in seeing how many shared about where they stood in relation to their membership at LBC. It was tremendously encouraging to see that there are many who are growing and striving to seek after Christ, in being faithful in their spiritual disciplines and prayer life, and continually moving upward in their commitment to serve at Lighthouse. There are those who just wrote simply, "I love Lighthouse!" and in reflecting on their participation and attitude, I could heartily affirm that there are many who do indeed love Lighthouse and show it through their passion and excitement.

There were those who shared that they were challenged to really step up their participation, whether it was through prayer, giving, or serving. I know that I gave some pretty strong challenges at the meeting, as did elder Mike Chon. I know that it's not always easy hearing words of exhortation or admonishment, but the one thing that I am really thankful for is that many of you take it to heart and know that it's not simply to make you feel guilty or bad, but to earnestly challenge you to excel still more for the sake of Christ and His church.

So my prayer is that you would really just love Christ all the more, and out of that love strive to just love being His bride, the church. Submission to Him would be more of a joy if it was out of love than duty and I hope that your service to the Head of the church is not just something you feel obligated to do. Being the bride really is to rejoice in our high calling - can you believe that we belong to Christ? Can you believe that we have been called to be the object of His grace and love? We are so undeserving! We, in our sinfulness, have absolutely nothing to offer and yet He takes the tattered, dirty, sin-stricken souls and pulls us out of the miry clay to give us a new song that we might sing boldly to a dark world that needs to hear the light of the gospel of Christ.

So let's relish being His bride. Let Lighthouse, through our collective membership, really shine bright and bring much glory and honor to our Savior!