February 02, 2022

February 2, 2022 -- Psalm 73:1-3 -- What is capturing your thoughts?

February 02, 2022/ Richard T. Vander Vaart

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Truly God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
my steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psalm 73:1-3 ESV

Well, this is pretty accurate. Even though tis was written more than two thousand years ago, it remains incredibly relevant. It captures the real fluctuations of the heart. It begins with the assertion that God is good to His people and specifically to those who are pure in heart. Without even a pause for breath psalmist turns his attention to others, what they have and what he perceives is lacking in his own life. This is coveting what others have. This is idolatry, setting up a standard or an ideal and moving towards that, instead of delighting in the Goodness of God.

Thankfully the Psalm writer turns His attention back to the Living God—finding in Him wise counsel, strength and his life’s portion. Whatever it is the LORD gives to His people, it is right and good and will result in His people turning towards Him in confidence and trust. Or, as the psalmist sees while in the sanctuary, those who turn away from the LORD of Glory will in fact receive the punishment which their wickedness deserves. The fear of the LORD is the holy awareness that a man cannot trifle with God and His goodness.

Where is your heart at today? Are you thinking about the successes of others, what they have and noticing what you don’t have? Are you becoming discontent with your lot because others seem, effortlessly, to be doing so much better than you are? The more you look at the spoils the wickedness, the more your heart will be spinning with anguish.

Life finds its meaning in knowing God, the Father. Those who are aware of the endless, pitiless cycles of sin and the exhausting bottomlessness of chasing wrong are invited to turn to Jesus. Confession is the way to set down the burdens of sin. Admitting one’s failures and wrongs and hopelessness is the way to truest freedom in Jesus Christ. The Spirit will give pure thoughts and the words of life those who fully turn their eyes on Jesus.

Mighty God, Whom have I in heaven but You and there is nothing on earth that I desire beside You. As I echo the words of the psalmist, written so long ago, may my sins be thrown down. More than this, let hope which is anchored in Jesus Christ keep me close to You. Amen.

https://youtu.be/W5EUvOnQr4Y

February 01, 2022

February 1, 2022 -- Romans 1:28-32 -- Answering the Atheist's Objection

February 01, 2022/ Richard T. Vander Vaart

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Acts 1:28-32 ESV

Will a good person, who doesn’t know God, go to heaven? It is a test question. Many Christians have had it posed to them. Often the one asking it already knows the answer, he is merely seeking to be justified in his own eyes. To put it bluntly, there are no completely innocent people, no good people. In fact, the world portrays this truth of this over and over again. Think about the last time you watched a murder mystery. Consider how often the murderer, when finally caught, was the least likely person. Someone who from the viewer’s perspective was unexpected. It is what makes the genre so mesmerizing.

It turns out the murder is the kind, grandmother figure who is hiding a horrid past. Perhaps the chain of evidence leads the police officer to an upstanding member of society, who has long hidden this murder under layers of guilty-conscience-driven acts of good deeds performed as penance for a long-hidden crime which seared the conscience but remained unconfessed. Even the detective relentlessly pursuing the murderer is proved to be compromised, cutting corners, plunging deeply into grey areas of what might be considered dishonorable practices in order to uncover the culprit. Odd, isn’t it, murder mysteries are fascinating exactly because there are many viable suspects. Every person presented in each episode has some sort of secret which shows the evidences of evil which resides in the heart.

In presenting this list to the Romans, which includes everything from disobedience to parents, a debased mind, to murder and being heartless, Paul is diagnosing the condition of the human heart. There is no good person. It is a fact established long ago in Scripture: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). This is exactly why the goodness of our God and Father is so great—while we were yet sinners, deceitful, rebellious, hating Him—He provided the way of salvation. Jesus punished in the place of wicked, ruined sinners. The Spirit given so that wicked people receive a heart transplant—completely new life, new thoughts, an alien goodness which is from God given to the believer.

The believer knows his guilty past. The Christian knows the full-on wickedness of former days and she praises God because what she was she no longer is. In Christ, one is a new creation. The old is dead, the new life has come. Even then, it is not the Christian who is good, it is Christ Who is for the Christian every boast, every evidence of goodness. It is the Spirit Who leads the believer to kneel before the God of Glory and confess—”this heart, once beyond human cure, has been transplanted from above, so that it is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me!”

Contemplating Your Greatness, Father in heaven, leads the believer to borrow the words of the hymn writer who declared: ^"Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven! To His feet your tribute bring, ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, evermore His praises sing!" King of Wondrous Blessedness, Source of Every Good, by the presence of Your Spirit help me to walk in the way of Christ, the Redeemer-Savior. Let my life and actions, words and deeds be a bold boast of Christ and Him alone because it is in Him I have this heart transplant and everlasting life which are for the honour and praise and glory of the Generous Father. Amen.

^Henry F. Lyte, who based his hymn on Psalm 103

https://youtu.be/rDeiy9-t2GE

January 31, 2022

January 31, 2022 -- Acts 28:28-31 -- Witness with boldness and without hindrance

January 31, 2022/ Richard T. Vander Vaart

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”
He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
Acts 28:28-31 ESV

Paul had been on trial. He’d been accused by the Jews, falsely accused, of bringing Gentiles (non-Jewish people) into the inner court of the Temple, where no foreigner was allowed to enter. If this were true, the Jewish people could demand the death penalty. It was not true. It was not even being vigorously prosecuted. He’d spent two years in limbo while the governor Felix waited for Paul to bribe him and release him (Acts 24:22). When two years passed a new governor took power. This new governor, Festus, wanted to favour the Jews and he left Paul in prison. Finally Paul appealed to Caesar and was sent to Rome.

This background is helpful as you look at this verse today. Paul was unjustly imprisoned, however, because of his imprisonment, he was able to preach Good News to the leaders of Rome and to Gentiles. Many believed. Paul was unjustly imprisoned, but along the way, various people dealt kindly with him. Paul was unjustly imprisoned, yet he did not complain to His Father about his bad treatment. Paul was unjustly imprisoned and had to pay his own expenses for this and the Lord provided for his needs. Paul knew these circumstances were all being used so that the glory of God would be revealed.

The passage before you today is Paul’s summary statement against the Jews in Rome. Julius, Paul’s centurion guard, allowed Paul to have guests over to the home (where he was under house arrest). So Paul could freely preach to his own people. Many of the Jewish people he was preaching to rejected his teaching. However, this meant Paul was able to preach to the Gentiles. He freely took the opportunity to preach Good News wherever he could.

Lessons for you today. Trust that whatever your circumstances are, God has placed people in your path who need to know about Jesus Christ. Strike up conversations and tell others the Good News. Expect many people will mock you or reject you. Keep praying and trusting that the Living God is accomplishing His purposes through you. Keep studying the Word. When you are posed questions that are hard to answer, read and study the Word so that you can give a defense of all you believe. Know that Your Faithful Father will provide for you--it is why Jesus taught His people to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread". Now, go light your world with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Father in heaven, You have blessed Your people with the riches of knowing Jesus Christ, with the honour of being called Your sons and daughters in Jesus, and with the treasure of the Spirit's presence to guard this wealth within them so that the work of salvation which You initiated in Your people will be completed. Thank You for Your goodness! Thank You for Your love! Forgive Your people for the times of hoarding the Gospel and refusing to witness to others. Let this day be a fresh start and by Your Spirit's work may the glory of Jesus and His saving work be proclaimed with boldness and without hindrance. Amen.

https://youtu.be/FcD9uhRC3Ew

January 29, 2022

January 29, 2022 -- Psalm 66:1-4 -- Praise! Worship! Adore! Honour and Bless!

January 29, 2022/ Richard T. Vander Vaart

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
2 sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise!
3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
4 All the earth worships you
and sings praises to you;
they sing praises to your name.” Selah
Psalm 66:1-4 ESV

What a glorious summons to praise! Yesterday I was listening to a sermon given by Alistair Begg, who noted something to the effect that praise dispels gloom. Praise takes the believer from self-centredness. Singing out to God and worshiping Him requires one to put down his selfie-stick and behold Him Who is Wondrous. Begg's reference to the selfie-stick got his audience laughing...but Begg was serious. The world is so self-focused.

As one who struggles against depression, some days the dark cloud seems to cover everything, I do know the power of praise. Years ago one of my doctors suggested that I recite reasons for thankfulness, because thanksgiving and depression can’t co-exist. What a beautiful truth this has proved to be in my own life.

No doubt a hundred excuses can flood your mind; lame and oft-repeated ones like: I don’t feel like praising. I don’t feel like giving thanks. I laughed at what a friend posted this morning, it was a meme: Every morning 2-year Jenny cries “Help! I’m awake!”. I am smiling to myself even as I type this. Isn’t that so like us as adults—our inner child is shrieking against the morning especially as we think of all the things we need to do. I don’t want to walk to work in the cold. I don’t want to be nice to that family member. Interestingly enough, we do the things we protest against because: we are adults, we know these are important things for us to carry out, and once we start a project, the momentum of beginning gets us through.

God is worthy of praise. He is glorious beyond description. I am speaking to you, adults, you who are wrapped up in countless unacknowledged blessings, urging you to push through the inertia! In spite of yourself begin to praise Him. You’ll find the Spirit will lift you up so that what began as forced effort soon becomes easy, delighted, soul-refreshing songs which pour out of your heart.

Complaints make the problems seem bigger. Murmuring focuses on what is wrong. Banish complaining and mutterings. Instead, name the attributes of God the Triune. Naming the attributes of God, like love, justice, faithfulness, and the fact He is all-powerful—just to barely scratch the surface of His immense awesomeness—puts your problems into their proper perspective. The LORD of All the Earth is bigger than all your problems. The One Who Keeps Your Soul among the Living is forever blessed and honoured and the highest desire of the heart. Praising the LORD of the Cosmos reminds you life here on earth is so short, and it is to be lived in view of the grand purpose of our existence which is to know Him and glorify Him. Such praises and singing out in glorifying Him you are being prepared for the adventures and blessings and never-ending joy of eternity. No wonder the psalm-writer proclaimed:
Shout for joy to God, all the earth:
sing the glory of His Name;
to to Him glorious praise! Psalm 66:1-2

The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble!
He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
The LORD is great in Zion;
He is exalted over all the peoples.
Let them praise Your great and awesome Name!
Holy is He!
The King in His might loves justice.
You have executed equity;
You have executed justice
and righteousness in Jacob.
Exalt the LORD our God;
worship at His footstool!
Holy is He!
Psalm 99:1-5

https://youtu.be/ZMwGTbnknCM

January 28, 2022

January 28, 2022 -- I Corinthians 13:4-5 -- Erasing the record of wrongs

January 28, 2022/ Richard T. Vander Vaart

People loved by the Father, the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful…
I Corinthians 13:4-5 ESV

The word resentful in the New International Version is translated as the phrase ‘keeps no record of wrongs’. What a good description. A few days ago the name of someone, who I had not thought about for a long time, suddenly popped up in conversation. Prior to this conversation, if you’d asked me “are you resentful?” better yet, if you’d asked me “are you keeping a record of the wrongs someone has done against you?” I’d have honestly answered with a simple no. What changed?

Part of my work with Redemption Prison Ministry is helping men who are in drug and alcohol recovery. On Tuesday and Thursday mornings, 9 to 10 AM, I lead Bible Study classes. As part of their recovery the men are encouraged to examine their lives each day against 24 character traits. This is a self-examination which prompts them each one to privately ask himself: am I living in the way in which God requires the righteous to walk, or am I chaffing and rebelling? This January, as part of my New Year’s resolutions, I decided to complete a daily character inspection, using the same chart as the men do.

How helpful it is to see, for example, if I am being honest or deceitful, temperate or gluttonous, forgiving or resentful. The fact that these character inspections take place every day means that I am open to examining my life against the Word of God. The twenty four areas of inspection help me to think about areas of my life that might not, otherwise, be inspected. With the Spirit’s help, I determine as truthfully as I can, whether I am truly lining up my life and my actions in accordance with the will of my Father. It is because of this daily inspection I was made aware of my long dormant resentment.

Isn’t it beautiful that our Father in heaven keeps count of all the tears we have cried (Psalm 56:8)? Isn’t it amazing, that our Father in heaven, Who has perfect memory “keeps no record of our wrongs” (Psalm 130:3)? How is this true? It is the glorious fact that sins confessed, are sins that have been cleansed, washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ. Knowing this means there are a few things believers must recognize.

Forgiveness is costly. Sins have been punished. No one ‘got away’ with the sins they committed against you, against God, against creation, against others. Anyone who rejects God or refuses His mercy, will be punished in hell. It is a terrible and frightening thought! The believer recognizes this profound truth: sin has been fully punished. My sins, and the sins of all who are in Christ, these were put on the Person of Jesus Christ and at the cross He took up our punishment. When I think about the Father in heaven, Who in amazing love, gives to sinners like me forgiveness in Jesus Christ, I am humbled. It is the only way in which resentments can be released, because I know their wrong has been fully, and finally punished...or the wrong-doer's sins will be punished...in which case knowing from the Word how terrible hell is, I am driven to my knees praying for the one who formerly was my enemy.

Forgive me, Father in heaven for the times I have been able to name all the wrongs things someone committed against me, and yet at that same moment held up my hands to You and expected You to forgive me! What a contradiction asking for glorious forgiveness while I was myself wallowed in the wickedness of an unforgiving heart. Thank You that in view of the great love of Jesus Christ, forgiveness full and free can flow from Your throne of grace to believers and then such forgiveness, without any loss of efficacy or strength, can flow and overflow among believers so that the world can witness the truth of the Gospel when they exclaim: “see how those Christians love God and love one another”! Spirit of God, direct us deeper into the love of Jesus Christ so that our lives will declare the Greatness of God the Father, now and forevermore! Amen.

https://youtu.be/Jbe7OruLk8I

January 27, 2022

January 27, 2022 -- Psalm 72:1-4 -- Grappling with justice and righteousness

January 27, 2022/ Richard T. Vander Vaart

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to the royal son!
2 May he judge your people with righteousness,
and your poor with justice!
3 Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,
and the hills, in righteousness!
4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the children of the needy,
and crush the oppressor!
Psalm 72:1-4 ESV

There is a beautiful interplay between the words justice and righteousness. Both of these are covenant words. Both of these are important terms for the Christian, however, justice seems for many to be the default word and priority. David Griffin, in his reflection on justice and righteousness, gives a number of reasons why so many in the church opt for justice, rather than righteousness.

1: It gets the church a seat at the table of public engagement. Bishops can argue for justice for the poor with governments, but not for greater righteousness.

2: It functions as a ‘natural law’ equivalent: that is, it functions as a universal form of moral language that enables all religious and secular people to talk meaningfully to each other.

3: It is popular amongst educated millennials in their fight against exploitation and oppression of people in the two-thirds world. It has a ‘cool factor’.

4: There is disenchantment with excessive inward piety or personal righteousness.

5: It has no ‘wowser’ factor like the word ‘righteousness’. [Note: Wowser is an acronym for We Only Want Social Evils Removed. Perhaps if we put ‘injustice’ instead of ‘evils’, getting Wowsir, we might be onto something? No?]
Justice and righteousness - Ethos

Notice in Psalm 72 how justice and righteousness are intertwined. They belong together. There can be no true justice without reference to the righteousness which the LORD of Heaven and Earth requires of His people. The Father in heaven has declared that the believer who is in Christ, is no longer guilty. His justice has been satisfied. That is where many people would like to stop. However, how then should the believer live? In true righteousness—setting aside sin and choosing the path to God. Righteousness is a joy for the one who is in Christ—just as a man deeply in love his wife will set aside all temptations and lusts which do not honour his bride, so a Christian will joyfully set aside all temptations and lusts to sin which do not honour Jesus, the Bridegroom and Captain of Salvation.

Fellow Christian, give thanks to God for His great justice and righteousness, and live out loud in this world as those carrying forward justice and righteousness.

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
Who alone does wondrous things.
Blessed be His glorious Name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with His glory!
Amen and Amen!
Psalm 72:18-19

https://youtu.be/uUiwA1JNDig

January 26, 2022

January 26, 2022 -- Isaiah 60:1-2 -- Standing in the Light of Christ

January 26, 2022/ Richard T. Vander Vaart

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples:
but the LORD will arise upon you,
and His glory will be seen upon you.
Isaiah 60:1-2 ESV

What an appropriate time of the year to read this. First, winter grey whether is so gloomy. But add a little light, even on a night where there’s only a sliver of moon shining on the snow, and it brighten the night. Second, this reading is appropriate because much of the church is celebrating season of Epiphany—celebrating the ever greater, growing Light of Jesus Christ. He is the Light that has come into the world.

It is appropriate to read this passage today, because so much of the world is in darkness. The nearness of God is clear. The glory of Jesus Christ has come to this world. When He ascended into heaven he left His Spirit so that the greatness of our God can be known—but many people still, just stubbornly, stay in darkness. People aware of the Light choose to stay in the darkness, denying the scintillating, dazzling sunshine of our Father’s love and beauty.

Finally, this passage is appropriate because the LORD has risen upon you—in fact, as you believe in Jesus Christ, by the powerful of His Spirit living in you, your words and actions, your life and your decisions not to participate in deeds of darkness reveal the glory of God in a tangible way to the people around you. And this glorious light will shine fuller and brighter until, finally, in the New Heaven and New Earth Jesus Christ and His Light will be all our Light and Joy and Peace.

O God, perfect us in love, that we may conquer all selfishness and hatred of others; fill our hearts with Your joy, and shine into our hearts Your peace which passes all understanding; that the murmurings and disputing to which we are so prone will be overcome. Make us long-suffering and gentle, and Spirit of God work in us so that we will be able to subdue our hastiness and angry tempers, and grant that we may produce the fruit of the Spirit to the praise and glory of the Triune God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer by Henry Alford (1810-1871), updated

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?view=detail&mid=0A5E0FCFC62AC97EACE60A5E0FCFC62AC97EACE6&q=arise shine for your light has come - hymn&shtp=GetUrl&shid=fc9bb351-2470-4b58-a2b9-1cef438c5bab&shtk=QXJpc2UsIFNoaW5lLCBGb3IgWW91ciBMaWdodCBIYXMgQ29tZQ%3D%3D&shdk=d29yZHMgJiBtdXNpYzogSmVyZWQgTWNLZW5uYSAoMjAxMyk%3D&shhk=PKz0sTUbY4Z9atj7ClFTtldV7VW64zk8eiNx6SB7gZ0%3D&form=VDSHOT&shth=OVP.HfZa3zSFtKVnzXt6Pc4TWQEsCo

January 25, 2022

January 25, 2022 -- Acts 18:27-28 -- Great Help for Believers

January 25, 2022/ Richard T. Vander Vaart

People dearly loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
Acts 18:27-28 ESV

In this passage “he” refers to Apollos. He was a tremendous encourager, helping those who had been appointed by God for eternal life. He was a man steeped in the Old Testament. In fact, he could, using the Old Testament, show that the Promised Anointed One (for that is what the title ‘Christ’ means) was Jesus. Apollos did this so powerfully because the Spirit of God was with him. He was able to speak from the Old Testament because the Word of God, from Genesis to Revelation, teaches the believer about Jesus Christ—for Jesus is the true revelation, final great prophet, Who declared the Father (Hebrews 1:1-4). And Apollos spoke of Jesus, the One Who will save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).

Dear brother and dear sister in the Lord Jesus Christ, encourage others whom our Father has placed in your life so that they can see Jesus in your life. Keep reading the Word, the Old Testament and the New Testament and ask the Spirit of God to show you Jesus—Him promised in the Old Testament and revealed in terrible splendour in the New Testament. Be prepared to face mockers and skeptics, spiritual hoodlums and haters, for the declaration of Jesus’ Name in any place is spiritual warfare. Do not stop speaking, the Lord is coming soon as the Just Judge and those who believe will be brought to the Eternal Kingdom, those who refused Him will be thrown down to Hell. What a devastating punishment, therefore, speak whenever and wherever you have the chance so that those who are going to Hell can only get there by fighting vigorously against you and strenuously pushing against your testimony in their determination to get there. Block their way as much as possible, for the sake of the Great Name of Jesus.

Fellow Christians, encourage one another as well. As soldiers of the cross of Jesus Christ we have so many differences in the particulars of the Bible. Someone said long ago, it is as if Christians all speak English, but some with a Scottish accent, some a Southern Drawl, others as those who formerly spoke French now English. We emphasize different aspects of the Bible, our speech has idiosyncrasies reflected in the words we use and the accents we highlight, but all who are in Christ are members of the household of God. Some are battle weary and need a word of blessing and encouragement—speak and bless in the powerful Name of Jesus.

Mighty God, by Your Spirit's presence planted within us as believers, help us to be sensitive to the people You put into our lives. May those who need encouragement be revived by the Biblical words we speak. May those who need to know Jesus Christ, hear of Him by our words and see Him because of our actions. Gracious Father, when we ourselves feel spent and exhausted, may we offer our vulnerability and weakness to You, trusting You will supply all our need--keep us therefore from sin, from seeking comfort in things, or trying to find numbness in our addictions, or past sins. Instead, direct us further into the great expanse of Your mighty comfort and soul-soothing majesty where sins are exposed as worthless and Your glory and grace become for us all-consuming and wondrous. Blessed are You God. Holy are You! Kind beyond our ability to describe--that is Who You are! Amen.

https://youtu.be/e4brmgdJvBc

January 24, 2022

January 24, 2022 -- Acts 17:16 -- Despising the idols of this age

January 24, 2022/ Richard T. Vander Vaart

People loved by the Father, in the power of the Spirit: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.
Acts 17:16 ESV

Paul was provoked in his spirit—what a great expression. When someone provokes you, their teasing might go a few steps too far and you react in anger or act to defend yourself. When a circumstance provokes you, your sense of right and wrong is tested and tormented until you must speak up for what is right and true. Paul’s zeal and love for God the Holy One, was tormented by the godless idols which the Athenians worshiped.

I wonder, how often has your spirit been provoked by the idols of our age? The Canadian government has approved Bill C- 4—the so-called Ban on Conversion Therapy. It is one of the idols of our age—that sex and sexuality should take precedence over everything. It is an internally inconsistent law as well. If a heterosexual man questions his sexuality, then it is great, and actively encouraged, that LGBTQ2 proponents should convert him to perversion. If an LGBTQ2 person questions their orientation and seeks advice or help, then a heterosexual person, by definition of law, cannot help. What gross inconsistency, what idolatry. What a perversion of all that is right and holy.

Abortion is another idol in the land. It is egregious how many babies are slaughtered day after day. Two years of pandemic has meant many necessary surgical procedures have been cancelled, but hospitals still perform abortions as if this were necessary. Ironically—”my body, my choice” with regards to abortion, does apply to the vaccine. The state will now decide what you will choose, or coerce you into this. It is the idolatry of the age. With regards to the various vaccines and boosters there is an implicit blind trust in human wisdom and science which is conducted with no reference to God and His creation.

The idol of human feelings is another idol which ought to provoke Christians. In any healthy society there will be disagreements—political, medical, theological, and so on. Canadians are an incredibly diverse people; and yet we are bound together in one land. However the cultural elites at universities and those of particular movements now speak of feelings as if these were of utmost importance. It is another perverse form of idolatry. Consider this illustration. I feel bad when my doctor tells me I have a sickness. But I must know the bad news in order to know the hopeful news of a treatment. If Canadians are going to find a way forward, it must be in a context where there is respect for each person, every opinion, and the recognition that any true and deep discussion will result in differences of opinion. Core beliefs can not be dictated by a prevailing government, a particular movement or ideology.

Dear fellow followers of Jesus Christ. When your spirit is provoked by these, and the plethora of other, idols which litter our age, do not be discouraged. The LORD our God is seated on His throne. His people live under democracies and tyrannies. His people live under Marxist rule and Communist rule. His people are slaves in some countries and free in other countries. No matter the circumstances nor the government, believers have true freedom in Jesus Christ. Speak truth to the powers of this age, aware that people in power may imprison, may fine, may tax, may take away freedoms, but the only, true freedom is found in Jesus Christ. When one is gripped by His grace, any hardship endured is cause for praise that here on earth one should be counted worthy to suffer for the Name.

Pray that many wounded people, confused by the competing idols of this age will finally, fully, turn to Jesus Christ. Pray that Christians will be refined, by the fiery trials of these times, so that there will be greater purity in service to Jesus Christ. Speak up. Where you are, when you have the chance, with the confidence that the Spirit of God will give you the right words at the right time and give you the grace to be silent when the time is appropriate for silence. Read the word. The confidence a believer possesses is not anchored in a political party or a world government or a particular charismatic leader—but all hope is found in Jesus Christ—The Savior of the World, the King of kings. Praise God. When the believer praises God and worships Him alone, the idols in his own life are revealed, thrown down and despised. When a believer praises God, the Almighty One, true perspective is regained and one looks up to the throne of grace finding all grace and mercy for every moment of need.

We urgently ask You, O Lord, let the power of the Holy Spirit be present with us, that the Spirit may both mercifully cleanse our hearts, and protect us from all adversities; through our Lord Jesus Christ—Amen.

Based on a prayer from the Leonine Sacramentary, A.D. 440;

https://youtu.be/hqk-bEwCuIs

January 23, 2022

January 23, 2022 -- Psalm 28:6-9 -- Wound-binding, spirit-lifting praise

January 23, 2022/ Richard T. Vander Vaart

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

6 Blessed be the LORD!
    For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield;
    in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
    and with my song I give thanks to him.

8 The LORD is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Psalm 28:6-9 ESV

This sounds like a Psalm for the celebration of Sunday! As sinners, redeemed by Jesus’ blood and reconciled to the Father in heaven, it is appropriate to declare it over and over “He has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy!” It is true. It is the basis of all hope which is anchored in Jesus Christ.

Sunday after Sunday believers proclaim Jesus, the Shepherd, the strength and the One True shield of His people. He has protected, provided, rescued and supported His people—sometimes it is obvious. You can look back in the past week or month and nod, saying, surely the Covenant-Keeping God was my strength. Other times it is not so obvious, but will be the source of praise and joy in heaven when the blessedness of all that the LORD had done is made obvious to His chosen.

When things are going well—praise Him as your Savior. When things are sliding into ruin and chaos, praise Him as your saving refuge. He is not surprised by the disaster that is overtaking you. He Who spoke creation into order can with a word bring order out of the chaos of your life. He has proved this through history, He will prove this in your life also. Bring all your burdens to Him.

Mighty God, some of Your people kneel before You today, crying out “don’t be deaf to my cry, don’t turn Your back to me”! And for these brothers and sisters we add our voices and ask for Your mercy, Father of all compassion, answer them in tenderness which will soothe their hearts and reveal Your great power in the flood of their circumstances showing the gift of Jesus the Rock of Salvation and Safety when the storm rages.

Others among Your people face persecution and hardship unfamiliar and incomprehensible to the rest of us, and for these we pray do not drag them off with the wicked. Let the voice of their pleas rise to Your throne of grace. As they face such deep hardship, let their profound confidence in You convince jailors and interrogators of Your Splendor. Thank You, Father in heaven, for the power of Your Spirit, Who seals the hearts and lives of the persecuted, even to death, so that martyrs will know the power of Your eternal salvation.

Still others are numb. So tired of all the weariness of these last two years. Spent and exhausted, their weary hands are raised to heaven, begging for help. Spirit of All Comfort, revive the broken-hearted and those emotionally flatten so that the voices of all Your people may be joined together in a swelling anthem of praise!

You, LORD, are the strength of Your people; You, Jesus are the Shepherd of Your people; You, Spirit of the Living God, will guide Your people, even in the darkest night and most tortuous path until the light of Salvation shines through the darkness.

Thank You, God of all Glory, for the blessedness of the Sunday, a day of celebration, praise and renewing hope. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

https://youtu.be/pN4tPkX0MG0

January 22, 2022

January 22, 2022 -- Psalm 18:25-28 -- What is God like?

January 22, 2022/ Richard T. Vander Vaart

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

25 With the merciful you show yourself merciful;
with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;
26 with the purified you show yourself pure;
and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.
27 For you save a humble people,
but the haughty eyes you bring down.
28 For it is you who light my lamp;
the LORD my God lightens my darkness.
Psalm 18:25-28 ESV

What is God like? It is interesting how different people perceive different facets of God’s glory and goodness. A merciful man will know God has the Merciful, full of kind compassion. Someone who was purified, aware of her great sinfulness and how she has now been made clean by the Spirit’s application of the accomplished work of Christ, will know God the Father as Pure.

When you share what God, the Multi-Faceted, Excellent in all His Attributes, is like—you will find a non-believer will utterly disagree with you. A crooked, or sinful person, will find the way of the LORD torturous. A non-Christian will find the way of the LORD is filled with too many rules, He asks too much, He is too incomprehensible. Why is that?

Look at verse 28. Picture a lamp as human understanding. In the time that this was written a lamp would be a candle consisting of wick and oil. Without a flame it can do nothing. Now, look carefully and see who illuminates human understanding. It is the LORD, the God Who stoops to human weakness. Without the Spirit’s work of lighting human understanding (in modern terms, without the electricity of the Spirit, without being plugged into Him) there can be no light, no understanding.

Who receive such a light of understanding? Those who are humble. Being brought to a place of humility can be a painful process. Pride is hard as iron and bricks in the human heart. Often it will take a loss, or a painful experience for pride to be broken and a heart to be humbled enough to receive the lightning of the Spirit. This is why children are often open to the glory and the beauty, the kindness and the love of the Savior--many children are humble, already aware of their dependency on parents and teachers and mentors and siblings. Such humble dependency helps them to understand God Who approaches as the Father Who helps the needy.

When you speak with a non-believer, be prepared for their mocking, their scoffing and their disbelief, but do not give up. Your words are used by the Spirit to send off sparks of light and the Spirit may choose to work on the kindling and paper theories of their lives, burning them up with a holy passion that will illuminate Jesus Christ. Remember your own heart, it's haughtiness and deep darkness, before Jesus blessed you with light and understanding, and then praise the Living God for giving you such joy in knowing Him.

With the Psalmist we shout and bless You~

I love you, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.

For who is God, but the LORD?
And who is a rock, except our God?—
32 the God who equipped me with strength
and made my way blameless. Psalm 18:1-3;31-32)

God, our Rock and Stronghold, from this place of blessedness and with the light of understanding You have given us, empower us to be bold and faithful witnesses so that the people around us whom You have put into our lives will regularly and persistently hear the Good News of Your great love. Amen.

https://youtu.be/9VZW5bZW2B0

January 21, 2022

January 21, 2022 -- I Thessalonians 5:16-19 -- Why Pray?

January 21, 2022/ Richard T. Vander Vaart

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.
I Thessalonians 5:16-19 ESV

The question can be asked: “Why pray?” if God already knows all we need. It is a question that has been asked through-out the ages. One answer, written in the mid 1500’s, is part of a document called: “The Heidelberg Catechism”. This was written as an instruction in the faith. Today, question and answer 116 of the Catechism will be quoted, along with its source texts, in case you are interested in reading further.

116.Q. Why is prayer necessary for Christians?

Because prayer is the most important part of the thankfulness which God requires of us. 1Moreover, God will give his grace and the Holy Spirit only to those who constantly and with heartfelt longing ask him for these gifts and thank him for them. 2

1.Ps 50:14, 15; 116:12-19; 1 Thess 5:16-18
2.Mt 7:7, 8; Lk 11:9-13.

Heidelberg Catechism, LORD’S DAY 45; Question and Answer 116.

Yesterday, as I was meeting with a brother in Christ, who just very recently became a Christian, he had some questions about prayer. As we were chatting his eyes grew wide, excitedly he shared something he had just realized: ‘We never run out of things to give thanks for”. So true.

The Spirit is given to those who ask. Grace is given to those who ask. It is an act of humility to know your need and to ask God for His help. It is the good pleasure of the Spirit to work in the life of the believer who asks for help. The believer who is aware of his broken condition and great hour by hour, need for the Spirit’s dynamic work will be a man of urgent, unceasing prayer.

Father in heaven, thank You for the gift of prayer.
Father in heaven, thank You that though You know what Your people need, before even You are ever asked. You have promised to answer the prayers of Your people. Faithful God, we turn unfilled to You again, asking that You will fill us up with the joy of Your great salvation, fill us up with the knowledge of Jesus’ mighty work and fill us up with the holy-making work of the Spirit. Forgive us for all the wrongs we have done. Forgive us for the work we have left undone. Spirit of God renew in us, a holy, zealous, striving for the things of Christ so that sins and temptations lose their appeal to us. Spirit of God, thank You for taking up residence in the life of every believer and throwing out the works of evil and making us fit temples for Your residence and preparing us for eternity in the glorious Presence of Him Who Alone lives in unapproachable Light. Amen.

https://youtu.be/I_402FDIG_Y

January 20, 2022

January 20, 2022 -- Luke 13:22-24 -- Who Will Enter Heaven?

January 20, 2022/ Richard T. Vander Vaart

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
Luke 13:22-24 ESV

Yesterday’s reading was drawn from Job. The LORD questioned him, calling him a “faultfinder”. It is a theme in Scripture, but it is also a theme in all the world, isn’t it? People are so ready to accuse the God of Glory of all kinds of wrongs or injustices. Here in Luke, those questioning Jesus are not listening to His words and teaching, they are seeking to find fault with the mercy of God—the Gracious and Compassionate One. The implication is: “How can the Lord of heaven and earth be loving if those who are saved are few in number?”

Look at Jesus’ response. He doesn’t engage in that kind of debate. He gets right at the heart of the matter. Doug Milne, in his study guide on Luke writes:
The fact is that many (not the same as an overall majority) will make an
attempt, but fail. ‘Don’t be among the “many”! Jesus gives no reason for
this failure but presumably the same sorts of reasons come into play here
as Jesus gave in the parable of the sower (Luke 8:5-7, 11-14). Salvation
is not for the half-hearted but the single-minded (Philippians 3:13-14).
Milne. Let's Study Luke. Carlisle, PA: THE BANNER OF TRUTH TRUST,
reprinted, 2020, page 222

What a marvelous exhortation. Seek the LORD while He may be found. Pursue Him in your thoughts, speak to Him in your prayers, learn of Him in Bible reading. Put into practice the things you learn so that you will not be a “faultfinder” against the Living God, but found faultless because of Jesus Christ, in Whom there is reconciliation to the Father by Jesus’ blood. Ask the Spirit’s help. God never wearies of hearing His people pray for guidance, forgiveness, help and strength through the Spirit. In fact, this all brings honour and glory to Him, it confirms the fact that all our help and all our hope is fixed on Jesus alone. This honours the Father Who has sent the Son in order to bring many sons and daughters to Himself.

The prayer today is from the Psalms. For many it is a familiar Psalm of confession and dedication to the way of the LORD, our God and King.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and uphold me with a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    and sinners will return to you.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
    O God of my salvation,
    and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
    you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Psalm 51:7-17 ESV

https://youtu.be/_hadCj7I8kI

January 19, 2022

January 19, 2022 -- Job 40:1-9 -- Awed to silence by Great Grace and Mercy

January 19, 2022/ Richard T. Vander Vaart

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

And the Lord said to Job:

2 “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

Job Promises Silence

3 Then Job answered the Lord and said:

4 “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?
I lay my hand on my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer;
twice, but I will proceed no further.”

The Lord Challenges Job

6 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

7 “Dress for action like a man;
    I will question you, and you make it known to me.
8 Will you even put me in the wrong?
    Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?
9 Have you an arm like God,
    and can you thunder with a voice like his?

Job 40:1-9 ESV

At the start of the book of Job, the reader is informed that Job is “blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil” Job 1:1. He loses his children and all his possessions in a sweeping, devastating time of loss. His friends comfort him, seven days sitting in righteous silence with him, mourning. When they speak, their attempts at comfort fall flat. They accuse Job of wrong. Job defends himself. He then steps over the line and accuses God, summoning Him, accusing Him, in these times when his friends falsely accuse him.

In great mercy, God, the Mighty, confronts Job. The LORD names Job’s charge against the Living God—Job is a faultfinder who contends with the Almighty. The majesty and might of God is so Glorious is so much that Job, who for many chapters was full of words, puts his hand over him mouth awestruck and silenced. He realized how insignificant he is before the Splendor, Glory, Presence, Holiness and Omnipotence of the Almighty.

The challenge before Job is simply summarized and then unfolds in two chapters. The Mighty One's two part challenge is revealed in verse 9: “Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like His”? The arm of God works mighty power. Think of that expression—the arm, that is the incomparable strength of the LORD. Just glance at His strength, and immediately one sees all people are insignificant. A recent example. Sunday’s snow storm puts Toronto and Ottawa at a standstill. While people are digging out for days, totally focused on this, the LORD is upholding all the universe, and this is effortless for Him.

At a word, His voice, kings and princes are brought low and while their reign seems long to the people of earth, their life is not even as long as the duration of a breath before the timeless Almighty One. God tames wild beasts and laughs at the thrashings of creatures which threaten the lives all of the teams of hunters foolish enough to approach it. His voice sustains life. So small are the creatures of the earth, that God tests them with His eyelids, Psalm 11:5. In the blink of an eye their lives are done and all their existence is opened as a book before Him. Their greatest accomplishments are not even a grain of sand before the all the grand beaches of His perfections and power. Why does this matter?

The LORD speaks to Job. That is so extraordinary, it is easy to miss! He deigns to stoop down and speak with His irreverent creature. Called the most blameless and upright among men of his generation, still the reader knows Job is a sinner. Here is Gospel Good News: the LORD loves Job. In view of the seemingly insurmountable problem of God’s tremendous holiness and man’s inexcusable sin it is the LORD Who provides the most exquisite answer of all: Jesus Christ. Man, faultfinder and complainer though he is, can be brought to God the Father through the Comforter, the Spirit, Who breaks down man’s faultfinding and defenses in order to lead men to Jesus Christ—the final, perfect, Mediator between God and man.

With repentant Job, now confessing before You, LORD, we declare:

“I know that You can do all things,

and that no purposes of Yours is thwarted.”

Blessed are You, Father of Mercies for lifting up Your people, poor and despised though they are, and bringing them to Yourself in Jesus Christ—the Redeemer Who lives! Blessed are You, Father and Son, for the great gift of the Holy Spirit, Who guards and protects Your people in the great salvation which is beyond the grasp of all mortal man’s strivings, but is the extravagant gift of grace generously given in love. Yours, O LORD, is the arm of power, Yours is the voice that thunders down through every generation: just in the condemnation of the wicked and clothed with glorious mercy as you confer untold grace and mercy on those You have chosen. Great are You LORD and terrible in splendor are Your works. Amen.

https://youtu.be/3rT8Re1EIQc

January 18, 2022

January 18, 2022 -- Acts 10:19-20 -- Spirit saturated witness

January 18, 2022/ Richard T. Vander Vaart

People deeply loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.”
Acts 10:19-20 ESV

If you have time, read all of Acts 10. It is interesting to see that Cornelius, a Roman soldier and one who feared God—that means he was still in the Jewish way of thinking and had not yet believed on Jesus—was told by an angel his prayers were answered and he was to summon Simon Peter from Joppa. Meanwhile, Peter had a vision as well. He was still perplexed by the vision, when the men, sent by Cornelius arrived at his home and asked him to join them to go to Caesarea, to Cornelius’ home.

It is the work of God to bring one man, elect of God, to the point of inquiry and interest so that he summons Peter. It is the work of God to ensure a willing servant, a Christian, will go and preach good news. Children, deeply loved by God, trust that your Father in heaven is using you to bring sons and daughters to glory. Trust that the Spirit will bring people into your life who need to know the truth of Jesus Christ.

The Gospel is going forward like a tsunami, unstoppable. This flood of good news will sweep away old sins and the devil’s strongholds in the life of the one who was formerly an unbeliever. Those who have been appointed for life in Jesus Christ will be brought to their knees in worship before Him. It is a blessing that God, in His great love, allows you to be bearers of good news. Rejoice. Pray. Ask the Spirit to give you even more discernment to know when to speak, when to be silent, who to speak with and where to go in order that the glory of the Lord will cover this earth, like the waters cover the sea.

LORD JESUS, GREAT HIGH PRIEST,
You have opened a new and living way
by which a fallen creature can approach you with acceptance.
Help me to contemplate
the dignity of your Person,
the perfectness of your sacrifice,
the effectiveness of your intercession.
O what blessedness accompanies devotion,
when under all the trials that weary me,
the cares that corrode me,
the fears that disturb me,
the infirmities that oppress me,
I can come to you in my need
and feel peace beyond understanding!
The grace that restores is necessary to preserve,
lead, guard, supply, help me.
And here your saints encourage my hope;
they were once poor and are now rich,
bound and are now free,
tried and now are victorious.
Every new duty calls for more grace than
I now possess,
but not more than is found in you,
the divine Treasury in whom all fullness dwells.
To you I repair for grace upon grace,
until every void made by sin be replenished
and I am filled with all your fullness.
May my desires be enlarged and my hopes be emboldened,
that I may honor you by my entire dependency
and the greatness of my expectation.
Be with me, and prepare me for all
the smiles of prosperity,
the frowns of adversity,
the losses of substance, the death of friends,
the days of darkness, the changes of life,
and the last great change of all.
May I find your grace sufficient
for all my needs.
"GRACE ACTIVE. The Valley of Vision: Puritan Prayers and Devotions. Ed. Arthur Bennett. Carlisle, PA: THE BANNER OF TRUTH TRUST. reprint 2020, pate 214

https://youtu.be/jkCF19Si8g4

January 17, 2022

January 17, 2022 -- Acts 8:26-31 -- Who will guide you?

January 17, 2022/ Richard T. Vander Vaart

People loved by the Father, in the power of the Spirit: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Acts 8:26-31 ESV

Jesus said that His disciples would be His witnesses in Judea, Samaria and "to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Jesus' word is being proved true in this short reading today. This Ethiopian man, representing people who are in the category "to the end of the earth", is reading the bible and not understanding what he is reading. The Spirit of God prompted Philip to speak to the Ethiopian. The Spirit of God had prepared one to speak and answer the question of one who was in need of understanding. The Ethiopian knew he needed someone to guide him in this. Look at the kindness of God and His glorious humour. This Ethiopian was in charge of Queen Candace's treasure. When the Ethiopian, now filled with new life in Jesus Christ, speaks to his queen of Jesus--she will have riches beyond compare! Her treasury will be replaced with the greatest treasure of heaven--the Savior!

Who are you called to guide? Who is the Spirit of the Living God prompting you to pray for, to explain Scripture to, and to spend time with so that in the natural ebb and flow of conversation the Good News of Jesus Christ wells up to eternal life within that person? Who can you write an email to? In these pandemic days of lockdowns and so on, who can you write a letter to, which declares the love of Jesus?

So many evangelism courses seem to force unnatural means of reaching out—going door to door with a script. Can God bless this? Yes He can. Notice, however, how often in Scripture what appears to be a chance encounter is actually a divine appointment. The Spirit of God will bring, is bringing, people into your life who need your experience, your awareness of the goodness of God, so that they too will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

A dear prayer partner of yesteryear used to say to me: think of a compass. A godly man needs a mentor to the North—someone more experienced in the faith or an aspect of the faith so that he in instructed by him. Then, godly men need to mentor one another and be held accountable in the faith East to West—that is, by peers in the faith who share the journey and the struggles. A godly man will also have someone he mentors, a person “to the South”, someone younger in the faith who can grow in the faith. It is fascinating how instructing someone in the faith--answering basic questions about what you believe--reignites in you a joy and a deeper zeal for the things of God as you see the person you are mentoring have "aha" moments.

Who is teaching you? Who is directing your walk with God? Who are your East and West peers in believing? Who is the Spirit of God directing you to teach and train up in believing. Such relationships may be very brief (the Ethiopian’s mentor to the North is Philip). Some relationships will be long lasting, think of a mom teaching her daughter to walk in the way of Jesus Christ. A mom who intentionally mentors her daughter, is teaching one who is “to the South”, hungry to grow and learn. Think of how many people in the world are ready to be mentored. A new employee at work is prepared to learn a new skill--that is mentoring in the worldly sense. A January "New Year's Resolution" to "get fit" might mean having a coach at the gym in order to learn how to do appropriate work-outs. If you think about it, our lives are filled with mentoring moments. So the question set before you today is this: Are you prepared to seek out a mentor to the North in order to be challenged to grow in your faith and to mentor others so that you continue grow in spiritual fitness? Will you hold Christian peers accountable so that together you will grow in faith and faithfulness to God?

Spirit of the Living God, thank You for the mentors You already have brought into our lives. Thank You for Sunday School teachers who reinforced what faithful parents taught. Thank You for praying friends. Thank You for those who took a chance and just began to tell us of Jesus' goodness and love. Help us, Spirit of God, to be humble and receptive to the people to whom You are directing us this day or this week. Spirit of God, keep us deeply and truly connected to Jesus Christ, so that our lives will shine as a lighthouse for those whose lives are floundering on the rocks pounded by waves of troubles. Thank You, Father in heaven, that You do all things well and give to us every opportunity to speak thanks and praise and blessing for all the rich gifts You have have given us in Jesus Christ, through Whose work we are called Your beloved sons and daughters. Amen.

https://youtu.be/Z32HiCoFzlU

January 17, 2022

January 17, 2022 -- Acts 8:26-31 -- Who will guide you?

January 17, 2022/ Richard T. Vander Vaart

People loved by the Father, in the power of the Spirit: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

January 16, 2022

January 16, 2022 -- Job 28:28 -- Constantly recommitting ourselves to the Captain of our Salvation

January 16, 2022/ Richard T. Vander Vaart

People loved by the Father, in the power of the Spirit: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

And he said to man,
‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
Job 28:28 ESV

And He, that is the Lord, is making this declaration, through His prophet Job. Suffering Job can still declare the word of the King of Heaven. Here he is declaring the teaching of God while he, a man God had declared righteous, suffers. Through the tears and the pain, he spoke the words of the Lord.

The fear of the Lord, let’s pull that phrase a part in order to examine it. Lord—in this particular instance “Lord” carries the meaning the One Who is in Charge of All. Walking in the fear of the Lord gives to anyone who does this a right understanding of life and connects one to the Source of joy. When Job lost his children and cattle and flocks and herds and possessions, what did he do? He arose, tore his clothing as a sign of lamentation, and he worshiped God (Job 1:20). His greatest possession was not taken from him, that is his knowledge of the Lord.

Wisdom is looking for the glory of God in every event of one’s life. Sometimes wisdom only makes itself known to us when we look back over our lives. In such times of contemplative hindsight we will catch a glimpse of the glory of God, how He guided our steps in wisdom because we chose to follow Him and we did not take the easy path or succumb to the pressures of peers who were advising a different way. Sometimes the path of wisdom shows up for us, even while we are suffering greatly, and we know now is not the time to stop, nor to step to the right or to the left. In circumstances that threaten to overwhelm us we cry out “Whom have I in heaven but You, and on earth there is none other that I desire” (Psalm 73:25). That is wisdom.

Turning away from evil is understanding. The moment you realize a course of action is evil, turn from it. When you are tempted to do something and you ask the simple question: “Then what?” And the answer is something that will lead to embarrassment before the Lord or require the shame of repentance, you know the temptation is evil. It is understanding, because choosing the right path is hard work. Deciding each morning to give to God your hands and your heart, your thoughts and your talents means you will be out of step with the world around you. So be it. You are worthy, Triune God!

Spirit of the Living God, in the Prophecy of Isaiah You are called "The Spirit of the Fear of the LORD". You live in Your people--so in the intimate place of our hearts, teach us the fear the LORD and increase in us true wisdom. Spirit of Counsel, there are so many temptations, too many pressures pushing down on us directing our feet into disastrously dumb pathways--the promise is "^greater is He Who is in us than he who is against us" prove that in our lives. Spirit of the LORD, keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ and drawn to Him, as the radiant light Who is inviting us to walk into eternity, guard and keep us until we lay down our lives at last and are received into the bliss of our Father's Presence. Amen.
(^I John 4:4)

https://youtu.be/ga057VTHdP0

January 14, 2022

January 14, 2022 -- Job 16:6-22 -- The Witness in Heaven

January 14, 2022/ Richard T. Vander Vaart

People loved by the Father, by the power of the Spirit: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

“If I speak, my pain is not assuaged,
and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?
7 Surely now God has worn me out;
he has made desolate all my company.
8 And he has shriveled me up,
which is a witness against me,
and my leanness has risen up against me;
it testifies to my face.
9 He has torn me in his wrath and hated me;
he has gnashed his teeth at me;
my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.
10 Men have gaped at me with their mouth;
they have struck me insolently on the cheek;
they mass themselves together against me.
11 God gives me up to the ungodly
and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart;
he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces;
he set me up as his target;
13 his archers surround me.
He slashes open my kidneys and does not spare;
he pours out my gall on the ground.
14 He breaks me with breach upon breach;
he runs upon me like a warrior.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin
and have laid my strength in the dust.

16 My face is red with weeping,
and on my eyelids is deep darkness,
17 although there is no violence in my hands,
and my prayer is pure.

18 “O earth, cover not my blood,
    and let my cry find no resting place.
19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven,
    and he who testifies for me is on high.
20 My friends scorn me;
    my eye pours out tears to God,
21 that he would argue the case of a man with God,
    as a son of man does with his neighbor.
22 For when a few years have come
    I shall go the way from which I shall not return.
Job 16:6-22 ESV

Perhaps one of the most difficult things to read—deep insight into the pain of one who suffers greatly. What a graphic description of his agony. Job lost his beloved ten children. His flocks and herds were ripped from him by marauding bands of raiders. His camels taken as well. His wife mocked his faith in God. And now Job’s body is filled with sores which he scraps and scratches with bits of broken pottery. His friends are now visiting him, telling him why God is punishing him for his sins…though the reader knows, from chapter 1, Job is a righteous man.

What is amazing in all of this? First, that Job pours out his complaint, in faith, to God, the Living God. Second, He looks for a witness in heaven. His anguished prayer anticipates Jesus Christ, our witness in heaven, Who took our place in bearing punishment and wrath. As one who has recently experienced two concussions and has for more than a decade wrestled with depression, this strong faith of Job’s, in spite of his great suffering, is an inspiration.

Friends, New Brunswick is back in lockdown. That means for the next 16 days, no gathering for church, no social visiting with friends, gyms are closed, and restaurants are closed. It is a suffocating time for those who are already struggling financially, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, physically. The words of Job inspire me today—we have a witness in heaven—one Job spoke of prophetically, whom we know as Jesus Christ! He is our Mediator and the Prayer-Warrior bringing the needs of the world to His Father in heaven. Take comfort. Trust in God.

Today’s prayer is a powerful reading from Psalm 73.

Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
    you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
28 But for me it is good to be near God;
    I have made the Lord God my refuge,
    that I may tell of all your works.
Psalm 73:25-28 ESV

https://youtu.be/5QBnWLRn7Ww

January 13, 2022

January 13, 2022 -- Acts 2:6-8; 37-38 -- The Way of Great Freedom

January 13, 2022/ Richard T. Vander Vaart

People loved by the Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:6-8; 37-38 ESV

Jesus had promised, in Acts 1:8, that when the Spirit of God descended on them, these disciples would be Jesus’ witnesses in Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. The first reading today shows how this promise of Jesus Christ was immediately, partially fulfilled, and this one event must have confirmed for the disciples the veracity of Jesus’ words. Men were in Jerusalem, from 15 plus different regions and nations, for the Jewish feast and now the disciples, filled with the Spirit spoke in tongues, different languages, so all these foreign folks could understand the Gospel.

Notice also their response to the Gospel—they were cut to the heart. They were, because of Peter’s preaching which was anointed by the Holy Spirit, cut to the heart. That is, they were suddenly aware of their vulnerability before God. God is just, holy and good. Their sins were a stench before them and they knew unless the Lord would save them, they’d be left to the just and proper anger of God fully vented against their sin.

In his book, An Anchor for the Soul, Ray Pritchard gives a wonderful illustration, totally imaginary, to make the point of our tremendous need for God and His saving grace.

A fine looking man, all dressed up, rings the bell, at the entrance to heaven, where St. Peter is manning the entrance desk.

Man: I’d like to enter heaven.

Peter: Excellent. We’d be glad to have you. In order to enter heaven you need 1,000 points.

Man: That shouldn’t be any problem. I’ve given lots to charity. Was the chairman of the YMCA board for 25 years, and was involved in many volunteer projects.

Peter: Excellent. One point.

The man is shocked. He adds: I was married for 45 years to my wife and always faithful. Loved our five children and raise them up well.

Peter: I’m very impressed. We don’t get many people like you. That’s another point.

The man was sweating freely now, he starts shaking. He continued: You don’t understand. I was active in my church and gave every Sunday. I was an elder and a Sunday School teacher.

Peter: Your record is certainly admirable. That’s another point. So you have three points, you only need nine hundred and ninety-seven more.

Trembling, the man falls to his knees. In desperation he cries out, “But for the grace of God nobody could get in here!”

Peter smiles and looking at him says: Congratulations, you’ve just received one thousand points.

(Adapted and taken from: R. Pritchard An Anchor for the Soul. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2011 reprint, page 71

You get the point, right—sinners cannot earn their way into heaven. It is when a man realizes his great sinfulness and then begins to grasp the infinitely greater mercy and vast kindness, and immeasurable justice of God he kneels before the Almighty yields all to Jesus that such a man can be saved.

No wonder saints are the happiest people on earth. They know they can’t earn their salvation. They have been set free from even trying. Believers in Jesus Christ are forgiven. He, Jesus, is their story, He is their song and they praise Jesus all day long. Telling others about Jesus is not a burden or a fearful thing, the believer has already confronted his worst sins and knows these have been washed away by the reconciliation given from the Father in Jesus’ blood.

King Jesus, my sins are always before me, rising like a curtain of stench and humiliation. The more I would deny them, the greater is their foul odor. With Paul I cry out, "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" [Romans 7:24-25a] Blessed are You, Father of all mercies! Blessed are You, Jesus Christ--Redeemer-King. Blessed are You, Spirit of Truth leading us into such a boundless, limitless place of freedom in Jesus Christ and adoption as sons and daughters of the Living God. Amen.

https://youtu.be/UV8bv4QuDtM

Richard T. Vander Vaart

Richard T. Vander Vaart

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Richard T. Vander Vaart

February 2, 2022 -- Psalm 73:1-3 -- What is capturing your thoughts?

February 1, 2022 -- Romans 1:28-32 -- Answering the Atheist's Objection

January 31, 2022 -- Acts 28:28-31 -- Witness with boldness and without hindrance

January 29, 2022 -- Psalm 66:1-4 -- Praise! Worship! Adore! Honour and Bless!

January 28, 2022 -- I Corinthians 13:4-5 -- Erasing the record of wrongs

January 27, 2022 -- Psalm 72:1-4 -- Grappling with justice and righteousness

January 26, 2022 -- Isaiah 60:1-2 -- Standing in the Light of Christ

January 25, 2022 -- Acts 18:27-28 -- Great Help for Believers

January 24, 2022 -- Acts 17:16 -- Despising the idols of this age

January 23, 2022 -- Psalm 28:6-9 -- Wound-binding, spirit-lifting praise

January 22, 2022 -- Psalm 18:25-28 -- What is God like?

January 21, 2022 -- I Thessalonians 5:16-19 -- Why Pray?

January 20, 2022 -- Luke 13:22-24 -- Who Will Enter Heaven?

January 19, 2022 -- Job 40:1-9 -- Awed to silence by Great Grace and Mercy

Job Promises Silence

The Lord Challenges Job

January 18, 2022 -- Acts 10:19-20 -- Spirit saturated witness

January 17, 2022 -- Acts 8:26-31 -- Who will guide you?

January 17, 2022 -- Acts 8:26-31 -- Who will guide you?

January 16, 2022 -- Job 28:28 -- Constantly recommitting ourselves to the Captain of our Salvation

January 14, 2022 -- Job 16:6-22 -- The Witness in Heaven

January 13, 2022 -- Acts 2:6-8; 37-38 -- The Way of Great Freedom

Richard T. Vander Vaart

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