Who Do You Think You Are?

This is the question that seems to be brought to my mind these last few days. As my family and I are getting on a plane tonight to go to Brazil where we plan to magnify Jesus Christ, I keep thinking, "Who do you think you are, to be venturing on such a task?" The truth is: There is nothing inherently special in me that would make this mission successful. I am not especially intelligent or knowledgeable, neither am I very strong in communication or in people skills. Besides that, the Bible says that my heart is desperately wicked and my righteousness is as filthy rags. So, the question, "Who do I think I am?", is fairly easy to answer, in light of Biblical truth. So, when this question comes to my mind, what is it that pushes me to continue ahead toward this hard mission? Who do I think God is? I am so grateful for God working in me and proclaiming Himself to me. What makes me distinct is nothing about my own person, but it is that "God goes with me." (Ps. 33:16) It is so humbling to me that God would get involved in my life and proclaim His name to me. As a desperately wicked sinner, I deserve no good thing but only Hell and death itself. David, I have been challenged lately to fight the heart attitude that says I deserve this good thing or that good thing. You don't deserve to get support from churches or even to get meetings at all, even though God has called you to Brazil. Humbly remember each day of what you deserve and of what God has given you that you do not deserve. I'm still working on that myself. Tonight I don't deserve a good flight or well-behaved children or no problems in Sao Paulo. If it happens, praise the Lord! So the question that perhaps Satan or my flesh seems to keep asking me, "Who do you think you are?" can best be combatted by another question, Who Do I Think God Is? It's great to know that God has chosen the foolish things of the world (that's me) to confound the wise, and the weak things of the world (that's me again) to confound the things which are mighty. He can use me because of who He is-Allmighty and All-wise.

JT

A Truth That Is Changing Me

Are you a humble person? I think that most of us, if completely honest, would have to say that we are not so humble. Yet God obviously values humility greatly. Isaiah 66:2 says, "But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word." I have been challenged recently both by God's Word and also by the book, Humility, by C.J. Mahaney. Mahaney defines humility as "honestly assessing ourselves in light of God's holiness and our sinfulness." That's a good definition. In his book, he brings out the fact that you can love God's Word, love Christ and His sacrifice on the cross, and even believe in the importance of relationships and yet not have humility. Unbelievable, isn't it? The truth of the importance of humility is changing me, both in my heart and in my actions. As I have studied Mark 9-10, where the disciples proudly discussed who was the greatest, I've found some characteristics of one who is growing in humility. One characteristic is that he is less argumentative, unlike the disciples who argued about who the greatest was. The reason he is less argumentative is because he has a less opinion of himself. This happens as he trembles at who God is in holiness and who he is in sinfulness. In having a less opinion of self, this liberates him to serve others more frequently, because he "counts others more significant" than himself (Phil. 2:3). Living my life in remembrance of God's mercy has changed me. Reminding myself that I deserve nothing from God, except eternal separation from Him in hell, has changed my daily walk. It has removed arguments from my heart and lips. It has changed my opinion of self to a more true Biblical one. It has enabled me to serve others with a pure and joyful heart. This truth has helped me to "walk humbly with my God" (Micah 6:8), and this is what He requires.

JT

My Intentions

I intend this blog to serve the very purpose of its title. This is the blog of 2 brothers searching truth, exposing truth, and trying to live truth. Solomon said: I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. Paul prays for the colossians and these are his words: so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ. Our objective is to seek God in all of His glory in the very face of Christ - as this is where we will find it (II Cor.4:6). On to the next verse: in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. In this relative, subjective, post-modern world we live in, the truth can be a mysterious, treasure like, hidden enigma, specially to those who are lost and to those who don't want to live in its light. Our movies and reality shows depict unbelievers at their best, searching for buried treasure that is not truly treasure and is merely temporal. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. We must expose this truth as our fellowship with God depends on it. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth." This brings me to my next point. Accountability is my final reason for this blog. I do not intend to write about a truth I have studied for hours and lived for minutes. Truth is truth whether we live it or not. Personal maturity and growth however is only visible to the degree that we apply objective truth consistently in our lives. My desire is that others will see my actions for truth and understand that I belong to truth.
let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. This is how we know we belong to the truth. May it never be said of me: Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. I have asked James to write this blog with me as an accountability method. We do not claim to be great theologians, or to have the final say on any Scripture, but we know that the no lie comes from Biblical truth. The practical implications of this theological truth are what James and I are striving for.
May God receive the glory for what is studied, exposed, and ultimately lived from this blog. James - feel free to add as you would like - I just had some thoughts and had to get them out.

DT