What You Feel vs. What is Real

Excerpt from Living the Cross Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney

And this is how serious it gets: In our arrogance, we invest our feelings (or lack therof) with final authority rather than recognize that our emotions tend to be unstable, unreliable, often governed by pride, and riddled with lies - lies that "feel" like the truth.
I've watched people yield to such lies repeatedly. It's a frightening experience to sit with individuals who actually insist that what they feel is ultimately more authoritative to them that what's written clearly in Scripture. They even somehow assume God is sympathetic to this attitude. But He is not. He would, in fact, identify it as the height of arrogance - which is something He's unalterably opposed to: "God opposes the proud," His Word declares.

How subtly true this is in our lives. Lord help us to rely on Your objective truth.

David

More Worthy Resolutions

21. Resolved, never to do any thing, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him. (Resolutions 1 through 21 written in one setting in New Haven in 1722)

22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power, might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.

23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God' s glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.

24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then, both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.

27. Resolved, never willfully to omit any thing, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.

30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.

31. Resolved, never to say any thing at all against any body, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.

32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that, in Proverbs 20:6,‹A faithful man who can find?Š may not be partly fulfilled in me.

33. Resolved, to do always, what I can towards making, maintaining, and preserving peace, when it can be done without overbalancing detriment in other respects. Dec. 26, 1722.

34. Resolved, in narrations never to speak any thing but the pure and simple verity.

35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.

36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent,- what sin I have committed,-and wherein I have denied myself;-also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec. 22 and 26, 1722.

38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord' s day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.

39. Resolved, never to do any thing of which I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or not; unless I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.

40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.

I really like resolution #22 and #25. Trusting in a greater happiness and love that is found in God alone.

James

Worthy Resolutions

With the new year here, I've read many blogs and articles which discourage new year resolutions because they tend to exalt man and his accomplishments. I agree that resolutions can result in the exaltation of man, but at the same time I think they could go in an opposite direction and result in the exaltation of God. I think that Jonathan Edwards' resolutions are an example of how resolutions can be a good thing which benefits man the most and glorifies God the greatest. Here are just a few of his resolutions:

THE RESOLUTIONS

of

Jonathan Edwards

---

BEING SENSIBLE THAT I AM UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING WITHOUT
GOD' S HELP, I DO HUMBLY ENTREAT HIM BY HIS GRACE TO ENABLE ME TO KEEP THESE RESOLUTIONS, SO FAR AS THEY ARE AGREEABLE TO HIS WILL, FOR CHRIST' S SAKE.

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God' s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.

2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new contrivance and invention to promote the aforementioned things.

3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God. July 30.

9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances do not hinder.

12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.

14. Resolved, never to do any thing out of revenge.

15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger towards irrational beings.

16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

17. Resolved, that I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

18. Resolved, to live so, at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.

19. Resolved, never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.

20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance, in eating and drinking.

In the next few weeks, I will post the rest of his resolutions. They are such Godward thoughts and aspirations to aim for.

JT

2008 Devotions

My plans are to read the Chronological One Year Bible in the the mornings. To suppliment the morning reading Sharon and I are going to read John Stott's Through the Bible Through the Year. Please pray for us and let us know of your intentions for Bible Study this year!

David

3 Games

Like many of you we met with family, indulged in much food and little activity today. The extent of our exercise included finding a chair to watch a funny show or finding a chair at the table to play a game. We engaged in three games today of which you may be familiar.

In the game called Loaded Questions the questioner posed a question to all, which led to 11 hidden responses around the room. The anonymous responses were quoted for the questioner who was to guess what response went with what person. Your score depended on one thing: How well do you know others in the room?

In the game called Like Minds two were paired up. A phrase was posed and the answers between the pairs were to match and points were awarded for each one that did. Again, your objective was to come up with quick responses, yet try to determine what your teammate might be thinking. Your score depended on one thing: How well do you know another in the room?

The final game we played called Moods was somewhat theatrical. 9 different moods were displayed on cards in front of all. One person per turn would quote a given phrase in one of the 9 moods unbeknown to the entire group. Points were awarded to you for your performance by those around you who could identify the exact mood you had acted. Points were also awarded to those who properly identified your mini-drama. Your score depended partially on this thing: How well do you know others in the room?

I must admit that I failed miserably. I did not fail because I lost some of the games, but in one sense I did. I failed because my overall outlook toward others is lacking at best. We are not concerned with much more than the obvious when it comes to family and friends! To our credit Christmas is the only time we see particular family members who we have not seen or heard from during the year. But honestly, this fact did not satisfy my disgust in my personal selfishness. It is easy to be consumed with one person in the our lives – the one in the mirror – the one we look for every time we look at a picture – the one we pray about – the one we feed – the one whose name we look for in our peripheral under the tree – the one we go to the mailbox for – the one we love the most!

Here’s what Scripture says:

James 3:14-15

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.

Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.

Gal 5:19-20

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,

Prov 18:1

An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment.

Lord, help us to obey these next verses:

Phil 2:2-4

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Ps 119:36

Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.

I have not given you practical helps because I am considering what they might be for myself. Help me by responding with you practical ideas and I will post a follow up blog.

David

What Idolatry Truly Is

I have just started reading Isaiah in my daily reading and am loving it! Yesterday I read chapter 2 and learned a great deal about what idolatry truly is. God said this concerning His people: "Their land is filled with idols." (v.8) He then goes on to name all their idols. What I noticed is that the sin of idolatry is associated, in God's eyes, with the sin of pride. Actually what I saw in this chapter is that they are basically one in the same. I would define idolatry as "exalting something or someone in place of God." I would define pride as "exalting self above all else." It is clear that God is condemning the pride of Israel as you read of at least 15 phrases that speak of man exalting himself above God such as these:

• "haughty looks of man"
• "lofty pride of men"
• "haughtiness of man"
• "lifted up"
• "uplifted hills"
• "high tower"

God is speaking of the future "day of the Lord" and says 2 awesome things. Two times He says, "the Lord alone will be exalted in that day", as opposed to man being exalted. Then He says, "In that day mankind will cast away their idols", linking pride with idolatry.

The end of this chapter is phenomenal! He says, "Stop regarding man." I believe He is saying to stop exalting self. "For of what account(value) is he(man)?" God is not saying that man has no value, but that, compared to Him, we are not that valuable to be "lifted high". This thinking will help us in deciding each day who we will exalt. Will we exalt self, "in whose nostrils is breath"? Or will we exalt God, who has "splendor of majesty"?

What I have learned about idolatry is that my idol is actually me. We tend to say that our idols are things outside ourselves such as money, sex, stuff, our jobs, family, etc. These, I believe are simply outward manifestations of who our idol truly is, who we are exalting above God. Our idol is self which would also be pride. I once read a great book by Jim Berg in which he said that our daily choice is "pleasing God or pleasing self". I understand what he meant but I don't like that expression because it can mislead some to think that there is no pleasure in serving and pleasing God. I think the daily choice is actually this: Exalt God or exalt self.

Please pray for me bro., that I may "stop regarding man(self)" daily and exalt our GREAT GOD!

James

The Jealous God

I've arrived at chapter 17 in Packer's book Knowing God. Immediately I think about jealousy in my own life and cannot seem to marry that word anywhere with God! Jealousy as defined by me is very similar to coveting. I want what someone has or more specifically I want to be where someone is or in the position of prominence that they hold. The result of this attitude is inner bitterness and anger and an attempt to do everything I can to attain to my desirable results.

Personal illustration: Recently I went hunting with a friend. We were both in a tree stand with equal opportunity, but he had the nice gun and the prime spot for deer. On top of that - he has already shot several deer this year - which means he will only shoot if something with big horns comes through. Meanwhile in my head I am in the tree, low to the ground, in a new spot, with a gun that is not designed to shoot deer. You already know where my mind went when we came out of the woods and I found out he had seen 5 deer and they were all too small for him to shoot.

Is divine jealousy the same way? Does God react in this way when things "go wrong" on the earth? Packer's question had me captivated: "How can jealousy be a virtue in God when it is a vice in men?"

He poses two facts to answer these questions that are helpful.

1. Biblical statements about God's jealousy are anthropomorphisms - that is, descriptions of God in language drawn from the life of man. He says: "The reason why God uses these terms to speak to us about Himself is that language drawn from our own personal life is the most accurate medium for communicating thoughts about Him that we have."

God uses these words for our better understanding. These words however can stand alone in their meaning with God - apart from the affects of sin that may result from these attitudes in our hearts.

2. There are two sorts of jealousy among men, and only one of them is a vice. Vicious jealousy is an expression of the attitude,'I want what you've got, and I hate you because I haven't got it.'
But there is another sort of jealousy - zeal to protect a love relationship, or to avenge it when broken.

"... He demands from those whom He has loved and redeemed utter and absolute loyalty, and will vindicate His claim by stern action against them if they betray His love by unfaithfulness."

May God help us come to appreciate this jealousy for the love that is woven into it's very fabric. This jealousy is designed for our good and for His name sake. We can view this jealousy as harsh and cruel, but the effect that God has intended is in the very least - the opposite. I love my Savior more today because of His divine jealousy. I am free to relinquish the sinful jealousy of my heart to the righteous impeccable jealousy of God purchased for me in the death of His Son.

DT