Saturday, August 13, 2011
Bid My Anxious Fears Subside...
A few years ago, I attended a church in Nashville that played some great old hymns and I really connected with the classic "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah" (from which the title above is taken). The song talks of the journey of the weary pilgrim who has been beaten up by life and was desperate for God to get him safely to the Promised Land. For a long time, I had struggled with anxiety (and I still do to some extent). At that point, I was having a tough time in life and the song spoke to my soul. I, too, asked God to bid my anxious fears subside, to help me to trust in Him in the midst of difficulty. That song was an anchor for me that kept me clinging to God and got me through my trials. Still, I know anxiety is my rival and I will have to battle it. So, when I came across a chapter about anxiety in John Piper's "Battling Unbelief," I was an eager reader. Piper is a fantastic scholar and pastor, and his biblical knowledge is second to none. Knowing that I am surely not the only one with this struggle, I wanted to share a condensed version of the chapter.
"When I am anxious about some risky new venture or a meeting, I battle unbelief with Isaiah 41:10- 'Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.'
When I am anxious about my ministry being empty and useless, I fight unbelief with with the promise of Isaiah 55:11- 'So shall my word be that it goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.'
When I am anxious about being too weak to do my work, I battle unbelief with the promise of Christ, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' (II Corinthians 12:9)
When I am anxious about decisions I have to make in the future, I battle unbelief with the promise, 'I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.' (Psalm 32:8)
When I am anxious about facing opponents, I battle unbelief with the promise, 'If God is for us, who can be against us?' (Romans 8:31)
When I am anxious about the welfare of those I love, I battle unbelief with the promise that if, I, being evil, know how to give good things to my children, how much more will 'your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!' (Matthew 7:11)
When I am anxious about being sick, I battle unbelief with the promise, 'Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.' (Psalm 34:19)
When I am anxious about dying, I battle unbelief with the promise, that 'none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. If we live, we live to the Lord and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.' (Romans 14:7-9)..."
I was encouraged and uplifted by Piper's words in this chapter and reminded me that our anxious thoughts can't be battled with anything other than the very words of God. Ultimately, our anxiety isn't healed by medication or counseling or will power (although all of these things can and usually are good things). Maybe this word was for you today...you are not alone in this struggle and I encourage you to speak the Word of Truth into your heart, bidding your anxious fears subside when they come upon you.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Christianity is a Covenant
Tonight at our high school Bible study, we talked about the erosion of commitment in our culture. We see it in failing marriages, church-hopping, constant career changes (the latest statistics indicate that we adults change careers/jobs 11 times in our lifetimes), and a general fickleness about being rooted in any one thing forever. Commitment---or better yet, covenant---is no longer as valuable as it once was.
The theme of covenant is foundational to the Scripture. Throughout the Old Testament we read of various covenants made between people. These commitments were sealed by blood and were deep promises that were expected to be kept as long as both parties lived. Of course, covenant is fully realized in the New Testament as Christ's death and resurrection form a new covenant that connects humanity to deity. This covenant between Christ and man is described as a marriage between the bridegroom (Christ) and the bride (His Church). Even considering the rising divorce rate in our culture, the marriage covenant is ostensibly still valued today. Yet, despite our respect for the marriage covenant, do we really hold our marriage commitment to Christ in such high esteem?
If I were to flirt with another woman, my wife would be hurt and our marriage would suffer. So, I don't do that. But I flirt with the world often and expect my relationship with Christ to be fine. I'm sure I'm not the only one. Not only that, there have been many times when I have chosen to be unfaithful to Christ and knowingly indulge in sin. If I were unfaithful to Alyssa, it would destroy our relationship. Somehow, I don't recognize the damage being done to my relationship with Jesus when I ignore our covenant. Of course, Christ is full of grace and forgiveness but that doesn't mean my relationship with him doesn't suffer. Days can go by without me talking to God...how many of us would have much of a marriage if we didn't talk with our spouse for a week? I'm not writing this to be down on myself or on any of you, and I certainly don't think that Christ's love for me swings on the pendulum of what I do. However, we need to seriously consider what the word covenant means and ask ourselves, "Am I committed to this serious pact I have made with Christ? Will I treat Him with the love, respect and honor that I would give my spouse?"
This Christ-life is a commitment. In a culture that does not value commitment, we MUST work hard to remain rooted in the covenant we have made with Christ. It has to guide our steps and we must remain vigilant in keeping it. Christianity is a covenant, and a covenant is serious business.
The theme of covenant is foundational to the Scripture. Throughout the Old Testament we read of various covenants made between people. These commitments were sealed by blood and were deep promises that were expected to be kept as long as both parties lived. Of course, covenant is fully realized in the New Testament as Christ's death and resurrection form a new covenant that connects humanity to deity. This covenant between Christ and man is described as a marriage between the bridegroom (Christ) and the bride (His Church). Even considering the rising divorce rate in our culture, the marriage covenant is ostensibly still valued today. Yet, despite our respect for the marriage covenant, do we really hold our marriage commitment to Christ in such high esteem?
If I were to flirt with another woman, my wife would be hurt and our marriage would suffer. So, I don't do that. But I flirt with the world often and expect my relationship with Christ to be fine. I'm sure I'm not the only one. Not only that, there have been many times when I have chosen to be unfaithful to Christ and knowingly indulge in sin. If I were unfaithful to Alyssa, it would destroy our relationship. Somehow, I don't recognize the damage being done to my relationship with Jesus when I ignore our covenant. Of course, Christ is full of grace and forgiveness but that doesn't mean my relationship with him doesn't suffer. Days can go by without me talking to God...how many of us would have much of a marriage if we didn't talk with our spouse for a week? I'm not writing this to be down on myself or on any of you, and I certainly don't think that Christ's love for me swings on the pendulum of what I do. However, we need to seriously consider what the word covenant means and ask ourselves, "Am I committed to this serious pact I have made with Christ? Will I treat Him with the love, respect and honor that I would give my spouse?"
This Christ-life is a commitment. In a culture that does not value commitment, we MUST work hard to remain rooted in the covenant we have made with Christ. It has to guide our steps and we must remain vigilant in keeping it. Christianity is a covenant, and a covenant is serious business.
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