He Knows Me Through and Through

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son (Romans 8:29)

What a wonderful thing to be known by God! The elders use to pray, “You know us Lord, better than we know ourselves.” His knowledge about me is greater than my comprehension will ever be in this life. God knows us through and through. He meticulously made me for a certain end: “to be conformed to the image of his Son, Jesus Christ.

Some limit foreknowledge to mere “foresight” or that God knows what will happen before it happens. But God’s foreknowledge is so much more than that. The word speaks of a determinant design. The idea is captured beautifully by David when He says, “you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” And the extent of God’s intimate innate blueprint of “whom he did foreknow” is stated in Jeremiah, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”

Another analogy is that of a parent already knowing the things of life that his or her child will discover. He made us for a purpose, and that purpose is to be the elect of God. We’ve been set to that end. In that day, one’s knowledge of self will catch up with His knowledge as Paul says, “But then shall I know even as also I am known.”

The knowledge of who I am, and what God intended as He created me, is something I discover as I live and yet I can never discover what He has not known.  Again, the Psalmist is abundantly clear, “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Our personality, proclivities, passions, placement, etc. were all aimed by God for our redemption.

Taking the Fear out of Fear

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverb 1:7)

I find it interesting how some Christian teachers attempt to dumb down the word “fear” as it relates to God. Often we are told this use of the word “fear” does not mean to terrify or scare; rather, it means to reverence or respect, as if any of these words are antonyms; they are actually synonyms. The closest ideal to God in this life is our dad. This is one reason God is called The Father. A child, rightly so, does respect his or her dad; however, the fact is when a father is doing a good job, there are some things his children will not do because they are afraid of incurring dad’s chastening. Sometimes taking the right course is fostered by avoiding the painful strap of correction. Ironically the book of Proverbs is written by a father to his son, laying out the principles of human nature and their behavioral causes and consequential effects. The effects of unrighteous behavior are meant to be a terror to us. If we would be honest with ourselves, at some point in life each of us did right, not because it was right, but we were just downright scared to do wrong. That fear preserved us until we came to understand why right is right and wrong is wrong.

Yuri Solomon (Devotion 101313)

Mental Medicine

 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (Heb 12:3)

A student endures many years of college because of a mental focus to acquire adequate credentials. A mother endures painful childbearing because it ends in joyful expectations. An athlete endures a rigorous course of discipline because he considers it the cost of victory. Physical exhaustion is temporary and can be overcome with a good night’s sleep or perhaps a week of vacation; however, mental exhaustion is a horse of a different color. It is the result of a misfocus and consequently bad expectations. When people disappoint, plans fail, and Christian living brings painful affliction, we are not only given Jesus’ exhortation but His example to consider. He said unequivocally, hardship in the Christian life is certain. Moreover this sinless and perfect man suffered unduly and unjustly, trotting out the path before us. Endurance is not as much physicality as it is mentality. The Hebrew writer says mental rest and relaxation immediately occurs when we consider Him. What a paradox, one can labor and rest simultaneously if Jesus is on your mind. Whether preventative or cure for spiritual burnout: consider Him! For then your affliction affirms your destiny, your suffering soothes your conscious, and your pain prospers your spirit.

Yuri Solomon - Devotion 100813

Let patience have her perfect work

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (James 1:3-4)

We often overlook the fact that temptation and patience are opposites. Temptation is demanding immediate gratification of a desire; patience is but to except God’s delay. Yet temptation is set as a handmaid to the godly mind identifying the need for patience in the tempted area. Paul says on another occasion, "the resisting of temptation builds character". It is no different than weight-lifting or resistance training as an athlete. The heavy lifting of maintaining a Christ-like disposition creates spiritual muscle. Temptation masquerades as a short-cut to a legitimate desire. The answer to temptation is patience. A little patience will beget more patience for a greater blessing. Yet patience is not waiting in a vacuum; rather, it is preoccupied with both theology and prayer; that is, studying God’s ways and acquiring His wisdom. For what God desires to give you in all things is Himself and that through patience. Realize there are no short-cuts and let patience have her perfect work.

Yuri Solomon - Devotional 100713

From Suspension to Resolve

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations (1Peter 1:6) 

It is human nature to evade avoidable suffering; and rightly so I should say. Yet it remains a fool’s quest to avoid what is inevitable, and folly to not prepare as much as possible.  Jesus insists that suffering is in the pathway of every Christian. However, we often find ourselves in suspension about suffering rather than resolve. Our minds are fixated on immediate deliverance and not so much on God’s will and purpose. Peter later in this chapter said, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end”. In other words, mentally accept where you are, and prepare to endure the journey in such a time. One may ask? And Peter gives four mental resolves about the believer’s suffering:  it’s a temporary situation; it’s a necessary path, it’s tough to endure, and it’s tempting to give up. When one comes to this expectation of those times of Christian hardship, it adds a confidence in the will of God, a view to suffering’s end, an awareness of the challenges, and a strength to persevere. A suspension is to leave hanging, in limbo, unsure, unresolved, but to resolve is to place it firmly on the ground: “This is what I have to do.” After much prayer and anguish Jesus resolved, “Not my will but your will be done”.

They shall be His people, and God Himself shall be their God

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. (Revelation 21:3)

Herein is the ultimate definition of heaven, a perfect relationship, mutual in character on both ends. Heaven is less a place than it is the presence of a person: God, Himself. Heretofore we were absolutely God's people, yet there is that sense in which God was not absolutely our God.  In our immaturity, we still harbored alternative gods. The first commandment, thou shall have no other God before me, is violated again and again before we are glorified. But at that time sanctification will give way to glory, and we will know even as we are known: actuated, actualized, not positional but practical, not merely credited righteousness but personal righteousness. Matthew Henry describes the new human capacity, “and then He will fully answer the character of the relation on His part, as they [humans] shall do on their part.” For the first time in our relationship with God, without ambiguity or abstraction, without sin’s interruption, in both mind and body, He shall be our God.

-Yuri Solomon 100313

Who is This Baby

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

I read somewhere of a little boy and girl who were singing their favorite Christmas carol in church the Sunday before Christmas. The boy concluded "Silent Night" with the words, "Sleep in heavenly beans." "No," his sister corrected, "not beans, peas."

The fact of the matter is that many do not know the true meaning of Christmas. We do not understand its import, its impact, or its infinity. The import of Christmas is Jesus Christ, the sinless babe born in the manger, which grew up as a perfect man for the single mission of paying sin’s price of death. The impact was that through him believers are saved. Any man snatch from hell and bound for heaven is because of Christmas. Finally, its infinity: Christ is forever. The kingdom of God is populated with those who believe Jesus was born the savior of the world. And of that Kingdom, Isaiah says, shall be no end.

It is ironic that the word Christmas, literally means a “Worship Service for Christ” and it was the original tradition of Christians to go to Church every Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Yet today it seems that this is in large part a thing of the past. Christmas is celebrated without Christ. The import has become family and friends, the impact has been indebted shoppers and retailers’ bottom lines, and infinite treasure has been traded for temporal trash.

Why not become an agent of change in your own family? Before you open one gift, take a few seconds and share with your family the real meaning of Christmas in a very easy and simple way, by reading those Classical verses from Luke 2:7-14,

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Merry Christmas

THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN - Part 1: Her Virtue

Proverb 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

In a time where women are taking their queue from the world and that in stark opposition to God’s word, Christians need to proclaim His truths clearer, louder, and more frequently. A true woman is what God’s says she is and nothing more or less. She is the helper to her husband, a compliment to his life, and his most valuable possession. This has less to do with who her husband is, than it has to do with what God made her to be. This kind of woman is no accident; somebody has prepared her for a husband.

This passage has been aptly deemed by classical Christianity, “The Virtuous Woman” or “A Good Woman.” It is a proverb written by a mother to her son, describing a woman like herself as the kind of woman he should marry. Today, many women are told the opposite of what the bible affirms as true, good, and right before God. They are told that they should not have to live up to their husband’s mother’s standards; they are told that they are not their husband’s possession; they are told that they have a right to their own life, vision, and goals; they are told they have as much say-so in the direction of the family unit as does their husband. Yet how wrong and anti-biblical is such talk.

This passage, though speaking much about a type of woman is centered on a man. It is warning to a man. It is instruction to a man. It adorns a woman in beautiful character for a man. It describes a woman at optimal function that is valuable to a man. It describes a woman as having endured vigorous preparation for a man. Paul affirms this in the New Testament, "For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man (1 Corinthian 11:8-9). The goodness of this woman is a product of understanding, accepting, and remaining in her God-ordained purpose. In verses 10-15 she is found having 5 traits in the eyes of her husband: 1) supremely valuable – she is his most treasured possession, 2) absolutely trustworthy – she acts in the context of his intention and pleasure, 3) extremely helpful – she makes him a better man directly and indirectly, 4) capable and skillful – she is able to produce things of value good for her family and others, 5) Resourceful and thrifty – she is frugal, not at all wasteful or destructive, and 6) Nurturing – she works to optimize the family in all areas.

In short, the virtuous woman has been prepared to be a wife to her husband, a mother to her children, and a model woman for other women.

Instruct Me In The Night Seasons

Psa 16:7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.

What a wholesome resolve. Not only passionate but intellectual – “I will,” yet not only intellectual but passionate – “my reins.” And there is no other way to please God then to remain passionately tied to the word of God in the dark times. Yet this is often when Christians make excuses by appealing to the frailty of our humanity, and are emotionally turned to self-preservation rather than divine dependency.

The wise counsel of God is not as much for day as it is for the night seasons. What need is there to turn to other alternatives in the blissful season? What new source of light is sought in the brightness of day? Temptation dwells in the night, in the uncertainty of the wilderness experience, and in the presence of pain without apparent remedy.

Night seasons are unpredictable and they call for unpredictable behavior. And there is for the believer light in darkness, joy in sorrow, and assurance in uncertainty. Is not counsel given by God, a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path? The word of God instructs us when the day becomes dusk and dusk becomes dark. When what to do is no longer evident and obvious, when everything one thought would help is exhausted, and when all other advisors are at an impasse, what one knows of God remains reliable, stable and sure.

One may have at points blessed his own wisdom. One may have at points blessed his own ingenuity. One may have at points blessed his good friends. All of these bear some level of appropriateness. However, in the night seasons it is time to bless the Lord and Him alone.

The night seasons are not times to turn to the right or left. The night seasons are not times to doubt what God has said. The night seasons are not times to conclude that it’s more than you can bear. The night seasons are not times to conclude that God has forsaken you. The night seasons are not times to fall into fleshly consolations.

In the night seasons, one may have to know like Abraham that the Lord will provide a sacrifice in the place of your son. In the night seasons, one may have to say like the three Hebrew children, “If the Lord will not deliver me from the fire, I still won’t bow.” In the night seasons one may have to do like David after the death of a child, “arise from the earth, and wash, and anoint himself, and change his apparel, and come into the house of the LORD, and worship.” In the night seasons one must be informed by God’s counsel and driven by an unwavering attachment to the same.