A Joy Thief

My church recently started teaching through Philippians. We’ve just started a couple of weeks ago, but it’s been an incredible experience so far! Not only are my pastors excited about Philippians, but also the people are really excited about learning from Philippians! I’ve never experience such community effort and involvement in an expository book series. Its almost like Philippians is a fresh, new letter from the Apostle Paul to Sovereign Grace Church of Greenville, and we’re thrilled to learn from it!

The key to this community effort is the small groups throughout the week. I meet with my community group every Friday night from 7p-10:30p (SGM lingo “caregroup”). A lot happens during my community group such as cultivating relationships, accountability, confession, prayer, healing, and breaking the bread; but a central part of my community group is the 2 hours we spend together as believers praising God and discussing the biblical text we heard on Sunday. Our goal is to discern how God is speaking to us as we live our everyday lives in Greenville 2009 – some Fridays it’s encouraging; other Fridays it’s really messy (as sin always is); but always I leave with hope in the gospel and a deepened bond with the body of Christ.

This last Friday night at community group, the community group leader asked a similar question for discussion that was asked the previous Friday before. “What robs us of our joy, and how does understanding the gospel and who we are in Christ remedy this problem?” I remember thinking about this the previous week but not sharing it for various reasons, so this time a response was burning on my mind, and I had a rare opportunity of group silence to blurt out some weak jumble of words about what robs me personally of the joy I should experience in Christ. I feel that I’m a better writer than speaker, so let me share what is burning in my mind and what I was trying to say. This happens to me a lot at community group; but for various (usually selfish/prideful) reasons, I don’t share.

What robs me of my joy in Christ is selfishness. Various specific sins are involved in my selfishness such as greed, laziness, idolatry, lust, pride, fear of man, and ignorance; but it all points back to me. I love being the center of my universe. Paul lived a life that is antithetical to how I generally live. Philippians speaks of this selflessness over and over again. The point was made at community group that we are created for another. He ought to be the center of my universe. Paul says in Philippians 2:17 that he rejoices when he is poured out like a drink offering for their sake. Paul found joy when he was totally forgotten and taken advantage of. This is not a selfish sadistic pain in pleasure but a pleasure in reaching outside oneself for the glory and profit of another.

I know that my life does not reflect this reality. I’m always thinking about me: “How do I feel?”

”Why is my energy so low?”

“Why doesn’t so and so do this?”

“How can I receive God’s blessing?”

“Maybe if I say this then so and so will be impressed and think I’m such a grace-filled Christian.”

“Maybe God will know how much I love him if I do such and such.”

“My life is great because I haven’t done any serious sin and I read my Bible everyday and go to church and pray for the missionaries and witness to at least one person a week.”

I’ve been guilty of all the above multiple times. Even the pursuit of joy itself can be selfish. Joy is a result of pursuing hard after God. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. Joy is a product of totally living for another.

In reality, this is an anti-American lifestyle. Our pop culture teaches us that it’s all about me. Our churches teach that it’s is all about you pleasing a stern God or conversely you receiving some blessing from a loving God. Even forgiveness of sins can become selfish if we lose sight of why. It was mentioned at community group that Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before him in glorifying the Father. It’s all about the Father. We suffer for the Father. We feel good for the Father. We breathe for the Father. We laugh for the Father. We are forgiven for the Father. We play for the Father. We serve for the Father. We love for the Father. We joy in the Father.

When we reach outside ourselves, then we experience true joy. As the Father reached out of Himself to us, so we must reach out of ourselves to Humanity. The Father loves the church, so I must reach outside myself to the church. The Father loves the world, so I must reach outside myself to the world. The Father loves me so I must live my life wisely and with stewardship and yet reach outside myself to others no matter how ugly, dirty, or beautiful. I am bad at this. I hate reaching out of myself, yet I can testify that I’ve experienced the greatest joy and growth when I stretched my limits of self-comfort.

I don’t fully understand selflessness because it almost seems like a logical contradiction. I don’t quite comprehend the fact that I am entirely God’s possession not my own. I don’t know how to live this fact out without erring on the side of selfishness whether legalism or passivity. This is where the gospel (God reaching out to me for his glory) comes into play every single day. But I do know that I’m called to reach outside myself for the Father. It is in this pursuit I find joy.

This is why I loved community group this last Friday. God is a relational being who has ordained a relational community to exist on earth bound by the gospel called the church whom I love as Paul loved. May we pour out ourselves as sacrifices in this modern world for the Father and thus experience joy.

Recent Lessons From God

Recently in the past month, God has taught me several lessons especially in the past two weeks. I thought I would share some of them for the benefit of others and to testify of the active working of God among us who believe. These aren’t profound lessons, but they are real, incarnate lessons that I’m learning with real situations in the past weeks.

• God calls us to live in wisdom, that is, to make wise choices and do them. This is in contrast to living as I feel, want, or desire though these emotions are a part of living in wisdom.
• God really does give wisdom to those who ask Him. (James 1)
• Manhood requires commitment and decision even when that calling doesn’t make sense in the outcome.
• Covenant love is better than lust, but requires devotion to Christ alone and commitment to pursue Christ supremely.
• God has called me to the kingdom of God and the local church not a specific ministry or movement (i.e. SGM, Acts 29 Network, SBC)
• I love the gospel and those who likewise love the gospel (i.e. SGM, Acts 29 Network, Gospel Coalition)
• No matter what I must pursuit Christ first and supremely; anything else is idolatry.

Father Forgive Us

A new song from the brothers over at RESOUNDworship.org

Father, forgive us when we fail to hear your call
to share your perfect love with those outside these walls.
We have the greatest gift, the truth of Jesus Christ;
we’re sent to go and tell the world.

We believe in God the Father,
we believe he sent his Son,
we believe that Jesus died and rose again.
We believe he brings forgiveness
and his Spirit changes lives.
We will live this gospel in his name.

Faith without action is as lifeless as the grave,
so may our lives proclaim that Jesus Christ can save.
We are your hands and feet, your workers on the earth,
we’ll show our faith by what we do.

by Andy Irons

“With this song I wanted to write about how we as Christians are called to take our faith out of our church buildings, and into the world around us. The chorus is a simple creed, that reminds us of the fundamentals of our faith, and the verses are a challenge to live that faith out. The verses take their inspiration from Jesus’ great commission to his disciples at the end of Matthew; ‘go and make disciples of all nations’, and from James chapter 2, picking up on the powerful challenge that ‘faith without deeds is dead.’” – Andy Irons

Listen to song here

Cave Trip Report

My brother John, my uncle Bert, and I did some hardcore caving this last 4th of July weekend in Georgia. We left my place in Greenville around 6a and began the 4 1/2 drive to Rising Fawn, GA. On the way, we stopped at Wally World In Dalton, GA and picked up some last minute items as well as some lunch. We arrived at Sue’s Market in Rising Fawn around 12p and started unloading our caving gear. The hike up to Byers Cave is about 45 minutes long up Fox Mountain and down a deep valley. Since there is no trail to the cave, we had to bushwack it for part of the way until we found the cave which is about 50 ft. from the bottom of the valley floor. We were burning up from the hike, so we got into the cave as quickly as possible around 2:00p in order to cool down. The entrance tunnel is about a 300 ft. crawl opening up over a 10 ft. flowstone drop into the Lunch Room. We took a short break here to cool off and change the batteries in our LED headlamps before beginning the strenuous trek to the middle cave. The first two drops were a lot more wet and slick than last time, so they were kind of tricky to get down without either doing a faceplant or busting a tailbone. From there, we shimmed over a 4 ft. wide crack with a 30 foot drop. On the left side of the crack, you could see a small hole were other people had belly-crawled past the crack, but I think its easier to put your back against the top part of the crack and shuffle with your feet on the other side of the crack. Past the crack was sharp 90 degree bend opening up above a canyon. This is where we had to stop last time because we thought we might want to have some rope to help get down and up. So Bert rigged a rope, and we got to try our rappelling gear for the first time down this 20 ft. rock face into the narrow canyon bottom. We were stuck for awhile looking around for the continuation of the passage, but eventually John found a small crack at the bottom of the canyon that seemed to continue on. The crawl wasn’t too bad going in except for the first part which I had a hard time squeezing my hips and chest through. I guess this part is called Hitchcock’s Easy Crawl which continues as a belly-crawl for about 100 ft. Hitchcock’s put us right above the main borehole area of the middle cave right next to the register. We took the borehole to the left about half a mile and ended up in a large formation room. Apparently there is more passage that descends to the lower cave in this area but we didn’t find it. We went back to the register and went to the right past several scary pits. At the end was a nice formation area with several bacon ceiling formations. Here we discover the Rabbit Hole which really is a man-sized rabbit hole. John went down first and we ended up in a stream passage that had several smaller side passages. Downstream there was a small underground lake and it looked as if there was more passage beyond the lake but we didn’t press it to see. After exploring for awhile, we went back up the Rabbit Hole into the main borehole and decided to descend down a steep pit in the middle of the borehole which we dubbed the Slime Climb because of all the slick mud on it. The Slime Climb opened into about a 60 ft. drop with multiple shelves which had a stream at the bottom. We got our rappelling gear and descended down several ledges until we were near the stream passage. For there, we explored the stream passage which didn’t go to far upstream because a 25 ft. cliff with a waterfall block the way. Downstream another 15 ft. waterfall prevented us from exploring downstream too far. We could have rappelled further downstream but we didn’t have enough rope with us. I had a lot of trouble ascending back up the 60 ft. drop because we were just using a Prusik knot for safety and just climbing the ledges up. At this point my legs were starting to cramp from fatigue. We finally got up to the borehole passage and began our trip out of the cave. We were all really tired, so climbing out of the cave was quite the job. At one point in the cave just before the borehole, we had trouble getting back up a ledge because it had no good handholds or footholds and to make matters worse there was a crevice just below the ledge that dropped down 20 ft. Three of us were standing below the ledge above the crevice which just waiting for one of us to slip and take the plunge into the room 20 ft. below. I ended up boosting Bert up and then he held a handline and helped John and I up. Hitchcock’s Easy Crawl was definitely a lot harder crawling back and it really made my elbows hurt on the sharp rocks. We got back to the slippery slides and had a lot of difficulty getting back up them because of the lack of grip on the rock. Finally, we managed to crawl out of the cave at 1:00a, 11 hours in the cave.  Since there is no trail to the cave, we ended up bushwack in the dark almost the whole way back to the car which wouldn’t be so bad except there was a lot of poison ivy. We finally got back to the car and drove to Chattanooga to get a motel for the night. I just about fell asleep on the way back driving, but we finally found a Motel 6 at around 3:00a. Byer’s Cave was definitely worth the energy and time, but I think I can only handle all the adrenaline rushes and climbing and squeezing about once a month max. The next day we went to Rusty’s Cave which also is on Fox Mountain. Rusty’s has a 40 ft. entrance pit which was a lot of fun to repel down. Rusty’s also has a lot of good formations in it. Rusty’s also in mostly just walking and some scrambling over slick rocks which is a lot easier than Byers. We’ll definitely need to hit Rusty’s again since we ran out of time this trip. Anyway, the whole caving trip was a success and worthwhile. Its amazing to see God’s creation inside the earth! God really had no reason to create the beauty inside caves which most people never see except for the fact that God loves beautiful things!

Living Faith

Mistaken souls that dream of Heaven
And make their empty boast
Of inwards joys and sins forgiven
While slaves to greed and lust
Vain is the will of mortal men
If faith is cold and dead
None but a living power unites
To Christ the living head

Pray for a living faith
That leads us to trust this grace
We cannot come to God on our own.
A faith that truly sees
That drives us to bended knee
Looking for hope in the cross of Christ alone.

True faith will purify the soul
And Faith will work by love
It forces sinful thoughts to go
And lifts our minds above
This faith will conquer earth and hell
By God’s celestial power
This is the grace that will prevail
In the decisive hour.

Pray for a living faith
That leads us to trust this grace
We cannot come to God on our own.
A faith that truly sees
That drives us to bended knee
Looking for hope in the cross of Christ alone.

Written by Brooks Ritter and Bobby Gilles
Adapted from “Hymn 140” by Isaac Watts

This song is from Sojourn Music’s newest cd Over the Grave (IMHO the best cd of 2009). I love that our faith is so simple yet so deep and complex. This deep, complex faith is a living faith, that is, a faith that brings life and vitality. This is probably one of my greatest struggles, having a faith that is not cold and factual but living!! Pray for a living faith! Only God alone can enliven the dead bones and give life to the lifeless flesh. How easy it is to boast in the inward joys and our sins forgiven yet still remain slaves of greed and lust! Pray for a living faith! Driven to bended knee, looking for hope in the cross of Christ alone!

Justified by His Grace

And [a voice] will call out unto them: “This is the paradise which you have inherited by virtue of your past deeds!” And the inmates of paradise will call out to the inmates of the fire: “Now we have found that what our Sustainer promised us has come true; have you, too, found that what your Sustainer promised you has come true?” [The others] will answer, “Yes!” – whereupon from their midst a voice will loudly proclaim: “God’s rejection is the due of the evildoers who turn others away from God’s path and try to make it appear crooked, and who refuse to acknowledge the truth of the life to come!” And between the two there will be a barrier. <Surah 7:43-45>

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. <Titus 3:5-7>

The vast chasm between Christianity and Islam is clearly seen above. Jesus offers grace to the undeserving, which is why we love Jesus so much. Jesus is why we sing songs for 45 minutes every Sunday morning. Jesus is the hope stored up in the future for us. No, we do not submit to God to earn his favor and hence paradise. We submit to God because of his vast love for evildoers manifest through Jesus! Rejoice in this hope and freedom! No longer a slave to bitter sin but an heir of God!

On Reading Systematic Theology

I’m baffled by the lack of interest by regular church members in systematic theology. Systematic theology is the ordering and relating of all the truths of Scripture. Christians who consider themselves people of the Book ought to regularly read the riches found in systematic theologies especially if we believe in a God who created the thinking mind, reflecting a part of His image in us.  And not just reading the ever so hip Wayne Grudem’s systematic (which is no doubt a great introductory systematic) but also Hodge, Shedd, Strong, Vanhoozer, Berkhof, Demarest, Erickson, Oden, Bloesch, Bavinck, and the list could go on and on. And these are all broadly evangelical authors, and No! they don’t all say the same things over and over again! I always smile when someone in my circles mentions Grudem as if he’s the great Evangelical pope and final authority of theology. Actually, Grudem really is a great systematic theologian; and I encourage everyone to read Grudem as some point in time; but please don’t stop with Grudem! Many men have gone before Grudem and said stuff that Grudem either repeats or fails to mention for one reason or another. The key with systematic theology is to read broadly because no systematic theology is without error since obviously the authors are not inspired. Systematic theologies are also prone to theological drift which is why the reader must always read critically and with an open Bible. This takes precious time and an immense amount of brain power if one is to read broadly, critically, and carefully; but the rewards are well worth the sweat and time.

I had someone ask me (I don’t remember who so I’m not thinking of you) “Why read systematic theology? Don’t just pastor’s need to read that stuff?” I near choked in surprise as such a ridiculous question! I strongly believe in the priesthood of the individual believer and the  right to studying and thus interpreting the Scripture as an individual before God (which causes me trouble from time to time). A grave danger in the church and world for that matter is being manipulated through wrong thinking and shoddy theology. The remedy to such a danger is prayer and the diligent and difficult study of theology both in the Holy Scriptures themselves (biblical theology) and as systematized throughout history (systematic theology and historical theology). Ignorance is not a virtue nor a mark of godliness. If you saw a lion while walking through the woods, you would not close your eyes and plug your ears while yelling, “I can’t see you, so you can’t see me!” This is foolish and childlike. The same lion, the devil, roams our world and we must not ignore the dangers lurking about by ignorantly shutting our eyes and plugging our ears but rather we must use every resource God has given us to resist.

Reasons to read:I think Charles Hodge gives several good reasons as to the necessity of systematic theology, so I’ll summarize what he says at the beginning of his 3 volume magnus opus:

1. Everyone constructs a system of theology. As humans, we intuitively systematize (that is automatically relate/connect and order) everything we come in contact with and our contact with the Holy Scriptures is no exception. The formation of denominations and movements is an example of the unavoidable propensity to systematizing everything. We all are part of some kind of system of theology whether it be Southern Baptist, independent baptist, Sovereign Grace, Presbyterian, and so on.
2. Systematic theology enables us to understand the “bigger picture” of who God is and what God is doing. It literally took the church centuries to understand the person of Christ and relate that in harmony with all the truths of Scripture. The person and divinity of Christ is something we take for granted today and find simple and perfectly clear, yet in the early centuries this was not so clearly understood.
3. Systematic theology must be understood if we are to teach, defend, and vindicate the truth of Christianity especially upon the minds of men. (1 Peter 3:15)
4. Systematic theology is the result of obeying God’s commands to study his works and study his Word.  As the stars are not isolated points but part of a large system of nature, so the truths of Scripture are not isolated truths but part of a larger system of truth.

Dangers:

1. We can study systematic theology in an academic manner with a cold, unmoved heart rather than studying theology as a “religious exercise” resulting in worship of the Living God. See Warfield’s excellent essay about this danger.
2. We can become calloused to the precious and deep truths about Christianity through much reading of theology.
3. Systematic theologies can breed theological drift, that is, drawing theological conclusions that the Bible does not teach.
4. God is not a system but a Being who is not a tame God as I was reminded recently by a fellow blogger.

Read them! Your faith will be immensely strengthened! Nothing gives boldness in witnessing and overcoming the fear of men than knowing what your talking about (a profound truth I know!) Your mind will be sharpened! Your relationship with Jesus deepened! We need normal church people who know how to think not just feel and argue! Reading systematic theology is one step in developing the Christian thinker.

On Reading the Qur’an

This summer I’ve been reading through the Qur’an. Whenever I mention that to someone, I always get a surprised look and the question, “Why are you reading the Koran?” After giving a big grin and trying to suppress laughter at their befuddled expression, I usually mumble some garbled answer off the top of my head. I guess I’m always surprised that I have to give a reason for why I’m reading the most important book in all of Islam, the world’s second largest religon with 1.3 billion adherents. I always want to say in the most sarcastic and unkind voice, “Is your faith so weak and unreasonable that your faith would fall apart if you actually used your brain and engaged the world around you?” But alas, that is unhelpfully and probably sinful to say to an individual.

I firmly believe that the Christian faith is not unreasonable. If that proposition is true, then we must seek to fully engage our minds in those ideas that seem to stand contrary to Christianity and work through the difficulties and challenges. This is a scary and fearful task, and very difficult as I also believe that we are finite beings who don’t understand everything around us. Because we are so finite and prone to deception, I believe we need to continually immerse ourselves in critical study both of the Holy Scriptures and systematic theology.

When I was an undergrad at NIU, I ordered a free Qur’an from the Council on American-Islamic Relations. I was expecting to get a small paperback Koran; but when I picked it up from the mail-room, I realized that Muslims were very serious about the Qur’an. The Qur’an I received was a nice oversized hardback edition with both the English interpretation next to the actually Arabic text. The Qur’an I received is on Amazon for about $50 new. This edition is supposed to be the best English translation of the Qur’an; and not only does it read wonderfully but it also contains commentary at the bottom of the page explaining the various Islamic interpretations throughout history for certain texts that are difficult to understand. You can still order a free copy of this English translation of the Qur’an but you now have to pay for shipping costs.

I had not read the Qur’an until this summer for various reasons, but I wanted to respect the Islamic community who sent me this Qur’an and actually read it myself. I also believe that Islam will play a larger role in the world community in the near future, so I wanted to educated myself on the actual teachings of this influential religion. Now I also believe that the simple gospel is all that a Christian needs when speaking about Christianity to a Muslim or any non-believer. In fact, only the gospel message alone by the enabling of the Spirit can save a Muslim. Nevertheless, if I’m to talk to a Muslim, I need to have some kind of understanding of his culture and beliefs and language. Isn’t that what relationships are all about? Relating ? Most Muslims care deeply about the Qur’an and its teachings, and most people talk/related deeply with those things they care about deeply. If I really care about people specifically Muslims, then I want to share with them and feel with them the things they care about. Of course, I care deeply about the gospel, and hopefully I can relate that deep care to my Muslim friends.

In my opinion there is nothing more disgusting than someone who says they care deeply about someone and then all they do is share the gospel with them without truly bearing the load and burden of gaining a friendship and relationship. Remember the gospel IS the most important and caring message we can share, but Jesus didn’t just preach repentance. He fed them; He healed them; He shared in their sorrows and burdens; and I’m sure he talked to them. What better way is there to respect a person and engage him than by accurately understanding what he believes? Yes, its hard work and yes, we must continually temper ourselves in the Holy Scriptures, but the church needs normal people who are salt on the earth who will engage the ideas of the World.

I have not read too far through the Qur’an. In fact, I just finished Surah 5. The Qur’an is composed of 114 surahs. The first several surahs are quite long, so I’ve actually read a lot of material. I am impressed with the reverence that Muslims have toward the Qur’an. A lesson and attitude many Christians could learn toward our Holy Scriptures. I’m fascinated how much the Qur’an speaks about Jesus Christ and most of it is in a positive light. I’ll just list briefly some teachings about Jesus that the Qur’an presents:

• Jesus was an inspired prophet like Moses (Surah 2:87)
• Jesus was born of a virgin (Surah 3:47, 56)
• Jesus is the Christ, “the anointed one” (Surah 3:45)
• Jesus was a wise and righteous man (Surah 3:46)
• Jesus called the disciples (Surah 3:52)
• Jesus was not a deciever (Surah 3:161)
• Jesus appeared to have been crucified (Surah 4:157)
• Jesus healed the blind and the lepers (Surah 5:110)
• Jesus raised the dead (Surah 5:110)
• Jesus was purely human and not divine (Surah 4:171)
• Jesus never taught he was divine (Surah 5:72; 116)

Only Your Blood Is Enough

I am ashamed conceived in sin I’ve always been.
Born in a world where Adam’s fall corrupts us
Rooted is the seed of death in life’s first breath
The law demands a perfect heart but I’m defiled in every part
For only your blood is enough to cover my sin                           For only your blood is enough to cover me.

All this guilt disturbs my peace I find no release.
Who will save me from my crime I’m helpless
Behold I fall before your face in need of grace
So speak to me in a gentle voice for in your mercies I rejoice
For only your blood is enough to cover my sin                           For only your blood is enough to cover me.

Lord, create my heart anew
Father, come and make us wise
Only you are pure and true
Lead us away from our demise                                                  Lord, you are the remedy
For only your blood can set us free                                                  For only your blood can set us free

No bleeding bird, no bleeding beast
No hyssop branch, no priest
No running brook, no flood, no sea
Can wash away this stain from me
For only your blood is enough to cover my sin
For only your blood is enough to cover me.

Words and Music Neil Robins, adapted from “Psalm 51 Part II” by Isaac Watts

I love it when musicians create fresh and Spirit-filled music for timeless truth. Sojourn Music, a ministry of Sojourn Community Church, has just released a new album comprised of some of the doctrinally rich hymns of Issac Watts set to creative and fresh tunes. Check out the song “Only Your Blood Is Enough” under the Music Player on the Sojourn Music Facebook page.

On Prayer

Prayer really has become a clique in Christianity. Since Next a couple of weeks ago, I’ve really been convicted about knowing Jesus more; and I’m not talking about just knowing more about him through the Scripture or  just acknowledging he’s preeminent over every situation in my daily life or just increasing my accountability with the body of Christ in my local church. These are all good and necessary, but can one do these things and still have the Lord say, “I never knew you”? Can conviction come to one’s conscience and the striving toward sanctification increase, yet one does not really know Him? May I increase my accountability and deepen my relationships with my fellow believers and yet still maintain a heart distant from Christ? “Lord!Lord! did we not do may things in your name?”

In community group, our pastor had us share how we can listen and apply the things we heard at Next. As Moses, I’m slow of speech; so under that conviction, I write. I generally awaken everyday with my affections cold toward Jesus, and if my affections are not cold in the morning, then they usually are cold by the afternoon or evening. I’m not necessarily talking about an emotional high all the time, but rather a deep seated desire for the presence of Christ, finding my self-confidence in my identity with him. Rather I’m speaking of a time in the day when my heart is “strangely warmed” by the presence and person of Jesus.

The only place my affections are warmed is when I encounter Jesus through private prayer. This praying is not for others, nor is this praying primarily about doing better in an area of my life. Instead, this prayer cries out to Jesus that unless I know him and he knows me, then all is vain and foolish striving. The one praying wholly cries out that he utter needs that God touch him. One must consciously set aside time to know Jesus in prayer, not bringing any needs save the need for a fresh vision of the Living King Jesus. This is the thoughtful celebration to Jesus of his Divine glory and the wonders of his Divine acts toward me and us. This is a quiet meditation of the King on the throne to the King on the throne. This prayer is a reveling in the creation and Creator to the Creator. This is amazement at the Beautiful to the Beautiful. All other acts of faith such as Bible meditation, supplication, intercession, accountability, worship, and fellowship must flow from this private prayer life. Then I know that I know him and he knows me! In order to guard against certain Mysticism, I must say that this vision of Jesus comes from the Diving writ, but O we need God to animate those words in our cognition and affections!

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”