December 2014 – 1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build up one another…"
It is amazing that we have all of these verbal prohibitions in our society today. Yet for some reason, the flippant response when someone is surprised, astonished or angry, is to scream out the name of "Jesus Christ" or "God". It is perfectly acceptable to use the name of God or Jesus Christ in vain but it is not OK to honor it. Like many things in our society today that relate to the Christian faith, there is a bias and hatred and of course a double standard. The name of the Lord is rejected and despised, while the names of those who live unholy lives is celebrated! We are more passionate about defending the name, integrity, and reputation of a sports figure or politician than we are about the Holy name of God Almighty!
Sound old fashioned and no longer relevant? Yes, that is the original King James Version with the "thou"s and the "shalt"s. But to take it back even further, the original Hebrew word for "vain" means to empty of all value; it is to state that the object has absolute emptiness and is void of any and all worth. Basically, to take the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in vain is to declare it worthless. That will never be!
So what if we start a movement…a call to reaffirm the Holy name of God? A movement to emphasize the sanctity and honor that is in the name of Jesus Christ alone! A call to restore the reverence and honor and respect that is deserved by a Holy God! We can call it the "Majestic Moniker" movement. No, I am not serious about that name or even starting a "movement". I could however, go on and on about how we could be offended by the intolerance of others, the insensitivity in their speech by using the Lord's name in vain, but it says in Proverbs 19:11 that "…it is to a man's glory to overlook an offense." Truth be told, we don't need to fight to defend the name of Christ, God has already exalted His name above all names and there is no chance, absolutely none, that it will ever suffer loss at the hands of an unthinking, fallen world!
So how do we as believers respond to this daily occurrence while also accomplishing the Gospel work that God has commanded us to? Consider this option…the next time someone uses the Lord's name in vain in your presence why not strike up a conversation about the immeasurable worth of the name of Jesus Christ. Let's lovingly communicate His immeasurable worth and His incredible love for them. Knowing how often folks use the Lord's name in vain, I expect that each of us will have countless opportunities during the course of a single day or week to share the truth of Christ magnificence and worth with someone!
Make me hear joy and gladness, create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
As I write this it is snowing. It is not the first snow of the season and living in New England, I am quite certain it is not the last we will see of it this winter. There is something different though tonight. Perhaps the various things going on in my life are the reason for the significance of the snow in my mind. Maybe it is just that snow brings about a wide array of feelings, emotions, and attitudes…frustration, delight, weariness, exhaustion, and impatience. "It is so pretty to look at!" or "When is it ever going to stop?", or "I am going to be late for dinner…the traffic is a mess!" I am not sure why, but isn't it funny how something as innocuous as a snowflake can evoke such strong and impassioned responses. It is amazing that snow is used in scripture to depict the purity and completeness of the forgiveness we receive as believers.
Often times the verses above which are found in Psalm 51 are claimed for the encouragement they bring. Phrases like "restore to me my joy…", "make me hear joy and gladness" and "whiter than snow" remind us of the gracious, loving work that God does in our hearts. The newness of life that only He can provide is an immeasurable blessing. The restoration and righteousness we have by the working of Christ on the cross is awesome and impactful. We should find joy and gladness when we consider those things. However, the verses above must also remind us of our own personal plea to God for forgiveness. They remind us of the desperate need for a Savior and the wonder and delight of being renewed by the Spirit. They remind us of our times of disobedience and rebellion. They remind us of our neediness and ongoing desire to be drawn close again to our Lord and Savior.
In this particular passage David is seeking forgiveness for the sin with Bathsheba. He had been confronted by Nathan and knew the sin had separated him from God. How could David, having sinned as he had, get to a point where he would once experience that "joy and gladness"? How could he have once again have a renewed, "steadfast spirit"? The answer is found in the first four verses of chapter 51 where David repents and confesses his sin and throws himself at the mercy and grace of his heavenly Father.
For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
David pleads to God for mercy not according to his own ever-present sin, but according to God's lovingkindness. What is so powerful is that David realizes perhaps the one thing that we often miss…David has sinned against God and him only. Does it mean that he did not sin against Bathsheba…no, of course not. But it just does not hold the same gravity when compared with sinning against a Holy God.
Christmas is an amazing time of year as we are more focused on the birth of Christ. It is also a wonderful time to remember the finished work of Christ on the cross.
Have you visited the foot of the cross today? Have you been washed as white as snow?