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Tag Archives: Gospel

Redeeming Power

13 Wednesday Jan 2021

Posted by Joshua Steely in Meditations

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, God, Gospel, Grace, Hope, Love, Mercy, Pandemic, Power, Redemption, Salvation

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?  Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” (Psalm 42:5, ESV).

            The psalmist follows his statement of longing for God (vv.1-2) with words of mourning and anguish, reflecting on a joyful fellowship with God that seems broken (vv.3-4; cf. vv.9-10).  Then he comes to this question and corresponding charge (v.5), which may be taken as the key theme in the psalm, for it recurs exactly at the end, in verse 11.  He interrogates his soul, searching for the reason behind its anguished grief; and he points himself to the hope of all the righteous: the redeeming power of God.

            Hope in God, when you are downcast; call out to Him in the depths of your sorrow, and even in despair.  God is able to save.  God is able to redeem, restore, and heal.  With God, the future is always bright with possibilities, for no one and no situation is beyond the power of His redeeming love.

A-bsurdity

04 Monday Jan 2021

Posted by Joshua Steely in Contra Mundum

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Christianity, Culture, Culture War, Gender, God, Gospel, Government, Idolatry, LGBTQ+, Religious Left, Secularism, Sexual Revolution, Society

Apparently, Representative Emanuel Cleaver, who holds ordination with the UMC, closed his prayer before congress Sunday, “Amen and awoman,” in what appears to bring an attempt at gender equity.  The problem, of course, is that the word “amen” has no reference, etymologically or in contemporary usage, to the masculine gender.  “Amen” is a Hebrew word meaning “truly,” and is used at the end of prayers as an affirmation, in a tradition built from the word’s biblical usage.  That anyone should make it into a masculine term and construct a corresponding feminine term is, to be charitable, utter silliness.  That a member of congress should do so is a telling commentary on our social situation.

In fact, given the context, we may find Rep. Cleaver’s silliness comparatively innocuous.  The U.S. House of Representatives, under the leadership of Nancy Pelosi, is advancing the dehumanizing ideology of the sexual revolution in ways so farcical that they may obscure the dangers represented.  Madam Speaker (if that continues to be an acceptable reference under her leadership) has an ‘inclusive’ agenda to remove gendered language.  Paulina Enck, writing in The Federalist:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is attempting to excise all references to either sex in House business to “honor all gender identities” and “promote inclusion and diversity.” On Monday, the House of Representatives is set to vote on a Rules Package for the 117th Congress, which Pelosi and Rules Committee Chairman James McGovern promise will be “the most inclusive in history.”

Removing references to men and women?  What does that look like?  Enck elaborates:

This would mean replacing any instance of “he or she” with the grammatically incorrect colloquialism of “they” as a singular, or the unnecessarily long “such Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner.” Further, “himself” or “herself” becomes “themself,” a word not recognized by several dictionaries, and acknowledged by the New Oxford Dictionary as “not widely accepted in standard English.”

Words such as “mother” and “father” would be replaced with “parent,” “aunt” and “uncle” with the awkward “parent’s sibling,” and “grandmother” and “grandfather” becomes “grandparent.” I wonder if Pelosi will bring her commitment to language policing to Twitter and remove “mother, grandmother” from her bio.

Next to this agenda, Rep. Cleaver’s bizarre inclusivity appears rather behind-the-times.  “Amen and awoman?” one might ask, “and what about the myriads of other genders we have constructed for ourselves?”  Feminism was an early step in the revolution, and has now been left behind and labeled one of the oppressors; it held onto the notion that there were such things as men and women, real and immutable identities that inhibited our ability to define ourselves.

But, in Pelosi’s effort, we see the inescapable conflict that underlies so much of our social strife.  Rapidly, the pursuit of autonomy turns from defense to offense, and one’s own self-actualization is achieved only by oppressing others.  “Inclusion” is advanced by denying the reality of man and woman; including our self-constructed identities involves neutering all mankind.  Our pursuit of self-defined dignity follows a path that is, quite naturally, dehumanizing.  I say ‘naturally’ because there is a logic at work, which is theological in the end.

Rejecting the Lordship of God—personally and as a society—we seek to remake ourselves in the image of our choosing.  But we are not made in that image.  We are made in the image of God—thus, idolatry leads readily to self-effacement.  The drive to be our own gods fails, and fails spectacularly.  Not only do we fail to become gods, but we disfigure our own humanity.  The whole sexual revolution—pornography, divorce, abortion, promiscuity, homosexuality, transgenderism, and on and on—absurd and devastating as it all is, flows naturally from the rejection of God.

The solution is the gospel.  The antidote to revolution is revival.  Christmas is the offer of dignity, and Easter the hope of renewed humanity.  We cannot ‘identify’ ourselves into anything truly fulfilling; but, if we find our identity in Christ by faith, we will “put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Colossians 3:10, ESV).  Then we will know true inclusion, the joy of true unity, for “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all” (v.11).

Tuesday Tea-ology, 12/22/20

22 Tuesday Dec 2020

Posted by Joshua Steely in Theology

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Adoption, Advent, Christianity, Christmas, God, God the Son, Gospel, Hope, Incarnation, Jesus Christ, Joy, Theology, Trinity, Tuesday Tea-ology

A Christmas-y tea-ology to you! God the Son became man for our salvation; now, that’s worth celebrating!

The Gift

21 Monday Dec 2020

Posted by Joshua Steely in Meditations

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Advent, Christianity, Christmas, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, God, God the Son, Gospel, Grace, Hope, Jesus Christ, Love, Pandemic, Strength

“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10, ESV).

God has shown the awesome depths of His love in the gift of His Son.  In all our hardships and sufferings, we can hold secure to the truth of God’s abiding love; He gave His Son for us.  No greater gift has ever been given.  He who gave His Son for us will watch over His children, and bring them safely home.

The Magnificat

14 Monday Dec 2020

Posted by Joshua Steely in Meditations

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Advent, Christianity, Christmas, Encouragement, God, Gospel, Hope, Jesus Christ, Mary, Salvation

“Magnificat” isn’t just a term for every feline’s sense of self. It is also the name traditionally given (based on the beginning of the Latin translation) to Mary’s song, recorded in Luke 1:46-55. Here, in wonderful poetic expression, the mother of the Lord declared her marvel at God’s redeeming work.

            “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Lk. 1:47-47, ESV).  Thus the adoring heart responds to the infinite mercy, the awesome power, the incomparable divine condescension of the Incarnation.  For while God’s kindness to her personally is overwhelming (vv.48-49), the greater part of the song dwells upon the broader scope of God’s saving might.

            God reverses the power dynamics of this fallen world.  He humbles the arrogant, for the power of tyrants is powerlessness compared to Him (vv.51-52).  But He lifts up the lowly and blesses the poor (vv.52-53)—for God is compassionate and kind.  His grace is particularly displayed in the context of His covenants (vv.54-55); God is at work redeeming a people for Himself.  And the center of God’s mission is found in Christmas and Easter, in the saving life, death, resurrection, and reign of God the Son incarnate.

            Advent puts the tyrants of this world on notice.  Advent speaks hope to the poor and downtrodden.  Advent proclaims that God is accomplishing His world-shaking purpose to put all things right, and establish a kingdom of life and light for all who will have Christ as Savior and Lord.

            Let the souls of all the redeemed magnify the Lord, let our spirits rejoice in God our Savior—for the Almighty has done great things for us.

Annunciation

07 Monday Dec 2020

Posted by Joshua Steely in Meditations

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Advent, Angels, Christianity, Christmas, Encouragement, Gospel, Hope, Jesus Christ, Mary

In the narrative of Gabriel’s annunciation to Mary that she would bear the Christ, we see a profoundly moving testimony to the grace of God, who reaches down to us in redemption.

The scene begins with a fundamental contrast from the preceding episode. Earlier in the chapter, we read how Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, a priest, in the temple in Jerusalem–the center of Israel’s worship and identity. But now we turn to Nazareth, a backwater town in Galilee, and to an ordinary Jewish peasant girl. No mention is made of any power, prestige, heritage, wealth, or position that would set Mary apart as worthy in the world’s eyes. As the story proceeds, we see in her a humble faith and loyal submission to God–but even that is not described as a reason for this supreme honor bestowed upon her. God’s grace, His unearned favor, stands out in sharpest relief.

That is the first message Gabriel declares: “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” (Lk. 1:28, ESV). The message of God’s favor is quickly repeated (v.30). God’s favor upon Mary is realized in her selection to bear the Christ, the Son of God. By the power of the Holy Spirit, God the Son became man in the womb of the virgin Mary; an almost incomprehensible honor has been given her. God has reached down in grace, and shown the marvelous riches of His favor.

At Christmastime, we likewise rejoice in the wonder of God’s favor. God’s favor to Mary was His favor to us as well, for her child is the Savior of mankind, of all those who turn to Him in faith. God has reached down to all of us–in our little insignificance, in our lostness and sin, in our frailty and folly, in our weakness and wickedness–God has reached down to bring us life and hope and peace. God has sent His light into our dark world. God has come to us, to bring us home to Him.

God has favored us.

The Shadow of His Wings

07 Monday Dec 2020

Posted by Joshua Steely in Meditations

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, Faithfulness, God, Gospel, Love, Pandemic, Protection, Security

“How precious is your steadfast love, O God!  The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings” (Psalm 36:7, ESV).

            In his contrast of the faithful God with the treacherous wicked, David has already declared the vastness of the Lord’s “steadfast love” (v.5).  Now the wonder of it bursts forth in exuberant praise.  With a touching metaphorical image, the psalmist compares God’s compassion and protection to a bird sheltering its young beneath its wings.  The image may strike us as a strange one to use for God, but it accomplishes well the purpose of picturing His fatherly love and protection.

            Take a moment to meditate on the wonder of God’s steadfast love.  The Lord of all the universe takes notice of, protects, and has compassion on those who come to Him in faith.  Turn to Him with your sorrows and fears, and He will shelter you.

Refuge in Him

30 Monday Nov 2020

Posted by Joshua Steely in Meditations

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, Encouragement, God, Gospel, Pandemic, Peace, Salvation, Security, Strength

“The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned” (Psalm 34:22, ESV).

            The tour of praise in Psalm 34 concludes with this verse, which finalizes the contrast between those who seek the Lord and the enemies of God; the enemies of God will suffer (v.21), but God will protect His people (vv.19-20, 22).  The contrast is particularly expressed in terms of condemnation, which will come on those who hate God’s people (v.21), but not on those who turn to God for deliverance.

            If we take refuge in God, we have nothing to fear.  The gospel promises deliverance from death and condemnation to all who place their trust in Jesus Christ.  Follow Him, and fear nothing that comes into your path.

Tuesday Tea-ology, 11/17/20

17 Tuesday Nov 2020

Posted by Joshua Steely in Theology

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Authority, Bible, Christianity, Divine Sovereignty, God, Gospel, Grace, Love, Mercy, Scripture, Theology, Truth, Tuesday Tea-ology

Today on Tuesday Tea-ology, the Finality of God’s Word. As Jesus said, “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35, NIV).

Taste and See

16 Monday Nov 2020

Posted by Joshua Steely in Meditations

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Christianity, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Devotional, God, Goodness, Gospel, Jesus Christ, Mercy, Pandemic, Protection, Redemption, Salvation, Security

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!  Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8, ESV).

            David has been reflecting on the goodness of God, who saves those who cry out to Him.  He has experienced God’s deliverance (vv.4-6), and attests the Lord’s protection of His people—“those who fear him” (v.7).  Now he calls people to experience for themselves God’s goodness, using the profoundly sensory language of tasting.  God can be known, and His kindness enjoyed by those who turn to Him.

            God is good, and we can know Him.  This is one dimension of the gospel promise: by faith in Jesus Christ, we can take refuge in God, and know His kindness and protection.  Take your burdens and fears to the Lord; He is strong to save all who call upon Him.

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