Home…

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Christ, Church, Family, God, Home, Lord, Photography, Prayer

“Jesus answered him, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.’” ~John 14:23

What a rich verse! The unity and fellowship of the Triune God dwelling in the heart of a believer! This is indeed the truest definition of all that is wonderful in the word, “home.”

I have always thought that where my immediate family is, there is my home. It doesn’t matter if the setting is a camper, a tent, or a house of our own; for is it not the people, instead of the location, that truly makes anywhere really “home”? That understanding has had to change just a bit for me in the past year or so because it has become necessary for my immediate family to be separated by many miles. For this reason, “home” can sometimes seem like a slightly elusive concept at the present hour. Regardless of that, I haven’t really had a case of the “homesickness” because I have maintained communication with my family–and communication is so very much of what draws people together and makes home “home.” 

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–Jews or Greeks, slaves or free–and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” ~I Corinthians 12:12-13

Additionally, in the past few years I have come to see that the people of God are also, in a way, family, being fellow members of the body of Christ. Therefore, where the people of God are, there I also may perhaps have a little taste of the unity and fellowship of “home.” I praise the Lord that I am one who is very blessed to have my own blood family as my spiritual family, as well.

“Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.” ~Psalms 62:8

But there is one thing that is greater even than these things: that is that God is my home in an ultimate sense. When I think of God as my home, I am reminded that, just as conversation takes place during daily life among the members of a family, binding them together in communication, even so our prayers should be often lifted to our God. As throughout the day we speak with one another of everything–whether of the mundane business of cleaning up, or of the large things looming on the horizons of our futures, or of the dreams near and dear to our hearts–even so we should all be familiar with God as with our Father, speaking to him often and of everything within our hearts and minds. For in this he is pleased–and in this we are also brought nearer to him. In this way, we dwell, as it were, within the very house of God. And that is the believer’s final hope, final rest, and final home–what a blessing to even now have a foretaste of that here in our own families, in our own churches, and our own walk with the Lord….

“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints, for the courts of the LORD…” ~Psalms 84:1-2

Effectual Calling

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Conversion, Effectual Calling, Faith, Gospel, Grace of God, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Power of God, Westminster Larger Catechism

Westminster Larger Catechism in modern English question number sixty-seven:

Q. 67. What is effectual calling?

A. Effectual calling is the work of God’s almighty power and grace, by which (from His free and special love to His elect—not from anything in them moving Him to it) He does, in His ordained time, invite and draw them to Jesus Christ by His Word and Spirit, thus savingly enlightening their minds and renewing and powerfully determining their wills so that they (although in themselves they are dead in sin) are made willing and able to freely answer His call and accept and embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it. 

Union with Christ

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Christ, Effectual Calling, Grace of God, The Elect, Union with Christ, Westminster Larger Catechism

Westminster Larger Catechism in modern English question number sixty-six:

Q. 66. What is that union which the elect have with Christ?

A. The union which the elect have with Christ is the work of God’s grace, by which they are spiritually and mystically, yet really and inseparably, joined to Christ as their head and husband. This is done in their effectual calling. 

The Benefits of the Invisible Church

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Christ, Christian, Church, Communion, Grace, Invisible Church, Union with Christ, Westminster Larger Catechism

Westminster Larger Catechism in modern English question number sixty-five:

Q. 65. What special benefits do the members of the invisible church enjoy in Christ?

A. The members of the invisible church in Christ enjoy union and communion with Him in grace and glory. 

Perfection and Pain

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Envy, Freedom, Hope, Life, Mankind, Pain, Perfect, Perfection

image via wikipaintings.org

How many of us have ever wanted to be perfect? How many of us have looked at “perfect people” or “perfect families” or “perfect situations” and desired things like these for our own? How many of us have mused that if we were in such situations, life would be easier or less painful?

Surely, some of us have had these thoughts…I know I have, at times. But these are lying thoughts, usually born primarily of envy–or, as Scripture describes it more bluntly, covetousness, our not being content with the things that God has been pleased to give us.

Another important question to ask ourselves is this: why do we want to be perfect? Why do we want to be in perfect circumstances? If it is from of a heart desirous of being good in order to honor our God and Father, that is one thing; but if this is not the case, or even if this longing is accompanied with the idea that if we were perfect or in perfect circumstances that life would be easier and there would be less pain in our lives, maybe we should think again.

Something that we sometimes forget is that even if we were perfect, we would still experience pain; for even Christ, the perfect Son of God, suffered pain. Indeed, his agonies were beyond what we, as creatures and sinners, can know. Even if we were already perfected while we walk this earth today, even then we would still experience heartache–the pain of the wise is just as deep as that of the foolish, if not more so.

For how many among those who are not submitted to Christ mourn with the Psalmist for the continual breaking of our Father’s law? “My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.” ~Psalms 119:136

How many among the people of the world weep with the prophet for the just judgments of God on his disobedient people? “Therefore I said: ‘Look away from me; let me weep bitter tears; do not labor to comfort me concerning the destruction of the daughter of my people.’ “ ~Isaiah 22:4

How many among the wise of the world are afflicted with the apostle for the sake of his brothers and sisters in the Lord? “For I wrote you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.” ~II Corinthians 2:4

How many in the kingdom of darkness are filled with sorrow for the unregenerate’s rejection of the Savior? “For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.” ~Philippians 3:18

Another good thing to remind ourselves of is that even if we were in “perfect circumstances,” we would still find ourselves encountering suffering, for we are in a fallen world. Because of sin–and not always even our own sin–pain, suffering, and death are unavoidable this side of glory. “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.” ~Romans 8:20-24

The search for perfection on this side of glorification is a futile hope and a vain search for believer and unbeliever alike. It has been attempted over and over and over throughout the history of mankind–only to repeatedly end in the mockery of mirage. In this sinful world there is and will be pain. Let us then rejoice in the hope that frees us–the hope of Christ Jesus our Lord, who is making all things new. (Revelation 21:5)

“For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” ~Romans 8:2

Hallelujah! Amen.

The Invisible Church

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Body of Christ, Christ, Christian, Church, Invisible Church, The Elect, Westminster Larger Catechism

Larger Catechism in modern English question number sixty-four:

Q. 64. What is the invisible church?

A. The invisible church is the whole number of the elect—those that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ the head. 

Peace

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Christ, Fear of the Lord, God, Joy, Peace, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving, Uncertainty

There are days in life, when, for whatever reason it may be, we are filled with uncertainties–days when life as we know it seems very temporary–days when we truly know not what to expect next. Such are days when the peace of Christ is very, very precious indeed.

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” ~Colossians 3:15

Scripture often connects this true inner peace with thanksgiving towards God. Strangely enough, as it might seem at first glance, this thanksgiving is also the fear of the Lord. The one who truly fears God, believes his word; the one who believes his word, thanks him with true joy of soul, regardless of how terrible outward circumstances are–for God does care for his own, assuring them that all things he sends their way are for his glory, their good, and the good of his church. When we fear God, he gives us peace. When we recognize that God is God and submit our wills to him, he blesses us with a quietness and peace in our innermost being–with the peace of Christ.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 4:4-7

I praise God for his marvelous mercies to us in Christ Jesus, our Lord!

The Privileges of the Visible Church

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Christ, Church, Gospel, Means of Grace, Providence, Saints, Salvation, Visible Church, Westminster Larger Catechism

The Larger Catechism in modern English question number sixty-three:

Q. 63. What are the special privileges of the visible church?

A. The visible church has the privilege of being under God’s special care and government; of being protected and preserved in all ages, despite the opposition of all its enemies; and of enjoying the communion of the saints, the ordinary means of salvation, and offers of grace by Christ to all the members of it in the ministry of the gospel, testifying that whoever believes in Him shall be saved, excluding none who come to Him. 

A Verse for All of Us…

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Christ, Faith, Fear, God, God the Father, Joshua, Love, Perseverance, Scripture

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” ~Joshua 1:9

God has given us our marching orders: be strong, do not be afraid, fear him, do not fear what man may do to us, do not fear what circumstances we may find ourselves in…for God is our Father and he is here with us, even when he feels so far away. He loves us with a love that will not let us go. He has provided us our faith–and he will persevere us to the end, for his glory and our good. May all praise ever be his in Christ Jesus our Lord!

The Visible Church

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Christian, Church, Covenant theology, Visible Church, Westminster Larger Catechism

Westminster Larger Catechism in modern English question number sixty-two:

Q. 62. What is the visible church?

A. The visible church is a society made up of all those that in all ages and places of the world profess the true religion, and of their children.