HE IS EVERYTHING!

Chapter three of Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones' first commentary on the Ephesians is about chapter 1 verse 2 of this great Epistle. In it he speaks of the grace and peace that is ours in Christ. He says that 'grace is the beginning of our faith; peace is the end of our faith'. In other words, we are saved by grace and this should always lead to peace; peace should always be the end result if we get the full sense of the grace by which we receive reconciliation, redemption, atonement, justification and victory. This is all fantastic news and then I got to this as he continues to unpack the verse and gets to Jesus:

"This is the differential of Christianity, this is the element that changes everything. It is the Lord Jesus Christ. Lest there be any uncertainty or confusion let us note what Paul says in this very salutation: 'Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.' The grace and peace come equally from the Lord Jesus Christ and the Father. This is vital doctrine. There is no such thing as Christianity apart from the Lord Jesus Christ; there is no blessing from God to man in a Christian sense except in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Anything which claims to be Christianity without having Christ at the beginning and the centre and the end is a denial of Christianity, call it what you will. There is no Christianity apart from Him; He is everything.'

(God's Ultimate Purpose, Ephesians 1:1-23, Chapter 3, page 43)

You have got to love this and be challenged by it. HE IS EVERYTHING. Can I hand on heart say this is true of me? Can I stand and say with Asaph in Psalm 73 that I desire nothing on this earth besides Him? My wife, my unborn child, my family, RFC? These are all so dear to me and at times they can feel like everything to me. My desire is to get to that point where I can say that in all circumstances, HE IS EVERYTHING.

Update on BT

The 1st of October has roiled around - where has this year gone? B and I are now half way through the pregnancy which will see us become parents for the first time. We had the 20 week scan on Monday and all was well. Baby Taylor is growing as a baby should and Barbie is healthy. She has felt lots of movement and her bump is slowly growing. I get very excited at the prospect of being a father and holding our little one in my arms.

It is truly incredible to see our 23cm long child moving in B's womb, stretching legs, drinking and generally being a baby! It's incredible because as a Christian, I know that this is not some chance happening, but this is the work of my God. We read in Psalm 139:13-15:

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mothers womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place."

In Jeremiah 1:5 we read:

"Before I formed you in your mothers womb I knew you before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as prophet to the nations."

Our child is beautiful already and I am almost in count down to February 12th mode already! But I also want this pregnancy to be a reminder of the awesome creative power of my Father in heaven. It is Him who opens the womb and brings forth life and therefore I will praise Him for giving us this precious gift of Baby Taylor. I love the fact it's not all chance but that this is God's sovereign creative delight to give us this joy.

Reflections on Psalm 19

Psalm 19 has really arrested my attention. I have become intrigued by the words written in verses 7-11.

"The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The command of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring for ever.
The ordinances pf the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous."

This is speaking of God's word to us. That today comes mainly through the words of the bible. The bible that is so often mocked and maligned for being out of date and condemnatory, is said here to be enduring for ever and reviving to the soul, giving joy to the heart! Not only this, but David goes on to say

"They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned:
in keeping them there is great reward."

How often do we think of the bible, the true and living word of God, as more precious than gold? How often do we consider it sweet? In reading the bible, we do read hard things, David isn't surprised, he says these things warn us. In it we find we must obey, David knows this and says when we stick to what the bible says there is great reward.

What great reward?
The reward of a life of victory over sin;
The reward of a place in heaven set aside for us;
The reward of growing to be more like Jesus as we heed what the bible says and implement it in our lives.

The bible is the final authority of what our church believes and should be doing. When resolving difficult issues biblical mandates and principles will be relied upon, not just human understanding. The same is true for us as individuals, we need to live our lives according to the principles and guidance of the bible rather than the principles and guidance of this world. To do this we need to know the word (in other words we need to read it!!!), we need to have godly counsellors (psalm 1) and we need the Holy Spirit to remind us of what scripture has to say.

I know that I want to grow in my knowledge and understanding of my God and that only comes by savouring the sweetness of the words of grace that come to me through the pages of my bible and by honouring and regarding the purity and the preciousness of it's guidance.