The Peril of Presumptuous Planning

Do you have big plans? Do you plan to be married? To have kids? To buy a house? Do you plan for your kids to go to college? Do you plan to retire at a certain age?

Do you plan to be in church tomorrow?

There is nothing wrong with making plans. “The plans of the diligent lead to advantage” (Prov. 21:5).

But it is a great sin to leave God out of our plans.

James has been exhorting his readers to humble themselves before God (4:6,10) and has admonished them for playing God (4:12) when they judge others.

James admonishes those who think they can determine the time, the location, the duration, the activities and the outcome of their business venture.

They are guilty of leaving God out of their thinking both in their consideration of His sovereign will (He controls the future 4:15) and His revealed will (precepts/commands 4:17).

We must humbly say, “Thy will be done”.

I will see you tomorrow morning, DV.

Servants of Christ: Examples of the Christian Life

Rejoicing in Our Heavenly Hope

The attacks on American soil caused many of use to realize that this world is not an easy place to live. It is a striking reminder of the many difficulties, trials and challenges that we face in this life because of the effects of sin.
The believers in Peter’s day were also living in difficult times. Peter wrote to encourage them that they can rejoice in the midst of life’s trials because of their heavenly hope. Tomorrow, Lord willing, we will look at 1 Peter 1:3-9, which shows us that this hope is not just a mere longing for better days to come, but it is a transformed view of all of life because of what God has done through the work of Christ.
I encourage you to read 1 Peter chapter 1 before coming to church tomorrow, and, if you are able, read the whole book so you can see how thoroughly Peter develops these ideas of hope in the midst of suffering.

Who Do You Think You Are?

Jerry Bridges has written a book entitled, Respectable Sins, in which he addresses sins which are common (and almost accepted) among professing Christians. His list of “respectable sins” includes ‘sins of the tongue’ and ‘judgmentalism’ both of which James addresses in our passage this week. James also explains what motivates us to speak against and judge one another –our proud self-centered desires; and why it is so wrong to judge one another – we are guilty of playing God Who alone has the right to judge.

I have found this passage to be very convicting. I hope that God’s truth will be a blessing to you this Sunday.

Thirsting for God

Psalms 42-43 go together. They are Psalms of lament with an almost identical refrain. 42:5 42:11 43:5.
These Psalms are of special value to believers who feel overwhelmed or struggle with depression.
We can relate to the Psalmist as he describes his own spiritual drought, longing for God to satisfy his thirst.
He also describes his situation as being overwhelmed by the floods of sorrow.
Yet within this Psalm we find the answer to our despair. “Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him.”

Martyn Lloyd-Jones used Psalm 42 in the first chapter of his famous book, “Spiritual Depression”.
He tells us that a key to overcoming depression is to stop listening to ourselves (complaining and worrying) and to start talking to ourselves (about the hope we have in God).

Please read Psalms 42-43 before coming to church.

God Speaks Through His Word

This Sunday I plan to complete our consideration of Psalm 19.
Last week we looked at the first six verses which declares how God speaks to all humanity through His creation (General Revelation)
This week we will consider the Lord’s speech to His people through the Scriptures (Special Revelation) in verses 7-11, and then our response in verses 12-15.

As you read over Psalm 19 before coming to church consider the following questions:

Do you notice that the first six verses use the name God and verse seven and following use LORD. Why do you think that this is?
How are general revelation similar to each other? How are they different?
Where can you see the gospel in this Psalm?