The Gospel According to Proverbs 21:2

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Every way of a man
is right in his own eyes,
but the LORD weighs the heart

- Proverbs 21:2
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Every man considers himself good in his own eyes. Yet man's heart is deceitfully wicked and is quick to justify even the most heinous of his deeds.

Man thinks he is fine, yet his opinion is not the one that finally matters. The scale that man uses to evaluate his life is feeble and inaccurate at best and is completely useless at worst. However the scale which the Lord uses to weigh the hearts of men is a perfect scale. He measures in the minutest detail for He sees everything and nothing ever escapes His view. The Lord knows man intimately, seeing even into the thoughts and intents of his heart.

Now the miracle. The Scriptures do indeed teach us that man's heart is wicked and thereby man is deserving of God's justice. Yet though the Lord is amazingly just, He is also astoundingly merciful. He has gone out of His way to make a way for us where there was no other way. And now, having made the way, He calls to us and pleads with us to enter therein.

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
- Psalm 2:12, John 3:16, 2nd Peter 3:9

The Idolatry of Effectiveness

Faithfulness is more to be valued and sought after than effectiveness.

If it is otherwise one will forfeit faithfulness in pursuit of ever newer and "more effective" means.

John G. Paton lived out the truth that faithfulness is more to be valued than effectiveness. After serving for years on the front lines of missions, after losing his wife and child on the mission field, after repeatedly catching the same illness which killed his wife, and after multiple years of apparent ineffectiveness in ministry Paton refused to give up. He labored faithfully for years and years, enduring much hardship and tremendous difficulties when effectiveness in ministry was only a distant hope.

This makes one wonder how many mission agencies would have given up on Paton and withdrew their support because of his apparent ineffectiveness. Yet Paton was steadfast, believing when nearly everything around him was engaged in intense opposition to belief. Paton, like Abraham believed God when there was no earthly reason to believe Him - this is faith.

The Scriptures teach that faith, belief, and trust are highly esteemed by the Lord. When man recognizes his complete inability without God and then leans whole heartedly into Him, who can do that which we we could never do, then faith is involved. And it is precisely faith which pleases Him.

It is interesting to note that Jesus did not call us to effectiveness, rather He has called us to faithfulness and to obedience. Paul is very helpful in this regard, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth." (1 Cor. 3:6-7).

As it turned out, Paton did eventually experience great effectiveness later in his life on the mission field. Yet I do not think that this is what most pleased the Lord, rather it seems that the Lord was most pleased with Paton's faith in Him. John G. Paton's faith in the Lord worked itself out in faithful and diligent service to Him in spite of an apparent lack of effectiveness.

In contrast, how plentiful are the examples in America of apparent effectiveness, of multitudes crowding into over sized buildings called churches. Yet it is clear that it is not effectiveness that is most pleasing in God's sight for it is not written in the Scriptures, "Without effectiveness it is impossible to please Him." Rather it is written, "Without faith it is impossible to please Him." (Heb. 11:6).

Huck, Chuck, and the Declaration

A Bold & Courageous Stand

Many leaders from across the very broad spectrum of Christianity have joined in signing a bold statement against the moral decay which threatens to unravel the fabric of our society as we know it. The statement rings of a stouthearted courage in the face of opposition. It is a bold and thoughtful response to the following three culturally embattled issues of our day:


The Sanctity of Life
The Dignity of Marriage
Religious Liberty


My only regret regarding this document is that I have but one signature to sign it with. May the Manhattan Declaration serve as the line in the sand that it was intended to be. Thus far and no further. I would echo the call for those who follow Christ to read it and to sign it.


For more information check out Al Mohler's recent and helpful article entitled, "Why I signed the Manhattan Declaration."

Governing Those Who Govern

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The king's heart
is a stream of water
in the hand of the LORD;
He turns it wherever He will

- Proverbs 21:1
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The kings of earth represent earthly sovereignty and rule as they please, yet even they who rule on earth are subject to the ultimate sovereignty of the Lord who rules in the affairs of men. The Lord directs the king’s heart wherever He pleases as easily as He directs rivers and causes them to flow where He wills.

He who is truly Sovereign sets up kings and governments and brings them down just as easily. He has purposes even in permitting the wicked to rule for a time. Therefore what have we to fear for even the wicked who govern have no authority over us except it has been given to them by Him who purposes all things according to the counsel of His will, to the praise of His glory.

Those who govern on earth are governed by Him who uses the earth as a footstool.

Storms, Piper, & Lewis!

Check out the Desiring God blog for information on the 2010 Desiring God Pastors conference in Minneapolis.

Worship, Word, Fellowship, Prayer

Its worth looking into...

The Troubled Trail

through many tribulations
we must enter the Kingdom of God

- Acts 14:22b

The path to the Kingdom of God is one in which we will encounter many troubles. Amazingly the King of glory has also travelled this path as He blazed the trail before us. His steps upon our path of pain re-directed it and redesigned it in order that now, though it often may feel otherwise, the path leads not to death but towards life as it directs us towards Him.

Appropriate Obsession

A great many obsessions permeate our world. People obsessed with one thing are usually fairly easy to spot. These are people who orchestrate their lives around one central theme or event. Olympians are obsessed with the pursuit of gold. Professional sports figures with their particular sport and the related work outs. Some are obsessed with financial gain and center their lives around money and endeavors to gain more. Some cannot get enough of learning, some cannot get enough of shopping, for some its a hobby, for others it is relationships, and the list could continue. The bottom line is this, we are a people easily obsessed.

Could it be, however, that there is an appropriate obsession? Paul, the author of the of numerous books in the New Testament, would no doubt say yes. His writings regularly demonstrate his obsession but especially so in his letter to the Ephesians. A friend of mine recently pointed this out to me, but consider Paul's obsession in the first chapter of Ephesians (though this continues throughout the book): 45 times in the 23 verses of the first chapter Paul either mentions Jesus Christ specifically or refers directly to him (ie. He, Him, His).

A Christ-centered letter from a Christ-centered man to a people who are to be likewise Christ-centered.

What's your obsession?

John Mark McMillan: Skeleton Bones

Just in case you didn't know, John Mark McMillan is the guy who wrote the song, "How He loves us" which was made famous by the David Crowder Band.

Wisdom & Intolerance

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A wise king

winnows the wicked

and drives the wheel over them

- Proverbs 20:26
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This proverb highlights the wisdom in the destruction of the wicked by a king or governing authority.

Intolerance of wickedness and of wicked people is a hallmark of wise governing. For to permit freedom to such evil is to allow society to become sickened by its poison.

“The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.” (Psa. 12:8) A wise and righteous king / governing authority will not tolerate such free strutting about by the wicked, nor permit the honoring of what is vile.

Presently, in our fallen world, we do not often see such displays of righteous intolerance. Rather it seems that our day is a day in which the only thing that will not be tolerated is intolerance. We do not however despair in this because we hold fast to the hope that one day we will finally see, and delight in, the ultimate display of the grace and truth of this proverb. For then the King of Kings will finally unleash His intense intolerance of the wicked as He Himself will drive His devastating wheels of justice over them for eternity.

Tim Keller: Counterfeit Gods

Find out more at www.counterfeitgods.com.

"How will they know?"

Last night after dinner my daughter and I were speaking about the precious treasure that is the Bible. I was explaining to her that in some places in the world it is illegal to possess a Bible. I told her of several of our friends who had gone into such places to bring in Bibles. I also informed her of places where people are imprisoned for possessing a Bible and about a recent incident in Somalia where a man was killed for bringing Bibles into his country.

My insightful six year old was able to catch the implication, “Do they not love God?” My response was brief yet cold, "No they do not love God, they do not love Jesus, and they do not love His book."

She thought for a moment and then delivered her power-packed question, “How will they know it’s good if they haven’t read it?” Her words sounded a note that resonated powerfully with the words of Paul who asked and answered a very similar question in Romans 10.

On a rare occasion during a conversation such a profound statement is unleashed that the conversation simply ceases under the weight of dynamic truth. Instinctively she felt the weight of her own statement and we both sat looking at each other in silence.

Some words can lead to tears and some can lead to worship. These words were a strange mixture of both and of a call to missions – to bring this good book with its life giving good news to peoples who have never had the precious opportunity to hear it or to read it for themselves.

Pondering this recent conversation I am surprised at how coldly and callously I was able reply to my daughter's question, "Do they not love God." My answer was matter of fact, rather than heart broken sorrow for those who have never heard the life giving good news. She was troubled by this problem and was already working out the answer in her heart, I was not.

May it not be that I would consider those who know not Christ nor His glorious gospel without feeling the pain of this and without considering the gospel mission solution to it.

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

- Romans 10:14-15

Thankful?

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The hearing ear and the seeing eye,

the LORD has made them both

- Proverbs 20:12
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Ever stand in awe at the glory of being able to see? Ever delight to hear the voice of a loved one or a great piece of music? The magnificent gifts of seeing and hearing are given by the Lord. Yet we often entirely overlook such blessings and fail to consider from whom they are given.

Amazingly He displays His goodness by giving such wonderful blessings even to His enemies and to those who have no gratitude for His kindness. In this He demonstrates that which He has taught, “But I say to you love your enemies.” One more example of Him making the sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sending rain on the just and on the unjust.

Life is War!

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Plans are established by counsel;

by wise guidance wage war.

- Proverbs 20:18
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A wise man will solicit counsel and carefully consider the advice thereof. One who develops and engages strategic plans will be more effective than one who does not.

When life and death are on the line wisdom is especially valuable. While living in the valley of the shadow of death strategy, planning, and heeding wise counsel are well advised.

Life is war and the battle is for the affections of your heart. Therefore, with eternal consequences at stake, we must fight this battle and engage in this warfare with all diligence and with all available resources.

Anger Issues?

A humorous strategy for anger management:



HT: Mystery Men

Steadfast Love, Poverty, & Dishonesty

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What is desired in a man
is steadfast love,

and a poor man
is better than a liar

- Proverbs 19:22
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Part 1:

Faithful and committed affection is both:
A) desired by mankind (man is the recipient)
and
B) desired from mankind (God is the recipient)

A) Desired by mankind

Steadfast love, which could also be described as faithful and committed affection, is a rare and treasured commodity among mankind. The greatest and purest source of this steadfast love is the love of God which was demonstrated most clearly in the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. He put His magnificent love on display by going through extraordinary means in order to make a way for us to know Him and enjoy Him forever.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
– Rom. 5:8

Mankind hungers for the magnificent love of God, though admittedly he may not know it. He does however endeavor to satisfy this hunger by a persistent pursuit of happiness – whether he seeks this happiness in God or elsewhere because of his ignorance of the ultimate source of true happiness.

B) Desired from mankind

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
– Mat. 22:37

This is what the Lord desires, requires, and commands. Yet He does not leave us only to attempt obedience on our own, He enables that which He commands. As Augustine has said, “Command what you wish, but grant what you command.”

“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
- Jer. 31:33

The Lord desires, requires, and commands this because of two reasons:
1) It honors Him
2) It is best for us – because He is best for us

Part 2:

Poverty is more valuable than dishonesty.

A great many have fallen into much trouble by concluding the very opposite of what this proverb says: that dishonesty is more valuable than poverty. Multitudes have demonstrated that they would rather lie than lose their material wealth, reputations, or positions. After all who would want to lose everything when he could simply be dishonest and avoid the hassle?

This evidences the fallen condition of creation in which the Kingdom principles are turned topsy-turvy and upside-down into the principles of this fallen world. The fallen world almost always reflects the opposite image of the Kingdom of God. In contrast, those who follow Him walk in His ways and thereby reflect rightly His glory and the glory of His Kingdom. In the midst of this topsy-turvy world, living as a citizen of His Kingdom looks quite foreign and often times even ridiculous. Does it not seem quite foolish (by the world’s standards) to be honest when it might cost you everything you own?

One famous example from recent history is President Clinton’s unforgettable lie in regards to the White House intern, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.” Apparently Clinton did not value honesty above his reputation or his position. Considering the moral decay which evidenced itself in this situation it is not surprising that dishonesty and perjury would be added to adultery – for when a wicked deed comes into the light it often brings its friends.

Abominating the Prosperity Message

My Favorite Book Available For Free!

Desiring God is the free audio book during the month of November from ChristianAudio.com.

Download it for free!

I am a little excited about this audio book being available for free because it happens to be my all time favorite book aside from the Bible. If you are one of those who have not yet been privileged to read this life changing book, check out a few reviews from amazon.com.