Recently at Meadowview we were working our way through 1 John 1.1-4 and discussing our fellowship with the Father, Son, and Saints. This fellowship (partnership, shared life, shared commitment) is often hindered and therefore limits our joy. As I was preparing I noted these helpful diagnostic paragraphs from Lloyd-Jones on various hinderances to our fellowship:
First of all, there is sin-unrighteousness, and we shall see how he divides that up into committed acts of sin, and the refusal to acknowledge or confess sin. Those are the ways in which sin can come between us and a conscious enjoyment of the fellowship with God. John works this out in an extraordinary manner. He has told us about this possibility of great joy; then comes in a word which almost crushes us to the ground at once: ‘This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all'(1:5) – and fellowship seems hopeless, But then, thank God, he tells us how it can be deal with. If we do not recognize and confess sin, then there is the blood which cleanses, and God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (1:7, 9). The second hindrance which John talks about in chapter 2 verse 3 is the lack of love to the brethren. If there is anything wrong in my relationship to God, I lose the fellowship and I lose the joy. Yes, but if there is anything wrong in my relationship to my Christian brothers and sis-ters, I also lose the joy and John works it out in a very subtle way. You lose contact with the brethren and you lose contact with God; you lose your love to God in the same way. The third hindrance is a love of the world, a positive love for the world, a desire after, a hankering after its pleasures and its whole sinful mentality. This again is an interruption to fellowship with God. You cannot mix light and darkness, you cannot mix God and evil; therefore if you love the world you lose fellowship with God and again you lose your joy. And the last thing which interrupts fellowship with God, he tells us at the end of the second chapter, is false teaching about the person of Jesus Christ. Obviously if the only way to God is through Christ, if I am in any way wrong about my teaching or my doctrine concerning Him, then automatically I sever the communion and again I lose my joy.
As I was reading Psalm 11 this morning I noticed something unusual in verse 4 – “The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’S throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.” Notice anything unusual? For me it was the, “his eyelids” phrase. I get that the LORD’s eyes see, but I was puzzled about his eyelids that test the children of man. So I looked up the Hebrew word and sure enough eyelids is the best translation, but I still didn’t understand what the Psalmist was intending to communicate. So I turned to Keil & Delitzsch, here’s what they had to say:
“The mention of the eyelids is intentional. When we observe a thing closely or ponder over it, we draw the eyelids together, in order that our vision may be more concentrated and direct, and become, as it were, one ray piercing through the object.”
Keil & Delitzsch
This is a great example of what I love about the Hebrew language. The picture one simple Hebrew word can paint is brilliant!
I finished this book up just after the New Year. I am reading this book along with several other Meadowview members. Our intention is to discuss the content and think through how we at Meadowview can focus more time and attention on prayer moving forward. Prayer must be priority.
At Meadowview we are currently studying 1 John. I have always appreciated Martyn Lloyd-Jones sermons and I have found this collection of sermons from 1 John to be very encouraging.
This year I am doing some focused study on the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). I am listening to some podcasts that are focusing attention on this section of Scripture and finding this short commentary to be quite helpful in my personal study.
I am ashamed to say that I have never read Dune. I started this book back in the Summer, then when the fall busyness flooded in I put it down. I recently picked it back up and I am hoping to finish it up by the end of this month. It is considered a classic for a reason
I am creature of habit, so once I find something that I like or something that benefits me I typically stick with it. Years ago I was introduced to Don Whitney and his focus on the spiritual disciplines that aid and enable us to faithfully follow Jesus. Every new year I pull out a half-sheet of paper and review these questions Whitney poses.
Here is what Whtiney writes, “The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.”
1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
8. What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?
Whitney concludes with these remarks, “So let’s evaluate our lives, make plans and goals, and live this new year with biblical diligence, remembering that, ‘The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage’ (Proverbs 21:5). But in all things let’s also remember our dependence on our King who said, ‘Apart from Me you can do nothing’ (John15:5).”
As we begin 2024 take some time to consider these questions. Talk them over with a friend or family member. Let’s make it our aim to better know Christ and make Him known to others this year!
This week I had the privilege of leading a group of young adults (including two of my own) to CrossCon24. Two years ago we took a group and joined 5,000 others. This year we joined 11,000 others. That’s right 11,000, 18-25 year olds gathered to be challenged to make their life count by making Christ known! Thousands of decisions were made over these past few days. Decisions to forsake sin and follow Jesus. Decisions to change schools or fields of study. Decisions to talk to their friends about Jesus. Decisions to go, taking the gospel to the nations.
So, I want to invite you to join me in committing to pray for these young adults (all 11,000) for the next seven days that the Spirit would continue to lead them in obedience as those decisions turn to specific action.
