From Africa to home. President Obama is in Accra, Ghana to outline his vision for Africa. The President is due to address parliament on Saturday before visiting Cape Coast Castle, a fort used in the transatlantic slave trade. He and the First Family return to Washington, D.C. later this weekend.
I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. (ESV)
"...the reason why God's blessings drop upon us in a sparing and slender manner is, because our mouth is too narrow; and the reason why others are empty and famished is, because they keep their mouth completely shut. The majority of mankind, either from disgust, or pride, or madness, refuse all the blessings which are offered them from heaven."
(Commentary from Heart Aflame: Daily Readings from Calvin on the Psalms)
I think this is tragic. But I believe it to be true. How many more blessings would we receive if we would but open our mouths?
"Timothy's High Calling"
1 Timothy 4:11-12
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (ESV)
Either there were some in Ephesus who don't take Timothy seriously because of his age, or Timothy was afraid that his age would make his ministry ineffective. Either way, Paul encourages him to not allow this to be a factor in his ministry. Apparently, anyone under forty was considered to be "youthful," and, therefore, not trustworthy.
This is a legitimate concern, even today. Many young pastors face a daunting task of trying to lead members and even other church leaders who are much older than they. Paul, basically, just says don't allow them to despise you for your youth. Easier said than done, right?
"Wrath Revealed"
Romans 1:18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. (ESV)
There are many who believe (or at least want to) that the wrath of God is only an "Old Testament thing" and disappeared when Jesus came along. They believe that God's love and mercy have become the only expressions of his attitudes toward his creation.
Jesus clearly refuted this idea, however, in John 3:36, when he said, "Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." (ESV)
Paul speaks of God's wrath in Romans and Colossians, and Revelation is pretty much a total warning of the coming wrath of God.
God's wrath is a grim reality. Yet, how should we understand it? "God's wrath arises from His intense, settled hatred of all sin and is the tangible expression of His inflexible determination to punish it. We might say God's wrath is His justice in action, rendering to everyone his just due, which, because of our sin, is always judgment."
Why is God so angry at sin? "Because our sin, regardless of how small or insignificant it may seem to us, is essentially an assault on His infinite majesty and sovereign authority."
"All sin is rebellion against God's authority, a despising of His Law, and a defiance of His commands."
I also pray, Lord, that I never be one who despises youth. Let me never look down on a minister because he is younger than me. Let me never fall into the trap that I hated so much when I was younger, and think that just because someone is young, they don't know anything. I've known people who believed that, and it has always disgusted me. None of us know as much as we think we do.
Finally, Lord, let me look at sin as you do. Especially...ESPECIALLY my own! I don't pretend to ever be qualified as a judge of other people an their sin. Nevertheless, sin is sin, and we should all be aware of it. Let me take it seriously, Father. Let me not dabble in things that I should leave alone. Let me not set my foot in places it need not be. Keep me on the true path. Forgive me for taking a somewhat light-hearted view of sin in my life when I do.
Grace and peace, friends!