Repenting of Virtues

We are Reformed and proud of it. Okay, but what kind of proud? Unapologetically Protestant? Amen, be so more and more. But do you think that you are the sine qua non of Christianity? Without the Reformed, and your own personal contribution to the kingdom of God, the church would surely fail? Of course, we DON’T believe that. We know that God is the one who holds all things together.

         He does use means, including the Reformed Church, including you in it. The restoration of His Word to the church was a great Reformation. But does He use us for our great righteousness and reformation doctrines? Or rather, have we found ourselves here in this blessed river of God’s heritage out of His mere grace and mercy? Yes, the latter, His grace and mercy. We must confess holding ourselves in too high esteem. The Lord uses the lowly best and most. When we consider ourselves lowly, and act as such, then the Lord will invite us higher up at His table. He makes low the proud and exalts the humble. Let us humble ourselves, therefore, before our gracious and kind Father.

You ARE Great

I had several positive comments last week about the sermon. That surprised me a bit as I was trying to cram a lot into a very short time. I thought it might have been a bit incoherent. One lady said it almost made her cry. I am not sure why. Convicting? Encouraging? I didn’t think it was a crying sermon. I’m guessing it made her feel bad, or maybe Holy Spirit convicted. I hope the latter and trust that is good. Someone else jokingly told me “Can’t you just tell us how great we are?” He was expressing gratitude for me speaking the truth about our own sinfulness so that it pushes us towards Jesus. And I trust that is good, too.

         But here’s the thing and the tension for a preacher. You ARE great. Our Father in Heaven thinks so. His love for you existed while you were yet in your sins. If He thinks you are great enough to send His Son to die for you, then I ought to think that, too. And I do! But that does not, at all, discount the need for a proper look at ourselves as sinners and the need to turn to Jesus in confession and repentance.

         And turning to Jesus in confession and repentance does not change the fact that Our Father in Heaven loves you. He loved you while you were still a mess of sin. He loves you while you are still of mess of sin. It is His lavish love that draws you to Himself, that holds out life to you through His Son, that sends His Spirit to you to comfort you, sustain you, call you back, lead you, guide you, humble you, exalt you, sanctify you and bless you.

         What a privilege it is for me to have a role in speaking His great promises to a people that are beloved by my Father in Heaven. I hope you feel honored and blessed in His presence. He thinks you are His wonderful children and He is very proud of how you are turning out as you keep turning to Him. And I always agree with my Father in Heaven.

Thanks

Our Lord, most High, exalted and everlasting Father, we glorify and honor Your name. You have made us and called us into Your family by Your Holy Spirit of power. We offer our prayers of thanksgiving as we acknowledge that all the good that we possess is from Your hand. We offer ourselves to You in these tithes and offerings and pray that You would rain down Your blessings upon us, making us fruitful, 30, 60 and 100 fold, that we might give You the honor, the glory, the praise and the thanksgiving. Amen.