The Scandalous Love of God

Philip Yancey has a way of making me think, or rather squirm. He pokes me in the eyes with truth until they water. Then when it is all said and done, I wipe my eyes and end up thanking him for poking me. Talk about adding insult to injury. But I remember that teh wounds of a friend are more trustworthy than the kisses of an enemy. I believe that Phil is my friend, since we are seeking after the same thing -- conformity to Christ. That high goal however must run through an examination of my gracious levels.

Phil points out that God's grace is scandalous! It goes against everything that we consider "right". Grace does not make any sense to us. Listen to what Phil writes,

"Why would God choose Jacob the conniver over dutiful Esau? Why confer supernatural powers of strength on a ... deliquent named Samson? Why groom a runty shepherd boy, David, to be Israel's king? And why bestow a sublime gift of wisdom on Solomon, the fruit of that king's adulterous liaison? Indeed, in each of these Old Testament stories the scandal of grace rumbles under the surface until finally, in Jesus' parables, it bursts forth in a dramatic upheaval to reshape the moral landscape."

What's So Amazing About Grace, p.61

1. So what parable do you think he is thinking of?
2. Can you think of other NT examples of Jesus living graciously in spite of the "receptivity" or "worthlessness" of those to whom he ministered?
3. Do you struggle with ministry to the "undeserving" or do you struggle with Jonah syndrome?
4. What is the antidote to this twisted mental conception? How do we straighten out our "stinkin' thinkin'"?

I want to think Jesus' thoughts about grace, and then minister it to them!

Still amazed by grace,
Pastor Mike

OLD Testament Encounters with God

WyBC Teens,

I hope that you realize that the Bible Study that we are working through right now in Genesis is supposed to be OLD TESTAMENT characters' encounters with God. You have just breached that threshold and are now allowing OT characters to shape NT characters (you). I hope that you have found that studying and discussing has had a couple of impacts on you:

1. Increased desire to study Scripture more
2. Increased ability to share your perspective and beliefs
3. Increased level of friendship between those blogging/discussing
4. Increased desire to get to YG and hear more in "real time"
5. Increased appreciation for the OT characters that God used
6. Increased recognition of your self in these same characters
7. Increased gratefulness for God's character and plan

While seven is often the mark of perfection or fullness in Scripture, it is not here. As great as you think I am, I am not inspired by the Holy Spirit! :) I am inspired (="motivated, encouraged") by your work on the blog though and your learning via the internet.

Would you post #8, #9, and #10 for others in the blogging community to see? What have you learned over the past two weeks through this experience? What do you get now more than you did only 14 days ago?

By the way, don't look now, but if you can say "amen" to any of these items in the list, I think that you are growing spiritually! And to that I say "amen" and "hallelujah (praise to the LORD)"

Thanks for growing,

PM

Mr. B's --> "Get Ready" Thread

Take this is fair warning that the wrangling with Biblical truth is not over!

>>I Mr. BBBB am teaching next week and in listening to the account of Joseph and his being sold and all that. I just got to thinking did Jacob "Israel" really need to go to Eygpt to save him and his family or did this demonstrate a lack of faith that God would take care of him in the land that God had promised him. JUst something I am thinking about.<<

So, jump in, weigh in and tune in!
Duly warned,
Pastor Mike

God Knows

As we consider the story of Jacob stealing the blessing from his brother (Gen 27), we have come to wrestle with what God had planned for these boys (albeit now 40 years old). God does indeed have a plan that promotes Jacob, changes his name to Israel, and continues to build a family of children that he will love to call "HIS OWN PEOPLE". This rascal, who chooses to follow his mother's scheme despite the dangers of discovery, will eventually, by the providence and sovereignty of God, become the father of the nation of Israel. The people that come from his loins will be called by his new name, Israel, not his old supplanter name. I believe that this is significant.

God chose, by His own pre-knowledge and forethought to bring this conniving, rebellious trickster to supplant the older "heir apparent" and turn the whole system on its head. This boy from a troubled, dysfunctional family will become part of the triad of "great-grandfathers" of promise and covenant. (the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob)

His father, Isaac, who tried to undermine God's intention chose to violate God's stated will. He still gets into the greats! Also a lying, weak husband/leader (Isaac) also gets used by God to perpetuate greatness and grace.

Are you still with me? God knows what is happening. He is not surprised, unsettled, confused, off-his-game, etc. His omniscience and sovereignty meld into his grace and merct perfectly and without flaw.

These events of Gen 27 are "seen" by God before man was created. There is no space-time constraints on God's knowledge. He knew exactly the junk that Esau was packing. So while he may have been operating correctly for once in his life (obeying Dad) he was still probably wrong because he goes so that he might gain the blessing at least above his brother. (notice the whining and tantrum that follows his realization that the blessing is not going to come to him as he had planned).

God knew Gen 28 before it was written. God knew Gen 28 before it happened. God knew that Gen 27 was going to happen and that Gen 33 would come out of this Gen 27 situation. God knew that Gen 34 would happen as a natural consequences of Israel's/Jacob's lifestyles and rebellious choice against God's best for him. Jacob missed out on a lot of good stuff and had to deal with the baggage for the rest of his life. God knew that this decision point -- do I follow my mom's manipulation plan -- would affect the rest of Jacob's life. Yet He allowed it. Yet He sovereignly controlled every aspect of this ruse, including the fact that the trick worked. (How else do you explain the fact that tying goat hair on your arms and wearing your brother's clothes would actually succeed.)

Personal application time:

• God knows my junk and He still loves me
• God knows the trouble that I will get myself into and how it will trash the rest of my life
• God knows that my heart is tender towards Him and has responded in faith to Him
• God knows how many more times I will blow it
• God knows how I will atempt to hide it
• God knows how to expose it
• God knows how I will respond to discipline
• God knows my junk and He still loves me
  
  Simple enough for even a 3rd grader,
  Mike