Knowing God, pt.1 (The Study of God, p.15-16)

Jim Packer, the author of this esteemed volume Knowing God, open chapter one with a quote from an early sermon from Charles Spurgeon, on the benefits and necessity of the study of God for a Christian.

Spurgeon notes four particular blessings from the immersion of one's self in the contemplation of God: it is improving to the mind, more than reflection on any other subject; it is humbling, in that our ponderance upon God reveals increasingly our smallness, and His greatness; it is expanding to the mind; and it is "eminently consolatory", in that in our darkest moment, God offers us a sure unshakeable hope, a "quietus for every grief".

I am questioning the fourth point a little, as whilst I know that this should be the case, and whilst I know that God's faithfulness and love is not dependent upon our fickle and swaying human emotion, it seems that there are times in some people's lives that God deprives them of a sense of His closeness for a long or short period. In those times, they seem not to find anything consolatory about immersion in the Word of God, but rather a depression that they are not emotionally connected with Him, and hence cannot feel the benefit from the contemplation of God that they once did.

Statement of Intent

With my spare time, whilst I have not much to do, I shall make the most of it by intentionally (and with discipline, when needed):

1. Studying the Bible;

2. Exercising;

3. Writing.

Shoulders

Sitting at my desk this morning, reading portions of the Bible and Desiring God and Jim Packer's Knowing God, I realise how little I pray.

I realise how much I try to be a good Christian by reading a lot and talking a lot and by increasing my knowledge of Christian things, of doctrine. I realise how easily the devil's lies take hold in my heart about what I know not who I know. How little desire I have to talk with the God I proclaim to love!

I realise exactly how much I need God to give me the grace to even have the desire to pray, to break through the apathy caused by comfort, boredom, distractions, anxiety of the future. My experience, and more importantly, the Bible's unchanging truth, tells me that God is the God of every area of life, that He is bigger than my worries, and turning to Him is the answer for everything.

How I need to learn this truth every day, and stop seeing it as a one-off which I have sussed.

Praise God for his glorious grace and patience!

Two Promises

Here are two promises given by God to you and to me. I feel especially gifted with these two verses as I start 2010...

"I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you" (Psalm 32v8)

"And the Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do no fear, or be dismayed" (Deuteronomy 31v8)

and a guiding principle...

"The horse is made ready for the battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord" (Proverbs 21v31)

Silvers

What... reflecting on '09

Feels like: Penultimation. Where the ultimate is the beginning of the new season. Like life.

Things done: Tithed a half to God. Got blessed with a gift. Learned much. Realisation but externalising.

Things to be yet: Stepping in, circled. No passivity, production. Exercise gifts. Live life intentionally.

Amen.

Calling

"Base things of the world hath God chosen." — 1 Corinthians 1:28

Walk the streets by moonlight, if you dare, and you will see sinners then. Watch when the night is dark, and the wind is howling, and the picklock is grating in the door, and you will see sinners then. Go to yon jail, and walk through the wards, and mark the men with heavy over-hanging brows, men whom you would not like to meet at night, and there are sinners there. Go to the Reformatories, and note those who have betrayed a rampant juvenile depravity, and you will see sinners there. Go across the seas to the place where a man will gnaw a bone upon which is reeking human flesh, and there is a sinner there. Go where you will, you need not ransack earth to find sinners, for they are common enough; you may find them in every lane and street of every city, and town, and village, and hamlet. It is for such that Jesus died. If you will select me the grossest specimen of humanity, if he be but born of woman, I will have hope of him yet, because Jesus Christ is come to seek and to save sinners. Electing love has selected some of the worst to be made the best. Pebbles of the brook grace turns into jewels for the crown-royal. Worthless dross He transforms into pure gold. Redeeming love has set apart many of the worst of mankind to be the reward of the Saviour's passion. Effectual grace calls forth many of the vilest of the vile to sit at the table of mercy, and therefore let none despair.

Reader, by that love looking out of Jesus' tearful eyes, by that love streaming from those bleeding wounds, by that faithful love, that strong love, that pure, disinterested, and abiding love; by the heart and by the bowels of the Saviour's compassion, we conjure you turn not away as though it were nothing to you; but believe on Him and you shall be saved. Trust your soul with Him and He will bring you to His Father's right hand in glory everlasting.

Things I Learnt

Not to believe God is restricted by my small theology.