On contemplating the Trinity from "Knowing God" by J. I. Packer

Oh, there is, in contemplating Christ, a balm for every wound; in musing on the Father, there is a quietus for every grief; and in the influence of the Holy Ghost, there is a balsam for every sore. Would you lose your sorrow? Would you drown your cares? Then go, plunge yourself in the Godhead's deepest sea; be lost in his immensity; and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated. I know nothing which can so comfort the soul; so cam the swelling billows of sorrow and grief; so speak peace to the winds of trial, as a devout musing upon the subject of the Godhead.

God is GOOD!

Reading A. W. Pink's book The Attributes of God on the goodness of God I see how wonderful it is to study God's creation!

"And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good" (Gen. 1:31). Thus, the "goodness" of God is seen, first, in Creation. The more closely the creature is studied, the more the beneficence of its Creator becomes apparent. Take the highest of God’s earthly creatures, man. Abundant reason has he to say with the Psalmist, "I will praise Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are Thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well" (139:14). Everything about the structure of our bodies attests the goodness of their Maker. How suited the bands to perform their allotted work! How good of the Lord to appoint sleep to refresh the wearied body! How benevolent His provision to give unto the eyes lids and brows for their protection! And so we might continue indefinitely.

I've been teaching Chemistry and some of the amazing things I have studied have caused me to stand in awe of God's goodness more than ever. The amazing order of the elements, the different ways bonding takes place between atoms, the "infinite" nature of more and more minute particles discovered over time, the exciting results of combining certain elements, the stability of others, the power inherent in the smallest units of matter that can only be separated by nuclear reactions - atoms, the ability of the same elements to combine in different combinations to produce vastly different materials, the fun, the excitement, the anticipation of knowing that God has even more to reveal to us of his complexity, his sovereignty, his power, his faithfulness, his mercy, his very nature through his creation is quite wonderful.

Gratitude is the return justly required from the objects of His beneficence; yet is it often withheld from our great Benefactor simply because His goodness is so constant and so abundant. It is lightly esteemed because it is exercised toward us in the common course of events. It is not felt because we daily experience it. "Despisest thou the riches of His goodness?" (Rom. 2:4). His goodness is "despised" when it is not improved as a means to lead men to repentance, but, on the contrary, serves to harden them from the supposition that God entirely overlooks their sin.

I am also quite capable of forgetting God's goodness in the face of daily life situations. That God is good is obvious from the moment I wake up in the morning. I have slept and been refreshed. The bed I have is comfortable and there is a goodness in feeling snug and warm in the bed. Did I deserve any of this comfort? Certainly not! Not only have I forgotten the goodness of this one simple pleasure, I am angry and frustrated when my sleep is interrupted.
Okay, I am awake and ready to start my day. Do I get up and immediately thank God that he sent his son to die for me? Do I even thank him that I have another day to enjoy teaching my sons? Have I thought of how special it was that he provided me with a wonderful husband? Am I aware of God's creation and the beauty of a new day? Am I eager to ask for his guidance and wisdom for the day? Do I desire the special time I can have with him? Am I grateful that God listens to my every prayer? Am I aware of Jesus intervening for me? Do I just have to take one look outside so I can rejoice in him before the rocks cry out instead?Are his words to me sweeter than honey?
Now I go to wake up my sons. Am I eager to show them the greatness of God or am I more concerned that they get their work done without bugging me too much? Am I eager to teach these treasured possessions of God to be amazed by his greatness? When they have questions do I answer them with patience knowing the patience my heavenly Father has with me? When they must be disciplined, do I first deal with my own heart and remind myself of the mercy God has shown me?
What is most important to me as we study? Good grades or knowing God? Do I remind them that every pleasure in this life is a gift from God that we don't deserve? Do I point out the beauty of a bird's song? Do I marvel at the complexity of a leaf? Do I stand amazed at God's gift of grace towards me through his Son, Jesus? Do I remind them how amazingly ordered God's universe is? Do I point to math and help them see its beauty lies in exactness? Do I help my sons see that math actually helps us see more complex things in an easier to understand way? Do I encourage them to write about God's wonders? When they read of the past do I ask them to look for the stamp of God on each event in history?
Do I encourage my kids to do good works because God created those opportunities for us? Do I point to the goal we have to keep our minds focused on him and ready to help others just as he sent his Son for us, his Son who willingly laid down his life for us?
Do I go to him in repentance with a thankful heart, a humble heart, a broken heart, a soft moldable heart?
He is GOOD! Let my heart cry out for him; make my will submissive to the Holy Spirit; open my eyes to his Goodness; teach me to follow his ways and rely on his Faithfulness; keep me humbly aware of his Attributes and my need for him.

Are you committed? Do you want to be?

These are questions asked (my paraphrase) by Johnny Long in Springville tonight before he read the following prayer by John Wesley:

I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by you or laid aside by you,
enabled for you or brought low by you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield
all things to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
you are mine, and I am yours.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.

I am going to pray over each part of this prayer.
I really desire to think about this commitment and ask God to
show me what is in my heart.

"I am no longer my own, but yours."

Scripture:
Galatians 2:19-21 (The Message)

19-21What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.

Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.

Galatians 2:19-21 (New Century Version)
19 It was the law that put me to death, and I died to the law so that I can now live for God.20 I was put to death on the cross with Christ, and I do not live anymore—it is Christ who lives in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself to save me.21 By saying these things I am not going against God's grace. Just the opposite, if the law could make us right with God, then Christ's death would be useless.

Galatians 2:19-21 (New Century Version)
19 It was the law that put me to death, and I died to the law so that I can now live for God.20 I was put to death on the cross with Christ, and I do not live anymore—it is Christ who lives in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself to save me.21 By saying these things I am not going against God's grace. Just the opposite, if the law could make us right with God, then Christ's death would be useless.

Galatians 5:24 (Contemporary English Version)
24And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires.

The very first sin was rooted in pride and that is how I sin against God even to this day. I put myself first, trying to glorify myself. In doing so I have sinned in my anger that things or people did not follow my plans or measure up to what I wish would be. Am I willing to look God for everything and let God work out his plans in others lives without my powerless interfering and criticism? Am I ready to be an encourager, one who lifts up others because I believe God is working good in them for His glory? Will I quit worrying about what others think of me and what I think I am capable of doing and follow Christ in doing God's will even when it is hard?

A Prepared Dwelling for My God

I am to be a temple of God. His Spirit is to dwell in me! Have I got that dwelling ready? Am I able?
The answer is no. Even for His Spirit to dwell in me I must ask for His help.

In The Valley of Vision on page six is a prayer listing what must be done:

My thoughts of my own self-worth must be destroyed. I am nothing on my own. I have proven my character over and over again. I am a sinner.

My pride which makes me to think more highly of myself than any creature on earth or in heaven, including God Almighty, must be crushed to pieces and scattered to the winds. Whenever I put what I desire over and above God's plans for me or put my own interests above the interests of others I have decided I was more worthy.

Self-righteousness which pursues me and which I pursue time and again must be annihilated. Even as I desire to please God, the roots of self-righteousness become entangled in the good I wish to do. The next thing I know I am taking credit for doing good or defending my inability to do so instead of pursuing the God of the Universe, My Savior.

Tears of grief must fill my eyes as I see the sin, rebellion, and arrogance that have been manifested in my life instead of the glory of God.

I must be broken, willing and submissive to follow and fight for the life God has given me in Christ. Repentantly, expectantly looking to Christ for forgiveness and grace.

Convince me that I cannot be my own god, or make myself happy, nor my own Christ to restore my joy, nor my own Spirit to teach, guide, rule me.

When my desire for more leads to much, much less

http://www.sharebook.co.kr/disney/a/백설공주.files/image004.jpg

“We turn to those around us
as if they are mirrors,
and hope that what they reflect
back to us makes us feel good
about who we are.”
http://hungrywomen.wordpress.com/

Just who is supposed to reflect the glory of Whom? Isn’t reflecting God’s glory the reason we were created?

I am reading A Quest for More by Paul David Tripp. As I began this study I did not think of myself as an arrogant person, but when I began to look at my tendency to strive for my own glory instead of God's I see that I am very arrogant indeed.

“How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes only from God?” (John 5:44)

“What causes us to miss seeing the glory of God? Is it not because we are often distracted by seeking to receive glory from man?” http://hungrywomen.wordpress.com/

“What is this desire to be well thought of, or well spoken of? As if a man should run up and down after a feather flying in the air. It is a question whether (he will) ever get it; but if he do(es), it is but a feather; such, is honor, it is hard to obtain it, but if obtained, it is but the breath in a few men’s mouths; but what is worst of all, it hinders our sight of Christ.” (Isaac Ambrose, Looking Unto Jesus)

“God wants us to know who He is, and to be satisfied with that knowledge. He desires for us to behold His perfections and to marvel at His worth, for this will not only magnify Him but will also bring us deeper pleasure than anything that the world holds forth.” http://hungrywomen.wordpress.com/

Eclipses and Parched Ground

I find word pictures help my understanding of spiritual truths. I found these in The Divine Will from the Valley of Vision prayer book. Both of these quotes helped me see how I am the one who blocks myself from "increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:10 ESV). Even as I am drawn away from Him by my own actions, He draws me back to himself.


(Picture by Alexandra Huckerby & Greg Butler - Antalya, Turkey)

"Show me what sins hide Thee from me and eclipse Thy love."

As I think about my sins - anger, pride, self-righteousness, greed, etc. - hiding God from me, I realize how little regard I have for God and how I want to be:

the one in control (omnipotent)
the one worshipped
the "deserving" one

As I act out of this kind of heart my sin eclipses - blocks out the light of - God's love. I do not glorify Him. I cannot glorify Him, when my sin puts my focus on me.

Thank you, Lord, for Act 2.



"Teach me to believe that all degrees of mercy arise from several degrees of prayer, that when faith is begun it is imperfect and must grow, as chapped ground opens wider and wider until rain comes."



I see the ground drying up, like I remember one time as a child, and cracks opening up between it.

In this quote, I see how God draws me to Himself. As my life dries up, cracking open because nothing I rely upon can fill me, He allows all of my need for Him to be apparent before drawing me again to Himself. Desperately longing for relief, God sends the rain of His mercy and grace, and I wonder why I ever thought anything else mattered.

The Solitariness of God by Arthur W. Pink

the
awe-inspiring
and
worship-provoking
grandeur
of the divine
character

Pink's Quotes:
"God is solitary in His excellency", quoting Exodus 15:11, "glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?".

"During eternity past, God was alone: self-contained, self-sufficient, self-satisfied; in need of nothing."

How dare I think that I can "give" him anything of worth. He needs nothing. It is amazing that I would even interest him, yet he created me because of the good pleasure of his will.

"He changes not, therefore His essential glory can be neither augmented nor diminished."

Although the chief end of man is to glorify him and enjoy him forever, my good actions, my worship, my adoration cannot add to his glory and my bad actions, my selfishness, my blasphemies cannot detract from his glory. The glory that I give to him is only what is due, what is right, what is reasonable because of who he is, was, and always will be.

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible Job 35:6:
“for though by these (our sins) the name of God is profaned and blasphemed, and he is dishonoured and despised, and his manifestative glory is eclipsed, or he has not the honour given him that is due unto him; yet his essential glory is untarnished, unsullied, and unhurt, no more than the sun by an eclipse; he is the same without any variableness or shadow of turning, as well as is over all blessed for ever."

Pink's Quotes:
"He was in no need of that external glory of His grace which arises from His redeemed, for He is glorious enough in Himself without that."

Romans 11:34-35

"The force of this is, it is impossible to bring the Almighty under obligations to the creature; God gains nothing from us."

"Nay, we go further; our Lord Jesus Christ added nothing to God in His essential being and glory, either by what He did or suffered. True, blessedly and gloriously true, He manifested the glory of God to us, but He added nought to God."

Can this be true? Absolutely, God was the same before Christ came to earth, while he was on earth, and when he returned to reign in heaven. Although we are able to see more of God's glory through him because God brought himself down to our level in Christ, God's essential glory did not increase through this sacrifice. His glory was expressed in a way we could understand.

Pink's Quotes:
"t is perfectly true that God is both honored and dishonored by men; not in His essential being, but in His official character. It is equally true that God has been "glorified" by creation, by providence, and by redemption. This we do not and dare not dispute for a moment. But all of this has to do with His manifest glory and the recognition of it by us. Yet had God so pleased He might have continued alone for all eternity, without making known His glory unto creatures. Whether He should do so or not was determined solely by His own will. He was perfectly blessed in Himself before the first creature was called into being. And what are all the creatures of His hands unto Him even now? Let Scripture again make answer:"

"Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance--behold, He taketh up the isles as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. All nations before Him are as nothing; and they are counted to Him less than nothing, and vanity. To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto Him?" (Isa 40:15-18).

"He is solitary in His majesty, unique in His excellency, peerless in His perfections. He sustains all, but is Himself independent of all. He gives to all, but is enriched by none."

God is not known by man's understanding. He is revealed to man through, by, and for God's purposes. We are dead in this sense -- our spiritual relationship with God was severed. It was his good pleasure to sacrifice his son, showing forth is justice, mercy, and grace, to redeem us. This was his plan before time began. (Of course, that can be mindboggling to think about.)

Job 26:14 (English Standard Version)
Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways,
and how small a whisper do we hear of him!
But the thunder of his power who can understand?"

I love this verse! See The Jensen Project "How Small a Whisper" post.

For a little more study on this subject see The Nature and Attributes of God and Pink's book online.