Reach Your Destination

Slow and Steady

"There are many people who think of spiritual growth as something like high diving. They say, ‘I am going to give my life to the Lord! I am going to change all these terrible habits, and I am really going to transform! Give me another six months and I am going to be a new man or new woman!’

That is not what a walk is. A walk is day in and day out praying; day in and day out Bible and Psalms reading; day in and day out obeying, talking to Christian friends and going to corporate worship, committing yourself to and fully participating in the life of a church. It is rhythmic, on and on and on. To walk with God is a metaphor that symbolizes slow and steady progress."
            - Tim Keller

(From Daily Keller)

Choose Wisely

From @BradBridges

Sandals

From my old friend Dave Grant:

Sandals, Jesus
you walked in sandals
that wore out 
the laces broke
and you’re feet got dirty
but you walked perfectly.
Your faith was solid.

My steps, Jesus
I want to walk in your sandals
with a faith
that doesn't wear out
even when the laces break
and my feet get dirty.
I want a solid walk,
perfect in You.

Amen. 

Never

O Lord,

May I never fail to come to the knowledge of the truth,
never rest in a system of doctrine, however Scriptural,
that does not bring or further salvation,
or teach me to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts,
or help me to live soberly, righteously, godly; 

never rely on my own convictions and resolutions,
but be strong in You and in Your might;

never cease to find Your grace sufficient
in all my duties, trials, and conflicts;

never forget to go to You
in all my spiritual distresses and outward troubles,
in all the dissatisfactions experienced in creature comforts;

never fail to retreat to Him who is full of grace and truth,
the Friend that loves at all times,
who is touched with feelings of my infirmities,
and can do exceeding abundantly for me;

never confine my religion to extraordinary occasions,
but acknowledge You in all my ways;

never limit my devotions to particular seasons
but be in Your fear all the day long;

never be godly only on the sabbath or in Your house,
but on every day abroad and at home;

never make piety a dress but a habit,
not only a habit but a nature,
not only a nature but a life.
Do good to me by all Your dispensations,
by all means of grace, by worship, prayers, praises,
And at last let me enter that world where is no temple,
but only Your glory and the Lamb’s.

- from Valley of Vision, adapted

HT Kingdom People

What is Good

Picture from TCW's Kyria Blog

Living Now Through the Cross

Interesting comment from Dane Ortlund

He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. -2 Corinthians 5:15

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. -1 Peter 2:24

Notice how seamlessly Paul and Peter tie the death of Christ into the life we live as believers.

It is of course blessedly true that Christ's death results in atonement. That is fundamental and non-negotiable. Paul and Peter say just that in the immediate context of these two texts. But that's not what they say in these verses. Here they say not that Christ's death results in (the 'that' in each text is the Greek word hina--'in order that,' 'so that') living in heaven when we die but living in a heavenly way here and now. Christ's death produces something not only for us but also in us.

From: Strawberry-Rhubarb Theology: Does this fit into your theology of what the death of Christ did?: 

The Path of Delightful Firmnesss

"but his delight is in the law of the Lord,and on his law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:2 ESV)

"I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word."  (Psalm 119:16 ESV)

Why would one delight in the Law (rules, statutes, Commandments) of God? Delight in grace is easy to understand - but joy in the Law not so much.  Here's C. S. Lewis' wise explanation:

"Their delight in the Law, is a delight in having touched firmness; like the pedestrians delight in feeling the hard road beneath his feet after a false short cut has long entangled him in muddy fields."

          - From C.S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms, page 55

I hope you stay out of the mud today.