God's Unchanging Character

When we look at Psalm 22, we see that king David is in distress and he call out unto the Lord.

Psalm 22:1-2 - "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest."

How often do we feel the same way as David. While in the midst of a trial we call out to God and we don't get the answer we want. It seems that God does not care or even powerless to help us. We can't understand why He isn't acting on our behalf when we know that he can. It can be down right frustrating and bring us to despair. We may even question His character, goodness, faithfulness and strength.

Yet, God's character does not depend on our circumstances, nor can we determine who God is by them. God is above our circumstances and in control of all things.

Psalm 22:3 - "Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises."

He is saying to God even though I don't see your deliverance, it does not change who you are. You are still the God of Israel and remain on your throne.

He goes on to remember God's faithfulness in the past and how the fathers of the past cried out and He answered them. When we face times of great difficulty, we need to remember God is on His throne and He is love and faithfulness towards us has not changed. He is still the all powerful God who has compassion and delivers those who are in trouble. Reflect on how many times in the past that He has helped us and others. Praise Him for what He has done and trust that He will do it once again.

Like the Apostle Paul

Titus 1:1-3 - "Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness ² in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, ³ and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,"

When I read this verse this morning I was reminded of what God has called me to do. He has called me to build up believers faith, teach them the Word of God and to give hope of eternal life. I am not only to teach but preach the commands of God.

Later on in 1:9, Paul says  elders are to encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

I think these days, there is a tendency not to put such importance on doctrine. Many in the church would say, all that matters is that we are in  Christ Jesus. We have gone down this path because we have seen how doctrine divides the church. In the name of unity, we throw doctrine aside. It doesn't really matter what you believe the Bible says because no one really knows the truth. What is important is that we walk in love and be supportive of one another. This is all good, but it shouldn't make us sacrifice doctrine: sound teaching and the truth. There is one correct interpretation of God's Word, and we should seek to know what this is and walk in it. 

We focus today on practical application, but wrong doctrine will produce wrong application. With out a solid theory, application of that theory will not produce the desired result. We need to be balanced in this. Good theory (doctrine) without application is ineffective. Application without a solid theory is faulty. 

Measure of Christian Maturity

 1 Corinthians 13:11-13

“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” NKJV

 

In this portion the Apostle Paul writes about moving from childhood to maturity in our speech, understanding, and thought. This transition is purposeful. We don’t mature naturally over time any more than a child growing big makes him more mature. It takes willful, intentional decisions with the discipline to carry them out. He says we have to “put away childish things.” This is a process from seeing dimly and knowing in part to seeing Christ face to face and knowing Him as He knows us. It is a life-long process that we must pursue with our whole being.

 

The measure of maturity is faith, hope, and love. The Apostle says, “now abide these three.” These are the three pillars of the Christian life that we should constantly be developing which produce eternal results. This is a progressive work that the Holy Spirit wants to do in us. Romans 1:17 says, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Unveiled faces mean that we have to be transparent before God, if this maturity process is going to happen.

 

Maturity in faith comes through the Word because “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) Maturity in love is a development of our character. I Corinthians chapter 13 clearly demonstrates that anything that is done that does not spring from love has no value. Love is manifested in obedience. Jesus said in John 14:21,“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.” The manifestation of love is in the fruit of the Spirit. Maturity in hope is demonstrated in ministry because hope exalts God and His kingdom. 1 Corinthians 9:10 says, “For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope , and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.”

 

Maturity requires that we grow in all three areas: faith, hope and love. Some people may exude love but have no faith or hope, and so produce little. Others may have great faith and hope resulting in great ministry, but their life is bankrupt of love. We often measure ourselves and others by our strongest area, when, in fact, our level of maturity is as great as our weakest area. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

 

“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things….And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”