Drippings from the Honeycomb
More to be desired are [the rules of the Lord] than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. (Psalm 19:10)
In 1998 there was a country song called “Ordinary Life” by Chad Brock. Now I don’t listen to country music anymore, save for some classics—I prefer classical. However, the message of this song bears sketching. In the song, a man grows tired of going to church, cutting the grass, going to work, etc. He tires of his ordinary life. So he leaves his family only to realize his ordinary life was pretty good and he missed it.
Some Christians tire of the ordinary life in following Jesus. They long for something great or some great extraordinary experience. Someone once said, “unlike those most useless persons in Christian circles who are always waiting for great things to do, and who neglect the opportunities which lie to their hand, …let us do the little which lay to hand, and find that by doing the ‘next thing’ life becomes rich in opportunities for usefulness.” Now to be clear, Christianity is by nature extraordinary, conversion is a miracle, our life is lived by the Spirit. Yet at the same time, following Jesus is a cumulation of ordinary things. Even Jesus, when instituting the Lord’s Supper, took bread and the cup and gave an OC festival (itself instituted on ordinary things), new meaning. We call these ordinary things like Baptism and the Lord’s Supper ‘means of grace.’ In them the Lord has taken something ordinary and clad it with meaning so when we in faith do them we are blessed. The Lord’s Day, prayer, reading the Bible, pursuing holiness, serving, fellowshipping with believers, etc, these all are ordinary and yet yield much fruit over time. A recent question by a guest preacher reminded me of this growth. He asked what the church had looked for when they called me. Only one couple could answer because everyone else had come during those 5 years. One by one, ordinary growth, preaching 100 sermons a year and other ordinary ministerial duties of our people. So do not tire of the ordinary means of grace. They are how the Lord ordinarily works and blesses His Church. Let us do them faithfully and regularly and see what the Lord will do. I’m a natural born planner. I love a good plan when I see one, I marvel at a great one. Plans speak to the brilliance and insight of the planner, the wisdom of the execution and the good wrought by the plan. Plans are glorious things.
When we look at the big picture of the Bible we inevitably speak of God’s plan of salvation. It sometimes is described like this: in response to the Fall God initiated a plan whereby His grace made possible a way of salvation that culminated in Christ, and awaits His second coming (Fall, Redemption and Consummation). So far as plans go, it appears glorious but upon closer inspection is quite lacking. The plan makes salvation possible but not guaranteed. In fact, our total depravity dooms such a plan to fail. It is a plan dependent upon man, not God. We need salvation of the Lord. There are true elements in this popular sketch, however, as a great and glorious God, we would expect a far grander plan, and this is precisely what we find in the pages of Scripture (Eph 1:4–6; Ro 8:30). A four-hundred-year-old document articulates God’s biblical plan of salvation thus: This elect number [i.e. those given to Christ in eternity past], though by nature neither better nor more deserving than others, but with them involved in one common misery, God hath decreed to give to Christ, to be saved by Him, and effectually to call and draw them to His communion by His Word and Spirit, to bestow upon them true faith, justification and sanctification; and having powerfully preserved them in the fellowship of His Son, finally, to glorify them for the demonstration of His mercy and for the praise of His glorious grace. (Canons of Dort 1.7). Using modern planning language, we see every element of a great plan:
***Still in revision*** Rev. L.L. Langstroth, the father of modern beekeeping, was preaching in Dayton, OH on Oct 6, 1895. Because of his age he had to preach sitting down. He opened his sermon with these words, “Today I wish to speak to you about the love of God.” Then he died. As a preacher there would be no better way to go. Maybe the Lord was being merciful, sparing him from a difficult subject. While God’s love might seem simple enough, it is actually a difficult doctrine (not unlike the Trinity, providence or the atonement, etc).
This sermon was preached on May 5 at Jerseyville Baptist Church for their 200th anniversary, Mk 3: 20-21, 31-35. You have been praying about something, trying to discern God’s special/hidden will for you. (I.e. We don’t need to pray about whether or not to murder, or attend church or steel, etc—God has clearly revealed the answers to these in His general will, the Bible). Discern God’s special will is more circumstantial and revolves around, ‘what does God want me to be when I grow up,’ ‘who should I marry,’ ‘what job should I take,’ ‘where should I live,’ ‘what ministry is He calling me to,’ etc. Knowing we can mistake our desires for God’s, be unduly influenced by the world, and even be lead astray by demons—we must test the spirits (1 Jn 4:1).
Here are a few ways God can speak to us; how he might reveal His will. Sometimes many come together, like the Lord shouting an answer. All of them can be subjective and so much be beholden to the Word of God: 1.In prayer: Often when we are speaking to God, He speaks back. Are we listening? 2.Though God’s Word: When we read the Bible in context, the Spirit will often apply the message of a passage to us. Be ready for the living Word to speak! 3.In the Church: As we are faithful in this means of grace the Lord may speak through song or a sermon. Let us be diligent. 4.Through the wisdom of Christian friends: Proverbs says much about many counsellors. Turning to a trusted and wise Christian friends may reveal an answer. 5.By receiving an impression of heart: Sometimes the Lord simply impresses the answer deeply upon our heart or mind. 6.Through common truth/experience: As all truth is God’s truth, sometimes the Lord will use the strangest things (like a piece of music) to convict us of His will. 7.By reason: God gave us a brain to us, as we think through our question in light of God’s word things often begin to become clearer. 8.Circumstantially: If there are three options (A, B and C) when we go to bed, but in the morning only C, Providence has forced our hand. 9.Audibly or in Dreams/Visions: While less common, the Lord can speak or reveal an answer in a dream. However, despite all of these things, sometimes we must wait upon the Lord for an answer, doing His general will in the meantime; trusting He will direct us. If we embark on a certain course, believing it to be God’s will, we must remain open to re-direction. In all of these, we ultimately move forward in faith. |
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