Wanderer From The Fold

Dear Christian, Do you love the LORD? I mean really love the LORD? This question is the test for every true follower of Christ. And it can be answered with another like it: Do you love your neighbor? I will be honest. There are times I speak unkindly, or at least less than enthusiastically, about even my closest friends. Some of them may be unaware of my disposition to sin, but I hope they are not surprised. I am, after all, in desperate need of grace as a sinner sanctified by God. However, I am ashamed of my behavior when I act according to evil desire, because in my sin against others I know I have really sinned against God. It is the words of John I hear most clearly rebuke me, "If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother." It is startling stuff when you read it the f...

Dear Christian, You are not alone. You are not alone in your suffering. You are not alone in your shame. The devil and his army are defeated enemies. They may taunt you today. Yet, they will not prevail. Psalm 143 is ascribed as A Psalm of David. Remember that David was a real person, with real problems. He felt pain and grief, both for his own sins and the sins of others. Second, remember that all the Psalms are prophetic of the Messiah. Whether speaking of Jesus, to Jesus, or as from Jesus, every Psalm rings of the blessedness of our Savior. This Psalm in particular is called My Soul Thirsts for You. Consider first how David is like you, a mere man. Whereas he is elsewhere described as "a man after God's own heart," he is self-described as "a worm and not a man." A righteous man? In one sense, yes. As one who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night. Nevertheless, he is declared righteous by another who is righteous. Next, consider Jes...