One of the most publicized events of the last decade was the execution of a Texas woman who had been convicted of murdering two people 14 years earlier. During her time in prison, she became a Christian. The evident genuineness of her conversion elicited calls from all over the world to spare her life. Even the Pope pleaded with the Governor of Texas to intervene. In the end, those who sought justice for the crime she committed prevailed. With a lethal cocktail running through her veins, Karla Fay Tucker “coughed twice, let out a soft groan, and fell silent.”(1)

The debate raised by this case was gripping enough, but what I found to be most fascinating was the intense contest that was unfolding outside the premises where the execution was scheduled to be carried out. Both the proponents as well as opponents of the death penalty camped outside, each side trying to drown the other’s voices. The news of the execution was greeted by a boisterous cry of triumph from those who had so vehemently sought justice for the crime. Others were left wondering where, when, and how mercy applies when the life of an individual hangs in the balance.

This drama was a classic representation of the two most disparate poles of justice and mercy. How are the guilty to be spared in cases where absolute justice is administered? If there are no shortcuts, no bribes, and no turning of a blind eye against evil, what hope is there for those wedged between the jaws of justice? The tension between justice and mercy is a reality with which we all live, and depending on the circumstances, our hunger for vindication is only matched by our plea for mercy and forgiveness.

The biblical solution to this conundrum is uniquely ingenious in both logical and relational terms. It was at the Cross of Jesus where God’s justice was perfectly administered and his eternal mercy publicly displayed when God took upon Himself the punishment meant for the guilty. The perfect, sinless, infinitely just God devised the means whereby sinful, guilty human beings could be justly reconciled to God without an ounce of guilt being swept under the carpet. No other proposed means of liberation for humanity in the world even begins to address this dilemma.  The rhetorical force of the question posed by the author of Hebrews ought forever to haunt every seeker of justice, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation”?

Unfortunately, some stumble over the gospel of Christ even while incessantly seeking either justice or mercy in matters they deem themselves entitled to judge. When our sense of justice is threatened, we rarely hesitate to demand answers, whether the object of our wrath is a mere child or a perfect God. This is nowhere more evident than in attacks on the character of God based on his administration of justice, especially in the Old Testament.  But at the root of this reaction lies the failure to appreciate the full implications of what one really asks for when one demands justice.  If justice is to be absolutely served, the guilty cannot go unpunished.  The only recourse for the guilty is to seek mercy, and mercy cannot be demanded.

Old Testament saints harbored no illusions about God being subject to their standard of justice, for they were no strangers to his terrifying holiness and hence the gravity of sin. The fact that the Israelites were his chosen people did not keep them from facing the consequences of their own disobedience, as even a casual reading of the book of Lamentations will show. It was not without reason that the script writer for the motion picture Fiddler on the Roof, which chronicles the struggles of a Jewish family, has the lead character suggest that God choose other people the next time around.

Part of the reason why we are disinclined to recognize our own need for mercy may be due to the fact that our clamor for justice, however impassioned, is almost always skewed in our favor. Narrow indeed is the path to the dark recesses of our own hearts. But there the light of the gospel must shine, and our strong sense of justice demands that we agree with God’s assessment of our true condition. Nothing short of the kind of repentance that produces humble love within those who turn to Him can ever point humanity towards their identity and purpose.  Without a clear glimpse of our own sinfulness, not even God can measure up to our lopsided, self-righteous standards.

But if God is anything like the Scriptures say, then not only should we expect God to judge sin but we can also be confident that, in the end, no one will be able to find fault with his verdict. That is why Abraham was able to trust in God’s righteous judgment, even beyond the grave, when he chose to sacrifice Isaac at the behest of his Creator. He reasoned that God is able to raise the dead. Whenever we demand justice and obedience, we affirm the same standard that also condemns us. They are blessed indeed whose passion for justice is informed by the mercy of the Cross.

 J.M. Njoroge is a member of the speaking team at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia.

(1) Jesse Katz, “Texas Executes Born-Again Woman After Appeal Fails” LA Times, February 04, 1998.

Morning   “In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in  him.”

Colossians 2:9-10

All the attributes of Christ, as God and man, are at our disposal. All the

fulness of the Godhead, whatever that marvellous term may comprehend, is ours to

make us complete. He cannot endow us with the attributes of Deity; but he has

done all that can be done, for he has made even his divine power and Godhead

subservient to our salvation. His omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence,

immutability and infallibility, are all combined for our defence. Arise,

believer, and behold the Lord Jesus yoking the whole of his divine Godhead to

the chariot of salvation! How vast his grace, how firm his faithfulness, how

unswerving his immutability, how infinite his power, how limitless his

knowledge! All these are by the Lord Jesus made the pillars of the temple of salvation; and

all, without diminution of their infinity, are covenanted to us as our perpetual

inheritance. The fathomless love of the Saviour’s heart is every drop of it

ours; every sinew in the arm of might, every jewel in the crown of majesty, the

immensity of divine knowledge, and the sternness of divine justice, all are

ours, and shall be employed for us. The whole of Christ, in his adorable

character as the Son of God, is by himself made over to us most richly to enjoy.

His wisdom is our direction, his knowledge our instruction, his power our

protection, his justice our surety, his love our comfort, his mercy our solace,

and his immutability our trust. He makes no reserve, but opens the recesses of

the Mount of God and bids us dig in its mines for the hidden treasures. “All,

all, all are yours,” saith he, “be ye satisfied with favour and full of the

goodness of the Lord.” Oh! how sweet thus to behold Jesus, and to call upon him

with the certain confidence that in seeking the interposition of his love or

power, we are but asking for that which he has already faithfully promised.

Evening   “Afterward.”   Hebrews 12:11

How happy are tried Christians, afterwards. No calm more deep than that which

succeeds a storm. Who has not rejoiced in clear shinings after rain? Victorious

banquets are for well-exercised soldiers. After killing the lion we eat the

honey; after climbing the Hill Difficulty, we sit down in the arbour to rest;

after traversing the Valley of Humiliation, after fighting with Apollyon, the

shining one appears, with the healing branch from the tree of life. Our sorrows,

like the passing keels of the vessels upon the sea, leave a silver line of holy

light behind them “afterwards.” It is peace, sweet, deep peace, which follows

the horrible turmoil which once reigned in our tormented, guilty

souls. See, then, the happy estate of a Christian! He has his best things last,

and he therefore in this world receives his worst things first. But even his

worst things are “afterward” good things, harsh ploughings yielding joyful

harvests. Even now he grows rich by his losses, he rises by his falls, he lives

by dying, and becomes full by being emptied; if, then, his grievous afflictions

yield him so much peaceable fruit in this life, what shall be the full vintage

of joy “afterwards” in heaven? If his dark nights are as bright as the world’s

days, what shall his days be? If even his starlight is more splendid than the

sun, what must his sunlight be? If he can sing in a dungeon, how

sweetly will he sing in heaven! If he can praise the Lord in the fires, how

will he extol him before the eternal throne! If evil be good to him now, what

will the overflowing goodness of God be to him then? Oh, blessed “afterward!”

Who would not be a Christian? Who would not bear the present cross for the crown

which cometh afterwards? But herein is work for patience, for the rest is not

for today, nor the triumph for the present, but “afterward.” Wait, O soul, and

let patience have her perfect work.

You are my servant, I have chosen you.   Isaiah 41:9

If we have received the grace of God in our hearts, its practical effect has been to make us God’s servants. We may be unfaithful servants, we certainly are unprofitable ones, but yet, blessed be His name, we are His servants, wearing His uniform, eating at His table, and obeying His commands. We were once the servants of sin, but He who made us free has now taken us into His family and taught us obedience to His will. We do not serve our Master perfectly, but we would if we could. As we hear God’s voice saying unto us, “You are My servant,” we can answer with David, “I am your servant. . . . You have loosed my bonds.”1

But the Lord calls us not only His servants, but His chosen ones—”I have chosen you.” We have not chosen Him first, but He has chosen us. If we are now God’s servants, it wasn’t always so; the change must be ascribed to sovereign grace. The eye of sovereignty singled us out, and the voice of unchanging grace declared, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”2 Long before time began or space was created, God had written upon His heart the names of His elect people, had predestinated them to be conformed unto the image of His Son, and ordained them heirs of all the fullness of His love, His grace, and His glory.

What comfort is here! Having loved us for so long, will the Lord then reject us? He knew how stiff-necked we would be, He understood that our hearts were evil, and yet He made the choice. Our Savior is no fickle lover. He does not feel enchanted for a while with some gleams of beauty from His church’s eye and then afterwards reject her because of her unfaithfulness. No, He married her in old eternity; and He hates divorce! The eternal choice is a bond upon our gratitude and upon His faithfulness, which neither can disown.

1Psalm 116:16 2Jeremiah 31:3

The family reading plan for May 17, 2012

Isaiah 16 | 1 Peter 4

2 Timothy 1:3-5

The most precious thing we can pass down to children is our faith–the confident conviction that God is who He says and will do all He has promised. Timothy’s strong relationship with Christ didn’t materialize out of thin air; it grew as a result of his mother and grandmother’s example.

Here are ways we, too, can hand down a rich legacy to the next generation:

1. Teach practical biblical principles. Kids need to know God’s views on material wealth (Ps. 24:1), meeting needs (Phil. 4:19), and direction in life (Prov. 3:5-6).
2. Model character through lifestyle. How we live–whether with transparency, peace, and perseverance, or with fear, anxiety, and self-reliance–loudly communicates what we believe about God.
3. Serve God by serving others. Actions show that our faith is real (James 2:26). If we want kids not to develop a self-centered perspective, servanthood is key.
4. Intercede for them. Children won’t forget hearing us pray regularly for them.
5. Communicate love. Young people need to know we love them the way God loves us–unconditionally rather than based on what they do or don’t do. Spoken words of love breathe life into their hearts. And as we affirm them for trusting God, they see that we value their spiritual growth.

As parents, we must be intentional about leading and inspiring our sons and daughters to follow Christ. But even those without children of their own can leave a legacy. The example to follow is Paul: though neither married nor a natural parent, he was a spiritual father to many (1 Cor. 4:14-16).

In Daniel Goleman’s excellent book Emotional Intelligence he writes about the last moments of Gary and Mary Jean Chauncey battling the swirling waters of the river into which the Amtrak train they were on had plummeted. With every bit of energy they had, both fought desperately to save the life of their young daughter Andrea, who had cerebral palsy and was bound to a wheelchair. Somehow they managed to push her out into the arms of rescuers, but sadly, they themselves drowned.

Some would like to explain such heroism as evolution’s imprint, that we humans behave this way by virtue of evolutionary design for the survival of our progeny. One is hard-pressed not to ask, “Why did the healthier preserve the weaker and not themselves?” But even the author was unable to explain it all in mere Darwinistic terms. He added that “only love” could explain such an act.

In another story, you may recall the chess victory of the computer “Deep Blue” over the world champion Gary Kasparov, which caused many to compare the similarities of machines and humans. Yale professor David Gelertner disagrees. He writes:

“The idea that Deep Blue has a mind is absurd. How can an object that wants nothing, fears nothing, enjoys nothing, needs nothing, and cares about nothing have a mind?  It can win at chess, but not because it wants to. It isn’t happy when it wins or sad when it loses. What are its [post]-match plans if it beats Kasparov?  Is it hoping to take Deep Pink out for a night on the town?”(1)

He continues: “The gap between the human and the surrogate is permanent and will never be closed. Machines will continue to make life easier, healthier, richer, and more puzzling. And humans will continue to care, ultimately, about the same things they always have: about themselves, about one another, and many of them, about God.”

What a unique capacity God has put within us—the capacity to feel. From the selfless sacrifice of loving parents to our own personal thought lives, we recognize that this ability is one aspect of the insurmountable differences between us and machines. In the words of the biblical writer, it is we—and not our PC’s I might add—who have been made “a little lower than the angels.” Life, feeling, and thought are God’s gifts to us. And where we follow God’s thoughts, we feel and act in highest measure.

 Ravi Zacharias is founder and chairman of the board of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.

 (1) David Gelertner, “How Hard Is Chess?” Time Magazine, 19 May 1997.

Morning   “So to walk even as he walked.”   1 John 2:6

Why should Christians imitate Christ? They should do it for their own sakes. If

they desire to be in a healthy state of soul–if they would escape the sickness

of sin, and enjoy the vigour of growing grace, let Jesus be their model. For

their own happiness’ sake, if they would drink wine on the lees, well refined;

if they would enjoy holy and happy communion with Jesus; if they would be lifted

up above the cares and troubles of this world, let them walk even as he walked.

There is nothing which can so assist you to walk towards heaven with good speed,

as wearing the image of Jesus on your heart to rule all its motions. It is when,

by the power of the Holy Spirit, you are enabled to walk

with Jesus in his very footsteps, that you are most happy, and most known to be

the sons of God. Peter afar off is both unsafe and uneasy. Next, for religion’s

sake, strive to be like Jesus. Ah! poor religion, thou hast been sorely shot at

by cruel foes, but thou hast not been wounded one-half so dangerously by thy

foes as by thy friends. Who made those wounds in the fair hand of Godliness? The

professor who used the dagger of hypocrisy. The man who with pretences, enters

the fold, being nought but a wolf in sheep’s clothing, worries the flock more

than the lion outside. There is no weapon half so deadly as a Judas-kiss.

Inconsistent professors injure the gospel more than the sneering

critic or the infidel. But, especially for Christ’s own sake, imitate his

example. Christian, lovest thou thy Saviour? Is his name precious to thee? Is

his cause dear to thee? Wouldst thou see the kingdoms of the world become his?

Is it thy desire that he should be glorified? Art thou longing that souls should

be won to him? If so, imitate Jesus; be an “epistle of Christ, known and read of

all men.”

Evening   “Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee.”   Isaiah 41:9

If we have received the grace of God in our hearts, its practical effect has

been to make us God’s servants. We may be unfaithful servants, we certainly are

unprofitable ones, but yet, blessed be his name, we are his servants, wearing

his livery, feeding at his table, and obeying his commands. We were once the

servants of sin, but he who made us free has now taken us into his family and

taught us obedience to his will. We do not serve our Master perfectly, but we

would if we could. As we hear God’s voice saying unto us, “Thou art my servant,”

we can answer with David, “I am thy servant; thou hast loosed my bonds.” But the

Lord calls us not only his servants, but his chosen ones–“I have

chosen thee.” We have not chosen him first, but he hath chosen us. If we be

God’s servants, we were not always so; to sovereign grace the change must be

ascribed. The eye of sovereignty singled us out, and the voice of unchanging

grace declared, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” Long ere time

began or space was created God had written upon his heart the names of his elect

people, had predestinated them to be conformed unto the image of his Son, and

ordained them heirs of all the fulness of his love, his grace, and his glory.

What comfort is here! Has the Lord loved us so long, and will he yet cast us

away? He knew how stiffnecked we should be; he understood that our hearts were

evil, and yet he made the choice. Ah! our Saviour is no fickle lover. He doth

not feel enchanted for awhile with some gleams of beauty from his church’s eye,

and then afterwards cast her off because of her unfaithfulness. Nay, he married

her in old eternity; and it is written of Jehovah, “He hateth putting away.” The

eternal choice is a bond upon our gratitude and upon his faithfulness which

neither can disown.

And he said, ‘Thus says the Lord, ‘I will make this dry streambed full of pools.’ for thus says the Lord, ‘You shall not see wind or rain, but that streambed shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, your livestock, and your animals.”    2 Kings 3:16-17

The armies of the three kings were famishing and in need of water. God was about to send it, and in these words the prophet announced the coming blessing.

Here was a case of human helplessness: Not a drop of water could all the valiant men procure from the skies or find in the wells of earth. In similar fashion the people of the Lord are often at their wits’ end—seeing their helplessness, and then learning where their help is to be found.

Notice that people were to prepare in faith to receive the divine blessing. They were to dig the trenches in which the water would be held. The church must learn by her efforts and prayers to make herself ready to be blessed; she must make the pools, and the Lord will fill them. This must be done in faith, in the full assurance that the blessing is about to descend. They were soon to discover a unique provision of the water they required. The shower did not pour from the clouds, as in Elijah’s case; but in a silent and mysterious manner the pools were filled. The Lord has His own sovereign modes of action: He is not tied to process and time as we are but does as He pleases among the sons of men. Our part is to humbly receive from Him, and not to dictate to Him.

We must also notice the remarkable abundance of the supply—there was enough for the needs of all. And so it is in the gospel blessing. All the needs of the congregation and of the entire church will be met by divine power in answer to prayer; and above all this, victory shall be quickly given to the armies of the Lord.

What am I doing for Jesus? What trenches am I digging? O Lord, make me ready to receive the blessing that You are so willing to bestow.

The family reading plan for May 16, 2012

Isaiah 15 | 1 Peter 3

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Proverbs 22:6 tells us, “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.” What a great responsibility this places on parents. Records of royal lineage (1 Kings 15-16) illustrate that one’s level of submission to God is often mirrored in the offspring’s life.

Now, it’s true that children eventually grow and make their own decisions. There are godly parents who are heartbroken by their kids’ poor choices. Similarly, some from backgrounds full of sinful bondage become righteous people of integrity.

As mothers and fathers, we are given a momentous task: to model and teach how to live according to God’s Word. Thankfully, we don’t have to rely on ourselves for wisdom. Good parenting involves prayerful self-evaluation, godly counsel, and thoughtful course corrections.

Start by considering how you’d answer the following questions if your children were to walk in your way: What place will Jesus, the Word of God, and the church have in their lives? Will they seek God’s direction as the ultimate guide for decisions? Will they develop strong godly relationships? Will they know how to handle money wisely? Will they do their best in their vocation? As you seek answers, ask God to reveal truth, since self-examination can be difficult.

In prayerfully considering your impact as a parent, expect to see positives and negatives. The goal isn’t self-condemnation, so keep in mind 1) there’s no perfect parent and 2) it’s never too late. Even if the kids are grown, you can ask forgiveness, share what you’ve learned, and model a godly life starting now.

I was on a plane when the hype of Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code was still on the upswing. Several seats ahead of me, a conversation about the scandalousstory was drawing otherwise subdued travelers out of their newspapers. “It makes you look at the church differently,” one voice said, triggering a quick “yes” from the woman beside her. Meanwhile, the passenger on my left, inspired by the conversation in front of us, described his distaste for Christianity as if it were a flavor of ice cream.  “Buddhism is far more interesting.”

The world we live in is globalized, pluralistic, and post-secular. It is also more like the first century than any of the previous centuries the church has lived through. In the centuries leading up to the time of Jesus, Jewish, secular, and pagan worldviews were living side by side then as they are now—and “Hellenism” is the term that denotes they were not living as wholly separated entities of thought. Much like the merging worldviews we find today, there was an embracing of various strands and streams of thought and life. Hellenism was everywhere, and it set the agenda for the pluralistic culture that would continue to develop under Roman rule. By the time Rome took power there was an unparalleled flow of people, resources, and philosophies central to one location. Cities became international stomping grounds for a wide variety of religions and ethnicities, as they similarly exist today.

As in the Roman world, people who confess belief live in an environment where there are not only multiple faith communities around them, there are faith communities spilling over into other faith communities, and worldviews embracing strands and fragments of other worldviews. In every society there are multiple, viable options for religious preference, and every hybrid option in between. Like a cafeteria of religious and non-religious choices, the consumer is able to choose based on appetite, comfort, or convenience.

For those whose beliefs are rooted more in conviction than comfort, it is easy to feel that we must inherently be cultural naysayers, gypsies who wander through this world unattached and (hopefully) unaffected. Where I live in Atlanta, I can see the effects of postmodern and pluralistic philosophies in the daily life of an international city where traditional southern values coexist with the voices of secularism, atheism, and every minor and major religion. But as a Christian like the apostle Paul within first century Rome, I don’t believe all is lost in the fog of a thousand religions. Far from this, as Paul discovered among the people of Athens, such a cultural context presents me with both risk and opportunity.

Of course, pluralism can indeed make us all something like the believers in Laodicea, and our apathy and illogic in making all religions the same can make us indistinct and irrelevant, neither hot nor cold, Christian, Jewish, or pagan. But pluralism can also present great opportunity for believers, as it did for Paul who used the signs of all religions to point specifically to one. Likewise, globalization can bring about questions that may not otherwise have been asked. Is Islam any different than Christianity? Is this particular tenet of my faith something scriptural or something cultural? Does American Christianity have anything in common with the practice of Christianity in China, Uganda, or Europe? So often it is the recognition of life outside our familiar worlds that brings the first glimpses of our own worldviews into focus. For those willing to receive it, our current context can be a provocative gift.

The world in which we find ourselves is full of fog and fallacies, but I believe it is also full of the unfailing love of God. For Christians who are aware of the kingdom of God among us, we need not be confined to cultural naysaying, but can live as visionaries of God’s grace, harbingers of hope, and catalysts for transformation. For we testify to the radical work of the cross in the world and in our hearts, and to the uniqueness of Jesus Christ who, unlike any other, exchanges guilt for grace, ashes for beauty, and sorrow for joy.

Jill Carattini is managing editor of A Slice of Infinity at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia.

Morning   “Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.”   1 Timothy 6:17

Our Lord Jesus is ever giving, and does not for a solitary instant withdraw his

hand. As long as there is a vessel of grace not yet full to the brim, the oil

shall not be stayed. He is a sun ever-shining; he is manna always falling round

the camp; he is a rock in the desert, ever sending out streams of life from his

smitten side; the rain of his grace is always dropping; the river of his bounty

is ever-flowing, and the well-spring of his love is constantly overflowing. As

the King can never die, so his grace can never fail. Daily we pluck his fruit,

and daily his branches bend down to our hand with a fresh store of mercy. There

are seven feast-days in his weeks, and as many as are the days,

so many are the banquets in his years. Who has ever returned from his door

unblessed? Who has ever risen from his table unsatisfied, or from his bosom

un-emparadised? His mercies are new every morning and fresh every evening. Who

can know the number of his benefits, or recount the list of his bounties? Every

sand which drops from the glass of time is but the tardy follower of a myriad of

mercies. The wings of our hours are covered with the silver of his kindness, and

with the yellow gold of his affection. The river of time bears from the

mountains of eternity the golden sands of his favour. The countless stars are

but as the standard bearers of a more innumerable host of blessings. Who can

count the dust of the benefits which he bestows on Jacob, or tell the number of

the fourth part of his mercies towards Israel? How shall my soul extol him who

daily loadeth us with benefits, and who crowneth us with loving-kindness? O that

my praise could be as ceaseless as his bounty! O miserable tongue, how canst

thou be silent? Wake up, I pray thee, lest I call thee no more my glory, but my

shame. “Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake right early.”

Evening   “And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches. For thus

saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that

valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye and your cattle,

and your beasts.”    2 Kings 3:16-17

The armies of the three kings were famishing for want of water: God was about to

send it, and in these words the prophet announced the coming blessing. Here was

a case of human helplessness: not a drop of water could all the valiant men

procure from the skies or find in the wells of earth. Thus often the people of

the Lord are at their wits’ end; they see the vanity of the creature, and learn

experimentally where their help is to be found. Still the people were to make a

believing preparation for the divine blessing; they were to dig the trenches in

which the precious liquid would be held. The church must by her varied agencies,

efforts, and prayers, make herself ready to be blessed; she

must make the pools, and the Lord will fill them. This must be done in faith,

in the full assurance that the blessing is about to descend. By-and-by there was

a singular bestowal of the needed boon. Not as in Elijah’s case did the shower

pour from the clouds, but in a silent and mysterious manner the pools were

filled. The Lord has his own sovereign modes of action: he is not tied to manner

and time as we are, but doeth as he pleases among the sons of men. It is ours

thankfully to receive from him, and not to dictate to him. We must also notice

the remarkable abundance of the supply–there was enough for the need of all.

And so it is in the gospel blessing; all the wants of the

congregation and of the entire church shall be met by the divine power in

answer to prayer; and above all this, victory shall be speedily given to the

armies of the Lord.

What am I doing for Jesus? What trenches am I digging? O Lord, make me ready to receive the blessing which thou art so willing to bestow.

. . . made perfect.   Hebrews 12:23

Remember that there are two kinds of perfection that the Christian needs—the perfection of justification in the person of Jesus, and the perfection of sanctification accomplished in him by the Holy Spirit. At present, corruption still remains even in the hearts of the regenerate—experience soon teaches us this. Within us there still are lusts and evil imaginations. But I rejoice to know that the day is coming when God shall finish the work that He has begun; and He will present my soul not only perfect in Christ, but perfect through the Spirit, without spot or blemish or any such thing.

Can it be true that this poor sinful heart of mine is to become holy even as God is holy? Can it be that this spirit, which often cries, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”1 shall get rid of sin and death—that I will have no evil sounds to vex my ears, and no unholy thoughts to disturb my peace? May this happy hour come quickly! When I cross the Jordan, the work of sanctification will be finished; but not until that moment shall I ever claim perfection in myself. Then my spirit will have its last baptism in the Holy Spirit’s fire.

I think I long to die to receive that last and final purification that will usher me into heaven. An angel will not be any purer than I shall be, for I shall be able to say, in a double sense, “I am clean,” through Jesus’ blood and through the Spirit’s work. We should extol the power of the Holy Spirit who makes us fit to stand before our Father in heaven! Yet we must not allow the hope of perfection there to make us content with imperfection now. If it does this, our hope cannot be genuine; for a good hope is a purifying thing, even now. Grace must be at work in us now or it will not be perfected in us then. Let us pray to “be filled with the Spirit,”2 that we may increasingly bring forth the fruits of righteousness.

1Romans 7:24 2Ephesians 5:18

The family reading plan for May 15, 2012

Isaiah 14 | 1 Peter 2

Isaiah 61:1-3

No one’s childhood is perfect. What we experienced during those years has a profound impact, even into adulthood. Things we saw, heard, felt, and even things we did not feel can affect us later in life.

As one might expect, external influences do help to shape our personality. However, the result is not always predictable. For example, early years full of painful experiences leave deeps wounds in some, but in others, they contribute to the development of depth and perseverance.

Whether your younger years were joyful or painful, it can be valuable to consider what their impact was, back then as well as in the present. You might start by exploring your responses to key childhood events. Next, identify traits that you appreciated in your parents and others–qualities you’d like to nurture in your own life. Finally, think about people with characteristics that impacted you negatively. Ask God for healing and freedom from the patterns you may have developed in response. Then shift your focus to godly attributes you want to exhibit instead, such as peace, grace, and gentleness.

The heavenly Father wants to free you from any negative trends that took root early in life. He can break any unhealthy pattern and replace it with hope and deep satisfaction in Him.

As you explore the effects of childhood experiences, pray to see through a lens of truth. When you recognize ways that others negatively influenced you, pray for strength to forgive and God’s help in mending areas of brokenness–whether spiritual, emotional, relational, or mental

Morning   “All that believe are justified.”   Acts 13:39

The believer in Christ receives a present justification. Faith does not produce

this fruit by-and-by, but now. So far as justification is the result of faith,

it is given to the soul in the moment when it closes with Christ, and accepts

him as its all in all. Are they who stand before the throne of God justified

now?–so are we, as truly and as clearly justified as they who walk in white and

sing melodious praises to celestial harps. The thief upon the cross was

justified the moment that he turned the eye of faith to Jesus; and Paul, the

aged, after years of service, was not more justified than was the thief with no

service at all. We are today accepted in the Beloved, today absolved from

sin, today acquitted at the bar of God. Oh! soul-transporting thought! There

are some clusters of Eshcol’s vine which we shall not be able to gather till we

enter heaven; but this is a bough which runneth over the wall. This is not as

the corn of the land, which we can never eat till we cross the Jordan; but this

is part of the manna in the wilderness, a portion of our daily nutriment with

which God supplies us in our journeying to and fro. We are now–even now

pardoned; even now are our sins put away; even now we stand in the sight of God

accepted, as though we had never been guilty. “There is therefore now no

condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” There is not a sin in the Book

of God, even now, against one of his people. Who dareth to lay anything to

their charge? There is neither speck, nor spot, nor wrinkle, nor any such thing

remaining upon any one believer in the matter of justification in the sight of

the Judge of all the earth. Let present privilege awaken us to present duty, and

now, while life lasts, let us spend and be spent for our sweet Lord Jesus.

Evening    “Made perfect.”    Hebrews 12:23

Recollect that there are two kinds of perfection which the Christian needs–the

perfection of justification in the person of Jesus, and the perfection of

sanctification wrought in him by the Holy Spirit. At present, corruption yet

remains even in the breasts of the regenerate–experience soon teaches us this.

Within us are still lusts and evil imaginations. But I rejoice to know that the

day is coming when God shall finish the work which he has begun; and he shall

present my soul, not only perfect in Christ, but perfect through the Spirit,

without spot or blemish, or any such thing. Can it be true that this poor sinful

heart of mine is to become holy even as God is holy? Can it be that this

spirit, which often cries, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from

the body of this sin and death?” shall get rid of sin and death–that I shall

have no evil things to vex my ears, and no unholy thoughts to disturb my peace?

Oh, happy hour! may it be hastened! When I cross the Jordan, the work of

sanctification will be finished; but not till that moment shall I even claim

perfection in myself. Then my spirit shall have its last baptism in the Holy

Spirit’s fire. Methinks I long to die to receive that last and final

purification which shall usher me into heaven. Not an angel more pure than I

shall be, for I shall be able to say, in a double sense, “I am clean,” through

Jesus’  blood, and through the Spirit’s work. Oh, how should we extol the power of the

Holy Ghost in thus making us fit to stand before our Father in heaven! Yet let

not the hope of perfection hereafter make us content with imperfection now. If

it does this, our hope cannot be genuine; for a good hope is a purifying thing,

even now. The work of grace must be abiding in us now or it cannot be perfected

then. Let us pray to “be filled with the Spirit,” that we may bring forth

increasingly the fruits of righteousness.

He will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom.

Isaiah 40:11

Who is He of whom such gracious words are spoken? He is the Good Shepherd. Why does He carry the lambs in His bosom? Because He has a tender heart, and any weakness at once melts His heart. The sighs, the ignorance, the feebleness of the little ones of His flock draw forth His compassion. It is His office, as a faithful High Priest, to consider the weak. Besides, He purchased them with blood; they are His property: He must and will care for those who cost Him so dearly. Then He is responsible for each lamb, bound by covenant love not to lose one. Moreover, they are all a part of His glory and reward.

But how may we understand the expression, “he will carry them”? Sometimes He carries them by not permitting them to endure much trial. Providence deals tenderly with them. Often they are carried by being filled with an unusual degree of love, so that they bear up and stand fast. Though their knowledge may not be deep, they have great sweetness in what they do know. Frequently He carries them by giving them a very simple faith, which takes the promise just as it stands and in childlike trust runs with every trouble straight to Jesus. The simplicity of their faith gives them an unusual degree of confidence, which carries them above the world.

He carries the lambs “in his bosom.” Here is boundless affection. Would He put them in His bosom if He did not love them much? Here is tender nearness: They are so near that they could not possibly be nearer. Here is a holy relationship: There are precious love-passages between Christ and His weak ones. Here is perfect safety: In His bosom who can hurt them? They must hurt the Shepherd first. Here is perfect rest and sweetest comfort. Surely we are not sufficiently aware of the infinite tenderness of Jesus!

The family reading plan for May 14, 2012

Isaiah 13 | 1 Peter 1

Ephesians 6:1-4

If children don’t learn to honor parents, the disrespect spills over into their adult lives, affecting every other relationship. When they have children, the problem accelerates into the next generation. Soon an entire society is plagued with disrespect in homes, schools, and workplaces. This sounds like our generation, doesn’t it?

Our culture is disrespectful because parents have abdicated their responsibility. Instead of standing in the place of honor that God has given them, they have stepped down and tolerated insolent behavior from their children. Here are several reasons:

Ignorance about discipline: Some parents fail to recognize that disrespect is a serious matter that calls for immediate action. If you let such attitudes and behaviors continue, you’re not raising your child according to biblical guidelines.

Misunderstanding about love: In their desire to be loved, some moms and dads try to be a child’s friend instead of parent. But if children see you as their equal, they are less likely to respect or love you.

Overwhelmed by busyness: Teaching children to honor you takes time, effort, and consistency. But many parents today are too busy and preoccupied to work seriously at this task. They have no energy reserves to tackle disrespectful attitudes and behaviors.

If you have children at home, are you training them to be respectful? When you are strong and firm in a loving way, you’re establishing your God-given position as an honored parent. Our children don’t come to us knowing that the Lord commands them to respect us. It’s our job to teach them.

Morning   “And will manifest myself to him.”  John 14:21

The Lord Jesus gives special revelations of himself to his people. Even if

Scripture did not declare this, there are many of the children of God who could

testify the truth of it from their own experience. They have had manifestations

of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in a peculiar manner, such as no mere

reading or hearing could afford. In the biographies of eminent saints, you will

find many instances recorded in which Jesus has been pleased, in a very special

manner to speak to their souls, and to unfold the wonders of his person; yea, so

have their souls been steeped in happiness that they have thought themselves to

be in heaven, whereas they were not there, though they were well

nigh on the threshold of it–for when Jesus manifests himself to his people, it

is heaven on earth; it is paradise in embryo; it is bliss begun. Especial

manifestations of Christ exercise a holy influence on the believer’s heart. One

effect will be humility. If a man says, “I have had such-and-such spiritual

communications, I am a great man,” he has never had any communion with Jesus at

all; for “God hath respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.”

He does not need to come near them to know them, and will never give them any

visits of love. Another effect will be happiness; for in God’s presence there

are pleasures for evermore. Holiness will be sure to follow. A man who

has no holiness has never had this manifestation. Some men profess a great

deal; but we must not believe any one unless we see that his deeds answer to

what he says. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked.” He will not bestow his

favours upon the wicked: for while he will not cast away a perfect man, neither

will he respect an evil doer. Thus there will be three effects of nearness to

Jesus–humility, happiness, and holiness. May God give them to thee, Christian!

Evening  “Fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I

will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again.”

Genesis 46:3-4

Jacob must have shuddered at the thought of leaving the land of his father’s

sojourning, and dwelling among heathen strangers. It was a new scene, and likely

to be a trying one: who shall venture among couriers of a foreign monarch

without anxiety? Yet the way was evidently appointed for him, and therefore he

resolved to go. This is frequently the position of believers now–they are

called to perils and temptations altogether untried: at such seasons let them

imitate Jacob’s example by offering sacrifices of prayer unto God, and seeking

his direction; let them not take a step until they have waited upon the Lord for

his blessing: then they will have Jacob’s companion to be their friend and

helper. How blessed to feel assured that the Lord is with us in all our ways,

and condescends to go down into our humiliations and banishments with us! Even

beyond the ocean our Father’s love beams like the sun in its strength. We cannot

hesitate to go where Jehovah promises his presence; even the valley of

deathshade grows bright with the radiance of this assurance. Marching onwards

with faith in their God, believers shall have Jacob’s promise. They shall be

brought up again, whether it be from the troubles of life or the chambers of

death. Jacob’s seed came out of Egypt in due time, and so shall all the faithful

pass unscathed through the tribulation of life, and the terror of death. Let

us exercise Jacob’s confidence. “Fear not,” is the Lord’s command and his

divine encouragement to those who at his bidding are launching upon new seas;

the divine presence and preservation forbid so much as one unbelieving fear.

Without our God we should fear to move; but when he bids us to, it would be

dangerous to tarry. Reader, go forward, and fear not.

Only be strong and very courageous.   Joshua 1:7

The tender love of God for His servants makes Him concerned for how they feel inside. He wants them to be courageous. Some people think it is okay for a believer to be vexed with doubts and fears, but God does not think so. From this text it is clear that our Master does not want us entangled with fears. He desires for us to live without fretfulness, doubt, and cowardice. Our Master does not think as lightly of our unbelief as we do. When we are despondent, we are subject to a grievous ailment that is not to be trifled with but instead taken at once to the beloved Physician.

Our Lord does not like to see our faces sad. It was a law of Ahasuerus that no one should come into the king’s court dressed in mourning: This is not the law of the King of kings, for we may come to Him in mourning. But He still would have us put off the spirit of heaviness and put on the garment of praise, for there are so many reasons to rejoice. The Christian ought to be of a courageous spirit, in order that the Lord may be glorified when trials are bravely endured.

The fearful and fainthearted dishonor their God. Besides, what a bad example it is. This disease of doubtfulness and discouragement is an epidemic that spreads quickly among the Lord’s flock. One downcast believer makes twenty souls sad.

Moreover, unless your courage is kept up, Satan will be too much for you. Let your spirit be joyful in God your Savior; the joy of the Lord shall be your strength, and no fiend of hell shall make headway against you. But cowardice lets the banner fall. Moreover, work is easy for the cheerful spirit; and success waits upon cheerfulness. The workers, rejoicing in their God, believing with all their heart, have success guaranteed.

To sow in hope will be to reap in joy; therefore, dear reader, “be strong and very courageous.”

The family reading plan for May 11, 2012

Isaiah 9:7-21 , 10:1-4 | James 3

 John 3:1-21

Faith isn’t something we can lay claim to because we were born to believing parents or have citizenship in a Christian country. Nor can we attain it by attending or even teaching Sunday school, though I’ve often heard such incorrect assertions. Instead, the following should be true of genuine believers.

A clear understanding of the gospel is essential for a person to believe and receive the good news of Jesus Christ. His death on the cross was the only sacrifice required to remove our sins. God offers His grace as a gift to anyone who will receive it.

A definite decision at a particular point in time serves as a sort of landmark of the heart and mind. People do not just slip into Christianity; faith in Jesus must be chosen. Believers are those who have made a deliberate decision to trust the Lord and follow in His ways.

A blessed assurance follows the clear-cut decision so that believers can be certain of their salvation. God wants confident, assured children (1 John 5:13).

A visible symbol of what happens when someone receives the Savior–namely, baptism–illustrates dying to one’s old ways and rising to new life in Christ Jesus. Believers are to take this step as a public way of identifying with Him (Matt. 28:19).

A man or woman of faith chooses to surrender to Christ, embraces the Word of God, and lives fully for the Lord. True believers no longer muddle through the practices of religion out of habit, but instead worship and rejoice in a vibrant personal relationship with the Lord.

In spite of the proverbial certainty of death and taxes, the human psyche has always dreamed of discovering loopholes in whatever mechanisms fix the limits. Yet though it might be possible to cheat on one’s taxes, “cheating death” remains a phrase of wishful-thinking applied to incidences of short-lived victories against our own mortality. Eventually, death honors its ignominious appointment with all of us, calling the bluff of the temptation to believe that we are the masters of our own destiny. But despite the universal, empirical verification of its indiscriminate efficiency, we continue to be constantly surprised whenever death strikes. Only a painfully troubled life can be so thoroughly desensitized against its ugliness as to not experience the throbbing agony of the void it creates within us whenever the earthly journey of a loved one comes to an end.

Such a peculiar reaction to an otherwise commonplace occurrence points strongly to the fact that this world is not our home. As Ecclesiastes 3:11 explains, God has put eternity in our hearts, and therefore the mysterious notion that we are not meant to die is no mere pipe dream: it sounds a clarion call to the eternal destiny of our souls. If the biblical record is accurate, there is no shame or arrogance in pitching our hopes for the future as high as our imaginations will allow. Actually, the danger is that our expectations may be too low, for “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Far from being the accidental byproducts of a mindless collocation of atoms, we are indestructible beings whose spiritual radars, amidst much static noise, are attuned to our hearts’ true home.

Trouble begins, however, when we try to squeeze that eternal existence into our earthly lives in a manner that altogether denies our finite natures. We do so whenever we desensitize ourselves against the finality of death through repeated exposure to stage-managed destruction of human life through the media. Or we zealously seek ultimate fulfillment in such traitorous idols as pleasure, material wealth, professional success, power, and other means, without taking into account the fleeting nature of human existence. Or we broach the subject of death only when we have to, and even then we feel the need to couch it in palatable euphemisms. With some of our leading intellectuals assuring us that we have pulled ourselves up by our own bootstraps and we therefore have no need for God, the only thing missing from our lives seems to be the tune of “Forever Young” playing in the cosmic background.  A visitor from outer space would probably conclude that only the very unlucky ones die, while the rest of us are guaranteed endless thrill-rides through space aboard this green planet.

But such a visitor would promptly be treated to the rude awakening that even the most self-assured of human beings are still in transit. While it is possible to sustain a façade of total control within the confines of material comforts, a functional government, and a reasonable distance from the darker side of human suffering, this opportunity is not equally shared around the globe. It would take a very specialized form of education to believe in the ability of human beings to control their own destiny when hundreds of people are being put to the sword, homes are being razed to the ground, and your neighbors are fleeing for their lives—a scenario my family lived through in Kenya. Unlike their counterparts elsewhere, news anchors in this part of the world rarely preface their gruesome video clips with viewer discretion warnings, and so the good, the bad, and the ugly are all deemed equally fit for public consumption.

Affronted by such an in-your-face, unapologetic reality of human mortality, one finds oneself face to face with a dilemma: why should you devote all of your energy to making a meaningful difference in the world if it is true that everything done under the sun will eventually amount to zero? Once one has come to the conclusion that the emperor has no clothing, what sense does it make to keep up with the pretense? Sadly, some see through the emptiness and choose to end their own lives. From a naturalistic perspective, that seems to be a perfectly consistent step to take.

Yet the Bible grasps this nettle with astounding authority. Not only has God placed a yearning for our true home in our hearts, God has also promised to cloth the perishable with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality through Christ’s own death (1 Corinthians 15:54). In the meantime, the light of the gospel shines an eternal perspective upon our service unto God and humanity, fusing all of our activities with significance. When the call of God has been answered, nothing that is done in obedience to the Father, as the Son himself confirmed in life and death, is ever trivial. Thus even in the face of suffering and death, as a follower of Christ, I neither bury my head in the sand nor grope blindly in total darkness. With faithfulness and joy, I enthusiastically render service to my God,

And when my task on earth is done,
When by thy grace the victory’s won,
Even death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since God through Jordan leadeth me.(1)

J.M. Njoroge is a member of the speaking team at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia.

Morning   “I am with you alway.”   Matthew 28:20

It is well there is One who is ever the same, and who is ever with us. It is

well there is one stable rock amidst the billows of the sea of life. O my soul,

set not thine affections upon rusting, moth-eaten, decaying treasures, but set

thine heart upon him who abides forever faithful to thee. Build not thine house

upon the moving quicksands of a deceitful world, but found thy hopes upon this

rock, which, amid descending rain and roaring floods, shall stand immovably

secure. My soul, I charge thee, lay up thy treasure in the only secure cabinet;

store thy jewels where thou canst never lose them. Put thine all in Christ; set

all thine affections on his person, all thy hope in his merit, all

thy trust in his efficacious blood, all thy joy in his presence, and so thou

mayest laugh at loss, and defy destruction. Remember that all the flowers in the

world’s garden fade by turns, and the day cometh when nothing will be left but

the black, cold earth. Death’s black extinguisher must soon put out thy candle.

Oh! how sweet to have sunlight when the candle is gone! The dark flood must soon

roll between thee and all thou hast; then wed thine heart to him who will never

leave thee; trust thyself with him who will go with thee through the black and

surging current of death’s stream, and who will land thee safely on the

celestial shore, and make thee sit with him in heavenly places

forever. Go, sorrowing son of affliction, tell thy secrets to the Friend who

sticketh closer than a brother. Trust all thy concerns with him who never can be

taken from thee, who will never leave thee, and who will never let thee leave

him, even “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” “Lo, I am

with you alway,” is enough for my soul to live upon, let who will forsake me.

Evening   “Only be thou strong and very courageous.”   Joshua 1:7

Our God’s tender love for his servants makes him concerned for the state of

their inward feelings. He desires them to be of good courage. Some esteem it a

small thing for a believer to be vexed with doubts and fears, but God thinks not

so. From this text it is plain that our Master would not have us entangled with

fears. He would have us without carefulness, without doubt, without cowardice.

Our Master does not think so lightly of our unbelief as we do. When we are

desponding we are subject to a grievous malady, not to be trifled with, but to

be carried at once to the beloved Physician. Our Lord loveth not to see our

countenance sad. It was a law of Ahasuerus that no one should come into

the king’s court dressed in mourning: this is not the law of the King of kings,

for we may come mourning as we are; but still he would have us put off the

spirit of heaviness, and put on the garment of praise, for there is much reason

to rejoice. The Christian man ought to be of a courageous spirit, in order that

he may glorify the Lord by enduring trials in an heroic manner. If he be fearful

and fainthearted, it will dishonour his God. Besides, what a bad example it is.

This disease of doubtfulness and discouragement is an epidemic which soon

spreads amongst the Lord’s flock. One downcast believer makes twenty souls sad.

Moreover, unless your courage is kept up, Satan will be too much for

you. Let your spirit be joyful in God your Saviour, the joy of the Lord shall

be your strength, and no fiend of hell shall make headway against you; but

cowardice throws down the banner. Moreover, labour is light to a man of cheerful

spirit; and success waits upon cheerfulness. The man who toils, rejoicing in his

God, believing with all his heart, has success guaranteed. He who sows in hope

shall reap in joy; therefore, dear reader, “be thou strong, and very

courageous.”