The Verdict Is In

Yesterday, I received a letter, informing me that I was selected to be an RA (Resident Assistant) next school year. I turned in the application back in early March and then had my interview two weeks ago. I am really excited to see how our faithful God will use this experience for His glory.

(P.S. - IBEX fall 05 is taking over Master's College dorm staff: Hannah, Mary, Robby, Christian, Philippe, and I were all selected for RA.)

A Word about God's Love

In the book Understanding Christian Theology, J. Carl Laney Jr. says this about God’s love for us:

“Because God’s love is based on His unchanging nature rather than our personal behavior, He will never stop loving us. Perhaps you have heard someone say the sad words, “I don’t love you anymore.” These words would be impossible for God to speak. He told His people Israel, “I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3). This is equally true of His relationship with the body of Christ, His church (Ephesians 5:25). His love is so vast and inexhaustible that, as F.B. Meyer once wrote, 'The love of God toward you is like the Amazon River flowing down to water a single daisy.'"

One Thing You Lack

Bob Kauflin of Sovereign Grace Ministries blogs about how Jesus pinpointed the rich young ruler's problem: he loved his riches more than he loved God.

Check it out here; it's worth the read.

MacArthur's List of Failures

15 Devastating Consequences of a Failure to Peach the Bible Expositionally

Given by Dr. John MacArthur in chapel at The Master’s College on March 22 & 24, 2006

1. It usurps the authority of God over the soul.
2. It removes the Lordship of Christ from His Church.
3. It hinders the work of the Holy Spirit.
4. It demonstrates appalling pride.
5. It severs the preacher from the sanctifying grace of Scripture.
6. It clouds the true depth & transcendence of the message.
7. It prevents the preacher from fully developing the mind of Christ.
8. It depreciates, by example, the need for personal Bible study.
9. It prevents the preacher from being the voice of God in every issue.
10. It breeds a congregation who is as weak and indifferent to the glory of God as the preacher is.
11. It robs the people of the only true source of help.
12. It encourages people to be indifferent to Scripture and divine authority.
13. It lies to people about what they really need.
14. It strips the pulpit of power.
15. It puts the responsibility on the preacher to change the people by other means.

He Loves Thee Too Little

“For he loves Thee too little who loves anything together with thee, which he loves not for thy sake. O love that ever burnest and art never quenched! O Charity, my God, enkindle me!” -St. Augustine

This line from Augustine reveals a simple yet profound reality regarding our love for God. The Lord remains, from before time began, the greatest and most glorious being. He sits enthroned above all earthly powers and demands worship from his creatures. He requires love. In fact, when our love goes to another, Jeremiah describes it as seeking for water in broken cisterns, rather than diving into the fountain of living water that gushes forth divine satisfaction. The only appropriate reaction to this evil is shock and awe.

With incredible boldness, Augustine declares that if you love anything equal with God, you love God too little. Your affections for Him are weak and half-hearted if you put the infinitely lovely God on equal level with His creation. God has placed a gap between Himself and man. When we seek to close that gap or eliminate it all together, we sin against the holy God by not giving Him the proper glory and recognition.

Well, Augustine not only presents the problem, but he gives us a prayer that should be upon our hearts everyday. We must pray for God to ignite love for His name inside of us, because we are incapable of such passionate affection apart from the Spirit. Pray that the Lord would set the truth of Scripture aflame within your heart, otherwise described as logic on fire. History is filled with examples of God answering this request within men and women.

God demands your love. Does your love for Him ever burn; Is it never quenched? Pray that He would enkindle that kind of affection within your heart.