Chasing Butterflies in the Presence of the King

The following excerpt humbles me. It’s taken from a letter written by John Newton on how a believer, who readily affirms the majesty of God’s character, can so often fail to act upon this knowledge in the prayer closet. The most obvious evidence is in how easily our minds wander off to chase after vain thoughts that so easily distract our attention from prayer (source: The Works of John Newton, 1:246–247):

We know how we are often affected when in the presence of a fellow-worm; if he is one on whom we depend, or who is considerably our superior in life, how careful we are to compose our behavior, and to avoid whatever might be deemed improper or offensive!

Is it not strange that those who have taken their ideas of the divine majesty, holiness and purity, from the Scriptures, and are not wholly insensible of their inexpressible obligations to regulate all they say or do by his precepts, should upon many occasions be betrayed into improprieties of behavior from which the presence of a nobleman, or prince, would have effectually restrained them, yea, sometimes perhaps even the presence of a child?

Even in the exercise of prayer, by which we profess to draw near the Lord, the consideration that his eye is upon us has little power to engage our attention, or prevent our thoughts from wandering like the fool’s eye, to the ends of the earth.

What should we think of a person, who, being admitted into the king’s presence, upon business of the greatest importance, should break off in the midst of his address, to pursue a butterfly? Could such an instance of weakness be met with, it would be but a faint emblem of the inconsistencies which they who are acquainted with their own hearts, can often charge themselves with in prayer.

The Four Holy Gospels

Start with a 400-year-old translation of the four gospels (KJV), add some great contemporary art (Makoto Fujimura), and you end up with this: The Four Holy Gospels, a new project from Crossway Bibles (Jan. 31, 2011). For more info, check out this new video (8 min.):

God Is For Me

I treasure the for me/for us phrases in Psalm 56:9/Romans 8:31. It is a majestic thought that the holy God of the universe can be for me/for us. It is a divine reality so startling that we can only explain this favor as a gift of grace. It should drive from us all vain thoughts of spiritual superiority.

In my reading over the years I’ve gathered a small collection of quotes to help me meditate on this amazing truth. Here are three examples:

John Piper, sermon, “God Did Not Spare His Own Son,” August 18, 2002:

O how precious are those two words, “for us” [Rom. 8:31]. There are no more fearful words in the universe than the words, “God is against us.” … We live forever with God against us or with God for us. And all who are in Christ may say with almost unspeakable joy, “God is for us.” He is on our side.

Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics, IV/2 728:

What can and should and must be done by the man to whom the Creator and Lord of heaven and earth has stopped down from his eternal and inaccessible majesty in inconceivable goodness and overflowing majesty to take man to Himself by taking his place and bearing his curse and burden? What can and should and must be done by the man to whom it is given in the quickening power of the Holy Spirit to accept the fact that God is for him in this way? What remains for the Christian to do? What is his part? Or rather, what is he allowed and commissioned and commanded to do? Since this is the case, and he knows it, in what consists his Christian freedom? There can obviously be only one answer to this question. This is the simple and unequivocal answer that he must accept and receive the One who comes to him and that which is given in and by Him; that he must be content in unconditional and childlike confidence to hold to the fact that God is for him; that he must acknowledge and recognize and confess this; that he must place himself on this ground and walk on it without hesitation or vacillation; that he must be satisfied and rejoice and constantly return to the fact that he may be undeservedly but quite indisputably be the child of God.

C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, evening of July 13:

It is impossible for any human speech to express the full meaning of this delightful phrase, “God is for me” [Ps 56:9]. He was “for us” before the worlds were made; he was “for us,” or he would not have given his well-beloved son; he was “for us” when he smote the Only-begotten, and laid the full weight of his wrath upon him—he was “for us,” though he was against him; he was “for us,” when we were ruined in the fall—he loved us notwithstanding all; he was “for us,” when we were rebels against him, and with a high hand were bidding him defiance; he was “for us,” or he would not have brought us humbly to seek his face. He has been “for us” in many struggles; we have been summoned to encounter hosts of dangers; we have been assailed by temptations from without and within—how could we have remained unharmed to this hour if he had not been “for us”?

He is “for us,” with all the infinity of his being; with all the omnipotence of his love; with all the infallibility of his wisdom; arrayed in all his divine attributes, he is “for us,”—eternally and immutably “for us”; “for us” when yon blue skies shall be rolled up like a worn out vesture; “for us” throughout eternity. And because he is “for us,” the voice of prayer will always ensure his help. “When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies be turned back.” This is no uncertain hope, but a well grounded assurance—“this I know.” I will direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up for the answer, assured that it will come, and that mine enemies shall be defeated, “for God is for me.” O believer, how happy art thou with the King of kings on thy side! How safe with such a Protector! How sure thy cause pleaded by such an Advocate! If God be for thee, who can be against thee?

Conference Books

Four pallets of free books were given as gifts to the men who attended the pastors conference this week. Some of you have asked me for a list of titles. Here they are:

C.J. Mahaney, booklet, Don’t Waste Your Sports (Crossway, Nov. 2010). The booklet was released early to be distributed at the conference. It should be available online in the next week or so at dontwasteyoursports.com

C.J. Mahaney, paperback, Biblical Productivity (SGM, Nov. 2010). This paperback version of C.J.’s blog series was printed for conference attendees. These books are not available for sale, but you can download the full contents of the book here.

Michael Lawrence, paperback, Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church (Crossway, April 2010). C.J. especially encouraged pastors to read and study chapters 11 and 12.

Jim Hamilton, hardcover, God’s Glory in Salvation through Judgment: A Biblical Theology (Crossway, Nov. 2010). Another new title. Hamilton’s book is a nice example of three things: (1) how to find a thematic center to the Bible, (2) how to preserve a proper emphasis on God’s holiness, and (3) how to be continually reminded (from every book of the Bible!) of the gospel that saves us from God’s judgment and wrath.

Jonathan Leeman, paperback, The Church and the Surprising Offense of God’s Love (Crossway, Jan. 2010). An important book on church membership and church discipline.

John Newton, cloth, Letters of John Newton (Banner of Truth, 2007). Said J.I. Packer: “Whitefield was flamboyant, Wesley was masterful, Newton was unobtrusive. Yet Newton was indubitably one of the three greatest eighteenth-century evangelical leaders. As a warm-hearted pastoral counselor, in groups and by letter, he had no peer.”

John Newton, cloth, Wise Counsel: John Newton’s Letters to John Ryland Jr. (Banner of Truth, 2009). More letters.

Marty Machowski, large paperback, Long Story Short: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God (New Growth, Nov. 2010). This family devotional arrived directly from the printer at the start of the conference and C.J. distributed copies to the men on Wednesday night.

Not a bad haul.