From guest Blogger, Paul David Tripp

The following was taken without permission from Tripp’s book, Whiter than Snow; Meditations on Sin and Mercy.  I highly recommend this to purchase.  My wife Julie has been reading this book in her devotional time and thought it would interest me.  It obviously did and so I am passing it on to you.

“Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.”  Psalm 51:13

   Do you know that God has called you to be a teacher? You say, “Come on, Paul, you’ve got to be kidding! I’ve never been to a seminary. I freeze up whenever I have to say something in front of a crowd. I don’t feel that I’m as biblically literate as I should be. I don’t think God really intends me to be one of his instructors.”

   Let me explain what I’m talking about. It’s true that God sets apart a certain people for formal teaching ministry in the church. He gives them the gifts and grace necessary to do the thing he’s called them to do. But the formal ministry of the Word in the body of Christ is only one aspect of the church’s teaching ministry. Paul says, in Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom.” It’s clear here that he’s talking about the myriad of everyday-life ministry opportunities that God will give every one of his children.  According to Paul, you have been called to teach. And if you want to understand what that means, you need to understand that there’s no real separation between life and ministry. Rather, the Bible teaches that every dimension of human life is, at the very same time, a forum for ministry.

   This is where David comes in. He says, in Psalm 51, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways.” David is reminding us that what qualifies us to teach in the personal ministry context of daily life is the grace that we have received in our own moments of need.  This teaching isn’t about laying out a comprehensive theology of grace. Most of us wouldn’t be qualified to do that. No, what it’s actually about is realizing that my story of God having rescued me by his grace is a tool that God intends to use in the lives of others. As I teach others, by being willing to share my own story, I am actually being a tool of transforming grace in their lives. In this kind of one-on-one, informal ministry, I’m not teaching the person about grace.  No, I’m sharing my experience of grace. People learn, not because I’ve opened the dictionary of grace, but because I’ve shown them the video of grace in operation.

   So, are you a good steward of your story of grace? Have you thought about how to tell your story in a way that puts God and his grace in center stage? Have you looked around and considered who’s living with or near you who could benefit from your story of grace? Where have you tended not to let your gratitude shine as brightly as it should? Where have you been unwilling to talk honestly about how much you were (and continue to be) a person in need of rescue?

   So, it’s true; you have been called to teach.  Maybe not as a pastor, small group leader, Sunday School teacher, or foreign missionary. But you have been called to a daily life of gospel transparency, where you’re ready, willing and waiting to share your gratitude for the grace you’ve been given someone who needs it just as much as you.

All for Jesus,

Fletch

Have you ever wondered what Lent is? Or Ash Wednesday or why some people deny themselves of certain things for 40 days before Easter? Lent is the season of 40 days leading up to the celebration of the passion and the resurrection of Christ.  

“The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord’s passion and resurrection, and it became the custom to prepare for them by a season of penitence¹ and fasting…The whole congregation was put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior, and of the need which all Christians continually have to renew their repentance and faith.  The congregation is invited to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.   And, to make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, they are encouraged to kneel before the Lord, their maker and Redeemer” (adapted from the Book of Common Prayer).

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.  Some churches will have a special service where the minister will place some “ash” on the forehead of the believer to signify our mortality and penitence and to remember that it is only by the gracious gift of God that we are given everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Savior.

While our church will not have a special service on Ash Wednesday I would like to encourage you to take the next 40 days to meditate on the significance of Christ’s death and resurrection.  As believers in Christ, we know and believe that without Christ’s death and resurrection there is no forgiveness of sins.  Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection were pinnacle events in human history and salvation.

^ESV Colossians 1:13-14 ¹³ He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

^ESV Hebrews 9:22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Take some time the next 40 days to:

• Spend time in self-examination; confessing your sins and your need for Christ.
• Repent of your sins, turning away from them and toward Christ.
• Spend special time in prayer and devotion to Christ; read the Lenten devotional each day (attached).
• Deny yourself of something or make a special commitment these 40 days to remind you daily of your commitment to Christ and to remember His sacrifice for you. (Our family has committed to spending 15 minutes a day in devotions.  Some cried that they did not have time, but that is the point, we have to give up something else we like to do, i.e. computer, games, internet, etc. to find time for devotion). Remember, we do not deny ourselves something in order to gain favor with God, this is not a work that is “added” to Christ’s work on the cross, this is simply a special time to meditate on Christ’s all satisfying, all sufficient death and to worship Him for His sacrifice.

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.( from the Book of Common Prayer).

^{1penitent simply means deep remorse and sorrow for sin; repentant.}

  Lenten Devotional Readings 2009