Meditations

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31-32

“All things are necessary which God ordains, who is only waiting to consume interiorly and exteriorly all our corrupt affections, and that all wrongs, injuries, contempt, sickness, poverty, abandonment of relatives and friends, the temptations of the devil, mortifications, and all else contrary to humanity, are especially needful to us, that we may combat with them, till at length gaining through them the victory, our corrupt affections may be extinguished, until adversity appears to us no longer bitter, but sweet.

Whoever believes that anything good or bad can befall him, which can separate him from God, shows that he is not yet strong in divine charity; for man should fear nothing but to offend God, and all beside should be to him as if it were not.

For herself, she said, that she seemed to see in her heart a ray of love proceeding from God, binding them together with a golden thread, and had no fear that it would ever be loosed; and this had been the case ever since her conversion. Her sweet Lord gave her such confidence that when she was moved to pray for anything, something within seemed to say: “Command, for love can do it.” Indeed she had every thing she asked, with all possible certainty.”

Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510) in Life and Doctrine of Saint Catherine of Genoa (Grand Rapids: CCEL) Chapter 27. Click here to download this classic work.

Recently there was a small brush fire in our neighborhood. Thankfully, the workers worked fast to contain and extinguish it. Imagine that’s how God works to stomp out our corrupt affections.

Corrupt affections are the heart issues that hinder generous giving, living, serving, and loving. We are attached to the wrong things. Or notice as the reading unfolds from Catherine that fear also grips us.

We worry about bad things befalling us. This shows we are not strong in divine charity, which is akin to generosity. She is saying that we are weak because we fear the wrong things. We need only fear God.

Catherine shows us where to ind peace and confidence. Bind ourselves to God. And if we need something to excel in divine charity or generosity, we need only say the word for Love can do it.

This mirrors the posture of the Apostle Paul in Romans. If you want to go deeper today, meditate on the context from which I pulled today’s Scripture, Romans 8:31-39. God wants you to be more than a conqueror.

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For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10

“Vain-glory could never enter her mind, for she had seen the truth, and distrusting herself, placed her whole confidence in God, saying always: “Oh Lord! do with me what thou wilt.” She had so little esteem of herself that it was pleasing to her to be reproved for any inclination she might have, nor did she ever excuse herself. So clear was the interior vision of that illuminated mind, and such deep things did she say concerning perfection that she could hardly be understood except by the most profound intellects.

Among other things she said: “I would not wish to see one meritorious act attributed to myself, even if it were the means of insuring my salvation; for I should be worse than a demon, to wish to rob God of his own. Yet it is needful that we ourselves act, for the divine grace neither vivifies nor aids that which does not work itself, and grace will not save us without our cooperation.

I repeat it; all works, without the help of grace are dead, being produced by the creature only; but grace aids all works performed by those who are not in mortal sin, and makes them worthy of heaven; not those which are ours solely, but those in which grace cooperates.” So jealous was she for the glory of God, that she was wont to say: “If I could find any good in any creature, (which, however, is impossible) I would tear it from her, and restore it all to God.”

Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510) in Life and Doctrine of Saint Catherine of Genoa (Grand Rapids: CCEL) Chapter 10. Click here to download this classic work.

This week I decided to read the biography of a 15th century mystic. I am moved by how others describe her depth: “she could hardly be understood except by the most profound intellects.”

If today’s post went over your head. Read it again and ponder what people will say about you, or rather, what do you want people to say about you.

This post is about our needful cooperation with God. Let me explain. Catherine grasped what we all need to understand: the interplay between surrender and service and between grace and works.

She surrendered her will to God. People observed this as having little esteem for herself. Also, she wanted nothing meritorious attached to her. She only wanted God to receive glory through her service.

And related to works, she sounds so much like a mix of the apostle Paul and James.

She rightly articulates the role of grace with works. We must act, and yet, the works we do are empowered by grace, and for Catherine (as it should be for all of us), only God gets the glory.

Hang with me this week as the readings will be deep.

Let me conclude with a comment on the last line of today’s post. “If I could find any good in any creature, (which, however, is impossible) I would tear it from her, and restore it all to God.”

It reminds me of my mom, Patsy Hoag. I love you mom!

She has said repeatedly, “If you see any good in me, it’s Jesus.” I have heard her say this so many times, it echos Catherine. Any good in any creature is thanks to Jesus. All glory to God.

Brace yourself. God wants you to grow this week.

For now, surrender your will to God and to do good works because of the grace at work in you thanks to cooperation with Christ Jesus who is at work in you.

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Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Proverbs 3:27

“Some may object and say, Others do not their duty. If others did their duty, the poor would be sufficiently supplied. If others did as much as we in proportion to their ability and obligation, the poor would have enough to help them out of their difficulties. Or some may say, It belongs to others more than it does to us. They have relations that ought to help them; or there are others to whom it more properly belongs than to us.

Answer. We ought to relieve those who are in need though brought to it through others’ fault. If our neighbor be poor, though others be to blame that it is so, yet that excuses us not from helping him. If it belong to others more than to us, yet if those others will neglect their duty, and our neighbor therefore remains in want, we may be obliged to relieve him.

If a man be brought into difficulties through the injustice of others, suppose by thieves or robbers, as the poor Jew whom the Samaritan relieved, yet we may be obliged to relieve him, though it be not through our fault that he is in want, but through that of other men. And whether that fault be a commission or a neglect alters not the case. As to the poor Jew that fell among thieves between Jerusalem and Jericho, it more properly belonged to those thieves who brought him into that distress to relieve him than to any other person.

Yet seeing they would not do it, others were not excused; and the Samaritan did no more than his duty relieving him as he did, though it properly belonged to others. Thus if a man have children or other relations to whom it most properly belongs to relieve him, yet if they will not do it, the obligation to relieve him falls upon others. So for the same reason we should do the more for the relief of the poor because others neglect to do their proportion or what belongs to them; and that because by the neglect of others to do their proportion they need the more, their necessity is the greater.”

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) in Christian Charity or The Duty of Charity to the Poor, Explained and Enforced (Pensacola: Chapel Library, 2022) 34-35. Download the PDF copy here.

Today marks the last day of exploring this classic work.

Edwards concludes by addressing a key objection. It seems very common to me. We excuse ourselves because others fail to act. And we learn today, that it is not a valid excuse.

Just because others do not act, does not mean we must not act within our power.

What should you do instead? Ask yourself what you have the power to do and do it. Walk in this way instead of doing nothing because you see others doing nothing. That’s the world we live in.

Few do good because they see even fewer doing good.

We can change the trajectory of our setting by acting boldly and generously. We can shape the behavior of others by doing what others are not doing.

No wonder God wants us to do good within our power as today’s Scripture notes. It’s why he put us here.

And I am thankful for a wife who desires to live this way. Today marks 34 years of marriage for us. Jenni is ministering in Rwanda this week with a team from Denver Seminary.

Appreciate your prayers for them.

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Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:17

“We are professors of Christianity; we pretend to be the followers of Jesus and to make the gospel our rule. We have the Bible in our houses. Let us not behave ourselves in this particular as if we had never seen the Bible, as if we were ignorant of Christianity and knew not what kind of religion it is.

What will it signify to pretend to be Christians and at the same time to live in the neglect of those rules of Christianity which are mainly insisted on in it? But there are several things which I would here propose to your consideration…

What you have is not your own… Your money and your goods are not your own; they are only committed to you as stewards, to be used for Him Who committed them to you…Giving to others is giving to the Lord…

We must comply with difficult duties in the Christian life…Only the merciful shall obtain mercy… God will deal with us as we deal with our fellow-creatures in this particular, and that with what measure we mete to others in this respect God will measure to us again…

Charity ends in reward rather than loss. Consider what abundant encouragement the Word of God gives that you shall be no losers by your charity…we ought not to look upon it as loss because it benefits those whom we ought to love as ourselves.”

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) in Christian Charity or The Duty of Charity to the Poor, Explained and Enforced (Pensacola: Chapel Library, 2022) 11-15. Download the PDF copy here.

Today, Edwards tells us to live what we profess and reminds us that we do not lose when we walk in obedience but we gain. And we determine the measure that God will extend to us in our own times of need by the measure we aid others.

Think about that. Don’t just think about that, act on that.

God will extend to you the measure you choose to extend to others. As you show mercy, He shows mercy. As you extend grace and kindness, He promises to give it to you. As a result, all professors of Christianity do well to calibrate their generosity liberally and lavishly.

Take a few minutes today to decide the measure you want God to extend to you.

Now extend that toward others through your generous living, giving, serving, and loving. Think of those who need help, financial assistance, physical service, or tender care. Can you envision this? Now get to work. You will not end up empty but rather, enriched.

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Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

“How unsuitable is it for us, who live only by kindness, to be unkind! What would have become of us if Christ had been so saving of His blood and unwilling to bestow it as many men are of their money or goods? Or if He had been as ready to excuse Himself from dying for us, as men commonly are to excuse themselves from charity to their neighbor? If Christ would have made objections of such things, as men commonly object to performing deeds of charity to their neighbor, He would have found enough of them.

Besides, Christ, by His redemption, has brought us into a more near relation one to another, has made us children of God, children in the same family. We are all brethren, having God for our common Father, which is much more than to be brethren in any other family. He has made us all one body; therefore, we ought to be united and subserve one another’s good and bear one another’s burdens, as is the case with the members of the same natural body…Apply these things to yourselves and inquire whether you do not lie under guilt on account of the neglect of this duty, in withholding that charity which God requires of you towards the needy?”

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) in Christian Charity or The Duty of Charity to the Poor, Explained and Enforced (Pensacola: Chapel Library, 2022) 9-10. Download the PDF copy here.

The commands of God are not only for our good but also for God’s glory.

They aim to put us in a place where we are united with others as brothers and sisters by the kindness of God. And they propel us to subserve one another’s good and share each other’s burdens.

Think of a time when someone else shared your burdens.

That person helped you with something you could not sort yourself. They paid your bill. They lifted your burden. They fed you when you were hungry. They lodged you when you visited. You get the point. They assisted you.

Now think of how you might do that for others.

We who live by the kindness of God do well when we show the kindness of God toward others. This form of generosity honors God as it unites us and teaches us to serve others like Christ served us.

Who might you serve today?

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Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:4

“We should love our neighbor as ourselves; for men are made in the image of our God, and on this account are worthy of our love. Besides, we are all closely allied one to another by nature. We have all the same nature, like faculties, like dispositions, like desires of good, like needs, like aversion to misery, and are made of one blood; and we are made to subsist by society and union one with another.

God hath made us with such a nature that we cannot subsist without the help of one another. Mankind in this respect are as the members of the natural body. One cannot subsist alone without a union with, and the help of, the rest. Now, this state of mankind shows how reasonable and suitable it is that men should love their neighbors, and that we should not look everyone at “his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

A selfish spirit is very unsuitable to the nature and state of mankind. He who is all for himself and none for his neighbors deserves to be cut off from the benefit of human society and to be turned out among wild beasts to subsist by himself as well as he can. A withdrawn covetous spirit is more suitable for wolves and other beasts of prey than for human beings.”

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) in Christian Charity or The Duty of Charity to the Poor, Explained and Enforced (Pensacola: Chapel Library, 2022) 8. Download the PDF copy here.

Is your posture toward others suitable or unsuitable to God?

I am serious in asking this question. Why? Many people follow the narrative that says to live according to the teachings of this world. At the core of that mindset is selfishness.

Though such teachings are the opposite of what Jesus wants us to do, we must not listen to them. There’s another way, a better way to live.

The suitable way to life looks like this.

It starts with humility. Acknowledge that you cannot make the journey of life on your own. Say that you appreciate all the help you can get.

Don’t overcomplicate this. God wants you to take hold of life. Grasp it by walking in unselfishness and obedience.

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Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. Deuteronomy 15:9

”God warns the children of Israel against making of this an objection to helping their poor neighbors, that the year of release was near at hand and it was not likely that they would be able to refund it again before that time, and then they should lose it wholly, because then they would be obliged to release it. God foresaw that the wickedness of their hearts would be very ready to make such an objection, but very strictly warns them against it, that they should not be the more backward to supply the wants of the needy for that, but should be willing to give him. “Do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again” (Luke 6:35).

[People] are exceedingly apt to make objections against such duties, which God speaks of here as a manifestation of the wickedness of their hearts: “Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart,” etc. The warning is very strict. God doth not only say, Beware that thou do not actually refuse to give him, but, Beware that thou have not one objecting thought against it, arising from a backwardness to liberality. God warns against the beginnings of uncharitableness in the heart, and against whatever tends to a forbearance to give. “And thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.” God warns them from the guilt which they would be liable to bring upon themselves hereby…

Another enforcement of this duty is the promise of God, that for this thing He will bless us in all our works, and in all that we put our hands unto, a promise that we shall not lose but gain by it…this is to cut off an excuse that uncharitable persons would be ready to make for not giving, that they could find nobody to give to, that they saw none who needed. God cuts off such an excuse by telling us that He would so order it in His providence that His people everywhere and in all ages shall have occasion for the exercise of that virtue.”

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) in Christian Charity or The Duty of Charity to the Poor, Explained and Enforced (Pensacola: Chapel Library, 2022) 4-5. Download the PDF copy here.

We either act with willing hearts or wicked hearts. Ponder that.

Our human tendency is to not act in obedience and not to give. We must understand that the opposite of obedience is wickedness in the eyes of God. We either obey or we don’t.

In love, God spurs us to obedience by making his great and precious promises.

He promises to bless us in all our works. He promises that we will not lose but gain. He does this to cut off excuses. What about you? Is there anything holding you back from your generosity?

The right way is willing and the wrong way is wicked. Choose the path of willing generosity.

And put your trust in the promises of God to bless and resource you for greater generosity. He wants you to be charitable. He sees and will supply your needs.

I’ve returned home. Right away, I am hosting a guest from Costa Rica. When he leaves later today, I will take time for reflection and enrichment.

I am thankful that when we empty ourselves, when we share and bless others, God refills us. He restores us. And He enriches us for continued generosity. That’s where I am am at. Join me.

You only figure this out as you live it out. I want this for you. Please take hold of it.

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Now concerning the collection for the saints: you should follow the directions I gave to the churches of Galatia. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

”God gives us directions on how we are to give…bountifully and willingly. We should give bountifully and sufficiently for the supply of the poor’s need: “Thou shalt not…shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and…lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth” (Deuteronomy 15:7-8). And again, in verse 11: “Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.” Again, we should give willingly and without grudging: “Thou shalt not harden thine heart…from thy poor brother…And thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him” (vv. 7, 10). We may also observe how peremptorily this duty is here enjoined and how much it is insisted on. It is repeated over and over again and enjoined in the strongest terms.”

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) in Christian Charity or The Duty of Charity to the Poor, Explained and Enforced (Pensacola: Chapel Library, 2022) 4. Download the PDF copy here.

I am safely back home to Denver. Today marks the second day exploring what is needful to live generously in this classic work. Thankfully Edwards provides clear and biblical giving directions in three parts.

First, give bountifully. This points to the measure of our giving. It implies great volume. So, the first point relates to supplying more than enough to meet a need. Think about it.

Things always seem to cost more than we expect. I am praying right now for resources to host events in Ghana. Already I anticipate a stretched budget. Bountiful giving bridges the gap!

Second, give willingly. This relates to the motivation of our giving. It teaches us that God cares more about the posture of our heart than the level of our giving.

To grow in this area, make a gift today or this week to something that God cares about that you can support with your whole heart. You might rediscover the joy of generosity in the process.

Third, give peremptorily. This is an uncommon word for giving out of obedience. In plain terms, God uses the strongest terms because it’s the right thing for you to do.

This matches the instructions from the apostle Paul. He gives directions to the Galatians, the Corinthians, and us to share our surplus to meet the needs of others.

This brings us full circle to Deuteronomy. When we live this way, we don’t end up with hard or grieved hearts but happy hearts. And needs get met from the resources that God has supplied.

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Now if your countryman becomes destitute and cannot support himself among you, then you are to help him as you would a foreigner or stranger, so that he can continue to live among you. Leviticus 25:35

“The duty here enjoined is giving to the poor: “If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren…thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother… Thou shalt surely give him.” Here by “thy poor brother” is to be understood the same as in other places is meant by “neighbor.” It is explained in Leviticus 25:35 to mean not only those of their own nation, but even strangers and sojourners: “And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner.”

The Pharisees indeed interpreted it to signify only one of their own nation; but Christ condemns this interpretation (Luke 10:29) and teaches, in contradiction to their opinion, that the rules of charity in the Law of Moses are to be extended to the Samaritans, who were not of their nation, and between whom and the Jews there was the most bitter enmity, and who were a people very troublesome to the Jews.”

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) in Christian Charity or The Duty of Charity to the Poor, Explained and Enforced (Pensacola: Chapel Library, 2022) 3-4.

I’ve had a fantastic and fruitful trip to Australia. Reply if you’d like a copy of my trip report.

This week we turn our attention to learn what is needful from Jonathan Edwards. Download the ebook of this classic work here.

Today we get a good reminder to aid those around us who are in need coupled with the biblical definition of neighbor. It’s not just people who are like us. It includes strangers and sojourners.

And maybe more important is to determine who the Pharisees are in the day in which we live. And akin to that is what the rules of charity are in our cultural settings. Let me explain.

Society pressures us to do certain things or support certain groups. For example, society might say, “Strangers are bad. Don’t talk to them.” Or, “watch out for foreigners. They are sketchy. Avoid them.”

The Old Testament Law of Moses and the New Testament example of Jesus call us to think and act differently.

We do well to open our minds and hearts to strangers. And we may actually receive blessing from extending hospitality to sojourners. Today I exhort you to show to others the care you would want shown to you.

This could be an immigrant, a refugee, a visitor to your country, or a person who’s just not from the place where you live. They often need a helping hand, a bit of advice, or some other form of assistance.

Pray about what it looks like to help them. While Jenni departs today for ten days of ministry in Rwanda, Jesus says to host a bloke from Costa Rica for a night and to buy a meal for a family visiting from Pakistan.

As I think about it, it represents the care I received from Aussies in both Adelaide and Melbourne. Generosity is a two-way street. Sometimes we receive care and other times we extend it.

For the sake of application, let’s all care for our neighbors, shall we? That includes strangers and sojourners. And simultaneously, let’s trust Jesus to care for us according to His riches in glory.

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The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. And you will be called priests of the Lord, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. Isaiah 61:1-6

“Holy Father, Thy wisdom excites our admiration, Thy power fills us with fear, Thy omnipresence turns every spot of earth into holy ground; but how shall we thank Thee enough for Thy mercy which comes down to the lowest part of our need to give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and for the spirit of heaviness a garment of praise? We bless and magnify Thy mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) in Knowledge of the Holy, 65. Click here to download it freely.

Today marks the last post from A. W. Tozer for now. I have enjoyed sweet fellowship with friends down under. I fly home tomorrow. I pray you have gained wisdom this week.

Lest we think more highly of ourselves than we should, we must remember that God does not need us.

He chooses to work in and through us. He is not only our Savior. He offers us infinite power. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead. But are you tapping it?

And today, we see him go to the lowest part of our need to transform it. He gets His proverbial hands dirty. If you feel like life is filled with ashes, mourning, and a spirit of heaviness, He wants more for you.

He offers beauty, the oil of joy, and a garment of praise.

God generously meets us in our lowest parts and transforms everything. And the best part, after that, we get to help others experience it. He makes us rebuilders, priests, and ministers.

He meets us in the lowest part of our need so we can meet others there.

Think right now of someone who has needs. How can you serve as a rebuilder if they are broken, as a priest to connect them to God, or as a minister to help meet their needs?

Ask the Holy Spirit whom to serve and do it generously.

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