He who is poor in spirit-is a Christ-admirer. He has high thoughts of Christ. He sees himself naked-and flies to Christ, to be clothed in the garments of His righteousness. He sees himself wounded-and as the wounded deer runs to the water-so he thirsts for Christ's blood, the water of life. "Lord!" says he, "give me Christ or I die!" His conscience has turned into a fiery serpent and has stung him; now he 
will give all the world-for a brazen serpent! He sees himself in a state of death; and how precious is one leaf of the tree of life, which is both for food and medicine! The poor in spirit sees that all his riches lie in Christ-"wisdom, righteousness, sanctification" In every need, he flies to this storehouse! He adores the all-fullness in Christ.

He who is poor in spirit-is an exalter of free grace. None so magnify God's mercy-as the poor in spirit. The poor are very thankful. When Paul had tasted mercy-how thankfully does he adore free grace! "The grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant" (1 Timothy 1:14). It was super-exuberant grace! 
He sets the crown of his salvation-upon the head of free grace! As a man who is condemned and has a pardon sent to him-how greatly he proclaims the goodness and mercifulness of his prince! So Paul displays free grace in its magnificent colors. He interlines all his epistles with free grace! As a vessel 
which has been perfumed, makes the water taste of it-so Paul, who was a vessel perfumed with mercy, makes all his epistles to taste of this perfume of free grace! Those who are poor in spirit, bless God for the least crumb which falls from the table of free grace! Labor for poverty of spirit. Christ begins with this,
and we must begin here if ever we are saved. Poverty of spirit is the foundation stone, on which God lays the superstructure of eternal glory!

A man must deny self-esteem. Every man by nature has a high opinion of himself. He is drunk with spiritual pride. A proud man disdains the cross. He thinks himself too good to suffer. Oh deny self-esteem! Let the plumes of pride fall off!

A man must deny carnal self. This I take to be the chief sense of the text. He must deny carnal ease.  The flesh cries out for ease. It is loath to put its neck under Christ's yoke or stretch itself upon the cross. The flesh cries out, "Oh! the cross of Christ is heavy! There are nails in that cross which will lacerate, and fetch blood!" We must deny our self-ease, and be as a deaf adder, stopping our ears to the charmings of the flesh! Those who lean on the soft pillow of sloth, will hardly take up the cross. 

This self-denying frame of heart is very hard. This is "to pluck out the right eye." It is easier to overcome men and devils, than to overcome self. "Stronger is he who conquers himself, than he who conquers the strongest walled city." 

SELF is the idol, and how hard it is to sacrifice this idol and to turn self-seeking into self-denial! But though it is difficult-it is essential. A Christian must first lay down self-before he can take up the cross.

Alas! how far are they then from self-denial, who cannot deny themselves in the least things; who in their diet or apparel, instead of martyring the flesh-pamper the flesh! Instead of taking up the cross-take up their cups! Is this self-denial, to let loose the reins to the flesh? Oh Christians, as ever you would be able to carry Christ's cross, begin to deny yourselves. 

When doing what God calls you to isn't fun or easy...

 

I'm not quick to recommend a book (nah, that's probably not true), but I want you to read this one.

And, I think you will like it. Well, unless you:

-Are easily offended

-A fundamentalist (and not the fun kind)

-Lack a sense of humor, or

-Get uncomfortable at the discussion of how babies are made

And, even still, you might like it.

The only thing I didn't like was the ending. It just kind of ended, leaving everything unresolved. I wanted a conclusion. A five step application. Or some irrefutable laws. But, I can't say he didn't warn me in the introduction.

Check out the trailer below, and then go buy a copy or two:

When questioned about what the greatest commandment is, Jesus responded, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Mat. 22:37) Among the church there is a lot of talk about loving God and what that looks like, but I think oftentimes little attention is given to the fact that Christ commands us to love the Lord with our minds. 

This weekend I had the tremendous privilege of attending the Desiring God National Conference in Minneapolis, MN where the theme was, "Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God. "  Throughout the weekend we had the opportunity to hear several great messages from many well known preachers and authors as well as some lesser known ones, as we asked the question of what it looks like to love God with all our minds.  The whole experience was a little overwhelming, and I definitely have a lot to process and think about, but I loved every minute of it.

 

 

"How does it feel to be back home?"

"Are you glad to be back home?"

"Is it weird being back home?"

Every time I get asked these questions I get a little uneasy. I know what people mean by them, and I don't fault you if you are one of the people that have posed these questions, but I really have troubles with the phrase "back home." I like to think that I haven't gone back anywhere and that returning to the States isn't a step back in any way, but that it is simply the next step in God's process of my sanctification. By God's grace I am moving forward, and just because I am not in a third world country eating crickets and preaching to hundreds daily, doesn't mean that what I am doing is less significant. This year we were constantly reminded that with God there are no insignificant moments. I refuse to think of where I am as a step backwards. 

Not only that, but I refuse to believe that I am the same person that left for Guatemala last October, so the DJ of old has not come back. He was left at the baggage claim at the airport in Guatemala City. He was drowned in the middle of Lake Nicaragua while fishing for the orphan's dinner. His hard heart was crushed one night while walking through the Red Light District in Chaing Mai, Thailand. He choked to death on his own vomit in a village in Cambodia after being humiliated in his arrogance. He was snuffed out in Ghana after the Holy Spirit shut him up and began to speak through him. He was left hanging on a cross in Togo. He was trampled by a mob of hungry people in Nigeria.  He laid down his life for a friend in Romania, is still locked in a basement somewhere in Berlin, and was blown away by a strong wind of generosity in Ukraine. He was brought low in Moldova and hasn't been seen since the drunkenness of Ireland sobered him up. 

He is gone, and by God's grace I will continue walking forward. There is nothing to go back to. My family is different, because I am different. My church has changed because its borders have been expanded. My town is different, because the boy that was born here has been replaced by a man with an ancient perspective. The World Race was not the beginning, nor was it the end. This past year was a great one, but it cannot compare to what God has ahead of me.  

And the word "home?"