The sanctifying love of God

March 3, 2017

Worship: Even if by Mercy Me

[Verse 1]

They say sometimes you win some

Sometimes you lose some

And right now, right now I'm losing bad

I've stood on this stage night after night

Reminding the broken it'll be alright

But right now, oh right now I just can't

It's easy to sing

When there's nothing to bring me down

But what will I say

When I'm held to the flame

Like I am right now

I know You're able and I know You can

Save through the fire with Your mighty hand

But even if You don't

My hope is You alone

They say it only takes a little faith

To move a mountain

Good thing

A little faith is all I have right now

But God, when You choose

To leave mountains unmovable

Give me the strength to be able to sing

It is well with my soul

I know You're able and I know You can

Save through the fire with Your mighty hand

But even if You don't

My hope is You alone

I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt

Would all go away if You'd just say the word

But even if You don't

My hope is You alone

[Bridge]

You've been faithful, You've been good

All of my days

Jesus, I will cling to You

Come what may

‘Cause I know You're able

I know You can

[Chorus]

I know You're able and I know You can

Save through the fire with Your mighty hand

But even if You don't

My hope is You alone

I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt

Would all go away if You'd just say the word

But even if You don't

My hope is You alone

[Outro]

It is well with my soul

It is well, it is well with my soul

Lyrics: https://genius.com/Mercyme-even-if-lyrics

Video: https://youtu.be/B6fA35Ved-Y

Witness:

Days have passed by quickly. So rapidly I did not realize the gap that extended between my last entry and today. Actually, my previous entry of Feb. 22 took several days to write, and the last paragraph was written today. I’m sure I had more thoughts on the matter but have since forgotten them.

Today I woke up around 2 pm and started looking at messages on the phone as well as listening to a sermon by Allister Begg on an app I have on my phone. When I finally got up around 3 pm (an hour earlier than normal), it was with the intention of going to look for a car for my younger daughter. Unfortunately, we could not look at it till 6 pm. The time intervening was wasted on clearing out my emails, piddling with my budget, and wolfing down a dinner just before we left. Lord, please help me to keep focused on the needful and not the wasteful.

However, there was one bright spot in it all. It was when I got up and took a shower. A song came on and as the water from the shower washed over me the words to the song washed over my spirit. It reached into my soul and touched my heart. It is the new song by Mercy Me which is the song I opened up with in my worship portion of this journal entry. It is a song that comforts me in my affliction. It reminds me of the words spoken by the 3 faithful friends of Daniel:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Dan 3:16-18 NIV

I have not read this anywhere, but I’m sure these verses from Daniel are what inspired the song. This is the faith of the saints of God. Yet, how often we fail to live by such faith. The friends of Daniel had an “even if” faith when many live more by an “only if” faith. “Only if” faith says: Lord, I will trust You only if things are going well; only if You prosper me and give me good health; only if my marriage is good, my job is fun, my life is comfortable.

“Even if” faith is different. It does not deny that things are hard at the moment, our faith is small, and we are hurting. Yet, it keeps on hoping in the One who is good and who is able to deliver us but may choose not to for better and greater purposes.

Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him… Job 13:15 NIV

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Rom 8:28 NIV

Phil 2:17But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
NIV

1 Peter 3:14-15But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."  But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.NIV

WORD:

Ps 26:1-8 Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. 2 Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; 3 for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.

Ps 26:1-8 1 Declare me innocent, O LORD, for I have acted with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. 2 Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart. 3 For I am always aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to your truth. Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved..

Ps 26:1-3 Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide. 2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. 3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth. KJV

Ps 26:1-3 Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. 2  Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind. 3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness. ESV

I keep Your steadfast, faithful, love first and foremost before my eyes. I remember and meditate on it constantly… so what? So what if I do. What is the purpose in doing this? Why would I make this a goal in my life? A holy habit to cherish? As wonderful as this may be to practice it must have a purpose deeper than my own pleasure. That pleasure must overflow into action.

I finished my last study in the Word with these words:

True meditation fills our thoughts with the glorious works and words of God, the provision and promises of the Lord, and the satisfying and sanctifying love of our Savior. 

God’s love is a sanctifying love! If I wallow only in the thoughts of God’s love actions towards me, I will never become clean. If I take a bath and soak in my own dirt, how will I become clean? If I take a shower and wash off the dirt, then I will be clean. God’s love is a shower meant to wash us clean of the sinful dirt that seeks to cling to our lives.

I believe this is what David means when he says he, “and I walk continually in your truth.” His contemplation on God’s love led to consecration by walking in God’s truth. The ESV translates it as “and I walk in your faithfulness.” This does not change the point I am trying to make here because it all leads to the same effect on David’s life as displayed in the verses that follow.

Warren Wiersbe comments:

Psalms 26:2-8David's life was motivated and controlled by God's love and truth (faithfulness; see 6:4; 25:5-7,10; 40:10; 57:3; Ex 34:6). The Lord was faithful to His covenant and David was faithful to the Lord.(from The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament © 2001-2004 by Warren W. Wiersbe. All rights reserved.)

That God’s love is a sanctifying love is seen in the purposes of God in relation to that love. This, I believe is demonstrated in 2 Thessalonians 2:13:

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
ESV

Love is the grounds and motivation for walking in the truth. Truth then leads to sanctification. Our Lord said in John 17:17-19:

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
NIV

What then should be our response to all this?

Worship!

That is how Paul responds to this love:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
Eph 1:3-6 NIV

Before I began putting my thoughts down here tonight, I opened up with a prayer for guidance and insight into His word and that it would bring change into my life. As I ended my prayer, the words of a song broke through my consciousness, and I realized God was confirming the thoughts I was trying to form in my mind about this passage. I won’t quote the entire song because the truth is contained in the one line.

Live like you're loved…

(from “Live Like You’re Loved” by Hawk Nelson)