A Great Start

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Sunday, as I got up to prepare for our Sunday gathering, I knew that preparing my heart was more important than re-reading my sermon manuscript. The Lord was working on me, and I knew it. There were issues in my heart that needed to be addressed before my Maker, and He was already pursuing me. So as I bowed my head to pray at my kitchen table, He graciously reminded me that my identity was not in what I was about to do (preach and lead CLF), but my identity was found before Him. I was made to worship God and represent Him on this earth. I am a child of God before I am anything else. That’s my true identity. Yes, I am a husband and a dad. Yes, I preach and lead. But primarily, I was made to worship God and represent Him on this earth. He made me for that. He redeemed me in Christ for that. That was good for my soul. I needed that.

And as I sat at my table before my God, I was reminded how much I needed Genesis 1:1. “In the beginning, God…” It was a great start to the New Year.

A Refuge

Last week, we had some of the largest wind gusts and rain at our house that I can remember. It felt like a late spring rain with summer winds. It was weird. I was sitting in my office at home, and the rain was battering my windows. On days like that and ones where it’s really cold or hot outside, I find myself thanking God for small things, like wood, heat, and air conditioning.

But on this windy, rainy day, as the winds caused the rain to pellet my windows, I was reminded that this is what it’s like inside the refuge of Christ while my sin and Satan rage against me. So I sat in comfort and peace while the storm raged outside.

I don’t know what your daily battle against sin and condemnation looks like, but I know what mine looks like. I find the temptation to sin around every corner, and when I do sin, I hear constant accusations about how bad I am. I know what I can be “really” like, and it scares me. My sin is ever before me, and the enemy of my soul loves to beat me over the head with it. So, that rainy day reminder and visual is good for me. I am safe, at peace, and protected in the refuge of Christ.

Quote of the Week

“He is not resting. He does not leave the work of his hands. He takes no breaks; he is relentlessly working to change me into all that his grace makes it possible for me to be. He will not be content for me to be a little bit better. He will work by grace until I am finally and totally free of sin, that is, molded into the image of his perfectly righteous Son.” Paul Tripp

Genesis

I read too many good commentary thoughts to put into one sermon and think that throughout this series, that’s going to be the case. So, periodically, I thought I would add some in this blog to give you some extra thoughts:

“One person observed, “Genesis 1–11 is a mine field.” Those who have negotiated its fields without the aid of a mine detector have come away dismembered.” Kenneth Mathews
“The literary makeup of Genesis is analogous to the architectural features of a stained-glass window adorning an edifice. At a distance, the viewer sees the window holistically and recognizes the identity of the scene or person depicted in the representation, but as the glass collage is approached, it reveals the intricate design of the juxtaposed pieces—differing in shape, size and color—whose lines, unnoticed from afar, become obvious to the eye. Genesis is a complex literary composition with symmetrical unity but diverse genres (e.g., narrative, genealogy, and lyric poetry). These literary pieces, some previously written and some original compositions by the author, have been brought together by the author/compiler, who did not always blend them to our satisfaction. Yet together, they form an unmistakably coherent, unified storyline.” Kenneth Mathews
“It is no accident that God is the subject of the first sentence of the Bible, for this word dominates the whole chapter and catches the eye at every point of the page: it is used some thirty-five times in as many verses of the story. The passage, indeed the Book, is about him first of all; to read it with any other primary interest (which is all too possible) is to misread it.” Derek Kidner

Also, some of you might wonder which commentaries I am using. Generally, I try to use at most 3 commentaries on any sermon. For me, using more will oversaturate my mind. So here are the 3 main ones I’m using for the Genesis series:

The New American Commentary: Genesis. Both parts 1 and 2 are by Kenneth Mathews.
Creation and Blessing by Allen P. Ross.
Tyndale Old Testament Commentary: Genesis by Derek Kidner.

From the Cheap Seats

The Pirate helmets that Mississippi State football wore on Monday, January 2nd, are a great way to honor their late coach, Mike Leach: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/35365542/mississippi-state-honors-mike-leach-pirate-flag-helmet.
The crazy NFL. Left for dead after they were 4-8, the Green Bay Packers have rallied…and not because of Aaron Rodgers. The Tampa Bay Bucs seemed awful until Tom Brady threw for 432 yards, 3 touchdowns, and no picks. The Jets caved (expected), the Eagles have lost 2 straight (enjoying that), and the Lions (yes, you read that right) are good. The #1 seeds in both conferences will come down to the last weekend. Unreal.
The Boston Bruins are playing in the NHL Winter Classic today (Monday, January 2nd) at Fenway Park. Look at how they got off the bus: https://bleacherreport.com/post/nhl/ef2c1ab7-24bb-4ae6-ab3b-355ef04e2b4d.
And finally, I very rarely post stuff like this, but this opinion piece in USA Today is worth your time. The Supreme Court has a huge cast coming and has to do with Freedom of Speech and discrimination: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2022/12/28/lorie-smith-graphic-designer-supreme-court/10927127002/.

To watch or listen to the sermon described in this post, please click here.