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The Greatest Privilege Possible

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 5, 2016
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1
 
Heavenly Father, I share John’s wonder at this astounding truth: that you, the Holy God, the Righteous One, the Just Judge, the Good Creator King, would take your enemies–evil, depraved, ugly, stubborn, rebellious and destructive as we naturally are—and transform us into new creatures, adopting us as your children! What a turn-around: to bring your adversary into the palace and place him into your family, making him your heir!
 
Your astounding act of justification is the great gem of Truth in the New Testament—you, the Just Judge, by the propitiation of Christ’s shed blood, satisfied the law and bought for us, your enemies, complete forgiveness. By your work, Lord Jesus, we stand justified before the court of heaven.
 
Adoption, however, is another matter all together. Justification is a forensic idea, meeting the demands of the law, coldly correct, handed down in court. In contrast, adoption is a family idea: warm, welcoming, accepting, being exalted to a new position of honor, privilege and grace.
 
This Agape love of yours is astounding. In one way it is a brutal love, brutal to you the Lover, who gives and gives, unswayed by the lack of positive response from the rebellious, self-centered, unbelieving, negative objects of your love–us. This love, so painful to you as you are grieved daily by our rebellion, is so gracious to us: caring, kind, forgiving, correcting, guiding, rebuking, nurturing, providing, directing, cherishing.
 
We must stand in awe, in wonder, in thankfulness, Lord God, at your ability and willingness to love us so. You have made us those in whom you delight and rejoice. You are gloriously great in your patience and goodness as you faithfully work in us, suffering grief every day at our hands. We, in our laziness, selfishness, pride, rebellion and unbelief, choose to disobey you and do our own deadly deeds according to our own puny plans instead of responding to your invitation to join you in your glorious and great scheme for restoring the universe to its pristine pre-fall condition. But you forgive us and continue to work lovingly in our lives.
 
As J.I. Packer puts it in his powerful book, Knowing God, the Judge becomes, “our perfect parent—faithful in love and care, generous and thoughtful, interested in all we do, respecting our individuality, skillful in training us, wise in guidance, always available, helping us to find ourselves in maturity, integrity and uprightness….”
 
In making us your children, Heavenly Father, you have invited us into the deep, intimate relationship you have with the Lord Jesus, giving us what you gave Him in His time on earth: affection, fellowship, honor, and authority. As you loved your only begotten Son, so you love your only adopted children. “Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ”!!! (1 John 1:3).
 
Praise be to you for the greatness of your gift to make me part of your family, your child who is desired, treasured and deeply, dearly loved.
 
However, the real point of these monumental truths is not my acceptance, fulfillment or joy—and these are certainly some of the gifts you pour out on your children—no, actually the point of all this is that you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, are worthy of praise and exaltation, worship and honor.
 
You are a wonder—no, you are THE Wonder of the world, of the universe and I praise you, Eternal Ruler, Lord God, my Father; I praise you, Lord Jesus, my brother, my fellow heir, my Savior and God; I praise you Holy Spirit, the indwelling, transforming One. I give you glory and honor, exaltation and praise, for that is what you deserve and more.
 
Prayer: “Forgive us for failing to marvel at, revel in, exalt in and glorify you for this great and uplifting privilege of being your children. I thank you, praise you, rejoice in and honor you. I commit myself to obey you, Father, just as my elder brother, the Lord Jesus, loved you in obedience. May glory be to you forever and ever. Amen.”
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My Beautiful Lord

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 3, 2016

Praise you, O God, my Triune Lord–Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Within your trinity is a great demonstration of unity and diversity, of submission in equality, of perfection beyond comprehension. I praise you that in you there is no lack, that you are totally self sufficient, that there is nothing in all of creation that is necessary for you.

You are the One who exists outside of time, outside of creation, outside of all other relationships, outside of need. All that you give, all that you do flows from a self-sufficient heart of love, for the good of others, out of perfect motives and desires.

Praise you for your engaged, committed, consistent, unwavering love for your creatures and creation, demonstrated clearly in not destroying all evil immediately after the fall, neither of Satan nor of Adam and Eve. You press on with the creation story because you have higher and deeper, longer and wider purposes than your own comfort and ease.

You are the God of Wisdom, the Lord of Understanding, the Ruler of Insight, able to look into the next million years and know all that will come to pass. I praise you that it is with this knowledge that you make all the decisions concerning what will come today, what opportunities you will provide for glory-giving in obedience, what challenges, problems, pains and persecutions you will  allow, what successes, achievements and victories you will bring.

You are trustable, you are worthy of praise in it all, for you are the God of glory, goodness and grace. You are always holy, holy, holy, the Three in One Author of all. I praise you now for all that will come today and for what you will do. To you be honor and glory in my life at each juncture. Amen.

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The Secret Life of Walter M. Christian, Part 2

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 2, 2016
On the way home Walter sat quietly on the train looking out the window, polishing his sword by meditating on the passage he’d been memorizing. A billboard swept into view, featuring a semi-clad girl. Although Walter quickly looked away, he’d already been hit with a dart of lust and was taken down.
 
He immediately sprang up and pulled the dart out with prayer, confessing “Look at what I just thought, Lord. I agree with you that it is totally selfish, destructive and caustic to my soul. It is pleasing to Satan and grievous to you. I repent and ask your forgiveness.”
 
Then he went on the offensive and in the powerful name of Jesus withdrew any ground he’d given the enemy in this attack, asking God to fill him again with the Spirit.
 
Just in case any more attacks came on the way home, he kept his shield of faith up by thanking God for all that had happened during the day–and he decided not to stare out the window any more.
 
When he came in the door at home, the kids were arguing and his exasperated wife welcomed him with, “Well, I’m glad you’re finally home. See if you can do something with these three fighters!”
 
Walter skillfully got his shield up as the dart of anger flew at him, followed by one of self-justification. “I was hoping for a better reception and some peaceful interaction, Lord–but I thank you for the chance to play the role you have for me in serving and protecting my wife, of helping my 3 boys learn to follow you!” Both darts hit the shield and were extinguished.
 
But then the dragon of selfishness took a swipe at him and almost knocked the shield out of Walter’s hand. He quickly came around with his sword, “I praise you, Lord, that I can keep my eyes on you; I confess my desire to do my own thing here and have some ‘well deserved relaxation’ before supper, but as your disciple I’m called to deny myself, take up my cross and follow you. I thank you for the chance to obey you in this moment.” This sent the dragon squealing in retreat.
 
Walter strode to the kids and scooped two of them up in his arms. “Hi Dad,” they shouted. “Can we go to the park for a while before supper?”
 
“Sure!” Walter replied. “Get you shoes and coats on.”
 
The three little bodies scurried to the hall while Walter went to the kitchen and gave his wife a hug. “Hard day, huh?”
 
“Sure was! I wish I had a quiet and easy life like yours!”
 
Walter smiled as he deftly raised up his shield with his left hand to quench the flaming arrow of competitiveness. Resting his right hand on his sword, he thought, “If you only knew!” He kissed his wife gently and turned to take the kids to the park.
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The Secret Life of Walter M. Christian, Part 1

Published by S.M. Wibberley on April 1, 2016
 
Walter ran up the last few steps and walked swiftly to the door. He didn’t want to be late for work and unnecessarily bring any negative attention to himself from the boss. But as he swung open the door and entered the office, there was the boss.
 
“Ah, Walter,” he said, towering over his diminutive employee. “How’s it going with the coding on that new project? It’s really important that we make our deadline on this one.”
 
Walter adjusted his glasses and blinked up at his boss. “It’s going well. In fact, I’m ahead of schedule and have the whole thing mapped out. I should be done by the end of the week.”
 
“Great,” said his boss. “Keep it up the good work.” Walter nodded and headed to his cubical, hung his coat over his chair and got down to work.
 
Walter was well into his coding when something caught his attention. At first he thought maybe he’d imagined it, but no, there it was again: a movement in the back of his mind. He reached for his sword and shield, and swung around just in time to face his foe, the dragon of jealousy.
 
The hot flames of the dragon’s breath swept over him, reminding him of how he’d been passed over for that promotion he’d wanted and a less experienced guy had gotten it–but Walter kept up his shield, warding off the flames, “Thank you, Lord, for your care and protection in all.” He brought his sword up, slashing with skill at the dragon’s vulnerable areas: “You, Lord, are sovereign, and if getting that promotion had been good for me, you would have given it. I can praise you for not allowing me to have it, for your Word says, ‘The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.’”
 
The dragon drew back and stumbled off into the brush. Walter leaned on his sword, panting. He wiped the soot from the dragon’s flames off his face, reminding himself, “My soul finds rest in God alone. He only is my rock.”
Then he heard the twang and whirled around, raising his shield in one smooth motion, intercepting the flaming arrow of self-pity. “Thank you, Lord, that you cause my cup to overflow, and lead me in paths of righteousness; I thank you for what you give and what you withhold, for you are good and wise and loving. I can trust you in this situation.” The arrow thunked into the shield and sizzled out.
 
Walter waited for another attack, but when nothing stirred, he went back to his coding, glad that he’d kept his armor on with his sword and shield handy.
 
The rest of the morning went well, but later in the afternoon, there came another sneak attack. Things weren’t progressing as fast as he’d planned, with some unforeseen glitches he’d have to solve.
 
He was somewhat unhappy with himself for not anticipating these problems. As a result, his breastplate was hanging awry and he didn’t get his shield up in time, so a flaming arrow of worry was able to strike him in his chest. He immediately felt the poison of anxiety begin to seep into his heart.
 
He reached up and pulled out the arrow with the glove of confession and threw it down. “Lord, forgive me for not trusting you; you promise to lead me through whatever comes, even if it’s the valley of the shadow of death–so I can trust you to help me work out these issues. As it says in Psalm 86:7, ‘I will call upon you in the day of my trouble, for you will answer me.’ I praise you now for how you will guide in overcoming these obstacles in my work.”
 
Stamping out the still smoldering arrow with his shoes of peace, Walter put some truth-salve from Psalm 62 on his wound “My soul, find rest in God alone, for my hope comes from Him. He only is my rock, my salvation and my high tower. I will never be shaken.” That quickly lessened the pain and he was able to think clearly again and get back to his work.
 
–to be continued
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Praising God for His Faithfulness in the Morning, His Love in the Evening

Published by S.M. Wibberley on March 31, 2016

[Written in early 2011 while living in Germany to care for Omi, Barbara’s mother.]

Praise you, Lord, for the knowledge that you are the manager of my life: in your goodness, wisdom, grace and love you are constantly at work, arranging events, filtering out evil, giving guidance, protecting and directing.

Thank you for the surety that, as I pray about the day, you hear, you answer, you reach down from on high and take hold of me, you draw me out of deep waters, you rescue me from my powerful enemy, from my foe who is too strong for me. You bring me forth into a spacious place. You rescue me because you delight in me. (Psalm 18:16-19)

What wonderful, rich, peace-giving, joy-providing, rest-producing Truth. Whatever comes I can praise and wait for your wise and good timing in bringing me through it.

In relation to Omi and the potential end of our time here, whether we leave in August or December, it’s fine: your timing is perfect. I can trust you to work things out: Omi’s accepting the change; a place opening up at the right time in the nursing home; the selling of her house; the outworking of disposing of all her goods; the shutting down of all utilities; the closing up of our apartment; the actual leaving.

Praise you, Lord, that you have all these things in hand, will guide us through the maze and will cause each thing to happen at the right time. Praise be to you ahead of time because you are always good, gracious and righteous.

Epilogue: the Lord answered and brought every one of these events to pass, later than we expected (almost a year later, by March of 2012), but at the right time and in the right way, including providing Omi a place in a brand new, beautiful nursing home, with her being willing to go and then in the last week of our time in Germany, the selling of Omi’s house for the price she wanted.

Truly, Lord God, you are the God of hope, who wants to fill us with all joy and peace, if we will only trust in you. Then you will cause our lives to overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, blessing all those around us (Rom. 15:13). Help us, Lord Jesus, to trust in you continually, fully, richly and willfully so we can be carriers of hope to all those around us.

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Psalm 20:8,9

Published by S.M. Wibberley on March 30, 2016
Psalm 20:8 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses…They are brought to their knees and fall,”
 
[Horses die, chariots shatter, people pass, strength subsides, and all in the world come to the end of their rope where there is no further hope.]
 
“but we rise up and stand firm.”
 
[Yes, in you, Lord Jesus, strength endures forever: your love is everlasting and your grace goes on through all eternity. When we come to the end of our rope, we can switch to your infinite and eternal rope, surrendering to you, trusting in you, crying out to you.
 
In you we will be able to advance against a troop, to scale a wall in your power, for we are shielded by your goodness (Ps. 18:29). We will always be able to stand firm in you, if we have on the full armor of God.]
 
Psalm 20:9 “O LORD, save the king!”
 
[Praise you that you saved king David in every battle and in every difficulty–and through his line brought us our Savior!]
 
“Answer us when we call!”
 
[Every day we pray, and every day you answer in your faithfulness; you are my Rock in whom I can take refuge (Ps. 18:2). For this I give you praise and honor and glory, Lord. I give you exaltation, worship and thanksgiving. In your faithfulness you are worthy of all surrender, all obedience, all submission.
 
I bow before you, the Mighty Creator, the Powerful Sustainer, my Strong Defender. I rise up into this day to obey you by your power in praise, in patience, in trust, in thought, word and action. Glorify yourself in my life today, O Lord God. Amen.]
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Psalm 20:7

Published by S.M. Wibberley on March 29, 2016
Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses,”
 
Yes, Lord, sometimes we trust in money, might or men of position. Sometimes we trust in training, technology and theological systems. And sometimes we trust in planning, persuasion and people.
 
But all these fall far short of what we actually need; all are pitifully weak in comparison to our enemies: the world, our flesh and the devil. And all are less than nothing in comparison to you, the Star-breather, the Earth-spinner, the Dawn-bringer, the History-ender. Therefore we reject confidence in anything else.]
 
“but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”
 
[You are the only One who is trustable to the end: you are the eternal God of all might, the Lord of all power, the Creator of every creature, the Ruler of all dominions and kingdoms, of all principalities and powers. No one and nothing can stand against you (Ps. 33:10,11).
 
You can do no evil, only what is good and righteous and wise, therefore in you we can trust. In your name we can exalt by believing and obeying. In your name we can take refuge, for you are our rock, our fortress and our deliverer (Ps. 18:2) Praise be to you.]
 
Help us to walk today in the greatness of who you are, Lord, rejecting our tendency to primarily trust in other helps, feeble as they are. Help us to trust in you, coming to you first in prayer and dependence, trusting you to use whatever you chose to protect, provide and guide us through this day. Praise be to you now for how you will work, our great King and powerful Savior.
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Psalm 20:6

Published by S.M. Wibberley on March 28, 2016
Psalm 20:6 “Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;”
 
[This is a rock solid certainty: you, Heavenly Father, saved king David in many difficult circumstances. And you saved Jesus, the anointed One, but not in the way any human would have expected. You did not save Him from suffering and death; you saved him through death by the resurrection.
 
And you saved us through the same act of grace. I praise you that you continue saving us every day, as your chosen ones, in the battle of life. You are a shield to all those who take refuge in you.]
 
“he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand.”
 
[You answered David in his distress, you answered Jesus in his death, you answer us in our difficulties, every day. And your answers aren’t some minor move, but are in the mighty majesty of your right hand, your most powerful means of action. Your munificent answers show the depth of your commitment and attention to your chosen and appointed ones.
 
Praise you, Lord God, that you are the Deliverer, the Rescuer, the Answerer, the Lover of your children. You are the Trustable One!
 
Help us to trust in you today, resting in the certainty of your presence, your power and your provision, even when we can see no help on the horizon at the moment. Praise you for your faithfulness.]
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The Cost of the Cross

Published by S.M. Wibberley on March 26, 2016

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

The death of Jesus on the cross was an event he shrank back from, so horrendous was the prospect. In Gethsemane, “horror and dismay overcame him, and he said…‘My heart is ready to break with grief’” (Mark 14:4 NEB). Three things brought on this horror, and one of them was not the physical suffering he would endure in being crucified.

First he was to become sin. The ugliness, the stench, the putridness, the repulsiveness of sin, these he would become. Think of being lowered into a pit of liquid cow manure, its surface roiling with maggots, the stench overwhelming; and as you go down into it, it gets into your eyes, nose, mouth, and then lungs, engulfing you in its terribleness. This is nothing compared to Christ’s becoming sin for us, the evil of it entering His very being as a human.

Then He was under the righteous wrath of God, which had been stored up from the beginning of time against all the sin ever committed and all that will be committed. This unimaginably immense weight of wrath came down on Jesus, crushing him.

And third, Jesus was torn out of the relationship of the Trinity, the perfect place of peace, the flawless unity, the beautiful balance, the wonderful warmth that had existed from eternity. As He became sin and had wrath poured out upon Him, He could not stay in that intimate relationship. His Father turned away and the fabric was ripped, the essence smashed, the unity destroyed. This separation brought the greatest suffering of all in His sacrifice, not only to Jesus, but to the Father and the Spirit as well.

The amount of horror for Jesus in this experience was immeasurably great. It is an infinite suffering borne by an infinite heart of love under an infinite wrath. And it brought about an infinite solution for finite beings. Only a God who is Love could do this. Only Jesus could be our Savior, both God and man, willing to go through such suffering, which is beyond the comprehension of even the angels who live in the presence of God. And He did this to save us, who are lower than angels, sin-warped rebels who fight viciously against Him, rejecting His way and serving Satan and self.  But now He has given us the possibility of being rescued from the dominion of darkness and becoming His children. Hallelujah!

Let us stand in ever-growing awe at the amazing, unbelievable, contra-conditional and compassionate sacrifice made by the Living God to save us who are captives of death, of the devil and of destruction. May this awe transform our mind, will and emotions so that we thirst after God and eagerly spend time with Him every day.

Prayer: “Lord Jesus, forgive me for trivializing your immense sacrifice to redeem us, your evil enemies. I praise you for your great love, your deep commitment, your incomprehensible grace. Help me to live in the light of your mighty and infinite love and to love you back in consistent obedience. May your light and love shine out of my life today, bringing you ever-increasing glory. Amen.”

–from the devotional book EDIFIED

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Knowing Jesus IS enough for Joy

Published by S.M. Wibberley on March 25, 2016
Praise be to you, Lord, for new life, for joy and peace, for hope and purpose, for your love and embrace. To know you is way beyond good–it is the deep desire of every human heart, to be enfolded in a rich relationship with the Creator of the universe–but sadly, most resist acknowledging it and are instead locked into the crushing embrace of the negative values of this fallen world.
 
To rest in your embrace of love, the warmth of your acceptance, the grace you exude at each moment, to rejoice in the lack of condemnation, the lack of accusation and conditional acceptance—these realities are so wonderfully edifying, strengthening, encouraging and empowering.
 
I can go out with you into today, Lord Jesus, knowing that you are not only with me, but within me, that you will never leave me. I can trust you fully to guide me through the obstacle course of today as we wend our way forward in this fallen world, leaving behind a trail that others can follow.
 
I praise you that you know every bend, every turn, every pitfall, as well as every ambush the enemy has set up. And you have prepared me for them. As I keep on the whole armor of God”, listening to your Spirit, I can respond to each ambush, stand against each attack and be more than a conqueror no matter what Satan may throw at me. “I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies” (Ps 18:3).
 
I may trip, fall or get knocked down, but remaining in your truth by confession and repentance, I can spring to my feet and continue on the path of righteousness you are leading me down for your name’s sake.
 
“I love you, O Lord, my strength.” You, LORD, “are my rock, my fortress and my deliverer… my shield and…my stronghold” (Ps. 18:2) and as I stay behind the shield of your love, in the stronghold of your holiness, and on the rock of your mercy, I am safe.
 
Praise be to you, the God of goodness, the Lord of love, the King of kindness, the Giver of grace. Today I choose to live in the truth that “Knowing Jesus is Enough for Joy,” following your example, Lord Jesus, as you, “for the joy that was set before you, endured the cross despising the shame and are set down at the right hand of God” (Heb. 12:2).
 
Help me to keep my eyes on you and the joy of knowing where I am going in life and death, for then the difficulties and pain of this life will fade in significance and power, so I can run with patience the race you have set before me.
 
 
 
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