WHY GOD IS SILENT!

I heard God’s voice so clear at first
His Word spoke deeply to my heart
I knew just what to do right then
It was His presence from the start.

Then other voices soon were heard
That made me turn my mind to see
If this was now the only choice
That God intended just for me!

So when my thoughts led me astray
Confusion followed me around
The Voice that once was loud and clear
Became a shallow, empty sound.

As I was wandering in the night
My troubled soul was gripped by fear
Until confession brought me back
To where His leading became clear.

Now when I hear the Shepherd’s voice
I follow closely by His side
Assured that when He speaks again
I know He'll be my faithful Guide.
--B. Pent.

INSTRUCTIONS OF THE KING

         

                                   MATTHEW 16-20

THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM THAT OPEN THE DOOR

TO THE HIDDEN MYSTERY NOT SHOWN THEM BEFORE
BEGAN WITH A QUESTION TO THE CROWD STANDING BY
“WHOM DO MEN SAY IS THE ONE FROM ON HIGH?”

MANY OPINIONS WERE GIVEN THAT DAY

“JEREMIAH, ELIJAH OR JOHN” SOME WOULD SAY
BUT PETER CONFESSED IN A VOICE LOUD AND CLEAR
“YOU ARE THE CHRIST, YAHWEH'S SON WHO CAME NEAR!”

JESUS THEN TURNED IN RESPONSE TO THAT “NAME.”

“YOU ARE A STONE! I'M THE ROCK THAT YOU CLAIM!”
THEN HE ANNOUNCED THAT THE CHURCH WOULD BE BORN
OUT OF HIS DEATH LIVING STONES HE WOULD FORM.

ONCE THE FOUNDATION OF FAITH HAS BEEN LAID

DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING MUST THEN BE MAINTAINED
DENYING ONE'S SELF AND BY BEARING HIS CROSS
VICTORY IS PROMISED, ALL ELSE IS BUT LOSS.

AS GROUNDWORK FOR THE CHURCH'S FOUNDATION

HE SPOKE OF HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION
REVEALING PROOF HE WAS THE ONE
THE PROPHETS SAID WAS YAHWEH'S SON.

UNTIL THEN, HIS GLORY WAS HIDDEN FROM THEM

HIS OUTWARD APPEARANCE LIKE ALL OTHER MEN.
THEN AT THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN ONE DAY
HE WAS TRANSFIGURED IN BRILLIAN ARRAY.

ELIJAH AND MOSES APPEARED WITH HIM THERE

AS JESUS' CLOSE FRIENDS CONTINUED TO STARE
PETER SUGGESTED THREE BOOTHS TO BE MADE
BUT GOD SAID: “MY SON IS TO BE OBEYED.”

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS WERE SHARED WITH HIS MEN

CONCERNING THE CHURCH WHO ON HIM WOULD DEPEND
ISSUES OF SERVICE, FORGIVENESS, DIVORCE
DEALING WITH FACTIONS THAT STEER ONE OFF COURSE.

AFTER SOME CHILDREN WERE BROUGHT TO BE BLESSED

JESUS MADE CLEAR THAT THE ROAD TO SUCCESS
WAS NOT BUILT WITH GOLD OR PRESTIGE ON EARTH'S SOD
BUT FAITH AS A CHILD FORMS THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

THE MASTER THEN LIKENED OUR SERVICE FOR HIM

AS GRAPES FROM A VINE WITH A HARVEST TO WIN
SOME PLANT OR WATER THE SEED THAT IS SOWN
GOD GIVES THE INCREASE FOR HIS PRAISE ALONE.
--B. Pent

FIX YOUR EYES ON JESUS

"The disciple always looks only to his master...only by following Christ alone can he preserve a single eye. His eye rests wholly on the light that comes from Christ, and has no darkness or ambiguity to it. As the eye must be single, clear and pure in order to keep light in the body, as hand and foot can receive light from no other source save the eye, as the foot stumbles and the hand misses its mark when the eye is dim, as the whole body is in darkness when the eye is blind; so the follower of Christ is in the light only so Long as he looks simply to Christ and at nothing else in the world. Thus the heart of the disciple must be set upon Christ alone. If the eye sees an object which is not there, the whole body is deceived. If the heart is devoted to the mirage of the world, to the creature instead of the Creator, the disciple is lost.

What are we really devoted to? That is the question. Are our hearts set on earthly goods? Do we try to combine devotion to them with loyalty to Christ? Or are we devoted exclusively to Him? The light of the body is the eye, and the light of the Christian is his heart. If the eye be dark, how great is the darkness of the body! But the heart is dark when it clings to earthly goods, for then, however urgently Jesus may call us, his call fails to find access to our hearts. Our hearts are closed, for they have already been given to another. As the light cannot penetrate the body when the eye is evil, so the word of Jesus cannot penetrate the disciple's heart so long as it is closed against it. The word is chocked like seed which was sown among thorns, chocked 'with cares and riches and pleasures of this life'...Our hearts have room only for one all-embracing devotion, and we can only cleave to one Lord. Every competitor to that devotion must be hated." (The Cost Of Discipleship, Bonhoeffer. p.192,193,196)

GRACE AND DISCIPLESHIP

"Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it as a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble, it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.

Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: 'ye were bought at a price,' and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God." (The Cost Of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer,p.47-48).