An Amazing Statement

I was listening the other day to a sermon by Paul Washer, and this statement that he quoted from A.W. Tozer shot out of the laptop speaker and plunged into my heart,

"I can tell how much of God you have by how much entertainment you need."

That is one of the most profound statements, outside of the Bible, that I have ever heard.

"Be still and know that I am God."

Is that enough? That God IS - is that enough? Is it good enough that as long as God IS, anyone who is His need never be - not only never frightened, never worried, never bitter, never lonely - but never bored?

This statement has opened doors of understanding for me. Why, in moments of rest, or engagement in dull duties, did I hunger for something to amuse me? Because I was not satisfied in God. If, with the eyes of my heart, I am looking unto the Beloved Savior, delighting in all that he is, why should I be bored?

There is a difference between freely engaging in wholesome amusement with a God-glorifying purpose, and the restless hunger to be amused. The latter is for worldlings and children, not for God's own.

Next time the desire to fill my empty heart with entertainment comes, how about this -

"Jesus, Savior, come to me;
Let me ever be with Thee,
Come and nevermore depart,
Thou who reignest in my heart.

Lord, for Thee I ever sigh,
Nothing else can satisfy.
Ever do I cry to Thee:
Jesus, Jesus, come to Me!

Earthly joys can give no peace,
Cannot bid my longing cease;
Still to have my Jesus near,
This is all my pleasure here."

by Johann Scheffler, 1657-1677
Translated by Matthias Loy, 1828-1915

His Face

I love reading through the Old Testament and New Testament at the same time. There is a richness that comes from seeing more angles of God's redemption plan at one time. Like these two passages:

Exodus 33:19-20 - Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.”

This is the LORD the everlasting God.
One day God became flesh. Jesus. He had a human face. He came to humble himself and die. But how absolutely stunning the second text is in light of the first.

"And the high priest said to him[Jesus], “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?” - Matthew 26:63-67 ESV

This is incredible. Jesus is not separate from the God of the Old Testament - He is one and the same. How great was the condescension in what Jesus the Son of God did to pay for our wrong-doing!

who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him..." - Philippians 2:6-9 ESV