MUSINGS FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE
“Preparing for the Lord a people fit for him.” Luke 1:17. JB
This Lucan phrase aptly captures the entire purpose of all Christian ministry. It is the Lord’s gracious determination to redeem from the fallen mass of mankind a people, selected and cherished, as a special people for himself to mirror and reflect the divine character for his sovereign pleasure and honor. For the sake of compatibility human nature will become a replication of the perfection of the Lord, his likeness, his image conformed to the purity and beauty of the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. “So angels shall know no man from Christ, so as not to desire to look upon that man’s, face because the most deformed wretch that is there, shall have the very beauty of Christ himself” [John Donne]. This is the splendid destiny of the people of God; not simply rescue from the sinful self or the penalties of an offended God but an elevation to an unimaginable exaltation in union with the Savior. The elect will share in his rule. How is it that total wretches from this depraved world can be assigned to such glory? Angels will be in awe at the transport afforded to mere earthlings from this misery-ridden planet; creatures destitute of any merit or deserving.
A fit people for the great I Am would need to possess necessary compatibility for intimate communion with the Lord himself. He is desirous that this donated rapport should be a mean to the receiving of all the multiple benefits of his overflowing goodness and grace. The love between the members of the three persons of the heavenly team (the majestic Three in One), sovereignly undertakes to create numerous recipients of the Lord’s infinite bounty of affectionate generosity. Mankind was created to enjoy God and glorify him forever, as indicated in the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Human life is a gift to facilitate such a marvelous potential. Pure generosity and sheer goodness is the reason for our restored being through saving lovingkindness. God is the lavish donor of all the riches of human existence and pleasing experience. Joy, contentment and absolute security is the heavenly provision for our wicked race emergent from the loins of Adam. God himself, knelt down in huge humility to impart his own breath to the clay model representing the first man. He imparted the kiss of profound intimacy and divine closeness in which mankind was to confidently luxuriate in the unbounded supply of God’s loving largesse.
John Donne longed for the day when people would never claim to be Lutheran or Calvinist. Jesus is amongst us all, and in his time . . . these differences amongst Christians and make us of that name, the name of Christian”. However specificity is seemingly necessary amidst the plethora of varying statements of faith.
O, may we sincerely yearn, with all believers, to be enrolled in that faith community which is truly fit for the Lord: a people in which he can take delight. It will require maturity and great self denial. The impression we show to the world must be truly worthy if we wish to see many more who desire to exalt the Lord. While we rightly strive to make our confession as throughly biblical as possible let us remember Thomas Cranmer’s holy desire as a chief pastor in his time “to provide a new piety for his people.” -Peter Newman Brooks The Reformation Theologians, edited by Carter Lindberg.
It was with sincere desire that our beloved Augustinian Reformer was admirably diligent in forming a people fit for the Lord.
RJS
“Preparing for the Lord a people fit for him.” Luke 1:17. JB
This Lucan phrase aptly captures the entire purpose of all Christian ministry. It is the Lord’s gracious determination to redeem from the fallen mass of mankind a people, selected and cherished, as a special people for himself to mirror and reflect the divine character for his sovereign pleasure and honor. For the sake of compatibility human nature will become a replication of the perfection of the Lord, his likeness, his image conformed to the purity and beauty of the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. “So angels shall know no man from Christ, so as not to desire to look upon that man’s, face because the most deformed wretch that is there, shall have the very beauty of Christ himself” [John Donne]. This is the splendid destiny of the people of God; not simply rescue from the sinful self or the penalties of an offended God but an elevation to an unimaginable exaltation in union with the Savior. The elect will share in his rule. How is it that total wretches from this depraved world can be assigned to such glory? Angels will be in awe at the transport afforded to mere earthlings from this misery-ridden planet; creatures destitute of any merit or deserving.
A fit people for the great I Am would need to possess necessary compatibility for intimate communion with the Lord himself. He is desirous that this donated rapport should be a mean to the receiving of all the multiple benefits of his overflowing goodness and grace. The love between the members of the three persons of the heavenly team (the majestic Three in One), sovereignly undertakes to create numerous recipients of the Lord’s infinite bounty of affectionate generosity. Mankind was created to enjoy God and glorify him forever, as indicated in the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Human life is a gift to facilitate such a marvelous potential. Pure generosity and sheer goodness is the reason for our restored being through saving lovingkindness. God is the lavish donor of all the riches of human existence and pleasing experience. Joy, contentment and absolute security is the heavenly provision for our wicked race emergent from the loins of Adam. God himself, knelt down in huge humility to impart his own breath to the clay model representing the first man. He imparted the kiss of profound intimacy and divine closeness in which mankind was to confidently luxuriate in the unbounded supply of God’s loving largesse.
John Donne longed for the day when people would never claim to be Lutheran or Calvinist. Jesus is amongst us all, and in his time . . . these differences amongst Christians and make us of that name, the name of Christian”. However specificity is seemingly necessary amidst the plethora of varying statements of faith.
O, may we sincerely yearn, with all believers, to be enrolled in that faith community which is truly fit for the Lord: a people in which he can take delight. It will require maturity and great self denial. The impression we show to the world must be truly worthy if we wish to see many more who desire to exalt the Lord. While we rightly strive to make our confession as throughly biblical as possible let us remember Thomas Cranmer’s holy desire as a chief pastor in his time “to provide a new piety for his people.” -Peter Newman Brooks The Reformation Theologians, edited by Carter Lindberg.
It was with sincere desire that our beloved Augustinian Reformer was admirably diligent in forming a people fit for the Lord.
RJS
RSS Feed
