Particularly potent this week, in the spirit of the new year’s storied confluence of resolutions, relapses and renunciations, this morning’s devotion comes from R-J Heijmen. Our regularly scheduled blogging resumes tomorrow:
Make us a God who will go before us.
John Calvin famously said that the human heart is an idol factory. Although we may deny it, we are desperate for someone or something to tell us what to do, how to live. If you don’t believe me, take a look at the books that people around you are reading the next time you’re on a train or airplane. I guarantee that a majority will be of the self-help variety, instructions for the inner idol.
Yet, strangely, when we are told what to do, we either ignore the command, fulfill it begrudgingly (and fleetingly) or, perhaps most often, do the exact opposite. Instruction doesn’t work, even when it’s disguised as self-help, or the latest fad, “life coaching.”
Such was the case with Israel, who, after receiving the Ten Commandments, the ultimate “to-do (or perhaps not-do) list” from the ultimate Source, almost immediately did the exact opposite, breaking the First and Greatest Commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20.3), by forging and worshipping a cow made of gold. Commandments don’t work, whether they come from an idol, a therapeutic book, or God Himself.
The truth is that, although we may think that we need some good teaching, some good instruction, what we actually need is a Savior. The search for a better teaching, a better idol, a better self-help method is actually a defense mechanism. A defense against the truth about our sinful, rebellious selves and a defense against the God who did not come to instruct us, but to save us. Approaching Jesus as Teacher, rather than Savior, is the wrong course, as the so-called “rich young ruler” discovered (Matthew 19.16-23). We simply can’t follow the instructions and thus, like him, we end up walking away, moving on to the next idol, the next teaching, the next strategy.
Jesus comes to silence the idols, to debunk the myth that we can help ourselves, to cancel the commandments. He does not tell us what to do but rather bids us to trust that He has done and will do it all. “This is the work of God,” He says, “to believe in the One whom He has sent” (John 6.29)
COMMENTS
11 responses to “Hopelessly Devoted: Exodus Chapter Thirty Two Verse One”
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“The search for a better teaching, a better idol, a better self-help method is actually a defense mechanism.”
Great insight… Never thought of it in that light before. Anything… ANYthing but surrendering control to a savior.
Jim E
Just gotta help yourself to a heaping big mound of the Holy Spirit. Now that is great self help.
I like your sentiment here, but I’m afraid I can’t completely agree with it. I agree that the key is to follow Jesus and submit to Him, but the question is, how? How exactly does that work?
The implication in the post is that all instruction is useless because we don’t follow the instruction we receive. But didn’t Paul instruct frequently? And so did Peter, and John, and others. Paul told Timothy, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:14-17)
It sure sounds to me like there was instruction in there, teaching, even being told what to do. Yes, Scripture was the basis for it, as it always should be, but there was help to interpret and apply it directly.
Also, don’t we have some responsibility? John said, “Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.” (2 John 1:8) Similarly, Paul says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” (1 Cor. 9:24-25)
I’ not sure it’s fair to write off all things that give us tools, direction, and “self help” as being useless or fads. You mentioned life coaching as a fad, but why? It hasn’t been around long enough (in that form anyway) to say for certain that it is a fad. And if athletes use coaches to help them take what they have been given and improve it so that they are better athletes, why is it wrong that a life coach could help someone discover & understand their passions, best features, and enduring qualities and how God has uniquely combined those in that person so that they can live more closely aligned to the way God made them and can serve Him to the best of their ability–then trusting Him to use that even beyond what they can imagine and to work in their weaknesses as well as their strengths?
I have found nothing unbiblical about that. If you know of something, though, I am always happy to be…instructed.
Randy,
Paul said all kinds of covetousness was awakened in him by the command to “not covet.” He also said the law came to increase the trespass… to make our transgression of God’s law worse. This article is spot on. That isn’t to say that we cease to try to live honorable lives toward one another. We benefit each other by doing so. But don’t confuse living an honorable life toward others (our neighbor) with our being justified before God. Even our sanctification is gifted to us in Christ… it isn’t the result of what amounts to our lazy efforts at striving.
The article ends on a fantastic answer to the question “What must one do to be doing the works of God?… Believe in the one whom He sent.”
Mitchell, I agree completely that our sanctification is a gift. We can’t earn it, not even close. The Law awakened in Paul the desires the Law forbade to show him his need for a Savior. And that’s good. Yet he also clearly talks about giving & receiving instruction, training himself, etc. I see a big difference between “we are sanctified, saved, and justified by grace” and the idea that we don’t need instruction and can’t grow and improve as God has provided for us and as He leads us. I think that errs too far on one side of the argument.
I think the law/gospel distinction takes care of both sides of the argument. On the one hand when the law is given it inherently instructs us as to “what” we ought to be doing or avoiding while simultaneously showing us our utter guilt. I think this is what Paul is doing. He obviously didn’t think of himself as improving in “living the victorious christian life” (as I have heard it said) because of his comments in Romans 7. He saw an improvement in casting his belief on Christ “for him.”
I think instructing is a natural inclination when the law is heard. Nude belief in the work of Jesus is not… it is the hard work to be doing. I may not be saying anything new… just some thoughts that placard the Good News as… really Good News.
I see what you’re saying, Mitchell. I think you’re absolutely right about the purposes of the Law. Let me ask you this, though. How does what you’re saying about Paul not thinking of himself as improving in “living a victorious Christian life” fit in with what Peter said here:
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.” (2 Peter 1:5-7)
“So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” (2 Peter 3:14)
These sure sound like putting in the effort of improving to me. The difference between this and works-theology, of course, is that we do this not in order to be saved, but because we are, not so that God will love us, but because He loves us.
Sure Randy… I’m not saying we don’t “do” with respect to living. 2Peter 1 are qualities that we strive for but they aren’t qualities alien to what unbelievers can possess… the point is the object in view to the qualities mentioned. They are parasitic qualities like “faith” in Christ and Peter even says because we “already have every spiritual blessing” in Christ. I’m a parent so I completely understand effort and the language you’re using is very familiar.
I’m really not sure how one measures getting better at these I have to admit. Many non-believers exhibit good qualities such as brotherly kindness, love, perseverance etc. Some days are simply better or worse than others. Nude trust in the promises of God are all we have that remain constant… and consistent.
I know my confidence cannot be in how well I exhibit this list Peter sets out. There better be “good news” beyond my own striving. Anyway that’s my take. Martin Luther is encouraging to read as to how the Christian’s life plays out. You might read some of his writing and commentaries.
Thanks for the “back and forth.”
And thank you as well, Mitchell.
Thanks for this discussion, guys. I’m sure many others have appreciated, much in the way I have. Randy, you might really enjoy the book Grace in Practice, which tackles a lot of this material in more depth. It helped me to think through some of the things you mentioned in a fresh way, and is, as a result, one of my very favorite books. Cheers, JZ
And THAT ladies and gentlemen is how a message board exchange is supposed to transpire. Peace and joy to all….