EP 27: SCC Savor, Month 7, Days 7-13

Allen: Welcome back. It's the SCC Savor Podcast. We're savoring God through every bite of scripture. My name is Alan, Pastoral Apprentice at Santa Bell Community Church. And I'm with the one who hates surprises. Back on the podcast. Back on the podcast. You hate surprises still. However, w at the time of that recording, two things. One, your wife had planned a surprise for you for your birthday, which was pretty great. You were surprised.

Chris: Welcome back. It's the SCC Savor Podcast. We're savoring God through every bite of scripture. My name is Alan, pastoral apprentice at Sandbach Community Church. And I'm with the one who hates surprises. Back on the podcast. Back on the podcast. You hate surprises still. However, w at the time of that recording, two things. One, your wife had planned a surprise for you for your birthday, which was pretty great. You were surprised.

Allen: I was surprised. And you liked your surprise. I'm pretty sure I don't did we record it the day that the supporters was like the day before or the day before the day of or something like that. My my best buddies from college and like a dude who I grew up on the street with, same street growing up. Yeah. Like in the hood or like yeah, in the neighborhood. Gotcha. They came and just like showed up at the office and were like, We're here for your thirtieth birthday. Yeah. And we went fishing and

Chris: I was surprised. And you liked your surprise. I'm pretty sure I don't did we record it the day that the supposed the day the supposed was that about the day before or the day before the day of or something like that. My my best buddies from college and like a dude who I grew up on the street with, same street growing up. Yeah. Like in the hood or like they yeah, in the neighborhood. Gotcha. Okay. They came and just like showed up at the office and were like, We're here for your thirtieth birthday. Yeah. And we went fishing and

Allen: golfing and I'm

Chris: Golfing and I'm I'm

Allen: Trash at golf. We were at the dunes and every hole I was a ball in the water. Yeah. Like that course is more water than it is. I'm pretty up. But did you hate your surprise? Because you're all big about I hate surprises. Honestly, though, can I say something? All right, say. I had a lot of work to do, like prep that I would have done differently if I knew my best friends were coming down. That's fair. And then I was like low key worried about it while they were here. But it worked out.

Chris: trash at golf. We were at the dunes and every hole I was a ball in the water. Yeah. That course is more water than it is. I'm plenty up. But did you hate your surprise? Because you're all big about I hate surprises. Honestly, though, can I say something? All right, say I had a lot of work to do, like prep that I would have done differently if I knew my best friends were coming down. That's fair. And then I was like low-key worried about it while they were here. But it worked out. It was okay. It was okay. It worked out. It worked out. speaking of another surprise, your life is full of surprises right now, whether you like it or not. maybe not. You were waiting for how many weeks before you found out that you're having a baby boy. Let's go. Super stoked. Yeah, that's great. Someone to finally carry on the Solomonides name. It was the name Solomonides. Yeah. We needed a a a son.

Allen: It was okay. It was okay. It was out. It worked out. speaking of another surprise, your life is full of surprises right now, whether you like it or not. maybe not. You were waiting for how many weeks before you found out that you're having a baby boy. Let's go. Super stoked. Yeah, that's great. Someone to finally carry on the Solomonides name. It was the name Solomonides. Yeah. We needed a son.

Chris: You needed one. Who would then have many sons after him? Yeah, that's right. That's right. So how many how many weeks was it to find out the gender? I think it's like twenty weeks. So you had to wait. That was a surprise. For twenty weeks you were wondering, Am I gonna have someone to carry on my lineage? And I was telling everybody to pray for a boy and people were kind of shocked by that that I was. Really? Why? They're like, shouldn't you just be happy if it's a I'm like, but I want a boy. The Lord He's a good and good God who loves to give good gifts to his children when they ask. Hey, I I

Allen: You needed one. Who would then have many sons after him? Yeah, that's right. That's right. So how many how many weeks was it to find out the gender? I think it's like twenty weeks. Six, twenty weeks. So you had to wait. That was a surprise. For twenty weeks you were wondering, Am I gonna have someone to carry on my lineage? And I was telling everybody to pray for a boy and people were kind of shocked by that that I was explicitly asking for. Really? Why? They're like, shouldn't you just be happy if it's a I'm like, but I want a boy. The Lord He's a good and good God who loves to give good gifts to his children when they ask. Hey, I I

Chris: I know Janet Vespia was praying for a boy. Let's go. We prayed for a boy. The prayer prayer of a righteous person is powerful. It's because Janet was praying. That's why you have Availeth much. Availeth much. King James. That's great. Okay. well, you hate surprises, but the Lord loves giving you surprises. Speaking of our life is full of surprises. Man plans his way, but the Lord laughs. but the Lord's surprises are good, unlike ours. Sometimes our surprises suck.

Allen: I know Janet Vespia was praying for a boy. Let's go. We prayed for a boy. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful. Yeah, it's because Janet was praying. That's why you have a book. Availeth much. Availeth much. King James. That's great. Okay. well, you hate surprises, but the Lord loves giving you surprises. Speaking of our life is full of surprises. Man plans his way, but the Lord laughs. but the Lord's surprises are good, unlike ours. Sometimes our surprises suck.

Chris: But

Allen: But the Lord's presence are always good. all right. Two quick questions and we're gonna get hop in. They're kinda fun ones. I think. would you ha rather have to always shout or always whisper? Always whisper. Really? yeah. Interesting given your personality. Okay. be so tiring. It'll be tiring. But I feel usually you're probably always shout. Dude, I don't know. You're a point. It's really tiring.

Chris: the Lord's preses are always good. all right, two quick questions and we're gonna get hop in. They're kind of fun ones. I think. would you rather have to always shout or always whisper? Always whisper. Really? yeah. Interesting given your personality. Okay. be so tiring. It would be tiring. You but I feel like you're probably always shout. Dude, I don't know. You raised a point. It's really tiring.

Allen: And you couldn't even do anything in public. You're so loud. I'm too loud. No. Well, people don't want to be around me anyway. Could you whisper all the time? no. No shot. But people have told me you're horrible at whispering. Your whisper's essentially a shout. Yeah, that's what people have explicitly told me like, dude, you don't know how to whisper. My bad. The art of whispering. The art of whispering. So maybe s one can one of you teach me how whisper? Okay. would you

Chris: And you couldn't even do anything in public. You're so loud. I'm too loud. No. Well, people don't want to be around me anyway. Could you whisper all the time? no. No shot. But f people have told me you're horrible at whispering. Your whisper is essentially a shout. Yeah, that's what people have explicitly told me. Like, dude, you don't know how to whisper. My bad. The art of whispering. The art of whispering. So maybe s one can one of you teach me how whisper. Okay. what you

Allen: I would give up air conditioning. You'd rather give up air conditioning than coffee. Was that a good whisper? You that was actually decent. You cannot live without coffee. People have lived without air conditioning. What about millennium? millennium? But people have all people have been drinking for coffee for a long time. That's true. Dude, you live in Southwest Florida though. Somebody hit chat, let us know how many, yeah. How long has coffee been around? How long has co has all right? Question of the day. If you answer it, Chris will take you out of lunch.

Chris: I would give up air conditioning. You'd rather give up air conditioning than coffee. Was that a good whisper? You cannot live without coffee. People have lived without air conditioning. What about millennium? millennium? But people have all people have been drinking for coffee for a long time. That's true. Dude, you live in Southwest Florida though. Somebody hit chat. Let us know how many, yeah. How long has coffee been around? How long is co has all right, question of the day. If you answer it, Chris will take you out of lunch. What was around first? Coffee or air conditioning? Here you go. Okay. Let's get into the Bible. that's why the people will come and listen most of the time. month seven, days seven through thirteen. We're commenting on first chronicles fifteen through twenty nine, Psalms one thirty through one thirty eight. Dude, if this is real, this is crazy. Only six hundred years? For what? Air conditioning? Coffee. Coff no, you're wrong. I don't believe that.

Allen: What was around first? Coffee or air conditioning? Here you go. Okay. Let's get into the Bible. that's why the people will come and listen most of the time. month seven, days seven through thirteen. We're commenting on first chronicles fifteen through twenty-nine, Psalms one thirty through one thirty eight. Dude, if this is real, this is crazy. Only six hundred years? For what? Air conditioning? Coffee. Coff no, you were wrong. I don't believe that.

Chris: Six hundred years so w how long all right, what about air conditioning? Dude, that is if that's true, that's sad. You're telling me like coffee just started growing out of nowhere? Like it like for however many years of human history we can get on the aged of the earth debates, but like call it just at least ten thousand years crops have been around. Dude, apparently only the past not even a thousand years. Hmm. Well still older than air conditioning. It's true.

Allen: Six hundred years so w how long all right, what about air conditioning? Dude, that is if that's true, that's sad. You're telling me like coffee just started growing out of nowhere. Like it like for however many years of human history we can get on aged of the earth debates, but like call it just at least ten thousand years crops have been around. Dude, apparently only the past not even a thousand years. Hmm. Well still older than air conditioning. It's true. anyway, Colossians three, fifteen through four, eighteen, the end. We're gonna talk about First Thessalonians, the beginning, Luke eight, forty through ten sixteen. Let's jump in first chronicles. we have been exploring throughout the old testament, the life of David specifically, especially in Kings and Chronicles, he's kind of our key man, key figure, Solomon.

Chris: anyway, Colossians three, fifteen through four, eighteen, the end. We're gonna talk about First Thessalonians, the beginning, Luke eight, forty through ten sixteen. Let's jump in first chronicles. we have been exploring throughout the old testament, the life of David specifically, especially in Kings and Chronicles, he's kind of our key man, key figure, Solomon.

Allen: and we've been talking about how First Chronicles and Second Chronicles have a little bit different agenda to them than the Kings and the Chronicles is more hope. It has more hope. and again, one of the theories likely is that this is a time when God's people needed more hope. and they're when the after they gone into exile and they needed more hope. There's as you were mentioned before, there's kind of like a theological position that

Chris: and we've been talking about how First Chronicles and Second Chronicles have a little bit different agenda to them than the Kings and the Chronicles is more hope. It has more hope. and again, one of the theories likely is that this is a time when God's people needed more hope. and they're when the after they gone into exile and they needed more hope. There's as you were mentioned before, there's kind of like a theological position that The Chronicles is trying to give us and is kind of given in in view of history in the theological points that God is wanting us to hear through Chronicles. Maybe you comment a little bit about some of the theology that this latter half of First Chronicles is bringing out and that the Lord's trying to teach us. Mm-hmm. Yeah. it's selective history. Yeah. And you know, all of scripture is selective history because it's redemptive history, but even in

Allen: The Chronicles is trying to give us and is kind of given in in view of history in the theological points that God is wanting us to hear through Chronicles. Maybe you could comment a little bit about some of the theology that this latter half of First Chronicles is bringing out and that the Lord's trying to teach us. Mm-hmm. Yeah. it's selective history. Yeah. And, you know, all of scripture is selective history 'cause it's redemptive history, but even in

Chris: This last half of First Chronicles, chapters 15 to 29, more of the sin and hard stuff is actually left out in this section because the author is really trying to push the people of God who are in the post-exile era of how good the days were when the monarchy was one, when the kingdom was one, when the kingdom was united, and what was so good about those days.

1 Chronicles 15 · chapter mention

Allen: This last half of First Chronicles, chapters 15 to 29, more of the sin and hard stuff is actually left out in this section because the author is really trying to push the people of God who are in the post-exile era of how good the days were when the monarchy was one, when the kingdom was one, when the kingdom was united, and what was so good about those days.

1 Chronicles 15 · chapter mention

Chris: was that the people worshipped God and that they cared about the worship of God and they cared about obeying the law of Moses. Yeah. You know, and so it does it highlights the aspect of what covenant faithfulness looks like and how blessed the people of God were during that time. Yeah. Yeah, that's great. there's cer certainly kind of a main thread in ideas here is that like when they would devoted themselves to obeying the Lord to worshiping rightly, things went well for them. And then when it didn't, they experienced the covenant curses.

Allen: was that the people worshipped God and that they cared about the worship of God and they cared about obeying the law of Moses. Yeah. You know, and so it does it highlights the aspect of what covenant faithfulness looks like and how blessed the people of God were during that time. Yeah. Yeah, that's great. there's cer certainly kind of a main thread in ideas here is that like when they would devoted themselves to obeying the Lord to worshiping rightly, things went well for them. Mm-hmm. And then when it didn't, they experienced the covenant curses.

Chris: so you have like one of the major themes is the setting up of the temple and worship, right? Carn Call speaks exp extensively of David's preparations for the building of the temple and his appointments of the various priestly and Levitical offices and how they were to function in the life of God's people and worship. as we know, we talked about it when we were reviewing Kings, but David actually did not get to build the temple because he was a man of war.

Allen: so you have like one of the major themes is the setting up of the temple and worship, right? Chronicle speaks exp extensively of David's preparations for the building of the temple and his appointments of the various priestly and Levitical offices, and how they were to function in the life of God's people and worship. as we know, we talked about it when we were reviewing Kings, but David actually did not get to build the temple because he was a man of war.

Chris: and that also goes to say something about God's design for worship, right? Where he wants it pure, undefiled un undefiled, peaceful. and so Saul ends up building the temple. But the worship of the people and the praising of Yahweh, especially when we had the scene, this narrative of the Ark of the Covenant, which is symbolizes God's presence, when when it came into Jerusalem, they had to build the city. Where is this gonna be? and then they set it up. And so when they

Allen: and that also goes to say something about God's design for worship, right? Where he wants it pure, undefiled un undefiled, peaceful. and so Saul ends up building the temple. But the worship of the people and the praising of Yahweh, especially when we had the scene, this narrative of the Ark of the Covenant, which is symbolizes God's presence, w when it came into Jerusalem, they had to build the city. Where is this gonna be? and then they set it up. And so when they

Chris: got rid of the high places, they got rid of the idolatrous worship. it it that's that was the ideal sense for Israel's worship. It's pure, unified, one. and just thinking about that a little bit, I was thinking about what is corporate worship like in today. Like why do we do church what we do? Why do we worship the way that we do? I saw a clip one time, it's of from KB. He's a he's a Christian rapper and on a podcast, he goes,

Allen: got rid of the high places, they got rid of the idolatrous worship. it it that's that was the ideal sense for Israel's worship. It's pure, unified, one. and just thinking about that a little bit, I was thinking about what is corporate worship like in today. Like why do we do church that we do? Why do we worship the way that we do? I saw a clip one time, it's of from KB. He's a he's a Christian rapper and on a podcast. He goes Do we ever leave church and instead of asking, Hey, what'd you think of worship? Instead asking, What did God think about our worship? Mm-hmm And I was like, Man, what a good question. Like, what does God think about our worship? 'Cause clearly he cares about how we worship. Right. Yeah. And and that that makes that goes to show in Chronicles. So yeah, just thinking about what corporate worship is and how we honor the Lord mostly as as when things went well with David and they set up worship properly versus when it didn't, things went horrible for them. I think

Chris: Do we ever leave church and instead of asking, Hey, what'd you think of worship? Instead asking, What did God think about our worship? Mm-hmm And I was like, Man, what a good question. Like, what does God think about our worship? 'Cause clearly he cares about how we worship. Right. Yeah. And and that that makes that goes to show in Chronicles. So yeah, just thinking about what corporate worship is and how we honor the Lord mostly as as when things went well with David and they set up worship properly versus when it didn't, things went horrible for them. I think If you're reading through First Chronicles 15 to 29, you know, there's a lot of details, there's genealogies, there's some tough sledding, but there's also some gems in there about what God cares most about in worship, and that's the heart. And all across these chapters, we're seeing how important the heart is in worship. You know, we see the juxtaposition of David and Michal in chapter 15. He

Allen: If you're reading through First Chronicles 15 to 29, you know, there's a lot of details, there's genealogies, there's some tough sledding, but there's also some gems in there about what God cares most about in worship, and that's the heart. And all across these chapters, we're seeing how important the heart is in worship. You know, we see the juxtaposition of David and Michal in chapter 15. He

Chris: surrenders his heart utterly to the Lord and he dances and celebrates. and she despised him in her heart. there, there we see sort of a a look into what's happening in worship in David's heart. And then just throughout the rest of the passage or the rest of this chunk of scripture, we see David says to Solomon in chapter 28, You, Solomon, my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole

Allen: surrenders his heart utterly to the Lord and he dances and celebrates. and she despised him in her heart. there, there we see sort of a a look into what's happening in worship in David's heart. And then just throughout the rest of the passage or the rest of this chunk of scripture, we see David says to Solomon in chapter 28, You, Solomon, my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole

Chris: Heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you. But if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. So it's all about the heart. And then in chapter 29, there's this amazing moment of worship where God's people are unified. It's the it's triumphant. It's this culmination point of like, this is what it's like in the good days when God's people

Allen: Heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you. But if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. So it's all about the heart. And then in chapter 29, there's this amazing moment of worship where God's people are unified. It's the it's triumphant. It's this culmination point of like, this is what it's like in the good days when God's people cared about worship when they gave themselves, and it's it it manifested itself publicly, but it started with the heart. And in ver chapter 29, verse nine, it says, The people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly. And so the heart is where we see worship

Chris: Cared about worship when they gave themselves, and it's it it manifested itself publicly, but it started with the heart. And in ver chapter 29, verse 9, it says, The people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly. And so the heart is where we see worship. start and then it manifests itself in in joy and celebration and giving and people serving different ministerial offices, all different kinds of things in this section. Yeah. Yeah, that's great. The heart of worship. I I da David's prayer at the end of 29, you stopped just before that though. It's like David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. David said, Blessed are you, O Lord, O Yahweh, the God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever yours, O Yahweh, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty.

Allen: start and then it manifests itself in in joy and celebration and giving and people serving different ministerial offices, all different kinds of things in this section. Yeah. Yeah, that's great. The heart of worship. I I mean d David's prayer at the end of twenty nine, you stopped just before that though. It's like David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. David said, Blessed are you, O Lord, O Yahweh, the God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever yours, O Yahweh, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty. For all that is in the heavens and in the earth are yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. Like that's that's the heart of worship. Right? Yeah. And he says down below, he says

Chris: For all that is in the heavens and in the earth are yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. Like that's that's the heart of worship. Right? Yeah. And he says down below, he says

Allen: Our fathers keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people and direct their hearts towards you. Like it's just all about God's people, you know, looking away from their stuff. They're rich right now. Like they've got tons of gold and silver and materials to build this amazing temple. Yeah. They're they're thriving in military victories. It keeps saying all these victories David has. But instead of being thankful about the victories or about the materials or whatever.

Chris: Our fathers keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people and direct their hearts towards you. Like it's just all about God's people, you know, looking away from their stuff. They're rich right now. Like they've got tons of gold and silver and materials to build this amazing temple. Yeah. They're they're thriving in military victories. It keeps saying all these victories David has. But instead of being thankful about the victories or about the materials or whatever, they keep saying like

Allen: They keep saying, like, we're just so happy that we get to worship you and be with you. It's great. Now, how would how would for our listeners here, how would we cultivate this heart of worship? Undefiled, pure, sold out in a sense. Like this is to me like a sold out sense of worship for the heart. How do we cultivate that in our hearts so that we with David sing, Great Are You Lord? I think we should move to the Psalms to give us the answer. All right.

Chris: We're just so happy that we get to worship you and be with you. It's great. Now, how would how would for our listeners here, how would we cultivate this heart of worship? Undefiled, pure, sold out in a sense. Like this is to me like a sold out sense of worship for the heart. How do we cultivate that in our hearts so that we with David sing, Great Are You Lord? I think we should move to the Psalms to give us the answer. All right. Move to the Psalms number. Look at that, right? There you go. Look at that. Mr. Transition. No surprises. I don't know. Do you have anything else you want to say about Chronicles before we're No, nothing, dude. Well, I think we're gonna talk about Chronicles in in the Psalms, but yeah, go ahead. I mean, thinking about the heart in worship. I was just convicted personally in my own reading of Psalm 135. the idols of the nation

Allen: Move to the Psalms number. Look at right? There you go. Look at that. Mr. Transition. No surprises. I don't know. Do you have anything else you want to say about Chronicles before we're No, nothing, dude. Well, I think we're gonna talk about Chronicles in in the Psalms, but yeah, go ahead. I mean, thinking about the heart in worship. I was just convicted personally in my own reading of Psalm 135. the idols of the nation

Chris: Are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths but do not speak, they have eyes but do not see, they have hearts, ears but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouth. Those who make them become like them, and so do all who trust in them. And I think we can just when we when we start looking at ourselves, examining ourselves, and what are we becoming more like? Because what we're becoming like is what we love.

Allen: Are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths but do not speak, they have eyes but do not see, they have hearts, ears but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouth. Those who make them become like them, and so do all who trust in them. And I think we can just when we when we start looking at ourselves, examining ourselves, and what are we becoming more like? Because what we're becoming like is what we love. Mm-hmm.

Chris: Just like you love Ohio State, so you're wearing an Ohio State hat and an Ohio State shirt right now. yeah. Yeah. Love they can't see that. Love the bucke love the buckey. You love the buckey. So you become like you become like a buckeye. You become nuts. Yeah, that's right. but yeah. No, I think I think so how do they how did they how did they have hearts for the Lord?

Allen: Just like you love Ohio State, so you're wearing an Ohio State hat and an Ohio State shirt right now. yeah. Yeah. They can't see that. Love the bucke love the buckey. You love the buckeye, so you become like you become like a buckeye. You become nuts. Yeah, that's right. but yeah, no, I think I think so how do they how did they, how did they have hearts for the Lord?

Chris: Yeah. I think just it's it's two things. One, it's looking at how worthless the worship of other stuff is. Mm-hmm. You know, like you see the end of it and you get to the end of it. Like when you experience it too, when you like when you stray in sin. Like one particular example I was talking about with you before was like the the iPhone, right? Like it is it is the the golden calf of our day. It is the idol of our day. Yeah.

Allen: Yeah. I think just it's it's two things. One, it's looking at how worthless the worship of other stuff is. Mm-hmm. You know, like you see the end of it and you get to the end of it. Like when you experience it too, when you like when you stray in sin. Like one particular example I was talking about with you before was like the the iPhone, right? Like it is it is the the golden calf of our day. It is the idol of our day. Yeah.

Chris: it hears us, it listens to us. It does. It speaks to us. Spirit be talk spirit be talking to me. But it has no breath, right? Mm hmm. And we become like the iPhone in lots of different ways. When we worship it, when we trust in it. Yeah. like we get jittery, you know? We get anxious. Yeah. Like waiting for that buzz, the phantom buzz, you know, your phone your phone constantly buzzing and then like you think it's buzzing. You think it's buzzing. It's not.

Allen: it hears us, it listens to us. It does. It speaks to us. But it has no breath, right? Mm-hmm. And we become like the iPhone in lots of different ways. Yeah. When we worship it, when we trust in it. Yeah. like we get jittery, you know? We get anxious. Yeah. Like waiting for that buzz, the phantom buzz, you know, your ph your phone constantly buzzing and then like you think it's buzz. You think it's buzzing and it's not.

Chris: I swear it was buzzing.

Allen: I swear it was supposed to. I think the stat is I think the average person touches their phone. Doesn't mean like uses it, but touches their phone like six thousand times a day. Mm-hmm. Isn't that nuts? Yeah. at camp last week I was using the illustration that the phone is like slavery. Mm-hmm. It's like modern day slavery. It's like think about it for a second. You you're you're bound to the charger, which is the chains, and you must be where an outlet is. So it controls where you are.

Chris: I think the stat is I think the average person touches their phone. Doesn't mean like uses it, but touches their phone like six thousand times a day. Mm-hmm. Isn't that nuts? Yeah. at camp last week I was using the illustration that the phone is like slavery. Mm-hmm. It's like modern day slavery. It's like think about it for a second. You you're you're bound to the charger, which is the chains, and you must be where an outlet is. So it controls where you are and

Allen: in what you're attached to and how far you can get off the leash.

Chris: what you're attached to and how far you can get off the leash.

Allen: Yeah. You can't go I mean, if you can get a long charger, you get a six foot charger. You still can't get it six feet away from that phone. You know, so it kind of binds us a little bit. thinking about cultivating the heart of worship, I think about two things that came out in the Psalms for me and I think about the Keith and Kristen Christy Kristen? Getty song. The Getty song. My Worth is not in what I own. Mm-hmm. not in the strength of flesh and bone.

Chris: Yeah. You can't go s I mean if you get a long charge, you get a six foot charger. You still can't get it six feet away from that phone. You know, so it kinda binds us a little bit. thinking about cultivating the heart of worship, I think about the two things that came out in the Psalms for me and I think about the Keith and Kristen Christy Kristen Getty song, the Getty song. my worth is not in what I own. Mm-hmm. not in the strength of flesh and bone, but in the costly wounds of Christ. There's two things that I confess. My worth

Allen: But in the costly wounds of Christ, there's two things that I confess, my worth and my unworthiness. Mm-hmm. 130, Psalm 130, verse 3 says, If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? And I was just like, my gosh. If God marked my iniquities, if he marked my sins, who could stand? And the the obvious resounding answer is nobody. Nobody is worthy. Everyone is worth is not worthy of his worthiness. So it's like, man, my unworthiness, one. I think

Psalms 130:3

Chris: In my unworthiness. 130, Psalm 130, verse 3 says, If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? And I was just like, my gosh. If God marked my iniquities, if he marked my sins, who could stand? And the the opposite resounding answer is nobody. Nobody is worthy. Everyone is worth is not worthy of his worthiness. So it's like, man, my unworthiness, one. I think when you start at that level with the heart of like I am unworthy.

Psalms 130:3

Allen: When you start at that level with the heart, like I am unworthy. But here this verse four, but with you there is forgiveness that you may be feared. So I look at God, I look at Christ, I see my unworthiness, and I see his worth. And his worthiness mean, man, he died for me. He's given me forgiveness. So I can fear him. Man, that dil that creates a a whole a reverence in my heart. and then also Psalm Psalm one thirty-five.

Chris: But here this verse four, but with you there is forgiveness that you may be feared. So I look at God, I look at Christ, I see my unworthiness, and I see his worth. And his worthiness mean, man, he died for me. He's given me forgiveness. So I can fear him. Man, that dil that creates a a whole a reverence in my heart. and then also Psalm Psalm one thirty five, same same one that you talked about, but a little bit.

Allen: same same one that you talked about, but a little bit, is for I know this is five through seven, for I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases, he does. God does whatever he wants. And it made me think about like God does whatever he wants, why would he save me? Why would he save me? He's in heaven and on earth and in the seas and all deeps. It is he who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rains.

Chris: Is for I know this is five through seven, for I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases, He does. God does whatever He wants. And it made me think about like God does whatever He wants. Why would He save me? Why would He save me? He's in heaven and on earth and in the seas and all deeps. It is He who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rains, and brings forth the wind from his storehouses, you know, and then it recounts some of his deeds.

Allen: And brings forth the wind from his storehouses, you know, and then it recounts some of his deeds. And yeah, I just think I was kind of put in awe a little bit. It's like, man, my unworthiness, but God's worth. And so when he I just ponder upon my salvation, and what he's done for me in Christ, it leads me to the place of the heart is solely devoted to you. You're above every other name. There's no one I can thank but you. Yeah. Yeah, that's the positive side of it. Right. Yeah.

Chris: And yeah, I just think I was kind of put in awe a little bit. It's like, man, my unworthiness, but God's worth. And so when he I just ponder upon my salvation, and what he's done for me in Christ, it leads me to the place of the heart is solely devoted to you. You're above every other name. There's no one I can thank but you. Yeah. Yeah, that's the positive side of it. Right. Yeah. How do you cultivate well negatively you look to the end of the road of like false worship and you're not gonna like what you become like.

Allen: How do you cultivate well negatively you look to the end of the road of like false worship and you're not gonna like what you become like? And positively it's like when you worship the Lord, you know, you become like Him, you know, the maker of heaven and earth, the one who's compassionate, who's full of justice and mercy and grace, whose love endures forever. I was thinking about that idea of love and

Chris: Positively, it's like when you worship the Lord, you know, you become like Him, you know, the maker of heaven and earth, the one who's compassionate, who's full of justice and mercy and grace, whose love endures forever. I was thinking about that idea of love and how fickle our love is. And I was talking with I read Psalm 136 to Harper, my daughter, and just talking about how I was like, you know.

Allen: how fickle our love is. And I was talking with I read Psalm 136 to Harper, my daughter, and just talking about how I was like, you know,

Chris: Mommy and daddy's love isn't always perfect and Harper's love isn't always perfect. And it changes and it's it's really strong some days and it's weak other days. But God's love, it never changes. It's always the same. It's always so faithful. and we want love like that. Like

Allen: mommy and daddy's love isn't always perfect. And Harper's love isn't always perfect. And it changes and it's it's really strong some days and it's weak other days. But God's love, it never changes. It's always the same. It's always so faithful. and we want love like that. Like

Chris: that's just so fundamental to us. Like we want to be loved like that. Mm-hmm. Like we want to wake up every day and know we're loved completely, fully.

Allen: That's just so fundamental to us. Like we want to be loved like that. Mm-hmm. Like we want to wake up every day and know we're loved completely, fully.

Chris: And she's like, Well, how do you know God's love doesn't change? And I was like, Well, Psalm one thirty six did did kids ask the best questions. How do you know God's love doesn't change? Psalm one thirty six, Harper, his steadfast love endures forever over and over and over again. It's the emphasis that God wants us to know. Twenty six times.

Allen: And she's like, Well, how do you know God's love doesn't change? And was like, Well, Psalm one thirty six. Did did kids ask the best questions? How do you know God's love doesn't change? Psalm one thirty six, Harper, his steadfast love endures forever over and over and over again. It's the emphasis that God wants us to know. Twenty six times.

Chris: You know, and and it's just the reality that we need that repetition and emphasis in our lives because we are so tempted in different ways and circumstances to believe that God does not love us or that his love is changing towards us.

Allen: You know, and and it's just the reality that we need that repetition and emphasis in our lives because we are so tempted in different ways and circumstances to believe that God does not love us or that his love is changing towards us. and his love for us just it does it doesn't change. It it endures forever, it's steadfast. Yeah. That's great. I'm gonna keep on my song cake. this morning at Men's Bible study, we sang, come that font of every blessing. Mm-hmm. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it.

Chris: And his love for us just it does it doesn't change. It it endures forever. It's steadfast. Yeah. That's great. I'm gonna keep on my song cake. this morning at Men's Bible study, we sang, come that font of every blessing. Mm-hmm. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. yeah, it's just you feel it. It's like, man, even in a sense of which like Harper is recognizing

Allen: prone to leave the God I love. yeah, it's just you feel it. It's like, man, even in a sense of which like Harper is recognizing that like there is an imperfect love in her life. Even from her parents who love her more than anything, she's like, Man, you've prone to wander from the love that you have for Harper because you don't love her perfectly. No one loves each other perfectly. sorry, I'll keep

Chris: That like there is an imperfect love in her life. Even from her parents who love her more than anything. She's like, Man, you've prone to wandered from the love that you have for her because you don't love her perfectly. No one loves each other perfectly. sorry, I'll keep

Allen: We we're on book club right now and heaven is a world of love. with the SEC staff and last week we were talking about how in heaven no one will fail to love

Chris: we we are on book club right now and heaven is a world of love. with the SEC staff. And last week we were talking about how in heaven no one will fail to love

Allen: each other perfectly. Like you won't fail to love your wife perfectly, although we won't be have spouses in heaven. But like like you won't fail to love people perfectly. Like like you're gonna love people perfectly and there's gonna be a love that doesn't fail. And it's just like, man, that's what we long for.

Chris: Each other perfectly. Like, you won't fail to love your wife perfectly, although we won't be have spouses in heaven. But like you won't fail to love people perfectly. Like, like you're gonna love people perfectly, and there's gonna be a love that doesn't fail. And it's just like, man, that's what we long for. And it kind of keeps us heavenward a little bit. right. It's just like, man, we look to promises to the promises of God, in his steadfast love endorsed forever. and

Allen: And it kinda it keeps us heavenward a little bit. right? It's just like, man, we look to promises to the promises of God, in his steadfast love endorsed forever. and sorry, in a sermon I was listening to, sorry, I'm just gonna keep on going. You're got you're on me you got me on this track now. from a mutual buddy, Justin, how I ended up at SEC actually. He preached a psalm on one thirty nine, I was listening to it to the other day. And he quoted Gentle and Lowly and it's like God's faithfulness

Chris: Sorry, in a sermon I was listening to. Sorry, I'm just gonna keep on going. You're got you're got me on this track now. from a mutual buddy, Justin, how I ended up at SEC actually. He preached a psalm on one thirty nine. I was listening to it to the other day, and he quoted gentle and lowly. and it's like God's faithfulness isn't about his faithfulness in your life. Caveat here. It's about God's faithfulness in Jesus' life.

Allen: Isn't about his faithfulness in your life. Caveat here. It's about God's faithfulness in Jesus' life. It's like your life is not perfect. God's been faithful, but like you don't experience perfectness in this life. But look at Christ. Like God did not stop at any means to send Christ. Look at his life. Look what he's done for you. And look what he's laid up for you, which is your inheritance as brothers in Christ, as sisters in Christ.

Chris: It's like your life is not perfect. God's been faithful, but like you don't experience perfectness in this life. But look at Christ. Like God did not stop at any means to send Christ. Look at his life. Look what he's done for you. And look what he's laid up for you, which is your inheritance as as brothers in Christ, as sisters in Christ, as God's children in Christ that's laid up for you in heaven. Like look at that. That's what you base your devotion off of.

Allen: As God's children in Christ that's laid up for you in heaven. Like look at that. That's what you base your devotion off of.

Chris: Amen. Yeah. Lord's good. And a steadfast love. Endures forever. Speaking of Christ, let's go on to the gospel of Luke. this gospel we've been talking about is d kind of really Gentile focused when we say that we mean that God's plan of salvation for the one people of God in Christ is unraveling. specifically with this theme, the kingdom of God.

Allen: Amen. Yeah. Lord's good. And a steadfast love. Endures forever. Speaking of Christ, let's go on to the gospel of Luke. this gospel we've been talking about is d kind of really Gentile focused when we say that we mean that God's plan of salvation for the one people of God in Christ is unraveling. specifically with this theme, the kingdom of God.

Chris: We we talk about the kingdom a a lot. the kingdom of God, the kingdom of God. and this is really the inbreaking of the kingdom of God, meaning the king is here, Jesus Christ, he's the Messiah, he's the king, and now the kingdom of God is being inaugurated here, in an already not yet fashion. and we see Jesus's some of his miracles, some of his ministry, the raising of Gyrus's daughter, the feeding of the five thousand, and even a misunderstanding of God's identity.

Allen: We we talk about the kingdom a a lot. the kingdom of God, the kingdom of God. and this is really the in breaking of the kingdom of God, meaning the king is here, Jesus Christ, he's the Messiah, he's the king, and now the kingdom of God is being inaugurated here, in an already not yet fashion. and we see Jesus' some of his miracles, some of his ministry, the raising of Jairus' daughter, the feeding of the five thousand, and even a misunderstanding of God's identity. And then this is the upside down part. It's like no one understood that like g no say no one, like there was a large misunderstanding that God would become incarnate as a man on earth and then suffer and be misunderstood as a king. But this is how God is ordering his kingdom right now.

Chris: And then this is the upside down part. It's like no one understood that like go no say no one, like there was a large misunderstanding that God would become incarnate as a man on earth and then suffer and be misunderstood as a king. But this is how God is ordering his kingdom right now.

Allen: Yes. Yes. Yeah, I mean, you look at Luke chapter nine, we're in chapter eight and nine. And just in my Bible I have outlined how many times we're seeing that phrase, the kingdom of God, chapter nine, it says He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. And they departed and went through the villages and preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

Chris: Yes. Yes. Yeah, I mean, you look at Luke chapter nine, we're in chapter eight and nine. And just in my Bible I have outlined how many times we're seeing that phrase, the kingdom of God. Chapter nine, it says He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. And they departed and went through the villages and preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

Allen: And then in later in verse verse eleven, it says the crowds learned it, they followed him, and they welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing. and all the way through chapter nine, we see we just keep seeing that phrase over and over again in verse twenty-seven. I tell you truly, there are some standing here today who taste death till they see the kingdom of God. so so yeah, Jesus

Chris: And then in later in verse verse 11, it says the crowds learned it, they followed him, and they welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing. and all the way through chapter nine, we see we just keep seeing that phrase over and over again in verse twenty-seven. I tell you truly, there are some standing here today who taste death until they see the kingdom of God. so so yeah, Jesus says

Allen: Jesus is emphasizing his kingdom being here with him and he is he's the Christ of God, he's the king and he's he's starting this new kingdom and the apostles and disciples are being sent out to proclaim that kingdom and we see that too just in in terms of our call, that we are to pray earnestly for the harvest.

Chris: Jesus is emphasizing his kingdom being here with him and he is he's the Christ of God, he's the king, and he's he's starting this new kingdom. And the apostles and disciples are being sent out to proclaim that kingdom. And we see that too, just in in terms of our call, that we are to pray earnestly for the harvest. And be workers in the kingdom of God. Yeah. Yeah. It it it's interesting the the workers aspect. And it's interesting who are these workers? That's a big emphasis here. Cause it's it's gonna be those who Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, right? He's Hey, I recognize that Jesus, this Jesus right here is the fulfillment of all of the old testament, right? Of the law, the prophets as a transfiguration, right? When he's brought up. and then Moses and Elijah appear with him and they're confusing, they're kind of like, Whoa, what's going on? Let's have a seat.

Allen: And be workers in the kingdom of God. Yeah. Yeah. It it it's interesting the the workers aspect. And it's interesting who are these workers? That's a big emphasis here. Cause it's it's gonna be those who Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, right? He's Hey, I recognize that Jesus, this Jesus right here. It's the fulfillment of all of the old testament, right? Of the law, the prophets as a transfiguration, right? When he's brought up. and then Moses and Elijah appear with him and they're confusing, they're kind of like, Whoa, what's going on? Let's have a seat.

Chris: And he's Well, this is my son, my chosen one, right? This is right after Peter confesses that Christ is the Messiah. He's like, Look, he's the in the transfiguration why we have Moses and Elijah is because Moses, as a representative of the law, is the fulfillment of the law, and then Elijah as a representative of the prophets, fulfills the prophets. And then so it's showing that Jesus is fulfilling everything. Kingdom of God is here, and then actually Jesus foretells his death. He said he's gonna be delivered in the hands of men, and then who's gonna be in this kingdom?

Allen: And he's like, Well, this is my son, my chosen one, right? This is right after Peter confesses that Christ is the Messiah. He's like, Look, he's the in the transfiguration why we have Moses and Elijah is because Moses, as a representative of the law, is the fulfillment of the law, and then Elijah as a representative of the prophets, fulfills the prophets. And then so it's showing that Jesus is fulfilling everything. Kingdom of God is here, and then actually Jesus foretells his death. He said he's gonna be delivered in the hands of men, and then who's gonna be in this kingdom? It's whoever receives this child and in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me, for he who is least among you all is the one who is great. So it's bunch of nobodies who's in the kingdom. Right? And every you know, especially in the backdrop of all these Pharisees and people that think they had it all together, he's like, I'm gonna choose a bunch of nobodies for my kingdom. That's why it's upside down. Yeah. It's also it's also people who are back to the devotion theme, like we're talking about this whole

Chris: It's whoever receives this child and in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me, for he who is least among you all is the one who is great. Mm-hmm. So it's bunch of nobodies is who's in the kingdom. Right? And every you know, especially in the backdrop of all these Pharisees and people that think they had it all together. He's like, I'm gonna choose a bunch of nobodies for my kingdom. That's why it's upside down. Yeah. It's also it's also people who are back to the devotion theme, like we're talking about this whole I think one interconnected theme through first chronicles fifteen through twenty-nine and through the Psalms we're looking at, it's utter devotion to the worship of Lord. the cost of following Jesus, in in chapter nine. And it says, I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home. And Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God. Like those who belong to the kingdom are those who

Allen: I think one interconnected theme through first chronicles fifteen through twenty-nine and through the Psalms we're looking at, it's utter devotion to the worship of Lord. the cost of following Jesus, in in chapter nine. And it says, I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home. And Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God. Like those who belong to the kingdom are those who

Chris: Have their eyes utterly fixed on the king. Yeah. And and yeah, wholehearted surrender. Mm-hmm. A cost. Mm-hmm. It's Dietrich Bonhoeffer he talked about the the cost of discipleship, right? And he's he's drawing on these themes of like, Man, what does it cost to follow Christ? in one sense it costs you everything. The Lord's gonna ask you to do things, to leave mother and brother and sister and father. in another sense, it cost Christ his life.

Allen: Have their eyes utterly fixed on the king. Yeah. And and yeah, wholehearted surrender. Mm-hmm. It cost. Mm-hmm. It's Dietrich Bonhoeffer he talked about the the cost of discipleship, right? And he's he's drawing on these themes of like, Man, what does it cost to follow Christ? in one sense it costs you everything. The Lord's gonna ask you to do things, to leave mother and brother and sister and father. and in another sense, it cost Christ his life. Like it cost Christ's life for us to follow him. There was no way to God if this didn't happen, if he didn't make the way. So yeah, we we owe everything to him. It's like, man, what what would I not give? I think it's it's a humbling, maybe if you're listening, kind of you were mentioning this the other last week at the at the youth camp, is like your prayer often like, Jesus, what am I not surrendering to you? Why am I not willing to give of my life for you? And I think this is what this makes us do some introspection.

Chris: Like it cost Christ his life for us to follow him. There was no way to God if this didn't happen, if he didn't make the way. So yeah, we we owe everything to him. It's like, man, what what would I not give? I think it's it's a humbling, maybe if you're listening, kind of you were mentioning this the other last week at the at the youth camp, is like your prayer often like, Jesus, what am I not surrendering to you? Where am I not w willing to give of my life for you? And I think this is what this makes us do some introspection.

Allen: You'd be like, Jesus, what am I not giving to you? 'Cause you o you deserve everything. You you asked me to leave everything to follow you. What am I not giving to you? It's kinda humbling.

Chris: You'd be like, Jesus, what am I not giving to you? 'Cause you o you deserve everything. You you asked me to leave everything to follow you. What am I not giving to you? It's kinda humbling. Cool section here in Luke. just I love just observing all the different aspects of Jesus' ministry, the flowing in and out of grace and truth, right? He's full of grace and truth. One at one point he's waking up. The daughter, daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, cleansing someone, healing, healing the ruler's daughter, you know.

Allen: Cool section here in Luke. just I love just observing all the different aspects of Jesus' ministry, the flowing in and out of grace and truth, right? He's full of grace and truth. One at one point he's waking up. The daughter, daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, cleansing someone, healing, healing the ruler's daughter, you know. And then in another moment he's he's rebuking the disciples because he knows their hearts and how they're prideful. So it's it's just cool to watch Jesus do ministry. He's constantly flowing in and out of love and grace and rebuke and challenge. So Yeah. It's like, man, I rebuke you because I love you. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Chris: And then in another moment he's he's rebuking the disciples because he knows their hearts and how they're prideful. So it's it's just cool to watch Jesus do ministry. He's constantly flowing in and out of love and grace and rebuke and challenge. So Yeah. It's like, man, I rebuke you 'cause I love you. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Allen: Good. Let's go over to Colossians here and finish up Colossians. I know there was something that you wanted to hit on here with yeah, just something that you were thinking about in in Colossians that really kind of brings out this theme in in the end of Colossians. Which is God's will for life actually. Yeah, the Christian goal, whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians three seventeen.

Chris: Good. Let's go over to Colossians here and finish up Colossians. I know there was something that you wanted to hit on here with yeah, just something that you were thinking about in in Colossians that really kind of brings out this theme in in the end of Colossians, which is God's will for life, actually. Yeah, the Christian goal, whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians three seventeen. And then Colossians 3 23, whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord and not for men. so I was thinking about just convicting of my own life as I was reading this. what is ruling my heart, and what is ruling my motivations, what motivates me? And and we I think sometimes

Allen: And then Colossians 3 23, whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord and not for men. so I was thinking about just convicting of my own life as I was reading this. what is ruling my heart, and what is ruling my motivations, what motivates me? And and we I think sometimes. can just be like, yeah, like none of my motivations are pure. So I'm just gonna stop thinking about my motivations. Because it's like, okay, if I look at my motivations, I can see how my sin is all wrapped up in them all the all the time. Right. And then we can be tempted to like throw our hands up and like stop caring. But it's like, no, we we need to consider our motivations and what's what's driving us. And it should be not the fear of man, not a claim

Chris: can just be like, yeah, like none of my motivations are pure. So I'm just gonna stop thinking about my motivations. Because it's like, okay, if I look at my motivations, I can see how my sin is all wrapped up in them all the all the time. Right. And then we can be tempted to like throw our hands up and like stop caring. But it's like, no, we we need to consider our motivations and what's what's driving us. And it should be not the fear of man, not a claim

Allen: or status or whatever, but it should be that we fear the Lord. Kind of like David, right? So full fully surrendered to the Lord, not not a people pleaser, but just giving yourself over to the worship of the Lord. So I was thinking about that particular convicting in a conversation I had with once again Harper. Me and Harper are constantly having ongoing spiritual conversations. She's your spiritual sword, dude. Yeah, dude. She keeps you sharp, man. It's convicting. but, you know, she sometimes will get sad when I leave to go to work. And I'll be like, Harper.

Chris: or status or whatever, but it should be that we fear the Lord. Kind of like David, right? So full fully surrender to the Lord, not not a people pleaser, but just giving yourself over to the worship of the Lord. So I was thinking about that particular convicting in a conversation I had with once again Harper. Me and Harper are constantly having ongoing spiritual conversations. She's your spiritual sword, dude. Yeah, dude. She keeps you sharp, man. It's convicting. but, you know, she sometimes will get sad when I leave to go to work. And I'll be like, Harper. Like dad has to work because if I didn't work, what would I do? Like what would we do? Like would we have food? Would we have a place to live? Like I dad has to work to pro provide for the family, to care for the family. And that's good. Like that's true. That's biblical. Yeah. Like husbands, fathers work hard. That's in Colossus. Yeah. Yeah. Right there. You know, don't be lazy. but but even higher than that purpose or motivation is like, hey Harper, like

Allen: Like dad has to work. Because if I didn't work, what would I do? Like what would we do? Like would we have food? Would we have a place to live? Like I dad has to work to pro provide for the family, to care for the family. And that's good. Like that's true. That's biblical. Yeah. Like husbands, fathers, work hard. That's provide for your function. Yeah. Yeah. Right there. You know, don't be lazy. but but even higher than that purpose or motivation is like, hey Harper, like

Chris: Dad loves the Lord. And more important than even like providing for our family is I wanna do everything unto the Lord and I wanna work hard, not for anybody else, but for the Lord. And so, yeah, just making it explicit in our speech with other people why we do what we do is for the name of the Lord and for his his name's exaltation. Yeah. Like whatever it is we're doing. Yeah. Like

Allen: Dad loves the Lord. And more important than even like providing for our family is I want to do everything unto the Lord and I want to work hard, not for anybody else, but for the Lord. And so, yeah, just making it explicit in our speech with other people why we do what we do is for the name of the Lord and for His His name's exaltation. Yeah. Like whatever it is we're doing. Yeah. Like Do it well, but also do it well and explicitly say you're doing it well because you wanna do it well for the Lord. That's great. That's great. How would you encourage someone who you know, that's a challenge. Objectively. That's I mean, every single one of us is is reconciling with what you just said. Can can say, Yeah, you know, there's so much I just gotta I gotta do what I gotta do 'cause I gotta do it. Like

Chris: Do it well, but also do it well and explicitly say you're doing it well because you want to do it well for the Lord. That's great. That's great. How would you encourage someone who I don't know, that's a challenge. Objectively. That's I mean, every single one of us is is reconciling with what you just said. Can can say, yeah, you know, there's so much I just got I gotta do what I gotta do because I gotta do it. Like There ain't gonna be food on the table, right? I'm not gonna have money, I'm not gonna have this, right? Like everyone everyone has that felt sense. But how how do we maybe adopt the attitude of man, whatever I do, I'm gonna work unto the Lord. How d how does one cultivate that? How would you encourage someone to that? Verse twenty four. Knowing that from the Lord you will receive your inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Mm. It's just for the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done.

Allen: There ain't gonna be food on the table, right? I'm not gonna have money, I'm not gonna have this, right? Like everyone everyone has that felt sense. But how how do we maybe adopt the attitude of man, whatever I do, I'm gonna work unto the Lord. How d how does one cultivate that? How would you encourage someone to that? Verse twenty four. Knowing that from the Lord you will receive your inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Mm. It's just for the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done.

Chris: And there's no partiality. I it's at the end of the day, like the grounding for like why you should work under the Lord and not for men is because you're gonna stand before the Lord. Mm-hmm. In there in there is the sense of which you will have a reward in heaven. There's a little bit of a mystery here. I don't I don't know, maybe you've read more than me on this, how people have tried to explain this. but just the this little bit of a mystery of a heavenly reward. Christ talks about it right in his Sermon on the Mount.

Allen: And there's no partiality. I mean, it's at the end of the day, like the grounding for like why you should work under the Lord and not for men is because you're gonna stand before the Lord. Mm-hmm. And there in there is the sense of which you will have a reward in heaven. There's a little bit of a mystery here. I don't I don't know, maybe you've read more than me on this, how people have tried to explain this. but just the this little bit of a mystery of a heavenly reward. Christ talks about it right in his Sermon on the Mount.

Chris: Where it's like, do not stay up for yourself treasures on earth where moth and rest destroy, but store up to your store up for yourself treasures in in heaven with neither moth nor rust nor anything destroys. So it's like we will be rewarded for what we do here. Mm-hmm. Yeah, I mean like everything that we do unto ourself or unto other people, like that'll be burned up, that'll be judged. ultimately we'll stand righteous because not of our works, but because of the righteousness of Christ. back to Psalm one thirty, who could stand?

Allen: Where it's like, do not stay up for yourself treasures on earth where moth and rest destroy, but store up to your store up for yourself treasures in in heaven with neither moth nor rust nor anything destroys. So it's like we will be rewarded for what we do here. Mm-hmm. Yeah, I mean like everything that we do unto ourself or unto other people, like that'll be burned up, that'll be judged. ultimately we'll stand righteous because not of our works, but because of the righteousness of Christ. back to Psalm one thirty, who could stand? If the Lord were to count our iniquities. but but yes, like in the Lord and by the enablement of the spirit, like what we do here matters. Yeah. And so yeah. Yeah. It's great. What you do matters. Work heartily unto the Lord with a sold out heart of worship because he loves you, he cares for you, and he desires that from you, right? It's like we we don't

Chris: If the Lord were to count our iniquities. but but yes, like in the Lord and by the enablement of the spirit, like what we do here matters. Yeah. And so yeah. Yeah. It's great. What you do matters. Work heartily unto the Lord with a sold out heart of worship because he loves you, he cares for you, and he desires that from you, right? It's like we we don't We don't operate from a place of like I have to earn God's approval over I love, but or his love. It's we operate from a place of devoted worship unto the Lord because he loves us already. So what about you? What what was convicting in this passage for you? man. I think I think it's a little bit back. It wasn't in this section, but it carries the end of the scene, which is the contrastness as the old self and the new self. It's like put on the new self.

Allen: We don't operate from a place of like I have to earn God's approval over I love, but or his love. It's we operate from a place of devoted worship unto the Lord because He loves us already. So what about you? What what was convicting in this passage for you? man. I think I think it's a little bit back. It wasn't in this section, but it carries the end of the scene, which is the contrastness as the old self and the new self. It's like put on the new self.

Chris: put off the old self, kill these vices, put on these virtues and just constantly thinking about killing sin. It's just like, man, how forefront does that take in in my life? It's like how do I think about killing sin daily? And so probably that just thinking about like what is my what is my weaponry to to kill sin and put sin to death on a daily basis, 'cause sin's lurking at the door.

Allen: put off the old self, kill these vices, put on these virtues and just constantly thinking about killing sin. Which is like, man, how forefront does that take in in my life? It's like how do I think about killing sin daily? And so probably that, just thinking about like what is my what is my weaponry to to kill sin and put sin to death on a daily basis, 'cause sin's lurking at the door. Yeah. It's great. Well, I hope you're encouraged, church. Hope you are continuing on with the Bible reading. We're gonna keep putting these out and that you just press on faithfully, because the Lord delights to meet with his children and and speak to us in in his word. So this has been another episode of the SCC Saver Podcast. Till next time. Can we pray? Do it. Let's pray. Great.

Chris: Yeah. It's great. Well, I hope you're encouraged, church. Hope you are continue on with the Bible reading. We're gonna keep putting these out and that you just press on faithfully, because the Lord delights to meet with his children and and speak to us in in his word. So this has been another episode of the SCC Saver Podcast. Till next time. Can we pray? Do it. Let's pray. Great. Father, we thank you for this podcast. We thank you for our church. We thank you that this is a church that loves your word. And we thank you that even though we can't fully comprehend you, that you reveal yourself to us and you've come down to make yourself known to us. And we pray that as we study your word and delight in your word, that it wouldn't just be information, but that it would help us to love you, to know you, to walk in fellowship with you.

Allen: Father, we thank you for this podcast. We thank you for our church. We thank you that this is a church that loves your word. And we thank you that even though we can't fully comprehend you, that you reveal yourself to us and you've come down to make yourself known to us. And we pray that as we study your word and delight in your word, that it wouldn't just be information, but that it would help us to love you, to know you, to walk in fellowship with you.

Chris: And that your spirit would enable us more and more to live holy lives as living sacrifices pleasing to you in everything that we do, that we would work heartily, not unto men, but unto you. And help our worship to be joyful and full of songs and singing and just praise because of what you've done for us. We want our joy to be found in you, not in our circumstances.

Allen: And that your spirit would enable us more and more to live holy lives as living sacrifices pleasing to you in everything that we do, that we would work heartily, not unto men, but unto you. And help our worship to be joyful and full of songs and singing and just praise because of what you've done for us. We want our joy to be found in you, not in our circumstances. And so help us to worship you and be wholly surrendered and sold out to your worship in your name. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen.

Chris: And so help us to worship you and be wholly surrendered and sold out to your worship in your name. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen.