By Howard Eyrich
Editor’s Note: Today Dr. Howard Eyrich reminds us of the sweet privilege to be able to pray to our Savior for mercy and grace; you will be encouraged in your walk with Christ. You’ll enjoy this short blog and his ministry of encouragement to you today.
Our Energy and the Contingencies of C-19
In Kevin Carson’s blog titled Fight the Good Fight on April, 27 he wrote that he was impressed with the energy we are expected to exert in the pursuit of godliness. I love reading the Old Testament. Have often commented to my students that the Old Testament gives us flesh and blood illustrations of many New Testament principles and New Testament instructions give us much insight into the Old Testament narratives. Exodus 30-33 is one of those passages where this inter-testament interplay works both ways.
Energy of God and Expected Energy of Man
Exodus 30-31 records the God’s monologue with Moses. It culminates in this: “And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.” This is followed immediately by the historic crafting of the golden calf by Aaron. All of this, and much more, followed an amazing transaction in Exodus 19:8: “And all the people answered together, and said, ‘All that the Lord hath spoken we will do…’”
In this latter part of God’s detailed blueprint for life in the new nation, we find some amazing foreshadows of New Testament revelation that, when viewed through the lens of New Testament revelation, provide perspective. This is the people who watched God unleash the ten plagues on the Egyptians. These are the people who watched God open the sea with walls of water. This is the people that watched the wind thoroughly blow the riverbed dry. This is the people who watched the Egyptian army dissolve in defeat as the walls of water pour over them. Yet, these are the people who complained for lack of food and water like they had in Egypt, rather than seeking God for mercy and supply. And, they called for a golden man-made god.
Old and New Testament Grace
Following the golden calf incident, we find an amazing prayer as Moses petitions God for mercy based upon God’s grace already shown to him. God responds (Exodus 33:17) with these words: “I will do this thing also that you have spoken: for you have found grace in my sight, and I know you by name.”
Living by Grace Under Stress
Christian friends, if you know Jesus you are known by name. You have experienced the grace of God. Your Savior has bid you, as a child of God, to pray. You and I are sinners saved by grace, but we have known the grace of God. Therefore, we can pray for mercy whether we have the virus, or lost employment, or whatever our contingency in this current national crisis not because we deserve that our contingency be removed, but because we have experienced His grace we can pray that God will see us through.
We have an open door to the throne of grace—for ourselves, our families, our communities, our nation and the church of Jesus Christ.
Dr. Howard is married to Pam, has two adult children, and eight grandchildren. He currently teaches, is an elder, and serves as a board member of the International Association of Biblical Counselors and a fellow in the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors. He has served multiple congregations as a church planter, senior pastor, and elder. He has authored multiple books and articles. Over the years, he served working on the staff of the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation as Counselor and Director of Curriculum Development, the first Executive Director of then the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (now ACBC), and has led multiple training programs in seminaries and churches. He currently serves as Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program in Biblical Counseling at Birmingham Theological Seminary.
In addition, God has allowed me to be his friend.
Image Credit Luis Machado
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