"Grace: the most transformational word in Scripture...Grace will convince you of your unworthiness without ever making you feel unloved."

A great statement by Paul David Tripp

Iron Sharpeners

"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."
Proverbs 27:17

In recent days I have undergone some much needed sharpening from men of influence in my life. As a man that is prone to dullness, I thought it would be fitting to express sincere thanks for three men in particular that put me back on the cutting edge. Although there are others that have ministered to me in different times and in different ways, God has used these three fellas in instrumental ways as of late. Interestingly enough, all three of these guys are currently serving in pastoral ministry with varied expressions of a similar call.

The first iron sharpener that I will comment on is the one I have known the longest out of the three. By his influence on my life I have been sharpened in matters concerning: godliness, sincerity, and instruction. As a young teenager I looked up to this cowboy preacher, as one who displayed a down-to-earth approach to living out the great truths he loved to proclaim. He and his wife have been involved with a church plant that has evidenced deep-biblical roots, and an increasing level of fruitfulness in gospel ministry.

The second iron sharpener is one that has had a great level of influence on me beginning with my college years. One of the ways that he has sharpened me is by convincing me that the key to understanding the New Testament is unlocking the Old Testament. As he took me through the Old Testament, I began to see more of Jesus in the typology of characters like Moses, and Joseph. In addition, this wise teacher seemed to help refine my passion for the sovereignty of God in such a way that is both worshipful and insightful to others.

The third iron sharpener is a peer that I have got to know over the past year. He has sharpened me in the area of diligence and commitment to finding out the meaning and implications on any given Scriptural text. Although he and I were raised on opposite sides of Canada, we have been brought near by a similar appreciation of the doctrines we love. Our mutual sharpening of one another made a sharp growth curve after travelling down to the Shepherd's Conference together in southern California.

I feel a sense of indebtedness to these men for their indispensable influence. I thank God through Christ for them.

Branding and the Holy Spirit

One of the great privileges of cowboy'n is being asked to rope calves at branding time. Brandings have become a great part of the social aspect of the cattle industry. Neighbours and friends meet to get a job done, talk about the weather, and tell tales of their spring calving experiences. Although some city slickers might argue that branding is all fun for the cowboy; yet all trauma for the calves, it is an important task that guarantees calf ownership come roundup in the fall.

I suppose branding was more of a necessity at the turn of the century when Allflex tags were not yet available. Besides, every cattle producer knows that the likelyhood of tags being ripped out is not an impossibility. In addition, if a rustler did happen to steal some calves, a tag could be easily cut out and replaced. There is no lying with the good old-fashioned branding iron. The iron leaves a permanent imprint that stays with the animal its entire life.

As I got to thinking about branding, I began to reflect upon a key privilege of all those who have responded in faith to the unsurpassable grace of God through Jesus Christ. In the book of Ephesians (which happens to be one of my favorite Pauline letters) the apostle praises God for the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in salvation.

The blessing of the Father's free and sovereign grace in choosing us before the foundation of the world is ours according to the purpose of his will (Eph. 1:3-6). Furthermore, we have redemption through the blood of Christ, the forgiveness of tresspasses according to the riches of his grace (Eph. 1:6-12). Lastly, but not least of these is the spiritual blessing of being sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13-14). Of this blessing of the Holy Spirit we turn our attention.

In the same way cattle ranchers brand their cattle, God through Christ sets His seal of ownership on all those who believe in Christ in a personal and saving way. This seal of ownership is the Holy Spirit. He is the guarantee of our inheritance. In theological terms, the seal of the Holy Spirit is an inward mark of God's ownership of His people. In cattlemen's terms the brand of the Holy Spirt guarantees that God has vested interest in that critter.

What is more, as the guarantee of our inheritance, the Spirit of God is the down payment of our full and complete redemption. That is, the foretaste of eternal joy in God's presence! This is a glorious blessing for those who hang their hat on Christ alone for full and complete salvation. The savior's of our time, things like money, prestige, and possessions, seal our fate as we flounder around from one temporary pleasure to the next. Our great Savior, Jesus Christ, is the grounds of being branded, as it were, by the Spirit of God. This is a most excellent privilege for the believer. While branding is an outward imprint of temporary ownership, the Spirit's seal is an inward reality of eternal ownership to God the Father through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All this is said to be, "to the praise of His glory." Glorifying God is our appropriate response to all the spriritual blessing that are ours!