I Will....

"And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 

I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, 

for their own good and the good of their children after them. 

I will make with them an everlasting covenant, 

that I will not turn away from doing good to them.

And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.

I will rejoice in doing them good, 

and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul."

Jeremiah 32: 38-41

I saw this verse on Scotty Smith's blog this morning and was simply amazed. God's love for us is almost unbelievable. God chooses to make us his people. He lovingly changes our hearts, so that we can walk in his ways. He unconditionally binds himself to us in a covenant, to which he is unwavering in his commitment. He constantly is good to us. He keeps us from turning to other gods. Further, God DELIGHTS to do all of this for us! It is his good pleasure to bestow love upon his children. And, he loves us with all of his heart and soul. Now, that is simply amazing. I need some more of that!

Trusting God in the Dark

I needed this today.

From Dane Ortlund:

'Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love . . .'
--Genesis 22:2

The command to offer up the son of the promise, with whom the whole future lies, seems the complete contradiction of the Purpose of God on which Abraham has set his faith.

Abraham in the story is called by God to make a supreme sacrifice, an act of complete and entire worship, trusting God in the dark, committing everything to him: 'not my will but thine be done.' While God did not in the end demand this sacrifice to be made, that which he did demand was the entire willingness to make the offering.

Such is the meaning of the story as the writer tells it; and because this and nothing less is the true and original meaning therefore we, in interpreting it, may and must look onward to the self-giving of our LORD, in whose case no offering of a substitute was possible. Hence we may and must find the finalanswer to Isaac's question 'Where is the lamb for a burnt-offering?' and Abraham's reply 'God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son' (22:7-8) in the words of John 1:29, 'Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.'

--Gabriel Hebert, The Old Testament From Within (Oxford University Press, 1962), 34

Why Do We Need the Old Testament?

"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets,

he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself."

Luke 24:27

Why do we need the Old Testament? Because it is how we are to understand and interpret Jesus. Jesus himself states that all the OT is about him. The OT tells us of our need for a Savior and God's covenant promise to provide a savior. Therefore, we can't understand who Jesus is without understanding who he claimed to be. He claimed to be God's promised Messiah. 

The Lord Wins

Came across this verse in the story of Israel crossing the Red Sea.

Exodus 14:14

"The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."

Preceding it, Moses says to Israel in verse 13, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today..."

Proceeding it, the Lord says to Moses in verse 17b-18, "And I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen."

We know the plot.

The chapter ends in verse 31, "Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord..."

....

What jumps off the page is the Lord's perfect nature to make a promise, and get it done. No questions, no plan B's. He chooses to rescue Israel. He declares his will to do so. And accomplishes the task.

Also, what we see in this story like so many others in scripture, is the Lord's characteristic purpose in PROCLAIMING HIS NAME and REDEEMING HIS PEOPLE.

What a mighty God we serve. What an incredible confidence we have in His power not only to act for us, but then bring us to Himself.

The New Testament's Multi-Dimensional Fulfillment of the Old

This was too good not to re-post

HT: Dane Ortlund

Seems to me that while it need not be the main point of every NT book, nevertheless every NT book in some way fulfills the hope of the OT, though each from its own perspective. One former prof of mine used to say that the NT is a 27-volume commentary on the OT. Truth to that.

Matthew fulfills the OT’s hope for a Messiah, a Christ, an anointed son of David who would save God’s people (1:21).

Mark fulfills the OT’s hope for a coming Son of God who would inaugurate God’s kingdom (1:1, 14–15).

Luke fulfills the OT’s longing for God to come and set right the world’s injustices—reversing rich and poor, oppressors and oppressed, satisfied and hungry, outsider and insider (19:10).

John fulfills the OT’s longing for the tabernacle/temple to do decisively what it was always meant to do—unite God and man in restored fellowship (1:14; 2:21; 14:6).

Acts fulfills the OT by bringing God’s mercy to the nations (1:8; 9:15).

Romans fulfills the OT by showing the supreme manifestation of the righteousness of God, in Jesus, bringing resolution to the constant OT tension between God’s justice and his mercy (1:17; 3:21–26).

1 Corinthians fulfills the OT by showing, in Christ, the climactic way in which God destroys the wisdom of the wise (1:19).

2 Corinthians fulfills the OT’s repeated pattern of strength through weakness (12:9–10), supremely in Christ (13:4), in whom all the promises of God are clinched (1:20).

Galatians fulfills the OT by showing that Jesus’ atoning work (3:13) at just the right time (4:4–5) is the reason that the real children of Abraham are those who are of faith (3:7–9).

Ephesians fulfills the OT by revealing the “mystery” long hidden—that Christ, by virtue of his death and resurrection, unites Jews and Gentiles in one renewed people of God (3:5–6).

Philippians fulfills the OT by showing that the church is the real circumcision (3:2–3).

Colossians fulfills the OT by showing that another Adam, likewise the image of God (1:15), has fulfilled the creation mandate of Genesis 1:28 to bear fruit and increase, so that we who are united to this second Adam can now do what the first Adam failed to do—bearing fruit and multiplying (1:10).

1 and 2 Thessalonians fulfill the OT’s hope of judgment on God’s enemies by showing that Jesus received this judgment, so that God’s punitive judgment, which is surely coming, now will fall only on those who reject Jesus (1 Thess 5:1–10; 2 Thess 1:5–12).

1 and 2 Timothy fulfill the OT by showing that the true warfare of God’s people is not against the Amalekites and Amorites and others but against sin and Satan (1 Tim 1:18; 6:12; 2 Tim 2:3–4), a war that cannot be lost because of the Savior anticipated in the OT (2 Tim 3:15).

Titus fulfills the OT’s underachieved efforts to redeem a people for God who are his own possession, zealous for good works (2:11–14).

Philemon fulfills the OT’s insistence that love be from the heart (v. 14).

Hebrews fulfills the OT’s longing for a perfect priest and final sacrifice to usher in the new covenant (8:1–13).

James fulfills the OT’s call for obedience to the law by showing that such obedience is fulfilled in one thing—active love (1:12; 2:8–26).

1 and 2 Peter fulfill the OT’s calling to Israel to be a royal priesthood and a holy nation (1 Pet 1:4–12)—a corporate fulfillment that happens only because of another fulfillment that is not only corporate but also individual, this time of Isaiah 52–53 (1 Pet 2:22–25).

1, 2, and 3 John fulfill the OT by showing that through Christ we are once more, like Adam, sons of God, and now able to fulfill the OT law through love (1 John 3:1 and passim).

Jude fulfills the exodus in the OT by showing that ultimately is was Jesus who provided this rescue (Jude 5; cf. 1 Cor 10:4).

Revelation fulfills the OT by showing that Jesus has conquered our great enemy, death, which was introduced in Eden (Rev 1:18; 21:4).

Caution About Preaching Christ In All the Scriptures

A post from Justin Taylor's blog.

A helpful TGC Asks with answers from Tim Keller, Don Carson, and David Murray to the question, “How would you caution teachers intent on preaching Christ in the Old Testament?”

Here is Keller’s answer:

1. Don’t “get to Christ” so soon in the sermon that you don’t unfold the meaning and application of the text to the original hearers. If you “jump to Christ” too soon that often means you inspire people but you don’t give them concrete application for how they are supposed to live.

2. Don’t “get to Christ” so late in the sermon that he seems like an add-on, a mere devotional appendix. If you wait too long to get to Christ listeners won’t see how Jesus’ work is crucial if the listeners are going to obey or heed the text.

3. Don’t get to Christ artificially. This is a big subject of course, but I believe two of the best ways are (a) by identifying in your text one of the many inner-canonical themes that all climax in Christ (Don Carson’s language), and (b) identifying in your text some “Fallen Condition Focus,” some lack in humanity that only Christ can fill (Bryan Chapell’s language).

The Song of a Christian

"Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;

shout, O Israel!

Rejoice and exult with all your heart, 

O daughter of Jerusalem!

The LORD has taken away the judgements against you;

he has cleared away your enemies.

The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;

you shall never again fear evil"

Zephaniah 3:14-15

Is this your song? Is this your life? The question that the Bible beckons every man and woman, is, 'Have you experienced this forgiveness and restoration? Where your life was once ruled by sin, you were once separated from God and you rightly deserved His judgment, but now, through Christ you have been forgiven. Your life is now defined by knowing, worshipping and glorifying God. Your life is defined by God's presence. 

If your life isn't defined by the kind of praise Zephaniah describes in verse 14, (Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with ALL your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!) it is because you haven't experienced the truth of verse 15. We all deserve God's judgement. On an individual level we are guilty. On a corporate level we are guilty. In this passage, the prophet Zephaniah is  fortelling of a time when Israel will be restored. Though they deserve God's wrath, God has a plan to redeem sinners. 

The judgement we deserve is God's wrath. We deserve death. Here is the good news. Throughout the history of man, God had been pleading with man to turn back to him. Yet, in our stubbornness and wickedness, we always went our own way. Our efforts were never enough to make things right. And we continued in our way. But God wasn't done with us. He promised that He himself would make a way for us to know Him, and enjoy Him, and be redeemed from sin once and for all. The promise was fulfilled in His Son Jesus. The Father sent the Son to take upon himself the judgement we deserve. We all alike, are by nature sinful, judgement deserving creatures. Yet, God is so loving and gracious, He left His throne in heaven, and took the punishment upon himself that we rightly deserved. This was out of sheer grace. God can take away the judgement reserved for us, because Jesus, at the cross, absorbed the judgement. 

Now, to those who believe in Jesus, there is no more condemnation. This is reason to praise. This is reason to 'rejoice and exult with all your heart'. 

Scripture is Christ-Centered

"The bodily resurrection of Christ not only signifies God's victory over sin and death but also declares the nature of that victory. It is total, comprehensive; so comprehensive that it claims that history is moving towards nothing less than a fully restored and glorified universe. Those who are in Christ, along with the entirety of creation, will receive his resurrection life upon his appearing.

This means that Christ is the center of the biblical story. Through out its length, Scripture has a Christ-centered thrust: he will come! The Bible tells the redemptive story of the promised Messiah who came to redeem. That thrust must define our understanding of the nature of Scripture and the way we read it. As we look back to the earlier chapters in the story, we must see that the coming of the covenant promise to Adam that God will crush the power of the evil one (Genesis 3:15). The coming of the Messiah forms the foundation for God's covenant promise with Noah that creation will be sustained for all time (Genesis 8:22). The coming of the energizes God's covenant promise to Abraham that he and his posterity will be a blessing to all nations (Genesis 12:3). And the coming of the Messiah burns in the covenant promise to the prophets that God will write his law on the hearts of his people and will give them the gift of the Holy Spirit (Jeremiah 31:31-34). In the resurrection of Christ, God has begun to make good on his promise....Because God's plan of salvation is fulfilled in Christ, Jesus is the leading player, the protagonist of the biblical drama of redemption."

From Mike William's Far as the Curse is Found

It is about God's Glory

Moses’ Intercession (Exodus 33:12-23 ESV)

Moses said to the LORD, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”

And the LORD said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” And the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”

....

This passage rings of how God's glory defines his purposes. Something I am learning is that God is about one true end, His Glory. He created for his glory, He redeemed us for his glory. The best part about it, is that he designed us and all of our thirsts to be completely satisfied by His Glory. We were created and redeemed for that to be our true reality.

Genesis 4:1-16 PART 2

One of the main purposes of Genesis 4:1-16 is that is develops the conceptual reality of sin. Up to this point in the book of Genesis, the Israelites have learned that God is the universal creator of everything and everyone. Further, God created Adam and Eve as His image bearers, and for the specific purpose of cultivating His good creation. They are to be fruitful, multiply, have dominion over God's creation. However, in Genesis 3, we all know how that goes. Adam and Eve wanted to be their own God and ate the forbidden fruit. They are kicked out of the Garden of Eden. The account of Adam and Eve depicts the fall of mankind. However, up to the story of Cain and Abel, the fall is seen as only really effecting Adam and Eve. The story of Cain and Abel reiterates the universality and depth of the fall.

Let's take a look at the first family in human history. We've got Adam and Eve, who we already know blew it. Then they have two sons (another clear sign of God's grace). The first son, Cain, murders his younger brother Abel out of jealousness and anger. As a result, Cain is banished as a wandering fugitive. Talk about a broken home. Of Adam and Eve's first children, one is dead and the other one is a criminal banished from their land. But what does this say about sin?

First, it uncovers the universality of sin. Sin can no longer be seen as just a bad decision Adam and Eve made. Rather, it has universally spread to everyone. It effects the entire community, as seen with the first family. Not only does it effect everyone, but it effects everything. In Genesis 3, God mentions the effects that Adam's fall has on our relation with nature. In Genesis 4, He highlights it again stating, "Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground......When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you" (Genesis 4:11-12). As seen with the first family, sin effects everyone and everything.

This story also uncovers the depth of the sin problem. Think about it. Cain straight up murders his younger brother. Worse, it was premeditated. He led Abel out to the field for the specific purpose of homocide. Even before that, we sin the depth of Cain's wicked heart in his sacrifice to God. We know that Cain's offering was not accepted by God. The text doesn't exactly say why, but it is most likely that it had to do with his heart. Cain did not offer his sacrifice in the right spirit. He held something back. He wanted something of what God rightly deserved (hmmm sounds a lot like his dad). Plunging further into sin, Cain has the audacity to lie directly to God about his actions. There are many other places in this story where the widespread problem of sin is seen. Another quick example, when Eve gives birth to Cain, she responds by saying, "I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord." Now, this doesn't seem so bad. But, the language used here signifies that Eve is implying that she played an equal part in bringing forth her son. In essence, she is saying that she created a man......with God's help. She wants a 50/50 split on credit for this one.

Moving on, What does this story tell the Israelites? Why would Moses want the Israelites to know the true universality and depth of sin. I think because he wanted the exodus community to know that true religion must be redemptive. They are all effected by the curse. They are all sinful. Because of this, they need redemption, a redemption that only comes from God. The only response to this depth of sin is trusting in their Creator and the covenant He has made with them.

After Cain's disregarded sacrifice, God challenges Cain to not let sin master him. That didn't go so well. But, Moses is telling this story that Israel might not let sin master it. They are all sinners, yes. Letting sin master them would be them turning from God. However, mastering sin would look like them trusting in God and His covenant. Moses is urging the Israelites to recognize their sin, and to trust in God.

Despite all the disobedience, God remains faithful to His purpose and His people. When Cain cries out that his punishment is too much for him to bear, God mercifully puts a mark of protection on Cain's life. Also, as we'll see in next post, God graciously provides Adam and Eve with another son to replace Abel. If anything, this story shows God's relentless pursuit of sinners. His desire is not for us to perish, but to live in our intended purpose, which is fellowship with Him. He desires for us to know Him and to turn to Him. Despite our disobedience, God is faithful.

Genesis 4:1-16 PART 1

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten [1] a man with the help of theLord.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? [2] And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for [3] you, but you must rule over it.”

8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. [4] And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?” 10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to theLord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. [5] 14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 Then theLord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. 16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, [6] east of Eden.

Genesis 4:1-16

Over the past week, I've had the pleasure of studying this passage as part of a research paper for my covenant theology class. I am thankful for this opportunity because through it, I am starting to realize how amazing God's Word is in its complete coherence and inexhaustibility. In this post, I want to highlight some summarizing thoughts on the passage. I am going to start by talking about the context of the passage. Next, I want to focus on a few of the main purposes behind the passage. Lastly, I want to show how it relates to Christ.

CONTEXT:

In order to rightly understand any passage of Scripture, it is imperative to have a solid grasp on the context in which it was written. A few helpful questions to uncover a texts proper context include, 'who wrote it' 'who was it written to' 'why did they write it'. In other words, what is the situation.

Briefly, Genesis was written by Moses. It was written after the Israelites had fled Egypt. They have crossed the Red Sea and were now wandering in the wilderness. It was then that Moses wrote the book of Genesis. Therefore, the original audience of this book would have been the exodus community. To read this passage correctly, we must interpret it through this contextual lens. Moses is writing to the exodus community of Israel.

Moreover, why would Moses write this book. Wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites are left with several questions. What is God's purpose in this? Who are we as a nation? Who is YHWH? What is next? Can we trust this God? Moses is recalling to the Israelites the story of their origin. He is retelling them their history in order to highlight the nature of their God and the covenant that He has made with them. By recalling their history, he is making sense of the Israelites present situation. In doing this, Moses is challenging the exodus community to respond in faith to what God has done. Moses is reminding the Israelites of who they are, where the came from and what God has promised them.

In creation, God is reminding the Israelites that He is the sovereign creator, ruler of all things. More so, it reminds the Israelites the purpose as God's creatures; to have dominion over the earth and to bless creation as God's treasured people. In the fall, the exodus community is made aware of their deep-rooted problem of sin. In the flood, the Israelites see God's judgment on sin, but also His desire to restore all things to their intended, original, good purpose. In the calling of Abraham, the Israelites are reminded of their election as God's chosen people, beloved for His sake.

So, this leaves us at the story of Cain and Abel. What is this stories purpose in the context of the exodus community? Generally, the book is written that the exodus community would trust in God and be faithful to the covenant. This purpose is uncovered in two ways. First, the book shows the deep-seeded problem of sin. Also, the story shows God's unwavering commitment to the promised Seed. I will elaborate on these two ideas in a later post.

What Role Does the Law Have in Preaching?

An excellent article on Justin Taylor's blog about the law and preaching.

What Role Does the Law Have in Preaching?

Blessing for Obedience

"If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them,⁴ then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. ⁵ Your threshing shall last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall last to the time for sowing. And you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely.⁶ I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. And I will remove harmful beasts from the land, and the sword shall not go through your land. ⁷You shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. ⁸ Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand, and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. ⁹ I will turn to you and make you fruitful and multiply you and will confirm my covenant with you. ¹⁰You shall eat old store long kept, and you shall clear out the old to make way for the new. ¹¹ I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. ¹² And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. ¹³ I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect."

Leviticus 26: 3-13

The Bible, specifically the Old Testament is filled with countless promises similar to the one above. God promises blessing if Israel is obedient to Him. If they will follow His commands, He will bless them. Moreover, the Old Testament is filled with instances where Israel is in fact disobedient to His commands, and in turn, God punishes them. This is a reoccurring pattern. God acts graciously to Israel and calls them to obedience, for a little while they are obedient and experience God's blessing, but then turn away from God and His immediate favor is removed, and repeat. So how does the story end.....

In God's steadfast love, God provides a way for Israel. Jesus comes to earth and lives the perfect life of obedience that Israel never could. He completely fulfills the law, and in doing so possesses perfect 'spiritual blessing'. Furthermore, God no longer gives his blessing through obedience. Rather, His people are blessed through faith Christ. We receive the blessings based on what Christ accomplished. Our perfect spiritual blessing hinges on the perfect obedience of another. This passage in Ephesians exults in a few of the blessings we have in Christ, mainly, adoption, being predestined, being lavished with grace, redemption from our temptations and an inheritance.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, ⁴ even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love ⁵ he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, ⁸which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight ⁹ making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ ¹⁰as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."

Ephesians 1: 3-10

Heart Surgery

Deuteronomy 30: 6 "And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live."

Ezekiel 36: 26-27a "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you.."

Jeremiah 31: 33 "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

....

My older brother, Jason, led me to these passages in scripture where God promises to perform spiritual heart surgery on His people. I love the illustration of God acting as our physician. We are utterly helpless, alone in our ill state. However, He has diagnosed our illness, and given us the cure in Himself, through his son Jesus Christ. How wonderful it is that out of God's love, He pursued us, claimed us as his own, sent His Son to die for us, and then gave us His Spirit to sanctify us daily, and reset the beat of our hearts to His Word, His Will and His Gospel.