James 1:2-5 (HCSB), "Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him."
A friend of mine once described James as Christianity 101. A lesson in the basics of Christianity. With that in mind, where does he start? Expect trials and ask for wisdom. Matthew Henry wrote, "We should not pray so much for the removal of affliction, as for wisdom to make a right use of it. And who does not want wisdom to guide him under trials, both in regulating his own spirit, and in managing his affairs?"
God promises that if we ask for wisdom, he will give it generously. James goes on to say that we must ask "in faith without doubting". This is true in all parts of our Christian walk. Paul wrote in Philippians 4:19 (HCSB), "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
Take Refuge, God is our provider. He is always waiting for us to seek His help.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Hebrews 13 - Yesterday, Today and Forever
Hebrews 13:8 (HCSB), "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."
What a way to summarize the final entry for Hebrews. Jesus, our high priest, is, was and always will be our savior. He is with us, in us, surrounding us and enabling us. He wants to show His love to us and through us to a dieing world. It is all about our relationship with Christ. Our faith in God enables Him to bless us. Our acceptance of Christ as our savior enables Him to intercede on our behalf before the Father. And that's the way it will always be until we are in Heaven with Him.
Matthew Henry writes, "And though their ministers were some dead, others dying, yet the great Head and High Priest of the church, the Bishop of their souls, ever lives, and is ever the same. Christ is the same in the Old Testament day. as in the gospel day, and will be so to his people for ever, equally merciful, powerful, and all-sufficient. Still he fills the hungry, encourages the trembling, and welcomes repenting sinners: still he rejects the proud and self-righteous, abhors mere profession, and teaches all whom he saves, to love righteousness, and to hate iniquity." So much insight for such a small passage, WOW!
Take Refuge -- the more you get to know Christ, the more you will find that He is always the same. Always faithful. Always loving. Always available. You just have to call on Him and He will be there for you.
What a way to summarize the final entry for Hebrews. Jesus, our high priest, is, was and always will be our savior. He is with us, in us, surrounding us and enabling us. He wants to show His love to us and through us to a dieing world. It is all about our relationship with Christ. Our faith in God enables Him to bless us. Our acceptance of Christ as our savior enables Him to intercede on our behalf before the Father. And that's the way it will always be until we are in Heaven with Him.
Matthew Henry writes, "And though their ministers were some dead, others dying, yet the great Head and High Priest of the church, the Bishop of their souls, ever lives, and is ever the same. Christ is the same in the Old Testament day. as in the gospel day, and will be so to his people for ever, equally merciful, powerful, and all-sufficient. Still he fills the hungry, encourages the trembling, and welcomes repenting sinners: still he rejects the proud and self-righteous, abhors mere profession, and teaches all whom he saves, to love righteousness, and to hate iniquity." So much insight for such a small passage, WOW!
Take Refuge -- the more you get to know Christ, the more you will find that He is always the same. Always faithful. Always loving. Always available. You just have to call on Him and He will be there for you.
Hebrews 12 - The Race
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV), "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
This was written by my son and said so well that I just had to repeat it here to share with you.
"Runners look towards and think about only one thing, the end which gives them victory. With victory comes a great prize. We as Christians are promised the greatest prize imaginable, eternity with Christ in Glory. How then do we allow ourselves to forget so quickly about the race set before us? How then do we so quickly forget about the prize that awaits?
Horses used to pull carriages are given a set of blinders so that they don't get destracted by what is to their left or right. Do we then not have a set of blinders that keep us fully focused on Christ? Well? The answer is yes. We just often "forget" (and I use that term loosely) them. We are truely and easily entaingled by the things that are headed for the junk yard.
Paul talks about how Christ suffered the cross willing because of the JOY that He would recieve having us in Heaven. Beaten, mocked, denied, and stripped of his clothing, willing;y took on the sin of man. And with perseveance ran the race that God set before Him, knowing full well that the end, here on earth, was being crucified on a cross. The most dishororing way to die, and yet, He did it willingly and took GREAT joy in the prize that He does not yet have. Why then can we not even for a moment stay focused on Him and take Joy in the prize that is yet to come?"
Take Refuge my friend. A race run well results in the ultimate prize - eternity with Christ.
This was written by my son and said so well that I just had to repeat it here to share with you.
"Runners look towards and think about only one thing, the end which gives them victory. With victory comes a great prize. We as Christians are promised the greatest prize imaginable, eternity with Christ in Glory. How then do we allow ourselves to forget so quickly about the race set before us? How then do we so quickly forget about the prize that awaits?
Horses used to pull carriages are given a set of blinders so that they don't get destracted by what is to their left or right. Do we then not have a set of blinders that keep us fully focused on Christ? Well? The answer is yes. We just often "forget" (and I use that term loosely) them. We are truely and easily entaingled by the things that are headed for the junk yard.
Paul talks about how Christ suffered the cross willing because of the JOY that He would recieve having us in Heaven. Beaten, mocked, denied, and stripped of his clothing, willing;y took on the sin of man. And with perseveance ran the race that God set before Him, knowing full well that the end, here on earth, was being crucified on a cross. The most dishororing way to die, and yet, He did it willingly and took GREAT joy in the prize that He does not yet have. Why then can we not even for a moment stay focused on Him and take Joy in the prize that is yet to come?"
Take Refuge my friend. A race run well results in the ultimate prize - eternity with Christ.
Hebrews 11 - By Faith
Hebrews 11 is one of the most inspiring passages in the Bible. It is often referred to as the Hall of Faith. Here is a list of many who had faith in God and were blessed as a result of their faith. They showed their faith in many forms; Abraham trusted God's covenant and fathered a nation, others were great warriors, others just pleased God like Enoch. All knew that God was their provider and they had faith in Him. How does this work? The answer lies in verse 6, "Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him." (HCSB).
Without faith we cannot please God. More importantly, we must believe that He exists and that He cares. God loves us and wants the best for us at all times. We just have to trust Him and believe that His way is the best way for us.
As I work through Hebrews (only 2 more chapters to go), these blogs start to sound like a broken record. God loves us... Christ sacrificed for us... We can trust Him... But, it is all true and illustrated in so many ways throughout this book. Now in chapter 11, we get to see examples of those who believed it with all their heart and what God did for them and through them. God wants us to have faith in Him so that He can use us as well.
Take Refuge that by faith, we can please God and he can use us.
Without faith we cannot please God. More importantly, we must believe that He exists and that He cares. God loves us and wants the best for us at all times. We just have to trust Him and believe that His way is the best way for us.
As I work through Hebrews (only 2 more chapters to go), these blogs start to sound like a broken record. God loves us... Christ sacrificed for us... We can trust Him... But, it is all true and illustrated in so many ways throughout this book. Now in chapter 11, we get to see examples of those who believed it with all their heart and what God did for them and through them. God wants us to have faith in Him so that He can use us as well.
Take Refuge that by faith, we can please God and he can use us.
Hebrews 10 - Let's Do It
Hebrews 10:22-23 (The Message), "So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word."
Hebrews 10:22-23 (HCSB), "let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled [clean] from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."
I really like the way The Message presents this passage, "So, let's do it..."
When my second son was 2, he and his older brother received a nerf baskeball goal for Christmas. My oldest son, 3 at the time, didn't have any problem making baskets, but the 2-year old just couldn't do it. Finally, as we were cleaning up after lunch, we looked into the living room to see the 2-year-old push the goal next to the sofa. He then picked up the nerf basketball and put it on the sofa. He climbed up on the sofa, picked up the ball and walked over to the goal. Now looking down on the goal he shoved the ball through the net and said, "I can do it!"
We can do it too. We have a clena conscience provided by the purification of a loving savior. All we have to do is "hold on to the confession of hope without wavering." Christ promised that he would be with us always. That His sacrifice was enough. And, as our high priest, He is faithful to keep His word to us.
Take Refuge that we can go forth "full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out." God is with us, Christ is interceeding for us, we are loved and we can do it!
Hebrews 10:22-23 (HCSB), "let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled [clean] from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."
I really like the way The Message presents this passage, "So, let's do it..."
When my second son was 2, he and his older brother received a nerf baskeball goal for Christmas. My oldest son, 3 at the time, didn't have any problem making baskets, but the 2-year old just couldn't do it. Finally, as we were cleaning up after lunch, we looked into the living room to see the 2-year-old push the goal next to the sofa. He then picked up the nerf basketball and put it on the sofa. He climbed up on the sofa, picked up the ball and walked over to the goal. Now looking down on the goal he shoved the ball through the net and said, "I can do it!"
We can do it too. We have a clena conscience provided by the purification of a loving savior. All we have to do is "hold on to the confession of hope without wavering." Christ promised that he would be with us always. That His sacrifice was enough. And, as our high priest, He is faithful to keep His word to us.
Take Refuge that we can go forth "full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out." God is with us, Christ is interceeding for us, we are loved and we can do it!
Hebrews 9 - By His Blood
Hebrews 9:12-14 "He entered the holy of holies once for all, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God?"
Once again, we are reminded that Christ gave himself for us. His blood cleanses our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. As Matthew Henry writes, "The depth of the mystery of the sacrifice of Christ, we cannot dive into, the height we cannot comprehend. We cannot search out the greatness of it, or the wisdom, the love, the grace that is in it. But in considering the sacrifice of Christ, faith finds life, food, and refreshment."
We can find solace and rest knowing that Christ satisfied the price for our sins once and for all. He made a way for us that we could never do on our own. The sacrifices of the old covenant purified the flesh, but Christ's blood purifies the soul.
Take Refuge in the blood of Christ -- the sacrifice that was required to cover our sins.
Once again, we are reminded that Christ gave himself for us. His blood cleanses our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. As Matthew Henry writes, "The depth of the mystery of the sacrifice of Christ, we cannot dive into, the height we cannot comprehend. We cannot search out the greatness of it, or the wisdom, the love, the grace that is in it. But in considering the sacrifice of Christ, faith finds life, food, and refreshment."
We can find solace and rest knowing that Christ satisfied the price for our sins once and for all. He made a way for us that we could never do on our own. The sacrifices of the old covenant purified the flesh, but Christ's blood purifies the soul.
Take Refuge in the blood of Christ -- the sacrifice that was required to cover our sins.
Hebrews 8 - I Will Be Their God
Hebrews 8:10 (HCSB), "'But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,' says the Lord: 'I will put My laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.'"
'"
The author of Hebrews here refers to the covenant that God made with Abraham in Genesis 17:7-8 and reaffirmed to the nation in Zechariah 8:8. Although this covenant is addressed to the "house of Israel", each of us who have accepted Christ as our saviour are also included when God says "My people." We are heirs with Christ and as such, God also covenants with us that He will be our God and we will be His people.
It's like a father who introduces his child to someone for the first time and says, "this is my child". There is a sense of belonging to be "God's people." Likewise, there is also implied a sense of responsibility when God says, "I will be their God." God is that father -- ready and willing to introduce his child and proudly proclaim, "this is my child".
Additionally, God promises to put His laws on our minds and on our hearts. As it says in The Message, "This new plan I'm making with Israel isn't going to be written on paper, isn't going to be chiseled in stone; This time I'm writing out the plan in them, carving it on the lining of their hearts. I'll be their God, they'll be my people." God loves us so much and cares for us so much that He wants us to know him intimately with our innermost being. Knowing in our mind and trusting in our heart that He is there for us no matter what.
Take Refuge. God has made His claim over you and stand ready to be your God.
'"
The author of Hebrews here refers to the covenant that God made with Abraham in Genesis 17:7-8 and reaffirmed to the nation in Zechariah 8:8. Although this covenant is addressed to the "house of Israel", each of us who have accepted Christ as our saviour are also included when God says "My people." We are heirs with Christ and as such, God also covenants with us that He will be our God and we will be His people.
It's like a father who introduces his child to someone for the first time and says, "this is my child". There is a sense of belonging to be "God's people." Likewise, there is also implied a sense of responsibility when God says, "I will be their God." God is that father -- ready and willing to introduce his child and proudly proclaim, "this is my child".
Additionally, God promises to put His laws on our minds and on our hearts. As it says in The Message, "This new plan I'm making with Israel isn't going to be written on paper, isn't going to be chiseled in stone; This time I'm writing out the plan in them, carving it on the lining of their hearts. I'll be their God, they'll be my people." God loves us so much and cares for us so much that He wants us to know him intimately with our innermost being. Knowing in our mind and trusting in our heart that He is there for us no matter what.
Take Refuge. God has made His claim over you and stand ready to be your God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)