“By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did.” Hebrews 11:4
Examples are usually useful—or at least they were in math class. Verbal explanations, no matter how eloquent or intricate, were never as informative as the examples. The “worked for you” problems not only gave concrete illustration to abstract concepts but also helped with homework, for by looking back at the examples on the board or in my book (many times, I must add) and by tracing the clear (and correct) steps in the process, I could sometimes figure it out!
Hebrews 11 is a list of such examples. The first verse eloquently tells us what faith is. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” The rest of the chapter gives us examples—real life illustrations of ordinary people putting their faith in an extraordinary God. Delightfully, the stories are all different—a striking reminder that lived-out faith rarely looks alike.
After laying a faith foundation for creation, we step into the gory story of Cain and Abel—brothers bound by blood but not belief. Abel was a shepherd, and Cain was a farmer. “In the course of time,” Cain brought some produce to present to God. Abel slaughtered firstborn lambs and offered their fat. God approved of Abel’s offering, but He refused Cain’s. Why? Why did “Abel offer a better sacrifice than Cain”(Heb. 11:4)? The simple fact of faith. Abel’s offering came from his firstborn. He gave his initial profit up to God and trusted Him to provide for the future. Abel’s sacrifice showed that he understand correctly who God was and what He desired, and “by faith he was commended as a righteous man when God spoke well of his offerings”(Heb. 11:4). Genesis history doesn’t say that Cain brought the first fruits from his crops but merely “some of the fruits.” When you have plenty, you can always spare a few. Seems that Cain did just that.
The story only gets uglier. Cain was angry that his offering hadn’t been accepted and vented his rage on his brother. An open-field attack left Abel dead and Cain cursed, but, in spite of the violence, Abel’s example of obedient faith shows us that from the beginning God desired His children to trust. “And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead”(Heb. 11:4).
Faith in action point from Abel: We show faith by giving God our first and best and trusting Him to provide the rest.
Examples help with more than math. They help with life. These figures of faith help us figure out faith. Look, listen, and learn.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
The Sure Start
“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” Hebrews 11:3
As I browsed through several articles in a recent National Geographic, the common thread weaving through the words was striking. Info and facts about the domestication of animals, the revival of kung fu in China, and the impact of humans on geology were all fastened to a larger matrix of puzzling questions—Who are we? Where did we come from? Why are we here? The magazine isn’t asking the wrong questions, but it’s not looking for the right answers. “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
All stuff had a start. Though the assumption that something always was has been quietly accepted and quickly approved by many in the scientific community (and glaring glances thrown at those who dare to propose otherwise), the late-nite question haunting the minds of atheistic evolutionists remains—“How did stuff get its start?”
The answer is simple, straightforward, and astounding. God commanded, and the universe came to be. Something out of nothing. God didn’t need materials to make the world; only His word was required. When He spoke up, all we see showed up. Planets tumbled into rotation, galaxies spun through space, stars blazed with light and heat, and the first human opened his eyes to see the face of the Father.
Divine declaration determined creation. It’s here because of Him(2 Peter 3:5), and it holds together because of Him(Col. 1:16). We didn’t have to be there to be sure. The evidence is obvious, and by faith we understand what others refuse to believe. Of course we’re curious about details and dates, but the when and the how are eclipsed by the what. Minors don’t matter when you believe the major—“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Something always wasn’t, but Someone always was.
And you were part of His heart at the start.
As I browsed through several articles in a recent National Geographic, the common thread weaving through the words was striking. Info and facts about the domestication of animals, the revival of kung fu in China, and the impact of humans on geology were all fastened to a larger matrix of puzzling questions—Who are we? Where did we come from? Why are we here? The magazine isn’t asking the wrong questions, but it’s not looking for the right answers. “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
All stuff had a start. Though the assumption that something always was has been quietly accepted and quickly approved by many in the scientific community (and glaring glances thrown at those who dare to propose otherwise), the late-nite question haunting the minds of atheistic evolutionists remains—“How did stuff get its start?”
The answer is simple, straightforward, and astounding. God commanded, and the universe came to be. Something out of nothing. God didn’t need materials to make the world; only His word was required. When He spoke up, all we see showed up. Planets tumbled into rotation, galaxies spun through space, stars blazed with light and heat, and the first human opened his eyes to see the face of the Father.
Divine declaration determined creation. It’s here because of Him(2 Peter 3:5), and it holds together because of Him(Col. 1:16). We didn’t have to be there to be sure. The evidence is obvious, and by faith we understand what others refuse to believe. Of course we’re curious about details and dates, but the when and the how are eclipsed by the what. Minors don’t matter when you believe the major—“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Something always wasn’t, but Someone always was.
And you were part of His heart at the start.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Faith In The Facts
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there?
No, but I know it really happened. “When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him. At noon the sky turned dark and stayed that way until three o’clock for the sun stopped shining. At three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ He said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and died.”
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb? Were you there?
No, but I know it really happened. “Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. He was accompanied by Nicodemus. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices in the linen. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb. They laid Jesus there. Joseph rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.”
Were you there when He rose up from the grave? Were you there?
No, but I know it really happened. “At dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled back the stone and sat on it. The angel said to the women, ‘He is not here. He has risen! Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples.’ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy. Suddenly Jesus met them. ‘Greetings,’ he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.”
Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Not from fear that it didn’t happen, but from the overwhelming fact that it did. “Jesus said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Stop doubting and believe.’ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
This Easter weekend, may the facts of Christ’s death and resurrection fill you with great faith, great joy, and great praise.
He is risen! He is risen indeed!
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there?
No, but I know it really happened. “When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him. At noon the sky turned dark and stayed that way until three o’clock for the sun stopped shining. At three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ He said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and died.”
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb? Were you there?
No, but I know it really happened. “Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. He was accompanied by Nicodemus. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices in the linen. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb. They laid Jesus there. Joseph rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.”
Were you there when He rose up from the grave? Were you there?
No, but I know it really happened. “At dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled back the stone and sat on it. The angel said to the women, ‘He is not here. He has risen! Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples.’ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy. Suddenly Jesus met them. ‘Greetings,’ he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.”
Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Not from fear that it didn’t happen, but from the overwhelming fact that it did. “Jesus said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Stop doubting and believe.’ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
This Easter weekend, may the facts of Christ’s death and resurrection fill you with great faith, great joy, and great praise.
He is risen! He is risen indeed!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Truth In The Trash
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.” Hebrews 10:3
The groan you heard last week was my garbage guy—not my sweet husband who wheeled the cans to the curb but the man who heaved the stuff into the truck. After several days of spring cleaning, late Monday evening I tossed one more thing on top—a small teddy bear once plush and purple but now weathered and weary. The bear belonged to Calvin, our cat. Two years ago when he arrived as a skittish and scared kitten, my girls gave it to him for comfort and security. Calvin played, pawed, tossed, chased, and chewed the soft toy, but for the past few months, the bear, with stuffing spilling from its side, had been lying by my back door. Each time I stepped out, I almost stepped on and tripped over the bear. Since it never moved from this spot, I assumed it was abandoned and should be thrown away, so I tossed it. Early the next morning, as I stepped out the door, I almost stepped on the bear. A driveway glance showed a knocked-down can and scattered contents. My sleeping family couldn’t be suspects, so that left only the feline. As if on cue, ‘round the corner came Calvin with a glare that screamed, “Some treasures should never be trashed.”
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.” Faith adds a nice touch to the already posh and pampered life of middle-class America, but to the first readers of Hebrews, faith wasn’t an addition but their foundation. And as persecution poured in, faith became their only possession. Their confidence in Christ gave purpose to their pain. They had “stood their ground…in the face of suffering.” Publicly shamed, imprisoned, insulted, and stripped of property, these Christians had stood “side by side” and stood strong in the certainty that God said what He meant and meant what He said. But as the persecution and pressure kept increasing and the passion of their first-found faith began to falter, these words encouraged them to continue with confidence and to not toss the truth.
Though we in this part of the world aren’t imprisoned and don’t lose property because of our confidence in Christ, our culture doesn’t see much value in the One we cherish. They think He was bright in His time but has been used up, worn out, and should be thrown away. Day after day, as Jesus stays in the same spot of first priority in your life, the world will stumble over Him when they see you, and being tripped up is troubling. Your confidence and consistency will bother them and often bring out their worst, but don’t let their rejection of Jesus phase you. Knock down the garbage and put Him back where He needs to be.
This morning as I stepped out my door, I saw Calvin’s bear—a not so bright but very big reminder that face value isn’t forever value. Because of our faith our circumstances may stink, our reputation may be ruined, and our assets may be lost, but our trust can never be taken away. Let the rough and tough of life crowd you to Christ. Cling to the bloodstained cross and empty tomb, and count on God to reward your confidence.
Some treasures should never be trashed.
The groan you heard last week was my garbage guy—not my sweet husband who wheeled the cans to the curb but the man who heaved the stuff into the truck. After several days of spring cleaning, late Monday evening I tossed one more thing on top—a small teddy bear once plush and purple but now weathered and weary. The bear belonged to Calvin, our cat. Two years ago when he arrived as a skittish and scared kitten, my girls gave it to him for comfort and security. Calvin played, pawed, tossed, chased, and chewed the soft toy, but for the past few months, the bear, with stuffing spilling from its side, had been lying by my back door. Each time I stepped out, I almost stepped on and tripped over the bear. Since it never moved from this spot, I assumed it was abandoned and should be thrown away, so I tossed it. Early the next morning, as I stepped out the door, I almost stepped on the bear. A driveway glance showed a knocked-down can and scattered contents. My sleeping family couldn’t be suspects, so that left only the feline. As if on cue, ‘round the corner came Calvin with a glare that screamed, “Some treasures should never be trashed.”
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.” Faith adds a nice touch to the already posh and pampered life of middle-class America, but to the first readers of Hebrews, faith wasn’t an addition but their foundation. And as persecution poured in, faith became their only possession. Their confidence in Christ gave purpose to their pain. They had “stood their ground…in the face of suffering.” Publicly shamed, imprisoned, insulted, and stripped of property, these Christians had stood “side by side” and stood strong in the certainty that God said what He meant and meant what He said. But as the persecution and pressure kept increasing and the passion of their first-found faith began to falter, these words encouraged them to continue with confidence and to not toss the truth.
Though we in this part of the world aren’t imprisoned and don’t lose property because of our confidence in Christ, our culture doesn’t see much value in the One we cherish. They think He was bright in His time but has been used up, worn out, and should be thrown away. Day after day, as Jesus stays in the same spot of first priority in your life, the world will stumble over Him when they see you, and being tripped up is troubling. Your confidence and consistency will bother them and often bring out their worst, but don’t let their rejection of Jesus phase you. Knock down the garbage and put Him back where He needs to be.
This morning as I stepped out my door, I saw Calvin’s bear—a not so bright but very big reminder that face value isn’t forever value. Because of our faith our circumstances may stink, our reputation may be ruined, and our assets may be lost, but our trust can never be taken away. Let the rough and tough of life crowd you to Christ. Cling to the bloodstained cross and empty tomb, and count on God to reward your confidence.
Some treasures should never be trashed.
Monday, April 18, 2011
A Part not Apart
“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
For several years back in the early 100s, solitary sainthood was in vogue. Men were put on a pedestal, literally, and lived on top for decades. (One guy made it 67 years!) These men believed that staying apart from the group made them more of a saint and more sure of salvation. We know better than to believe or live out such errant folly, yet we sometimes find ourselves spending much of life away from the very ones we should be hanging around. “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Seems as though some early Christians had decided that church was optional, and God wanted them to know otherwise. Getting together with other believers is an essential part of your spiritual diet, and missing more than a few meals leaves you weak and undernourished. Sunday worship and weekly small group should be considered “meetings” that we don’t easily “give up.” Yes, everyone understands extenuating circumstances, but a busy schedule, a burdened heart, or a beautiful lake shouldn’t habitually keep you from church. Your attendance in tired or tough circumstances (or on the perfect day for fishing or skiing) encourages those in the pew and the pulpit. Your presence reminds them that God is your strength, your comfort, and your priority.
We need to realize that coming to church isn’t doing God a favor and that we don’t get brownie points for showing up. But we do get a blessing and we get to be a blessing. God doesn’t need us there, but we need to be there. We are a body and together we make up a whole. When half an ear, part of the tongue, a bit of the heart, and the left foot don’t show up on a regular basis, the body of Christ can’t be what we’re supposed to be or do what we’re supposed to do. Individually, we can’t live out our purpose alone. Our worship, our witness, our service, and our growth are best fulfilled in fellowship with other Christians, and much of this fellowship takes place on Sundays and in small groups.
Yes, weekends only have two days, but the first Christians to read Hebrews had only one day for rest and recreation, so we don’t have grounds for grumbling. We need to get up and get there and “encourage each other” to do the same. Being part of the group is a good thing and a God-thing. Since we will live as one in eternity, time spent together now is a bit of heaven on earth.
Each sunrise steps toward the Christ’s Second Coming. His fast approaching appearance creates urgency and expectation which draws us closer to Him and to each other. We need to be together. We should want to be together. We should invite others to come together. Our habit should be to show up, not skip out. As the sign outside a local congregation read: What’s missing in CH_ _CH? UR!
Pedestals are no place for God’s people! Jump down and jump in.
For several years back in the early 100s, solitary sainthood was in vogue. Men were put on a pedestal, literally, and lived on top for decades. (One guy made it 67 years!) These men believed that staying apart from the group made them more of a saint and more sure of salvation. We know better than to believe or live out such errant folly, yet we sometimes find ourselves spending much of life away from the very ones we should be hanging around. “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Seems as though some early Christians had decided that church was optional, and God wanted them to know otherwise. Getting together with other believers is an essential part of your spiritual diet, and missing more than a few meals leaves you weak and undernourished. Sunday worship and weekly small group should be considered “meetings” that we don’t easily “give up.” Yes, everyone understands extenuating circumstances, but a busy schedule, a burdened heart, or a beautiful lake shouldn’t habitually keep you from church. Your attendance in tired or tough circumstances (or on the perfect day for fishing or skiing) encourages those in the pew and the pulpit. Your presence reminds them that God is your strength, your comfort, and your priority.
We need to realize that coming to church isn’t doing God a favor and that we don’t get brownie points for showing up. But we do get a blessing and we get to be a blessing. God doesn’t need us there, but we need to be there. We are a body and together we make up a whole. When half an ear, part of the tongue, a bit of the heart, and the left foot don’t show up on a regular basis, the body of Christ can’t be what we’re supposed to be or do what we’re supposed to do. Individually, we can’t live out our purpose alone. Our worship, our witness, our service, and our growth are best fulfilled in fellowship with other Christians, and much of this fellowship takes place on Sundays and in small groups.
Yes, weekends only have two days, but the first Christians to read Hebrews had only one day for rest and recreation, so we don’t have grounds for grumbling. We need to get up and get there and “encourage each other” to do the same. Being part of the group is a good thing and a God-thing. Since we will live as one in eternity, time spent together now is a bit of heaven on earth.
Each sunrise steps toward the Christ’s Second Coming. His fast approaching appearance creates urgency and expectation which draws us closer to Him and to each other. We need to be together. We should want to be together. We should invite others to come together. Our habit should be to show up, not skip out. As the sign outside a local congregation read: What’s missing in CH_ _CH? UR!
Pedestals are no place for God’s people! Jump down and jump in.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Points To Ponder
“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Hebrews 10:24
The cowboy in my Wednesday night small group was a living illustration of the evening’s study. It wasn’t his well-worn hat or gleaming buckle which caught my eye. No, it was the sharp spurs on his boots that made me smile—and squirm. Earlier that day his horse had felt their force—a not-so-subtle suggestion to get a move on in the right direction. I rubbed my side as I read the verse: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
The “let us” list in the previous verses (“Let us draw near” and “Let us hold to hope”) continues with “Let us consider how to help each other move toward what is bigger and better.” We’re here for a purpose, and we should be making progress in the process, but sometimes we all need a prompt. Often just a word will work, but occasionally we require a jab—not one to injure but one to inspire.
Repeated spurring in the same spot with the same pressure causes irritation and pain, so to know how to poke and prod in a proper and productive way, we ought to consider—to consider each person, each situation, and each state of mind and heart. That’s why the instruction says “Let us consider how we may spur” instead of “Let us spur.” Take time to observe, to contemplate, and to assess as you determine your mode of incentive. More than phone lines get messed up when you don’t think before you dig.
We want to make sure we spur in the right direction—“toward love and good deeds.” Love is our largest responsibility(Matt. 22:37) and our biggest witness(Jn. 13:35). Our good deeds give God glory(Col. 3:17) and cause others to give Him praise(Matt. 6:16). In the same way as the spur on my friend’s boot compelled his horse who, in turn, steered the cows, our sharp nudges should point to God’s grace and compel us to line up our lives with His great love. Often a shift in our own action or attitude will steer those around us in the right direction as well.
When the method and motivation are right, a Godly spur is a good thing—not a mean thing. We all need to get them, and we all need to give them. “Let us consider” the how and the why and be sure before we spur.
The cowboy in my Wednesday night small group was a living illustration of the evening’s study. It wasn’t his well-worn hat or gleaming buckle which caught my eye. No, it was the sharp spurs on his boots that made me smile—and squirm. Earlier that day his horse had felt their force—a not-so-subtle suggestion to get a move on in the right direction. I rubbed my side as I read the verse: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
The “let us” list in the previous verses (“Let us draw near” and “Let us hold to hope”) continues with “Let us consider how to help each other move toward what is bigger and better.” We’re here for a purpose, and we should be making progress in the process, but sometimes we all need a prompt. Often just a word will work, but occasionally we require a jab—not one to injure but one to inspire.
Repeated spurring in the same spot with the same pressure causes irritation and pain, so to know how to poke and prod in a proper and productive way, we ought to consider—to consider each person, each situation, and each state of mind and heart. That’s why the instruction says “Let us consider how we may spur” instead of “Let us spur.” Take time to observe, to contemplate, and to assess as you determine your mode of incentive. More than phone lines get messed up when you don’t think before you dig.
We want to make sure we spur in the right direction—“toward love and good deeds.” Love is our largest responsibility(Matt. 22:37) and our biggest witness(Jn. 13:35). Our good deeds give God glory(Col. 3:17) and cause others to give Him praise(Matt. 6:16). In the same way as the spur on my friend’s boot compelled his horse who, in turn, steered the cows, our sharp nudges should point to God’s grace and compel us to line up our lives with His great love. Often a shift in our own action or attitude will steer those around us in the right direction as well.
When the method and motivation are right, a Godly spur is a good thing—not a mean thing. We all need to get them, and we all need to give them. “Let us consider” the how and the why and be sure before we spur.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Hold To Hope
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23
Good drivers know when to swerve and when to hold straight. Saving a squirrel is not worth smashing a tree. The lines on the road are there for a reason, and a steady wheel brings you and your passengers safely to your destination. What we consider a small adjustment often leaves us careening out of control into disaster, and in that moment of crisis, we wish we had never veered.
Since the same principles apply to the road of life, “let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess.” No matter what difficulties dart into your path, no matter what obstacles the enemy rolls into the road, no matter what mountains God allows in your way, “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess.”
What is this hope to which we are to hold without wavering? The hope that our sins are forgiven and forgotten(Heb. 8:12). The hope that we are no longer condemned by God but are children of God(Rom. 8:1,1 John 3:1). The hope that God works all things—happy and hard—for our good(Rom. 8:28). The hope that nothing and no one in the entire universe can separate us from His love(Rom. 8:39). The hope that God is working in us and through us to fulfill His purpose(2 Thess. 1:11). And the hope that death is not a termination but a transition into eternity with Him(2 Cor. 5:6-8).
How do we know these things we hope for are a done deal and not merely wishful thinking? Why should we “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess”? “For he who promised is faithful.” The One who spoke it has done it. His love never fails(Ex. 15:13). He cannot lie(Heb. 6:18). He will not lie(Jn. 14:2). He does not change(Heb. 15:8). And His grave is still empty. The life and the love of Jesus bring assurance and confidence to our hearts in our trials, our grief, and our sin. His compassion never fails, His mercy is new every morning, and His faithfulness is very great(Lamentations 3:23).
Occasionally on the highway a swerve is timely, but in our journey with Jesus, we need to stay straight.
The road of life will curve, but don’t swerve.
Hold to hope, and find Him faithful.
Good drivers know when to swerve and when to hold straight. Saving a squirrel is not worth smashing a tree. The lines on the road are there for a reason, and a steady wheel brings you and your passengers safely to your destination. What we consider a small adjustment often leaves us careening out of control into disaster, and in that moment of crisis, we wish we had never veered.
Since the same principles apply to the road of life, “let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess.” No matter what difficulties dart into your path, no matter what obstacles the enemy rolls into the road, no matter what mountains God allows in your way, “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess.”
What is this hope to which we are to hold without wavering? The hope that our sins are forgiven and forgotten(Heb. 8:12). The hope that we are no longer condemned by God but are children of God(Rom. 8:1,1 John 3:1). The hope that God works all things—happy and hard—for our good(Rom. 8:28). The hope that nothing and no one in the entire universe can separate us from His love(Rom. 8:39). The hope that God is working in us and through us to fulfill His purpose(2 Thess. 1:11). And the hope that death is not a termination but a transition into eternity with Him(2 Cor. 5:6-8).
How do we know these things we hope for are a done deal and not merely wishful thinking? Why should we “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess”? “For he who promised is faithful.” The One who spoke it has done it. His love never fails(Ex. 15:13). He cannot lie(Heb. 6:18). He will not lie(Jn. 14:2). He does not change(Heb. 15:8). And His grave is still empty. The life and the love of Jesus bring assurance and confidence to our hearts in our trials, our grief, and our sin. His compassion never fails, His mercy is new every morning, and His faithfulness is very great(Lamentations 3:23).
Occasionally on the highway a swerve is timely, but in our journey with Jesus, we need to stay straight.
The road of life will curve, but don’t swerve.
Hold to hope, and find Him faithful.
Monday, April 11, 2011
How To Go There
“Since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.” Hebrews 10:2
A priest in the Temple would have been terrified.
Three hours earlier the sun had stopped shining as a thick, deep darkness settled on the town. Flickers from a few oil lamps couldn’t dispel the fact that something was amiss. Suddenly, the ground trembled, and the floor shifted beneath his feet. At that moment, the priest heard a rip—the unmistakable sound of fabric being forcibly torn in two. Thinking he was alone, he whirled around to find that he was—except for the invisible, infinite Hands clutching the temple curtain. Almost instantly, the thick veil hung limp and wide open. The light of God’s glory spilled into the darkened room, and the altar of atonement appeared before the priest’s eyes. Only one man a lifetime had been allowed to see the sight at which he now stared. Terrified and mesmerized at the same time, the priest wanted to turn and run but felt drawn to come.
“Since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.”
Unlike a priest in the temple on Good Friday, we don’t have to debate or doubt. We can come close to God because the cross gives us confidence and assurance. But though we can come at any time, we shouldn’t come in any way. We should only come sincerely. “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart.” Sincere means honest and genuine, not counterfeit or pretend. Sincerity is serious—not somber and sullen but also not flippant or careless. Our affluent culture is content with a God whose casual acquaintance can enhance our already comfortable circumstances. Help during hardship and hope for the hereafter are expected and demanded on our terms. Often we speak of Him and speak to Him as though He were a buddy on the other end of the line or a portly grandpa passing out candy or cash anytime we ask. (I’m not trying to sound preachy, and I tried really hard to pass over this verse and pick another, but I knew I shouldn’t and couldn’t.)
God ripped the curtain to call us close, but the One on the other side hasn’t changed. He is still the holy, eternal, majestic, and powerful Lord God Almighty. Because of Christ’s blood, we are free to come to Him, but such privilege should find us coming earnestly and never indifferently. “The good Lord” and “the Man upstairs” is much, much more than someone who is nice from a distance. Yes, the One who reigns supreme over all is good, and, yes, One who became like us is standing in the gap for us in heaven, but such phrases sound as though we don’t take seriously enough who He is and what He has done.
The reality of our redemption should sober us up and make us sincere. Please realize that we can sincerely be many things – curious, joyful, desperate, angry, excited, sinful, sorry, exasperated, discouraged, and expectant. But we must be sincere. The cost of Christ’s sacrifice precludes a nonchalant approach to God.
The door to God’s throne room is wide open.
Go there many times.
Go there sincerely every time.
A priest in the Temple would have been terrified.
Three hours earlier the sun had stopped shining as a thick, deep darkness settled on the town. Flickers from a few oil lamps couldn’t dispel the fact that something was amiss. Suddenly, the ground trembled, and the floor shifted beneath his feet. At that moment, the priest heard a rip—the unmistakable sound of fabric being forcibly torn in two. Thinking he was alone, he whirled around to find that he was—except for the invisible, infinite Hands clutching the temple curtain. Almost instantly, the thick veil hung limp and wide open. The light of God’s glory spilled into the darkened room, and the altar of atonement appeared before the priest’s eyes. Only one man a lifetime had been allowed to see the sight at which he now stared. Terrified and mesmerized at the same time, the priest wanted to turn and run but felt drawn to come.
“Since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.”
Unlike a priest in the temple on Good Friday, we don’t have to debate or doubt. We can come close to God because the cross gives us confidence and assurance. But though we can come at any time, we shouldn’t come in any way. We should only come sincerely. “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart.” Sincere means honest and genuine, not counterfeit or pretend. Sincerity is serious—not somber and sullen but also not flippant or careless. Our affluent culture is content with a God whose casual acquaintance can enhance our already comfortable circumstances. Help during hardship and hope for the hereafter are expected and demanded on our terms. Often we speak of Him and speak to Him as though He were a buddy on the other end of the line or a portly grandpa passing out candy or cash anytime we ask. (I’m not trying to sound preachy, and I tried really hard to pass over this verse and pick another, but I knew I shouldn’t and couldn’t.)
God ripped the curtain to call us close, but the One on the other side hasn’t changed. He is still the holy, eternal, majestic, and powerful Lord God Almighty. Because of Christ’s blood, we are free to come to Him, but such privilege should find us coming earnestly and never indifferently. “The good Lord” and “the Man upstairs” is much, much more than someone who is nice from a distance. Yes, the One who reigns supreme over all is good, and, yes, One who became like us is standing in the gap for us in heaven, but such phrases sound as though we don’t take seriously enough who He is and what He has done.
The reality of our redemption should sober us up and make us sincere. Please realize that we can sincerely be many things – curious, joyful, desperate, angry, excited, sinful, sorry, exasperated, discouraged, and expectant. But we must be sincere. The cost of Christ’s sacrifice precludes a nonchalant approach to God.
The door to God’s throne room is wide open.
Go there many times.
Go there sincerely every time.
Friday, April 8, 2011
A Work In Progress
“By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” Hebrews 10:14
You’re perfect.
Don’t laugh but do smile. The moment you received Christ, God marked out your sin—past, present, and future, and by your name, in bright red, He wrote, “Perfect in Christ.” Your perfection was complete in an instant—no trial period, no wait-and-see-if-this-guy-works-out. Your perfection was full, finished, and forever. From that day on, every single time the Father looks at you, He sees Jesus and He always will.
You’re perfect. But you’re “being made holy.”
Holiness can be confusing. Sometimes scripture says we are holy. Sometimes it says we should be holy or that we are being made holy. What’s up with that? One is positional and the other practical. Because of Christ’s sacrifice and grace, God sees you as holy—pure, sinless, upright—so since you are holy, be holy. Marriage is an everyday example. You walk up the aisle single. You walk down the aisle a spouse. Now that you are one, live like one. Your priorities, actions, and attitudes should all change because you’ve been chosen and because of your choice. Same thing with salvation. Since Jesus has put His life in you, live it out. If you’re as angry as you used to be, as impatient as you used to be, as critical as you used to be, or as unkind as you used to be, the difference Jesus makes is hard to see. We should be making progress in the process.
“By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” We call the process of becoming more like Jesus “sanctification.” This word reminds me of being cleaned up and scrubbed down in a sink, which in my southern home state was often referred to as a “sank.” More than once when I was young, and especially on Saturdays, my mother would pick me up and plop me in. Soap and a good scrub do amazing things to dirty offspring—and to dirty sinners. God met us where we were in our mess and made us His. Now that we belong to Him, He wants to make us like Him. He has all the supplies—His Word, His Spirit, His power, and His grace. He picks us up, plops us into the sink of our circumstances, and starts scrubbing. Washing the dirt off our backs isn’t so bad, but when God starts digging between our toes, rubbing behind our ears, and soaping up our mouths, the bath isn’t much fun. Yet, Titus tells us that God is “purifying for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good(Tit. 2:14). You can’t be an instrument for noble purposes if you run from the washcloth (2 Tim. 2:21). Let God hold you close and clean you up. You’ll look better, live better, sleep better, and your life will smell a whole lot better to those around you.
Jesus has “made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” Your salvation isn’t dependent on your sainthood, but the freedom that allows you to fail is also your force for success. Let God make you wholly His. The process of sanctification is long—as long as you live, so stop acting like you’ve arrived. You can’t fool God, and you’re not fooling others. Just be who are you—a dirty, rotten scoundrel declared perfect by God’s grace and being made holy by His power.
He’s still working on me, to make me what I ought to be.
It took Him just a week to make the moon and the stars,
The Sun, and the Earth, and Jupiter, and Mars.
How loving and patient He must be
‘Cause He’s still working on me!
I used to sing that in the “sank,” and I’m still singing it.
Scrub away.
You’re perfect.
Don’t laugh but do smile. The moment you received Christ, God marked out your sin—past, present, and future, and by your name, in bright red, He wrote, “Perfect in Christ.” Your perfection was complete in an instant—no trial period, no wait-and-see-if-this-guy-works-out. Your perfection was full, finished, and forever. From that day on, every single time the Father looks at you, He sees Jesus and He always will.
You’re perfect. But you’re “being made holy.”
Holiness can be confusing. Sometimes scripture says we are holy. Sometimes it says we should be holy or that we are being made holy. What’s up with that? One is positional and the other practical. Because of Christ’s sacrifice and grace, God sees you as holy—pure, sinless, upright—so since you are holy, be holy. Marriage is an everyday example. You walk up the aisle single. You walk down the aisle a spouse. Now that you are one, live like one. Your priorities, actions, and attitudes should all change because you’ve been chosen and because of your choice. Same thing with salvation. Since Jesus has put His life in you, live it out. If you’re as angry as you used to be, as impatient as you used to be, as critical as you used to be, or as unkind as you used to be, the difference Jesus makes is hard to see. We should be making progress in the process.
“By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” We call the process of becoming more like Jesus “sanctification.” This word reminds me of being cleaned up and scrubbed down in a sink, which in my southern home state was often referred to as a “sank.” More than once when I was young, and especially on Saturdays, my mother would pick me up and plop me in. Soap and a good scrub do amazing things to dirty offspring—and to dirty sinners. God met us where we were in our mess and made us His. Now that we belong to Him, He wants to make us like Him. He has all the supplies—His Word, His Spirit, His power, and His grace. He picks us up, plops us into the sink of our circumstances, and starts scrubbing. Washing the dirt off our backs isn’t so bad, but when God starts digging between our toes, rubbing behind our ears, and soaping up our mouths, the bath isn’t much fun. Yet, Titus tells us that God is “purifying for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good(Tit. 2:14). You can’t be an instrument for noble purposes if you run from the washcloth (2 Tim. 2:21). Let God hold you close and clean you up. You’ll look better, live better, sleep better, and your life will smell a whole lot better to those around you.
Jesus has “made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” Your salvation isn’t dependent on your sainthood, but the freedom that allows you to fail is also your force for success. Let God make you wholly His. The process of sanctification is long—as long as you live, so stop acting like you’ve arrived. You can’t fool God, and you’re not fooling others. Just be who are you—a dirty, rotten scoundrel declared perfect by God’s grace and being made holy by His power.
He’s still working on me, to make me what I ought to be.
It took Him just a week to make the moon and the stars,
The Sun, and the Earth, and Jupiter, and Mars.
How loving and patient He must be
‘Cause He’s still working on me!
I used to sing that in the “sank,” and I’m still singing it.
Scrub away.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
I'll Be Back
“Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:28
“I’ll be back!” Arnold Schwarzenegger threatened when denied entry to a police station in The Terminator. “I’ll be back!” Douglas MacArthur promised after losing the Philippines to Japan during World War 2. “I’ll be back!” Jesus assured His troubled disciples at Thursday’s Last Supper. Arnold kept his word and crashed a car through the front door only minutes later. MacArthur kept his word and landed on Leyte two and half years after he left. And Jesus will surely keep His. He is coming back. “He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”
Jesus didn’t come the first time to make a name for Himself (though His name is already above every name-Phil. 2:9), He came to buy a people for Himself. With His blood, He “purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation”(Rev. 5:9). Jesus was born to die so we could live. He came the first time to bear our sin. He will come the second to bring our salvation—to restore, to reward, to renew—“and so we will be with the Lord forever”(1 Thess. 5:17).
The cross symbolizes His first coming. The clouds represent His second. At His ascension, angels promised sky-gazing, mouth-gaping apostles that “this same Jesus…will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven”(Acts 1:11). We’re not sure when He will return for “no one knows about that day or hour”(Matt. 24:36), but we’re certain that He will return. “I will come back and take you to be with me”(Jn. 14:3).
You could say that right now we’re on “LayAway,” but our price has already been paid in full. One day the sky will split, and our Savior will return to claim His prize. He arrived initially in humility and poverty, but the next time around, Jesus will come in honor and power. A few smelly shepherds greeted Him on His birthday, but on His breakthrough day, “every eye will see him”(Rev. 1:7). The silent Lamb will return as a Lion, and the whole earth will hear His roar.
So what do we do while we wait? Share His story. Since Christ’s return spells doom for those not His, we should welcome others to “God’s Waiting List.” Only joy or judgment lies ahead, and because God has turned our horror into hope, we should witness in a way both intense and inviting.
Christ’s Second Coming inspires strength and ignites passion. He will return, but we’re still here for a reason. The old adage holds. “Don’t be so heavenly-minded that you aren’t of any earthly good, and don’t be so earthly minded that you aren’t of any heavenly good.”
Don’t spend all your time staring into the sky, but do keep glancing up.
He’s coming back.
“I’ll be back!” Arnold Schwarzenegger threatened when denied entry to a police station in The Terminator. “I’ll be back!” Douglas MacArthur promised after losing the Philippines to Japan during World War 2. “I’ll be back!” Jesus assured His troubled disciples at Thursday’s Last Supper. Arnold kept his word and crashed a car through the front door only minutes later. MacArthur kept his word and landed on Leyte two and half years after he left. And Jesus will surely keep His. He is coming back. “He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”
Jesus didn’t come the first time to make a name for Himself (though His name is already above every name-Phil. 2:9), He came to buy a people for Himself. With His blood, He “purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation”(Rev. 5:9). Jesus was born to die so we could live. He came the first time to bear our sin. He will come the second to bring our salvation—to restore, to reward, to renew—“and so we will be with the Lord forever”(1 Thess. 5:17).
The cross symbolizes His first coming. The clouds represent His second. At His ascension, angels promised sky-gazing, mouth-gaping apostles that “this same Jesus…will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven”(Acts 1:11). We’re not sure when He will return for “no one knows about that day or hour”(Matt. 24:36), but we’re certain that He will return. “I will come back and take you to be with me”(Jn. 14:3).
You could say that right now we’re on “LayAway,” but our price has already been paid in full. One day the sky will split, and our Savior will return to claim His prize. He arrived initially in humility and poverty, but the next time around, Jesus will come in honor and power. A few smelly shepherds greeted Him on His birthday, but on His breakthrough day, “every eye will see him”(Rev. 1:7). The silent Lamb will return as a Lion, and the whole earth will hear His roar.
So what do we do while we wait? Share His story. Since Christ’s return spells doom for those not His, we should welcome others to “God’s Waiting List.” Only joy or judgment lies ahead, and because God has turned our horror into hope, we should witness in a way both intense and inviting.
Christ’s Second Coming inspires strength and ignites passion. He will return, but we’re still here for a reason. The old adage holds. “Don’t be so heavenly-minded that you aren’t of any earthly good, and don’t be so earthly minded that you aren’t of any heavenly good.”
Don’t spend all your time staring into the sky, but do keep glancing up.
He’s coming back.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Forgive and Forget
“For I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:12
Actress Marilu Henner never forgets anything. Give her the date, and she’ll give you the details—where she was, who she saw, what she did. Such amazing ability would be both handy and hard. Remembering our successes would be fine, but recalling every failure would be no fun. As time goes by, we hope our sins and shortcomings will slip from the memories of those around us, but often we find ourselves wondering if they still remember the things we wish they would forget.
The only one who we can be sure will not remember is the very One who has the right to never forget. And yet our God of grace promises us, “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” God will never bring your bad back up. He will not throw your transgressions in your face or hold them over your head because He’s already taken them on Himself. “He sacrificed for our sins once for all when he offered himself”(Heb. 7:27).
“Forgive and Forget” is God’s mantra alone, for only He can choose what He will and won’t remember. Thankfully, in forgiveness, He wipes our sins from His memory and removes the fear from our souls. “If you kept a record of sins, no one could last long. But you forgive us, and so we will worship you”(Ps. 130:3-4 CEV).
Such grace deserves both our adoring love and an abundant life because forgiveness frees us up to live without our past waywardness weighing us down. When we recall our failures, and when the enemy uses them against us, we need to remember ourselves and remind Satan that our sins have been forgiven and forgotten.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
We may not always remember that God forgets, but He will never forget to not remember.
Actress Marilu Henner never forgets anything. Give her the date, and she’ll give you the details—where she was, who she saw, what she did. Such amazing ability would be both handy and hard. Remembering our successes would be fine, but recalling every failure would be no fun. As time goes by, we hope our sins and shortcomings will slip from the memories of those around us, but often we find ourselves wondering if they still remember the things we wish they would forget.
The only one who we can be sure will not remember is the very One who has the right to never forget. And yet our God of grace promises us, “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” God will never bring your bad back up. He will not throw your transgressions in your face or hold them over your head because He’s already taken them on Himself. “He sacrificed for our sins once for all when he offered himself”(Heb. 7:27).
“Forgive and Forget” is God’s mantra alone, for only He can choose what He will and won’t remember. Thankfully, in forgiveness, He wipes our sins from His memory and removes the fear from our souls. “If you kept a record of sins, no one could last long. But you forgive us, and so we will worship you”(Ps. 130:3-4 CEV).
Such grace deserves both our adoring love and an abundant life because forgiveness frees us up to live without our past waywardness weighing us down. When we recall our failures, and when the enemy uses them against us, we need to remember ourselves and remind Satan that our sins have been forgiven and forgotten.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
We may not always remember that God forgets, but He will never forget to not remember.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)