November 14: Of roads, clay pigeons and focus

Ezekiel 29:1-30:26

Hebrews 11:32-12:13

Psalm 112:1-10

Proverbs 27:17

Do you still remember when you first learned to drive?  I had to learn twice.  The first, in Manila where we drive on the right side of the road; the second time 6 years later, when I moved to Indonesia, where they drive on the left side of the road.  Both times I had to relearn to keep my eyes on the road - when my eyes would drift to the side of the road, inevitably my hands would move, and I would find myself steering in that direction.  There were a few times  I was so distracted I almost crashed.  The same thing is true shooting clay pigeons with a shotgun - the instructor kept telling me to keep my eye on the little round disc flying across my field of vision, even making me just point at the clay as it flew.  He said the key was to look at the target so you could hit it.  If you looked away, you would miss.

In today's NT reading St Paul admonishes the Hebrews to rid themselves of distractions - "of everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles".  And he encourages them to fix their eyes on Jesus.  When I read this again today, I realized I'd never really thought of what it meant to fix my eyes on Jesus.  Perhaps that is why I often find myself so distracted - so worried for my children, so troubled by work, so burdened by the day to day.  So I gave it a think, and realized there are a few very clear steps I could take to keep my eyes on the prize - prayer in the morning, first thing, to direct the day; praise for the things I experience, see and hear; gratitude for the bountiful and the challenging both.  

That last - gratitude even when circumstances are challenging - is difficult, but important.  It will help me to "not lose heart when He rebukes [me]", to receive the discipline that confirms I am His child, the discipline that will eventually produce "a harvest of righteousness and peace".

Father, during the distractions of abundance and the discouragement of difficulty, help me keep my focus on You and You alone, that Your discipline might bring about in me the transformation You intend.  

Thursday, November 10

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

“Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.  But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.  For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (Hebrews 10:11-14)

In this passage, the author of Hebrews highlights Jesus's once-for-all service as the Great High Priest.  Under the sacrificial system then active under Jewish law -- whose reference here strongly suggests that the Temple in Jerusalem still remained standing, dating this letter at pre-70 AD -- the nation's priests would offer sacrifices continually as atonement for sin.  Still, the passage explains that these offerings "can never take away sins."  Their continual offering underscored that limitation.

Yet, Jesus offered just "one sacrifice" -- His body and blood -- and "has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."  "Made perfect" refers to our justification, the one-time assignment of forgiveness to those who trust in Christ for salvation.  When we come to Jesus in repentance, this turning of our hearts by admitting our sin and declaring our desperation for Him brings us peace with God, our reconciliation with Him.  Christ's sacrifice was indeed that powerful! (Colossians 2:13)  2 Corinthians 5:17 declares that we have now become a new creation in Christ.

How about the second part:  "who are being made holy"?  If our justification occurs immediately, why the need for a continual process towards holiness?  We understand from the Scriptures -- and real-life experience -- that becoming a disciple of Jesus doesn't immediately transform every thought, attitude, and action.  We struggle and strive to become more like Christ.  Yet, we are not alone in this pursuit; rather, the Holy Spirit refreshes, renews, and strengthens us towards progressive sanctification.  This fitting to become more Christ-like defines the Christian's experience.

To paraphrase Hebrews 10:14, reflecting back on the Potter's House, we are "set free and made ready by the death of Christ and are being fashioned into His desired shape for us each day."  We rejoice in what we have already received, but we also find great joy in seeing God's purposes revealed in our lives.  We join with Him in that effort through submitting to Him, trusting in Him, and acknowledging Him.  He will then direct our paths. (Proverbs 3:5,6)

Lord God, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to serve as a once-for-all sacrifice on our behalf, winning our freedom.  Thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit so that we may become more and more transformed and conformed into the image of Christ.  Strengthen us today to reflect more of Your character, and bring greater joy into our lives as we submit to Your good purposes.  We love You and honor You today.  In Jesus's Name, amen.

November 9

Hebrews 9:27 - Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement, so 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


Writing a blog the day after a presidential election is not easy.  There was a lot of tension and controversy this election season.  After reading this mornings passage, this is my take away.  We are still "ONE NATION UNDER GOD", and even if the winner of this election wasn't your choice, KING JESUS IS STILL ON THE THRONE.  We are precious to Him because He paid a price for us.  I pray our words today reflect the God we serve.  Jesus, take the wheel.


Randi

November 7: There were really 10 dwarfs in the story...why am I Grumpy again?

Ezekiel 16:42-17:24

Hebrews 8:1-13

Psalm 106:13-31

Proverbs 27:7-9

Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Doc, Bashful, Dopey and Grumpy.  Those were the seven dwarfs in the story, and in my life, I have been each and every one of them (and a couple of others, come to think of it - Hungry and Thirsty.  And Clueless.  They don't show up in the story because one was in a food coma, the other hung over, and the last one was always missing.)  Yes, I have been all of them - but I have been particularly good at being Grumpy, at grumbling.  I don't do it often, but when I do, I would make the Olympic team.  Maybe even medal.

It isn't something to be proud of.  The psalmist today reminds us that Israelites grumbled - at Moses, at God, as they were being saved from the Egyptians, and being led to a land of milk and honey, as God had promised.  The grumbling - which was really the sinful rejection of God's providence and plans in favor of their own - wasn't just unwarranted, it blinded them to all God had already done for them, and to all God was going to do.  And it led them to put their trust in an idol they thought would be more amenable to their demands - a helpless, powerless idol appealing only because it wasn't capable of ordering them down paths they did not want to go, an idol whose value was really only to be able to justify their choices, their actions.

Grumbling hasn't changed much.  When I grumble at my situation, it takes me a while but I eventually realize that I am grumbling at - and rejecting - what God, in His infinite love, wisdom and power, had determined was best for me at that point in time, however difficult.  And, like the Israelites, I seek other idols - good intentions, hard work, logic, pleasure, money, success - to justify the choices I make apart from God.  

The thing is, just as grumbling hasn't changed much, neither have its consequences.  Apart from God, is there any reason to believe our descendants will not "fall among the nations"?  Thankfully, just as there was Moses and there was Phinehas, just as there was the old covenant, there is the new one, and Jesus is there to save me from the consequences of my being Grumpy.  And when He does, perhaps my heart will reflect still another two dwarfs - Joy and Peace.  

November 4

Hebrews 6 

 

I love the way the Living version records Hebrews 6:10,  ^"For God is not unfair. How can he forget your hard work for him, or forget the way you used to show your love for him—and still do—by helping his children?

There is no better illustration of how people help others than the care and love shown to Debbie Foster. Over the past months so many people showed love to Debbie by visiting, praying, singing, writing notes, bringing food, cheering, and helping care for her. The great thing is that by showing your love for Debbie, you showed your love for God. And God will never forget even the smallest act of kindness. Never!

His children include all people, including a child who has not yet found God. Right now the church is having a particularly difficult time in reaching the 20somethings in our culture. Our reputation with this group is terrible. David Kinnaman, in his book, "Unchristian" points out that our favorability rating with the next generation is at an all time low of 3%. That means 97% of young people have a neutral or bad impression of the church. This is a huge image issue.   So what is our strategy to change this perception?  I suggest we live out the Christian life before them with joy, grace and a willingness to help others. The unbelieving world is not concerned with our creeds but they are watching our deeds.  And when we live lives that are filled with good works it causes them to pause and consider God. The unbelieving world can deny our theology, our creeds, and our gatherings but they can't deny our good deeds. When we reach out with compassionate, loving and unconditional acts of kindness, it opens the doors to deeper conversations about faith.  

Good deeds are one of the most powerful tools in our arsenal to change culture. "Good deeds" lead to "good will" which leads to "good news."

So your homework today is to do one act of kindness where you serve someone without expecting anything in return. And when you do this, picture the face of Jesus on the person you are helping. 

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, November 3

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries a nd tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5:7–10)

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In today’s reading from Hebrews, the author notes the concurrent Sonship and Priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ. While He enjoyed all the benefits of being God’s only Son, He also willingly served on behalf of people, representing them before God as the great High Priest. In particular, He served as a perfect mediator between God and man “because of his reverent submission” and perfect “obedience.” Indeed, His faithful service to His Father involved suffering, transforming into the “perfect” substitute for sinful man.

The author describes the Lord Jesus as a “high priest in the order of Melchizedek.” This figure appears in Genesis 15, where the patriarch Abraham encounters Melchizedek, who served jointly as king of Salem (Jerusalem) and a great high priest. Later, the writer of Hebrews mentions that we might consider that Abraham had given his offering to this Melchizedek after receiving a blessing from him. As Hebrews 7 notes, the lesser receives the blessings from the greater. Therefore, many commentators perceive that the earthly Melchizedek may have been a prefiguration of the coming Lord Jesus Christ.

This passage suggests that Jesus’s suffering on earth made him fit and ready to become the perfect sacrifice for us: a heavenly Son taking the penalty for our human sin. God’s justice demanded the fullness of this payment, but His mercy caused it to fall to His Son rather than to His children. Given the depth of this sacrifice, giving my life to His calling appears right and relatively small.

Lastly, the verses talk about the effectiveness of Jesus’s prayer because of His “reverent submission.” This tie between righteousness and power emerges again in James 5:16: “… The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” How we need to see this power released on a hurting and broken world!

Lord Jesus, we give thanks for Your perfect obedience and sacrificial humility. You took the Cross that we rightly deserved and freed us from slavery to sin to become Your righteous servants. We give You our hearts today, that we might be transformed more into Your likeness and that the power of the Holy Spirit might overcome our human weaknesses. Grant us the grace to love others as You would love them. Turn our hearts fully back to You so that we will grasp Your beauty and Your goodness in a fresh way today. In Your Name, amen.

November 2

Hebrews 4

What day is Today?  According to verse 7, "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts".  So I'm looking at Today as the day we get another opportunity to tune in and listen to hear God's voice. What is He saying?  It's the day He has made, let's rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)  I think everyday we have this wonderful opportunity.  The Israelites also had this opportunity but they chose not to combine the word they read with faith. It's this combination of being in the Word and applying faith that allows us to enter into God's rest.  There's a difference between having a relationship with Jesus and knowing about Him. This is where the people of Israel faced a problem and perhaps to whom the author of the book of Hebrews is addressing.  Resting in God today is a glimpse of what our eternal joy holds.  God didn't rest on the seventh day because he was tired, He had made everything perfect and so when we allow ourselves to "rest", we are freeing ourselves from our own labor and trusting in God's perfection. I believe it was His original design all along.  The Word of God is alive and life changing.  So Today, I pray we quiet our minds, and do not harden our hearts when we hear His voice.  Today, allow God's Word to work in our hearts and by faith, make every effort to rest in what Jesus provided on the Cross.  I pray today for everyone who is reading this, that the Lord bless you and keep you, that He make His face shine upon you, and that He be gracious to you. I pray Today, we rest in Him.  In Jesus Name.

Randi