November Quotes

The Bible, as a revelation from God, was not designed to give us all the information we might desire, nor to solve all the questions about which the human soul is perplexed, but to impart enough to be a safe guide to the haven of eternal rest. 

-Albert Barnes

Only he who can say, “The Lord is the strength of my life” can go on to say, “Of whom shall I be afraid?” 

-Alexander Maclaren

If Pastor John Piper has coined the phrase, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him,” then I would like to (by way of complement) coin the phrase, “God is most satisfied in himself when Christ is most glorified in us.” 

-Mark Jones

If you kill Him, He dies to redeem. If you bury Him, He rises again to bring resurrection.

-Spurgeon

God loves you. His eyes are upon you every moment (2 Chronicles 16:9). You are never out of His thoughts (Isaiah 49:15). He loves you“with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3). And nothing will ever “be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39). You did nothing to deserve His love. You don’t do anything to maintain it. You didn’t earn it, so you can never lose it. God has chosen to set His love on you, not because of who you are but because of who He is. He is your Father, and you are His child. 

-James MacDonald

The battle after the battle is real. 

-Nancy Leigh DeMoss

There is a wonderful wideness in God’s mercy. Meditate on the rich truth that God abundantly pardons. Take it personally.

-Joseph M. Stowell

It is enough that the man who refuses to assert himself, seeking no recognition by men, leaving the care of his life to the Father, and occupying himself with the will of the Father, shall find himself, by and by, at home in his Father’s house, with all his Father’s property his.

-George MacDonald, The Hope of the Gospel

The only hope for the sin-sick soul is the mortal wounds of the substitute Savior. 

-H.B. Charles, Jr.

Some unbelievers don't walk in Christianity because they don't accept their sinnerhood. Some Christians don't walk in victory because they don't accept their sainthood.

-Unknown

June Quotes

Expecting perfection from ourselves or others is not what holiness is about.

-Kevin DeYoung

Where reason can only wade, faith swims.

-Thomas Watson

No creature that deserved redemption would need to be redeemed. 

-C. S. Lewis

If we know but little of the excellences of Jesus, what he has done for us, and what he is doing now, we cannot love him much; but the more we know him, the more we shall love him.

 -Spurgeon

Those who are born again are as secure as God is faithful. 

-John Piper

The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. . . . [These] are but shadows; but God is the substance. These are but scattered beams; but God is the sun. These are but streams; but God is the ocean.

-Jonathan Edwards

As in paradise, God walks in the Holy Scriptures, seeking man. 

-Ambrose

If you are more distressed over the sin of the people near you than you are of the sin that is inside you, you won't cry out for grace.

-Paul Tripp

Oral or written testimony of human observers, no matter how trustworthy they may be, is still subject to human error and not “inerrant” in the same way as Scripture. Christians must always remember that the written Word of God is more certain than personal memories or impressions. The experiences we have must never be viewed as validating God’s Word. Rather, God’s Word validates our experiences.

-John D. Morris

The great basis of Christian assurance is not how much our hearts are set on God, but how unshakably his heart is set on us.

-Tim Keller

Hope for the Gentile

Isaiah 56:1-8, ESV

Thus says the LORD:

“Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed. 

Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, 

“The LORD will surely separate me from his people”; 

and let not the eunuch say,

“Behold, I am a dry tree.” 

For thus says the LORD:

“To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.

“And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant—these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer;

their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, 

“I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered.” 

Mary, Did You Know?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?

And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14:25-27)

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." (Revelation 21:5)
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you?

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13)

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?

Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. (John 9:6-7)

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven. (Psal 107:28-30)
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?

And [Jesus] said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:51)
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God?

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. (Colossians 1:19)

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb!

So that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel. (Matthew 15:31)

Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (Colossians 1:15)
And [God] put all things under [Jesus] feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:22-23)
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?

And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” (Romans 15:12)

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10)

This sleeping child you're holding is the great I AM?

God said to Moses, “ I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: 'I AM has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14)
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. (Revelation 22:13)

Did Mary know? 

She knew she was favored by God. She knew her baby would be called Jesus because He would bring salvation. She knew He would inherit David's throne and have an eternal kingdom. She knew she was the handmaiden of the Lord and that His strength was hers. She knew her baby was going to be a Light for the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. She knew a sword would pierce through her own heart. She knew Jesus was the Messiah. Yes, she knew. 

But did she really know? No, no one understands God completely. That's why she pondered the words that were spoken to her and treasured the Child that was given her.

No Condemnation

An excerpt from a devotional series I wrote two years ago.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,

but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:1

Even though the law condemns us as guilty, the flesh serves the law of sin, and Satan attempts to throw our righteousness back in our faces—we have been redeemed from eternal damnation. The law has been fulfilled, and in Christ, we are free from the bondage of that law. Once in Christ we are no longer slaves to the flesh or to the Devil, but children of the Spirit. We are warring against principalities and powers of darkness, but the Spirit of freedom will guides us and teaches us as we abide in Christ. We are sinners, and we live in a sin-cursed world, but we are not of the world, but of Christ. And because our lives are hidden in Christ, there is no condemnation. Our sins have been as far removed as east is from west and buried in the depths of the sea. There is no remembering of them, for your name is in the Lamb’s book of life.

There is no judgment for wrong, for our lives were purchased and our sin was atoned for by the ultimate sacrifice. There are no arguments the devil can use against us. Condemnation is reserved for the unrighteous. The moment the Innocent Substitute died, the temple curtain was torn in two: no

longer was a priest needed to intercede for the people. As His redeemed, we come boldly to the throne of grace to find mercy. When the devil haunts you with your past, discourages you with the present, and threatens you with the unknown future, then you will face him and say “My condemnation has been removed. The One who paid the ultimate sacrifice will mete out justice fairly. I have nothing to fear. I am in Christ Jesus!”

September Quotes

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable. 

-CS Lewis

Christ clothes us with the cloak of His righteousness, covering our nakedness and shame, and says to us, “Neither do I condemn you.

-R.C. Sproul

What makes a warrior is not his ability to escape fear, but to look death in the face absolutely terrified and still move forward. 

-Unknown

We work for a glorious future which we are not destined to see. We are only morning-stars shining in the dark, but the glorious morn will break.

-David Livingstone

If we are not in Christ, we are born losers. If we are in Christ, we are reborn victors.

-R.J. Rushdoony

God wants to bring us to the end of ourselves so that we would see our need for a relationship with him as well as with others. Every painful thing we experience in relationships is meant to remind us of our need for him. And every good thing we experience is meant to be a metaphor of what we can only find in him.

-Timothy Lane and Paul David Tripp

No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.

-J.R.R. Tolkien

There are endless treasures of grace waiting for those who will make even the most feeble attempts to pray. The weakest prayers yield grace.

-Paul Washer

Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be and he shall become as he can and should be.

-Johann von Goethe

By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Don’t ignore the Spirit’s attempts to engage you, my friend. The conviction, the stirring, is the call of your Father, drawing you back to Himself, inviting you to put an end to your running, to start what needs to happen for things to get turned back around. 

-Priscilla Shirer

The truth is that the more intimately you know someone, the more clearly you’ll see their flaws. That’s just the way it is. This is why marriages fail, why children are abandoned, why friendships don’t last. You might think you love someone until you see the way they act when they’re out of money or under pressure or hungry, for goodness’ sake. Love is something different. Love is choosing to serve someone and be with someone in spite of their filthy heart. Love is patient and kind, love is deliberate. Love is hard. Love is pain and sacrifice, it’s seeing the darkness in another person and defying the impulse to jump ship. 

-Unknown

The high noon of God’s glory will be the second coming of Christ. And that is where the sun will stay forever. 

-John Piper

Great men are forged in fire. It is the privilege of lesser men to light the flame.

-movie quote, unknown

If you know why you believe what you believe, then leadership is inevitable. 

 -Dr. Jeff Meyers

A Bigger Picture, Part Four

This is the 200th post here on Facing the Waves, peoples! :)

In 2 or more paragraphs, discuss the section titled, “The Old Testament as Christian Scripture,” at the end of chapter 1 in Understanding the Big Picture of the Bible. What does the author mean by the terms “continuity” and “discontinuity”? Do you agree? Explain your answer and provide biblical examples.

Thomas Schreiner uses the "already but not yet" phrase to help describe the biblical theology of the Old and New Testaments. Because the covenants, curses, warnings, and blessings of the OT cannot be separated from the NT, Schreiner uses this phrase to show how some of covenants were fulfilled, while others are still awaiting full completion even today. For instance, even though Christ came to earth and fulfilled the coming of the long awaited Messiah, the physical realities of some of the covenants have not yet been realized. The Davidic covenant promised a king who would rule on the earth and destroy the opposing kingdoms who had conquered and enslaved Israel. Jesus did indeed come, but He did not come to physical rule in Jerusalem. The Millennial reign and everything afterwards is still something that has not yet been realized and fulfilled here on earth. While Christ did indeed fulfill the prophecies regarding His birth, life, death, and resurrection, the Jews did not yet understand that Christ came to rule spiritually in their hearts and provide the Comforter who would be the abiding Spirit in them. The Jews expected a glorious entrance of a powerful King who would overthrow Roman tyranny and establish justice in Israel. The Kingdom of God did arrive, but it came in the form of a mustard seed (as Jesus would later describe) or of leaven in dough--imperceptible at first, but it would soon grow into something much mightier than a physical kingdom. 

The New Testament is important to view in this context, because just as the Israelites were waiting for covenants and promises to be fulfilled, so are we. While we already have the fulfilled birth, death, and resurrection of Christ, and while the spiritual kingdom of God is here alive and working in our hearts, we, too, await the physical coming of Christ at His Second Coming. We have the spiritual life already, but there is more to come. Like the universal blessing promised to Abraham, there was partial (spiritual) fulfillment of that, but we have yet to see peace reign here on earth or in Israel itself. The Kingdom was and is present in Jesus, but it is not yet consummated. We still wait for the day when Jesus does sit on an earthly throne and judges in righteousness, dividing the believers from the unbelievers, and issuing eternal peace to the world. The Old Testament points forward to Christ. The New Testament points back to Christ, but neither Testament include the covenant completely fulfilled, because that is yet to come. We live in a different age than the OT believers, but even still we can quickly identify with their longing and waiting for something better to come. We still await the resurrection and glorification of our physical bodies. We still wait for the Great White Throne Judgment, and we still await the freedom from the battle against sin. Not all has been subjected to

Christ fully, yet. Death and sin still have hold on this world. However, like those gone before us as recorded in Hebrews 11, we too look by faith towards that which isn't seen yet. We seek a better City whose Builder and Maker is God, and like the Israelites of old we recognize that we have not completely received what has been promised, but we look towards that one day at the consummation of the age, when all will be made right, and we will no longer pray "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done". His Kingdom will have come, and His will shall be done in that Last Day. 

David's Prayer and God's Promises for Us

1 Samuel 7:18-29*

Significance and Future

18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?19 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! 

David recognizes his "smallness" before an awesome God and praises the Lord because of the future He promised to him. We, also, are promised that we are precious in God's sight, and that as children of God, no matter what our circumstances may be or where they may lead us, we are never, ever alone.

Faithfulness and Omniscience

20 And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! 21 Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. 

David trusts that God will complete His promises and that he really needs to say nothing because God knows everything, including his heart and thoughts and words. Today, we have promises from Scripture that we must claim in order to strengthen our faith. We must recognize God's greatness if we are to understand that He is everywhere all the time, completely powerful, and nothing can be hidden from Him. 

Greatness and Redemption

22 Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for themgreat and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? 24 And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God. 

David glories in God's goodness in redeeming a wayward people for His own glory. God made His name great by setting apart Israel from the land of pagan peoples. Just as the Israelites of old, we are commanded to worship the one true God and give glory only to Him. While we may not worship wood and stone, we still sin when we place people or things on the throne of our heart and give glory to them. There is no God like our God, and our obedience and praise to Him exalts His glory. 

Glory and Honor

25 And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken. 26 And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,’ and the house of your servant David will be established before you. 

David request that God would confirm His promise, not just to reassure David, but to bring more glory to God and that people would praise Him for it. We must also pray in this manner--that God's promises would be fulfilled, not just so we can be comforted and secure, but so that others would see God's glory and be drawn to Him in salvation. 

Courage and Truth

27 For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 

David found courage to pray from God's promises. He's comforted and reassured that God will do what He says He will do and that it will come to pass. We also must take courage from God's promises and pray through that courage. Many times our situations discourage us from praying or reading the Word, but it is in those moments that we need courage most. And courage comes from knowing God's Word and holding it before the throne of grace, to find mercy, and courage, in times of need. 

Blessing and Eternality

29 Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.

David asks for a blessing and praises God that the blessing will be forever. God had promised that a temple would be built for Him, but that later on a Suffering Savior would come who would reign on David's throne forever. Today believers still pray for God's blessing on our lives, homes, and people we love, but I think we forget that we are blessed now and forever--it's not something we must ask for because He forgot to give it. It's already there, and we must remember that it remains forever in Christ. We are blessed in all the heavenly places in Christ because He chose us and made us perfect in Him. That's more than even the angels can say.

*Verses quoted from the English Standard Version.

Keep Yourselves from Idols

I've been reading through Deuteronomy again for the past couple days, and the passage on idolatry in chapter four stood out to me this time, and as most of us know, idolatry was an issue that the Israelites struggled with frequently. In fact, it makes up much of their history as they fell, time and time again, into worshipping other gods from other nations.

While I didn't do an extensive study of this passage, I read it in its context and mentally connected the passage to other places in Scriptural history. The reason God gave here for forbidding idolatry was interesting: You saw no form of any kind the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol..." (Deut.4:15-16a, NIV). Since the Israelites had not been permitted to see a physical image of God, they were warned against creating an representative object of which to worship. Even Moses, the meekest man, had not been permitted to see God's face, and the Lord Himself had to protect Moses from seeing His glory. They did not know what the image of God looked like, save that they were created in His image, and therefore, they must not attempt to create a replica of something which they had never seen.

Not only were they not to create an idol, but they were not to make and image of any shape: not a man or woman, not an animal on earth or a bird, not like any creature that moves on the ground or a fish in the water, not a heavenly body or anything whatsoever.

The Fire that spoke from the burning bush had rescued His people from the furnace of Egypt. The One who had not revealed His face had placed His image on the faces and hearts of men. The One who commanded them to cross the Jordan would one day send His Son to "cross the Jordan" (figuratively) to redeem Israel. The Covenant-Maker commanded His covenant-breakers not to attach themselves with any other gods. The God who gathered Israel as a nation would scatter them for their rebellion. The gods who turned the peoples' hearts away would eventually be the motivator to turn their hearts back to Yahweh.

God was God then, and God is God now. The God who rescued, scattered, and redeemed His people also does the same with us today when we leave the worship of His throne and join with others to worship our own heart's desires. This passage was a reminder of that. We tend to idolize things such as people, money, or places...even things like self-pity, grief, or happiness can become places of idolatry because our hearts are bent on placing something or someone on the throne rather than Christ.

But the God who allowed circumstances to cause suffering for Israel, also waited for their repentance and never left them or forgot His covenant with them. And ultimately, He sent a Redeemer for their (and our) sake, to rescue them permanently and bring them into His eternal home. There we will see His glory face-to-face and there will be no struggle to allow Him to rule in our hearts.

Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. 
(1 John 5:21, NIV)

His Treasured Possession!

At the conclusion of the Pentateuch comes the book of Deuteronomy, the "second law" in which Moses recounts many of the laws given to him and the Israelites on Mount Sinai.

In Exodus, the first law, God gave to the children of Israel the commands they were to live by, reminding them that they were a nation set-apart and holy to the Lord. They were not to defile themselves with the people, cultures, and gods around them, but to serve only the Lord God.

Exodus 19 tells us of the special place that Israel had in being the chosen possession of the Lord. God, in His sovereignty, chose out Israel, and promised to bless them if they were obedient and kept His covenants. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. (Exodus 19:5-6, ESV)

Reading through Deuteronomy last week, I picked up on the repeated references to the Israelites as God's chosen people.

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 7:5-6)

God continues speaking through Moses reminding the people that it was not because of their greatness of number that the Lord chose them, for they were not a great nation at first. It was because God is a steadfast, faithful God, who covenanted with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that He would give them a nation. He chose to love the Israelites, and He redeemed and set-apart this nation for Himself. Not because of anything they had done, but because He is a God who is faithful to those who love Him.

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 14:2) 

Because of this calling and this requirement set on them, the Israelites were to drive out the Canaanites who inhabited the land God was bringing them to, so that they would not become polluted. As God's elect, they were to remain holy for Him.

And the Lord has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commendments, and that he will set you in praise and in fame and in honor high above all nations that he has made, and that you shall be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised. (Deuteronomy 26:18-19)

But this just wasn't any possession; this was a treasured possession. Something highly valued and cherished. Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines treasured as "something of great worth or value; a person esteemed as rare or precious; to hold or keep as precious." The Israelites were of great worth in the Lord's eyes. He viewed them as precious. But this wasn't because of anything in them, for they were often wicked, deserting the One who called them out from a pagan land. They turned from their Redeemer many times, yet He still kept His covenant with them. God placed value in them because of of what His Son would do for them in the years to come. It was through Christ's future coming that they were ransomed, and He chose to love them for the sake of His own glory. 

They are the Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarches, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. (Romans 9:4-5)

But because of unbelief, the nation of Israel rejected the Son of the One who saved them. And because of their unrepentant spirit, God allowed them to harden their hearts in accordance with His plan to bring salvation to the world. Paul speaks of this in detail in Romans 9-11, and also of his own calling to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles. And while the Jews have resisted the work of Christ, the message of Jesus is still offered today for Jew and Gentile alike. The hardness of the Israelites provides the means of repentance to the rest of us. God is God over all, and through His grace and wisdom, has brought salvation to all mankind, showing mercy on the remnant of Israel who love Him and providing a way of escape to the Gentiles, as well. 

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes....For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:4, 11-13)

To those who believe, Christ promises His redemption and peace. The law that condemned the Israelites, also would condemn us, but by laying down His life for us, Christ ultimately fulfilled the law by loving us. The law cannot be held up against us anymore, for Christ's blood covers it all and makes us righteous. God foresaw the rejection of Christ by the Jews and opened the door of mercy and grace to those of us (and them!) who would believe in His Son. It isn't anything in us that makes us worth loving, but because of His faithfulness and patience, God desires all to be saved, and so He provided the way for us through the death of His only Son.

Because of His Son, God also claims us as His treasured possession. The Cornerstone that was laid was rejected by its own. That Cornerstone itself was chosen and precious, and those who choose to believe today in it will not be put to shame, but instead will also be chosen and precious--like Christ is.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; one you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Let us live showing forth the glory of God to a lost world, realizing that we are loved by a Savior who died for us. A Savior who treasures those who belong to Him and lives to make us righteous--not because of who we are, but because of what He's done; not because of what we've done, but because of who He is.

Blessing on Obedience

Perhaps the Israelites understood the meaning of these words better than many. Living in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God: Coram Deo. They lived in the shadow of the glory of God in the tabernacle. As a nation they were directly accountable to God, for they had no king at first, and the leaders they did have communicated with God. They were commanded to live to the glory of God because they were a chosen nation set-apart for Him: Israel--the nation from which the Christ would be born.

Sometimes we forget that Israel was an obedient nation. They were often wayward and rebellious, but they were also obedient. There was a remnant preserved who always walked by faith. They were the nation who verbally committed to the Lord that they would serve Him and Him only, teaching their future generations to do the same. And from the nation of Israel came many of the righteous men and women that we still look back on today, remembering their dedication, faithfulness, and sacrifice to God.

In the beginning of Numbers, the Israelites assembled to receive instruction from God through Moses before they begin to conquer Canaan. The 12 tribes (excluding the Levites) were arranged, in obedience to the Lord's commands, around the tabernacle. The Levites were given their duties in the tabernacle, and were reminded of their distinction as servants in the Lord's house. After other commands and instructions were given, God instructed Moses to have Aaron, the High Priest, and his sons bless the people for their obedience.

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them. (Numbers 6:22-27)

Here, the Lord pronounced blessing on them in the present for their obedience. He also promised to bless them in this way if they continued in their obedience. His presence would shine on them, and watch over them for their good. He would keep them safe, and show kindness to them, and give them peace. His name would be known in Israel, and other nations would know that the Israelites were God's people. Deuteronomy 28:10 confirms this: And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you.

Many of the Psalms speak of these same blessings. Psalm 121 describes the Lord as the God who doesn't sleep--continually watching over Israel, preserving them from evil and death. In Psalm 31, David requested that the Lord apply the blessing in Numbers 6 to him personally. Make your face to shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love! [Psalm 31:16] Psalm 67:1 requests a similar blessing: May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us. 

The principles of these blessings also apply to those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ, as well. Our obedience to the Lord will always be blessed. We, too, live in the presence of the Lord, as the Holy Spirit indwells our hearts, causing us to live under the authority of God, to the glory of God. We're people set-apart, sanctified, and holy for the Lord. He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should walk blamelessly before Him. He promises to preserve us, to protect us, and to give us peace as we walk with Him. And as we live to the glory of God, under the authority of God, and in the presence of God, others will see our lives and will be pointed to the God who saved us and to the Savior who died and rose for us.

The Promise of Salvation and Resurrection

This week I read from Mark 10 to Acts 16. Acts is a book that recounts much of Jesus' ministry as the disciples proclaim the gospel to the Jews and Gentiles. And many times in their preaching, Paul, Peter, Philip, and many others, take their listeners back to the Old Testament Scriptures, pointing out that Jesus was the New Testament fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies.

In Acts 2, Peter is preaching to the people Jerusalm and Judea on the Day of Pentacost. Standing with the eleven other disciples, Peter defends the inerrancy of Scripture and the deity of Christ using the words and life of Jesus, as well as the words from OT believers such as Joel and David.


One of the passages Peter quotes comes from Psalm 16:

For David says concerning him [Christ], I saw the Lord always before me, or he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence. (Acts 2:25-28, ESV)

 Going back to Psalm 16:8-11, we read:

I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

David, in this psalm describes his confidence in the Lord in the past, present, and future. Past, because he has consciously placed the Lord at the forefront of his mind, knowing that this will cause him to be steadfast regardless of people and circumstances around him. Present, because the core of his being ("heart" and "whole being") rejoices in God and is secure in the love of God. And future, because David knew that God removed the immediate threat of death, and would keep him safe in His will until the day he was resurrected into complete joy and pleasure.

Peter then takes these words of David's and brings them into his sermon defending the Lordship of Christ, especially that of the resurrection. For the resurrection was the event that proclaimed that Christ was who He said He was. David words--For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption--while speaking of his own physical death and resurrection, also spoke prophetically about Christ. And indeed, Peter uses these words to describe Christ's resurrection. David's body had never been raised, as of yet, but Peter goes on to say that Jesus was the fulfillment of these verses, in that He was raised from the dead and exalted at the Father's right hand. God kept His promise in preserving His Son's soul from corruption, and the disciples were witnesses of that fulfilled prophecy. Peter pointed to the crucified Christ and proved that He was exactly who He claimed to be--the Savior of the world and the long-awaited Messsiah of the Jews.

Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we are all witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. (Acts 2:29-33)

Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. (Acts 2:36)

And so, this same promise was given to us, also: that the Lord Jesus was raised from the dead and exalted by the Father, and through Him we have the forgiveness of sins, the promise of a resurrected body, and the expectation of "fullness of joy" and "pleasures forevermore" when we enter Christ's presence.

For this promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself. (Acts 2:39)

That promise should give us hope.

His World and His Word!

This week's Bible reading schedule took me through the whole book of Psalms. And while I love them all, two of my favorites would be Psalm 18 and 19. Psalm 18 describes David's love for the Lord who consistently delivers him. He speaks of God's awesome power over the earth when he cried out to the Lord, and he tells of how God has protected him and enabled him to walk in integrity.

Psalm 19 begins with a description of the Creator's creation, as well, saying that "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork" (Psalm 19:1). While we as Christians are commanded to share the gospel with the unsaved, creation itself merely shows the God of heaven on its own. In response to the Pharisees who were criticizing Jesus followers for proclaiming His glory, Jesus responded, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out." (Luke 19:40) Creation points to a Creator, and because creation is all over the world, the message is spread to all the corners of the earth. "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." (Romans 1:19-20) God's world since the six days of creation have shown the glory of Christ, and David often describes the majesty of the earth in his Psalm, as he did in Psalm 19:1-6. And one day our Creator will create a new heavens and a new earth where we will reign with Him and glorify Him for all of eternity.

In the rest of Psalm 19, David describes the Word of God using four different words: law, testimony, precepts, and commandment. Each of these have specific definitions and describes part of what God's Word does. As the law of God, Scripture directs, instructs, and shows us truth from error. Scripture's testimony is that which points back to the Divine Author. Precepts show us how God governs men's hearts (and all of creation), and commandments in the Word of God are divine orders that we are called to obey. The fear of the Lord imparts wisdom, and in that wisdom we realize that God's rules are righteous, just, and eternal, which leads us to desire them over any temporal, earthly thing. The Word of God also warns and directs, commanding us to deal with the sin in our life as God reveals it, so that it doesn't have dominion over us. David ends with a prayer and a plea that his words and thoughts would be pleasing to a holy Creator. Realizing that he is accountable to the One who made and sustains him, David desires that his life would be a living sacrifice to His Lord--his Rock and his Redeemer.

May we, too, be able to pray as David did, that our words and thoughts would be found to be in line with God's truth. For as our Creator, we are accoutable to Him who gives us our life. By His grace He has granted us mercy by giving us His Word, so that we might know the fear of the Lord that gives wisdom.

Laws for a Lawless People

I covered Genesis 29-Numbers 8 in this week's reading. It was interesting to again read all the "rules" God laid out for His people. God didn't institute laws and commands for other people like He did for the nation of Israel. You come to the end of reading Exodus and Leviticus and you wonder if the Israelites had any time to "just live" with all the laws about restitution, slaves, social justice, Sabbath practices, feasts and fesitivals, temple building, endless sacrifices (I always wondered how they didn't run out of bulls, sheep, goats, and oxen!), offerings, clean and unclean animals, purification, sickness, atonement, relationships, diets, property, redemption, and numerous other categories.

Some of the first listed commands God gave His people was the night of the first Passover. He instructed them carefully on how to prepare the lamb and other food, and how to put the blood of the Lamb on the sides and top of the door if they wanted their firstborn spared from death. The Israelites obeyed these commands and their children were spared. But even though they saw the rewards of obedience many times, they also later found out the consequences of disobedience, for time and time again they turned from serving God to worship other gods.Yet, God chose them, an unruly people, and gave them His rules. He knew they couldn't keep them, but that showed them their dependency on God and paved the way for a needed Savior.

And in the middle of all the rules, you see the words "I am the LORD" or "because I am holy". The rules were given, not to hem them in unnecessarily, but to show the nation of Israel that they were set apart from the rest of the nations. They were called to be holy, as God was holy, because He chose them. Because He made them in the image of Himself. And though they defaced that image repeatedly, grace did come. The law showed them that they deserved to die--they could not keep the law even though their life depended on it. They were dead in their sin, but they had faith in God and looked for the day when the promise of their Savior would come. And He did, but not in their time.

The law was good, for it showed sin, but when Christ came, He fulfilled the law. That is why today we live under grace. Not grace to sin, but grace to become holy. That is why we're free from sin and death. That's where there is no condemnation. We've been released from the law, to live under grace. Grace binds us to a merciful God, not permitting sin, but destroying it, and holding us captive to the One who rescued us. We couldn't keep the law any more than the Israelites could, but we have a Mediator and a Savior who could and did. And He provided the life we needed to conquer the death of sin and be holy as He is holy.

Free from the law—oh, happy condition!

Jesus hath bled, and there is remission;

Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall,

Christ hath redeemed us once for all.

Children of God—oh, glorious calling,

Surely His grace will keep us from falling;

Passing from death to life at His call,

Blessed salvation once for all.

But now are we released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

(Romans 7:6)

A Prophet Without Honor

Mark is the shortest Gospel chapter-wise, and I finished reading through it yesterday and today. But before I got to Mark, I read through Matthew. Jesus visits His home town, Nazareth, and is rejected by His own people. They take offense at what He says and are astonished at his teaching. And Jesus says this, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household."

But He didn't just meet resistance and unbelief in Nazareth, for many people, homes, and towns refused to acknowledge who He really was. And as I read through Mark with that quote in mind, many of the accounts of Jesus ministry stood out to me as the Israelites rejected Him. He truly was a Man without apparent honor. He came to earth in a way that seemed dishonorable, and He died in earthly humiliation.

Perhaps the most forceful resistance came from the Pharisees, as they were the ones who ultimately rejected Christ and crucified Him. In Mark the scribes question Jesus' motives for healing the paralyzed man, and the scribes and Pharisees doubt Jesus when He goes to eat with the sinners and tax collectors. They accuse Jesus and his disciples of unlawful activity when they eat corn on the Sabbath, and they watch Christ to hope to accuse Him when He heals a man on the Sabbath. Other people beg Jesus to leave after he frees a man from the hold of demons. The Pharsees critisize Jesus disciples for not following man-made traditions, and though many are astonished by His teaching, their hearts are hardened to the truth. Those He ministers to can't decide if He's the resurrected John the Baptist, Elijah, or another of the prophets. And those who are so close to the truth turn away because it could cost them their material possessions.  His disciples consist of a bunch of men who don't understand His teaching and who fight for greatness among themselves. Men who betray and deny Him. And who leave His side at the moment they are needed most, even though they pledged their loyalty to Him. His forerunner, John the Baptist, is killed because of Herod's foolish oath. The most religious men of the time continue to defy the heart of the Gospel by selling and buying in His holy temple, and Jesus drives them out. He weeps when a friend dies and also when He looks out over the city He would have welcomed into His arms, but they would not believe. His brothers and sisters don't even believe in Him. He's captured by the people He will die to save. He's betrayed by one who had first-hand experience in the the love of the Son. He's denied by the man who proclaimed Him to be the Messiah. A ruler condemns Christ to death in order to please the Jewish leaders. He's dressed up in a robe and mocked. He's bears the curse of sin as He hangs on a cross. He's forsaken of God.

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom mend hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted...[he] was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many. 

(Isaiah 53:3, 7, 12) 

But the Son of Man who endured so much dishonor from His own creation, received complete and lasting honor when He was taken up into glory and seated at the right hand of the Father. His dishonor here was finished, and He now shares in the majesty of God. 

But there were some who honored the Lord and loved Him. There were the disciples that, for all their unloveliness, did follow Him in His ministry and carried on His message. There were those in the crowds who gave glory to God when they saw the sick healed. Two of His brothers write of Christ and are included in our Canon today. The wind and the sea honor and obey Him when He commands them to be still. The woman whose great faith prompts her to just touch Jesus clothing in order to be healed. The disciple that Jesus loved. The Syropheonician woman's faith. The disciple to whom it is revealed that Jesus is the Christ. The father who says "I believe; help my unbelief!" The blind man who receives sight and follows Jesus. The widow who probably didn't even know that Jesus was watching her give all that she had.  Mary who anoints Christ's feet in silent worship. And the women who loved Him enough to watch His death and then prepare His body for burial. And the disciple who admits "My Lord, and my God!"

The Prophet who came with a message for His own people was ultimately rejected. And though He was without honor in His home, He isn't anymore--that's why we have salvation. And so, too, it is with us. Jesus' followers were all without honor in their living and dying here on earth, but they were received into glory, and the shame of a temporary life compares nothing to the glory which shall come.

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source.

Hebrews 2:9-11a

His Power!

     Since last week's post, I've read through the last chapters of Jeremiah up to the end of Amos. And most of these books describe the judgment, destruction, and rebellion of the Israelite nation. There is redemption and restoration promised, but they are sobering books nonetheless.

     However, one theme that I noticed mentioned by all the major and minor prophet authors was the power of God. And today I'm going to let Scripure speak for itself.

Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name. He will surely plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, but unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon.

Jeremiah 50:34

It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom,

and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth.

He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

Jeremiah 51:15-16

The LORD gave full vent to his wrath; he poured out his hot anger, and he kindled a fire in Zion that consumed its foundations.

Lamentations 4:11

But you, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations.

Lamentations 5:19

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, even I, am against you. And I will execute judgments in your midst in the sight of the nations.

Ezekiel 5:8

But behold, some survivors will be left in it, sons and daughters who will be brought out; behold, when they come out to you, and you see their ways and their deeds, you will be consoled for the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem, for all that I have brought upon it. They will console you, when you see their ways and their deeds, and you shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, declares the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 14:22-23

And my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.

Ezekiel 39:7

Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,

to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons;

he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise

and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things;

he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.

Daniel 2:20-22

All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”

Daniel 4:35

But I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, 

and besides me there is no savior.

Hosea 13:4

You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.

Joel 2:27

"Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!" For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought, who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth--the Lord, the God of hosts, is his name!

Amos 4:12b-13

     And we see God's power meet mankind's weakness at the cross, for there Christ demonstrated that He was given power over all things--even sin and death. And now He is seated at the Father's right hand, awaiting the Day of Judgment when He will gather together all His chosen and rejoice with them for all eternity. 

This is The Power of the Cross.

"I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all."

(Ephesians 1:16-23)

His Intercession!

Wherefore he is able also 

to save them to the uttermost 

that come unto God by him,

seeing he ever liveth 

to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:25

Do you ever think about the fact that Jesus prays for you? We often think about prayer as our talking to God--and rightly so--but Jesus also pleads before the throne of grace for us. He lives to make intercession for His chosen ones. He can save us because He died for us, and is now able to represent us perfectly and completely before a holy and just God. He died to bury our sins, but He lives to intercede for our lives. 

Arise, my soul, arise; shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice in my behalf appears:
Before the throne my surety stands,
Before the throne my surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.

And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:27) An all-knowing Savior not only knows exactly how to pray for us, but He also knows the mind, Spirit, and will of God. He prays with that knowledge. Knowing that God's purposes are sovereign, and that everything He does or says will be accomplished regardless of man's desires. Yet, the One who searches the human heart still stands before that Throne and begs for mercy and grace on our behalf. 

He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead:
His blood atoned for all our race,
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.

The blood of the One who bought us--the sacrifice Who paid for our sinful lives--takes the likeness of a man on Himself, but His holiness is what permits Him entrance into the holy place. For God cannot turn away a perfect Ransom. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1b-2)

Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
"Forgive him, O forgive," they cry.
"Forgive him, O forgive," they cry.
"Nor let that ransomed sinner die!"

He is the remover of the Father's righteous wrath. He is the One and only atonement for sin. He is our High Priest--the One who dares to freely enter the Holy of Holies and look upon the face of God. He is the presence of the sinner but the flawless Christ. He is the Son of Man, yet the Son of God.

And He prays for us. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away, the presence of His Son;
His Spirit answers to the blood,
His Spirit answers to the blood,
And tells me I am born of God.

 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Romans 8:34) Yes, our sins condemn us, but it is the risen Christ who intercedes for us. He not only sits in glory and majesty at the right hand of the Father in equality with Him, but He also took on the form of a servant and the fashion of mankind in order that He might pray for us.

So when your spiritual life appears to be fading, when your prayers don't seem to be reaching the heavens, when your questions outnumber your answers, and when your faith simply collapses--remember. Remember that Christ is already praying for you. Remember that He constantly stands before the Father, pleading for mercy for you. Remember Who He is and what He has done and is doing for you. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of  the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. (Hebrews 9:24) Our imperfect prayers reach the King of Kings as perfect, because of our Intercessor. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

Therefore, the Holy of Holies, the sacred dwelling place of God, is open to us. He invites us to enter with our imperfection, because the Ransom who stands in our place has made us perfect in His sight. For all of time and eternity.

Jesus says, I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. and all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, ever as we are one: I in them and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that teh world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:9-10, 17, 22-23)

So then, Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have no an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear:
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And "Father, Abba, Father," cry. *

*Hymn lyrics by Charles Wesley.

In the Service of the King

Serve the Lord with gladness: 

come before his presence with singing.

Psalm 100:2

Life is busy. We can all attest to the truth of that statement. Helping our siblings, meeting the needs of friends, running errands for parents, solving “technical difficulties”, visiting the elderly, using our musical and speaking abilities to comfort others—all these are examples of just ordinary life.

Sometimes, though, I think we get caught up in the actual doing of the work, that we forget what it really is: serving. We also forget Who we are serving: the King of Kings. And so, I hope that this will be a written reminder and encouragement to you to keep your focus on the One you are serving. The One who has called you out of darkness, and into His marvelous light. The One who modeled service as no man did, has, or ever will—and it is we who are called to be “little Christs”—to model that service here on earth.

Who are you serving?

Yes, we as believers have the head knowledge that “everything is done to the glory of God”, but do we really recognize that it is the Christ, the Son of the living God that we are serving? The One who is…

Highest of majesty

Brilliant in splendor

Jesus, Creator, Redeemer of man

Fullness of God, He is One with the Father.

Just realizing the complete awesomeness of the King of Kings, causes us to step back and rethink who we really are as finite humans. It is the Creator of our very lives Who sanctifies us for His use [Jeremiah 1:5; Hebrews 10:10]; the High Priest who lives to make intercession for us [Hebrews 7:25]; the One who knows our sin like no other, and yet chooses to use us in spite of who we are. [2 Corinthians 12:9] The God Who rescued us—yes, that’s Who we serve.

When are you serving Him?

As believers, we are Christ’s servants, not just when we feel like it, not just when life is going smoothly, and not just when we think we know the outline of the near future. After we have surrendered our lives to the Lord, our time, talents, and treasures are not our own anymore. Our service to Him is to be constant and everlasting. Even when we have passed through Heaven’s gates, we will join the thousands before us in serving Him and worshipping at His feet. For now, our service is here on earth.

Take my life and let it be

Consecrated, Lord to Thee.

Take my moments and by days

Let them flow in ceaseless praise

Our moments and our days all belong to Him--whether it’s doing the laundry for the thousandth time or answering the call to minister in another country. We don’t “belong” to ourselves. We are God’s, and He asks—no, He demands—that each and every moment be lived in service to Him. [1 Corinthians 6:19-20]

Where are you serving Him?

We can start right where we are. Some of us may be at home, at work, in church—wherever we may be physically at this present moment, that is where we are to serve Him. The Priests of the Old Testament were given the task of serving specifically in the temple. The church is commanded to serve each other. [Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 4:10] We should not be limited geographically, financially, or in any other way, in serving the Lord. Sometimes this may call for us to be spontaneous, and temporarily leave off our own plans to serve someone in need. Service starts right where we are, and for many of us that should begin in our own homes, serving our family—siblings, parents, and/or spouses—while learning to surrender our own schedules to another’s in order to show the love of Christ.

Why are you serving Him?

Why are you serving Him? Is it so that others will see your good works and glorify you? Or is your work done heartily to the Lord? [Colossians 3:23-24] We aren’t to boast about what we accomplish, how much time we “give up” for someone, or about some great thing that we did for the world. Our reward lies in heaven—and inheritance with our heavenly Father. The unbelieving world should see our works, but our accomplishments should provide them a reason to glorify Christ. [Matthew 5:16] For it is nothing in us that accomplishes anything, but only by His strength that we can do all things. [Philippians 4:13] Unto Him we live and serve. [2 Corinthians 5:15]

How are you serving Him?

As Joshua commanded the Israelites, so we must also “fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth”. [Joshua 24:14; 1 Samuel 12:24] Our service to Him must be genuine—not a hypocritical sort or a habit forced on us by someone else—but in faithfulness to the Lord because of what He has done for us.

Mark 9:35 instructs us to be the servant of all; not showing partiality to those we “like” best, but giving to anyone out of love for God. This will involve humility, just as Christ took on the form of a humble servant—even to the point of death. [Philippians 2:4-8]

We are to serve the Lord with singleness of heart. Jesus quoted the Old Testament in His refutation of Satan’s bribes: “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” [Matthew 4:10, emphasis mine] We will have to consciously destroy the sinful idols in our life on a daily basis, in order that we might take up our crosses and follow Him in servitude. We cannot serve the world and God, but must hate the one and cleave to the other. [Luke 16:13]

The service God requires of us, which encompasses all the tiny details of life, is summed up in Romans 12:1, which states: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Our ultimate service to God lies in our surrendering of our lives as a sacrifice to our Redeemer. When we have allowed Him and the Holy Spirit to indwell our lives, we are putting Him on the throne of our hearts and submitting our thoughts, actions, and motives to His control; it should be our desire to surrender all things to Him. We will fail, guaranteed; but by consistently surrendering all to Him, we can then serve Him as He served us.

Conclusion:

Think about this: the creatures in this universe—we who have sinned on every imaginable level—are some who have been redeemed, called out, and set-apart to serve the sovereign Creator. The Messiah chose to exemplify the ultimate example of service (dying for a sinful world), so we might understand, as best we can, how to lay down our lives for one other. The Beloved of the Father chose to give life to the earth and its inhabitants so that they might more fully glorify Him and serve Him—in spite of their sin. And not just to serve, but to love Him with all of our hearts.

“And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, an d to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?” [Deuteronomy 10:11-12]

May we all be able to say:

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”[Joshua 24:15]

Blessings, 

Kaleigh 

*This article was originally written to be published in this newsletter. You can find their website here.