I Feel It in Every Way

 

Psalm 38:15 But for you, O Lord, do I wait;
    it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me,
    who boast against me when my foot slips!”
17 For I am ready to fall,
    and my pain is ever before me.
18 I confess my iniquity;
    I am sorry for my sin.
19 But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,
    and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
20 Those who render me evil for good
    accuse me because I follow after good.
21 Do not forsake me, O Lord!
    O my God, be not far from me!
22 Make haste to help me,
    O Lord, my salvation!

Once again, we have the closing stanza of the Psalm, which takes us back to the beginning. David is struggling in every way under the weight of sin: physically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. He begins by describing his physical condition and the mockery of his enemies. But what really hurts him the most is the realization of his failure before God; he doesn't what that to be a cause for rejoicing for his enemies. What bothers us most about our sin? The consequences of it, or the glory and heart of God?

Read the Whole Passage...

 Psalm 37:35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
    spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
36 But he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
    though I sought him, he could not be found.
37 Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
    for there is a future for the man of peace.
38 But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
    the future of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
    he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;
    he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
    because they take refuge in him.

In this psalm, David takes a good hard look at the old question: "Why do the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer?" As you can see in the concluding stanza, the wicked for a time do seem to do well, like a giant, lush tree. But we need to look closer, deeper, longer.  The Lord works it all out in the end. Speaking of the end, I have heard that raved readers like to glance at then end of the book first, then go back and read the rest. If you have not read the whole psalm, you will find some well-known statements and words of wisdom. You will also find some sage advice on how to live righteously, even when the wicked seem to prosper. 

Faith in Motion

 

James 2:8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

When Christians get to this chapter we often become wobbly-kneed.  James almost seems to proclaim a "faith-plus-works" salvation, when in reality he does not.  Faith must be demonstrated. He begins the chapter by talking about partiality: there is no room for it when Christ calls people of all sorts of socio-economic and cultural background.  In the paragraph above, verse 12 is key: we now live under the "law of liberty", which means we can freely love and show the mercy God has shown to us.  The remainder of the chapter goes on to show that is the changed heart, moved by the heart of God, that reaches out to the needed.  James then concludes with the illustration of Abraham, the "father of faith," who showed that faith through love and obedience. 

Much-Needed Wisdom

 

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

This chapter, and book, are filled with wisdom about living the Christian life.  It is hard to pull out one paragraph to represent the whole, but this would be it: "We need wisdom. God has it. Ask for it. Live by it."  James begins by addressing how we face adversity: a disaster or an opportunity to grow? He then goes on to mention riches: do they really matter? How about temptation? Whose fault is it? Is it God's? How do we handle our anger, God's Word, and our tongue?  Our approach to each one will demonstrate how much wisdom we have asked for, received, and applied.  So let's begin today by asking Him for the wisdom we very much need. 

"Doing Good"

 

Galatians 6:6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Paul wrote this letter because a group of false teachers was twisting the Gospel and seeking to compel new believers to practice circumcisions and other rites in the Jewish Law.  They would call it "doing good." Paul will give a final warning after this paragraph above.  But Paul wants them to know what real "doing good" is.  It is an expression of gratitude to God, not a means by which to earn His salvation and approval. It is thanking the one who brought them the Good News in a tangible way, living life by His standards and by His grace and Spirit's power, looking for opportunity to help others with needs, and demonstrating to fellow believers the love that God has shown us.  This is the real "doing good." 

Free to Live Holy

Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Paul has been expressing his grave concern about what was happening at this church.  Some were calling for a call to legalistic observance of the law as a means to protect against flagrant immorality. This was a turning away from the life of faith and grace in Christ Jesus.  Paul was in no way downplaying to need for holiness of life; rather, he was reminding them (and us) that holiness comes through the power of the Holy Spirit within, not rules and regulations imposed from without. The Spirit changes us from the inside out. 

A Call to Freedom

Galatians 4:8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.

From the onset, we have seen in this letter Paul's deep concern for the spiritual well-being of this church. In the previous chapter and working into the present one, he sought to drive home the point that in Christ they were no longer slaves to sin or the law, but are now children of God, who were let by the Spirit.  He goes on after the verses above to remind them of their mutual affection for one another - a relationship that they and the legalizers who were leading them astray did not have with them.  In the final paragraph Paul returns to the days of Abraham, the Father of Faith, for another illustration to support the point he has made.  He likens Hagar and her son Ismael to the bondage of the law of Moses and Sarah and her son Isaac to the freedom of a son, encouraging them to choose the latter and not fall back into bondage. 

The Steadfast Love Sandwich

 

Psalm 36:5 Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
    your judgments are like the great deep;
    man and beast you save, O Lord.
7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
    The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house,
    and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light do we see light.

David had a way with words. In seeking to describe the steadfast, covenantal love of God for His people, he reaches as high as one can see and lower than one could ever peer. God's love is overwhelming, abundant, and never-ending.  Interestingly enough, David begins and ends the Psalm talking nothing about God and His love, but about the wicked who ignore and reject Him.  David lived in the middle of people who could care less about God- He was sandwiched in by the sin around him.  He ends with a plea to God to keep him being infected by the wickedness around him - to protect him with His steadfast love.  

Please fight for me!

 

Psalm 35
Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;
    fight against those who fight against me!
2 Take hold of shield and buckler
    and rise for my help!
3 Draw the spear and javelin
    against my pursuers!
Say to my soul,
    “I am your salvation!”

Once again we find David calling out to God for help to deliver him from his enemies. As we go on through the Psalm we find it is not just those who want to do him physical harm, but also those who attack his character, speak evil of him, and spread lies about him. In a sense, these are even more difficult for him to deal with and defend himself against. David pictures God as a mighty warrior who takes up His armor and weapons and fights on David's behalf. But there is yet another battle ragging - the one in his heart and soul.  For that battle, David asks God to bring calmness and confidence, reminding him of His great salvation and ever-present lovingkindness.  He needs reassurance deep within as much or more than deliverance without. So do we. 

How Did This Happen?

 

Galatians 3:O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

As we have seen in the opening two chapters, Paul was very concerned about this church, as many within had fallen for "another gospel." Who did this? How did it happen? Did they know what they had done? They were returning to a "works" righteousness, acting as if their standing with God was based upon their willful obedience to the law.  This carried through to how they then sought to live their lives: in their own spiritual strength.  Paul goes on in the chapter to remind them that the original covenant God had made was one of faith - trusting in God to supply His way of salvation in His time.  If they were to go back to the "original", it would not be obedience to the Law of Moses, but the faith of Abraham. 

For Us All!

Galatians 2:17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

Yesterday we saw in chapter 1 Paul jumped right to the point in his concern for this body of believers: they were being led astray by a false gospel. He began immediately to give his personal testimony. In the opening verses of this chapter he shares his "history" in the church, talking about all the places and people with whom he had connection, especially all the church leaders. Each and every one agreed to justification by faith and not by keeping the law.  At times Paul had "called them to task" for inconsistency on the matter, and they all "got back in line."  The final verse in the passage above (and the chapter) is astounding. The bottom line of their false gospel is that Christ would have died in vain if salvation could be from keeping the law.  Let that sink in. We all need what Christ has done, not just "those sinners."

No Messin Around

Galatians 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. 

We can tell pretty quickly here that Paul is very concerned about this church. He does not begin with his usual niceties and thanksgiving; rather he moves quite quickly into this sharp rebuke.  Someone has been twisting the Gospel - the very message with which he had been entrusted with - and he is going to set them straight.  He will move on in this chapter to give part of his testimony - what did and did not happen - to make it clear that The Gospel is not his, but God's Good News, and that if they are going to mess with the Gospel, they are messin' with God, not him.  Actually, the letter will get much more intense, but Paul is giving them fair warning that they are not going to tip-toe around the truth. 

It's All through Him

Hebrews 13: 20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

As the writer of this sermon series wraps up his letter, he gives the blessing above. He wants to them apply everything he has said about the supremacy of Christ over the Old Testament system in every way. A lot of his closing remarks are reminders to remember: remember to show hospitality; remember to be content; remember your marriage vows; remember the convictions your spiritual leaders have instilled in you; remember what Christ has done for you that no other sacrifice could do. As we do so, God will give us all we need to remain faithful followers of Him. 

The CROSS Country Team

 

Hebrews 12:12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

After presenting the Hall of Faith in chapter 11, featuring those Old Testament Characters who endured all sorts of persecution, yet remained faithful, the writer begins this chapter with the ultimate example: Christ. We, as his followers are to "run after" Him, seeking to be like Him.  Doing so will require discipline, which God lovingly offers us as our Father. In the verses above, the writer then returns to the imagery of the race to describe the Christian life, both individually and as a team. We are to pursue personal holiness and unity as we run together with one another. The writer then closes this chapter with a contrast between living under The Law and living under Christ, showing how far superior and hopeful the new kingdom is.

When Life Drives You Crazy...

 Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
    and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
    to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
    and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
    but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
    not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
    none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Interestingly enough, the verses above are not the most well-known of this Psalm.  If you did not read the whole psalm, I encourage you to do so.  The daily verses I begin with are just an excerpt of the full chapter. This psalm was written by David during a time when he found himself in "protective custody" of a Philistine king. The only way out was to pretend to be cray and be kicked out. Notice what David says here about being one of the righteous: they will be afflicted, crushed, hated, and have troubles. But they will also have the eyes, ears and heart of the Lord turned toward them to deliver, save, and redeem them. 

Righteousness and Joy

Psalm 32:11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,

    and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

 Psalm 33: 1Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous!
    Praise befits the upright.
2 Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
    make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
3 Sing to him a new song;
    play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
4 For the word of the Lord is upright,
    and all his work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice;
    the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

The concluding verse of Psalm 32 and opening verses of Psalm 33 tie them together: those who have been declared righteous by God have every reason to rejoice.  But who are the righteous? Psalm 32 is a record of David's confession of sin which he tried to cover over.  When he had refused to confess there was no joy, no blessings. But when He finally did, he rediscovered the joy of the Lord.  Psalm 33 begins on that same note, then goes on to talk about God's creative power and sovereign rule over nations, as well as His working out His eternal plan for the world.  When we are right with God, having confessed our sin and received His forgiveness, we are in a much better position to see the world around us clearly. 

A Significant Pause...

 

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

As the writer is making his way through the "Hall of Faith", discussing Adam, Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham, he pauses to make the above statement. Stopping here with Abraham, "the Father of Faith," it is as if he is saying: "Notice that all of these men never saw the fullness of what was promised in this life." As a matter of fact, as we go through the list some of them not only faced horrible deaths in this life; they did not even have their names remembered.  Faith is fully trusting in God's plan for our life and for our eternal life. That is something all of these "heroes" of the faith had in common: they believed in the goodness and greatness of God, and that He had a wonderful plan for their future they could not wait to see. 

Let us!

 Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Having shown that the new priest, sacrifice, temple, and whole system of Christ is far superior in getting us into the presence of God to be forgiven and right with God, the writer now gives us exhortations to how we should respond.  We should draw near in repentance and faith and the changed life that results from it. We should hold fast to our convictions about Who Christ is and what He has done, and not shy away from it. We should consider how we can encourage others in their faith, gathering together regularly for study, prayer, and worship, helping each other remain faithful.

The Truly Holy Place

Hebrews 9:24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

We have seen in the past few chapters the superiority of Christ as priest to the preceding system. Now the writer goes a step further, showing the superiority of His ministry to what took place in the temple system. There, every day sacrifice had to be made and the priest would go into the holy place to offer incense. One day a year a lot of sacrifices were made and the High Priest would enter into the inner Holy of Holies. Even before sacrifices began there, lots of blood sacrifices took place to initiate the building. Christ gave His own blood once for all - not to enter a manmade building, but the very presence of the Father, where He now intercedes for us and will stand up for us when judgment comes. He will be our Savior indeed. 

New Priest, New Covenant

 

Hebrews 8:8 Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,
    when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel
    and with the house of Judah,
9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers
    on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
For they did not continue in my covenant,
    and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
    after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws into their minds,
    and write them on their hearts,
and I will be their God,
    and they shall be my people.
11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor
    and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
for they shall all know me,
    from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
    and I will remember their sins no more.”

In chapter 7 we saw how with work of Christ in His sinless life, sacrificial death, resurrection and ascension, He has become the Great Priest, initiating a greater priesthood.  Today, the writer says, this greater Priest represents and new and greater covenant with God. This quote refers back to Jeremiah 31 and the promise God had given centuries before to initiate His New Covenant.  It is much more internal and eternal, reaching deeper into men's hearts and forgiving their sins forever. Does the description above describe us?

The Ultimate Priest

 Hebrews 7:23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

In this chapter the writer piles up evidence to show that Jesus Christ is far above any priest, in particular, those of the line of Aaron.  First, He is from the line of Melchizedek, which means King of Righteousness and King of Peace, both messianic concepts. This also puts him in a priestly line preceding that of Aaron - back to the time of Abraham, the Father of Faith. Thirdly, His priesthood is not just by physical descent, but by the fact that He rose again from the dead. He was not appointed by man, but by God.  This then also makes His priesthood ongoing, and since He never dies, He outlives the whole line of the Aaronic priesthood.  Further yet, He can do all by Himself what it took a whole rotation of priests to do. Finally, His sacrifice was once for all; He does not need to repeatedly offer sacrifices day after day, year after year.  He is the ultimate, final Priest. 

I See a Pattern Here...

 

Psalm 31: In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
    let me never be put to shame;
    in your righteousness deliver me!
2 Incline your ear to me;
    rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me,
    a strong fortress to save me!
3 For you are my rock and my fortress;
    and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;
4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
    for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;
    you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

Many will recognize in the opening stanza of this psalm those concluding words uttered by Jesus on the cross, expressing His full trust in the Father as He released final control on his concluding breath.  This psalm goes on to alternate back and forth between God's faithfulness in delivering him whenever he would call out to Him, setting him safely on a sold rock.  God did this over and over again: it was a pattern David could trust in.  David then concludes with a call for us to join us in calling out to and trusting in God, and praising Him, trusting Him, and loving Him. 

Finally Getting to Church...

 

We have seen the repeated them of David longing to worship God because war kept him away from the tabernacle.  Here we see a psalm of praise when it finally happens:
Psalm 30

1 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
    and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
    and you have healed me.
3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
    you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.
4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
    and give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his anger is but for a moment,
    and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
    but joy comes with the morning.
6 As for me, I said in my prosperity,
    “I shall never be moved.”
7 By your favor, O Lord,
    you made my mountain stand strong;
you hid your face;
    I was dismayed.
8 To you, O Lord, I cry,
    and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
9 “What profit is there in my death,
    if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
    Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!
    O Lord, be my helper!”
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
    you have loosed my sackcloth
    and clothed me with gladness,
12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
    O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

Don't Be a Slug!

 Hebrews 6:9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

In the last chapter and the opening paragraph of this chapter, the writer/preacher said some pretty hard things about those who have received the greater revelation of God in Christ, then walked away from it. He even charges them with "crucifying Christ all over again." Such a crime would bring sure judgment. But he hopes and believes better of his audience, encouraging them to continue to demonstrate faith in Christ by their love and service.  He is in no way advocating a works salvation, but challenging them to not lose heart and slow down in their loving and serving God and His people. Slugs get where they are going, but not with any apparent joy or anticipation!  Heirs look forward to their future and prepare for it. What they know is coming in the future draws them forward and makes a difference in how they live now. 

Our Perfect Savior

 

Hebrews 5:7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus Christ was the better revelation of God than the angels, prophets, or Moses.  He was also the best possible priest.  He understood both God's side and man's, making Him the perfect intercessor.  He already knew what it was to hear man's prayers; now He experienced what it was to offer prayers to God.  He already knew God's perfect will; now He learned what it cost to submit to it.  He came to know what it was to both receive and offer sacrifice for sin.  In one sense He did not HAVE to do so, being He was God and could do anything He wanted, but in another sense, this was the way He could say: "I did it all for you."

Connecting the Dots...

 

Hebrews 4:11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

One of the drawbacks of doing a brief devotional with short passages is the possibility of losing context. That could happen here, where we often forget these two great passages are from one and the same place. The writer continues his theme of "entering God's rest" which we talked about yesterday, then tells us how. It is by being in the Word of God and calling out to Him in Jesus name for His grace to enter into this rest that He has promised.  

Missing out on REST

 Hebrews 3:12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

This chapter opens with the writer comparing and contrasting Jesus with Moses.  Both were used by God to reveal His person and His plan, but Jesus was by far the greater revelation, being God's very Son.  With that being the case, rejection of His revelation would have even greater consequences. With all that the people of Israel had seen in the Exodus, they still rebelled against God, refusing to obey, and ended up dying in the wilderness wanderings. They did not enter the promised rest. How much more we will lose out on if we turn our backs on all God has revealed in Christ. 

Why Did He Have to Suffer?

 Hebrews 2:14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

As we saw Friday in our study in chapter 1, Jesus came as the greatest revelation of God and His will, as He Himself is God the Son.  That says a lot about Who Christ is; this chapter says a lot about why He came.  To begin with, angels - messengers of God, were not sufficient to do what needed to be done for our salvation.  The Savior had to have the same power as the Creator of the universe, including man. He also had to become one of us. In order to lead men triumphantly out of the kingdom of darkness, He had to have the authority to do so.  But what He came to do also required empathy and identification. This was no mere physical bondage we were it; it was far deeper, to our souls.  He had to come suffer all we do, and even more, experiencing what it is to struggle with sin and its dire effects on our lives. This way He not only defeats sin and its power; He becomes our strength as we continue to endure its effects in this life. 

The Voice

 Psalm 28:6 Blessed be the Lord!
    For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
    and with my song I give thanks to him.
8 The Lord is the strength of his people;
    he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
    Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Psalm 29:Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,

    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

    worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.

3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;

    the God of glory thunders,

    the Lord, over many waters.

4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;

    the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

Psalm 28 begins with David calling out to God for mercy - so that He will not bring judgment on him along with all the wicked around him. As shown above, he then shares that God had answered his cry. David then applies this to all of God's people, asking God to bless them also.  This leads to Psalm 29, where David asks God's people (and the angels) to join Him in worshipping God. He focuses on the power of God's voice. His voice is totally unique and powerful. He can call into existence things none other can: storms, thunder, fire and lightening, the destruction of nations - even the birth of the young.  We should use our voice to praise the voice of God. 

Desiring His Presence

 

Psalm 26:8 O Lord, I love the habitation of your house
    and the place where your glory dwells.
9 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,
    nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
10 in whose hands are evil devices,
    and whose right hands are full of bribes.

Psalm 27:4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
    that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
    and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter
    in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
    he will lift me high upon a rock.

Psalm 26 begins as many of David's psalms: with him crying out to God for deliverance, on the run from those who sought to destroy him.  But as he pleads his innocence and makes his case, he gets real with God and says: "What I really want is to be with you in the house of worship. It is not very far into the next Psalm above, with those familiar opening verses, that David once again reveals this same deep desire of his heart: to be with God in His house.  We find the same desire mentioned in the conclusion of Psalm 23.  Is David's desire our desire, no matter what is going on in our life? 

Holy Conversation

Hebrews 1:6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God's angels worship him.”
7 Of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
    and his ministers a flame of fire.”
8 But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
    the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
    with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” 

The passage above is one of the most fascinating conversations in scripture. The writer records God the Father speaking, first about, then to God the Son.  In context, the writer is telling how the revelation God the Son, Jesus the Christ has given us is far superior to anything else we have received, beginning with His incarnation. He then goes on to quote God the Father as He speaks to the Son, calling Him God, yet at the same time calling Himself God. When He came, Christ did reveal to us what God is like, what His plan is, and how He wants us to be a part of their family.