Still in Hebrews. I have been reading chapter 3 over a few times. I found myself skimming 3-6 so I decided to go back AGAIN. Two verses that have struck me from this chapter are 3:14 & 19.
They go wonderfully together.
Verse 14
For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.
Verse 19
So we see that they (Israelites in the wilderness) could not enter in because of their unbelief.
It does not matter how far you run your race, you have to finish. It does not matter if you get to the edge of your promise land, you have to finish. It does not matter if you served the Lord as a child and walked away as an adult, you have to finish.
What causes us to not finish? Unbelief.Unbelief for the big stuff. Unbelief for the little stuff. Unbelief because things did not go how we thought they would have, or should have, or could have. Unbelief because the life we thought we were going to have did not come to pass. Unbelief because we got our feelings hurt, we got ignored, we got humiliated by man and we think God will do the same. Unbelief that starts chipping away at us from the get go. Unbelief that can be traced right up to the very start. Unbelief is sneaky. It may disguise itself as "realistic" or "grounded". It tells us that it is just the way things are and there is nothing we can do about it. It clings to our legs and weighs us down as we run our race. It tries to convince us we can not finish and there is no point in trying. But there is a point in trying. To become partakers with Christ. To see all His glorious works completed. To be standing there on that day and hear the words good and faithful. Unbelief tries to steal that from us. It tells us of a god who is not faithful. It tells us of a god who is not good. That is not God.
Is the race hard? Yes, at times it is. Are there hills and valleys? Yes, there are. We will be tempted to quit? Many times. Quit our marriages, quit our ministries, quit our kids and our families. We must hold onto to Christ as desperately as we did in the moment we surrendered to Him. Hold on till the very end. Our reward is on the other side of that finish line. We must cross it wearing the colors of our King. Bloodied and scrapped up, but clothed in His righteousness.
Finish faithful my friends. FINISH FAITHFUL!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
SEEING
I have been reading in Hebrews. I have read the whole thing but felt I needed to go back and reread it again. I had this great idea for a post, out of Hebrews chapter 2, verse 8, but when I reread the section, it was clear it did not mean what I thought it did the first time, at least not fully. However, it has sparked some meditation on my part.
7 " You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet ".
8 In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.
9 But we see Jesus....
Hebrews 2:7-9 (NIV)
As I read this, I was reminded of was the fact that everything IS under Christ's feet. Everything. Everything yesterday. Everything today. Everything tomorrow. He is still the same God and He is still the same Jesus He was after He denied my request as He was before I made it. They're still the same Trinity they were after you got that bad, that life shattering, forever changing news as they were before. They are the same on Monday when your world fell apart or at the least got chipped away at a little bit as they were on Sunday morning when you were singing your favorite hymn or praise song. They are the same when I have had worry and fear bang at my door; the same when the way I thought was going to work out did not and I burst into tears.
Everything is under their feet. Nothing gets the upper hand with them. (If you have studied Esther with Beth Moore then that phrase "upper hand" will be familiar.)
This week that has given me peace. It has given me courage to take the steps He has called me to. It has given me hope.
I don't see everything subjected to my will, and praise the Lord for that, because I am yet to be perfected. We don't see the world as was planned out in the Garden of Eden. We see men fail and sin abound. However, that is not all we see. We see Jesus, and everything is subjected to Him for He is perfect.
With all we see in the world, let us be deliberate in seeing Jesus.
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
Hebrews 2:9 (NIV)
7 " You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet ".
8 In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.
9 But we see Jesus....
Hebrews 2:7-9 (NIV)
As I read this, I was reminded of was the fact that everything IS under Christ's feet. Everything. Everything yesterday. Everything today. Everything tomorrow. He is still the same God and He is still the same Jesus He was after He denied my request as He was before I made it. They're still the same Trinity they were after you got that bad, that life shattering, forever changing news as they were before. They are the same on Monday when your world fell apart or at the least got chipped away at a little bit as they were on Sunday morning when you were singing your favorite hymn or praise song. They are the same when I have had worry and fear bang at my door; the same when the way I thought was going to work out did not and I burst into tears.
Everything is under their feet. Nothing gets the upper hand with them. (If you have studied Esther with Beth Moore then that phrase "upper hand" will be familiar.)
This week that has given me peace. It has given me courage to take the steps He has called me to. It has given me hope.
I don't see everything subjected to my will, and praise the Lord for that, because I am yet to be perfected. We don't see the world as was planned out in the Garden of Eden. We see men fail and sin abound. However, that is not all we see. We see Jesus, and everything is subjected to Him for He is perfect.
With all we see in the world, let us be deliberate in seeing Jesus.
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
Hebrews 2:9 (NIV)
Friday, September 25, 2009
PHILEMON
I have written this blog post a couple of times. I could not quite get my head around what was bothering me about the book of Philemon. Why was one such short little letter causing my fleshy feathers to be so ruffled? I mean for crying out loud - it is a book of the Bible- God's truth for my life. My flesh (and my enemy) was going - you are so wrong for letting this ruffle your feathers. You are not in line with the Word of God. S-I-N-N-E-R!!
On second thought maybe it is good that it puffs up my plumage a bit, for that means Someone is working on the inside of me to make me more like Him.
On second thought maybe it is good that it puffs up my plumage a bit, for that means Someone is working on the inside of me to make me more like Him.
There are two little parts that got under me. The first one was:
"In line with all this I have a favor to ask of you. As Christ's ambassador and now a prisoner for him, I wouldn't hesitate to command this if I thought it necessary, but I'd rather make it a personal request." Philemon 8-9 The Message
Just seemed kinda bossy to me, at first. Like ole Paul was flexing his spiritual muscles, his authority. Then I thought about my own kids. How I have the authority to tell them what to do, to be bossy if you like, but how it delights me much more when they do what they are supposed to WITHOUT me telling them. Warms my heart, relationship spared, love abounding. So if this is true for my kids, I am pretty sure it is true for God and us. We have free will. We have God's ordinances for our lives, the rights and wrongs of how we are to believe and behave. Now God has all authority to tell us what to do and expect us to do it, but oh how He delights when we choose to do it because we love Him, not because we are forced to.
The second part that put a bur under my saddle was-
"So if you still consider me a comrade-in-arms, welcome him back as you would me. If he damaged anything or owes you anything, chalk it up to my account. This is my personal signature—Paul—and I stand behind it. (I don't need to remind you, do I, that you owe your very life to me?) Do me this big favor, friend. You'll be doing it for Christ, but it will also do my heart good. " Philemon 17-20 The Message
Can I honestly say it made me think of the mob. At least what I know about them based on the Lifetime movies (never watched the Godfather series). Sure I'll do this for you, but don't forget you owe me as well my friend, and should I desire to collect you will be sleeping with the fishes in cement boots. (Again this is based on my knowledge of the mob based on the riveting movies of LMN...if you are actually in the mob, I apologize if this is not how you do business. Please don't hunt me down.) As I have mediated on this passage (meaning I have thought about it and talked about it and thought about it over and over) I realize that this is exactly the case with Christ. God tells us in Deuteronomy 32:35 that vengeance is His. We have no need to hold anything against anyone. Christ will reward us and Christ will deal with them, and should we get high and mighty that we have the right to be begrudging them anything, we would be smart to remember that we are forgiven as well. For we had an account of wrongs we had committed that He had wiped clean as well. We owe Him our very life.
I think what upset me about it was the frankness of it. There were no soft words to cushion the very truth of the Lord. No pretty dressings, no soft pillow of fluff to build you up and gently correct you. Just the plain truth.
I would rather you do it out of love.
You have no right to hold anything against anyone.
Plain and simple. Shot like an arrow straight into my attitude and heart. For I have said I had forgiven, but had I really? I had said I had let it go and moved on, but was I dragging it behind me? Apparently so or I would not have been bothered by it so.
Praise God that He continues to work it out in me and in you. That He would use 25 little verses in an obscure book to reveal to me the hidden depths of my heart.
The exciting part is I can not wait to see what else is in store. About to jump into Hebrews. I feel an overload coming on! I am looking oh so forward to it!
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 "Now may the God of all peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." NKJV
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
GOOD WORKS
So I have been reading the Timothys and Titus the past couple of weeks. Finishing up Titus today, Paul makes a point about "maintaining good works". (Titus 3:8,14). So my question to you is what does that mean? What does it mean to maintain good works? I don't have my answer yet. Maybe after I read your responses I will:o) Looking forward to it!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
PONDERINGS
I hope you enjoyed Deliberate. Well I don't know if hope so much you enjoyed it as much as I pray God met with you and dealt with you. That out of it came a deeper relationship with our Savior Christ Jesus and a burning desire to deliberately follow hard after Him, to touch the hem of His garment and to sit at His feet. To desire and choose a relationship with Him above all else.
Today I have a question for you. A point to ponder and I pray for some discussion.
I have been reading the letters to Timothy. One of the verses that I have heard often is verse 12.
"Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."
We appear to have an abundance of "young " pastors heading up or starting up churches across this land. I am not against "young" pastors. However, I think many of them forget the second half of the verse. To be examples in word, in conduct, in love... Arrogance seems to be very prevalent. Arrogance that dismisses the wisdom of elders, not just church appointed elders, but even elder men & women within the church. Arrogance that dismisses anyone who disagrees with them or challenges them on any point. Arrogance that presents a hip young leadership to the public. Full of compassion and grace to those who are lost. Yet it is a leadership that has the "my way or the highway" mentality. A leadership whose grace and compassion runs out when they are questioned or disagreed with.
I know there are many "young" pastors across this land who are doing exactly what Paul had instructed Timothy to do. Who are humbly accepting the great gift God has placed within them and acting in a manner that reflects that humility. I am not saying if you pastor is young (or older for that matter) that you should be disagreeing with them on every point and challenging their authority. But how your pastor responds when you do ask questions should tell you a lot. Arrogance on either side destroys relationships. Arrogance will always find its way out into the public eye. That is the thing about arrogance - it wants to be seen and heard.
So what do you think about this verse? Do you see it differently? Please share if you do. Otherwise it is just my ramblings. Granted I could ramble for a while but it is so much more fun if you join in.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Today I have a question for you. A point to ponder and I pray for some discussion.
I have been reading the letters to Timothy. One of the verses that I have heard often is verse 12.
"Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."
We appear to have an abundance of "young " pastors heading up or starting up churches across this land. I am not against "young" pastors. However, I think many of them forget the second half of the verse. To be examples in word, in conduct, in love... Arrogance seems to be very prevalent. Arrogance that dismisses the wisdom of elders, not just church appointed elders, but even elder men & women within the church. Arrogance that dismisses anyone who disagrees with them or challenges them on any point. Arrogance that presents a hip young leadership to the public. Full of compassion and grace to those who are lost. Yet it is a leadership that has the "my way or the highway" mentality. A leadership whose grace and compassion runs out when they are questioned or disagreed with.
I know there are many "young" pastors across this land who are doing exactly what Paul had instructed Timothy to do. Who are humbly accepting the great gift God has placed within them and acting in a manner that reflects that humility. I am not saying if you pastor is young (or older for that matter) that you should be disagreeing with them on every point and challenging their authority. But how your pastor responds when you do ask questions should tell you a lot. Arrogance on either side destroys relationships. Arrogance will always find its way out into the public eye. That is the thing about arrogance - it wants to be seen and heard.
So what do you think about this verse? Do you see it differently? Please share if you do. Otherwise it is just my ramblings. Granted I could ramble for a while but it is so much more fun if you join in.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
FOR YOU AND FOR ME
We have talked this week about the choices Christ made. Growing up under the subjection of His earthly parents. Spending time alone with God and constantly pointing us back to God and His glory. Today I would like to sum it up in two verses.
1. Look up and summarize John 3:16 & Mark 10:45.
Everything Christ did stemmed from the Father's love for us. He did not need to rescue Rahab. He did not need to get His house in order. He did not need to be restored as our sinful woman did. We are the ones who needed that. Our Father in Heaven desired for us to brought back into fellowship with Him. He desired His Son to be a willing sacrifice and His Son obeyed. WHY?
So that the Father would be glorified!
This is the ultimate call on our lives. To choose to be in such fellowship with the Lord God that we willingly do His bidding in order to bring Him glory. No pride or self-serving motives. Only desiring to please our heavenly Father and bring others to know Him as well.
2. Look up John 15:13 and write it down.
When we choose to follow after God, to be trained by Him, to glorify Him, to lay aside our selfish needs and desires, we are laying down our lives for our brothers. May we choose today to be living testimonies of that.
Close today by looking up John 15:15-17. Meditate on that word today.
Choose Christ!For He has surely chosen you.
1. Look up and summarize John 3:16 & Mark 10:45.
Everything Christ did stemmed from the Father's love for us. He did not need to rescue Rahab. He did not need to get His house in order. He did not need to be restored as our sinful woman did. We are the ones who needed that. Our Father in Heaven desired for us to brought back into fellowship with Him. He desired His Son to be a willing sacrifice and His Son obeyed. WHY?
So that the Father would be glorified!
This is the ultimate call on our lives. To choose to be in such fellowship with the Lord God that we willingly do His bidding in order to bring Him glory. No pride or self-serving motives. Only desiring to please our heavenly Father and bring others to know Him as well.
2. Look up John 15:13 and write it down.
When we choose to follow after God, to be trained by Him, to glorify Him, to lay aside our selfish needs and desires, we are laying down our lives for our brothers. May we choose today to be living testimonies of that.
Close today by looking up John 15:15-17. Meditate on that word today.
Choose Christ!For He has surely chosen you.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
GLORY
Yesterday we ended up by focusing on good or bad, God can and should be glorified.
In John chapter 8 verse 50, Christ tells us He is not seeking His own glory. He is seeking for the Father to be glorified in Him. The Lord's prayer ends with giving God the glory.
1. Please read John 12:28 & John 21:19. What was the purpose of Jesus going to the cross?
His very death was to bring glory to the Father.
2. Read John 11. Make note of verses 4 & 40.
One of saddest times in the life of Jesus. His dear friend has died and his siblings are distraught. Yet, even in the sorrow, Jesus points them back to the glory of God.
3. Look up Matthew 5:16. What is the two fold purpose of letting our light shine?
4, Please read John 15:8. Why is it desirable for us to bear much fruit?
5. Now read John 14:13. Why did Jesus say He would answer our prayers?
The point of our lives is to bring glory to the Father. When people see Jesus in us it points to His glory. In good or bad times, letting Christ reign in us will only draw people to Him.
Take a moment today and reflect on someone who pointed you to the glory of God. How did it impact your life? Feel free to leave a comment about it!
Then look for opportunities for you to be that to someone else today. Not only look, but be deliberate in acting upon them. Whether it is a child at home, a co-worker or a cashier, the light you shine has eternal ramifications.
Shine brightly, my friends, shine brightly!
In John chapter 8 verse 50, Christ tells us He is not seeking His own glory. He is seeking for the Father to be glorified in Him. The Lord's prayer ends with giving God the glory.
1. Please read John 12:28 & John 21:19. What was the purpose of Jesus going to the cross?
His very death was to bring glory to the Father.
2. Read John 11. Make note of verses 4 & 40.
One of saddest times in the life of Jesus. His dear friend has died and his siblings are distraught. Yet, even in the sorrow, Jesus points them back to the glory of God.
3. Look up Matthew 5:16. What is the two fold purpose of letting our light shine?
4, Please read John 15:8. Why is it desirable for us to bear much fruit?
5. Now read John 14:13. Why did Jesus say He would answer our prayers?
The point of our lives is to bring glory to the Father. When people see Jesus in us it points to His glory. In good or bad times, letting Christ reign in us will only draw people to Him.
Take a moment today and reflect on someone who pointed you to the glory of God. How did it impact your life? Feel free to leave a comment about it!
Then look for opportunities for you to be that to someone else today. Not only look, but be deliberate in acting upon them. Whether it is a child at home, a co-worker or a cashier, the light you shine has eternal ramifications.
Shine brightly, my friends, shine brightly!
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