Constantcy

Heb. 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 13 begins with many exhortations to believers. Initially they are to continue to love one another as well show hospitality to strangers. Why? Certainly to show the grace of God to them but also these strangers might be angels. What would that be like? Entertaining an angel in disguise! 

We must also remember prisoners and the mistreated as think of them and treat them as we would want to be treated. I can only imagine how devastating it would be to be in such a hostile environment. My dependence on God would be at its max! 

Marriage must be held in honor. God does not condone immorality or adultery. The world may think 'loves' free, but the bill will come due one day! 

We are to keep free from the love of money and make contentment our principle for living! Why be content? Why feel no need to get ahead in this world? Because The Lord is our helper; we will not fear; what can man do to us? In no way do we fear man or depend on man! 

The author urges believers to remember and imitate their spiritual leaders. Look at the outcome of their faith! Finally, the reason for it all. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. What an anchor! Just to know that He is unfailing everyday and in every circumstance! Just to know He is the reason for all life and my every moment!

Father,

Thank You for these reminders. Help me always remember you are my helper especially as I fly today to PHX. Help me to rest in You unafraid of health issues, getting kicked off the plane, or having difficulty getting home. Thank You, Jesus, that You are a constant in my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Discipline and Racing

Heb. 12:6

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives."

Chapter 12 begins with two verses so often quoted. 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

But what do these verses have to do with the ones that immediately follow on discipline? It seems to me there are two main points. Point number one being the race and how we run it. We are to lay aside sin [all sin because they are weights keeping us from running unencumbered] and run with endurance the race that is before us by looking to Jesus, by seeing how he ran. He endured the maximum amount of hostility any man could endure. He knew ahead of time that his death was required, and yet he didn't back out. He didn't choose an easier path. He ran straight until the very painful end. In our struggle against sin I have not been anywhere near the point of death. If I had, I am not sure how I would have responded. It would only be by the grace of God that I would be strong. But I am exhorted to remember Jesus, remember how he suffered for me, remember how he rose again and is seated in heaven. I am to remember because I will be there with Him. I am to remember because this is my future.

Point number 2 would be that the way I learn to resist sin and lay aside the weights is by the discipline of the Lord. He disciplines me so that I may run better, so that my vision will be clearer, and so that I may see the source of the strength that I need. Hopefully, I will see that depending on myself is sin and a huge weight, and depending on Him is an unlimited source of strength. What is my response to this discipline? At times I would like it to be over, but then I would be responding like a willful, illegitimate son. A son respects the father who disciplines him and so to for my heavenly Father. He disciplines me so that I may share His holiness and not muck around in my fleshliness.I must keep my eyes on the end goal and not on the momentary feeling. In this case, pain produces the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Discipline and the resulting pain are for my training. They keep me in shape for the big race, the race that really counts for eternity.

 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Father,

Thank You for loving me enough to discipline and train me in Your ways. Help me to run the race with endurance and keep my eyes on Jesus. How could He run for me and then have me balk at running to Him? What an ingrate! Forgive me. Clear my vision and strengthen my resolve. 

In His name,

Amen

Homeland

Heb. 11:16

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.

Verse 13 says, These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledge that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 'These all', who were these people? Thus far in the chapter we have had Abel who offered a more acceptable sacrifice and lost his life for doing so. Then Enoch who pleased God so much that he went to be with God skipping over death. Wow! Following him was Noah who built an ark to preserve his family and a crew of animals even when he had never heard of a flood. Finally, Abraham and Sarah. Abraham followed God blindly not knowing where he would go, living his life in tents. And Sarah who had the promise of a child dangled in her face even to the ripe old age of zero reproductibility. What do all these people have in common? Faith, a looking forward to a promise that they never saw fulfilled in their lifetimes. Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. And coupled with that, they knew without any doubting that they were strangers and exiles in this earth. Their look was forward and upward. They looked for a heavenly city. The result: God was exultant to be called their God and to prepare for them a city.

The same is still true today. I must have faith, believing in Him 100% and believing in all He says 100%. He and His words must dictate my every move, thought, feeling, and attitude. Also I must acknowledge my allegiance to a heavenly kingdom, one that has been prepared for me by God Himself where I will live with Him eternally. Like those mentioned in Heb. 11, I have the promise now and soon the reality will be mine. 

Father,

How encouraging! My heart believes in You. I know that Your kingdom is a reality and is awaiting me. Help me to be discerning concerning this world. I know that I am a stranger and alien but sometimes I feel like my feet sink a little too deep in the muck that surrounds me. Open my eyes to see the truth and the true way.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Perfect Peace

Is. 26:3-4

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. 

Chapter 26 begins with In that day...Truly many things will be different in that day. The pompous pride of the earth will be leveled. Those who sought honor apart from God will be dishonored. The earth will be utterly emptied. Judgment will be administered and completed. In that day the Lord will swallow up death forever and wipe away tears from all faces. The reproach of the people will be taken away from all earth. The people will say, Behold this is our God; we have waited for Him, that He might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation. In that day there will be perfect peace. But for now, what a blessed foretaste we have! We can claim this promise trusting in the Lord to fulfill it. What must I do? I must trust in Him forever! For now, my soul yearns for Him in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks Him. I must nurture my relationship with Jesus letting it grow more and more each day. I must walk in the Spirit and live by the Spirit. I must be glad and rejoice in my God!

Father,

Grow me in my trust. Help me to rest in peace keeping my mind stayed on You. I confess my worry about things out of my control. In those times teach me how to keep my flesh from flaring out of control.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Once for All

Heb. 9;24-28

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. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 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. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 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.

What a glorious passage! Christ now appears on our behalf in the presence of God as our mediator. He is there for us constantly! Where would I be without Him as my mediator? Secondly, he came once for all to put away sin by His own personal sacrifice. So that my sin is no longer held against me. He covered the debt of my sin and the sins of the entire world. Thirdly, He will appear a second time for those who eagerly await Him. That is me!! He is coming back again to claim those who are His and take them home to heaven for eternity where we will be praising and rejoicing constantly. 

Father,

As I read these verses, my heart is stirred to rejoicing. I praise You, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit for all that you have done and do in my life on a daily basis. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

Scoffers

Prov. 22:10

Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease. 

Oh the terrible effects of a scoffer! He creates strife, quarreling and abuse. As I have been studying 2 Peter and Jude, I see scoffing is hugely significant in the lives of those who pervert the gospel. 2 Peter 3:3 says, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. And Jude 1:18 says, In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions. These people have crept into the body of Christ and have perverted the grace of God changing it into sensuality. They deny not only the claims of Jesus but Jesus Christ Himself. They blaspheme want they do not know and are destroyed by all that they understand that is their base sensual natures. They are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires, loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain their own advantage. And so much more!!

When I read of scoffers, grumblers, and malcontents, I think that doesn't sound too bad. Who doesn't do a little of these things? But when I read that they are linked with these horrible behaviors, it becomes a wake up call. When I fall into these traps, what follows? Normally, strife, quarreling and sometimes even abuse. Am I allowing my baser nature to control me throughout the day? Am I listening to it as opposed to the Spirit of God who indwells me? Such a battle! 

Father,

Help me. Give me grace and strength to withstand the pull of my baser nature, to fight against sin, and to call it what it is. Help me never to justify what I have done. I am sorry for the many times that I have fallen into these traps.

In Jesus name,

Amen

No Guilt

Lk. 23: 14

You brought me this man as one misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 

Jesus was brought to Pilate and then to Herod and then back to Pilate. Each time the outcome was pretty much the same. Initially Pilate said, I find no guilt in this man. But the people...There it is. Each time the 'But'. In contrast to a heathen poly-god religious system or really no religious system at all stood the Israelites, a people known for their religion and esteemed to be the chosen people of God. But yet they are the ones desiring the death of the Son of God, their own God. 

When Pilate learned that he was a Galilean, he sent him to Herod who was glad to see him because he had heard much about him and wanted to see some signs. But after a lengthy questioning where Jesus refused to answer, Herod was disappointed and the chief priests and scribes accused him even more. They were pretty much the proverbial dog-wit-a bone. Sadly Herod and his soldiers treated him with contempt, mocking and jeering. And at the conclusion, he was sent back to Pilate. 

Poor Pilate! He was left with a mess. He called together the chief priests and scribes together and said, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. He stated that Herod had found nothing either. Pilate knew that He had done nothing deserving of death. He wanted only to punish and release Him.Oh my! This brought on a cry of outrage!! They chose rather Barabbas, a known insurrectionist and murderer to be released. For a third time Pilate said, Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him. He was met with more urgent and demanding cries of Crucify Him, crucify Him! How heartbreaking! Because of their insistence, Pilate caved and gave them Jesus to be crucified. He delivered Jesus over to their will. The will of man seldom chooses the will of God! 

This story is so cautionary. Religious people can become so blinded to the truth. Their dogmas and creeds can obliterate their vision of Jesus. I would hope that I would always see Jesus, that His truth would shine forth without cloud or blockage and that I would stand for what I know and see as truth unwaveringly.

Father,

Help me to stand in Your grace and strength. Help me to see Jesus constantly. 

In His name,

Amen