I am thinking this morning about trust. Who do we trust? When do we trust? How far do we trust? A couple of verses come to mind.
"Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man." - John 2:23-25 ESV
Jesus was and is wise.
"...who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." - Philippians 2:6-7 ESV
He emptied Himself. His divine ability and knowledge was set aside but as a sinless man He was not cut off from His Father and because He saw the Father He knew not to entrust Himself in certain ways.
"For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them" - Romans 2:14-15 ESV
This is an aspect of trust isn't it? But it is trust based on performance. The word 'Gentiles' could easily be translated 'nations' or 'people that aren't children of Abraham's seed'. In all the variety there is still the commonality of accusing and excusing.
Jesus was a sinless man. He trusted God from the womb. Jesus was full of grace and truth and He grew in it. He also saw very clearly that other people did not operate this way.
Still He took on disciples and trusted them to handle things.
"I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one." - John 17:6-11 ESV
Wow.
Jesus trusted God. He gave what God gave. He said what God said. He wasn't accusing or excusing in His heart even when He discerned things He gave grace. There are so many examples of this in the Gospels.
Jesus doesn't say what He says in John chapter seventeen in front of successful people. The disciples still didn't understand so many things. They trusted Jesus but their performance was far from stellar. They had already misrepresented God several times. They wanted to call fire down from Heaven and they shushed men who wanted healing who cried out too loudly. Jesus had stepped around them many times.
Jesus knew His words would do a work. They did. His Father was faithful.
Who do we trust? When do we trust? God gave Jesus discernment. He will give it to us also. Jesus trusted God and looked at hearts. We can't afford to be foolish or naive but can we look past performance? Today is another day to listen to our Father and walk by faith.
--
Monday, May 9, 2016
Saturday, May 7, 2016
Take Up Your Bed And Walk
"Jesus said to him, Get up, take up your bed, and walk.' And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, 'It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.' But he answered them, 'The man who healed me, that man said to me, "Take up your bed, and walk." ' They asked him, 'Who is the man who said to you, "Take up your bed and walk?" ' Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place." - John 5:8-13 ESV
Jesus told this man to do something. He did not want the man to rest in the same place he had been resting for the last thirty eight years. Is it work to move your bed? The religious people of the day thought so.
Discipleship involves moving our place of rest but Jesus disappears and the man is just left with words. It's interesting really because Jesus didn't do this with many people. He told Peter and John to follow him. They had a clear idea of who he was but this man had an identity in his sickness. He spent his days with sick frustrated people like himself who just couldn't get up fast enough. Jesus gave him words and gave him a commission like he gave Abram long before. He told him to leave what was familiar and enter into a new kind of rest.
"Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, 'See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.' The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him." - John 5:14-15 ESV
Jesus found the man in the temple. The man was in God's house.
We pray a prayer with people but their identity will linger near to the place they find rest. Alcohol. Sentimental attachments. Illness. Sports. Fiction. Politics. Salvation is real but unless it moves to discipleship there is a real danger that it will lapse back and the person won't 'find Jesus' again except in times of great strife. The temple is where we find Him.
"[Others] Where has your beloved gone, O most beautiful among women? Where has your beloved turned, that we may seek him with you?
[She] My beloved has gone down to his garden to the beds of spices, to graze in the gardens and to gather lilies. I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine; he grazes among the lilies." - Song of Songs 6:1-3 ESV
The girl had lost her beloved in the chapter before. He had gone to feed his flock among the lilies. The once sick man lost Jesus temporarily but found him in the temple.
We find Him at Church where people gather together and ponder His word. We find Him where Pastors feed their flock lilies (grace words). That is where we live in our new identity and find a new place to put our bed.
Moving the bed seems like work but really it isn't. It is establishing a new place to rest far away from a victim mentality.
--
Jesus told this man to do something. He did not want the man to rest in the same place he had been resting for the last thirty eight years. Is it work to move your bed? The religious people of the day thought so.
Discipleship involves moving our place of rest but Jesus disappears and the man is just left with words. It's interesting really because Jesus didn't do this with many people. He told Peter and John to follow him. They had a clear idea of who he was but this man had an identity in his sickness. He spent his days with sick frustrated people like himself who just couldn't get up fast enough. Jesus gave him words and gave him a commission like he gave Abram long before. He told him to leave what was familiar and enter into a new kind of rest.
"Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, 'See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.' The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him." - John 5:14-15 ESV
Jesus found the man in the temple. The man was in God's house.
We pray a prayer with people but their identity will linger near to the place they find rest. Alcohol. Sentimental attachments. Illness. Sports. Fiction. Politics. Salvation is real but unless it moves to discipleship there is a real danger that it will lapse back and the person won't 'find Jesus' again except in times of great strife. The temple is where we find Him.
"[Others] Where has your beloved gone, O most beautiful among women? Where has your beloved turned, that we may seek him with you?
[She] My beloved has gone down to his garden to the beds of spices, to graze in the gardens and to gather lilies. I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine; he grazes among the lilies." - Song of Songs 6:1-3 ESV
The girl had lost her beloved in the chapter before. He had gone to feed his flock among the lilies. The once sick man lost Jesus temporarily but found him in the temple.
We find Him at Church where people gather together and ponder His word. We find Him where Pastors feed their flock lilies (grace words). That is where we live in our new identity and find a new place to put our bed.
Moving the bed seems like work but really it isn't. It is establishing a new place to rest far away from a victim mentality.
--
Friday, May 6, 2016
Ruffled Feathers
God wants us to be free.
"But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, 'There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.' Then the Lord answered him, 'You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?' As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him." - Luke 13:14-17 ESV
I love this passage. The day of rest is a great day to be free. It's Friday so there are millions of people working today who don't have to go to a job tomorrow. Many are saying, 'Thank God It's Friday.' because they want to be free even if it is just freedom from the restrictions of work for a few days. Monday a lower percentage of those same people are saying, 'Thank God I have a job.' because the money and possibly the benefits of their job give them freedom in other ways.
Something started to happen to this woman eighteen years before she met Jesus. Perhaps it was gradual but she was losing mobility. She must have learned to live with it. That's what people do. They learn to live with the issues that won't go away.
Then one day when she was resting Jesus healed her. Did she have rest from her bent over condition. No. Not yet. She was resting in the rest God prescribed.
The rulers of the synagogue prided themselves in the knowledge that they were 'sons of Abraham'. Part of why they were ashamed was because Jesus identified the woman as a 'daughter of Abraham'. She was like them. She is like all of us but they were so occupied with the rules that they lost sight of the miracle.
Freedom. I want people to have it. If Jesus never walked her way then she would have died a bent over person.
"And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, 'Man, your sins are forgiven you.' And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, 'Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?' When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, 'Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins' - he said to the man who was paralyzed - 'I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.' And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God." - Luke 5:18-25 ESV
Let's tear off the roof to lower people down and see Jesus.
"And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!' " - Mark 10:47 ESV
The blind man yelled at the top of his lungs. It bothered the people around him.
Our methods might bother a few people. Jesus wasn't obnoxious. He did what He did and it shamed them when He calmly explained it to them.
I am free and I plan to use my freedom in ways that I know will bother some people. I can't heal like Jesus. Jesus healed every person that came to him. He never walked away unsure what just happened.
The power we have is just as amazing. We can rip off they roof and lower people down to see Jesus.
I wonder if those same men came back later and fixed the roof. The scriptures don't say anything one way or the other about it.
I suppose if we plan to have Jesus over we aught to expect that there might be some property damage also.
--
"But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, 'There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.' Then the Lord answered him, 'You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?' As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him." - Luke 13:14-17 ESV
I love this passage. The day of rest is a great day to be free. It's Friday so there are millions of people working today who don't have to go to a job tomorrow. Many are saying, 'Thank God It's Friday.' because they want to be free even if it is just freedom from the restrictions of work for a few days. Monday a lower percentage of those same people are saying, 'Thank God I have a job.' because the money and possibly the benefits of their job give them freedom in other ways.
Something started to happen to this woman eighteen years before she met Jesus. Perhaps it was gradual but she was losing mobility. She must have learned to live with it. That's what people do. They learn to live with the issues that won't go away.
Then one day when she was resting Jesus healed her. Did she have rest from her bent over condition. No. Not yet. She was resting in the rest God prescribed.
The rulers of the synagogue prided themselves in the knowledge that they were 'sons of Abraham'. Part of why they were ashamed was because Jesus identified the woman as a 'daughter of Abraham'. She was like them. She is like all of us but they were so occupied with the rules that they lost sight of the miracle.
Freedom. I want people to have it. If Jesus never walked her way then she would have died a bent over person.
"And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, 'Man, your sins are forgiven you.' And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, 'Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?' When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, 'Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins' - he said to the man who was paralyzed - 'I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.' And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God." - Luke 5:18-25 ESV
Let's tear off the roof to lower people down and see Jesus.
"And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!' " - Mark 10:47 ESV
The blind man yelled at the top of his lungs. It bothered the people around him.
Our methods might bother a few people. Jesus wasn't obnoxious. He did what He did and it shamed them when He calmly explained it to them.
I am free and I plan to use my freedom in ways that I know will bother some people. I can't heal like Jesus. Jesus healed every person that came to him. He never walked away unsure what just happened.
The power we have is just as amazing. We can rip off they roof and lower people down to see Jesus.
I wonder if those same men came back later and fixed the roof. The scriptures don't say anything one way or the other about it.
I suppose if we plan to have Jesus over we aught to expect that there might be some property damage also.
--
Thursday, May 5, 2016
The Words Of Psalm 119
"[Aleph] Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!" - Psalm 119:1-3 ESV
I'm reading Psalm 119 this morning. It is a long Psalm. One hundred and seventy six verses long and it's main theme is the love of God's communicated word.
After looking around I finally found a guide that was in a Bible given to me right after I became a believer that broke down seven key words in this Psalm.
Law
Testimony
Precepts
Statute
Commandment
Judgments
Words
I think I'm going to study each of these words out and include a few more and make a bookmark to put in my Bible so that whenever I approach this Psalm I'll be able to easily reference the meaning of the each word. I might include a couple more like 'ordinances' and 'ways' for good measure.
The way we walk in can be the way of God's mind. That is the way of blessing. We can keep his testimonies. Those are the accounts of His great exploits. If we know how He thinks then we will seek Him because His thinking is wonderful. His gracious thoughts are what our heart and soul long for. If we know how to think then we will be able to make good decisions. Our thinking will become sound and our judgement will be a reflection of His judgement.
Good thinking. It is vital. We live in a world filled with ideas that are built in the sand but a person who studies the God of the Bible can have a sound mind.
There are many things to praise God for but this is something that causes me to praise Him this morning.
Help us God. Weed out the thoughts that are based on a wrong foundation. Help us to think in the light and make decisions that have stability, mercy and holiness woven into their fabric. Show us the answers and how to ask our questions. Thank You God. We long to think with You and converse in agreement and communion. Thank You God.
--
I'm reading Psalm 119 this morning. It is a long Psalm. One hundred and seventy six verses long and it's main theme is the love of God's communicated word.
After looking around I finally found a guide that was in a Bible given to me right after I became a believer that broke down seven key words in this Psalm.
Law
Testimony
Precepts
Statute
Commandment
Judgments
Words
I think I'm going to study each of these words out and include a few more and make a bookmark to put in my Bible so that whenever I approach this Psalm I'll be able to easily reference the meaning of the each word. I might include a couple more like 'ordinances' and 'ways' for good measure.
The way we walk in can be the way of God's mind. That is the way of blessing. We can keep his testimonies. Those are the accounts of His great exploits. If we know how He thinks then we will seek Him because His thinking is wonderful. His gracious thoughts are what our heart and soul long for. If we know how to think then we will be able to make good decisions. Our thinking will become sound and our judgement will be a reflection of His judgement.
Good thinking. It is vital. We live in a world filled with ideas that are built in the sand but a person who studies the God of the Bible can have a sound mind.
There are many things to praise God for but this is something that causes me to praise Him this morning.
Help us God. Weed out the thoughts that are based on a wrong foundation. Help us to think in the light and make decisions that have stability, mercy and holiness woven into their fabric. Show us the answers and how to ask our questions. Thank You God. We long to think with You and converse in agreement and communion. Thank You God.
--
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
The Narrow Gate
"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." - Matthew 7:13-14 NASB
These are red letters. This is Jesus talking. Oh, How right this statement is. Believing the Gospel is the narrow gate.
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.' " - John 14:6-7 ESV
If we pass through this gate we will get to know the Father. There are other roads but none of them bring us to the Father.
I marvel at the simplicity of the message and I'm shocked at how powerful it is in my life and what happens to me when I choose the path that leaves little room for my baggage.
"'Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.' When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, 'Who then can be saved?' But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.' " - Matthew 19:24-26 ESV
Many say that the 'eye of the needle' was an actual trade gate that was so small that traders had to take their goods off their camels before entering because the camels could not fit through the entrance. The gospel does make you do this in a way. The door Jesus creates for us is to small to for any of our vehicles. Only we can pass through. Not our past. Not our power. Not our methods. Not even our goodness. We come and believe the Gospel and pass from outside to inside but then we are rich and God moves. The Bible comes alive. We have words of mercy.
Today is a day to drop all our possessions at the door we have found and enter in the narrow way. We can look for a wider way that will accommodate our past and all the baggage that comes with it but that way will not lead to life even if the majority of humanity seem to be traveling that way.
With God all things are possible. God has made salvation possible by sending His Son to die on a cross and says, 'Only believe.' Believe that He died. Believe that He rose again and that He sits on a throne now in Heaven. Believe for the first time and God will move you to the other side. Believe again today and God will remind you of all that He has done because He only moves us once. Once is enough.
--
These are red letters. This is Jesus talking. Oh, How right this statement is. Believing the Gospel is the narrow gate.
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.' " - John 14:6-7 ESV
If we pass through this gate we will get to know the Father. There are other roads but none of them bring us to the Father.
I marvel at the simplicity of the message and I'm shocked at how powerful it is in my life and what happens to me when I choose the path that leaves little room for my baggage.
"'Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.' When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, 'Who then can be saved?' But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.' " - Matthew 19:24-26 ESV
Many say that the 'eye of the needle' was an actual trade gate that was so small that traders had to take their goods off their camels before entering because the camels could not fit through the entrance. The gospel does make you do this in a way. The door Jesus creates for us is to small to for any of our vehicles. Only we can pass through. Not our past. Not our power. Not our methods. Not even our goodness. We come and believe the Gospel and pass from outside to inside but then we are rich and God moves. The Bible comes alive. We have words of mercy.
Today is a day to drop all our possessions at the door we have found and enter in the narrow way. We can look for a wider way that will accommodate our past and all the baggage that comes with it but that way will not lead to life even if the majority of humanity seem to be traveling that way.
With God all things are possible. God has made salvation possible by sending His Son to die on a cross and says, 'Only believe.' Believe that He died. Believe that He rose again and that He sits on a throne now in Heaven. Believe for the first time and God will move you to the other side. Believe again today and God will remind you of all that He has done because He only moves us once. Once is enough.
--
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Grace In Psalm 103
I'm reading Psalm 103 over and over again this morning.
"Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." - Psalm 103:1-5 ESV
This part really made me think of my youth. I could run all day. If I hurt myself it was just a matter of time and I healed up and was virtually new again. This is what God does. This is who He Is. He isn't ever old and frozen. He Is full of power. He Is eternal.
"The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust." - Psalm 103:6-14 ESV
Not only is He full of life. He Is full of high holy thinking and Moses got to see His ways. The people of Israel saw His acts but Moses got to know God's ways of love and compassion.
"As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all." - Psalm 103:15-19 ESV
Because of the fall we live but for a moment and generation follows generation. The flower we saw last spring is gone. The store we shopped at as a child might be gone when we get older but God's throne isn't like that. It is forever.
"Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!" - Psalm 103:20-22 ESV
I like this ending. The Psalmist is made bold by his vision of God. He starts telling the angels to worship God like some old man who attends the symphony commanding the orchestra to play. They are playing at the conductors command but he feels emboldened by the music. Worship emboldens us to take dominion and command our own souls to bless God.
As I read this Psalm vigor returns to me and possibilities start churning. I become a young man who know things that only an old man like Moses knows. The Moses spoken of here is the Moses we see at the Mount of transfiguration. He is the Moses that has passed through death and is alive forevermore because he has a Saviour.
Bless the LORD all you people reading this. Bless the LORD O my soul. Knowing God is full of benefits. Let the knowledge of who He Is and what He has done restore youth to our thinking.
--
"Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." - Psalm 103:1-5 ESV
This part really made me think of my youth. I could run all day. If I hurt myself it was just a matter of time and I healed up and was virtually new again. This is what God does. This is who He Is. He isn't ever old and frozen. He Is full of power. He Is eternal.
"The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust." - Psalm 103:6-14 ESV
Not only is He full of life. He Is full of high holy thinking and Moses got to see His ways. The people of Israel saw His acts but Moses got to know God's ways of love and compassion.
"As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all." - Psalm 103:15-19 ESV
Because of the fall we live but for a moment and generation follows generation. The flower we saw last spring is gone. The store we shopped at as a child might be gone when we get older but God's throne isn't like that. It is forever.
"Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!" - Psalm 103:20-22 ESV
I like this ending. The Psalmist is made bold by his vision of God. He starts telling the angels to worship God like some old man who attends the symphony commanding the orchestra to play. They are playing at the conductors command but he feels emboldened by the music. Worship emboldens us to take dominion and command our own souls to bless God.
As I read this Psalm vigor returns to me and possibilities start churning. I become a young man who know things that only an old man like Moses knows. The Moses spoken of here is the Moses we see at the Mount of transfiguration. He is the Moses that has passed through death and is alive forevermore because he has a Saviour.
Bless the LORD all you people reading this. Bless the LORD O my soul. Knowing God is full of benefits. Let the knowledge of who He Is and what He has done restore youth to our thinking.
--
Monday, May 2, 2016
No Familiarity With Forgiveness
"He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" - Hebrews 10:28-29 KJV
What an interesting passage this is to study in the Greek. I used the KJV because the language is much closer to what is being said in the Greek. One notable difference a should point out is that 'died without mercy' should be 'dies without mercy' because it is a present active indicative (the ESV translation gets this right).
What caught my eye this morning was 'despises Moses law' atheteo (Strong's G114) in the aorist tense and 'done despite unto the Spirit of Grace' enybrizo (Strong's G1796) as also in the aorist tense.
This culture knew exactly what it was to despise the law of Moses. People were aware of the law and their culture reflected it. You had to habitually ignore or rebel against it until there were two or three witnesses who saw you and were willing to testify against you to have the penalties applied to you.
This idea is brought into the idea of having reverence for the blood of Jesus Christ. If a person has a lifestyle that discounts the work of the cross and lives in the culture and enjoys the benefits of the culture but habitually ignores forgiveness then they 'insult' (aorist tense) the Spirit of Grace. If this were past tense then it would be something that happened and is over but it is aorist so it happening in time but has lasting results into the future until there are inevitable consequences. How can you insult someone who gives unmerited favor and is not performance oriented? This is the way you do it. Familiarity with the blood of Christ by acting outside forgiveness until it is apparent and witnessed by people who are so fed up that they are willing to testify against you. Wow.
Jesus is Holy. His blood is holy. We can forgive based on His blood alone. It is in truth the only basis for true forgiveness. If we base forgiveness or unforgiveness on sorrow or apology as a practice then we are careless believers. We are like an Israelite who keeps the Sabbath if it suits him but works if he feels like working. Moses law is flimsy to this man. It is just a guideline and not a boundary that must not be crossed.
I behold the cross and the now empty tomb this morning and it reinforces my resolve. Jesus' blood is holy and I can't be familiar or conditional. I don't want the Trinity to see my life and say, 'Look He doesn't care what we have done. He walks on it like dirt.'
God forbid.
"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." - Hebrews 12:22-24 ESV
If the eternal blood of God was shed for people's sins then I want to hear what it is saying. It says 'forgive because I have forgiven'. Don't insult the giver. Take the gift and reverence it because it is a precious gift.
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What an interesting passage this is to study in the Greek. I used the KJV because the language is much closer to what is being said in the Greek. One notable difference a should point out is that 'died without mercy' should be 'dies without mercy' because it is a present active indicative (the ESV translation gets this right).
What caught my eye this morning was 'despises Moses law' atheteo (Strong's G114) in the aorist tense and 'done despite unto the Spirit of Grace' enybrizo (Strong's G1796) as also in the aorist tense.
This culture knew exactly what it was to despise the law of Moses. People were aware of the law and their culture reflected it. You had to habitually ignore or rebel against it until there were two or three witnesses who saw you and were willing to testify against you to have the penalties applied to you.
This idea is brought into the idea of having reverence for the blood of Jesus Christ. If a person has a lifestyle that discounts the work of the cross and lives in the culture and enjoys the benefits of the culture but habitually ignores forgiveness then they 'insult' (aorist tense) the Spirit of Grace. If this were past tense then it would be something that happened and is over but it is aorist so it happening in time but has lasting results into the future until there are inevitable consequences. How can you insult someone who gives unmerited favor and is not performance oriented? This is the way you do it. Familiarity with the blood of Christ by acting outside forgiveness until it is apparent and witnessed by people who are so fed up that they are willing to testify against you. Wow.
Jesus is Holy. His blood is holy. We can forgive based on His blood alone. It is in truth the only basis for true forgiveness. If we base forgiveness or unforgiveness on sorrow or apology as a practice then we are careless believers. We are like an Israelite who keeps the Sabbath if it suits him but works if he feels like working. Moses law is flimsy to this man. It is just a guideline and not a boundary that must not be crossed.
I behold the cross and the now empty tomb this morning and it reinforces my resolve. Jesus' blood is holy and I can't be familiar or conditional. I don't want the Trinity to see my life and say, 'Look He doesn't care what we have done. He walks on it like dirt.'
God forbid.
"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." - Hebrews 12:22-24 ESV
If the eternal blood of God was shed for people's sins then I want to hear what it is saying. It says 'forgive because I have forgiven'. Don't insult the giver. Take the gift and reverence it because it is a precious gift.
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