Hebrews 10:11-18
Day after day --
Repeatedly.
every priest stands and performs his religious duties; --
The priests stood up when they did their work in the temple.
again and again he offers the same sacrifices, --
Continuously, never-ending, over and over and over.
which can never take away sins. --
This is why they had to be repeated every day, they could only temporarily cover over the sins; they only paid the interest to service the debt.
But when this Priest --
This is Jesus.
had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, --
Jesus offered Himself as the Perfect Sacrifice, which actually paid off our whole debt, for all time.
He sat down at the right hand of God. --
The Temple priests never sat down, they stood every day, their work was never done. But Jesus finished the work, so He could now sit down, as God's right-hand Man.
...Because by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. --
Jesus' payment at Calvary was the Blood of God, which has infinite power and value to not just cover, but to pay off all the debts in the world and in the whole universe, to change us into beings that are holy, clean, flawless, pure forever.
...And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. --
So now that Jesus has paid off all our debt of sin to God for all time, now we can be continuously forgiven our sins; there need be no more Temple or Cathedral sacrifices, because it is already finished.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Respect, Don't Pull Rank
Ezra 5:17 (see 5:3-6:10)
"Now, if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to see if King Cyrus did, in fact, issue a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter."
This letter went to King Darius, in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Judah, destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, and carried the people to Babylon; so whoever was the king in Babylon had the political authority over the Israelites. They had to have his permission to do even what God told them to do, but their neighbors opposed them. King Artaxerxes had stopped the work on the Temple. But God raised up another king in Babylon who would find Cyrus' decree, and not only allow them to rebuild it, but also had his own royal treasury pay for it.
Even though God required it, they didn't "pull rank" on the king, but asked respectfully. And God had him do this. Always show respect.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
"Now, if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to see if King Cyrus did, in fact, issue a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter."
This letter went to King Darius, in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Judah, destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, and carried the people to Babylon; so whoever was the king in Babylon had the political authority over the Israelites. They had to have his permission to do even what God told them to do, but their neighbors opposed them. King Artaxerxes had stopped the work on the Temple. But God raised up another king in Babylon who would find Cyrus' decree, and not only allow them to rebuild it, but also had his own royal treasury pay for it.
Even though God required it, they didn't "pull rank" on the king, but asked respectfully. And God had him do this. Always show respect.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Beings Of Light
James 1:2-5,12,16-18
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. --
Whenever we are going through difficult times, God wants us to realize that He wants us to grow strong spiritually, depending more and more on Him. And if we can't figure out why things are the way they are, or God's purpose in allowing it, then we should ask God, and He will show us His purposes, He will help us understand, to connect the dots to see the connections between our troublesome situation and what we need to do in it; and to get through it to the other side.
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. --
This "crown of life" is His own, eternal, shining being Who allows the Sun to reflect a portion of His brightness.
Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. --
James did not want his hearers to be mistaken or have an inferior idea of how our God exists.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. --
Our God is the Father, the Progenitor, the Creator and Maker of all "the heavenly lights," the stars and sun and moon, and has caused His light to shine from them. He is Light, there cannot be any shadow in Pure Light.
He chose to give us birth through the Word of Truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created. --
God's plan was to have beings of light to be like Himself, to shine forth His light for His glory. He created Angels to be beings of light, but sin was found among them, with no way to redeem them. Then He created Mankind, with possibilities of both life and death. When Adam sinned, he was able to let another take his place in death, so he could continue to live. Now that Jesus Christ has come to be our Sacrifice, He was the eternal Person who could pay our eternal debt to the eternal God in time, and rise from the tomb because Death had no authority over Him. Now we have received that eternal Life, the Life of God our Father; and when we are resurrected when Jesus returns, we will also be beings of Light, like our Father, like Jesus (see Revelation 1:16, His face shining like the sun).
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. --
Whenever we are going through difficult times, God wants us to realize that He wants us to grow strong spiritually, depending more and more on Him. And if we can't figure out why things are the way they are, or God's purpose in allowing it, then we should ask God, and He will show us His purposes, He will help us understand, to connect the dots to see the connections between our troublesome situation and what we need to do in it; and to get through it to the other side.
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. --
This "crown of life" is His own, eternal, shining being Who allows the Sun to reflect a portion of His brightness.
Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. --
James did not want his hearers to be mistaken or have an inferior idea of how our God exists.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. --
Our God is the Father, the Progenitor, the Creator and Maker of all "the heavenly lights," the stars and sun and moon, and has caused His light to shine from them. He is Light, there cannot be any shadow in Pure Light.
He chose to give us birth through the Word of Truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created. --
God's plan was to have beings of light to be like Himself, to shine forth His light for His glory. He created Angels to be beings of light, but sin was found among them, with no way to redeem them. Then He created Mankind, with possibilities of both life and death. When Adam sinned, he was able to let another take his place in death, so he could continue to live. Now that Jesus Christ has come to be our Sacrifice, He was the eternal Person who could pay our eternal debt to the eternal God in time, and rise from the tomb because Death had no authority over Him. Now we have received that eternal Life, the Life of God our Father; and when we are resurrected when Jesus returns, we will also be beings of Light, like our Father, like Jesus (see Revelation 1:16, His face shining like the sun).
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, April 4, 2016
Breathe In Grace, Breathe Out Mercy
Psalm 37:7-9
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret whenever men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn away from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
O my Father, help me! Teach me how to stop and take a breath in the heat of the moment when my emotions kick in instantly and I want to retaliate and strike back. Stop me from reacting, remind me to pause to breathe in Your Grace. Then I will be able to respond by breathing out Your Mercy upon those who are against me. Teach me how to maintain Your Peace and quietness in the midst of the turmoil.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret whenever men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn away from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
O my Father, help me! Teach me how to stop and take a breath in the heat of the moment when my emotions kick in instantly and I want to retaliate and strike back. Stop me from reacting, remind me to pause to breathe in Your Grace. Then I will be able to respond by breathing out Your Mercy upon those who are against me. Teach me how to maintain Your Peace and quietness in the midst of the turmoil.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Why Are There Poor People?
Deuteronomy 15:4-5, 7, 11
However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, He will richly bless you, if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today.
If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites . . .
There will always be poor people in the land.
Moses is telling the people all the laws God is giving them to obey and follow in the good land they are entering into to dwell there. He knows that these laws are so just and comprehensive that if the people will only fully obey and always live their daily lives according to it, then the result would be that no one would be poor. Whenever we live according to God's rules, running this world in alignment with how God made it to work, then the result will be that we enjoy all the benefits and bountifulness that is here (there is no "shortage" of anything), and God receives the credit, as the Designer.
But Moses knew that these people were human, and would not always be faithful; allowing themselves to be deceived by all the distractions of the world and the pagans living among them. So there may be some poor; no, there would always be poor people among them.
And there will always be people in the world who are poor. That's one reason why every Christian is to "do the work of an evangelist" (II Timothy 4:5) in sharing God's Truth with the people whose lives touch ours: The Good News of Jesus' substitutionary death on the Cross and His Resurrection, conquering death, which will give them a new life; and His just and comprehensive rules for living that will inform them in how to live in alignment with how God designed this world that will result in receiving its abundance and prosperity. Then "there need be no poor people among you."
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, He will richly bless you, if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today.
If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites . . .
There will always be poor people in the land.
Moses is telling the people all the laws God is giving them to obey and follow in the good land they are entering into to dwell there. He knows that these laws are so just and comprehensive that if the people will only fully obey and always live their daily lives according to it, then the result would be that no one would be poor. Whenever we live according to God's rules, running this world in alignment with how God made it to work, then the result will be that we enjoy all the benefits and bountifulness that is here (there is no "shortage" of anything), and God receives the credit, as the Designer.
But Moses knew that these people were human, and would not always be faithful; allowing themselves to be deceived by all the distractions of the world and the pagans living among them. So there may be some poor; no, there would always be poor people among them.
And there will always be people in the world who are poor. That's one reason why every Christian is to "do the work of an evangelist" (II Timothy 4:5) in sharing God's Truth with the people whose lives touch ours: The Good News of Jesus' substitutionary death on the Cross and His Resurrection, conquering death, which will give them a new life; and His just and comprehensive rules for living that will inform them in how to live in alignment with how God designed this world that will result in receiving its abundance and prosperity. Then "there need be no poor people among you."
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, April 2, 2016
What Does God Ask Of Me?
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today, for your own good?
God loves us so much that He's laid out for us all the details of how to have a good life, all our lives. When we admire and appreciate who God is, and understand His ways, then we will form our attitudes and thoughts in alignment with our environments of place and family. Then we will make decisions that will be good for our world and for our relationships, and we will get the benefits ("for your own good"), and God gets the glory, the credit, for planning it all out.
When I find that my world isn't going the way I want it to, or my relationships are strained or broken, I need to see and discern my own attitudes, thoughts and actions to understand where I have not "feared the Lord" or "walked in obedience" to whatever "commands and decrees" God has revealed to me from His word. Then I will know how to make amends for the wrongs I have perpetrated upon others to heal these relationships I have with both the people in my life and the environment in which I live.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today, for your own good?
God loves us so much that He's laid out for us all the details of how to have a good life, all our lives. When we admire and appreciate who God is, and understand His ways, then we will form our attitudes and thoughts in alignment with our environments of place and family. Then we will make decisions that will be good for our world and for our relationships, and we will get the benefits ("for your own good"), and God gets the glory, the credit, for planning it all out.
When I find that my world isn't going the way I want it to, or my relationships are strained or broken, I need to see and discern my own attitudes, thoughts and actions to understand where I have not "feared the Lord" or "walked in obedience" to whatever "commands and decrees" God has revealed to me from His word. Then I will know how to make amends for the wrongs I have perpetrated upon others to heal these relationships I have with both the people in my life and the environment in which I live.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, April 1, 2016
Barbs And Thorns
Numbers 33:55-56
But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.
God knew that the inhabitants of Canaan had lived their lives against the good that God desires for His creation, and embraced darkness and evil instead. So God chose one particular nation to have His actual "rule book" to explain how to live in accordance with how God designed life to work in this world. He wanted this nation to be the example to teach other nations His goodness and how He prospers those who live in accordance with His ways. So He warned them, that if they allow these pagans to remain among them in the land, then they would learn their errant ways and do the things that bring destruction.
God always provides His Word for us to learn His ways, and whenever anyone, Hebrew or not, pays attention to Him and obeys His rules, then they will be sowing good seed in their lives, and reap the benefits and bountifulness God designed into His creation, and God gets the credit. But anyone who refuses His ways, or ignores His rules, doing something else instead; they will not be aligned with the way God designed this world to work, and will suffer the consequences of their poor choices. They will reap disease (dis-ease), poverty and brokenness.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.
God knew that the inhabitants of Canaan had lived their lives against the good that God desires for His creation, and embraced darkness and evil instead. So God chose one particular nation to have His actual "rule book" to explain how to live in accordance with how God designed life to work in this world. He wanted this nation to be the example to teach other nations His goodness and how He prospers those who live in accordance with His ways. So He warned them, that if they allow these pagans to remain among them in the land, then they would learn their errant ways and do the things that bring destruction.
God always provides His Word for us to learn His ways, and whenever anyone, Hebrew or not, pays attention to Him and obeys His rules, then they will be sowing good seed in their lives, and reap the benefits and bountifulness God designed into His creation, and God gets the credit. But anyone who refuses His ways, or ignores His rules, doing something else instead; they will not be aligned with the way God designed this world to work, and will suffer the consequences of their poor choices. They will reap disease (dis-ease), poverty and brokenness.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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