In Hebrews 10:23, the author continues with another "let us" statement when he is inspired to write, "Let us hold fast the confession of hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful". This verse will be the basis for today's short thoughts. As the Hebrew believers were, so are we challenged with these words written so many years ago. We are called to believe and trust Him. In our confession of hope, He calls us to hold fast to it without wavering. The passage seems to acknowledge our tendency, in the weakness of the flesh, to waiver. But we are admonished towards steadfastness. The key? To remain mindful of His faithfulness.
Perhaps there is nothing that gives the believer hope and sustains that hope more than the faithfulness of God. Without question and without exception, God is faithful! He has promised us etemallife. We have it. He promised to send the Helper. He sent Him. He promised to build His church. He is building it. He promised that He would prepare a place for us. This special place awaits us. He promised to come again and receive us unto Himself. That day draws nearer each hour. He promised that there will come a day when we will be with Him and "so shall we ever be with the Lord". Oh, what a hope is ours!
In our "conviction of things not seen", let us hold fast our confession of hope. The hope that we have in Christ and the summary of all truth that is found in Him. May He be our reason for steadfastness of faith.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Short Thoughts for Today
In Hebrews 10:19-22, we read, "Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."
My short thoughts for today could be summarized by the short chorus, "Only by the blood of the Lamb." Or as the great hymn truthfully proclaims, "No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus".
Brothers and sisters in Christ, we may enter the holy place by the precious blood of Jesus, but for reasons I will not attempt to name, I fear we are often neglectful of His gracious invitation. When did you last enter this place? How long has it been since you last journeyed to "the throne of grace"? He bids us come and has given us His word that we will "find grace to help in time of need". Is today not that time? Will tomorrow some how be void of our need for His helpful grace? Oh, don't worry if you go there often. We cannot exhaust the grace that is found at this place. Only be concerned that you not become a stranger there by staying away too long and making only infrequent visits.
So, "by the blood of Jesus", enter the holy place. The giver of grace desires to give grace to His children. Grace upon grace!
My short thoughts for today could be summarized by the short chorus, "Only by the blood of the Lamb." Or as the great hymn truthfully proclaims, "No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus".
Brothers and sisters in Christ, we may enter the holy place by the precious blood of Jesus, but for reasons I will not attempt to name, I fear we are often neglectful of His gracious invitation. When did you last enter this place? How long has it been since you last journeyed to "the throne of grace"? He bids us come and has given us His word that we will "find grace to help in time of need". Is today not that time? Will tomorrow some how be void of our need for His helpful grace? Oh, don't worry if you go there often. We cannot exhaust the grace that is found at this place. Only be concerned that you not become a stranger there by staying away too long and making only infrequent visits.
So, "by the blood of Jesus", enter the holy place. The giver of grace desires to give grace to His children. Grace upon grace!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Short Thoughts for Today
Today's short thoughts will come from Hebrews 10:14-18 where we read, "For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, "THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND UPON THEIR MIND WILL I WRITE THEM," He then says, "AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE." Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin."
There is much to say about the content of these verses but in my "short thoughts" format, I will attempt to keep my comments brief. If you find yourself amongst the blessed; those who have been set apart by the work of the Holy Spirit; a recipient of God's lavished grace; praise God that you have been perfected for all time! This truth testifies to His effectual work and the rest that we find in Christ.
Consider our sins and lawless deeds. I could not begin to count the number that would have my name alongside them as their owner. Simply put, since my entrance into this world, sins and lawless deeds have been mine in abundance. Believer in Christ, I am not suggesting that I dwell on mine or that you dwell on yours. But do glory in what He has done on our behalf. He has purposed to remember them no more! This is not the result of a God who has grown old and forgetful. It is the result of a God who has given His Son to be our sin bearer. In Christ, we find hope that God has purposed to remember our sins and lawless deeds no more!
In Romans 4:7-8, the Apostle Paul wrote of the blessedness of forgiveness. Quoting from Psalm 32, the apostle wrote, "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED, BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT." The efficacy of Christ's offering for sin is etched in the forgiveness that is found in Him. As many as my sins and lawless deeds have been, I am forgiven in Christ. Yes, I am a blessed man! Hear what the scripture says believers in Christ. Know the completeness of your forgiveness. "Where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin." It is finished! He is seated! Believer, you are forgiven!
There is much to say about the content of these verses but in my "short thoughts" format, I will attempt to keep my comments brief. If you find yourself amongst the blessed; those who have been set apart by the work of the Holy Spirit; a recipient of God's lavished grace; praise God that you have been perfected for all time! This truth testifies to His effectual work and the rest that we find in Christ.
Consider our sins and lawless deeds. I could not begin to count the number that would have my name alongside them as their owner. Simply put, since my entrance into this world, sins and lawless deeds have been mine in abundance. Believer in Christ, I am not suggesting that I dwell on mine or that you dwell on yours. But do glory in what He has done on our behalf. He has purposed to remember them no more! This is not the result of a God who has grown old and forgetful. It is the result of a God who has given His Son to be our sin bearer. In Christ, we find hope that God has purposed to remember our sins and lawless deeds no more!
In Romans 4:7-8, the Apostle Paul wrote of the blessedness of forgiveness. Quoting from Psalm 32, the apostle wrote, "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED, BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT." The efficacy of Christ's offering for sin is etched in the forgiveness that is found in Him. As many as my sins and lawless deeds have been, I am forgiven in Christ. Yes, I am a blessed man! Hear what the scripture says believers in Christ. Know the completeness of your forgiveness. "Where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin." It is finished! He is seated! Believer, you are forgiven!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Short Thoughts for Today
In Hebrews 10:10-13, we read, "By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET." These four verses will be the basis for today's short thoughts.
It may seem repetitive but its repetitiveness is based on its importance. It is reflective of God's desire to impart the truth firmly in our hearts and minds. ONCE FOR ALL declares the scriptures! Do not doubt nor minimize this truth of Christ. As the author is inspired to write, by Christ and Christ alone are we sanctified.
There was no "sitting down" for the priests who offered gifts and sacrifices according to the Law. There could be no declaration proceeding from their mouths, saying, "It is finished!" No, quite the opposite, they stood daily ministering and offering the same sacrifices "time after time". The "same sacrifices" they offered could not take away sin. But they rightly pointed to and anticipated the one sacrifice that would do so for all time. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ Himself. In Him we find our sins have been taken away!
It may seem repetitive but its repetitiveness is based on its importance. It is reflective of God's desire to impart the truth firmly in our hearts and minds. ONCE FOR ALL declares the scriptures! Do not doubt nor minimize this truth of Christ. As the author is inspired to write, by Christ and Christ alone are we sanctified.
There was no "sitting down" for the priests who offered gifts and sacrifices according to the Law. There could be no declaration proceeding from their mouths, saying, "It is finished!" No, quite the opposite, they stood daily ministering and offering the same sacrifices "time after time". The "same sacrifices" they offered could not take away sin. But they rightly pointed to and anticipated the one sacrifice that would do so for all time. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ Himself. In Him we find our sins have been taken away!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Short Thoughts for Today
As I resume posting some short thoughts as I blog through the wonderful Book of Hebrews, today's passage will be in Hebrews 10:5-9 where we read, "Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, "SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME; IN WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE NOT TAKEN PLEASURE. THEN I SAID, 'BEHOLD, I HAVE COME (IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME) TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.'" After saying above, "SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS AND WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, NOR HAVE YOU TAKEN PLEASURE in them" (which are offered according to the Law), then He said, BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL." He takes away the first in order to establish the second."
The holy and righteous One found no pleasure in the sacrifices and offerings which were offered under the Law. Lest we stumble in our thoughts for even a moment and think that He had made some "mistake", we ought to remind ourselves that they were not intended for this purpose. He found pleasure and satisfaction in that which they foretold. That which they looked forward too. The One who came into the world, saying "I come to do Thy will, O God". That which was offered according to grace and not law. The One the scriptures attest to as having always done the things that were pleasing to His Father. Jesus. The beloved Son of the Father. Pleasure was taken in Him. Pleasure is still found in Him and those who are in Him. May He be praised!
The holy and righteous One found no pleasure in the sacrifices and offerings which were offered under the Law. Lest we stumble in our thoughts for even a moment and think that He had made some "mistake", we ought to remind ourselves that they were not intended for this purpose. He found pleasure and satisfaction in that which they foretold. That which they looked forward too. The One who came into the world, saying "I come to do Thy will, O God". That which was offered according to grace and not law. The One the scriptures attest to as having always done the things that were pleasing to His Father. Jesus. The beloved Son of the Father. Pleasure was taken in Him. Pleasure is still found in Him and those who are in Him. May He be praised!
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