Sunday, May 24, 2009
An Oregon Gem
My son and I are leaving for beautiful Diamond Lake this morning for a week of trout fishing and camping. We will be among those "dwelling in tents" (prayerfully one of my future articles someday). The lake is located at an elevation of over 5000 ft and so the days are often gorgeous and the night-times a little on the chilly side. Lord willing, I will be posting again during the first week in June. I hope to pause and ponder the wonder of His creation as we have the privilege to enjoy His handiwork in the outdoors. May we each endeavor to take the time in this busy world to pause and ponder the magnificent truths and promises found in our Lord Jesus. God bless!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Short Thoughts for Today
Yesterday's thoughts were focused on the admonition to not harden our hearts. Today, in Hebrews 3:12 we find a similar concern; that of an unbelieving heart. The verse says, "Take care, brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God." May ours be believing hearts, trusting Him in all things.
I would first note those who are named as recipients of this word of caution. It is the brethren who are to take care and take care we must. It seems quite evident that each of us, or "any one of you" is subject to the prospect of an unbelieving heart. This is why care must be given. Christians are people who have believed God. We have believed the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. But we are a people called to live lives believing God. Continuously believing Him. We have received Him by faith and are called to walk in Him by faith. We all know someone who has fallen "away from the living God". Perhaps it is ourselves. May we take care as we look to Jesus for guidance and direction to be people of faith, believing God.
I would first note those who are named as recipients of this word of caution. It is the brethren who are to take care and take care we must. It seems quite evident that each of us, or "any one of you" is subject to the prospect of an unbelieving heart. This is why care must be given. Christians are people who have believed God. We have believed the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. But we are a people called to live lives believing God. Continuously believing Him. We have received Him by faith and are called to walk in Him by faith. We all know someone who has fallen "away from the living God". Perhaps it is ourselves. May we take care as we look to Jesus for guidance and direction to be people of faith, believing God.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Short Thoughts for Today
Hebrews 3:7-11 will be our text for today's short thoughts. In these verses the writer was inspired to reference words previously written by the psalmist. The passage says, "Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, 'Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me, as in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tried Me by testing Me, and saw My works for forty years. Therefore I was angry with this generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart; And they did not know my ways'; As I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.'"
Much could be said about the various topics mentioned in this portion of His written word. But I will limit my "short thoughts" to the heavenly admonition against hardening the heart. Oh that we might listen and respond to the loving voice of our Heavenly Father as He speaks to our hearts. Through His word, His called servants, prayer and the fellowship of believers, may we be surrendered to the Holy Spirit as He fulfills His role as our Helper.
He wants what is best for us, "that we may share His holiness", each of us who are His children, "partakers of the Divine nature". We must seek to guard our hearts and minds through intimacy with the Lord Jesus. Our enemy, the one who "prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" intends to use all that he feels will be effective in keeping us from an "undistracted devotion to the Lord". He will attempt to use all that is contrary to Christ likeness to cause a hardening of our hearts. May we acknowledge the importance of a soft heart and look to Jesus for guidance in making and keeping it so. Whatever may come our way, may we seek His grace and mercy to be soft to His loving touch.
Much could be said about the various topics mentioned in this portion of His written word. But I will limit my "short thoughts" to the heavenly admonition against hardening the heart. Oh that we might listen and respond to the loving voice of our Heavenly Father as He speaks to our hearts. Through His word, His called servants, prayer and the fellowship of believers, may we be surrendered to the Holy Spirit as He fulfills His role as our Helper.
He wants what is best for us, "that we may share His holiness", each of us who are His children, "partakers of the Divine nature". We must seek to guard our hearts and minds through intimacy with the Lord Jesus. Our enemy, the one who "prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" intends to use all that he feels will be effective in keeping us from an "undistracted devotion to the Lord". He will attempt to use all that is contrary to Christ likeness to cause a hardening of our hearts. May we acknowledge the importance of a soft heart and look to Jesus for guidance in making and keeping it so. Whatever may come our way, may we seek His grace and mercy to be soft to His loving touch.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Short Thoughts for Today
Today's thought will come from Hebrews 3:2-6. Speaking of Jesus in these five verses, the author writes, "He was faithful to Him who appointed Him , as Moses also was in all His house. For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. Now Moses was faithful in His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later; but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end".
In important ways, this passage of scripture was of great significance to the Hebrew believer. Moses was faithful and Moses was granted glory. But Christ is "counted worthy of more glory than Moses"! My thoughts today are of His faithfulness. Jesus has proven Himself faithful to His Father and faithful to those whom the Father has given Him. It is proclaimed time and time again that God is faithful. We would despair if it were not for the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus. We may struggle in our desire to be counted amongst the faithful brethren, but His names include Faithful and True. Peter speaks of entrusting our souls to our faithful Creator and Paul proclaimed to Timothy that "If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself". Praise the Lord for His faithfulness!
In important ways, this passage of scripture was of great significance to the Hebrew believer. Moses was faithful and Moses was granted glory. But Christ is "counted worthy of more glory than Moses"! My thoughts today are of His faithfulness. Jesus has proven Himself faithful to His Father and faithful to those whom the Father has given Him. It is proclaimed time and time again that God is faithful. We would despair if it were not for the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus. We may struggle in our desire to be counted amongst the faithful brethren, but His names include Faithful and True. Peter speaks of entrusting our souls to our faithful Creator and Paul proclaimed to Timothy that "If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself". Praise the Lord for His faithfulness!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Short Thoughts for Today
Today's thoughts will be from Hebrews 3:1 where we begin this 3rd chapter with the following words, "Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession".
Only as we find ourselves in Christ, clothed in His righteousness, can we be called "holy brethren". This is not a title given for us to boast in except that we "boast in the Lord". It is not a reflection of our conduct or religious practice, but a result of our relationship with the Holy One.
You and I are partakers of a heavenly calling. It is He who has called us. As the years have gone by and I have had the privilege to grow in my faith, there can be no doubt that His calling of me was a call which had it's origin in His grace and mercy.
We find a short phrase in today's passage that I must take a moment to note. For each of us who are the recipients of this heavenly calling, to those made holy by His grace and His mercy, we have been encouraged to consider Jesus. Imagine the change that might occur in our lives and in our churches if we took more time to consider Jesus. The great antidote for many of the believer's problems. Not out of duty but out of a relationship that seeks intimacy, let us take the time to "consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession".
Only as we find ourselves in Christ, clothed in His righteousness, can we be called "holy brethren". This is not a title given for us to boast in except that we "boast in the Lord". It is not a reflection of our conduct or religious practice, but a result of our relationship with the Holy One.
You and I are partakers of a heavenly calling. It is He who has called us. As the years have gone by and I have had the privilege to grow in my faith, there can be no doubt that His calling of me was a call which had it's origin in His grace and mercy.
We find a short phrase in today's passage that I must take a moment to note. For each of us who are the recipients of this heavenly calling, to those made holy by His grace and His mercy, we have been encouraged to consider Jesus. Imagine the change that might occur in our lives and in our churches if we took more time to consider Jesus. The great antidote for many of the believer's problems. Not out of duty but out of a relationship that seeks intimacy, let us take the time to "consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession".
Monday, May 18, 2009
Short Thoughts for Today
In Hebrews 2:16 we were reminded that God has chosen us to be the recipients of His help. In today's passage of scripture, Hebrews 2:17-18, we continue to read about the benefits of being the object of His affections. In these two verses we read, "He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted."
In God's sovereign plan, nothing has been done without purpose. Made like His brethren, He partook of flesh and blood when He walked upon this earth as a man. And now, merciful and faithful is our high priest, the Lord Jesus Christ! As a man, He dwelt amongst men and became familiar with their ways. He knows how best to intercede for us regarding the things pertaining to God.
Without question, our sins were overwhelmingly countless, but He took them upon Himself, dying once, the just for the unjust. But He remains available for assistance in this life. We see in our passage today that "He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted". We need not write a list of our temptations for public display, but we would be wise to acknowledge that we are each tempted. And we must not neglect His aid. Who among us is tempted? Each of us that still live and breath in the body of flesh. We are tempted on every side and at every turn. We need the aid that He is capable of providing. Only our brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone before us have ceased to be subject to temptation. With assurance, may we run to the One who formed us, because His word is true, "He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted".
In God's sovereign plan, nothing has been done without purpose. Made like His brethren, He partook of flesh and blood when He walked upon this earth as a man. And now, merciful and faithful is our high priest, the Lord Jesus Christ! As a man, He dwelt amongst men and became familiar with their ways. He knows how best to intercede for us regarding the things pertaining to God.
Without question, our sins were overwhelmingly countless, but He took them upon Himself, dying once, the just for the unjust. But He remains available for assistance in this life. We see in our passage today that "He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted". We need not write a list of our temptations for public display, but we would be wise to acknowledge that we are each tempted. And we must not neglect His aid. Who among us is tempted? Each of us that still live and breath in the body of flesh. We are tempted on every side and at every turn. We need the aid that He is capable of providing. Only our brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone before us have ceased to be subject to temptation. With assurance, may we run to the One who formed us, because His word is true, "He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted".
Friday, May 15, 2009
Short Thoughts for Today
What a great promise we have from God in the 16th verse of Hebrews chapter two! "For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham." Each member of the body of Christ is named as a "descendant of Abraham". In Galatians 3:6 we read that "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness" and in verse 7 we read, "Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham". You and I, and all who have confessed "that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh", that "Jesus is the Son God", that "God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son" are those who are of faith and sons of Abraham.
It is to this person or these persons that He is the giver of help. Help from God is a mighty thing indeed. We must note that Paul was inspired to proclaim to the Romans that "while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly". While we were helpless, He intervened and helped us. But His help did not stop there. As He was preparing His disciples for His absence, Jesus promised that on their (and our) behalf He would ask the Father to give them another Helper, One of the same kind as He. In fact, He said that it was to their advantage that He go away in order that He send the Helper.
He gives help, we need it. He gives help, so seek it. He gives help, so receive it. He gives help, so share it. Though our needs are abundant and our weaknesses great, we cannot exhaust His help. It is not a burden for Him to help us. It is part of Who He is, it is one of His names, He is our Helper and longs to do so.
It is to this person or these persons that He is the giver of help. Help from God is a mighty thing indeed. We must note that Paul was inspired to proclaim to the Romans that "while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly". While we were helpless, He intervened and helped us. But His help did not stop there. As He was preparing His disciples for His absence, Jesus promised that on their (and our) behalf He would ask the Father to give them another Helper, One of the same kind as He. In fact, He said that it was to their advantage that He go away in order that He send the Helper.
He gives help, we need it. He gives help, so seek it. He gives help, so receive it. He gives help, so share it. Though our needs are abundant and our weaknesses great, we cannot exhaust His help. It is not a burden for Him to help us. It is part of Who He is, it is one of His names, He is our Helper and longs to do so.
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