"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man...Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest..." (Heb. 2:9, 17a)
Jesus did not do anything sparingly or half-way. You and I must be cautioned to practice moderation because of our sinful nature, but there was no reason for Jesus to be bound by such restriction, since everything He did was right. Sinlessness requires no temperance.
Verse 9 tells us that Jesus tasted death for "every man." I take this at face value...because I can. Some may argue that His atoning death was only accomplished for a limited few; but, to me, its efficacy does not limit its sufficiency. Just as the sun rises for both the evil and the good, and as both the just and the unjust are recipients of the refreshing rain (Matt.5:45), so, too, Jesus tasted death to the very dregs for those who would benefit from it as well as those who would not. To question this "waste" is to underestimate both God's limitless resources and His unbounded love.
Then, in verse 17, the writer of Hebrews lets us know that to God it was not good enough simply to understand or sympathize with us, He had to become us (7:26), not in some things, or even most things, but in "all things." It is not the Deity of Christ that I find unfathomable; it is His Manhood that overwhelms my mind. That He would choose to take upon Himself flesh and blood, only to have that flesh torn, beaten and put to death, and that blood completely spilled out, not just to please His Father, but to save my unworthy soul—I tell you; this is love unbounded, and, yes... intemperate.
All glory to the One who was truly "all things to all men”!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Obedience to Be Trusted
"Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say." (Philemon 21)
What a high compliment Paul gave this man. The individual who enjoys a reputation for fulfilling honorable commitments will be rewarded with the confidence of others as well as high recommendation for any kind of service. Paul was asking Philemon to overlook a legitimate grievance, as a favor to him, knowing that the man would do whatever God told him to do, no matter how foolish it might look to others, even to the extent of going beyond what Paul asked of him.
Obedience is played out in more than one way. There are those all-embracing commands in the Word of God that are easily discerned by any honest Believer. These are straight-forward, calling for little, if any, judgment to carry them out. But, on the other hand, we are also confronted in the Christian life with personal precepts that God lays before us as individuals concerning questionable things. Those areas that require intimate dealings with God and that call for obedience not always understood by others. Our own path of obedience may seem austere to some… and too loose to others. The question is whether or not our Heavenly Father’s refusal (or permission) will be enough for us, whether those around us do the same. This kind of obedience—the lonely kind—is the kind that can be trusted by both God and man.
"Good, as it ripens, becomes continually more different, not from evil,
but from other good."
— C.S. Lewis
What a high compliment Paul gave this man. The individual who enjoys a reputation for fulfilling honorable commitments will be rewarded with the confidence of others as well as high recommendation for any kind of service. Paul was asking Philemon to overlook a legitimate grievance, as a favor to him, knowing that the man would do whatever God told him to do, no matter how foolish it might look to others, even to the extent of going beyond what Paul asked of him.
Obedience is played out in more than one way. There are those all-embracing commands in the Word of God that are easily discerned by any honest Believer. These are straight-forward, calling for little, if any, judgment to carry them out. But, on the other hand, we are also confronted in the Christian life with personal precepts that God lays before us as individuals concerning questionable things. Those areas that require intimate dealings with God and that call for obedience not always understood by others. Our own path of obedience may seem austere to some… and too loose to others. The question is whether or not our Heavenly Father’s refusal (or permission) will be enough for us, whether those around us do the same. This kind of obedience—the lonely kind—is the kind that can be trusted by both God and man.
"Good, as it ripens, becomes continually more different, not from evil,
but from other good."
— C.S. Lewis
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Eye Contact or Bit and Bridle?
"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with my eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle..." (Psl.32:8,9a)
Is God able to lead you simply by making eye contact, or must He use a "bit and bridle?" As the wonderful old song says, "God leads His dear children along," but not always by the same means. Some of us can see the "pillar of cloud" by day, but are oblivious to the "pillar of fire" by night (Exodus 13:21). This is especially true when God wants us to do (or refrain from doing) something that goes against our own will, or even our better judgment. In cases like these, when we refuse to let Him guide us with His eye, we often must be pushed and pulled like a stubborn mule.
When our children were small, their father had his own way of getting their attention—the well-remembered "ha-rumph" (clearing his throat). They all swear you could hear it a mile away; and whether in a noisy auditorium or a quiet funeral home, it never failed to get a quick head turn from each one of them. Looking back, this probably saved a lot of time and effort, especially for Dad!
Wouldn't you think our Heavenly Father deserved that same kind of attention and obedience? What a blessing it must be to His heart, and what quiet provision for our own well-being, when we allow Him to instruct and teach us "with his eye." In order for this to work, however, we'll have to keep our eyes on Him at all times, won’t we?
— In the Christian life, recognition is better than restraint.—.
Is God able to lead you simply by making eye contact, or must He use a "bit and bridle?" As the wonderful old song says, "God leads His dear children along," but not always by the same means. Some of us can see the "pillar of cloud" by day, but are oblivious to the "pillar of fire" by night (Exodus 13:21). This is especially true when God wants us to do (or refrain from doing) something that goes against our own will, or even our better judgment. In cases like these, when we refuse to let Him guide us with His eye, we often must be pushed and pulled like a stubborn mule.
When our children were small, their father had his own way of getting their attention—the well-remembered "ha-rumph" (clearing his throat). They all swear you could hear it a mile away; and whether in a noisy auditorium or a quiet funeral home, it never failed to get a quick head turn from each one of them. Looking back, this probably saved a lot of time and effort, especially for Dad!
Wouldn't you think our Heavenly Father deserved that same kind of attention and obedience? What a blessing it must be to His heart, and what quiet provision for our own well-being, when we allow Him to instruct and teach us "with his eye." In order for this to work, however, we'll have to keep our eyes on Him at all times, won’t we?
— In the Christian life, recognition is better than restraint.—.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Gleanings from Ecclesiastes Ten
"If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences." (v.4)
I consider this to be wonderful advice for wives. “How so?” you may ask. Well, think with me a minute: In the home, may we assume the "ruler" to be the husband, according to Ephesians five, etc.? And would it be too politically incorrect to consider "thy place" to be the much maligned place of submission, also found in Ephesians? Using these designations, how about this for a homespun, “S.J.S.” paraphrase: "When your hubby gets huffy, don't huff back, and things will blow over a whole lot quicker!"
"If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength..." (v.10)
There's nothing worse than trying to cut with a dull knife. You always end up having to work twice as hard with less satisfying results. The Spirit of God in our lives will give us that sharp edge which will make all the difference in our service to God, and our effectiveness with others. That's why it's imperative that our relationship with Him be jealously guarded (Eph.4:30). Otherwise, you and I are going to end up having to work twice as hard with less satisfying results.
"...[M]oney answereth all things." (v.19)
Or, as the old saying goes, "Money talks." This cynical statement may be the theme of today's society, but here are a few things money won't tell you:
It won't tell you that loving it is the root of all evil; nor will it tell you that it was the price Judas paid to betray the Son of God. Money won't tell you that it was used to pay off the soldiers to lie, and say that Jesus' body was stolen; and it won't tell you that it can buy everything but a friend, happiness, and eternal life. Oh, yes, money can talk, but it won't tell you the most important things.
"[F]or a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter." (v.20)
Here’s another old saying. When someone wants to relate something for which he or she is hesitant to divulge the source, this individual may simply say, "A little bird told me." Well, here are some things a few birds told me, and I don’t mind at all sharing my source: A dove told me that Jesus was the beloved Son of God (Matt.3:16-17); an eagle told me that if I would wait on the Lord, I can mount up with wings like his own (Isa.40:31); a swallow told me that the altar of God is the best place to take my children (Psl.84:3); and a sparrow told me that although my Heavenly Father cares enough for all of them to attend each one of their funerals, He still values me much more (Matt.10:29-31).
Now that we've finished our gleaning, we can bundle up our treasure and go home, content to have needed nourishment for the journey. And rest assured, my friend, there's more where that came from!
I consider this to be wonderful advice for wives. “How so?” you may ask. Well, think with me a minute: In the home, may we assume the "ruler" to be the husband, according to Ephesians five, etc.? And would it be too politically incorrect to consider "thy place" to be the much maligned place of submission, also found in Ephesians? Using these designations, how about this for a homespun, “S.J.S.” paraphrase: "When your hubby gets huffy, don't huff back, and things will blow over a whole lot quicker!"
"If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength..." (v.10)
There's nothing worse than trying to cut with a dull knife. You always end up having to work twice as hard with less satisfying results. The Spirit of God in our lives will give us that sharp edge which will make all the difference in our service to God, and our effectiveness with others. That's why it's imperative that our relationship with Him be jealously guarded (Eph.4:30). Otherwise, you and I are going to end up having to work twice as hard with less satisfying results.
"...[M]oney answereth all things." (v.19)
Or, as the old saying goes, "Money talks." This cynical statement may be the theme of today's society, but here are a few things money won't tell you:
It won't tell you that loving it is the root of all evil; nor will it tell you that it was the price Judas paid to betray the Son of God. Money won't tell you that it was used to pay off the soldiers to lie, and say that Jesus' body was stolen; and it won't tell you that it can buy everything but a friend, happiness, and eternal life. Oh, yes, money can talk, but it won't tell you the most important things.
"[F]or a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter." (v.20)
Here’s another old saying. When someone wants to relate something for which he or she is hesitant to divulge the source, this individual may simply say, "A little bird told me." Well, here are some things a few birds told me, and I don’t mind at all sharing my source: A dove told me that Jesus was the beloved Son of God (Matt.3:16-17); an eagle told me that if I would wait on the Lord, I can mount up with wings like his own (Isa.40:31); a swallow told me that the altar of God is the best place to take my children (Psl.84:3); and a sparrow told me that although my Heavenly Father cares enough for all of them to attend each one of their funerals, He still values me much more (Matt.10:29-31).
Now that we've finished our gleaning, we can bundle up our treasure and go home, content to have needed nourishment for the journey. And rest assured, my friend, there's more where that came from!
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Soul Stretching
"But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." (1 Timothy 4:7-8)
If you're like me, you tend to think of exercise as something that requires vigorous calisthenics and aerobics, working out with machines and weights, or even just walking. We often forget, however, that exercise is not only made up of the time spent in these planned activities, it can also be incorporated into everyday tasks. By doing little things like parking our car farther away at Wal-Mart, taking the stairs instead of the escalator, running the sweeper, or working in the yard, we can burn calories and build muscle as a by-product of day to day activities.
The same is true of exercising ourselves "unto godliness." It's tempting to think that the scheduled time we spend with God in the morning (or whenever) is the only opportunity we have to give our souls a good daily work-out. But things like saying "No" to sin, meditating on the Word of God, witnessing to our faith, encouraging a drooping soul, and engaging in on-the-go prayer and fellowship with the Lord, are all examples of "spiritual sit-ups" that serve to tighten our spiritual muscles, and make us more fit for the Master's use.
Godly exercise should be of higher priority to us than physical; that is, unless how physically fit we look to others is more important to us than God's evaluation of us. Bodily exercise is undoubtedly profitable in this life; but, says the Scripture, godly exercise is profitable in this life, and the life that is to come. It will be good if we can fit both into our day, but if we must pick between the two, let's not be short-sighted enough to lace-up our Nike's without putting on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:13-17).
What have you done today to stretch your soul?
If you're like me, you tend to think of exercise as something that requires vigorous calisthenics and aerobics, working out with machines and weights, or even just walking. We often forget, however, that exercise is not only made up of the time spent in these planned activities, it can also be incorporated into everyday tasks. By doing little things like parking our car farther away at Wal-Mart, taking the stairs instead of the escalator, running the sweeper, or working in the yard, we can burn calories and build muscle as a by-product of day to day activities.
The same is true of exercising ourselves "unto godliness." It's tempting to think that the scheduled time we spend with God in the morning (or whenever) is the only opportunity we have to give our souls a good daily work-out. But things like saying "No" to sin, meditating on the Word of God, witnessing to our faith, encouraging a drooping soul, and engaging in on-the-go prayer and fellowship with the Lord, are all examples of "spiritual sit-ups" that serve to tighten our spiritual muscles, and make us more fit for the Master's use.
Godly exercise should be of higher priority to us than physical; that is, unless how physically fit we look to others is more important to us than God's evaluation of us. Bodily exercise is undoubtedly profitable in this life; but, says the Scripture, godly exercise is profitable in this life, and the life that is to come. It will be good if we can fit both into our day, but if we must pick between the two, let's not be short-sighted enough to lace-up our Nike's without putting on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:13-17).
What have you done today to stretch your soul?
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
You Are What You've Been Becoming
"For that which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been..."(Ecclesiastes 3:15)
This verse in Ecclesiastes reminds me of something I've heard my husband say many times: “You are what you've been becoming." What you are today as a woman, and where you are in your Christian life, did not happen over night. There were many things that went into making you into the person you are. Some of them you had no control over, but the majority of them came from conscious choices you made. You may have thought some of them were insignificant at the time, but, as you look back today, I’m sure you can see just how significant they were.
Whatever your regrets (or non-regrets) today, it would be of little use to obsess over them. In fact, to do so, would only serve to exacerbate the problem. Instead, we should realize that just as choices and actions of our youth produced much of the circumstances of our lives today, what you do now will decide who and what we will be in middle age and beyond. We should be making judgments, not just for today, but for the future as well. One does not automatically become wise at forty-five or magically turn sweet at seventy-five. We all know middle-aged women who are still making the dumb mistakes they made when they were young; and who of us would want to end up like some of the bitter, cranky, old ladies we've known.
You are determining today what you will be tomorrow. Take a quick look back over your shoulder; ask God to show you where you really are today; then begin working on becoming the woman you want to be when you stand before Him.
"When it comes time to die, make sure that all you have to do is die."
— Jim Elliot
This verse in Ecclesiastes reminds me of something I've heard my husband say many times: “You are what you've been becoming." What you are today as a woman, and where you are in your Christian life, did not happen over night. There were many things that went into making you into the person you are. Some of them you had no control over, but the majority of them came from conscious choices you made. You may have thought some of them were insignificant at the time, but, as you look back today, I’m sure you can see just how significant they were.
Whatever your regrets (or non-regrets) today, it would be of little use to obsess over them. In fact, to do so, would only serve to exacerbate the problem. Instead, we should realize that just as choices and actions of our youth produced much of the circumstances of our lives today, what you do now will decide who and what we will be in middle age and beyond. We should be making judgments, not just for today, but for the future as well. One does not automatically become wise at forty-five or magically turn sweet at seventy-five. We all know middle-aged women who are still making the dumb mistakes they made when they were young; and who of us would want to end up like some of the bitter, cranky, old ladies we've known.
You are determining today what you will be tomorrow. Take a quick look back over your shoulder; ask God to show you where you really are today; then begin working on becoming the woman you want to be when you stand before Him.
"When it comes time to die, make sure that all you have to do is die."
— Jim Elliot
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Those Happy Law-Keepers
"The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:" (Psl. 19:8a)
"[H]e that keepeth the law, happy is he." (Prov. 29:18)
I am fully aware that the Law cannot make us holy (Rom. 3:20, 28). My claim is merely that of David and Solomon: People who keep God's laws are happy people. I realize, too, that the idea of living within a framework of rules and guidelines would seem, on the surface, to deflate the balloon of happiness; but bear with me. You should know, also, that I am loathe to interchange the word "happy" here with "blessed," as is often done; since I think we are in danger of losing a blessing if we do. Let's just allow the old Book to say what it says.
We have all seen children who are, for all practical purposes, given free rein, and we have also seen examples of adults whose childhood reflected this. Are these happy children? More importantly, are these happy adults? The obvious answer to both questions is, "No." Even a child knows that no limit mean no one cares. Do you think God Almighty cares less for His children then we do our own? Just as a child may say, "My dad said 'No,’” so, too, I have had to say at times, "My Father (not my pastor!) said, 'No.'" Ideally, the child who has learned obedience at a young age will hear the word "No" less and less as he or she matures. And the child of God who learns early and well to obey the Father will hear the word "No" less frequently, as they, too, grow in grace. However, none of us will ever reach a plateau where the word is only an echo.
I think the main reason the statutes of the Lord rejoice my own heart is that I know they are right. God's clear commands do not lurk in some fuzzy, gray area. As Paul said, there are some things of which every man must be "fully persuaded in his own mind"; but, “The statutes of the Lord are right.” Period When I know that what I'm doing is right, I am deliciously happy! Happy now, and even happier later, when I stand before the Lord.
Do you see now what I meant about the word “happy"? It is just the perfect word!
"[H]e that keepeth the law, happy is he." (Prov. 29:18)
I am fully aware that the Law cannot make us holy (Rom. 3:20, 28). My claim is merely that of David and Solomon: People who keep God's laws are happy people. I realize, too, that the idea of living within a framework of rules and guidelines would seem, on the surface, to deflate the balloon of happiness; but bear with me. You should know, also, that I am loathe to interchange the word "happy" here with "blessed," as is often done; since I think we are in danger of losing a blessing if we do. Let's just allow the old Book to say what it says.
We have all seen children who are, for all practical purposes, given free rein, and we have also seen examples of adults whose childhood reflected this. Are these happy children? More importantly, are these happy adults? The obvious answer to both questions is, "No." Even a child knows that no limit mean no one cares. Do you think God Almighty cares less for His children then we do our own? Just as a child may say, "My dad said 'No,’” so, too, I have had to say at times, "My Father (not my pastor!) said, 'No.'" Ideally, the child who has learned obedience at a young age will hear the word "No" less and less as he or she matures. And the child of God who learns early and well to obey the Father will hear the word "No" less frequently, as they, too, grow in grace. However, none of us will ever reach a plateau where the word is only an echo.
I think the main reason the statutes of the Lord rejoice my own heart is that I know they are right. God's clear commands do not lurk in some fuzzy, gray area. As Paul said, there are some things of which every man must be "fully persuaded in his own mind"; but, “The statutes of the Lord are right.” Period When I know that what I'm doing is right, I am deliciously happy! Happy now, and even happier later, when I stand before the Lord.
Do you see now what I meant about the word “happy"? It is just the perfect word!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)