Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
10 “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up from some other place [on the stone wall], that one is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep [the protector and provider]. 3 The [a]doorkeeper opens [the gate] for this man, and the sheep hear his voice and pay attention to it. And [knowing that they listen] he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out [to pasture]. 4 When he has brought all his own sheep outside, he walks on ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice and recognize his call. 5 They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
Whose Voice Are We Following?
Internet, iPad, iPod—the “I”s certainly have it today!
At home and at work we call on Siri, we talk into our phones, we sit or stand or lie down in our living rooms or dining rooms, of kitchens or even bathrooms.
We will talk into our television remotes and search for a particular favorite channel or programming station, for whatever it is they call entertainment.
We call out to some voice identified only as Siri and ask her or tell her to call up some random search parameter – a recipe, or a song or list of vacation spots or whatever happens to land into our wandering randomized thought processes.
And in an instant a disconnected computer voice from our phones or Alexa chimes in with “okay, this is what I found…!” and we are on our way to read whatever information was “found” in less time it took to type this sentence.
At the beach, in the department store, on the college campus, everywhere people have “earbuds” wireless listening devices planted deep in their ears.
While both technology and music are gifts of God, I hope we also take time to listen to the springtime chatter of robins or to the hoot cry of a Barn Owl.
What we hear and what and who we listen to makes a difference in our lives.
What information we hear, and who we hear it from, will end up profoundly influencing our thought processes and will inevitably guide our actions, into how we respond to a particular life altering, life transforming circumstance.
How we make decisions, how we judge what is morally and ethically right and wrong, how we interpret whether what we see and hear is truth or a deception.
People will tell us anything to sell their products and increase their profits and their bank accounts, to sell us a bill of goods which ultimately has little value.
Do you read or listen to, or hear the lyrics of the songs your children listen to?
Do you take any quality time with your children to discuss their song choices?
Together, do you come to a place where you can share your thoughts with them, they can share their thoughts with you – come unto an “acceptable boundary?”
Do you know what they are hearing and how it impacts what both of you have both come to be known as “morally and ethically right versus wrong” truth?
Jesus is the good shepherd.
Jesus is the Way and the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6)
He laid down his life for us on the Good Friday cross.
If we are to follow Jesus and avoid impostors, we must recognize his voice clearly and quickly in every situation we encounter.
To do that, we ought to be considering counseling others away from technology and spending more time studying, hearing, listening, to his Word in the Bible.
Spending quality devotional time with the children (whatever their ages are).
Talking about current events, their impacts on what is understood to be true.
There are words spoken through whatever social media medium which are worded with the intent of moving their version of truth into our forefronts.
“Words of someone else’s truth” specifically spoken, specifically manipulated, of what someone else desperately wants us to unequivocally believe as gospel.
Differentiating between the voice of someone else’s truth and God’s truth?
What possible difference could it make, what possible influence could it have to one life knowing what the difference is between the world’s truth and God’s?
Love Letter to my Ears, “Whose Truth Guides Us?”
John 10:1-5 The Message
He Calls His Sheep by Name
10 1-5 “Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he’s up to no good—a sheep rustler! The shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won’t follow a stranger’s voice but will scatter because they aren’t used to the sound of it.”
When I became a new Christian, hearing and knowing God’s voice and differentiating from the world were the things I struggled the most with.
How could I know whether I was hearing from God when I didn’t know His voice?
How could I be sure the Lord was speaking to me while reading Scripture, listening to a sermon, or going to Sunday school or a Bible study lesson?
I was so afraid of missing God’s instructions, warning, and encouragement that I often found myself paralyzed by raging questions of faith, my truth and doubt.
Sorting through what I had “known and believed” was truth and what the Word of God, the often complicated “Parable” teachings of Jesus and Paul was tough.
Unraveling and un-weaving of the mess I made of my own interpretation of the word truth along the long, winding and hardened concourse of my life – was a complex time of hardcore self introspection, challenging my life against God’s.
As I began studying the Bible, I learned how God’s voice matched the Scriptures.
Thus, if I wanted to know what God had to say on a particular topic, I had to devote considerable time to studying, to know what the Bible said on that topic.
If I heard a voice and was unsure whether or not that voice was the Lord’s, the Bible through Holy Spirit, would work with me to confirm whether it was Him.
I have learned the hard and soft way God’s voice will never contradict the Bible.
If the voice you’re hearing is encouraging you to take Scripture out of context to make it fit your situation, the voice is not of God and the truth is not of God too.
We can grow, we can mature to learn and discern God’s voice by studying the Holy Scriptures, praying, and asking and pleading with our Savior to teach us.
God invites us (not forces us) to ask and answer the question on all our minds:
In this time when our available resources are stretched nigh to invisibility;
Isaiah 55:1-5 The Message
Buy Without Money
55 1-5 “Hey there! All who are thirsty, come to the water! Are you penniless? Come anyway—buy and eat! Come, buy your drinks, buy wine and milk. Buy without money—everything’s free! Why do you spend your money on junk food, your hard-earned cash on cotton candy? Listen to me, listen well: Eat only the best, fill yourself with only the finest. Pay attention, come close now, listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words. I’m making a lasting covenant commitment with you, the same that I made with David: sure, solid, enduring love. I set him up as a witness to the nations, made him a prince and leader of the nations, And now I’m doing it to you: You’ll summon nations you’ve never heard of, and nations who’ve never heard of you will come running to you Because of me, your God, because The Holy of Israel has honored you.”
Jesus, the good shepherd, says, “Listen, listen to me … that you may live.”
Those who have ears, let them truthfully hear and let them truthfully live!
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Precious Holy Spirit, I come to you today asking for guidance. I feel lost and overwhelmed, and I need your help in finding my way. Please open my eyes and heart to the direction you want me to take. Help me to make wise decisions that will lead me closer to your path for my life. Give me the strength and courage to persevere when times are difficult. Lead me with your truth and love, so that I may live a life that brings glory to your name. Thank you for your guidance and protection. Amen.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
2 I will stand at my guard post And station myself on the tower; And I will keep watch to see what He will say to me, And what answer I will give [as His spokesman] when I am reproved. 2 Then the Lord answered me and said, “Write the vision And engrave it plainly on [clay] tablets So that the one who reads it will run. 3 “For the vision is yet for the appointed [future] time It hurries toward the goal [of fulfillment]; it will not fail. Even though it delays, wait [patiently] for it, Because it will certainly come; it will not delay.
4 “Look at the proud one, His soul is not right within him, But the righteous will live by his faith [in the true God].
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
God is constantly speaking to people.
But too often, they miss out on hearing God’s messages because they seek His guidance only occasionally – usually when they are going through a crisis or they are about to be facing a major life decision – family, health, finance, career.
Then, with a dire need to hear from God, people will become confused and then become sad, and frustrated when they do not clearly hear what they should do.
They start to wonder when and how to hear from God and why they are not.
It does not have to be that way.
God wants everyone to hear His messages clearly, and it’s possible to do so.
The key is to forget about formulas and gimmicks for hearing from God, and to focus instead on developing the kind of relationship with God will empower you and me to hear God speaking regularly.
The closer you get to God, the more you can enjoy ongoing conversations with Him, both listening and hearing from Him, and the more God will use those conversations to transform you into the person He wants me, you to become.
Simple Keys to Hearing God’s Voice
There are a few simple keys that can be found in Habakkuk 2:1-2, which unlocks the treasure of hearing God’s voice.
Using these simple keys together allows the hearer of God’s voice on a daily basis.
Being intentional about hearing God’s voice is a critical step.
In Habakkuk 2:2, Habakkuk knew the sound of God speaking to him.
Elijah also described this as a still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12-13).
Do you know that we can listen to God in an inner audible voice?
God does speak that way to us at times.
However, we find that God’s voice usually comes as spontaneous thoughts or flowing thoughts.
Have you ever experienced driving down the road, and had a thought come to you to pray for a certain person or situation?
Don’t you think it’s God’s voice telling you to pray?
It’s not really an audible voice most of the time.
Instead, it’s a spontaneous thought.
It’s God who is already giving us a prophetic discernment to pray for this person.
Usually, humans are able and capable to experience, Holy Spirit-level communication as spontaneous thoughts, impressions, and visions, and Scripture communicates in many ways.
For example, one definition of ‘paga’, a Hebrew word for intercession, is “a chance encounter or an accidental intersecting.”
When God gives us a burden for specific people, He does it through ‘paga’, a chance-encounter thought “accidentally” coming into our minds.
The inexperienced prophet might consider it a chance encounter, spontaneous or owing thoughts.
Even Satan can plant deception in our minds through spontaneous thoughts.
Paul tells us to take captive of those thoughts (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Have you encountered evil thoughts coming to you in the middle of prayer and worship times?
There are different things going on in our minds.
Humans are usually responsible for analytical thoughts.
Spontaneous good thoughts come from the Holy Spirit, and spontaneous evil thoughts come from evil spirits.
God’s thoughts line up with Scripture and His different names and roles: Comforter, Counselor, Teacher, Giver of Life, Healer, and Deliverer.
God’s thoughts edify, exhort, and comfort you.
They are pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy, good fruits, and are unwavering (James 3:17).
On the other hand, Satan’s thoughts line up with his different names as well: Accuser, adversary, thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Satan’s thoughts condemn, bring despair, rejection, fear, doubt, unbelief, and misery all together. Satan’s thoughts also bring jealousy and selfish ambition (James. 3:14-15).
Studying, Pondering, Meditating, Ways to Regularly Hear from God
1. Recognize that God created you for a very personal relationship.
By design, the way we hear best from God is in the context of a friendship with Him.
God intends for us to figure out His will freely and intelligently as you engage in regular conversations with Him.
God’s will is to be personally present with you and speaking with you moment by moment as you go through life.
Then we’ll grow to understand Him more and become more like His Son, Jesus.
2. Consider your motives for wanting to hear from God.
Honestly reflect on why you want to hear from God.
Is it because we are truly open to whatever God has to say and committed to putting His guidance into action and fulfilling His purposes, even when doing so is so fully, completely and utterly enveloping, overwhelming, challenging?
Or is it for a selfish reason, such as wanting to feel righteous or comforted?
Confess and repent of any wrong motives.
Ask God to give you an openness to hear and respond faithfully to what He wants to tell you.
3. Make your goal more than just hearing God.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33
While it’s important to hear from God, that shouldn’t be your ultimate goal.
Instead, make your main goal to become a spiritually mature person in a close relationship with God.
That’s the only way we’ll clearly and correctly hear what God has to say to us.
4. Know that you’re important to God, but be humble.
Have the confidence that God is willing to speak to you just as powerfully as He did to the ancient people in the Bible, because He values you, me, just as much.
However, do not let pride creep into your soul, because you must be humble in order to faithfully receive and respond to the messages God has for you and me.
5. Don’t try to force God to tell you something.
No matter how much you want to hear from God about something or how hard you may try to convince Him to speak to you.
We will only hear from God when He chooses to communicate with us.
Focus on developing a respectful relationship with God and wait for His timing to deliver messages to you.
Also, if God chooses not to give you specific guidance about something you’ve prayed about, what you’re considering is within the Bible’s moral principles,
we can confidently go ahead and make our own decision about what to do and still be within God’s will.
6. Recognize that God communicates in many forms.
God may choose any one of many different ways to communicate to you, me, according to what’s best at particular times and in particular circumstances.
You may sometimes hear God’s message in dramatic ways, such as through angels, visions, or miraculous events.
But more often, we will hear God speaking through our thoughts, and He will use ordinary practices such as reading and studying the Bible, praying quietly, learning from circumstances, or seeking counsel from other Christians to reach out to us as you think about them.
God will also use dramatic, even miraculous means to get our attention when necessary, but His goal is for you and me to be so closely connected to Him that you and I will pay attention whenever He speaks to us.
Usually, God speaks through what people have described as a “still, small voice” (1 Kings 19:12-13) to encourage those He loves to choose to keep walking closely with Him through life.
7. Renew your mind.
Since God often speaks to you through your mind and wants you to develop what the Bible calls the “mind of Christ” (the ability to make decisions as Jesus would), it’s crucial for you to follow the Bible’s urging in Romans 12:2:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
As we invite the Holy Spirit to renew your mind every day, He will cleanse it from such dirt and clutter as false beliefs and attitudes, unhealthy feelings, and misguided plans.
Then the Holy Spirit will minister to us, intercede, work to replace all of that spiritual mess with true thoughts that more genuinely reflect God’s purposes.
8. Invite the living Word to help you when you read scripture.
The Word of God is a living, creative force – Jesus Himself – and He is actively at work when you read God’s written word – the Bible – prayerfully.
Hebrews 4:12 Amplified Bible
12 For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged [a]sword, penetrating as far as the division of the [b]soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.
As we read the Bible, as we study the Bible, we ask Jesus to make the Bible’s words come alive for us and through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, become conduits through which He sends His thoughts, faith, and love into your soul.
1 Timothy 4:12-14 Amplified Bible
12 Let no one look down on [you because of] your youth, but be an example and set a pattern for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in [moral] purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to public reading [of Scripture], to preaching and to teaching [the sound doctrine of God’s word]. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, [that special endowment] which was intentionally bestowed on you [by the Holy Spirit] through prophetic utterance when the [a]elders laid their hands on you [at your ordination].
Then discipline yourself to focus on what He sends you and strive and work to orient yourself towards a pattern of faith so it will begin to transform your life.
9. Recognize God’s voice above all others.
By experience, you can learn to recognize God’s voice when He speaks, and to confidently respond to what He says.
When thoughts recur, pray about them to discern if they may be coming from God.
Keep in mind that God will never send you and me any message that contradicts the Bible’s principles.
Also, God’s voice carries the weight of authority within it, and expresses a spirit of compassion, peace, confidence, joy, assurance, reasonableness and goodwill.
If you think or believe that God may speaking to you, ask Him to confirm so as we study and meditate on the Bible, as we are alert to the circumstances we’ll encounter, or as we experience the Holy Spirit’s impressions in our mindsets.
10. Set aside time regularly to listen for God’s messages.
2 Timothy 2:14-15 Amplified Bible
An Unashamed Workman
14 Remind the people of these facts, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God to avoid petty controversy over words, which does no good, and [upsets and undermines and] ruins [the faith of] those who listen. 15 Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.
Make a plan to discipline your mind and your heart and soul, make a habit of intentionally and expectantly listening for whatever God may want to tell you.
It’s more important to become a person who listens regularly to God than it is to constantly ask God to give you guidance.
Set aside sometime today to begin listening for God’s voice and hearing his promises and plans for you.
Perhaps even keep a journal to remember the things he brings to life in you.
You open your Bible, but quickly become distracted.
You want to dig deeper, but you don’t know where to begin.
Frustrated, you close the book.
It’s not that you don’t love God—in fact, you long for more intimacy with God.
Maybe God is calling you to deeper waters . . .
Imagine yourself purposely, randomly, opening to a passage of God’s Word and by spending time, its becoming so engaging that you actually lose track of time.
Imagine yourself digging deep, and deeper still into God’s Word and seeing it, and hearing it come alive in amazing ways you had never experienced before.
Imagine starting each day—not with a tiny nugget of truth you hope will get you through—but through hearing a fresh encounter with our living Savior.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in us the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit and we shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy Your consolations. Through Christ our Lord. Alleluia, Amen.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
3 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.
2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.
4 Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” 5 and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.
6 And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
Hearing the voice of God is something that everyone, Christian or not, wants to experience.
Although we all want to hear God, actually doing it, for most of us, is sort of a mysterious process.
We often don’t know how to hear God consistently, if at all.
Yet hearing and understanding what God is saying is critical for our spiritual development.
As we look at people in the Bible who heard from God, Samuel was one of the best.
The story of Samuel is found in 1 Samuel 3:1-10.
Samuel, who was just a boy, was living and serving the priest in the temple.
We are told that, “the word of the LORD was rare in those days” (v.1 ESV).
Not many people were hearing the voice of God.
Yet this rare young man was about to experience something people in the land of Israel had not seen nor had heard for quite some time; Samuel was about to clearly and succinctly hear his name called from the LORD three times.
As we look at this story about Samuel, we can discern there are six steps which can take some of the mystery out of clearly, succinctly hearing the voice of God:
1. Position Yourself Close to God
Samuel set his bed up in the temple, “where the ark of God was” (v.3 ESV).
Samuel had never heard God speak before.
Samuel did not know what to expect, but what he did know was that if he hung around the temple, God would eventually show up.
Through Bible Study, personal devotions, times of fellowship, and regular church attendance, are we now putting ourselves in a place where God is?
2. Find a Place of Regular Service to God
In v.1 it says, “Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli” (ESV).
If we want to hear the voice of God, we have to be doing the things of God.
If we’re not serving, don’t wonder why we are not hearing the voice of God.
3. Listen for God’s voice
Eli was “lying down in his usual place” (v.2 NIV), too set in his own ways, too set, too accepting in the past lack, the rarity of revelation, too preoccupied with his own, son’s interests, his own physical and spiritual limitations to hear God.
When God began speaking, he was not used to listening.
He too easily accepted the unchangeable; the precious rarity of God’s voice.
Status Quo was the Status Quo …
Who before him had taught and mentored him on how to listen for God?
Many times to hear what God is saying we have to slow down and take time to get close to God.
We have to put aside our interests and lean in to hear what God is saying.
How close was Eli to God?
How accepting was Eli that even at his current season and stage and condition of life, he could still get closer to God – “teaching an old soul new ‘God’ truths?
How accepting are we ourselves, in our current seasons, stages and conditions of life, that we too can still get closer to God – “teaching us new ‘God’ truths?
4. When God Calls, Respond Eagerly
When we hear our parents calling to us, we look to respond eagerly.
When we hear our spouses calling to us, we look to respond eagerly.
When we hear our children calling to us, we look to respond eagerly.
When Samuel first heard his name called, even in the middle of the night he got out of his bed, rushed to Eli’s bedside to inquire of Eli: “why have you called?”
This repeated itself three times until Eli finally realized it was truly God calling.
When Samuel heard, recognized the voice of the Lord he was immediately up and moving (v.4) and declaring – “Speak Lord, for Your Servant is Listening!”
If we want to hear the voice of God, we need to be not just ready to put ourselves into action eager to do what He tells us – we need to be obedient enough to do it!
James 1:17-22 English Standard Version
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.[a]18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
Hearing and Doing the Word
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
5. When God Speaks, Obey Him
Starting in this passage and throughout the rest of his life, Samuel consistently obeyed the Lord.
No matter what God told him, Samuel did it.
From that point on, “the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground” (1 Samuel 3:19 ESV).
For us, probably the quickest way to turn off God’s voice is to disobey him.
6. Read and Study the Word of God
After God spoke to him in this passage, the Bible tells us,
“The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there He revealed Himself to Samuel through His Word”(1 Samuel 3:21 NIV).
If you want to hear from God, you have to know what the Bible says.
God is speaking.
God wonders to what extent we are genuinely listening.
God wonders to what extent we are genuinely hearing Him.
He wants to give you wisdom to lead your family, at your job, in your church, and in every area of life.
The questions we have to be asking ourselves is not whether God is speaking, but whether or not we are hearing Him, and whether or not we are listening?
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Savior Jesus, Giver of boundless peace and wisdom, I so easily get distracted when I’m trying to focus and hear your Holy Spirit. Help me to quiet my mind in the middle of my busy life. Help me to pause and to make space to listen to the most important voice of all. Empower me to be a good listener to the gentle whispers of your Spirit. Help me follow the example of Jesus, who would slip away in the evening or the early morning to be alone with you. Teach me to listen, to hear and to abide in you. Amen.
128 Blessed [happy and sheltered by God’s favor] is everyone who fears the Lord [and worships Him with obedience], Who walks in His ways and lives according to His commandments. 2 For you shall eat the fruit of [the labor of] your hands, You will be happy and blessed and it will be well with you. 3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine Within the innermost part of your house; Your children will be like olive plants Around your table. 4 Behold, for so shall the man be blessed and divinely favored Who fears the Lord [and worships Him with obedience].
5 May the Lord bless you from Zion [His holy mountain], And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life; 6 Indeed, may you see your [family perpetuated in your] children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
Psalm 128 tells us, “Blessed are all who fear the Lord.”
And then it uses the picture of an ideal family to teach us about that blessing.
The ideal family in Psalm 128 is similar to the ideal man in Psalm 1, the ideal wife in Proverbs 31, and ideal love as described in 1 Corinthians 13.
We sometimes read these passages and are tempted to say, “Get real!
That’s not the way life is.”
Well, perhaps nowadays that is stating a more contemporary truth, it may not be the way life is, but these passages tell us it is the way life can be – with God!
In other words these passages of the ideal man, the ideal wife, the ideal family with the ideal children and with the ideal love are not meant to discourage us as being unachievable, unrealistic, but rather to inspire us to greater possibilities.
And so Psalm 128 paints the picture of a happy home and presents the home as the center of God’s blessing.
Who doesn’t want a happy home?
Happy and God-fearing, God Loving, God Serving, Neighbor Serving Homes and Serving communities too are, according to Psalm 128 an essential part of edifying, building up God’s kingdom right where we are, here on our earth.
So let’s get into the Psalm now.
Psalm 128 breaks into two main parts.
The first part is a statement of blessing.
The second part is a prayer of blessing.
I. Blessed are all who fear the Lord (1-4)
Psalm 128:1-4 English Standard Version
Blessed Is Everyone Who Fears the Lord
A Song of Ascents.
128 Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! 2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. 4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.
Let’s take a look at the statement of blessing first in verses 1-4:
“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways.
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table.
4 Thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord.” (Psalm 128:1)
The psalmist begins by stating the theme of the psalm: “Blessed are all who fear the Lord.”
To fear the Lord does not mean to be afraid of God so we run away from him.
Rather it means to be in awe of God’s majesty so that you approach him with great reverence and respect.
It means you take God seriously, and you put him first in your life.
After stating the theme, the psalmist then further defines it: those who fear the Lord are those who walk in God’s ways.
In other words a right attitude towards God leads to right actions in your life. Jesus said something similar in John 14:21:
“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (John 14:21)
God has laid out his ways for us in his Word.
Do you and I want to understand how life works?
Then we read the instructions!
God has laid it all out for you in His Word.
John Phillips calls this the center and the circumference.
First put God at the center of our life.
That’s the fear of the Lord.
And then let God’s law mark the circumference of our life.
Let God’s Word mark the limits of what we will and will not do.
And if you do that, if you put God at the center of our life and make his law the circumference of our life, then God will take care of everything else in between.
You and I will be blessed by God in all that you and I do.
The word blessed means happy.
In fact in the Hebrew the word is in the plural, so you could even translate it, “Happy, happy!” True happiness, Real happiness in life is found only in those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
As Charles Spurgeon says: “We must reverence the ever-blessed God before we can be blessed ourselves.”
This blessing from God is not for everyone, but only for a certain subset of people: those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
However, although God’s blessing is not for everyone, it is for everyone within that subset.
“Blessed are all who fear the Lord.”
There are no exceptions here.
If you will fear God in your life and walk in his ways, you will be blessed.
Psalm 128 gives us the example of a father and husband in the following verses, but verse one tells us up front that this psalm applies to us all who fear the Lord.
So whether you are male or female, married or single, with or without children, know this blessed truth – blessed are all who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
We find this truth confirmed for us in other Scriptures as well.
For example compare the opening verses of two other wisdom psalms:
Psalm 1 and Psalm 119.
Psalm 1 says: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”(Psalm 1:1-3)
Psalm 119 says: “Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.” (Psalm 119:1-2)
“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways”
This is the foundation on which to build a family life that is blessed by God.
A. God will bless your work.
And then Psalm 128 goes on to share specific examples of the ways God will bless you as you fear him and walk in his ways.
First of all, God will bless your work and your service.
Look at verse 2:“You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.” (Psalm 128:2)
This does not necessarily mean we will become wealthy or rich, but rather we will find fulfillment in our work and that our work will provide for our needs.
God’s promise to bless our work is especially striking when we recall God put a curse upon human work and labor after Adam and Eve sinned back in Genesis.
Too often in life we work hard but we still don’t seem to be getting anywhere.
Is it because we are not fearing God and walking in his ways?
It is certainly something to consider.
The prophet Haggai in the Old Testament warned the Jews who returned to Jerusalem:
“Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” (Haggai 1:5-6)
The Jews were working hard but not getting anywhere.
That is the opposite of the blessing God offers to those who fear him and walk in his ways.
God wants you and me to enjoy the fruit of our work.
That was his plan from the start.
We read in Genesis 2:15: “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”(Genesis 2:15)
Before Adam and Eve sinned they worked the garden and knew God’s blessing on their work.
It was good work with good rewards.
Psalm 127 English Standard Version
Unless the Lord Builds the House
A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.
127 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children[a] of one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.[b]
Psalm 127, without God work becomes toil.
We will not find true blessing or satisfaction in your work apart from God.
As Ecclesiastes 2 says:“A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25)
B. God will bless your marriage.
So first of all, God will bless your work.
Secondly, he will bless your marriage.
Look at verse 3:“Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house.” (Psalm 128:3a)
This speaks of both fruitfulness and faithfulness.
The vine is a picture of fruitfulness.
Remember God’s initial blessing on Adam and Eve when he first created them?
Genesis 1:28 says: “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.’” (Genesis 1:28)
God’s blessing is related to productivity and fruitfulness.
And this doesn’t just mean bearing children, but it means having a full and productive life.
The picture here is of a beautiful vine that is thriving, flourishing, fruitful and productive.
And then there is faithfulness.
The fact that the vine is “within the house” speaks of faithfulness in marriage.
This is in contrast to the adulterous wife described in Proverbs 7 who is never at home: “She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.” (Proverbs 7:11-12)
What’s the sign of a happy marriage? Fruitfulness and faithfulness. Who could ask for anything more?
Marriage is one of God’s great blessings in life.
Proverbs 18:22 says: “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.”
(Proverbs 18:22) We could also turn that around and say: “She who finds a husband also finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.”
Marriage is a blessing from God, but God also wants to bless your marriage.
Husbands and wives, how you live your life has a huge impact on whether you will know God’s blessing in your marriage.
Blessed are all who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
C. God will bless your family.
God will bless your work.
God will bless your marriage.
And then thirdly, God will bless your family.
Look at verse 3 again: “Your sons will be like olive shoots around your table.” (Psalm 128:3b)
The olive tree is a basic part of agriculture in Israel.
In the Bible it is also a picture of productivity and blessing.
For example we read in Isaiah 52:8: “But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.” (Isaiah 52:8)
Images of olive shoots around the table is the picture of a mature, established olive tree with young shoots springing up out of the soil all around it.
This was a common sight in Israel.
The olive shoots represent youth and energy and, above all, promise.
When you sit down to eat with your family, your children are the hope and promise of the future sitting around your table.
Psalm 144:12 offers a similar image when it says:
“Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace.” (Psalm 144:12)
The olive is a slow growing tree.
It can take ten to fifteen years before it bears any fruit, but once established the olive tree needs little maintenance or supervision, and it will produce fruit for decades to come.
It’s the same way with your children.
It will take some time before they grow to independence and maturity.
As parents we need to be patient with our children as we raise them in the training and instruction of the Lord.
But all our discipline and training will pay off.
Proverbs 22:6 tells us: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
I love that Psalm 128uses the image of the table for the family.
The family table or mealtime is especially important for us as families.
It’s where the family gathers together and shares about their day, where stories and experiences and values are passed on.
It seems it’s getting harder and harder for families to get together even for a few meals a week these days.
I would encourage you, no matter what the age of your children, no matter what the makeup of your home, carve out the time in your schedules and make family mealtime a priority in your home.
This first section of Psalm 128 paints a beautiful picture for us.
A godly husband, a faithful wife and eager children full of promise – all this is a great sign of God’s blessing in the home.
Once again, what more can we ask than God’s blessing on us and those we love?
Notice this first section of Psalm 128 highlights God’s blessing on our work, our marriage and our family.
All three of these were God’s provision for us in creation.
All three of these were also cursed by God following our fall into sin.
But now here in Psalm 128 we see God reverse the curse and bring blessing in all three of these areas when you fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
These verses do not mean that God grants marriage and family to all, but rather this is one of ways he blesses the godly.
“Make [God] your home, and He will make your home a happy home.”
Psalm 128:4 says: “Thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord.” (Psalm 128:4)
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
II. A prayer of blessing for those who fear the Lord (5-6a)
The first part of Psalm 128 is a statement of blessing for those who fear the Lord.
The second part is a prayer of blessing for those who fear the Lord.
Look at verses 5-6 with me now: “May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life. May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem. And may you live to see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel.” (Psalm 128:5-6)
The first part of Psalm 128 presents God’s blessing as his reward for those who fear him, but this second part reminds us that God’s blessing is not automatic.
We do not earn it from our obedience.
Even God’s rewards are all gifts of his grace.
God’s blessing must be received as a gift from God.
And we receive things by asking for them in prayer.
A. May God bless you all the days of your life.
There are three parts to this prayer of blessing.
First of all, may God bless you all the days of your life.
Verse 5:“May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life.” (Psalm 128:5a)
This is a prayer of blessing not just for a time or a season, but for the duration of your life.
It picks up the language of Psalm 23 which says: “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6)
God is the source of all blessing, and this prayer is a reminder that every blessing comes from God
Notice the psalmist prays for the Lord to bless you “from Zion.”
Once again Zion is the place where God dwells.
It is the place where God meets with his people.
Blessing in your life comes as you meet daily with the Lord in his presence.
Psalm 48:1 says: “Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God [that is, Jerusalem], his holy mountain [that is, Mount Zion].” (Psalm 48:1)
It was a blessing for the Jews to be in Zion for the feasts, but Psalm 128 asks for God to bless you from Zion all the days of your life.
It’s a peek ahead to the very last psalm of triumph in the Psalms of Ascent –
Psalm 134 which says: “May the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.” (Psalm 134:3)
For God to bless you from Zion means that God’s blessing extends to you wherever you go.
This is fulfilled in the gift of the Holy Spirit for the believer today.
As Jesus said in John 14: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:16-17)
God the Father and God the Son are present with you through God the Spirit at all times wherever you go.
B. May God bless you within the community of his people.
So first of all, may God bless you all the days of your life.
And then secondly, may God bless you within the community of his people.
We see this in the second half of verse 5: “May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem.” (Psalm 128:5b)
God is not only concerned with individuals.
He is concerned for all his people.
And therefore so should we.
One of the greatest blessings for the believer is to see all of God’s people prosper.
The church is bigger than you, and God’s blessing on the church is your blessing as well.
This part of the prayer looks back to Psalm 122 and its particular focus on the gathering of God’s people.
We read in Psalm 122:
Psalm 122:6-9 English Standard Version
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you! 7 Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!” 8 For my brothers and companions’ sake I will say, “Peace be within you!” 9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.
This is not only a prayer for Israel and Jerusalem.
We need to be praying for Israel and Jerusalem, but it is also a prayer for all of God’s people – it’s a prayer for the well-being of God’s church.
Psalm 122 was the first of the psalms of triumph in the Psalms of Ascent.
Psalm 128 is the middle of the psalms of triumph.
We see how Psalm 128 looks ahead to Psalm 134 which is the last of the psalms of triumph.
And so this middle psalm of triumph looks back to the first psalm of triumph in Psalm 122 and also looks forward to the last psalm of triumph in Psalm 134.
C. May God bless you with a long and fulfilling life.
May God bless you all the days of your life.
May God bless you within the community of his people.
And then thirdly, may God bless you with a long and fulfilling life.
Look at verse 6 now which says: “. . . and may you live to see your children’s children.” (Psalm 128:6a)
In the fifth commandment God promised a long life and a good life to those who honor their mother and father.
Now here in Psalm 128 the blessings of the fifth commandment are applied to all those who fear the Lord.
These prayers of blessing for those who fear the Lord not only stretch outward to the community of God’s people but also onward towards future generations of children.
Verse 6 is a prayer both for long life and the continuation of your family.
This is part of God’s blessing or reward for those who fear him.
Proverbs 10:27 says: “The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.” (Proverbs 10:27)
Proverbs 17:6 says: “Children’s children are a crown to the aged.” (Proverbs 17:6)
Many of you know the blessings of having grandchildren.
Psalm 128 reminds you that they are God’s blessing on your life!
So make sure you tell others not just “I love my grandchildren!” but also, “I thank God he has blessed me with my grandchildren.
I thank God that he has blessed me with length of life to see and know my children’s children.”
Also make sure that you pass on your faith to your children and grandchildren.
The apostle Paul writes to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:5: “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” (2 Timothy 1:5)
What a rich blessing you leave for your children and grandchildren when you live a godly life in fear of the Lord!
What a blessing to pass on a godly heritage to your children’s children!
Proverbs 22:4says: “Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life.” (Proverbs 22:4)
And so we find this beautiful prayer of blessing in Psalm 128 for those who fear the Lord.
May God bless you all the days of your life.
May God bless you within the community of his people.
May God bless you with a long and fulfilling life that you may live to see your children’s children.
In Conclusion … Our Actions Will Speak Louder Than Our Words
Psalm 128 is a beautiful psalm that speaks of God’s blessing on all those who fear the Lord, and it describes this blessing in terms of the ideal family.
You might be wondering this day or season, “That’s all well and good, but what if I don’t have an ideal family?”
Well, first of all, welcome to the club!
But secondly, in holding up the ideal family, the psalm points beyond our broken, sinful families here on earth to the beauty and perfection of God’s family in heaven.
None of us have a perfect family here on earth, but we will all experience the blessing of an ideal family in heaven.
God may or may not bless you with marriage or children in this life.
But either way the promise of this psalm remains.
Blessed are all who fear the Lord. God has promised to bless all those who fear him and walk in his ways.
When you long for the same things God longs for, you will see you desires fulfilled.
Psalm 128 teaches us that there is a direct relationship between your attitudes and actions and God’s blessing in your life.
God’s blessing is available to everyone.
You can choose to either welcome God’s blessing in your life or you can choose to chase it away – it all comes down to fearing the Lord and walking in His ways.
Psalm 128 teaches us that how you live your life matters, both for you and for so many other people in your life.
There is a ripple effect in each of our lives that flows outward.
Your attitude and actions have an impact not only on your personal life, but also on your family, on your community and on future generations.
Psalm 128 teaches us that the influence of the godly person is great, that God’s blessing flows outward from the individual, to your family, to your church, to the whole people of God.
The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ became a curse for us, so that we might receive the blessing of God. (Galatians 3:13-14)
Jesus died on the cross for our sins.
He took the penalty that was due us.
He took the curse of God for sin upon his own flesh.
He paid it in full so that we could come and know God’s blessing.
So don’t miss out on God’s blessing!
Fear God and walk in his ways that you may know the fullness of God’s blessing in your life.
Blessed are all who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Heavenly Father, You are my God and my Savior. Thank You for your free gift of grace, which I receive by faith. Thank you for my family. May we reverence Your name forever and walk in Your ways all the days of our lives. All our blessings are permanently rooted and grounded in Christ Jesus my Lord, in Whose name I pray.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen
29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. 30 When you are in distress and tribulation and all these things come on you, in the latter days you will return to the Lord your God and listen to His voice. 31 For the Lord your God is a merciful and compassionate God; He will not fail you, nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
“I can’t stand Sundays!”
The woman holding her newborn son shouted deep into the church angrily.
She rose from her pew and shared that on Sundays she often felt so lonely and empty because many of her friends were busy with families and ball games.
She was a single woman, new to the church saying she was not a member there.
She is unhappy about her situation and asked the congregation for prayer.
The congregation surrounded her, her young child and laid hands upon them.
Together, they prayed for a good fifteen minutes.
Following the service, she sat down, met privately with the Pastor and his wife.
She said she was separated, divorce papers had been filed with the courthouse.
The father of the child was caught being unfaithful.
she confessed that she felt her sense of intimacy had been badly betrayed.
She had tried dating in the past several weeks but didn’t find the “right” man.
She also went to a few churches but felt they weren’t “loving” enough either.
In their response to the woman,
the Pastor and his wife suggested perhaps she shouldn’t focus mainly on searching for the right man, or seeking even the right “loving” congregation.
The Bible teaches that everyone’s main concern should be about seeking the first love of the Lord first – cultivating and growing in their intimacy with God.
That’s the first step on our journey to a loving and secure peace and happiness.
In our passage from Deuteronomy for today we hear a call to earnestly seek the Lord with all of your heart and all of your soul.
This prophetic word was originally spoken to God’s people who would come to repeatedly betray the love of the Lord and be scattered in exile many years later.
The call is followed by a promise that those who are earnest in their search will find the Lord.
Please note that the act of earnestly seeking the intimate love of God is more than just taking a few or several first steps or a phase in our spiritual growth.
Rather, it is a lifelong quest.
The continued search for God, leading to the deepening experience of his love, is the foundation of securing our inner peace in the only One who never betrays.
Growing Intimacy in Your Relationships.
Psalm 63:1-3 Amplified Bible
The Thirsting Soul Satisfied in God.
A Psalm of David; when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
63 O God, You are my God; with deepest longing I will seek You; My [a]soul [my life, my very self] thirsts for You, my flesh longs and sighs for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 So I have gazed upon You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.
Intimacy is something that each of our souls deeply desires.
Intimacy is defined as close familiarity or friendship; closeness.
Intimacy in marriage includes physical acts of intimacy, but we yearn for intimacy in every close relationship we have in our lives.
Our longing for closeness is a part of our created design.
In Psalm 63it is articulated this way,
“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.”
We long to be and remain close to God our Creator! [Psalm 139, Romans 8:35-39]
We long to be close to God, our Great Shepherd! [Psalm 23]
We long to be close to our Savior, the Resurrected Jesus! [John 21:15-17]
We were created by God for relationships.
Yet, we all know how difficult it is to create safe spaces for true intimacy in our lives.
Humans are imperfect, and we so easily hurt each other.
Hurt, disappointment, insecurity, and grief lead to walls going up in our hearts.
Only God is made of perfect love that we can trust with our whole hearts.
Nonetheless, we need each other and can’t give up on the work of tearing down the walls and trying again to build safe, long-lasting, and close relationships.
Intimacy requires a commitment to forgiveness.
Intimacy requires a radical commitment to forgiveness.
Please note that forgiveness does not mean you are called to remain present in an abusive or unhealthy relationship.
Forgiveness is a daily requirement to remain close to other very flawed humans.
Guess what, you need to be forgiven that much too because you bring just as much selfishness and brokenness to your home each day too!
It is so easy to see the ways one’s spouse lacks empathy, love, and kindness, but while we are worried about pointing out their failures, the question needs to be asked of ourselves: exactly what size plank am I missing that is in my own eye?
I have to lay down my right to be right if I want to feel close to this person who is my spouse, my life-long soulmate and embrace a life of radical forgiveness.
Unity is the foundation to an intimate relationship.
1 Corinthians 1:4-10 Amplified Bible
4 I thank my God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 so that in everything you were [exceedingly] enriched in Him, in all speech [empowered by the spiritual gifts] and in all knowledge [with insight into the faith]. 6 In this way our testimony about Christ was confirmed and established in you, 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift [which comes from the Holy Spirit], as you eagerly wait [with confident trust] for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ [when He returns]. 8 And He will also confirm you to the end [keeping you strong and free of any accusation, so that you will be] blameless and beyond reproach in the day [of the return] of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful [He is reliable, trustworthy and ever true to His promise—He can be depended on], and through Him you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
10 But I urge you, believers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in full agreement in what you say, and that there be no divisions or factions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your way of thinking and in your judgment [about matters of the faith].
1 Corinthians 1:10 instructs, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”
God communicates with us that we are to relate with, interact with our brothers and sisters in Christ with a whole and earnest heart and soul which seeks unity.
He likens us to a body, each of us different in our skills, gifts, and uses but we all work together towards one mission which is to keep the body alive!
We do not have to see eye-to-eye on every issue in our relationships to live in unity, but we do have to be humble enough not to let divisions grow among us.
Intimacy with God and each other is built when we earnestly seek to spend much quality time together.
Psalm 24:5-7 Amplified Bible
5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation (description) of those who diligently seek Him and require Him as their greatest need, Who seek Your face, even [as did] Jacob. Selah.
7 Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up, ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in.
Psalm 27 Amplified Bible
A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.
A Psalm of David.
27 The Lord is my light and my salvation— Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the refuge and fortress of my life— Whom shall I dread? 2 When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, Even in this I am confident.
4 One thing I have asked of the Lord, and that I will seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, To gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the Lord And to meditate in His temple. 5 For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. 6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, In His tent I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; Be gracious and compassionate to me and answer me. 8 When You said, “Seek My face [in prayer, require My presence as your greatest need],” my heart said to You, “Your face, O Lord, I will seek [on the authority of Your word].” 9 Do not hide Your face from me, Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not abandon me nor [a]leave me, O God of my salvation! 10 Although my father and my mother have abandoned me, Yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child].
11 Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me on a level path Because of my enemies [who lie in wait]. 12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, For false witnesses have come against me; They breathe out violence. 13 I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. 14 Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.
Building intimacy requires time spent sharing the same space with open ears and having an open heart ready to connect.
One tip for time together is to commit to making some of this time screen-free time – time for family bible study, family devotions, family prayer sessions.
When we seriously want to really hear our spouse, friends, family members, or children’s hearts, we have to deliberately, intentionally, remove distractions such as our phones, video game boxes, our televisions, so we can fully engage.
We grow closer to God, Jesus, Holy Spirit and in our personal relationships as, when we are intentional about being present with each other when we interact.
Intersecting Faith and Life.
Habakkuk 3:17-19 Amplified Bible
17 Though the fig tree does not blossom And there is no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive fails And the fields produce no food, Though the flock is cut off from the fold And there are no cattle in the stalls, 18 Yet I will [choose to] rejoice in the Lord; I will [choose to] shout in exultation in the [victorious] God of my salvation! 19 The Lord God is my strength [my source of courage, my invincible army]; He has made my feet [steady and sure] like hinds’ feet And makes me walk [forward with spiritual confidence] on my [a]high places [of challenge and responsibility].
For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.
What connections, relationships do you feel covenanted and called upon by God to be a bit more considered and intentional about cultivating more intimacy in?
What is one way you can push yourself to be more present and available in this relationship in the coming weeks, as we move closer to celebrating our Easter?
Are there things that you need to release to the Lord and forgive before moving forward?
Carve out some family time, time with friends, write out a prayer of forgiveness and share them, allow God to start healing the broken relationships in your life.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
139 1-6 God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to you; even from a distant sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too— your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful— I can’t take it all in!
7-12 Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you’re there! If I go underground, you’re there! If I flew on morning’s wings to the far western horizon, You’d find me in a minute— you’re already there waiting! Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I’m immersed in the light!” It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.
13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.
17-22 Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful! God, I’ll never comprehend them! I couldn’t even begin to count them— any more than I could count the sand of the sea. Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you!
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, guide us and lead us, shepherd us to you in faith, obedience, and love. Guide us each day, teach us to be fully committed to you.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
12 Since we have such a [glorious] hope and confident expectation, we speak with great courage, 13 and we are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the Israelite’s would not gaze at the end of the glory which was fading away. 14 But [in fact] their minds were hardened [for they had lost the ability to understand]; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed [only] in Christ. 15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil [of blindness] lies over their heart; 16 but whenever a person turns [in repentance and faith] to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
Becoming Like Christ
2 Corinthians 3:15-18 Amplified Bible
15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil [of blindness] lies over their heart; 16 but whenever a person turns [in repentance and faith] to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.
If the Holy Spirit’s work in us is like the work of a master gardener, what is the Spirit growing in us?
The Spirit wants to reproduce Jesus’ character in us.
Our reading from 2 Corinthians today states that we “are being transformed into [Jesus’] image with ever-increasing glory.”
In other words, the Holy Spirit’s aim is to make us more and more like Jesus.
The Holy Spirit’s work is to nudge us, prod us, move us, transform us and shape us to think and act and be more like our Savior Jesus, for us to better mirror Jesus in our character, to increasingly help us love like Jesus in our daily life.
Of course, it’s not an overnight rush job.
The Spirit doesn’t guarantee delivery in full by 8:00 a.m. the next day—or even within a few days, months, years or decades.
This isn’t the work of a courier driver.
This is the work of the Master Gardener, the One with a master’s vision of the finished garden, the One who daily, gradually toils and works in our lives until the desired spiritual fruit eventually sprouts, blossoms, unto the glory of God.
There are times when the Holy Spirit’s work in us will be immediate, dramatic, and maybe even spectacular.
But usually the Spirit’s work in us is slow, subtle and gentle.
That’s the Holy Spirit’s trademark.
We are made in God’s image, in the image of God we are created, (Genesis 1:26-27) but that sacred image became spoiled and polluted in us because of sin.
So now God is slowly remaking that image in us—to be like our Savior Jesus!
Steps Towards Spiritual Freedom
Have we truly noticed that most of our unrest comes from ourselves?
We get stuck ruminating on the things we can’t change or control.
Un-forgiveness stops us from moving toward healing in our relationships.
Pervasive negativity prevents us from enjoying the moment.
Exhaustion keeps us functioning as only a shadow version of ourselves.
Repeated excuses keep us trying the same things over and over again that are no longer capable of working, are burning bridges and stop us from changing.
Fear, guilt and shame stop us cold from accepting God’s free gift of grace.
Our unhappiness lives in our souls and finding peace starts as a process of Holy Spirit-led self-discovery.
How many of us will spend our lives turning a blind eye to our own hangups?
In our own stubborn blindness, we refuse to consider that maybe the rhythm of frustration we are up against might be something we have the power to change.
It’s so much easier to render our judgments, and then blame our surroundings.
To point out the sliver in our neighbor’s eye, all while avoiding our own planks. (Matthew 7:1-5)
We so often live stuck in a giant sheet of bubble wrap we wrapped around us.
Thank God He is patient with us!
Thank God that God knows exactly what to do with bubble wrap – POP IT!
How, then, do we allow ourselves to be “popped by God” to get us past our blindness and grab onto the gracious freedom that God promises each of us?
1. Freedom comes when we abandon pride.
The path towards freedom begins with a surrendering of the pride we each hold that claims we have what we need to fix ourselves all on our own.
This pride tells us to be ashamed, embarrassed, fearful and humiliated when we don’t live up to our own internal standards.
It relies on rules and religion rather than grace and a relationship with Jesus.
Step one towards freedom and making peace with the people God created us to be is to abandon our pride.
The Bible teaches that pride comes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18), and the humble find wisdom (Proverbs 11:2).
2. God’s wisdom teaches us how to change.
Wisdom helps us change.
Only through God’s miraculous truth can we see the way past the same thought processes which keep us trapped, wrapped, in our own fears, shame, bitterness.
James 1:5prompts us to ask God for wisdom when we don’t have it.
He gives it freely when we have a humble heart.
When we read and study God’s Word, spend time in his church, seek Him and His Kingdom through prayer, we discover what godly wisdom looks like.
Proverbs 1:7instructs us that wisdom is found in the context of community.
We have to be willing to accept advice and instruction when we are stuck and looking for a new way forward.
Proverbs 3:7 tells us that wisdom turns away from evil.
If our own set patterns get us stuck in sin over and over, then God’s wisdom, and our Savior’s Cross, His Resurrection power moves us away from that evil temptation that keeps repeatedly keeps maliciously tugging at our souls.
3. Freedom points us towards others.
Interestingly God gives us the internal power through the Holy Spirit to find spiritual freedom, not so we can just enjoy ourselves better.
Even though a free you is a happier you and is a you that you can be confident in and enjoy.
The purpose of this Christ-purchased freedom is that we can serve others.
Isaiah 61:1tells us God’s spirit in our lives gives us the ability to bring good news to the poor, assist the brokenhearted, and set free those imprisoned in this world!
We are set free, so we can help others find that same freedom.
When we find ourselves stuck, wrapped in our own frustrations or even upset with others in our lives because their sin nature is making our lives harder, we are invited to draw on God’s spirit to see new ways to love and to serve others.
4. God’s spirit sets us free.
2 Corinthians 3:17says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
There is a mysterious element to spiritual freedom.
Freedom is an indescribable moment or journey that can take time where Heaven meets us here on Earth.
Areas I’ve sought freedom in has been anxiety over diabetes management.
For me, this freedom journey has taken years, but God has been my faithful teacher and sustainer through step forward and backward, each up and down.
Other times our freedom is like a dam breaking all at once.
The old life is washed away in an instant, and a new one is ready to begin.
Why does God work one way in my life and a different way in yours?
That is part of the mystery of the Spirit.
God is connectional and relational and not a rule-based God, which is why each of us has a singularly unique and diverse and vastly different spiritual journey.
One thing the Bible does tell us is that if we want to find freedom in our lives, we have to seek His Kingdom through His Holy Spirit.
Matthew 6:33 Amplified Bible
33 But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.
John 8:36says, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Jesus came to Earth, so we could not only escape death and join his family, but so we could experience freedom in our lives here on Earth.
I am so thankful that God has not left me as I was.
He is always renewing my mind and spirit.
May you, by God’s grace, take steps toward spiritual growth and freedom today.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Jesus, my Savior, I have been listening to too many lies for far too long. I have been tricked one too many times by the enemy and I am frustrated. I need to be free from these lies. Jesus, I know that You are true and that the truth will set me free. Jesus, help me to rejoice in the truth. I need to believe the truth. I pray that it really would set me free. Help me with my unbelief, Jesus. Holy Spirit, You know my heart, and know that I need help believing. Thank You, Jesus, that You offer truth to Your children. Thank You for Your patience with me. In Your glorious name, I pray.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
12 [a]Therefore I urge you, [b]brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be [c]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].
3For by the grace [of God] given to me I say to everyone of you not to think more highly of himself [and of his importance and ability] than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has apportioned to each a degree of faith [and a purpose designed for service].
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Amen.
One of the most precious things a person can be given by God is a heavenly mindset, a mindset formed by the cross, a mindset that sees earthly reality in view of Scriptural truths.
Romans 12:2 teaches: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
During seasons of Lent, when we encounter the living Christ through Scripture, and Prayer, Devotions, Sermons and Service, our minds need to be opened to being changed and transformed as when we first come to know Savior Christ.
The more and harder we seek after Him, the greater the transformation we see, we will gradually come to experience within the thoughts of our minds.
We need begin an unplanned approach, with the goal of coming to the end of ourselves, then steadily ask for a bit more of God’s Spirit to come and change us, to conform us to spiritual realities rather than the principles of the world.
Here are some suggested ways we can prayerfully expect to see, feel our minds being subtly, utterly, transformed into greater and greater union with Christ.
What Matters Is What Will Last into Eternity
The things of this earth will be seen as finite, temporary and transient.
There is surely goodness to enjoy on this earth.
But what matters is the spiritual work of God in us, and that spiritual work we participate in mission and ministry and acts of aid and service with others.
His Suffering for Us becomes Our Most Precious Thought
The reality that God came in flesh to suffer on the cross for our sins becomes precious beyond comparison.
We revere this truth and treat it as holy.
Our Savior has become so precious to us we can hardly bear the thought of Him hanging on the tree for us.
We treasure His sacrifice deeply.
His Work in This World Is Our Priority
Jesus has given the church a mission: to make disciples of Jesus around the world.
His work of doing that, at home and abroad, takes deep roots in our hearts.
We want to do our part to see His gospel shared and to see it shine around the world — no matter where we live and what our daily calling.
The Person and Character of Jesus Is Our Loveliest Treasure
Jesus is held up as our priceless treasure.
When we come to know Him better, to take in His character, to learn about His truth and His ways in the Scriptures, to behold His grace in our lives, we realize that we are all treated impeccably by the perfect One of all time and all eternity.
Jesus becomes our richest prize, our first and only singular aim and goal.
God’s Goodness Is Never in Question
We balk at the idea of God’s goodness being in question, when He is the One who bore with all of our failures, all of our rebellion, all of our sinfulness and still — in His immeasurable kindness — offered salvation to the world.
What kind of God is this?
We cannot and will not come to entertain the thought of Him not being always considered the good God He is, was, and forever will be.
The Salvation That God Offers Is Unfathomably Good
Evil is having its day.
The world and worldly values around us threaten to pull us in on all sides.
By contrast, the things of the Lord and of the Scriptures are pure and holy and righteous.
We come to love the righteousness that has been revealed to us.
Salvation into the things and ways of the Lord is an unfathomable reality — one that we will never fully grasp for all of eternity.
We will glorify, praise God always for the greatest gift He has ever given to us.
Sin becomes Utterly Undesirable
When we are thinking and focusing precious thoughts about Jesus, the sinful ways of our hearts and natures fall completely out of favor with us.
In fact, our ways of rebellion, the sin which has seeped into our pockets as we walk through the world, the fallen ideas that have passed through our ears, all come to be undesirable to us.
God shows them to us for what they are, and we want to abandon evil ways — whatever they are — and not allow them to take root within us.
God hates sin, and so do we; that becomes our true heart’s desire.
There Is Accountability before God for Everything That We Do
Because we know that God hates sin, we take seriously that we will stand before God for all that we think, say, and do in His world.
All of our wrongdoing will be covered by His grace.
But He wants relationships of truth with us.
So, we will stand before Him for our doings, whether good or bad.
I want there to be so much goodness, so little badness when I stand before Jesus.
The greatest words that I so want to hear are “well done, good and faithful servant.”
We take seriously everything we do when we are thinking precious thoughts of a Savior who died to remove our sins from us.
All of Life Is Lived by the Rule of Grace
Grace is the rule by which we live our lives.
Jesus loves His gospel of grace.
He loves that He offers us forgiveness as far as the east is from the west.
He loves that He has won a people to Himself.
When we come before Him with our sins, He welcomes us and washes us with his blood.
And He does that by His incredible grace that we can never exhaust.
It is truly amazing grace.
Each one of us is a small picture of His gospel, when He looks at us who believe.
We don’t fear sin because there is no punishment.
Rather, we live by His cleansing grace, and honor it highly just as He does.
To Fear the Lord Is Easy because God Is Great in Our Eyes
When we are thinking precious thoughts about the goodness and greatness of Jesus, we do not question whether or not God is to be feared.
He is the great One.
We possess a holy disposition before the great God of our souls.
Our hearts bow because God is very high.
Our hearts yearn for His glorification.
Our minds know that He is exalted and His thoughts and ways are not ours.
We stand apart from Him and know that He is to be magnified.
The Lordship of Christ Is Longed for So That We Can Reflect Jesus
Jesus is the Lord — and we are so grateful that He is.
We long for Him to lead and guide us in the ways of truth.
We long to follow Scriptural patterns of goodness.
We fully long to walk the straight and narrow path that brings holiness and righteousness to our days.
In short, we yearn for Jesus Christ to be the Lord of our lives.
We don’t want to lead but want to submit to His control.
The Care and Comfort of Jesus Exceeds Our Desires
When we think highly of Jesus, we value our relationship with Him very highly.
We draw near to Him, and He draws near to us.
So, when we reach out to Him for help and comfort, His care for us exceeds our desires.
We feel enveloped by His comfort and love.
The fact that the holy God of the universe would pour His love into our hearts is beautiful beyond description.
We thank Him greatly and welcome all that He gives and brings to us, as He is the vine and we are the branches.
We Have Contentment Based on Our Relationship with Jesus
Because the things of this earth matter less and less to us, we are transformed into a spirit of contentment.
We know that there is nothing we can gain that is of any value but Jesus Christ Himself.
We know that it is good to know God.
So, we can let possessions and values of this earth go.
We Are Willing to Be Called into Service of God, However He Wills
When Jesus is our highest prize, we wait upon Him to see if He might call us into His service.
We are honored so highly if He allows us to serve Him in any way.
And we leave open the possibility that He might call any one of us at any time to take His gospel to a lost world.
Turn the Fullness of Your Thoughts Upon Jesus
Romans 12:1-3 The Message
Place Your Life Before God
12 1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
3 I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.
My friends, let us practice thinking more precious thoughts about Savior Jesus.
Let us practice becoming ever more separate from this world, and practice being ever more, upper-most clinging to the Way, Truth, Life of our Savior.
Let us care about spiritual realities more than earthy realities.
Let us become more and more transformed by the renewing of our minds.
Let us make a greater effort, practice of daily approving of what is good and great according to the Lord, and seek Him — draw near to Him — so that He and His gospel, His Resurrection, alone might be so very highest in our sights.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Father, teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your Holy Spirit lead me on level ground. I see your faithfulness and goodness in what you have done for me throughout my life. I think about these things, and I thirst for you. Let me hear of your unfailing love every morning and every night, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Keep me on firm footing for the glory of your name. Shift, transform, my thoughts away from the world and unto you alone.
Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
23 The [former successive line of] priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were each prevented by death from continuing [perpetually in office]; 24 but, on the other hand, Jesus holds His priesthood permanently and without change, because He lives on forever. 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever (completely, perfectly, for eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede and intervene on their behalf [with God].
The Word of God for the Children of God
Adeste Fidelis. Venite Adoremus. Dominum
Gloria. In Excelsis Deo. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
Jesus’ sacrificial work as our High Priest is a finished work, a once-and-for-all accomplishment with regard to sin.
There is no need for repetition and no possibility of addition.
But why is it, exactly, that He is able to “save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him”?
Because, first, Christ’s role as our Great High Priest is the solution to our rebellion.
Deep down inside, each of us knows that we have rejected our dependence upon God, instead making a bid for independence.
In trying to live our lives independently, we reveal that our stubborn hearts are curved into themselves.
We pridefully think, “I don’t need an advocate. I don’t need anybody to do anything on my behalf. I can handle this myself.”
But despite the fact that we have rebelled against God, amazingly, He seeks us out and saves us.
Jesus brings about reconciliation by dealing with our alienation from God, which is two-sided: we are alienated on our side by our sin and on God’s side by His wrath.
Jesus has paid the penalty for our sins; He has satisfied God’s wrath by offering Himself as an unblemished sacrifice.
Second, Jesus saves “to the uttermost” because He has destroyed the leverage that the Evil One uses to fill us with fear.
In Hebrews 2, the writer explains, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery”(verses 14-15).
Through His own death, Jesus has set us free from Satan’s grip, liberating us from what ought to be our greatest fear: death itself.
When Satan seeks to accuse us before the Father, Jesus is, as it were, able to point out that his words are empty—that he has nothing to say against us.
And Jesus’ priestly work still continues in His continual intercession on our behalf.
In Jesus we have a Priest who sheds His grace on our lives day by day through His heavenly mediation.
As Jesus enjoys being in His Father’s presence today, right now, He is not offering a sacrifice, but rather speaking as our advocate before the Father.
We may picture Him standing by His Father, saying, That one is mine. I died for him. He is covered by my blood and is clothed in my righteousness.
So, “When Satan tempts me to despair, and tells me of my guilt within / Upward I look and see Him there, who made an end of all my sin.”
Therefore, “I know that while in heaven He stands, no power can bid me thence depart.”
Jesus, your Priest forever, stands in His Father’s presence today, speaking of you and for you.
There is nothing to fear.
The more we learn of God’s Word and come to an understanding of Who God is, what He is doing, all that He has planned for those that love Him, the more we see an unveiling of His glory upon glory and the more we recognise God’s grace upon grace that is daily being showered upon all His blood-bought children.
Our risen, ascended, and glorified Saviour has saved us to the uttermost.
Our Kinsman-Redeemer,
Who has rescued us from our sins and seated us together with Himself in heavenly places as sons of God and joint-heirs with Christ, is currently seated on the right hand of the Majesty on high, interceding for you, praying for me, defending His children from the accusations of the enemy, and protecting the Church, which is His Body, with His never-ending intercessions to the Father.
Christ ever lives,
Christ ever intercedes
– for He has power to save through the merit of His atoning work on the cruel Cross of Calvary and His glorious Resurrection.
All power has been given to Him by the Father and so He can, with absolute authority, declare His ability to save to the uttermost, all that trust in His name.
For Christ has promised to save us from the power of sin, the guilt of sin, the nature of sin, and the punishment of sin, but also to sanctify to the uttermost,
body, soul, and spirit as day by day His Holy Spirit is conforming us into the image and likeness of Christ Jesus our Lord.
His saving grace is not only for the eternal ages to come but will be carried through to its ultimate completion, for He will never abandon any that have trusted in His name as Savior and who have come to Him for pardon and peace.
There is no time nor place where His sacrifice of intercession does not reach us, thus underlining His promise: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
The more we learn of God’s Word, the wonderful covenant relationship He has with His Church, the more we discover His showers of blessing and abundant privileges raining down upon our heads and come to an understanding of Who God is, what He is doing, and all that He has planned for those that love Him.
The more we see an unveiling of His glory upon glory, the more we recognise God’s grace upon grace that is daily being showered upon all His blood-bought children.
Surely, and certainly, most abundantly blessed and assuredly, we should each love to the uppermost the Resurrected One Who has saved us to the uttermost.
Christ is our heavenly priest.
Like each of the time limited ancient priests in Israel who interceded for the people with God, so eternal Jesus intercedes with the Father on our behalf.
Jesus is our forever advocate and our everlasting best friend.
He takes our requests to the Father.
I am so thankful that Jesus has my back.
He understands me and knows what I need.
He is my BFF!
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 100 The Message
100 1-2 On your feet now—applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence.
3 Know this: God is God, and God, God. He made us; we didn’t make him. We’re his people, his well-tended sheep.
4 Enter with the password: “Thank you!” Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him.
5 For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever.
Heavenly Father, we thank You and we praise and honor and glorify You for the life and ministry of Your Son Jesus Who has saved and sanctified me to the uttermost and is now daily interceding for me. Praise Your wonderful name. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.
23 The [former successive line of] priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were each prevented by death from continuing [perpetually in office]; 24 but, on the other hand, Jesus holds His priesthood permanently and without change, because He lives on forever. 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever (completely, perfectly, for eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede and intervene on their behalf [with God].
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis. Venite Adoremus. Dominum.
Gloria. In Excelsis Deo. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
What The Heart Of The Young Man Said To The Psalmist.
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,— act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o’erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
A Highly Offensive Contemporary Psalm for Life.
It’s not all about you.
But, then again, neither is it about me.
Urgently Needed Reminder: God’s Psalm for Life.
I would say that the question most frequently asked by Christians is this: is it possible for me to lose my salvation?
It bothers so many of us.
We know the stakes.
And the possibility of having got it wrong, haunts so many believers.
This message is the first of at least two in a small series that are stand- alone messages but which, I pray will all bear upon the question of eternal security.
Do we believe that the Blood of Christ cleanses us from sin?
Absolutely – no problem there – just read 1 John 1:9.
Do we accept that no-one can snatch us away from God?
Of course we do – the Bible says so.
No one can snatch us out of the Father’s hand – John 10:28-29 makes that one quite clear
But here’s where agreement ends and doubts begin!
We hear so many things that can make us insecure – particularly if we’re really struggling to the live the lives we know we should.
So many doubts.
So many fears and apprehensions.
So many different slants and theories.
When do we get saved?
Is it at a particular point in time?
Or does it develop over a certain measure of time?
Is it possible to stop believing and lose it all?
Can we blow it by persisting in willful sin?
Or does that willful sin show that we’ve already blown it in the first place?
After all – the tree is known by its fruit! [Psalm 1, Matthew 7:15-19, 12:33-35]
So – to extend that principle a little – can we forfeit Eternal Life – not just by sinning – but by being unfruitful and unproductive in our lives?
Carelessly allowing our salvation to slip straight through our very own fingers – as Hebrews 2:1-4 seems to suggest?
Give Heed
2 [a]For this reason [that is, because of God’s final revelation in His Son Jesus and because of Jesus’ superiority to the angels] we must pay much closer attention than ever to the things that we have heard, so that we do not [in any way] drift away from truth. 2 For if the message given [b]through angels [the Law given to Moses] was authentic and unalterable, and every violation and disobedient act received an appropriate penalty, 3 how will we escape [the penalty] if we ignore such a great salvation [the gospel, the new covenant]? For it was spoken at first by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us and proved authentic by those who personally heard [Him speak], 4 [and besides this evidence] God also testifying with them [confirming the message of salvation], both by signs and wonders and by various miracles [carried out by Jesus and the apostles] and by [granting to believers the] gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.
We’re going to examine these fears and see if they have any basis in reality.
What does the Word of God actually teach?
But don’t just take my word for it. Like the Bereans – examine this subject for yourself.
I’m confident that when you understand the principles by which God operates – understand His motivations in relation to your salvation, you’ll put to rest these doubts, fears; you’ll appreciate the yawning gulf that divides human reasoning from Divine wisdom and Infinite Love and Grace.
This first devotion is entitled: ‘It’s not all about you’
We’ll discuss this in a moment – but first let’s address a couple of the concerns we mentioned at the beginning.
Among the various positions adopted on the question of eternal security, what undisputed facts can we all agree on – if we take the Word of God at face value?
What does the Bible clearly teach about eternal life?
Well – the first thing we find is that:
Eternal life is a present possession!
It’s not something we have to wait to receive;
It is not something we grow into;
And not something that develops gradually.
The Bible does talk about aspects of our salvation that still lie in the future – but entering into a relationship with God – and receiving the gift of eternal life – is something that happens at a particular point in our lives!
In John 5:24 Jesus said these words:
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
Then in Ephesians 2:4-5 we read:
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
And finally, Paul says in Romans 5:1-2
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
So that’s quite clear.
Salvation isn’t something we’re looking forward to – it’s something that occurs in one point of time!
So you and I are either saved right now or we’re not saved at all!
So what’s the next thing we can agree on?
It’s this.
It appears that we can be sure that we have eternal life.
God intends for us to have confidence – to be able to rest quietly in the knowledge and complete assurance of salvation – no shadow of a doubt!
John writes in his first epistle, chapter 5:13:
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
In Romans 8:16 Paul says:
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
And in2 Timothy 1:12, we hear Paul’s stirring words:
I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
Some people would – of course – say that this confidence is conditional upon us showing the fruits of salvation in our lives.
They say, in other words, that we can be sure of our salvation as long as we have it – but that’s no guarantee that we can’t lose it!
So the questions which remain to be answered are this:
Is it possible for us to lies lose our salvation?
Is it possible to cease being a Christian?
Can we be saved one minute – but lost the next?
Ok. If we want to get down to what the Bible actually says, we’ll need to scrap some of this misleading terminology once and for all.
Losing your salvation is not a term used in Scripture at all!
And for very good reason!
Certainly salvation is spoken of as a gift – but not as an object: a thing that can be dropped, given away or lost.
This gift is nothing less than the gift of new life – eternal life!
So can you lose your Salvation?
Well – what happens if you lose your life?
You die, of course!
So the real question should be this:
If a man is reborn (through the process of the new birth) and consequently has eternal life – can he die again?
And that puts an entirely different complexion on things!
Can a life be described as eternal if it can end – and you can die again?
Christ is our life.
Can He die again?
Well – actually He can’t!
Romans 6:8-11 Amplified Bible
8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live [together] with Him, 9 because we know [the self-evident truth] that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has power over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin [ending its power and paying the sinner’s debt] once and for all; and the life that He lives, He lives to [glorify] God [in unbroken fellowship with Him]. 11 Even so, consider yourselves to be dead to sin [and your relationship to it broken], but alive to God [in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus.
When you think it through – it’s actually nonsense to talk about losing salvation – because of the very meaning of the word.
In certain circumstance I can save myself – but if I’m saved by someone else – by very definition I’m not contributing to the action.
Christ saves me!
If I were to perish for any reason – then in actual fact he wouldn’t have saved me.
But let’s start from the beginning
As we said before: it’s not all about you, neither is it about me!
Salvation is not all about us.
What do I mean by that – and what bearing does it have on our eternal security?
In the Garden of Eden, Satan had effectively stolen God’s creation from him.
We belonged to God – we were created differently from the animals.
Mankind was His special creation – formed in His image so that He could enjoy fellowship with us forever – loving Him and being loved by Him for all eternity.
Now you can’t force a person to love you.
The relationship for which God created us, had to be based on our willingness to have, continue fellowship with Him, to freely offer Him our love and devotion.
So in that sense – maintaining a continuous relationship with God was man’s responsibility.
We were born with a self-determining free-will and this privilege and dignity is something God would never over-ride.
So, ultimately, He had to risk losing us.
He had to take the chance of us turning our backs on Him.
And that’s exactly what happened!
Adam and Eve transferred their allegiance to Satan.
They passed from God’s control to Satan’s authority.
But Satan wasn’t going to win.
God already had a plan – a plan of Salvation – in order to regain what Satan had been allowed to steal from him; a plan to repossess that which He had lost.
Luke 19:10: For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.
Lost by whom?
Once again we make it all about us.
We were lost – we say – in sin.
But surely a natural reading of what Christ said would be we were lost to God – He had lost us – and that He had come to recover us: to save us – to get us back.
And that’s what redemption is all about!
In the OT the word translated “redeem” is pa^da^h and it means: to ransom, redeem, rescue, or deliver. [Isaiah 50:2 ESV]
In the Roman world, the market place was called the agora.
Exagorazo therefore literally means – to take out of the market place – hence – to purchase.
According to Strongs Concordance, it means: To recover from the power of another, to ransom by paying a price.
Of course, being recovered or ransomed implies that we formerly belonged to someone else – who then paid a price to get us back.
And that’s what our English word redeem conveys.
It comes from two Latin words meaning: to buy again or to buy back.
So – if I redeem something, I recover or ransom something that once belonged to me.
God did that – He once owned us because He created us.
He then lost us when we sinned – so He set out to recover which was lost – to ransom us – to buy us back – to redeem us – the price He paid was staggering:
it was the life of His own beloved Son!
The life blood of Jesus Christ was the currency that was used.
1 Peter 1:18-19 says this:
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
We were redeemed from the slave market of sin and are now twice-owned!
You and I are twice owned.
God created us – lost us and bought us back.
We are now his treasured possession – He purchased us.
A transaction has taken place and the highest possible price was paid:
the full asking price demanded by the law to free us from sin – the life blood of Jesus Christ, God’s only Son.
So 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says.
You are not your own; you were bought at a price.
That’s redemption!
Do we get that?
We no longer belong to ourselves.
God paid the highest possible price to get us back.
We are now His property!
Titus 2:14 says that he:
gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
It’s not all about us.
It’s not purely for our benefit!
We are now his inheritance!
Paul says to the Ephesians in chapter 1:18:
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people….
As Israel was continually referred to as God’s inheritance, we are His spiritual people – His glorious inheritance – His new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:17:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: Old things have gone, new things are here!
We’ve already seen that in the first creation, man was responsible for maintaining fellowship with God and he failed.
But do you believe that God will allow Satan to once again usurp him successfully?
To once again frustrate His purposes and steal away his possession?
One that He paid for with the death of his Son?
And that would happen if just one believer were to lose his Salvation – because effectively Christ would have died again.
Grace wouldn’t be reigning through righteousness – sin would once again be reigning through death (at least in that one life)!
A death, by the way, which has been destroyed by the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Not a chance!
Things are different now.
In the new creation, the responsibility of maintaining our relationship with God is now His responsibility – not ours.
And why? Because He bought us and we are His possession.
Remember 1 Corinthians 6:19b-20
You are not your own; you were bought at a price.
This involves ownership.
We actually don’t have the right to give ourselves away again – in any way shape or form.
We’re God’s property!
In fact, God made certain that we couldn’t blow it again – either as a new race or as individuals.
Let us now look at how he protected us as individuals – how he has further guaranteed that we’ll never die again.
It’s found in Romans 4:16.
Here the Apostle Paul writes these wonderful words:
Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring-not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
Notice here what God has done.
So that the responsibility for our salvation might be taken out of our hands altogether –
in other words, so that it might be by grace, entirely on the basis of a free gift – with us contributing nothing at all,
he made its acquisition conditional upon upon faith – simply believing – so that we have no active part to play – just to receive what is offered!
Ephesians 2:8-9 therefore says:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no-one can boast.
So God took on the responsibility for the whole thing so that the promise could be guaranteed.
He had to!
Sin had to be paid for – that took the death of Christ.
We had no part in that – except, of course, in the fact He was representing us.
And our new life had to be perfect forever.
To those who say that we can lose our salvation by sin in our lives, I would remind them that it only took one sin to sink the whole human race!
I mean, what estimation do we have of God?
Do we think that He can tolerate a certain level of sinning and then if it gets beyond that, He’ll say: “Ok, that’s enough!”
It took one sin to sink the human race!
You think you can lose your salvation by sinning?
Then fine – but remember this: you lost it with the first sin you committed after you got saved!!
What is good enough for God is absolute and total perfection or nothing at all!!
And He guaranteed that too – by imparting to us the life of Christ by way of the new birth!
As I said, our salvation consisted of God taking back what belonged to him.
And doing so by paying the price for our freedom.
I mean – Consider what happened at the moment of our salvation.
A transaction took place.
A deposit was paid on us.
We were set aside as his property.
That’s pretty much a guarantee of eternal life isn’t it?
14 The Spirit is the [a]guarantee [the first installment, the pledge, a foretaste] of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own [purchased] possession [His believers], to the praise of His glory.[Ephesians 1:14 Amplified]
In fact, Ephesians 1:14 describes the Holy Spirit as: a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
There’s the guarantee.
It’s because a deposit has been paid. And this deposit is the Holy Spirit.
It’s a word of Hebrew origin and means: a pledge – that is, part of the purchase money or property given in advance as security for the rest.
It’s the money which, when a purchase takes place, is given as a down-payment – in effect, a pledge that the full amount will subsequently be paid!
When you were saved – did you receive the Holy Spirit??
Of course you did!
And if you did – then God’s already paid a deposit on you.
The Holy Spirit is the down-payment!
The Holy Spirit is also a seal on God’s property!
In ancient times, when property was purchased, it was sealed by the new owner with his own distinctive mark – just like cattle was branded in the old West.
This was to protect the goods and to ensure that nobody else could claim them or interfere with them.
In our case, we were also branded or sealed, just to make sure that we were His – that no-one else could claim us.
The Bible says – in Ephesians 1:13:
When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.
The word for seal is the noun from the Greek verb sphragizō – and it’s used 13 times in the Bible.
It means: to stamp for security or preservation – usually with a signet ring or private mark.
That happened when you believed!
It’s not a hope; it’s not a promise.
It’s a done deal!
It doesn’t say ‘if you continue to believe’
Having believed – the verb here is in what is called the aorist tense.
It’s a one-time process that’s already been completed in your life if you’ve come to Christ!
You and I have been sealed.
The seal signified that the goods belonged to the owner of seal or the mark.
Remember – it’s not all about you.
You’re his property now.
And the seal – the Holy Spirit in our case – is a guarantee that the goods will reach their destination in the same condition that they left!
Nobody can get at you except by breaking the seal!
Is there something out there that is greater than the love of God?
More effective than the blood of Christ?
More powerful than the indwelling Holy Spirit?
Doesn’t the Bible say: greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world.?
The Holy Spirit can’t be overcome.
He can’t be ejected from the believer.
In other words – the seal can’t be broken.
It’s His seal – we are His property!
In fact His seal is an absolute guarantee!!
2 Corinthians 1:21-22:
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
How could our salvation be guaranteed if it was up to us in any way whatsoever?
Adam and Eve were created perfect, in idyllic surroundings and in personal contact and communion with God every day.
Yet they still blew it.
But God has purchased or redeemed us and put his personal seal within us.
Make no mistake about this.
If one sealed soul were to be lost, then the seal will have been broken!
The promise and guarantee of God will have been made void!
And God is very serious about keeping His Word.
It abides forever.
He warns us about making oaths because in doing so, we’re undertaking something that only God Himself is able to do – absolutely guarantee the fulfillment of an oath.
And if one saved soul were to be lost:
Satan would have won again!
The deposit would have been lost!
Good faith in purchase destroyed!
And no power in universe can do that!
God has his own plans for His possession
Nothing and nobody is going to steal us away again.
No power in the universe is going to thwart and frustrate His purposes!
Examine what is known as the Golden chain in Romans 8:30:
And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
And so Paul says in Romans 8:38-39:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But sometimes it sounds counter – intuitive, doesn’t it!
As human beings, seeing everything from a humanistic perspective, we’ve been so ingrained with concepts like:
There’s no such thing as a free lunch!
If it sounds too good to be true – it probably is!
You only get out of something what you put in!
And so forth!
So Christians, without realizing it, often rebel against the principle of Grace – the free unconditional love of God, His gift of Grace – Eternal Life in Christ.
They might say – and you’ve all heard these objections:
Sure – nothing can snatch us out of the Father’s hand – but surely we can:
by our own choice.
or our own actions.
lose our salvation.
I mean – there has to be consequences for how we live our lives!
So there’s the question.
Salvation is free, but can we, by free choice, stop being covered by blood of Christ?
Can we ourselves break the seal?
Void the contract?
Undo God’s work in us.
Make ineffective the blood of Christ.
Reverse the effects of the death of Christ in our lives?
See how silly that starts to sound!
Well – Some say that we can and they will give a variety of reasons:
Living a sinful life.
No longer believing.
Not persevering with works of righteousness.
Well, you’ll find each of these objections will resolve itself from the Word of God.
For the moment, just remember one important thing:
Man had a relationship with God.
The maintenance of that relationship was man’s responsibility.
Man failed to live up to the terms of that relationship.
Because of this, he passed from communion with God into the power of Satan.
God, by the death of Christ, went to amazing lengths to buy back or redeem His lost possession.
We now belong to Him – signed, sealed and delivered.
Our safety and maintenance in that relationship is now up to Him – and Him alone!!
May God bless His Word to each one of us! Amen
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Almighty God, you are the source of all light. You divinely separated light from darkness so that we may have the beauty of the light of day. Dear Lord, illuminate this day and enlighten us as we seek to know you through your word. May we be led by your light so our hearts may be opened to your word. We pray that we receive every word you speak to us today. Holy and gracious God, you are the greatest of all. You are full of wonders that no mere human can comprehend. Lord, I seek to understand you and your ways so that I can live according to your commandments. I pray for your divine illumination in my heart and mind. Help me see what you intend for me to see. Help me understand what you intend for me to understand. Open my eyes and my ears, my mouth, to see you and hear, speak your whispers.
Adeste Fidelis. Venite Adoremus. Dominum.
Gloria. In Excelsis Deo. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
23 The [former successive line of] priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were each prevented by death from continuing [perpetually in office]; 24 but, on the other hand, Jesus holds His priesthood permanently and without change, because He lives on forever. 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever (completely, perfectly, for eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede and intervene on their behalf [with God].
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fidelis. Venite Adoremus. Dominum
Gloria. In Excelsis Deo. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
Daylight Savings time is here which means Spring is just around the corner.
A time of freshly blooming flowers and the appearance of green leaves on trees.
Which means for those with a taste for something and someplace other than the insides of their homes after a cold winter – a new fresh taste for being outdoors.
During a nature hike, it can be exciting, refreshing and rewarding to follow side trails that veer away from the main trail looking for the signs of the new Spring.
Finding hidden parts of freshly leaved trees and patches of wild flowers, forests or meadows, valley’s, mountains that few have seen before can be exhilarating.
But traveling in unmarked territory can sometimes be dangerous.
Authorities put up boundary signs for good reasons – [Poison Ivy anyone?].
We should obey those signs because they are usually posted to help keep us safe.
Unfortunately, we will sometimes hear about people who were hurt or killed because they ignored warning signs and went into the places of great danger.
Warning signs also exist in our spiritual life.
In particular, Scripture points us to Jesus Christ as “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).
In our reading from Hebrews 7 today we see that through Jesus we have access to God.
He is not any temporary Savior; He continually intercedes for us—that is, He continues to mark a clear and 100% safe trail for us in this life and into the next.
Our pilgrimage as Christians is not simply for a period in this life.
It is a journey that stretches forward into the joys and exciting discoveries God has prepared for us with him in eternity.
Are you walking safely today—that is, with God?
Completely Safe
Hebrews 7:23-25New American Standard Bible
23 [a]The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing; 24 [b]Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore He is also able to save [c]forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
One of the most amazing truths in the Bible is Jesus is able to save completely, perfectly, to the uttermost because of His resurrection from the dead.
In fact our entire belief system hinges on this truth.
Without the resurrection we would die in our sin, shame and guilt.
Apostle Paul said in Romans 4, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:25),
meaning that His resurrection is the positive proof that we have been restored to a state as if we had never sinned in the first place.
The payment for sin was satisfied once for all when Jesus was delivered over to death to make atonement.
Since it was satisfied and all debts forgiven, death no longer had claim on Jesus and had to release him from the grave.
This has incredible implications for us, because through Jesus, the grave has no claim on us either.
Jesus has been appointed by God as our High Priest on oath that He would remain as such eternally.
Before this time, death had been a problem in the Levitical priesthood because it continually interrupted this office.
The position of High Priest was a lifetime position (Numbers 35:25).
So it was like starting over every time a new High Priest was appointed following the death of the previous High Priest.
However, since death has no claim on Jesus (Romans 6:9), His priesthood cannot be interrupted, therefore He is able to complete the work assigned to Him as High Priest.
The High Priest’s job was to make atonement for the people once a year.
He was mankind’s representative before God in all things.
The problem was that he first had to sacrifice for his own sins, disqualifying him from approaching God to make atonement in the first place.
Jesus on the other hand was sinless so His sacrifice for sin, when offering himself as payment, was more than enough to permanently wipe out the debt that sin created.
In fact the writer of Hebrews has stated over and over that our sins are paid for, forgiven and forgotten(Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:14, Hebrews 9:26, Hebrews 9:28, Hebrews 10:10, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 10:14, Hebrews 10:18, Hebrews 10:22).
Which means Jesus’ atonement as High Priest worked the first and only time it was given.
And if it worked, then by no means does it need to be made again (Hebrews 10:10-14).
In fact, Jesus now sits at the right hand of God the Father because His work is finished and complete (Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 10:12).
Since this work is finished and death has no claim on Jesus, he resides as High Priest forever.
And if He lives forever with this office, He is also able to save for all time and eternity those who come to Him by faith.
In fact, God promised Jesus on oath this would always be the case which is why he promised Him He would provide a High Priest, not after the Levitical line perpetuated by death, but after Melchizedek who had no such record of death.
(Hebrews 7:1-3 NASB)
Melchizedek’s Priesthood like Christ’s
7 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. 3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.
This is incredible news and very important to know because it assures our hearts before God.
In fact these things have been written to give us insight and confidence in approaching God by faith (John 20:31, 1 John 5:13).
Knowing we have been saved, forgiven and restored to a state where we are justified and righteous before God should give us boldness in approaching Him without the consciousness of sin and resulting guilt (Hebrews 4:16, 10:22 ).
Then knowing Jesus lives forever to assure this relationship, making petitions and intercession on our behalf, should prayerfully usher each and every single one of us into a state of heart peace and empower us to live a life like no other.
These blessed and unyielding truths have been written for our eternal benefit; so that we may all understand all we have access to is only through Christ Jesus.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Father in heaven, You made humanity in Your image that we might show forth who You are to the world. Thank You that although we fell into sin and failed in our created calling, You sent Your Son, Jesus, to redeem us as both the once-for-all Sacrifice and the Eternal Priest who offers that great gift. Our lives have been bought with a price – they are Yours, our God – so fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we might live in the fullness of Your power and display the fullness of Your character to the far reaches of this world until the fullness of Your kingdom.
All this we pray, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord to whom, with You and the Holy Spirit be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 