Hebrews 4 - Rest in the Promised Land

Hebrews 4  NIV
Let us enter God's rest. What is this rest? There are those who would use this chapter to remind us of the law of keeping the law of resting on the Sabbath day. But, this is much more than that. It is a promise that all who believe will live in God's rest. We will live in peace; reconciled to God our Father through Jesus Christ our Lord. In these troubled days there is only one place to find real rest; real peace, and that is in the presence of God our Father and our Lord, Jesus the Christ.

We receive God's rest when we trust Him. We receive God's rest when we receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ and understand that there is no work that we can do to save ourselves.

We receive His rest as we live in His presence; in His Kingdom, even today. Just as many of the Israelites received the promised land and promised rest even while they were still alive, so too the promised land, the Kingdom of God, is at hand, for you; for all who believe.

May God open our hearts and minds so that we might enter into His rest, into the promised land, even today.

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 12:37-50 Our Belief Or Not Doesn't Change the Truth

John 12:37-50 NIV
There have been many times when others have tried to sway me. They have tried in vain to convince me that that Jesus is not my Savior; that God our Father is a myth; and that the Holy Spirit is not present and active in my life and the world around me. Often, it is because they don't care to hear the word that the Father has given us through Jesus. There are many who would much prefer to have it their way rather than God's way. I usually just end up smiling at the futility of it all. God is God. He Is Who He Is. You can try all you want to change Him to meet your standards; but, human beings cannot change the essence of God. It is just not possible. You can spend your days trying; but, in the end it will be God who will have the final say.

Even after Jesus performed many signs, many would still not believe in him. There were also those who believed in him but would not openly acknowledge their faith in him because they did not want to offend others. It is not so different today. There are many who believe, many who do not, and many, many who have been baptized into the faith who will not witness to the Good News of the Kingdom through Jesus the Christ because they are afraid of offending others.

Whom would do you have the courage to offend; those without faith or the one who gave His Son to die for you? As for me, I have been an offense to God enough already in my lifetime. "....as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Zechariah 3 - Joshua/Yeshua; God Saves!

The accuser, Satan, stands at the High Priest Joshua's right side before the angel of the LORD to accuse him. But, the LORD rebukes Satan. The LORD will take away the filthy garments that the priest is wearing, even as He has removed Joshua's sin from him. He will clothe him with new, clean garments, with holiness. This man, Joshua, along with the other priests are symbolic of things to come. They are symbolic of the High Priest, the very Son of God, Jesus the Christ, who is to come and who will lead the people in holiness and righteousness. In the same manner, Jesus came to take away our sin so that we would be clothed with His righteousness and His holiness.

May we all live in the righteousness and holiness of Jesus the Christ, our LORD and Saviour.

God's Peace - Pr. J

A bit of a language lesson:  Joshua and Jesus are actually the same name... Joshua is Hebrew for "God Saves." Jesus (Yeshua) is Greek for "God Saves." God indeed saves His people. He saves us through the blood of Yeshua.

2 Chronicles 28 - Evil

Too much war....  Way too much destruction!  The sins of these ancient kings is beginning to be a bit overwhelming for me.  I don't care to watch this much violence on television.  The thought of all that evil in ancient days is beginning to make me a bit nauseous and by the children of Abraham no less...

I have seen a lot in my lifetime, but the evil that King Ahaz did, as well as other kings of that time, is just too much.  It is beyond words.  Not that these latter days have not seen men and kingdoms follow in these evil ways.  But, it is beyond my comprehension, how so much evil can dwell in one man, in the people, who listen to him and follow him?

How can humankind be so blind, so compassionless, that they will persecute, enslave, murder their brothers and sisters.  These were afterall, children of Abraham.  And... we are children of God, we are brothers and sisters in Christ.  Whom will we persecute today?  Whom will we love even as God loves us?  Whom, which god, will we serve?  "...But, as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."  (Joshua 24:15) 

“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD."  Joshua 24:14