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

Hebrews 3 - He Leads Us

Hebrews 3 NIV

"For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. ^'Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,' bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory." (vs 4-6)

We are his house. He is faithful to us. May God help us to be faithful to him. God saved His people from the Egyptians. He delivered them from bondage. They followed him into the wilderness. But, once there, they began to rebel. They complained against God. They were not happy following in the way that He lead them. Those who rebelled perished in the wilderness. They never got to see the promised land.

God has delivered us from our own sinful nature by the blood of His Son, Jesus. He leads us through the wilderness. What shall we do there? Shall we rebel? Shall we complain against Him because the way is not always to our liking?

"Christ is faithful as the Son over God's house." We are his house. We are his children. Will we be faithful to him and follow through whichever wilderness he would lead us to the promised land?

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ephesians 1:1-14 Marked and Sealed

Ephesians 1:1-14 NIV
My memory for names is absolutely horrific. I remember people quite well enough or probably more correctly I should state that I remember their spirit. I remember who and whose they are; just not always their names. I have often remarked that we should be tattooed in our foreheads upon our birth so that we might know and remember everyone's names.

In fact, we were marked with the sign of the cross on our foreheads as we were born again, into the family of God, through the water's of baptism. We were marked; sealed by the Holy Spirit, to the praise of His glory. It is this indwelling Spirit that I recognize in brothers and sisters when I greet them. For those whom I do not recognize as brothers and sisters in Christ, I pray a lot. I cannot imagine what it must be like to have to live without the spiritual blessings that those who believe have received in Christ. I cannot imagine what it would be like to not belong to God or to live without Jesus. I cannot imagine what it would be like to live without the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance as children of God; heirs of His Kingdom.

I would desire that everyone bear the name of Christ; sealed by the Holy Spirit, to live for the glory of God. And... so we pray for all whom we love and as well as for all whose names we may not remember that they too might receive this gift of God's grace. And... so we share the good news that in Jesus we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Through The Wilderness

1 Corinthians 10:1-13 NIV
The Israelites wandered through the wilderness for many years. God led them in a pillar of fire. According to St. Paul, the rock who is Jesus the Christ was with them. But, not all of them made it through to the promised land. There were those who were idolaters; those who indulged in revelry. Some testes Christ and were killed by snakes. Others grumbled and were killed by the destroying angel. Not all of them made it through. Although, they followed that pillar of fire through the wilderness; there were those who turned their back on Christ and lived according to their own desires.

St. Paul tells us this to remind us that these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as we journey through our own wilderness. There will be temptations; but, God does not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear.

The wilderness can be a rough place; but, Christ is with us. May God grant us the wisdom, the strength, and the courage to follow in His Way to the promised land, the Heavenly Kingdom.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Habakkuk 3 - Hinds Feet on High Places

"The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
    he enables me to tread on the heights." (Hab 3:19 NIV)

"The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places." (Hab 3:19 KJV)

I remember a book I read years ago. "Hinds Feet On High Places," an allegory, written by Hannah Hurnard, gets its' name from Habakkuk 3:19 (KJV). The journey of Much-Afraid and her friends Sorrow and Suffering, as they follow Shepherd to the high places, where they will walk as on hinds' feet, takes them through many dangers.  It is a long journey. They must have patience. They must have persistence. But, in the end, they (we) will dance in the presence of God. 

I can't remember too many of the details of the book, as it has been quite a few years since I read it. But, I can look around me daily and watch (and even join) others as they journey through many difficult times in anticipation and the hope of the promised land.

Just as Habakkuk prayed and waited patiently for the LORD to deliver God's people from the enemy, from the many dangers that surround them; I, too pray and wait patiently (sometimes not as patient as others) for the LORD to deliver His people, who I also love, from the turmoil and dangers they encounter as they journey through the dark shadows of the valley of death.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 99 - Speak To Him And Listen!

The misdeeds of Israel did not go unpunished.  But, they continued to call on and exalt His name and the LORD continued to speak to them.  He led them through the wilderness.  They called on His name and He led them through the wilderness to the promised land.

We are all guilty of misdeeds.  That does not mean the LORD has turned His back on us.  Speak to Him and listen, for He will guide us on our way.  Pray to Him and He will answer. Bow down and worship the one true God.  God will forgive us our sins against Him.  He will lead us on our journey through every wilderness, every dark valley.

Take a lesson from the Israelites who wandered in the desert for so many years because they were afraid to take the land the LORD had promised them.  Do not fear to follow in the way He would have you go.  Listen to Him.  For He is just and merciful.  Do not turn away from Him, but follow wherever He may lead. 

How many times have we found ourselves in an anxious place, a dark place where we cannot seem to find our way out?  There is a way.  Speak to the LORD, ask Him to show you the way out. The LORD our God will lead you out of bondage.  It may take a little time in the wilderness, but you will enter the promised land. God will do what He has promised and He has promised justice and equity.  In Jesus Christ, He has promised you peace that surpasses all understanding.  Speak to Him and listen, for He will guide you on your way. 

"Great is the LORD our God. He is exalted over all the nations. Worship Him and only Him for the Lord our God is holy."

God's Peace - Pr. J 

Psalm 95 - God Was Angry

I wonder how many "Christians" know the story of the Israelites escape from Egypt.  If they have heard it, did they really listen?  I think we like to forget the part that the Israelites wandered through the desert for forty years because God was angry with them for not trusting Him. They were not wandering around just because they were lost.  Well, I guess they were lost in a sense because they did not trust nor listen to God. 

God was angry!  How many of you, does that surprise?  Isn't God suppose to be an all loving, all giving, just an even-tempered, all gracious God.  Indeed, He is all loving.  But, scripture also tells us that God can be angry when His children refuse to listen to Him, refuse to trust Him, refuse to follow in the way He has led them.  Indeed, He is quick to forgive all who turn to Him in the name of His Son, Jesus the Christ.  But, he is not overjoyed knowing that there are those who would forsake Him or His Son who was willing to die so that all people might be reconciled to Him in the promised land, the Kingdom.  Make no mistake, when you sin and willfully follow in the ways that would lead you away from the kingdom of God, you are separating yourself from God and the promised land.  God wants you to be reconciled to Him in His Kingdom.  Why would He be happy if you chose another way and rejected the promised gift?

The Israelites feared entering into the promised land in the way that God would have them go.  They feared and chose another way.  They rejected God's full promise to them, at least in the way that He would give it to them.  And... God was angry. The consequence was to wander around outside the promised land for forty more years. For sure God was with them as they continued their journey through the wilderness.  And... God is with you.  You have no need to fear following in the way that God has prepared for you through Jesus Christ, our LORD.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. If you're having problems remembering the story, read again the story of how the Israelites decided, out of fear, that they would not enter the promised land as God directed them. It can be found in Numbers 13 and 14.