Galatians 2:15-21 Imperishable Seed!

Galatians 2:15-21  We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.  So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.  But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin?  Absolutely not!  If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.  “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.  I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

We find the essence of slavation in Paul’s words for all men everywhere: So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ.  Greek and Jew by faith in Jesus’ work on the cross are made completely right with God without one fault.  Through Christ’s work as intermediator between God and man, all people who die in faith are partakers of God’s glorious, forever existence.  The ransom to free mankind of its finite, sinful life was paid completely by Jesus Christ on the cross.  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.  (1  Peter 1:18-19)  Peter goes on and explains how we should live a life of love after being redeemed by the precious blood of Christ.  We should emulate the love of God to all people.  We will face persecution and death too as Jesus faced persecution and death because of his righteousness.  This world is not our home.  Yes, we have escaped Egypt and Pharaoh’s hand of sin and death, but our lives still exist in a harsh environment, and we have a wilderness journey to face.  In this adverse environment we are to live as God's instruments of love.  The old man or woman who lived by law to please God, lived in his or her own strength.  Their acts of pleasing God came from doing work, through obedience to regulations and certain mores.  The law and it regulations were to make one right with God; in fact, obedience to the law was life itself.  Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law.  They are not just idle words for you—they are your life.  (Deuteronomy 32:46-47)  But now Paul is telling the Galatians, that to please God, to have real life, comes not through the efforts of men, but through faith in the One who completely pleases God, Jesus Christ his Son.  Paul is stating that real life does not come from obedience to any laws or regulations, but solely through faith in Jesus Christ's works, for He is the true bread of life.  For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.  I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  A salvation, born again experience, comes not through any other means or way than Christ living in us. 

Christ is eternal and has been with God forever.  We too who have set our hope and faith in him will live forever.  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  (John 1:1-2)  Therefore, for you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.  (1 Peter 1:22-23)  Paul is admonishing the Galatians not to go back to the beggarly elements of trying to please God through the world of the law.  The works of the law are very attractive to men of all generations and of all ethnic groups.  Their religions are constructed to be observed by obeying specific laws and rituals.  Consequently, law fits well with human’s self-willed spirit.  Effort and competition satisfies man’s desire to elevate himself above others, proving he alone of all creation knows how to worship God.  The Jewish people were chosen out of all the peoples of the world.  They were given the law to reveal God’s righteousness, his likeness.  They were an enlightened people about the God of creation, not like the people around them, whom they considered barbarians, or people ignorant of God’s likeness.  The barbarians were so ignorant that they made images of God out of their own imagination and then served these images made out of wood, stone, and precious metals.  But the God of the Bible detested these images, these idols, for they did not represent him at all, and these idols demanded from their followers strict obedience to their regulations and obeisances.  Because these images are in every society throughout the world, they reveal man’s inherent desire to know the God of creation and the meaning of life.  But idol worship also reveals man’s innate desire to please these gods of their imagination through their own efforts and sacrifices.  We know Israel did not inherit Canaan because of their goodness, their obedience to God who created them.  Canaan came to them because of God’s grace.  Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.  (Deuteronomy (9:6)   Moses complained many times to the Lord that God had chosen a willful, stubborn, rebellious people as his chosen people.  Even after the Jews had the law in their possession, they failed to change and become subservient to the God of creation.  The laws and their regulations given by Moses, and the empty vows of the Israelites to obey them never changed their hearts of rebellion.  They carried detestable idols with them all the way through the wilderness and even after they entered into the promised land.  The laws and regulations given to them when they camped at Mount Sinai never changed the content of their hearts.  Finally God dispersed them from the promised land, for the law could not make their hearts new.  Now, Paul is telling the Galatians that only Jesus can change hearts.  Obeying the Sabbath regulations or obeying laws will not alter a man’s rebellious nature.  Only a spiritual transformation of the heart can make the heart right before God.  

I died to the law so that I might live for God.  We see with these words that we must die to our own efforts of pleasing God.  As Jesus worked with people, He was trailed around by the teachers of the law and the Pharisees.  They were jealous of Jesus’ popularity with the people.  Jesus was usurping their position of favoritism with the people.  He spoke with great wisdom, and He performed many miracles.  In some situations He healed all the people that came to him.  And what the elite hated most was his lack of reverence for the Sabbath.  Jesus did not quit working on the Sabbath; in fact, He healed people on the Sabbath.  This ignorance of the day of rest, brought rage to the religious leaders.  To them, Jesus was attacking life itself when He failed to observe the Sabbath.  For Moses exclaimed that following the law and its regulations WAS LIFE.  The equation of life for these religious followers of the law was that law equaled life and life equaled obedience to law.  Now Jesus was throwing all life as they knew it into confusion.  How could they allow this man to exist?  One time on the Sabbath Jesus healed a man whose right hand was shriveled.  The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath.  But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.”   So he got up and stood there.  Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”  He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored.  (Luke 6:6-9)  The goodness of God was revealed that day by healing this man’s hand.  God made the Sabbath; He commissioned it for man’s own good so that men and women, and their livestock would have a day of complete rest, a period of restoration for the coming week and that during this day the people could honor God in their thoughts and inaction.  Now Jesus is revealing to the teachers of the law and the Pharisees that He is God; He is the Lord of the Sabbath; therefore, He is the Lord of all laws and regulations.  Otherwise, He, in himself, completely fulfills the law and it regulations for they come from him and his Father.  Therefore, if anyone is found in faith in Jesus Christ, he or she has satisfied all the laws that were ever written to honor God or to regulate one's life.  Paul is warning the Galatians not to back off this high mountain of righteousness.  God who met Moses on Mount Sinai gave him the law for the Israelites to follow, but now God met with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration and said to the world, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.  Listen to him!”  (Matthew 17:5)  The Word of God or the fulfillment of all righteousness is now in flesh, in the man called Jesus.  All law has been satisfied in him.  Breakfast companions, we are to listen to him through the voice of the Holy Spirit in us, and we are to follow him as we venture through this land of flesh.  He will guide us, not laws or regulations.  The law is no longer outside of us, but it is alive in us because Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, has taken away all our sins, made us completely new, and He resides TODAY in our hearts.  Rejoice and be glad!  

(Sorry we are late this week--computer problems.)

Hebrews 13:19-25

Hebrews 13:19-25 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon. May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Brothers, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written you only a short letter. I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you. Greet all your leaders and all God’s people. Those from Italy send you their greetings. Grace be with you all.

The writer of Hebrews, a spiritual leader, asked for prayer from those who received his letter. How much more we who are but children in reference to this warrior need the prayers of others. We live in an alien, hostile world where many people view us as THE enemy. Jesus said the world would hate us as it hated him. Even today, people use the lovely name of Jesus more often as a curse than as a word of adoration and recognition: Emanuel, God with us. In Islamic countries, a person who converts to Christianity faces persecution or even death for such an act of betrayal. Over the years, millions of martyrs have died at the hands of those who thought they were doing their gods a favor by eliminating Christ's followers. Christians face troubles, persecutions, and discomfort as they traverse the wilderness of life. This world is not our home.

As we read the final admonitions from this "short letter" to the Hebrews, I wonder how many of us have a clear conscience in everything and have chosen to live honorably in every way. I wonder how many believers have boldly cut themselves off from other Christians who would hold them up in prayer. Brothers and sisters, are we going our own way, failing to realize how much we need the words and prayers of others to strengthen us? The church is the body of Christ where each part supplies something needed for the effective functioning of the whole. We need to function well in that body; therefore, we have no viable alternative to letting the Spirit use us to encourage and to help others. If we foolishly cut ourselves off from fellowship with other Christians, thinking we do not need others and they do not need us, we are destined for problems. The body of Christ helps sustain our Christian walk by giving comfort to those who suffer and guidance to those who stray from the truth. God does not send us out alone in an alien world. As with the author of Hebrews, we have fellowship with other believers and ask for their prayers in our behalf.

In his later years, my own dad cut himself off from regular church attendance. Although he read the Bible daily and sought the Lord in prayer, he missed out on the fellowship of the saints. After I began teaching in Auburn, Washington, for several years I went back home for post-graduate work, and my family and I lived with my folks for the summer. During those weeks, we would talk a lot about the Lord, the scriptures, and the goodness of God. We experienced powerful times of prayer together. Every year I noticed Dad's spirit would start out rather negative, but the fountain within him turned into sweet water by the end of the summer. He started speaking with more tenderness, compassion, and hope in Christ. His actions seemed more loving and caring, less troubled. Daily positive interactions with other members of the body of Christ changed his demeanor and his behavior. Christians need the love and fellowship of the brethren. The spirit of the world corrupts those who go off alone; the wolf snares the sheep that leaves the flock. When the devil finds us alone in a remote pasture, he pounces on us and leads us to captivity.

Over the last several years, I have expounded on every book in the New Testament other than Revelations, a book I choose not teach. In my breakfasts, I have not skipped any verses, and I have tried to give you the whole counsel of the scriptures. In fulfilling such a task, I suspect I have written enough material to fill several books. Some of my past breakfasts are on my blog, but most are not. Right now I am going to take a respite to seek God and to consider whether I should start over, explicating the scriptures the best I can. My hope and prayer is that these breakfasts have nourished you. I realize some of you read them daily while others read sporadically or occasionally, but I love you all, my breakfast companions. Now I leave you with the doxology of the Hebrew writer: May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:17

Hebrews 13:17 Obey your spiritual leaders and submit to them [continually recognizing their authority over you], for they are constantly keeping watch over your souls and guarding your spiritual welfare, as men who will have to render an account [of their trust]. [Do your part to] let them do this with gladness and not with sighing and groaning, for that would not be profitable to you [either]. Keep praying for us, for we are convinced that we have a good (clear) conscience, that we want to walk uprightly and live a noble life, acting honorably and in complete honesty in all things. And I beg of you [to pray for us] the more earnestly, in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. (AMP)

A leader should walk uprightly and live a noble life, acting honorably and in complete honesty in all things. If a leader lives a righteous life, a life of light, he is worthy to be followed. But if a leader lives a duplicitous life or a self-oriented life of materialism, he should not be followed, for he is like a blind man leading the blind. They both will fall in the ditch. Many people have followed false leaders who lead people into great error. Such leaders are like wolves who come in to scatter the sheep and to lead them into great confusion. We often see a lot of this on television. We have a generation of Christians living primarily for themselves, looking for constant wealth and miracles, the next spiritual "fix" to make life better. People will sing and shout if they can see a payoff here on Earth, but they become disconsolate and discouraged when facing struggles or heartaches. Paul said he was being led by the Spirit of God to Jerusalem where he was captured by the Jewish leaders who pressed for his execution. But Paul knew the Spirit was leading him to Rome and this captivity was only a conduit to fulfill God's plan. He did minister for a while in Rome but eventually was killed by the Romans. Paul's only real assurance was that he would be persecuted and under the constant threat of death. Yet he willingly followed his Master, even to death. Many early Christians were persecuted from city to city, but they kept their testimony of Jesus the Savior alive wherever they went.

The dedication and faithfulness of early believers contrasts with the lukewarm and haphazard faith of many modern-day Christians. The early church faced persecution and death; we face over-indulgence and disgruntlement. American Christians spend too much time praying for self, for our personal miracles, our deliverance and not enough time seeking God's will and reaching out to others. Our lives tend to be overly self-absorbed, self-centered. When we think God has failed us, we complain about our prayers not being answered. We ask, "Why isn't He in our lives, doesn't He care?" We have taken on the spirit of a world that says, we are only going around once, so why not grab as much as we can from the journey. However, we who are in Christ are standing on the shoulders of thousands and maybe millions of martyrs. This world was not their home; they looked for a city not made by hands, a heavenly home.

How we have changed! We fill our houses and garages with "stuff," and provide every positive experience that we can for our families. Sadly, in this day and age, many Christians believe we have to experience every "good thing" the world offers to get the most from life. We say, Jesus plus the world will bring the contentment we deserve. Often we are so deceived that we do not even recognize our self-absorption. Why? For one reason, we have abandoned God and his Word by following the wrong leaders and the wrong ideas. We ignore the Holy Spirit and no long emulate the lives of Paul, Peter, James and others who gave their all for Christ. We are following people who preach gain as godliness. We must ask: Is this Christianity? Is this why we go to church and worship God, so He can make our lives carefree? Did Christ give his all to ensure a better earthly life? If so, the apostles surely did not receive that promise. But God did promise us that we would become children of God with a heavenly abode, not made by human hands. This was the land Abraham sought, this was the land of all believers who have gone before. This IS THE LAND that we must seek to find real joy and peace. We should feel discontented with this world, for it is not our final resting place. We look for our heavenly home.

Hebrews 13:15-16

Hebrews 13:15-16 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Luke 6:27-31 “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Our lives as Christians should be sacrifices of praise. We should speak and act for God's glory. The act of love praises God. Loving our enemies is a sacrifice of praise to God. When we do not strike back, when we give away our substance, when we go the extra mile with someone who misuses us, and when everything within us desires to please our Lord, we praise God. God is pleased by a sacrifice of praise. From the beginning God programed us to do good; anything less leads to unhappiness. However, the devil's intervention in the garden brought evil into God's peaceful creation. The awareness of evil resulted in the fleshly will: the desire to do our will and not God's, to trust ourselves and not him. Since then, mankind has struggled with destiny and the ability to survive. Death came into his existence, and survival required hard labor. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return. (Genesis 3:19) Without turning to him and accepting HIS WILL and HIS LIFE, we are but dust.

When our hearts long to follow our own will and we seek worldly recognition and things that are not eternal, we follow the dictates and the nature of the deceiver, the devil who wants to destroy us. However, when we desire to please God by loving others, we are gentle, kind, and long-suffering, revealing God's nature. As we sacrifice for others, even our enemies, the love of God shows through our lives. God sent the bright and morning star, Christ Jesus, to die for us when we were yet his enemies. He loved us so much that He forgives us seventy times seventy or indefinitely, so we can love others as He loves us. According to his perfect will, God gave us his perfect only begotten Son. In him we are perfect, for He completely pleased the Father and obeyed him in all things. Now, because of this perfection, we continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise. We give him glory in and through our lives by walking in love and obedience to him.

In Jesus, we will want to follow God and do good. We will help others, pray for those in need, and give to people who require our help. The Bible says our lives are not our own: we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. This simple concept demands everything, all that we are, all that we have, and all we will ever be. Living for Jesus demands sacrifice and a different way of thinking. As we orient ourselves towards others, our Christ-like attitude and behavior literally turns our world upside down. The carnal person looks at his own situation before considering others. God asks us to look at the circumstances of others over our own best interests. As we yield every aspect of our lives, we become concerned for the homeless and the living conditions of the poor; we want health care of others as much as we want it for ourselves. I sometimes fear for the American church, for we have seemingly forgotten that a sacrifice of praise comes our lips and our deeds. When we sink into ourselves and our own self-centered agendas, repentance is needed, so the living church might shine and share the "good news." If our thoughts and actions become self-oriented, we will not give the sacrifice of praise that God desires from our lives. Turn to God today in total surrender to his will, and He will use you for his glory.

Hebrews 13:9-10

Hebrews 13:9-10 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them. We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.

Christians live at an altar of faith. We serve at this altar in the presence of God through faith in Christ our Lord. Under the old covenant, the altar of God was in the Holy of Holies where God's presence was so magnificent and righteous that the high priests fearfully entered only once a year to offer up sacrifices for the sins of the Israelites who were not worthy to be at this altar of faith. We who are IN CHRIST through the new covenant of faith enter into God's presence with boldness as we partake of Christ himself, his broken body and his shed blood. We can take on the nature of Christ and become more like him because of his finished work on the cross. We are always in relationship with God through the Holy Spirit who is in us and who reveals Christ to us. Through his great mercy, God loves us and makes us shine as the light of world. As the translucent gems that make up the body of Christ, we shine forth his unconditional love and marvelous grace to the world.

The cults: Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, and the like, continue to build their altars in this world. They establish holy places, set up hierarchies, institute exclusive words and regulations, and some even wear holy clothes. These cults go back to the beggarly elements of the world to please God They make divisions between their own people as they deem some more holy than others and excommunicate or shun others who do not fulfill their expectations. For some reason, these false religions with their manmade altars of the flesh attract foolish and stubborn people. Carnally minded people either ignore God or with a "give me the rules and let me do it" attitude, they try to please him through the flesh. Notice the I in that spirit. In ourselves without Christ, we cannot see God.

In our fallen state, outside of his mercy and grace, we cannot experience God's presence and enter into his kingdom. Jesus Christ alone pleases God. He is our living sacrifice: by faith we serve at his altar. Jesus is the door, the entrance to God's dwelling place. No matter how beautiful or how humble, no earthly edifice will ever bring God to us or us to him. We can lift up all the "holy men," we desire, but without Christ as their Savior, Lord, and King, their righteousness is filthy rags. The Old Testament Law showed us that we can never please God in the flesh. The mirror of the Law showed mankind as natural law-breakers unable to obey and to serve God regardless of his many blessings. Outside of Christ and complete surrender to him, mere religion does not free us from sin or make us right with God. Only Jesus Christ paid the price to make us joint heirs with him and sons and daughters of our Father God.

Therefore, turn your eyes upon Jesus, worship him, and give him glory. He is your salvation, your life, your everything. Outside of him, you have nothing; in him you have freedom from sin and eternal life. Christ is the altar of grace and mercy. You no longer have to approach God in fear and trembling, for He has given you the right to come boldly into his throne room. He has called you into his presence to present your petitions, knowing you have a High Priest seated at the Father's right hand, making intercession for you. Do not go back to the beggarly elements of this world. Do not run after cultish ideas of establishing your righteousness in the flesh. Do not be double-minded, but live wholeheartedly for Jesus. As you lean heavily on Jesus, He will give you victory over sin and joy in living as He makes you pleasing to God and righteous in his eyes. Now, live a life for him and let your light shine for all to see.

Hebrews 13:7-8

Hebrews 13:7-8 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Every Christian, regardless of his or her position in the body of Christ, should emulate Jesus. He devoted his life to the Father's will. As with Jesus, our present day spiritual leaders should be interested primarily in doing God's will. If they rightly serve God with integrity and love, we should respect them and imitate THEIR FAITH. We surely should consider the outcome of their way of life. Some of my forbearers were pastors and leaders who passionately served God. Looking at their lives, I see they committed everything to God and sacrificed material things to champion his causes. They did not live in fancy houses or even on the "right side of the track." Many times they just traveled from one city to the next, spreading the gospel. They remained faithful to their calling to the end. They stayed married, raised children who loved the Lord, and their grandchildren and great-grandchildren serve God today. As I view the graves of their children who died young and recall their stories of hardships and heartbreaks, I consider how they conducted their lives. In his last days, my own dad could not interact easily with others due to illness; yet, as we sat together, he would raise his hands to God and tearfully say, "The Lord is so good, He is so marvelous to me." This was a man whose tongue was so swollen that he could hardly talk, but he used all his strength and passion to praise the Lord with uplifted hands. Of course, his faith dramatically impacted me and my own children.

As we emulate our leaders who follow Christ passionately, we first and foremost imitate Jesus' life. He was passionate for his mission to reveal the Father and the Father's love to the world. Similarly, we should commit everything to showing our Father God to the world. I do not think we can serve God successfully in any other way. As members of God's family, we should cast off our lukewarm attitudes and behaviors. We should stop being up one day and down the next, choosing whether to follow God or not, whether to serve him or not. Scripture reveals that dedication to God means imitating the faith of our leaders and seeking to reflect Christ to the world. James says, show me your faith by your works, your consistent commitment to God's plan for you. Christian leaders are always on display whether they are on vacation or speaking for God on a public platform. They cannot take a day off and must readily serve God in every situation. We too must be ready and willing to serve God every day. Jesus was not the part-time Messiah. Even on days when He sought a respite from the crowds, He was moved with compassion for their needs and always ready to serve. We are not occasional ambassadors of Christ; we are always on duty and committed to hearing the Holy Spirit and to reaching out to others. This is our daily mission, our constant calling.

As emulators of Christ our Lord, we are not covenant breakers: we serve others as we serve God. We willingly give what we have and go the extra mile with the Roman centurion. We offer living water to those who despitefully use us, caring for the needs of our enemies. We respond tenderly and kindly to those who love us. This is our assignment in life. Today, I am concerned that we who follow Christ lack fervor because we so easily succumb to the spirit of the age, living mostly for ourselves, our wants and desires. How many of us have harbored bitterness, anger and hatred in our hearts, even self-loathing? God desires goodness and peace in our lives; He wants us to love and to serve others, to meet their needs ahead of our own. The spirit of this age says: WE ARE ONLY GOING AROUND ONCE, SO WE MUST GET ALL WE CAN FOR OURSELVES. WE MUST LIVE FOR OURSELVES, PROTECT OURSELVES. IF WE DON'T, WHO WILL? This selfish attitude leads to materialism, failed marriages, and broken relationship with friends, neighbors, and family members. A fleshly lifestyle opposes the will of God and his endearing love for all people. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. When we live IN JESUS, we should become more like OUR LEADER. The Bible says we will reap what we sow. Following the dark lifestyle of the devil and his demons produces a harvest of hurt, pain, trouble, and destruction. Following Jesus leads to healing, wholeness, peace, and joy.

Hebrews 13:4-6

Hebrews 13:4-6 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

The juxtaposition of marriage, adultery, and money in the above passage reveals God's priorities for his children. Adultery violates purity in marriage. The love of money affects commitment in a relationship with God. Both actions break a sacred covenant. Both behaviors are separators, leading to destruction. If we seek another partner in bed, we violate the sanctity of the marital covenant with our partner and with God. If we lean on money as our ultimate support through life, we compromise our covenant with God that is based on faith and trust. Either action represents immorality and makes us a covenant breaker. To reject our spouse by choosing another lover than the one to whom we originally entrusted ourselves is to choose a life of infidelity and destruction. God intended for a marriage to last until death. Our fidelity to God should last forever. When we violate either relationship, we succumb to the will of the flesh, to a profane lifestyle. In the Old Testament, Israel was judged harshly for their adulterous infidelity. A duplicitous and immoral life does not please God.

We are in Christ, and God promised that He will never leave us or forsake us. He will never disown his own children. Yet, if we wander to a far land and find ourselves eating with pigs in the depths of filth, our fleshly desires and choices will lead us to death if we do not return to the Father's house like the prodigal son. If we try to live this life on our own, taking our inheritance of eternal life and squandering it, we will end up separated from God forever. Jesus' account of the prodigal tells us we can choose to go off and live our own lives. Notice, the father did not withhold the son's inheritance but readily gave it to him. The son broke off a close, dependent relationship with the father, and once he was on his own, he lived a profligate and sinful life. He chose the world rather than the father's house. We too can leave the Father's house and prostitute ourselves to the world. We can chase after other lovers such as money, position, and wealth, falling victim to the depths of sin. Although God promised never to leave us, we can leave him. Sadly, we can break a covenant. In the world, we can break the covenant of marriage and defile ourselves with another lover. We are not robots, made just to serve God and one another. We have been made in the image of God with the free will to follow and to obey him or to do what pleases our sinful nature.

My breakfast companions, I know you desire to serve God because you are reading this devotion, but you may be facing temptation or straying from your covenant relationships. God is always there for his children. In the prodigal story, the father saw the son when he was far off and ran out to meet him. Rather than making his repentant son go all the way home by himself, he met him with gladness and rejoicing in his heart. I am sure he whispered in his son's ear how much He loved him and offered his shoulder for the son to lean upon. Our Father will never forsake a son or daughter who rejects sin and turns toward home. Regardless of the mistakes or the problems in life, God will be there to strengthen you if you focus on him. You might be weak this morning in body and mind as you read this, but God is near you. Jesus said, the kingdom of God is near you. When we abide in his presence, He surrounds us and is in us through the Holy Spirit. This morning, thank Jesus for your life, thank him for your next breath. As you pick up your feet and walk each step in him, you will find peace and joy as you declare, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

Hebrews 13:1-3

Hebrews 13:1-3 Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Keep on serving, keep on loving, until the Lord returns. This is God's will for us who are in Christ. We are to love readily and unreservedly. As members of Christ's body, we should embrace our brothers and sisters with an everlasting love. We should always remember our children who are raised up in the name of the Lord are his children. Our friends, our acquaintances IN CHRIST are his also. When we eventually enter into the very throne room of God, the eyes of the believers who have gone before us will be upon us. Our shared DNA will not matter, our earthly relationships will not define us: only the fact that we are ALL GOD'S CHILDREN WILL MATTER. Given this reality, how should we treat God's valuable and beloved family, his heavenly DNA? God asks us to love his own, treating them with reverence and respect. We are to be gentle and kind to each other. If we treat people as we want to be treated, we will meet their needs, visit them in prison, and help them when they are mistreated. God does not tell us to judge our brothers and sisters; He tells us to love them as we love ourselves. The author of Hebrews exhorts us to keep on loving each other as brothers (sisters) for we are all God's precious little ones.

Some of us have decided Christ plus the things of the world equals happiness. But the biblical formula is Christ plus serving others equals happiness. James tells us to show our faith by our works because faith without works is dead. Faith in Christ without the concomitant works of righteousness has no life because it does not produce fruit or positive results. The Bible says, even the devil believes, but he does not perform holy deeds. Satan does not serve, he controls. He does not do good, he does evil. Jesus said the world would know we are his followers by our love. Therefore, as members of the body of Christ, our interactions should reveal God's nature, not anger, bitterness, and resentment. If we have anything against someone in the church, we should go to that person and make it right before we partake of the sacraments. We are one IN CHRIST, one in the Spirit; our actions should support the body. Christians must also recognize that God knows our thoughts and our attitudes. He knows our innermost being and does not tolerate aberrant thinking or negative behavior towards his creation. God loves everyone, including children, and demands we treat them well and cause them no harm. Jesus said, if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. (Mark 9:42)

In your lifetime, you may never entertain angels unaware, but for sure you will entertain strangers and the children of God, people who need his touch through you. Responsibility to hear and to obey God is a part of our calling as believers. In our homes, our workplaces, and our daily lives, we should seek ways to bless people and to show them God's love and his salvation plan. We should always be ready to show God's kindness, generosity, and patience. As God reaps a harvest of the Spirit in our lives, we display him to a hurt and dying world. If we fail to reflect the attributes of the Spirit, we will display our flesh to the world. God's Spirit produces a harvest of righteousness; the flesh produces destruction and suffering. Therefore, let us walk in faith, abandoning whatever hinders us from running a holy race to the finish line. Let us not make excuses for our bad moods or our unkind acts but throw off fleshly desires, materialism, and worldly ties that bind us to carnal thinking and actions. If we willingly and wholeheartedly love and serve God, we will walk in joy and peace, and others will want what we have.

Hebrews 12:25-29

Hebrews 12:25-29 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken — that is, created things — so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

God shook Mount Sinai to reveal his greatness to a specific ethnic group, the Jews, his chosen people. Even today through Jesus Christ, we serve the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jesus, Abraham's SEED, revealed God's merciful and loving nature towards mankind by dying on the cross for our sins. By sending his son as the perfect sin offering, God made the whole world accountable for what they do with Jesus. Those who trust in Jesus Christ by faith will be saved; those who reject Christ's sacrifice will come under the judgment of sin, which is death. This is Christianity: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:16-18) God made a way for sinful men to enter into his presence. For many such a plan seems too arbitrary and abstract to understand, but the Bible clearly states that Jesus is the only way to eternal life; no one can enter God's presence or spend eternity with him without going through the door, Christ our Lord.

The above verses warn mankind to accept God's plan of salvation, for someday He will shake all that can be shaken. Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. Eventually, this world and the heavens will be judged. Peter talks about a new heaven and earth. John wrote in Revelation, I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. If God shakes the Earth off its axis, turning it to dust, we must have an eternal resting place, a place to abide with God. If heaven and earth pass away, and all that we know and experience ceases to exist, those who trust in him will still have a resting place with God. God is a spirit, we worship him in spirit and in truth, and in our spirits we will be with him eternally, forever safe and secure with God. This is our hope IN CHRIST. This world is not our home: our home, our inheritance, is IN CHRIST with God. As the body of Christ, the church of the living God, we are found in the kingdom that cannot be shaken. The Earth and its contents will be shaken, but the kingdom of God will stand firm forever. Praise the Lord.

Therefore, we do not live in dread or fear of what is coming on the Earth. We do not run here or there to find rest because our souls rest in the assurance that God loves us and Jesus Christ is our Lord. Presently, Christians remain in transition, always on the move. Our homes are but tents, not our final destination. We do not seek mammon as our inheritance. We do not serve the things of the world; neither do we let the cares of life hold us down. We serve God with reverence and awe, knowing He has a plan for our present lives and a blissful future in store for us with him. Yes, in the former years, He shook a mountain, but in the future, He will shake all of creation. But regardless of the shaking, we who are in Christ have a permanent home in his presence, eternally safe with our lovely Lord, for we who have placed our trust in him are at home IN HIM FOREVER.

Hebrews 12:18-24

Hebrews 12:18-24 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Exodus 19:10-18 LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. He shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on him. Whether man or animal, he shall not be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they go up to the mountain.” After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.” On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder.

Under the new covenant, Christians abide eternally in the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of grace and joy garnered by faith in Jesus Christ and his works of holiness. In contrast, entering the presence of God in the Old Testament, as revealed at Mount Sinai, represented a fearful experience, even though Moses consecrated the people and made them outwardly clean. At Mount Sinai the people remained under a cloud of dread and fear; the new Jerusalem provides peace with God, causing the angels to rejoice. The former ends with death; the latter leads to eternal life. The old covenant resulted in shame and bondage to sin such as Abel's blood crying out for revenge; Christ's redemptive work leads to freedom and peace. Only death could equal the scales of justice under the Law. As the Exodus passage reveals, even consecration, cleanliness, and abstinence from sexual activity do not cover man's sinful acts, his rebellious nature. Jesus said God sees our hearts, hears our every thought. Outward acts of holiness do not satisfy God's wrath, we must have a thorough inward cleansing, a "born again" experience. The blood of Jesus spawns a new creation, bringing believers into right relationship with Almighty God.

As children of God we live by faith in Christ, not by works. Good works will never secure a place in the presence of God. When we feel discouraged, condemned or defeated because of displeasing God in our flesh, let us abandon the pit of sin by placing our faith in Christ's work and not our own, by claiming his victory and not ours. At Mount Sinai the people did not please God because their basic sin nature of rebellion brought defeat. Though outwardly clean, their sins kept even the soles of their shoes from touching God's holy mountain. Jesus the mediator of a new covenant speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Thoroughly convinced of the power of the cross, the author of Hebrews uses the word better twelve times to describe the new covenant of grace and mercy (KJV). This new and better way brings us into God's presence where we call him Abba Father, and He calls us his children. We have so much more through Christ than what we have by our own works. Our works lead to death, but faith in Christ leads to life. Failing to recognize that axiom brings us under condemnation and finally judgment because we say Christ's work is not enough for salvation.

Now, what does all of this say about our daily lives? Since Christians love and serve Jesus, we should desire to please him because He has paid the full price for our redemption. Yes, we will feel sad when we fail or when our flesh gets out of control. But as we repent of our sins and ask God to cleanse us of the behaviors that do not reflect his nature, we grow in grace, strength and the knowledge of the Lord. Jesus works on the inside, changing us from the inside out. As we walk in sincerity and humility, trusting in the power of the cross, we take on the nature of Christ and become more like our heavenly Father. As we sit at the feet of Jesus, we will give more grace, exude more patience. The fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, naturally overwhelms the old nature with all its frailties. When change fails to occur, we need more of Christ, not less. We need to depend more on him, less on our own abilities. As we develop a close relationship with him and hear the Spirit more clearly, our hearts become more tender, and we allow God to control our thinking and behavior. In thankfulness and with tears of joy, we will do his work and shine for him in this dark world.

Hebrews 12:12-15

Hebrews 12:12-15 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

Romans 12:9-18 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

The author of Hebrews asks believers to grow up into spiritual maturity: to live each day by faith through God's grace regardless of the circumstances. Mature Christians live disciplined lives, resisting the devil and his works. They are wary of the selfishness of the flesh; therefore, they try to extend the Spirit of God to people rather than their own self-serving spirits. When sad, disheartened, or troubled, they strengthen their feeble arms and weak knees through prayer, praise, and worship. Mature Christians attend to the needs of others, helping the hurting and healing the lame. They make level the paths of life and live in peace with all men, displaying God's kindness to the world. As they live holy and circumspect lives, their godly demeanor and gentle spirits testify of God's goodness, so no one misses the grace of God. They do not harbor bitterness, anger, and hatred in their hearts, knowing those spirits cause trouble and defile many. Every Christian should strive to grow into maturity, to put off the weak and destructive elements of the flesh and to put on the whole armor of God's love towards humanity.

Love must be sincere, without manipulation and gain. As we walk in love, we will do what is good and supportive by honoring and respecting one another regardless of our personal feelings. God gives us the grace to live at peace with everyone. But when we remain weak and immature, we protect our flesh by striking back, hurting, and destroying, leaving our testimony of Christ in us in shambles. The flesh produces discord and distrust in our lives instead of the peace and love of our Lord. We may win battles through carnal means, but in the flesh we will lose the real war against the devil and his works. Spiritually immature actions bring confusion to our unsaved acquaintances when our actions are just like theirs. If our light does not shine, if the salt loses it savor, others will not see Christ in us. Worldly thoughts and actions weaken our testimony and leave us helpless. God intends for us to walk in hope and strength as warriors for the cross, dedicated to fighting the good fight and displaying his goodness and his power to a sinful and dying world. When we are IN CHRIST AND HE IS IN US, we do not remain dependent upon others or the things of this world: we stand tall in the hope of resurrection life and in the knowledge of who we are and what God wants.

As partakers of this breakfast, people who want to grow in faith, I know you desire to live IN CHRIST. Hebrews repeatedly tells us the just, the strong, and the overcomers live by faith. If we are not totally committed to a life of faith, difficult events or problems will defeat us: we will do what we hate, talk in ways we despise, and finally embrace the sinful life we once rejected. If you are struggling today, stand back, repent of this world, and rededicate yourself to following Christ regardless of your current situation. A true soldier of the cross does not leave the battlefield but faces his foes by faith with determination to win. The Bible says God finds no favor with those who quit the battle of life. Faith literally means believing and trusting God in everything. Believers do not rely on our senses or human understanding because we know God is in control, and the victory belongs to those who endure to the end. There is no Promised Land without a battle against the giants in the land. This day, cast off the immature garments of defeat and put on the mature armor of God. He will lift you up, make you strong, and show you that the victory is yours because He has won the fight.