Author: looking2jesus13

Our Great High Priest

Bible Reading: Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:14-16

For 24 hours beginning at sunset on October 4th, 2022 the entirety of Israel will celebrate Yom Kippur (Yom Kippur = day of atonement).  Normal life in Israel will stop.  All businesses including all restaurants will be closed.  All transportation will stop, including air travel to and from Israel’s major airport.  Almost all private vehicles will also stop, so the roads will be devoid of traffic.  While it is commendable that the people should honor their centuries-old tradition, there is no temple or high priest or sacrifices.  The people refrain from work and observe Yom Kippur these days in fasting and prayer, but all the prayers in the world will not work to avail unfettered access to the throne of grace.

The priests of the Old Testament were appointed by God to mediate between Himself and His people.  Only the High Priest could offer the highest sacrifice, and that he did on Yom Kippur.  All the sins of the people were symbolically brought into the holy of holies and sprinkled on the mercy seat for atonement.  Before the high priest could make a sacrifice for the people, he had to make a sacrifice for himself, because he was a sinner too.  His time in the presence of the Shekinah glory was limited to the time it took to make the sacrifice.  He could not sit down or delay, and he left as soon as he was done.  Every year, once a year, another Yom Kippur was required.  Between these sacrifices, every day, thousands of other sacrifices were made.  In spite of all these many sacrifices, no unfettered access to the throne of grace was availed to those folks.

In Jesus “we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens” (Hebrews 4:14).  Unlike his predecessors, Jesus was without sin and didn’t need to make an offering for himself (Hebrews 7:26-28).  Those previous priests all died, but Jesus lives forever to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:15-28).  Those previous priests ministered in a small earthly temple (in which they dared not to sit), but after making his once for all sacrifice, Jesus passed through the heavens and is now seated at the right hand of God (Hebrews 8:1-2).  The best those priests could offer was the blood of bulls and goats, which could never take away sins, but Jesus offered Himself in a once for all sacrifice that can save to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25; 10:4, 12, 22). The OT High Priests alone could enter the Holy of Holies, and then but once a year.  The people themselves never had such access.  But when Jesus, our high priest, died on the cross He inaugurated for us all a new and living way of access through His flesh (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Jesus has worked to mediate for you unfettered access to the throne of grace!  Even more amazing is that we have an open invitation, founded on the merits of Jesus and His sacrifice, to go with confidence to such a throne to receive help in time of need.  Who doesn’t have a time of need!  We have them all–spiritual, emotional, physical, financial, relational–the list goes on and on.  We needn’t keep them to ourselves, we are exhorted to take them to the throne of grace.  And think about that for a moment.  The throne of a king in Bible times could hardly be called a throne of grace.  But God’s throne is as God is.  He freely bestows mercy and grace to those who ask!  What an amazing privilege!  Perhaps you’ve some need you’ve held on to for too long already, your Heavenly Father bids you to bring that to Him!

Heavenly Father, how incredibly privileged we are to be able to come freely before Your throne of grace!  Thank you for the gracious provision of Your Son’s sacrifice that has worked to tear down the veil, opening a way of access to us.  We come in His name, on the basis of His shed blood, and the cleansing it has availed to us.  Forgive us that we don’t make our way to Your throne as often as we should.  We are in fact, very needy, and with needs that are way to big for us to deal with.  So Father, we bring them to You, so very thankful that in Your storehouse of grace there is an infinite supply of help availed to us.  Amen.

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;

To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,

His power no boundary known unto men;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

Humbled and Exalted

Bible Reading: Philippians 2:5-11

Alas, according to the law of gravity, what goes up must inevitably come down!  That is a law which governs the way things work on this planet.  It is an undeniable and unavoidable reality. There are many such laws of physics and life pertaining to the physical realm of our existence.  Likewise, there are spiritual laws which relate to all of us.  There are undeniable spiritual laws, axioms if you will, which govern the affairs of men in relationship to God.

One of those is a principle often cited in the Bible: “Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted” (Luke 14:7-11, 18:9-14; Matthew 23:6-12).  Those who lift themselves up in pride, will be humbled by God.  Those who humble themselves before God, shall be exalted (Cf. Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5).

This validity of this spiritual truism is vividly demonstrated in the example of the Lord Jesus.  Philippians 2:5-8 speaks to the humility of Christ.  Philippians 2:9-11 speaks to His exaltation.  To what extent did Jesus humble himself?  To the maximum extent possible!  In descending from the heights of heaven, then humbling himself to the point of death on a cross, he humbled himself beyond that of any person in the history of men.  “He humbled Himself” (Philippians 2:8).  He was not humbled by others.  He deliberately chose that path.  He “super-humbled” Himself.

So, on the other side of this spiritual axiom, we have the expected result.  “He who humbles Himself shall be exalted.”  So, what if someone decided to super-humble themselves in a transcendent and preeminent manner?  What would we expect in that case?  Well it is exactly as we suppose—according to this spiritual law—that person would be “super-exalted” to a place of preeminent honor. This is exactly what we read about in the history of Jesus.  He was born into this world.  He lived among men as a servant.  He humbled Himself to the point of death.  He died on a cross for sins.  He rose from the dead.  In Acts chapter 1 we read of how He ascended to heaven.  And in his first sermon, Peter preached on these matters.  And we read in Acts 2:32-33, “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.  Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God…”

Charles Spurgeon, “He stooped, who can tell how low? He was raised, who shall tell how high? “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him. He threw away his name; he emptied himself of his reputation. How high is his reputation now! How glorious is the name that God hath given him as the reward of his redemptive work!”  And He stands in this super-exalted position in relation to the church, His body.  From heaven He exercises authority (Matthew 28:18).  From heaven He is at work preparing His bride, the church, for His return (Ephesians 5:27).  From heaven He intercedes on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25).  God has given to Him the Highest Place, the Highest Name, and the Highest Reign. The One who died for sins in humility, is now exalted to the right hand of God in glory.  And He’s coming again and will reign over all.  

The path of humility demonstrated in Jesus, is the path to which He has called us as believers (Philippians 2:3-5).  The Apostle Peter put it this way (1 Peter 5:5-6): “Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He might exalt you at the proper time.”  In other words, live like Jesus.  Humbly serve Jesus by serving others.  In due time you will receive your reward.

Lord Jesus, we are forever amazed at You in Your sacrifice, that You would humble Yourself to the point of death for us! But now God has exalted You above all! As we eagerly wait for your return, may we be careful to follow in Your example as we humbly serve You as we serve others! 

Emptied of His glory, God became a man

To walk on earth in ridicule and shame

A ruler yet a servant, A shepherd yet a lamb

A man of sorrows, agony and shame.

Humbled and rejected, Beaten and despised,

Upon the Cross the Son of God was slain

Just like a lamb to slaughter, A sinless sacrifice

But by His death His Cross became our gain.

Satan’s forces crumbled, Like a mighty wall

The stone that held Him in was rolled aside

The Prince of life in glory, Was lifted over all

Now earth and heaven echo with a cry.

CHORUS

He is Lord! He is Lord! He is risen from the dead

And He is Lord!

Every knee shall bow, Every tongue confess

That Jesus Christ is Lord!

Do You Realize How Incredibly Blessed You Are?

Bible Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23, 3:14-21

In February 2013 a California couple made an amazing discovery.  They were walking their dog on their property, along a path they’d transversed many times before, when they spotted a rust-covered metal can poking out of the ground.  Exploring further, they eventually uncovered 1427 gold coins having a face value of $27,980, but assessed to be worth about $10 million.  Before you head out to take a walk around your property, let me assure you, if you are a believer in Christ, you already possess greater riches than that!

The two prayers of the Apostle Paul in today’s Bible reading are incredibly helpful to us for a variety of reasons.  One, they serve as model prayers for us, in the kinds of things we should pray for both for ourselves and others.  Two, these prayers focus our attention on the kinds of things which matter most in our Christian lives.  We are challenged by the need to “set our minds on things above, not on things that are on the earth” (Colossians 3:2), these prayers are about “things above” kind of matters.  Thirdly, both prayers speak to our dependence upon the Spirit, if we are to rightly understand and appreciate the majesty of the blessings which we already possess in Christ.

Note how Paul framed his prayer requests.  Ephesians 1:17, “(that God) may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know…”  And again in Ephesians 3:16, “(that) he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that…”  Notice the similarities?  In both cases, Paul prayed that we would come to a realization and appreciation, of certain truths through the inner working of the Spirit.  Also of note is the reality the specific things he was praying about, are the very truths he had specifically written about in this very epistle!  All that being said, there’s a difference between knowing and KNOWING.  Paul was praying for the kind of heart-level, life-altering, hope-imparting knowledge bound up in the intimacy of our relationship with Jesus Himself.  He was praying in essence, that we’d have eyes to see the treasure we even now possess in Him.

These prayers speak to five particular things you need by the Spirit to see: 1) the hope you have in Jesus (1:18); 2) the riches you possess in Jesus (1:18); 3) the power which has been availed to you in Jesus (1:19); 4) the intimacy of relationship intended for you in Jesus (3:17); 5) the incomprehensible nature of Jesus’ love for you (3:18-19). These are all ours in Him! We possess them whether we realize it, or not! As Christians, we can be just like that California couple. How many times did they walk that path oblivious to the treasure which was laying there just below the surface? We need to look and see!

The path to glory is not an easy one.  There are threats, obstacles and setbacks along with all kinds of troubles.  Yet it makes a big difference if we are buoyed by the certain hope of a future inheritance!  It makes a difference if we are appreciating the power and love which is ours in Jesus!  It matters if we know we are not alone in the journey, but He is with us each step of the way!  Believer in Christ, whether you realize it or not, you are incredibly blessed!  As we read in the Scriptures of the blessings availed to us, let us also pray the Spirit will open the eyes of our heart to the full measure of these blessings, that we might appreciate and walk in the light of them!

Lord Jesus, we read of how Your grace has been lavished on us. And that we possess every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in You. You’ve blessed us beyond measure! Forgive us that we are not fully appreciating all You’ve done for us and walking in the light of these blessings. Open our eyes to these spiritual realities that we might be awestruck both by You and by Your incredible provision unto us of everything needful. That we might walk in a manner worthy of the high calling we have received. Amen.

My Father is rich in houses and land,

He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!

Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,

His coffers are full, He has riches untold.

Refrain:

I’m a child of the King,

A child of the King,

With Jesus my Savior,

I’m a child of the King.

My Father’s own Son, the Savior of men,

Once wandered on earth as the poorest of them;

But now He is reigning for ever on high,

And will give me a home in heav’n by and by. [Refrain]

I once was an outcast stranger on earth,

A sinner by choice and an alien by birth;

But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down,

An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown. [Refrain]

A tent or a cottage, why should I care?

They’re building a palace for me over there;

Though exiled from home, yet still may I sing:

All glory to God, I’m a child of the King. [Refrain]

Divine Deliverance

Bible Reading: Colossians 1:13, 2:13-15; Hebrews 2:14-15

In August 2010 a large cave-in in a mine in Chile entombed thirty three miners 2300 feet underground.  The world anxiously waited for seventeen days as exploratory bore holes were drilled to learn whether any of the miners were still alive.  Once that was ascertained, extensive rescue efforts began.  Meanwhile the miners tried to escape on their own.  But the mandated escape ladders had never been installed.  So the duty shift supervisor gathered the men into a secure room, then organized them and their meager resources to ensure their long term survival.  The room was only 540 square feet in size and had but two benches.  Food supplies were limited and each man lost an average of 18 pounds by the time they were discovered.  Because of the high heat and humidity the men were always covered with sweat.  They would venture into the tunnels to find ventilation.  Sanitation was a problem.  Health problems ensued over time—two men suffered from silicosis, one developed pneumonia, others suffered from eye and teeth problems.  Plans were undertaken to rescue the men.  Nearly every Chilean government agency, NASA and more than a dozen international corporations were involved.  A large hole was drilled (large enough to winch down a rescue capsule) and a rescue worker was sent down in the capsule to the workers.  Soon afterwards the first miner made his way to the surface.  After sixty-nine days underground, in front of a TV audience estimated at more than one billion viewers, thirty-three miners were brought safely to the surface.  After winching the last trapped miner to the surface, the rescue workers, still underground, held up a sign for the TV cameras.  The sign read “Mission Accomplished Chile.”  On the surface people cried, hugged, and cheered.  It was a remarkable rescue.  But every believer in Christ has experienced, in salvation, a deliverance of far greater importance and proportion.

The term translated “domain,” in Colossians 1:13 speaks of “the power of one whose commands must be submitted to.”  The unbeliever is a person bound in sin to “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2; Cf. 1 John 5:19; 2 Corinthians 4:4).  Satan’s domain is one of spiritual “darkness” in which he terrorizes his captives (Cf. Acts 26:18; Ephesians 5:11, 6:12).  He is glad for the miserable and harsh enslavement of the lost, anticipating their damnation in “the outer darkness” (Matthew 8:12).  He hides their sole means of escape to direct lost souls in a broad way leading to a disastrous end (Cf. Matthew 7:13).  There is, from the “domain of darkness,” no human means of escape.

The term translated “delivered” means “to rescue from.”  Jesus, “the Deliverer” (Cf. Romans 11:26), represents the sole means of rescue for sin-captives.  He has done all that is necessary to accomplish their deliverance.  “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” (Hebrews 2:14-15).  Through His death on the cross Jesus has worked to accomplish the greatest of all rescue operations. Those rescuers of the Chilean miners were caring enough, wise enough, and resourceful enough to get the job done.  Likewise God purposed to intercede according to His love, power, and wisdom (Cf. John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 1:24). God not only intervened—that would be reason enough to praise and thank Him—but He did so at great cost to Himself, though we, as sin rebels, were in no way deserving of His rescuing work (Cf. Romans 5:8).

The Chilean miners were transferred from a dark and foreboding place to the light of the sun and the warm embrace of family members and friends.  The believer has been delivered out of the domain of darkness and brought into a “kingdom,” “a sphere of God’s rule,” which is characterized by love (Cf. Colossians 1:13).  The “domain” was according to the nature and character of the devil.  He is the father of lies, the adversary, the destroyer—and that is the character of his domain.  Christ is all loving, all wise, and all powerful—He reigns according to His benevolent nature.  His subjects are glad to love and serve Him (Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:15).

If you have not trusted in Jesus Christ you need to be rescued.  Your sin demands punishment.  Left unresolved, the darkness of your present experience, will be nothing compared to the eternal darkness which awaits when you pass from this life (Cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:9).  You are like those miners, in the depths of an inescapable tomb, from which Christ alone can save you (Cf. Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9).  The Chilean miners were thankful and rejoicing when they were finally brought to the surface.  The believer in Christ has sufficient reason in his rescue from sin to forevermore abound in thanksgiving to God (Cf. Colossians 1:12, 2:7)!

Lord Jesus, all praise, glory, and honor belongs to You for You’ve worked to accomplish the greatest of all rescues.  We were trapped by our own sins in an evil and foreboding place, but by Your grace, love, and mercy You’ve brought us into the light!  May we now walk in the light even as You are in the light that Your gospel message might shine forth through us!

I was sinking deep in sin

Far from the peaceful shore

Very deeply stained within

Sinking to rise no more

But the master of the sea

Heard my despairing cry,

From the waters lifted me

Now safe am I

Love lifted me! Love lifted me!

When nothing else could help

Love lifted me

Love lifted me! Love lifted me!

When nothing else could help

Love lifted me

“He Shall Glorify Me”

Bible Reading: John 14:16-17, 16:7-14; 2 Corinthians 3:18

What’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?  Your bride (or husband) on your wedding day?  A newborn child, having just made his, or her entrance into this world?  Some majestic part of God’s creation–a snow covered mountain peak, or some beautiful river cascading through some tree lined canyon, or the vast expanse of the star-filled heaven, or the deep-blue sea?  When you stop to think about it, the beauty we see in creation owes its beauty to the One who created it.  If these things on earth can be so lovely to us, how much more beautiful is the One who made it all!  

That being said, the most beautiful thing in all of God’s creation is the person of Jesus Christ.  Though sin works to blind sinners to that reality, we who believe have had our own eye-opening experience to the beauty of Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:6).  By the Spirit we are even now “beholding His glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The story of Fanny Crosby, the hymn writer, is a remarkable one indeed!  She was the writer of some hymns you probably know, like: “Blessed Assurance,” “Rescue the Perishing,” and “To God be the Glory.” What you may not know is, she was blinded by the malpractice of a doctor when she was only six weeks old and never regained her sight. As a young girl, she possessed a joyful spirit and loved to play with her friends, who would describe for her various things she could not see.  Early on it became apparent she had an amazing ability to memorize Scripture, God would make much use of that gift when she grew older.

Through the course of her life Fanny Crosby would write the words to more than 8000 hymns!  You’ve no doubt sung some of them.  Each song is centered around the beauty of Our Savior and the work He has accomplished for us.  Take for example what she wrote in “Give Me Jesus”: “Take the world, but give me Jesus, in His cross my trust shall be; Till, with clearer, brighter vision, face to face my Lord I see!”  

During the last years of her life, Frances Ridley Havergal (the writer of the hymn “Take My Life and Let it Be”) kept up a correspondence with Fanny Crosby.  Frances wrote about her friend, saying, “How can she sing in the dark like this?  What is her fountain of light and bliss?  Her heart can see, her heart can see!  Well may she sing so joyously!  For the King Himself, in His tender grace, hath shown her the brightness of His face!”

You and I are not blind.  It’s hard to envision what that’d be like!  Yet blind or not blind, the Spirit of God is well able to unveil the beauty of Jesus to us.  As J. I. Packer explains, that is His chief ministry: “The Spirit focuses attention, not on himself, but on the Savior. He has a ministry of illumination through the Word that convinces us of the reality of Christ; a ministry that leads us to see our need of Christ so that we embrace him in faith and love; a ministry that keeps us prayerfully in touch with Christ and assured of salvation by Christ; and a ministry of oneness which connects us to Christ in such a way that his risen life flows into us and he ministers to others through us.”  

I wrote in an earlier post, of a challenge we sometimes face as believers inasmuch as our prayers don’t reach high enough. Our concern for earthly comforts outweighs other loftier and eternal matters. Let’s pray that we might be “awestruck by Jesus,” as we realize the Holy Spirit is already at work in our lives to that end. There is a line in the hymn “More About Jesus” which prayerfully speaks to this: “More about Jesus let me learn, More of His holy will discern; Spirit of God, my teacher be, Showing the things of Christ to me.” In humility let us go to the Word, not just to know more about what it says, but to behold the beauty of Jesus, in anticipation of the day when we will marvel at Him (2 Thessalonians 1:10)! There’s nothing in all of creation more beautiful than He!

Heavenly Father, how incredibly blessed we are!  We once were blind, but now we see, as You’ve worked to bring us out of darkness into Your wonderful light!  Yet we tend to long for earthly things and be enamored with earthly sights!  Grant us grace to simply long to know You better!  That our hearts would refuse to be satisfied in earthly distractions of passing pleasure!  We pray  Your beauty, Lord Jesus, would captivate our being, fill our hearts and minds and flow forth from our lips!  We long for the day in which we shall behold You face to face and we will be awestruck by You forevermore!  Amen.

Great things he has taught us, great things he has done,

and great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son,

but purer and higher and greater will be

our joy and our wonder, when Jesus we see. 

From Riches to Rags to Riches

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:9

I want to share with you a rags to riches story!  But not a typical one.  Normally a “rags to riches” story speaks of someone who was poor, then became rich—either through hard work, or some good fortune—but here in 2 Corinthians 8:9 we have a “riches to rags to riches” story.

We should note 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 have to do with giving.  Two words are used repeatedly throughout this section.  The words “grace” and “gracious” appear 7 times!  The words “gift,” “given,” “gave,” and “giver” show up 8 Times.  The term “grace” has been defined as “God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense.”  Whoever came up with that acrostic might have used this very verse ‘cause that’s exactly what the verse is talking about.  Christ’s expense=”though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor.”  God’s riches=”that you through HIs poverty might become rich.”

He was rich. In what sense? His estate from eternity has been heaven’s glory.  He’s been the object of angelic worship (John 17:4).  He is self-existent creator of all things.  If all things have come into existence through Him, how rich must He be!  He was (and is) richer than the wealthiest of Kings.  He was and is perfect in every way.  Yet in love He deliberately stepped down from heaven and made Himself poor for us.  You ask, “In what manner did He become poor?”

He became poor.  There was no place for Him in the inn.  His crib was a feeding trough.  None of the religious elite, or powerful came to acknowledge His birth.  His mother and father were but humble folks. Soon after His birth His family was forced to flee to Egypt.  Jesus was poor in His life.  He associated with lowly folk.  He had no earthly riches.  His disciples were ordinary men.  He once said, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Luke 9:58).  “He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him” (Isaiah 53:2).  He had no bank account.  No elaborate wardrobe.  He traveled by foot.  He was impoverished, yet He gave.  He taught.  He healed.  He raised people from the dead.  He fed the 5000.  He, who said, “it is more blessed to give than to receive” was always giving.   He lived as a servant (Mark 10:45; John 13:1-20).  Jesus had enemies.  They conspired against Him.  He was arrested and put on trial.  There was no one to defend Him.  He had friends, yet they deserted Him. He made His way to the cross alone.  They stripped him of His clothing.  He was crucified naked to a cross.  The crowds who yelled “Crucify Him, Crucify Him” now mock Him.  The religious leaders mock Him.  The soldiers make fun of Him.  People pass by and insult Him.  Jesus is crucified between two common thieves; they mock Him too.  

He had submitted Himself to the Father’s will.  He loved the Father and the Father loved Him.  For all eternity they’ve existed in perfect fellowship.  Yet as He is dying there on the cross and the sins of the world are put upon Him, he cries out “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”  He is utterly bereft.  Naked, on that cross, soon to die for crimes not His own, He is abandoned and alone.  He is bankrupt in every way, but especially in that which mattered most to Him—His relationship to the Father.  He is the antithesis of a rags to riches story.  He went from riches to rags.  He gave and gave and when He had given everything, but His life, He gave that too.  He did it on purpose.  It was no accident.  The Father gave the Son (John 3:16).  The Son gave Himself (Galatians 2:20). 

See Him there hanging on the cross?  The Scriptures declare “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Galatians 3:13).  Our Lord is cursed, impoverished, naked, all alone, devoid of righteousness bearing sins not His own (2 Corinthians 5:21).  It is as Martin Luther once said, “The mystery of the humanity of Christ, that He sunk Himself into our flesh, is beyond all human understanding.”  Indeed!

So that you by his poverty might become rich.  Paul speaks to believers when He speaks of the riches we now possess in Christ.  He is speaking not of the financial kind; He is speaking of spiritual prosperity.  Every believer in Christ has a rags to riches story to tell.  Each one has gone from being spiritually bankrupt to being spiritually wealthy in Christ.  From being dead in sins and trespasses, to being made alive in Christ.  From being without God and without hope, now possessing both in Him. From being children of wrath, yet given the right to become children of God.  Being poor in Spirit, but now possessing unsearchable riches in Christ.  Though a person be incredibly rich in this world, they are nevertheless poor in the eyes of God (Matthew 16:26). But even the poorest believer is incredibly rich in Christ, in that which matters for eternity (Revelation 2:9).  “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 8:9)! Amazing grace! How blessed we are!

Lord Jesus, how amazing Your grace! That You left the the glory of heaven to come to this sin-needy world is reason enough to praise You. But then to deliberately impoverish Yourself for our sakes, so that we might be made rich in You–it is a sacrifice that transcends our ability to understand! Its entirely because of who You are and what You’ve done that we find ourselves in this blessed estate! Having so richly received from You, may we follow Your example, esteeming it to be better to give than to receive. That You might be honored in our lives in that way!

AND CAN IT BE?

He left His Father’s throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race;
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me.

Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!

Treasure in Jars of Clay

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:1-11

For today’s devotional we are headed out on a treasure hunt, looking to see if we can find some hidden and valuable trove.  Look there!  We’ve found it!  Right here in 2 Corinthians 4:7!  Let’s examine this “treasure” to see what it’s all about!

The context of our passage has to do with how it was Paul did not lose heart (2 Corinthians 4:1,16), though his ministry was hindered by the reality that the god of this world blinded the minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4).  But Paul was encouraged by how God worked in the lives of believers to “give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). Therein lies the treasure!  You were previously without God and without hope in the world, darkened in your understanding, blinded to the reality of your own sin and to the truth of the gospel.  Yet God graciously intervened in your life, unveiling to you the precious truth “of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4).  It was a wonderful day when “you were born of the Spirit with life from above into God’s family divine!” You came to understand Jesus through the gospel.  In knowing Our Lord, you’ve come to possess “unsearchable riches” (Ephesians 3:8). Paul, himself was well aware of the value of knowing Christ, for Who’s sake he had counted all else in life as rubbish (Philippians 3:8).

Now notice where God has placed this treasure, in “jars of clay” (2 Corinthians 4:7). Jars of clay were widely used in Paul’s day.  They were used to hold things. There were vessels of gold and silver and there were jars of clay.  A jar of clay, as opposed to vessels of gold and silver, were ordinary–fragile, and vulnerable.  Now why would God liken us to jars of clay?  Because that’s what we are.  Consider your calling—“God chose what is foolish in the world…God chose what is weak in the world…God chose what was low and despised in the world” (1 Corinthians 1:25-31).  He did so to shame the wise and to remove all room for human boasting.  In fact, it is only “because of him that you are in Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 1:30).  You and I are much loved by God, yet are nonetheless jars of clay having nothing within ourselves to boast about. Jars of clay are fragile and vulnerable.  They can be easily broken.  And so, Paul spoke of being “afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, struck down, given over to death, etc. (2 Corinthians 4:8-11).  Let’s face it, we all are needy humans and are weak in ourselves and subject to a myriad of troubles.  It’s a wonder our jars of clay survive at all!  But this brings us to our next point…

Why has God chosen to put the treasure of knowing Jesus and His gospel in jars of clay?  He could have instead put it into stronger golden vessels, with fancy inscriptions on the side—all decked out so people would look and say “ooh and aah, what a beautiful golden vessel!”  Instead God placed His treasure in jars of clay “to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).  It is in our own humanness and neediness God’s surpassing power is clearly made manifest.  “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed, perplexed, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our bodies” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).

What does all this mean to us?  First, we need to treasure the treasure.  Paul taught us that knowing Jesus was the most important thing in his life.  “But this one thing I do,” he said in reference to the pursuit of knowing Jesus better (Philippians 3:13).  Is that your “one thing?”  Second of all, we need to be authentic.  We are jars of clay—ordinary, vulnerable, fragile—yet inside we possess a treasure of infinite value, a treasure others need too.  But it’s the treasure they need, not us.  One of the most beautiful things we can hear, or say is “I can see Jesus in you!”  It is in our inadequacies His adequacy has an opportunity to be made manifest (2 Corinthians 3:5).  It is okay to be you!  Jars of clay don’t need to put on a show.  They just need to let the light of the treasure shine forth!

Lord, how incredible that would choose and save us! By Your doing we’ve come been lovingly brought into relationship with You! And how amazing it is that into our frail and vulnerable human vessels You’ve put this treasure of knowing You! We are weak, but You are strong, and in our weakness the surpassing greatness of Your power is made manifest! You never meant for the treasure to stay hidden within us, may You and Your glory shine such that others might see You in us!

We are God’s people, the chosen of the Lord,

Born of the Spirit, established by His Word;

Our cornerstone is Christ alone, And strong in Him we stand:

O let us live transparently, and walk heart to heart and hand in hand.

“I Will Build My Church“

”Bible Reading:  Matthew 16:18; Acts 1:8, 5:33-39; Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 5:8-10

A couple of surveys done in the spring of 2021 revealed fewer than half of Americans now say they belong to a church, synagogue, or mosque.  That’s down from 70% in the year 2000.  Yet it doesn’t take a survey to tell you such things.  Church attendance in America, even in evangelical churches, is at an all-time low.  It would be fair to say the church in America, for a variety of reasons, is facing unprecedented challenges.

Almost 2000 years ago, Jesus declared: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).  In Jesus’ words we can find much encouragement.  Four main truths are stated.  Let’s consider each:

“I will build MY church.”  Theologically there is a distinction made between the universal church, made up of all the believers from Pentecost until the rapture and the local church–where a group of believers gather together in a specific location to worship Jesus.  The focus here is on the universal church, which belongs to Him. Though what is true of the universal church ought to be true in the practice of any local church.  Jesus is the Head of the church, which He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28).  The church is His bride, and He is even now working to “present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing” (Ephesians 5:27).  It is His church, and the first obligation of its leaders and members is to lovingly surrender and subject themselves to Him and to His word, that He will have the freedom to do all He has purposed to do in and through His church.

“I WILL BUILD my church.”  Jesus’ outlined His church building plan to His apostles in Acts 1:8.  Put simply the plan looks like this: Ordinary men and women are Spirit-empowered to live out and proclaim His extraordinary message.  He deliberately chose to do the work through ordinary men and women, “to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7),  These folks don’t do what they are given to do in their own strength, they are empowered by the Spirit to do what they could never do on their own (John 6:63).  By the Spirit, cowardly Peter (who had previously denied Christ three times and even to a slave girl), was made courageous and proclaimed Him before a crowd of thousands and even indicted his hearers with having killed Jesus. It is by the Spirit the church is led and empowered to bear witness of Christ.  The book of Acts speaks to this reality, as the message of Christ spread from Jerusalem, to Judea and Samaria, and then to the ends of the earth!  Though those folks didn’t have church buildings and lacked in training or resources, they were led and sustained in their work by the Spirit.  It was the Lord who “added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).

“I will build my church, and the GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT.”  The fact the gates of hell shall not prevail against it doesn’t mean they won’t try.  From Stephen’s martyrdom until this day, the church has been under assault.  While the church in America has faced setbacks, disruption and inconvenience due to Covid, fellow believers in other parts of the world have faced far worse.  According to one study, in the past year 360 million Christians around the world faced severe persecution for their faith.  Every day in 2021 an average of 16 believers were killed for following Jesus, a 24% increase from the year before.  But it is as was declared by the church father, Tertullian, who said, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”  In spite of the relentless efforts of the devil and his emissaries to destroy the church, the church expanded.  It will never fail and the gates of hell SHALL NOT PREVAIL against it..  Leaders will fail.  Nations will fall.  Other organizations will be long forgotten in the dust heap of history, but in the church we possess “a kingdom that cannot be shaken” (Hebrews 12:28).  Its beauty and longevity lies in its Lord and Savior, the One who died to purchase it, the One who is even now preparing it for glory!

Psalm 113:3, “From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised.”  And so it is in His church.  The sun rises on any given Sunday.  And far to the East, in those earlier time zones, people wake in the morning and then head off to their churches where they gather to worship the Lord Jesus.  Even in places where it is dangerous, these people have determined nothing will deter them from assembling together in Jesus’ name.  They gather to worship Jesus, hear His word, and fellowship together with their brothers and sisters.  As the sun makes its course across the sky—from that time zone to the next—other folks do the same.  Some live in poverty.  They travel to their churches on foot.  Sometimes they gather in places which could hardly be called a building.  They have no fancy sanctuaries.  They have few Bibles.  Few, or no programs.  Nothing of earthly fare to attract folks.  But they LOVE JESUS and they are determined to assemble together to worship Him.  Then still, as the sun makes its course across the sky—in the spiritual desert regions of Europe—there are still those who hold onto faith, even though they are in the great minority of folks.  Though people naively ridicule them for their beliefs, they nevertheless gather together to worship. So it is in America.  Once there were new churches being planted and churches growing and missionaries being sent out and prayer meetings being attended.  Now the church in America sleeps.  Yet there are still those who love Jesus. Because they love Jesus, they love those who belong to Jesus.  These folks are like those early believers who were awestruck by Jesus and the work He was doing.  By the Spirit they love and worship and serve the Head of the church, the One who died to save them.  The day is coming when we shall all be gathered together  in heaven to worship Him.  Gentiles and Jews, men and women, young and old, rich and poor, people from every “tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9-10) will praise the Lamb who was slain who will reign forevermore.  He said He’d build His church!  And so He will!

Lord Jesus, How beautiful is Your Church!  You promised to build Your church, and so we read of Your handiwork through the centuries in spreading the gospel from Jerusalem to the far reaches of the globe.  You warned us of opposition, Yet You’ve watched over Your church during all these years and strengthened her amidst her toils and tribulations!  We praise You as the Lord of the church!  May we ever look to You to lead and provide and direct us in all of its affairs!  As You are even now at work to present Your church to Yourself, holy and blameless, so might we devote ourselves in love and service to the building up of Your body!  Until You rapture us home!  Amen!

The Church’s one foundation

is Jesus Christ, her Lord;

she is his new creation

by water and the Word.

From heav’n he came and sought her

to be his holy bride;

with his own blood he bought her,

and for her life he died.

Christ’s Intercessory Ministry

Bible Reading: Acts 1:1-11; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25

“Where is Jesus?”  Sounds like a question a child might ask.  But I’m thinking there may be others who are asking this question in view of the challenges we’ve all faced in recent years.  There’s a good theological answer, which we intend to deal with first, and another related truth we will consider which should be of great encouragement to you.

In today’s Scripture reading, we read of how Jesus ascended into heaven as the disciples looked on.  Jesus had foretold of this event (John 14:2,12; 16:5,10, 17, 28; 17:5; 20:17). The Apostle Paul wrote of it and affirmed Christ’s Lordship over all (Ephesians 1:20, 4:8-10; Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Timothy 3:16).  Likewise the writer of Hebrews spoke of this truth in light of the encouragement we find in it (Hebrews 1:3; 4:14-16; 7:25-26; 9:24).  The fact Jesus has been enthroned as ruler over all is a encouragement to every believer, especially in view of the difficulties we are all facing in these troubled times.

So the theological answer to the question of “Where is Jesus?” is He has ascended to heaven, and from there He reigns over all. But we are also told He is, from heaven, interceding on our behalf (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25).  This, my friends, is an amazing truth.  To intercede is to plead with a person on someone’s behalf.  It is sometimes used in Scripture to speak of the prayers of men.  It would be fair to say “Jesus is praying for me.”  Did you know that?  You have others, no doubt, praying for you.  You are encouraged by this truth–that they’ve lovingly taken your prayer concerns and needs to the throne of grace so you will be helped by God.  But is it not an incredible thing to know Jesus Himself is praying for you?!  Robert Murray McCheyne, a pioneer missionary to America, once testified, “If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me!”  We should also note that it’s not just Jesus who is praying for you, the Holy Spirit is too (Romans 8:27)!

To be sure the exact manner of communication between the glorified and omniscient persons of the trinity is beyond our comprehension, yet that does not diminish the wonder of it all.  The context of the Romans 8:34 reference is the security of the believer.  In this portion of Scripture we read of the opposition and threats we face: accusations; condemnations; tribulation, distress, persecution, etc.  To be sure, the journey of the believer, from new birth to glory, is an arduous one filled with obstacles and challenges.  It is in this context we are reminded “Christ Jesus is the one who died–more than that, who was raised–who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us” (Romans 8:34)!  The One who died for your sins and rose from the dead, is seated at the right hand of God and is praying for You! 

You have others who pray for you, praise God, but none so qualified as our Savior!  Human prayers are limited in both extent and power, but the One who created all things and rose from the dead is without limits.  Humans grow weary in their prayers, but not so the omnipotent Christ.  Perhaps you have been oblivious to His intercessory work, but He’s never stopped praying for you.  From how many spiritual pitfalls have you rescued?  How many times were you led away from danger?  How much strength has been imparted to you?  How many times was a needed truth mysteriously brought to your mind?  The passage in Hebrews speaks to His intercessory work in relation to His saving work: “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).  A “salvation to the uttermost” is assured because Jesus is a Great High Priest who “always lives to make intercession for them.”  He prays us along on our path to glory!  Be encouraged–He will complete the work He started in you.  Nothing can separate you from His love!

Lord Jesus, we’ve been prayed for by human hands, but how incredible it is to know we are being prayed for by the One whose hands bear the scars of His loving sacrifice!  That You are even now, at the right hand of God intercede for us, is a precious truth indeed!  Forgive us that we too often take such things for granted.  Help us to remember in our journey that You, the One who has gone before us, are always pleading our case before the Father!  Amen!

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong and perfect plea

A great High Priest, whose name is Love

Who ever lives and pleads for me

He is Risen!

Bible Reading: John 20

With respect to being a hospice chaplain I sometimes tell people it’s my job to talk to dying people.  Yet that is true for us all because we are all dying.  Some of us are just further along on that journey.  Richard Baxter once said, “I preached as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men.” 

Death exists in our world because of sin.  Adam and Eve sinned, and death has been around ever since.  No one can escape it–world leaders, wealthy folks, religious figures, and great teachers lie in graves and tombs around the world.  It mattered not if they were men of great wealth, or wisdom or intellect or abilities—they were, each one, subject to and humbled by man’s ultimate fear and foe—death (Cf. Psalm 23:4; Hebrews 2:14-15).  Death is an unavoidable reality, we need a hope which lies beyond the grave.  We find this great hope in Jesus alone.

Jesus died.  He was laid in a tomb.  An “extremely large” stone was rolled against the entrance.  The grave was made secure with a guard of sixteen Roman soldiers.  A seal was set on the stone.  Every effort was undertaken to keep Jesus dead in that tomb. But it was “impossible for Him to be held in its power” (Acts 2:24).

When the women arrived that Sunday Morning, they found the stone rolled away.  They saw an angel who said, “Do not be amazed, you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified.  He has risen; He is not here; behold here is the place where they laid Him” (Mark 16:6). He rose from the dead and “presented Himself alive, after His suffering, by many convincing proofs” (Acts 1:3). “He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.  After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time…then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles…and last of all to (Paul)” (1 Corinthians 15:6-8).

Because the tomb is empty, there is such a thing as salvation (Romans 4:25). Because the tomb is empty, there is a newness of life only He can impart to us (Romans 6:4). Because the tomb is empty, there is the promise of a future resurrection for those who believe (1 Corinthians 15:20).

The gospel message—that Christ died for sins and rose from the dead–is a glorious message!  The Apostles faithfully proclaimed that message first to the Jews, then to the Samaritans, then to the Gentiles.  They were willing to suffer and die for it.  Eleven of the twelve died a martyr’s death.  They did so because they themselves had personally witnessed the resurrection!

The tomb is empty.  Jesus is alive!  He has ascended to the right hand of God.  He is the risen, reigning, and returning Lord. Different religions have been espoused by leaders who have died and were buried, their bones having long ago rotted in their graves.  But ours is no mere religion, we’ve been brought into an intimate relationship with the Risen Lord Jesus!  This is no mere religion which possesses such a glorious Savior!  It is no mere religion which glories in such a wondrous cross!  It is no mere religion which has been well-founded on Christ’s triumph over sin, and death and the devil himself.  It is no mere religion which worships a risen Savior who reigns over all at the right hand of the Father!  It is in no mere religion that the Risen Savior Himself indwells and lives through all of those who have believed in Him!  His sacrifice on the cross for you is the greatest act of love ever witnessed in the history of man!  Likewise, His victory over sin and death and all the forces of evil is a universal triumph of infinite personal import to every believer.  Because He won that battle, we too will “overwhelmingly conquer” through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37)!

Lord Jesus, how glorious this truth of Your resurrection from the dead!  Death could not hold You!  The devil could not defeat You!  You burst forth the chains of death and trampled over the powers of darkness!  In You, we possess a living hope borne from Your finished work on Calvary!  You died for our sins and rose from the dead!  How incredibly blessed we are in that good news!  Because You are a living Savior, we’ve been set free from sin to walk in the newness of life we possess in You!  Help us to walk that way, to Your honor and glory! 

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer,

One day the stone rolled away from the door;

Then He arose, over death He had conquered,

Now is ascended, my Lord ever more!

Living He loved me, Dying He saved me,

Buried He carried my sins far away;

Rising He justified freely forever;

One Day He’s coming; ‘O glorious Day.