A Word For Today and The Weekend and Forever

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:7)

This was a part of my reading schedule a few days ago.  It just never gets old.

I have shared with you the comment of one of my parishioners about 45 years ago when asked by a neighbor how he liked his new pastor.  One of his responses was, "All we hear is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus."  I was never paid a more handsome compliment.  Why is this "my" theme?  Why is Jesus the theme of the Bible?  The Bible answers this way, "Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him....No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God Who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained ('declared, met, show[n] the way, unfold[ed]) Him."  For me it cannot be any more clear, "No one comes to the Father except through me," or more literally, "except on account of, by reason of, for the sake of, because of me."  Sorry to all the open minded people on the Planet; this excludes all religions and philosophies, even "Imagine."

I referred to Hebrews 11 yesterday.  As I contemplated it more, it occurred to me anew just how significant is the passage which follows in Hebrews 12:1c, 2a, "....and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus...."  In Hebrews 11 the Holy Spirit reminds us of the people of the faith.  Some faith people lived a life of overcoming, kingdom conquering, giant slaying, promise obtaining, fire quenching, "mighty in war,..resurrection."  Yet you know as well as I that most who refer to the "great hall of faith" in Hebrews 11, the aforementioned are the ones they think of, or at least want to think of.  But there are others mentioned in Hebrews 11, people of a faith which most of us want nothing to do with, a faith of torture, "mockings and scourgings, yes also chains and imprisonment."  People of the same faith who, "....were stoned, they were sawn in two,..they were put to death,..(men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground."  These people receive little, if any, billing in liberal, evangelical and especially charismatic conferences and churches.  Yet the Holy Spirit says of these men and women of faith, ....of whom the world was not worthy." 

Now right after Hebrews 11, the Holy Spirit gives us wonderful advise, really, a command.  When you and I think we are more in the situation of the latter part of Hebrews 11, when we think the people of "real" faith are having all the blessings, all the healings, all the money, all the "favor," well, all the everything, and we have so little of it, we are commanded to stop it!  Instead we are commanded to do what they did.  Just as, "....Abraham rejoiced to see [Jesus]' day, and he saw and was glad," so also did all the people of Hebrews 11.  I saw in a "new" light today the connection between Hebrews 11 & 12, "THEREFORE we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (which very much and foundationally includes those mocked, scourged, stoned, and, 'put to death'), let us (also) lay aside every (lying) weight, and the sin (wow is me) which so easily ensnares, and let us run with endurance (just as they did) the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus...."  It always "comes back" to Jesus.  You and I want to be like them?  Then run our race, "Looking unto Jesus."  Jesus kept them; Jesus keeps us.  There is just no difference.  No matter how others seem to succeed and you seem to fail, He is the same Lord Jesus Christ He was to the "Hall of Faith" People.  He just cannot help Himself, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I can really say little except, Thank You.  Amen.  

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

One Reality For All Humanity

"Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails."
(Psalm 71:9)

.....and it will.  It is the process of life.  Of course, the older we get, the more our own failing strength appears.  What we are now experiencing with Sarah's Mom is another reminder. 

We prayed today's text for Sarah's Mom, and I can say that I have prayed it for years, knowing that I too was in the process of growing older.  Now some are probably thinking, "Well, I certainly don't need to be reminded of this!"  Why not?  It is reality, and reality always prepares us for reality; zoning out in some la la land does not.  Yet quite honestly, this is where far too much of modern Christendom lives.  Let's choose the Bible.  Let's choose the Word of God over the deceptive salesmen tactics of modern religionists. 

Jesus brings us Followers to the "real world" when He tells us, "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake.  But he who endures to the end will be saved."  The Word of God tells us, "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution," and, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness....No, I will not leave, no, nor forsake thee" (from Young's Literal Translation).  For every "negative" in life of which our Lord reminds us, there is His corresponding, "positive" reassurance.  No one prepares and sustains you and me for and in life as does Jesus Christ, "The Word of God."  When you and I walk in Jesus Christ as a People of His Words, we need never doubt our preparedness and readiness for whatever comes our way.  The next time you read Heb. 11, keep these thoughts in mind.       

So today, face it.  Face what? you may say.  Face life, "the good, the bad, the ugly," because we can in Him Who "faced" it all for us, who took our sins, our sicknesses, our griefs, our sorrows, our pains, "in His Own Body on the Tree," our Lord Jesus Christ, "who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification," Jesus, Who prepares you and me for the entire journey of this pilgrimage.

Father, in Jesus' Name, Holy Spirit, I thank You for keeping Your Words ever before me and in me.  Without Them/You I would be, "of all men most miserable."  In Them/You, I am most blessed.  Amen.
******************
* We highly recommend a read of our latest articles at: www.jerusalemberlinwashington.blogspot.com
* We are considering doing what we did after the North Korea Mission after we return from Berlin and Jerusalem, perhaps gathering in the same venue for an update, photos, questions.  If you are interested, let us know.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Bernard of Clairvaux, 1091-1153

"Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ..., to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever.  Amen." (Rom. 16:25 & 27)

This is from one of my Epistle readings today, "....the preaching of Jesus Christ..., to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever."  This expression is Historic Christianity.  There have been heretic additions to and eliminations of what the Bible calls, "the faith of Jesus," but our text survives today as the pillar of our word to a dying world.  I found today all the verses to Bernard of Clairvaux's great song, "Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee."  The song is one of the greatest expressions of worship you will ever encounter, and is in the finest tradition of our text.  Now I know you may be tempted to not read and pray the complete song, but only to your loss.

Bernard has had naysayers over the centuries, especially among the more modern self-appointed critics of such historic personages.  But I can tell you that Bernard was opposed to, and intervened in the attempt to stop the slaughter of the Jews during the Second Crusade.  Though he held to the doctrine of Mary as mediatrix, He was "skeptical of the doctrine of the "immaculate conception of Mary."  There are many things in Bernard's writings which led Luther and Calvin both to consider him and much of his theology as forerunner to the Reformation.  At any rate, today, as I read yet again, "Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee," I wondered, Where have such men gone?

"Jesus, the very thought of Thee

With sweetness fills the breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
And in Thy presence rest.

"Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find
A sweeter sound than Thy blest Name,
O Savior of mankind!

"O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

"But what to those who find? Ah, this
Nor tongue nor pen can show;
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.

"Jesus, our only joy be Thou,
As Thou our prize will be;
Jesus be Thou our glory now,
And through eternity.

"O Jesus, King most wonderful
Thou Conqueror renowned,
Thou sweetness most ineffable
In Whom all joys are found!

"When once Thou visitest the heart,
Then truth begins to shine,
Then earthly vanities depart,
Then kindles love divine.

"O Jesus, light of all below,
Thou fount of living fire,
Surpassing all the joys we know,
And all we can desire.

"Jesus, may all confess Thy Name,
Thy wondrous love adore,
And, seeking Thee, themselves inflame
To seek Thee more and more.

"Thee, Jesus, may our voices bless,
Thee may we love alone,
And ever in our lives express
The image of Thine own.

"O Jesus, Thou the beauty art
Of angel worlds above;
Thy Name is music to the heart,
Inflaming it with love.

"Celestial Sweetness unalloyed,
Who eat Thee hunger still;
Who drink of Thee still feel a void
Which only Thou canst fill.

"O most sweet Jesus, hear the sighs
Which unto Thee we send;
To Thee our inmost spirit cries;
To Thee our prayers ascend.

"Abide with us, and let Thy light
Shine, Lord, on every heart;
Dispel the darkness of our night;
And joy to all impart.

"Jesus, our love and joy to Thee,
The virgin's holy Son,
All might and praise and glory be,
While endless ages run."

!!

---

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Only "Until"?

"Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!  For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by." (Psalm 57:1)

There is no word for "these" in the Hebrew text.  The NASB says, "....in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by."  The NIV says, "....until the disaster has passed."  But we must ask the question, When is, "destruction passe[d]," or, "the disaster... passed"?  Never.  Life is, "destruction," waiting to consume you and me at every turn.  Peter said, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."  This is his 24/7 mission in this age; he has no, "until destruction passes by," in his thinking.  Every day, even times when we are not aware of the need for, "Be merciful to me," even when we are unaware of the need for, "the shadow of Your wings...," we need Jesus Christ's mercy and, "shadow."  There is no, "until," in our life in Jesus.

Most live life from one "calamity" to another, hoping that the present one will be the last.  "Well, it can't get any worse than this," is a common response.  Well, many times it does.  "I just can't seem to catch a break," is another often heard lament.  Yet the answer is not complaining.  It is what David came to in Psalm 27, "One thing have I desire of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life...."  I freely admit that I was not a, "One thing...I will seek after," person before June 10, 1970.  Since that day, there is a very real sense in which I can say I have really had no choice.  I was a drowning "sailor" in life, and Jesus became to Me what He always was, but I had little idea to what extent--- my literal Life Preserver.  His Words are my life, because without Jesus, "The Word of God," and the, "God-Breathed...words of God," I would not be writing this to you today.

As "coincidence" would have it, this is from Bonhoeffer's devotional for August 12.  "God cannot simply be pertinent to our lives when we face failure or difficulty.  We cannot only invoke Him when we have no answers.  God is not the God of the gaps when we have run out of human resources or explanations.  God is not to be called upon only when human wisdom fails.  He is not waiting in the wings to be called upon only when things run into difficulty.  He is there at the center-- central to our wisdom, to our answers, to our very life." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray I never forget just how "central to [my]...very life" You Are.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2