"Have The Faith From God"

"So Jesus answered and said to them, 'Have faith in God.'"  (Mark 11:12)

The Interlinear Greek says, "Have the faith from God."

Okay, so I can either, "have the faith from God," or my own version of "faith."  If we speak of, "Have faith in God," it leaves the impression, at least with me, that I have to come up with the, "faith."  I believe that everywhere in Scripture we see "faith at work," we are seeing people who chose, "....faith from God."  What the Blessed Trinity says, they received. 

The disciples were amazed at what Jesus did, was doing, everything about Him.  Yet, Jesus walked as the supreme "enigma" to those of the First Century.  Most just did not know what to do with Him.  They did battle with, "Do we believe His Words, His Works?"  Matthew 28 tells us that even after the Resurrection, "When they saw Him they worshiped Him; but some doubted."  How is this possible?  They did not have, nor were they walking in, "the faith from God."  It was "faith from themselves."  Whatever "faith" the doubters had been exercising for the past 3+ years apparently had not "worked."

This is not some hard core "Calvinism."  This is simply saying that what the world calls Christianity is that which the Bible describes several times in Romans, Galatians and Revelation as, "the faith of Jesus."  It is Jesus' faith which is the true kerygma of the Church, of the Universe.  To have, "the faith from God," is to accept the Words from God.

Father, in Jesus' Name, teach me, "the faith from [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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Face It: Some Things We Just Cannot "Know"--Now

"The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."  (Deuteronomy 29:29)

I think it is probably best if we just leave, "the secret things...to the Lord our God...."  Many, if not most, of the heresies through the centuries have come from people attempting to discover, "the secret things...."

"....things which are revealed..," will keep us busy enough, because their purpose is, "....so that we may do all the Words of this law/Word."   Okay, so we are to pray for revelation, insights, etc.  But there is a need for contentment and "the-task-at-hand" attitude in people which can allow us to function in this present age with, "....those things which are revealed." 

Among some of the awesome, "....things which are revealed..," are the revelation of the Godhead in Jesus Christ, "Immanuel, God with us"------ right here, right there, right now, and that in the Son Jesus, Our Father and Holy Spirit, "bore our sins in His Own Body on the Tree," and because of those heart-wrenching, "darkness over all the earth," glorious six hours of Golgotha, and His resurrection and ascension, you and I have a home in the, "many mansions."  Glorious revelation!

Most of the talk of our text which I have heard over the years put emphasis on what is, "revealed...to us," with a sort of fascination, even inordinate curiosity.  Yesterday, however, when I read our text, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God," was what impacted me the most.  Will there be a "some day" in our future, a time when at least some of those, "....secret things..," may be revealed to you and me?  I don't know.  But as I sit here now, contemplating our 67,000 mph journey around the Sun on this small rock, in this small solar system, this small galaxy, I am thankful that King Jesus is at the "helm" of, "the secret things."

Father, in Jesus' Name, remind me every time I seek beyond my capabilities.  Amen.

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Washington, DC, February 13

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"One Mediator"

"You are a priest forever...."  (Hebrews 7:17a)

You don't need Mary, saint so and so, pastor or prophet so and so as an intermediary.  Our Priest is Priest.  You know it:  "I am the way, the truth, and the life....One comes to the Father...through Me", no one else, not now, not ever.  "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus."

There was a man in one of our churches many years ago who had severe mental problems.  I found him one day walking miles away from our church building heading to the church building.  I asked him were he was going?  He said, "to the church so I can find God."

There are people like this today.  They think that they have to get to a place to "find God," experience "anointed worship," etc.  Beware of shrines.  The Book of Hebrews is quite adamant about intermediaries of any kind or "anointing," attraction, location.  Hebrews tells us, "For it was fitting for us to have such a High Priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; Who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.  For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the Word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever."

This One Who is, "separated from sinners," took upon Himself us sinners, you and me, and this Jesus, "....Himself bore our sin in His Own Body on the tree."  In Jesus' Most Precious Blood, He cleansed us and keeps us from the power of sin and the Enemy.  Hebrews 8:1 say that, "We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens." And of course you know, we are seated in Him, "To him who overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, as I also overcame, and am sat down with My Father in His throne."  Rest in Him.

Father, in Jesus'  Name, I cannot fathom any of this.  But, O, how I accept this!  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Friend of God"?

"The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He makes known to them His covenant."  (Psalm 25:14, ESV)

I am not a "friend of God" because I sing about it.  I can only sing, "I am a friend of God," if I walk in, "the fear of the Lord."  And, contrary to the popular "interpretations" of, "the fear of the Lord," the Word for, "fear," in our text does not mean "awe" or "reverence."  It is, "afraid," or, "fearful."  I have heard over the years so many quote only the first part of Jesus' statement in John 15:14, "You are My friends...."  They "conveniently" and deceptively, I might add, are silent on, "....if you do whatever I command you."

The Word for, "Friendship," in today's text is from a Hebrew Word which means, "alliance of friendship," or, "covenant of friendship."  The margin in the ESV says, "the secret counsel."  I emphasis this so that you and I are very clear that cutesy songs and watered-down exegesis do not change the reality of walking in this life in the fear of living life our own way, doing whatever we desire and then justifying it with, "O, all that talk about, "the fear of the Lord," is not what the Puritan preachers made of it.  It just means that we should respect the Lord."  Good luck with that at, "the judgment Seat of Christ."

I only wish that I would have walked my whole life as, "those who fear Him."  There would have been "mistakes" and sin which I would have avoided.  Today, I fear a day without prayer, a day without His, "God-Breathed," Words entering my being, a day of careless sinning, yes, sins of "commission" and "omission."  I don't claim to understand fully, "for those who fear Him," but I do claim that the Bible declares it of utmost importance. 

This devotional which is based upon our text is not meant to be some "Bible-thumping" old frustrated, mean-spirited preacher.  It is meant to exhort us to realize the glorious peace and happiness in, "The Friendship of the Lord," our Lord Jesus Who comforts us and cautions us with, "You are My friends if...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for whatever understanding I need to walk as Your "friend."  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

With All Due Diligence

"Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience."  (Hebrews 4:11)

"Rest," is something all humanity desires.  Humanists always seek such in their own reasoning, and always fail.

I see in our text that, "to enter that rest," is absolutely essential.  We are told to, "be diligent," and it means, "to hasten, make every effort."  Our Lord Jesus says this for one reason: our benefit.  There have been many sermons and books written concerning the "how to ."  Yet, there is no "how to" offered here, just the command to, "be diligent to enter that rest...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, may I, "enter that rest," and stay so.  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2