New and Improved.

Hebrews 8

But our High Priest has been given a ministry that is far superior to the ministry of those who serve under the old laws, for he is the one who guarantees for us a better covenant with God, based on better promises. - Vs 6 (NLT)

A more excellent High Priest. A superior ministry. A better covenant based on better promises. Chapter 8 seems to sum up everything from the previous 7 chapters. In fact, Paul says, "Here is the main point: Our High Priest sat down in the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand" (Vs 1 - NLT). Jesus, our High Priest, sits at the right hand of God, a place of power, honor, and authority. He has complete access to God the Father. He ministers in the true sanctuary, not a temporary, man-made, representation of what is to come. It is not "a copy and shadow of the heavenly things" (Vs 5), but the real thing. He is the real High Priest who has real authority and who ministers in the real sanctuary in the very presence of God Himself.

And as our High Priest, Jesus guarantees us a better covenant. A new covenant. Why? Because the old covenant had been broken. The people of Israel had failed to keep their end of the covenant. They had disobeyed and rebelled time after time. They could not and did not keep the laws that were tied to the Mosaic covenant. They did not hold up their end of the agreement. Paul backs this up with a quote from the prophet Jeremiah. He says that this is going to be a completely, radically new covenant, "not like the covenant which I made with their fathers" (Vs 9). The blessings of the old covenant were conditioned on Israel's obedience to the law that God gave with the covenant. Because they "did not continue in" the covenant, God "did not care for them" (Vs 9). In other words, their lack of obedience led to curses, not blessing. God could not bless them because of their disobedience.

But God made a new covenant with Israel.

But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds so they will understand them, and I will write them on their hearts so they will obey them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. - Vs 10

The old covenant was based on externals. It was external rules and regulations that required complete obedience. And obedience was primarily out of fear of punishment. The new covenant is internal. Obedience will be inwardly motivated and generated. It will come from the heart and will be empowered by the presence of the Holy Spirit. And there will be a knowledge of God unlike anything they have ever experienced before.

And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their family, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will already know me. - Vs 11 (NLT)

Paul is telling his Jewish readers news that should be extremely exciting to them. The old covenant, based on rules and ritual, has been replaced with a new and better covenant. One that is based on the faithfulness and mercy of God alone. It is the new covenant based on the blood of Jesus Christ (Luke 22:20). It is a new covenant "not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old way ends in death; in the new way, the Holy Spirit gives life" (2 Corinthians 3:6). It is a new covenant based on mercy and forgiveness of sin. It is an unconditional covenant, that requires nothing of me because I have nothing to give. It has been written by God, ratified by God, and made possible by the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son. It's new. Its better. It's available here and now. Are you living in it and under it? Or are you still trying to keep a set of rules, somehow trying to earn favor with God? Do you still believe that your salvation or better yet, your sanctification, is somehow up to you? That is the old way. You are living according to the old covenant based on works, human effort, and self-righteousness. We live under the new covenant. We have the Spirit within us who has given us a new heart and a new desire to obey because we are loved, not to try to earn God's love. The new covenant is better. So let's live in it.

Father, thank You for the reality of the new covenant. I do not have to live under the law. I don't have to try to keep a set of impossible standards in some attempt to appease or please you. I am not doomed to failure and defeat. Because of Your Son's death and resurrection, I am a new creature with a new nature, and a new capacity to obey and worship and know God that I could never have manufactured on my own. Help me to live according to the new covenant and not the old. Amen

Better.

Hebrews 7

He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has now been set apart from sinners, and he has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. He does not need to offer sacrifices every day like the other high priests. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he sacrificed himself on the cross. - Vs 27-28 (NLT)

This is a confusing chapter. All the talk of priesthoods, laws, Melchizedek, commandments, and covenants can leave your head spinning. So what's the point? It would seem to be to stress that Jesus brought a new way of doing things. Instead of life lived according to the strict and stifling requirements of the Law, administered by sinful men serving as priests from the tribe of Levi, we are offered a better way. We have a High Priest who was born into a different tribe and offers a totally different solution to the problem of sin. He is Jesus, our High Priest. He is "holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens" (Vs 26). Unlike the Levitical priests, who had to offer up sacrifices every day to atone for their own sins and the sins of the people, Jesus offered one sacrifice – "once for all when He offered up Himself" (Vs 27). And He never had to offer a sacrifice for His own sins, because He was sinless.

God provided a new way. He provided His own Son because the Law, administered by sinful men, could never give the people what they desired: restored communion with God. No one could keep the Law, not even the men who were sworn to uphold it. The sacrificial Levitical system never accomplished what it set out to do. It couldn't. It pointed to a future sacrificial system that would satisfy the justice of God and pay the debt for sin that was owed by mankind "once for all." Through Jesus Christ, God made a way for us to have our sins forgiven permanently and perfectly. He made a way for us to have our relationship with Him restored, mercifully and justly. And it wasn't left up to us to keep some set of rules or standards that were beyond our ability to obey. Jesus did that for us. He lived the life we could not live. He fulfilled the requirements we could not meet. He satisfied the righteous standard of God we never could have kept. And He "has become the guarantee of a better covenant" (Vs 22). The covenant that God made through Jesus is better than the old one because the old one was temporary and the new one is eternal. A better priest guarantees a better covenant. This is not to say the old covenant was bad, but only that it was imperfect and temporary.  In Romans, Paul defends the Law when he says, "Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is evil? Of course not! The law is not sinful, but it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, "Do not covet" (Romans 7:7).

The Law, the old covenant, was given to reveal my sin and my need for a Savior. The Law and any attempt by men to keep it only further proved our complete inadequacy to live up to the kind of standard God required. God knew that the Law could never save us. Why? Because we have a sinful nature that prevents us from obeying it. But if God had never given us the Law, we would have never realized just how sinful we really are. Without a holy standard of measurement, we would never have realized we don't measure up. But God didn't leave us in this sad state.

The law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature. But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the requirement of the law would be fully accomplished for us who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. (Romans 8:3-4 NLT)

He gave us His Son, a better High Priest. He gave us a way to become righteous that is completely outside of ourselves and not based on our own efforts. Or salvation is no longer based on us having to do something, but on what His Son has already done on our behalf.

Father, thank You for coming up with a better way. Because if You had not, we would have all been doomed to failure. We were without hope, lost in our sins, incapable of saving ourselves. But You graciously provided another way for us to be restored to a right relationship with You. You provided a way for us to stand in your presence as righteous and holy in Your sight, that was not based on our own efforts, but on the sinless sacrifice of Your Son and our great High Priest. I am literally forever grateful. Amen

A Promise and A Pledge.

Hebrews 6

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast, which reaches inside behind the curtain, where Jesus our forerunner entered on our behalf, since he became a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. - Vs 19-20 (NET)

We have a hope that is based on God's unchangeableness and faithfulness. The two unchangeable things are God's promise (Vs 13) and His pledge (Vs 19).  They are unchangeable or unalterable. The Greek word is ametathetos and it was used in relation to wills. Once made, a will was considered ametathetos, unchangeable by anyone but the one who made the will. God has said that His promise and pledge is ametathetos. They are binding and cannot be changed – even by Him. So those who believe in His promise and pledge are secure. Those who place their faith in God can rest in the knowledge that He will never let them go. They are secure. And our security is not based on us having to hold on to God, but in Him holding on to us. He has made a promise and a pledge to keep us and never let us go.

It is because of these two unchangeable things – His promise and His pledge – knowing that God will not lie to us, that we have taken refuge and have found a strong encouragement to "take hold of the hope set before us" (Vs 18). That hope is an anchor to our souls, a hope both sure and steadfast. It leads us right into the throne room of God, past the curtain and into His presence, where Jesus has already entered before us. He has opened the way ahead of us. At His death, the veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple was torn in two – from top to bottom – removing the barrier between God and man. Now we can enter confidently, with hope, into the presence of God, where Jesus our High Priest intercedes on our behalf. He has entered into the Holy of Holies as our High Priest and offered the final atoning sacrifice for our sins. Our soul is anchored, safeguarded, kept, or secured by the very presence of Christ at the right hand of the Father. His sacrifice was accepted by God. Our sins have been atoned for. We are secure and can never have our right standing with God removed.

So who are these who have "fallen away" in verse 6? They have "been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away" (Vs 4-5). If we are secure, how can we fall away? The writer of Hebrews is speaking to those in his audience who have heard the truth and acknowledged it, but who have hesitated to embrace Christ. They had been around the things of God. They had heard the truth of the Gospel. They had seen the works of the Holy Spirit. They had seen the life-changing power of God in the lives of others. But they had failed to place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Now they run the risk of losing their opportunity to believe. They have heard, but have rejected the truth of what they have heard. They have even feigned a form of repentance, but with no real heart change. There are those in our churches today who fit this description. They have been exposed to the truth of the Gospel, but refuse to accept it. They have all the appearance of being saved, but have not placed their faith in Jesus Christ as their sin-substitute. Instead, they think they can somehow save themselves through their own righteous acts. They can somehow earn their way into God's good favor.

Our hope and assurance is in Jesus alone. He is our anchor. He is our source of confident assurance that we can never lose our salvation, and that we will inherit the promises that God has made to us who believe (Vs 12). I can know that I am right with God because I know that Jesus has died for me. He is my High Priest. My sins are forgiven and I can stand before God as righteous in His eyes.

Father, thank You for the hope that I have because of Jesus Christ. I am saved and can confidently know that my salvation is permanent, not based on my behavior, but on Your unchanging promise and pledge. You will never let me go. Your own Son stands in your presence as my High Priest, having offered the final sacrifice for my sins. He has paid the price, once for all, and I am Your child. Thank You that it does not rest on me and my good merits, but on Your good grace. Amen

A Hunger For Holiness.

Hebrews 5

In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! - Vs 12 (NIV)

The letter of Hebrews is written to Jews. Thus, the name. This was more than likely a congregation of believers who lived outside of Israel – possibly in Italy. Within this congregation were believers, but also those who professed belief, but were not living it out in their daily lives. Their common bond, besides the gospel, was their Jewish heritage. For some this was posing a problem. Their "Jewishness" was making it difficult for them to embrace faith in Christ completely. They had been exposed to the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, but as chapter 4 seems to indicate, they were being disobedient to it. They were hearing God's voice, but hardening their hearts (4:7). Now they are confronted with the reality that even though they had been raised on the Old Testament teachings of God and had been around the gospel message of Jesus Christ for some time now, they were still immature in their faith. They had not grown. They were like infants spiritually, who couldn't handle the "meat" of God's word concerning Christ. "Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food" (NLT).

The writer has been telling them about the high priestly role of Jesus. That even though He wasn't born into the priestly tribe of Levi, Jesus was appointed to be a high priest by God Himself. In that role, Jesus offered the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of man, His own life. "In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him" (Vs 9, NLT). And while the author of this letter (probably Paul) would love to tell them more, he can't, because some in his readership have become dull of hearing. They are spiritually slow to learn, difficult to teach, and unresponsive to instruction. So they are not able to grasp the significance of all the talk about priesthoods, sacrifices, and the order of Melchizedek. Their dullness is what is behind their spiritual child-likeness. Because they cannot or will not hear the truth of God, they end up remaining in spiritual infancy – stuck on the elementary or basic teachings about God, faith, and salvation. They never progress, never move forward in their faith. They're stuck in perpetual spiritual infancy.

How many in the church struggle with the same problem today? They have been exposed to the Word of God. They have heard the message of the gospel. But they can't grasp the significance of it all because they are dull of hearing. They sit in pews Sunday after Sunday, hearing the message of salvation, but refuse to accept it by faith. Even believers can be exposed to the deeper truth of God's Word and refuse to obey what they have heard. John MacArthur has this to say:

When we do not trust and act on any part of God's truth that we know, we become hardened to it and less and less likely to benefit from it. Or we can avoid delving into the deeper parts of God's Word, being satisfied with the 'basics,' we insulate ourselves from the Holy Spirit to that extent.

We become satisfied with what we have and what we already know. We refuse to go deeper. We become content with milk and not meat. We remain in spiritual infancy when we should be progressing into spiritual maturity. We turn up our noses at the "solid food" of God's truth. Yet Paul closes this chapter with the warning, "Solid food is for those who are mature, who have trained themselves to recognize the difference between right and wrong and then do what is right" (Vs 14). So how's your hearing? Better yet, how's your appetite? Do you crave the meat of God's Word or are you satisfied with the basics? Are you content with milk or have you moved on to the main course – the word of righteousness that can change your life and lead to spiritually maturity? By now you ought to be the one teaching. Are you?

Father, we have far too many infants in the church. Not new believers, but long-time converts who have refused to listen to Your Word and have remained in spiritual infancy. Show us how to help them gain an appetite for the meat of Your message. To grow and mature in their relationship with Christ. So that they can become teachers and instructors of others. So that they can know right from wrong and truth from falsehood. May spiritual maturity become a real priority and a constant pursuit among Your people. Amen

Rest For the Weary.

Hebrews 4

For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.. - Vs 10 (NASB)

Rest. It seems to be the main theme of this chapter. In fact, the word rest is used at least 10 times in today's reading. And what an attractive word rest is. It has a certain appeal to us because most of us are in desperate need of rest. We live busy lives filled with activity and action, seldom pausing long enough to really experience true rest. Even our sleep is filled with anxious thoughts and restless nights. We wake up tired instead of refreshed. We take vacations in the hope of finding rest, but return from them worn out and dreading the thought of all the work that has piled up while we were away. But the writer of the book of Hebrews talks about a rest that seems to be a non-negotiable. The rest he talks about is tied to the gospel and can be rejected through an act of disobedience. But what kind of rest is he talking about?

In his commentary on the book of Hebrews, John MacArthur says this, "Rest involves remaining confident, keeping trust. In other words, to rest in something or someone means to maintain our confidence in it or him. To enter God's rest, therefore, means to enjoy the perfect, unshakeable confidence of salvation in our Lord. We have no more reason to fear. We have absolute trust and confidence in God's power and care." It carries the idea that we can confidently "lean on" God both now and for eternity. We can depend on Him for everything and in everything – for support, for health, for strength – for everything we need. We have confidence in Him, so we rest in that confidence, because we know He is going to be there for us. It is like a child sleeping soundly in the arms of his father, even in the midst of a thunder storm. He rests because he knows he is safe from harm. He trust his father.

But this rest only comes to those who believe in God. Hearing the good news is not enough. You must believe. To not believe is to disobey and to disobey is to never enjoy the rest God offers. So we are warned to "be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience" (Vs 11). The example given is that of the Israelites in the wilderness, who because of their disobedience, never got to enter the rest of the Promised Land. In the New Living Translation verse 11 reads this way:

Let us do our best to enter that place of rest. For anyone who disobeys God, as the people of Israel did, will fall.

The choice of words here is interesting. The author says, "Let us do our best." The Greek word is spoudazo. It means “to make effort, be prompt or earnest:-do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study”. We're to make every effort to enter that place or rest. We should so want to enter the final rest that God offers, that we will do everything in our power to see to it that we get there. Now this is not talking about earning our place in heaven or our salvation. But it is promoting the idea of value or worth. The rest God offers is so valuable that we will do anything to gain it. We will not allow anything to sidetrack us or distract us. And God will examine our intentions and our hearts through His "living and active" word. He will determine whether we have embraced His offer of rest through faith or not.

But if we believe, we can "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace" and "obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." We can find rest NOW – in our times of need. We can come with confidence to His throne and appeal to His mercy and grace and He will give us rest – even in the midst of the storm. But we can also rest confidently that we will one day enter into His final rest for us. There is a Promised Land prepared for us. And while we wander through this wilderness experience of our own, we can rest knowing that He is taking care of us now, leading us, feeding us, providing for us – and guiding us into the place He has prepared for us.

Father, I need rest. I need physical rest, but I also need emotional and spiritual rest that only You can give. Forgive me for doubting You, because that is what causes so much of my unrest. I doubt, so I worry. I doubt, so I stress out. I doubt, so I wake up at night in a cold sweat. I am not resting confidently in Your word and Your promises. I am not resting in the assurance of Your promise of heaven. I obsess about the inconveniences of the "wilderness" and I grumble and complain. Father, I want to enjoy Your rest, now and for eternity. Show me how. Amen

Encouraging Words.

Hebrews 3

But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. - Vs 13 (NASB)

According to this passage, we have an obligation to one another. Both to our believing brothers and sisters and to those in our sphere of influence who remain unbelieving. This verse commands us to encourage one another daily. That word "encourage" is the word parakaleo in the Greek. It means to "come alongside to give help, exhortation, entreaty, comfort, or instruction." We are to play a significant part in one anothers’ lives every day. But our encouragement is more than a pat on the back or a token "hang in there." The context of this verse is a warning to not follow the example of the people of Israel, who provoked God to wrath. The children of Israel challenged God's authority and tried His patience. They grumbled and complained during their days of wilderness wandering. They didn't like the manna He miraculously provided. They didn't approve of the leadership He selected. They saw God's miraculous works for 40 years, but still chose to turn from Him on a regular basis. In short, they did not know His ways. They did not believe.

That seems to be the warning here. A warning against unbelief. In verse 12 we read, "Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you and evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God." One translation puts it this way: "My brothers, take care that there is not by chance in any one of you an evil heart without belief, turning away from the living God" (BBE). This is not a warning against losing your faith. It is a warning about having never had faith to begin with. So we are called to exhort or encourage one another to true faith. Otherwise, we will end up the same way the children of Israel did – with hearts hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Sin is tricky, deceptive, and can easily delude us into rejecting God. Sin seldom appears as what it really is. It lies and deceives. And over time it can cause our hearts to harden toward the message and mercy of God.

Sin convinces us that we aren't even sinners. It causes us to self-justify and rationalize away our behavior as necessary and acceptable. And in so doing, we call God a liar. We reject His assessment of us and rebel against His authority. So we are called to encourage one another day after day. To do what? To believe! To trust! To obey! To listen to His voice and not harden our hearts (Vs 7-8). We are to encourage one another to live by faith. To believe in the promises of God and the reality of the cross. Read what the author of Hebrews has to say later in his letter:

And a righteous person will live by faith. But I will have no pleasure in anyone who turns away. But we are not like those who turn their backs on God and seal their fate. We have faith that assures our salvation. – Hebrews 10:38-39

We have a faith that believes and assures our salvation. We don't fall away. We don't rebel. We don't allow the deceitfulness of sin to delude us and deceive us into rejecting God and His Word. To do so would be to have never believed at all. You can't lose a faith you never had to begin with. True, saving faith continues to believe. But we must be there to encourage one another when difficulties arise to continue believing the truth of God and to reject the falsehood of sin. And we need to do it as long as today is still called "today." Because the time is short.

Father, I want to be more of an encourager of those around me. I want to come alongside my brothers and sisters in Christ and exhort them to continue believing. But I also want to challenge the unbelieving people all around me to examine their hearts and to accept the gracious gift You have offered them. I want to warn them to not allow the lies of sin to harden their hearts against you and seal their own fate. Make me more of an encourager every day. Amen

One Of Us To Die For Us.

Hebrews 2

Therefore, it was necessary for Jesus to be in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. He then could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. - Vs 17 (NLT)

Chapter 1 reminds us of Jesus' sovereignty and power. It refers to Him sitting at the right hand of the Father. He is the creator of all things. And yet, He subjected Himself and came to earth as a man. He subjected Himself. He took a position that was lower than the angels. When Jesus became a man, He willingly lowered His rank. He who was worshiped by angels, became lower than the angels.

But it was necessary. In order to accomplish God's plan for man's redemption, Jesus had to become one of us – in every respect. So that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. But not only did He become like us, He suffered for us.

And it was only right that God––who made everything and for whom everything was made – should bring his many children into glory. Through the suffering of Jesus, God made him a perfect leader, one fit to bring them into their salvation. (Vs 10)

Jesus can relate to us, not just because He became one of us, but because He has suffered in all things like we do. Since He himself has gone through suffering and temptation, He is able to help us when we are being tempted. He understands. He can relate. He can empathize.

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

And it was His sinlessness that made Him the perfect sacrifice. He was the one man who could pay the penalty that God required. And He did it for me. He became like me so that He could die for me. That is amazing love.

Father, thank You for Your amazing love. Thank You for sending Your Son to die in my place, to pay a price I could not afford to pay. I am blown away by Your plan for MY salvation. That You would send Your Son to take on human flesh and die a sinner's death, that He did not deserve. All for me. Forgive me when I take that death, that gift, for granted. Amen

Worthy of Worship.

Hebrews 1

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. - Vs 3 (NASB) "

The Son reflects God’s own glory, and everything about him represents God exactly. He sustains the universe by the mighty power of his command. After he died to cleanse us from the stain of sin, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God of heaven. (NLT).

What a clear statement of Jesus' deity. He is the exact representation of God because He IS God. He is the creator and sustainer of the universe. "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands" (Vs 10). His word is so powerful that He spoke the world into existence. And yet He still came to earth, took on human flesh, lived a sinless life, died a sinner's death, and rose again, just for me! And now He sits in the place of honor right next to God the Father, where the angels worship Him.

I think that we have so humanized Jesus that we have virtually eliminated the deity of Jesus. We are so used to seeing images of the blond-haired, blue-eyed Jesus in a robe, walking across the Judean landscape in some movie version of His life, that we forget just how powerful, regal, holy, and awe-inspiring He is. He no longer walks along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. He sits on a throne. He no longer holds loaves and fishes in His hands. He holds a scepter. The world He created is decaying and changing, yet He is unchanging and everlasting. He is the same Jesus who was there when the world began and He will be there when it comes to an end. His life is not limited to the 33 years He spent on this earth. He is eternal. He has no beginning and He has no end. He is God.

In our effort to get to know Jesus, let's not forget to worship Him. While we find it so easy to relate to the humanity of Jesus, let's never lose sight of the deity of Jesus. It wasn't just some man who died on a cross in my place – it was the God of the universe! The One who made me died for me. The One who created the tree from which the wood of the cross was made. The One who made the elements from which the nails were formed that would pierce His hands. The One who formed the rocks from which His tomb was carved. The One who rose again and is one day coming again. Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Father, let me never take Jesus for granted. Keep me focused on the reality that He is God. His human flesh did not change that. He was God when He was born as a baby and He was God when He ascended back into heaven. He is God. He is powerful, holy, and worthy of my honor and obedience. In my efforts to understand who He was when He was on this earth, don't let me forget where He is now. He is at Your side and He has all the power of the universe at His disposal. And He uses that power to intercede for me! "Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us (Romans 8:34).  Amen

Borrowed Faith.

Ephesians 6

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. - Vs 10 (NASB)

This verse sounds so good, but it is so hard to live out. Sure, I say I believe God is strong, but then I turn right around and place all my hope on my own strength and ability to handle the difficult situations of life. Yet I know going in that my strength is limited. It fails me every time. So why don't I take advantage of His strength? What keeps me from trusting in His power?

Paul uses three different words here for strength or power. The first one is usually translated "be strong." It really carries the idea of having your strength increased. It literally means, "to endue with strength, to receive strength, be strengthened, to increase in strength." Paul seems to be saying that we need to increase our strength, because he knows that the enemy we are up against is more than we can handle. Just take a look at verse 12. Our enemy isn't a flesh and blood one, but a spiritual one. And he has powers we don't possess. So Paul says that we had better increase our strength. But that extra power needs to come from a source outside of ourselves. It has to come from God. He says, "Be strong in the Lord." I like the way the New Living Translation puts it. "Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power." We can actually increase our feeble strength with His. We can access a power source that is far beyond anything we could ever imagine. Paul refers to it as the "strength of His might." Those are our two other power words. You could almost translate this phrase "in the power of His power." The first word seems to be talking about the extent of God's power. It is referring to His dominion. He doesn't just have power, He has complete, kingly, authoritative, sovereign power. Someone can have power, but no authority. God has both. He has power and the right and authority to use it. Everything and everyone has to submit to Him. He has ruling power. I don't have that.

So how do I increase my strength with His? The following verses seem to give us the answer. He says that we are to put on God's armor. Notice that Paul refers to it as God's armor. It is His armor that will allow us to "resist in the evil day." It is His armor that will allow us to "stand firm." But we have to remember that the armor belongs to Him. His armor consists of His truth, His righteousness, His gospel, His faith, His salvation, and His word. This isn't about my version of the truth. It isn't about my righteousness or my self-righteous acts. This isn't about the gospel according to Ken. This isn't even about my faith. It is about His. The word faith here can be translated "faithfulness." One of its definitions is "the character of one who can be relied on." That's why I think Paul is referring not to my faith, but to God's. I am protected by the faithfulness of God. He will never fail me. It is He who extinguishes all the flaming arrows of the evil one. This isn't about my meager faith, but God's unfailing faithfulness. It's also about His salvation, not mine. It is He who will save me, not myself. And it is His word that is my primary weapon. It's interesting that Paul uses the Greek word rhema here and not the more familiar logos. The word rhema refers to a "spoken utterance." It does not usually refer to the Scriptures in their entirety, but to a specific word from God. A rhema is a verse or portion of Scripture that the Holy Spirit brings to our attention with application to a current situation or need for direction. The sword God gives us to use is perfect for the situation. It is His word spoken specifically for the circumstances in which we find ourselves. It is His word made practical for each of life's situations.

So God wants us to increase our power by turning to His. He wants to supplement our weak strength with His. And He gives us all the armor we need to go into life's battles with all the power we need – His. We can stand firm because we have access to His power. We can have victory because His power has authority.

Father, help me to lean on your power and not mine. Help me to believe that your power is inexhaustible. Your strength never runs out. And Your strength comes with authority. You are sovereign and in control of any and every circumstance and situation that I encounter in my life. I shall not fear.  Amen

Let the Light Out.

Ephesians 5

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. - Vs 15-16 (NASB)

Be careful how you walk, how you live your life. Watch your step. Walk in love (Vs 2). Be imitators of God (Vs 1). Walk as children of the light (Vs 8).

Paul calls us to live our lives differently than those around us. We are not to blend in, but stand out. We're not to look like the world around us. Paul says, "do not be partakers with them!" (Vs 7). Instead our lives should exhibit the "fruit of the Light" – consisting of goodness, righteousness, and truth. We are supposed to find out what pleases God and then do it (Vs 10). This is what a life lived in the Light looks like. But those who live in darkness, apart from God, live lives that are unfruitful, and we are supposed to expose them, not join them. We're not even supposed to talk about the things they do. But in our society, we seem to get a perverse pleasure talking about the things "done in darkness." We watch TV shows that glamorize the lifestyles of those who live in darkness. Reality TV has brought "entertainment" to an all-time low, giving us a glimpse into the lives of individuals whose lives are characterized by immorality, impurity, and greed (Vs 3). Filthiness, silly talk, and course jesting are common fare on the tube and in many of our lives today. We have forgotten how to blush. Instead of being ashamed and embarrassed by the "sons of disobedience," we too often become partakers with them. We join in. We become like them and in doing so, we walk as unwise men and women. Our light diminishes. Instead of exposing the darkness around us, we become absorbed by it.

Paul is calling the community of Christ to shine, to let the Light that is within us to illuminate the darkness around us. Darkness is an absence of light. But because we carry the Light of life within us, we should be shining into the darkness with lives characterized by goodness, righteousness, and truth. Over in the first letter of John, we read, "This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:5-7). We are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness. We are not living in the truth. But if we live our lives in the Light of God, just as Jesus did, we get to enjoy the fellowship of one another, and the constant forgiveness of our sins. Fellowship and forgiveness. Those are just two of the many benefits we enjoy when living in the Light.

So we are to be careful how we walk, how we live our lives. Our lives should be characterized by wisdom, not foolishness. Our speech should be characterized by thanksgiving, not obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking. We are to be filled with the Spirit. Why? Because the days are evil and we need to make the most of the time we have here on earth. We should want to make good use of the days God gives us here. We have an opportunity to make a difference. We have the solution to the world's darkness right within us. It is the Light of Jesus Christ.

For God, who said, "Let there be light in the darkness," has made us understand that this light is the brightness of the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. But this precious treasure––this light and power that now shine within us––is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own." – 2 Corinthians 4:6-7

We have the Light within us. But we need to let it out. So that everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own.

Father, thank You for the Light of Your Son. He illuminated my darkness one day and I have never been the same. Thank You that I share that Light with others, and together, we have the privilege of allowing the light of Jesus Christ shine through our lives into the darkness all around us. I confess that my light is dim at times and I allow the darkness to overwhelm me. But I want to let the Light shine more brightly and I want to shine together with my brothers and sisters in Christ so that our presence could dispel the darkness, expose sin, and attract others to the glory of Jesus Christ. Amen

Grow…Together.

Ephesians 4

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ. - Vs 11-12 (NASB)

I love this chapter. In it Paul paints a picture of the way in which the church, the body of Christ, was meant to function. He reveals to us God's plan for using the body of Christ to bring about spiritual maturity in the people of God. The community of believers is key to the maturity of believers. We were not meant to grow in isolation. God placed every one of us in the context of a community of believers and called it the body of His Son. Jesus Himself is the head of this body – an interdependent organism where every member is critical to the health of the whole.

…we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. (Vs 15-16)

We are to grow up – together. Because we are a body that has been fitted and held together. We are each to do our part – together. And when we do, the body grows – together. This is a team effort. It is only normal that we grow together and not individually. It would be abnormal if a child's arm grew at twice the rate as the rest of his body. It would be considered an aberration. Yet we think it is perfectly normal for one Christian to grow more rapidly than another, with no apparent concern or feeling of obligation to contribute to the growth of anyone else. We have turned the Christian life into an individualized effort – isolating ourselves from the influence of others and ignoring any responsibility for the spiritual well-being of one another.

Yet, throughout this chapter, Paul stresses the corporate or community aspect of the body of Christ. He uses phrases like "one another," "preserve the unity," "one body," "the unity of the faith," "the whole body," "the growth of the body," and "we are members of one another." Everything Paul talks about in this chapter has to do with the communal or relational aspect of our faith. We need each other. We were created to be dependent upon one another. In fact, Paul seems to indicate that independence and isolation are attributes of our former life. He tells the Ephesians not to live their lives the way the lost world lives (Vs 17). Their lives are characterized by confusion, with thinking that is devoid of truth or an understanding of what is right and appropriate. Their understanding is darkened. Their hearts are hardened. They are calloused. And they have given themselves over to sensuality. The NLT Bible translates verse 19 this way:

They don’t care anymore about right and wrong, and they have given themselves over to immoral ways. Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed."

Their lives are characterized by immorality fueled by greediness. That word means "greedy desire to have more, covetousness, avarice." They don't care about others. They only care about themselves. Their greed and avarice drives them to satisfy their own selfish desires. But Paul says, "you did not learn Christ in this way" (Vs 20). That is not the way of Christ. We are to die to ourselves and make others our highest priority. We are to serve and not be served. We are to lay "aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another" (Vs 25). Don't let anger, greed, covetousness, or potentially damaging words destroy the unity of thebody. Instead, Paul says to "be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Vs 32).

We are members of one another. We need one another. We are to live for one another. We should have the attitude that we cannot exist without one another. God created us to live in unity and community – thriving and growing together in an interdependent, loving atmosphere where the grace of God is being lived out every single day.

Father, show us how to live together in unity. Open our eyes and let us see just how important the body is to You. Forgive me for trying to live the Christian life on my own. Forgive me for my self-centeredness and greediness. May we truly learn what it means to be one, just as You and Your Son are One. Amen

Comprehending Christ’s Love.

Ephesians 3

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. - Vs 16-19 (NLT)

Here is another one of Paul's incredible prayers for the church. It gives us real insight into how Paul viewed the needs of the believers of his day, but it also reflects what we need as we attempt to live out our faith in this generation.

Paul's prayer revolves around the love of God. First, he prays that the Holy Spirit would give us inner strength. The New American Standard Bible says, "to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man." The idea is that we would continue to grow in strength. The result of that increasing internal strength is an increasing dependence on Christ. As we grow in Spirit-empowered strength in our inner man, we live increasingly more by faith, allowing Christ to inhabit and influence our lives as we learn to trust Him. We also begin to discover the reality of God's incredible love for us. It is measureless and incomprehensible. We can't fully understand it or explain it, but we can experience it and live in it every day of our lives. And Paul is praying that we would experience it. Not just talk about it, but experience it. We tend to relegate the love of Christ to what He did at Calvary. But He continues to express His love to us every single day in a variety of ways. Paul is praying that we would begin to recognize that love in all the details of our lives. We would see it, recognize it, comprehend it, appreciate it, be grateful for it, and live in it. The result will be that we are filled up with the fullness of God. We will be filled with His love, His power, His presence, His peace, His joy, His wisdom, His Son.

But it all begins with love. A growing comprehension of just how much Jesus Christ loves us. He loved us enough to die for us, but He also loves us enough to live within us. The presence of His Holy Spirit is an expression of His love. The power the Holy Spirit provides is proof of His love. His Spirit helps us grow in our understanding and recognition of the countless ways Christ expresses His love to us each and every day. But we can't see it because we are living in the flesh. Our inner man is controlled by sinful, selfish desires that lie to us and tell us that Christ can't love us because He won't let us have what we want. We begin to believe that it is the things of this world that give us joy, peace, and contentment. We turn to confuse the love of Christ with the love of pleasure. And we begin to trust in and turn to the creation instead of the Creator for our satisfaction. That's why Paul prays that we would have inner strength to trust Christ and recognize His matchless love for us. We need to Holy Spirit's power to say no to the flesh and yes to Jesus. We need His strength to help us trust Christ and not ourselves. As we do, we will begin to see just how much we are loved and we will begin to overflow with the things of God. Now isn't that a prayer you'd love to see answered in your life?

Father, I want to be filled up with your fullness. I want to begin to understand just how much You love me. Give me the strength I need through the power of Your Holy Spirit so that I might stop giving in to my own sinful flesh and the lies of the world. Help me to trust Your Son more and more and to live in the reality of Your love. Amen

Costly Grace.

Ephesians 2

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of Gd's household. - Vs 19

Earlier in this chapter, Paul describes the believer's condition prior to coming to Christ. He uses some pretty strong language: Separate. Excluded. Strangers. Having no hope. Without God in the world. Far off. He says we used to live "in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of our mind, and were by nature children of wrath" (Vs 3). We were "dead in our transgressions" (Vs 5). We "walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air" (Vs 2). He uses some pretty bleak language, and for a reason. Because unless we understand the bad news, we will never fully understand or appreciate the Good News.

Sometimes it's hard for us to embrace the truth about who we were without Christ. But the point is, because we were without Christ, we were without God. Paul refers to us as "children of wrath." That's a semitic idiom that means we were destined for wrath. One translation renders it this way: "…the punishment of God was waiting for us even as for the rest" (BBE). In other words, we were deserving of God's judgment and wrath. Our Godless condition doomed us to a Godless eternity. And we could do nothing about it. No amount of good works, righteous efforts, rule-keeping, law-abiding, or self-effort could alter our standing before God.

But then something happened. God made us alive together with Christ! (Vs 5). Even when we were as good as dead, incapable of doing anything to save ourselves, God stepped in. Why? Because He was rich in mercy. He was literally abounding, overflowing in love toward us. Mercy is "kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted." Mercy isn't just some kind of sympathy that looks on in sadness at the state of another, but it takes action. It does something. And that's exactly what happened. God did something about our condition. He "raised us up" and "seated us" in the "heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Vs 6). He saved us. And He did it out of His grace. Charles Ryrie defines grace this way:

First, grace is unmerited favor. As a concise definition of grace, this serves well. More elaborate definitions have their place; but simply stated, grace is unmerited favor. It is undeserved on the part of the recipient. It is unearned and unearnable.

God showed me unmerited favor or kindness. The important word here is unmerited. What God did for me was totally unearned and undeserved. Paul stresses this when he says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, is the gift of God" (Vs 8). Even our faith, our ability to believe, was a gift from God. Why is this so important? Because if not, we would have reason to boast. We could say we somehow earned or deserved what we received. And that would devalue the price that Jesus Christ paid on the cross. If we could have saved ourselves, there would have been no reason for Jesus to die on our behalf. Charles Ryrie continues his definition of grace:

Second, grace is not cheap. Grace is expensive. It is free to the recipient but costly to the donor. The only way one may say that grace is not very costly is if the particular benefit costs the donor very little. But to use the word cheap in the same breath with the grace of God in salvation seems almost blasphemous. It cost our Lord Jesus His life. Some may insult grace, reject it, trample on it, or disgrace it, but that does not lower its infinite value."

God has shown me grace! And it cost Him dearly. Because of His grace, I have been "brought near by the blood of Christ" (Vs 13). I am no longer an alien or a stranger, but a fellow citizen with the saints, and am of God's household. Now that's amazing grace!

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

freely bestowed on all who believe!

You who are longing to see His face,

Will you this moment His grace receive'

Grace Greater Than Our Sin, by Julia H. Johnston and Daniel B. Towner, 1910, 1938

Father, than You for Your amazing grace. I don't fully understand it. I will probably never fully comprehend it. But I stand in it. Thank You for not leaving it up to me. Because I would still be without hope and without You. But because of Your mercy and grace, I am Your child. Thank You. Amen

Getting To Know God.

Ephesians 1

I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. - Vs 16-17

I love the prayers of Paul. He didn't pray like I pray. He never seemed to pray for circumstantial change in the lives of those for whom he prayed. In other words, he didn't pray that the contract would go through on that new house, or that Eutycus would get relief from his lower back pain, or that Aristarchus would get the raise he was hoping for. Now I'm sure Paul did pray for these kinds of things, but we don't seem to have them recorded in any of his letters. His prayers were different. They have a certain intensity about them. They were deeply spiritual, yet highly practical. Paul seemed to pray "power prayers." He went to the core issues. He didn't waste time on circumstantial issues, but went right to the heart of the problem. Take a look at this prayer again:

I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.

He is asking God to give them spiritual wisdom and understanding so that their knowledge of Himself might increase. He wants them to grow in their knowledge and understanding of God. Why? Because the more we understand God, the more we understand His power, His love, His mercy, His grace, His plan, and the unbelievable privilege it is to be considered His child.

Paul explains in his prayer just how we might come to this knowledge and understanding. By having the eyes of our hearts enlightened (Vs 18). Deep inside, we need to have certain things clarified and brought to light. We need to know the hope of His calling. We need to understand the unshakable, future reality of our eternal salvation. It is real. It is the reason for which we have been called. We need to understand the riches of His inheritance. Here, Paul seems to be praying that we would understand that WE, as saints or set-apart ones, are the riches of His inheritance. It is the people of God who make up the inheritance of God. The kingdom of God is not a place, it is a people. We are His possession.

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. – 1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)

We are His. We are part of His incredibly vast, rich inheritance of saints through the ages. And we need to understand that. We are not alone. We are not individual saints, but are part of a massive kingdom, a holy nation, a people chosen by God Himself!

Finally, Paul prays that we would "begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him" (Vs 19). The more we come to know and understand God, the more we will comprehend just how powerful He is. His power raised Jesus from the dead. That same power is available to us as believers. Not to get what we want or to have God do our bidding. But that power is available to transform us into the likeness of His Son. That power is available to us so that we might live the life He has called us to live.

So how well do you know God today? I have to confess that my knowledge of God is probably far too academic. It is book knowledge. I know what the Bible says about God, but Paul is praying that I would know God – personally and experientially. There's a big difference. So what if we prayed this way for one another? What if we prayed for spiritual wisdom and understanding so that we might each grow in our knowledge of God? It was pretty important to Paul. Maybe we should give it a try.

Father, I ask that you would help every one of us as your children to grow in our knowledge of You by increasing our spiritual wisdom and understanding. I know You can accomplish that through Your Word and Your indwelling Holy Spirit. Give us an increasing hunger for Your Word and a willingness to obey Your Spirit. So that our knowledge of You might increase daily. Open our eyes so that we will truly understand that Your inheritance is made up of all the saints, past, present, and future. Help us to see their value just like You do. Help us to comprehend the immensity of Your power that is available to us every day of our lives – and to live like we believe it. Amen

 

Truly Wise.

Colossians 4

Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone. - Vs 5-6

In chapter 3, Paul urged us to "keep seeking the things above" and to "set your mind on the things above." Now as further proof that Paul is not encouraging some kind of heavenly-minded disengagement from the world, he tells us to watch our walk and our talk among the unbelievers with whom we live. So we are to keep seeking the things above, but to conduct ourselves wisely when it comes to our interaction with the lost here on earth. The kind of wisdom Paul is talking about is a heavenly wisdom. It comes from above. And we discover it by seeking the things above. Solomon said it this way:

For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. – Proverbs 2:6

So the kind of wisdom we need to live our lives alongside an unbelieving generation comes from God Himself. Earlier in chapter 2 of Colossians, Paul had told them that he wanted them to "have full confidence because they have complete understanding of God’s secret plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:2-3). So the more we know Christ, the more access we have to the treasures of wisdom and knowledge we need.

Over in the book of James, we read about earthly wisdom versus heavenly wisdom. James flatly states that earthly wisdom is demonic. It's characterized by bitter jealousy and selfish ambition. But heavenly wisdom looks differently. James says, "If you are wise and understand God’s ways, live a life of steady goodness so that only good deeds will pour forth. And if you don’t brag about the good you do, then you will be truly wise!" (James 3:13). According to James, the wisdom that comes from above is "first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere" (James 3:17).

So how are we to conduct ourselves among the lost? With wisdom. And what is the source of that wisdom? Jesus Christ Himself. How do we access it? By seeking the things above. By spending time in the Word. By getting to know more of Christ, so we can respond like Christ. Why is this so important? So that, as the New American Standard Bible translates verse 5 of Colossians 4, we will be able to make the most of the opportunity. So we will know how to respond to each person. To be able to give them the right answer, seasoned with grace. Grace is "that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm; loveliness: grace of speech; good will, loving-kindness, favour." That kind of response is NOT of this world. It is not natural. It is not normal. It is from above. And it only comes when we make the things above our highest priority.

Jesus told us that the world would hate us just as it hated Him. We are aliens and strangers here. This is not our home anymore. We are citizens of a new kingdom. But we still have to live here and God expects us to live as ambassadors of His kingdom. We are to be His representatives here on earth, extending His grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness to all those we meet. We are to love the unlovely, share the good news of the gospel with the condemned, share the forgiveness of God with sinners, and exhibit the wisdom of God among a people who desperately need a word from God.

Father, I want to live my life here on earth with wisdom. Your wisdom. I know I can only find that wisdom in Your Son and I get to know Him better through Your Word. Help me to keep my attention focused on Him. Help me to remember that He sits at Your right hand in heaven. That is where my focus and attention needs to be. So that I can respond to each person I meet here on earth with a right answer, seasoned with grace and filled with love. Amen

 

Things Above.

Colossians 3

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth. - Vs 2

You've probably heard the phrase, "He's so heavenly minded that he's no earthly good." It is commonly used when referring to someone who talks a lot about spiritual things, but it doesn't seem to make much of a difference in the way they live their lives. That's NOT what Paul is recommending here when he says, "Set your mind on the things above." I think he's talking about perspective and motivation. Because the rest of this chapter don't paint a picture of someone who's so heavenly minded that he's no earthly good. In fact, Paul goes on to tell the Colossians (and us) a whole list of earth-oriented actions to engage in. He tells them to…

…put aside (strip off) the old self with its evil practices (Vs 10)

…put on the new self (Vs 10)

…separate yourself from the deeds of the old nature (Vs 5)

…get rid of anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive speech, lying (Vs 8-9)

…put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience (Vs 12)

…bear with one another and forgive one another (Vs 13)

…put on love (Vs 14)

…let the peace of God rule in your hearts (Vs 15)

…let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise (Vs 16)

…do all in the name of the Lord Jesus (Vs 17)

Now that sounds like someone who is living a life that is doing some earthly good. But it begins with that change in perspective and motivation Paul mentioned in verse 2. I love how The Message interprets that verse.

Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ--that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.

Because we live on the earth, we can become obsessed with the things of this earth. If anything, we can become so earthly-oriented that we lose our heavenly perspective. As believers, the "chosen of God " (Vs 12), we are what Paul refers to as holy. We are separated from all that is unclean and set apart to God. We belong to Him. We are citizens of a new kingdom – His. So we are to think like citizens of that kingdom. We are to be heavenly-minded. We are to see things from God's perspective and to not forget that we live by a new set of standards and answer to a new King. Paul reminds us that we "have been raised up with Christ," so we should "keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God" (Vs 1). Again, I think The Message gives us some good insight into what this verse means:

So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, [act] like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides.

Another translation puts it this way, "If then you have a new life with Christ, give your attention to the things of heaven" (BBE). This is all about our new life in Christ. That's why Paul spends so much time talking about putting on and taking off. We are to remember that we are new creatures with a new nature. But because we live in a fallen world and still have our old sin nature to deal with, we have to go through the daily practice of putting on the new characteristics of who we are in Christ and remove the old habits and characteristics of our old nature. Charles Ryrie puts it this way, "become in experience what you already are by God's grace. The Christian is risen in with Christ; let him exhibit that new life."

This is practical stuff. This is here-and-now stuff. It will impact the way we live our lives. It will filter into our homes and relationships. It will change our attitudes toward work. It will change our speech and our conduct. In fact, Paul says, "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father" (Vs 17). When we set our mind on the things above, it will change how we live here below. Keeping our thoughts on heaven just means we are thinking about our real home. It means we are reminding ourselves of where the real authority in our lives is. When we hear all the bad news on the evening news, we are to think about Christ sitting on His throne. He's in control. When we feel tempted to get angry and act out of frustration because of something done to us, we are to think about heaven, and remember that we are children of God who have been offered forgiveness for our sin. Which should make us want to extend the same grace to others here on earth.

Bottom line: we are to live like who we are – the chosen of God. Citizens of heaven. But to do that, we have to let heaven be our motivation. We have to change our perspective from an earthly one to a heavenly one. We have to set our minds on the things above.

Father, give me a heavenly perspective. Let me see this world from Your vantage point. Give me heavenly eyes that see myself as who I am in Christ. Help me to see the world with new eyes, a new perspective – Yours. May my motivation for all that I do come from heaven, not this earth. Amen

Growing In Knowledge.

Colossians 2

I want them to have full confidence because they have complete understanding of God’s secret plan, which is Christ himself. - Vs 2

Knowing Christ is more than just a saving knowledge. It is more than just a belief that gets us forgiveness of sins and entrance into the Father's kingdom. Knowing Christ offers us so much more. Here, Paul says that it can bring us a sense of confidence. It is "the full wealth of the certain knowledge of the secret of God, even Christ" (BBE). That "full wealth" includes "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Vs 3). We are to aspire to a "complete understanding" of God's secret plan – Jesus Christ Himself. We are not to settle for a partial understanding, a mere passing acquaintance. We are to grow in our knowledge of Christ.

Paul supports this when he refers to the Colossians as being "firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith" (Vs 7). They were firmly rooted. That word means "to strengthen with roots, to render firm, to fix, establish, cause a person or a thing to be thoroughly grounded." They had a good foundation. But they didn't stop there. They were being built up in Him. This is a construction term. It means they were building on the foundation which had been laid. They had sunk roots and were now growing and prospering in their knowledge of Christ. Finally, Paul says they were being established in their faith. They were gaining stability in their faith. The word translated "established" means "to make firm, establish, confirm, make sure."

Knowing Christ is not a one-time event, but a lifelong process. We are to grow in our knowledge of Him. We are to grow in our intimacy with Him. We are to grow in our dependence on Him. We are to grow in our commitment to Him. Why? Paul tells us in a few short, but very important phrases:

…in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form (Vs 9)

…in Him you have been made complete (Vs 10)

…in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision without hands (Vs 11)

…you have been buried with Him in baptism (Vs 12)

…you were also raised with Him through faith (Vs 12)

…He made you alive together with Him having forgiven us all our transgressions (Vs 13)

These are just a few of the things we are to know about Christ. He is our Savior, but do we know just how much He has done for us. He is the God of the universe, yet He took on human flesh just so He could pay a debt I could not pay. He took that debt and nailed it to the cross (Vs 14). He has forgiven all my sins – past, present, and future. He has removed the body of flesh from me so that I don't have to obey it anymore. He has done so much for me. And there is more that I still don't know yet, but He is waiting to reveal to me. Do you know Him? Are your firmly rooted in Him? Are you being built up in Him? And are you being established in your faith because of Him?

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him. (Vs 6).

Father, thank You for Your Son. Help me to grow in my knowledge of Him. That my roots may grow deeper, and I might be built up and established in my faith because I am increasing in my knowledge of and intimacy with Him.  Amen

Hope Of Glory.

Colossians 1

Christ in you, the hope of glory. - Vs 27

This is the gospel in a nutshell. Christ in me! Living in me. Transforming me. Empowering me. Redeeming me. Sanctifying me. And ultimately, glorifying me. In the New Living Translation verse 27 reads this way, "For this is the secret: Christ lives in you, and this is your assurance that you will share in his glory." Because Christ lives in me, I can rest assured that I will live with Him for eternity. But His presence in me is more than just a ticket to heaven, my hope of an eternity free from hell. It is my hope for a life of radical transformation here and now. Christ in me is the secret to God transforming me. Paul says that "although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach" (Vs 21-22). His death has put us back in a right relationship with God the Father. He has restored our fellowship with God, which had been shattered because of our sin. But now God sees us as holy and blameless and beyond reproach, because He sees us through the blood of Christ. We have been washed clean. We are what the theologians call positionally holy. But Christ in me also makes it possible for me to be made progressively holy. That is why Paul told the Colossians that he and Timothy had "continued praying for you ever since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need" (Vs 9-11).

Paul prayed for and expected life change in the Colossians because Christ was in them. He expected to see their lives characterized by moral discernment, an increasing Christ-likeness, fruitfulness, and power. Ultimately, Paul knew the secret to their changed behavior was the change that had already taken place within them: Christ was in them. He had taken up residence in them. Any change that was going to take place would be by His power, not theirs. That is why Paul so fervently proclaimed Christ, because he knew that Christ in us is the secret to changing us. So Paul exclaims, "We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature in Christ" (Vs 28). To be mature in Christ is to be like Christ. It is to allow the Christ in us to come out of us. It is to increasingly allow His character to become our character. Paul's goal was to "bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less" (The Message).

Father, I want to be like Christ. No more, no less. I want the Christ in me to flow out of me. I want others to see Christ in me. May my old self continue to die and my new self in Christ become increasingly more visible to all those around me. And may I increasingly understand that Christ in me is truly my hope of glory now and in the future. Amen

All, Not Some.

Philippians 4

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. - Vs 13

That's the secret. Paul has learned the mystery to contentment and he shares is with us right here. He has discovered the hidden key to a life of contentment, regardless of the circumstance he finds himself in. And he is writing this while sitting in a prison cell!

In verse 12, Paul shares what this life of contentment looks like: "I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little." (NLT). He lists three sets of polar opposite circumstances: Poverty vs abundance. Hunger vs fullness. Plenty vs want.  These are extreme opposites that reveal what Paul means when he says he has learned to be content. The word translated "content" means sufficient for one's self, strong enough; independent of external circumstances. Paul has learned to be self-sufficient, independent of external circumstances. In other words, he has learned not to have to depend on circumstances to bring him joy, peace, and true contentment. But while he has learned to live independent of his circumstances, he has also learned live dependent on God. That's the secret. "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." The Message says it this way: "Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am."

Paul's secret was God's strength. It was his dependent relationship on a dependable God. That's why Paul could sit in a prison cell and write about contentment and really mean it. His joy was not based on his freedom or lack of it. His contentment was not based on things turning out the way he wanted them to. He was willing to trust God and "be anxious for nothing" (Vs 5). He was willing to prayerfully trust God with his circumstances and enjoy "the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension" (Vs 7). He was willing to keep his mind focused on those things that were "true and honorable and right," "pure and lovely and admirable," and"excellent and worthy of praise" (Vs 8). Poverty is no more true and honorable and right than plenty. Instead of focusing on our circumstances, we should focus on those things that really matter for eternity. The faithfulness of God, the promises of Scripture, the reality of Christ's resurrection and coming return, the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, the power available to us because of His presence, the unfailing, unchanging love of God. That's what we should learn to think about. Not our circumstances. Because as we all are seeing happen all around us today, circumstances can change. One day we can be on top of the world, and the next, at the bottom. We can go from plenty to poverty in a flash. We can lose our popularity, our health, our wealth, our position,our power, but we never run low on the enabling power of God. Now that's something to think about.

Father, help me to truly believe that I can do ALL things because You provide the strength I need. I don't have to live according to my circumstances. But the truth is, I do allow my circumstances to control me. I pray for my circumstances to change, instead of asking You to change me in the midst of my circumstances. I view my circumstances as obstacles rather than opportunities to see You work in me. Give me a new perspective. Help me to learn the secret that Paul learned. That I might learn to be content in whatever circumstance I am. Amen

An Unpleasant, Destructive End.

Philippians 3

…they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is their destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. - Vs 18-19

Paul has just invited his readers to "join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us" (Vs 17). Now he warns them about a pattern or example NOT to follow. The example being set by those who are enemies of the cross of Christ. In other words, they refuse to accept the cross of Christ and the gift of salvation that it makes available. Instead, they have chosen to "walk" or live their lives pursuing a different agenda. They have chosen to worship another god. The NET Bible describes them this way:

Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, they exult in their shame, and they think about earthly things.

We live in a world that hates the cross of Christ. Because the cross requires us to admit our sin and acknowledge our shame. It demands that we confess our open rebellion against God and admit our need for a Savior. We must give up our independence and come to God in complete dependence. For many, that's just too much to ask. So they reject the cross of Christ and remain His enemies. And their lives are marked by the worship of their own appetites – physical, sensual, emotional, and psychological. The NIV says, "their god is their stomach." They are driven by sensual desires. They live to meet those desires and are completely controlled by them. Whether it's the desire for food, drink, satisfaction, success, or sex. These people actually glory in their own shame. They exult in their own shame. They find worth in what should embarrass them. They brag about what should humiliate them. They find their sense of self-worth in the very things that should bring them shame. Their world is turned upside down.

These people set their minds on earthly things. The New Living Translation says it this way: "all they think about is this life here on earth." These people are dominated by what Paul Tripp calls "earth-bound treasures." They were obsessed with the things of this world, instead of the next. Because this world is all they have. Paul reminds us that "our citizenship is in heaven" (Vs 20). We are not of this world. He told the Colossian believers, "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth" (Colossians 3:2). Jesus said that, as believers, we were to "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). But the people Paul is warning the Philippians believers about are seeking their own selfish kingdom of one and their own warped brand of righteousness. God is nowhere in the picture. And their future is one of destruction, not blessing.

So what's the point? Why does Paul take the time to even discuss these people? Because even as believers, it is easy for us to fall into their way of living and thinking. We can allow our appetites to control us to the point that we virtually worship them. One definition of worship is "adoring reverence or regard." So when we give our physical desires and cravings adoring reverence or regard by giving into their every wish, we are worshiping our appetites. We are allowing them to control us. It's the I've-got-to-have-it-and-I've-got-to-have-it-NOW syndrom. We begin to believe that fulfilling our desires is what will bring us true satisfaction. One more bite, one more purchase, one more indiscretion, one more flirtatious look, one more look at that image on the Internet. We begin to expect our sensual desires and appetites to meet our needs rather than God. That is misplaced worship and Paul warns us to stay away from it.

We can easily end up finding glory or value in the very things that should shame us. We find our sense of worth in our abundance and live selfishly while those around us suffer in want. We become prideful and even obsessed about the kind of physical shape we're in, while neglecting the health ofour spiritual lives. We laugh and joke about movies and TV programs that once would have been considered shameful. And slowly, we begin to set our minds on the things of this earth. We begin to forget that we are citizens of heaven. We neglect to remember, as the old hymn says, "This world is not my home, I'm just a passin' through, my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue." We stop eagerly waiting for the return of Christ and remembering that He is in the process of transforming us into His likeness. A job He will finish one day.

Father, I don't want to live like those whose end is destruction. I don't want to spend my life following their example. But it is so easy to do because they are all around me. Keep me focused on You and Your kingdom. Don't allow me to give in to my sensual appetites, the desires of the flesh. But let me learn to listen to You. Let me find my glory or sense of worth in serving You, not in doing things that should embarrass me. And help me set my sights on things above, not on the things of this earth. I want to live like a citizen of heaven, with my hopes and desires focused on the reality of Your Son's return. Amen