The Glory of God
Hebrews 12:1-2 1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Today we have arrived at Wednesday of Holy Week. Historically, this is the day the disciples made preparations for the Last Supper. They procured the upper room and all things were ready for the final hours of Jesus’ life on this earth.
Yet, their understanding was dimmed by their expectations, not of the sacrifices Jesus was getting ready to make, but of their continued hope of overthrowing the government. If only they had realized what was happening was so much bigger than a regional conflict. Indeed, the events playing out would have worldwide implications.
As we prepare to celebrate another Easter, have we renewed our hearts and minds during this Lenten season through prayer, reflection and repentance? Are we ready to remember once again the sacrifice Jesus made so that sinful man could be reconciled to a Holy God?
May we, today and every day, seek Jesus’ face by the reading of His Word, by bowing in prayer, and by examining our hearts so that we can finish the race set before us according to Jesus’ will and by His grace.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Qualities of God
Psalms 36:5-9 5 Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains;
Your judgments are a great deep;
O LORD, You preserve man and beast.
7 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.
8 They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house,
And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.
9 For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light.
During this Holy Week where we remember the great sacrifice of God to redeem fallen man, it is good to contemplate the qualities of God.
- Mercy—showing compassion on those who do not deserve it
- Faithfulness—loyal and steadfast
- Righteousness—not something God does but who He is.
- Just—fair
We should never take for granted the qualities of God. For one thing, God never changes so once we understand who He is we never have to wonder how He will respond to a specific situation. And, because God seeks only our good, we know we can trust Him to provide for and protect His people.
May we, as we approach another Easter, keep our eyes on the cross and our hearts open to the Resurrection for there is no salvation in any other name but Jesus.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Rejoice, I say Rejoice
Psalms 118:24-29 24 This is the day the LORD has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I pray, O LORD;
O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.
27 God is the LORD,
And He has given us light;
Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise You;
You are my God, I will exalt You.
29 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
Oh, the bar was set high for praise on that first Palm Sunday when cloaks and palm leaves were laid before Jesus as He made His way into the city on the back of a borrowed donkey. Shouts of praise were so loud it was feared the Roman authorities would come and suppress the celebration. But could anything quell the sounds that grew louder with each passing?
Jesus, soon to be the Lamb for sinners slain, was being hailed as the king who would free the Jews from Roman rule. After all, He had recently raised Lazarus from the dead. Was anything beyond His abilities?
What are we expecting this Palm Sunday? Are we looking for a king who will forgive all of our worldly debts, someone who will take us just the way we are and then leave us there?
Or are we longing after the day when King Jesus returns in all of His glory and that first Palm Sunday pales in comparison to His Second Coming?
May we behave as though each day is Palm Sunday and let our praises ring out to our coming King! All hail the power of Jesus’ name! His mercies endure forever!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
My Times Are In Your Hands
Ps 41: But I trust in you, Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hands;
deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love.
I love praying the scriptures? Why? Because the scripture is not only for our instruction, but it is, according to 2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV) … God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, and correcting. David wrote this psalm probably when his son Absalom was trying to kill him. I can imagine his crying in disappointment and despair as he knew that his own son led the rebellion against him.
When we feel hopeless, there is no better place to turn than the Bible. When we understand that our days have been numbered by God, that should give us some peace. When we remember that Jesus calmed the winds and the waves, we know that He can calm the storms in our own lives. He may not remove the storm, but He can give us peace while we are in the storm.
Let us practice these three disciplines daily:
- Read your Bible. This is like tasting soup to make sure it is seasoned right.
- Contemplate the reading. Who wrote the scripture, to whom was it written, what were the circumstances? This is Ike letting the soup simmer so that all of the ingredients are blended.
- Pray the Word out loud. The Bible.is full of prayers and there are many online resources to point you toward prayers that can help in your situation. Now your soup is ready to serve.
May we know the power of prayer and be mindful of the time we have been given.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. . Amen.
DELIGHT IN THE LORD
Isaiah 61:10-11 10 I delight greatly in the LORD;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness
and praise spring up before all nations
As we approach Holy Week, I pause to reflect on all God teaches us through His Word. When I read this part of Isaiah, I am reminded that Jesus read from Isaiah 61 during His first teaching in the temple. And I see that there is much joy in the Lord because He has given us salvation and clothed us in righteousness.
I believe one of the greatest gifts we have received because of our salvation is our ability to have joy even during suffering. Joy is like a well spring that bubbles up to the surface whenever I speak of the goodness of God. Joy sustains me and lifts me above the place of doubt and fear. Joy is my dearest companion as I walk what used to be called “the pilgrim pathway.”
May we allow the joy within us to grow and share it with others as we prepare to celebrate the sacrifice only God could make so that we, sinful man, could be reconciled to a Holy God.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Seeking Holiness 