For the Love of God

Our pastor has been teaching through the book of Hebrews on Sunday mornings and how encouraging it has been. The whole subject of our Great High Priest and what that entails and is defined as is utterly amazing. He ended with this quote:

"Don't let your circumstances define God's love. Let God's love define your circumstances."

Dwell on that a minute....

He, as my Sovereign Creator, knows what is best. He orchestrates everything for my good and His glory. His love is so vast and immeasurable. It is so easy to see my "crappy" (sorry for the expletive) circumstances and question His love.

"Why?" "If You loved me, You would...."

Instead, I need to be trusting in His matchless love and grace. Trusting that He knows the future and is pleased to grow me to be more like Him. I know that without tough circumstances I would be so dependent on myself and my agenda. Boy, my pride would be through the roof, and my love for others would be so conditional.

So, as my stomach churns (for my big boy-men our struggling immensely) I bow my head and heart to trust in the never-failing love of my Creator.

Our Hope Is Strong and Sure

Hebrews 6:17-20 

"So when God desires to show more convincingly to the heirs of promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have THIS as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest FOREVER after the order of Melchizedek."

I was just pondering on the hopelessness of the lost this morning. There are so many in my own life whom I pray unceasingly for. They are dead in their sins and without hope. Even worse, they have been blinded by the prince of the power of the air. But I will keep praying.

We all go through severe trials. Every. Single. Person. Believing and lost.

But we as God's adopted children have been given access to a Hope. A Sure and Steadfast Hope. No matter how deep our valleys go, God is able to reach and bring hope. When we have an eternal perspective, we know the end of this life will be magnificent. The fight and pain will be gone one day.

Hebrews chapter six is a magnificent promise. Our hope has entered the inner place behind the curtain. This may not mean as much to us in our day, but I think back to the Hebrew people reading this promise. They had known nothing but sacrifices. Blood everywhere. Killing of the innocent for the sinners. And only once a year could the High Priest, and him alone, enter the Holy of Holies to present a sacrifice for the sins of the people on the Day of Atonement. Every other day there were sacrifices to be done in obedience to the Levitical Law, to remind the people they needed forgiveness for sins. But just once a year on a particular day the High Priest would sacrifice for the sins of the people. Thus, to show just One sacrifice would suffice. And The Lamb of God was slain to take away the sins of all those who would believe.

Our Hope. Our Anchor. Our Lamb. Our High Priest.

This is My Hope.

Our Great High Priest

I can't do this life thing alone. Yes, I sure am thankful for "Mr. Cartwright", but that's not who I'm talking about. Things are shoved in our paths of life. Things we would rather not have thrown at us. But the older I get, the more I get it and at times can actually thank the Lord for it. It's not as if Jesus is up there hurling these circumstances my way thoughtlessly. He intends for these things to be used to produce in me good works that would glorify Him and point others to Himself.

Hebrews 7:25 reminds me of His great sacrifice and love. He doesn't leave us all alone. "Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always live to make intercession for them."

Jesus saves us and then walks with us as we draw near to the Father. He prays for us too. What an amazing truth. If you are His child, He is with you. Nudging and wooing you closer to His Father.

So as I contemplate each day and way too often wish and desire for things to be different in certain areas, I surrender my will. I know that Christ is my all. I know that His love is greater than any other love on this earth. I know that He is working all things together for my good and His glory. I know He is with me. Always. 

He is with you too. Rest in this thought today, friends. It may seem unbearable at times, all this life stuff; but, our Jesus is praying for us. 

Mt. Sinai Vs. Mt. Zion

I have been planted in the book of Hebrews for the past couple of weeks in my devotions. So many amazing truths have been opened to me.

Hebrews 12:18-24, 28
"For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them.

For they could not bear the command, "IF EVEN A BEAST TOUCHES THE MOUNTAIN, IT WILL BE STONED."


And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I AM FULL OF FEAR and trembling."

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and (M)church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe."

My Savior and High Priest shows such mercy on us. I am so thankful I am part of the New Covenant, adopted by my Heavenly Father. I have no fears of dread; I should live my life in view of Christ's holiness. God's wrath was appeased by Christ Jesus's death on the cross.

Praise be to the Great Shepherd!

My Brother and High Priest

This is an amazing thought.

My Lord Jesus became like me in EVERY respect, so He could empathize with my temptations and weaknesses.

Whether I am tempted to give up or give in, I have the assurance my Jesus was there before I was.

Hebrews 2:17-18

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Propitiation is a big word that means a sacrifice that satisfies what God's character requires.

God is holy. God requires holiness from His children.
God is love. God requires agape love from His children.
God is truth. God requires honesty and integrity from His children.
God is just. God requires His children to be just.

This is impossible....apart from the atoning blood of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, " For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Jesus took our sin and gave us His righteousness.

The burden of sin is gone. Praise be to God. I have a High Priest who intercedes on my behalf. I have a Brother who calls me friend.