Necessary Reminder

Necessary Reminder

Hebrews 10: The Jewish Law is not a full and faithful model of the real things; it is only a faint outline of the good things to come. The same sacrifices are offered forever, year after year. How can the Law, then, by means of these sacrifices make perfect the people who come to God? ² If the people worshiping God had really been purified from their sins, they would not feel guilty of sin any more, and all sacrifices would stop. ³ As it is, however, the sacrifices serve year after year to remind people of their sins. ⁴ For the blood of bulls and goats can never take away sins.

 

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After realizing my life needed to change, I stopped hanging around certain “friends.” I also stopped doing some things that I felt were detrimental to my relationship with GOD. Things got much better. I attributed it to “my” cleansing efforts and felt others needed to do the same.

 

• I was “proud” of myself for turning “my” life around.
• I thought I had “arrived” at being holy.
• I judged those who were still struggling with sins “I” had overcome.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, addressed piety and self-pride. While the Law was extremely useful, it is not the “full and faithful model of the real things.” In fact, the Law was to be used to show how futile our efforts are to be clean. Traditions, and following the rules, would never ever cleanse sin.

 

My Observations:

• My efforts to be clean are similar to a full diaper.
• Only JESUS can make me clean because my thoughts are never on HIM.
• When I remember what JESUS did, I am also reminded that I need HIM daily.

 

Sin doesn’t go away because I act good from time to time. I mean, if I think my “good” efforts merit GOD doing something different, I am in a world of trouble. HE says “Your righteousness are like filthy rags.” I can never do or say anything that is “clean” to HIM because the Law is not the “real thing.”

 

JESUS is the real thing. HE took away my sin and declared me holy. Only through HIM am I seen as clean. HE makes my pitiful efforts righteous and enhances my words to draw people to HIM. I am glad JESUS did it all so I do not have to think I need to save the world.

 

Challenge

• What does the writer mean by “faint outline?”
• Have you ever been proud of yourself for not doing the same sin on a particular day?
• Will you stop looking at your own efforts to please GOD and know HE loves you dearly as much as HE can and HE is willing to live inside you with full love today?

Someone Has to Die

 

Someone Has to Die

Romans 9: I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— ² I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. ³ For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, ⁴ the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. ⁵ Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

 

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After I returned to attending church, I felt my life was getting better. I mean, the guilt was no longer there and I was now teaching people about GOD. I went back to visit the college I graduated from to see some of my “friends.”

 

“There is a party tonight” people gladly told me. They were proud to do so, because I was the one who used to throw the parties. I knew this was a code word for getting everyone drunk to have sex. “Should I go?” I pondered. I had to make a choice.

 

• There have been times when I wished I could convince people that CHRIST is the answer.
• There have been times when I wanted to tell people I have changed and hoped they could see a difference.
• There have been times when I desired my “friends” to be saved so perhaps, I needed to leave my old life and show a new one.

 

Paul expresses deep sadness over those who overlooked JESUS as the Messiah. He wished he could be the sacrifice who would be separated from GOD forever so all Jews would be saved. He knew this was impossible. Each person had to accept or reject JESUS as the Savior especially since HE chose this group to become a human through.

 

• GOD wants me to desire everyone I encounter to be saved.
• GOD wants me to make a choice to allow my desires to die so perhaps other people can live.
• GOD wants me to anguish over people who have decided to reject JESUS as the one and only Savior.

 

Someone had to die to pay for the sins of the world. Either it was all humans or one. JESUS took on the responsibility of every sin ever committed by every human. HE was blamed, convicted, and murdered for my sins. HE was raised form the dead and holds all power.

 

But what does that have to do with me? HE wants me to die to my old ways so someone else can live. No longer should I crave the old sinful life that seemed harmless, but was filled with pain and death. I am glad GOD helps me to lay down my old life to serve HIM.

 

• Do you anguish over your family’s relationship with JESUS?
• Do you want your neighbors and friends to believe in JESUS as their Savior?
• Are you willing to put your old life to the side so people can see JESUS through you today?

Putting Words in Mouths

Matthew 16: ²¹ From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

²² Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

²³ Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

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“You won’t die” were my words to the person I donated blood platelets to. I mean this was my desire and I truly meant it with the best intentions. BUT GOD had other intentions.

• Sometimes when I speak about GOD, humanity is mixed in.
• Sometimes when I talk about HIS power, my sinfulness is mixed in.
• Sometimes when I utter words about GOD, I place my desires over HIS supremacy.

“GOD won’t do this” or “GOD won’t do that” may be my hopes, but may not be quite true. Peter did not know GOD’s wonderful purpose of saving mankind. He saw JESUS as the next great leader who had some better parlor tricks than anyone else. His statement “YOU are the CHRIST” was doused by saying “YOU won’t die”.

Peter did not know GOD’s intention to save the world through HIS death and resurrection so he put words in HIS mouth.  

• GOD wants me to ask what to say before I speak.
• GOD wants me to tell the truth in love speaking only from what GOD has to say.
• GOD wants me to not be afraid to give the hard news of the reality of HIS plan.

Worry ensues when I go against GOD’s plan. When HE wants to “ruin” me and I don’t want to be ruined, I worry and perhaps put words in HIS mouth. HE has taken me down many times only to build me up better than before. Following GOD’s plan means I allow HIM to be supreme. I do not have to place human words in HIS mouth.

• Are you secretly trying to steer GOD?
• Do you find yourself trying to get your way by saying you are exercising faith but you are really exercising worry?
• Can you stop trying to manipulate the situation and allow GOD to transform you into something greater?