perfect guarantee

This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.

Hebrews 7:22-24

Under the old covenant of the Law, the priests served as the mediating “go between” so that humanity’s sin could be atoned. The priests offered sacrifices that atoned for the sin of God’s covenant people, the Jews, and kept things right between sinnners and a holy God. But the priests themselves were afflicted by sin and its curse, death. So there were many because they died. In this way, it still “felt” like sin had the upper hand.

But not so now because Jesus Who lives forever as the One Who guarantees a better, new covenant now before God, has made it all much better. The covenant isn’t just restricted to one ethnic group, but now extends to all people. His death has forever been the perfect sacrifice. His priesthood is now the better, perfect atonement for all sin. The ability for us to know forgiveness, and to come before a holy God is permanently secured by Jesus and not dependent on daily work of men who are themselves under the same curse of sin. It is all so much better! Because we have Jesus and by faith trust in Him, we have freedom to love and worship God. It is beautiful... forever!

Thank You, Jesus, for being the perfector guarantor of a new freedom in relationship to God. I am forgiven... always. I am free... into eternity. I am forever made new in You! Amen

The sweetness of suffering

Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.

Hebrews 5:8

Suffering had a certain positive effect on Jesus. Suffering then is not just the result of wrong in this world, because Jesus was sinless and did no wrong. Jesus never did anything that brought the consequence of suffering as a deserved correction. But He did learn obedience through what He suffered. And I’m not sure we can fully appreciate the magnitude of exactly what that means for the Son of God to learn obedience through suffering.

I think the easiest way we can begin to see this in Jesus is when the gospels give us the accounts of His desert temptation (see Matthew 4 and Luke 4). There we see Him do battle with the biggest temptations Satan could offer Him. Things so big and glorious in our eyes that we would succumb to them in an instant I’m afraid. And Jesus obeyed the Father through the strength of God’s Word without fail in every temptation. He suffered there in the wilderness as He fasted 40 days in preparation for His ministry. And He obeyed when He found scriptural resolve in refusing the devil’s allurements. We get a sense of the extreme magnitude of the battle Jesus won through obedience when we see that “the angels ministered to Him” at the close of the temptation. This was epic suffering and an epic win.

If Jesus learned to obey God in suffering, especially in temptation, how much more should I look for the positive growth opportunities in my difficulties and hardships? If life was hard for Jesus, should I expect any better as His disciple? Suffering then can be a sweet moment to grow and to change. A lifetime of suffering can lead me closer to the heart of my Lord. Suffering helps (and does not hinder) Christians to be like Jesus.

The greatness of my King

But of the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,

the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.

You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;

therefore God, your God, has anointed you

with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”

Hebrews 1:8-9

We are about a week late with Christmas decorating, but last night started our family celebrations with the placing of our Christmas tree. Celebrating the gift of Jesus is always a high point of the year. Reading Hebrews now as we begin it is even better. This baby in the manger is the Son Who is superior... Lord of all!

The book of Hebrews shows us that the king born in Bethlehem is forever and always has been God, ruling from an eternal throne with justice, fairness, and all uprightness. Jesus loves righteousness, hates wickedness, and is anointed by God the Father beyond any other power or authority. He is God, anointed by God, to rule over us gladly in perfect peace. What a gift!

Jesus, You are great. You are worthy, always, of my worship and praise. I bow to You, my King, and will live forever under Your rule! Amen

choices

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

2 Timothy 2:22

Every day

I awake

to make

choices.

Choices

regarding

what I do

what I say

how I’ll act

how I’ll be.

In some way

I confess

I reassess

my choices.

Fleeing

selfish passions

in my deeds

with my words

through my actions

I move on.

Help me, Lord

to pursue

just You

in my choices.

I choose to follow Jesus.

I choose to call on the Lord.

I choose a pure heart.

Amen

providing for family

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1 Timothy 5:8

The apostle Paul gave this observation to Timothy in the context of providing careful instructions for how the church can care for the physical needs of indigent widows. In the first century, when a husband died and family property was divided, often the widow was left with little to nothing. The church immediately stepped into this gaping need very early in church history to provide for the poor and the grieving.

But Paul made it clear that the first avenue of assistance was family. The church was to identify and encourage ways that family can help first. Adult children should always honor their parents. This included them being the first line of care for widows. Any family that refused to help a widow among them was denying the Christian faith as Paul taught it. The obligation to help the elderly is very, very Christian. We cannot abandon family to the world as they age and become an “inconvenience” to our selfishness.

This is a ministry that must still engage the 21st century church, as aging Baby Boomers care for elderly parents, and as they age and eventually need care themselves. My wife and I know this. We know scores of our friends in the same situation. Honoring the aged is one of the best things we must do as we advance the gospel in our generation.

the noble task

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.

1 Timothy 1:3

For thirty years now I have devoted myself to aspiring to this “noble task” of serving the church as an elder/overseer/pastor. And Paul’s words ring so true. I thought I knew what I was getting into that Sunday in 1988 when the little Baptist congregation I served convened an ordination council. I had my doctrinal statement written and a philosophy of ministry paper to be examined by worthy men I respected for their wisdom, experience, and integrity.

Yet the one thing that has most marked my days of ministry in this noble task was really never brought up in ordination. That day to day backbone of ministry has been the care ministry of bearing burdens with people I have learned to love. Three decades of ministry later, I’ve cared a lot, cried a lot, shared joys and heartaches, been profoundly disappointed when sin will not be forsaken, glimpsed eternity among the saints and fallen hard into the arms of Jesus with many of the people I’ve been called to serve. Pastors pray and counsel and love and give lots of time away. It is a joy and it is hard work. I think it is the greatest of privileges and I have come to deeply appreciate what I do.

On any given Sunday I look at a church made of individuals and families... many of whom I have shared personal struggles and great private victories with as their pastor and friend. I see not faces, but circumstances. I know things perhaps no one else may know but God Himself. I feel the heart of the Great Shepherd for His Flock, even though I myself sometimes selfishly wish to not have to know what I know or do what I do. I double down in those moments on letting Jesus lead me so I can lead them. It brings such a feeling... I can’t really adequately describe it. It is very much a noble task.

great mercy to me

But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

1 Timothy 1:16

Paul was grateful for the mercy he found in the forgiving love of Jesus because when he called himself “the foremost”, what he meant was that he was at the top of the line of sinners (see 1 Timothy 1:15). Paul was forgiven of much. Before his conversion, he worked against the gospel. He so hated Jesus that he captured and killed Christians (see Acts 7:58; 8:1; 9:1-2).

Paul was a great sinner who was forgiven of much. He knew the tender mercy of Jesus. He loved Jesus Christ for being patient enough to save even him. He was grateful that God used him though he had once tried to destroy Christ’s work. God now worked in Paul through Christ to bring others to eternal life and to build His Church.

Every sinner, including me especially, receives mercy so that Christ might show His patience and love so that others may have eternal life. I may have responded to the gospel as a child, but even then, I received great mercy. I know this because now, nearly half a century later, I am aware how Jesus saves great sinners like me because the struggle is very real. 

Thank You, Jesus, for Your mercy and perfect patience with a sinner like me. You have shown me great mercy and always will. May I know it so that others might know You.

Amen