July 13 - He Who Promised is Faithful

 Read today’s texts first: Isaiah 15-18; Hebrews 10

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Most of God’s promises are better understood
from an eternal perspective. 

A recent chapel at Buchanan focused on this passage:  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful (10:23). There are more than 8,800 promises in the Bible, 85% of them from God to His people. But they can be confusing. When you are addressing seniors who are suffering from various chronic physical and mental conditions, your context must extend beyond this very temporary life on earth. Most of God’s promises are better understood from an eternal perspective (Heb. 11:13-16).

While I was reading through these passages and reflecting on that recent chapel, Jan was having her own church service via TV. She was listening to a popular prosperity teacher who bragged about God using him even though he had no seminary training, and then promptly took some promises of healing out of context. Maybe a course or two on hermeneutics might have helped him, his congregation, and TV audience avoid a sense of spiritual disillusionment the next time they experience a season of suffering.

During that chapel service we sang two classic hymns with very different back stories. The first was written by Kelso Carter, the epitome of real success. He could do it all: excellent student, star athlete, coach, teacher, pastor, musician, song writer, and medical doctor. His biggest challenge was an incurable heart condition, but after memorizing and quoting God’s promises on healing he was dramatically healed. His song “Standing on the Promises” came out of that miracle.

The other hymn was written by Thomas Chisholm, a very ordinary man born in a humble log cabin in the back woods of Kentucky. He too tried ministry as a career, but lasted only a year. He suffered from a chronic illness his entire life, selling insurance when he could to barely survive financially. Most of his senior years were spent in a nursing home in New Jersey. Among the few songs he wrote was one of my favourite hymns, “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”

“Lord, I will hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful, to sustain us during this temporary testing ground on earth and on to our promised destination in the life to come.”

July 12 - Pomp and Circumstance

 Read today’s texts first: Isaiah 11-14; Hebrews 9

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

The only Pomp with good Circumstances will be at
God’s coronation, when we lay our crowns at His feet. 

It was an ongoing debate at PLBC every graduation: some of our staff liked the sound of “Pomp and Circumstance” playing while our grads marched down the centre aisle. I always contended for a hymn like “Great is Thy Faithfulness;” there should be no pomp when students step into a life of ministry. We wouldn’t want them to face the circumstances of a pompous life.

Satan is the perfect, or should I say imperfect, illustration. In a rare passage (one of two, the other being Ezekiel 28), we learn about Lucifer (“Morning Star”), the archangel who was cast out of heaven (what started as a denouncement of the King of Tyre, a mere man, turns into a double prophecy, with a layer applying to a heavenly being). Satan’s pomp sent him to hell (14:11). Ours will lead to the same circumstance.

Satan was expelled from God’s presence because of his pride. He didn’t want to serve God; he wanted to be God (14:12-15). Solomon warned us: Pride goes before destruction; a haughty spirit before a fall (Prov. 16:18). Lucifer, aka. Satan, was the classic example. The captivity of Israel during the height of their arrogance, while Isaiah was prophesying, is another.

In glorious contrast, our reading in Hebrews offers the opposite circumstances for those who humbly follow behind Christ's selfless sacrifice.  Instead of being cast out of His presence, we who were on the outside looking in, are invited to come boldly before His throne. In fact, the curtain that once separated ordinary people from entering the Holy of Holies, was torn in two after Jesus became the final, perfect sacrifice (Mat. 25:51,52).

We get to it tomorrow, but here’s a sneak preview: Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith (10:19-22).

“Lord, the only pomp with good circumstances will be Your coronation, when I get to lay any crowns I may have earned in this life at Your feet (Rev. 4:10).”

July 11 - Great Government

 Read today’s texts first: Isaiah 8-10; Hebrews 8

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Trying to modify behaviour through reward and
punishment doesn’t work - Jesus introduced life-change based on transformation, not conformation. 

Just typing the above title gives me a warm feeling. While I’ve always tried to speak well of our human governments (complaining is a downer), the truth is, they are flawed! Criticizing government provides employment for newspaper and media outlets and fodder for lunchroom conversation. But what do we expect when we elect sinners to govern other sinners?

The day is coming, and from what I can see very soon, when Jesus will return. As sure as we are about His first arrival on earth (those who are unsure are ignorant of the obvious - see yesterday’s blog), we can be equally confident in His second coming. The prophesies continue in our reading today:  For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace  (9:6,7).

Our Hebrews reading helps us understand why this new government will be so great. We will no longer have to rely on outward compliance with written laws. Trying to modify behaviour through reward and punishment doesn’t work very well, in parenting young children or governing immature adults. But Jesus introduced a whole new covenant, life-change based on transformation, not conformation.

“This is the covenant I will make with [my people] after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbour, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear (8:10-13).

“Lord, knowing You personally makes all the difference. Knowing Your blood was shed to make this new covenant possible, that You love me that much, means I can trust You to rule in my life!”

July 10 - Jesus: Accept No Substitutes

 Read today’s texts first: Micah 5-7; Hebrews 7

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life -
accept no substitutes. 

I just saw this title on a church sign and it ties in beautifully to our readings today. It also confirmed why I’m glad I didn’t pursue chaplaincy in a secular environment. When I first began to explore part-time chaplaincy as a possible retirement ministry, I discovered secular positions paid well but the cost of compromising my faith was too high. There is nothing more gratifying than being paid to talk about Jesus all day with staff, residents and family members. He is the Messiah, the Son of God, the Way, the Truth and the Life. When people’s eternal destination is on the line, we can accept no substitutes.

I recently spoke in chapel from Hebrews 10:23, “He who promised is faithful.” Then we defended that verse with the evidence of fulfilled messianic promises. Over 300 detailed prophesies came to pass in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Micah 5:2 is one of these remarkable verses, written 700 years before Jesus was born: But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.

Not only did Micah predict the town where Jesus would be born, but he described his existence as eternal, with no beginning, a reference to God being His Father. This is the qualifier the writer of Hebrews uses to explain His role as our High Priest: For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek”.... because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood (7:14-24).

“Lord, I can come to the Father through You, my High Priest. You proved who You are to the world, and to me personally. I will accept no substitutes!” 

July 9 - Pity the Prodigals

 Read today’s texts first: Micah 1-4; Hebrews 6

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

We often have to reach rock bottom
before we reach up to God again for help! 

As we read through the spiritual decline of Israel and the harsh words in Hebrews about apostasy, it becomes clear: it just might be better to be a pagan than a prodigal, at least in the short run. Those who don’t believe in God seem to struggle less with guilt and shame. The Bible says their consciences are “seared” (1 Tim. 4:2) – they’re basically numb. Recent readings in the psalms suggest that the wicked may also be more prosperous (73:3-12).

Let’s face it, those who have experienced the goodness of God and then walk away know what they’re missing. On top of that, they have people praying for them, prophets warning them, and God constantly trying to humble them to bring them to repentance. When we become arrogant and think we know better than God, we often have to reach rock bottom before we reach up to God again for help!

Remember the pig slop moment in the story Jesus told about the prodigal son (Luke 15:13-17). God disciplines those He loves, especially those who once loved Him (Heb. 12:6,7).  It is hard for parents to watch their prodigals suffer, but it is an important part of the process. It’s a good indication that God is answering our prayers. It may just get worse before it gets better, but don’t stop praying. The first three chapters of Micah seem pretty bleak but Israel and Judah both needed to be taken into captivity before they would ask God to set them free.

The promise in chapter four may encourage both the prodigals and their parents: “In that day,” declares the Lord, “I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief. I will make the lame a remnant, those driven away a strong nation.”  The Lord will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever....now many nations are gathered against you. They say, “Let her be defiled, let our eyes gloat over Zion!” But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan (4:6,7,11,12).

“Lord, You do indeed have a plan for Your prodigals and we will never give in or give up praying for Your plan to prevail.”

July 8 - Meat and Potatoes

 Read today’s texts first: Hosea 13,14; Psalms 100, 102; Hebrews 5

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Bottle-fed Christians keep sinning
because they think and act like babies.

Whoever wrote Hebrews wasn’t afraid of offending his readers. Of course we know the Holy Spirit inspired the message, but I believe the actual choice of words and the style of writing reflects the personality of the human author. To me it sounds like Paul, because he wasn’t always warm and fuzzy, but who knows, Apollos, Luke, Barnabas, or Priscilla (all possible authors) may have been equally straight forward. The possibly offensive passage I’m referring to in today’s reading is this:

There is much we have to say about this matter, but it is hard to explain to you, because you are so slow to understand. There has been enough time for you to be teachers - yet you still need someone to teach you the first lessons of God's message. Instead of eating solid food, you still have to drink milk. Anyone who has to drink milk is still a child, without any experience in the matter of right and wrong. Solid food, on the other hand, is for adults, who through practice are able to distinguish between good and evil (5:11-14).

My short paraphrase: “Grow up - you’re like 30 year olds still drinking milk from a bottle instead of fixing yourself some meat and potatoes” (or to accommodate the health conscious, some raw spinach and organic skinless chicken braised in coconut oil).

What follows, which fits the solid food analogy, is a teaching on the priestly role of Jesus. He appeared on earth after the order of Melchizedek. The short, TV dinner explanation is Jesus wasn’t really of Hebrew lineage. Yes, technically He fulfilled the promise that He would come “from” the tribe of Judah, but in reality, He was born of a virgin, from the very seed of God. Like the image of Melchizedek, Jesus was not from around here (7:3). This is important, solid food stuff because God Himself solved our sin problem, once and for all. Bottle-fed Christians keep sinning because they think and act like babies. The rebellious Israelites in Hosea’s day and the immature Jews among the readers of Hebrews needed to grow up and acknowledge God’s redemptive intervention.

“Lord, sometimes I need to hear this strong message too. I tend to make excuses for my sin and in doing so, fail to acknowledge the perfect work of my High Priest. It’s time to grow up, dig deep into Your Word, and to eat and act like a man of God!”

July 7 - Faultless to Stand Before His Throne

Read today’s texts first: Hosea 10,11,12; Psalms 73; Hebrews 4

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

The arrogant will face God the Judge; the humble will receive mercy from our compassionate High Priest. 

Recently at Buchanan, we sang the wonderful hymn “The Solid Rock,” which includes the line I chose as the title of today’s journal entry. Coincidentally, all three readings today talk about God’s judgment, but with the hope of a reprieve.

In today’s psalm, Asaph is complaining that the wicked seem to be faring better than the godly, himself included. They are prospering, in good health, with no worries, no troubles, arrogantly mocking God. Asaph, on the other hand, feels punished every morning and plagued all day (73:2-14).  That is until he says, I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny (73:17). After receiving reassurance from God, he says, as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds (73:28).

The same thing is being said by the Lord through Hosea. Israel and Ephraim are flaunting their wealth in God’s face (13:8). Guess what, Hebrews, same thing, reference to Israel hardening their hearts, saying they don’t need God. But the day of reckoning is promised in both accounts. In the short run it may not always seem profitable to obey God, but keep your eyes on the finish line. The righteous will prevail; God is ultimately just.

I love the last two paragraphs in our Hebrews reading. First, God’s Word is sharp, cutting away the things we do for the wrong reasons. There is no possibility of hiding our actions or our motives from God. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account (4:13).

Just as we start to cower in fear before God the Judge, knowing full well none of us is worthy, we see Jesus, our merciful High Priest, who has been through everything we’ve been through, understanding us completely. We are encouraged to approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (4:18).

The arrogant will face God the Judge; the humble will receive mercy from our compassionate High Priest. “Lord, thank You that this promise is true of me: At one time you were far away from God and were his enemies because of the evil things you did and thought. But now, by means of the physical death of his Son, God has made you his friends, in order to bring you, holy, pure, and faultless, into his presence (Col. 1:21,22).”