Leviticus 16 (Click on reference to read text)
"...and behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split." Matthew 27:51
You probably do not describe the sound of cloth ripping as beautiful... especially if you are a mother of small children! However, the sound of the veil being torn in two was the most beautiful sound of all time.
Leviticus 16 is a great reminder of the gift we have been given as we celebrate the Easter season. Before Christ and His sacrifice on the cross, we were not able to access the Father anytime we wanted (vs. 1-2), we could not come to God empty handed (vs. 3), we had to go through great ceremony before we could even enter His presence (vs. 4). Then, after all of this, only the high priest could enter the presence of God. In order to receive forgiveness of sins, a blood sacrifice of an animal, performed in a certain way and (vs. 11-28) at a certain time (vs. 29-31) had to be made.
Christ ripped open the veil. After His death on the cross, the Holy of Holies (symbolizing the presence of God) was available to everyone who called Jesus Lord. He became our high priest so that we could approach the throne of grace in confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Heb 4:16). In Christ's death on the cross, we find forgiveness of sins (Col 1:13-22), and no longer condemnation (Ro 8:1). Christ calls us to come, just as we are and He promises to give us rest (Matt 11:28).
Are you going through great ceremony to approach God? Are you hoping that you are doing things the right way in order to win his favor? Are you afraid to approach God whenever you want or need? Do you know rest? If not, you need to know Christ! He is the answer. We can offer Him nothing, yet He offers us everything (John 3:16, 2 Cor 5:21, Rom 5:8-9, Ro 10:9-10). You are imperfect (Ro 3:23) but Christ, in His perfect love, made the way for our salvation (John 14:6).
I am sure this is not new truth for you. It is not for me. However, in this time of year, as we are surrounded with bunnies, eggs and candy, let's remember the sound of cloth ripping. The sound of freedom. The sound of redemption. The veil was torn so that I can approach my Father, just as I am, and live in His presence.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
God Really Does Equip the Called...
Matthew 28:16-20 (click on reference to read text)
If you would have peeked inside my living room window on Thursday afternoon, you would have thought I had lost it. I was lying on the floor, face down and in tears. I had a rough couple of weeks and was slowly reaching a breaking point. God had called me to something and I was failing miserably. I was confident in the call, but not in the called (myself)! Then I read Matthew 28. Guess what? I was reminded it is not all up to me!
The calling the Lord had given the disciples was enormous. Big enough that without God it would have failed within the first year! They were to go and make disciples of all nations! However, the key lies in verse 19. "Baptize them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit." It was not up to the disciples, they just had to be obedient. The success of the work was all up to God!
The work that God has called you to is not riding on your shoulders either. He has given us specific promises in His Word regarding this truth. First, that God's power will bring to fruition what He has called us to (2 Thes 1:11-12). Second, He will give us the strength to carry out His will and the words to say (1 Peter 4:11). Third, He has given us everything we need for a godly life (2 Peter 1:3)!
It does not matter if your calling is being a missionary to an unreached people group, a minister, a business owner or a mother. Whatever He has called you to, He will equip you. After seeking my Father's face and listening to His Word, I got up from my living room floor and knew that I was no longer walking alone. I had the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit on my side, and they were going to be victorious!
If you would have peeked inside my living room window on Thursday afternoon, you would have thought I had lost it. I was lying on the floor, face down and in tears. I had a rough couple of weeks and was slowly reaching a breaking point. God had called me to something and I was failing miserably. I was confident in the call, but not in the called (myself)! Then I read Matthew 28. Guess what? I was reminded it is not all up to me!
The calling the Lord had given the disciples was enormous. Big enough that without God it would have failed within the first year! They were to go and make disciples of all nations! However, the key lies in verse 19. "Baptize them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit." It was not up to the disciples, they just had to be obedient. The success of the work was all up to God!
The work that God has called you to is not riding on your shoulders either. He has given us specific promises in His Word regarding this truth. First, that God's power will bring to fruition what He has called us to (2 Thes 1:11-12). Second, He will give us the strength to carry out His will and the words to say (1 Peter 4:11). Third, He has given us everything we need for a godly life (2 Peter 1:3)!
It does not matter if your calling is being a missionary to an unreached people group, a minister, a business owner or a mother. Whatever He has called you to, He will equip you. After seeking my Father's face and listening to His Word, I got up from my living room floor and knew that I was no longer walking alone. I had the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit on my side, and they were going to be victorious!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Stuck with the Flinstones...
Hebrews 5:11-14 (Click on reference to read text)
My kids are really into bike riding these days. My oldest puts the pedal to the medal and pumps her little legs as fast as she can. Not her brother. The pedals are a little too hard for my baby to figure out, so he pushes himself with his little legs. He doesn't want to put in the time to learn to work the pedals, but if he would, he would get the benefit and exhilaration of really going fast!
In many ways, we act the same way in Bible study that my little buddy does when riding a bike. Studying the Word can be hard, it takes time, it takes effort and prayer. So instead of seeking out the Lord ourselves, we will often run to a devotional book, a sermon, or a Bible study leader. I am not saying it is bad to listen to sermons and read devotionals. Both routes we take (personal Bible Study vs. Devotionals) we are growing spiritually, but exclusively taking the second route will only take us so far.
Paul describes this scenario in Hebrews 5 through the comparison of milk and solid food. Milk or baby food is already broken down to a simple and easily digestible form. When we choose to always go to a devotional book or sermon, we are choosing to eat off the work of the writer. They have already done the chewing on the Word, breaking down the scriptures, and putting it into an easily digestible nugget for us to devour.
God wants you to feel His presence. To understand the exhilaration of learning about Him through His Word. He desires us to chew on His word, meditate on it and understand more about Him.
My little buddy is technically riding a bike, even though he is only really pushing himself along. I hope before too long he will be willing to put in the work to learn to pedal so he can really understand the joy of riding a bike. May that be our prayer spiritually as well. May we not always go to a devotional or depend upon a Sermon to get a Word from the Lord. May we get on the bike, put our feet on the pedals and go. We may plod along at first, but I promise, before long we will be flying along in our knowledge of Him!
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13
My kids are really into bike riding these days. My oldest puts the pedal to the medal and pumps her little legs as fast as she can. Not her brother. The pedals are a little too hard for my baby to figure out, so he pushes himself with his little legs. He doesn't want to put in the time to learn to work the pedals, but if he would, he would get the benefit and exhilaration of really going fast!
In many ways, we act the same way in Bible study that my little buddy does when riding a bike. Studying the Word can be hard, it takes time, it takes effort and prayer. So instead of seeking out the Lord ourselves, we will often run to a devotional book, a sermon, or a Bible study leader. I am not saying it is bad to listen to sermons and read devotionals. Both routes we take (personal Bible Study vs. Devotionals) we are growing spiritually, but exclusively taking the second route will only take us so far.
Paul describes this scenario in Hebrews 5 through the comparison of milk and solid food. Milk or baby food is already broken down to a simple and easily digestible form. When we choose to always go to a devotional book or sermon, we are choosing to eat off the work of the writer. They have already done the chewing on the Word, breaking down the scriptures, and putting it into an easily digestible nugget for us to devour.
God wants you to feel His presence. To understand the exhilaration of learning about Him through His Word. He desires us to chew on His word, meditate on it and understand more about Him.
My little buddy is technically riding a bike, even though he is only really pushing himself along. I hope before too long he will be willing to put in the work to learn to pedal so he can really understand the joy of riding a bike. May that be our prayer spiritually as well. May we not always go to a devotional or depend upon a Sermon to get a Word from the Lord. May we get on the bike, put our feet on the pedals and go. We may plod along at first, but I promise, before long we will be flying along in our knowledge of Him!
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13
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