Special Announcement

No Devotionals for at least two days this week.

I have a hectic schedule ahead of me this week, so I will not be able to take the time to send out my devotionals to the lists I have. I am sorry to skip like this. I will have my meditations as always, but unfortunately, I will not have the time to write them out and share them. I appreciate your patience and understanding.

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Hindering Attachments

Have you ever seen those video reels of trucks with high loads trying to go under bridges lacking the height to accommodate?

I worked for U-Haul for a time as a lot foreman when I was around 18 years of age. I was asked to go to Burger King to get everyone's lunch, but all I had to get there was a motorcycle. So, they let me take a U-Haul truck. I ordered from the drive-through, and when I drove around for pickup, I noticed a canopy. However, I didn't realize the truck wouldn't fit under it until I got it stuck underneath it while trying to pull through. The Burger King manager was not very pleased with me, nor was my boss when he got the news.

I would need a smaller vehicle to get through that drive-through freely.

Mark 10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

It is said that there was a gate in Jerusalem called the eye of the needle. A camel could only get through it if they unloaded first. It would not make it through with all its packs onboard. In this metaphor, Jesus was speaking of the difficulty someone has in letting go of something they hold dear, and have put their trust in; in this case, it is money.

Have you ever noticed how hard it can be to say goodbye to something that holds real sentimental value or a profound nostalgic sense of worth? Especially if it was something you trusted and thought to be dependable.

When my girls and firstborn son were little, we had an old Oldsmobile Delta 88 that was yellow. I had to take my wife to the hospital to have our fourth child, our youngest son, and while there, a record-breaking blizzard in March hit our area. I had just reworked the heads on that car and had only filled it with water to test it before heading out to the hospital. I had no idea we would get a blizzard. Well, the engine block froze and cracked horizontally. The car engine was useless. As the car hauler drove away with that car to scrap it, my kids were in the doorway of our home, with tears in their eyes. They didn't want to let it go. To them, that was a reliable and safe car, and they wanted to keep it.

People can be this way with old religious systems. It's like having a comfortable old pair of jeans full of holes. They just want to hang on to them. This has been the case when it comes to the need for all to shed the Old Covenant and its laws and systems. Some people are so comfortable with it and nostalgic about it that they just do not want to let it go.

It is a fact that you cannot put on a new pair of jeans over an old pair and be comfortable.

Hebrews 8:13 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

To enjoy the full benefits of the New Covenant, where all the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ, one must let go of the ministry of death, which is the law. The two will not go together. There must be a willingness to let go of the hindering attachment one has to the law if they wish to prosper in the New Covenant life. We are called to put all our trust in the finished work of Christ at the cross.

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Good Things

Who doesn't like the promise of good things to come?

This is especially true when a person has been in a difficult situation or faced challenging times.

There's a promise of good things to come through a better High Priest.

Hebrews 9:11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

I love how the letter to the Hebrews uses words like 'greater,' 'better,' 'more perfect,' and 'more excellent.'

Here, we find that Good Things to Come is the ministry of the Priesthood of Jesus. After all, He is ministering in a greater tabernacle not made with hands. Think on that for just a moment. Not made with hands. Not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves.

What did He obtain with His own blood? Eternal redemption!

If the blood of animals sacrificed worked to purge the consciences of those they were offered on behalf of, and purified the flesh, how much more will the blood of Jesus.....?

What can the blood of Jesus do for our consciences? Cleanse them from dead works!

Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant, by His death, which was necessary to pay for the transgressions under the first covenant. Now we who are called receive the promise of the eternal inheritance! The new covenant is a covenant of good things!

Have you tapped into the good things of the new covenant? I trust you have and will continue to do so. There truly is nothing and no one better than Jesus and what He offers to those who are His.

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An Eternal Priesthood

Every High Priest under the Old Covenant eventually died. Therefore, a new one had to be appointed whenever death visited.

All of the Old Covenant High priests were of the tribe of Levi. It began with Aaron. Jesus, however, was of the tribe of Judah. He is the only High Priest from that tribe, and unlike all the other High Priests, Jesus is a High Priest forever, since He lives forever.

Moreover, Jesus ministers at the altar in heaven itself, where the real mercy seat resides, and Jesus did not offer the blood of an earthly lamb; He offered His own blood to atone for our sins past, present, and future. There will never be a need for another sacrifice, nor will there ever be a need for another earthly High Priest.

That is why it says in the letter to the Hebrews,

Hebrews 7:23 Also, there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore, He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

You and I, who believe now, have a High Priest who lives to intercede on our behalf. Jesus is our forever mediator and High Priest. That word, intercession, is very important.

Intercession means Jesus is always taking a position with the Father that is in favor of us. He is continually looking out for our good and seeking our advancement. He can do this because His blood is a better blood, and His sacrifice of Himself is a better sacrifice that is forever. His sacrifice and blood were a once-and-for-all reality. He need not offer Himself over and over again. One time was enough for all time.

Hebrews 9:11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Only an eternal sacrifice and eternal Priesthood can provide an eternal redemption. Jesus did it all! More than that, His offering of Himself settles the matter of our sanctification.

Hebrews 10:10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

I praise Jesus for His eternal Priesthood and perfect sacrifice of Himself. I thank Him for a better blood that He offered and sprinkled on the real mercy seat in heaven. I thank Him for the eternal hope He has given to all who come to God through Him.

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A Sympathizing High Priest

Sympathize means to commiserate, have compassion, or be touched with a feeling of sympathy.

In essence, it is feeling the effects of something along with another, even though you were not actually involved, and it did not happen to you personally.

As humans, we often express this when we say to someone we're sorry as they tell us of how they might be suffering or going through a trial or difficulty, and then are moved to try to help them in some way, especially when a person is in a relationship with us.

In the letter to the Hebrews, the Holy Spirit prompted the writer to discuss entering a rest in chapter four, and then begins to cover the priestly ministry of Christ, from the end of chapter four through to chapter eight. With so much attention being dedicated to the priestly ministry of Jesus, I tend to think it must be of some importance. My focus today is on what is spoken concerning him at the end of Chapter Four.

Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

In these passages, we find a description of the sort of High Priest our Jesus is. We see He has passed through the heavens, meaning He is ministering in a more effective place than any holy sight here on this earth. For this reason, we should always maintain a good confession of knowing Him.

We also discover that Jesus is not distant from what we are going through. He feels what we feel, and He is very familiar with the challenges and temptations we deal with in this life. He understands the weakness of our flesh, and He has compassion on us. He, too, was tempted in His flesh, but He never sinned. He understands the battles we face. It moves Him in His feelings towards us. It doesn't alienate us from Him. He doesn't get angry and insists we get it together. He desires that we come to Him and ask Him for His help. His compassion motivates him to aid us actively.

When we understand this by the revelation of who He is and what He is truly like, we are not hesitant to come boldly to His throne of grace. We approach knowing that we will meet with His mercy (Compassion and willingness to help, although in our flesh we would not deserve such). We expect to receive mercy from Him and be gifted with His favor in our situation, which will empower us to move forward in His wisdom. It can also cause others to be activated to favor us and assist us according to His leading in them regarding us. Until we are convinced that in Jesus we have a sympathizing High Priest who intends to do us good, will we truly approach His throne of grace with boldness? I encourage you today to see Jesus as He really is, according to the Scriptures, and change your mind concerning Him so you can take full advantage of everything He offers you as a result of coming to Him.

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Something Better

I don't know many people who wouldn't like something better.

What person, if they are driving an old car that is constantly breaking down, would refuse a new one?

If your clothes were tattered and worn out, would you refuse new ones?

People make choices regarding something better almost every day of their lives. The idea of improving is quite popular.

Guess what? God is into improving things with something better.

Hebrews 7:11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning the priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. 17 For He testifies: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” 18 For on the one hand, there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Hebrews 7:23 Also, there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore, He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

God wanted to improve on the priestly ministry by establishing a High Priest in the heavenlies where the real tabernacle with the real mercy seat exists. A High Priest who is flawless and forever, and could secure our position of relationship with God forever. To do this, a Better Covenant had to come that would replace the law and its priesthood once and for all.

Hebrews 8:6 But now He (Jesus) has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

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Time

Time is something we are familiar with, but in many cases, we struggle to use it wisely consistently.

Time once spent cannot be recovered. When it comes to time, you have the present moment and what is coming up next; you cannot go backwards.

Your bank account of time only contains what has not yet been drawn out. I am drawing out of mine right now, just as you are.

Did you know that time is said to be the only currency of heaven?

God is not subject to time as He lives outside the bounds of it. Only we who live here on earth are bound to time. Time is precious and should be valued. It may seem like it will never run out, but that is not the case. This is why the Scriptures speak of it in the way that they do.

Ephesians 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

You can invest your time and get a return on it. When we invest our time in knowing and doing the will of the Lord, we are storing up treasure in heaven. It is akin to putting aside money for retirement when our working days end and we take a break from our labors to rest.

I find it interesting how, when talking of time in the Scriptures, wisdom is always a part of the consideration.

Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

I love how an awareness of the importance of time is meant to encourage us to walk in wisdom towards those who have yet to come to know Jesus, and affect how we speak to them.

We do not want to waste our time being frivolous and living without purpose, nor should we wish to waste it on treating others poorly. Our use of time is always an investment opportunity.

Have you ever asked yourself how you are using your time? How will you spend your time today?

Time is like a seed you can sow. The law of sowing and reaping applies. If you sow a seed of corn, it grows into a corn stalk with ears of corn. You started with one seed, but you ended with exponentially more seeds because each ear of corn is loaded with corn kernels, which can become seeds. I encourage you to invest your time wisely today and always. Invest it in loving others whenever you get the chance to do so. Invest in sharing the gospel with others whenever you get the chance. Invest it in spending some time with Jesus undistracted.

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Christ Reigns

To reign means to be the King, the highest in authority, the uncontested leader of a kingdom. Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus has established His kingdom on earth, which is called the church.

Two things to note here. A King has a throne, and He will also have a scepter.

A throne is a symbol of power, serving as the seat of a ruler.

A scepter is a staff or rod carried by a ruler as a symbol of sovereignty.

Hebrews 1:8 But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.

This quote was taken from the Psalmist, who prophesied many generations earlier regarding the Messiah.

Psalm 45:6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.

Jesus came as a man and kept the law perfectly. Being born of a virgin, He was without sin, just as Adam was without sin before the fall. However, unlike the first Adam, who disobeyed, Jesus obeyed His Father perfectly; thus, He is also referred to as the last Adam.

Hebrews 1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore, God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

Jesus loved His relationship with the Father more than He loved having His own way according to the flesh. Thus, even though He was tempted in all the ways we are tempted, He never sinned.

Hebrews 2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

In other words, Jesus understands us better than we understand ourselves, and He has compassion for us. The way that Jesus rules His kingdom is by righteousness. In other words, Jesus rules His kingdom through relationship.

Jesus remained faithful to the Father and was obedient, even to the point of death on a cross, where He paid in full for our sins, past, present, and future. As one who would become King, He placed a high value on us and the idea of having a relationship with us. He desired to go through what we go through to identify with us and then make a way for us.

There is a warmth to His rule and reign, not a coldness of separation and abuse. It would be beneficial for us all to recall what the Psalmist wrote.

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Jesus rules and reigns not as an abusive King, but rather as a gracious and loving King who enjoys knowing and being in relationship with those who are in His kingdom. More than that, He also desires that we be in relationship with His Father with the same warmth of affection, compassion, and grace. Let's give Him the praise He is due because Christ reigns!

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Minister Of What?

2Corinthians 3:4 And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious. 12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— 13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For, until this day, the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.

The goal of New Covenant preaching is to bring those listening out from under the veil that exists until one is brought by grace through faith to their position in Christ.

Everything the New Covenant has to offer is received by faith and acted in faith. The beauty of that reality is that all the promises of God are now yes and amen, in Christ.

When one changes their position by coming to Christ and begins to realize their position in Christ, identifying with being His in the way the Scriptures truly teach it, they walk in a glory unparalleled by any other glory. Not even the glory that filled the temple in Solomon's time can compare with the ever-increasing glory of the New Covenant.

This incredible New Covenant glory is not received and activated by our many prayers and sacrificial works. It is ours for the experiencing, the more we understand and believe the truth about being in Christ.

Being a minister of the letter brings death to others. It places the focus on us and what we do to gain, thereby distracting our attention from Christ and what He has done to change our position and grant us new life. Life flows only in Christ. The law will never be able to offer life.

The New Covenant is a Spirit covenant in that it alone offers us the promise of the Holy Spirit to come and dwell in us as well as overflow us with power, comfort, joy, and peace. He is the fulfillment of Jesus' promise never to leave us nor forsake us. The law is the ministry of condemnation, exposing the many reasons we deserve judgment and punishment according to a fallen nature. The New Covenant truth reveals how we have been brought near and even hidden with Christ in God. Beloved as precious and dear children, and now able to refer to God as Abba Father.

Once again, here we find Paul as an apostle of Jesus, making it clear that he is not ministering a mixture and calling it the gospel. A clear distinction is made, defining the difference between New Covenant ministry and mixture-based ministry. When it comes to the New Covenant, it is not a both/and approach regarding the covenants; it is an either/or. Being a sufficient minister of the New Covenant is what is most needed in these last days, and it is the kind of ministry God calls forth.

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Dwell

There are various applications for the word 'dwell'. I plan to apply it to our thought life.

What we allow our souls to dwell on matters. One of Jesus' apostles, named John the Beloved, understood this. He wrote the following,

3John 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

The word prosper as it is used here means to succeed. It can mean success in business, travel, or achieving a goal. The word prospers shares the same meaning. The word "health" refers to physical and emotional well-being, as well as a state of security.

So what is it that we should allow our souls to dwell on in order to experience this of which John spoke?

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

I love meditating on this passage because it reveals a hidden gem of truth regarding the effect of right dwelling.

First, we should consider the word "Let." This encourages us to allow and give permission. Have you ever considered the idea that any and every thought you have ever dwelled on in your soul had to receive permission from you to do so?

Have you also noticed that your soul has become conditioned over time to welcome some thoughts more readily than others?

This reveals to me that when it comes to what we dwell on in our soul, we can choose to be more intentional if we desire a better condition of our soul. In the case of the passage from Colossians, we can dwell on the word of Christ. Notice it is the word of Christ, not the words of Christ.

The way I understand this is that I am to allow the word concerning Christ to dwell in me richly in all wisdom. I am to allow it to dwell in me to the degree that it begins to produce an outcome. It overflows to the degree that I begin to speak of it to teach and admonish others in the form of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs that are an outflow of the grace that has made it's home in my heart and now desires to sing to the Lord in gratitude for all that He has done.

Let me explain it this way: if I am trying to fill a pitcher with water but the pitcher keeps moving around, rather than dwelling in one place, it will be difficult to fill it to the point of overflow. Therefore, the idea of dwelling means staying in one place to get the most out of being there. In this case, it is the word of Christ!

Could we ever exhaust the beauty of the truth concerning Christ and how His obedience has so richly impacted our lives and continues to do so?

Might I encourage you today to take some time to dwell?

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Now

This little three-letter word is very powerful if you think about it.

Ever heard the old saying, "There's no time like the present?"

Now refers to the present moment in time. This moment in time, which we all have at present, is a "Now" moment. What we do with all of our "Now" moments is a big deal.

God is not bound by the boundaries of time, but here on this earth we are, and it is the currency of heaven, so to speak. While God need not worry about time, we must consider it. If we waste the time we possess in the "Now" on trying to do something about the past or thinking only about the future, we lose an opportunity to sow well in our "Now' moments.

We cannot go back and redo something from our past. Nor can we skip ahead to the future. We have no choice but to learn how to live in the "Now" moments of life well.

Where can we start to ensure we're capitalizing on our "Now" opportunity?

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

This verse reveals that Jesus did something meant to invade our "Now" moments continually. He changed our position, our reference point, our starting and staying point for life. We are "Now" in a person, a very real person with very great power, and Who has accomplished something through His obedience to the Father. When we understand our position in Him, it changes our perspective on our "Now" moments.

However, this will not be our experience if we choose to walk according to the flesh rather than according to the Spirit.

The word walk is an interesting one, as it is used here. It means to be occupied with, to live. In other words, if we live from a place of trusting in our own ability rather than trusting in what Christ has done and leaning on His strength, we will not live aware of our "Now" promise and will likely suffer from the maladies of uncertainty, confusion, shame, and, yes, condemnation.

The enemy will be able to have a field day with us in our souls because we are not occupied with the Spirit thinking on things above and not having any confidence in our flesh. This is what happens to us when we allow a mixture of law and grace to visit our souls and occupy our thoughts. We often find ourselves agreeing with a verdict of guilty and then being sentenced to a period of time we think is necessary to pay the penalty for whatever we believe ourselves guilty of.

I call it the anti-freedom. Jesus came to set us free, and He who the Son sets free is free indeed. To get off the roller coaster ride that mixture produces, one needs to acknowledge their weakness in the flesh and revel in the finished work of Christ on their behalf and take charge of the "Now" of their life by getting the gospel right, getting the gospel in, and then getting the gospel out. There is "Now" no condemnation to those who are in Christ! What's in your "Now?"

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Whose Gift Are You Seeking?

When it comes to the New Covenant, there is a significant shift in who we are to receive from.

John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

You see, it is very clear here that the law was given through Moses. However, through Jesus, something different was given.

It was not that there was no truth from Moses because we know he introduced the Israelites to the truth of the law.

However, intentionally, the Holy Spirit prompts John to write this passage as he did. He wants us to be very aware of what came to us through Jesus: grace and truth.

It would appear that many still prefer to receive rules, guidelines, and principles from Moses in churches today, thinking that if they just know what they are expected to do, they can deliver. They seem to be ignorant of what it says in,

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.

The Holy Spirit never teaches us to take confidence in our flesh, in other words, to be self-confident with regard to what measuring up is required to look like.

We are not called to live a sin-conscious life; we are meant to live a Christ-conscious life. We are now created as new creations to live according to the Spirit, and this is made our reality by the grace and truth Jesus gave to us.

The blood of Jesus ratified the New Covenant, and it is a relationship and Spirit covenant made between God the Father and God the Son that we are born into when, by grace through faith in Jesus, we are born again and then receive the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit, according to faith. If, after receiving such a lavish and gracious gift in Christ, it is an insult to then seek after what Moses gave.

Galatians 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

I ask again, whose gift are you seeking? I encourage you to seek after that which comes through Jesus Christ.

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The Right Lenses

It was once believed that eyewitness testimony in a court of law was the most powerful form of testimony. But things have since been learned about the reliability of such testimony.

"When a person witnesses an alleged crime, ambient conditions may prevent them from accurately perceiving and remembering what occurred. For instance, if an eyewitness witnesses an incident in poor lighting or from a distance, their recollections are less likely to be reliable. A person’s biases can affect the accuracy of his or her memories, and so can stress factors, such as the presence of a gun during an assault or violent crime."

Just as poor conditions and bias can affect the accuracy of eyewitness testimony, so too can a wrong context lead to an assumed approach, affecting a believer's understanding of Scripture. For instance, Scripture speaks of a veil that interferes with one's ability to perceive clearly what God has done and is now doing.

2Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were blinded. For, until this day, the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.

This refers to those who are still under the Old Covenant Law. They are still sentimental and nostalgic about what Moses gave.

John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

It is true that all Scripture is given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and is profitable. However, if it is being viewed through a veil of Old Covenant thinking, its profitability is diminished because the takeaway on what it desires to teach us is skewed.

I recommend reading the Old Testament through the lens of the New Covenant, so that one might extract from it the prophetic revelation the Holy Spirit originally placed within it concerning Christ Jesus.

Wearing sunglasses in a poorly lit room at night and claiming it helps one to see more clearly is a delusional perspective. That is why reading the Old Testament and claiming that placing it in its original context to understand it better makes one an expert at interpreting it is akin to wearing sunglasses in a dark room at night. Examining the truth of Scripture through a veil obscures clarity and, consequently, hinders one's understanding. This is why the glasses of the New Covenant are so important; having the veil removed matters. The veil is only removed in Christ!

I seek to read all Scripture through the lens of Christ and His New Covenant. Those are the right lenses. Everything in Scripture points to Jesus once the veil is removed. The law and the prophets fade into the background of history, and we begin to see and hear only Jesus as the Father has desired. Read all of Scripture, but make sure you have the right lenses on when you do.

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Perfected Forever

The title is a terminology that is somewhat foreign to most in this modern throw-away age. When it comes to the reliability of manmade products, we live with the reality that nothing lasts forever, let alone the idea that it is perfect.

I mean, who wouldn't like the perfect car, or the perfect house, or the perfect...

When we think of something as being perfect, it is not only what we've been looking for and longing for with great desire, but it also has longevity, and in that longevity lies reliability and dependability.

The idea of perfection is that of being without mistakes. The idea of forever implies that it will last as long as necessary, or even extend beyond the required time. In other words, it will outlast the expectation it was given.

We find this way of thinking conveyed in the letter to the Hebrews, particularly in the context of the priestly ministries.

Hebrews 7:28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

Now we know that when all things come to an end and everything is brought to its completion by God, there will no longer be a need for a high priest, for all will be in heaven for all eternity, and there will be no sin or imperfections of the flesh. That is why the word forever used in this passage is a different Greek word than the one used in another passage speaking about being perfected forever. The Greek word used here with regard to the priesthood ministry would imply for as long as is needed—an Age. At the same time, when describing the Son's perfection in general, it means eternal. There are no flaws in the Son, and there will never be. Jesus is absolutely perfect and cannot be improved upon.

So what are we to make of the other passage I referred to?

Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

This is speaking to the reach of the sacrifice Jesus made for sin. The word "forever" in this passage was a different Greek word, meaning eternally. Jesus has eternally perfected those who are being sanctified. The language here is very interesting, because on one hand we are complete and already perfected in Christ, and on the other hand we are being sanctified. In other words, we are being set apart in our thoughts, attitudes, and actions of life by God Himself. While in spirit we are perfect, in body, there are times when our representation is out of sync, as we are being trained to think and act differently as a result of becoming increasingly convinced of the truth in our minds.

Perhaps we should consider the passage's context more fully so we can better understand what is happening here.

Hebrews 10:11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

Your sin and my sin, past, present, and future, have been paid for by Jesus, who is a better High Priest and Better sacrifice than anything that could be offered up here on this earth. It is why there will never be a need for another offering for sin again. Jesus did it! His work was perfect! It is why Scripture can testify to our perfection in Him. Renewing our minds to the truth of the New Covenant and all that it brings brings us in sync with the victory that is ours in Christ. Do you believe you've been perfected forever?

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Are You Certain?

When I was a child, I thought that "Naptime" was a punishment. I was certain of it. Now, as a grown-up, I think it feels like a small vacation. My, how perspectives can change.

If you stop and think about it, there are likely many things that at one time you felt certain about but have since learned differently and have changed your mind concerning them.

This is also true regarding our thoughts on specific ideas derived from Scripture. While it is fresh and new to us, we are all in and highly committed to our newfound view. The question is, have we thoroughly considered it in the light of the whole of New Covenant truth?

Sometimes we can tend to isolate a particular truth and treat it as a stand-alone idea separate from all other ideas conveyed in the Scriptures. When this happens, the idea can become embellished to the point that its original intended purpose and position in the light of the whole truth can become skewed.

This was Paul's reason for advising Timothy to study to show himself approved by God, a worker who did not need to be ashamed because he was rightly dividing the word of truth from error.

For instance, I have heard some in a particular movement that is popular today declare that there is no such thing as destruction and eternal punishment because Jesus came to save the world due to God's great love. I appreciate how they are zealous about the love of God. I share their enthusiasm about it. It is marvelous for certain. But should my dwelling on it apart from all other Scripture permit me to brashly claim that there will be no eternal punishment or destruction?

I must examine all that is spoken in the New Covenant Scriptures to see if my position on the matter was supported by the original apostles of the church who wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I must subject my idea on the matter to what is represented by the Scriptures.

If I hold to an extreme position on the matter of God's love and then, by human reasoning, make deductions and conclusions about it apart from a more thorough examination of the Scriptures, I may be disappointed, troubled, and ashamed when I read passages such as:

2Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. 11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I do not wish to speak too quickly and authoritatively without having done my due diligence in making sure my conclusions on the matter are not potentially refuted in another portion of New Covenant Scripture. I am not claiming to be perfect in this area myself. But I am more mindful of it than ever before, and I trust that the Holy Spirit will use that to my advantage for the benefit of those who take an interest in the things I have to say. So I will ask you again, "Are you certain?"

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Your Source Of Trust

People put their trust in many different individuals and things without even realizing it. It just comes naturally to them.

For instance, some people will buy something from Facebook Marketplace based solely on the seller's word. They trust that the individual selling something is being truthful. They even drive out to meet that individual in person to purchase once they decide to buy. They have no way of knowing if they're talking to the real person in the ad or someone pretending to be a decent law-abiding seller of goods. So they have no way of knowing if they are about to be taken advantage of in some way, but they take the risk anyway.

How many see a doctor and put trust in his or her opinion concerning their state of health and what he or she feels they need to take or to do in order to improve it?

I gleaned this little funny from Greg Mohr's book A Merry Heart.

It sounds like a Facebook Marketplace ad, but was actually an ad appearing in a metropolitan newspaper.

"Nice parachute. Never opened. Used once."

That's funny. However, it can also describe the futility of putting one's trust in a poor source. For instance, a believer who comes to know Jesus but then turns back to the law for righteousness, rather than trusting in the righteousness they received by faith in Jesus.

Philippians 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,

I am not promoting the idea of being as bad as one can be in order to prove God's love for them. That would be as equally absurd as trusting in one's flesh to be good enough to start with.

I am promoting the idea that putting one's trust in their flesh to be good enough is a bad bargain, as the flesh is not a good source to trust, especially as it pertains to the kind of righteousness God accepts.

Failing to settle this matter of source is what leads many down the path of sitting with a daisy, plucking the petals one by one, as they say, "He loves me, He loves me not." Their sense of God's love is akin to riding a roller coaster, and it is based on their performance rather than Christ's performance on their behalf—your source of trust matters.

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Announcment

Starting today (6/17) until next Tuesday (6/24)

I will be out of pocket and unable to send out my usual daily devotionals.

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Looking Unto

I hope the title captured your curiosity. I own and ride a 1997 Police Edition Harley-Davidson Road King motorcycle. I truly enjoy it, but I have to employ safe practices to do so. It is a very large and heavy bike.  It is classified as a cruiser, and for some, cruisers can be tricky to handle in tight turns.

The top riding trainer offers the following advice for turning without a problem.  Look where you want to go.  If you want to make a tight right turn, look at where you want to go.  You will not make the turn looking straight ahead or to the left.  To make an effective turn, you need to look at where you want to go.

Another road rule often offered to all who operate motorized vehicles is not to drive distracted. Distracted driving is a serious and dangerous practice that has led to numerous accidents.  Everyone should be looking at where they are going if they wish to get there.  To reach the end of your journey, you must always look in the right direction. There’s a spiritual principle that we can extract from this.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

We're being told not to get distracted by things for the sake of temporary pleasure, because it can occupy us in the wrong way and use up our energies on the wrong thing.  We have a destination, a destiny!  To achieve that destiny, we will need endurance and focus.

Jesus is our example of this. He pressed through the most difficult of circumstances and the most severe temptations for distraction, and He endured the cross.  The joy of the promise of destiny was of greater value to Him than the trials and temptations of temporary comfort and convenience. He accomplished His purpose!

We are meant to draw inspiration from Him by looking unto Him and allowing Him to empower and comfort us in our moments of trial and difficulty.  He sent us the Holy Spirit for this very reason.

Jesus made us new creations that the Holy Spirit can inhabit. We now live according to the Spirit, empowered by Him. When we look to Jesus, we see Him as a man relying on the Holy Spirit’s supernatural help, enduring and pressing through every situation. His victory has become our victory. But we will not live in the realization and revelation of this marvelous privilege if we aren't looking unto Jesus!

Looking at ourselves for what we can bring to the moment is not helpful. Looking at others and what they brought to a similar situation might encourage us a little, but it is not the source we need most. If we want to reach where God has called us, we must look to the right place and the right person. I encourage you today to always be mindful of where, what, and who you are “Looking Unto.”

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Fruit Of Righteousness

I recall when I worked for an engineering and testing company; I wore a uniform that represented the company I worked for. I had a hat and shirts with a logo and color scheme, and I drove a vehicle with the company name on it. They wanted everyone to know what company I represented. The company also had a code of ethics to follow on the job because those under their employ were representing the company.

For generations, branding in the form of uniforms and logos on hats and shirts, along with a code of ethics representing the culture of a company or ministry, has been used to clearly indicate that a person wearing and conducting themselves in a certain way was part of the company. No one who is thankful for having a job or position that benefits them with a company or ministry spends their time complaining about it or making it an issue of offense or conflict. It has seemed apparent that those who are grateful for what they have been given are happy to dress the part.

I still remember the commercial for UPS, "What can brown do for you?" To this day, if someone sees a brown work truck or a person wearing a brown uniform, they automatically know it is a UPS vehicle or employee.

We could say that such behavior is a form of bearing the fruit of the company or ministry.

Jesus said something very important and wise.

Luke 6:44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.

We live our lives according to who we truly are. I am a child of God, and therefore, I tend to conduct myself as such in all situations. When I came to Jesus in response to the Father's drawing and the Holy Spirit's conviction of my need for Him, I became a new creation, and it changed me at the core of my being.

Righteousness moved into me and replaced the unrighteousness that once ruled my life entirely. I discovered new desires and ways of seeing life, and out of that change in motivations and desires, I made different choices than I would have made before I came to know Jesus. Paul was not praying for the Philippians in ignorance when he prayed,

Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Jesus is not ineffective in the work of transformation in a believer's life. When we live thankful lives, aware of His goodness and grace, we cannot help but bear the fruits of righteousness. In other words, we live out what we are within. This is why knowing who we are and whose we are is so important. It is why it says in,

Romans 6:13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

We were created in Christ to bear the fruits of righteousness by means of the resurrection life and power He gives us.

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Put Off And Put On

In matters of grace, it is most important that our trust be in the finished work of Christ and our confidence in the righteousness He has provided. That cannot be challenged as though it is somehow fragile and must be bolstered by our own efforts. These truths are more than made clear in the New Testament letters. That is why I emphasize the power of grace and remind believers of the love and righteousness of God they have received in Christ.

Equally true is the fact that a changed life is, in fact, just that - a changed life. I no longer live as I did before, only in pursuit of what pleases me in my flesh. This was deeply understood by the great apostle of grace, named Paul. In speaking to the Ephesians, he stated the following.

(NLT) Ephesians 4:17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

As new creations in Christ, we have been given a spiritual DNA that is distinctly different from what we were before we came to know Jesus. Sometimes we need to be reminded of this supernatural dynamic that took place within us, so that we do not return to our old ways of living before we came to know Jesus. Coming to Jesus taught us things about who He is and what He is like, and exposed the folly and futility in the way we lived prior to coming to know Him. Our lives were empty before we came to know Him, and now they are filled with true life, love, and hope because of Him, making us brand new. He made us something we weren't before, something that never existed prior to coming to Him.

(NLT) Ephesians 4:20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God, truly righteous and holy.

I appreciate how Paul doesn't shy away from discussing our conduct while on this earth. But I appreciate even more how he always places such discussion on the foundation of who we are in Christ and what we have received from Him. In our fallen state, prior to Jesus, we were unable to choose good things out of sheer joy; we had to either choose them out of fear of being cursed or fail to choose them altogether due to lust for pleasure. In Christ, we now have the power to choose things out of sheer joy and appreciation for Christ and them. We can now see the beauty in them. How is that possible? We have a new nature created to be like God, truly righteous and holy.

If the behavior I am choosing is out of step with who my Father is and who Christ is, then it is out of step with who I am now that I am in Christ. It truly is that simple. If I am letting the Holy Spirit renew my thoughts and attitudes, I will find myself desiring to set aside things that, before coming to Him, had deceived me into thinking they could bring me fulfillment, joy, and prosperity of soul. My heart and my eyes have been opened to the goodness of God revealed in His righteousness given to me and the new life I have received in Jesus. When I am in the light as He is in the light, I discover that I see things for what they truly are, and I begin to desire to put away the unprofitable things. I take off the old clothing that I once wore and put on the new garments He has given me.

I do not dress in what He has given me to earn His love, affections, attention, or to merit His promises. I dress in what He has given me because I am proud to be known as His, by looking like one who belongs to Him, and I appreciate the beauty of His wardrobe on me.

I have come to realize that His wardrobe for me is my best look, so I put off the old look and put on the new one, which is more accurate to who I am now in Christ Jesus, which is truly righteous and holy.

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