Heb. 12:15 Look after each other so that none of you will miss out on the special favor of God. Watch out that no bitter root of unbelief rises up among you, for whenever it springs up, many are corrupted by its poison.
Each of us is a watchman in the household of faith. We are to look after each other so that none of us miss out on God’s favor. God favors those who live in Christ, so we need to be aware of each other’s walk of faith and if we notice things aren’t right, we need to get involved and redirect the soul back to Christ. We tend to ignore each other’s progress in faith. Out of fear of being perceived as judgmental, nosey, or better than others, we don’t say anything. We are afraid of offending someone so we keep quiet. But, it’s not what the Lord wants us to do. We are to show love and concern for each other and that means we sometimes need to point out to others a need to get back on track spiritually. Many problems could be avoided if we were to do this.
We must be aware of those amongst us who are not saved. Some people attend church simply because they like to hear what is being said. Some attend because they believe with their heads but not their hearts. Some attend because of the expectations of others. Some attend for personal gain in the sight of man. Whatever the reason, not all who attend church do so because they are saved. We must be careful that we don’t allow those who are not saved to poison those who are. There are those in the church who will lead others astray. They will preach and teach another Gospel. They will convince others that sin is no big deal, that a loving God will never allow anyone go to a place called hell.
Scripture warns us that in the last days there will be much unbelief in the church. People will be persuaded by those who will tell them what they want to hear instead of the truth. Keep your soul in a good, godly condition and you will recognize these deceivers in the church. Stay right with God and you will not be poisoned by their teachings. Stay in the Word so that you can recognize truth from error. Stay on the lookout and help protect each other from these false teachers. Keep your eyes peeled lest anyone amongst you miss out on salvation because they have believed a lie.
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Saturday, August 6, 2016
A CLEAN AND HOLY LIFE
Heb. 12:14 Try to live in peace with everyone, and seek to live a clean and holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.
Notice first of all that we are to try. We cannot live with peace with those who refuse to live peaceably. We have to do what we can on our part, but we can't make others do what is right if they are determined not to. That being said, how are we live a peaceful life?
We live a clean and holy life before God. We do what is right before God. We don't ignore our sins. We don't neglect our time in God's Word or prayer. We don't shrink away from opportunities to serve the Lord. We don't rest on our laurels and coast along in faith. We always strive to learn more about the Lord, His ways, and how to apply them to our lives. We seek excellence in our walk with the Lord.
Satan wants us to believe that it's not necessary and really doesn't matter. He wants us to believe that all we need is to confess Jesus as our Savior and we are home free. But, those who are not holy will not see the Lord. It's a sobering thought isn't it? We don't hear this truth being taught much anymore. But, it does matter to God how we live. Our lives must match up to our teachings. God does not play games with us. Those who are not living in holiness will not see Him. Christ is our holiness so we must live in Christ and become more and more like Him. There is no getting around this truth.
How about it? Are you looking like Christ, or is your Christ looking a lot like you? Are you acting and thinking like Christ is in you and controlling you? If not, you need to bow before Him right now and let him straighten out the mess you are making with your life. We are created by God in Christ to be holy and unless we are, we won't see the Lord. God's words, not mine.
Notice first of all that we are to try. We cannot live with peace with those who refuse to live peaceably. We have to do what we can on our part, but we can't make others do what is right if they are determined not to. That being said, how are we live a peaceful life?
We live a clean and holy life before God. We do what is right before God. We don't ignore our sins. We don't neglect our time in God's Word or prayer. We don't shrink away from opportunities to serve the Lord. We don't rest on our laurels and coast along in faith. We always strive to learn more about the Lord, His ways, and how to apply them to our lives. We seek excellence in our walk with the Lord.
Satan wants us to believe that it's not necessary and really doesn't matter. He wants us to believe that all we need is to confess Jesus as our Savior and we are home free. But, those who are not holy will not see the Lord. It's a sobering thought isn't it? We don't hear this truth being taught much anymore. But, it does matter to God how we live. Our lives must match up to our teachings. God does not play games with us. Those who are not living in holiness will not see Him. Christ is our holiness so we must live in Christ and become more and more like Him. There is no getting around this truth.
How about it? Are you looking like Christ, or is your Christ looking a lot like you? Are you acting and thinking like Christ is in you and controlling you? If not, you need to bow before Him right now and let him straighten out the mess you are making with your life. We are created by God in Christ to be holy and unless we are, we won't see the Lord. God's words, not mine.
Friday, August 5, 2016
GET A NEW GRIP
Heb. 12:12-13 So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs. Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong.
Life can be wearisome, especially as we grow older. We get more prone to tiredness and our bodies begin to fail us. The same thing can hold true in our spiritual lives. We can get battle weary. It can get to us after awhile. Satan is a relentless enemy and seldom leaves us alone to rest.
If you find yourself getting weary, get a new grip on the Lord. What you have been doing to keep you faithful to the Lord may not be working as well now for you. Examine what you are doing. Do you need to spend more concentrated time in the Word? Do you need to allow for more time in your prayer closet? Do you need to include some Bible study fellowship in your routine? Do you need to be better prepared for worship? Do you need to be more involved in church life? Do you need to switch churches so that the preaching and teaching is more Biblical and practical? Do you need to take a rest and let others minister to you instead of you doing all the ministering? Do you need to rest more in what Christ can do instead of what you can do? You will never be able to regain spiritual strength so that you can stand steadily if you don’t get a newer, more firm grip on the Lord.
Let the Lord mark out your path. Let Him lead you through your life. Observe His ways and follow them. Don’t be foolish and follow a path that leads you away from the Lord. Let the Lord set your course and with determination follow it.
When we live with the Lord being our priority and director of life, we influence those around us to stay the course of faith. Those who follow us are strengthened by the example we set before them. There is no greater witness than the witness of a life lived well in faith.
Life can be wearisome, especially as we grow older. We get more prone to tiredness and our bodies begin to fail us. The same thing can hold true in our spiritual lives. We can get battle weary. It can get to us after awhile. Satan is a relentless enemy and seldom leaves us alone to rest.
If you find yourself getting weary, get a new grip on the Lord. What you have been doing to keep you faithful to the Lord may not be working as well now for you. Examine what you are doing. Do you need to spend more concentrated time in the Word? Do you need to allow for more time in your prayer closet? Do you need to include some Bible study fellowship in your routine? Do you need to be better prepared for worship? Do you need to be more involved in church life? Do you need to switch churches so that the preaching and teaching is more Biblical and practical? Do you need to take a rest and let others minister to you instead of you doing all the ministering? Do you need to rest more in what Christ can do instead of what you can do? You will never be able to regain spiritual strength so that you can stand steadily if you don’t get a newer, more firm grip on the Lord.
Let the Lord mark out your path. Let Him lead you through your life. Observe His ways and follow them. Don’t be foolish and follow a path that leads you away from the Lord. Let the Lord set your course and with determination follow it.
When we live with the Lord being our priority and director of life, we influence those around us to stay the course of faith. Those who follow us are strengthened by the example we set before them. There is no greater witness than the witness of a life lived well in faith.
Thursday, August 4, 2016
DISCIPLINE FOR OUR GOOD
Heb. 12:10b-11 But God's discipline is always right and good for us because it means we will share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening---it is painful! But afterward there will be a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
I can remember growing up my father's discipline and I can testify to the fact that it hurt! My dad came from the old school where physical discipline was acceptable. My dad used belts to hold up his britches and he used them to teach us right from wrong. Dad was not afraid to correct our behavior with his belt. We knew what we would get if he ever found out what we did so it was a great deterrent for wrong behavior. I don't ever recall a time in which I can say I enjoyed his discipline. I do remember many of the lessons I learned from his discipline.
I learned to respect my father. I may not have always agreed with him that a spanking was justified, but I sure did learn from my mistakes and tried not to repeat them. I learned early on that it was in my best interest to obey my father. I believe that most people in the church today have very little respect for God. They don't fear Him in the sense that I feared my dad. As a result, I believe we have failed to learn many valuable lessons of faith we need to know.
I learned right from wrong. Without his guidance, I probably would have done a whole lot worse things than I did growing up. I knew that there were certain things that I could not do and I did not do them. I understood that there were consequences for my crossing the line and doing what I wanted to do instead of what my father wanted me to do. I learned that disciple was good for me. It kept me on a good path. I learned it was to my advantage to do what was right. I discovered that life was far less painful for me when I listened to my father than when I didn't.
I attribute much of who I am today to my father's discipline. He caused me to want to do what was right before him and ultimately before God, my Father. Wanting to please God motivates me to listen to Him and obey Him. We don't like to be disciplined, but it produces in us godly living. In fact, without discipline from God, no one will make it to heaven.
I can remember growing up my father's discipline and I can testify to the fact that it hurt! My dad came from the old school where physical discipline was acceptable. My dad used belts to hold up his britches and he used them to teach us right from wrong. Dad was not afraid to correct our behavior with his belt. We knew what we would get if he ever found out what we did so it was a great deterrent for wrong behavior. I don't ever recall a time in which I can say I enjoyed his discipline. I do remember many of the lessons I learned from his discipline.
I learned to respect my father. I may not have always agreed with him that a spanking was justified, but I sure did learn from my mistakes and tried not to repeat them. I learned early on that it was in my best interest to obey my father. I believe that most people in the church today have very little respect for God. They don't fear Him in the sense that I feared my dad. As a result, I believe we have failed to learn many valuable lessons of faith we need to know.
I learned right from wrong. Without his guidance, I probably would have done a whole lot worse things than I did growing up. I knew that there were certain things that I could not do and I did not do them. I understood that there were consequences for my crossing the line and doing what I wanted to do instead of what my father wanted me to do. I learned that disciple was good for me. It kept me on a good path. I learned it was to my advantage to do what was right. I discovered that life was far less painful for me when I listened to my father than when I didn't.
I attribute much of who I am today to my father's discipline. He caused me to want to do what was right before him and ultimately before God, my Father. Wanting to please God motivates me to listen to Him and obey Him. We don't like to be disciplined, but it produces in us godly living. In fact, without discipline from God, no one will make it to heaven.
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
THE LORD'S DISCIPLINE
Heb. 12:8 If God doesn't discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children after all.
The question we must address is what is the Lord's discipline? We talk about it, but do we really know what we are talking about? Let us consider some things to get our thinking going.
Discipline becomes necessary when we do something wrong. You praise someone when they do something right and discipline them when they mess up. It is the way we teach one another what should not be done. We don't like to be disciplined and most of us don't like to discipline others. Yet, it is necessary if someone is going to move forward and mature.
Discipline should be done when someone is obviously sinning and giving the name and cause of Christ a bad name. For the sake of Christ's honor, we must strive to keep His name holy amongst man.
Discipline should be always done with love and purpose. The goal of discipline should be to inspire change that results in better character and choices made. If it's done with a mean spirit, it will not accomplish its purpose; people will resist and resent it. The Lord always deals with us compassionately, yet with firmness. He will not let us get away with our sinning without making it very clear that there are consequences to the choices we make.
The Holy Spirit is God's primary disciplinarian. He chastises us and convicts us when we sin. He shows us what we have done and what we should have done. He is relentless and keeps reminding us of our sin until we repent. He sometimes allows adversity to come our way if we don't pay attention to Him. He will sometimes use other people in our lives to urge us to repent. He will sometimes withhold God's blessings on our lives.
If we never experience God's discipline, it means that we are not really children of God. We are far from perfect and we do mess up, sometimes a lot. We need God's correction and chastisements. We should welcome God's intervention in our affairs. It is a good thing to be disciplined. Without it, we will never make it to heaven.
The question we must address is what is the Lord's discipline? We talk about it, but do we really know what we are talking about? Let us consider some things to get our thinking going.
Discipline becomes necessary when we do something wrong. You praise someone when they do something right and discipline them when they mess up. It is the way we teach one another what should not be done. We don't like to be disciplined and most of us don't like to discipline others. Yet, it is necessary if someone is going to move forward and mature.
Discipline should be done when someone is obviously sinning and giving the name and cause of Christ a bad name. For the sake of Christ's honor, we must strive to keep His name holy amongst man.
Discipline should be always done with love and purpose. The goal of discipline should be to inspire change that results in better character and choices made. If it's done with a mean spirit, it will not accomplish its purpose; people will resist and resent it. The Lord always deals with us compassionately, yet with firmness. He will not let us get away with our sinning without making it very clear that there are consequences to the choices we make.
The Holy Spirit is God's primary disciplinarian. He chastises us and convicts us when we sin. He shows us what we have done and what we should have done. He is relentless and keeps reminding us of our sin until we repent. He sometimes allows adversity to come our way if we don't pay attention to Him. He will sometimes use other people in our lives to urge us to repent. He will sometimes withhold God's blessings on our lives.
If we never experience God's discipline, it means that we are not really children of God. We are far from perfect and we do mess up, sometimes a lot. We need God's correction and chastisements. We should welcome God's intervention in our affairs. It is a good thing to be disciplined. Without it, we will never make it to heaven.
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
JESUS, OUR SALVATION
Heb. 12:2 We do this be keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.
In verse 1 we are admonished to get rid of everything that hinders us from growing into maturity of faith. We are slowed down to the point where there is scarcely any movement at all sometimes by all the baggage we carry around. In our verse for today we are told how we can best free ourselves up so that we can grow up. We do it by fixing our eyes on Jesus. As long as we keep our eyes fixed on Him, we will find our way to Him.
Notice that our spiritual walk begins and ends with Jesus. We have no relationship with God apart from Jesus. He is the one who made it possible for man to be accepted by God as His own. Jesus is the author of our salvation. He is the one in whom salvation originates. Before the world was ever created, it was determined by God that Jesus would die for our sins on the cross. He is the one who came from heaven to carry out God's salvation plan. He is the one who did away with the blood sacrifices of the Old Testament by the shedding of His own blood. It was Jesus alone who broke the chains of death that had bound humanity because of their sin.
Jesus is the one who will see our salvation through to the end. It is in Christ that we are able to have fellowship with God. It is in Him that we are able to live in victory over sin. It is Jesus who holds the keys to heaven. God will allow us to be a part of heaven only if we have a personal relationship with Jesus. It is on the merit of Christ alone that we will make it home. He will see us home to heaven if we continue to live in relationship with Him.
Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Don't let the world around you distract you, blind you, or lead you astray. Understand how the world is affecting your soul. Get rid of all that is diminishing Jesus in importance in your life. Focus on Him alone for He alone is the beginning and end of your salvation. He alone can make and keep you holy before God. Live in Christ as if your life depends on it, because it does.
In verse 1 we are admonished to get rid of everything that hinders us from growing into maturity of faith. We are slowed down to the point where there is scarcely any movement at all sometimes by all the baggage we carry around. In our verse for today we are told how we can best free ourselves up so that we can grow up. We do it by fixing our eyes on Jesus. As long as we keep our eyes fixed on Him, we will find our way to Him.
Notice that our spiritual walk begins and ends with Jesus. We have no relationship with God apart from Jesus. He is the one who made it possible for man to be accepted by God as His own. Jesus is the author of our salvation. He is the one in whom salvation originates. Before the world was ever created, it was determined by God that Jesus would die for our sins on the cross. He is the one who came from heaven to carry out God's salvation plan. He is the one who did away with the blood sacrifices of the Old Testament by the shedding of His own blood. It was Jesus alone who broke the chains of death that had bound humanity because of their sin.
Jesus is the one who will see our salvation through to the end. It is in Christ that we are able to have fellowship with God. It is in Him that we are able to live in victory over sin. It is Jesus who holds the keys to heaven. God will allow us to be a part of heaven only if we have a personal relationship with Jesus. It is on the merit of Christ alone that we will make it home. He will see us home to heaven if we continue to live in relationship with Him.
Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Don't let the world around you distract you, blind you, or lead you astray. Understand how the world is affecting your soul. Get rid of all that is diminishing Jesus in importance in your life. Focus on Him alone for He alone is the beginning and end of your salvation. He alone can make and keep you holy before God. Live in Christ as if your life depends on it, because it does.
Monday, August 1, 2016
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Heb. 12:1-2a Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.
First, you are not alone in your faith. It may seem like it at times, but there are a lot of people just like you who have faith. They are everywhere you go. You may not know who they are, but they are there alongside of you and surrounding you. Don’t believe the lie of Satan that you are the only one who believes.
Since we are part of a huge cloud of witnesses, let us get rid of everything that keeps us from moving forward in our faith. Sin can easily creep in and wrap itself around our souls and squeeze the life out of us. Let us be sure that we confess all our sins and keep our souls pure. A sin-laded soul moves very slowly.
There are many other things that can slow us down as well in our spiritual progress. We can get caught up into earthly concerns and neglect our souls. We can pursue earthly pleasures instead of feeding our souls. We can live as if we were lord of our lives instead of Jesus. We can procrastinate on pursuing godly living to the point where we never get it done. We can believe the lie that there is always tomorrow to take our faith seriously. We can get careless and fill our minds with false teachings. We can fail to keep our souls in shape as we go.
In order to run well the race of life, we must be free of all the baggage that slows us down. We must be in good spiritual condition. We must never lose sight of Christ who is the author and finisher of our salvation. A race well run is one run with purpose and zeal. It demands our best effort. It demands our total focus. It demands that we run with perseverance until we win.
No one who starts out in faith can lose their faith if their faith is focused on Jesus alone.
First, you are not alone in your faith. It may seem like it at times, but there are a lot of people just like you who have faith. They are everywhere you go. You may not know who they are, but they are there alongside of you and surrounding you. Don’t believe the lie of Satan that you are the only one who believes.
Since we are part of a huge cloud of witnesses, let us get rid of everything that keeps us from moving forward in our faith. Sin can easily creep in and wrap itself around our souls and squeeze the life out of us. Let us be sure that we confess all our sins and keep our souls pure. A sin-laded soul moves very slowly.
There are many other things that can slow us down as well in our spiritual progress. We can get caught up into earthly concerns and neglect our souls. We can pursue earthly pleasures instead of feeding our souls. We can live as if we were lord of our lives instead of Jesus. We can procrastinate on pursuing godly living to the point where we never get it done. We can believe the lie that there is always tomorrow to take our faith seriously. We can get careless and fill our minds with false teachings. We can fail to keep our souls in shape as we go.
In order to run well the race of life, we must be free of all the baggage that slows us down. We must be in good spiritual condition. We must never lose sight of Christ who is the author and finisher of our salvation. A race well run is one run with purpose and zeal. It demands our best effort. It demands our total focus. It demands that we run with perseverance until we win.
No one who starts out in faith can lose their faith if their faith is focused on Jesus alone.
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