Moments With God

Hebrews 11:1-7

Our salvation is all of grace. There is nothing we can do to earn our salvation. There is nothing we can do to even contribute to our salvation. Genuine faith, however, always expresses itself in what we do. True faith is always expressed in our actions and in our obedience to the Lord. Faith "is what the ancients were commended for." (Hebrews 11:2b) Faith is what was exemplified in the lives of all the heroes of faith that we read about in the Bible. These heroes of faith are examples of faith for our lives today! We can learn much from them to help us in our walk of faith.

Abel and Enoch were two wonderful examples of faith. Noah was another wonderful example of faith. Noah was a man who truly exhibited working faith. It is believed that rain had never fallen on the earth at the time of Noah. God told Noah to build an ark, because God was going to destroy the world with a worldwide flood. Noah trusted God "when warned about things not yet seen." Noah responded to God's Word in obedience and "in holy fear built an ark to save his family." (Hebrews 11:7a) This took him 120 years to build! Obedience to the Lord sometimes takes time, effort, and energy. Faith expresses itself in completing the tasks God has given us in our particular lives. Are we willing to give our all to the Lord for His glory?

Noah did not stop to worry about what people would think. He did not make excuses to God or try to shirk from his responsibility for building the ark. He simply obeyed. Can we say the same in our lives? Do we always obey the Lord in all things, or do we make excuses when the Lord lays it on our hearts to obey Him in certain areas of our lives?

Noah stood firm in his faith in spite of obstacles and attacks from other people. Noah must have looked foolish to the world, but Noah was more concerned about being pleasing to the Lord. What the world thought of his actions was of little concern to Noah. "In holy fear" and awe of God Noah obeyed the Lord and built an ark. We too may look foolish to the world around us, if we obey the Lord and seek to follow Him. We must, however, remain firm in our faith. Faith in Christ and a life of obedience to the Lord is the only safe refuge for God's people. Noah was an example of an "heir of the righteousness that comes by faith." (Hebrews 11:7b) Noah stood firmly on the promises and truth of God alone! God is faithful, and we can trust His promises with absolute certainty. Like Noah we too can and must stand firmly on the promises of God! We must follow the Lord in obedience in all areas of our lives. The words of one of the beloved hymns of Christianity sums it up beautifully, "Trust and obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

Hebrews 4

"Now we who have believed enter that rest." Hebrews 4:3a

The book of Hebrews is perhaps more difficult to understand at times than are some of the other books of the Bible. It also, however, has some of the most beautiful promises and truths in the Bible. This chapter in Hebrews is no exception! This passage tells us that our salvation-rest is dependent only on faith and on Christ’s sacrificial work on the cross. "Now we who have believed enter that rest." (Hebrews 4:3a). We can enter Christ's rest because of our faith and trust in His atoning work! We can truly rest in His finished work on Calvary! As we face difficult circumstances in this world, we can also rest in Him and in His love and promises to always be with us and protect us. We can live in quietness and calmness of spirit in His provision and protection. His rest is a gift to us! Someday we will also experience His eternal rest!

This passage warns us, however, to examine our faith. We must examine ourselves for disobedience or hardness of heart. Once we are His children the Lord keeps us in His hand, and we will not lose our salvation. We must make sure that our faith is genuine, however. Also as His children we must always pursue His will. Hebrews 4:12a says that God’s Word "is living and active." In seeking to live our lives for the Lord's glory, we must be diligent about immersing ourselves in God's Holy Word. We also must be diligent and passionate about obeying God's Holy Word. Only then can we guard our hearts from becoming hard and indifferent. Only then can we also be certain that we are walking in God's will for our lives. God's Word judges our "thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12b) The Lord knows you and me completely, and He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows what we think, and He sees what we are in our characters. The Lord knows our every sinful thought and tendency. "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4:13)

In spite of our sins and failures, however, the Lord is patient and loving towards us! He knows exactly what we need for growth and comfort. He understands our vulnerabilities. In verse fourteen of Hebrews chapter four it says that Jesus Christ is our "great High Priest who has gone through the heavens." Therefore, we must and can "hold firmly" to the Lord in faith. He is our way of salvation and our access to God. He is our access to eternal rest, and He is our security! The Lord is our eternal High Priest who is able to sympathize with all our weaknesses! The Lord was "tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin." (Hebrews 4:15b) Hence, we can now "approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:16) Because our Lord lived on this earth, He too was subject to the trials and tests of life. Hence, our Lord can sympathize with us in our weaknesses. He understands when we are heartbroken, discouraged, and disappointed. He is there to help us in our temptations and sympathize with us in life’s difficulties! The Lord gives us the grace and help we need at just the moment we need it. Praise His name! Praise His name that we can go boldly to His throne to receive help to face life’s temptations, trials, and tensions!

Hebrews 1

Jesus Christ is our connection with God. Jesus Christ is God's revelation of Himself to us. The Lord Jesus is the completion of God's message to His children. Jesus Christ is God Himself! Hebrews 1:2 tells us that Jesus Christ is the "appointed heir of all things," because He is the glorious Son of God and has purchased our salvation. As His children we are joint heirs with Him through faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Hence, all of God's resources are available to us, His children!

Because Jesus Christ is God Himself, "He made the universe." (Hebrews 1:2b) Jesus Christ is the "radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being." (Hebrews 1:3a) A similar thought is expressed in Colossians 1:15-16. That Scripture passage says, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him."

Jesus Christ is also "sustaining all things by His powerful word." (Hebrews 1:3) Jesus Christ, who is God Himself, sustains this world and is sustaining and protecting His children each and every day. The Lord Jesus has a personal interest in our lives, and He is directing the courses of our lives step by step!

Not only is Jesus Christ God Himself and the creator and sustainer of the universe, but Jesus Christ also lowered Himself by coming to this earth and becoming a human being. While on this earth the Lord Jesus Christ lived a perfectly sinless life for us which we were unable to live. After this He died the horrid death of the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. Hebrews 1:3b says, "After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." Being seated at God's right hand demonstrated that Jesus Christ's work of salvation was completed and victorious in His children's lives! It also indicates that Jesus is Lord over all things! Praise His name!

Jesus Christ is God Himself and has an eternal throne in heaven. Jesus Christ is ruler over the angels and over all of creation. Yet this same Jesus Christ cares about His children! He is the "exact representation" of God, (Hebrews 1:3a) and He is our eternal connection with God! Jesus Christ is the answer to our longing for God, because He is God Himself. As we ponder these truths in our hearts, we should bow at our Lord Jesus Christ's feet in adoration and worship! What an awesome Savior, Lord, and God we serve! Praise His name!

Psalm 138

In Psalm 138 David praised God for His faithful love displayed in His answers to David's prayers for help. David's prayer of praise was not lukewarm and halfhearted. David said to God in prayer in Psalm 138:1, "I will praise You, O Lord, with all my heart." David's praise and joy in the Lord consumed his entire being. We so often run to the Lord for help in prayer. This is good. The Lord desires our prayers for help. We need to also remember, however, to praise and thank Him for His answers to our prayers. Our hearts must be filled with praise and thanks for His daily gifts. A heart full of praise and thanks is a joyful heart.

Today with David in this Psalm let's bow down and praise the Lord for His love and faithfulness. The Lord's love and faithfulness to us each day is limitless and eternal! The Lord shows His faithfulness and love to us in His answers to our prayers. We can always count on His precious promises in His Holy Word to hear and answer our prayers. The Lord gives us strength and makes us "bold and stouthearted" when we approach Him in prayer. (Psalm 138:3) Above all the Lord showed His love and faithfulness to us by sending Jesus! Is our hearts and lips filled with praise for the Lord's love and faithfulness?

Today with David in Psalm 138 let's praise and thank the Lord for His Holy Word. David said to God in prayer in Psalm 138:4, "May all the kings of the earth praise You, O Lord, when they hear the words of Your mouth." God's promises to His people in the Bible are awesome and grand. Do we stop to praise and thank Him for His Holy Word and His precious promises?

Today with David in Psalm 138 let's praise and thank the Lord for His greatness and glory. Let's praise the Lord not just for what He does for us, but let's also thank Him for who He is in His character. Psalm 138:5 says, "May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great." In spite of the glory, greatness, and awesomeness of the Lord, however; the Lord stoops to help us and be concerned for us! "Though the Lord is on high, He looks upon the lowly." (Psalm 138:6a) If we approach the Lord with a humble and dependent heart, the great God of the universe looks upon us and meets our every need! Is our hearts, lips, and lives filled with praise for the Lord for these blessings in our lives?

Today with David in Psalm 138 let's praise and thank the Lord for His help in trouble and for His daily protection and preservation of our lives. David said to God in Psalm 138:7a, "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life." We can be absolutely certain of God's care and protection even in difficult times in our lives. Do we remember to praise and thank Him for that care and protection in our lives?

Today with David in Psalm 138 let's praise and thank the Lord for His sovereignty in our lives. The Lord has every detail of our lives planned from birth to death. We can say with David, "The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O Lord, endures forever." (Psalm 138:8a) Nothing in our lives happens by chance. There are many delightful surprises in our lives. God planned for these events. There are also times of difficulty and trial in our lives. God planned and allowed for these times in our lives also. These times of trial help us to grow spiritually. Do we praise and thank the Lord for His purpose and plans for each of our individual lives?

Praise and thanks to the Lord is essential in our lives. Often in prayer we only approach the Lord with our needs. We must also approach Him, however, with our praise and thanks! Our God is an awesome God! Our God is worthy of our praise!

Psalm 127 & 128

I pray often for the marriages of my children. My prayer for their marriages is that Christ might be at the center of their marriages. I also pray often for my siblings' marriages and my own marriage. Having the Lord at the center of our lives and marriages is so important to the joy and blessings we can find only in the Lord. We must build our lives and our marriages on the one and only sure foundation which is Jesus Christ. When we let the Lord build our marriages children and grandchildren also are a reward and blessing from the Lord. Psalm 127:5a says, "Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them." Psalm 127:1a reminds us, however, that "unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain." This is also true of our nation and our cities. "Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." (Psalm 127:1b) Jesus Christ is our only security and foundation for this life and for eternity.

Without Christ in one's life and marriage "in vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat." (Psalm 127:2a) Without Christ in one's life everything is meaningless and monotonous. With Christ in our lives and marriages we have purpose and meaning. We also have joy and peace. The Lord "grants sleep to those He loves." (Psalm 127:2b) We don't need to be tossing and turning at night deprived of sleep. We can rest in peaceful sleep, because our lives are under the control of the Lord.

We are indeed blessed, if we stand in awe and worship of the Lord. We are blessed, if we "walk in His ways." (Psalm 128:1b) The unbeliever finds no true meaning or purpose in life. God's children, however, are able to delight in even the little blessings of life that the Lord gives us. We will enjoy the fruit of our labors. The Lord's blessings will be with us throughout our lives. Our spouses, our children, and our grandchildren will be sources of delight to us.

Having the Lord as the sure foundation of our homes and lives is the secret to joy. "Thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord." (Psalm 128:4) Our prayer for our lives and marriages should be that the Lord will continue to bless us all the days of our lives from His vast resources in heaven. We must pray for the Lord's prosperity and success in our lives. We should not run after the world's definition of prosperity and success. With Christ as our foundation we will be blessed. The Lord may choose to bless us with a long enough life, so that we will be able to see both our children and our children's children living for the Lord! It is indeed my prayer that even my grandchildren will grow physically, emotionally, intellectually, and most of all spiritually. It is my prayer that they will grow to be strong believers and followers of Jesus Christ. What a great blessing it is to see one's children and grandchildren walking with the Lord!