Today’s passage is from the book of Hebrews, Chapter 12 verses 1 to 14. Always read the passage, then listen, then read again. This has really helped me, so passing on a tip.
KEY VERSE : Verse 14. “Without holiness no one will see the Lord”
Lead a life of holiness for without it no one will see Him !
Jesus gave up His position (His sacrifice), which He could have clung on to but He didn’t. He emptied Himself of His power, and stepped down to being a human, a big step for our creator, stepped down even further to be a servant, but it didn’t stop there. He took another step and died for me, but not just an ordinary death, a step further; a suffering death. We are now called to imitate this. This attitude we see in Jesus. What an amazing, awesome, bewildering humility ! With sacrifice, submission, and service comes suffering but consider it a joy as in James 1: 2.
Someone elsewhere said, “humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of self, less”. I think this changes our perspective quite significantly and sheds clarity. I think I like it and will go with this. It falls in line with thinking of others more than being occupied with just my own needs. My needs are important but others are more important, is also included later in that verse. Surrender is the key to this sort of humility!
Integral to God’s children (His people).
2 Chronicles 7:14-15. My people who are called by My name if they humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.
Humility opens the door to answered prayer – it is conditional and not entitled. The other requisites are praying (talking with God), seeking Him (obedience), and turning away from sin (repentance).
Today’s world competes for our time everyday. We are very easily dragged to our cares, burdens, and commitments. The Psalmist’s 1st Psalm sets the context and he understands very well the need to delve into God’s word, and that too day and night. The usage of “day and night” expresses the gravity of being occupied with His word for a significant period of time. No child of God can survive the winds of this life without His word, as the Psalmist concludes with what happens without it. Contrasting the 2 trees here, one that is beside the stream and the other without the stream. The stream represents the word of God from which we draw everything for our survival. Not just that, but also to grow and bear fruit like the tree, in time. We cannnot, survive, grow or bear fruit without investing in His word.
I heard this elsewhere…If you want to know God, read His word, If want to hear the voice of God read it aloud!
The English dictionary alludes to the church being a physical place or building where Christians meet for prayer or worship or any spiritual act. The Biblical definition is far from it. The word “church” occurs more than a hundred times in the new Testament and derives from the Greek word “ekklesia” and can mean a congregation or assembly but the literal translation is “to call out” or “summon forth”. It is clearly not a building. It is a group of people united in mind and spirit of Jesus. So it’s people and not the building. In other words, it can happen in any place and at any time. No physical constraints or boundaries. It is however meant for 3 important things:
To connect: With God and His people.
To convey: The message from God – His Word.
To carry: Each other and serve each other. This extends to reaching out to our community. So note, it starts within first and then out.
The literal meaning and what it became, encapsulates everything. Jesus or Yeshua means saviour and Christ means messiah or the “anointed one”. So “Yeshua” stands for the role and “Messiah” stands for the authority. Both are vital. Role and authority. Anyone can claim roles but without authority, it is empty and worthless. This authority was given by the ultimate authority – God the creator of this universe. There can be no higher authority. So it does matter, what Jesus said, and did, while He was in human form on this Earth almost 2000 years ago. His coming divided our history on this planet. Things that happened before Christ (BC) and after Him (AC).