I shared some reflections a few weeks ago. Although I've been a Bible learner and disciple of Christ for many years, I do not yet have this walk figured out. It's filled with missteps and mistakes, and even when I re-read some of my prior posts, I can see how I could have represented the truth more fully and adequately. It is humbling to know that God still brings truth even in our tiny bit of understanding.
Today, we start a Bible study I've refused to write for months. It is a chapter out of my dark soul and a testament to the bright communion God showed me over a long, swarthy night. I know I need to sit still and get some of the messy, messy work God has graciously done down on paper. I dread it and welcome it all in one.
Between now and December 25, I will publish brief, daily readings so we don’t fail to use this sacred Christmas season to be still and reclaim the quiet.
In our home, we use the Christmas season as an opportunity to keep ourselves intentionally fettered to the Messiah, despite the mayhem. America has done a marvelous job marketing the holiday gift-giving and food while being tragically surrounded by death, pain, and sin. This world is desperate for Christ, but doesn’t even know it.
I can’t believe we’re closing out on the book of Hebrews this week. Wow. I pray God has stirred your heart as you studied this half-marathon book. You found out—just like I did—how these 13 chapters required a whole new level of spiritual effort. God wanted you right here in this book during this season you’re living. This season has purpose and you are more beautiful for it. Let’s listen to what God speaks to us this week, and then on Sunday we’ll begin a Christmas Quiet study. This study is a bit different in that it has a short, daily reading to encourage stillness, and includes a moment for conversation with children you might have in your home or church.
Sometimes we need a reality check. It’s so easy to day dream about another life. You see it on FB or IG and think, “Wow, their life is so picturesque. I wish I had that.” That’s a lie. Life is messy. Life is hard. And “your hard” isn’t as hard as someone else’s, just like “my hard” isn’t either. We lose perspective in the day-to-day and then start mentally architecting an easier, cleaner, wealthier, healthier life. I know you do it, because I do it, too.
Just because we wrestle with Scripture doesn’t mean God is trying to be tricky; this is God teaching us to discover Him. To work out our salvation (not work for it), as it says in Philippians 2:12. When we don’t work out our salvation using His Truth as absolute, we will drift. We begin rationalizing instead of searching and discovering with the use of Scripture. I bring this topic up because there’s a word of caution coming….
If you’re a new believer – you’ve come to the right entry point because we’re going to talk about foundational, spiritual teachings (aka: the shallow end of the pool). If you’re a seasoned believer – you’ve come to the right entry point because you should be teaching these truths to new believers and I will provide you with a clear framework to do so. Regardless of where you are on your walk, this Word is for you today.
One of the [most detrimental] misunderstandings of the Church today is the nature of God. Every individual, because of past experiences, personality, spiritual upbringing, and so forth develop their own “idea” or "belief" of who God is. We piecemeal ideas about what God is like and how He operates based on our encounters…
My third son, Ezra, used to shove everything in his mouth. He had some developmental delays and putting things in his mouth was his way of examining items and understanding them better. However, what he chose to put in his mouth wasn’t always beneficial. New believers are similar – they don’t exactly know what’s right or wrong and they’ll “feed” themselves the wrong thing if there isn’t someone disciplining them...
We must choose to see Jesus – we must choose to fix our eyes on Him despite all the chaos and noise. The awesome truth is that Jesus came to earth fully human (and fully God) so that He could be merciful and faithful to you. This week, we pick up with that same thought about how Jesus is our faithful High Priest in Hebrews 3.
…As we loaded the Uhaul I thought about all we tow around in life. Whether it’s a set of old, tattered books which contain knowledge from our experiences, one of those DIY projects we experimented with on our own heart, or some emotions we’ve shoved into a tattered bag and pushed to the back of the dark closet to keep them out-of-sight – we all have stuff. Hang-ups, bang-ups, and splintered edges.
If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you noticed several (gorgeous, I might add) Florida photographs recently. My family spent a week in Santa Rosa, Florida, on a much-needed vacation. We’re not busy-bodies on vacation (or in general), so we sat on the beach, splashed in the ocean, took naps, and ate ice cream. It was magical and didn’t even require…
So, here we are – together. You and me. Connected not through social media or an RSS feed, but through Jesus Christ. I may never meet you on this earth, but I can’t wait to worship with you in heaven. Until then, let’s commit to running this race together. Onward and upward as we finish out James in chapter 5 this week.
