"Do these things and..."

People often complain that religion is just a list of rules to follow. When you consider the Five Pillars of Islam, Buddhism's Eightfold Path, and the Jewish Torah, they seem to be correct. "Do this and you will live a happy life" or "do this and you will gain eternal life" seem to be consistent themes with many religions.
But is Christianity the same? Don't we have lists of rules to follow as well?
"No, of course not!" You might say, "Christianity is not a religion; it's a relationship."
Then we come to Hebrews 13...and a list of things we are told to do.

• Let brotherly love continue
• Be hospitable
• Remember those in prison for their faith
• Hold marriage in high honor, keep it undefiled
• Do not be greedy, but be content with what you have
• Remember that the Lord is with you and will never forsake you
• Honor your spiritual leaders, and if they are faithful, imitate them
• Do not be led away by strange teachings
• Do not become too attached to the things of this world
• Do not neglect to do good
• Obey your leaders joyfully

A list of rules, right? How can we argue that our "religion" is different when we have lists of commands to obey as well? 

All of you who are freaking out right now, "WHAT IS SHE SAYING?????" Don't panic:)

One of the major differences between other religion's list of rules and passages such as Hebrews 13 is the purpose of the instructions.  Other religions promote these rules and ways of life as a means of salvation, as it were. Whether salvation from the cares of this life, or from the punishment of after-life, that differs, but the purpose is to obtain some right standing. 

As Christians and followers of the Holy Scriptures, we believe that there is NOTHING we can do to obtain right standing before God. Our righteousness is like filthy rags before Him. There is not one of us who is capable of doing enough good to tip the heavenly scale in our favor and be allowed into heaven: not one. 

It is only by the shed blood of Christ and His propitiation for our sins that we may gain eternal life with God and an abundant life here on earth! It is only by His Grace toward sinners that we can be anything other than a stench before Him.

Then what is the purpose of passages like Hebrews 13? Why should we follow such "rules"? 

The purpose of these instructions is found in verse 15: "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name." 

And it is reitterated later in verse 20: "Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." 

We do things to bring glory and praise to the One Who Was and Is, and Is to Come! We do these things as a sacrifice of praise to the One Who deserves everything we are and have, since He gave all of Himself for us!  We are only able to do these things through His strength and for His glory!

We can in no way obtain mercy and grace for ourselves by following rules such as these-PRAISE THE LORD! But by following them with our whole hearts, we can offer to God a sweet aroma of praise from those Whom He has redeemed, "that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."

In the busy times...

I'm sorry I haven't posted in quite a while, February 28th, to be exact! It's been busy, but that's a lame excuse. Everyone is busy! That's life!
Prayer request: I am taking my SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) on Saturday.  I'm not super nervous yet, but might be Friday night going into Saturday. I would especially appreciate prayers for focus and clarity, as I will testing from 8:00 to 12:45...yuck:)
I am really enjoying my study in Hebrews!  I am in chapter 12...and the emphasis on perseverance in holiness!
I am so thankful that my "goodness" is not what gets me to heaven...I would be doomed.
But now that Christ's holiness is credited to my account, I am declared righteous, justified in God's sight!
Be reminded that many have gone before us with less "visibility" and more faith. They didn't have the written Word, they trusted a God they couldn't see and did things that cost them their lives; 'people of whom the world was not worthy.' "Let us ALSO then" run with endurance, cast off impediments and keep our eyes fixed on Christ!
Let us strive for peace with everyone and holiness....not as the MEANS to get us into heaven, but out of gratefulness for the MEANS He used to get us there! BECAUSE of what He did, let us not grow weary in doing good!
Even in tough times, which seem most unpleasant, remember that God is our loving Father, and wouldn't allow anything that does not draw us nearer to Himself. "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness, to those who have been trained by it."  Hebrews 12:11


"But as it is, they desire a better county, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them!" Hebrews 11:16

The Promise

"For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." "And thus Abraham,having patiently waited, obtained the promise.  "For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. "So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath,  so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.  We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." Hebrews 6:13-20
I am finding much hope in these verses today! They are preceeded by verses about "falling away," which no matter what your understanding of that term is, they are a rather frightening thought. But the point of them, as stated in Hebrews 6:10-12, is that we may press onward and seek to be even more earnest in our faith, that we may be certain on our hope.The passage above compares our hope with that of Abraham's, as we have the same guarantee of our hope. God swore by Himself, though His promise alone would be unchangable, so that Abraham would come to understand WHO GOD IS, and that nothing He says will ever fall to the ground. When God says something, you can be sure that it will come to pass. But God swore by Himself, so that the promise of blessing was doubly-insured by the GREAT I AM, for Whom IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO EVER LIE. What is the result of this truth? Why does it matter?It matters because "we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.  We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain!" If those words do not fill your soul with a joy that could explode into song...you either need to read them again, or consider your spiritual state. 
We can hold fast to the truths we have been taught, because He who promised is faithful!This Holy Word is 100% true and accurate...GOD SAID SO. Nothing He says ever fails. He is Truth. When He says that whoever believes on Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life, it's true. When He says the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses me from all sin, it's true.When He says that Jesus Christ ascended on high, and is interceding on our behalf, it's true.When He says that Jesus is preparing A PLACE FOR US, where neither moth or rust can decay, and where thieves cannot break in and steal, it's true.When He says that to him who overcomes, he will be given a crown of life, it's true.When He says that in heaven we shall have no sorrow, death, or pain, it's true.When He says that we will be forever at peace and joyful in the presence of our God and Savior, it's True!
We can trust Him, friends! Not only is EVERYTHING HE SAYS TRUTH, but HE IS TRUTH. And when He swears by Himself, well, you can bet your life that it will come to pass!And that's what we're called to do as Christians. Give your life as insurance that every word of God is true, that you are willing to live and die to proclaim the Name of Him who ransomed your life from destruction and in whom YOU HAVE ETERNAL HOPE.
We have this sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.

"And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Hebrews 6:11-12

In time of need...

In Hebrews 3 and 4, the author challenges us to persevere and not be disobedient like the "faithless Exodus generation." The reason is because "there is still a rest for the people of God."

A rest. Big sigh of relief! Don't we all need a rest? We all need to be able to cease striving and know that our God is God! 

This rest is both here and now, and eternal. It is a peace, no matter what chaos is going on around us. It is a trust, because we know the One Who is Sovereign over the affairs of men.

Isn't that wonderful that we don't have to keep going and going on our own strength like the world around us? Their motto seems to be "Go until you drop!"

Continuing on in Hebrews 4, verse 11: "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience [the Israelites in the exodus]. For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."

So we are to be faithful, and persevere, unlike the Israelites who grumbled and complained at the first sight of trouble. And not only that, but the Word of God is illumining our hidden intentions and motives. We are completely bare before our God, who sees and knows everything about us. We can't lie to Him and pretend that we are 'okay.' He sees everything, and He is our Judge.

That is a formidable image! The One Who knows EVERY LITTLE THING about me, is the One who will judge my life. I have no chance! He sees the times that it looked like I was persevering, but inside was complaining. He sees the times that it looked like I was being faithful, but was doubting His Word.

But the verses go on..."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. 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. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and grace to help in time of need!"

Instead of us approaching expecting condemnation from the One who knows we deserve it, we have a great High Priest Who is seated at the right hand of God. He can empathize with our struggles, for He was tempted to sin just as we are, except that He never caved in.  He does not sit far above looking down on us...He came down to us! Became one of us!

And He is the One who speaks for us to the Father. 

Let us therefore come boldly! Let us draw near with confidence! Not only do we not have to fear condemnation, we can receive HELP.  "That we may obtain mercy and grace to help in time of need." 

This goes back to the beginning: we need help! We need rest!

But we are not alone in this. We have a great High Priest, who is interceding for us, with groanings that cannot be uttered.

"Let us therefore be dilligent"

"Let us hold fast"

"Let us come boldly"

"..that we may obtain mercy and grace to help in time of need." 

"For He who promises is Faithful!"

Latest Treasures...

Long ago, God, in many different ways, revealed himself to us through many different people, who like us were mere men.
But in these last days, He has spoken to use in a special way, using a personal messenger. He has spoken to us through His Son.
His Son is the heir and inheritor of the entire world, because through HIS POWER the world was created.
He IS the radiance of God's glory.
He is not just a reflection of God; He is the EXACT IMPRINT OF GOD.
He UPHOLDS THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE, which He created and will inherit, by THE WORD OF HIS POWER.
"After making purification for sins..."
after taking the form of a slave,
after taking on mere humanity,
after submitting Himself to serve those whom He created,
after surrendering to their humiliation of Him,
after suffering in His human body in the cruelest means of death,
after suffering through utter separation from THE FATHER,
after making Himself the scapegoat for OUR SIN,
He sat down.
He, being God, being All-Powerful, completed that which we could never do.
He paid the debt for our sin, took our well-deserved punishment, then ascended back to the heights of HIS GLORY : THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD : The Ultimate Seat of Power, Authority, and Blessing!

And we are IN CHRIST. We are united with Him in His death, and in His Resurrection, and someday...
WE ARE TO SHARE IN HIS GLORY.