Don't Abandon The Faith

Hebrews 10:31-39

It goes without saying that being persecuted is a terrible thing to go through, whether it is because of who you are or what you believe in.  No one wants to go through attacks of any sort, whether physically, verbally, or economically.  There are many places around the world where Christians are suffering varying degrees of persecution, and this has been the case since the early days of the Apostles.  Our New Testament reading for this week highlights the persecution that some Christians in the early days of the Church endured, and the encouragement they were given to carry on faithfully for the Lord.

The Epistle to the Hebrews was written primarily to Jewish Christians, men and women who had converted from a Jewish background to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Messiah.  Many of these new believers’ families turned against them when they became Christians, particularly those in Israel and Judah.  Many of them were disowned by their families and disinherited.  If the new believer was a married woman and her husband wasn’t, her husband often would divorce her, kick her out of the house, and keep her children from her.  If she could, she might go back to her family, but often they had also disowned her.  If they were a male, he often was fired from his job if his employer was Jewish, and then found it difficult to get another job, thus bringing financial hardship on his family.  Because Israel was occupied by the Romans, and a part of the Roman empire, they did not have the authority to put anyone to death, however that wouldn’t stop angry neighbors and family members from making other covert attacks against a Jewish convert to Christianity, such as burning down their house or physically assaulting them when the law was looking the other way.

Because of these frequent persecutions, some of these new believers were becoming quite discouraged.  Some were even considering going back to their former Jewish faith.  They figured that by doing so they might get their job back, their family might accept them back again, and it would end the attacks.

The unknown author of this epistle warned them not to do this.  He proceeded to send them much encouragement while they endured the oppression and mistreatment they were going through.  He urged them to remember the times in the past.  Shortly after they were saved they went through a similar time of persecution, where they were reproached and went through tribulations (vs. 32-33).   In those days they even uplifted and gave support and cheer to others going through similar treatment, including that author while he was imprisoned (vs. 34).  They didn’t allow the fact that many of them had their belongings taken to bother them, as they knew that their true reward was in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21).

However, now years of harsh persecution was wearing them down.  The writer had reason to believe that some were going to cast away their faith.  He warned them not to do this, as after they had endured, they would receive God’s promise (vs. 35-36).  Jesus is coming back.  It may be a little while, he wrote, but He will not tarry, He will not delay any longer than is decreed in heaven (vs. 37).  He warned them that God is not pleased with any who draw back, away from their faith (vs. 38).  He wants to believe that they are not those who abandon their faith to damnation, but instead are genuinely saved, true believers (vs. 39).

Are any of you enduring persecution for your faith, or are going through some other heavy struggle that is causing you to think twice about your faith, and perhaps are tempted to just turn away from your beliefs?  Like these early Christians, hold on to your faith.  Don’t be one who draws back.  Hold on to the fact that God is still on His throne, and that we know Jesus will come again!

You Can Have A Good Inheritance

Psalm 16

Many parents, if they can afford to, will try to leave a nice inheritance to their children.  Every so often in the news we hear of this or that celebrity or Wall Street business tycoon dying, and then leaving a very sizable inheritance to their children.  Then there are many who have very little that they can leave to their children, and neither did they receive much from their parents, either.  However, if one is a Christian, our Heavenly Father has promised us a good inheritance.  The Apostle Paul writes about that often in his Epistles, and here in the Psalms we see this promise, as well.

Psalm 16 was written by David, and it’s unsure when he wrote it, quite possibly before he became king.  During the early years of his adult life David spent much of his time living on the run from the murderous plots of King Saul.  He would not have had the opportunity to earn a living in the traditional way.  David would likely have had to depend upon the Lord and the generosity of others for his daily needs.  Did he have any inheritance from his father?  We know that David had several older brothers, and was the youngest son.  Though his father was not particularly poor, it’s not likely that he was very wealthy either.  In Jewish culture at the time, the eldest son got a much bigger portion of the inheritance, and then the remainder was divided among the rest of the family.  David’s father seemed very dismissive of his youngest son, David, not even thinking him worth being there when the prophet Samuel came to the family and asked for the family to be gathered (I Samuel 16:5, 11).  David seems to have had lingering feelings of rejection by his parents, as we see in Psalm 27:10.  However, David knew that he had a glorious inheritance through his Heavenly Father (vs. 5-6).

You, too, might not have any earthly inheritance from your parents or family.  Perhaps they had nothing to leave you, or they were estranged from you, or all you were left were bad memories and hurts.  Yet with Yahweh as your Father, you can say with David that He is your inheritance and that you have a good inheritance!

We might feel that we have valid reasons for feeling dissatisfied with the circumstances in our life.  David might have too during the years prior to becoming king, the years he was ignored in his family, being treated like he was unimportant, and the years on the run for his life from the murderous intentions of Saul.  Our view of changing circumstances and contentment is a personal choice.  The way we view our circumstances is more important than the circumstances themselves.  When we go through some very difficult times we have the choice to either sit and wallow in our misery, or to get up and through the power and strength of our ever-present Savior, face the problem.  That is what the Apostle Paul did (Philippians 4:11).  He knew that with Jesus, he could be content whether things were going good or not.  When we draw our ultimate satisfaction from God, who never changes, we can be content despite our circumstances.  Lasting satisfaction can be found only with Him.  When all we have is God, we have all we need.

Although we live in this world, we belong to the kingdom of God, which is diametrically opposed to the system of this world.  (John 17:16; I John 2:15-17).  The Lord can and will give us joy when we turn to Him, and His joy will give us strength day by day, no matter our circumstances (Nehemiah 8:10).  The level of our joy determines the level of our strength.

In closing we should always remember that God’s goodness is not dependent upon our circumstances.  It is always accessible, even when life is filled with difficulties and hardships.  He is our inheritance!

Stand True To The End

Daniel 12

Sometimes as one looks around at the world today, one might get very discouraged.  Things are bad, and only seem to be getting worse and worse.  Not only are conditions all around the world bad, in just about every individual country, they are certainly locally, as well.  Crime has increased, especially violent crime.  And much as the working-poor struggle they can’t break free from poverty.  On top of all that, the persecution of Christians, whether subtly or openly, continues unabated.  We may think that someone is a pessimist if they say that things are only going to get worse, but it’s true.  Things are going to get worse.  However, that is not the final ending.  Believers are promised a great victory in Jesus, which is not only recorded in the final book of the Bible, Revelation, but also in various passages scattered throughout the Bible.  Our Old Testament Scripture in the Book of Daniel is one such passage.

Our Scripture comes from the Book of Daniel.  Daniel, as you may recall, was a Jewish man who, as a young man or youth, had been taken captive into Babylon when that empire had overrun and destroyed the Kingdom of Judah.  Because of his great godly wisdom, he rose to high positions in the empire, yet always remaining faithful to Yahweh.  Now, towards the end of his long life, he has some visions or prophecies of end-times, and what will happen to God’s people.  As our Scripture opens, we read of Michael, a great prince of God’s people (vs. 1).  This is referring to the archangel Michael, who is chief among the angels, and a great warrior against Satan in the spiritual realm.  Daniel relays that there will be a terrible time of trouble, and God’s people will be horribly persecuted.  We see Christians persecuted today in various places, but it will be even worse then.

At the end of the tribulation period there will be a resurrection of the dead (vs. 2).  Those who are believers and followers of the Lord Jesus will receive everlasting life.  Those who are not will receive everlasting contempt.  Their time has run out, and God now has nothing but contempt, abhorrence, and aversion for them.

Daniel continues by stating that those who are wise and those who share the message of salvation, leading others to the Lord, will shine like stars in heaven (vs. 3).  Daniel is to seal the scroll, indicating that the full understanding of these prophecies will be revealed in the end times (vs. 4). The prophet saw visions of angelic beings who question how long this time shall last (vs. 5-7).  The “time, times, and half a time” is thought to be about 3 ½ years, a time often called the Great Tribulation, a period of severe persecution for Christians right before Christ’s return.

As our Scripture continues, we read that believers will continue, standing pure and true, through great trials, while the wicked will continue their wickedness and rejection of God (vs. 8-10).  At some date before the end of this time it is believed that the Temple will have been rebuilt, as the daily sacrifices will be ordered to stop, and a great abomination and affront to God will be set up (vs. 11-13).  Those who stay true to the Lord till the end, though, will be blessed.

As we see in this chapter, though there are terrible trials and tribulations that will come for God’s people, we see that we will be delivered and rewarded if we stand true to Jesus.  God encourages us to live wisely, remain faithful during these difficult times, and also to continue to tell others about salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.

No matter how dismal things may look in the world today, and no matter how worse they become in the future, no matter how strong Satan’s attacks may seem, God has the ultimate victory.  If you have a relationship with God through saving faith in His Son, Jesus, you have that victory, too.  If you don’t, please repent of your sins and call upon the Lord Jesus, accepting Him as your Savior today!

Two Mites

Mark 12:38-44

Do you ever catch yourself taking a peek at what other people put in the offering plate when it is passed in church?  Most of us would have to admit that we do on occasion.   We all know of some people who, if they are giving a large amount, will make sure those banknotes are opened, face up, right on the top and center.  However, if they give a small amount, that banknote is folded and placed in a corner.  Back in the day when people used checks more often, that would also be put face up if it was written for a large amount.  It might come as a surprise to some to know that one day Jesus spent a bit of time watching what people put in the offering at the Temple, and observing how much or how little they gave.  Our Gospel reading today records this event, and let’s take a look at what God’s Word says.

As our Scripture opens, we read how Jesus gave a condemnation and warning of the scribes of His day (vs. 38-40).  Some might wonder exactly who the scribes were.  The scribes in the New Testament at the time of Jesus were highly educated Jewish scholars and legal experts, in both Old Testament religious and civil laws.  They were responsible for copying and interpreting the Scriptures, and they also drafted legal documents for people.  The scribes were usually associated with the Pharisees, and many were part of the Sanhedrin, which was like the Jewish supreme court in Jerusalem.

Jesus pronounced a condemnation on many in this group.  Though, just like there were a few Pharisees that secretly followed Jesus, and after the Resurrection and Ascension joined the disciples as believers, there were a few scribes that also secretly followed Him.  However, most scribes and Pharisees did not believe.  Jesus condemned the hypocrisy and pride that the scribes had.  Though they had their noses in the Scriptures all day, the Words of God had not sunk in any deeper than that.  How many people today are just as outwardly religious, and seemingly know the Bible, but are just as spiritually lost as the scribes?  The scribes, along with the Pharisees opposed Jesus, their Messiah so much, the two groups did all they could to see that He was crucified.

After Jesus spoke out against the scribes, He went into the Temple to where the treasury boxes were located, which were containers that people would place their monetary offerings.  Jesus took a seat nearby where He could observe the people when they gave (vs. 41-44).  He saw the rich, and how they outwardly gave a lot of money, some probably making sure that others noticed their gifts.  And then there were poorer folk, whose offerings were not nearly as much.  They would not have wanted to draw attention to their giving.

As Jesus watched, a poor widow came up to the offering box, and put in just two mites, which today wouldn’t even equal a penny.  We might scoff at that, wondering why she is even bothering to give that.  It’s not that her gift could even buy a stick of incense.  However, Jesus called His disciples over and pointed out to them what she did, not to embarrass her, but to commend her gift.  Why would He do that, and not commend those who gave large amounts?

As we read, this woman was a poor widow.  Most widows in those days were poor, many even destitute.  In those days there was no such thing as a retirement plan, no monthly pension payments from a good job.  An elderly husband and wife lived off of what they might have been able to save, and unless one was very wealthy, that would be very little.  One worked until one died.  There were very few jobs available for women, so when a woman’s husband died, if they were younger and lucky, they would try to remarry someone.  Hopefully a widow might have a son or two, and they could go live with them.  If not, they were out of luck, and reduced to begging.

That was the case with this poor widow.  Yet she made her way to the Temple in order to give to God what little she had.  This woman was destitute, yet she gave what she had to God, and He noticed.  Jesus knew her condition, and gave her great praise.  He pointed out that though the rich gave large amounts, their gifts did not hurt their wallets.  They weren’t going to go home and eat a dry bread crust.  However this woman’s gift, though tiny, was all she had.  Even though she didn’t know how she was going to live from day to day, she made sure she gave to God.

I am sure that God made sure to provide for her, just as He makes sure to provide for us.  We do not need to fear when we give to God.  Jesus always takes care of His own.

A Copy Or The Original

Hebrews 9:24-28

Do you have a replica or a reproduction of something famous?  Some people have a reproduction of a famous work of art in their homes.  I have a very inexpensive copy of Van Gogh’s  Starry Night, as it is one of my favorite paintings.  The original is worth well over $100 million dollars!  Mine is worth under $10.  Even a very well done reproduction of that, or any number of other famous paintings, are never as good or worth as much as the original.  People can often buy copies of famous documents at museum gift shops, and they aren’t worth much, not like the original.  Even buildings are sometimes reproduced.  There is a ½ sized replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in a northern suburb of Chicago.  As nice as that might be, it’s not the same as seeing the original.  In our Scripture for today from the Book of Hebrews, we read about replicas or copies, and how the replica is never as good as the original.

In the Old Testament we read of how Yahweh gave Moses careful instructions of how to make the Tabernacle, and everything that was to be contained therein, especially the Ark of the Covenant.  Later during the reign of King Solomon, special care was taken in following the instructions in building the Temple.  These were copies or replicas of what is heaven.  As the author of Hebrews continues with his theme of showing how Jesus is superior than things from the Old Testament, he states that Jesus didn’t enter the Holy Place, or Holy of Holies in the Temple, but instead actually entered into the presence of God to atone for our sins (vs. 24).  The original in heaven, in the presence of God, is far better than any copy on earth!

Every year the Jewish High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies with the blood of a lamb to put upon the Ark of the Covenant to pray for God’s forgiveness of the sins of the people.  The priest had to do this every year on the Day of Atonement, year after year after year.  The High Priest and the sacrificial lamb were a copy of what Jesus would do with His sacrificial death on the cross, and shedding His Blood for our sins.  Jesus was the original and the high priests, lambs, and Tabernacle or Temple were all copies.  Otherwise Jesus would have to die over and over (vs. 25-26).  Every year the priests would bring blood sacrifices, but as we read in Hebrews 10:4, it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins, which is why the sacrifices are continually repeated.  However, Jesus’ death was sufficient, and would never need to be repeated again.

As the author continues, he states that it is appointed for everyone to die, and then will follow the judgment (vs. 27).  Until the date of Jesus’ second return and the rapture, every single one of us will die.  There is no escaping that.  Many people live as though they will live forever, with never a thought about their eternal destiny.  However, the day of their death will eventually come, and after that there will be a reckoning.  The Day of Judgment will come for all of us.  Do we live our life with that in mind?  There are no second chances or “do-overs”, in other words, there is no reincarnation.

For those who have accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior, we can look forward to that day without fear (vs. 28).  He bore our sins, and when we accept Him as our Savior, we receive His free gift of salvation, and we no longer have to bear the penalty of our sins, as His Blood cleanses us from them.  Rather than live in fear and dread of death and the Judgment afterwards, we can eagerly await Jesus’ return.

Do you know the Lord Jesus as your personal Savior?  Can you await His return with eagerness?  Or have you placed your trust in some clever copy or replica?  Many people have thought that they had an original, only to be told that it was just a copy, or even a forgery, and it was worth nothing.  Putting your faith and trust in anything but Jesus Christ will get you nowhere, and will bring great disappointment on that Day of Judgment which is coming for everyone, so turn to Him today!

Watch My Mouth

Psalm 141

Oops!  I did it again!  I opened my mouth and let some words slip out that I shouldn’t have.  Has that happened to you?  It sure has happened to me more often than I wish.  If only there was a trap at my mouth to catch every word before they got out, where I could check them over first, and hold back ones that on second thought I know aren’t advisable to say.  Could you use such a device?  This is something that King David wished he had, and was something he actually prayed the Lord would help him with.  We read about this in our psalm for this week.

Our psalm, one of the many that King David wrote, begins with the king’s prayer to the Lord.  David’s life was often like a roller coaster ride, a lot of rapid ups and downs, and quickly whipping around problems right and left.  In all of these he knew that he needed God’s help, and he often prayed to Him, calling out for Him to listen to his voice (vs. 1).  David compared his prayers rising up to God like the smoke of incense rising into the air (vs. 2).  I love the smell of church incense, just like in a dimly lit medieval monastery.  Our prayers do rise up to God like incense, as we read in Revelation 5:8 and Revelation 8:3-4.

God loves to hear our prayers.  They are like bowls of incense, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.  Our prayers, even the “little ones” do not bother Him.  God wants us to pray constantly (I Thessalonians 5:17), and to pray about everything in our lives (Philippians 4:6).  He cares about every detail in our life.  Don’t believe the lie that your concerns aren’t worth His time.

As King David continued, he confessed to the Lord that he knows that his mouth sometimes gets him into trouble (vs. 3).  He opened his mouth and let slip words he wished he hadn’t said.  David asked the Lord to set a guard before his mouth, right at his lips, so no wrong words could escape.  Living in royal palaces, he probably had guards at many of the doors.  They would stand there with heavy staff and spears in their hands, ready to block the entrance for unwelcome people, or the exit for people the king wished to detain.  Nothing could get in or out without royal approval.

Just as David prayed, we are to be very careful with what we say at all times.  Words are powerful.  They can build people up, and they can also tear them down.  It’s so easy to say a damaging word.  Imagine that royal guard standing watch at your mouth.  Every word must pass inspection before it can come out.  This is a good prayer for the beginning of each day.

David continued through the rest of the psalm praying that the Lord would keep him from following the ways of the wicked.  Unless one escapes to a monastery, it is impossible to live a life without running into some disreputable people now and then.  However, we don’t want to let their ways influence us, and this was David’s prayer (vs. 4).  This is a prayer that also echoes the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:13), where we pray to not be led into temptation, and be delivered from the evil one.  If we are not careful, we can easily find ourselves slipping down sin’s slope, soon careening out of control.

Though we read how important it is to steer clear of the influence and ways of the wicked, we are also instructed to accept the counsel of righteous and godly people (vs. 5).  When they seek to give us godly counsel and correction, we should not take offense, nor tell them to leave us alone and get lost.  God tells us here to accept their words, as in reality it is kindness.  A true friend will gently correct us when we need it (Proverbs 27:6).  A false friend either doesn’t care, they are not invested enough in our lives to notice, or are deep in their own sins.

As we close up Psalm 141, we should take its lessons to heart in our lives.  Let’s carefully watch our words, watch who we associate with, and to accept the correction of those we know are good and godly examples.  Then our prayers can rise to the Lord as sweet-smelling incense!

God Always Provides Enough

I Kings 17:8-16

If someone needed your help or assistance, would you help them out?  Most of us like to think that we would.  However, what if by helping them, that would use up the very last of your resources?  By helping them, you would be spending or giving the very last dollar you had, or the very last bite of food you had.  Would you do it then?  This is the dilemma that the woman in our Scripture today faced.  Would she give her very last?  Would we?  Let’s see what lessons the Lord can teach us today.

Our Old Testament Scripture passage is a chapter out of the life of one of my all-time favorite people from the Bible, the Prophet Elijah.  Elijah was a prophet of Yahweh, who preached His message to the people of the northern Kingdom of Israel during the reign of King Ahab.  Because of the people’s sins the Lord judged them by causing a nation-wide drought, where no rain fell for several years.  This naturally upset the people, including King Ahab, and his life was in danger, so Elijah had to flee out into the wilderness where God provided for his daily needs for a few years.

Eventually the brook Elijah was staying near dried up, so the Lord sent him to the Phoenician city of Zarephath, a city in Gentile, pagan territory (vs. 8-10).  This was a journey about 100 miles away.  Elijah was walking, and he was still a “wanted man”, so coming out of hiding meant really trusting God for his safety.  When the prophet arrived at the city border, he met a widow who was out gathering some sticks in order to start a cooking fire in her house.  Elijah was tired, hungry, and thirsty, and he asked the woman for a drink of water and a bite to eat (vs. 10-11).  The widow answered that she only had enough for a small bite for herself and her son (vs. 12).  They were going to eat that, and then prepare to die of starvation.  This long drought had caused famine throughout the area, and the widow had given up hope of living.  Elijah responded by telling her to do as he asked, and she would not starve, nor die (vs. 13-14).  So here we are.  Would the woman give her very last bite of food to a stranger?  Would she believe his word and step out in faith?  Would I?  Would you?

That was a rather bold statement for Elijah to make.  First, the Phoenicians were no friends of Israel.  Why would he expect the widow would help him?  And then, what if the woman did as he requested and God did not replenish her food supply, and she died?  Elijah had faith in the Lord that He would provide for the woman, even though she was a Gentile, if she had faith in the Lord, as well.  He had confidence to say what he did to the widow during a famine because he had lived a life of faith, and had proved God to be faithful.

Elijah asked the widow for the one thing that she couldn’t spare.  Giving up her little resource, she could now only lean on God.  She was pushed beyond her limit to endure.  She was out of food and without any options.  God was now ready to work a miracle for her, but she needed to trust Him and be obedient.  This woman’s obedience to God’s command through Elijah brought her deliverance.  God never asks you for what you don’t have.  He only asks you for what you want to keep for yourself.  Elijah rebuked the fear in the woman, and told her to give what she had.  In return God supplied what she needed.

Most of us would rather that God would provide in abundance long before our resources are depleted, rather than just enough for each day.  God, though, tells us to trust Him.  When we feel trapped by our circumstances, and feel certain that what we have will not be enough, God can work miracles.  God strengthens us to continue using what little we have, trusting that with His help it will be enough.

Are you afraid that your jar of flour will one day be empty and your jug of oil will fail?  According to the Word of God, if believers in Jesus trust and obey Him, this will not be the case.  God’s grace and mercy will last through all of your necessities.  You can never exhaust the infinite mercies of God.  He hears us when we are scraping the bottom of the barrel.  All else may be gone, but Jesus remains, and His Word declares that our every need will be supplied.