Yours Always

Tuesday, October 16, 2012, 6:50 a.m. – the Lord woke me this morning with the song “A Believer’s Prayer” playing through my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read Hebrews 1 (NIV 1984):

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

For to which of the angels did God ever say,

“You are my Son;

    today I have become your Father”?

Or again,

“I will be his Father,

    and he will be my Son”?

And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”

In speaking of the angels he says,

“He makes his angels winds,

    his servants flames of fire.”

But about the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever,

    and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.

You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;

    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions

    by anointing you with the oil of joy.”

He also says,

“In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,

    and the heavens are the work of your hands.

They will perish, but you remain;

    they will all wear out like a garment.

You will roll them up like a robe;

    like a garment they will be changed.

But you remain the same,

    and your years will never end.”

To which of the angels did God ever say,

    “Sit at my right hand

until I make your enemies

    a footstool for your feet”?

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

The Son

Jesus Christ, the Son of God is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. The law was put into effect to lead us to Jesus Christ. God used to speak to his people directly through prophets, and now he speaks to us by his Son. For those of us who have Jesus Christ within us through faith in him as our Lord and Savior, we are able to hear God directly through the Holy Spirit within us, and no longer are we in need of a human mediator between us and God.

Now, God still speaks to us through people, yet their words may not be God’s exact words to us, but must be tested against the witness of the Spirit within us, and against God’s revealed word in scripture (under the New Covenant). They may have a message from the Lord, but again, it should be tested. Yet, we should not put out the Spirit’s fire by treating words from people with contempt, unless we have first tested their words and found them to be false. As well, we should not automatically accept all words from those messengers of God in our churches as though what they are saying is truth. They may not be. Be wise!

Jesus Christ is not only God the Father’s Son, and heir of all things, but he is the creator of the universe, he was with God from the beginning, and he is God. He is the “exact” representation of God’s being, meaning he is God, the second person of our triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The angels in heaven bow down and worship Jesus Christ because he is God. Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of God, and one day he is coming back to receive his bride, the true church, the saints of God, to himself, to be with him forever, and also to judge the earth and to rule and reign on the earth as King of kings and as Lord of lords.

The Son left his throne in heaven, came to earth, humbled himself, became human, yet he still remained fully God. He suffered as we suffer, was tempted as we are tempted, yet without sin, was mocked, criticized, falsely accused, attacked, rejected, despised, forsaken, abandoned, betrayed, and hung on a cross to die for our sins. When he died he took upon himself the sins of the entire world, he crucified our sins with him, buried them with him, but then he rose from the dead, triumphant over death, hell, Satan and sin for you and me.  His blood paid the ransom for our sins so that we could go free from slavery to sin, free to live in Christ’s righteousness, and free from the ultimate penalty of sin, eternal damnation.

Righteousness

Jesus Christ, the Son, loves righteousness and all that is holy, but he hates wickedness. He hates wickedness because it is diametrically opposed to all that is righteous and holy; because it is selfish, hurtful, and hateful; and because it turns its back on all of who God is and on all that he has done for us and it chooses, rather, to go its own selfish way. He hates sin because there is no fellowship between light and darkness, and thus it separates man from that perfect fellowship with God. Yet, Jesus’ death on the cross bridged that gap between man and God and made the way possible, through faith, to come into fellowship and relationship with God, because it is through Christ’s righteousness and holiness and through our faith in him that we have gained access to God’s throne of grace.

Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, not only to give us eternal life with him one day in heaven, but so we could be free from slavery to sin while we still live on the face of this earth. Thus, Jesus Christ requires of us that we leave our lives of sin behind us and that we are transformed in heart and mind by the power and working of the Holy Spirit within us, and that we turn to God to walk daily with Christ in faithful obedience and surrender to his will and purposes for our lives (see Eph. 4:17-24; Luke 9:23-24). This is what it means to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord (boss) and Savior (set free from slavery to sin).

Perish and Remain

Jesus Christ commands that we not love the trappings of this world with all its lustful desires, but that we be daily filled with the Holy Spirit of God (see Eph. 5:15-20). We are supposed to, in view of God’s mercy to us, lay our lives down for Jesus Christ, forsaking our lives of sin, no longer conformed to the standards and patterns of this world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds so we can live lives pleasing to God (see Ro. 12:1-2).

This world and all its pleasures, standards, temptations, trappings and stuff is all going to perish, but Christ and his word will remain forever. People and idols will perish, but God/Jesus Christ and his word live forever! Making money, gaining success, attaining popularity, status, and/or personal achievements in this life will also all wear out like a garment, but holiness, righteousness, faith, hope and love will remain. Doing great things by the standards of this world, winning trophies, getting promoted, etc. are all things that will one day be washed away. Instead of laying up treasures here on this earth, we should be laying up treasures in heaven by doing what has eternal value.

If you have not made Jesus Christ Lord and master (boss) of your life, I pray you will do so today. If you are just kind of floating along in your Christian life, living mainly to please yourself and for the things of this life, I pray today that you will surrender your life to Jesus Christ. All these things of this world and all its desires are going to perish, but he who does the will of God will live forever (see 1 John 2:17).

A Believer’s Prayer / An Original Work / July 31, 2012

With my whole heart,

Lord, I pray to be Yours,

And Yours always.

Lead me in Your truth today.

May I love You, and obey.

Lead me in Your righteousness.

When I sin, may I confess;

Bow before You when I pray;

Live for You and You always.

Love You, Jesus,

You’re my friend.

Life with You will never end.

You are with me through each day,

Giving love and peace always.

You will ne’er abandon me.

From my sin You set me free.

You died on that cruel tree,

So I’d live eternally.

Soon You’re coming back for me;

From this world to set me free;

Live with You eternally.

Oh, what joy that brings to me.

I will walk with You in white;

A pure bride,

I’ve been made right

By the blood of Jesus Christ;

Pardoned by His sacrifice.

New video: http://youtu.be/nSf8TrmFurs