Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus)

As we come to the close of Hebrews, the writer asks for prayer from fellow laborers in God’s church. He reminds us to “take it all seriously” and to “not go slack in working for the common good, sharing what you have with others”. He also tells us what pleases God...”acts of worship–a different kind of ‘sacrifice’–that takes place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets. WHO we are is our act of worship of God, our Father, Savior and Lord. 

This prayer that follows has my own handwritten note in the sidelines…”My Prayer today, LORD! 2-21-11″ Apparently it meant a lot to me then and I needed it…just like today. 8-8-2014. May this prayer bless and encourage you, too:

“May God, who puts all things together, makes all things whole, 

Who made a lasting mark through the sacrifice of Jesus, the sacrifice of blood that sealed the eternal covenant,

Who led Jesus, our Great Shepherd, up and alive from the dead,

Now put you together, provide you with everything you need to please him,

Make us into what gives him most pleasure, by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah.

All glory to Jesus forever and always!

Oh, yes, yes, yes.”

Hebrews 13, Msg

It is ALL about You, Dear Jesus!

In Jesus Name and by His power living in us, Amen

EMBRACE THE GRACE OF JESUS!.

Hebrews – Learning to get out of the way…to see Jesus, the Way!

“Been there, got the T-shirt”

As we continue our reading and learning more about our Savior and what He did, has done and will do, our focus becomes so much more clear. We fall for the trappings of products sold that are Christian and wear them proudly or drink from a mug with scriptures written as reminders. I have a few. But the writer of Hebrews as paraphrased by Eugene Peterson, are cautioning us to not just be impressed with Jesus. Wearing the t-shirt doesn’t make you a Christian. Accepting, believing, trusting, and obeying by consistently living for Christ makes you a devoted follower and builds a forever relationship with our Heavenly Father and Lord.

We need to KNOW Christ, embrace his grace as the only way out of our sin, then follow Him through good and bad, and be willing to go where Jesus is…where the action is, humbled by his sacrifice for us. Really get that. The Solid Rock is the only ground to stand on. Everything else is sinking sand…like the song goes. You can bet your life on it. So build your life on Him! Put your desires aside, get out of the way and focus on getting on the Way, on board, with Jesus Christ. Pray for His desires to fill Your heart, mind and soul, wanting nothing more and nothing less than God’s best, Jesus blood and righteousness!

“Don’t be lured away from him by the latest speculations about him. The grace of Christ is the only good ground for life. Products named after Christ don’t seem to do much for those who buy them.”
Hebrews 13, Msg

“The altar from which God gives us the gift of himself is not for exploitation by insiders who grab and loot. In the old system, the animals are killed and the bodies disposed of outside the camp. The blood is then brought inside to the altar as a sacrifice for sin. It’s the same with Jesus. He was crucified outside the city gates–THAT is where he poured out the sacrificial blood that was brought to God’s altar to cleanse his people.” Hebrews 13, Msg

“So let’s go outside, where Jesus is, where the action is–not trying to be privileged insiders, but taking our share in the abuse of Jesus. This ‘insider world” is not our home. We have our eyes peeled for the City about to come. Let’s take our place outside with Jesus, no longer pouring out the sacrificial blood of animals but pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips to God in Jesus’ name.”
Hebrews 13

Yes, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ! Not perfect, but Perfectly forgiven.

Dear Heavenly Father, It’s ALL about YOU! You are God and we are not. I believe, accept, trust and put all my faith in You. Guide me. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Give us this day all we need to please You in every thought and action. Take me outside with You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T!.

Hebrews – Learning to get out of the way, but ON the Way…

Respect. We all want it. Aretha Franklin sings about it. “R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Find out what it means to me!” We just want someone else to give us the dignity we feel we deserve. We humans do not want to be taken for granted. We try to earn it from others. We want to know we are valued. We are a bit self-centered. Mmm.

Respect is showing others they are important by what you say and do. So, maybe a better question to ask ourselves is, do we show respect in sincerity, with a grateful heart for others, who give so tireless to us so that we will know God more? The writer of Hebrews, is giving good advice about showing respect and giving worth to our pastors who love Jesus and serve us with His Word. 

“Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all. For Jesus doesn’t change–yesterday, today, tomorrow, he’s always totally himself.” 
Hebrews 13, Msg

Yesterday we learned that “God assured us, ‘I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,’. So isn’t that where our true and eternal worth lies? We are valued by God himself! Jesus died and rose again for you and me. How much more respect and worth do we need? The more we believe, take into our hearts and souls, and deeply accept what Jesus has done for us, the more love and respect we will extend to others. Hurting people hurt people. On the other hand, people who feel loved, valued and accepted…love, value and accept others, worts and all! Just like Jesus does!

Jesus, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He will never leave us. He died to set us free for all our debts of sin. That’s true value. Take that in. Let it flood your soul. Appreciate and respect Him and those who proclaim His Word and live out the Word in their lives every day. 

Dear Heavenly Father, You have shown us respect, value and worth as Your created by sending Your Son to save us. I believe and accept what you have done for me. Thank you for this lesson in appreciation. May we think of others more than ourselves by extending appreciation and giving value to them with our words and lives. We see Jesus in our leaders in what they say and do…we need to tell them. Give us opportunity. In Jesus Name, Amen

ALWAYS AND NEVER!.

Hebrews – Learning to get out of the way

I have come to really dislike the words “always and never” in our English language! Always and never are extremely overused. If you are around children for very long, count how many times they use these words. “But we always do it that way!” “I never get to do it!” “I always get to be first.” “I never get to be first.” “We always have pancakes at our house.” “We never eat out!” 

I wonder where our children learn these words…”I will always here for you, don’t worry.” Can we as humans really promise that? No. “I will never let anyone hurt you.” No, again. We cannot foresee the future, cannot by our own inabilities be everywhere at once, and we certainly cannot protect our children at all times. We cannot always be there. 

But God can. He NEVER changes. Jesus will ALWAYS be with us. It’s in His Name…Emmanuel…God with us! Our work is to be and do the best we can with God helping us. Here is great advice, full of wisdom and a wonderful promise at the end in Hebrews 13:

“Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love. Be ready with a meal or a bed when it’s needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it! Regard prisoners as if you were in prison with them. Look on victims of abuse as if what happened to them had happened to you.”

“Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex.”

“Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have.”

“Since God assured us, ‘I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,’ we can boldly quote,

‘God is there, ready to help;
I’m fearless no matter what.
Who or what can get to me?’

Hebrews 13, Msg

Dear Heavenly Father, They only way we can use the words always and never is when referring to You. I give you my heart, mind and soul that will always love you, no matter what, because You loved me first. I will never leave You because of your promise to never leave me. Thank you, dear Lord for your “never and always” promises. I standing on them. In Jesus Name, Amen

GOD’S ACTION IN JESUS…UNSHAKABLE!.

Hebrews – “The focus becomes clear and sharp again: God’s action in Jesus. And we are free once more for the act of faith, the one human action in which we don’t get in the way but ON the Way.” –Eugene Peterson 

From Old Covenant to New Covenant 

The writer of Hebrews explains the new focus in Jesus Christ in words that are inexplicably simple to understand for a nation that is steeped with rigorous religious practice. God moves them from where they were to where He has always wanted them (and us) to be…in a true, authentic, unconditionally loving relationship with Him!

“Unlike your ancestors, you didn’t come to Mount Sinai–all that volcanic blaze and earth shaking rumble–to hear God speak. The earsplitting words and soul-shaking message terrified them and they begged him to stop. When they heard the words, ‘If an animal touches the Mountain, it’s as good as dead’–they were afraid to move. Even Moses was terrified.” Hebrews 12, Msg

“No, that’s not YOUR experience at all. You’ve come to Mount Zion, the city where the living God resides. The invisible Jerusalem is populated by throngs of festive angels and Christian citizens. It is the city where God is Judge, with judgments that make us just. You’ve come to Jesus, who presents us with a new covenant, a fresh charter from God. He is the Mediator of this covenant. The murder of Jesus, unlike Abel’s–a homicide that cried out for vengeance–became a proclamation of grace.” Hebrews 12, Msg

“So don’t turn a deaf ear to these gracious words. If those who ignored earthly warnings didn’t’ get away with it, what will happen to us if we turn our backs on heavenly warnings? His voice that time shook the earth to its foundations; this time–he’s told us this quite plainly–he’ll also rock the heavens: ‘One last shaking, from top to bottom, stem to stern.’ The phrase ‘one last shaking’ means a thorough housecleaning, getting rid of all the historical and religious junk so that the unshakable essentials stand clear and uncluttered.” Hebrews 12, Msg

“Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom!”

“And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He’s actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won’t quit until it’s all cleansed. God himself is Fire!” Hebrews 12, Msg

Dear Heavenly Father, Cleanse me now of anything that offends You and Your unshakable Kingdom! I want to be On the Way, not in the way with religious junk. Do what You want in me so that our relationship remains pure and holy and always growing deeper, stronger and unshakable as we walk and talk together. Thank you, Jesus, my Lord and Savior. In Jesus Name, Amen

GOD’S TRAINING PAYS OFF! RUN FOR IT!.