Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus)

Hebrews – Learning to Out of the Way

Over a span of twenty five years plus, my husband was pastor to three churches that needed to turn around, get focused on the basics tenets of the faith and get on with the work God called us to be and then do. As I read this account in Hebrews that tells us to “Grow up in Christ!” and “…get on with it!”, I am reminded of Randy’s frustration at times when people would focus on the unimportant small details instead of the bigger picture of reaching the world for Christ with love in their hearts for God and each other.

By not listening and hearing…

“I have a lot more to say about this, but it is hard to get it across to you since you’ve picked up this bad habit of not listening. By this time you ought to be teachers yourselves, yet here I find you need someone to sit down with you and go over the basics on g”od again, starting from square one–baby’s milk, when you should have been on solid food long ago! Milk is for beginners, inexperienced in God’s ways; solid food is for the mature, who have some practice in telling right from wrong.” Hebrews 5, Msg

“So come on, let’s leave the preschool finger painting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on ‘salvation by self-help’ and turning in trust toward God; baptismal instructions; laying on of hand; resurrection of the dead; eternal judgment. God helping us, we’ll stay true to all that. But there ‘s so much more. Let’s get on with it!” Hebrews 6, Msg

Salvation things…

“Once people have seen the light, gotten a taste of heaven and been part of the work of the Holy Spirit, once they’ve personally experienced the sheer goodness of God’s Word and the powers breaking in on us–if then they turn their backs on it, washing their hands of the whole thing, well, they can’t start over as if nothing happened. That’s impossible. Why, they’ve re-crucified Jesus!”
Hebrews 6, Msg

STOP! This is a question we have to stop and ask daily. Is my thought life and subsequent behavior re-crucifying my Jesus? Will I get God’s “well done” or will he say, “Depart, for I never knew you”?

The writer encourages us to finish well…

“I’m sure that won’t happen to you, friends. I have better things in mind for you–salvation things! God doesn’t miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you’ve shown him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it. And now I want each of you to extend the same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish. Don’t drag your fee. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.” Hebrews 6, Msg

Dear Heavenly Father, You are so patient with us. Thank you. Draw us gently but surely back into focus on salvation things and leave behind all that entangles us. Lead us to a “full-bodied hope” with intensity to keep at it. No matter what. Our intention is not to re-crucify you, dear Jesus, but to tell why You were crucified so others will know You, too. Help us, Lord.
In Jesus Name, Amen

THE SOURCE.

Hebrews – Learning to get out of the way

“While he lived on earth, anticipating death, Jesus cried out in pain and wept in sorrow as he offered up priestly prayers to God. Because he honored God, God answered him. Though he was God’s Son, he learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered, just as we do. Then, having arrived at the full stature of his maturity and having been announced by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek, he became THE SOURCE of eternal salvation to all who believingly obey him.” Hebrews 5, Msg

Jesus – THE SOURCE!

Jesus cried out in sorrow for you and me. He suffered for you and me. He is the Source who points the Way to Truth and Life! Jesus, simply Jesus. No other.

Dear Heavenly Father,
We read and weep a little over what Jesus has done for us. We are sinners saved only by the grace of the action of Jesus. There are not enough words in our vocabulary to thank you, so listen to our hearts. We love You. Nothing in the world compares to loving You. So we believe, we trust, and follow You. No matter what. 
In Jesus Name, Amen

JESUS…IN TOUCH WITH OUR REALITY!.

Hebrews – Learning to get out of the way

It’s hard to accept help. It’s hard to ask for help at times. It’s hard to admit weakness. So we stay silent. Sometimes we are so overwhelmed we don’t even know what we need, so we can’t express it well. But God knows. And He provides the help we need, even when we didn’t know what we needed at the time. God is amazing like that!

As Randy is home now, in recovery mode from his stokes and I work at a full time job, we had a person come to our aid and provide food for the week. I am still in awe and taken aback by this gracious and merciful act of kindness. I didn’t ask for it. It just showed up. It was EXACTLY what we needed. 

It was hard to accept this gift, at first, because it reminds me of my weakness. (AND she is a much greater chef than I am!) But Jesus says…take the mercy, accept the help. I did and I was blessed by the gift, not only for Randy, my dad who lives with us and I, but the gift of stressless evenings of coming home to our current reality and renewing ourselves with beautifully prepared, healthy dinners. 

Is that why we wait so long to accept the mercy of Jesus Christ? Do we feel weaker and out of control if we admit we need His help, His mercy and grace and most of all, His forgiveness? Are we letting our eternal salvation with gifts of His peace slip through our fingers?

Guess what? We cannot save ourselves. Fact.

As we continue to read and pray our way through Hebrews, I am reminded again to get out of the way with my focus becoming more clear and sharp on the actions of Jesus. My flesh may be weak at the moment but my faith is stronger still…all because of Jesus. Simply Jesus.

“Now that we know what we have–Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God–let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t’ have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all–all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.” Hebrews 4, Msg

Dear Heavenly Father,
You are helping us in so many ways. In my weakness, You are stronger still. You cried out in pain through your suffering and wept in sorrow for us, Your created. You are in touch with our realities. You took our place and paid our debt of sin on top of it all! We believe. We love you back. We trust in You. I accept your mercy. I accept your help. And we are grateful.
In Jesus Name, Amen

WE FRUSTRATE GOD?.

WATCH YOUR STEP!.

Hebrews – Learning to get out of the way

As Randy continues his road to recovery from a couple of pesky strokes, I am constantly saying “watch your step” so you won’t trip! “Pick up your feet. Watch where you are going. Make a plan before you get there…so you will get there without falling.” So it is amusing to read this morning the following passage from Hebrews about our belief…or lack thereof at times.

“So watch your step, friends. Make sure there’s no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it’s still God’s Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn’t slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we’re in this with Christ for the long haul.” Hebrews 3, Msg

Just as Randy is in recovering, for the long haul, we will watch his steps as they become more sure and strong. As we build our faith with each step in life’s journey may we help each other with encouragement to stay strong in our belief with full confidence in Jesus Christ who is in “this for the long haul.” A forever. 

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for your Word of encouragement to us this morning. Your mercies are indeed fresh every morning and gives us just what we need for today. Thank you for saving us. We love you back because Your first love us. 
In Jesus Name, Amen

TAKE A HARD LOOK!.