DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- TYRANNY OF THE URGENT

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – TYRANNY OF THE URGENT

"Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior..." (II Peter 3:1-2)

All of us need to be reminded from time to time of the truths that we have received from the prophets and apostles as recorded in the Scripture. Some of us have photogenic minds but few of us have photographic minds. Things slip below the radar because we get so involved in the challenges of the present, sometimes called "The Tyranny of the Urgent."

In this case, Peter was reminding the Believers of the truths concerning the coming of the Lord Jesus. There were those who scoffed when Jesus did not return immediately, and Peter says, "don't forget" that God does not count time as we do. He reminded them that God has promised that Jesus would return, and we look forward to His promises.

We can get so wrapped up in the present that we lose sight of the long-range view. In the hustle and bustle and challenges of everyday life, we must not forget that God has a plan for the future. That includes His return to this earth. Today is not the end of things. We have hope for the future.

This long-range view helps us see the present more clearly, and our place in the present. It reminds us what manner of persons we ought to be in holy conduct and godliness as we look for the coming day of God (vss. 11-12).

Remember that God has a plan and He will perfect that plan in His time. As the songs says, "In His time, in His time, He makes all things beautiful in His time. Lord, please show me every day as you're teaching me Your way, that You do just what You say, In Your time."

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE ROARING LION

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE ROARING LION

"Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." (I Peter 5:8-9)

I was hunting in Montana with my cousin. There was some brush, but a lot of dry dirt. The first thing my cousin warned me about was, "Beware of the rattlesnakes." Needless to say, I was very alert to any suspicious movement or sound. What struck me was that my cousin went barefooted. It seemed incongruous that he would warn me and yet not take heed for himself.

Many Christians walk blithely through life with no thought about their adversary, the devil. I guess they think that they will never be attacked, so they don't take any precautions against his bite. Or maybe they don't really believe there are any lions or rattlesnakes around.

God warns us to take seriously the lion that is stalking us, just waiting for the convenient time to attack and devour. Listen to some of God's warnings. "Give no place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:17). In other words, don't give him space or opportunity to do his dirty work. We are warned to beware of unforgiveness, "lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices" (II Corinthians 2:11). Satan will take advantage of our ignorance or inattention. Give him an inch and he will take a mile. The devil is the father of lies (John 8:44), and his mission is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).

This does not mean that I have to look for the devil around every corner nor under every bush. It does mean that I must be alert and attentive to possible opportunities for him to do his dirty work, and set up safeguards – that will protect me from his schemes. We do have armor available to "stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11). One is "the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one (Ephesians 6:16).

The devil – the lion, the rattlesnake – is not to be feared because Jesus has defeated Him at the cross. But we still need to be watchful for his evil works.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THANKSGIVING DAY MEDITATION

THANKSGIVING DAY MEDITATION

2020

"Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays." I can still hear Perry Como singing the refrain. It brings a good feeling of nostalgia for the old days.

In my mind's eye, I can see the thanksgiving table loaded to the gills with the turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, and of course the favorite – yams. Awaiting the end of the meal is pumpkin pie, and there is fudge for snacking. Dad sits at the head of the table with Mom at the other end, with my brother and sister and I spread around the table. I didn't know it at the time, but there is an empty place at the table. My brother, Harold, is gone, having died before I was born as a one-year old infant.

There is a lot of joy around the table as we fill our plates and our stomachs with the good food.

Those days are long gone, and I remember other wonderful Thanksgiving Day celebrations as the family gathered for the festivities. But now, usually Mildred and I spend the holiday alone. We may go the church for a meal, and sometimes go to our niece and nephew's home for dinner. But the days of the family together are a memory.

In my meditation, I also see another Thanksgiving table spread. My Heavenly Father sits at the head of the table and the Lord Jesus at the other end, with a huge extended family scattered around the table, enjoying each other. There is my father, my mother, my brother and sister and myself. And, oh yes, the place for my brother Harold is no longer empty. The circle is unbroken.

It is called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. It will be a time of great thanksgiving and joy for our great salvation, and I am looking forward to it with great anticipation. What a day that will be!

I do hope that you will be there – that there will be no empty at the table.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SANCTIFYING GOD IN OUR HEARTS

SANCTIFY THE LORD GOD IN YOUR HEARTS

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear, having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." (I Peter 3:15-17)

What does it mean to "sanctify the Lord God in your hearts?" As you probably remember, "sanctify" means to set apart, to make holy. We speak of a church building where we worship as a "sanctuary" -- that is, a place that is sanctified – set apart – for worship. When we sanctify the Lord in our hearts, our hearts are set apart as place of worship.

Listen to some other translations of this verse: "You must worship Christ as Lord of your life." (NLT) "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord" (NIV. "In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy" (ESV). It means to make Jesus number 1 – the Lord of one's life.

When that happens, people will see the difference between us and the rest of the world who do not honor God as their priority, and some will become curious and ask what makes us different. Even if they revile us our good conduct, they will be convicted of their sin and be ashamed. Often that is the reason people mock and ridicule Christians. They, in a way, are acknowledging their own sinful lives and try to shift the focus from themselves. Even if people mock the believer for his righteous life, it is better to suffer than to do evil.

There are benefits for sanctifying God in our hearts. God gave promises to Israel. He said that if they would hallow Him in the eyes of other nations, that He would separate them from the countries of their captivity, he would cleanse them from their filthiness, He would give them a new heart and put a new spirit in them so that they would walk in His ways, and that He would be their God and they would be His people (Ezekiel 36:22-30). These also are the benefits to anyone who will make God their #1 focus and serve Him. They will experience God's blessing and be a light to the unbelievers.

Let us sanctify God in our hearts – hallow Him, worship Him, and honor Him, and live for Him.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GIRD UP YOUR LOINS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – GIRD UP THE LOINS OF YOUR MINDS

"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hopefully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelations of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.' " (I Peter 1:13-16)

"Gird up the loins of your minds" is an interesting choice of words by Peter. Of course he is writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, but it is also akin to Peter's vocabulary and experience. The word "gird up", according to Thayer's Greek Lexicon, is a metaphor derived from the practice of the Orientals, who, in order to be unimpeded in their movements were accustomed, when about to start on a journey or engage in any work, to bind their long and flowing garments closely around their bodies and fasten them with a leather girdle. As a former fisherman, Peter would have done this in his work.

I imagine the purpose may have been twofold. One was to allow freedom of movement without being constrained by their robes or to keep them from tripping, and the other is to keep their robe from becoming soiled by the muck and mire of the roads or the dusty streets and paths that the person would be traveling.

On our Christian journey, we travel through a world that is full of ungodly mudholes. We need to be attentive and take care of our minds, and not let them be tripped up by the vane philosophies or false doctrine that are so prevalent, or become soiled by mud and filth of this world. In fact, we read that God said to be holy because He is holy (vss. 15-16).

The Scriptures give admonitions about keeping our minds in check. Whatever is true, noble, just pure, lovely of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy – think on these things (Philippians 4:8). And we are told to not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1).

So let us not be sloppy in the clothing of our minds, but pay close attention to how we think, because Jesus said that out of the heart come evil thoughts (Mark 7:21), and our conduct comes from what is in our hearts. So, let us gird up our minds.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE TEST OF WISDOM

THE TEST OF WISDOM

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom…..But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, the peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. But the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." (James 3:13, 17-18)

In this letter, James talks a lot about wisdom. How do you tell a wise person from an unwise person? James gives us a score sheet to judge by.

First is the way the person lives – his good conduct clothed in meekness. How many people do we hear whose words fall flat because they are spoken in pride. People who think they have all the answers and their words are pearls of wisdom are self-centered and their goal is to awe and intimidate those of us who are less gifted. Listen to politicians who speak down to their constituents as though they were God's gift to humanity, and everyone should be in awe, bowing reverently before them?

Then James, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gives a list of attributes of godly wisdom. It is first pure – that is untainted by ulterior motives. Then, it is gentle – not harsh. It is willing to yield – not demanding. It is full of mercy – if the other person does not accept the wisdom. It is full of good fruits – that is, the proof is in the puddin' whether it is wisdom or not. It is without partiality. Wisdom is the same for everyone independent of social, economic, educational, intelligence status. It is without hypocrisy – without double meaning or ulterior motive.

We need God's wisdom, and this check sheet can help us determine whether we are people of wisdom, or if someone else speaks with wisdom. Even the best words of wisdom will be suspect if they are not spoken purely, gently, without demand, mercifully, yielding good fruit, impartially, or without hypocrisy.

The goal of wisdom is to make peace, even if the circumstances are in turmoil. Wisdom, no matter how good, spoken in anger or with wrong motives does not bring peace. Let us sow the fruit of righteousness and peace by speaking wisely.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PARTIALITY

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – PARTIALITY

"My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality." (James 2:1)

Partiality has no place in the life of the Believer. To make distinctions based on ethnicity, education, intelligence, economics, nationality, stature or looks, dress, or any other criterion does not jibe with Christian faith.

James used a concrete illustration of partiality. When they gathered for worship, there were those who came in dressed in rags, and they were told to sit in the corner or on the floor. But those who were dressed to the Nines because they were rich were given the good seats – the place of honor. James said that if you show partiality, you are committing sin, and will be judged (vs. 9).

Partiality goes in several directions. One way is the rich looking down on the poor or uneducated. They think that because they have financial success or a higher education, that anyone who is in a lower economic strata or are not as well educated is inferior. Sometimes, tall people can look down (no pun intended) on us little people.

But it happens the other way also. Poor people can think that rich people must be better if they are more successful. Or we little people can think that tall people must be better. Or us dummies – excuse me! Intellectually challenged -- can be in awe of someone who seems more intelligent. Or, conversely, we can think that rich people are snobs and hypocrites

Here's the fact. We all put our pants on the same way. We all have to brush our teeth. We all have to pay our electric bill. Basically, we are all the same in God's eyes. He sees us as His creation, and He died for all of us.

Our job is to see other people as sinners in need of a savior, and fellow-believers as brothers and sisters. There is no distinction with God. Suppose that Jesus had said, "I will go to earth to save the righteous, the rich, the smart, the successful, the elite, the 'beautiful people'," a lot of us would have been left out. Jesus came and died for everyone. There is no partiality with God and should not be with us.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- DOUBLE-MINDEDNESS

DOUBLE-MINDEDNESS

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:5-8)

Decision making can be tough. Should I or shouldn't I? Sometimes we are like Israel when Elijah (I Kings 18:21) said, "Why halt you between to opinions?" It would seem to be a no brainer in that situation – to serve God or serve Baal. But often the way is not so clear-cut. We need God's wisdom to make our decisions.

Indecision is the barrier that keeps us from moving forward. We sit at the crossroad wondering which road to take. And we sit, and sit, and sit and go nowhere. The old adage attributed to Yogi Berra says something. This Yogiism goes, "If you come to a fork in the road, take it!" Making a decision is better than dithering, because dithering gets you nowhere. A double-minded man is unstable because he never settles on a conclusion. Back and forth. One day, he is for this, and the next day he is for that. He never can settle on one solution. Maybe this, maybe that. He is like the boat on the waves, tossed to and fro.

Jesus said, "Let your yes be yes and your no, no. For whatever is more than these is from the evil one" (Matthew 5:37). James quoted this saying later in his letter when he wrote, "Let your Yes be Yes, and your No, No, lest you fall into judgment" (James 5:12b). "Maybe" will get you nowhere. The inability to make a decision comes from fear, and basically that fear is that I will fail. This is not to say we should make rash decisions. But once we are convinced of the facts and that God is leading, we need to take a stand. That is faith – I know God is true and I will trust Him. When I make a decision, I make it the best way I know how, and then trust God. I may even make a mistake, but I can trust that God is faithful and will bring about good. I can rest in Him. I hate the words, shoulda, woulda, coulda.

Jesus used another illustration when he talked about the eyes. He said, "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" (Matthew 6:22-23). Double-vision does not let you see things clearly. Everything is fuzzy. So we get corrective glasses to see clearly. The Bible is our eye-glasses. Seeing things through the prism of God's Word helps us see the issues clearly and helps us choose the right path to take. "In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path." God's word sheds light on our path. As C.S. Lewis said, "I believe in Christianity as I believe in the sun has risen; not only because I see the sun, but because by it I see everything else."

Wisdom comes from seeing things as God see them --- through His eyes. That's why we can ask for wisdom from Him. He will never reproach us when we seek His direction. If we rely on our own understanding, we will be like the boat on the turbulent sea.

It can be scary to make decision. When I felt that God was leading my wife and I to leave teaching and go into pastoral ministry, I was faced with two paths. One would have provided security if I stayed where I was. The other was to follow my heart, and leap into the unknown. It involved a big move financially, house-wise, and ministry-wise. But God is faithful.

If you are faced with a decision today, seek God. Ask for His wisdom and see the issues through the paradigm of God's Word. Then move with confidence that God will lead you. He is faithful.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE COMPLETED LIFE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – A COMPLETED LIFE

"Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21)

As the writer to the Hebrews came to the end of his letter, he included some practice exhortation of things that would bring peace and completeness or fulfillment to the Believer's life.

Beginning at verse 1, he encouraged us to be hospitable to strangers, to remember those who are enduring persecution, to keep marriage pure, to be content with what we have, to submit to those who govern over us, to keep sound doctrine, to continually offer praise and thanks to God. These are the marks of a complete or fulfilled and peaceful Christian. Certainly there are other marks, but these are good for starters.

We have our part in the growth process, but we need to remember that God is working in us to do what is pleasing to Him so that we will bring glory and praise to Him.

The word "complete" is translated in the KJV as "perfect." This is not the same as being without sin. It is to be thoroughly complete, to strengthen, to make us what we ought to be. This word, katartidzo, is used in other places in the context of mending something that is torn. Jesus came and found James and John "mending their nets" (Matthew 4:21).

We are all torn in some way or another and need mending and healing to make us complete or whole. God works in us to mend our lives and bring us to completeness.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- HANG IN THERE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – HANG IN THERE

"For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin." (Hebrews 12:3-4)

Sometimes it seems that life is tough. Things to haywire, and we experience pain and frustration. Life is not always what we want it to be. We life in a fallen world, damaged by the effects of sin. Sometimes it is physical pain and disease that was caused by the fall in the Garden of Eden. Sometimes it is the ungodly world-system which seems to attack our faith.

The writer to the Hebrews gives encouragement for such times. First, he says to remember the agony and rejection – the hostility – that Jesus went through. It was far beyond what we endure. We may suffer from the effects of sin in our world, but if we are still breathing, we have not yet shed our blood for righteousness. One way to look at our suffering is to consider others who have gone through much worse things than we have. That does not take away the pain but it helps us keep perspective.

So he wrote in verses 12-13, "Therefore, strengthen the hands that hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed." This is a graphic picture of a person who has lost strength, whose knees are buckling under the burden, and who is wobbling down the path, barely able to navigate a straight line.

God does provide strength to the feeble and weary, and healing to those who have been wounded in the battle. We have the promise that "they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).

When the road seems too steep and too rough, we look unto Jesus, the author and finisher – the beginning and end – of our faith (vs. 2) and run the race that is set before us (vs. 1). He is the one who will get us through the hard times.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- "LET US" SALAD

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – "LET US" SALAD

"Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the body of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:19-25).

When Mildred and I were first married, we ate a lot of lettuce salad – Let Us Alone. You can probably remember eating some of that salad yourself – just wanting to be alone together with your new spouse. The writer of Hebrews gives us a "Let Us" salad which has three main ingredients.

The first ingredient is "Let us" draw near with a true heart that is fully assured of our faith in Christ, and hearts that are sprinkled from an evil conscience. When the writer spoke of being cleansed in conscience and body with pure water (vs. 22), he was using an illustration from the Mosaic Covenant regarding worship. In the Mosaic Covenant, upon entering the tabernacle or temple, the first stop was altar of sacrifice. Then priest came to the laver. The laver was filled with water that the priests used to cleanse themselves before they entered the Holy Place. We have confidence in entering the Holy of Holies by the blood of Jesus, our sacrifice (vs. 1) but we don't just waltz into God's presence. We prepare ourselves at the metaphorical laver where our hearts are sprinkled and the cleansing of a sin-stained conscience and body. This is a picture of sanctification and holiness.

The second ingredient is "Let Us" hold fast our confession of our hope. It is the confidence and assurance that Paul wrote about when he said, "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that Day" (II Timothy 1:12). This is based on the faithfulness of God. Without this confidence, the first part of the Let Us Salad would be lacking an important ingredient.

The third part is the dressing. "Let us" consider one another to stir in love and good works. Love and good works makes the Let Us salad especially delicious. This salad is not just for our own pleasure. It is to bless the Lord and to bless others who taste of God's goodness in our lives.

So, let us mix our "let us" salad well that Jesus and His Church will be edified.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- LIVING IN THE "NOT YET"

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – LIVING IN THE "NOT YET"

"But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool." (Hebrews 10:12-13).

When Jesus cried with a loud voice, "It Is Finished," it was more than just a statement that He was about to die. It was a declaration and proclamation that He had finished the mission that the Father had sent Him to earth to do – to pay the penalty for the sins of the human race.

There was no more need to offer the sacrifices of bulls and goats. He had paid the supreme sacrifice and it was enough. The Old Covenant was finished. He fulfilled the obligation that required the shedding of blood of an animal. He was the perfect lamb, spotless, without blemish that was offered on the altar of the cross in place of the bulls and goats. As the writer explained in verses 9 and 10: "He said, 'Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.' He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

So what is Jesus doing now? He is occupying the honored place at the right hand of the Father, waiting until the consummation of the plan that God has for the ages – when Jesus reigns and His enemies become His footstool. God said that Satan would bruise the heel of the Messiah, but that Satan's head would be bruised (Genesis 3:15). Although Jesus won the victory over Satan and his demons at the cross, they have not yet received the mortal wound that was promised in Genesis. A wound to the head is a deadly wound compared to the biting of the heel. I have had many dogs nip at my heel and it never killed me. Even though Satan has a wounded head, he is still alive. He still has limited authority in this world as the god of this world, and we live under that reign of terror. As the writer of Hebrews so clearly stated, " 'You have put all things in subjection under His feet.' For in that He put all in subject under Him, He left nothing that is not put under Him. But now we do not yet see all things put under Him" (Hebrews 2:8). We live in the "not yet." We are also waiting for the day when Christ's enemies will forever become His footstool at the end of the age.

Until that Day when Jesus reigns supreme and Satan is completely disenfranchised, we live in a fallen and broken world. But thank God, we can rest in the knowledge that Jesus is Lord. Satan and his imps are under Christ's dominion and they can do nothing without Christ's permission. "He is Lord, He is Lord, He has risen from the dead and He is Lord. Every knee will bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!" Hallelujah!!!!

PRAYER

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A CLEANSED CONSCIENCE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – A CLEANSED CONSCIENCE

"For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:13-14)

In the Philippines, and other places in the world, there are people called flagallants who beat themselves with whips and rods with the intent of expiating their sins before God. They do this year after year, especially at Easter, hoping that their suffering will somehow bring them peace of mind. But it doesn't. It has to be done year after year because they don't have the confidence of sins forgiven. The Old Covenant did not include flagellation. However, the offering of the sacrifices was for the purifying of the flesh for the same purpose as flagellation. It was to cleanse sin. The problem is that it did not cleanse the conscience, so it had to be done repeatedly.

As Christians, we have the cleansing of the blood of Christ that cleanses us from all sin (I John 1:7). There are Believers who are continually beating themselves up mentally because of their past sins. They do not understand that the sacrifice of Jesus was sufficient to cover every sin that is repented of before God.

The Mosaic Covenant with its sacrifices cleansed the flesh. But the New Covenant that is based on Christ's sacrifice brings us cleansing of our conscience so that we can stand before God with a pure heart. We have a conscience that is cleansed by the blood of Christ, so that we don't have to live under the bondage of past sin. It is not so much that I forget my sin and don't regret my failures. It is that God forgets and I can stand before Him with a clean conscience.

A clean conscience is a treasure to be valued because it frees us from the tyranny of the past to serve the living God. Praise God that Christ's atoning sacrifice cleanses not only our flesh but our conscience.

As the old hymn goes, "Oh the joy of sins forgiven, Oh The bliss the bloodwashed know, Oh the peace akin to heaven, Where the healing waters flow."

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- BETTER PROMISES

BETTER PROMISES

"But now He – Jesus – has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises." (Hebrews 8:6)

"In that He says, 'A New covenant,' He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." (vs. 13)

We live in an age of planned obsolescence. Manufactures do not make things to last forever. Makers of I-phones do not plan for this year's model to endure. Every year they come out with something new to replace the old model. It is a part of the plan to sell I-Phones. There may be nothing wrong with the old phones, but people will discard them to acquire the new one. The old phone was good for its time but with new technology, it does not fill the bill.

The Mosaic Covenant of the Old Testament was never meant to last forever. It was planned obsolescence. God, in His wisdom, established the Old Covenant to be observed until the New Covenant came.

So when the writer to the Hebrews says that the New Covenant is based on better promises, what does he mean? I don't have all the answers, but let's think of a few. Perhaps as you meditate, you will think of more.

1) The Old Covenant was based on continual sacrifices for the atonement for sin. The New Covenant is based on the perfect sacrifice of the Lord Jesus that made the continual sacrifices unnecessary. No longer would bull, goats and lambs be offered daily. If I was a bull or a goat that was marked for sacrifice, I would think that would be a good thing. The fact is that I don't have to pay for my sins. Jesus paid the price once and for all.

2) The Old Covenant worship was external. It was based on offering physical sacrifices. The New Covenant is internal since God comes to dwell in us in the person of the Holy Spirit. The promise of the gift of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit was not available under the Old Covenant.

3) The Laws that God gave in the Old Covenant were written on stone. The laws of the New Covenant are written on our hearts (vs. 10; 10:16).

4) Under the Old Covenant, the hope of life after death was Sheol – the place of the dead. Sheol was divided into two parts: Hell (or Hades) and Abraham's bosom. People who died in faith went to Abraham's Bosom. There was no provision for us to go to Heaven to be in the presence of God. But under the New Covenant, Abraham's Bosom has been emptied as Jesus led captivity captive after His resurrection, and He took them to heaven (Ephesians 4:8; Psalm 68:18). Now we are assured that "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord" (II Corinthians 5:6-8).

5) Under the Old Covenant, sin was covered by the shedding of the blood of sacrificial animals. Under the New Covenant, sin is not just covered. It is cleansed, wiped clean never to be remembered again through the shedding of the blood of Jesus.

6) As was mentioned in a previous meditation, under the Old Covenant, there was a wall of separation between man and God, signified by the woven veil that divided the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle and the Temple. Only the High Priest could enter that sacred place once a year. But now the way has been opened so that everyone came come to God's throne through Jesus. As Jesus said, "No one comes to the Father but by Me."

The Old Covenant was not bad. But it was only a copy and shadow of the things to come (vs. 5). Jesus made the Old Covenant obsolete and fulfilled the law. We are abundantly blessed to live in the New Promises.

I'm sorry this is so long, but I couldn't help it!!!  😏

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE GREAT HIGH PRIEST

THE GREAT HIGH PRIEST

"For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated 'king of righteousness,' and then also king of Salem, meaning 'king of peace,' without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually."

Melchezidek is a fascinating figure. The story surrounding Melchezidek is recorded in Genesis chapter 14. Abraham was returning from a rescuing his nephew, Lot, from some kings that had taken Lot and his family captive from Sodom. Upon his return, he was met by Melchizedek, the king of Salem, a priest of the Most High God. Melchizedek means "king of righteousness," and he was king of Salem, which some scholars believe was actually the city that became Jerusalem.

Scripture says that Mechizedek had no beginning nor ending. We take this to mean that there was no genealogy recorded, no parents listed for his birth, and his death was not recorded. Certainly he was a historical figure, so he was born, lived, and died.

The writer of the Book of Hebrews used Melchizedek as a type or figure of the Lord Jesus. Like Melchizidek, Jesus was a priest of the Most High God. Like Melchizedek, Jesus was King of Righteousness. One of the Names of God is Jehovah M'kadesh – the Lord our Righteousness. Like Melchizedek, Jesus was King of Salem or King of Peace. Another name of God is Jehovah Shalom – The Lord our Peace. Like Melchizedek, Jesus had no genealogical position to be a priest. His priesthood did not come from His lineage. Obviously, Melchizdek was not a descendant of Abraham since they lived at the same time. And the priests of the Mosaic Covenant were of the tribe of Levi. Jesus was of the tribe of Judah. So His priesthood was not based in the either a Abrahamic genealogy nor the Levitical priesthood. And like Melchizedek, Jesus' priesthood is unending. It will last forever – a continual priesthood. Because of the Resurrection, Jesus lives forever.

The writer of Hebrews applied the correlation of Melchizedek' priesthood to Jesus by saying, "But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore, He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the peoples', for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself" (vss. 24-27).

Jesus Christ, our great High Priest, also became the offering, and gave Himself as the sacrifice that would provide the atonement for the sins of man once for all time and eternity. As the hymn says, "My faith has found a resting place, Not in a man made creed; I trust the ever living One, That He for me will plead. I need no other argument, I need no other plea. It is enough that Jesus died, and rose again for me."

The job of the priest is to be the connection – the representative – between God and man. Jesus is our High Priest who ever lives to make intercession for us. All praise, glory, worship, and thanks to our Great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS --

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – COMING TO GOD WITH CONFIDENCE

"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 find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

In the Old Testament story of Esther, no one, not even Queen Esther, could come into the presence of king Ahasuerus unless He bade them come. But we can come into the presence of the King because He bids us come. We can enter boldly into God's presence and come to the throne of Grace to find help in the time of need. This does not mean that we have the right to barge into God presence based on our own credentials. It means we can come with confidence and assurance because of what Jesus Christ has done through His suffering and death on the cross.

The message of the Book of Hebrews is that Jesus Christ and the New Covenant are superior to the Old Mosaic Covenant with its formulae for worship and its rules and regulations for living. The Mosaic Covenant was based on the perpetual offering of sacrifices by the priests as a way to get God's favor. The New Covenant shows us that we have a Great High Priest, Jesus, who has made the perfect sacrifice, fulfilling the requirement of the Old Covenant through His suffering and death on the cross.

Under the Old Covenant, access to God was limited. In the tabernacle and temple of the Old Covenant, there was a cloth wall that separated the worshipers from the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat resided representing God's presence on earth. Only the High Priest could go each year into that sacred place behind the veil to offer sacrifices. When Jesus was crucified, the Scriptures tell us that that veil was rent from top to bottom (Luke 23: 45), providing a way into the Holy of Holies that did not exist before. Because that veil has been removed, we have the privilege of entering into the very presence of God through Christ.

Later in this book to the Hebrews, the writer says, "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us through the veil, that is His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith….." (Hebrews 10:19-22a).

Before Jesus died on the Cross, we were all separated from God by our sin. There was no way for a sinful person to enter into the presence of a holy God. But Jesus' death made a "new and living" way. This is what we find in Colossians 1:22 (NIV) – "But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation." We were alienated – separated from God by our sin – but now in Christ we are without blemish and free from accusation and we can come to Him because His body was torn, just as the veil in the temple was torn.

There is only one way to come into God's presence. Jesus claimed, "I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). The writer to the Hebrews echoes this when he wrote, "There is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus who gave Himself a ransom for all" (I Timothy 2:5-6a)." Any system that says that we have to come to God through a ritual is not what the Bible says. Our High Priest, Jesus, alone has opened the door to God, and we can enter through Him.

Let us come to Him in confidence because Jesus has made way.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- FAITHFUL

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – FAITHFUL

"Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all his house." (Hebrews 3:1-2)

The word "faithful" seems to be the point of these verses. The writer of Hebrews used Jesus and Moses as examples of faithfulness. Jesus was faithful to the commission of the Father. God sent him into this world to accomplish the work of salvation for mankind. Moses was faithful to the commission of Yahweh to deliver the house of Israel from the bondage of Egypt.

It was not always easy for Jesus or Moses. They both faced the temptations of Satan and the flesh. They endured the rejection of the very people they came to deliver. Surely, there must have been times when they were tempted to give up and take another route – find some detour. After the first temptations by Satan, Scripture says that "when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time" (Luke 4:13). We know that one "opportune time" was when Peter tried to dissuade Jesus from going to the cross, and Jesus said, "Get behind me, Satan" (Matthew 16:23). I believe that Gethsemane was also an "opportune time" when Jesus was at His lowest, being exceedingly sorrowful and deeply distressed (Matthew 26:37-38) by what He was facing. In Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, "Abba Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me" (Matthew 26:39; Mark14:36). I personally believe that He heard the hiss of the serpent whispering in His ear, "This is not worth it. Give it up." But in the end, he submitted to the will of His Father and prayed, "Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will."

Moses also faced the temptation to quit. The Israelites were a rebellious and complaining people who rejected his leadership. Moses went to God and said, "Why have you afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that you have laid the burden of all these people on me? …. I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me. If you treat me like this, please kill me here and now….." (Numbers 11:11; 14-15). He felt that to die was better than what he was suffering. But in the end, Moses remained faithful to fulfill the calling of God on his life.

Both Jesus and Moses were faithful to their callings. Likewise, God calls us to be faithful. As Jesus said to the Church at Smyrna, "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10b). God has not called us to be popular, to be successful, to be prosperous, or to be famous. He has called us to be faithful to the faith and to the calling he has given to each of us. When I get to heaven, I want to hear Jesus say, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things..." (Matthew 25:23). I may not have many talents, but I want to be faithful with the "few things" that God has given me responsibility for.

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- DRIFTING

DAD'S RAMBLINGS DRIFTING

"Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him?" (Hebrews 2:1-3).

During the depression, there were people called drifters. They had no particular destination. They just went wherever the train took them. They might have stayed in a town for awhile, but soon they were on the road again, looking for something else that suited their fancy. They never really settle down to living life. We all know people who drift through life. They go with the flow – wherever the wind or the current of the culture takes them. They seem to have no goals, no purpose, no aim in life. They sing the Doris Day song from the film, "The Man Who Knew Too Much" – Que sera, sera, whatever will be, will be.

It happens in the spiritual also. There are Christians who drift through their Christian life. They have no spiritual goals of getting to know God better, of growing in their Christian life, of serving the Lord, or of having a settled and secure doctrine of what they believe. They drift from one teaching to another without ever becoming settled in their faith.

Later in this book of Hebrews, the writer says, "Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them" (Hebrews 13:9). And the Apostle Paul warns against being "tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14).

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The of Hebrews writer stressed the importance of not drifting. He says to take earnest heed. It is more than just acknowledging the need to heed. It is taking action because it is so important. "Earnest" is "superabundance" or exceeding. To "heed" is to pay attention to, to be cautious about, to beware of, especially in regard to our Christian faith. The NIV renders this: "Pay the most careful attention to." In other words, take seriously the possibility of drifting.

In verse 3, the writer used the word "neglect." Drifting is usually a result of neglecting to pay attention to our situation. It is so easy to drift because it takes no effort. It takes intentional purpose to keep from drifting, especially when the going is easy. We neglect prayer, Bible study, and church attendance because life is comfortable, and we drift. But then the storms come, and we realize the need to get serious about God. It becomes especially dangerous if our faith has not been settled in God.

God warns us to pay attention, to not drift nor be negligent about our great salvation, but to be aware and intentional about our Christian life. God says, "Take heed!"

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- HEARING GOD'S VOICE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – HEARING GOD'S VOICE

"God, who at various times and in various was spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds." (Hebrews 1:1-2)

God is not silent. He has spoken if we will have hearts to hear Him. The writer to the Hebrews, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, mentions three ways that God has spoken.

One is Creation – "He made the worlds." The handiwork of God screams to us about Him. The order, complexity, and uniformity of its laws declare that there is a God Who put everything in place. As the Psalmist wrote, "The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork" (Psalm 19:1). I would not presume to call anyone a fool, but the Bible does. It declares that "The fool has said in his heart there is no God" (Psalm 14:1). A fool is a person who is aware of the evidence, but chooses to reject the evidence to believe his own ideas. Anyone who sees the evidence of the Creator in Creation but chooses to reject it is a fool. Oops! I said it!!!

Another way God speaks is through language, either oral or written. God spoke to his Creation through the ancient prophets. Sadly, they were also often rejected and their messages dismissed because people did not want to hear what God says. We have the written Word of the prophets who spoke God's Word.

A third revelation is the Lord Jesus Christ. God wanted to communicate Himself to humans so desperately that He came down to this earth to be a part of Creation. John records that "The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). In the same context, John wrote, "No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him" (John 1:18). Again, sadly, people rejected God's voice. "He came to His own but His own did not receive Him" (John 1:11). The Word came to His own people, the Jews, and to humanity which He created, and they rejected Him.

If people do not hear God speak, it is because they choose not to hear. They have closed their hearts, minds, and ears to His voice. He has spoken loud and clear. The greatest message of God is that He loves us and wants us to spend eternity with Him. As the Bible says: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (Matthew 11:15; Revelation 2:7 et al).

Love, Dad

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE SHARING OF OUR FAITH

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE SHARING OF OUR FAITH

"I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." (Philemon 4-6)

This letter is a personal note from the Apostle Paul to Philemon – a "beloved friend and fellow laborer" (vs. 1). Philemon was one of Paul's converts who opened his house as a meeting place for Believers, perhaps at Colossae. Apparently, Philemon had a slave named Onesimus that had run away. Onesimus, ended up under Paul's ministry and had become a Christian. As a part of his Christian growth, Onesimus needed to be reconciled to his master, Philemon, and face the consequences of running away. So Paul sent Onesimus on this mission with this letter, urging Philemon to receive Onesimus as a brother in Christ.

Paul's appeal is two-fold. One is the love and faith which Philemon had for the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints – including a run-away slave. The other appeal is payback for what Philemon owed Paul for bringing him to faith in Jesus.

Philemon had a choice of how he would handle the situation. He could double down on Onesimus and make his life difficult as a run-away slave, or he could demonstrate his love "for all the saints" – including Onesimus who was now a brother in Christ. Paul urged Philemon to make the witness of his faith and what he had received in Christ – God's love and forgiveness – effective by his good treatment of Onesimus in love and forgiveness. The Greek word for "effective" is energes, which is, of course, where we get the word energy. It is also translated "active" or "powerful." Faith that is not translated into action is weak and ineffective when it come to our personal witness for Christ. I can say I love Jesus but if it is not shown by my actions, it is not a very powerful testimony.

Scripture does not tell us how the story ends, but it is a great lesson for us on how to treat people who have wronged us and who come in repentance seeking reconciliation. We can hold the misdeed over their head or we can forgive. Now, which is the greater testimony to our faith in Christ? I'll let you answer. Our Christian witness is demonstrated by the way we love and forgive.

Love, Dad