My Morning Meal

Our men’s study group will be firing up soon . . . our plan, Lord willing, is to work our way through Hebrews over the next 9 months, or so. That it’s on my reading plan now is good reconnaissance for what’s ahead of us. No doubt, the discussion on these first verses of Hebrews 6 will be interesting. Bottom line . . . I’d understand those who “have fallen away” after having “once been enlightened” to be those who the Spirit has brought to the point of salvation . . . yet have rejected it. They are those on whom “the rain has fallen,” but willfully refuse to bow the knee, and so, bear thorns and thistles . . . a worthless crop fit only for incineration (Heb. 6:4-8).

“Yet,” says the writer to the Hebrews, “in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things–things that belong to salvation.” (Hebrews 6:9 ESV)

That’s the realm of my meditation this morning . . . things that belong to salvation.

Those who are called “beloved” of God are those who have been shown a light which dispels the darkness . . . those who have tasted the living water of heaven . . . those who have encountered the Holy Spirit through His pre-conversion ministry of conviction of sin and of wooing the sinner to the Savior . . . those who have tasted the goodness of the word of God . . . those who have rubbed up against the power of the kingdom to come . . . and, unlike the apostate who rejects it, have received it by faith. And, having received it by faith, they have been planted in good soil, able and ready to produce much fruit. This being among the things that belong to salvation.

They are those who find themselves “serving the saints” (6:10). Their salvation being an entrance into a community of divine origin. The new birth bringing the redeemed into the family of God with brothers and sisters of every tribe and tongue and nation. The Holy Spirit taking the believer, equipping them as He determines, and joining them into the Body of Christ as a functioning member of the Body, called to build up others, even as they are built up, in their most holy faith. Doing life with the saints . . . serving one another . . . that too, is a facet of the things that belong to salvation.

They are those who diligently pursue the hope that is theirs, “until the end.” They know the Christian life is likened to a race. And they know that it’s not a sprint . . . not a “gimme” that can be completed without some holy determination and grit. The race is more like a marathon . . . perhaps closer to an iron-man triathlon . . . with many legs to the race . . . sometimes hitting the wall . . . but always pressing on for prize that waits before them. And so they earnestly and diligently, in full assurance, keep on keepin’ on (6:11). ‘Cause that’s one of the things that belong to salvation.

Finally, they are those who “through faith and patience inherit the promises” (6:12). They inherit the promises for today . . . that which assures them they can do all things through Christ who is their strength (Php. 4:13) . . . the experiential reality of a God who has committed that He will never leave or forsake them (Heb. 13:5) . . . the day-to-day abiding realization of His grace and power through the indwelling Spirit given to be their Helper (John 14:16). And, they are confident of the promises for tomorrow.  That tomorrow when the Bride is presented to her Bridegroom . . . when the marriage supper of the Lamb is celebrated . . . when the struggles of this world give way to the eternal blessings of the next. Can anyone say “Amen!” to these things that belong to salvation.

To be certain, there’s some controversy surrounding this passage . . . but, to be equally certain, there are some things that the believer can be assured of . . . the things that belong to salvation.

By His grace . . . for His glory . . .

As Jesus approached the end of His earthly ministry, His disciples were starting to get it . . . if not about the full scope of His work, then at least concerning the full nature of His person. They knew He was more than just another rabbi. And though some claimed He might be some kind of reincarnation of John the Baptist, or Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets, those who had spent time with Him were getting that He was someone greater than any of the prophets . . . that He was, in fact, “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:14-16). And with that, as He continued to teach them and train them, they gained a deeper understanding of the implications of what that meant. One such implication, fully realized in the upper room on the night Jesus was to be betrayed, was that He was omniscient.

Now we know that You know all things and do not need anyone to question You; this is why we believe that You came from God.   (John 16:30 ESV)

Omniscient . . . all knowing . . . an attribute of the Triune God. The Father knows all things . . . the Son knows all things . . . the Spirit knows all things.

So what’s grabbed me this morning is an assertion in the letter to the Hebrews describing what might seem at first to be an oxymoron . . . omniscient learning.

In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered.   (Hebrews 5:7-8 ESV)

The Christ, the Son of the living God . . . He who knows all things . . . learned obedience through what He suffered. The omniscient One gained knowledge . . . what does that mean?

To be sure, the mystery of the incarnation, God in flesh, is multi-faceted . . . one face of that diamond being that which the eternal Son of God would experience through “being born in the likeness of men” . . . of what He would “learn” experimentally of what it entailed to be “found in human form . . . becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Php. 2:7b-8).

Though I don’t fully comprehend it, the “infinitely wise and perfect Son of God” (a Zane Hodges phrase) gained an experiential knowledge about the human condition when He exchanged His eternal glory for flesh. As MacDonald says, “His entrance into this world as a Man involved Him in experiences which He would never have known had He remained in heaven.” As such, He experienced first hand the dynamic of obedience, though one is suffering . . . of being subject to the Father’s will in “Plan A” when everything in your flesh wants to try a “Plan B.” Though He cried out to the Father that the cup of death might pass from Him, yet He prayed, “Not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). Though He could have called legions of angels to set Him free from the cruel cross (Matt. 26:53-54) . . . and avoid being made sin and thus forsaken of the Father . . . yet He fully experienced the strength of heaven as He determined on earth to do the will of the Father.  Omniscient learning . . . awesome!

And in doing so . . . in fully experiencing the weak properties of the flesh . . . I have a High Priest who is able to sympathize with my weaknesses . . . “One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). “For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted” (Heb. 2:18). Thank you, Lord!

Omniscient learning . . . a bit of a mystery . . . praise God, though, for the reality. To the Son be all glory! Amen?

It’s the difference, I think, between going through the motions or doing it with meaning . . . the difference between checking a box and pursuing a prize . . . the difference between a religion where you try to get by with doing just enough, and a reality which you pursue because you are among the jazzed. With a little bit of self discipline we can be mostly obedient most of the time. But, when what we do is fueled by what we have our eyes fixed on, then there is a power and practice that is, literally, from out of this world. That’s why the writer to the Hebrews exhorts his readers to “consider Jesus” (Heb. 3:1, 12:3).

This morning I came across two attributes that should mark the follower of Christ. The first is a tight grip on the faith we claim as our own. Believers should walk the talk . . . we should cleave to what we believe . . . we should show what we say we know. Ours is to hold fast to that which we have professed concerning our rebirth . . . our new creation in Christ . . . our heavenly calling. Our confession of faith is to be our catalyst for life.

Second, the writer to the Hebrews says that, for the believer, there should be a boldness before the presence of God. Not a brashness . . . not an arrogance . . . but a freedom, an openness, a drawing near to the most holy God with unreservedness. That, part of walking the talk is entering the most holy place . . . is approaching the throne of God . . . is coming before the Majesty on High. And while that place is the place of awe and reverence and worship, it is also the place where we find mercy and grace and that which we need in seasons of want.

Hold fast your confession . . . draw near with confidence. We can just kind of do it . . . or we can passionately pursue it. The difference in how and why we obey is driven by the degree to which we consider Jesus.

Since then 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 is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.    (Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV)

We desire to hold fast our confession because we have a great High Priest. Our High Priest has offered the once for all sacrifice for sin’s atonement. Shedding His own precious blood on our behalf, He secured the way of redemption and reconciliation. Our High Priest, Jesus the risen Son of God, ascended, passing through the heavens, and is now at the right hand of God interceding for us (Rom. 8:34). As a shepherd knows his sheep by name (John 10:3), so my Shepherd speaks my name before the God of heaven . . . declaring me a child of God . . . supplicating for me and my needs.

And so, because I have such a High Priest . . . One who has put on flesh and understands my weakness . . . One who has been tempted and knows the power of the flesh and the persuasiveness of the enemy — YET WITHOUT SIN . . . because this is my High Priest, I have confidence to draw near to the the blessed throne of grace. I boldly draw near, not because of who I am, but because of who Jesus is. I prevail upon the God of heaven for much needed help, not because of what I have done, or can do, but solely because of what Jesus has done through the cross.

Confession and confidence . . . holding fast and drawing near. Less about carrying out a creed . . . all about considering the Christ.

By His grace . . . for His glory . . .

I have a favorite chair . . . actually I have two of them. They are the exact same chair . . . both rocker-recliners. One is situated in a good spot for watching television . . . the other, facing opposite the first, is the go to place if I want the best spot for listening to music. I enjoy settling into either of those chairs. They allow me to take a load off my feet . . . they invite me to lay back and stretch out . . . often, they usher me into an enjoyable power nap. They came to mind this morning as I considered another place of rest.

Hebrews 4 is an invitation to rest . . . and a warning against failing to enter that rest.

The warning is founded in the outcome of those who Moses led out of Egypt. God had provided great deliverance . . . they had all experienced it. God had also promised to bring them into “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Ex. 3:8), but they had problems believing it. And so, instead of entering the land, they refused because they didn’t think they were mighty enough to take it . . . nor did they believe that their God was trustworthy enough to be counted on to give it to them. And so, instead of entering the promised land of rest, they instead wandered in the desert, their bodies eventually falling in the wilderness. Simply said, “they were unable to enter because of unbelief” (Heb. 3:19).

God has provided another great deliverance . . . providing the means for the bondage of sin to be broken . . . making a way of escape from the slavery of this impossible to please, taskmaster world . . . having sent One greater than Moses to lead all who would follow Him into a promised kingdom . . . inviting all those who are weak and carry heavy burdens to know a rest He has provided. Says the writer to the Hebrews, “. . . the promise of entering His rest still stands” (4:1).

The rest is founded on the principle of a completed work. Just as God ceased from His labors on the seventh day, after six days of laying the foundation of the world, so too there is a rest available based on the promise of a finished work.

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from His. (Hebrews 4:9-10 ESV)

I enter that rest when I no longer rely on my efforts to merit it. When I believe the good news that God, in His great love toward us, sent His Son to remove all the barriers of entering into His promised rest . . . that because of the finished work of the cross of Jesus, I need not spin my wheels in vain attempts to merit His acceptance . . . that through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, I no longer need to look to my own power to “walk in the way” but, instead, can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Php. 4:13).

The promise of rest is inviting . . . the pressure to resist is real . . . fueled by unbelief and doubt. Will God really forgive me? Is the blood of Jesus truly sufficient to atone for all my sin? Haven’t I goofed up too many times for Him to continue loving me? Don’t I need to work a little harder in order to deserve His rest? Answer key: Yes, Yes, No, No.

There is a Sabbath rest for the people of God. Mine is to believe it . . . cease from counting on my own efforts . . and to enter into it by faith.

It is the best spot in the place. It is the only spot in the place . . . for settling in . . . stretching out . . . closing my eyes . . . and taking in the music of heaven.

By His grace . . . for His glory!

The guy who introduced me to Jesus ended up cashing in the faith. If I look back on anybody being the one who spiritually fathered me, it was him . . . and my buddy ended up walking out on the family. At the time he first opened the Scriptures to me, over 35 years ago, he was on fire for the Lord . . . devouring the Scriptures . . . evangelizing constantly . . . even ending up behind the Iron Curtain with a missions team . . . eventually doing missions work in the Sudan. But after his return from the mission field, something happened . . . don’t know what exactly . . . but over time he ended up turning his face from the kingdom of heaven and instead pursuing the things of this world. He came to mind this morning (I’ll again pray for him) as I read Hebrews 3 . . .

Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. . . . Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.    (Hebrews 3:1-2, 12-13 ESV)

Falling away from the living God . . . the phrase makes me shutter. It can happen . . . my buddy’s a reminder. It’s seeded by an unbelieving heart. The things we believed to be true when we were first saved, we’re less convinced are true today. The walk of faith we embraced in the early days, giving way to a walk by sight . . . less convinced of the hope that lies beyond this world, and so getting all we can, while we can, while we’re here.

The unbelieving heart becoming “hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Standards we once deemed imperative, somehow get tagged as legalistic. The narrow gate that Jesus talked about (Matt. 7:13-14), somehow gets wider. Grace in everything, somehow gets twisted into “anything goes.” The life of self-denial giving way to the pursuit of self-determination. I don’t think my friend woke up one morning and said to himself, “Self, we’re done with this holy calling stuff. Today we’re going to fall away from the living God.” No, it was subtle . . . starting with an unbelieving heart . . . getting sucked into the deceitfulness of sin. Can anyone say, “Crash and burn!?!”

So, if it could happen to him, how do I keep it from happening to me?

Two words jump off the page in my reading this morning . . . Consider Jesus.

Behold . . . observe . . . understand . . . discover . . . consider attentively . . . fix your eyes or mind upon . . . the blessed Son of God . . . the Second Person of the Holy Trinity . . . the Savior of the world . . . the King of kings, and Lord of lords.

The words of Hebrews 1 echo . . . in these last days, God has spoken to us by His Son, the radiance of God’s glory, the exact imprint of God’s nature. And the Father thunders from heaven, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him” (Matt. 17:5). Hear Him . . . seek Him . . . pursue a relationship with Him . . . consider Jesus.

Sounds simple as a preventative prescription to avoid apostasy . . . but I’m thinking it’s a pretty solid starting point.

O’ that I might never stop beholding the Lamb of God, being reminded of the price paid for my sin . . . that I might never lose sight of the Bridegroom, marveling afresh at the garments of righteousness He has clothed His bride with . . . that I might never cease to wonder at the High Priest of my confession who died, rose again, and lives to ever bring me into the most holy of holy places.

Consider Jesus . . . and keep on keepin’ on . . . by His grace . . . for His glory!

Sometimes you can get so caught up in the journey, you forget about the destination. In the midst of navigating airports and running to get to your gate on time, it’s easy to lose sight of what awaits beyond the flight. When entering your nth hour of driving and the kids are coming apart, you might wonder why you ever loaded up the car in the first play, . . . that is, until you get there.

And so, I’m reading the latter part of Hebrews 2 . . . a wonderful reminder of “the Founder” of our salvation . . . of Him who sanctifies by becoming our “merciful and faithful High Priest in the service of God” . . . of Him who destroyed the power of death by making “propitiation for the sins of the people,” by offering Himself as the means of reconciliation between sinful man and a thrice holy God. In order to do so, He partook of flesh and blood . . . He was made like His brothers and sisters in every way, yet without sin . . . He Himself suffered and was tempted in order to help those who are being tempted. The passage is so about Him.

But it’s also a little about us. Those He is not ashamed to call “brothers” . . . those He owns as “the children God has given to Me” . . . those who, through fear of death, were once subject to lifelong slavery . . . those who are in need of help as they suffer and are tempted . . . those “who are sanctified.”

We have a faithful High Priest who is ready, willing, and able to draw alongside those He has redeemed and assist them in the journey. But it was the reminder of the destination that also sent my spirit soaring this morning.

For it was fitting that He, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.     (Hebrews 2:10 ESV)

While the itinerary for every believer might be unique . . . though the routes may vary . . . though the stops along the way might be different . . . the destination is the same. His intent is to bring many sons, and daughters, to glory.

It’s a reminder that this gig is just an opening act. That what lies ahead today isn’t the main event. That any plans and goals I set for this life are not the prize. This is the journey. The destination is glory.

Our destination is the place of glory, heaven. The finish line for the believer is the beginning of eternity in the mansions He has gone to prepare for us (John 14:2-3). We anticipate a city where the streets are gold . . . where a river of the water of life flows abundantly from the throne of God . . . where all things are new . . where there will never again be “mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore.” (check out Rev. 21-22)

Our destination is the possession of glory, the putting on of immortality. Where what has been sown perishable is raised imperishable . . . where what is sown in dishonor is raised in glory. Just as we bear the image of the first Adam, people of the dust of the earth, so too will we bear the image of the second Adam, the image of the Man of heaven . . . bearing a glory after the nature of Him who is glorious. (check out 1Cor. 15:42-49)

But most importantly, our destination is to be with the Person of glory, Him who is seated on the throne and the Lamb in the midst. The surroundings will pale . . . and our new bodies will become common . . . but forever we will delight in the presence of His majestic glory. Though we will be face to face, we will go facedown in awe and worship. Though we walk the streets of gold our gaze will be set on Him who replaces the sun and moon. We will know His glory up close and personal!

In the meantime, we do the journey . . . through His help and by His all sufficient grace. But let us not lose site of the destination . . . bringing many sons to glory . . . what a day that will be! Amen?

Ever watch something floating down a river? You’re standing on the bank and your eye catches a leaf or a piece of wood floating towards you. You eyes fix on it and you watch it as it, literally, goes with the flow. The river’s current carries it where it likes. That piece of wood might bump into rocks jutting out of the river and then be swept around them. Or, it might get lost in the foaming waters of some rapids, eventually to resurface. Perhaps, it gets caught up in a small eddy by the shore, going around and around, making no progress at all. Tranquil? . . . Maybe. Aimless? . . . Definitely. Out of control? . . . Absolutely. Headed nowhere? . . . Yeah, I’m thinking. Such is what comes to mind as the writer to the Hebrews warns his readers about “the drift.”

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?   (Hebrews 2:1-3a ESV)

“Therefore” . . . what’s it “there for?” These first verses in Hebrews 2 are in light of what has been declared in Hebrews 1 . . . that is, that God has spoken to us in these last days through His blessed Son . . . the Son who is the “exact imprint” of God’s nature . . . the Son through whom God created the world . . . the Son who Himself made purification for our sins . . . the One who is superior to angels. Therefore, pay close attention to what God, through His Son, has spoken to us.

The message delivered by angels concerned what we needed to do for God, but the message delivered by the Son has everything to do with what God has done for us. It is the message of a “great salvation.”

Of a salvation past . . . saved from the penalty of sin . . . atonement made . . . reconciliation between man and God possible . . . all through the finished work of Christ on the cross. Of a salvation future . . . to be saved from the presence of sin . . . when the redeemed are gathered to the Redeemer, the sheep to the Shepherd, the Bride to the Bridegroom . . . to inhabit places being prepared for us even now . . . to receive an incorruptible inheritance laid up for us in His presence. And, of a salvation present . . . being saved from the power of sin . . . being transformed by the renewing of our minds through the sanctifying work of the Spirit who indwells us . . . given the tools we need to grow into our new spiritual DNA as we learn to be led by the Spirit and to put to death the old man . . . being conformed, more and more, into the image of the Son. Can I get an “Amen!” for such a great salvation?

But, beware the drift. It is possible to “neglect such a great salvation.”

Oh the danger of, having known “salvation past” and counting on “salvation future,” to go into auto-pilot when it comes to “salvation present.” Of making light of God’s purposes in salvation through those He desires to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ . . . through those He seeks to live in a manner worthy of their calling.

Instead of pursuing the things of the kingdom, they float down the river of this world. Rather than experiencing the “abundant life” Jesus came to give, they go around in circles, caught up in some eddy, until they are sucked under. Far from navigating the white waters of this life, they are instead caught up, crashing against the rocks, just hoping to keep their head above water. Not only does the drift result in loss of blessing to those God has called to be His children, but it also results in the loss of opportunities for glory to be given to God.

By the very nature of it being a drift, it tends not to be intentional . . . but the result of not paying close attention and being negligent. Reading God’s Word? . . . if I feel like it. Communing with God through prayer? . . . if I have time. Meeting with God’s people? . . . if I don’t already have some other activity planned. Just drifting . . .

We don’t power our way to salvation . . . by His grace, in His Son, through His Spirit, He provides the power. But I do think we are to need to provide some purpose . . . though feeble perhaps, some determination . . . some desire to not just go with the flow . . . to not neglect our salvation . . . to pay closer attention . . . and, by His grace and for His glory, to avoid the drift.

No messing around with greetings . . . no words wasted on customary introductions . . . the writer to Hebrews just gets at it. There is an anticipation every time I enter this book . . . a looking forward to the writer’s masterful arguments concerning the supremacy of Christ and the life of faith it evokes in those with ears to hear and eyes to see. What grabs me this morning, as I read these opening verses, is how one of the attributes of the Son, in a sense, stands out in stark contrast to the rest. Amidst that which describes Him in all His deity, is that what which reminds me of His humanity . . . against the backdrop of that which speaks of His mighty strength, is that which speaks of His meekness . . . in these opening verses are the highs and the lowly.

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs.  
(Hebrews 1:1-4 ESV)

Chew on those words and be lifted up to the consider the high and lofty. God has, in these latter days, spoken to us by His Son. The Son who is appointed heir of all, not just some, but all things . . . the same Son through whom God created everything about us . . . the Son who radiates God’s glory . . . the Son who embodies the very nature of God Almighty . . . the Son who, through the very power of His word, bears all the workings of the universe–yes, the universe. He is the Son who is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high . . . the Son, who being God, very God, is superior to angels . . . having been given the Name above all names.

Talk about grandeur . . . talk about greatness and power . . . talk about nothing coming close to comparing . . . those are the mountain springs the writer wants us to drink deeply of . . . the highs of the Son we are to consider.

But amidst them is this phrase, “after making purification of sins.” The Son made purification of sins. If you didn’t know the rest of the story, you might think that He might have commanded it into reality . . . that, perhaps, He had planned it and had others make it happen. If you didn’t know the rest of the story you’d never guess that the mighty, majestic, Son of God, as the NKJV translates it, “had by Himself purged our sins.”

By Himself He made purification for sins.

Wrapped up in that simple phrase is the miracle of the incarnation, God become flesh, the Son relinquishing His eternal glory to enter this world in the form of a man . . . His kingly authority exchanged, for a time, for the very nature of servant. In making purification for sins by Himself, the Son of God willingly became the Lamb of God . . . the once for all sacrifice for the sins of mankind. In order to declare men righteousness, He who knew no sin, became sin for us (2Cor. 5:21).

He left heaven’s splendor in order to bear a Roman cross up a hostile road to a hill called Calvary. He who had been exalted by angels, willingly allowed Himself to be nailed upon that cross and lifted up for men to deride and mock. He who, in the beginning, spoke the created world into being would, in the apparent last hours of His life, cried to heaven, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). He who was with the Father from eternity past would know a separation beyond what we could comprehend . . . “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46). The high and holy Son of God became the meek and lowly Jesus that He, by Himself, might make purification for sins.

O’ what a Savior! Blessed be His Name . . . His high and holy Name!