My Morning Meal

Two words . . . just two words . . . a total of five letters. But, it occurs to me, they are at the very heart and soul of the gospel. They are the basis for our confidence as believers. They are two words which source a power not of this world . . . two words that resonate with certainty . . . two words that shift the playing field from performance to promise. But the power lies not in the words themselves but in the One who spoke them . . .

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah . . . For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:8-12 ESV)

I know that, strictly speaking, this new and better covenant has to do primarily with Israel and will find it’s fulfillment when Christ comes back to reign over the repentant and redeemed nation. But it’s also true that the church is a demonstration of the nature of the new dynamic and of the power at work within this new covenant . . . this “I will” approach to calling, creating, and crowning a people for His own possession and glory.

The Old Covenant tells what man must do; the New Covenant tells what God will do. He will establish the covenant and He will enact the promise . . . He will put His laws into His people’s minds . . . He will inscribe His ways on their hearts . . . He will be their God and will make them His people. He will, apart from our best attempt at merit, and despite our greatest failures, He will be merciful concerning our iniquities and He will determine to remember no more our sins. Because He has provided the sacrifice for all sin, through His Son . . . because He has determined to deal with those who come to Him out of the abundance of His grace alone. Oh, the power extended through “I will” . . . oh, the peace experienced because of “I will” . . . oh, the praise evoked to the God of “I will!”

And, it occurs to me, that this “I will” dynamic isn’t just the means for entry into the covenant relationship but is also the basis of living in covenant relationship. To be sure, I have a lot of decisions to make as I do life . . . a lot of levers at my fingertips to manipulate as part of navigating each day . . . but even then, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me (Gal. 2:20). It isn’t my strength that allows me to power through the storms and get through the valleys, but it’s His all sufficient and freely given grace that renews the inner man . . . that gently prompts, “Keep on keepin’ on.” And, on those occasions where I experience the mountain top and know some measure of the thrill of victory, even then there is no boasting in what may be viewed as my accomplishment, or sense that I somehow deserved it, but only humble recognition that He is working His sovereign purpose in my life as He wills and as I seek to abide in that will.

Yup . . . two pretty powerful words . . . and One Almighty and Awesome God. And because “He will”, I will seek Him . . . because “He will”, I will trust Him . . . because “He will”, I will praise Him.

Amen?

It would have been a struggle for devout Jews to consider . . . a concept that, in it’s most fundamental nature, didn’t line up. The idea that Jesus could be their forever High Priest before God wasn’t on their radar. The priesthood they knew had been ordained through Aaron of the tribe of Levi . . . it was the Levitical priesthood. Jesus descended from Judah . . . “and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests” (Hebrews 7:14). The dots didn’t connect for them. How come? Because they didn’t go back far enough . . . the inception of the order of priesthood, of which Jesus was the fulfillment, preceded Moses . . . it went back to Abraham . . . founded after the order of Melchizedek.

Abraham’s encounter with Melchizedek is barely a blip in the Genesis story (Gen. 14:17-20) . . . a “chance” encounter after Abraham’s rescue of Lot . . . no real explanation as to why Melchizedek blesses Abraham and why Abraham, in return, gives Melchizedek a tenth of everything. And then, except for an isolated verse in the Psalms (110:4), you don’t hear about Melchizedek again . . . that is, until the book of Hebrews . . . and then things get lined up . . . the dots are connected . . . the relationship becomes clear . . . and the awe factor sets in . . . Jesus, “a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 5:6, 5:10, 6:20, 7:17).

“For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.” (Hebrews 7:1-3 ESV)

Melchizedek was “pre-release trailer” for Jesus. He is a “type” or a foreshadowing . . . a mystery introduced in the Old Testament, then revealed and explained in the new. He was a priest of the Most High God . . . so is Jesus. His name means “king of righteousness” . . . Jesus is THE King of Righteousness. He was the king of Salem, the king of peace . . . Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6). There’s no genealogical record associated with Melchizedek, he has no beginning or end of days . . . Jesus is “the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Rev. 22:13).

But here’s the kicker . . . the connection that, for me, tops all other connections . . . drum roll please . . . let the orchestra hit a mighty crescendo . . .

“This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.” (Hebrews 7:15-16 ESV)

The power of an indestructible life . . . that’s what qualifies Jesus for this order. It is because He is, and was, and forever more shall be . . . because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever . . . because He has gone head to head with death and conquered it, rising again from the tomb on the third day . . . that Jesus has become “the guarantor of a better covenant” . . . that Jesus has introduced “a better hope, through which we draw near to God” (7:19) . . . that Jesus can make once-for-all atonement for sin by offering offered Himself as the perfect and final sacrifice (7:27) . . . that Jesus is “able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (7:25).

How powerful is Jesus’ priesthood? . . . how enduring? . . . how amazing? . . . Pretty!!! How sufficient? . . . ALL!!!

A priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek. And, by His grace alone, He is my priest . . . present here and now, . . . knowing my need and the needs of my family . . . drawing near through His blessed Holy Spirit . . . speaking words of intercession before the Father on our behalf . . . for our blessing . . . for His glory. Amen.

I’ve mentioned it before . . . one of the things I’m on the “prowl” for when I’m going through my reading plan in the morning are promises. They are scattered throughout God’s Word . . . in the ancient books of Moses . . . in the prophets . . . in the wisdom literature . . . in the chronicles of the life of Jesus . . . in the letters of instruction to the church by Paul and others. Sometimes they are specific and direct . . . other times they are more applied to situations beyond the immediate context of the Scripture. But one thing about the promises of God that I’m reminded of this morning is that they never fail . . . they can be counted on . . . they are worthy of establishing the foundation for life . . . they are an anchor for the soul.

The latter portion of Hebrews 6 is about the certainty of God’s promise to Abraham. Back in Genesis God promised Abraham that he would have a son . . . and from that son a nation would arise . . . and from that nation “all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Gen. 12:2-3). And so God established a principle for dealing with men that is founded on “heirs of the promise” realizing the assurances of God through faith. Through faith . . . not in themselves, but in the God who called them to receive the promise. Not because of their merit . . . not because of their potential . . . but because of “the unchangeable character of His purpose” (6:17) . . . because “it is impossible for God to lie” (6:18). That is the power of the promises . . . the immutable nature of God Himself. And as such . . . they are an anchor for the soul.

“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 6:19-20 ESV)

The promises of God spawn hope . . . and hope becomes a sure and steadfast anchor . . . secured to the throne of God by our Great High Priest, Jesus . . . “For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him. That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for His glory” (2Cor. 1:20).

Chew on it . . . an anchor of the soul . . . tethered to the Holy of Holies . . . tied to the very throne of God. Secured there for us by Jesus Himself . . . the forerunner . . . the “Advance Man.” Administered at the right hand of Majesty on High by Jesus the Great High Priest . . . the Author and Finisher of the promise . . . our forever Intercessor. And so, the anchor holds . . . ya’ think?

Oh, to pause in the midst of the storm and know the anchor holds. To take a moment and reflect on the steadfastness of God’s promises . . . to allow His Spirit to infuse hope and assurance . . . to experience the “it is well with my soul” peace that comes only as a result of knowing the love of God and the God of love.

I’ll be honest . . . I’d just as soon avoid the tempest . . . smooth sailing would be my preference. But I also know . . . in my head and through past experience . . . that it is in the trial where God is so often most deeply known . . . that it is in the surreal circumstance of the unexpected that the reality of the faith is most acutely realized. While the anchor is always there, never is it more recognized or more appreciated than when gale force winds are trying to rip me loose from it. Yes . . . the anchor holds . . . for His glory . . . amen.

Click here if you have a few more minutes to reflect on the reality of this truth . . .

Ok . . . you want to re-invoke a bit of awe factor? You want to go back to the basics and, in turn, turn on the praise machine? You want to hover over some realities that will ultimately result in worship? Then meditate over these verses in Hebrews 5 . . .

“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. And being made perfect, He became the Source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5:7-10  ESV)

Check it out! From the “days of His flesh” . . . to crying out with tears in prayer to the Father . . . to learning obedience through what He suffered . . . to being made perfect or complete . . . to becoming the Source or, as the NKJV says, the Author, of eternal salvation . . . to being appointed to the highest order of priesthood, an order based on “the power of an indestructible life” (Heb. 7:16) . . . that’s my Jesus!

I pause and reflect anew on the wonder of “the days of His flesh” . . . God incarnate . . . the Maker of the human experience entering that experience. Born of a virgin in lowly surroundings . . . growing in favor with God and man . . . tempted, in every way, as we are, yet without sin . . . experiencing the ups and downs . . . feeling joy and anguish . . . doing life like we do life . . . in order to share in our weakness . . . that He might fully act on our behalf.

Amazed that the Creator and Sustainer of all things found Himself pouring out tears in anguished prayer . . . humbling Himself to such an extent that He refused the help of the host of heaven’s armies He commanded, but prevailed solely upon the access of communion with the Father through the vehicle of prayer and strengthening of the Holy Spirit.

My soul hushed as I consider that God answered Jesus prayer . . . and Jesus still suffered and died. Reminded that God said, “Yes” to Jesus petition . . . but that Jesus asked that, above all things, “Not My will but Yours be done.” And so, “It was the will of the Lord to crush Him” . . . to put Him to grief . . . to make Him an offering for guilt . . . that “out of the anguish of His soul He shall see and be satisfied” . . . that the Righteous One, God’s holy Servant should make many to be accounted righteous as He bore their iniquities (Isa. 53:10-11).

Thus, my Jesus became the Source of eternal salvation. Not A source . . . but THE SOURCE. He is the Well from which the fountain of living waters flows . . . He is the Rock upon which “life to the full” is built . . . He is the Craftsman who has begun the good work that He has promised He will complete. It’s all by Him . . . it’s all for Him . . . it’s all about Him.

And then to think, He wears the mantle and assumes the office of Great High Priest. Designated by the Father to ever make intercession for the wayward, the weak, the weary . . . able to do so perfectly through what He, Himself, experienced. Even now at the right hand of the Majesty on High . . . lifting us up . . . speaking our name . . . pleading our case . . .

Even while I lift up Him up . . . whispering to myself His precious, precious name . . . praising the Name of Jesus . . . worshiping at the feet of Jesus . . .

O blessed once for all Sacrifice for sin . . . O wondrous Source of eternal salvation . . . O exalted interceding High Priest . . . to You be honor . . . to You be glory alone . . .

In awe . . .

I’m pondering an invitation this morning. Reflecting on the access gifted to me. Chewing on the wonder of a door opened to me. The invitation is to draw near to a throne. The access is to a footstool before a King. The open door leads to an inner chamber of royalty, authority, and power. And, so goes the invitation, I may draw near to such a hallowed place with confidence.

“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 4:16 ESV)

It occurs to me that I’ve been hanging out at this place of privilege for most of the past week . . . and so have a lot of other people on my behalf, and on behalf of my wife and family. Within this inner sanctum, upon this holy ground, there is a throne of grace . . . a seat of unmerited favor . . . a dispensing place of God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. It is a place where one can receive mercy and find grace when it is needed most. And, so goes the invitation, I can draw near to it with confidence.

Confidently . . . boldly . . . openly . . . plainly. Freedom to speak what’s on my mind . . . no need to conceal or be ambiguous . . . just pouring out what’s on my heart. Not presuming, but prevailing . . . not demanding, but desiring . . . all with assurance that He hears . . . and, as He determines, He dispenses grace to help in time of need.

And, if I put this verse in its context, the confidence isn’t based on who I am . . . or what I’ve done. But the confidence is found in another. It is based on the fact that “we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God” (4:14). A High Priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, “one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (4:15). He who died for my sin and was risen again now abides at the right hand of God, alongside the throne, ever living to make intercession for us (Rom. 8:34, Heb. 7:25).

I don’t approach the throne of grace on my own . . . I do so with an Advocate. I don’t have to have it all figured out . . . or have just the right words . . . or have determined what God’s will is . . . or pretend to know what God knows . . . for “the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26). I’ve got a lot of help before the throne of grace . . . and so, I can draw near with confidence.

As I mull it over in my mind, it has a way of impacting my heart. With this confidence there comes a peace. Not because everything is going to work out how I think it should work out, but because I have a faithful and merciful High Priest who goes with me when I rise up from the footstool and get back to doing life. A peace infused through the Spirit of the Living God who resides within me . . . 24/7 . . . my parakletos . . . my Helper . . . my Comforter . . . my ever present Intercessor. A peace that comes from knowing that I am never far from the throne of grace . . . that the door is always open . . . that the footstool is always available . . . my High Priest always on duty.

Praise God for such confidence! Praise God for such amazing grace!

Oh, what a Savior! Amen?

Exhausting . . . this past week has been exhausting . . . physically, psychologically, and emotionally. But we’re recovering. Sleeping better at night . . . continuing to process the reality of a very surreal experience . . . emotions, more and more in check. But there’s still tomorrow. Don’t know exactly what it could bring . . . but to think about it too much can be kind of exhausting too. But thanks be to God . . . Who, through His word, provides safe harbor for the anxious heart . . . reminding me that, for the people of God, there is a rest which transcends our circumstance.

“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)

I know the context and strict interpretation of these couple of verses concerns salvation. An appeal to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Hebrews, to recognize Jesus as God’s Son . . . God’s word in these last days to a lost and wandering people . . . One equal with God Himself, the radiance of God’s glory, the imprint of His nature . . . superior to angels . . . superior to any prior priesthood . . . superior to Moses . . . providing, for those who would believe, the opportunity to enter into a relationship with God . . . through the blood of His own blood and sacrifice . . . and thus, ceasing from striving to be “good enough” to merit the Father’s acceptance. That’s why it’s a “Sabbath rest” . . . not as much about the seventh day as about the ceasing from labors.

But I can’t help but think that this idea of a Sabbath rest is a principle applicable beyond believing unto salvation. That it is a principle to be reminded of as we work out our salvation . . . as we do life day by day . . . as we take a breath after an exhausting week . . . and hold our breath as we face a bit uncertain future. Then too, there is a rest for the people of God for the rest of the story.

Not that we put ‘er on autopilot . . . not that we curl up in a fetal position and do nothing as life happens to us . . . but that, as we move forward, we do so with the abiding knowledge that we do so not by our might or power, but by His Spirit (Zech. 4:6). That, as we take on the uncertainty of the future, we are not alone . . . that in Christ we can do all things through Him who strengthens us (Php. 4:13). And when it gets tiresome, perhaps overwhelming, we will know His still small voice whispering, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30). That there is a realization that the work is finished . . . and ours is to rest.

There is a rest . . . there is a peace that passes understanding . . . because of who He is . . . because of what He has done.

And so, I can take a breather . . . steering my heart and soul into safe harbor . . . finding shelter and refuge from the storm. Knowing that in quietness and confidence there is strength (Isa. 30:15) . . . knowing that “in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37) . . . knowing that we can, with confidence, “draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16) . . .

Knowing that that there is a rest . . . a rest from relying on my best efforts . . . a rest from feeling the need to be in control . . . a Sabbath rest . . . God’s rest . . . a rest for the rest of the story. Amen?