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"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:1-3)
Anyone who has any ongoing interest in track and field, beloved, especially at the Olympic level, will surely remember gold medal sprinter Michael Johnson and his "gold" track shoes! I will never forget watching those gold shoes flying around that track in record time, passing runner after runner.
Though I have never myself competed in any kind of foot race, the writer of the book of Hebrews tells us that we are all as Christians involved in our own "race" for personal holiness. Nor is this a race of our own choosing, but rather one that God has "set before us," just as the race that Jesus ran in His own earthly life was also "set before Him." Over the next several blog posts, beloved, I would like to share with you four specific commands of God related to how you and I can insure that we run our race faithfully and successfully.
Just as an introduction to such a "mini-series" of devotionals, however, imagine if all of the faithful saints who have gone on before were able to watch us moment by moment and note how we are living as Christians. Imagine also if you knew that they were watching! Scripture does not teach us that such is happening - let's be clear about that. But this "great cloud of witnesses" has left for us a tremendous example that is ever before us. Or to put it in track and field terms, they have "set the bar high" for us to follow.
Think of the patriarchs and the prophets of God, the apostles themselves and the preachers and missionaries who have faithfully run their race before us. Think of every saint of God who has served Jesus Christ through times of trouble and times of blessing. Think of every believer who has taken their turn in the vineyard, who has "toed the mark" on the track and run steadfastly the race that God has set before them.
Now understand, beloved, that it is our time to run. You have your own lane in which to run and your own finish line to cross. What will the next generation say, should Jesus tarry, about the way in which you have run your race and I mine? Will they be able to praise God for our faithfulness even as we today praise God for the faithfulness of those who have gone before us?
I invite you to drop by each week as we consider the four commands of God that I mentioned earlier here. Learn all that you can about this glorious race of life, this race for personal holiness, and allow the Spirit of God to speak to your heart about your own running of that race. The saints gone ahead may not be watching, but I assure you that a lost world is! Run, beloved, run! Run well!
Ron
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Surviving = Overcoming
"He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne" (Revelation 3:21)
I was reminded this week of the relationship between "surviving" and "overcoming," beloved, as Bev and I attended the annual Survivors' Banquet for victims of cancer. As I think about her own battle with breast cancer and the reality that she is, indeed, an 11-year survivor, I cannot help but think of her as a true "overcomer"!
In Jesus' words to the 7 churches of Asia, He repeated this conditional phrase in each case - "he who overcomes." When we think of "overcoming," we think instantly of ultimate victory, of enduring to the end, of winning a battle. Yet when we think of "surviving" we only think of getting by or of just making it through somehow, as in "I can't believe I survived another week at work!" It has occurred to me, beloved, that they actually express one and the same thought.
In the case of any person's battle with disease, to be a "survivor" is to be victorious. It is to be an overcomer. And in our spiritual walk before the world, to "survive" is to win the ultimate victory against Satan, to walk in such a way that people can see Jesus Christ in us. In John's letters to the 7 churches, we find wonderful promises for all true overcomers, for all true survivors. Consider them with me briefly:
"To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God" (Revelation 2:7)
"He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death" (Revelation 2:11b)
"To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it" (Revelation 2:17b)
"And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations" (Revelation 2:26)
"He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels" (Revelation 3:5)
"He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name" (Revelation 3:12)
Are you a spiritual "survivor," beloved? If so, then you are one of God's "overcomers"! His Word makes it clear that only those who endure to the end will truly be saved. Faith in Jesus Christ is not a mere moment in time, beloved - a bent knee, a bowed head, a dip into the baptismal pool and a name on a church roll - it is a life of faithfulness, a steady consistent walk in obedience to Christ and to the leading of the Holy Spirit within. To be a "survivor" is, then, the essence of what it means to be a Christian!
Ron
I was reminded this week of the relationship between "surviving" and "overcoming," beloved, as Bev and I attended the annual Survivors' Banquet for victims of cancer. As I think about her own battle with breast cancer and the reality that she is, indeed, an 11-year survivor, I cannot help but think of her as a true "overcomer"!
In Jesus' words to the 7 churches of Asia, He repeated this conditional phrase in each case - "he who overcomes." When we think of "overcoming," we think instantly of ultimate victory, of enduring to the end, of winning a battle. Yet when we think of "surviving" we only think of getting by or of just making it through somehow, as in "I can't believe I survived another week at work!" It has occurred to me, beloved, that they actually express one and the same thought.
In the case of any person's battle with disease, to be a "survivor" is to be victorious. It is to be an overcomer. And in our spiritual walk before the world, to "survive" is to win the ultimate victory against Satan, to walk in such a way that people can see Jesus Christ in us. In John's letters to the 7 churches, we find wonderful promises for all true overcomers, for all true survivors. Consider them with me briefly:
"To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God" (Revelation 2:7)
"He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death" (Revelation 2:11b)
"To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it" (Revelation 2:17b)
"And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations" (Revelation 2:26)
"He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels" (Revelation 3:5)
"He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name" (Revelation 3:12)
Are you a spiritual "survivor," beloved? If so, then you are one of God's "overcomers"! His Word makes it clear that only those who endure to the end will truly be saved. Faith in Jesus Christ is not a mere moment in time, beloved - a bent knee, a bowed head, a dip into the baptismal pool and a name on a church roll - it is a life of faithfulness, a steady consistent walk in obedience to Christ and to the leading of the Holy Spirit within. To be a "survivor" is, then, the essence of what it means to be a Christian!
Ron
Friday, May 13, 2011
Are You in Earnest?
"Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen" (Ephesians 3:20-21)
Most of us are more familiar with these words of the Apostle Paul in their role as a "benediction" spoken at the conclusion of a service of worship. Yet the fact remains that what we discover here is actually one of the greatest single promises of God ever made to us as His children! In order to understand how that is true, however, we need to consider closely a statement also made by the apostle earlier in this same letter.
"In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation - having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory" (1:13-14)
Pay close attention to the term "pledge of our inheritance." In the King James translation the word used instead of "pledge" is "earnest," an old English word (ernest) meaning concretely money that is paid in advance to seal a contract and more abstractly a token of that which is to come, a promise or assurance. It is the second of these meanings that should really grab our attention.
In the original language of the New Testament, the Koine Greek word used by the apostle was arrabon or "earnest-money." The picture from the beginning was clearly intended to be that of something given as a "down-payment" or pledge of something even greater to come. In fact, it has been noted that a related Greek word, arrabona, referred to what we know as an "engagement ring," itself certainly a great promise of things to come!
Can you see how the Spirit of God within the believer fills this role of God's pledge to each of us, beloved? That is what makes Paul's words in his benediction in 3:20-21 so glorious! That power which has the ability to work within us and through us in performing things for the kingdom of God which are more far-reaching than the wildest that we could ever hope or imagine - that power which we know personally as the Holy Spirit is but God's "down-payment" of things to come! Indeed, as Paul went on to say: "To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."
Are you "in earnest" about your Christian walk, beloved? God is! And the pledge of His desire for you is the indwelling Holy Spirit. And if the Spirit of God is His "down-payment," then imagine what we must have in store for us as children of the Most High God, bought by the blood of Jesus Christ and saved by God's all-sufficient grace. Hallelujah and hallelujah!
Ron
Most of us are more familiar with these words of the Apostle Paul in their role as a "benediction" spoken at the conclusion of a service of worship. Yet the fact remains that what we discover here is actually one of the greatest single promises of God ever made to us as His children! In order to understand how that is true, however, we need to consider closely a statement also made by the apostle earlier in this same letter.
"In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation - having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory" (1:13-14)
Pay close attention to the term "pledge of our inheritance." In the King James translation the word used instead of "pledge" is "earnest," an old English word (ernest) meaning concretely money that is paid in advance to seal a contract and more abstractly a token of that which is to come, a promise or assurance. It is the second of these meanings that should really grab our attention.
In the original language of the New Testament, the Koine Greek word used by the apostle was arrabon or "earnest-money." The picture from the beginning was clearly intended to be that of something given as a "down-payment" or pledge of something even greater to come. In fact, it has been noted that a related Greek word, arrabona, referred to what we know as an "engagement ring," itself certainly a great promise of things to come!
Can you see how the Spirit of God within the believer fills this role of God's pledge to each of us, beloved? That is what makes Paul's words in his benediction in 3:20-21 so glorious! That power which has the ability to work within us and through us in performing things for the kingdom of God which are more far-reaching than the wildest that we could ever hope or imagine - that power which we know personally as the Holy Spirit is but God's "down-payment" of things to come! Indeed, as Paul went on to say: "To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."
Are you "in earnest" about your Christian walk, beloved? God is! And the pledge of His desire for you is the indwelling Holy Spirit. And if the Spirit of God is His "down-payment," then imagine what we must have in store for us as children of the Most High God, bought by the blood of Jesus Christ and saved by God's all-sufficient grace. Hallelujah and hallelujah!
Ron
Thursday, May 5, 2011
He Heard That!
"And they came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, 'What were you discussing on the way?' But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest" (Mark 9:33-34)
Some of the most frightening words that I ever had occasion to hear, beloved, took place whenever my mother would say of some words I had hastily uttered under my breath, "I heard that, young man!' I never ceased to be amazed at how she could hear things that to me no normal human being should be able to hear. I soon concluded that it had to be a very special ability which God gives to mothers!
Imagine, then, the surprise of the disciples when a conversation which they had held on the way to Capernaum was suddenly brought up in their presence by Jesus. They clearly had no idea that He had any knowledge of what they had discussed among themselves! Furthermore, they were embarrassed that what they had been discussing with each other had been so ego-centric and worldly. Very simply, they had been talking about which one of them should be honored as greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And so off-base was their subject matter that it led at last to Jesus giving to them a discourse on what true spiritual greatness is - that of becoming a genuine servant.
All of us no doubt recall words that we have spoken or even thoughts that we have pondered, the memory of which later brought a sense of shame and embarrassment to our hearts. I know that it is certainly true of me! So why do we allow such thoughts to cross our minds or such words to cross our lips? Do we really think that He doesn't hear us, that He isn't aware of our thoughts and attitudes? Just reading this passage in John Mark's narrative has served to strengthen my own resolve, beloved, to guard my thoughts and my words carefully, not so much to avoid "getting into trouble" with Jesus, but more because I want my thoughts and words and actions to honor His wonderful name.
I am just as amazed today at the memory of my mother's uncanny ability to hear my whispered words, beloved, as I was when she was with us. But I am even more amazed at my Lord's personal knowledge of me as His child. And I am thankful that He loves me in spite of words and thoughts that I should neither speak nor ponder. And such knowledge inspires me to seek to make my thoughts and words and deeds something for which I am never ashamed to have Him see and know. It is a comfort to know that Jesus knows me that well and that, knowing me, He loves me anyway!
Ron
Some of the most frightening words that I ever had occasion to hear, beloved, took place whenever my mother would say of some words I had hastily uttered under my breath, "I heard that, young man!' I never ceased to be amazed at how she could hear things that to me no normal human being should be able to hear. I soon concluded that it had to be a very special ability which God gives to mothers!
Imagine, then, the surprise of the disciples when a conversation which they had held on the way to Capernaum was suddenly brought up in their presence by Jesus. They clearly had no idea that He had any knowledge of what they had discussed among themselves! Furthermore, they were embarrassed that what they had been discussing with each other had been so ego-centric and worldly. Very simply, they had been talking about which one of them should be honored as greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And so off-base was their subject matter that it led at last to Jesus giving to them a discourse on what true spiritual greatness is - that of becoming a genuine servant.
All of us no doubt recall words that we have spoken or even thoughts that we have pondered, the memory of which later brought a sense of shame and embarrassment to our hearts. I know that it is certainly true of me! So why do we allow such thoughts to cross our minds or such words to cross our lips? Do we really think that He doesn't hear us, that He isn't aware of our thoughts and attitudes? Just reading this passage in John Mark's narrative has served to strengthen my own resolve, beloved, to guard my thoughts and my words carefully, not so much to avoid "getting into trouble" with Jesus, but more because I want my thoughts and words and actions to honor His wonderful name.
I am just as amazed today at the memory of my mother's uncanny ability to hear my whispered words, beloved, as I was when she was with us. But I am even more amazed at my Lord's personal knowledge of me as His child. And I am thankful that He loves me in spite of words and thoughts that I should neither speak nor ponder. And such knowledge inspires me to seek to make my thoughts and words and deeds something for which I am never ashamed to have Him see and know. It is a comfort to know that Jesus knows me that well and that, knowing me, He loves me anyway!
Ron
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