While listening to a religious devotional program the other day, I heard two distinct phrases from the New Testament reading out of Hebrews 10:32-39. They are from verses 35 and 39 which state, “so, don’t throw away your confidence,” and “we do not belong to those who shrink back.”
The world is difficult, challenging and obviously bent to evil and selfishness. It is rather easy sometimes to become discouraged with the state of the Church, Believers, and even our own direction of life. The urge to quit, surrender or to just flat out stop trying so hard or refraining from putting forth so much effort has come to mind for consideration. This is where the passage in Hebrews comes to encourage us to keep the faith and stay grounded in Jesus Christ. Nothing that this world could offer us is of any worth or value in comparison to our priceless faith in Jesus Christ and spending eternity with Him. Even hardship, difficulty, disappointments, loss, and any of life’s traumas do not contain any reasonable excuse to justify giving up. The word “confidence” is the same word translated “boldness” back in Hebrews 10:19. We must continue to live boldly for Jesus no matter what the cost and remain steadfast in our faith. It is saying that we should never toss aside our faith in a hasty retreat simply due to persecution, ridicule, mocking, or others resistance or rejections to our beliefs. We must continue to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Just because “life isn’t fair” or misfortunes befall us is no excuse to stop going to church, associating with other believers, reading the Bible and maintaining our relationship with Jesus. We don’t “shrink back” (verse 39). That is, we don't just "walk off" on God or "take a break" from our faith. The phrase "shrink back" implies we are on the road to apostasy. May we never become “spiritual cowards” by “returning to the world” and waving the white-flag of surrender. We never retreat. We must guard against staying quiet or blending into the world so that “nobody notices” or bothers us about being a Christian. There is a saying “If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Or, would there be so little evidence that you are set free?” We must never abandon our faith in times of difficulties, uncertainties or persecution. Let us remember that endurance shows the world that your faith is genuine and sincere. Our enduring faith rests in what Jesus has done not only in the past, but what He is doing now and will be doing well into the future. The Bible, along with our own past experiences, contains more than enough credible evidence that we can live fully confident in God. So, remain confident...and don't "shrink back!" Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
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One of the most challenging times in the Church calendar are the days following right after Christmas. There are just a few days until celebrating the New Year, so Christmas can quickly be pushed aside as “over” to prepare for the celebrations of December 31st.
So, what are we supposed to do with Christmas, the decorations, and seasonal music? Well, that is easy! Keep celebrating! Also, leave those decorations alone and keep the Christmas music playing! The reason for that is due to the fact that we still have twelve more days of Christmas following December 25th. The end of the Christmas season isn’t until the first week of the New Year in January. And, yes, we have a name for that! We call it “Epiphany!” This event that the Church refers to as “Epiphany” means “manifestation.” The reference is to God who “reveals Himself “in the flesh” through His Son, Jesus Christ. It is also a time to mark the appearance of the Three Wise Men who were one of the first to worship Christ as King. The “Epiphany” revelation or “manifestation” is that God unveils Himself to the world. Through Jesus His Son, He shows Himself as fully human and fully divine. That He is real. That He is our Triune God. Wrapping up the Christmas message with Epiphany culminates in the gifts of the three Wise Men. Just these gifts, alone, from the Wise Men are a powerful testimony to who Jesus really was to all of humanity. Gold: The most fitting gift for a King. This signifies Jesus is the King of Kings. Frankincense: the most fitting gift for a priest. This testifies that Jesus was truly the Great High Priest. Myrrh: This was for embalming and preparing the dead. This fulfils the mission of Jesus that He is the Savior of all people who came to die an atoning sacrifice on the cross. Epiphany, to our faith, is a powerful testimony of God’s unconditional love. His love for us compelled Him to send His Son into the world to save us from our sinfulness. God took the initiative. God made all the arrangements. God spoke through the Prophets. God sent Jesus. God paid the full price to make all this happen. In other words, it was His idea and decision all along. He did everything to make reconciliation with Him possible. His desire to have a loving and personal relationship with you is that important to Him. God brought His redeeming light into the darkness of this world on purpose. Isaiah 60:3 foretold of God’s loving plan by saying “Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” Christians are also an “Epiphany” to the world. The light of Christ. We illumine the light of Jesus to reveal Him to the lost. Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” That is the faith of Epiphany! We must conform our lives to this faith We must live out this faith for others to see. We must tell others and teach them about our faith so they can accept it too. We are to be making Disciples who make other Disciples of Jesus. We passionately live out a “24/7/365” and “all the time” faith. It is our identity that emanates from all that we are and from everything we are involved with daily. In other words, faith doesn’t have an “off” switch. We simply are….always. Illuminating. Reflecting. Shining. Epiphany reminds me of the chorus from the Christmastide Hymn, “We Three Kings,” that declare “Oh, star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright. Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.” Let’s remember to light the world with the love and perfect light of Jesus. Let’s live out the faith of Epiphany. |
AuthorPastor Charles - Archives
April 2024
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