Skip to main content

Hebrews 3-4; Psalm 26


Skeptic:

·         “They’ll know we are Christians by our T-Shirts.”

·         “How do you know when a Christian is lying?  When he is singing!”

That’s understandable when you look at some verses out of context; and Psalm 26 is no exception:

Ps 26:1-2  …I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. 2 Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; NIV

I’m not blameless.  I have often wavered.  And if God examines me … enough said! 

How do texts like Psalm 26 meld with a verse like Isa 64:6:  “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags”?  The answer, of course, is IN CHRIST JESUS.  2 Cor 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. KJV ß IN HIM – in Christ Jesus.  How can that be?  How can Christ take me with all my ugliness (aka SIN) and “turn a blind eye”:  Eph 5:27 present her [the church – including yours truly] “present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. ß there’s that word “blameless” again.

The book of Hebrews can help us.  A key word in Hebrews is “better.”  Jesus is BETTER than:

·         the prophets                   ch. 1:1-3
·         the angels                       ch. 1:4-14
·         Moses the servant          ch. 3:1-6
·         provides a better rest    ch. 4
·         Aaron’s priesthood        ch. 7+8
·         a better covenant           ch. 8+9
·         a better sacrifice             ch. 9+10
·         faith is a better way        ch. 11

But chapters 3+4 focus on Jesus being better than:
·         Moses. And all the trappings of the Mosaic Law, the Pharisaical add-ons, and our legalistic add-ons.
·         Rest.  Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light” while Proverbs tells us the way of the transgressor is hard



Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. NIV 

An old gospel hymn says it best: “Jesus paid it all. All to him I owe.  Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

Walk with the King today and be a blessing!
John Skrabak

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Luke 2-3

Merry Christmas!  Oops.  It’s a little late to be sharing Christmas greetings.  But here’s some good news.  Only 310 days until next Christmas.  In the meantime let’s look at one way we can get the most out of the 320 days.  Let’s see if we can learn a lesson from the shepherds that will help us move forward the way God wants us to. The shepherds weren’t going anywhere until they dealt with their fear.  Luke 2:8-9 tells us they were afraid on the first Christmas night.  In fact they were filled with fear.  The KJV states it in a memorable way – “They were sore afraid.” It was not just the angel that terrified them but also the visible manifestation of the glory of God. What was the glory of the Lord?  It must have been a superb light show.  The glory shone around them – a dazzling specter of light.  It was infinitely better than a meteor shower. But God’s angel had good news of great joy.  The news would calm th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ephesians 1-2; Psalm 8

Note: Both today and tomorrow's blog are based on the same reading. When listening to the news of our day, the phrase "majestic" is probably the last word that comes to your mind.  And yet, this is the word used by David in Psalm 8 to describe his view of God's reputation.  "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" (v.1&9)  David further proclaims that he is not the only one declaring the majesty of God's name, but he hears it in the cries of his children and grandchildren.  Could it be that rather than hearing "Waa! Waah! Waa! Waah!" grandfather David heard "Yah! Weh! Yah! Weh!" (the Hebrew name for God)? David not only heard God's majesty, he saw it.  To do so, David looked up - beyond his circumstances.  "When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place...O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name" (v.3&9)  David's ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Colossians 1-2

Colossians 2 speaks of being rooted in Christ. How is that possible to be rooted in Christ? It is possible through growing in your relationship with Him, that comes with time. How long does it take for a tree’s roots to grow deep? It takes a while, it does not happen overnight. We grow in that relationship through the study of the Word, fellowship with believers, prayer and other spiritual disciplines. We grow in that relationship as we go through this life and turn to Him again and again. Reading through this chapter reminded me of this older song by Phillips, Craig and Dean. Chapter 2 speaks of being alive in Christ. We are alive in Christ! https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=_0_1jazh454 Actually, this week's Bible study touches on some of these same themes. Here is the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=_81kE14c6zI&feature=youtu.be
Post a Comment
Read more