Hebrew 4:15-16 (NKJV)
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Who is Jesus? Some people say that He is a good man. Some say that He is merely a historical figure and some are still trying to disprove Him altogether. Those who know Him as savior also see Him in many different ways and this is because He has earned so many different titles. In this verse a very personal side of Jesus is shown forth.
The title given Him, in this verse, is High Priest. The high priest in the Old Testament was the spiritual leader who made sacrifices for sin and offerings for the people. He went into the presence of God for the people and managed the house of God. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, He is our advocate and it is Him who pleads our case in presence of God on our behalf.
When Christ left heaven, He left an atmosphere of perfection, holiness, goodness and everything that is wonderful and glorious. He did this to become a man. Man is God’s creation. He, the Creator, willingly became the created. Jesus became a man in order to experience everything that we can and will experience on this earth. He was tempted in every way as we are and yet He did not sin. He experienced every situation as we do, yet without sin. He was humiliated, shamed, abandoned, hated, spurned, lied to, hurt, stolen from, hungry, treated unfairly and many other atrocities happened to Him, but He never responded in evil.
Jesus knew every feeling and hurt that we would experience, but He still came to earth because of the greatness of His love for us. He knew that we could not make it to heaven on our own, so He put Himself in our shoes, experienced the same things as we do and then He went to the point of taking our penalty on Himself for our sake. This is how He can sympathize with us in every way.
On top of all of this He wants us to spend time with Him in His presence. Grace is an undeserved, unearned gift given to us when we deserve judgment. The presence of God is called the throne of grace. We don’t deserve to come into His presence, but by His grace, He tells us to come. We can come boldly. This is a word that has the idea of freedom, confidence, courage and assurance. We can come to Him in full assurance that He will accept us and listen to our prayers. He has felt all our hurts, so He knows what we are feeling. He then offers grace and mercy when we come to His throne, showing us His generous heart and deep desire to help us in our need.
Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.
Daniel A. Smith
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Love In Action
2 Peter 1:5,6 (NKJV)
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
The final link in the godly qualities that Peter tells us to add to our faith is love. Love needs to be the primary motive by which we do all things. Any act of kindness needs to be done in love. All qualities listed here and all the fruit of the Spirit need to be displayed in love. Without love, anything done for God can become duty and it is done from the wrong motive. Love is the main theme of scripture. The only two laws of the New Testament are to love God with all our heart, soul and mind, and to love others as ourselves.
In these verses alone there is a drastic contrast between performing each of these godly characters and displaying them in love. If we look at the list that Peter gave us we can see the contrast.
· Virtue – without love virtue becomes self righteous acts which seek to impress others and gain personal glory. Whereas virtue displayed in love is purity out of gentleness. This shows the holiness of Christ in order to help and guide others to act right.
· Knowledge – without love, knowledge is puffed up and seeks self superiority. On the other hand, knowledge displayed with love seeks to inform, guide, build up and direct others to the Lord.
· Self-control – without love, self-control can be displayed by a fearful employee trying to keep his job. A person can control their temper but continue to carry out corrupt behavior. But, self-control displayed in love, remains calm in all situations and seeks what is best for the other person.
· Perseverance – perseverance without love is shown everyday by a business man or a team sticking to the task unto the end. But love controlled perseverance keeps looking to God in trust and calmness unto the end despite what things look like.
· Godliness – Godliness apart from love is religion, which is man working his way to God. But, God is love and true Godliness can only be shown by someone who has a deep intimate relationship with the very God of love.
· Brotherly kindness – brotherly kindness without love can be shown between team members or co-workers who want to accomplish the same task. But, in love, brotherly kindness seeks the good of others first, the needs of body of Christ are handled as if they were our own needs.
In order to love, we need a selfless desire to meet the need of another. We need pure motives in which we only desire to do what is best for the other person and we need to treat the other person with the same preference that we would give our own selves. While here on earth, this will be a battle every day. We need to actively seek this, pray for this and search the scriptures as to how to show love to others. By seeking this you will have a savior who is very well pleased with your endeavors.
Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.
Daniel A. Smith
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
The final link in the godly qualities that Peter tells us to add to our faith is love. Love needs to be the primary motive by which we do all things. Any act of kindness needs to be done in love. All qualities listed here and all the fruit of the Spirit need to be displayed in love. Without love, anything done for God can become duty and it is done from the wrong motive. Love is the main theme of scripture. The only two laws of the New Testament are to love God with all our heart, soul and mind, and to love others as ourselves.
In these verses alone there is a drastic contrast between performing each of these godly characters and displaying them in love. If we look at the list that Peter gave us we can see the contrast.
· Virtue – without love virtue becomes self righteous acts which seek to impress others and gain personal glory. Whereas virtue displayed in love is purity out of gentleness. This shows the holiness of Christ in order to help and guide others to act right.
· Knowledge – without love, knowledge is puffed up and seeks self superiority. On the other hand, knowledge displayed with love seeks to inform, guide, build up and direct others to the Lord.
· Self-control – without love, self-control can be displayed by a fearful employee trying to keep his job. A person can control their temper but continue to carry out corrupt behavior. But, self-control displayed in love, remains calm in all situations and seeks what is best for the other person.
· Perseverance – perseverance without love is shown everyday by a business man or a team sticking to the task unto the end. But love controlled perseverance keeps looking to God in trust and calmness unto the end despite what things look like.
· Godliness – Godliness apart from love is religion, which is man working his way to God. But, God is love and true Godliness can only be shown by someone who has a deep intimate relationship with the very God of love.
· Brotherly kindness – brotherly kindness without love can be shown between team members or co-workers who want to accomplish the same task. But, in love, brotherly kindness seeks the good of others first, the needs of body of Christ are handled as if they were our own needs.
In order to love, we need a selfless desire to meet the need of another. We need pure motives in which we only desire to do what is best for the other person and we need to treat the other person with the same preference that we would give our own selves. While here on earth, this will be a battle every day. We need to actively seek this, pray for this and search the scriptures as to how to show love to others. By seeking this you will have a savior who is very well pleased with your endeavors.
Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.
Daniel A. Smith
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Brotherly Kindness
2 Peter 1:5,6 (NKJV)
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
Throughout this these verses, Peter has told us the godly qualities that we need to add to our faith in order to exemplify Christ. We now come to the means by which we need to display virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance and godliness. In I Corinthians 13:2b, we are told that “without love we are nothing”. Since God is love and love is the greatest quality of God that we can show to Him and others. Peter says that without love we are nothing. Love must then be an amazingly important part of God’s plan.
Peter starts with brotherly kindness or love, in vs. 7. The Greek word used here is ‘philadelphia’ or brotherly love. We need to show love amongst our family first. If we cannot love our brothers and sisters in Christ, how can we love people in a world that is antagonistic to God and to His children.
First of all, brotherly love is not always easy. We all have flaws and weaknesses and not all personalities work well together. But when we choose to handle others in love, the difficulties can be worked out. True brotherly love is completely selfless. Paul says, “[Be] kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another,11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord”, (Romans 12:10-11, NKJV). Giving preference to others first, many times, means self sacrifice and denial of our own desires for the sake of another. We need to actively and fervently seek to love each other. Some people are not easy to respond to in love, so in order to respond as Christ did, we need to pursue such a desire with all fervency. God can give you the ability to love the other person(s), just ask Him. Be patient and keep asking, this ability will probably not come over night.
Paul says, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart”, (1 Peter 1:22, NKJV). The only we can love others consistently, in the way that God desires, is by obeying Him in all purity. Only a heart of purity and selflessness wants what is best for the other and seeks their good first. A heart set on God and pleasing Him in fullness can accomplish this in His power.
Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.
Daniel A. Smith
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
Throughout this these verses, Peter has told us the godly qualities that we need to add to our faith in order to exemplify Christ. We now come to the means by which we need to display virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance and godliness. In I Corinthians 13:2b, we are told that “without love we are nothing”. Since God is love and love is the greatest quality of God that we can show to Him and others. Peter says that without love we are nothing. Love must then be an amazingly important part of God’s plan.
Peter starts with brotherly kindness or love, in vs. 7. The Greek word used here is ‘philadelphia’ or brotherly love. We need to show love amongst our family first. If we cannot love our brothers and sisters in Christ, how can we love people in a world that is antagonistic to God and to His children.
First of all, brotherly love is not always easy. We all have flaws and weaknesses and not all personalities work well together. But when we choose to handle others in love, the difficulties can be worked out. True brotherly love is completely selfless. Paul says, “[Be] kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another,11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord”, (Romans 12:10-11, NKJV). Giving preference to others first, many times, means self sacrifice and denial of our own desires for the sake of another. We need to actively and fervently seek to love each other. Some people are not easy to respond to in love, so in order to respond as Christ did, we need to pursue such a desire with all fervency. God can give you the ability to love the other person(s), just ask Him. Be patient and keep asking, this ability will probably not come over night.
Paul says, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart”, (1 Peter 1:22, NKJV). The only we can love others consistently, in the way that God desires, is by obeying Him in all purity. Only a heart of purity and selflessness wants what is best for the other and seeks their good first. A heart set on God and pleasing Him in fullness can accomplish this in His power.
Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.
Daniel A. Smith
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Godliness Not Godlessness
2 Peter 1:5,6 (NKJV)
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness
Godliness is the next godly character that Peter encourages us to add to our faith. It may seem odd that he has waited so long in this chain to emphasize godliness. But, we start as an infant in faith. Virtue or purity is a sign that our faith is real. Adding knowledge shows that we have a deep thirst for God. But we need self-control and perseverance to advance and grow in our faith. Now is the time for God to establish reverence and a deep awe of God. Living godly does not come haphazardly, we must have a fully sold out desire for God, willing to be broken and used for God’s service in whatever way that He desires most.
The word that Peter uses for godliness is a word that implies deep reverence for God and committed devotion. We need an awed respect for who God is, an undying commitment to be like Christ and a desire to fulfill His will in every way possible. Paul tells Timothy to put most of His efforts into developing godliness. He says, “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things”, (I Timothy 4:8a, NKJV). Even though the exercise of our physical body has some profit, it is the development of godliness and our spiritual development upon which we need to concentrate.
We not only need to put our efforts into developing godliness, but we also need to be content with it. Paul says, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain”, (I Timothy 6:6, NKJV). We need a comfort zone that is only satisfied with righteousness and holiness all in the fear of God.
A true godly example is when others see the Lord Jesus, when they look at us. When others leave our presence, they need to know that we have been with the Lord. A true sense of godliness is shown by seeing the purity and love of the Lord Jesus through us. This does not mean that we do not show who we are and display the personality that God has given us. We need to show Christ, not apart from self, but apart from selfishness.
Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer request.
Daniel A. Smith
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness
Godliness is the next godly character that Peter encourages us to add to our faith. It may seem odd that he has waited so long in this chain to emphasize godliness. But, we start as an infant in faith. Virtue or purity is a sign that our faith is real. Adding knowledge shows that we have a deep thirst for God. But we need self-control and perseverance to advance and grow in our faith. Now is the time for God to establish reverence and a deep awe of God. Living godly does not come haphazardly, we must have a fully sold out desire for God, willing to be broken and used for God’s service in whatever way that He desires most.
The word that Peter uses for godliness is a word that implies deep reverence for God and committed devotion. We need an awed respect for who God is, an undying commitment to be like Christ and a desire to fulfill His will in every way possible. Paul tells Timothy to put most of His efforts into developing godliness. He says, “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things”, (I Timothy 4:8a, NKJV). Even though the exercise of our physical body has some profit, it is the development of godliness and our spiritual development upon which we need to concentrate.
We not only need to put our efforts into developing godliness, but we also need to be content with it. Paul says, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain”, (I Timothy 6:6, NKJV). We need a comfort zone that is only satisfied with righteousness and holiness all in the fear of God.
A true godly example is when others see the Lord Jesus, when they look at us. When others leave our presence, they need to know that we have been with the Lord. A true sense of godliness is shown by seeing the purity and love of the Lord Jesus through us. This does not mean that we do not show who we are and display the personality that God has given us. We need to show Christ, not apart from self, but apart from selfishness.
Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer request.
Daniel A. Smith
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Never Give Up
2 Peter 1:5,6 (NKJV)
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness
Within the ladder of godly characters, the next rung of the ladder, Peter now wants to emphasize perseverance. This subject, once again, is not a popular topic in the church and definitely not in America. We do not want to wait for anything and anything less than instant is unacceptable. But God states quite the opposite story. He constantly encourages us that waiting on Him and His timing is always worth the pain and difficulty it takes to accomplish the goal.
The main reason that we do not want to discuss patience is because of the method which God uses to breed patience. Paul says, “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance”, (Romans 5:3, NKJV). If trials and tribulations allow patience to be worked out in our life, no wonder we try to avoid this. Most of us want to choose the easiest way or the way of least resistance. But anyone who has journeyed on a difficult long-term challenge knows that they need to work through some very difficult problems and stick to it in order to accomplish the goal. God also uses the same method. He has goals and potentials for each of us individually and He will bring us through the trials of life if we trust Him. In order to pass His tests successfully we must invoke endurance and patience.
Our job is to obey. If we obey, the testing period will last much less time. But if we resist or ignore God, He may have us take and retake the test until we get it right. If we harden our heart, then God cannot use us in that way. We need to submit to the will of God, persevere in trust, let Him work out the problems in our life and then we can reap the benefits of blessing.
James even encourages us to anticipate trials with joy, looking forward to the end result of greater godliness. He says, “2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4, NKJV).
So often, we want God to give us patience, but we want Him to give it to us right NOW. We cannot go from childhood to adulthood overnight. We also need to persevere with others. We need to continually present the gospel and live a godly life in front of others, no matter if we are accepted or rejected. Look at Noah, he built a boat in the middle of the desert before it ever had even rained. It took him 120 years and much rejection of others around him. In the end, he and his family were saved, but the rest of the world was destroyed.
Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.
Daniel A. Smith
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness
Within the ladder of godly characters, the next rung of the ladder, Peter now wants to emphasize perseverance. This subject, once again, is not a popular topic in the church and definitely not in America. We do not want to wait for anything and anything less than instant is unacceptable. But God states quite the opposite story. He constantly encourages us that waiting on Him and His timing is always worth the pain and difficulty it takes to accomplish the goal.
The main reason that we do not want to discuss patience is because of the method which God uses to breed patience. Paul says, “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance”, (Romans 5:3, NKJV). If trials and tribulations allow patience to be worked out in our life, no wonder we try to avoid this. Most of us want to choose the easiest way or the way of least resistance. But anyone who has journeyed on a difficult long-term challenge knows that they need to work through some very difficult problems and stick to it in order to accomplish the goal. God also uses the same method. He has goals and potentials for each of us individually and He will bring us through the trials of life if we trust Him. In order to pass His tests successfully we must invoke endurance and patience.
Our job is to obey. If we obey, the testing period will last much less time. But if we resist or ignore God, He may have us take and retake the test until we get it right. If we harden our heart, then God cannot use us in that way. We need to submit to the will of God, persevere in trust, let Him work out the problems in our life and then we can reap the benefits of blessing.
James even encourages us to anticipate trials with joy, looking forward to the end result of greater godliness. He says, “2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4, NKJV).
So often, we want God to give us patience, but we want Him to give it to us right NOW. We cannot go from childhood to adulthood overnight. We also need to persevere with others. We need to continually present the gospel and live a godly life in front of others, no matter if we are accepted or rejected. Look at Noah, he built a boat in the middle of the desert before it ever had even rained. It took him 120 years and much rejection of others around him. In the end, he and his family were saved, but the rest of the world was destroyed.
Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.
Daniel A. Smith
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)