Scripture Impressions

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

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“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” -Psalm 27:14

I believe it was J. I. Packer who said, “Trust God and get going.” Waiting is active, faith building muscle with every decision. It takes courage and discernment which the Holy Spirit provides when the Christian asks for it (James 1:5). Throughout this psalm David is steadily trusting in God’s character and promises. This verse is no different, except now action must be taken on his part. Wait on God.

When Christians pray, we bring praises and petitions to the Throne of Grace. The believer must then trust God’s will through those prayers. As we wait for Him to act the believer is also obeying what he already knows to be true in Scripture. Faith is not a passive activity where we treat Yahweh like a genie and sit on our hands. Nor is the faithful Christian to approach life apathetically, with a hyper focus on God’s Sovereignty, thereby excusing man’s responsibility. God has granted Christians the privilege to co-labor with Him. So then, we commit ourselves to His kingdom work each day with courage and power from the Spirit.

For David, and all Christians with seen and unseen enemies, we are to leave room for God’s power and His wrath. Vengeance belongs to Him and He will repay with perfect justice (Romans 12:17-21). This is something David understood, as he entrusted himself to the Lord’s care in this psalm. The longer a believer faithfully walks with God, the more enemies he will accumulate. This is actually a good thing, for if the Christian finds they get along with the world just fine then what it is they are conforming to? Believers are united to one another through Christ, but divisive to worldly standards of doing what is right in our own eyes (Romans 1:18-32).

Truth is hated, therefore God is, so Christians should expect opposition and persecution. It may take on extreme measures, like for David, who ran for his life. It could cost us our jobs, homes, or relationships. Typically in the western world it looks like cancel culture. Being snubbed, treated unfairly, overlooked with intent- these are all ways to inflict harm without directly bearing responsibility. This too, is in the Father’s hands.

The comfort believers have when despised is that nothing is permitted without the Father’s consent. If He allowed David to literally run for his life, it was meant to strengthen his faith, as well as us. Because of David’s experiences we have the beautiful psalms he penned to sustain us in our own weariness. Conformity to Christlikeness is more important to God than easy living. If God knows what is best for His people, and He does, then it is wise to wait for Him to act and not operate out of our own strength. Stay diligent in obedience, trusting in the Almighty’s way. He is our fortress against evil doers and suffering. What then, do we have to fear?

Grace upon grace,

April

Psalm 27:13

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“I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” -Psalm 27:13

I remember when I was young we would visit my aunt’s family in the neighboring county. It was only about a 45 minute drive, but it felt like forever. Car rides seemed so long back then. I don’t think my sister or I ever said “Are we there yet?” out loud, but I definitely thought it. Sometimes we are tempted to get impatient with the Lord’s timing, “why hasn’t He returned yet?” Perhaps we get restless with the monotonous landscape of our lives, or we just want quick relief from all the heaviness life throws at us. Are we almost Home yet? How much further until we get there?

David took comfort in the Lord’s future graces, learning to wait on the Lord’s plans, not his. By taking the long view he was able to serve God wholeheartedly in the present. His life, like all of us, is but a candle, easily snuffed out at the Lord’s command. While God had the shepherd king on earth, he was used by Him. The believer is an instrument of righteousness in God’s armory. He will sustain and keep His beloved children in their faith until it is made sight.

This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. Throughout this psalm, David’s confidence rests in God’s character and promises. He knows what God can and will do for him. In this verse, the king’s confidence extends even further by obtaining an eternal perspective. Will God always be good to him? Yes. Even when the narrative seems otherwise. Hardship and danger do not cancel out God’s goodness to us but provide a channel of trust in His sovereignty. The end result is always the Lord’s faithfulness. No matter our circumstances, an eternal view for the Christian is peace and freedom to live boldly now. We know how the Story ends. The interim is but a means to that end. When we close our eyes in death it isn’t the end, but the beginning of our forever with the Lord. The purpose of our lives is to be used as holy instruments in the Lord’s hands while He gives us time here on earth.

The land of the living that David refers to is our destination, our true Heavenly Home. While we pilgrim on earth, the children of God live among the children of the world. Wheat and tares must grow together until the harvest (Matthew 13:24-30). Then every eye will see the Lord’s glory and bow down. Yet it is only God’s children who will see the fullness of His goodness. It is a promise meant just for us. As if redeeming our dead souls from eternal Hell wasn’t enough, our gracious Father shares His love without end. Think of how much you love your children, grandchildren or spouse. God loves you exponentially more than the love we have in those earthly relationships. His fellowship will be sweeter because we won’t be burdened by spiritual warfare anymore. To be free from sin and a broken world is relief. To enjoy unbroken fellowship with the King of Glory is supreme.

The land of the living has no more night, death or sorrow. Those troubles are banished to Hell. King Jesus lavishes His grace upon grace over the redeemed, as God has promised in Scripture. Christ fulfilled this promise by laying down His life in the place of every Christian. The fullness of God’s promise will be brought to completion at the end of Time when Christ returns. Only believers forever taste and see that God is good. This world is not the end, but a gateway into either Heaven or Hell, depending on what or Who you are trusting to save you. Are you confident in where you will be for eternity? God will rescue all who belong to Him. Then one day, our eyes will close in earthly death and open in the land of the living. You are Home.

Grace upon grace,

April

“The earth is the land of the dying.” -Matthew Henry

Growing deeper: Revelation 21

I heard this song for the first time last Easter at my church and loved it. It’s a beautiful reminder of what the Christian has to look forward to. May it bless you too.

Psalm 27:11-12

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“Teach me Your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.” -Psalm 27:11-12

God loves justice. One day, He will dispense perfect justice for all mankind and every wrong will be made right. For the Christian, this incomprehensible work was done for us at the cross. All our injustices toward God and others was laid on Jesus’ body. The price to pay for the Christian’s crimes was the life of the sinless and innocent Christ. This is the best news. The worst news is justice given to every unrepentant soul. God’s mercy is no more once their short lives end. It is then too late.

As David cries out for help against present enemies, he commits his life and circumstances to the omnipotent God. Throughout his life experiences, David is aware of God’s sovereignty over events and people. Therefore, his prayer is a plea and a confession of trust. When you know God is for you it doesn’t matter what lies ahead or who is against you. There is no one like God to trust so fully, His covenant of love over you securely. Keeping an eternal perspective when the dark waters rise is crucial. When the disciples were beginning to drown in the storm, Jesus challenged them over their lack of faith (Mark 4:35-41). Faith that the Lord is sovereign, good and victorious is the framework for peace filled Christians. If the Lord allows people or circumstances to slay us, it is only for a moment. This was Job’s cry when his livelihood, family, servants and health were taken from him (Job 13:15) because he knew this life is temporary.

God will not be mocked, therefore He will not allow His children to be mistreated in eternity. We do not lose even when all signs appear otherwise. Perfect justice will be executed by the God of Heaven and earth in His perfect time and way. David looks to God each time he is in distress. Yahweh is his protector, provider and teacher. The shepherd king does not rely on his own understanding, but looks to God for instruction (Proverbs 3:5-7). David’s humility to be teachable produces wisdom and spiritual maturity over his lifetime. When God leads our day to day, we are safe and victorious over anxious thoughts, fear and pride.

The Lord’s battle plans might look different than what we would expect, but believers who remember this will not grow easily discouraged. Keeping an eternal perspective is the key to live in the present with peace and joy. If your soul is kept in Heaven by God and your enemies will meet their Maker one day, what do you have to lose? We do not have to fear even death, because that too, is temporary. Death is only the beginning. Dearly beloved Christian, be confident in Who you serve, the time you’ve been given to faithfully live for the Lord without reservation, with a pure and holy passion.

Grace upon grace,

April

Psalm 27:9-10

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“Do not hide Your face from me, do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my Helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.” – Psalm 27:9-10

Does it ever feel like God is hiding from you? As if God is absent? The Bible says He is always actively at work for His children (Philippians 1:6). He also promises in Scripture to never leave you, but always be with you (Hebrews 13:5). The believer’s help comes from the Lord. He says we belong to Him, sinful though we are. Sanctifying faith wrestles with our feelings on a daily basis! The temptation to despair and throw in the towel is a spiritual fight straight from Hell. The Lord will not let you go if you belong to Him. He has received you. This is the greatest news a soul can hear. You, dearly beloved Christian, are accepted by God, loved by Him and sustained in your faith by Jesus. He prays for you, interceding on your behalf to the Father’s ear because the Perfect Sacrifice is also your Great High Priest.

Even if all others turn away from you because your pursuit of God in practical holiness seems too zealous, too self-righteous for some, trust that God knows your sincerity. Sincerity is vulnerability of worship and this God will not despise. When we come to our Father in humble transparency, He will honor this posture of worship. We bring nothing to the Father but our sin and need. As the old hymn says, “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling.” The Lord receives the contrite heart (Psalm 51:16-17). Even if all others reject you or disappoint, God will not. He has been our faithful helper and will continue to be as we serve Him. God gives enough grace for this small day to put our hand to the plow. Perhaps the work you do isn’t considered “spiritual”? It all matters to God. All work done for His glory is worship and “spiritual”. Whether you change another diaper, write code for computer software, wait on tables, plant a garden, or drive a loved one to another doctor appointment- the attitude we have determines whether it is pleasing to God or not.

The Lord will never turn His face away from His own, but how are we living faithfully in return? If God is not ashamed to call helpless rebels His adopted children, do we shame His Name by our grumbling and thanklessness? Let us not grieve the Spirit with callous hearts. This is the day that the Lord has made. He commands us to rejoice in it, to enjoy Him and His blessings (Psalm 118:24). Even when life is bleak and gray so that putting one foot in front of another is a challenge know this: the Sovereign Lord who sent His Son to die for you will never cast you off even when it feels that way (John 6:35-40). God always proves Himself faithful as a constant friend and helper, even if all others fall away. Remember what Christ endured for you so that these truths could become your reality.

Jesus bore the Father’s wrath and rejection so you never have to. “The LORD will receive me” is a precious promise for the Christian pilgrim to carry. You are His, but do not grieve Him with shallow faith and an anxious heart. Grow deeper, by His grace, and drink deeply from the cup which never runs dry. His mercies are new everyday. Truth and grace are freely given to the one who asks. His storehouse is abundant, His vow to you unbroken and constant.

Faith over feelings will sharpen your spiritual vision, helping you patiently endure God’s will for your life. One day when you look back on it all, the loneliness and hardship of following Christ will be worth it (Romans 8:28-29). Becoming more like Jesus is costly, but it is a priceless treasure which will never run out or wear out when we are Home.

Grace upon grace,

April

O MY LORD AND SAVIOUR,

Thou hast also appointed a cross for me to take up and carry,

a cross before Thou givest me a crown.

Thou hast appointed it to be my portion,

but self-love hates it,

carnal reason is unreconciled to it;

without the grace of patience I cannot bear it,

walk with it, profit by it.

O blessed cross, what mercies dost Thou bring

with Thee!

Thou art only esteemed hateful by my rebel will,

heavy because I shirk Thy load.

Teach me, gracious Lord and Saviour,

that with my cross Thou sendest promised grace

so that I may bear it patiently,

that my cross is Thy yoke which is easy,

and Thy burden which is light.

‘The Grace of the Cross’ -Valley of Vision

Psalm 27:7-8

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“Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of You, “Seek His face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.” -Psalm 27:7-8

Does the Lord hear us when we pray? Is He ever too busy to listen? Are some of our cries not important enough? We may doubt whether God hears our prayers sometimes, and that is why it is crucial to answer our questions Biblically. God in Heaven will always bend an ear to hear His people’s cries and act according to His wisdom. This is God’s nature. The Creator ministers to the created without reservation. When David pleads for God to be merciful to him and answer his prayers, he is asking the Lord to be Himself. God is already merciful. This may mean at times that God does not act as we expect, but He is never wrong in His decisions. It is we who must adjust our expectations, trusting in His Sovereignty.

King David asks for the Lord to see his plight and act on his behalf. He doesn’t yet know the outcome of his prayer request, but David still responds to the Lord with worship. This is an example every Christian can pattern. No matter how God chooses to answer our pleas, the consistent character of worship should be the makeup of our hearts. We seek His face regardless of circumstances because Yahweh is the best refuge for any situation. Even when we don’t like how He answers a prayer- perhaps ‘wait’ or ‘no’ was given? How does the believer respond? What does that do to your faith? Shaken but not shattered.

When our faith is sifted through trials, we can have confidence that Jesus intercedes for us. He prays for our faith to stand firm, just like He did for Peter (Luke 22:31-32). When the dust settles and the shock wears off, the Christian can choose to grow bitter and jaded, or take their broken hearts back to the throne room of grace, crying for more mercy. More trust in His providence, more love to rest secure, more of God to find strength for another day. Perseverance of the saints is grace and mercy at work. The Spirit will bless the believing heart with this lion lamblike quality of humility, trust and boldness after the living God.

Bending to the will of God produces spiritual maturity. God is after a harvest in our hearts, using whatever means necessary for abundant growth. Pray and pursue. Trust and obey. These commands are woven throughout the entire Bible because it is for our good and God’s glory. Believer, you have the privilege of living before the face of the One who made you and saved you. He hears our heart cries. The Lord is most merciful.

Grace upon grace,

April

Growing deeper: Romans 8:18-34; Psalm 34:15-18

Psalm 27:5-6

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“For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at His tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.” -Psalm 27:5-6

God is the God of deliverance, in the grand picture and in the everyday. King David boasts in what the Lord will do for him because the shepherd king belongs to the Shepherd King. He is hidden in the Lord, safe for all eternity and nothing can separate God from His beloved children. God is too powerful, too loving and fatherly to not protect and provide. He has protected every elect sinner from eternal Hell, by providing a way of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. The beasts of Hell will not prevail, seen and unseen, God’s enemies cannot win. Their doom is sure because it is promised in Scripture (Romans 16:20).

The Lord has won every believing soul for His glory and our eternal good. None will be lost who belong to Him. The God of grace and mercy has delivered Christians from certain, endless death, into the freedom of forgiveness and fellowship with Him forever. There isn’t anything greater than that last sentence. The kingdom of darkness will make gains here on earth, but it cannot have you, dear Christian, who belong to something better and true. You are part of a royal priesthood, a holy nation in which God has promised to be your Refuge now, until we go Home.

God is actively at work delivering His people until that time, sanctifying each one for when we go to the Land of the Living. He has delivered our souls from death, continuing to keep our feet from slipping so that we do not destroy the faith He has given us, as Satan would have it. The trials we are allowed to endure are opportunities to humble and grow the Christian in faith. The Lord rescues us at just the right time, but not a minute before. He is never late, never off duty, never asleep or apathetic toward His own. And why? God Almighty is zealous for His Name, His Glory. He must be exalted because Yahweh is the Creator of everything. The Lord is not vain, vindictive or a wimp, and He will not be mocked.

Deliverance for His chosen people will come because God has ordained it so, just as He has ordained all of your days on earth. Every soul that is His will be kept by the Lord of the living. Trouble, enemies, even sin cannot thwart God’s plan. His providence rules as He orchestrates man’s will alongside it. This mystery is the believer’s confidence that we serve a sovereign, sinless God who is also our defense, deliverer and Father. King David declares future promises of God in the middle of present danger. The believer can also look ahead out of the current circumstances and fix their eyes on King Jesus. Keeping an eternal perspective while enjoying temporal blessings or enduring the storms of life is the key to navigating the pilgrim way. God will be glorified and we will praise Him for it.

Grace upon grace,

April

Growing deeper: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18; Ephesians 6:10-18;

Psalm 27:4

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“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in His temple.” -Psalm 27:4

If there were ever such a beautiful and honorable prayer breathed before the Lord’s presence, it is this Christian ambition. What else does a believer long for than to be totally satisfied in the loving protection of God in His Home, enjoying Him forever? Endless worship and beauty. Repeat again. It will never get old, or boring, or monotonous. This is what every child of God is made for.

Just as the natural world takes our breath away with oceans, canyons, spider webs, redwood oak trees, ladybugs and billowy clouds- these beauties are but a scratch of God’s cosmic display. The Christian’s eternity starts here and ends over there, in Heaven. This verse encompasses the Westminster Shorter Catechism question, What is the chief end of man? -To glorify God and enjoy Him forever. It begs another question to consider as well. When you have this prayer verse answered as much as possible on this side of Heaven, when God is all satisfying, filling every void and longing, what else do you need?

The Lord Jesus has given Himself to you, forever, therefore you have everything. If all belongs to God, and Christ is yours and you are His, then there is nothing He will not withhold from His child which is needful. Our misunderstanding is in assuming we know what is best for us, others, and the world. But God does not think or operate the way we do, because His wisdom is infinite. He sees the whole picture, from before Time began, throughout every slice of history, and beyond the consummation of Christ and His Church when He reigns in eternity.

Since God has placed this beautiful desire of verse 4 in every Christian pilgrim, He will honor it. The Lord has prepared a place for us in His kingdom, and will take care to see us all the way Home. Every child of God will see His face and live with the Lover of their soul for all eternity. The Christian is firmly in His grasp, and nothing can pry God Almighty’s Hand away. Oh the hope and expectation believers have is enough to make us burst with excitement like a child on Christmas Day! If only we lived with this mindset each day.

This prayer verse will come to pass in full one day. For now, we wait with courage and hope. We practice entering His courts with praise. Practice pursuing this beautiful King. Practice seeing His work in creation all around which leads your heart to nothing less than full-throated worship! Eyes to see and a heart that responds- this is what Yahweh is training us for. This is the believer’s blessing which never ends.

Grace upon grace,

April

A kaleidoscope

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This past summer I enjoyed a 12 week Women’s Bible class in Psalm 119. We generally worked through two octaves per week, breaking them down as much as possible, verse by verse. I consider this a rich way to meditate on Scripture. Nothing is lost or skimmed over when focusing on a particular verse, pondering why the Lord (through the psalmist) penned these words. Along with studying together, our teacher provided a supplemental commentary written by Charles Spurgeon. His reflection on Psalm 119 is so dense it was made into a book titled The Golden Alphabet: An Exposition on Psalm 119. Spurgeon’s meditation on Psalm 119 led him to the analogy of a kaleidoscope. While a number of the verses seem redundant, he argues that the reader is not properly viewing the entire psalm as it should be. He writes:

“This psalm is a wonderful composition. Its expressions are many as the waves, but its testimony is one as the sea. It deals all along with one subject only; but although it consists of a considerable number of verses, some of which are very similar to others, yet throughout its one hundred and seventy-six stanzas the self-same thought is not repeated: there is always a shade of difference, even when the color of the thought appears to be the same. Some have said that in it there is an absence of variety; but that is merely the observation of those who have not studied it. I have weighed each word, and looked at each syllable with lengthened meditation; and I bear witness that this sacred song has no tautology in it, but is charmingly varied from beginning to end. Its variety is that of a kaleidoscope: from a few objects innumerable permutations and combinations are produced. In the kaleidoscope you look once, and there is a strangely beautiful form: you shift the glass a little, and another shape, equally delicate and beautiful, is before your eyes. So it is here.”

Our class was encouraged to journal through each octave, so the bulk of this study was left up to us to personally reflect through Psalm 119 as the Holy Spirit illuminated His treasure trove. This is the explanation I can give you for my posts on Psalm 119 the last few weeks. I hope to share the entire psalm with you as a means of encouragement. To write these reflections out again for this blog has been a comfort to me all over again. We are always in need of remembering the truth we know. So I write these posts for my personal encouragement as much as it is an offering of love to you. My hope is you are blessed in reading snippets of what the Lord is teaching me. Which leads me to ask, what is God teaching you? I think it is wonderful to share with fellow believers how the Spirit is at work in our hearts. We don’t seem to talk this way very often. Maybe the Bible has become stale to you or you aren’t sensing the Lord’s presence near. Cling on to the encouragement trusted believers have found in God’s Word and let that sustain you until you drink deeply again from your own well. God will not let you stay thirsty. He is faithful to show Himself to those who seek Him. God is faithful to help the weary believer persevere because of His promise to never leave or forsake His own.

Grace upon grace,

April

Grow deeper: Deuteronomy 31:6-8; Isaiah 40:29-31; Isaiah 55:6

A Bloody Covenant

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Exodus 29:1-30:10; Matthew 26:14-46; Hebrews 10:1-25

“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” -Matthew 26:26-28

Biblical atonement is bloody. Sacrifices made to consecrate priests, yearly and daily sin offerings, left a constant reminder of death. As I was reading about the sacrificial practices in the Old Testament I kept thinking how barbaric it is. In our sanitized modern living this world seems so removed from our own. Yet this is what God instituted before Christ, foreshadowing the cross to end all sacrifices once and for all. The blood of bulls and rams did not take away the peoples’ sins but implied confession of sin, recognizing the necessity of shed blood as atonement. God accepted this offering in anticipation of the finished work of Jesus.

Our sin is barbaric. Animal sacrifices are a picture of what sin does. It kills, as the consequence for sin is death. An in-your-face daily, blood-filled, cut up animal in place of your sin is sobering. I don’t like to dwell on the horrors of sin, mine or in general. The sin of humanity causes destruction wherever it goes, diminishing us to our worst selves as base creatures. This is one of the reasons God graciously reminded Israel of their sin and need for cleansing. We are all sinful. Once we are aware of our sinfulness, only then can a person come before the Lord in need. You realize someone or something is required to take away your sin because we can’t. You need a Savior.

Praise God for sending Jesus as our Atonement. The blood of Jesus covers every believer, serving as the propitiation for our sins. Our guilt is not counted against us as we are no longer condemned (Romans 8:1). At the same time I wonder if we who live post-resurrection frequently mediate on the ugliness of sin. We see its effects all around us but how often do we stop and remember what we once were? If you are in Jesus your sins are forgiven, but by remembering how far the Lord has brought you, no, transformed you, should fill every one of us with awe-inspired worship.

We have a Savior who redeemed us by becoming a Perfect Sacrifice. Jesus is the New Covenant. There is no longer the need to go through a priest, offering animals to be slaughtered on our behalf. Jesus has completed this function. He is the Great High Priest and Sacrifice. So we look back to the commands of bloody offerings, reminding us of the sorrow sin brings. We also rejoice in what Jesus has done for mankind. He paid the hefty price of my sin so I never have to. For those who place their faith in Him, the stains of sin and death have no hold on them.

 

Grace upon grace,

April

 

Grow deeper: Ephesians 2:1-9; Titus 3:3-8

Servant Priests

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Exodus 28; Hebrews 9; Matthew 25:31-26:13

 

“To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father- to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” -Revelation 1:5-6

How we relate to people, especially in the Body, seems to be of great concern to our Lord. Spiritual unity is a theme found throughout Scripture and was important enough for Jesus to pray over before going to the cross (John 17:19-23). If God’s heart could be summed up in two sentences it would consist of our love for Him and how we love others (Mark 12:28-31). Why do our relationships matter? Can’t it just be me and God?

When we look back to the Ten Commandments, the first four commands are how man lives toward God. The last six speak of people rightly interacting with each other. God gave us a template for relationship in the Trinity. Created in the image of God, we are made to be relational. We are meant for community.

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For the most part I am typically reserved and shy, especially in large groups. It takes a lot of energy to be around people for an extended period of time. So intentional community could potentially be an introvert’s worst nightmare. Our bandwidth is limited more than the naturally outgoing person. Still, this isn’t a cop-out as we are all called to serve others, investing in relationships among the faith family. I can trust God to help me interact with people and not live selfishly to myself.

It is actually a joy to represent Jesus by ministering to someone. My Father ministers to me everyday through various acts of service. It might be a text message from a sister in Christ checking on me, a meal, a joke, prayer, or receiving childcare help. Serving the Body doesn’t have to be complicated. There are many practical ways we can bless another or perhaps be on the receiving end.

The priesthood order outlined in Exodus 28 foreshadows not only Jesus as our Great High Priest but believer-priests in the Church Age: us! Notice Aaron is given the high office (a type of Christ), but his sons are instituted as servant priests also. This is our spiritual heritage, a picture of what it means to be the hands and feet of Christ (1 Peter 2:5). Jesus says how we serve others will define whether we are His or not. This isn’t a works based salvation but a product of flourishing faith, obedience and love. Our spiritual sacrifice requires giving of ourselves with our time and resources. In this way we identify with Jesus who demonstrated the deepest kind of love through action on the cross.

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Mary of Bethany dignified Jesus in the home of Simon the Leper by pouring an expensive perfume over him. This was possibly her life savings and as the Bible does not record her having a husband to depend on financially, her act was one of reckless abandon to the Lord. Did she have an inclination of what was to come? Jesus said she was preparing Him for burial. Whatever her motivation other than overcome with worship, she ministered to Jesus. Can you imagine that privilege? Even then while Mary was in the act of honoring Christ, others around her were scorning this perfumed sacrifice.

What is more incredible than Mary radically serving Jesus is the way he humbly served His own disciples by washing their feet. Jesus also blessed lepers by touching their sores to heal them, erasing their stigma as outcasts. The Lord allowed children to sit on His lap and enjoy His presence, Jesus turned water into wine for a new bride and groom at their wedding feast. Ultimately, Jesus served all who will come to Him by going to the cross. There is no greater testimony than the life of Christ, our Great High Priest. He calls us as servant priests to follow in His steps. Serve the Church, sincerely love and honor our faith family.

 

Grace upon grace,

April