Hebrews 10:23
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)"
This links directly with faith and works. The writer to the Hebrews is exhorting us that we are to hold fast NOT to our faith, BUT the profession/confession of that faith, the out working of the faith in our lives, the evidence of that faith in our daily lives.
When we consider holding fast, and professing, our minds are brought to Paul's words to Timothy:
"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast PROFESSED/CONFESSED a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good CONFESSION"
Whether we are before many witnesses we come into contact day by day, or before one of high rank, let us always proclaim our faith before them.
03 June 2014
Joshua 20; 21
Isaiah 26; 27
Hebrews 10
“PERFECT PEACE”
Our Isaiah and Hebrews readings provide an abundance of thoughts today. Some verses encourage peace of mind, others a sense of awe at what is coming on the world the judgements our godless world deserves. Chapter 26 in Isaiah is a grouping of quite contrasting revelations from God verses 3 and 4 are worthy of being memorised.
“You will keep him (her) in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he (she) trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.” [Isaiah 26:3-4] How wonderful to have a mind that is “stayed on” God, the only foundation for “perfect peace” in a world which knows no peace: no peace between nations yes - but more vital than that no trust and peace between individuals.
The reign of Jesus returned to the earth will see the time “when your judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the earth learn righteousness…” [Isaiah 26:9] But at the moment, as in Isaiah’s day, “O LORD your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it.” [Isaiah 26:11].
May we “see” the Lord’s hand so that the next verse is true for us, “O LORD, you will ordain peace for us; you have done for us all our works.” [Isaiah 26:12] because those works have been done in the strength that God gives to us and then we will heed the warning given in Isaiah 26:20,21 “… my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by. For behold the LORD is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth …”
There are words in our Hebrews reading which dovetail in with these; “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works … encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” [Hebrews 10:23-25] This is the only way to achieve and maintain “perfect peace.”
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- DC
Thought for the Day
03 June 2014
"Since Christ is the image of the unseen those who would learn more of the invisible God whom he manifested must study the image. Those who know most of Christ must be the nearest to seeing the invisible God. “Shew us the Father and it sufficeth us,” said Philip, and Christ said “Have I been so long with you, Philip, and yet you do not understand that as far as it is possible for men to see the Father, he is visible in me?” We cannot look upon the face of Christ as Philip did, but we have to make the same first steps toward the sight of the invisible. We must know Christ, study the record of his life, take example by his words and actions, marking his way of dealing with his fellow men, his patience in the presence of injustice, his humility, his selflessness, his longsuffering, his calmness, his gentle reasonableness, the balance of his life, the absence of fanaticism and self-glorification. Studying him thus as a pattern as far as is fitting and possible for us, our little lives are brought into that atmosphere in which visibility of the unseen is clearest, and we may proceed to gather from the knowledge of Christ that we have attained some vision of the unseen quite unattainable apart from the Christ life. The vision will grow clearer the nearer we grow to the stature and fulness of Christ."
- C.A. Ladson
Exhortation (1929)
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)"
This links directly with faith and works. The writer to the Hebrews is exhorting us that we are to hold fast NOT to our faith, BUT the profession/confession of that faith, the out working of the faith in our lives, the evidence of that faith in our daily lives.
When we consider holding fast, and professing, our minds are brought to Paul's words to Timothy:
"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast PROFESSED/CONFESSED a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good CONFESSION"
Whether we are before many witnesses we come into contact day by day, or before one of high rank, let us always proclaim our faith before them.
03 June 2014
Joshua 20; 21
Isaiah 26; 27
Hebrews 10
“PERFECT PEACE”
Our Isaiah and Hebrews readings provide an abundance of thoughts today. Some verses encourage peace of mind, others a sense of awe at what is coming on the world the judgements our godless world deserves. Chapter 26 in Isaiah is a grouping of quite contrasting revelations from God verses 3 and 4 are worthy of being memorised.
“You will keep him (her) in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he (she) trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.” [Isaiah 26:3-4] How wonderful to have a mind that is “stayed on” God, the only foundation for “perfect peace” in a world which knows no peace: no peace between nations yes - but more vital than that no trust and peace between individuals.
The reign of Jesus returned to the earth will see the time “when your judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the earth learn righteousness…” [Isaiah 26:9] But at the moment, as in Isaiah’s day, “O LORD your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it.” [Isaiah 26:11].
May we “see” the Lord’s hand so that the next verse is true for us, “O LORD, you will ordain peace for us; you have done for us all our works.” [Isaiah 26:12] because those works have been done in the strength that God gives to us and then we will heed the warning given in Isaiah 26:20,21 “… my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by. For behold the LORD is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth …”
There are words in our Hebrews reading which dovetail in with these; “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works … encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” [Hebrews 10:23-25] This is the only way to achieve and maintain “perfect peace.”
-------
- DC
Thought for the Day
03 June 2014
"Since Christ is the image of the unseen those who would learn more of the invisible God whom he manifested must study the image. Those who know most of Christ must be the nearest to seeing the invisible God. “Shew us the Father and it sufficeth us,” said Philip, and Christ said “Have I been so long with you, Philip, and yet you do not understand that as far as it is possible for men to see the Father, he is visible in me?” We cannot look upon the face of Christ as Philip did, but we have to make the same first steps toward the sight of the invisible. We must know Christ, study the record of his life, take example by his words and actions, marking his way of dealing with his fellow men, his patience in the presence of injustice, his humility, his selflessness, his longsuffering, his calmness, his gentle reasonableness, the balance of his life, the absence of fanaticism and self-glorification. Studying him thus as a pattern as far as is fitting and possible for us, our little lives are brought into that atmosphere in which visibility of the unseen is clearest, and we may proceed to gather from the knowledge of Christ that we have attained some vision of the unseen quite unattainable apart from the Christ life. The vision will grow clearer the nearer we grow to the stature and fulness of Christ."
- C.A. Ladson
Exhortation (1929)
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