Hebrews 13:5-6 – The Lord Is My Helper

Hebrews 13:5-6
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

-You’ve no doubt heard the expression “keep up with the Joneses.”  The reason we have such a saying is that the idea of having more than what we currently have and better than those around us is so prevalent in our society.  What if it didn’t have to be that way?  What if we could look at how little we may have and still feel satisfied?  What if we could look at the successes of those around us without feeling envious or disadvantaged?  This is not possible in the American economy, but it is possible in God’s economy.  God offers us the one thing that can scratch every itch and satisfy every desire- Himself.  Even if we don’t have all of the finer things in life, we can still make God happy and He can still make us happy.  What’s more, that happiness never has to run out.  “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” (Matthew 6:19-20)

Matthew 7:21-23 – Works of Iniquity

Matthew 7:21-23
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

-The Pharisees were stewards of the law that was given to Moses from God and used to teach all of humanity about God’s high standards. (Matthew 23:2) Jesus accused the Pharisees of following the letter of the law while finding ways to circumvent the spirit of the law (Matthew 23:23); basically of going through the motions.  This is what Jesus references when He tells us “that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20)  You can’t just go through the works and motions of Christianity and expect that to get you into Heaven.  There will be people who proclaimed the word better than you, handed out more Bible tracks than you, and did many wonderful works better than you who will still go to Hell.  If you are trusting in the same things they are, what chance do you have?

Revelation 1:17-18 – He That Liveth, and Was Dead

Luke 24:1-6
1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

Revelation 1:17-18
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

-“I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27)  If you really think about it, anyone could die for the sins of mankind.  That would be as simple as a good intention and the commitment to see it through.  It’s the getting back up that would be the hard part for the rest of us.  Not for Jesus, though; He did what no one else could do in that He laid down His life and then had the power to take it up again. (John 10:18)  Jesus’ resurrection is our evidence that His sacrifice was accepted and that He really does have power over life and death.  Him alone.  No one else has ever or will ever be a Savior to lost souls; no one else could.  If our hope was attached to anyone or anything less than God Himself, we would all have cause to doubt.  But it was God Himself, and nothing is too hard for Him.

Leviticus 11:44 – Redeemed, Then Sanctified

Leviticus 11:44
44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

-The Lord had already called out the Hebrew and made them His people (Exodus 6:7).  Here in Leviticus 11, He emphasizes the importance of the people putting away ungodliness and walking righteously in His eyes. This is important because it’s set up the proper sequence of events in regards to salvation and sanctification.  Many people think that we can just clean up our acts and make ourselves presentable in the eyes of God.  But contrary to popular opinion, sanctification does not result in salvation, true sanctification is a result of salvation.  God must work the first before He can begin working the second.  “And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you.” (Leviticus 20:8)

1 Samuel 3:1 – The Precious Word of God

1 Samuel 3:1
1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

-There was a time in the history of Israel where God stopped providing new revelation.  During that time, the existing Word of God became very valuable and highly esteemed.  We live in a time when there is no open vision, no continued revelation from the Lord.  How is the Word of God esteemed in this age?  How is it esteemed in each of our hearts?  The word “precious“ as used here is the Hebrew word “yaqar”, and means splendid and weighty.  Is God’s Word splendid in this hour?  Do we look at it with awe and wonder?  How about weighty?  Do we give God’s Word the reverence and authority that it’s due?  This world and everyone in it desperately needs the Lord, but there is no access to God outside of His Word.  To dismiss one is to miss out on both.

Ephesians 6:10-15 – A Sure-Footed Gospel

Ephesians 6:10-15
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

-After a warning to be strong in the Lord, and then describing the various pieces of spiritual armor to which we have access, Paul goes on to say that we should protect our feet with “the preparation for the gospel of peace“.  Does this section of armor seem out of place to you?  Defending yourself with the Gospel of Peace may not seem very effective in time of war, so why do you think it’s mentioned here?  Think about the time period in which Paul is speaking.  In his day, Roman soldiers wore armored shoes with cleats to help ensure they could maintain sure footing in battle.  In like fashion, if you are going to fight in God’s army, it is imperative that you first have sure footing on solid ground.  And there is no ground more sure than the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Romans 12:17-21 – Overcome Evil With Good

Romans 12:17-21
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

–Verse 21 is all about passive choices versus active choices.  Passive choices involve what happens when we do nothing while active choices involve what happens when we do something.  Being overcome with evil is a passive choice.  If we choose to do nothing, we will sink into evil and our life will reflect that.  Overcoming evil with good is an active choice.  We can’t just sit back and expect it to happen, it requires effort on our part.  Serving the Lord is never an accident, it requires intention and diligence.

Hebrews 6:19-20 – Forerunner and Overcomer

Hebrews 6:19-20
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

-It is evident from Scripture that Jesus Christ is The Good Shepherd, who leads His followers through the pastures, and the waters, and the valleys. (Psalm 23, John 10)  Certainly, that would be reason enough for peace; but God is not the God of “enough peace”, He is the God of “perfect peace.” (Isaiah 26:3)  So Jesus is given another title in Hebrews 6, “Forerunner”.  A forerunner carries with it the idea of a scout or one who runs ahead looking out for danger.  But Jesus is more than a lookout, He is an Overcomer. (John 16:33)  Not only do we have the assurance that Jesus will lead us day by day, but we have the assurance that Jesus is leading us through paths that He Himself has already run and gotten the victory.  Whatever pain you face, Jesus has already faced and beat it.  Whatever trial you face, Jesus has already faced and beat it.  And ultimately, when those of us who are saved enter into the Lord’s final rest, we will find that Jesus has already been there to “prepare a place for [us].” (John 14:3)

Proverbs 13:24 – Spare the Rod…

Proverbs 13:24
24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

You are no doubt familiar with the phrase “Spare the rod, spoil the child” and, like many, you may attribute that wisdom to the Bible. While I agree with the logic of the phrase, it does not occur anywhere in Scripture. The true verse is much more severe and is more a reflection on the heart of the parent.  If you don’t incorporate physical discipline into your child’s upbringing, it is a sign that you do not care enough about them to do whatever is necessary to make sure they don’t turn into a misguided delinquent- a sign that you hate them. Ultimately, we are all responsible for our own decisions, but our penal system is filled with examples of the results of negligent parenting; men and women who may have turned into productive members of society had they only been taught that their actions have consequences. Proverbs 19:18 says “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.”  It may be difficult at the time, but isn’t your child worth it?

Luke 10:17-20 – Why We Rejoice

Luke 10:17-20
17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

-The disciples came to Jesus and were very joyous over what they had seen and done.  Jesus explains to them why they have such power, but is quick to tell them that they should not joy about it for the day may come, as it did in Matthew 17:15-18, when they may not be able to cast out a devil.  If our joy is tied to any circumstance, no matter how God-honoring, then we are in danger of losing our joy when that circumstance changes.  Jesus reminds His disciples that the only thing safe in which to rejoice is their place in Heaven because that is the one thing that cannot be lost or changed.  As the Lord promised in John 6:37, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”