The Lord is Good

This past January when Nick left his job at church it was a terrifying time.  We had a bit of money in the bank, we had figured out how long we could survive with out an income, and it was very clear that we would have to learn how to trust the Lord.

Through the past seven months we have seen the Lord's faithfulness.  We are still able to pay for our groceries with cash, we still have money in the bank several months past the point that we thought it would be gone, all our bills have been paid on time, and the only new debt we have incurred is Nick's schooling.   All those things have not happened because of anything we have done, but because the Lord has been faithful to us.  In January, I told Nick that it seemed like a huge storm as brewing in the distance and that thought of it was overwhelming.  It's almost the middle of August and that storm still hasn't shown up!

We so often want to be in control of our situation; we try everything possible to try to get the results that we want.  We struggle and worry, all the while forgetting that our future is not in our hands.  The Lord is the one guiding and directing our steps.  If we just walk one day at a time trusting Him, those things that seem so overwhelming suddenly are not.

The Matthew 6:25-34 suddenly has a whole new meaning.  It is no longer something that you have just read and heard sermons on, it is a way of living that is not always easy, but it is full of blessing!

Hebrews 10:1-25

I have been reading through the epistles for the past several weeks and have been thoroughly enjoying it.  I really enjoyed reading through the book of Hebrews and one passage that stood out to me was Hebrews 10.  


Heb 10:1-4  For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.  For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.   For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 

The law and the sacrifices that were set up back when the children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness were simply a shadow of things to come and simply a glimpse of what Christ would do.  The yearly sacrifices could not ever take away sin-it was not possible.

Heb 10:5-10  Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:   In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.  Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.   Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;   Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 

When Christ came into the world He came to do the will of the Father.  When He died on the cross He did what the blood of the animals could not do-so took away our sin.  The sacrifice did not have to be made yearly-the sacrifice was complete "once for all,"  because Christ was able to take away our sins.

Heb 10:11-14  And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:   But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;  From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.  For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 

Here is the comparison between the sacrifice that the priest did daily which could not take away sin, and the sacrifice for sin that Christ completed.  The price for sin was completely and totally paid by Christ's sacrifice, while the daily sacrifices could never take the sin away.

Heb 10:15-18  Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,  This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.   Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 

What a comfort to know that our sins will be remembered no more.  The sacrifice has been made and there is no need any more for offerings for sin.  What a great comfort that is!

Heb 10:19-22  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;  And having an high priest over the house of God;   Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 

Because of what Christ did we now can boldly enter into the presence of the Lord.  We have a new and living way to live, because of what He did for us.  

Heb 10:23-25  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Because of what Christ did for us we can hold onto our faith without wavering because He is faithful.  We don't have assurance of our faith because of ourselves, but because Christ is faithful!  Because of that there are some things we should do.  We should encourage love and good works, we should assemble with other Christians and encourage one another.   

What a great Savior we have!  He paid the price for our sins that no one else could pay.  That assurance should prompt us to love one another, to service others, encourage others and live in the joy that our sins are remembered no more!