There Is A Redeemer

This melodious song from the 1980’s touches all the aspects of the gospel.  Jesus, God’s Son, was sent by the Father to redeem mankind.  His death (on the cross) as a willing sacrifice (Lamb of God) provides hope for sinners, particularly salvation for those who believe in Him. The Holy Spirit still works, even after Jesus’ death.  The great reward awaiting believers is to see the Glory of God and Jesus in heaven.

There is a redeemer, Jesus, God’s own Son,

Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Holy One.

Refrain:

Thank you oh my Father, for giving us your Son,

And leaving your Spirit ‘til the work on earth is done.

 

Jesus my Redeemer, name above all names,

Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Hope for sinners slain.

 

When I stand in Glory, I will see His face,

There I’ll serve my King forever, in that Holy Place

 

Writer: Melody Green

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Thirsty

A small boy is sent to bed by his father.

Five minutes later…. “Da-ad….”

“What?”

“I’m thirsty. Can you bring me a drink of water?”

“No. You had your chance. Lights out.”

Five minutes later: “Da-aaaad…..”

“WHAT?”

“I’m THIRSTY. Can I have a drink of water??”

“I told you NO!” If you ask again, I’ll have to spank you!!”

Five minutes later……”Daaaa-aaaad…..”

“WHAT!”

“When you come in to spank me, can you bring me a drink of water?”

More Work of the Word

Hebrews 4.12 gives a remarkable list of characteristics of God’s utterances.  The word of God is

–          Living

–          Active

–          Sharper than any two-edged sword

–          Piercing to the division of soul and spirit

–          Piercing to the division of joints and of marrow

–          Discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart

All these present participles say that this work is ongoing.  Keep reading and hearing the Word of God, and it will keep working in you.

Faith In Action

After the Hall of Faith listing (see yesterday’s post), there is an impressive, unattributed list of faithful actions in Hebrews 11.33-38, taken by those who believed in God and sought Him.   Through faith, they:

                Conquered kingdoms

                Enforced justice

                Obtained promises

                Stopped the mouths of lions

                Quenched the power of fire

                Escaped the edge of the sword

                Were made strong out of weakness

                Became mighty in war

                Put foreign armies to flight

                Received back their dead by resurrection

                Were tortured, refusing to accept release

                Suffered mocking and flogging

                Suffered chains and imprisonment

                Were stoned

                Were sawn in two

                Were killed with the sword

                Went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated

                Wandered about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth

All these unnamed people were commended for their faith (Hebrews 11.39).  And none of these heroes received what we have – the sure historical truth of the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, Messiah.

 

Hall Of Faith

Hebrews 11 is famous for proclaiming the great acts of faithful people through the Old Testament.  Each of the following is mentioned by name, and most have a brief description of their God-honoring acts:

                Abel (verse 4)

                Enoch (5)

                Noah (7)

                Abraham (8, 17)

                Sarah (11)

                Isaac (20)

                Jacob (21)

                Joseph (22)

                Moses’ parents (23)

                Moses (24, 28)

                Israelites (29)

                Rahab (31)

                Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets (32)

It is well worth reading the brief descriptions in Hebrews and then delving into the rest of the story in the historical books. You will find that each person had their foibles, but each “believed that God exists and that He rewards those who seek Him”  (Hebrews 11.6).

Even More Science Answers

See October 5 and 19 posts for previous answers to science tests.

– For a nosebleed: Put the nose much lower that the heart until the heart stops.

– For head colds: use an agonizer to spray the nose until it drops in your throat.

– Germinate: To become a naturalized German.

– The tides are a fight between the Earth and moon. All water tends towards the moon, because there is no water on the moon, and nature abhors a vacuum. I forget where the sun joins in this fight.

– Blood flows down one leg and up the other.

 

Nehemiah Type 3 Prayer

See the posts from  10/9 and 10/21.  They give two methods of approaching the “key” prayer in Nehemiah 1.11: “Please grant me favor in the sight of the king.”  The long prayer preceding the strategically crucial supplication is also full of prayer potential, especially when the group or task force is working together on a project.

Read the circumstances and resulting prayer in Nehemiah 1.  Suggest that the following are included in that prayer: confession of sin, asking for mercy, offering praise, asking God to hear, reminding God of His promises.

Ask if the group can identify any other prayer topics from the passage; add responses to the list.

Have the group pray, applying the Nehemiah requests specifically to the project at hand.

Flower Shop

These friars were behind on their belfry payments, so they opened up a small florist shop to raise funds. Since everyone liked to buy flowers from the men of God, a rival florist across town thought the competition was unfair.

He asked the good fathers to close down, but they would not. He went back and begged the friars to close. They ignored him. So, the rival florist hired Hugh MacTaggart, the roughest and most vicious thug in town to “persuade” them to close.

Hugh beat up the friars and trashed their store, saying he’d be back if they didn’t close up shop. Terrified, they did so, thereby proving that Hugh, and only Hugh, can prevent florist friars.

None Is Righteous

The curse is so bad, so pervasive, and so full of deceit that people don’t recognize its awful nature.  Romans 3.10-18 gives a devastating summary of the effects of the curse on ALL people. A sampling of the verses pulled in from six different psalms, a proverb, and a chapter each from Isaiah and Ecclesiastes includes:  “None is righteous; they have become worthless; no one does good; the venom of asps is under their lips; in their paths are ruin and misery; there is no fear of God before their eyes.”  It is much worse than needing a hand slap or a brief timeout to get our thoughts together; we’re talking about being the source of ruin, misery, and snake poison! 

Even worse, there is no effort, improvement plan or rehabilitation program that will make us any better. Realize the encompassing nature of the basic 10 commandments, and meditate for a moment on your inability this day to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your strength.” We can’t get ahead on the goodness scale, we will be held accountable to a God who is more holy than we can imagine. We’re dead.

But once we realize our miserable status, Romans 3.21-26 reveals the good news! The central historical act of Jesus offering his life on the cross as a sacrifice sets in motion a boatload of theological vocabulary, each of which is wonderful for us who believe.  There is justification – the righteousness of God is available by His grace as a gift! There is redemption – a paying of the price for our continual law-breaking!  There is propitiation – God’s wrath is satisfied!  There is forgiveness – wiping the slate clean now and in the future through faith in Jesus Christ! 

Bottom line, the just and holy God provides a means to remove the curse from his people.  You might complain about all the high-priced theological words, but we don’t even realize the desperation of our cursed nature until we hear all the components of the Good News.