Who Are Your Former Priests?

"The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost* those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." -Hebrews 7:23-25 

*uttermost=completely 

Isn't it true that either at one point or still sometimes we fill up our lives with "former priests"? These things we seek after for fulfillment. Sure, they'll do for a short period of time, but because they aren't big enough to carry the weight of our joy, our desires, or our need for salvation, they die. They spend a short period of time in the office of our hearts before getting impeached as a result of incompetence. Great news, Jesus is the answer to ending the perpetual ups and downs of different priests in our hearts because he saves COMPLETELY and PERMANENTLY. So maybe in order to live in a most consistence nearness to Jesus, we need to identify those "former priests" in our lives and deny them the opportunity to sit at the throne of our hearts.   

 

High Thread Count, Tempur-Pedic, and Down

"shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain." -Philippians 2:15b-16

I heard a fantastic illustration of what reaching the world for the gospel of Christ might look like. Below is a paraphrased story from Pastor Perry Noble (New Spring Church).

He'd been having trouble sleeping for a couple weeks, and after a few friends told him that the problem was likely his mattress, he broke down and splurged on one of those really nice Tempur-Pedic mattresses, his wife then bought really soft, high-thread count sheets to put on, and one night they climbed into bed pulling the heavy, down comforter up so that only their nose and eyes were exposed. They keep their bedroom really cold, but snuggling under the covers on top of the new bed and new sheets was the greatest. Their four year old daughter had been sick that week, so when they put her to bed, they told her that if she needed anything, to just call. Well sure enough, not long after they had climbed into the comfort and warmth of their new bed, they heard a faint moan coming from her room. Despite having to abandon the warmth, they both sprung out of bed to go tend to their daughter....
because you don't ignore someone who is in pain and needs help just because it means you're going to have to leave comfort behind.  

I thought that was a powerful picture. Maybe we need to get out from under the comforter and go reach people where they are.

Broken Ornaments

" The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted." -Isaiah 61:1 

  

Our beautiful one-legged, no footed Christmas ornament named Shabar (Hebrew for "broken-hearted") reminding us this Christmas that Jesus came into a messed up world to save us!

What Makes You Fist Pump?

"Oh sing to the LORD a new song; 
sing to the LORD, all the earth! 
Sing to the LORD, bless his name; 
tell of his salvation from day to day."-Psalm 96:2

I attended a graduation ceremony yesterday morning, and the best part (next to watching my beautiful aunt walk across the stage to receive her diploma of course) was watching the students' reactions when their names were called. Many quietly proceeded to cross the stage with a slight grin, but a few danced right on up, giving a shout and a holler, as they threw their hands into the air out of excitement. It made me think, does the victory we have in Jesus make us want to fist pump? 

Our Salvation Has A Name

" And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.'" -Luke 1:30-31 

The Lord didn't reveal a grand plan to Mary that he wanted her to implement for our salvation. He didn't send her a formula, or a some complex algorithm. He didn't even introduce something that was unfamiliar to the people of the time. He sent a baby. He sent a human, someone that people could relate to. Our salvation, the greatest gift we could possibly imagine, has a name!

 

When Christmas Isn't All Nice and Neat

"Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham." -Hebrews 2:14-16

I got to church a little bit early this morning. While searching the hood for a parking spot that did not require I parallel park, I came across this...

If you're wondering what I took the picture of....stop looking, there really isn't much there. It's just a typical vacant lot littered with trash, a common sight in this part of the city. But, I got to thinking, Jesus was in heaven and then, he came down into this. He came down into the trash and emptiness of this world, both literally and metaphorically. That's radical. God in flesh. Perfection coming into the mess of a sin-stricken world. That's messed up. Can we celebrate that this Christmas!?! Let's not only rejoice, but also recognize how sorrowful this must have been for Christ to come as us. The reality of Christmas isn't all nice and neat and pretty at all. It's kind of twisted (if I'm allowed to say that), it was the start of a long trek to the cross. I think that's humbling for us in a society that treats it as a feel-good trip and economy booster.

 

What's Your Spiritual Sweat Smell Like?

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." -James 1:2 

Sometimes this verse is just rough. When the Holy Spirit convicts you with it, it's like a nagging request resonating in your heart. It's conviction and if, and only if, you can keep reading, it's encouraging. It made me think today, as I jumped off the treadmill drenched in sweat because it was especially toasty in the gym, joy can be a measure of our heart's spiritual sweat.

Everyone has that type of outer, visual evidence of an inner struggle called sweat. Some people produce lots of it, others, not so much. Some people get stinky when they sweat, while some don't. Every time we come up against a spiritual battle, a bout in the desert, a season of suffering, we sweat (figuratively....well maybe physically too). We have the choice to respond with misery or with joy. So maybe we need to sniff things out a bit. What fragrance emits from our hearts during times of suffering? We have the opportunity to sweat the sweet scent of joy because suffering in Christ is for his glory and our better!

Fixed Focus

"like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same." -Hebrews 1:12 

What our lives would look like if we fixed our focus on the supremacy of God in all circumstances. This single truth has the power to change everything. I want to have that fixed focus!  

We've Gotta Figure it Out

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundant." -John 10:10

There are two options available. The thief and the Way. If life isn't abundant, maybe we need to reexamine who we're following. No one is capable of impressing upon us life abundant, we've simply got to get out there and encounter Him!