Category Archives: Hebrews

Just call me “pilgrim.”

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Pilgrims. That’s what they chose to call themselves. But why such a strange name?

The black hats, big buckles and grey whiskers we associate with the Thanksgiving day pilgrims was actually the attire of a later group, the Puritans. The Pilgrims wore bright clothing and were mostly young adults and young families in their 20s and early 30s. They called themselves “Pilgrims” because of this passage:

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Hebrews 11:13

“Having not received the promises but having seen them afar off”. These folks knew the dangers they faced and the sacrifices they made were not primarily for them but for future generations. Even today, we enjoy the benefits their sacrifices purchased. The Mayflower Compact, signed by them before going ashore, for example, was the first example of a self-governing people – government “of the people, by the people and for the people”.

Half of the original “pilgrims” who came on the Mayflower died the first winter yet they gave thanks to God for His goodness toward them. Such people are not living for today or what they can gain in this life. They are obviously living for eternity – embracing the promises of God that are ahead. Continue reading →

I was made to thrive. What happened?!

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They were new missionaries – still wrestling with language, culture, missing family and friends, struggling to develop new relationships in a vastly different setting. Their pastor arranged for a live skype chat with the congregation.

During the call the pastor cheerfully asked, “Are you thriving?”

The stumbling response went something like this, “Well, I’m not sure we’re thriving, but . . . er … um … uh . . . we’re doing fine.”

Hmmm. Must be something wrong. He’s not thriving. We know the Bible says:
“We were made for so much more than ordinary lives
… more than just survive, we were made to thrive.” Continue reading →

It’s hard to trust God.

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It's hard to trustIt’s hard to trust God to take care of you on a daily basis because He is just so unpredictable. If I get into trouble, will he rescue me like He did for some or will he let me suffer like He did for others – even some of his favorites.

Think about Joseph. He was one of God’s special ones but he ended up in prison on false charges. He did nothing wrong yet nothing went right for him. Of course, I guess, in the end it turned out OK for him – he ended up ruling with Pharoah.

But what about Paul, another one God should have taken care of. He was shipwrecked, beaten, imprisoned and ended up beheaded. How can you trust a God who takes care of you like that? Of course, I guess I have to remember that his story didn’t end when he was beheaded. He then went to heaven to receive the reward he said he had been running a race to receive. So, I guess, in the end it turned out OK for him, too. Continue reading →

God’s tiny request of me

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Be Like MeHebrews tells us that Jesus is a qualified high priest because He became one of us. He understands temptation because He suffered temptation. Because He experienced what we experience He can relate to us more completely.

It occurred to me that to some degree the reverse of that is also true. When we are treated unjustly, rejected by those we have poured our life into, ignored and falsely accused it is an opportunity for us to relate to God on a deeper level. Think about this: There is not a person alive who has experienced the depth and breadth of rejection, injustice and disdain that God has experienced.

He created and then blesses all men with life, breath, rain, sunshine and an abundant earth. He extends His hand of mercy and kindness to all mankind and in return each and every one of us, without a single exception, turn against Him, reject Him. Not one of us serves Him faithfully, even those of us who claim his name. But it is even worse than that. Continue reading →

It is a matter of timing

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Falling apart of together?When his disciples asked about the meaning of the parable of the sower and the seed Jesus provided a strange and confusing explanation.
“And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven.” (Mark 4:11, 12)

I ran across a group that, based on this passage, said parables were not meant to be understood. From there they did the traditional cult thing that has been around since the first century “BUT, we have this great insight so let us explain to you what these deep secrets are.”

Well, Jesus did say he didn’t want folks to understand, right? So, maybe these guys are on to something. At least they hope you will think so.

Continue reading →

Why do some soar?

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Those that wait on the LordSomething about the book of Job always troubled me. God allowed all Job’s children to be killed. At the end of the book it says the Lord gave him 7 sons and 3 daughters – like that would make it all right.

“Lord,” I thought, “I can’t believe that fixed everything. If You gave me 10 more kids that wouldn’t make up for the loss of even one of mine.”

In my heart I heard the Lord say, “I never said it made it right. I just told you what I did for Job so he did not grow old alone. Do you think he has any complaints about how I treated Him?”

Duh! I felt pretty foolish. Of course Job has no complaints about God’s treatment of him. For thousands of years he has been happily reunited with his whole family – those children before and after his trial. He wouldn’t complain about a few years of pain compared to the indescribable joy he has experienced for these thousands of years – and will continue to experience throughout eternity.

Life can be brutal. Why do some sink while others soar? I thought of a fellow who whined to me for two hours about how he was tossing out his faith in God because of a relatively minor problem he was having. Then I thought of a heroic friend who daily battles pain due to lupus but declares the goodness of God in the midst of it and even ministers to others every day she is physically able to.

Why are some of us like straw men that any tiny puff of adversity scatters to the wind and others like eagles that the storms lift to new heights of glory?

Continue reading →

Live happily ever after

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Storybook endingJoshua 21:44, 45
And the LORD gave them rest on every side, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers, and no one of all their enemies stood before them; the LORD gave all their enemies into their hand. Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.
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This sounds like the OT version of “and they all lived happily ever after” – no more problems, no more enemies, all was well with everyone. Of course, we know that isn’t what happened. They did not all live happily ever after.  Continue reading →

God is so uncivilized!

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Rated VReading about all the slaughter at Ai in Joshua 8 is hard for me to enjoy. I feel I should rejoice because “the good guys won” but I don’t get excited picturing carved up corpses of women and children with their blood draining into the streets. Theologically, I know the right answers for why this was necessary but in the sterile, nice world where I live such images are abhorrent.

It does, however, cause me to reevaluate my image of God. Jesus was a perfect reflection of God the Father (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus and the Father are in perfect sync. In other words, Jesus was in on this slaughter as much as the Father was. There is no contradiction between the two. Continue reading →

Math and Muddy Shoes

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Stepping out or Stepping inWhen Israel was delivered from Egypt the people stood safely back while God dried the path they would use (Exodus 14:21). Now, 40 years later, another water obstacle, a flooded river, and God requires the people to step into the water before He takes any action.

Joshua 3:13 NLT
“The priests will carry the Ark of the Lord,… As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall.”

At salvation – which Israel’s deliverance from Egypt is a picture of – nothing is required of us. We cry out to God. He does a miracle. We stand amazed as He sets us free and we cross over to begin walking in a new land, a new life.

Entering the Promised Land – the fulness of God’s peace, joy, provision, etc – is another matter. That requires we step out of our comfort zone, that we obey the Lord even if it seems foolish or impossible. “Walk into a cold, muddy, raging river …. then I will do a miracle for you.” Continue reading →

Even God failed

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Even God failed.“Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”
Mark 5:35
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Can you relate to what this father must have felt when told his daughter was dead? He was so close. In his search he had managed to find Jesus. He had convinced Him to come and rescue her. Hope and help was on its way but Jesus stopped to talk with someone – someone who had cut in line, didn’t wait her turn, had no business pushing in like that – and now his daughter was gone forever.

The woman who caused the fatal delay had been sick twelve years. Couldn’t she have waited one more day, one more hour? Didn’t Jesus realize how serious this was? Couldn’t He have come back to meet this woman? But none of that mattered now. All hope was gone. Nothing more could be done. Even God had failed him.

I’ve been there, perhaps you have, too. I trusted God, counting on His promises. Everything was looking good. I was going to see a miracle! Then, like a storm cloud that passes overhead but leaves no rain behind to satisfy the parched ground, the hope passes you by leaving nothing but shattered faith – and questions. Continue reading →