“by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh…” Hebrews 10:20

Why is His way a “new” way? Because it is a “living way.” You see, until the night of His coming, man’s religion was nothing more than a dying way.  Until then religion was only something that was helpful when a human soul had to cross the valley of death’s shadow. They never thought of worship as being helpful to human souls in the supporting of the shadows of this life. But on that starry night in the little town of Bethlehem, when Jesus came into the world, He constructed and consecrated a brand new road to God. His coming said that I no longer had to wait until the last hour of my life in order to find eternity. In fact, because of His coming I can find, and enjoy, eternal life now. His birth – and even His name, “Immanuel” - tells me that God’s presence can be enjoyed without dying, that the greatest of all deaths is in reality the life of love, and that the most holy and acceptable service a man can render is in presenting his body as a living sacrifice to God. (more…)

“And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” Matthew 2:8

 Well, there you have it. Sin never shows itself to be sin in the beginning. If it did so, we would naturally be repulsed and repelled. If sin were to come to a young man or woman and say, “I’m wicked and evil. I’m going to destroy your life. Follow me,” surely no one would accept its invitation. (more…)

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” Jeremiah 31:3

God says that He has loved us “with an everlasting love” and it is because of that love, and with that love, that He has “drawn” us.  What does it mean to “draw” someone?  Well, as I understand it, “to draw” is the opposite of “to drive.” So, the truth that I take from this verse is this: “Because I love you, I do not force you.  I desire to win you by my love.” I believe that is true, because as Adrian Rogers often said, “Forced love is not love at all.” (more…)

“Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.” Psalm 2:8 

It was God Himself who spoke these words to the Messiah, prompting the Lord Jesus what to pray for. This simple verse suggests something very important then about the nature of all successful prayer – that it must first be prompted by the Father. You see, my prayer doesn’t change His mind or cause Him to move. No, it is His mind that is to determine my prayer and direct my movement. That’s why effective prayer isn’t so much of a petition as it is a prophecy. My Father says to me, “Here is my will, ask for this.” (more…)

“He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.” Psalm 1:3 

 At first blush this appears to be an amazing, astounding – almost unbelievable – promise. What a grand incentive for a good man to be, well…good. Think of it. Who wouldn’t want the good, godly man to be prosperous? Who wouldn’t want such a man to see whatever he touched turn to gold? Who wouldn’t think it a good thing for one like the Psalmist describes in the beginning chapter of his hymnbook to be blessed materially, financially, personally? (more…)

“I will not execute the fierceness of My anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim. For I am God, and not man. . .” Hosea 11:9

It’s a very original, unusual, unique statement.  We would have expected something completely and totally different – even from the prophet himself.  He has been expressing in the clearest, starkest, strongest, loudest terms possible his sense of the divine horror of sin.  He has been sharing from the lips of God the most withering, the most scathing denunciations of the evil around man.  With this as a backdrop we would expect that there would follow something like this  – “I will utterly and completely destroy these wicked men.  I will wipe them from the face of the earth and from the memory of all of creation.”  But instead there comes this startling statement – “I will not execute the fierceness of My anger. . .For I am God, and not man. . .” (more…)

“Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.” 2 Samuel 22:50

The first personal declaration of thanksgiving in the Old Testament is one for divine deliverance. It is David’s open acknowledgement of the Lord’s power, provision and protection in the midst of his enemies. In fact, standing just after the Lord’s awesome acts, David shouts and sings of the Almighty’s salvation “among the Gentiles.” He declares that he will “give thanks to the Lord…and make known among the nations what He has done.” (more…)

“In everything give thanks. . .” 1st Thessalonians 5:18

It’s hard to imagine many things which would be more difficult than the simple command that Paul gives in this first letter to the Thessalonians.  Is he saying that I am to thank God for everything?  Am I to thank God when I am diagnosed with cancer? Am I supposed to thank Him when a loved one dies?  Am I supposed to be thankful when I am hurt, facing financial ruin or just dealing with the daily drudgery of life?  I do believe that there will come a day when I will thank Him – that is an act of faith.  But am I to turn that faith into fruition?  Am I commanded to celebrate the victory before the battle?  Must I raise my hands at the funeral of my friend and say, “Thank you Lord for taking the life of my friend?”  Is that even possible?  Is it human?  Is that even something that we would or should desire?  (more…)

“But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You.” Psalm 5:11

The Psalmist isn’t so much sharing a promise as he is giving a command. He says to those who trust in the Lord that it is not just our responsibility to be joyful, but to make sure that everybody around us knows that we are full of the joy of the Lord as well. In fact, the Psalmist says that its not just our duty to “rejoice,” but to “shout for joy.” So, then, joyfulness is much more than mere privilege, it is our divine duty. (more…)

“Now when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim; thus He spoke to him.”  Numbers 7:89

When we walk into His tabernacle to speak with God, it is then and only then – there and only there, that we find a mercy seat.  It is not that way with man.  When we walk into man’s tabernacle we find a judgment seat.  Even the Twelve couldn’t wait for the twelve thrones they were promised. They set up thrones of their own and immediately started handing down selfish sentences - fire on Samaria and to a Roman soldier, mutilation. (more…)