Wednesday, January 26, 2011
The Great Race & Holiness
I've been digging in Hebrews 12: 1-3 for preaching material for the new year. The great race, the race of faith, following Christ. As I continue to dig into Hebrews you come to grips with the fact that the race is about holiness. Christ our sanctifier, died to make us holy (13:12, 2:11). We are called to live in holiness (12:14). We are his brothers, his family as we share in His holiness (2:11). How tragic that the church has abandoned the call to holiness, or watered it down to merely something positional. This holiness is to be personal and practical. This holiness is Christlikeness and sets the body of Christ apart from the confused world. The throne of grace is to provide grace and strength to live the holy life. We share a 'heavenly calling'(3:1) holy brothers-called to be different and make a redemptive difference-to be holy. This holiness is not legalism, but the life of Christ in us. The better covenant is for this purpose. We can draw near so our hearts will be transformed and we will find the faith that presses forward. We are holy in Christ and we are being made holy as the Father disciplines and the Spirit leads and we obey (10:14, 12:10). Let us go to the throne of grace to receive what we need for holy living. In a confused world I have a purpose and calling.
Monday, January 17, 2011
The Great Race
The writer of Hebrews is making a call to faith. Living in a confused world, sometimes it's not easy to live by faith, to trust in the true and living God. Faith is not something we create or work up, but a response to God, who He is and what He has said. Faith is a response to something else and as Christians we are responding to the person and work of Jesus Christ. The race we are running is a marathon. It's not easy, it's not a quick fix, it demands concentration, focus, commitment, sacrifice. The marathon runner builds his/her life around running the marathon. Every day decisions are made according to the commitment to run the long distance. We must build following Christ into everyday. Jesus said, deny self, take the cross and follow me daily. Daily we decide to follow Christ. Daily choices are driven by the commitment to be pleasing to the Lord. Our confidence to run the race is Jesus Christ. Let us focus our attention on Him and run and keep running the race. The world is in confusion. They don't know where they are going, or who they are following. Christ's people are confident about the future. The Author and Finisher of their faith calls us to keep running.
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Wednesday, January 26, 2011
The Great Race & Holiness
I've been digging in Hebrews 12: 1-3 for preaching material for the new year. The great race, the race of faith, following Christ. As I continue to dig into Hebrews you come to grips with the fact that the race is about holiness. Christ our sanctifier, died to make us holy (13:12, 2:11). We are called to live in holiness (12:14). We are his brothers, his family as we share in His holiness (2:11). How tragic that the church has abandoned the call to holiness, or watered it down to merely something positional. This holiness is to be personal and practical. This holiness is Christlikeness and sets the body of Christ apart from the confused world. The throne of grace is to provide grace and strength to live the holy life. We share a 'heavenly calling'(3:1) holy brothers-called to be different and make a redemptive difference-to be holy. This holiness is not legalism, but the life of Christ in us. The better covenant is for this purpose. We can draw near so our hearts will be transformed and we will find the faith that presses forward. We are holy in Christ and we are being made holy as the Father disciplines and the Spirit leads and we obey (10:14, 12:10). Let us go to the throne of grace to receive what we need for holy living. In a confused world I have a purpose and calling.
Monday, January 17, 2011
The Great Race
The writer of Hebrews is making a call to faith. Living in a confused world, sometimes it's not easy to live by faith, to trust in the true and living God. Faith is not something we create or work up, but a response to God, who He is and what He has said. Faith is a response to something else and as Christians we are responding to the person and work of Jesus Christ. The race we are running is a marathon. It's not easy, it's not a quick fix, it demands concentration, focus, commitment, sacrifice. The marathon runner builds his/her life around running the marathon. Every day decisions are made according to the commitment to run the long distance. We must build following Christ into everyday. Jesus said, deny self, take the cross and follow me daily. Daily we decide to follow Christ. Daily choices are driven by the commitment to be pleasing to the Lord. Our confidence to run the race is Jesus Christ. Let us focus our attention on Him and run and keep running the race. The world is in confusion. They don't know where they are going, or who they are following. Christ's people are confident about the future. The Author and Finisher of their faith calls us to keep running.
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