Tag: Faithful

The Curtain

the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom

Matthew 27:51
And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Exodus 26:32
“And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on four bases of silver. And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy. You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place

Hebrews 9:6
These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people

Hebrews 9:11
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent ( not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance

Hebrews 10:19
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works

If you think about the Holy Place and the restrictions that went with being able to go near compared to the new covenant prepared by God shouldn’t our heart be thankful?   We live in a time that is surrounded in with great grace and mercy.  In no other time prior to Christ has such grace and mercy been freely given.  This is not to be taken lightly.  How much more will we be held accountable for knowing so much and neglecting it so easily.  Paul said what manner of lives should we be living in light of what God has given.  I am certain we have so much more to forget about this world and greatly more to learn about and apply grace and mercy.

Faithful to the Master

Enter into the joy of your master

How much has God entrusted with you?  What has He placed within your control to use the talents He has given you?  How do we use these talents?  Are we using them in a way that honors and glorifies God?  Or are they buried way down within us and never to see any fruit?  God has given us great promises in light of His grace and mercy.  He has entrusted each of us with talents to be used to honor and glorify Him alone.  These talents take on many different forms – generosity, kindness, patience, love, joy, hope, encouragement, discipleship, teaching, gentleness…..   Notice I did not say any profession…  that is because no matter what vocation we are in we are given these other talents to be used in what we do every day to bring honor and glory to God.   To have talents given to us and then not use them for His purpose, honor and glory is to fall into the category of “Wicked and Slothful servant”.  Choose this day to live for Him with your talents.

 

Matthew 25:14
“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more. ’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. ’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more. ’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. ’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours. ’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth

Remain Steadfast

What does it mean to be Faithful, Endure, Steadfast, and Conquer? I have been thinking about this lately. Do we water down what is expected of us? Do we think for a second that we fulfill any of these by just being in Church on Sunday? The One that calls us to be faithful, to endure, to be steadfast, and to conquer has much more for us. He calls us to be faithful in placing Him first, honoring and glorifying Him, and desiring Him above all this world offers. He calls us to live every moment of our life in His presence. I am ashamed at how many days I don’t remain steadfast serving Him. I live more for myself than Him.

Matthew 10:22 – But the one who endures to the end will be saved

James 5:11
Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful

Revelation 2:10
Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death

Hebrews 3:6
but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

Love and Redemption

Thank you Lord for your love and redemption.  Though I have not been faithful and fall short many times you remain faithful and steadfast.  Guide me today and use me for your honor and glory.

Isaiah 63:8

And he became their Savior.

 In all their affliction he was afflicted,

and the angel of his presence saved them;

 in his love and in his pity he redeemed them;

 he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old

Deuteronomy 7:10

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations

Daniel 9:4

I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. We have not listened