Monday, January 20, 2014

I’m not perfect, but God is - Part Two




Hebrews 2:6-13 But one testified in a certain place, saying: “What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, and set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”  And again: “I will put My trust in Him.” And again: “Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”
Continuing from the last post on Pastor JJ Sunday Sermon series “God of the Underdogs”. It was Inspector (Dirty Harry) Callahan that said: “A man has got to know his limitations.” Nobody’s perfect. We are average and ordinary, doing the best that we can, but called to do what God designed us to be and do; not just “good enough” morally, ethically, industrious, godly and holy, though we are no different than others. Don’t settle at “measuring up” using the wrong standard and scale, just God’s matters. Our perfection is not found in cloning others, but in growing into the likeness of Christ. For us to assume that we don’t have to seek and find God by His holy Word, Will and Way is a flawed ideology, as much as following other flawed people as a life pattern is a flawed ideology.  
  
Hebrews 2:1-3Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him."

God choose, by His grace, His redemptive work on the world, for a purpose. It’s not about “I’m trying the best I can” or “I messed up once or twice, but I want to do better and will try harder”, in a self-sufficient society. The true issue is that we cannot do it all, but can’t neglect God’s work for the sake of our own work and accomplishments here at God’s expense. Are we saying: “My Will be done, not Thy Will be done?” It is not about glory be to me, but the glory of God. We tend to neglect our own spiritual life, forgetting that nothing is done without God (John 15:5). We cannot press on by ourselves; we were not designed to. What do we get by continually trying harder and longer by human effort, excluding the Lord? It is God who brings the glory to His creation and creators.
  
Psalm 69:30-34I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bull, which has horns and hooves. The humble shall see this and be glad; and you who seek God, your hearts shall live. For the Lord hears the poor, and does not despise His prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them."
Maturity comes by being open to the Holy Spirit of God’s leading. Everything else is “sure” frustration and can lead to “bitter” frustration. We are His people; the sheep of His pasture. We are called to completeness in Christ. But do we see Jesus and His sacrifice for us or are we distracted? Seek Him, Trust Him, and obey Him for it is in Christ that we find our completeness and perfection will come. In Jesus Christ everything changes to glory. There is blood, sweat and tears in His redeeming death on that cross in our place. It starts there. We do not see how our life may go or be, but we can, and do, wee Jesus when we look. All that we can hope to be, made perfect in His suffering to make us children of God.
Hebrews 2:14-18Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted."
Look at the cross of Calvary for His glorious love, which we were unworthy by our sinful rebellious thoughts, words and deeds, by what we have done and by what we have left undone against our Just and Holy God. I cannot make it on my own. I’m not perfect, but God is! The cross has spoken mercy unto us. We have a Redeemer Savior that is perfect. Let us pray: “Lord God expose those areas of my heart that are not pleasing in Your eyes and need to change, to become more and more like you. Not to live a life “just getting through”, but living the abundant life in Christ (John 10:10-11) with meaning and purpose, being the person that You created me to be, complete and mature.” Amen.  Allow God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) to change us. Worship and Praise Him, for He is worthy.



In Christ, Brian

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