The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 126:1-3,
When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion,
we were like men who dreamed.
Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
"The Lord has done great things for them."
The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.
One of the "songs of ascents", thought to be sung by the sojourners
who returned to Jerusalem three times a year for the appointed feasts
the Lord placed on their calendar that called for their gathering,
Psalm 126 is one of many that was to be sung as they made their way up
to Jerusalem. The psalm captures the joy and unmistakable
acknowledgement and appreciation for all the Lord had done for captive
Jews. The psalm recalls these captives returning to their intended
homeland the Lord had provided them - a homeland they had lost due to
their own sinful choices in rejecting their God - and now God has made
a way for their return.
I can't help but see in this psalm the joy, the acknowledgement, and
the heartfelt appreciation that will be expressed by the Lord's people
as they enter into the resurrection at the end of the age as family
members with Jesus Christ in his kingdom. One day all who have
embraced Jesus Christ in faith will experience that joy of return. A
return to what God originally intended for us in the garden of Eden.
Just as the Jewish captives who returned to Zion, made possible by the
God they had once turned their back on, so we will return to what God
designed for us, made possible by the very same God we had turned our
back on in sinful rebellion.
As we return, I can't help but think the angels will proclaim, "The
Lord has done great things for them." Peter tells us, "Even angels
long to look into these things." 1 Peter 1:12. The way of return to
the Lord has been made for us through Jesus Christ, who said, "I am
the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me." John 14:6.
Pretty exciting to think of, wouldn't you say? I am certain we will be
"like men who dreamed. Our mouths... filled with laughter, our tongues
with songs of joy."
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
The Lord watches over us - Ruminating in the Word of God
The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 121:1-8,
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm —
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
This is Psalm 121 in its entirety. It is a beautiful little psalm and
speaks to the care the Lord has for those who are his. No matter what
we face in this life, he is watching over us and keeps us safe from
harm.
I might be tempted to assume no difficulty, no trial will come my way
in this life. This is not the case. This psalm speaks of the Lord
watching over us as we go through times of difficulty. The help we
read of in verse one speaks of occasions where we need help, in the
midst of trials and difficulties. One doesn't need help when
difficulty does not show itself. It is to the Lord we need to find our
safety, to find our strength, to find our help.
I am reminded of a time when Paul faced difficulty. He said, "We do
not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we
suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far
beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.
Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened
that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us.
On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as
you help us by your prayers." 2 Corinthians 1:8-11.
Here we see the psalmist's words lived out. Paul suffered hardships
such that he "despaired even of life". However, he who watches over
our lives, our "coming and going", was who Paul looked to and found
not only his deliverance but also that the Lord used the hardships
Paul faced to bring about Paul's reliance on God. The Lord used it as
a learning experience for Paul to develop qualities he would need.
No matter the trials we face, the Lord watches over us and brings
about only good things for us, "And we know that in all things God
works for the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose." Romans 8:28.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 121:1-8,
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm —
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
This is Psalm 121 in its entirety. It is a beautiful little psalm and
speaks to the care the Lord has for those who are his. No matter what
we face in this life, he is watching over us and keeps us safe from
harm.
I might be tempted to assume no difficulty, no trial will come my way
in this life. This is not the case. This psalm speaks of the Lord
watching over us as we go through times of difficulty. The help we
read of in verse one speaks of occasions where we need help, in the
midst of trials and difficulties. One doesn't need help when
difficulty does not show itself. It is to the Lord we need to find our
safety, to find our strength, to find our help.
I am reminded of a time when Paul faced difficulty. He said, "We do
not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we
suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far
beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.
Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened
that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us.
On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as
you help us by your prayers." 2 Corinthians 1:8-11.
Here we see the psalmist's words lived out. Paul suffered hardships
such that he "despaired even of life". However, he who watches over
our lives, our "coming and going", was who Paul looked to and found
not only his deliverance but also that the Lord used the hardships
Paul faced to bring about Paul's reliance on God. The Lord used it as
a learning experience for Paul to develop qualities he would need.
No matter the trials we face, the Lord watches over us and brings
about only good things for us, "And we know that in all things God
works for the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose." Romans 8:28.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Friday, June 22, 2012
Where happiness is found - Ruminating in the Word of God
The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 106:3,
"Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right."
The psalmist identifies certain ones as having something we all
desire: blessedness. Being blessed isn't a term we often use in the
context of today's public discourse. "Privileged", "lucky",
"fortunate", "happy" are some of the words more commonly heard, but
approximate the same idea. What the psalmist expresses here is very
similar to what Jesus said in his sermon on the mount. Among his
beatitudes, Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit
the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be
shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:5-10.
In each of these beatitudes, Jesus gave the reason why those who are
meek, who hunger and thirst for righteousness, who are merciful, who
are pure in heart, the peacemakers and those who are persecuted
because of their righteousness are blessed. Why? Because they are the
ones who will inherit the earth, they will "be filled", they will be
shown mercy, they will see God, they will be sons of God, because
theirs is the kingdom of God. Those who have these things are truly
blessed, privileged, fortunate and happy.
Both in what the psalmist says in Psalm 106:3 and in Jesus'
beatitudes, I see the arrival at the blessed or happy estate not as a
result of what is observed in ones life, that "maintaining justice",
"constantly do what is right", being meek, hungering and thirsting for
righteousness, being merciful, being pure in heart, being a
peacemaker, or living one's life in a righteous manner bring the
blessed state, but rather manifest something very important. Those
whose lives are marked by these things demonstrate they have become
God's children and that they are being conformed to the image of Jesus
Christ, Romans 8:28-29.
God predestined that all who embrace Jesus Christ in faith will go
through a spiritually maturing process. The perfections of Jesus
Christ are what God begins to build in our lives when we become his
children. We become his children by embracing him in faith, "To all
who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right
to become children of God...". Once we do, the process begins.
It is the fruit of that process that is identified by the psalmist and
Jesus in his sermon. When the fruit is observed in our lives, our
blessed position is acknowledged: ours is the kingdom of God.
I realize that on many Sunday mornings sermons are preached that if we
would be a peacemaker, we would be blessed, or if we would be pure in
heart, we would be blessed. But that misses the point. Blessedness
comes because we are God's children, blessedness comes because we will
see God. Living changed lives, maintaining justice, doing what is
right, and so on, reflects we are in the process God's has predestined
for those who are his: we are being conformed to the likeness of his
Son. When that fruit is observed, the blessed estate needs to be
acknowledged.
This is where true happiness is found. This is how a blessed life
becomes ours: embracing Jesus Christ in faith, bringing us into God's
own kingdom. How wonderful he has made the opportunity ours!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 106:3,
"Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right."
The psalmist identifies certain ones as having something we all
desire: blessedness. Being blessed isn't a term we often use in the
context of today's public discourse. "Privileged", "lucky",
"fortunate", "happy" are some of the words more commonly heard, but
approximate the same idea. What the psalmist expresses here is very
similar to what Jesus said in his sermon on the mount. Among his
beatitudes, Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit
the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be
shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:5-10.
In each of these beatitudes, Jesus gave the reason why those who are
meek, who hunger and thirst for righteousness, who are merciful, who
are pure in heart, the peacemakers and those who are persecuted
because of their righteousness are blessed. Why? Because they are the
ones who will inherit the earth, they will "be filled", they will be
shown mercy, they will see God, they will be sons of God, because
theirs is the kingdom of God. Those who have these things are truly
blessed, privileged, fortunate and happy.
Both in what the psalmist says in Psalm 106:3 and in Jesus'
beatitudes, I see the arrival at the blessed or happy estate not as a
result of what is observed in ones life, that "maintaining justice",
"constantly do what is right", being meek, hungering and thirsting for
righteousness, being merciful, being pure in heart, being a
peacemaker, or living one's life in a righteous manner bring the
blessed state, but rather manifest something very important. Those
whose lives are marked by these things demonstrate they have become
God's children and that they are being conformed to the image of Jesus
Christ, Romans 8:28-29.
God predestined that all who embrace Jesus Christ in faith will go
through a spiritually maturing process. The perfections of Jesus
Christ are what God begins to build in our lives when we become his
children. We become his children by embracing him in faith, "To all
who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right
to become children of God...". Once we do, the process begins.
It is the fruit of that process that is identified by the psalmist and
Jesus in his sermon. When the fruit is observed in our lives, our
blessed position is acknowledged: ours is the kingdom of God.
I realize that on many Sunday mornings sermons are preached that if we
would be a peacemaker, we would be blessed, or if we would be pure in
heart, we would be blessed. But that misses the point. Blessedness
comes because we are God's children, blessedness comes because we will
see God. Living changed lives, maintaining justice, doing what is
right, and so on, reflects we are in the process God's has predestined
for those who are his: we are being conformed to the likeness of his
Son. When that fruit is observed, the blessed estate needs to be
acknowledged.
This is where true happiness is found. This is how a blessed life
becomes ours: embracing Jesus Christ in faith, bringing us into God's
own kingdom. How wonderful he has made the opportunity ours!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Thursday, June 21, 2012
What if God were replaced? - Ruminating in the Word of God
The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 102:12,
"But you, O Lord, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through
all generations."
The psalmist observes that the Lord, on his throne, will never have
end. The Lord will never be demoted, he will never need to be replaced
as he will never pass away. The Lord will remain forever and forever
be seated on his throne. This is an important point.
What if the Lord had a successor? What might he be like? Would his
successor's perfections be necessarily the same as our God's, in
justice and love? Perish the thought! How could anyone bear the
thought that "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us
all" and has, along with his Son, graciously given us all things...
might pass from the scene? Romans 8:32. Unbearable!
No, we have, along with the psalmist, an unyielding confidence that
our God remains forever and will always be on his throne.
What does this mean for us? Certainly important among things to
consider is that there never will be a change in how life will be
ordered in the resurrection. Starting out one way will never be
scrapped for some new regime. Another important consideration is that
as we develop our own understanding and relationship with the Lord
today, it is something that is lasting, that we can build upon, never
to contemplate we might have to start over with someone else.
Scripture tells us that together with God the Father, God the Son sits
at his right hand for all eternity. "When this priest [Jesus Christ]
had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the
right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made
his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever
those who are being made holy." Hebrews 10:12-14. Jesus Christ, God's
Son lives forever, just as God the Father. Because of this the writer
of Hebrews says, "Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent
priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to
God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."
Hebrews 7:24-25.
Among the cults is a doctrine that men become "Gods", if they persist
in their religious traditions beyond a certain threshold. How
creatures think they can become their own creators is certainly
incoherent. Only God is God and he sits enthroned forever. No one will
ever take his place. Man is a created being and will never become God.
There is a reason why some so-called "Christian" groups are called
cults: they embrace vile teachings that must be rejected and renounced
by those who know the truth.
For us, knowing our God lives forever and will forever sit on his
throne, with Jesus Christ, his Son, at his right hand forever
establishes a confidence and an assurance in all we know of him.
Whatever it is we learn of him, whatever it is we come to know of him,
whatever it is we establish with him is a foundation that will remain
forever!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 102:12,
"But you, O Lord, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through
all generations."
The psalmist observes that the Lord, on his throne, will never have
end. The Lord will never be demoted, he will never need to be replaced
as he will never pass away. The Lord will remain forever and forever
be seated on his throne. This is an important point.
What if the Lord had a successor? What might he be like? Would his
successor's perfections be necessarily the same as our God's, in
justice and love? Perish the thought! How could anyone bear the
thought that "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us
all" and has, along with his Son, graciously given us all things...
might pass from the scene? Romans 8:32. Unbearable!
No, we have, along with the psalmist, an unyielding confidence that
our God remains forever and will always be on his throne.
What does this mean for us? Certainly important among things to
consider is that there never will be a change in how life will be
ordered in the resurrection. Starting out one way will never be
scrapped for some new regime. Another important consideration is that
as we develop our own understanding and relationship with the Lord
today, it is something that is lasting, that we can build upon, never
to contemplate we might have to start over with someone else.
Scripture tells us that together with God the Father, God the Son sits
at his right hand for all eternity. "When this priest [Jesus Christ]
had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the
right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made
his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever
those who are being made holy." Hebrews 10:12-14. Jesus Christ, God's
Son lives forever, just as God the Father. Because of this the writer
of Hebrews says, "Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent
priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to
God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."
Hebrews 7:24-25.
Among the cults is a doctrine that men become "Gods", if they persist
in their religious traditions beyond a certain threshold. How
creatures think they can become their own creators is certainly
incoherent. Only God is God and he sits enthroned forever. No one will
ever take his place. Man is a created being and will never become God.
There is a reason why some so-called "Christian" groups are called
cults: they embrace vile teachings that must be rejected and renounced
by those who know the truth.
For us, knowing our God lives forever and will forever sit on his
throne, with Jesus Christ, his Son, at his right hand forever
establishes a confidence and an assurance in all we know of him.
Whatever it is we learn of him, whatever it is we come to know of him,
whatever it is we establish with him is a foundation that will remain
forever!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
God's message to us - Ruminating in the Word of God
The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 98:10,
"The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness
to the nations."
How has the Lord made his salvation known and revealed his
righteousness to the nations? He has crafted his gospel message and
revealed himself through creation. He uses these together to call a
lost and fallen world to himself.
Paul tells us, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message,
and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17.
God has crafted a gospel message that can reach into the darkest
heart. The gospel is a unique message in that it contains a certain
power from God, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the
power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the
Jew, then for the Gentile." Romans 1:16.
This message is attended by God through his creation as a message to
lost and fallen mankind that he has something to say, "Their voice has
gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."
Romans 10:18 where Paul quotes Psalm 19:4. In Psalm 19:1-4 we read,
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of
his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night
they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their
voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their
words to the ends of the world."
Paul points to this as why sinful man is culpable for his rejection of
the gospel. Since God's creation speaks of God, when God's message is
given and ignored, it isn't because lost and fallen mankind is unable
to understand or accept his gospel. "The wrath of God is being
revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men
who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known
about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For
since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal
power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from
what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Romans 1:18-20.
Jesus tells us why lost and fallen mankind refuses to accept the
gospel. In his conversation with Nicodemus he said, "This is the
verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead
of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates
the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds
will be exposed." John 3:19-20. It is because some cling to their sin
they refuse to respond to the gospel.
However, some will respond to the gospel and embrace Jesus Christ in
faith. "whoever lives by the truth comes into the light", John 3:21.
It is these the Lord has chosen for himself. When asked if I believe
in election, I always respond, "Of course I do! God has chosen for
himself all who will embrace him in faith in response to his gospel
message!" As Jesus said in John 5:24, "I tell you the truth, whoever
hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will
not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." We also
read in John 1:12, "To all who received him, to those who believed in
his name, he gave the right to become children of God".
What more could God have done to make a way for us into his family?
How wonderful he has provided all an invitation to join him!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Psalm 98:10,
"The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness
to the nations."
How has the Lord made his salvation known and revealed his
righteousness to the nations? He has crafted his gospel message and
revealed himself through creation. He uses these together to call a
lost and fallen world to himself.
Paul tells us, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message,
and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17.
God has crafted a gospel message that can reach into the darkest
heart. The gospel is a unique message in that it contains a certain
power from God, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the
power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the
Jew, then for the Gentile." Romans 1:16.
This message is attended by God through his creation as a message to
lost and fallen mankind that he has something to say, "Their voice has
gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."
Romans 10:18 where Paul quotes Psalm 19:4. In Psalm 19:1-4 we read,
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of
his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night
they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their
voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their
words to the ends of the world."
Paul points to this as why sinful man is culpable for his rejection of
the gospel. Since God's creation speaks of God, when God's message is
given and ignored, it isn't because lost and fallen mankind is unable
to understand or accept his gospel. "The wrath of God is being
revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men
who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known
about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For
since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal
power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from
what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Romans 1:18-20.
Jesus tells us why lost and fallen mankind refuses to accept the
gospel. In his conversation with Nicodemus he said, "This is the
verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead
of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates
the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds
will be exposed." John 3:19-20. It is because some cling to their sin
they refuse to respond to the gospel.
However, some will respond to the gospel and embrace Jesus Christ in
faith. "whoever lives by the truth comes into the light", John 3:21.
It is these the Lord has chosen for himself. When asked if I believe
in election, I always respond, "Of course I do! God has chosen for
himself all who will embrace him in faith in response to his gospel
message!" As Jesus said in John 5:24, "I tell you the truth, whoever
hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will
not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." We also
read in John 1:12, "To all who received him, to those who believed in
his name, he gave the right to become children of God".
What more could God have done to make a way for us into his family?
How wonderful he has provided all an invitation to join him!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Where is Jesus Christ today, what is he doing? - Ruminating in the Word of God
The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 22:69,
"From now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the
mighty God."
At daybreak, following Jesus' arrest, the council of the elders had
Jesus led before them to question him. As he confirmed to them he was
the Son of God, Jesus made this comment, that he would be seated and
the right hand of God Almighty.
Seated at the right hand of God indicates authority, honor, dignity
and rule. It speaks of power and strength. It is the exalted position
of any possible relative to God Almighty.
Peter spoke of where Jesus was following his ascension into heaven,
"He [Jesus Christ] must remain in heaven until the time comes for God
to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy
prophets." Acts 3:21. In his sermon on Pentecost, Peter told the Jews,
"God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the
fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the
Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see
and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, 'The
Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet."'" He is at the right hand our heavenly
Father. Peter also says in 1 Peter 3:22, "... Jesus Christ, who has
gone into heaven and is at God's right hand —with angels, authorities
and powers in submission to him." Just prior to his ascension into
heaven, following his resurrection, Jesus told his followers, "All
authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me..." Matthew
28:18.
In speaking of God's great power, Paul said, "That power is like the
working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he
raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the
heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,
and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but
also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and
appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his
body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."
Ephesians 1:19-23.
So what is Jesus doing in heaven? Paul tells us he speaks to our
heavenly Father in our behalf, "Christ Jesus, who died —more than
that, who was raised to life —is at the right hand of God and is also
interceding for us." Romans 8:34. The writer of Hebrews says,
"Therefore he [Jesus Christ] is able to save completely those who come
to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."
Hebrews 7:25. We also read in 1 Timothy 2:5-6, "For there is one God
and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave
himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper
time." Jesus Christ, as God the Son, is in heaven as our mediator with
God the Father. As our mediator, the writer of Hebrews says, "But when
this priest [Jesus Christ] had offered for all time one sacrifice for
sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits
for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he
has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." Hebrews
10:12-14. Because of this, Paul can say, " In him [Christ Jesus our
Lord] and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and
confidence." Ephesians 3:12.
Paul struggled in his desire to leave this life to join Jesus Christ
in heaven, but knew it was best he continued in his labors for the
infant church. In his letter to the Philippians he said, "For to me,
to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the
body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I
do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with
Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that
I remain in the body."
The day is coming when all who have embraced him in faith will join
Jesus Christ in heaven at his lofty position at the right hand of God
Almighty!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 22:69,
"From now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the
mighty God."
At daybreak, following Jesus' arrest, the council of the elders had
Jesus led before them to question him. As he confirmed to them he was
the Son of God, Jesus made this comment, that he would be seated and
the right hand of God Almighty.
Seated at the right hand of God indicates authority, honor, dignity
and rule. It speaks of power and strength. It is the exalted position
of any possible relative to God Almighty.
Peter spoke of where Jesus was following his ascension into heaven,
"He [Jesus Christ] must remain in heaven until the time comes for God
to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy
prophets." Acts 3:21. In his sermon on Pentecost, Peter told the Jews,
"God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the
fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the
Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see
and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, 'The
Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet."'" He is at the right hand our heavenly
Father. Peter also says in 1 Peter 3:22, "... Jesus Christ, who has
gone into heaven and is at God's right hand —with angels, authorities
and powers in submission to him." Just prior to his ascension into
heaven, following his resurrection, Jesus told his followers, "All
authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me..." Matthew
28:18.
In speaking of God's great power, Paul said, "That power is like the
working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he
raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the
heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,
and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but
also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and
appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his
body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."
Ephesians 1:19-23.
So what is Jesus doing in heaven? Paul tells us he speaks to our
heavenly Father in our behalf, "Christ Jesus, who died —more than
that, who was raised to life —is at the right hand of God and is also
interceding for us." Romans 8:34. The writer of Hebrews says,
"Therefore he [Jesus Christ] is able to save completely those who come
to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."
Hebrews 7:25. We also read in 1 Timothy 2:5-6, "For there is one God
and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave
himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper
time." Jesus Christ, as God the Son, is in heaven as our mediator with
God the Father. As our mediator, the writer of Hebrews says, "But when
this priest [Jesus Christ] had offered for all time one sacrifice for
sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits
for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he
has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." Hebrews
10:12-14. Because of this, Paul can say, " In him [Christ Jesus our
Lord] and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and
confidence." Ephesians 3:12.
Paul struggled in his desire to leave this life to join Jesus Christ
in heaven, but knew it was best he continued in his labors for the
infant church. In his letter to the Philippians he said, "For to me,
to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the
body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I
do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with
Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that
I remain in the body."
The day is coming when all who have embraced him in faith will join
Jesus Christ in heaven at his lofty position at the right hand of God
Almighty!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Monday, June 18, 2012
Jesus, our Passover Lamb - Ruminating in the Word of God
The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 22:1,
"Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching…"
Here is how Luke begins his account of the betrayal, arrest,
crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It all happened at the
time of the celebration of the Passover.
We read about the Passover in Exodus 12. There the Lord told Moses and
Aaron to commemorate it as a festival for all generations to come.
Enslaved in Egypt, the Lord told the Jews he was going to destroy
those who enslaved them and set them free. However, the Jews needed to
take some of the blood of an animal to be sacrificed and apply it to
their door frames. That way when the destroying angel came to strike
down the Egyptians, he would "pass over" the Lord's people and not put
them to death.
The account of the Passover, inaugurated on the night before the Jews
were delivered from Egypt, is rich with symbolism and helps explain
what God was going to do to redeem mankind from his own justice. Jesus
Christ, the sacrifice who paid the penalty for all our sins would come
and take our punishment upon himself. Enslaved to the eternal death
our sins bring from God's justice, freedom is now available for all
who have applied, in a figurative sense, Jesus Christ's blood on
themselves by embracing him in faith.
As with the Passover celebrated by the Jews in Egypt, all mankind must
"apply" the blood of the Lord's sacrifice to their own lives in order
to be freed from his justice, otherwise face God's wrath. "They have
washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
Revelation 7:14. "To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins
by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his
God and Father —to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen."
Revelation 1:5-6.
Clearly, the timing of the Lord's passion with the Passover was
predetermined and arranged by God. How fitting that Jesus' betrayal,
arrest, crucifixion and resurrection came at the time of the Passover.
Paul observes, "Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." 1
Corinthians 5:7.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 22:1,
"Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching…"
Here is how Luke begins his account of the betrayal, arrest,
crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It all happened at the
time of the celebration of the Passover.
We read about the Passover in Exodus 12. There the Lord told Moses and
Aaron to commemorate it as a festival for all generations to come.
Enslaved in Egypt, the Lord told the Jews he was going to destroy
those who enslaved them and set them free. However, the Jews needed to
take some of the blood of an animal to be sacrificed and apply it to
their door frames. That way when the destroying angel came to strike
down the Egyptians, he would "pass over" the Lord's people and not put
them to death.
The account of the Passover, inaugurated on the night before the Jews
were delivered from Egypt, is rich with symbolism and helps explain
what God was going to do to redeem mankind from his own justice. Jesus
Christ, the sacrifice who paid the penalty for all our sins would come
and take our punishment upon himself. Enslaved to the eternal death
our sins bring from God's justice, freedom is now available for all
who have applied, in a figurative sense, Jesus Christ's blood on
themselves by embracing him in faith.
As with the Passover celebrated by the Jews in Egypt, all mankind must
"apply" the blood of the Lord's sacrifice to their own lives in order
to be freed from his justice, otherwise face God's wrath. "They have
washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
Revelation 7:14. "To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins
by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his
God and Father —to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen."
Revelation 1:5-6.
Clearly, the timing of the Lord's passion with the Passover was
predetermined and arranged by God. How fitting that Jesus' betrayal,
arrest, crucifixion and resurrection came at the time of the Passover.
Paul observes, "Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." 1
Corinthians 5:7.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
your thoughts of worship from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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