Thankful for Forgiveness

On this seventh and final day of Thanksgiving Challenge I am thankful for forgiveness.  We all need forgiveness because none of us is perfect; we do things we shouldn't.  Without forgiveness this world would be even more violent and full of hate than is already evident.

Forgiveness is the foundation of Christianity.  God provided a pathway to forgiveness for our wrongs against Him and each other by sending His Son to earth to fulfill the requirements necessary for our forgiveness.  When we forgive others it is a reflection of the model provided for us by the Creator of the Universe.  The price we pay is the sacrifice of our pride -- it is the placing of "self" in submission to God's Will.  It is acknowledging Him as supreme rather than ourselves.

I am thankful that I am forgiven.

"For God so loved the world He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." -- John 3:16

"Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you." -- Acts 13:38

Thinking on a Passage from Hebrews

We've been looking at the book of Hebrews in our Sunday School class. I think that I've finally grown to the point that I find Hebrews deeply intriguing. The following verses really interest me:

Hebrews 10: 19-24

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."

The Most Holy Place to the ancient Hebrews was the place where God dwells. Prior to Christ, only the High Priest could enter into God's presence. Now, believers can enter into the throne of grace because Jesus paid the necessary sacrifice to atone for our sins. That is, he met the requirements of the law to make us clean. However, there are four conditions for entering into the throne of grace, i.e. the presence of God. 1) We must have a sincere heart -- that is, undivided allegiance in our inner being. 2) We must have assurance of our faith -- that is, we have no hesitation in trusting Christ for everything. 3) Our hearts must be sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience -- that is, total freedom from a sense of guilt for our sins because we know that Jesus' sacrifice took care of them. 4) Our bodies must be washed with pure water -- that is, we must be cleansed of our sins through the baptism of the Spirit.

So, as it says in verse 23, "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." -- in other words, there is no reason to doubt. So, we should move forward loving others and doing good deeds.

The part that really intrigues me is:

"...by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body...."

Any thoughts?

The IN Crowd

As often happens, this post was inspired by our pastor David Lowrie.

It seems to be part of our nature
To want to belong to a group.
Perhaps it is something genetic
Left from the primordial soup.

Whatever does cause this behavior
Starts way down in grade school
When we want to be a part of
The kids that we all think are cool.

Even when we get to college
It is important with whom we are seen.
It is usually the star athletes
That are thought to be really keen.

For adults it isn't much better.
We want to be with the IN crowd.
We talk about who we hang out with
And often it comes out quite loud.

No matter where our life takes us
We have a desire to fit IN.
Whether it be at work, at home, or in school
Acceptance is what we would win.

There are certain INdicators
That I seek in the crowd I desire.
It is lives full of love and service
That are filled with the eternal fire

Of the Holy Spirit of God
That tells me that He dwells within
Their hearts and their lives
And that makes them the crowd that is IN.

13We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. __ 1 John 4:13-16