day thirty-four: preparation for palm sunday

"This Palm Sunday, let your cry of "Hosanna!" become your joyful shout of "Maranatha!"

Expectations.

How many times have your high expectations of others gotten you into big trouble and disappointment?! You had high expectations of another, yet when that person did not live up to your expectations you grumbled, felt anger, were discouraged, and decided that you would think twice about expecting anything from someone again. We all become disillusioned (and oftentimes demanding!) when we have expectations of others and they do not come through.

This is even true of our expectations of God. Sometimes, in God's mysterious providence, he does what he knows to be best for us, yet we do not understand (Romans 8:28). We have expectations that we think God should live up to, but we have yet to begin to understand that

God's ways are so much higher than our ways!

God works all things out for our good, for our best, yet we fail to trust his thoughts and ways and remember that even our highest expectations that we have of God, if different from his will, are never high enough!

Isaiah 55:8-9: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Remember, as the Apostle Paul teaches, that

"No eye has seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love him."

We should be cautious of placing high expectations on others, but when it comes to God, I think we need to be reminded that our so-called "high expectations" are never high enough!
Today, we shall look at the high expectations of the crowd when Jesus rode on a donkey into Jerusalem in John 12:12-23, and how these high expectations were simply not high enough."

- Charles Riggs

day thirty-three: new creation

"This present world characterized by sin, misery and the rule of the deceiver must end in the death of God's Son, in order that the new world to come characterized by holiness and the awesome presence of God could be fully realized. The third day of the old world would begin the first day of the new world! The old creation began to come to an end, as the new creation dawned on the third day! The resurrection of Jesus didn't merely occur on the first day of the week (Luke 24:1), but it was literally the first day of the new creation characterized by resurrection life!"

-C.R. Biggs

day thirty-two: the trinity at work on the cross

How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:14)

"The very essence of the Godhead, that God is one God eternally existing in three Persons, who are joyfully and eternally united in a holy fellowship, could never have been apprehended apart from this great work of redemption. Theologians like to distinguish between the ontological Trinity and the economical Trinity. The ontological Trinity refers to who God is in his essential being; the economical Trinity refers to how this essential nature works itself out in the mighty acts of God.

No act of God in all of history could have been better designed to display the wonder of the ontological Trinity than the work of redemption. In this work, we see how the Father relates to the Son, planning out a mighty task for him alone to accomplish (John 10:18), delighting in his perfect obedience to that plan (Luke 3:22; John 10:17), and rejoicing to glorify him as the only Redeemer and Mediator between God and men (John 17:5; I Timothy 2:5), the unique and marvelous God-Man, the One who alone holds the keys to Death and Hell (Revelation 1:18), the Possessor of the only Name which is above all names (Philippians 2:9-11). We see how the Son delights to render perfect obedience to the Father, giving glory to him (John 4:34; 17:4; I Corinthians 15:25-28). We see how the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, and how his delight is to testify, not of himself, but of Christ (John 14:16-17,26; 15:26). The very nature of God is Trinitarian.

And we could never have understood the ontological inter-Trinitarian relationship as we do now, if God had not displayed himself economically through redemption: the Father planning, the Son accomplishing, and the Spirit applying that blessing which contains in itself all blessings (cf. Ephesians 1:3-14)."

- Nathan Pitchford

day thirty one: what His death accomplished

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

"In his death, Jesus destroyed the powers of the devil; bound the strong man; judged and drove out the prince of this world; ransomed, redeemed & delivered us from the power and penalty of sin; freed us from the curse of the law; demonstrated our sinful depravity in the need for his death for our salvation; demonstrated the love of God for us, in that while we were sinners he died for us; demonstrated ultimately the righteousness of God to punish our sins upon his Son instead of simply ignoring them; absorbed God's wrath upon himself, turning it away from his people; and reconciled us to God.

Jesus' flesh was the curtain torn, giving all his people access to the Holy of Holies, the presence of God. Through his death we are forgiven, justified, cleansed, and made right with God. He died that we might live, and as long as we gather for communion we proclaim his death until he comes."

- Eric Costa

day thirty: all history is redemptive

The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 1:3)


"What is the superlative way in which God might be displayed for who he is? Find the answer to that question, and you will discover the goal toward which all of history is striving together. Fortunately, the scriptures do not leave us ignorant of this unifying theme; it is nothing other than God’s mightiest act of all: the redemption of his people. All of history is redemptive history; because redemption is the greatest display of God’s essential nature that could have been formulated in the mind of God. Hence, matters related to the accomplishment of redemption are unexceptionally the great events of history and at the same time the great revelations of God. Consider the Old Testament redemptive accomplishment par excellence: the exodus from Egypt. This one mighty act displayed the power and glory of God in a superlative degree. All other gods were found out to be impotent imposters; all of creation was shown to be in the almighty hand of God, ready to do his bidding, no matter how impossible the task; God’s mercy, elective love, covenant faithfulness, and just wrath against sin, poured out on a spotless substitutionary sacrifice, were seen more clearly than ever before. And this great display of who God is was also the most pivotal event in the history of God’s people.

Great events in history, in proportion as they are great, are also great displays of God’s nature.What then is the pinnacle of all history, and the ultimate display of who God is? The central moment of all history, the greatest display of God’s eternal glory, indeed the very reason that God made the world and worked out all of history to bring things just to that point – to the fullness of time, to the minutely and flawlessly prepared stage for the mightiest of all acts – that central moment was the eternal Son of God’s taking on human flesh, accomplishing a perfect obedience, and offering himself up as a substitutionary sacrifice to accomplish eternal redemption for those whom the Father had given him. And this pivotal moment of all history was also the unparalleled display of God’s nature. God, who had been revealing himself in various ways in past ages, revealed himself fully and perfectly when he sent his Son into the world (Hebrews 1:1-3; John 1:18). The greatest display of God’s nature consists in Christ’s accomplishing redemption. And the pinnacle of Christ’s redemptive work, in fact the moment for which he came into the world (John 12:27), occurred nearly two thousand years ago on Good Friday.

The cross is both the greatest event in all of history and the mightiest display of God’s nature. Let us pause on this Good Friday to reflect on some ways in which we can apprehend the nature of God by beholding the wonder of the cross."

- Nathan Pitchford

day twenty nine: a hymn to Christ

In what torn ship soever I embark,
That ship shall be my emblem of thy Ark;
What sea soever swallow me, that flood
Shall be to me an emblem of thy blood;
Though thou with clouds of anger do disguise
Thy face, yet through that mask I know those eyes,
Which, though they turn away sometimes,
They never will despise.
I sacrifice this Island unto thee,
And all whom I loved there, and who loved me;
When I have put our seas 'twixt them and me,
Put thou thy sea betwixt my sins and thee.
As the tree's sap doth seek the root belowIn winter, in my winter now I go,
Where none but thee, th' Eternal root
Of true Love, I may know.
Nor thou nor thy religion dost control
The amorousness of an harmonious Soul,
But thou wouldst have that love thyself: as thou
Art jealous, Lord, so I am jealous now,
Thou lov'st not, till from loving more, Thou free
My soul: who ever gives, takes liberty:
O, if thou car'st not whom I love
Alas, thou lov'st not me.
Seal then this bill of my Divorce to All,
On whom those fainter beams of love did fall;
Marry those loves, which in youth scattered be
On Fame, Wit, Hopes (false mistresses) to thee.
Churches are best for Prayer, that have least light:
To see God only, I go out of sight:
And to 'scape stormy days, I choose
An Everlasting night.

- John Donne

day twenty eight: Christ, our advocate

Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (Hebrews 7:23-25)

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for[a] the sins of the whole world. (I John 2:1-2)

Jesus Christ, as High Priest, is our "advocate" according to the writer of Hebrews. The idea here is not just that of a High Priest standing before God on behalf of the people. Although that certainly is a part of the picture here. But the true meaning of the word "intercede" goes beyond what is understood in high priesthood. It has a deeper meaning taken from the ancient judicial system. When a person is brought before a high king or a magistrate, he is not able or fit to represent himself. He needs someone who can speak for him as "advocate".

Literally, the fate and image of the defendant is seen in the advocate. If the advocate is brilliant and convincing, then all of the benefit of that is brought upon the one needing defense. The defendant in other words, is IN the advocate as we are IN Christ.

As our atoning sacrifice, Christ stands in our place. He does not beg for mercy on our behalf. Instead, he demands justice as the One who has already paid the price for our sin. As our advocate, He says in affect, "Father, my friends here are guilty, but because of my atoning sacrifice for them on the cross, I do not ask for mercy, I ask for Justice. Your very nature and divine justice demand that you not punish them twice for the same sin. I have paid the price, therefore the only just thing to do is to accept them and renew them!"

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and JUST and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

day twenty seven: sehnsucht

Jayme Thompson

Hebrews 8:10-12 “…I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor or a man his brother, saying ‘Know the Lord’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

Revelation 21:2-4 “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things has passed away.’”

Boy, this is starting to feel like the 40 days that won’t end. The warm weather and seeing the trees in bloom has put a little gypsy in my soul and I just want to party. I’m soooooo ready for Easter.

I’d like some lemonade and a long afternoon, some sand castle tools and an empty beach, maybe a sundress and a floppy hat, or perhaps I could just watch my dog make that funny smiley face she makes when it’s hot outside. Ahhhhhh... Sounds good… really good.

Too bad that as soon as I get it, I’ll just want something more or something else. Sigh.

I fear that our contemporary wealth of options disorients us so that we do not even know what we want. Sometimes we think we experience hunger when we really thirst. Sometimes we’re lonely in a crowd. We rage when we should weep. We do not know what we want, but when we’re quiet and alone we recognize our inner poverty.

One day, several years ago, while reading, I learned the name of my ache. It’s "Sehnsucht." This German word doesn’t have an exact English equivalent. It means longing, but it carries nostalgia and desire with it too. C.S. Lewis used it to define Joy. That helped me understand. When I use it, what I mean is: Homesick. There’s an ache in me because I am homesick for a place I’ve never been. I feel longing for a love I have not fully known. I have a sense of nostalgia for something I cannot yet remember. I carry a belief that true and lasting joy will one day reach its full potential.

Come quickly Lord Jesus.

I am eager for Easter.

day twenty six: presents for a prodigal

Jayme Thompson

"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:22-24)

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (Hebrews 7:25)

It’s the ring that gets me every time.

Familiarity can breed contempt or at least cause us to take some amazing things for granted. I’ve both read and lived the prodigal story so many times that it feels like breathing. We fall down, we get up; we fall down, we get up.

For the Christian, it’s a given. I do believe that each time I come dragging in from the pig pen, I’ll be received. I do believe the Father will come out to meet me. I believe there’ll be a robe (to make me presentable) and a fattened calf (because the Father is happy), but I deeply dread the serious talk I know I have coming. See, I can’t enjoy the party or the meal or the hugging and kissing because I’m cringing all the while. I just know God’s going to sit me in a corner and give me a good stern talking to, then outline a plan whereby through exemplary spiritual behavior and good manners in general I can work my way back into his good graces.

Here’s the thing though: He doesn’t have “graces” that can be categorized as just-barely-big-enough, average, and very good. He is grace itself. He is the landowner in Luke 20 who is equally generous with the deserving and the undeserving.

Really.

I often write off the sandals and the robe – they seem necessary. I try to explain the feast away – it’s God’s celebration for His own joy. The ring, however, gives my cynicism pause. It changes my mind and changes my heart. It changes who I think I am. It can be nothing but an extravagance. It’s just so very, very generous. It tells me that I’m not dreaming; I really am home.Have you looked down at your hand lately?

If you find a ring – sing Hallelujah. If your hand is bare – run home.

day twenty five: the donkey

"Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936) cannot be summed up in one sentence. Nor in one paragraph. In fact, in spite of the fine biographies that have been written of him, he has never been captured between the covers of one book. But rather than waiting to separate the goats from the sheep, let’s just come right out and say it: G.K. Chesterton was the best writer of the 20th century. He said something about everything and he said it better than anybody else. But he was no mere wordsmith. He was very good at expressing himself, but more importantly, he had something very good to express. The reason he was the greatest writer of the 20th century was because he was also the greatest thinker of the 20th century." He was also one of the greatest defenders of the Christian faith in Christian language. Following is one of his famous poems regarding the crucifixion.

When fishes flew and forests walked

And figs grew upon thorn,

Some moment when the moon was blood

Then surely I was born;

With monstrous head and sickening cry

And ears like errant wings,

The devil's walking parody

On all four-footed things.

The tattered outlaw of the earth,

Of ancient crooked will;

Starve, scourge, deride me:

I am dumb, I keep my secret still.

Fools! For I also had my hour;

One far fierce hour and sweet:

There was a shout about my ears,

And palms before my feet.

day twenty four: there is no fear in love

Jayme Thompson

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." (Psalm 51:17)

"For this is what the high and lofty One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite." (Isaiah 57:15)

"'Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?' declares the LORD. 'This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.'" (Isaiah 66:2)

"I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." (Exodus 33:19)

day twenty three: making up is hard to do

Jayme Thompson

“I’m sorry” are two of the most important words we ever say. They preserve one of the most important things we have – our relationships. If you can’t apologize, you will lose a lot of people during your life. Pride is a very lonely problem.

Sometimes apologies are really exercises in pride. We sometimes begin the process of reconciling because we know confessions and admissions will lead back to the narrative of the event in question. These conversations go like this, “I’m sorry I said that to you, I really am, but you can’t act the way you did.” See the motive? The moral high ground is a lonely place too.

True repentance means just standing there in your wrongness, acknowledging that you are indeed wrong. It’s painful, it’s humiliating, it’s final, but it’s not lonely. Compassion loves vulnerability, and it was compassion that we were seeking all along. We acted out for attention and then we kept making our case for the behavior because we longed to be understood. It’s one of those tricky things life only lets you see in the rearview mirror. We must become good repenters.

This truth exists at it truest as we relate to our heavenly Father. Pride isolates us. We have no moral high ground to claim. We must leave our excuses behind. God esteems the meek and the lowly. We must acknowledge our failures honestly and thoroughly. Compassion loves vulnerability.

“For this is what the high and lofty One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: ‘I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.’” Isaiah 57:15

day twenty two: Jesus, author and perfector

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews `12:2)

"Jesus Christ is the focus and subject of all theology. He is not only the author and perfector of our faith and salvation (Heb 12:2), but is the the author and perfector of all things excellent, for in Him all things are consummated (Col 1:16-20). All theology is, therefore, Christology, for what we can, and do, know about God is summed up in the person of Jesus Christ. All light concerning God is refracted only through the Christ who has worked and revealed HImself through redemptive history. This means that all attempts to try to understand God redemptively in any sense that is different than Christ is futile, for apart from Jesus Christ, He is unknowable. While reason and creation may give us an idea of God and His greatness, only in the revelation of Christ can we come to know Him. While in Romans 1:18, 21 it says that the unregenerate "know" God as well, but the text makes clear that they only know Him as an enemy. Only through Christ do we know Him as a friend. "

- John Hendricks

day twenty one: the center of christianity

"At the center of Christianity is the Cross (1 Cor. 1:17–18, 1 Cor. 15:3). Without it there is no salvation (Ro. 4:25, Heb. 10:14). It is the very purpose for which Christ came into the world (Mk. 10:45, Lk. 19:10 ). Without the Cross there is no salvation (Jn. 10:1, Jn. 10:9–10, Acts 4:12). Only through the Cross can we be delivered from our sins (Ro. 3:21–26). Jesus suffered great agony and even separation from God on the Cross (Heb. 2:10–17, Heb. 5:7–9). But why the Cross unless there is a hell? If there is no hell to shun, then the Cross is a sham. Christ's death is robbed of its eternal significance unless there is an eternal separation from God from which people need to be delivered."

-Norman Geisler

day twenty: a cry from the cross

Today we are half way through our lenton fast. To commemorate this milestone, I want us to read the most famous Old Testament prophecy regarding the cross of Christ. Keep in mind that these are the words of King David some one thousand years before the time of Jesus. We know more about David then any other person in antiquities, and the events he describes in this Psalm could not have happened to him personally. David was never crucified. Read especially the end of the chapter as David describes how the result of the resurrection is that the entire earth is brought to salvation. He is not describing his own experience here. Instead, this prophecy was the result of the Holy Spirit giving him insight into a greater David, who would establish not an earthly kingdom, but a heavenly one brought about by His suffering on the cross.

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning?

2 O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, and am not silent.

3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the praise of Israel. [a]

4 In you our fathers put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.

5 They cried to you and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

6 But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by men and despised by the people.

7 All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads:

8 "He trusts in the LORD;
let the LORD rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him."

9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you
even at my mother's breast.

10 From birth I was cast upon you;
from my mother's womb you have been my God.

11 Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.

12 Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

13 Roaring lions tearing their prey
open their mouths wide against me.

14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted away within me.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me [b] in the dust of death.

16 Dogs have surrounded me;
a band of evil men has encircled me,
they have pierced [c] my hands and my feet.

17 I can count all my bones;
people stare and gloat over me.
18 They divide my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.

19 But you, O LORD, be not far off;
O my Strength, come quickly to help me.

20 Deliver my life from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.

21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save [d] me from the horns of the wild oxen.

22 I will declare your name to my brothers;
in the congregation I will praise you.

23 You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or disdained
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.

25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear you [e] will I fulfill my vows.

26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
they who seek the LORD will praise him—
may your hearts live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,

28 for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations.

29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.

30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness
to a people yet unborn—
for he has done it.

day nineteen: Christ, our substitute

"It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering." (Hebrews 2:10)

Christ did not die for us just as a good example for us to follow, but as substitutionary atonement to pay the penalty demanded by the divine justice of God. At the cross, God's infinite wrath and justice was satisfied by His divine mercy and grace. to drive this point home, I am quoting here an excerpt from a famous sermon by Charles Spurgeon entitled "Christ, our Substitute":

"The doctrine of Holy Scripture is this, that inasmuch as man could not keep God's law, having fallen in Adam, Christ came and fulfilled the law on the behalf of his people; and that inasmuch as man had already broken the divine law and incurred the penalty of the wrath of God, Christ came and suffered in the room, place, and stead of his elect ones, that so by his enduring the full vials of wrath, they might be emptied out and not a drop might ever fall upon the heads of his blood-bought people.

Now, you will readily perceive that if one is to be a substitute for another before God, either to work out a righteousness or to suffer a penalty, that substitute must himself be free from sin. If he hath sin of his own, all that he can suffer will but be the due reward of his own iniquity. If he hath himself transgressed, he cannot suffer for another, because all his sufferings are already due on his own personal account.

On the other hand, it is quite clear that none but a perfect man could ever work out a spotless righteousness for us, and keep the law in our stead, for if he hath dishonoured the commandment in his thought, there must be a corresponding flaw in his service. If the warp and woof be speckled, how shall he bring forth the robe of milk-white purity, and wrap it about our loins?

He must be a spotless one who shall become the representative of his people, either to give them a passive or active righteousness, either to offer a satisfaction as the penalty of their sins, or a righteousness as the fulfilment of God's demand."

day eighteen: what is wrong with the world?

Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. (Hebrews 9:22)

Years ago the London Times ran an article asking the question, "What is wrong with the world?" It encouraged readers to respond. I am sure the editor must have read the following reply more than once before its profound truth sank in.

Dear Sir, In response to your question, "What is wrong with the world?"

I am.

Yours Truly, G. K. Chesterton.

day seventeen: enter His rest

1Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.[a] 3Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

"So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'

"[b] And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. 4For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "And on the seventh day God rested from all his work."[c] 5And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest."
6It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. 7Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before:

"Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts."[d]

8For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.

(Hebrews 4:1-8)

The book of Hebrews talks a lot about "rest". A subject that is extremely important in American culture. Most people I know are over-scheduled, overly stressed and under-rested.

He who burns his candle from both ends is not as bright as he thinks he is.

God made the necessity of sabbath rest one of His ten commandments! The implication is that a society that is restless and workaholic is one that is as abusive and sinful as one that values adultery, stealing and dishonesty. Our culture may very well be the most restless and workaholic in human history.

There are two meanings of the word "rest" as used by the writer of Hebrews:

1. the "rest" of entering the promised land and
2. God's "rest" on the seventh day of creation.

He uses them interchangeably in this passage, giving the impression that the two, though separate in meaning, are inseparable in the way we apply them.

The rest of the promised land was literally "liberation from slavery". God told them to remember that they were once slaves in Egypt but that they were liberated by His mighty hand, and therefore, on the seventh day, they were to take a "sabbath rest" in celebration.

When we rest it is as if we are saying, "I am free from you work, you are not my master, I am not your slave, I can put you down at any time!" The sabbath establishes the proper order of things. It is your way of declaring that God is on the throne of your life and nothing else.

The second meaning here is very important. God's rest on the seventh day was not rest because God was weary or tired or out of breath. God does not sleep or slumber, nor does He get tired. The Bible says that when God finished His work, He stepped back and said, "It is good." In other words, this kind of rest is a deep sense of satisfaction that your work is complete. It is a satisfaction with who you are and who God created you to be.

Before their sin in the garden, Adam and Eve were in perfect rest and satisfaction with who God created them to be. They were naked but felt no shame. They had the "rest". They had shalom- they lived in peace with God and each other. With their sin, they lost their rest and felt shame, guilt and fear. They hid themselves from God. We have been hiding in a kind of restlessness ever since.

God's rest is a deep spiritual rest and is a kind of rest that can only be found as we find our deepest satisfaction of who we are and who we were created to be in our relationship with the Creator. It is only found as we see that all of our striving after things and need for accomplishement and desire for attention and our endless struggle to find significance in our own work and in our own glory are nothing more than our tireless attempts to cover our nakedness. It is our way of trying to find our shalom. But they are only fig leaves.

We will only find peace as we enter His rest. As we accept His work in our lives and see that all of our striving is for nothing.

Till to Jesus' work you cling
By simple faith,
Doing is a deadly thing--

Doing ends in death.
Cast thy deadly doings down,
Down at Jesus' feet;

Stand in Him--
in Him alone,
Gloriously complete.

day sixteen: draw near to God

Wow. What a great start to our spiritual retreat with Brennan Manning! We had well over 300 people register for the event. We brought in chairs for people who came from as far away as Tulsa and Wichita Kansas to hear Brennan Manning's unique take on the scandelous grace of God for lost sinners. Brennan's poweful message will ring you out emotionally and challenge you spiritually in a way you will not soon forget. Pray for God's continued work in our Single's ministry long after this event is over. Great work James Hunt and Single Focus on a great event.

"God's love is based on nothing, and the fact that it is based on nothing makes us secure. Were it based on anything we do, and that "anything" were to collapse, then God's love would crumble as well. But with the God of Jesus no such thing can possibly happen. People who realize this can live freely and to the fullest. Remember Atlas, who carries the whole world? We have Christian Atlases who mistakenly carry the burden of trying to deserve God's love. Even the mere watching of this lifestyle is depressing. I'd like to say to Atlas: 'Put that globe down and dance on it. That's why God made it.' And to the weary Christian Atlases: "Lay down your load and build your life on God's love." We don't have to earn this love; neither do we have to support it. It is a free gift. Jesus calls out: "Come to me, all you Atlases who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you."

- Brennan Manning

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. 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (Hebrews 10:22-24)

day fifteen: knowledge of sin

Pray for our spiritual retreat with Brennan Manning this weekend at the CUBE. Sign up here or come to register at 6:45 P.M. Click here for more information

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for[f]the sins of the people. 18Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:14-18)


"The French poet Paul Claudel said that the greatest sin is to lose the sense of sin. The man without a lively sense of the horrow of sin does not know Jesus Christ crucified. The knowledge that sin exists and that we are sinners comes only from the Cross. We can delude ourselves into thinking that sin is only an abberation or a lack of maturity; that preoccupation with security, pleasure, and power is caused by oppresive social structures and personality quirks; that we are sinful but not sinners, since we are mere victims of circumstances, compulsions, environment, addictions, upbringing, and so forth. The Passion nails these lies and rationalizations to the Cross of Truth."

Brennan Manning
The Importance of Being Foolish

day fourteen: Jesus comes for sinnners

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for[f]the sins of the people. 18Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:14-18)

"Here is revelation bright as the evening star: Jesus comes for sinners, for those as outcast as tax collectors and for those caught up in squalid choices and failed dreams. He comes for corporate executives, street people, superstars, farmers, hookers, addicts, IRS agents, AIDS victims, and even used car salesmen. Jesus not only talks with these people but dines with them - fully aware that His table fellowship with sinners will raise the eyebrows of religious bureaucrats who hold up the robes and insignia of their authority to justify their condemnation of the truth and their rejection of the gospel of grace."

"This is the God of the gospel of grace. A God, who out of love for us, sent the only Son He ever had wrapped in our skin. He learned how to walk, stumbled and fell, cried for His milk, sweated blood in the night, was lashed with a whip and showered with spit, was fixed to a cross and died whispering forgiveness on us all."

Brennan Manning
The Ragamuffin Gospel

day thirteen: at home with Christ

This weekend the famous author and "Catholic Priest turned evangelist", Brennan Manning, will lead a conference for our Singles ministry at the CUBE. Anyone is welcome to come. It is a unique opportunity to spend some quality time with a very unique follower of Christ. Over the next few days, I will pull out selections from his various books for our devotions.

At Home with Christ

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:15)

Home is that sacred place - external or internal - where we don’t have to be afraid; where we are confident of hospitality and love. In our society we have many homeless people sleeping not only on the streets, in shelters or in welfare hotels, but vagabonds who are in flight, who never come home to themselves. They seek a safe place through alcohol or drugs, or security in success, competence, friends, pleasure, notoriety, knowledge, or even a little religion. They have become strangers to themselves, people who have an address but are never home, who never hear the voice of love or experience the freedom of God’s children.

To those of us in flight, who are afraid to turn around lest we run into ourselves, Jesus says; “You have a home … I am your home … claim me as your home … you will find it to be the intimate place where I have found my home … it is right where you are … in your innermost being … in your heart.”

Brennan Manning
Ragamuffin Gospel

day twelve: pray for zimbabwe

Pray for the nation of Zimbabwe today. The situation is getting more desperate by the minute. Set aside April 18 as a day of fasting and prayer.

"We are declaring April 18, 2007 as the International Day of Prayer and Fasting for Zimbabwe. There are 43 days until the International Day of Prayer for Zimbabwe. Thousands in Zimbabwe are dying from AIDS. Food is scarce. Medication is in short supply. The inflation rate is at an outrageous 1200 percent. Medical workers are on strike. 80 percent of the population is unemployed. Humanitarian aid organizations are restricted from getting life-saving supplies to the people."

day eleven: God of grace

O God Of Grace,

Thou hast imputed my sin to my substitute,
and hast imputed his righteousness to my soul,
clothing me with a bridegroom's robe,
decking me with jewels of holiness.
But in my Christian walk I am still in rags;
my best prayers are stained with sin;
my penitential tears are so much impurity;
my confessions of wrong are so many aggravations of sin;
my receiving the Spirit is tinctured with selfishness.
I need to repent of my repentance;
I need my tears to be washed;
I have no robe to bring to cover my sins,
no loom to weave my own righteousness;
I am always standing clothed in filthy garments,
and by grace am always receiving change of raiment,
for thou dost always justify the ungodly;
I am always going into the far country,
and always returning home as a prodigal,
always saying, Father, forgive me,
and thou art always bringing forth the best robe.
Every morning let me wear it,
every evening return in it,
go out to the days' work in it,
be married in it,
be wound in death in it,
stand before the great white throne in it,
enter heaven in it shining as the sun.
Grant me never to lose sight of
the exceeding sinfulness of sin,
the exceeding righteousness of salvation,
the exceeding glory of Christ,
the exceeding beauty of holiness,
the exceeding wonder of grace.

day ten: see the cross

From The Valley of Vision:

Eternal Father,
Thou art good beyond all thought,
But I am vile, wretched, miserable, blind;
My lips are ready to confess, but my heart is slow to feel,
and my ways reluctant to amend.

I bring my soul to thee;
break it, wound it, bend it, mould it.
Unmask to me sin's deformity,
that I may hate it, abhor it, flee from it.

My faculties have been a weapon of revolt against thee;
as a rebel I have misused my strength,
and served the foul adversary of thy kingdom.

Give me grace to bewail my insensate folly,
Grant me to know that the way of transgressors is hard,
that evil paths are wretched paths,
that to depart from thee is to lose all good.

I have seen the purity and beauty of they perfect law,
the happiness of those in whose heart it reigns,
the calm dignity of the walk to which it calls,
yet I daily violate and contemn its precepts.

Thy loving Spirit strives within me,
brings me Scripture warnings,
speaks in startling providences,
allures by secret whispers,
yet I choose devices and desires to my own hurt,
impiously resent, grieve,
and provoke him to abandon me.

All these sins I mourn, lament, and for them cry pardon.

Work in me more profound and abiding repentance;
Give me the fullness of a godly grief that trembles and fears,
yet ever trusts and loves,
which is ever powerful, and ever confident;
Grant that through the tears of repentance I may see more clearly
the brightness and glories of the saving cross.

day nine: searcher of hearts

The following is a puritan prayer from The Valley of Vision:

Searcher of Hearts,
It is a good day to me when thou givest me
a glimpse of myself;
Sin is my greatest evil,
but thou art my greatest good;
I have cause to loathe myself,
and not to seek self-honour,
for no one desires to commend his own dunghill.
My country, family, church
fare worse because of my sins,
for sinners bring judgment in thinking sins are small,
or that God is not angry with them.
Let me not take other good men as my example,
and think I am good because I am like them,
For all good men are not so good as thou desirest,
are not always consistent,
do not always follow holiness,
do not feel eternal good in sore affliction.
Show me how to know when a thing is evil
which I think is right and good,
how to know when what is lawful
comes from an evil principle,
whuch as desire for reputation or wealth by usury.
Give me grace to recall my needs,
my lack of knowing thy will in Scripture,
of wisdom to guide others,
of daily repentance, want of shich keeps thee at bay,
of the spirit of prayer, having words without love,
of zeal for thy glory, seeking my own ends,
of joy in thee and thy will,
of love to others.
And let me not lay my pipe too short of the fountain,
never touching the eternal spring,
never drawing down water from above.

day eight: Jesus, the true and better adam

During the forty days of Lent from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday (forty days not counting Sundays), Jayme Thompson and I will post daily devotionals on this blog to help guide you through the season. Lent is an ancient tradition in the church intended to be a time of focusing on the cross. To help us in this pursuit, we are studying the book of Hebrews in a series called, "Journey of Hope". It is appropriate that we use this book during our fast, as the theme of Hebrews is "Fix your eyes on Jesus.

Jesus, the True and Better Adam

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

Jesus is the "perfecter" of God's revelation to us. From the first prophecy in Genesis to the present time, all scripture is fulfilled in the person of Christ.

I cannot say it better than Tim Keller:

Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us.

Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out, not for our condemnation, but for acquittal.

Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void not knowing wither he went to create a new people of God.

Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us. And when God said to Abraham, “Now I know you love me because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love from me,” now we can look at God taking his son up the mountain and sacrificing him and say, “Now we know that you love us because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love from us.”

Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserved, so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.


Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.

Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant.


Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.

Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends.


Jesus is the true and better David whose victory becomes his people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.

Jesus is the true and better Esther who did not just risk leaving an earthly palace but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who did not just risk his life, but gave his life to save his people.

Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.

Jesus is the real Rock of Moses, the real Passover Lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us. He’s the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread.

The Bible’s really not about you — it’s about Him, the author and perfecter of your faith.