Category: Thoughts and Meditations

“They will console you, when you see their ways and their deeds, and you shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, declares the Lord God.” – Ezekiel 14:23

God is sovereignly in control of all things. There are no accidents, unforeseen circumstances, or mistakes. He is wisely guiding all things (good things and bad things, revivals and persecutions) toward the turbulent and ultimately beautifully victorious conclusion He has promised. Think on that today.

Whether you’re celebrating or mourning today, feeling vindicated or confused, excited or concerned, know that God is sovereign. God weaves all things together across far greater periods of time and extents of space than we can possibly imagine or understand. He weaves together things we’re excited about and things that hurt. He can turn human good, human evil, human vanity, and human excellence toward ultimate good.

God is sovereign. Though we have no idea what the next few years may hold, we know the overall movement of the story of history. God is drawing to Himself a new people, a new family made up of worshipers from every tribe, tongue, and nation on earth. This new family is united by faith in Jesus Christ. As this work nears its conclusion, we know there will be tribulation and hardship for the world and for believers. However, one day Christ will return and God’s redeeming work will be applied to all of fallen creation and it will be unimaginably glorious. God IS sovereign. #FollowJesus

“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” – Hebrews 7:25

Jesus is our great and eternal high priest. Because He defeated death, rose from the grave, and ascended into Heaven, He serves as our high priest at all times. If Jesus is your Lord, then 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Jesus is on duty as your great, high priest. He always lives to intercede on your behalf when you sin and repent of that sin. At the cross, Jesus paid the penalty for your sins. Now, at the right hand of God the Father, Jesus speaks on your behalf, applying His sacrifice to your present sins when you confess and seek God’s forgiveness. Jesus never takes a break, never gets tired, and never says, “this sin is too awful or gross for me to handle.”

Jesus saves to the uttermost. Jesus will intercede to forgive the uttermost depravity in your life when you truly repent of it. No matter how dark, how vile, how cruel, how humiliating. Many people think God can’t or won’t forgive what they’ve done, but they’re wrong. Jesus saves to the uttermost. If He is your Lord and you have repented and confessed your sin to Him, that sin has already been washed away completely. If you haven’t repented and confessed, take time to do that RIGHT NOW! You didn’t have to do anything earn God’s forgiveness or to “make it up” to God. Jesus did everything on the cross. He saves to the uttermost!

Jesus also saves to the uttermost corners, nooks, and crannies of your life. There’s no part of you which His saving grace cannot touch, clean, and transform. There’s no part of you left unredeemed once you put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Don’t fear the hidden parts of your life that you don’t even like to think about – Jesus saves that too! Jesus is the way to draw near to God. When you trust in Him, you are forgiven for your sins and adopted into God’s family. He’s always ready to delight in, and embrace you, when you draw near to God in prayer, praise, worship, meditation, and love. Don’t keep your distance from Jesus. Don’t hold back. #FollowJesus

“So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.” – Hebrews 6:18

God cannot lie. He can do anything except violate His own nature and character. Because God is truth, He cannot lie. That means all His covenants and promises are 100% certain. You can trust them. You can rely on them, no matter what. Let this be of great comfort in difficult times. When you feel discouraged, beaten down, or crushed, know that all the promises of God are “Yes” and “Amen” in Jesus Christ.

If Jesus is your Lord and Savior, then forgiveness of sins and eternal life are yours. God has said so and He can’t lie. Jesus is in you and with you at all times. He has said so and He can’t lie. The Holy Spirit has sealed you and God has adopted you as His beloved child. He has said so, and He can’t lie. An eternal inheritance awaits you in glory. God has said so and He can’t lie. Hold firmly to the strong and certain hope of eternal life in the joyous presence of Jesus Christ. Hold fast to the certain truth that perfect justice will be done when Jesus returns.

Hold firmly to the knowledge that God has declared He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. God has said so and He can’t lie. He will comfort you in your sorrow, strengthen you in your weakness, and one day, He will wipe away every tear from your eye. He has said so and He can’t lie. When the world, in all of it fallen, broken, sinful, selfish, awfulness, is overwhelming find your refuge in God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Hold firmly to the promises you have received in Christ, because God cannot lie! #FollowJesus

“And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” – Hebrews 4:13

Jesus Christ, the eternal Word of God become flesh, sees everything about you. Actions… words… thoughts. Jesus sees your worst deeds and knows the reasons why you do your best deeds. How does this make you feel? If you remembered this truth regularly, would it change how you live, particularly when nobody is looking?

It should, because we all continue to battle with temptation and sometimes, we lose that battle. Fortunately, we’re saved by God’s grace, the gift we can’t earn and don’t have to try to earn! Our sins are forgiven when we repent of them and ask forgiveness in the name of our Lord Jesus. His work on the cross opened the way for us to enter His unending rest through faith in Him. And yet, Scripture is also clear that we’ll each give an account to Him for every selfish, cruel, or nasty thought, every hurtful, deceitful, or careless word, and for every sinful action or inaction. It’s sobering to remember that Jesus, Who lived a perfect life, knows every way in which we’ve failed to follow Him.

Nobody is perfect. We all sin, except for Jesus. He understands that and graciously forgives us whenever we ask. But we must be honest that His invitation to deny ourselves, take up our crosses daily, and follow Him is a serious call to live, speak, and think like Him. Every moment of every day. We must be regularly examining ourselves compared to Jesus and praying earnestly for the Holy Spirit to continue changing us to be more like Jesus every day. It’s a lifelong journey that won’t be complete until we pass away or Jesus returns. But we must each be making that journey. Consider carefully whether you’re more holy and Christlike today than you were a year ago. #FollowJesus

“For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.” – Hebrews 3:3

The first few chapters of Hebrews reflect on how Jesus is greater than any other being that people thought highly of. He is greater than angels because He is the eternal Son of God rather than a created servant of God. He is greater than Moses, the greatest leader and prophet Israel had ever known. Moses was amazing, a meek man of faith, attentive and obedient to God, bold in the power of the Holy Spirit. God gave His people freedom, Law, and covenant through Moses.

And yet, Jesus is infinitely greater than Moses! Infinitely greater! Jesus is the eternal Son of God. He was present at creation. Everything in the universe was made through Him and He holds everything together. Atoms, molecules, planets, and galaxies are all held together by Jesus. Gravity, electricity, and magnetism are sustained by Jesus. Nothing and no one IN the universe can compare with Jesus who made and sustains the universe.

That’s your Lord and Savior (If you have trusted in Him. If you haven’t, why haven’t you?) That’s King Jesus, our friend, brother, Savior, and Lord. That’s Who stepped into our world, took on a human body and nature, lived a sinless life, died a sacrificial death, and rose from the dead to rescue you from your sins! Having given His life to save us from our sins, Jesus has been raised to life in glory. He is now in unending, radiant glory, glory of the King of the universe and unique Son of God the Father. There is nothing that compares to His glory. Take time to worship and praise Him right now, looking forward to that day when you will bask in His glory forever! #FollowJesus