“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” – Hebrews 11:6

Faith is the key! We can’t earn our way into God’s presence. We can’t discipline our way into God’s presence. We can’t accomplish our way into God’s presence. We can’t give our way into God’s presence. We can’t deserve to enter God’s presence. We believe and in God’s grace, He welcomes us into His presence!

However, we must be clear: it isn’t some generic faith that pleases God! It isn’t some vague faith in a higher power that brings us near to God. It isn’t faith in any god that God rewards. It’s faith in the One True Living God of the Universe. It’s faith in Him as He is: 3-in-1, eternally Triune, Father-Son-Spirit. It’s faith that God exists, that God is holy, that God is just, that God punishes sin, and that God graciously offers forgiveness for our sins exclusively through faith in Jesus Christ, His Son Who died and rose from the dead.

Do you desire to please God? Believe in Christ! Would you like to draw near to God? Believe in Christ and know that genuine belief in Jesus results in a life devoted to following Jesus and becoming like Jesus. Would you like to be rewarded by God? Take up your cross daily, deny yourself, and follow Jesus!

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” – Hebrews 10:24-25

On this day in which we honor and give thanks for all those who’ve faithfully served this nation in uniform, the Bible provides a timely reminder of the importance of in person presence and encouragement. The times are evil and the Day of the Lord is approaching – we must gather and encourage one another.

Our culture has long tended toward isolation. That can be particularly true for those who’ve experienced the rigors, traumas, disruptions, and unique challenges of military service. What was previously true became radically worse during the past 20 months. Too many have become too isolated for too long! Humans were not meant to live in isolation, even if we’re drawn to it. Christians must vigorously resist the trend toward self-isolation.

Make every effort to meet with others, for their sake and yours. Gather in person and offer abundant encouragement in the Lord to all whom you meet. Resist the lure of personal isolationism, for these days are dark in themselves and are yet darker still for many because of the struggles, hurts, traumas, and losses of their past and present. Never assume you understand what’s going on inside a person’s heart. Rather, be persistently encouraging. Stir one another up to love and good works, and do so all the more as you see the Day of the Lord drawing near!

“For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” – Hebrews 10:14

You are not forgiven for your sins, made acceptable in God’s eyes, or declared holy because of anything you DO. There is nothing you can DO to make yourself worthy of God’s love. No amount of hard work, self-discipline, personal sacrifice, clean living, philanthropy, good deeds, or moral behavior can ever perfect you, because you aren’t perfect. You aren’t (and neither is anyone else). However, there is one sacrifice by which you are made perfect in God’s eyes – the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross!

When the sinless, eternal Son of God died on a cross and rose from the dead, He made a single, once-for-all offering to pay the penalty for human sin. When we put our faith in Him, embracing this Good News for ourselves, we are made perfect in God’s eyes. Our sin, guilt, and shame are all washed away. We are sealed and indwelt by God’s Holy Spirit. We are made new creations in Christ.

By God’s grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, we are adopted by God, loved by God, embraced by God, and perfected by God. Not that we are actually perfect on this side of heaven, but God sees Christ’s perfection in us. By His Spirit, God then empowers us to be sanctified – to engage in a lifelong process (and struggle) to grow toward the perfection God already sees in us, a perfection that will be completed when we enter God’s presence forever. Praise Jesus, Whose offering has perfected for all time those being sanctified by God’s grace!!!

“Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?” – Ezekiel 18:23

God is absolutely just. He will deal justly with those who rebel against Him and reject Him by sinning against Him (which is all of us). However, God takes no pleasure in sinners experiencing the wrath they’ve chosen and earned for themselves by their sinful rejection of His authority and good design. God will dispense justice, but He takes no pleasure in a sinner’s damnation. God would much rather each person repent of their sins and turn toward Him in faith. God longs to adopt each person as a beloved child, embracing them in love.

In His grace and mercy, God provided a means for all our sins to be dealt with justly. He sent His beloved eternal Son Jesus into the world to live the sinless life we can’t and to die on a cross as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, God made it possible for us to turn from our evil ways and live forever by believing in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

When anyone puts his or her faith in Jesus, they receive new life. They become new creation. Their sins are forgiven and God’s justice is satisfied. God’s pleasure can then abundantly overflow into their life and it certainly does! Such repentance and renewal, freely offered to even the worst and most undeserving of people, is what gives the Almighty God of the Universe great pleasure. Embrace God’s grace and pleasure – turn from your sins and embrace Jesus for yourself!

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
profuse are the kisses of an enemy.”
– Proverbs 27:6

We’ve reached a point in our cultural moment in which absolute agreement and enthusiastic endorsement of everything we say or do has become the only defining mark of friendship. Anyone who agrees with and applauds us is a true friend. Anyone who disagrees with or corrects us in the slightest detail obviously hates us, fears us, and must be immediately shunned as an evil enemy. This perspective has become pervasive throughout every political and cultural tribe in this country and it’s at the root of all the anger and division that’s tearing our society apart.

This perspective is also foolish and unbiblical! So, if you’re a Christian, stop thinking like that! Just because someone disagrees with you in some way doesn’t mean they’re automatically the enemy. Just because someone routinely “likes” and “shares” us doesn’t mean they’re the kind of friend we should be cultivating. The Bible tells us that our friends and relationships should be like iron sharpening iron. Such sharpening doesn’t happen through continual praise and agreement (that just makes us softer and duller). Sharpening comes through pushing back on flawed or shallow thinking. Sharpening comes through confronting and rebuking sinful or foolish behavior. Such correction isn’t necessarily the mark of an enemy, but could be the indicator of a true friend who wants what’s truly best for us.

It’s time to grow into maturity! Not everyone who cheers you on is your friend. Not everyone who hurts your feelings is your enemy. Is that person pointing you toward Christ? Is that person pointing you toward greater personal holiness? Is that person applying Scripture to your blind spots? If so, they certainly sound more like a friend than an enemy, no matter how much your pride was wounded!