Stay tuned!! I have a blog makeover coming very soon!! I am so excited about what Amy at Split Decisionz is doing with my blog.
This summer the Lord has me in the book of Hebrews doing a chapter by chapter study. I purchased three commentaries that I study from and am experiencing a lot of ‘light-bulb’ moments from passages that I have known many years. In my study this week of the sixth chapter of Hebrews, I came across two comments that provoked a lot of thought and decided to share them with you.
The first is from “Be Confident” by Warren Wiersbe. In speaking of God’s promise to Abraham that is referenced in Hebrews 6: 13-15, Wiersbe says, ‘Many of God’s promises do not depend on our character but on His faithfulness.’ When I read that statement, my immediate thought was, “Good grief, I am glad they don’t depend on my faithfulness because I have been so unfaithful to Him so many times.” If God’s promise of eternal salvation depended on my faithfulness, I would be lost forever. If God’s promise of guidance and instruction by the Holy Spirit depended on my faithfulness, I would wander around aimlessly in this world. If God’s promise of protection depended on my faithfulness, I would be fair game for Satan and his demons.
Do you see where I am going with this? God’s faithfulness to keep His promises is never compromised. God doesn’t oversleep and forget to keep a promise. He doesn’t get busy with someone else’s problems and forget that He promised to watch over and guide and protect me. He is completely, totally, and unfailingly faithful. I think this is difficult for us to understand because we have nothing on this earth with which to compare the faithfulness of God. Whether we understand it or not, God is ALWAYS faithful to His promises. 2 Corinthians 1: 20 reminds us of this. It says, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” Jesus Christ is the “yes” for every promise that God made!!
The second comment that impacted me was from the ‘MacArthur New Testament Commentary’ by John MacArthur. Again the passage being commented on is from Hebrews 6 but this time it is verse 10. MacArthur is challenging us to examine our works in direct proportion to our love for Christ. He says, “Our service to Jesus Christ must be based on an overriding love for Him. We can never properly love men, saved or unsaved, lovable or unlovable, until we properly love Christ.” Whew!! That one really made me examine my heart. Am I serving out of love for Christ or for any one of million other reasons? Do I do Women’s Ministry because I love Christ or because I need to be busy and feel needed? Do I speak the Word of God because I love Christ or because I desire personal recognition? Do I serve on a committee because I love Christ or because I feel obligated? Do I minister to my husband’s needs because I love Christ or because it is expected of me? Do I tithe because I love Christ or because I want others to see me putting my offering envelope in the plate?
I don’t know about you but there is ample fodder for a whole lot of personal examination in that one thought alone. What is the motivation for the service I give and the works I do? If it is ANYTHING other than love for Christ, I am serving and giving out of the wrong motivation. Ponder on those thoughts for a while!!
Have a blessed 4th of July!!
