Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

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

Paul, inspired by the Spirit of the Lord, lifts Jesus Christ in a most remarkable way as he opens his letter to all believers, especially the Jewish ones.

Who is this Jesus?

He is the Son of God.

What does being the Son mean?

He is the exact representation of God’s being.   That means he sustains all things by his powerful word alongside his beloved Father.

What did he do for us?

He carried our sins to the cross and there died to those sins, so they are forgiven, forever.

Now what?

He returned to his Father, having completed the perfecting of our salvation and is honored in heaven by being forever at the right hand of his Father in Heaven.  That describes our entire life and destiny in which we live.

That is, in a nutshell, the Good News, the Gospel.  All this is offered to all who believe, including you and me.

Candles, I like to believe, were made for this time of year, when it is cold, cold outside and warm inside.  The yellow light reveals hidden beauty in this candle that we light almost every morning as we have our breakfast and prayer time together.  I sometimes wonder how it is that burning candles touch the spirit.  Added to the delight of  the flame, the changing wax formation adds a touch of mystery and warmth that is satisfying and deep.

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18

I am stretched as I read these words of Paul. He assumes that we actually do contemplate the Lord’s glory.  When is the last time that I did that? Paul certainly did, and he was transformed by doing so.

He makes sure we know that we ponder the glory of the Lord with unveiled faces.  What does that mean?  Literally, it means removing any veil that obscures our view of Jesus Christ.  I probably have many veils that need to be removed as I contemplate the Lord’s glory.   The veils I look through are influenced by my upbringing, by my own self-centered desires and many other things.  Paul encourages us to deliberately look at Jesus face-to-face, as much as we are able. In so doing we are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 

By contemplating Jesus, we become more and more like Him, not he us. This discipline of pondering Jesus is prompted by the Lord who is the Spirit.  As we do so we are being transformed into his image.  It is not something that we do, it is what God does.  We are just to concentrate our attention on the Lord’s glory. 

The miracle happens, we are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory!

May we contemplate on the Lord’s glory, no matter what!

I like to stroll along the Conestoga this time of year.  I was struck with the symmetry and convolutions of these trees along the shore.  Up is down, down is up!  Who cares?  The site is so peaceful yet full of energy.  So is life in the Winter!

Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Anna Ruth and I were touched by this Word of God this morning, Galatians 4:6, 7.  Because we are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba Father.”   

Can it be – by the redeeming work of Jesus, we are true sons of God?  It takes one’s breath away.  Because of Jesus I am adopted into the family of God. The world is full of religions, new and old.  I know of none that reveal that we human beings are taken in the family of God with all that goes with our new family!

As though that is not enough, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts.  That is the only way we can live as thankful and obedient children of God, our Savior.  God declares that the Spirit of his Son is alive and active in his children, that is us!

All of us speak with one voice, “Dear Father!”  God’s Spirit enables us to do so.

Being a blood-bought child of God is glorious enough, but there is more – we are made heirs of our Father!  We have no idea what is wrapped in that word, heirs.  Obviously, all that the Father wishes to give us is ours!  My soul, believe that!

Anna Ruth and I put together a 1,500 piece puzzle – a sea-shore collection of ocean shells.  The puzzle was a Christmas gift from Paul and Tammy family.  We enjoyed the challenge because the pieces were not at all regular, had to figure each one out. Now, off to whoever welcomes a challenge!  Our dining room table is just right for large puzzle like this.  But we are looking forward to a family gathering in a week or so.  The timing was just fine.

 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

Matthew 16:24

These days, as I am about to enter my 90’s, I am thinking a good deal about the joys and benefits I have and still have as a follower of Jesus Christ.  Just thinking of Jesus’ friendship excites me, now as much as ever, if not even more.

Then Anna Ruth and I had our after-breakfast time of reading, prayer as usual this morning.  Our Daily Light reading (for evening) set me to thinking.   Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”  What does Jesus offer?  A cross!  Not the kind some people have on a neckless, but the Cross of Calvary where Jesus died to take away the sins of those who would believe in Him.  This was at the very heart of all Christian witness.  It is the one common belief that binds all believers together.  We are all saved by that shed blood, no matter our culture, age, attainments or what.

I like the benefits that I receive as a disciple of Jesus – more than I can count or even know.   That is good and rejoices my heart.  But there is a truth that is the basis of all blessing, the Cross of Christ.  It is not just a symbol but the center reality of God’s relation with man and vice versa.

Jesus pointed to the ultimate truth that will always startle us, that is, to follow God we must deny ourselves!  To know Jesus, I must die to my own conceptions and embrace Jesus fully!

I like the benefits that are mine, available because Jesus died for me, in no other way.  Dying hurts.  Resurrection is pure joy.

I sometimes hike along the Conestoga using the Lampeter Park trail, like today, with unseasonable temperatures, almost 60!   For some reason they are cutting down some trees along the river that are perhaps ailing.  I was taken with the internal beauty of this 20 inch stump section, near the ground. Never thought the insides of a tree looked like this!  Live and learn, and enjoy the unexpected.

I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.”

Chapter 9:4, 5

We saw Daniel among hungry lions, faithful to his God.  We saw Daniel elevated by the great to be a ruler in the land always faithful to his God.  We saw Daniel serving Jehovah as a ruler under the King, pleasing God as he spoke Persian!  We stand in awe of this extraordinary man of God.  It looks like he can do no wrong.  Daniel does not see it that way.

Then Chapter 9!  Listen to him!  “We have sinned and done wrong.  We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.”  He confesses for himself and for all Israel.  Is this Daniel, the friend of God, speaking?  Is this Daniel, the man who walked so closely with God in the strange land that he dared speak the truth to the King?  Yes, it is Daniel, confessing his sin before God saying, “We have sinned and done wrong.”  It sounds strange that the great Samuel could utter this confession.  He seemed so holy!

I am convinced that this is the ultimate prayer for all believers!  We are needy sinners, not astute critics!  When we reach this point, everything changes, we are, before God, sinners!