From Jim McGuiggan... THE MERCIFUL GOD KNOWS

THE MERCIFUL GOD KNOWS

I confess to being self-critical beyond what’s healthy. Self-examination is a good thing but a little of it, if it’s genuine, goes a long way. Before long it becomes toxic and self-centered. Nothing should take the place of God at the center of our thoughts—nothing! Certainly not me—not for any reason.

My Ethel knew me well and when one more time I’d express a needless offering of relentless self-criticism she’d eye me with a steady gaze before telling me: “If you criticized me as much and as severely as you do you someone should take you aside and rebuke you. You are no more your Lord than you are mine. You need to stop it!”

         That degree of self-rebuke isn’t humility! It might be arrogance. Who do I think I am? Michael the Archangel? Am I so wonderful that I to be above making mistakes? There’s a strange inconsistency about me. From one angle I see myself as a worm, worth nothing and at the same time I act as though I should be able to live as though free from sin and stupidity? So, what am I? Worm or archangel? 

Whether I like it or not I’m just another little human, sinful and vulnerable and in need of forgiveness and understanding.

   

       If I see someone in need of a cup of cold water, in need of clothing or food or a place of shelter—in need of what I can supply—clearly I ought to offer it. What if it turns out that the one who needs the cup of cold water is myself? What if I’m the naked, hungry and lonely one? 

  

        I’m not wise enough or consistent enough to know how to live this complicated life in a truly balanced way. I’ve no wish to go to either extreme—a flinty righteousness on the one hand or a weak-kneed-indulgence on the other. I don’t want to be Hugo’s policeman, the stony Javier nor do I want to be the irresponsible [but more likeable] Mr. Micawber of Dickens’ Copperfield. You must understand that there’s a lot in me that can justly be criticized so you mustn’t see me as simply humble. This ambivalence I experience is a real issue and not just a topic for discussion; it is confessional as well as an element of confusion.

         But the problem is bigger than my own concerns. What if it’s the case there is someone who loves me dearly and with whom I have a great deal of influence and what if she sees me refusing to give myself any leeway and thinks, “If that’s how life is to be lived then I must be very much harder on myself than I have been”? What if I leave no room for my blunders and wrongs—will she feel compelled to make no allowance for hers? Will I make a prisoner of her by being a prisoner myself? Or should I “giver her permission” to be merciful to a sinner by being merciful to me—the sinner?

          I confess I want to rest in GK Chesterton’s grand appeal to God to help him to see more than the ordinary in himself. He asks God to so sever him from himself that he can see the wonder that he is [his bones, his blood, his eyes and his life] and the needy person that he is. I’ll close with this. 

         Write me if you wish.

                               THE SWORD OF SURPRISE

SUNDER ME FROM MY BONES, O SWORD OF GOD
TILL THEY STAND STARK AND STRANGE AS DO THE TREES
THAT I WHOSE HEART GOES UP WITH THE SOARING WOODS
MAY MARVEL AS MUCH AT THESE.

SUNDER ME FROM MY BLOOD THAT IN THE DARK
I HEAR THAT ANCESTRAL RIVER RUN
LIKE BRANCHING BURIED FLOODS THAT FIND THE SEA
BUT NEVER SEE THE SUN.

GIVE ME MIRACULOUS EYES TO SEE MY EYES
THOSE ROLLING MIRRORS MADE ALIVE IN ME
TERRIBLE CRYSTAL MORE INCREDIBLE
THAN ALL THE THINGS THEY SEE.

SUNDER ME FROM MY SOUL, THAT I MAY SEE
THE SINS LIKE STREAMING WOUNDS,
THE LIFE’S BRAVE BEAT
TILL I SHALL SAVE MYSELF AS I WOULD SAVE
A STRANGER IN THE STREET.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, theabidingword.com.

From Mark Copeland... The Superior Sacrifice (Hebrews 10:1-18)

                      "THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS"

                    The Superior Sacrifice (10:1-18)

INTRODUCTION

1. In showing the superiority of the New Covenant, we have seen the 
   author discuss...
   a. The better promises - He 8:7-13
   b. The better sanctuary - He 9:1-28

2. The author now reaches a climax in his discussion with a look at 
   "the better sacrifice"...
   a. Not that he hasn't already made mention of it - He 7:26-27; 
      9:11-14,24-26
   b. But now there is a contrast to the Old Covenant sacrifices in the
      clearest of terms

3. In this section, we will find the author...
   a. Bring together the main ideas he has alluded to earlier
   b. Add a further thought not stressed before

[In the first four verses of chapter ten, then, we find...]

I. THE SUPERIOR SACRIFICE:  ITS NEED (1-4)

   A. ANIMAL SACRIFICES DID NOT PROVIDE TRUE REMISSION OF SIN...
      1. The Law was only "a shadow of the good things to come"
         - He 10:1a
         a. Its gifts and sacrifices were a "copy and shadow" of the 
            heavenly things - He 8:4-5
         b. They symbolized what Jesus would actually do - He 9:11-12,
            24
         c. The "good things" included such things as:
            1) His better sacrifice
            2) The better hope
            3) The eternal redemption and the eternal inheritance
      2. The sacrifices did not make the worshippers "perfect" - He 10:
         1b-2
         a. Perfect in regard to the conscience - He 9:9
         b. The repetitive nature of the sacrifices prevented this

   B. ANIMAL SACRIFICES  PROVIDED A REMINDER OF SIN...
      1. Every year there was the constant reminder of sins - He 10:3
         a. In addition to the daily and monthly sacrifices, there were
            the annual sacrifices on the Day of Atonement
         b. The constant sacrifices reminded them of their sin and need
            for cleansing
      2. It was not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take
         away sins - He 10:4
         a. The blood of animals could not really take away sin
         b. Their purpose was to impress upon the people their need, 
            and to foreshadow what would one day be accomplished in 
            Christ

[The sacrifices of the Old Covenant accomplished their purpose; they 
served as "a shadow of the good things to come".  Those "good things"
involved the sacrifice found in the New Covenant, of which we now 
read...]
         
II. THE SUPERIOR SACRIFICE:  ITS PROVISION (5-9)

   A. IT WAS PROVIDED BY GOD...
      1. From Ps 40:6-8, we see the attitude of Christ when He came
         into the world
      2. Burnt offerings and sacrifices did not meet His Father's 
         ultimate desire - He 10:5-6
      3. But what did meet God's desire, God provided Himself:  a body 
         - He 10:5
      -- This reminds us that propitiation for sin was provided by God,
         not man - 1Jn 4:10

   B. IT WAS OFFERED FREELY BY CHRIST...
      1. Christ came as prophesied to do the will of God - He 10:7-9a
      2. Here is a striking difference between Christ's sacrifice and
         the animal sacrifices...
         a. Animal sacrifices were offered against their will
         b. Jesus freely offered Himself in accordance with His 
            Father's will! - cf. Jn 6:38

   C. IT ESTABLISHED A NEW COVENANT...
      1. In doing the will of His Father, Jesus has taken away the 
         first covenant - He 9:9b; cf. Col 2:14-17
      2. Making it possible to establish the second covenant, of which 
         He is the mediator - cf. He 9:15

[So what animal sacrifices could not accomplish, God did by the sending
of His Son who freely accepted the task of offering Himself for sin.  

But was His sacrifice adequate?  Read on...]

III. THE SUPERIOR SACRIFICE:  ITS ALL-SUFFICIENCY (10-18)

   A. IT PROVIDES TRUE SANCTIFICATION...
      1. We have been sanctified through the offering of His body - 
         He 10:10
      2. Its sufficiency is seen in that He only had to offer it "once"
         a. The repetition of the daily sacrifices illustrated their 
            inadequacy - He 10:11
         b. But with Jesus, it was "one sacrifice for sins forever" 
            - He 10:12-13
            1) Illustrated by His sitting down at God' right Hand 
               - cf. He 1:3; 8:1
            2) Where He waits (and reigns - 1Co 15:25-26; Ps 110:1-2)
               till all His enemies are made His footstool
      3. Thus "by one offering" He has provided true sanctification 
         - He 10:14
         a. "He has perfected forever" (doing what animal sacrifices
            could not - He 10:1)
         b. "those who are being sanctified"
            1) Note the present tense - sanctification is an on-going 
               process - He 2:11
               a) In one sense we have been sanctified - 1Co 1:2; 
                  6:11; He 10:10,29
               b) In another sense we will be sanctified - 1Th 5:23
            2) Made possible by the one-time sacrifice of Christ - 1Jn 1:7-9

   B. IT PROVIDES TRUE REMISSION OF SINS...
      1. As the Holy Spirit bore witness through Jeremiah in Jer 31:
         31-34 (quoted earlier in He 8:8-12) - He 10:15-17
      2. With true remission of sins, there is no need for repeated 
         sacrifices for sin - He 10:18

CONCLUSION

1. By providing complete sanctification and remission of sins, the 
   sacrifice of Jesus is truly "The Superior Sacrifice"!
   a. Why would anyone want to return to sacrifices...
      1) That did not make the worshiper "perfect"?
      2) Were there is the constant reminder of sin that weighs heavy 
         upon the conscience of man?
   b. With the sacrifice of Himself, offered freely keeping with the 
      will of God, Jesus provides what the Law could not!

2. With verse eighteen, we come to the end of the two main arguments in
   this epistle...
   a. That Christ is superior, for He is: 
      1) Better than the prophets, as a much better Spokesman - He 1:
         1-3
      2) Better than the angels, by virtue of His Deity and humanity 
         - He 1:4-2:18
      3) Better than Moses, for He is the Son who provides a heavenly 
         rest - He 3:1-4:13
      4) Better than Aaron, as His priesthood is a superior one - He 4:
         16-8:6
   b. That the New Covenant is superior, for it is:
      1) Based upon better promises - He 8:7-13
      2) Based upon a better sanctuary - He 9:1-28
      3) Based upon a better sacrifice - He 10:1-18

The purpose of the author has been to encourage his Hebrew brethren to
remain true to Jesus Christ.  Though one may not be a Hebrew by race,
the same arguments should encourage all Christians to remain true to 
Jesus and abide by the conditions of the New Covenant of which He is
the Mediator!

xecutable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary... Bible Reading March 16

Bible Reading  

March 16

The World English Bible

Mar. 16

Exodus 26, 27

Exo 26:1 "Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim. The work of the skillful workman you shall make them.

Exo 26:2 The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits: all the curtains shall have one measure.

Exo 26:3 Five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and the other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.

Exo 26:4 You shall make loops of blue on the edge of the one curtain from the edge in the coupling; and likewise you shall make in the edge of the curtain that is outmost in the second coupling.

Exo 26:5 You shall make fifty loops in the one curtain, and you shall make fifty loops in the edge of the curtain that is in the second coupling. The loops shall be opposite one to another.

Exo 26:6 You shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains one to another with the clasps: and the tabernacle shall be a unit.

Exo 26:7 "You shall make curtains of goats' hair for a covering over the tabernacle. You shall make them eleven curtains.

Exo 26:8 The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall have one measure.

Exo 26:9 You shall couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shall double over the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tent.

Exo 26:10 You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain which is outmost in the second coupling.

Exo 26:11 You shall make fifty clasps of brass, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.

Exo 26:12 The overhanging part that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle.

Exo 26:13 The cubit on the one side, and the cubit on the other side, of that which remains in the length of the curtains of the tent, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.

Exo 26:14 You shall make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.

Exo 26:15 "You shall make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing up.

Exo 26:16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and one and a half cubits the breadth of each board.

Exo 26:17 There shall be two tenons in each board, joined to one another: thus you shall make for all the boards of the tabernacle.

Exo 26:18 You shall make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side southward.

Exo 26:19 You shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets under another board for its two tenons.

Exo 26:20 For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, twenty boards,

Exo 26:21 and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

Exo 26:22 For the far part of the tabernacle westward you shall make six boards.

Exo 26:23 You shall make two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far part.

Exo 26:24 They shall be double beneath, and in like manner they shall be entire to its top to one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.

Exo 26:25 There shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.

Exo 26:26 "You shall make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,

Exo 26:27 and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the far part westward.

Exo 26:28 The middle bar in the midst of the boards shall pass through from end to end.

Exo 26:29 You shall overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and you shall overlay the bars with gold.

Exo 26:30 You shall set up the tabernacle according to the way that it was shown to you on the mountain.

Exo 26:31 "You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. The work of the skillful workman shall it be made.

Exo 26:32 You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold; their hooks shall be of gold, on four sockets of silver.

Exo 26:33 You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil: and the veil shall separate the holy place from the most holy for you.

Exo 26:34 You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.

Exo 26:35 You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and you shall put the table on the north side.

Exo 26:36 "You shall make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer.

Exo 26:37 You shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold: their hooks shall be of gold: and you shall cast five sockets of brass for them.

Exo 27:1 "You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and its height shall be three cubits.

Exo 27:2 You shall make its horns on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it; and you shall overlay it with brass.

Exo 27:3 You shall make its pots to take away its ashes, its shovels, its basins, its flesh hooks, and its fire pans: all its vessels you shall make of brass.

Exo 27:4 You shall make a grating for it of network of brass: and on the net you shall make four bronze rings in its four corners.

Exo 27:5 You shall put it under the ledge around the altar beneath, that the net may reach halfway up the altar.

Exo 27:6 You shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with brass.

Exo 27:7 Its poles shall be put into the rings, and the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar, when carrying it.

Exo 27:8 You shall make it with hollow planks. They shall make it as it has been shown you on the mountain.

Exo 27:9 "You shall make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen one hundred cubits long for one side:

Exo 27:10 and its pillars shall be twenty, and their sockets twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver.

Exo 27:11 Likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, and its pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver.

Exo 27:12 For the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits; their pillars ten, and their sockets ten.

Exo 27:13 The breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits.

Exo 27:14 The hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.

Exo 27:15 For the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.

Exo 27:16 For the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer; their pillars four, and their sockets four.

Exo 27:17 All the pillars of the court around shall be filleted with silver; their hooks of silver, and their sockets of brass.

Exo 27:18 The length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty every where, and the height five cubits, of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass.

Exo 27:19 All the instruments of the tabernacle in all its service, and all its pins, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass.

Exo 27:20 "You shall command the children of Israel, that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually.

Exo 27:21 In the Tent of Meeting, outside the veil which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall keep it in order from evening to morning before Yahweh: it shall be a statute forever throughout their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.

From Gary... Punctuation, power and the blessedness of HUMILITY

There has been and probably always WILL BE a battle of the sexes. It is inevitable because of differences in endocrine systems, thought processes and instincts. And those differences are both wonderful and at the same time, troublesome.  Trouble often starts when a man tries to be domineering or a woman wants to be "Head of the house". Now, I fully realize that every marriage is different and often it takes decades to "iron out the differences", but I genuinely think marriages could be improved by applying Bible principles to the relationship. Since the subject is extremely complex, I will only address just one principle today...

Philippians, Chapter 2

 5  Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus,  6 who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,  7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.  8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.

Humility: the sum and substance of being a genuine servant. If one partner is a genuine servant, marriage has a chance of succeeding.  If both have an attitude of preferential equality (that is, thinking of your spouse before yourself- or being humble), then that marriage has the potential of being a truly great. When things go wrong (and they will) a humble spirit will often tend to be a forgiving one as well.  In other words, both parties to the union do not have to worry about their punctuation (crossing all the t's and dotting all the I's). Lord, help us all to be more like Jesus!!!