sacrifice

Bighorn sheep standing on rocky terrain with mountains and a colorful sunset in the background

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The Lord Provides

June 10, 2026April 17, 2026 krisshetter

“Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide.” Genesis 22:1-19

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

The story in the Old Testament of God asking Abraham to sacrifice his God-given son is the cause of so much anxiety about God. These scriptures have led to many deep discussions into the night by my friends, all mothers. The horror of being asked by God to not only release a child to death but to also be the one responsible for that death seems unimaginable and cruel.

It’s important to notice that Abraham didn’t go gleefully to the hill where the sacrifice was to take place. In fact, you get the impression he was taking his time, slowly preparing the funeral pyre. What he did go with was the ultimate trust that God would provide. God had already provided for Abraham in many ways, not the least of which was resurrecting Sarah’s womb so they could have the very child he led up the mountain.

Commentators say, and I agree, that Abraham not only trusted that God would provide a substitute sacrifice but also that if one were not given, God would be able to resurrect Isaac. Somehow, he had already developed the deep insight into Jehovah jireh, the God Who Provides.

Complete Trust in the Provider

“Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” Luke 12:24

When the bill arrives or the diagnosis comes, do we trust God’s provision as fully as Abraham did? Do we believe Jesus when He tells us how much more valuable than birds are we! Or do we scoff at His words when He commands us:

“Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.” Luke 12:22

I think we get a bit confused by His promises for provision. While yes, God provided water from a rock. Or miracles of a place to stay, a check to cover rent right when needed, or even a baby when we have been deemed unable. Those are amazing experiences of His provision!

Day to day however, we should be so thankful for the more mundane. The physical ability to go to a job. The job itself. The education that got you that job. The paycheck from which you can buy food and pay the mortgage. The strength to wrangle your kids when you just don’t feel well. That solution suddenly revealed to a nagging problem.

The idea of seeing our lives as being provided for by God was foreign to my dad. He told me once, “I’ve done everything on my own, by myself.” One day I finally pointed him to the many miracles when God intervened during his 80 years. As I listed them all, my dad became quiet. He had never reviewed his life through the lens of God’s provision. He had never stopped to contemplate that someone “out there” was watching over his needs.

When we see the thousands of ways Jehovah jireh works in our daily lives we become people of thankfulness. I believe we also become people who, in the name of our LORD, become providers for others.

Our Good Shepherd

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1

Friends, sheep don’t worry about what they are going to eat or where they are going to sleep. They don’t even seem to worry about any dangers on the perimeter of their wooly lives. They trust completely in their Shepherd. That is the picture Jesus paints for us throughout the Gospels.

^“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28

We are such independent people and being likened to sheep really rankles us. That’s because our sinful nature begs and brags about doing everything ourselves. This striving without ceasing brings us separation from the God who loves you so dearly that He wants you to come to Him for all your needs.

Whatever worry is on your heart and mind today, bring it to God. Bring it to the Father who is the giver of all good gifts. I hope you will also ask Him how you can be a blessing in return.

“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” John 6:35

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Wooden cross on rocky hill with sun setting and rays of light

The Consistent Mercy of God

May 22, 2026April 11, 2026 krisshetter

“But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a gracious and merciful God you are!” Nehemiah 9:31

“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:5

A few years ago, I was asked to disciple a young woman who was new to our church. I realized early on that as a result of her not knowing the Bible she also didn’t really know or trust God. Wanting to give her what she needed, I asked which parts of the Bible interested her most. She answered, “I want to know more about the God of the Old Testament.” Her reasoning? She couldn’t wrap her mind around the idea that the merciful God she gravitated towards in the New Testament was the same as the wrathful one in the Old.

Now, some of you may think the same. That olde God who destroyed whole cities and their entire populations certainly isn’t the same as the new God of mercy and love, correct?

If you’re thinking that way, I encourage you to read the book of Isaiah. Yes, you’ll find God’s anger and wrath in those scriptures. You’ll also find his long suffering and mercy towards His people.

“Turn to the Lord and pray to him,
    now that he is near.
Let the wicked leave their way of life
    and change their way of thinking.
Let them turn to the Lord, our God;
    he is merciful and quick to forgive.
“My thoughts,” says the Lord, “are not like yours,
    and my ways are different from yours.
As high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so high are my ways and thoughts above yours.” Isaiah 55: 6-9

After years of turning their backs to God, He still holds out his hand to His people imploring them to come. To receive His mercy and love and rest. In fact, the Old Testament is rife with God warning His people and then giving them another chance. Of being disrespected and still promising green pastures for those who believe and trust in Him. Throughout the Psalms we read of God’s unexplainable mercy to those who aren’t deserving of it.

“The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.” Psalm 145:9

I mentioned in the last post about God’s love that the Old Testament is a love story. A story between a God and His people. He woos them, protects them, and shows endless amounts of mercy. And when He’s finally had enough, He allows their actions to have serious consequences, mostly by the hands of pagan nations. Yet in the Old Testament we also see God’s promise of the final mercy. Isaiah chapters 7, 9 and especially 53 all prophesy of this hope and mercy to come—the Messiah.

Mercy Fulfilled in Christ

But the God of the New Testament shows no wrath, correct? In this case might I suggest you watch the Passion of the Christ? To whom does God show no mercy and why? Jesus. Our sins need to be taken to account in order to stand in front of a perfect God come Judgment Day. In the Old Testament he required frequent deaths of animals to partially cleanse the people of their sins. In the New, He puts His Son through a terrible death so that we may obtain His ultimate mercy.

Understanding this truth became deeply personal when I was out walking one day. I began visualizing what Jesus went through before and during the Cross. I wanted to feel as though I was there in person watching and agonizing with the disciples. They didn’t know at the time why God required this to happen. They were constantly confused when Jesus spoke of His impending death. But we know why.

So I imagined the excruciating pain He experienced for me and broke down in tears. Not just in the fact He was in pain. No, more so that He was in pain FOR ME to receive less than I deserve from God.

Got Questions has an interesting take on the concept of God’s mercy:

“Mercy is such an exceptionally complex concept that several Hebrew and Greek words are used to express the dimensions of its meaning. Synonyms like compassion, lovingkindness, favor, and steadfast love often appear in Bible translations to illustrate the idea of mercy. A brief biblical definition of mercy is “the gift of God’s undeserved kindness and compassion.”

You find all these synonyms in Jesus’ sacrifice. They are spread throughout the Old Testament as well. The Israelites were rescued out of Egypt and immediately started complaining. And God gave them food and water. They complained they didn’t have a king like other nations and He gave them King David. They complained, we complain, they sinned, we sin. And God gave us Jesus. The most merciful act anyone could hardly imagine; To save us from eternal hell.

There’s a very poignant song performed by Steve McWirther called Come Jesus Come. The chorus goes like this:

Come Jesus Come we’ve been waiting so long
For the day You return to heal every hurt and right every wrong
We need you right now come and turn this around
Deep down I know this world isn’t home
Come Jesus come

It’s a beautiful plea to God. I recognized one day that although I was personally ready for the day of Jesus’ return a few of my loved ones are not. It made me think of God’s mercy. He is right now allowing His Word, in both the New and Old Testament to be shared; for the truth of His mercy to be received before He comes in judgment of all humanity. Our merciful God is gathering all His people before the final days. His mercy is not a past story or a future hope alone—it is an open invitation right now.

“Through the Lord’s mercies, we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

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Day 26 How He Loves Us

July 26, 2024July 8, 2024 krisshetter

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:38-39

Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. ⁴I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. Psalm 63:3-4

Do you love God? Sounds like a simple question and one that could be answered flippantly. But do you really love God? Do you love Him so much that you seek to worship and submit to Him each and every minute of your day?

A friend shared a comment her adult son made to her once. He’s seems to be very angry with God. His biting comment was, “If God is so all-powerful then why does he need your worship?”

How would you answer that?

For me, I realized not too long ago that I hadn’t completely grasped the idea of loving and worshipping God. I prayed thankfulness, petition and repentance. But lacked an expression of love. It led me to ask if I loved God.

Let’s clear up one thing. God doesn’t need our worship. He doesn’t need our love. He doesn’t need anything from us. However, I ask you if you had good and loving parents, do you still love them as you’ve become an adult? If so, then why? Your answer is probably because they did so much for you. They tended to your every need as a child. Fed you, put a roof over your head, taught you, and yes, loved you.

If you didn’t have that sort of up bringing you probably don’t love your parents. You may feel a burden of obligation but love isn’t present. In fact, you may feel the hole where love should be.

Now think about what Jesus has done for you. For a reason which only God knows He chose you. Yes you. You backsliding sinner. He loved you even before you accepted Him as your savior. While you were still in the mud and muck of your sin.

He lowered Himself to being a human and didn’t count His divinity as something to lord over us while He was here. He came to save us from a terrible, painful eternity. Which all of us deserve. Every single one of us.

He went to the cross and died a bloody, humiliating death. To wash you clean before the Father. A brother, a friend, the only God who gave His life for you. That should bring you to tears of love and a desire to worship Him.

His blood and His love cover us and give us a new, beautiful life. How can we not worship a god whose very essence is love? How can we not drop prostrate and sing to all the ways that He loves us?

Click here to listen: How He Loves Us

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The Sacrifice

February 7, 2023February 7, 2023 krisshetter

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

“Weep not for me, but for yourselves. I go to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will, no doubt, through the mediation of his blessed Son, receive me, though a sinner; where I hope we ere long shall meet, to sing the new song, and remain everlastingly happy, world without end. Amen.” John Bunyan

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31 Days of God’s Wisdom

December 27, 2022December 16, 2022 krisshetter

“Love the Lord with all your minds heart and soul.” Matthew 22:37

It seems when we Christians talk about our faith these days it’s so frequently focused on feelings, emotions – “from the heart.” And while Jesus will ultimately be the judge of our heart’s true commitment, He also asks us to use the rest of our bodies to honor God. It’s not enough to feel God we need to know and obey God. Why? Because His Words are designed to guide us through this temporary life as best possible. We want to become skillful not just at making a living but in making a life that is in line with our Holy Father. Many of us have experienced life outside those guardrails – sometimes on a daily occurrence. When we are rash with our decisions or emotions, quick to be angry, quick to take up the latest idea or get rich scheme, quick to enter into relationships without good judgment, we easily find ourselves outside God’s protective ways.

The words “wise” and “wisdom” are used 125 times in the 31 chapters of the book of Proverbs. It sounds as though someone might be trying to get a point across to us! Wisdom literature in the Bible includes Proverbs, Job and Ecclesiastes. But for this series I’ll be focusing only on Proverbs. You’ll notice there’s 31 chapters – perfect for a one month study of God’s messages to us about living life in His guardrails.

But first and foremost, we need a right relationship with our Creator. Meaning we accept God in His three persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) as one God who created the universe and everything in it. And that Jesus came as fully man and fully human to be the final, complete sacrifice to cleanse us of our sins. In this way we may come before God, our King, as righteous. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent in our lives. There is one way on this path and that one way is open to everyone who believes in Him.

Second, we have an assertion of a moral law operating in the world and there will be divine justice. None of which has to do with IQ, wealth or even education. There is an expectation by God to follow His moral laws. And everyone, believers and non-believers, will be judged upon their death.

If we do not have these two foundations, then the seeking of wisdom has no foundation itself. Without a moral King to guide us then we are guiding ourselves. And we know how well that usually turns out! Our selfish souls seek ease, seek comfort, seek pleasure above all. Without an understanding and acceptance of a final, universal judgment then what does it all matter? If you read back into ancient history, peoples without God sacrificed children to meet their desires. They performed all sorts of sexually immoral acts (especially on women) to please their desires. Murdered without out conscience. It was the formation of God’s people through Abraham and Moses that brought God’s moral law back down to earth. Setting us back on the path toward God’s future Eden on Earth.

And so, through people like King Solomon He spoke. The king had asked God for wisdom and it was granted (1 King 3:5-14). It is believed King Solomon spoke 3,000 proverbs during his reign. The beauty of the proverbs selected for this book is that none of them are in conflict. All cultures have their sayings – quick summaries of lessons. But many times, they conflict with each other! (“Look before you leap!” vs “He who hesitates is lost.”) God’s words are never opposed to each other.

Toward the end of his reign, King Solomon turned to the folly he so frequently spoke to avoid and disregarded his own wisdom – proving we need to stay close to God at all times. In fact, God warned him when He gave Solomon this gift: “And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will enlighten your days.” A good reminder to never take a day off from following God.

Proverbs are not promises. They are generalized statements of what is usually true. So, if you find a proverb that you want to disagree with first remind yourself that we humans are sinful people. And second, God seeks to bring us into His ideal world. We are practicing to live in our final home – the New Eden.

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He Is Perfect

August 30, 2022September 7, 2022 krisshetter

"Who is he, this King of glory?
    The Lord Almighty—
    he is the King of glory." Psalms 24:10

My Lord, my God, perfect in every way. Awesome in power and in majesty. I come before you your imperfect adopted daughter, grateful for the cleansing you completed in me through your Son, Jesus. Grateful for the work your Holy Spirit continues in me so that I can bow before you blameless and faithful. Amen

One of my daughters suffered for a while with perfectionism. She once told me that she got that need to be perfect from me. I had to admit I played a strong part through my own need to always do things just right. And that need stemmed from a hole in my heart. A hole that needed filling with love and grace. I worried if I “messed up” then I would lose respect, lose friends, lose love. I’m sure my daughter felt the same. And it grieved me I had passed that along to her. I’m so grateful she had the courage to share her struggle with me so that I could remind her how much I love her – no matter what. Thankfully, she sought out God and the healing power of Jesus sooner in her life than I did.

I have finally realized the truth behind the flippant remark, “nobody’s perfect.” Well, there is one “body” who is perfect and that’s the Triune God. Other than that, we all fall woefully short. Can I get an “amen?”

" When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless (“perfect” KJV)." Genesis 17:1

When God had this conversation with Abraham, He wasn’t expecting this man to be sinless – an impossible goal for us to reach. In fact, the word “perfect” is translated as “single-hearted, without blame, sincere, wholly devoted to the Lord.” It’s not to say we aren’t to strive to mirror God’s perfect will but as our Creator He knows our weaknesses.

"³I will proclaim the name of the Lord.
    Oh, praise the greatness of our God!
⁴He is the Rock, his works are perfect,
    and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong,
    upright and just is he."  Deuteronomy 32:3-4

In the history of our human existence there has never been another worshipped god that can claim this state of perfection. The Greek gods fought amongst themselves and were jealous. They required constant preening and begging to intervene in human lives. And when they did, you didn’t know for whose benefit they would act. The god of the ancients, Baal, also needed constant pleasing through child sacrifice and sexually immoral acts. Fast forward to today and the gods we modern humans have created look a lot like ourselves. We place our minds in the center of the universe and need to feed the god of humans through wealth and fame and accumulation. All the while not being able to accomplish a tiny portion of what the One True God has done and will do.

Yes, God wants our attention. He wants our worship. He wants our obedience. But He doesn’t need any of it. He is perfect without us. That, my friends, is what makes His devotion to us and His love for us and His sacrifice of His Son for us all the more glorious! What I say to that is thank you, Lord! Thank you for your Holy Word, your promises to us, for justice and mercy and grace. I give you all the glory you rightfully deserve!

His Sacrifice

August 28, 2022September 7, 2022 krisshetter

“All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:15

Gracious God this morning I rose thinking of the Son you sent to save us. I remembered the pain He endured to show His everlasting and deep love for us. You created this plan and He completed it. In remembrance of that day I sit in awe and wonder at your glorious ways. Amen

Over the course of 30 years a survey was undertaken asking high school and college students if they would first try to save their dog or a stranger. I’m disturbed to report that 2/3 have always voted against saving the person. In newer studies, adults now vote similarly. How would you vote if asked the same question?

This study was posted online awhile back and I went to the comments section to see what people had to say. I shouldn’t have. It was more disturbing. People condemning others for being “evil,” “cruel,” and “vile.” Strangely enough, they didn’t put themselves in those categories! The folks that would pick an animal over a human (now certainly there would be instances we all might do the same. Say a person has just attacked you and your dog) fail to see their decision makes them complicit in devaluing human life.

What the surveyors have surmised is the lack of Judeo-Christian values in a person’s life or the watering down of those teachings increases making moral decisions based on our feelings. In addition, a belief in God elevates human worth over that of animals. Without that, we see the image of God brought down to having no more value than a squid.

^“9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” Colossians 3:9-10

Throughout the Bible we are reminded that humans were God’s special creation. So special that He gave us dominion over the earth. The earth serves us, not the other way around as some would say. When this understanding of the world’s creation is thrown out the window it’s no wonder the people of this world have turned everything upside down!

A number of my Christians friends have struggled with the fact that God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son. We either secretly or out loud say we hope God never asks us to do something so difficult. Yet every day parents see their children in the military risk their lives for us. Police officers, firefighters, lifeguards and others put their lives on the line for strangers. Because they believe we are worth saving.

The Bible is one of the most tested and proved documents in all history. And God’s work is all around us to see proof of His ways. There is little to no dispute that Jesus walked this earth. Or even that He died a horrible death on the cross. And whether or not a person believes He rose and ascended into heaven everyone should understand that He went to the cross that day for us. He spoke over and over about the plan ahead for Him. He didn’t die because He wanted fame. He didn’t die to save the whales. He didn’t die because of some terrible crime He committed. The Father sent His Son to die to save us. Because, thank God, He believes we are valuable. And just as our first verse reminds us, we aren’t saved just to be saved, but to spread the Word so that yes, even strangers are saved.

Friend, God in His glorious ways made us special. I love my dog, Tucker, but he won’t seek justice for me and he won’t take up arms to protect me. God made us in such a way that we can even ponder these moral thoughts. He made us so when faced with difficult decisions we can decide on A, B or even A and B. It depends on if you love God’s creation as much as He does.

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The Bible

November 25, 2021November 29, 2021 krisshetter

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He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Luke 24:44

As I’ve progressed in the study of the Bible, I’ve learned that the entire Bible teaches us about one subject – Jesus. From beginning to end Jesus appears. He is part of the creation team, the angel of the Lord speaking to Hagar, the prophecy of Isaiah, and so much more. So, when Jesus, after His resurrection, reminds the disciples that His death fulfilled all that the Old Testament taught us we should be spurred to investigate further.

He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:46-47

You can buy a Bible that only includes the New Testament. But that would be like getting dropped into the middle of a battle not knowing why it started and which side you should be on! And while there are so many great lessons and the message of salvation in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John the full weight of those gifts lies in the cornerstones set in Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, Psalms, Isaiah and more.

It’s believed the first book of the Bible written was Job, around 2000 BC. After that the 10 Commandments and then the Book of the Law were placed in the Ark of the Covenant around 1000 BC. The New Testament books were written about 50 AD. Emperor Constantine commissioned the Codex Vaticanus, considered the original entire Bible, in 312 AD. And in 1381, John Wycliffe defied church authority and began translating the Bible into English and distributing handwritten books to laypeople. With the advent of the printing press in 1455, the Bible began its journey to being one of the most popular books ever printed.

I’m so thankful God took His Word and through man put it in this book we call the Bible. With it we can learn about His character, His promises and fulfillment of them, His expectations, His plans for us. My Bible sat for years gathering dust, not respecting its long history and those who died to make it accessible to all. It seemed unwieldy and confusing. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, teachers and the fellowship of Christians I’ve come to see the beautiful story, the amazing truth of Jesus, Son of God. The Bible is a living document, one which grows with us as we dig deeper into our faith.

Today on this great day of Thanksgiving in the United States I want to spur you to open your Bible. To read the history of our broken world. To read the entire, true story of a God who loves us. Of a God who never leaves us. Of a God who promises to deliver us from our sins. Of a God who sent His son to be sacrificed so that we will be brought home, cleaned and forgiven.

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Are You Prepared?

March 12, 2021March 8, 2021 krisshetter

Lesson #12: God’s kingdom will be established and we need to be prepared.

“But on Mount Zion will be deliverance; 
it will be holy.  Jacob will possess 
his inheritance.” 
Obadiah 1:17

My current BSG Bible study focuses solely on Easter and the days leading up to Jesus’ death. The other day we were asked to read Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, and Luke 22:19-20. And if you do, you’ll find almost the same words written in each about Jesus’ instructions to the disciples in His final hours. As Christians, we should be very familiar with what took place – the breaking of the bread and the pouring of the wine. What I love about actually studying the Bible is you see all the ancient links back and forth and the promises for the future, supported by those fulfilled promises.

While they were eating, Jesus took 
bread, and when he had given thanks, 
he broke it and gave it to his disciples, 
saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 
Then he took a cup, and when he had given 
thanks, he gave it to them, saying, 
“Drink from it, all of you. This is my 
blood of the covenant, which is poured 
out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 
I tell you, I will not drink from this 
fruit of the vine from now on until that 
day when I drink it new with you in my 
Father’s kingdom.”  
Matthew 26:26-29

“When I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Jesus is drinking from the traditional third cup of the Passover meal – the one representing the blood of an animal sacrificed for sins to be “passed over.” He establishes not only himself as the sacrifice for all eternity for our sins but then gives us the promise of reuniting with us.

“The kingdom of God has come near.  
Repent and believe the good news!” 
Mark 1:15

You’ll notice throughout the Bible that we humans are warned of how we should behave, what the punishment will be, and in the end those who believe will receive great reward. In the prophesy of Obadiah, the people of Edom received their warning of destruction because of pride, gloating, treachery, thievery, and violence. Yet, they did not listen.

“Just as you drank on my holy hill, 
so all nations will drink continually; 
they will drink and drink and be as 
if they had never been.” 
Obadiah 1:16

Obadiah warns the people that what they sought for so richly would be turned against them with voracity. Imagine now our current world. And imagine all the sins turned against us two-fold. The killing of millions of unborn children alone must make God so angry. I can only imagine that we would be struck barren and childless in an instant. And therefore, unable to continue creating new generations.

Thank God gives us the warnings. And in heeding them we can then receive the glorious inheritance.

“Before we can pray, “Lord, Thy Kingdom come,” we must be willing to pray, “My Kingdom go.”
Alan Redpath

Yes, our kingdoms. So many of us have built our own kingdoms on the hill – just like the people of Edom. We look down on our fellow man with a smugness that “we have it all under control.” Our bank accounts are satisfactory, our marriages are holding together, our homes protect us. And yet we are warned all this will be “stubble” (vs 18). How many of us live with the anticipation of “Thy Kingdom Come?”

Because it will come. You may be fortunate to be in a church where that is a focus of the teaching. Where you are tasked to constantly be in a mode of preparation. Where you are admonished to gather up as many people as possible for the kingdom. I have yet to be in such a church. And yet the entire Bible is a warning of the coming kingdom.

If this last year, during the great pandemic, has taught me anything is that our earthly time is limited and we are tasked with no more greater act than preparing our hearts and minds for the coming kingdom. Situations in which I find myself that are not godly become glaring reminders of the coming of Jesus.

Throughout this last year we kept hearing the teaching, “Faith over fear.” And yet fear held most of us captive. And fear of what? Death? If that was the case, as Christians we should have been at the front of the line shouting “hallelujah, our time has come!” The signs on our churches should have asked, “Are you ready?”

And what of that readiness and our own kingdoms?

The underlying foundation of Jesus Christ’s kingdom is poverty, not possessions; not making decisions for Jesus, but having such a sense of absolute futility that we finally admit, “Lord, I cannot even begin to do it.” Then Jesus says, “Blessed are you…” (Matthew 5:11). This is the doorway to the kingdom, and yet it takes us so long to believe that we are actually poor! The knowledge of our own poverty is what brings us to the proper place where Jesus Christ accomplishes His work. Oswald Chambers
Oswald Chambers

God has issued His warnings. Just like with the people of Edom, He has called us to prepare for the onslaught of His power and might. He has promised us the inheritance of the kingdom. Are you in constant training? Are you ready to be called up in an instant? Which side of the battle lines will you be on?

Bible, bible study, Christian, Christian Church, christian encouragement, christian men, Christian women, Faith, Jesus Follower, Uncategorized

A Tiny Message #4

February 25, 2021February 18, 2021 krisshetter

Therefore, since we have these 
promises,dear friends, let us 
purify ourselves from everything 
that contaminates body and spirit, 
perfecting holiness out of 
reverence for God. 
2 Corinthians 7:1

When you think of the word “holy” the most likely target of our thoughts is God or Jesus. But the pursuit of holiness is what is required of us upon professing our faith. The word “sanctification” may be more aligned to what we think that process entails.

The ancient Israelites were tasked with bringing complicated offerings to God in order to work on their path toward holiness. Not only were the 10 commandments expected to be obeyed but many detailed animal sacrifices were to take place for the cleansing of sin. But the Israelites only could receive a shadow of complete forgiveness. As Christians, Jesus has taken the place of all those rituals. The rituals and forgiveness yes, but not the task of working toward holiness through obedience. I read this quote the other day while studying Leviticus that might help to spur us on toward right thinking about holiness.

Happiness, not holiness, is the chief pursuit of most people today, including many professed Christians. They want Jesus to solve their problems and carry their burdens but they don’t want Him to control their lives and change their character. It doesn’t disturb them that eight times in the Bible, God said to His people, “Be holy, for I am holy,” and He means it.
Warren Wiersbe on Leviticus

Let’s work together offering ourselves as living sacrifices so that our sanctification process brings us closer to God’s desire of holiness for us.