Have you ever read the Bible and been amazed to see something you have never seen before?
It happened again to me last night, and it has to do with Jesus in the Old Testament! I have often heard discussion of the Old Testament being filled with stories about Christ. I just recently reread the book of Luke and something stuck out to me like never before. Christ is speaking to his disciples after His resurrection and Luke 24: 27 says, “Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” This is cool, but not the big one motivating me to write today!
Last night was such an amazing revelation to me that I found it hard to sleep. In 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, Paul is giving a reference to the period after the nation of Israel was allowed to leave Egypt and he says, “For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; AND THE ROCK WAS CHRIST.”
And the Rock was Christ! Isn’t that amazing, a direct reference to Old Testament scripture! I went through about a seven year period where I struggled with the Trinity; often times saying I couldn’t find any specific evidence. Well, my testimony is an indicator of a hardened heart and scaled over eyes to go with it. I am now amazed to find how full the scriptures are with reference to the Trinity. Deuteronomy 32:3-4 says, “For I proclaim the name of the LORD; Ascribe greatness to our God! THE ROCK! His way is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.” So “the Rock” is also a reference to God. Simply, wonderfully amazing!
I am not as well versed in the Bible as I will be, but if you are new to really putting your heart into the scripture, I want to recommend that you get an exhaustive concordance to help you find references. I remembered the story about the Israelites, but found the Deuteronomy reference by looking up “rock” in my concordance!
God is good, and I thank Him for what He is doing in my heart!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
The Irony
So I was reading Luke 22:1 and something occurred to me that never had before, concerning the Passover celebration and the irony of Christ's death.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread, also known as the Passover (Exodus 12:14 and Luke 22:1) is a 7 day remembrance of the Lord protecting Israel from the destroyer, who would take the lives of the firstborn throughout Egypt. This plague was the final one the Lord would use to get His people out of Egypt, so they could worship Him as He required.
Fast forward to Luke 22:1, where Christ is directing His disciples to go and prepare the Passover meal. So Christ, God's only begotten Son (John 3:16), the Firstborn of many (Romans 8:29), also the Firstborn of all creation (Colossians 1:15), will now give His life as the perfect sacrifice during this period of celebration of the night that God showed great mercy on the firstborn of Israel.
So to summarize…Our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus (Titus 2:13) brought plagues on the Egyptians, but mercy on the firstborn of the Israelites so that He could have the proper relationship with His children in the place of His choosing (the promised land). He would later come in human form as Christ Jesus (the Firstborn of all creation) to die for His children (any who would believe in Him), and His death would occurr during the celebration of His mercy on the firstborn of Israel. This was so that He could have the relationship He desired with us, in the location of His choosing...our hearts!!!!
Ironic that the Firstborn of all creation would give His life during this specific celebration is not a strong enough word...but LOVE is!!!
Thank You, Lord!!!
The Feast of Unleavened Bread, also known as the Passover (Exodus 12:14 and Luke 22:1) is a 7 day remembrance of the Lord protecting Israel from the destroyer, who would take the lives of the firstborn throughout Egypt. This plague was the final one the Lord would use to get His people out of Egypt, so they could worship Him as He required.
Fast forward to Luke 22:1, where Christ is directing His disciples to go and prepare the Passover meal. So Christ, God's only begotten Son (John 3:16), the Firstborn of many (Romans 8:29), also the Firstborn of all creation (Colossians 1:15), will now give His life as the perfect sacrifice during this period of celebration of the night that God showed great mercy on the firstborn of Israel.
So to summarize…Our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus (Titus 2:13) brought plagues on the Egyptians, but mercy on the firstborn of the Israelites so that He could have the proper relationship with His children in the place of His choosing (the promised land). He would later come in human form as Christ Jesus (the Firstborn of all creation) to die for His children (any who would believe in Him), and His death would occurr during the celebration of His mercy on the firstborn of Israel. This was so that He could have the relationship He desired with us, in the location of His choosing...our hearts!!!!
Ironic that the Firstborn of all creation would give His life during this specific celebration is not a strong enough word...but LOVE is!!!
Thank You, Lord!!!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
The Inevitable
It is inevitable that stumbling blocks will come…
Over that last few months, I have been humbled by the opportunity to speak with folks who are struggling in there marriage. An amazing time in my life, considering the stumbling blocks I have experienced in my marriage and the victory the Lord has given Michelle and me over our past. I am truly, and only the Lord knows a better word, amazed and in awe of the way He has turned my marriage around. James 4:8 says “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” One of the most significant ways to draw near to God is through His Word, the written Word, the Bible.
As I talked about in my last post, I once again recognize a common thread among those who chose to dissolve their marriage. And let me just say, I am aware that at any given moment, I am capable and will hold on tight at times to that common thread. That thread that I see is…..not keeping my heart in God’s word. I know in the depths of my sin, I was purposely choosing to not read the bible, as I knew I would be convicted. I knew the overwhelming power in the Word of my God, and yet I chose to not read it, because I wanted to wallow with the pigs. For whatever reason, I thought it felt better to root around in the mud, than to live in the glory of my Creator.
He has also given us a community of believers to help us through our struggles. This morning I was reading His Word, and I saw a perfect example of the community helping us in our struggles. It is during the time when Moses had lead Israel out of Egypt and they were in the desert about to battle Amalek.
EXODUS 17:11-12 “So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.
So the chosen leader of Israel needed help for victory. Folks, we can’t do this alone. Who are your Aaron and Hur? It is the community of believers that you belong to! It is the Word of God! It is His Holy Spirit! He has provided all of these for us to crawl over, around, through the stumbling blocks that are inevitably coming our way!
I’m not speaking negative about those stumbling blocks, our Creator and Savior, is quoted in Luke 17:1 He said to his disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come:” Amazingly, He provides the way to victory around those blocks.
I have to stay in His word, because He says to, and he says to because He loves me, and He knows the paths I will take when I don’t.
Over that last few months, I have been humbled by the opportunity to speak with folks who are struggling in there marriage. An amazing time in my life, considering the stumbling blocks I have experienced in my marriage and the victory the Lord has given Michelle and me over our past. I am truly, and only the Lord knows a better word, amazed and in awe of the way He has turned my marriage around. James 4:8 says “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” One of the most significant ways to draw near to God is through His Word, the written Word, the Bible.
As I talked about in my last post, I once again recognize a common thread among those who chose to dissolve their marriage. And let me just say, I am aware that at any given moment, I am capable and will hold on tight at times to that common thread. That thread that I see is…..not keeping my heart in God’s word. I know in the depths of my sin, I was purposely choosing to not read the bible, as I knew I would be convicted. I knew the overwhelming power in the Word of my God, and yet I chose to not read it, because I wanted to wallow with the pigs. For whatever reason, I thought it felt better to root around in the mud, than to live in the glory of my Creator.
He has also given us a community of believers to help us through our struggles. This morning I was reading His Word, and I saw a perfect example of the community helping us in our struggles. It is during the time when Moses had lead Israel out of Egypt and they were in the desert about to battle Amalek.
EXODUS 17:11-12 “So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.
So the chosen leader of Israel needed help for victory. Folks, we can’t do this alone. Who are your Aaron and Hur? It is the community of believers that you belong to! It is the Word of God! It is His Holy Spirit! He has provided all of these for us to crawl over, around, through the stumbling blocks that are inevitably coming our way!
I’m not speaking negative about those stumbling blocks, our Creator and Savior, is quoted in Luke 17:1 He said to his disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come:” Amazingly, He provides the way to victory around those blocks.
I have to stay in His word, because He says to, and he says to because He loves me, and He knows the paths I will take when I don’t.
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