Thursday, December 30, 2010

Glory to God

The other Sunday we discussed the beauty of the glory of God as revealed by the angels to the shepherd (Glory to God in the Highest). I admit the difficulty of defining glory. Glory is abstract...it's not something we can grab onto. We can define a basketball...it's round about 10 inches in diameter and usually made of rubber. But glory is much more difficult. It's like trying to define beauty. You can't define it but you can describe it. You can't use mere words...you can only describe the detail of beauty.

With the limitation of words in mind we attempt to define glory as the manifestation (or picture) of God's holiness. It gives a glimpse of the perfection of God. Obviously, God has all glory and honor and blessing because He is absolutely holy. Therefore, we can't give him anymore glory...but we can acknowledge that glory through our worship and living. A correct perspective of God's glory always begins with the correct perspective of ourselves (and vice versa). Understanding who God is should show who we are...and understanding who we are should show who He is.

In considering the glory of God...here are some great quotes about the glory of God.


“God… is infinitely the greatest and best of beings. All things else, with regard to worthiness, importance, and excellence, are perfectly as nothing in comparison to him… The ultimate [goal] of God’s works is… the glory of God.”
– Jonathan Edwards

“The Biblical word ‘glory’ is (Heb) kavod [which] means heavy, weighty, significant… The ‘glory of the Lord’ indicates the brilliance that is connected with all God’s virtues and his self-revelation in nature and grace… As an object of loving adoration it is called his [beauty]. As an object of our reverent submission it is called his majesty. As an object of our joyous gratitude it is called his [worthiness].”
– Herman Bavinck

“God’s goal [in all he does] is his glory, but this is easily misunderstood. The glory that is his goal is a two-sided, two-stage relationship. It is a conjunction of a) revelatory acts on his part whereby he shows us his glory, with b) responsive adoration in which we give him glory for what we have seen and received. In this conjunction is realized the fellowship of love for which [we] were made.”
– J.I. Packer

We are all starved for the glory of God, not self. No one goes to the Grand Canyon to increase self-esteem. Why do we go? Because there is greater healing for the soul in beholding splendor than there is in beholding self… The point is this: We were made to know and treasure the glory of God above all things; and when we trade that treasure for images, everything is disordered. The sun of God’s glory was made to shine at the center of the solar system of our soul. And when it does, all the planets of our life are held in their proper orbit. But when the sun is displaced, everything flies apart. The healing of the soul begins by restoring the glory of God to its flaming, all-attracting place at the center.
- John Piper

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Hebrews Bible Study: Hebrews 11 - Wednesday


Wednesday – Desperate Faith!


Focus Passage: Hebrews 11:1-3

Read: Matthew 14:22-33; 1 Peter 1:1-25

I remember it as the worst plane ride ever. While heading to Mexico on a missions trip, our plane got caught in the middle of a fierce storm. The turbulence was throwing the plane all over the place. In fact, there was a great deal of concern that the plane had gotten struck by lightning. Everyone, even the stewardess’ looked very nervous. While sitting there, I kept looking around at the people sitting near me. Some of the passengers were praying, others were pushing back on their seats with all their might. Many were crying. Some of the students with me on the trip were actually repenting like never before. The plane was falling…faith needed raising.

In these types of moments…moments where we have no control, where we really can’t see the outcome, faith is the only thing that we can hold onto. In fact, these moments are usually the biggest faith building moments in life. Faith is the “assurance” and “conviction” of the things we hope for. Our faith should be a glimpse of confidence in the Lord.

1. What role does hope play in our faith? Why does the writer of Hebrews make this connection?



2. What did the “people of old” gain by their faith? What do we gain because of our faith in Christ?



3. Scripture says that faith is not based upon something visible, but something we know to be true in spite of not seeing it (otherwise it wouldn’t be called faith). What makes faith so difficult? Why do people struggle so much with the idea of faith?

Hebrews Bible Study: Hebrews 11 - Tuesday


Tuesday – Stand Firm Then!!


Focus passage: Hebrews 10:32-39

Read: Matthew 10:16-39; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Ephesians 6:13

We’ve all heard about our brothers and sisters in Christ around the globe who suffer and are persecuted because they are Christians. There are the Chinese who are sometimes imprisoned and tortured for teaching the gospel. I read about a preacher in India who goes from village to village sharing the Good News. In between, he hides and sleeps in ditches along the way to avoid angry mobs sent by Hindu medicine men. Iraqi and Afghani Christians live in fear for their lives because militants have attacked several churches and killed those worshipping there. Yet, in the face of this kind of danger, we do not read about these people ever denying Christ. They stand for the Lord and they don’t shrink back. How do they have the courage to do this? Their faith and confidence are strong. They hold firmly to the hope of the promises of God and to Christ himself.

What about us? We’re obviously not persecuted like these Christians, yet we waver so easily. Instead of being bold, sometimes I find myself doing what I can to remain comfortable and to avoid conflict. I might not be “shrinking back,” but I’m certainly not allowing myself to be exposed in those times. The focus passage ought to be an encouragement to us to not throw away our confidence in the Lord and to stand our ground.

1. Have you ever had the opportunity to stand your ground in the face suffering or persecution? Have you stood side by side with someone else?

2. If you have, thank God for the strength. If not, what caused you to “shrink back”?

3. If God is faithful (and He is) and won’t allow you to be in a situation beyond what you can bear with His help (and he won’t), why do you lose your confidence?

Hebrews Bible Study: Hebrews 11 - Monday

Monday – We’re all Rebels!


Focus passage: Hebrews 10:26-31

Read: Exodus 32:1-35; Psalm 94:1-11; Acts 13:38-41; John 3:36

The book of Exodus is a narrative of how God rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and lead them to the promises land. Throughout the journey, God intervened to save them and provide for them. For example, He showed them how to save their first born from the angel of death during the last plague in Egypt, the first Passover. When they left Egypt, the Egyptians gave them gold, silver, and clothing, whatever the Israelites asked for. God parted the Red Sea, sent manna and quail to feed them, made water come from a rock, and helped them defeat the Amalekites. God even showed them how to live in relationship to Him and gave them the tabernacle as a place of worship. But they still disobeyed. Even though they had witnessed their own deliverance and had knowledge of the truth, the Israelites rebelled. At one point they even made a golden calf to worship (Exodus 32). As a result, several thousand died at the hand of God because of their deliberate disobedience.

Most of you reading this have knowledge of the truth and a relationship with Christ. You can testify of God’s faithfulness in your life and the lives of people you know. Yet we still rebel against God sometimes. If we take time to consider our sin, we’ll recognize our own deliberate disobedience. Let our focus passage for today be a warning and inspiration to stand firm against that sin.



1. What sin of deliberate disobedience do you find in your life?

2. How does the idea that you’re “trampling the Son of God underfoot” when you sin, affect you?

3. How will the scripture you read today help you stand against sin?

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Hebrews Bible Study: Hebrews 10 - Friday



Friday – Better Relationships


Focus passage: Hebrews 10:23-25

Read: Matthew 5:13-16; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Timothy 6:17-18

Last year, both of my kids had challenges in relationships with classmates. I was pleased with how they handled these hard situations with grace, love, and a firm stand for what’s right and true. They intentionally encouraged others and tried to be a positive influence in their class. At times they were discouraged and frustrated by others. Later they were excited by the prospect of new found friendships. At the end of the year they were each rewarded by their teacher because their character produced fruit in love.

Today’s focus passage exhorts us to act in the same way. Is that not how we in the church should act toward one another, producing fruit in Christ like love? Sometimes our kids get it right more often than we do and their hearts are more joyful and content because of it, too.

1. The writer of Hebrews encourages us to hold on to the “hope we profess”. What hope is he talking about?

2. In the last week, how have you spurred another person to love and to do something good? How can you plan to do that on a continual basis?

3. Encouragement will be a greater need as the day of Christ’s return draws closer. How can you become a better encourager?

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Hebrews Bible Study: Hebrews 10 - Thursday



Thursday – Come on in!


Focus Passage: Hebrews 10:19-22

Read: Exodus 36:35-38; Romans 5; John 2:1-2; 3:19-21

Two of the most famous houses in the entire world are also the homes of two of the most powerful world leaders…the White House in Washington D.C. and Number 10 Downing Street in London, England (Home to the British Prime Minister).

One of the most famous features of the 10 Downing Street home is its front door. Uniquely, one of the most viewed doors in all of the UK (and possibly the world) has no keyhole on the outside. It can only be opened from the inside. A police officer is on permanent duty on the other side of the front door…always ready to open it for the Prime Minister or a close associate. You and I can’t just walk up to the front door and walk in. We don’t have that right. We would need secure permission. In fact, not even the guard at the outside of the door can get in without the officer on the inside.

We certainly have no right to walk into the front door of the throne room of heaven. The Prime Minister’s house is one thing…but the home of Christ? No way. Yet Christ has unlocked the door for us. He is beckoning us, “Look what I have done for you…please come in!” With a sincere heart and full confidence of faith we can “enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus.”



1. What advantages do we have with access to “the holy places” compared to the Jews of the Old Testament?

2. How should our standing before God (10:22) affect our confidence in communing with Christ?

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Hebrews Bible Study: Hebrews 10 - Wednesday




Wednesday – Done Deal!


Focus Passage: Hebrews 10:1-18

Read: Leviticus 16:6-34; Psalm 40; Isaiah 43-44; Acts 2:33-34

Everyone likes a good deal (especially around Christmas). Years ago I remember wanting to get my wife a gift that she really wanted…a Kitchen Aid Mixer. I didn’t realize how expensive making desserts could be. To ease the pain, I found a coupon online and shopped around for the cheapest price. I ended up getting the mixer for $50 cheaper than sale price in the most well known store. There is great satisfaction when you know you bought something for less than the regular price. But honestly…it’s more than just getting an item for less. A good deal is based on comparison. The fact that I bought the mixer for less than what thousands of other people paid…makes the satisfaction much sweeter.

Consider the deal Christ has made with us. In the Old Testament people were continually making payment for their sinful ways (through the work of Priests). But when Christ came, the deal was finished. Your shopping is done…paid for by our High Priest.



1. Why do you think the writer of Hebrews continues to remind the Hebrews that the Law and rituals were a “shadow of things to come?”

2. What is the significance of the quote from Psalm 40 (10:5-7)? What reason does the writer give for the use of these verses?

3. In what ways to do we fall back into providing “offerings for sins?” How should the reality that Christ “died once for all” motivate us?

Hebrews Bible Study: Hebrews 10 - Tuesday

Tuesday – A Better Life


Focus passage: Hebrews 9:27-28

Read: 2 Samuel 14:14; Isaiah 59:12-21

Recently my son asked me if cats really have nine lives. After a good chuckle, I told him ‘no’. It seems that cats seem to be good at getting out of potentially life threatening situations. For example, they run across the street, a car barely missing them. They can also fall out of a tree and land on their feet! Nevertheless, they live only one life and then die just like us.

Jesus came to earth and lived one life, too. Since He lived a sinless life, the sacrifice of His perfect blood as atonement for our sin was needed just once. He died once for all sin for all people. The focus passage says that Jesus will come back, too. He’ll come to bring our sanctification process to a conclusion, to complete our journey toward being like Him.



1. If Jesus is coming back someday to sanctify completely everyone who is waiting for Him (He’ll make us like Himself) Heb. 9:28, why do we need to grow to be more Christ like now?

2. In what ways do you live purposefully for God’s kingdom, knowing you have only one life to live (as Jesus did)?

3. Spend time thanking Christ for that time when He will complete the process of making you into a new creature.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Hebrews Bible Study: Hebrews 10 - Monday


Monday – Better Waters


Focus passage: Hebrews 9:23-26

Read: Titus 2:13-14; 1 Peter 1:17-20; Matthew 26:27-28

I enjoy winter time. I like Christmas and snow and cold. Another reason is that I don’t have to mow the lawn for several months. It’s just not something I like to do. I cut the grass only to have it grow again and a few short days later I’m out there sweating through another couple hours. Who came up with the idea to have a yard of grass anyway?

Just like I have to cut grass over and over again, the Jewish priests had to go into the temple, a copy of the heavenly sanctuary, to offer a sacrifice for sin again and again. Their sacrifices of unblemished lambs, goats, and calves covered the sin of the people. When Jesus sacrificed Himself, He went to the heavenly sanctuary and offered His perfect blood to do away with sin.

1. Though you no longer have to make animal sacrifices when you sin, what should be your response when you sin? Do you do those things?
2. What should you do to put away sinful habits, thoughts, or ideas?
3. How can remembering that Jesus’ sacrifice doesn’t just cover our sin, but takes it away, help us to hold fast against sin?