We sure need to know God much better. So many know Bible verses, can quote Scriptures right and left, memorized the books of the Bible and read through the Bible in a year. That does not translate into knowing God. God wants us to know and have an wonderful, intimate relationship with Him. Eternal life is knowing God and His Son (John 17:3), not knowing about Him! There is a difference.
In speaking of those who died in faith in Heb. 11, we read, "Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God." (Heb. 11:16) Is that really true? Can it really be? In speaking of Jesus and those that are tied to Him, the words are spoken, "for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren." (Heb. 2:11) Can we hear the tones? They aren't timid tones or defensive gulps. The words spoken from God/Christ on our behalf are not half-hearted. Do you think God/Christ are saying, "Well...I guess, despite all their messy situations they create, the sin they so easily walk into, well...despite all those things I guess they can call me their God, those pathetic bunch of losers!" We live like our heavenly Father and our Savior responds that way! He is not ashamed!!! The words come ringing from heaven itself: "THEY ARE MY PEOPLE AND I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THEM!"
God and Christ are proud of those of us in Him, not because we are strong and powerful. Not because we can quote a verse for every situation. God is not ashamed to be called "their"/our God not because we have a string of moral successes and moral victories. Our Lord calls us brethren not because we lived on the path of righteousness all our lives! (Some believe their own righteous behavior merits their standing before God!) The Hebrew writer tells us, look back at the ancients and ask what made them worthy and proud in the eyes of God? What made sinful people where Jesus said He was not ashamed? It had nothing to do with their purity (just think of David and Samson). It was much deeper than moral successes. It was because they trusted in God and not themselves!! They trusted God to overcome enemies, to embrace death to gain life and to overcome unrighteousness in their own lives. "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith." (I John 5:4)
People overcome failures, deep hurts and challenges of life because they believe and trust God! They believe God, taking Him at His word, that they overcome sin and evil practices in their lives. They trust in God when their marriages are testing to the soul, only to follow Him. They believe in God when jobs are lost and their trust keeps them from lazing around but seek with eyes fixed on Him.
We have done (and will do) things that we are ashamed of. Doesn't God know that? DOESN'T GOD KNOW THAT? If He knows that and our Savior knows that, and you still hear the words: "He is not ashamed..." shouldn't that penetrate our hearts? Just take a few moments and go look in a mirror and come back. I'll wait.............................What did you see? Someone who failed or is a failure? Did you see things that disgust you about yourself (not in your body as that is superficial but looking past that), knowing there is so little righteous about you? But in all of this you reach out daily, trusting, holding as tight as you can to the cross and your Savior realizing there is that proud, confident voice that rings out in all our weakness: "Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God! He is not ashamed to call them brethren!" What are you going to do with that? Why are we afraid to believe God is really not ashamed of us unless we are unrepentant and untrusting of His mercy and grace? Maybe we are ashamed of Him?
1 comment:
Wow.
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