Tag: grace

4 Joys of Knowing Jesus as Your High Priest

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Hebrews 5:7-9

There were three characteristics that each Levitical high priest must have. First, he must minister in behalf of other men by offering sacrifices for sins. Secondly, he must have compassion upon the spiritual ignorance of man with all his frailties. Thirdly, he must be chosen by God. As we begin chapter 5 of Hebrews, the writer meticulously lays out the truth that Jesus Christ fulfills all these characteristics of being a High Priest. Yet, Jesus Christ then rises above every other High Priest because He knew no sin. His perfect righteousness made Him able to be the only High Priest who could complete the work of Salvation and sit down at the right Hand of the Father on High. Yet, His being the exact image of God did not reduce the suffering that He had to endure. Indeed, His suffering was greater than anything that we might ever imagine.

God's Comfort

Whenever you or I meet with temptation, the desire grows immensely until we finally either succumb to the desire or another greater desire replaces it. Certainly, Satan had a vested interest in tempting Jesus more than any other person who had walked upon this earth. Jesus never failed to begin and end each day in fervent prayer to the Father. It wasn’t that Jesus absolutely could not sin in His humanity; instead, He did not sin. There is a distinct difference. His temptations were real and He had the power to change it. Never was this more evidenced that as He prepared for the time upon the cross. Remember, the Garden of Gethsemane!! Jesus prayed with such intensity that great drops of blood formed on His brow. He pleaded with the Father “if there be any other way, take this cup from me. Nevertheless, thy will be done” Matthew 26:39.

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How Can I Boldly Bare My Heart to God?

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

Boldly? How can I go before the throne of God boldly? I who am so often awkward even in small groups. There is that person deep within who is so afraid of rejection. Outwardly, I often portray a tower of strength; but, inwardly I always doubt myself. Living alone affords me a lot of time in self-reflection. There underneath the exterior when everything is naked and opened, I would shudder in fear were it not for Grace.

high priest

As I pointed out in the previous post, the writer of Hebrews has been giving some warnings. Earnestly take heed lest you slip away from the truth by not clinging to the truth of the Gospel, which is Jesus Christ. Be very afraid, that you might miss God’s rest because of a heart of unbelief. Diligently work and exhort each other; lest, someone of you fall short of knowing Jesus with all your heart. Then we read in Hebrews 4:12 and 13

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do”

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Can I Truly Love Before I Know How to Be Loved?

I will love them freely (Hosea 14:4) Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore, with loving kindness have I drawn thee. (Jeremiah 31:3)

Where is the faith to sustain us when the bitter cold of winter strikes again deep into our valleys of life? We want so much to believe that because we obeyed God’s command that we deserve some great reward for our feeble act of valor! We so quickly lose sight of the truth that we are incapable of any act of faith had it not been for God’s great mercy and grace reaching down to enlighten our hearts to seek Him. At the end of so many heartbreaks, so many health struggles, so many surgeries, financial ruin, and so many trials; I kept waiting for my life to suddenly become restored like Job’s was. Hadn’t I been faithful to follow after God through many devastating trials? I had obeyed when He commanded I stay with Pete. I had obeyed when He bid me to go to Florida. I had obeyed when He asked me to leave Florida and return to Missouri. I knew that God had orchestrated it all; so now, I awaited His next command which I was certain would suddenly flourish me in all.

Yea, I have loved thee

When I pulled into Columbia with my big U-Haul truck and my car hitched onto the trailer behind, I rejoiced. God had been faithful to get me safely here through some areas of snow and ice. Alberto and several friends came to unload my truck and place all the boxes inside the new home Alberto had bought for me. That, in itself had been a humbling experience. Certainly I would be paying the mortgage; but along with the move, I had lost my home. I had markedly downsized my possessions. There was some sadness in the loss. Yet, they were only material possessions and mattered little in the scheme of eternity. It wasn’t the first time I had laid aside my home and possessions; yet, a part of me hoped it was the last. As a parent, I wanted to be the one who always gave to my children. This time, I was receiving. Emotionally that was very hard for me. Maybe, just maybe; that was what God knew about me. It was even hard for me to receive His gifts, His love, and His joy. A part of me needed to feel that I was the one giving to God—through sacrifice, through sorrow and through whatever feeble act of obedience.

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Whatever Life Brings

When God asked me to leave Springfield; there was a part of me that once more felt crushed.  Yet, I would trust Him to have a better plan.  Clearly, I could not trust my own heart.  Today’s poem takes us back to that long, lonely drive to Florida.  Driving a huge overloaded truck and pulling a trailer.  So many long trips alone had I driven over my lifetime.  So many battles with illness, I had felt alone.  I, who thought of myself as a fragile female who desired more than anything to have some one love and protect me from all of life’s trials; was always the one left to overcome so many obstacles alone in this world.  How often, as I walked this journey of life; did I stop to cry and wonder why!!

Ah, but you see: every step of the way; God has been there beside me. There is much more of my story to tell.  That was only a moment in time.

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Whatever Life Brings

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

I felt the tears falling like rain

I did not fully understand

All this sorrow, all of this pain

My broken heart by Your command

 

Lord I wanted to trust Your heart

When You commanded me to go

It was hard for me to depart

When all within me still said no

 

And yet, Dear God, I know Your love

That gave Your Precious Son for me

So, help me seek Your will above

All else, though I can’t clearly see

 

Oh, Lord; please come, give me your peace

And fill me with a faith, Your own

That all this moaning spirit cease

My joy I find in you alone

 

And crucify my own desire

When not conformed unto Your will

When in the midst of raging fire

Please make my heart be ever still

 

Help me to see Your loving Grace

That only knows what’s best for me

Help me to seek Your lovely face

And make my selfish thoughts to flee

 

I need You now to shine your light

So deep within this heart of mine

I cannot change by my own might

Transform my thoughts to Your design

 

And so whatever you command

I bow before Your throne today

I trust Your Grace to help me stand

Tomorrow’s Grace to show the way

 

I only want what You want God

So rip from me these lesser things

Alone, this road I’ll gladly trod

And follow You, whatever life brings

 

Photo Courtesy of  Sergey Zvyagin

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2016

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post.  I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Can I Ever Really Repay God for His Grace?

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NKJV

By the spring of 2003, a restlessness grew deep within. I knew God was drawing me; but where and why?  Having just returned from a Nurse practitioner conference, I was throwing away the pamphlets and brochures when one fell open. There I saw an advertisement for a job with Florida Cardiology in Orlando, Florida. It had been Orlando where my daughter was born. It was Orlando where I had met Pete. So, I applied and was offered the job. While considering what to do, I received a call with a job offer in Oklahoma as well that I had not even applied for. The doctor who hired me in Springfield had left and was head of a program there. He was a man I highly respected; yet, after much prayerful consideration, I felt compelled to go to Orlando. Why would I leave Springfield? Was I running to something new or away from something?

Dear God

During the time in Springfield I had begun to recover from the debt of “survival” credit cards used while battling cancer and ulcerative colitis. I had slowly recovered from the havoc that the steroids had wrought on my body. I had been found to have a mass on the pancreas which after many biopsies was idiopathic chronic pancreatitis. Also, in Springfield, I thought I had found Prince Charming; only, he really wasn’t. Infatuation? Fantasy? Or real love? How does a romantic heart know the truth? Somehow, I had always confused my compassionate empathy for a hurting soul with love. Every bleeding, wounded soul I met presented a possible love.

 

SO, NEXT LESSON IN LOVE:

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