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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Wednesday, 20 September 2023:
Ezekiel 21:3 – “Say to the land of Israel,” Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am against you and will draw my sword from its sheath and will cut off from you both righteous and wicked.
God stands opposed to people who depart from Him.
Ezekiel 21:21-23 – For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination. He shakes the arrows; he consults the teraphim; he looks at the liver. Into his right hand comes the divination for Jerusalem, to set battering rams, to open the mouth with murder, to lift up the voice with shouting, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up mounds, to build siege towers. But to them it will seem like a false divination. They have sworn solemn oaths, but he brings their guilt to remembrance, that they may be taken.
God can use the false beliefs of the ungodly to bring about His purposes of discipline. God will still punish the ungodly He uses to punish others.
Ezekiel 21:24 – Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have made your guilt to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your deeds your sins appear—because you have come to remembrance, you shall be taken in hand.
All sin will eventually be revealed and punished.
Hebrews 5:1 – For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God….
Hebrews 5 describes the role of the high priest (referencing both the Levitical priests and Melchizedek) to introduce the perfect priesthood of Christ, the Great High Priest. The chapter closes with a warning not to be “dull of hearing” and “unskilled in the word of righteousness.” (Hebrews 5:11, 13) The final exhortation for us is to mature in our “discernment” by training and “constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”
As described last week, we are called to be the image of Christ on earth. As Christians, we are called to emulate Christ’s priestly example –
- Exodus 19:6 — …and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
- 1 Peter 2:5 — You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
- 1 Peter 2:9 — But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
To mature in the priestly example embodied by Jesus, we must constantly practice. Today’s readings give us some things to practice in our priestly role –
- Intercession and Reconciliation. “For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.” (v.1) Paul also says elsewhere, “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20) As priests on earth, sent wherever God has sprinkled us like salt, we are to serve as agents of reconciliation between others and God, which involves much intercessory prayer (spiritual gifts to God) for others while constantly proclaiming to them “the excellencies of Him who called [us] out of darkness into the marvelous light.” Who around you are you interceding for in earnest prayer and talking with that they might be reconciled to God?
- Grace. “He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.” (v.2) As Christ’s appointed priests on earth, we deal gently with others and show grace to others because we live by grace and because the grace we share is part of our testimony to the power of grace in Christ. Do you always deal gently and graciously with the “ignorant and wayward?”
- Prayerful humility. “Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people.” (v.3) We have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus, not because of our deeds; and we have been freed from the penalty of sin through Christ. Yet, we nonetheless must pray continually for our own growth in Christ so that we can grow in fellowship with Him and lead others to Him.
- 1 John 1:9 — If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- Proclaiming Christ. “And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.” (v.4) It is not about us but all about Him. We don’t attempt to share honor and glory with Christ, rather we direct all honor and glory towards Him as we remain wholly humble in our obedience. Our goal is not for people to admire our example and seek to emulate us but rather for people to admire Jesus and seek Him. In your example, always proclaim Christ.
- John 3:30 — He must increase, but I must decrease.
- Learning Obedience. “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.” (v. 7. 8) Jesus prayed earnestly concerning His circumstances and was heard “because of His reverence.” How does your reverence for God effect your prayer life? Jesus trusted the Father with His prayers and also with His circumstances, which He knew were in the Father’s sovereign hands. Jesus, “learned obedience through what He suffered.” For sinless Jesus, this ‘learning’ was simply experiencing a different level of obedience rather than learning how to be obedient. However, for us, we grow in obedience as we “practice” obedience through suffering. As we walk in obedience through the challenges of life, we grow in our Christ-like character and serve as priests, as ambassadors for Christ, to those around us who are also struggling and need Jesus – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8:28, 29)
Do not be “dull of hearing,” or “unskilled in the word of righteousness [and] the basic principles of the oracles of God.” (vs. 11-13) Practice and training as a maturing priest, following the example of our Great High Priest, Jesus.
Hebrews 5:7 – In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.
From Henry T. Blackaby – “The life of Jesus provides the model for our prayer lives. God is seeking to mold us into the image of His Son (Col. 1:27-28). If we are to act like Christ, our prayer lives must be conformed to His. Many Christians are unwilling to pay the price that Jesus paid when it comes to interceding with God. Jesus’ prayers came with vehement cries and tears and, “because of His godly fear,” He was heard by the Father. Why then, did the Father refuse His request? It was not due to any sin in Jesus’ life, nor was it because the Father did not love His Son. The Father said no, despite the unfathomable love He had for His Son, because He knew He could not spare His Son and save a world. Likewise, the Lord cannot always spare you and your family and complete His redemptive work in those around you. Are you willing for God to deny your pleadings? Will you intercede with the Father so deeply and intimately that even in the midst of your tears you are able to say, “Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done?” The Father will always relate to you out of the context of His love for a lost world. Has God said no to one of your requests recently? Accept His answer. Have you been learning obedience through what you have been suffering (Heb. 5:8)? If you have, God may choose to make you a source of salvation to others even as He did with His Son.
Hebrews 5:7, 8 – “…he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.”
Reverence affects your prayers and your obedience. Reverent disciples learn to be obedient through suffering. There is no growth in the comfort zone, and there is no comfort in the growth zone.
We all endure suffering to some degree, but the good news is that through it we can become like Jesus. Are you willing to pay whatever price is necessary in order to become like Christ? There are some things God intends for your life that can come only through suffering. Even Jesus, the sinless Son of God, had to endure the suffering His Father to fulfill His purpose and to obtain His glory. If you become bitter over your hardships, you close some parts of your life from God. If you do this, you will never be complete. Some places in your soul can be reached only by suffering. The Spirit of God has important things to teach you, but you can only learn these lessons in the midst of your trials. Who throughout the Bible didn’t require days of suffering to God to build their character, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Daniel, Paul? Don’t resent the suffering God allows in your life. Don’t make all your decisions and invest everything you have into avoiding hardship. God did not spare His own Son. How can we expect Him to spare us? Learn obedience even when it hurts!
Hebrews 5:12-14 — For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
God expects believers to train in doctrine in order to be a worthy teacher and a priest. God expects believers to hone their skills in righteousness. It takes constant training and practice to develop spiritual discernment. Discernment is knowing good from evil. Jesus said, “Be perfect, and your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48). Practice makes perfect, and the Bible tells us we must practice “the fear of the Lord” (Psalm 110:11), “steadfast love, justice, and righteousness” (Jeremiah 9:21), “godliness… good doctrine… love, faith, purity…” (1 Timothy 4:6-14), “virtue… knowledge… self-control… steadfastness… [and] brotherly affection…” 2 Peter 1:5-10). How will you practice these qualities today in your pursuit of Christlikeness?
- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 — Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
God expects you to grow spiritually which requires both disciplined study of God’s word as well as practice in God’s word and will. You have to both study hard and practice your faith diligently. Practice implies that you will get it wrong before you get it right.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 20 September 2023: Today, practice intercession and reconciliation, grace, prayerful humility, proclaiming Christ, and learning obedience.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 