Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. – Hebrews 11:1

Today's Scripture Reading (May 18, 2021): Hebrews 11

Theologian C. S. Lewis said, "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." It is a great comment. As I write this, there are high clouds in the sky covering the sun, but that doesn't mean that the sun has left the sky. I know that is not true because, even with the clouds, the day is bright, and I can see without any problem. I may not be able to see the sun, but the evidence of the sun is all around me—faith functions in a similar way. I may not be able to see faith, but it colors the world around me.

We all live by faith of some sort. There are things that we cannot see that we believe are true because we see the evidence of what we cannot see. That is faith. You can have faith that everyone in the world is evil, and as a result of that faith, you will see a cruel world. I am convinced that racists are created by an act of faith. People believe that there is a difference between the races according to a belief developed on things that they cannot see, and as a result, that is precisely what they see in the world around them.

So, if I believe in the Christian faith, it is going to color my world. It starts by seeing value in every person because of the faith-based knowledge that we are created in the image of God. Regardless of your race or gender, or even your belief structures, faith says that you are of immense value; a statement that sometimes in stark contrast with the physical world that we see around us would argue the exact opposite. Faith allows the Christian to see purpose even in the face of chaos. It enables us to explain what is unexplainable. We are a people of faith.

But it is not blind faith or one that goes against reason. Christian faith extends beyond the reason we have developed from what we see with our eyes or feel with our hands, but faith continuously extends in the direction of reason. F. F. Bruce makes this comment about faith as described in Hebrews. "Physical eyesight produces a conviction or evidence of visible things; faith is the organ which enables people to see the invisible order."

Christian faith helps us to order our world. It is substantial. It allows us to have hope even amid the horrible reality that is revealed by our eyes. And Christian faith assures us that the future is still in God's hands. Pastor David Guzik sums up this passage in this way.

Faith does not contradict reason, though it may go beyond reason. One may objectively prove the Bible is the most unique book ever published and has impacted society more than any other book. But only faith can prove that the Bible is the Word of God. Therefore, this is a belief beyond reason but not in contradiction to reason or against reason.

So, go in faith.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Hebrews 12

Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. – Hebrews 10:11

Today's Scripture Reading (May 17, 2021): Hebrews 10

I love to speak the words, although I admittedly don't speak them enough. The words come in many forms, but they all have the same intent. They are often called an "Absolution of Sin."

Through the cross of Christ,
God have mercy on you,
pardon you and set you free.
Know that you are forgiven
and be at peace.
God strengthen you in all goodness
and keep you in life eternal.          
Amen.  

I love to speak the words, but I also know that the words themselves have no power just because I say them. I have no power. I am just a priest who, week after week, stands before my congregation performing my religious duties, which includes speaking the words and offering their sacrifices, in the form of tithes and offerings, to God. The words are a reminder of the reality that Jesus completed the work of forgiveness on the cross.

I can declare absolution over my congregation, but really it is just a hope. I know that if you have accepted Christ's sacrifice, you were forgiven for your sin before I spoke the words. I hope that the words of absolution will bring you back to that moment of sacrifice. In the same way, if you have rejected Christ, I can speak the words repeatedly over you, and it will not change the reality that, while Christ died for you, you still have not accepted that sacrifice as yours. You are still living stuck in your sin with a hard and unrepentant heart. At the moment that I speak the words, I hope you will recognize the sacrifice made on your behalf and accept the sacrifice as yours.

It is the point that Hebrews is making. For generations, priests had ministered in the Temple, making their sacrifices for sin. For generations, they had performed their religious duties over and over again, but nothing had changed. The sacrifices attempted to pay the price for our sin but could never take it away. The sacrifices, made by the priests, could never truly make absolution for sin. Only the Cross of Christ could do that.

Pastors and priests continue to do their religious duties, but now there is a difference; we do so knowing that Christ has made the sacrifice that can take away our sin, and with our words and actions, we continue to point to that sacrifice.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11

In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. – Hebrews 9:16-17

Today's Scripture Reading (May 16, 2021): Hebrews 9

Jesus told the story of a father and two sons. As was customary in the culture, when Dad died, his sons would share his acquired wealth. Two-thirds or two shares would go to the elder brother. He receives more of the wealth because it would be his responsibility to take care of the estate, the employees, and anyone else who depended on the estate for their well-being. The younger brother would receive one-third of the wealth left by Dad. He received less of Dad's acquired wealth but also had none of the responsibility borne by the elder brother.

But the younger son was tired of waiting for Dad to die so that he could inherit his money. So, he asked his dad if he could have his inheritance early. In the culture in which they were living, it was like telling his father that he wished that he was dead. He wanted what would typically come to him only after his father had died. Surprisingly, Dad gave in to the request, giving him now the money which he shouldn't have received until some future date when Dad died.

The son wastes the money he had been given and then returns to Dad, repentant for his sin and wondering if he would be welcomed as a worker on the estate. A worker was the lowest position available in Dad's business. At that moment, he probably didn't realize how lucky he was. Yes, he had wasted his inheritance, but usually, to get the inheritance, someone special had to die. Because of his brazen stupidity, the younger son had the opportunity to waste his inheritance while still having a father who was willing, even though the son didn't realize it, to pick up the broken pieces and treat him as a son.

The author of Hebrews is trying to explain why Jesus had to die. And he compares the Covenants that God had given to Israel to a Testament. The story of the Lost Son that Jesus told was unique. Usually, the only way to get your inheritance is for the one who is giving you the inheritance to die. Usually, the one who dies is precious to us. Most of us would rather give back the inheritance so that we can have the person's presence. Inheritance commonly results only from loss. The great gift that the lost son possessed was not the inheritance; it was that, after he wasted the inheritance, he still had the presence of a father who loved him and who would stand beside him.

Hebrews argues that because the covenants were both really testaments, blood or death was required to make the claim promised to us in the covenant. For the first covenant, it was the death of an animal that was needed. But it was not just any animal; it had to be one without fault or blemish. And that kind of animal possessed an increased value.

For the new covenant, it was the death of Jesus that was required. For us to claim the inheritance, there had to be a death, and in this case, it was the death of a precious teacher, one who was also perfect.

To receive the gift, someone had to die. But we are not the younger brother; we do not receive the wealth without responsibility. We have an obligation to take our inheritance, the life and forgiveness that God has given to us, and do something good with it. We have the inheritance only because of the death of Jesus, so we need to make sure that we use the gift wisely and in memory of the one who died to give it to us.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10

Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. – Hebrews 8:3

Today's Scripture Reading (May 15, 2021): Hebrews 8

One of the arguments inside the contemporary Christian Church is about our responsibility to give and support the Church, a practice traditionally understood as the tithe. A tithe is ten percent of what we earn. But some are offended by the idea of the tithe. They insist that the tithe is a requirement of the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible and therefore has no authority over a New Testament Church. The tithe is part of the law, but we are not people of the law; we are a people who are part of a movement that is based on grace.

And the critics are right. The area where their argument begins to breaks down is in what they think that that differentiation might mean. Most seem to argue for a lesser standard. I give when I can, or more likely when I want. If it isn't law, then it isn't required. But that isn't quite the biblical instructions. Jesus highlights the difference between the law and grace in his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Jesus argues that the law says "do not murder," but grace says "do not hate" (Matthew 5:21-22). Jesus taught that the law says "do not commit adultery," but grace says "do not lust" (Matthew 5:27-28). He said that the law requires that we "love our friends" and allows us to "hate our enemies," but grace says, "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:43-44). The law requires that if a soldier asks you to carry his burden, you must take it a mile, but grace says to bring it twice that far (Matthew 5:41). Consistently the demands of grace are higher than the demands of the law.

Hebrews says that every priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. The difference between the two is essential. The law demanded sacrifices as a payment for sin. They were required. But gifts were given out of love because the giver wanted to give the gift. The sacrifices were the law, but the gifts were part of the demands of grace. Every priest is ordained to present both to God, the requirements of the law, and the demands of grace.

The author of Hebrews has been building the argument that Jesus is our high priest. But if that is true, then Jesus needed to offer both our sacrifices and gifts before God. But Jesus went a step farther. He not only inhabits our sacrifices and gifts, or the tithes of the law and the offerings of grace, but he gave himself as an offering as well. For Jesus, the demands of grace meant all of him; nothing could be held back. It was something that our earthly priests could not give. He became the perfect sacrifice that we needed all along. Our response to his gift is to give generously of who we are, our tithes and offerings, but also so much more. We offer our lives as a commitment to our High Priest who ministers for us before the throne of God. And we don't know what that means until the moment makes its demands. But we stand at the ready, willing to give what our High Priest will ask of us.             

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Hebrews 9

Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. – Hebrews 7:3

Today's Scripture Reading (May 14, 2021): Hebrews 7

Erwin Schrödinger proposed the thought experiment. The idea is that if you lock a cat inside a metal box with a small amount of poison that may or may not be released as a result of a subatomic reaction, the cat could be considered both alive and dead. The only way to know for sure is to open the box. Schrödinger's cat is supposed to illustrate the paradox of quantum superposition. Put more simply; it is an explanation of describing the things that we cannot know.

In Hebrews, Melchizedek is considered to be a type of Christ. And here, the author explains why. In the story of Abraham, Melchizedek is without a father or mother; he has no genealogy, is without a beginning or end, and remains a priest forever. Scholars struggle over the words. What exactly is the author trying to tell us? Some believe that we shouldn't look beyond the literal meaning of the words. Melchizedek is not a type of Christ; he was Christ. When Melchizedek met Abraham, and Abraham gave him a tithe, he was actually giving his honor to God through the literal person of Christ.

But others are not so sure. Another interpretation is that Melchizedek simply appears amid the story of Abraham and then disappears again. Other than in his interaction with Abraham, we know nothing else about him. No genealogy is given. We are not introduced to his parents. We are not told when he is born or when he was commissioned as a priest. And we are not told that he retired, or, more importantly, the day on which he died. We don't know anything outside of the moment when he interacts with Abraham. And, therefore, he is essentially Schrödinger's priest. It is not that he wasn't born and never died; we are just not aware of when those events took place. We have locked Melchizedek inside the metal box of the story of Abraham, and locked inside the box; he is a priest forever.

And inside the box, Melchizedek reflects what Jesus is outside of the box. Jesus was involved in the creation of the world. He was present when the foundations of the universe were laid. Jesus has ministered to the world through the prophets, and he was physically present in Judea during his physical ministry. He died on a cross, but three days later, he rose again and ministered to the world through his people and his church.

But Melchizedek was a forerunner, a model of what was to come. F. B. Meyer phrases it this way; "It was as if the Father could not await the day of His Son's priestly entrance within the veil; but must needs anticipate the marvels of His ministry, by embodying its leading features in miniature."

But it is Jesus who is really a priest forever. He remains our priest today, and he will be our priest for all eternity.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Hebrews 8

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain … - Hebrews 6:19

Today's Scripture Reading (May 13, 2021): Hebrews 6

In his award-winning fantasy series "His Dark Materials," Philip Pullman writes that "Hope holds you fast like an anchor so you don't give way." The image of an anchor was a standard illustration of hope in the ancient world. The seas of the world were chaotic places and often attempted to bend the actions of the ships that traveled over its waves to its will. The reality of the water is that if everything is calm, you don't need the anchor. But when the seas are rough, when the water's chaos is maximized, you need an anchor to stabilize the ship. In a storm, an anchor was used so that the boat didn't get pushed backward, giving up all of the ground that it had gained. An anchor isn't needed in moments of peace, and hope comes from the journey itself as the boat slides over the glassy seas. But in the anarchy of the storm, an anchor is all the hope a ship has to save it from the will of the water.

The anchor is essential, but it is more than just a weight. An anchor grabs hold of something secure, something that the chaos of the waves cannot move; it holds on to the floor of the sea. Storms come and go, hurricanes rage, and lightning strikes, but the sea's floor is unbothered by all of these things. The anchor seeks out that stability, grasps on to the thing that will not move, and then transfers that steadiness to the ship above that is being tossed around by the pandemonium of the waves. If you can see the anchor, it is useless. But if the anchor is hidden beneath the water, it is hard at work providing stability for the ship.

Our anchor is our hope, but it is not directed down to the ground but rather upwards to heaven. Our hope and our stability are found in a God who cannot be moved, who stands with us through the chaos of life. And he is the one who dwells behind the curtain in the most holy place. Charles Spurgeon makes this observation.

"Our anchor is like every other, when it is of any use it is out of sight. When a man sees the anchor it is doing nothing, unless it happen to be some small stream anchor or grapnel in shallow water. When the anchor is of use it is gone: there it went overboard with a splash; far down there, all among the fish, lies the iron holdfast, quite out of sight. Where is your hope, brother? Do you believe because you can see? That is not believing at all."

Our faith is the anchor that holds us close to the God who cannot be moved, and because of him, we have hope.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Hebrews 7

Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. – Hebrews 5:13

Today's Scripture Reading (May 12, 2021): Hebrews 5

Comedian Lou Costello died of a heart attack on March 3, 1959, just a few days short of his fifty-third birthday. There is some disagreement about what his last words might have been. According to some, the final statement made by the comedian was, "That was the best ice-cream soda I ever tasted," a comment made about the strawberry ice cream soda that he had just finished. Others disagree, arguing that the words, along with the consumption of the soda, were actually spoken earlier in the day. I wasn't there, or even born yet, so I do not have an opinion one way or another. But either way, the strawberry ice cream soda was a good one.

I like ice cream. So does my Dad, so it might be a genetic condition. I could eat ice cream all the time, especially during the summer. There is nothing like an ice cream cone or a milk shake on a hot summer day to make the day seem right. I like ice cream. But I try not to eat it too often. I like it, but too much consumption isn't good for me. I need to eat other things if I want to be healthy.

I don't like salad, and yet I eat one almost every day. The reason is that I know that salads are good for me, better for me than ice cream. And as much as I might not like to admit it, I am an adult, which means that I get to consume things that I know are good for me even if I don't like them.

I have known children whose parents didn't want to fight with them over meals, and as a result, allowed their kids to eat whatever they wanted. But I wouldn't recommend that response. No one likes to have food arguments at the supper table, but a child will always choose what is easy and good. I know children who would love to live on an ice cream diet, but that kind of diet doesn't give the child's body the building blocks needed for growth and a healthy life. The child might not understand it, but children need adults to help them eat, ensuring they are getting the nutrients required for life.

Hebrews argues that there are Christians who are basically on a milk, or maybe an ice cream, diet. These are John 3:16 Christians. It has nothing to do with how long the Christians have been in the church, but instead, with what concepts they have been willing to feed their spirits. They know that they are loved by God, so much so that he sent his Son to die on the cross in their place. But they stay there. They live as children, never venturing on to other beliefs or actions. They understand "for God so loved the world …" (John 3:16), but they are not the ones who understand Jesus's command to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matthew28:19-20). They have not gone past love and "put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires" (Ephesians 4:22). They are living on spiritual ice cream, and as a result, are not mature believers. Hebrews instead begs us to partake of the salad of the gospel, which gives us what we need to go beyond childhood. Going and making disciples, or putting off the old self, are more challenging concepts than just knowing that God loves us. But they are also necessary actions that help us go beyond where we are, allowing us to become mature believers.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Hebrews 6