Christ’s Cleansing Of Even Our Best Efforts

It will be on Aaron’s forehead, and he will bear the guilt involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be. It will be on Aaron’s forehead continually so that they will be acceptable to the Lord. (Exodus 28:38)

Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled.

Haggai 2:14

Even our best acts of worship and efforts for the Lord would be sullied and ruined by sin if not for Christ. As Aaron bore the guilt of sin when the Israelites offered to God, so Christ serves as an even Greater Highpriest on our behalf cleansing our guilt to make our worship acceptable

In the book, Pursuit of Holiness, The Author Jerry Bridges says “Even our tears of repentance need to be washed in the blood of the Lamb. ~Jerry Bridges,~

This is to say that even the repentance of a sinner could not fully be accepted if Christ had not died on the cross so that God could receive imperfect repentance. Many feel their repentance is not good enough! Which indeed it is not based on us. So often even repentance is done with a tinge of self interest! Men may repent for fear of being condemned to hell or facing serious consequences of sinful ways- Even repentance driven by fear of God’s wrath can be I feel acceptable because Christ died on the cross. Yet God would ideally want our repentance to be pure, our devotion totally selfless, for his glory not merely the blessings that result as a byproduct of obedience. Yet nevertheless, our God is generous, he blesses obedience so often even though all we really could say “we are unprofitable servants and have only done our duty” (Luke 10:17)

We owe God obedience just being creatures he created, sin has made us rebellious, self willed and stubborn. We truly neglect our natural duty – Christ paid our debt so we can do our duty truly from a heart of devotion. Even though we owed God that all along, he was merciful and generous to forgive us of our negligence.

Bee-coming A Queen

Bee-coming A Queen

Bees are a fascinating insect and there are some facts that are not commonly known. Female bees are the only ones able to sting, the stinger of a female bee is actually a part of it’s reproductive system. Yet not all female bees possess the capability to reproduce. Only a female that has been cultivated into a queen can breed more bees. In order to become a Queen the female selected is fed with a specialized nectar known as royal jelly and through the process becomes a queen able to reproduce thousands of new bees.

Yet there is some spiritual lesson Im sure here to as there is so many lesson’s is God’s creation over all. We see the Church, the people of God, and bride of Christ to must draw it’s source from the Word to become all she was created to become. We cannot truly live apart from the Word or become all we have potential to be without filling our lives with it.

In Ephesians 5 we see, “to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—

Ephesians 5:26-29

The Lord gave us new life, and by the Word and Spirit of God made us into “New people” we had to first hear the Word of God preached and the Gospel proclaimed to have faith and believe. We became like “Queen” bees in a sense with spiritual nectar that transformed us. As a result we are called to go “make disciples” – spiritually reproducing new life by sharing the gospel. Spiritually scattering seeds of truth! Unlike physical reproduction, the Gospel and the Word be preached causes new spiritual life. Jesus said it this way “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3:6)

Meaning we physically are born as the result of human parents, we inherit skin and bones and a physical form as a result of being born. Yet Jesus says “Unless a man be born again, he will not see the kingdom of God” in this same chapter.

Everyone alive was born once- you have a body and are a result of human parents. Yet Jesus taught a second birth of spiritual kind had to take place. This is the only way we will inherit spiritual life. When the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to produce “new life for God” inside of us.

Yet the reason for sharing the Gospel is for starters its commanded, yet we cannot change anyone. We can only share this truth and let those who will respond have the opportunity. Too many Christians put too much focus on their efforts to change people, when in reality we are only called to share the message and not held responsible for results or who responds.

Well on another note, there is a practical facet in the home life too. We see that Ephesians 5:25 says “Husbands love your wives as Christ loved His Church and gave himself up for her”

A man according to the Bible is called to spiritually lead in a way that reflects Christ in his home. “

to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—
Ephesians 5:26-29

I suppose one of the greatest ways a husband can do this is reflecting the Lord Jesus properly to his wife, as well as trying to initiate spiritual growth in her and “Feeding her” (Not just with literally putting food on the table, though that is so important.) A man can also feed his wife spiritually, lead her in study of the Word and prayer, as well as support her emotional needs There are many needs a wife has, not just material but spiritual and emotional too.

Though many men think along the lines of working hard and supporting a family, there are many other ways too a husband can nurture his wife into her full potential. Many men may feel they are less significant because their jobs may not pay them high, yet the lie is that a man can do many other wonderful things to really feed and care for his wife.

Too often a man is judged too much on his income level, rather than his work ethic and willingness to work hard. Even a man with a modest job who is a good worker has I feel more on a man with lots of money but is not the ideal worker. Our society judges men on wrong things often. Yet a man who can bring home even modest average income yet knows how to love and care for his wife and children has the advantage over a rich man who only knows how to provide material, financial but not spiritual or emotional.

There are many women out there I am sure that give anything for quality time with the man she is with over a huge salary. Many women would gladly trade loads of money just for more love and attention. Materialism in our society and over emphasis on money has ruined many things in our world as it is. We must remember some of the greatest treasures we can pass on to our families is time, investment and love. Some of the greatest treasures have nothing to do with money.

Daily Manna

Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. Exodus 16:4 –

“I will rain down bread from heaven for you” Ah and behold this small passage is so full of truth on every level. Spiritual providence and graces come to us from heaven! Only God can send strength and fresh hope we need, “His mercies are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22) and he alone has power to speak and strengthen the weary soul

The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.

Isaiah 50:4

The manna the Israelites ate though represented to “physical provision” and met a tangible need for food. We are told by Jesus himself to pray “Give us today our daily bread” and God is in the business of not only just meeting spiritual soul needs but knows how to provide physical and material needs too.

Manna from above we could rightly conclude is all God’s provision he sends, whether the physical or tangible, as well as the spiritual. We are both creatures of spiritual needs as well as dependent on physical provision too- such as food, shelter, clothes and other life necessities. We can trust the Lord to take care of us as he sees best one day at a time. Shall we think God who gave us “The bread from heaven” (Christ Jesus) and withold other things we need?

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

John 6:35-42 –

To have Jesus Christ is to have everything we truly need. If we have Christ, every promise of God is “Yes and amen”

Meaning every promise in Scripture can be applied to ourselves by faith. Provided we use proper context in claiming such treasured promises. We must do our diligence to understand what exactly is being said and see if we are doing our part in promises that God has certain conditions and requirements for. Yet apart from faith and relationship in Christ these promises cannot be claimed- no more than you can claim someone’s great wealth or home without being in relationship with them. Yet if your married to Christ, he will provide from His good supply all we truly need, and many things too that we enjoy. (1 Timothy 6:17)