Our Approach

 On this Sabbath we begin worship with:

Hebrews 10:19-22a

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith . . .

How often do we do anything with confidence?  Do you trust your latest decision, action, or purchase?  Has COVID not filled our life with a series of daily concerns?  Did we wash enough?  Are they sitting far enough away?  Will my company survive the pandemic?  Will the vaccine  work?

But in this verse the confidence is not in ourselves or our circumstances.  It is in our Savior.  He has opened a new way to the very mercy set of God.  His blood.  His righteousness.  He has accomplished what was necessary.

That said, the verse does command us to do something.  We are not to be idle or passive.  We must “ draw near”.  And that we must do it with a “true”(alēthinos) heart.  

The idea here is that what is on the outside is the same as what is on the inside.  Recently a cruel picture of a Krispy Kreme box of donuts was circulated on social media, which when opened revealed celery and carrots all neatly arranged complete with a side of ranch dressing!

Unlike that, we should make our approach being sincere in our preparation.  As you worship today, take this moment to align your heart for the task that was so important that the blood of our savior Jesus Christ was spilt.

Thy kingdom

This morning we begin worship seeking:

Luke 12:29–31

And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

But when you are in the army, you do not worry about what you are going to eat, or what you are going to wear, or where you are going to sleep.  That is all provided for you.  We are in God's army and in His kingdom.

But somehow we are to "seek" the kingdom.  One can seek (zēteō) by locating, by thinking, by striving, or by demanding.  We are told later that it certainly does not need to be "found":

Luke 17:20–21

Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

But people stumble on this word "midst" (entos) and are still trying to find it.  Like when you are staring into the fridge looking for the pickles and your wife yells from the other room "They are right there!".  God's kingdom is never found by looking.  Jesus used the word to explain that it had already come not where it was to be found.

So we need to stop using the phrase "where is it?" and switch to "what is it?" in our seeking.

Simply understood, a kingdom is where the will of the king is done.  Anywhere the king's will is not done is not part of the kingdom.  That is why these two phrases were spoken together:

Matthew 6:10

Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven.

Search me

 This morning to begin worship we read:

Jeremiah 23:24

Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.

One of Job's friends, Eliphaz, thought that God could not see through dark clouds (Job 22:13-14).  Laban thought that his god could be stolen (Genesis 31:30)!  But when David explored God's omnipresence in Psalm 139, he was awestruck:

Psalm 139:6

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

    it is high; I cannot attain it.

When his thoughts settled, he knew how this great truth could be used:

Psalm 139:23-24

Search me, O God, and know my heart!

    Try me and know my thoughts!

And see if there be any grievous way in me,

    and lead me in the way everlasting!

You see, in every dark alley, in every corporate boardroom, at every dinner table, at every marital spat, on every walk with a child, in front of every internet screen, between you and the COVID virus, . . . is God.

Two loaves

 This morning we read in preparation for worship:

Psalms 37:7

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;

    fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,

    over the man who carries out evil devices!

The english word "fret" might be a little light.  It describes the bubbling of fermentation.  The Hebrew word charah describes a burning fire of your own making.   You look to your neighbor's condition and burn with envy.  You follow the rules.  They don't.  They prosper with immediate satisfaction.  You are asked to wait!

Many years ago, after nine years serving at the home office of the SIM missionary agency, I was let go as a prudent cost-cutting measure when software became available off the shelf.  We found ourselves unemployed and with small children.  Yes, I "fretted".  

But one morning, during quiet time, I read this Psalm.  Then I went to church to pick up groceries that the women of children's ministry purchased for us.  Two large paper bags (remember them?).  To pick them up I had to bear hug the pair of them.  I could barely see over the top of them because sticking out the top were loaves of fresh bread that criss-crossed my face.

Psalm 37:25-26

I have been young, and now am old,

    yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken

    or his children begging for bread.

He is ever lending generously,

    and his children become a blessing.

Not only does the LORD care for our current circumstances, this Psalm reminds us that those circumstances must be held in an eternal perspective.

Psalm 37:28

For the Lord loves justice;

    he will not forsake his saints.

They are preserved forever,

    but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.

Evil will end.  What we will enjoy will not.