7/25/2025
"Whether you turn to the right or to the left,
your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying,
'This is the way; walk in it.'"
Isaiah 30:21
For the last three or four days I have been unable to rest my legs, making it extremely difficult to focus on my blogs. By the time I get around to finishing my thoughts, I cannot make sense of them with all the discomfort. It's easy to become discouraged, but I do believe that there is something I am to learn from this period of inconvenience, my little "aside," I call it. My devotional calls it "a fork in the road." Life hands us opportunities to challenge our thinking, and God uses them to see what we're made of, if we mean what we say. This is just a speculation on my part, but I know that God allows little roadside circumstances, perhaps distractions, to test our tenacity. Even the Apostle Paul had his moments:
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed - always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
In my study of the book of Hebrews using Andrew Murray's classic guide, The Holiest of All, I have been inching through the verses line by line, as the writer brings life to each syllable, each thought, provoking deep reflection on my part. Chapter 9 compares the earthly tabernacle with ordinances of service, limited under the first covenant. The priest was the only one allowed to go beyond the veil to the altar of God, and then only once a year. Before going in, he had to atone for his own sins, before he could do so for the people, and he had to be first sprinkled by the blood of a spotless animal himself before bearing the sins of the people. The heavenly sanctuary with Jesus Christ as the Great High Priest has no such ordinances, because He became the spotless Lamb, His blood offered as the atonement for our sins. Verse 14, "how much more shall the blood of Christ cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God." It is hard to wrap my mind around the idea that because of Jesus, we who serve Him, share in His sacrifice, becoming priests, as part of His inheritance. I'm not even certain that I can express in my own words the depth of what the author of Hebrews is saying. In 1 Peter 2 we, who are believers in Christ, are called "living stones," being built up into a spiritual house - a holy priesthood. Verse 9 is a well-known verse: "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
As I continue to stand in prayer with Israel as this war continues, seemingly without end, sensing the deep suffering of the people, the turmoil of the government, I have felt so unworthy to consider myself chosen, as part of their inheritance. I know that because of the mercy of Jesus, in extending this great blessing to Gentiles believers, I have a part in the scheme of things, prophetically speaking. I understand that the Bible was written by the Jewish people, chronicling the history of their life and suffering, the story of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation, and I realize that only because of my acceptance of Jesus Christ as Messiah and my belief in the report of the apostles He taught, that I have been grafted into the family of God. It all comes through His shed blood, the price He paid for our sins, and because of the rejection of His own people, the chosen race of Israel, Gentile believers have been given a chance to be part of the story. This is indeed glorious news to a believer who through faith receives the report. But, we have a calling to stand beside the chosen race of Israel, encouraging, strengthening with our prayers, and tangibly offering assistance as able. Not all know Christ, so not all understand the hope they have to endure this suffering, their inconsolable grief consumes them. Our faith gives them hope, and hopefully opens their eyes to the gospel, the living, breathing word of life - Jesus Christ the Messiah.
In summarizing this one verse of scripture from Hebrews 9:14, this is what I know to be true, because I have accepted the free gift of salvation through His death, burial, and resurrection, and I have surrendered my life to be used by Him:
"Jesus owns me. Although I live in the flesh, I am not my own. My inward man grows, though outwardly, I perish."
"Spiritual man outgrows the physical body, but I do not lose hope even though the heart may faint."
"Inwardly I am being refreshed day by day."
One day I will finish my race, and receive the prize of the high calling of Jesus Christ. Andrew Murray's last words of encouragement to the reader encourages me to stay the course:
"Oh to realize it! Christ went into the Holiest, not for Himself, but for us. And we go in, too, by His blood and in His Spirit, not only for ourselves but for others."
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