Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 9, 2009

Endurance

As some of you may know, I am daily reading through Scripture in its order.  Today’s devotion included Hebrews 10:36-39.  I have added emphasis to the following Scripture passages by bold italics to emphasize our need of endurance. 
                                                                                                    
“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. 
    FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,
    HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. 
    BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH;
    AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”  Hebrews 10:36-39. 
                                                                         
When we consider endurance, we tend to think of a race, a long race, maybe as long as a marathon.  “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”  Hebrews 12:1. 
 
There may some of you who are long-distance runners.  You may not be as scared or apprehensive of the word “endurance” as some of the rest of us.
 
But, we cannot ignore the call for endurance.  There are other Scripture passages that likewise call for endurance. 
 
“You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.”  Matthew 10:22.
 
“But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”  Matthew 24:13. 
 
“By your endurance you will gain your lives.”  Luke 21:19. 
 
We may not like the call for endurance.  But, we clearly need endurance.  So, how do we get such endurance?
 
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”  James 1:2-4. 
 
The testing of our faith produces endurance.  God provides for situations that test our faith.  We must view such trials as opportunities to gain endurance.  These trials should not cause us to panic and question God’s love for us.  But rather, we should continue to trust God knowing that He is in total control and will work in us the faith that can stand the testing by fire.  
 
“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,”  I Peter 1:6-8. 
 
In conclusion, Hebrews 12:1-2 puts it all together for us:  “… let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith …”  How do we run with endurance?  We fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.  Thank you.                                                    

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 8, 2009

Christ’s Blood – How do we regard it? A severe warning in Hebrews 10:26-31.

As some of you may know, I am daily reading through Scripture in its order.  Today’s devotion included Hebrews 10:26-31.

                                          

“For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said: “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:26-31.

                                              

 

I think this Scripture applies to Arminians who steadfastly continue to hang on to Arminianism despite receiving knowledge of the truth of Calvinism. They hang on to the false doctrine that Jesus died for everyone (“Universal Atonement” – The Third Point of Arminianism) and they love to speak about the power in Christ’s blood. But, Arminians realize that their doctrine forces them to conclude that Christ’s blood (as they claim, shed for everyone) by itself did not save, “purchase”, or “redeem” anyone, because they admit that most people are not saved. Arminians claim that it is up to man to generate his own faith through his own free will in order to make Christ’s blood effective to save. They claim that the only difference between the saved and the unsaved is not Christ’s blood, because everyone gets the blood, but rather the only difference is whether or not a certain individual will generate his own faith through his own free will to make the blood effective. According to this logic of these Arminians, man’s faith, not Christ’s blood, is the determining factor as to whether or not one will be saved. 

 

Because Arminians talk about the blood all the time, it is true that in a sense they are trampling it, not in the sense of being hateful to it but in the sense of treating it as ineffective by itself, like the description in Matthew 5: 13: “…if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.”

                                               

 

This Hebrews 10:26-31 Scripture does not apply to the person who steadfastly rejects Christ. That person did not receive the knowledge of truth as stated in Hebrews 10:26. That person is not sanctified, so to speak, as is stated in Hebrews 10:29. That person does not talk about the blood of Christ. Rather, this Hebrews 10:26-31 Scripture speaks about those received or were exposed to knowledge of the truth and were sanctified so to speak but nevertheless denied the power of the blood and insulted the Spirit of grace. Rather, this Scripture applies to Arminians who love to talk about Christ’s blood all the time, but who really treat Christ’s blood as ineffective by itself , that it does not actually “save”, “purchase”, nor “redeem” anyone, because they teach that most people are not saved and that it is up to man to generate his own faith through his own free will in order to make Christ’s blood effective to save.

 

 

Likewise, the Arminian can be compared to the one who insults the Spirit of Grace as is mentioned above in Hebrews 10:29. Think of a situation in which your father took you out to a very expensive dinner and even left the tip in addition. However, you did not think that the tip was sufficient so you add your $5 to the tip. Wouldn’t your father be insulted that you thought that what he did was not enough? Likewise, Arminians insult God by their doctrine that believes that the blood of Christ is not enough, they feel that they must add their own tip of faith. The Calvinist thinks of faith as a gift of God; the Arminian thinks that faith is their own gift to God which is necessary to secure salvation. 

 

In any event, we must remember that salvation is not ultimately dependent on our “free will” attitude or actions, even how we regard Christ’s blood.  Hebrews 9:15 confirms so many Scripture passages that it is those who have been called who may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.  Even though we should be wise and careful (even trembling in fear) as to how we regard Christ’s blood, ultimately salvation is given to those who have been called which are the elect.  “For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”  Hebrews 9:15 (Emphasis added). 

 

In conclusion, let us carefully consider and heed the severe warning in Hebrews 10:26-31.  Let us trust the Holy Spirit and follow the Holy Spirit who guides us, the elect, into all truth, particularly as to how we view Christ’s blood.  John 16: 13 describes the work of the Holy Spirit in the saved: “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; …”  

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 5, 2009

“By this will”

As some of you may know, I am daily reading through Scripture in its order.  Today’s devotion included Hebrews 10:9-10:  “then He said, “BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second.  By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”  Hebrews 10:9-10.  (Emphasis added). 

“Christianity” can be divided into two groups, using the term very loosely and not in a way that confirms that everyone in these two groups is truly a Christian.  Although there are these two groups, there is a wide range in each group and some movement in and out of each other’s group.  First, there is the group of those who focus on “we” and what “we” should do.  This group tends to be Arminian a/k/a non-Reformed.  Second, there is the group who focuses on “God” and what “God” has done.  This group tends to be Calvinists a/k/a Reformed.  The purpose of this short post is to briefly and generally consider the existence of these two groups and their focus and how they each might approach this Scripture.  However, if you want to read more in depth about how important it is to believe and teach the true doctrine of salvation –  Click here to learn how Calvinism is the true doctrine of salvation .  

For example, the Arminian a/k/a non-Reformed group in their review of this Hebrews 10:9-10 passage and other similar passages would tend to focus on “we” and what “we” should do.  They would tend to focus on our knowledge of God’s will and our performance as to whether or not “we do God’s will”.   

On the other hand, the Calvinists a/k/a Reformed in their review of this Hebrews 10:9-10 passage would tend to focus on “God” and what “God” has done.  They would notice the emphasis on God’s will by the phrase “By this will”.  They would notice that this phrase “By this will” gives credit to God the Father for our sanctification even though the means is “through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all”. 

The first point of this post is to “paint in broad strokes”, because there may be some  who dismiss the Calvinists a/k/a Reformed as “just a small group of Christians”.  Although Calvinists a/k/a Reformed may be small in numbers, there is this fundamental and important sharp contrast of focus between the groups that deserves thoughtful consideration, rather than a quick dismissal of the smaller group. 

The second point of this post is to emphasize this phrase “By this will” as teaching that “God’s will” should be considered as something that has been accomplished or will be accomplished such that it deserves praise and glory from us, just because it is God’s will.  We don’t need to wait until “God’s will” is accomplished or totally revealed and understood.  We should praise God and glorify God for His will without waiting to see whether or not it will be accomplished or totally revealed and understood.  

Yes, we should praise and glorify God for what He has done such as the following Scriptures state: 

Psalm 52:9
I will give You thanks forever, because You have done it, And I will wait on Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your godly ones.
                                                                   
Psalm 64:9
Then all men will fear, And they will declare the work of God, And will consider what He has done.
 
Psalm 66:16
Come and hear, all who fear God, And I will tell of what He has done for my soul.
                                                                          
Psalm 78:4
We will not conceal them from their children, But tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.
 
Psalm 92:4
For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.
 
 
But, we should also praise and glorify God for His will, knowing that His will is perfect and will be done .
 
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.  (Emphasis added).
 
Philippians 1:6
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
                                                            
Hebrews 10:14
For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
                                                                      
                                                                         
“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”   Revelation 4: 11.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | April 3, 2009

To serve the living God

As some of you may know, I am daily reading through Scripture in its order.  Today’s devotion included Hebrews 9:14.  “how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”  Hebrews 9:14.  (Emphasis added). 
 
Calvin, in his commentary on the phrase “From dead works” and the phrase “To serve the living God” in Hebrews 9:14 states:
 
“From dead works, etc. Understand by these either such works as produce death, or such as are the fruits or effects of death; for as the life of the soul is our union with God, so they who are alienated from him through sin may be justly deemed to be dead.”  (Emphasis added).
 
“To serve the living God. This, we must observe, is the end of our purgation; for we are not washed by Christ, that we may plunge ourselves again into new filth, but that our purity may serve to glorify God. Besides, he teaches us, that nothing can proceed from us that can be pleasing to God until we are purified by the blood of Christ; for as we are all enemies to God before our reconciliation, so he regards as abominable all our works; hence the beginning of acceptable service is reconciliation. And then, as no work is so pure and so free from stains, that it can of itself please God, it is necessary that the purgation through the blood of Christ should intervene, which alone can efface all stains. And there is a striking contrast between the living God and dead works.”  (Emphasis added). 
 
 
Not only is there a “striking contrast between the living God and dead works”, there is a striking contrast between one who serves the living God through a life that has been reconciled and in union with God, compared to one who does dead works through a “life” that has been alienated from God, which “life” may be justly deemed to be dead. 
 
This is the attitude and actions of one who serves the living God through a life that has been reconciled and in union with God:
“I delight to do Your will, O my God;
         Your Law is within my heart.” 
I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation;
         Behold, I will not restrain my lips,
         O LORD, You know. 
I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
         I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
         I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.” 
Psalm 40:8-10. 
 
This is the attitude and actions of one doing dead works through a life that has been alienated from God, that may be justly deemed to be dead. 
” ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ ”  Luke 18:11-12. 
 
Romans 8:11-15 puts it all together.  It compares the one who “lives according to the flesh”, such as one who tries to perfect himself through his own actions of doing works in slavery to the Law, compared to the one who is “led by the Spirit of God”, such as the one who depends on the Holy Spirit within him to enable him to serve the living God.    
 
“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.  So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh–for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”  Romans 8-11-15.    
 
The one who serves the living God has vibrant, productive life in his mortal body.  He has love, joy, and peace, and the rest of the fruit of the Spirit.  God is at work in him, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2: 13.  He serves the living God, not out of fear or a spirit of slavery, but out of the power of God within him, out of boldness, and out of a spirit of tender love to his Father, the living God. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 30, 2009

Jesus Christ, our High Priest, always lives to make intercession for us.

I always enjoy reading the “Quotes to Consider” in the Sunday Ballymena Bulletin of the Covenant Protestant Reformed Church.  Here is the link to the many resources of that church –
 
Here is the quote –   

John Owen on Hebrews 9:24: “This continual appearance of the Lord Christ for us, as our high priest in the presence of God, in the way explained, is the foundation of the safety of the church in all ages, and that whereon all our consolation doth depend; whence relief is derived by faith on all occasions. The consideration hereof being rightly improved will carry us through all difficulties, temptations, and trials, with safety unto the end.”

This quote reminded me of my devotion for today which included Hebrews 7:18-25.

“18  For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

19  (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

20  And inasmuch as it was not without an oath

21  (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,
         “THE LORD HAS SWORN
         AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND,
         ‘YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER'”);

22  so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

23  The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing,

24  but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.

25  Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”  Hebrews 7:18-25.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 27, 2009

“Perseverance of the Saints” also known as “Preservation of the Saints”

As some of you may know, I am daily reading through Scripture in its order.  Today’s devotion included Hebrews 6:4-6. 
 
“For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.”  Hebrews 6:4-6. 
 
There are those Arminians and others of similar thought who use this Scripture to support their belief that true Christians can fall from grace.  This is in contrast to Calvinists who believe in “Perseverance of the Saints” also known as “Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” in “TULIP”.     
 
Calvin, in his Commentary on this Scripture, denies that the elect can fall from grace and states:  “The elect are also beyond the danger of finally falling away; for the Father who gave them to be preserved by Christ his Son is greater than all, and Christ promises to watch over them all so that none may perish. To all this I answer, That God indeed favors none but the elect alone with the Spirit of regeneration, and that by this they are distinguished from the reprobate; for they are renewed after his image and receive the earnest of the Spirit in hope of the future inheritance, and by the same Spirit the Gospel is sealed in their hearts. But I cannot admit that all this is any reason why he should not grant the reprobate also some taste of his grace, why he should not irradiate their minds with some sparks of his light, why he should not give them some perception of his goodness, and in some sort engrave his word on their hearts. Otherwise, where would be the temporal faith mentioned by Mark 4:17? There is therefore some knowledge even in the reprobate, which afterwards vanishes away, either because it did not strike roots sufficiently deep, or because it withers, being choked up.”
 
I agree with Calvin (for whatever little worth that is) and add that I do see this practice in some people who maintain that they are Christians.  They continually love to repent, usually in a showy and emotional part of a worship service in which they come down to the altar steps to cry and repent, week after week, and yet their lives show that they do not truly turn away from their sin.  In a sense, you could say that these people are “enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come”, because they observed and even participated in the worship services. 
 
In essence, these people trust themselves and their own showy actions of repentance rather than truly trust Jesus Christ and His work of atonement, regeneration, and sanctification.  In essence, these people trust their own “free will” rather than trust “Irresistible Grace” and that “Perseverance of the Saints” also known as “Preservation of the Saints”, the “I” and “P” in “TULIP”. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 25, 2009

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace.

As some of you may know, I am daily reading through Scripture in its order.  Today’s devotion included Hebrews 4:12-16. 
 
The momentum and pressure has been building in Hebrews to this climax.  We have read about God the Father proving the nature, excellence, and authority of His Son, Jesus Christ in Chapter 1 of Hebrews.  We have read about how Jesus Christ is our perfect High Priest in Chapters 2 and 3 of Hebrews.  We have read about the perils of unbelief in Chapter 3 of Hebrews.  We have read about the believer’s rest in Chapter 4 of Hebrews.  And now, we come to the climax “Therefore” of Hebrews 4:16.
 
“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:16.  
 
So, what mercy and grace do you need today?  For me, I think of what I needed and got on my knees to pray at 4:00 a.m. this morning. 
 
All of Hebrews has been building to this point of confidence.  We can have confidence.  We should have confidence.  Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace.
 
It is shamefully ironic that we, as Reformed people, are the first to pound the table on man’s “Total Depravity”, but we too often inconsistently act as if we don’t need God’s mercy and grace.  We shamefully act as if we think:  “We are too righteous and too independent to need God’s mercy and grace.  Our neighbor Mary may need it, but we took care of ourselves and don’t need God’s mercy and grace.”  Or, we think:  “We just need salvation.  I am good at doing this and doing that.  I raised my family right.  We will take care of everything else by ourselves.  Thank you.”
 
But, deep down in our minds and hearts, we really know that we and each member of our family need God’s mercy and grace every moment of every day.  We need help every moment of every day. 
 
One of the beautiful things about children is that they are not ashamed to ask for what they need.  They are not ashamed to honor their parents, their teachers, and adults in position to help them.  The children simply ask for all kinds of “graces”, and they receive all kinds of “graces”. 
 
In the following three verses, Scripture tells us that the kingdom of God belong to people like children:
Matthew 19:14:
“But Jesus said, ” Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Mark 10:14:
“But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Luke 18:16:
“But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
 
Compare the Publican who asked for mercy and who received mercy with the Pharisee who asked for nothing and received nothing.  “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. ”  Luke 18:13-14.
 
In conclusion, let us be like children and ask for “graces”.  Let us be like the Publican and ask for mercy.  Let us remember that this is what Hebrews is trying to do to help us.  Hebrews is building our confidence in Christ, so that we will ask Him for the mercy and grace that we need.  Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 23, 2009

Encourage one another

As some of you may know, I am daily reading through Scripture in its order.  Today’s devotion included Hebrews 3:12-14:  “Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.  But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.  For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,”
 
We too often think of sin just as something that we do or don’t do.  We  think of caving into sin and doing something that we should not do.  Or, we think that we sin by failing to do something that we should do.  Our lives are ruled by legalism, a list of “do’s” and “don’ts”. 
 
Although sin certainly does include a violation of those rules or commandments, this Scripture talks about a different kind of sin which is the sin of unbelief.  Verse 13 speaks about “the deceitfulness” of unbelief and how we can be hardened by it. 
                                                        
The rest of the chapter speaks about what happened to Israel who fell into this sin of disbelief.  Israel was forced to wander 40 years in the desert and die in the desert without being able to enter Canaan, the Promised Land, because of their sin of unbelief.     “For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses?  And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?  And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient?  So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.”  Hebrews 3:16-19.  
 
We tend to dismiss Israel without learning their lesson.  We think:  “Here, God had performed all those miracles to deliver Israel from their bondage in Egypt, and yet Israel still did not trust God.  Tsk!  Tsk!”.  But, how often do we also likewise sin by our unbelief!  How deceitful this sin of unbelief is!
 
Yesterday, I see this sin of unbelief in myself in spite of how much God had done for me.  Here, yesterday, God had so encouraged me by Professor Gritters’ sermon.  Here, yesterday, God had so encouraged me by the Scripture that “All is ours”.  Here, yesterday, God had so encouraged me by all the examples of tender mercies.  Here, yesterday, God had so encouraged me by the email that I sent to you all.  Here, yesterday, God so encouraged me by the Sunday evening worship service.  And yet, the sin of disbelief so deceitfully snuck up behind me and whispered in my ears:  “You are still coughing.  God doesn’t care for you.  The Sabbath is just about over.  You did all the things you were supposed to do, and yet you are still coughing.  Entertain yourself by TV and the Internet.”
 
And so I did.  I tried to entertain myself by TV and the Internet.  
 
But God, who is so gracious and merciful, whispered in my ears:  “Read tomorrow’s devotion.”  And so I did, I particularly focused on verse 14:  “For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,”  I thought:  “Wow!  This is a warning!!!  I better remember God’s promises!  I better believe and hold fast to God’s promises!”
 
And so, I read my email to you over again, time and time again.  I focused on paragraph 7:  “In summary, no matter what tough economic times we face, no matter what health problems we face even through the point of death, “All things are mine!” and “All things are yours!”  God causes all these things to work together for our good.  Many times, God draws closer to us to comfort us, or at least it feels that way during these tough times.  Many times, God uses these tough times to make us appreciate little things more, like sleep and a good breath.  Many times, God uses these tough times to build our faith which is more precious than gold.”
 
And then, I ignored my cough.  I did not go back to the TV or Internet.  I kept thinking about God’s  promises.  I was happy to find a new way of sleeping upright, and I went to sleep.  
 
I don’t remember coughing last night from about 2:00 a.m. till 7:00 a.m.  I slept well.  I feel rested.  This morning, as I read the devotion, I did not cough.  Later, I coughed some but not as much.  In summary, I am thankful for these tender mercies and for overall the big improvement.  
 
But, I want to write again to build my faith and to build your faith.  I read:  “Encourage one another.”, and I think how true that is!  All of us need to encourage each other every day, and as much as we can, we need to encourage each other multiple times each day. 
 
But, we also need to resist the sin of unbelief.  We need to “hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end”. 
 
How do we hold fast our assurance?  First, we recognize how serious the sin of unbelief is.  Second, we focus on God and His promises.  Third, we ignore anything that tempts us to not trust God.  Fourth, we build up our faith by remembering what God has done for us.  Fifth, we read God’s Word and pray.  Sixth, we encourage each other.  Seventh, we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.  Hebrews 12:2.                             

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 15, 2009

Zealous, ready, and careful for good deeds

As some of you may know, I am daily reading through Scripture in its order.  Today’s devotion and the last few devotions contained these three verses about being zealous and ready and careful for good deeds.
 
“who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”  Titus 2:14 
 
“Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed.”  Titus 3:1.
 
“This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.”  Titus 3:8. 
 
I have a German Short-Haired Pointer Dog named Sam.  That dog, Sam, was “born to run”.  When Sam runs, it looks to me like he is smiling.  It is a beautiful thing to watch Sam so zealous to run.
 
We too were “born to run”, so to speak.  There are good deeds that we were born to do.  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.  Each of us have different good works that we were born to do.   
 
When I walk out of my bedroom in the morning, I will bring out either one of two athletic shoes:  one is for the gym and the other is for a walk around the park in which I will take Sam.  Sam sits right in front of my bedroom door and is entirely ready for me to come out of that door.  If I bring out the gym shoes, he immediately knows and walks away, very slowly and very disappointed, to his bed.  However, if I bring out the “walking” shoes, he immediately gets so excited.  He runs around in circles and leads me to the leash.  It is a beautiful thing to watch Sam so ready to go on a walk.
 
We too are ready for every good deed.  We look for opportunities to do those good deeds.  When I read my daily devotion, I think:  “Is there anything in here about which I should write?”  I have my daily devotion in the morning, so there is time to write. 
 
So, I start my walk with Sam.  Sam first bolts down the driveway as if he is going to take off without me, but he immediately turns around on a dime and runs to me as if he is thinking:  “Are you coming?  Are you coming?”  Sam does this about five or so times until we are past the driveway and on the street at which point Sam knows that he is definitely on his walk.  Sam is careful to make sure that he is going on that walk.   It is a beautiful thing to watch Sam so careful to go on a walk.   
 
We too are careful to engage in good deeds.  My best friend Harry met a small young girl without legs whom he taught in Sunday School.  He got to meet her family who adopted her, and he got their permission to take her and her brother “on walks” in or around the dunes of Lake Michigan.  He would carry her on his back.  When I complemented Harry on this good deed, he shrugged and said:  “She never complains.  She is always so cheerful.  In any event, I just got to do it.  I do it for myself as much as I do it for her.”  Harry is careful to engage in good deeds.  
 
Trust Christ who makes you zealous, ready, and careful for every good deed.  “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.   
 
“How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” ”  Isaiah 52:7.
                                                                     
Isn’t that what we are zealous, ready, and careful to do?! 
Yes!  We bring good news.  We announce peace.  We bring good news of happiness.  We announce salvation.  We say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
It is a beautiful thing to watch.   

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 12, 2009

Freely give

We have been freely given so many blessings from God, both earthly and spiritual blessings.  We don’t even know all of the blessings that we have received.  God gives to His beloved even in his sleep.  Psalm 127:2.  I think this verse carries two meanings:  God gives us good sleep as a blessing, and God gives us blessings even while we sleep.  God even gives us “…  the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,”  1 Corinthians 2:12.  In summary, Romans 8:32 presents us with this most beautiful logic:  “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”
 
So, let us not hold our blessings with a tight fist close to our chest as if those are the only blessings that we will ever receive from God.  Let us trust God that He will refill us with blessings.  Let us freely give and use the blessings, both earthly and spiritual, for the good of others.  Let us trust God to replenish us.
 
Matthew 10:8 commands:  “”Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.”  The message for us in this verse is to be extravagant.  We should shock others by what great things we do for them and how much we do for them.
 
The man who fears the LORD “has given freely to the poor, His righteousness endures forever;  His horn will be exalted in honor.”  Psalm 112:9. 
 
What prompted this article was two things.  First, I recognized in myself and other Reformed people a tendency to get smug.  We are content to be in our “elect bubble” and “Tsk!  Tsk!” the rest of the world that we see plunging into all kinds of misery.  I didn’t like my attitude when I read about the coming evangelical collapse in a March 10, 2009 article in the Christian Science Monitor.  Second, I received mercy from my instructor in my “Zumba” exercise class today.  I had been recovering from a cough, but I was still very much out of it and could not keep up.  I was completely “out of sinc” and even had to walk out of the class a couple of times.  Rather than making me feel that I should not have tried to be in class today, my instructor showed great kindness by making me feel like she was glad that I was in the class and by slowing down and showing me how to do the movement. 
 
“Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man?  The lovingkindness of God endures all day long.”  Psalm 52:1.  Our lovingkindness should also endure all day long. 
 
We are too quick to pronounce the end of the world and give up on people.  Instead, we should be like God who so patiently deals with all kinds of sinful people:  elect and non-elect.  Upon the elect, God lavishes the riches of grace.  See Ephesians 1:3-8.  Even upon the non-elect, although without grace toward them, God “endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction”.  Romans 9:22.
 
But, let God judge.  It is our duty to love our neighbor.  Let us shock the world by how freely we give.    

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