Hebrews, a great High Priest, and grace, grace, grace

Been reading Hebrews a lot lately with new eyes. I think this is the most enjoyable read I've had through this book... it seems to come alive and rich with meaning. Freedom from dead works and alive in Christ, our great High Priest who was also the perfect sacrifice for all mankind... the final and everlasting atonement for our sin, and the eternal living hope of salvation through His death, resurrection, and His promise to return. There is really so much but not enough time to unpack it all. If you are wrestling with defeat, self-righteousness, discouragement, legalism.... read Hebrews. Come and fall down at the feet of our compassionate High Priest who was tempted but without sin in every way so that He could sympathize with our many weaknesses.

The Lord is overwhelmingly merciful and gracious to us - come, confess your inability to overcome the curse of sin on your own, repent of your self-worship and idolatry, and call on Christ to become your Lord, your Master. He alone has the power to overcome your sinfulness that grips you with death - Christ has the power to release the clutches of death from your soul and breathe life into you, life now and forever. Recognize that true life is knowing God and His Son Jesus Christ whom God sent (John 17:3). By His character and person God defines goodness, holiness, beauty, and love. He sustains every heartbeat, every breath, every fragile life - He is Creator, and He is more than deserving of our total worship and obedience.

When you become in Christ, He begins to break the old mold of death and sin and mold you into the image of Christ - you become like Him! As you fill your mind with who God is in Scripture, remain in constant communication with Him in prayer, and walk in obedience by loving the Lord with everything in us (Deuteronomy 6:4-5),He begins to change your desires and motives. As trials and difficulties come and tear away our past confidences and idols that we have worshipped with our time, attention, and energy (anything we place before the Lord and His commands is an idol), we ache and hurt but we trust that if we are in Christ then it is certainly for our good - that we are somehow becoming more conformed to His image, that God is being exalted and glorified.

We begin to find true joy and peace because our greatest need is fulfilled - peace with God. When we center our lives in Christ, everything else falls into place. We begin to trust the Lord through difficult times and through times of blessing. We constantly bow before our Lord, thanking Him for every moment of our lives no matter how it may inconvenience or frustrate us. Father, forgive me for not fighting for faith as I should. By Your grace, teach me in every moment to place Christ in the center: at work, in school, in relationships, in going to the grocery store, in free time, in ALL things may You be glorified (1 Corthinthians 10:31).

Speaking of God's glory and grace upon grace, I am also going to post a few pictures that Lisa took of Jason and me last week. We don't have many recent pictures of the two of us, so here are a few fun ones. The fact that Jason and I are getting married is another testimony of the grace of God and the redemptive power of the cross in two lives. We are both so grateful for the Lord's work in our lives and how He continues to conform us to the image of Christ through each other. Enjoy the pictures, and please take some time today to consider the power of the Gospel and how it can and is changing your life.