One Year Book of Devotions for Men Part 25

If people only attend church at Christmas and Easter, it is quite possible that they will never get further than thinking about Jesus as a baby who was born in a stable and cradled in a manger, who grew up, was crucified and rose again, and more or less disappeared from the scene, leaving some very good teachings that should not be taken too seriously.

But many people who attend church on a regular basisa"not just at Christmas and Eastera"often miss out on another important dimension of the Savioras ministrya"that which is celebrated on Ascension Day. The full significance of the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus cannot be grasped without a solid understanding of the continuing ministry of the risen Lord. His work did not end when he rose again from the dead. He returned to heaven where he continues his ministry to this daya"and forever.

Drawing from the rich history of the Jewish people, the writer of Hebrews compared the work of the risen Lord with that of a human priest. One of the obvious disadvantages of a human priest is that he is susceptible to death, and when he succ.u.mbs, his priestly ministry is terminated. Jesus, however, is aa priest forevera (Heb. 7:17). His continuing priesthood is exercised in athe power of a life that cannot be destroyeda (7:16), and ahis priesthood will never enda (7:24). In practical terms this means that he can save people aonce and forevera (7:25), because his priesthood knows no end or interruption.

Those who have come to faith in the Lord Jesus can say with a.s.surance that they have been saved. They know this as a past experience. But they need more than that. They must face life on a daily basis, and they will continually come up against things that will rob them of their joy and hinder them in their growth. They need to know what it is to be saved on an ongoing basis. They need not just a salvation in the past, but also an experience of spiritual deliverance in the present. To make this possible, Jesus alives forever to plead with G.o.d on their behalfa (7:25), in order to apply the benefits of his death on a daily basis to those who believe in him.

Being aware that the Lord Jesus is, at any given moment, praying for him will alert a Christian man to the supply of divine resources available to him in response to Jesusa intercession. Secure in this knowledge, he will be better equipped to live wisely and well on a daily basis. And heall enjoy the benefits of Christmas and Easter daily, not just annually.

June 16

TO READ: Hebrews 8:1-13

When G.o.d Says aI Willa

aBut this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds so they will understand them, and I will write them on their hearts so they will obey them. I will be their G.o.d, and they will be my people.a Hebrews 8:10

In the traditional marriage service, the minister asks the groom, aWill you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?a To this question the groom is required to answer, aI will.a Similar questions are then addressed to the bride. Following the answer aI willa and the saying of vows, the couple are declared man and wife. The marriage covenant has been established. If both of them keep their promises, they stand to live a life of mutual enrichment, delight, and support. But sadly, the aI willa often turns into aI wonat.a The covenant is broken, the marriage is dissolved, and the family disintegrates.

Israel had repeatedly broken the covenant that G.o.d had entered into with them, but G.o.d had not given up on his recalcitrant people. He proposed a anew covenanta in which he made many aI willa promises. These promises need to be understood and embraced.

aI will make a new covenanta (Heb. 8:8) meant that G.o.d would take an initiative that only he could take. Fallen man could not initiate a new relations.h.i.+p with an offended deity, but G.o.d could initiate a new relations.h.i.+p with his fallen creaturesa"and he did. It was a covenant of his design and his making.

aI will put my laws in their mindsa (8:10) promised to imprint the truth of G.o.das promises on the inner recesses of the minds of G.o.das people. Instead of looking at laws etched in stone, as in the old covenant, G.o.das people would always have available to them insight into the truth.

aI will write them on their heartsa (8:10) promised not only insight into what G.o.d was saying and requiring but it also guaranteed that G.o.das people would be able to respond in trusting obedience. Laws written in stone that are beyond a manas ability to obey produce only frustration. Truth written in the mind and engraved on the heart promises insight and ability and the possibility of glad fulfillment.

aI will be their G.o.da (8:10) was not a new promise, but it needed to be reiterated. G.o.das people must often have wondered about their status, given their rebellion and antipathy toward him.

aI will forgive their wrongdoingsa (8:12) spoke a merciful word to troubled hearts. To this day, G.o.d offers freedom from guilt and release from shame so that the forgiven may live in newness of life.

aI will never again remember their sinsa (8:12) offered something that no human can offer. We can promise to forgive, but we cannot promise to forget! G.o.d promises both!

Blessed is the bride whose groom keeps his aI wills.a More blessed is the man who knows the covenant G.o.d, whose aI willa will never be changed to aI wonat.a

June 17

TO READ: Hebrews 9:1-14

Behind the Curtain

So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that great, perfect sanctuary in heaven, not made by human hands and not part of this created world. Once for all time he took blood into that Most Holy Place, but not the blood of goats and calves. He took his own blood, and with it he secured our salvation forever.

Hebrews 9:11-12

When G.o.d delivered the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt, he had more in mind than redressing heinous social injustice. G.o.das intention was that the liberated people should enter the Promised Land and that they would be established there as a unique people. Their lifestyles would demonstrate to the neighboring people that the Israelites were specifically and specially set apart for G.o.d.

G.o.d wasted no time in teaching the people what this meant in the early days of the wilderness journeys. He handed down to Moses minute details concerning a special portable structure called the tabernacle, which the people had built and which would occupy a dominant position in the camp, whenever they were stationary, and in the ranks, when they marched toward their destiny. G.o.d said, aI want the people of Israel to build me a sacred residence where I can live among them. You must make this Tabernacle and its furnis.h.i.+ngs exactly according to the plans I will show youa (Exod. 25:8-9).

The details given to Moses about the architecture, materials, and furnis.h.i.+ngs seem at first glance to be both extravagant and unnecessary, in light of the fact that the escaping slaves were heading for the Promised Land. But as time would show, the details of the Tabernacle were specifically designed to model spiritual principles. The people could hardly fail to see and appreciate these principles as the tabernacle was built and as it stood prominently in their midst.

The tabernacle was divided into two sections that were separated by a thick curtain. The priests went in and out of the first section daily, but no priest was allowed to enter behind the curtain in the daily liturgy. Only the high priest could go behind the curtain, and that only on one day per year, the Day of Atonement, and then only under the strictest circ.u.mstances. The inescapable lesson for the Israelites was that the presence of G.o.d could not be entered glibly and casually. The sins of the people were offensive to a holy G.o.d, and as a result, man was separated from G.o.d and could only approach G.o.d as G.o.d himself ordained and allowed.

This dramatic ritual not only portrayed the holiness of G.o.d to the children of Israel, it prefigured the wonderful work of Christ on the cross. For when Jesus died and rose again, he entered into the unmediated presence of G.o.d as our High Priest. In so doing, he went behind the curtain into the holiest place and asecured our salvation for evera (Heb. 9:12). Only Jesus could offer ahimself to G.o.d as a perfect sacrifice for our sinsa (9:14). Therefore, only Jesus could enter the presence of G.o.d and make it possible for forgiven men to do so, too. Jesus drew back the curtain and invited forgiven men to meet G.o.d. G.o.d is no longer hidden and remote. So now, men once estranged from G.o.d by sin can enjoy through Christ an intimacy with him that satisfies their deepest longings and meets their profoundest needs.

June 18

TO READ: Psalm 36

Rivers of Delight

How precious is your unfailing love, O G.o.d! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your rivers of delight. For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.

Psalm 36:7-9

The differences between men and women have been well doc.u.menteda"and exaggerated! We are told, with some justification, that men are from Mars and women are from Venus. It should be pointed out that not all men and women fit neatly into these stellar stereotypes. Men have been sighted caring for infants and women now play rugby!

In the frontier days of America, men used to stand outside the doors of churches, purportedly to guard the wors.h.i.+ping women from marauding Indians. At least, that is what they claimed! Perhaps it was an effort to explain their traditional masculine disdain for religion and their a.s.sumption that spiritual activity was for women. aMen go to bars, women sit in pews!aa"or so the thinking went.

This kind of spiritual stereotyping is not uncommon to this day. Many men today would have difficulty imagining what David was talking about when he said of the Lord, aAll humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your rivers of delighta (Ps. 36:7-8). Talk of ashadow of your wingsa and arivers of delighta has too much of a feminine ring for testosterone-driven males.

And yet it was David, who was not lacking in traditional masculinity, who penned these words. He spoke of the Lord in contrast to his observations of men. His was a rugged life, which had included close encounters with ablind conceit,a the asinful plots,a and the acrooked and deceitfula activities of men (36:2-4). He knew enough about the way asin whispers to the wicked, deep within their heartsa and the inability of the G.o.dless to asee how wicked they really area (36:1-2) to recognize that men, for all their posturing, are not the masterful creatures they fondly imagine themselves to be.

There are qualities of character and experiences of life that men would do well to explore and discover. Qualities like unfailing love, faithfulness, righteousness, and justice (36:5-6), which enrich the life and enn.o.ble the soul. But for this to happen, men need ahonest heartsa (36:10)a"hearts honest enough to admit need and deficiency and to confess sin and unrighteousness, and humble enough to forsake postures of self-sufficiency, and realistic enough to admit the need to take ashelter in the shadow of [his] wingsa (36:7). Men need hearts that confess to spiritual thirst and unabashedly turn to the one who is athe fountain of life, the light by which we seea (36:9). To do this is not to deny masculine uniqueness. It is to discover divine fullness.

June 19

TO READ: Exodus 25:1-22

The Ark

Place inside the Ark the stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, which I will give to you. Then put the atonement cover on top of the Ark. I will meet with you there and talk to you from above the atonement cover between the gold cherubim that hover over the Ark of the Covenant. From there I will give you my commands for the people of Israel.

Exodus 25:21-22

The ark that was popularized in the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark was a small acacia wood chest approximately 3a9a long, 2a3a wide, and 2a3a high, and it was overlaid with gold. When the Jerusalem temple was destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70, the ark disappeared. Nothing is known of its whereabouts, but a lot is known about its significance. At least Hollywood got the part about its being lost correct!

The divinely-designed ark was created to symbolize the Lordas royal and holy presence, first in the tabernacle in the wilderness and later in the Jerusalem temple. G.o.d had specifically stated aI want the children of Israel to build me a sacred residence where I can live among thema (Exod. 25:8). The Lord was expressing his desire to make his presence known among his people during their earthly pilgrimage. The transcendent G.o.d, who created and upholds the universe, who dwells in brilliant and awesome glory, removed from sin and separate from sinners, desires to be known intimately and to a.s.sure his people by his presence of his love and concern for them. This is a truth that every generation should revere.

Despite the Lordas expressed desire for intimacy with his people, there was to be no thought of flippancy or casualness on their part. He was among them, but he was still holy. The ark was to be placed in the Most Holy Place, where only the high priest was allowed to enter, and that only once a year at the stipulated time and in the appropriate manner. The appropriate manner included the sprinkling of the place of meeting with the blood of an innocent sacrifice intended to wash away the sins of the people. The lid of the ark, which incorporated two hammered gold acherubim,a was known as the aatonement covera (25:20), the place of divine enthronement, about which G.o.d promised, aI will meet with you therea (25:22). Under the lid were the astone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenanta (25:21)a"the sole basis upon which men could meet with G.o.d!

Sinful man cannot enter the divine presence on his own terms whenever and however he wishes. He may do so only on the terms outlined by the Holy One. From the ark we learn that a holy G.o.d desires intimacy with his sinful people, but only because he chose to reach out to them and only when they come confessing their sin and seeking his forgiveness on the basis of a subst.i.tutionary sacrifice.

The ark may be lost, but its symbolism and significance should never be lost on us, for Christ is the substance of which the ark was the shadow.

June 20

TO READ: Exodus 28:1-30

All Dressed Up

Your brother, Aaron, and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, will be set apart from the common people. They will be my priests and will minister to me. Make special clothing for Aaron to show his separation to G.o.da" beautiful garments that will lend dignity to his work.

Exodus 28:1-2

All dressed up and nowhere to goa was William Allen Whiteas sardonic comment on the demise of the Progressive Party when, in 1916, Theodore Roosevelt withdrew from the presidential campaign. Cinderella, of course, had the opposite problema"all ready to go and nothing to wear.

The high priest of Israel had neither problem, because he was given strict and detailed instructions about the clothing he was required to wear whenever he went about his priestly duties. The priests were aset apart from the common peoplea and their task was to minister to the Lord (Exod. 28:1). The aspecial clothinga made for Aaron, the high priest, was designed ato show his separation to G.o.da"beautiful garments that will lend dignity to his worka (28:2). There was to be no mistake about Aaronas ident.i.ty or the dignity of his office. He was G.o.das man, and his appearance and deportment were to reflect his unique status as the one who represented man to G.o.d and G.o.d to man. The common man, on seeing the resplendent high priest, would immediately recognize something of the grandeur of the Lord he served.

The ephod (28:6) and the chestpiece (28:15) both bore precious gemstones on which were engraved the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. As the high priest, specially dressed for the occasion, entered the presence of the Lord in the Most Holy Place, the Lord was aremindeda (28:29) of his people. Inside the chestpiece were placed two mysterious objects called Urim and Thummim that were aused to determine the Lordas will for his peoplea (28:30).

In actuality, the Lord did not need to be reminded of the needs of his peoplea"he was present among them as they traveled through the wildernessa"but the ornamental stones served as a reminder to Aaron, as he dressed, that the Lord was not forgetful of his people. And as Aaron appeared before the Lord, symbolically bearing the weight of the people on his shoulders and over his heart, he was taking this burden to the Lord. As the Urim and Thummim were brought into play, there was a powerful statement of dependency upon the Lord and desire to know and do his will.

Aaron was all dressed up and he had somewhere to goa"and something special to do! So do all modern people who profess the name of Christ. They represent him by their deportment and behavior. They bring before the Lord the names of those in need and they constantly seek his guidance as they minister to others. Such activities will serve to alend dignity to their worka (28:1).

June 21

TO READ: Exodus 32:1-14

Fickle Faith

When Moses failed to come back down the mountain right away, the people went to Aaron. aLook,a they said, amake us some G.o.ds who can lead us. This man Moses, who brought us here from Egypt, has disappeared. We donat know what has happened to him.a Exodus 32:1

When the boss is out of town, the office staff often proves the old adage, aWhen the catas away, the mice will play.a Nevertheless, good leaders.h.i.+p is often sorely missed, and the bossas return is usually welcomed.

For the children of Israel, Moses was the boss. He was a visible reminder of the presence of the Lord in their midst, a tangible expression of G.o.das leading in their lives. So even though they at times threatened to reject his leaders.h.i.+p and return to Egypt, they became very nervous when he went away to meet with the Lord on Mount Sinai. They said, aThis man Moses, who brought us here from Egypt, has disappeared. We donat know what has happened to hima (Exod. 32:1). Their consternation was understandable. They had been deposited leaderless in the middle of a vast wilderness.

Their course of action was understandable, too, though not acceptable. They panicked and decided to take matters into their own hands. They approached Aaron. a aLook,a they said, amake us some G.o.ds who can lead usa a (32:1). Their plan was to go back to the kind of idol wors.h.i.+p they had left behind in Egypt.

Amazingly, Aaron acquiesced. He instructed the men, aTell your wives and sons and daughters to take off their gold earrings, and then bring them to mea (32:2). The people did as Aaron directed, and the donated gold was made into a golden calf. Incredibly, the people declared this statue to be athe G.o.dsa that had brought them out of Egypt! Aaron promptly built an altar and announced, aTomorrow there will be a festival to the Lorda (32:5). But the situation became completely unmanageable when the afestival to the Lorda quickly turned into unabashed apagan revelrya (32:6). The Lord was incensed, Moses was appalled, Aaron was rebuked, the calf was ground to powder, and many of the people were killed as a result of their own fickleness.

When people panic, they resort to desperate measures. They turn to what they fondly imagine will prove to be an immediate solution, however illogical or even immoral. They abandon their principles, they deny their commitments, and they make decisions in haste that they are then required to repent of at leisure.

What is most needed at such a time is a cool head and clear conviction. Imagine how the situation would have changed if the people had come to Aaron and said, aAaron, we are frightened, we are unsure, we donat know which way to turn. Moses has disappeared; what shall we do?a Aaron could have said, aI donat have the answers to your questions. I understand your fears, and I, too, am afraid. But this one thing I know. The Lord brought us this far and he will not abandon us. He has proved faithful in the past, he will be faithful in the future. So we will trust and not be afraid.a Fickle faith founders, but firm faith flourishes.

June 22