The Creator of All Things

 

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (Hebrews 1:1-4 ESV).

 

Often, I try to use short readings for the devotionals; however, sometimes this necessitates larger gaps between thoughts. Today, we return to the same reading as yesterday to emphasize a second declaration about Jesus. He was appointed heir of all things and he is the one through whom all things were created. While it might seem as if this is a mere afterthought in the writer’s mind, it is so much more than that. This is not the first time this is stated in the Scripture. This same idea is mentioned by both the Apostle John (cf. John 1:3) and the Apostle Paul (cf. 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16). When Hebrews says that through Jesus God “made the universe,” it is saying that Jesus is over and above all things because he created it all.

 

All the Old Testament prophets pointed to Christ. When he came to live among us as truly human, he was fulfilling all that was written about him. The writer of Hebrews knew that some people were looking past Christ to the prophets and the Old Testament. Here the writer of Hebrews is describing the greatness of Christ in a few powerful statements about him. This declaration of Jesus as the creator of all things points to His divinity. He is truly God.

 

Knowing that Jesus is the maker of all things means that we can trust in him for all things. We can depend on him as the one who cares for his creation. When things in life seem to be out of control, we can trust in the sovereign power of Jesus as Lord over everything to create good from all these things on our behalf. He is the only one we can depend upon to do that. Whatever your journey looks like today, remember He can be trusted. Follow Him!

 

The Heir of All Things

 

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (Hebrews 1:1-4 ESV).

 

It’s been a while since I’ve taken a dive into Hebrews; however, since we are beginning a study at our church in this epistle, I thought it would be interesting to return to it for our Morning Devotionals. We do not know who the author of this letter was, though many scholars think it might have been Barnabus or Apollos. In recent years some have suggested that it could have been Luke. Even if it was not Luke, we do know the writer had a firsthand relationship with the disciples who were around Jesus. It is clear that it is anchored in the teaching of the apostles.

 

It’s also unclear who the audience of this letter was or where they lived. The author, however, knows them well, and he also assumes they have a thorough knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures, especially the Torah. The author expects them to be familiar with the story of Abraham’s family, all the details of the exodus, what happened at Mount Sinai, and Israel’s journey through the wilderness. Because of this expectation, it’s most likely that this letter was written to Jewish Christians, which explains the letter’s title, “to the Hebrews.”

 

Throughout all the comparisons that make up the main body of the letter, the author has two main goals. First, he elevates Jesus as superior to anyone and anything else to show that he is worthy of total trust and devotion. Second, he challenges these believers to remain faithful to Jesus despite persecution. This is why each section includes a strong warning to not abandon Jesus.

 

The first declaration about Jesus is that he has been appointed “heir of all things.” Prophets were sent to speak to God’s people. They brought important news and teachings from God, but they were merely messengers. Now God has come and has spoken to his people directly through his Son, who is the “heir of all things.” This reference points back to Psalm 2:7-8, which says, “He said to me, ‘You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.’” In Jesus, God fulfills this amazing promise. Jesus is the heir who receives all that the Father has. Peter says that this inheritance “can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4).

 

This has great significance for us. As followers of Christ, we are adopted into God’s family as his children, and we are “co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). As co-heirs with Christ, we are set to inherit all that Christ inherits. Of course, this includes salvation from sin and eternal life with him; however, there is so much more. In the coming weeks, this will be the central theme of each devotional. My prayer for you is that you will know this great gift of God through His grace more than ever before!

 

A Corner of Reflection

As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (2 Corinthians 1:18-20 ESV).

 

I have included a picture of what I think of as my “corner of reflection.” Though it is difficult to see some of the details, the Aggie chair is most prominent. Behind the chair on the display case are two icons. One is a hand painted image of Jesus as the “suffering Savior.” The taller of the icons is a hand painted image of the nativity scene. Those two images remind me of the beginning and ending of the earthly ministry of Jesus. However, there are other mementos in the display that carry other reminders, like, “Sing like no one is listening”; “Dance like no one is watching”; “Love like you have never been hurt before”; “Live like heaven begins tomorrow”; and “Today I need a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus.”

 

The Aggie chair sits beside the tree, and when people enter my house, they usually notice it quickly as they remark how typical it would be for us to have such a chair among our other furnishings. the tree and comment on it. We usually chuckle a bit at those remarks and reply how it is a steady reminder of all that is good in our lives. After all, our fifty-five years of marriage began there. These things also remind me to give thanks for the gracious gifts of God in family, friends, and ministry.

 

The Apostle Paul reflects that attitude in our reading today. He reminds us of who God is. God’s promises are sealed with the “Yes” of his love for us in Jesus. God’s “Amen” (“So be it”) is to his glory. He has affirmed us as his own, and through the Holy Spirit he has given us full, new life. There is no waffling on God’s part. God’s “Yes” is always “Yes.”

 

I hope that will be your “Wow!” thought for the day. God is completing in you what he started!

  

The Mystery of the Future

 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:1-6 ESV).

 

It may seem strange to use the 23^rd Psalm as a reference for exploring the mystery of our future. However, the image David uses to describe the provision of the Lord for us is very vivid. The psalm is about intentional care and hospitality. It describes the important work of a faithful shepherd for his flock of sheep. Without a shepherd, the sheep would be hopelessly lost and afflicted by disease or predators. This psalm helps us see how the Lord is our shepherd, and we are his sheep.

 

The mention of a table takes the relationship with God even deeper. The Lord prepares a banquet for us. Our host makes sure that everything is taken care of. When we sit at the table, we acknowledge that we can trust our host to sustain us with all he has provided. Full plates give us all we need while God protects us from the enemies around us.

 

Through the years I have built many “picnic” tables. One of those tables was at the request of my oldest son, Kyle. When we lived in North Carolina, our oldest grandchildren were just toddlers. He approached me with the idea of building a playset in the back yard, which was heavily wooded. As I thought about the design, I determined that it would be great to build two towers using the trees as a part of the design. Between the towers I also added a swinging bridge. Of course, I also added a slide, a climbing wall, and a swing extension with two swings and a glider. To complete the scene, I also built a picnic table placing it in the grassy area near the playset. There were many great memories made around that table as the neighborhood children gathered with Faith and Logan to play and eat their snacks. That is the picture we get from this psalm of David. There was always a sense of jubilant celebration around the table! That’s what we have to look forward to in Christ!

 

The Mystery of the Cross

 

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:20-25 ESV).

 

The picture I’ve attached today is titled “Destiny.” It was done by an artist who wishes to remain anonymous. It beautifully depicts Jesus as a young boy in Joseph's carpenter shop. The nail spikes and the shadow of a cross fortell the events to come; the destiny Christ that came to fulfill. Our reading today describes the effect of the cross on men whether Jew or Gentile. Paul writes that it is a “stumbling block for the Jew and folly to the Gentile” (v. 23). Yet, this is the only act that God could perform to guarantee forgiveness and restoration to us.  

 

In other writings from the Apostle Paul, we see more of the mystery of the Cross. In his letter to the Colossians, he paints a huge picture of Jesus. He is indeed the fullness of God. Jesus has the authority to rule because all creation has been made through him. Most importantly, though, Jesus is as close as the air we breathe, and he has made it possible for the Holy Spirit to live in us. God calls each of us his own. All this and more gives us reason to worship and to give thanks.

 

We should not only appreciate this news but also to use it as a springboard to pray for others. We do not pray in vain. We pray so that we may know God better, so that our faith may grow. Paul knows that standing on this foundation of truth is worth everything. This is the essence of God’s great grace!

 

The Mystery of the Church

 

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (Ephesians 2:14-21 ESV).

 

Over the past five decades of ministry, both as a pastor and counselor I have heard many different stories from new believers.  Many of these were from people who did not grow up in a church or who were rejected or bullied by church people in the past. They shared that as they were invited into our church, it was the first time they felt they belonged and were not judged. They learned that there was a place for them. It was the reason they stayed. That has always been my focus. I remind myself that there are no nail prints in my hands and therefore I have no right to judge others.

 

This thought brought me to the mystery of the community of faith. In our reading today the apostle gives us a glimpse of how it felt for Gentiles, who had long been treated as outsiders, to be invited into God’s story of good news for all peoples. Paul reminds them in Ephesians that they are vital members of God’s family. God’s story of reconciliation is amazing. Jesus’ death on the cross for all sinners has broken down the hostility between all peoples. We are all equal at the cross. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross gave us one body, not many. It is the place where we lay down our differences and pick up God’s grace.

 

Too often in the church we have divided over what is comfortable for us rather than what God offers. Today is a good day to meet your neighbor or anyone who needs to know that the good-news story includes them.

 

The Mystery of the Fullness of God's Love

 

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:15-19 ESV).

 

Sometimes I forget the “… breadth and length and height and depth” of God’s love for me. Recently I was reminded of that when I leafed through a National Park’s magazine and saw the photo of the Grand Canyon I’ve attached. Our boys were very young when we took a trip to the Grand Canyon. I was insistent that we stop and watch the sunset at the edge of the canyon. That was more difficult than I thought with three impatient youngsters in tow. Somehow, they didn’t grasp the majesty of the moment! We did stay, though I was not able to really capture the moment adequately except in my mind. I do remember how grand it really was.

 

As I sit on this snowy day in Texas to write these devotionals, my question is simple: “What does ‘the fullness of God’ mean to you?” I often wonder what would change in our lives if we began each day by reminding ourselves that all of God’s resources and love and power are ours, regardless of what might unfold in our day. I believe our foundation would grow stronger and deeper; we would respond to our world differently if we did. We certainly would fall in love with Jesus at a new level of understanding, appreciating what his death and resurrection accomplished.

 

I hope you can find a way to be still enough today to recognize this mystery as God gives us glimpses of the marvel of His love toward us. I hope you will be filled with the fullness of God in a way beyond anything you may have yet experienced!