How to approach the manger and the New Year.

#1 · December 23, 2002, 11:43 am

Quote from Forum Archives on December 23, 2002, 11:43 am
Posted by: henkf <henkf@...>

LET US COME BOLDLY
Isaiah 53:4-12 Hebrews 4:9-16

     Ah, if I could only be 18 again and know what I know now! You have heard that cry before, haven't you? `If only I could live my life over, I would do a much better job the second time around.' Unfortunately, that is one luxury that is never given to any of us. Time marches relentlessly onward. Pontius Pilate spoke for all of us when he said, "What I have written, I have written." We can't go back. We cannot undo the past.
     We can, however, do something about the future. Some of us are perhaps carrying a great deal of excess baggage with us from the past. But if we could just forget the past -- with its heartaches, the disappointments and errors -- if we could just somehow lay that burden down, the future would hold much more promise for us.
     Henri Barbusse once wrote a novel entitled LE FLEU. In it there are two soldiers--one of sterling character, and his friend Dominique, who has made many mistakes in his life. In one passage the solder with the unblemished record has been wounded and is dying. He turns to Dominique and says: "It can't be long now. Listen, Dominique. You've lived a bad life. There are many convictions against your name. But there are no convictions against me. There's nothing on my name. Take my name. Take it -- I give it to you. Straight off, you've no more convictions. Take my name, and give me yours -- so that I can carry it away with me."(George E. Vandeman. I MET A MIRACLE. (Nashville: Southern Publishing Association, 1971).)
     The Scripture says that this is what Christ has done for us -- given us his good name, as it were. Isaiah writes: "Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. . . he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4-5)
     The past is gone. Only today and tomorrow matter. So, as St. Paul says to us in his epistle to the Hebrews: "Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we might obtain mercy and find grace to help us in time of need." (Hebrew 4:16)

     NOTICE, FIRST OF ALL, HOW WE ARE TO COME: `BOLDLY.'

The contrast that Paul intends for us to see in this passage is clear to anybody who is familiar with the Old Testament. The "throne of grace" of which Paul speaks finds its parallel in the Old Testament Ark of the Covenant. The ark of the covenant was so holy that only the high priest was to approach it, and he was to do so with fear and trembling, for any transgression against the Ark would have fatal consequences for him. But this is not so with the throne of grace. Our high priest, Jesus Christ, has already interceded in our behalf. And because he has, we can approach the throne of grace confidently and boldly. He has made us sons and daughters of the most high. You don't approach your parents with fear and trembling, do you? You don't come crawling on your hands and knees with your face buried in the carpet and say, "O exalted and majestic father, please do me the honor of granting your humble servant, worm of the dust that I am, the high honor of borrowing the car tonight." You don't approach your father like that, do you? Well, some of us may.
     Some of us did have some pretty strict fathers. I like the way one comedian described the changes in the modern family:
     "When we were kids we were very disciplined. My father was very strict, but along came the electric razor and took away the razor strop. Then furnaces took away the old woodshed. And along came taxes and the worries of it took away my dad's hair and with that the old hair brush disappeared. And that's why kids today are running wild: the old man has run out of weapons!"
     Some of us had fathers who used the razor strop. But for most of us nowadays the image of "father" is one of kindness and accessibility. And that is the image that both Paul and Jesus wants us to have of God. "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace. . ."

     BUT WHY SHOULD WE COME TO THE THRONE OF GRACE?

THE LIVING BIBLE TRANSLATES THE REST OF THIS GREAT VERSE LIKE THIS: "TO RECEIVE HIS MERCY AND TO FIND GRACE TO HELP US IN OUR TIMES OF NEED." That is why we come.
     William Cowper came to one of those times of need. He tried to end it all one bleak morning by swallowing poison, but the attempt failed. He then went to the Thames River, intending to hurl himself over the bridge, and was "strangely restrained." The next morning he fell on a sharp knife -- and broke the blade. Failing in these attempts he tried to hang himself, but was found, taken down unconscious, and revived. Later he picked up a Bible and began to read the Book of Romans. It was then that Cowper finally met the God of the storms and night seasons, and submitted to the One who had pursued him through so many desolate days and dreary nights. From out of the whirlwinds of his experiences, he sat down and recorded with these familiar words his summary of the Lord's dealing: "God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm." (Henry Gariepy, PORTRAITS OF PERSEVERANCE, (Wheaton, Illinois: Victor Books, 1989).)
     There is a beautiful episode in the play GREEN PASTURES where God comes down to walk the earth and find out what is happening to his children. He finds that one of the defenders of the city of Jerusalem, which is being besieged by the Romans, is a believer in a new god of mercy. Disguised as a back-country preacher, the Lord says: "What do you mean, a God of mercy? Don't you worship the Lord God Jehovah any more?" The defender answers, "Oh, no, we don't worship that old God of wrath and vengeance any more, we worship the Lord God of Hosea." "What kind of a God is he?" the Lord asks. The defender answers, "Well, he is a god of mercy." "Oh," says God, "where did your Hosea learn that?" The defender answers, "Why, the same way anyone ever learns it -- through suffering." (Duncan E. Littlefair. SIN COMES OF AGE. (Philadelphia:
The Westminster Press, 1975))
     That is how we discover the depth of God's mercy and grace: We discover it in our times of need. "Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace. . ."
     There is one more thing to be said, however.

ONCE WE HAVE BEEN BEFORE THE THRONE OF GRACE, WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO LIVE MORE BOLDLY AS HIS CHILDREN IN OUR DAILY LIVES.

     How we think about ourselves determines the effectiveness of our day to day living to a great degree. If we are timid and depressed and have a low feeling of self-worth, life will be a very dismal and dissatisfying experience. If, however, we walk with boldness and confidence as a child of the King, life can be very exciting and gratifying.
     I like the story about the man who was applying for a life insurance policy. He was surprised to learn that the medical history of his mother and father played a considerable role in his insurability.
     The insurance physician interviewed the man in person, and asked him about his mother's death. He said that she died at the age of forty-three from tuberculosis. The doctor frowned and asked at what age his father died. "A little past thirty-nine." "What cause?" "Cancer," answered the man truthfully.
     "Bad family record," said the doctor. "No use going further," and he tore up the entry blank. Determined not to make the same mistake twice, the man applied for a policy at another company. Again, he was asked, "What was your father's age at death?" "He was ninety-six," the man replied this time. "And what did he die from?" asked the doctor. "He was thrown from a pony at a polo game," was the reply.   "And how old was your mother at death?" the doctor asked. "She was ninety-four," the man answered. "Cause of death?" asked the doctor.   "Childbirth."
     That may be taking positive thinking a little far, but the truth of the matter is that the Bible hits the nail squarely on the head when it says, "as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." If we think of ourselves as worms of the dust, a mouthful of dirt is all we can anticipate. If, however, we walk boldly and confidently in the knowledge of His love for us, our lives can have unlimited possibilities.
     Dr. Maurice Wagner, in his book, THE SENSATION OF BEING SOMEBODY (Zondervan), lists three basic emotional needs that are essential components of a healthy self-image:
     1. A sense of belonging; to know that you are wanted, needed, accepted, and most of all, loved.
     2. A sense of worth and value. This is that internalized, deep-down feeling that you have a purpose for being on this earth; to know you count, that your life is worth living, that you are accepted by others, and you are acceptable to yourself.
     3. A sense of being competent. In this regard, competency is not merely saying, "Yes, I can do it." It is an entire outlook upon life that is optimistic rather than pessimistic; it is an attitude that says, "I can meet life head to head and enjoy doing it!"
     George MacDonald in "Robert Falconer" wrote:
"This is a sane, wholesome, practical, working faith:
First, that it is a [person's] business to do the will of God;
second, that God takes on himself the special care of that person; and
third, that therefore that person ought never be afraid of anything."

How do we approach the manger?

How do we enter the New Year?

     "Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace that we might find mercy and grace to help in our time of need."

http://www.folsom.sk.ca/gohere.html

____________________________________________________
IncrediMail - Email has finally evolved - Click Here

Posted by: henkf <henkf@...>

LET US COME BOLDLY
Isaiah 53:4-12 Hebrews 4:9-16

     Ah, if I could only be 18 again and know what I know now! You have heard that cry before, haven't you? `If only I could live my life over, I would do a much better job the second time around.' Unfortunately, that is one luxury that is never given to any of us. Time marches relentlessly onward. Pontius Pilate spoke for all of us when he said, "What I have written, I have written." We can't go back. We cannot undo the past.
     We can, however, do something about the future. Some of us are perhaps carrying a great deal of excess baggage with us from the past. But if we could just forget the past -- with its heartaches, the disappointments and errors -- if we could just somehow lay that burden down, the future would hold much more promise for us.
     Henri Barbusse once wrote a novel entitled LE FLEU. In it there are two soldiers--one of sterling character, and his friend Dominique, who has made many mistakes in his life. In one passage the solder with the unblemished record has been wounded and is dying. He turns to Dominique and says: "It can't be long now. Listen, Dominique. You've lived a bad life. There are many convictions against your name. But there are no convictions against me. There's nothing on my name. Take my name. Take it -- I give it to you. Straight off, you've no more convictions. Take my name, and give me yours -- so that I can carry it away with me."(George E. Vandeman. I MET A MIRACLE. (Nashville: Southern Publishing Association, 1971).)
     The Scripture says that this is what Christ has done for us -- given us his good name, as it were. Isaiah writes: "Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. . . he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4-5)
     The past is gone. Only today and tomorrow matter. So, as St. Paul says to us in his epistle to the Hebrews: "Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we might obtain mercy and find grace to help us in time of need." (Hebrew 4:16)

     NOTICE, FIRST OF ALL, HOW WE ARE TO COME: `BOLDLY.'

The contrast that Paul intends for us to see in this passage is clear to anybody who is familiar with the Old Testament. The "throne of grace" of which Paul speaks finds its parallel in the Old Testament Ark of the Covenant. The ark of the covenant was so holy that only the high priest was to approach it, and he was to do so with fear and trembling, for any transgression against the Ark would have fatal consequences for him. But this is not so with the throne of grace. Our high priest, Jesus Christ, has already interceded in our behalf. And because he has, we can approach the throne of grace confidently and boldly. He has made us sons and daughters of the most high. You don't approach your parents with fear and trembling, do you? You don't come crawling on your hands and knees with your face buried in the carpet and say, "O exalted and majestic father, please do me the honor of granting your humble servant, worm of the dust that I am, the high honor of borrowing the car tonight." You don't approach your father like that, do you? Well, some of us may.
     Some of us did have some pretty strict fathers. I like the way one comedian described the changes in the modern family:
     "When we were kids we were very disciplined. My father was very strict, but along came the electric razor and took away the razor strop. Then furnaces took away the old woodshed. And along came taxes and the worries of it took away my dad's hair and with that the old hair brush disappeared. And that's why kids today are running wild: the old man has run out of weapons!"
     Some of us had fathers who used the razor strop. But for most of us nowadays the image of "father" is one of kindness and accessibility. And that is the image that both Paul and Jesus wants us to have of God. "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace. . ."

BUT WHY SHOULD WE COME TO THE THRONE OF GRACE?

THE LIVING BIBLE TRANSLATES THE REST OF THIS GREAT VERSE LIKE THIS: "TO RECEIVE HIS MERCY AND TO FIND GRACE TO HELP US IN OUR TIMES OF NEED." That is why we come.
     William Cowper came to one of those times of need. He tried to end it all one bleak morning by swallowing poison, but the attempt failed. He then went to the Thames River, intending to hurl himself over the bridge, and was "strangely restrained." The next morning he fell on a sharp knife -- and broke the blade. Failing in these attempts he tried to hang himself, but was found, taken down unconscious, and revived. Later he picked up a Bible and began to read the Book of Romans. It was then that Cowper finally met the God of the storms and night seasons, and submitted to the One who had pursued him through so many desolate days and dreary nights. From out of the whirlwinds of his experiences, he sat down and recorded with these familiar words his summary of the Lord's dealing: "God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm." (Henry Gariepy, PORTRAITS OF PERSEVERANCE, (Wheaton, Illinois: Victor Books, 1989).)
     There is a beautiful episode in the play GREEN PASTURES where God comes down to walk the earth and find out what is happening to his children. He finds that one of the defenders of the city of Jerusalem, which is being besieged by the Romans, is a believer in a new god of mercy. Disguised as a back-country preacher, the Lord says: "What do you mean, a God of mercy? Don't you worship the Lord God Jehovah any more?" The defender answers, "Oh, no, we don't worship that old God of wrath and vengeance any more, we worship the Lord God of Hosea." "What kind of a God is he?" the Lord asks. The defender answers, "Well, he is a god of mercy." "Oh," says God, "where did your Hosea learn that?" The defender answers, "Why, the same way anyone ever learns it -- through suffering." (Duncan E. Littlefair. SIN COMES OF AGE. (Philadelphia:
The Westminster Press, 1975))
     That is how we discover the depth of God's mercy and grace: We discover it in our times of need. "Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace. . ."
     There is one more thing to be said, however.

ONCE WE HAVE BEEN BEFORE THE THRONE OF GRACE, WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO LIVE MORE BOLDLY AS HIS CHILDREN IN OUR DAILY LIVES.

     How we think about ourselves determines the effectiveness of our day to day living to a great degree. If we are timid and depressed and have a low feeling of self-worth, life will be a very dismal and dissatisfying experience. If, however, we walk with boldness and confidence as a child of the King, life can be very exciting and gratifying.
     I like the story about the man who was applying for a life insurance policy. He was surprised to learn that the medical history of his mother and father played a considerable role in his insurability.
     The insurance physician interviewed the man in person, and asked him about his mother's death. He said that she died at the age of forty-three from tuberculosis. The doctor frowned and asked at what age his father died. "A little past thirty-nine." "What cause?" "Cancer," answered the man truthfully.
     "Bad family record," said the doctor. "No use going further," and he tore up the entry blank. Determined not to make the same mistake twice, the man applied for a policy at another company. Again, he was asked, "What was your father's age at death?" "He was ninety-six," the man replied this time. "And what did he die from?" asked the doctor. "He was thrown from a pony at a polo game," was the reply.   "And how old was your mother at death?" the doctor asked. "She was ninety-four," the man answered. "Cause of death?" asked the doctor.   "Childbirth."
     That may be taking positive thinking a little far, but the truth of the matter is that the Bible hits the nail squarely on the head when it says, "as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." If we think of ourselves as worms of the dust, a mouthful of dirt is all we can anticipate. If, however, we walk boldly and confidently in the knowledge of His love for us, our lives can have unlimited possibilities.
     Dr. Maurice Wagner, in his book, THE SENSATION OF BEING SOMEBODY (Zondervan), lists three basic emotional needs that are essential components of a healthy self-image:
     1. A sense of belonging; to know that you are wanted, needed, accepted, and most of all, loved.
     2. A sense of worth and value. This is that internalized, deep-down feeling that you have a purpose for being on this earth; to know you count, that your life is worth living, that you are accepted by others, and you are acceptable to yourself.
     3. A sense of being competent. In this regard, competency is not merely saying, "Yes, I can do it." It is an entire outlook upon life that is optimistic rather than pessimistic; it is an attitude that says, "I can meet life head to head and enjoy doing it!"
     George MacDonald in "Robert Falconer" wrote:
"This is a sane, wholesome, practical, working faith:
First, that it is a [person's] business to do the will of God;
second, that God takes on himself the special care of that person; and
third, that therefore that person ought never be afraid of anything."

How do we approach the manger?

How do we enter the New Year?

"Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace that we might find mercy and grace to help in our time of need."

http://www.folsom.sk.ca/gohere.html

____________________________________________________
IncrediMail - Email has finally evolved - Click Here