Hebrews 1

Jesus is God's message, His designated Heir, World-Maker, Glory's Radiance, True to God, Upholder, Power, Sin-Purifier, Finisher of His Work, Excellent Name, God's Son, the Begotten of God, The Firstborn, Worthy of Worship by God's Angels, Enthroned, Eternal in Reign, Righteous Power, Righteousness-Lover,  Lawlessness-Loather, God-Anointed, Gladness-Anointed, Anointed Above All, Present at the beginning,  Terra-Firma-Foundation Layer, Master Designer of Heavens, Perpetual and Enduring, Heavens' Keeper, The Same, Without End, Invited by God relax in regal honor, has enemies, Triumphant, Over enemies.


This is what God the Father speaks of Jesus. 


I am so struck by how much God says of Jesus in just this one grouping of words.  He's God, Jesus is God, the Holy Spirit is God.  And God the Father spends this passage on describing His Son.  


If He, Who is His Equal, says this much, how much more should I be saying and thinking and dreaming?  and after this, I am nearly speechless...


Praise You Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Acts 24

In view of the hope Paul had in God and the resurrection, he did his "best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men."  


I also have that hope.  What challenged me is sometimes, I have a hard time maintaining the blameless conscience before both God and people.  I know when I operate in the Spirit I am okay with having a blameless conscience.  But sometimes, when I am suddenly in a situation where I don't know just what to say or do,  I am afraid my conscience is "blamefull" before one or both.  

An example comes to mind:  A friend began a theological conversation with me the other day.  After quite a long conversation, I began to share the Gospel with him, the law in particular.  The trouble arose when I wasn't sure where to go with it based on his response to a couple of questions.  I understand God is sovereign...I am so grateful for that...but I wonder how I was supposed to proceed.  My heart was very full to make sure that his hope was valid and not misplaced; but I got stuck.  

You see, another mutual friend had struck up a theological conversation with me some years ago.  That conversation was quite pleasant and at one point, we actually followed the script of a well-known evangelism program (I was a student of that program, at the time).  It was a very natural conversation and in the end, she declined the offer to receive God's gift of salvation.  I thanked her for her honesty and said if she wanted to talk about that again, I would be happy to do so with her.  We ended up spending more time discussing a variety of topics.  When we parted, it seemed quite normal and cordial.   However, I didn't talk to her for about a year after that...given the circumstances and our proximity, I believe it was avoidance and not schedules that kept her from further conversation.  God is sovereign and all-powerful, He allowed some circumstances to bring us together and we've been speaking ever since...just that one year gap.


Okay, so fast forward to present day and where I am stuck.  In regard to these and probably every other Gospel interaction, I struggle with desiring to share unto salvation or at least plant/water someone else's planting and not wanting to go too far so they uproot any seed that may have been deposited.  I want to have a  blameless conscience before God and people in having shared the Gospel; but I don't want to  roto-till a potential harvest. 

I am reminded that God does work all things for good to those who love Him and are called by Him.  But I have a responsibility in this, too.  I want my life to demonstrate holy intentions and truth spoken carefully wrapped in His perfect love so that I might be blameless in thought and deed before God and man.  God is the Knower and Discerner of thoughts and motives; He knows.  Man may or not figure it out; but man will live in response to me.  I am not sure I can maintain a blameless conscience before  him/her if I fail to adequately impart the grace of the Gospel.  


God, I don't even know if this makes sense to anyone but me; but I want that blamelessness of conscience.  Help me to rely increasingly on You and Your leading, be bold in the opportunity You present, and to share how and what You have given me to share.  I understand that this does not mean I will get along with all people and that I will never be voted most popular; but I do crave the peace that accompanies the blameless conscience.  Thank You for making this possible and for teaching me Your ways.  ♥

Romans 16

These are the names of those to whom Paul sent greetings.  I wondered what they meant, as he seemed to be speaking a particular meaning or blessing to many of them in his correspondence.  After looking at the meanings, I realized that they were no longer just Radiant or Praiseworthy or Their Rebellion...they were believers in the Lord Jesus Christ...as such, they were now Radiant in the Lord Jesus Christ, Praiseworthy in the Name of God, Their Rebellion for the Holy (and no longer the unholy).  They were who they were; but they were in Jesus.

Some of them had most unfortunate names; but they were new in Jesus...so the horrible naming was no longer their legacy.  They were in Christ Jesus.  So, Stupidity was now Fool for Christ.  I love the transformation Christ brings us with salvation.

How extraordinary that the first Asian-Christian ever is noted.  Epaenetus.  I know God is no respecter of persons; but being 2000 years on the other side of this, I am greatly encouraged that God would make mention of the very first Asian believer...especially given what hardship they face, what persecution they endure, what threats they know...and what utter darkness they have experienced for so long.  But there was one, there was a beginning to the faith-response in Asia and it was taken down for us.  Always in the details is where I find my God's handiwork.

Finally, Paul recognizes the saints.  The Saints.  The believers in Christ Jesus.  Not some elite group of super holy, super sacrificing, super super workers in the Kingdom - but the rest of the followers of Christ.  The Saints...folks like you and me.  Just folks.  But the word Paul uses refers to the most holy thing....believers who have the Holy Spirit...the most holy...the holy of holies.  That's our description...the ones who give home to the most holy...and we are made holy.  Interestingly enough, the word is derived from the most awful thing.  And that to me is what the message of this text is.  Jesus came and took the most awful things and made them holy...so we are now _________ of the Lord Jesus, _________ to God, etc.  We have been redefined by God for He redesigned us in Him.

Name             Meaning                    Paul's nomenclature

Phoebe        radiant                     servant and helper of many

Aquilla         eagle                        fellow worker, life-risker, host

Priska           ancient                    fellow worker, life-risker, host

Epaenetus    praiseworthy           my beloved, first Asian-Christian

Mary             their rebellion         hard worker

Andronicus   man of victory         kinsman, fellow prisoner, outstanding apostle

Junias           youthful                  Kinsman, fellow prisoner, outstanding apostle    

Ampliatus     large                        my beloved

Urbanus        of the city, polite   fellow worker

Stachys         head of grain           my beloved, (1 of the 70 disciples)

Apelles         called                       approved
Aristobulus   best councilor

Herodion      heroic                      my kinsman

Narcissus      stupidity, 
                     self-absorbed, 
                     or flower

Tryphaena    luxurious                 worker in the Lord

Tryphos        luxuriating               worker in the Lord

Persis           Persian woman         beloved, hard-worker in the Lord

Rufus            red                           choice man in the Lord

Asyncritus    incomparable          

Phlegon        burning

Hermes        herald of the gods

Patrobas      paternal

Hermas        Mercury (tradition says he was one of the seventy)

brethren     brother whether by parents, nation, belief, affection                      

Philologos   lover of the Word

Julia            soft-haired, also name of many royal figures in first century

Nereus         Old Gentleman of the sea because he is trustworthy, and gentle,

                    and never forgetful of what is right, but the thoughts of his mind 

                    are mild and righteous (from Hesiod, Theogony 233; Wikipedia)

Olympas       heavenly

saints (hagios)     most holy thing...from the word hagos-an awful thing

Romans 15

My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else.  I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says,

   “Those who have never been told about him will see,
      and those who have never heard of him will understand.”

In fact, my visit to you has been delayed so long because I have been preaching in these places.

Paul's mission and work was to preach the Gospel in places that had never been exposed to it before.  He purposely sought out areas where no church was established.  Places where the locals may ask, "Jesus Who?"

Do I ever consider where His Name has not been made known as the best place to begin?  How can I impact places and people where He is not known from my current season and station?  I choose today (while it is still called today =+} ) to make that characteristic a part of my decision-making process...In the dailyness of my life, I will look for opportunities to make known an unknown name to the people who have never heard.

Jesus, please give those that have not heard of Your Very Great Name ears to hear and a heart to understand Your Gospel of grace.  I confess that I have never planned my day with respect to who may have never heard of You; but I have labored in vain to faithfully put Your Name before folks who openly scorn it.  I want to reach the elect; help me to be diligent in sharing Your Good News with those who haven't yet heard it.  To the praise of Your Name.