Isaiah 42:8 declares, “I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols”.
This verse raises a question: Why is God so concerned about His glory?
God Deserves All Glory
God isn’t insecure or seeking praise. He’s the source of all good, beauty, and truth, the creator of everything. As the most glorious being, He deserves all the credit.
Glorifying Him benefits both Him and us. We acknowledge His greatness and grace, expressing gratitude and love.
We align ourselves with His will, enjoying His presence and peace, reflecting His character, and participating in His mission.
Problem and Peril of Idolatry
However, when we fail to glorify God, we fall into idolatry – worshiping, serving, or trusting anything more than Him. We might value something else more, find our identity in something else, or seek satisfaction elsewhere.
Idolatry is a serious issue. It dishonors God by rejecting His truth and grace, distorting His glory, and provoking His judgment.
It damages us by corrupting our hearts and minds, enslaving our wills, and forfeiting our joy and purpose.
The Solution: Salvation Through Christ
Thankfully, God offers hope through Jesus Christ, the perfect image of God. Jesus paid the price for your idolatry, offering forgiveness, freedom, and reconciliation through faith in Him.
Responding Through Worship
Worship, the opposite of idolatry, is our response to God’s salvation. It’s giving Him the glory He deserves, loving Him with all our being, serving Him with all we have, and trusting Him in all circumstances.
Worship isn’t confined to Sundays; it’s a daily choice, an attitude, a lifestyle. It’s not just singing or praying, but obeying commands, following His example, and delighting in the privilege of honoring Him.
Therefore, worship God alone, for He alone is worthy of all glory.
Hebrews 9:12 declares, “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.”
This verse highlights the superiority of Christ’s sacrifice – a single offering that grants us eternal redemption.
Necessity and Sufficiency of Blood
The Bible verse emphasizes the need for blood in redemption. Blood symbolizes life, forfeited by sin but restored by God’s grace. It represents the price paid – our debt to God settled by His sacrifice.
We might find the concept of blood outdated, but it reveals the gravity of sin and God’s holiness.
The verse further emphasizes the sufficiency of Christ’s blood. Unlike the temporary sacrifices of the old covenant, Christ’s blood – pure and infinite – establishes the new covenant.
It fulfills God’s justice and love, cleansing our conscience and redeeming us completely. We might doubt its power, but Christ’s sacrifice is all-encompassing, fulfilling the law and securing our salvation.
One Sacrifice, Forever
The author clarifies that Christ’s blood is effective. It doesn’t merely cover sin; it removes and cancels it.
Unlike repeated sacrifices, Christ’s offering was “once for all.” It’s the final and ultimate sacrifice, valid eternally. We might feel un-forgiven or insecure, but Christ’s blood assures us of God’s pardon and redemption, enabling us to enter His presence.
Faith and Gratitude
The verse implies a response – faith and gratitude. Faith is trusting God and His promises, receiving the benefits of Christ’s sacrifice through repentance, and surrendering our lives to Him.
Gratitude is acknowledging the value of Christ’s blood, thanking and worshiping Him for His love and mercy, and sharing His grace with others.
God’s Offer
God offers redemption through His Son’s sacrifice. This sacrifice reveals His justice and love, inviting us to experience His forgiveness and presence. Respond today with faith and gratitude, living in the reality of Christ’s redemption and finding rest in Him.
Hebrews 4:1 – Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.
In this verse, believers are warned not to repeat the Israelites’ mistake in the wilderness and miss out on “entering his rest.” This verse offers an invitation and a challenge: to embrace God’s rest, signifying His salvation and presence.
Promise of God’s Rest
The Scripture emphasizes God’s enduring promise of rest – a spiritual reality and eternal destiny, not a physical state.
It’s a dynamic relationship, a divine provision, and a gift secured by Christ’s work.
We might think God’s rest is irrelevant or unattainable, but it’s what we truly need and long for.
Danger of Falling Short
The verse warns of the danger of “falling short” of God’s rest due to sin and unbelief. It’s a consequence of disobedience and rebellion, not a mere possibility.
We might think it’s avoidable or reversible, but the truth is, it’s a real and permanent consequence.
Means of Entering: Faith
The author reveals faith as the key to entering God’s rest. It’s trust and obedience in God and His Word, the confidence we have in His promises.
By faith, we access the rest He prepared for us, accomplished through Christ’s sacrifice, and applied by the Holy Spirit.
Faith is NOT optional, but it’s essential and sufficient; it’s what God requires and honors.
Goal of Resting
The Scripture verse implies the goal is to “rest” in God’s rest. It’s experiencing His peace, joy, and presence, worshiping and serving Him, and growing in His Word.
It’s not boring or unproductive; it’s what fulfills our purpose and destiny. We might think we need to find our own rest, but true rest is found in Him.
God offers us rest – His salvation and presence. He warns against missing it, teaches us to enter through faith, and invites us to experience the peace and joy of resting in Him. Embrace His offer and enter His rest.
Galatians 4:7 declares, “So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir”. This verse, from Paul’s letter to the Galatians, emphasizes our transformed identity in Christ. It contrasts our pre-salvation state with the freedom and inheritance we receive through faith.
From Bondage to Son-ship
Paul begins by stating we are “no longer slaves.” Slavery represents the oppression and control of sin. We were slaves to the law, unable to attain righteousness through its demands. We were slaves to the world, lured by its empty promises. We were slaves to the flesh, ruled by desires. Before Christ, we were alienated from God.
We might think slavery is irrelevant, but it limits our potential and hinders our relationship with God. The truth is, sin’s bondage robs us of joy and purpose.
Thankfully, the verse continues, “you are God’s child.” Son-ship signifies a state of grace and favor. When we accept Christ, we’re adopted by the Father, becoming part of His family. We are no longer strangers, but loved children.
Heirs: A Present and Future Reality
The verse further declares we are “heirs.” Heir-ship signifies entitlement to God’s promises. As God’s heirs, we have access to His presence, protection, provision, and guidance.
We share in Christ’s suffering and glory, His death and resurrection. We are co-heirs with Him, participating in His kingdom and mission.
We may perceive heir-ship as distant, but it’s a present reality. It enriches us, motivating and inspiring us. It challenges and transforms us, preparing us for what awaits.
Living by Faith
Finally, Paul implies living by “faith.” Faith is our response to our new identity in Christ. It’s trust and obedience towards God as our Father and Lord. It’s the confidence we have in His love and power.
Through faith, we live free from slavery, enjoying God’s love as His children. By faith, we claim the promises and blessings He offers.
We might think of faith as a feeling, but it’s a necessity. It pleases God, benefits us, strengthens us, and helps us witness to others. Faith overcomes the world and anticipates the future.
By grace, God has made us His children and heirs. He freed us from slavery and calls us to live by faith. Let us embrace our freedom and dignity as His children, loving, praising, serving, and glorifying Him as our Father.
Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. (Ephesians 4:28)
This verse is part of Paul’s instructions to the Ephesians on how to live as new creations in Christ. It is a practical and ethical application of the Gospel, which transforms us from being selfish and sinful to being generous and righteous.
It reflects the heart of God, who gives us everything we have and expects us to use it for his glory and for the good of others.
In this devotional, we will explore four implications of this verse: the problem of stealing, the purpose of working, the power of sharing, and the promise of blessing.
Problem of Stealing
The first thing that Paul addresses in this verse is the problem of stealing. Stealing is taking something that belongs to someone else without their permission or consent. It is a violation of God’s commandment and an offense against our neighbor.
It is a manifestation of our fallen nature, which is greedy, covetous, and rebellious. It is a sign of our lack of trust in God, who provides for our needs and desires. It is a symptom of our discontentment with what we have and our dissatisfaction with who we are.
We may think that stealing is not a big deal or that it does not apply to us; rationalizing that we are only taking what we deserve or what we need. We may even justify that we are only borrowing or using what is not ours.
But the truth is that stealing is a serious sin and a harmful habit. It dishonors God, who owns everything and gives us everything.
It damages our relationship with others, who are made in God’s image and deserve our respect. It destroys our character, which is shaped by our choices and actions.
Purpose of Working
The second thing that Paul teaches in this verse is the purpose of working. Working is doing something useful with our own hands, using the abilities and opportunities that God has given us.
It is a way of expressing our gratitude and stewardship to God, who created us and gifted us; a way of fulfilling our role and responsibility in God’s kingdom, which is advancing and growing.
We may view work as a curse or a burden, or complain that it’s difficult or tedious. It’s possible to resent the fact that work is necessary or obligatory, and we might even avoid it because it’s challenging or demanding.
However, the truth is that work is a blessing and a privilege. It honors God, who himself works and rests.
Work benefits us by providing for our needs and allowing us to enjoy the fruits of our labor. It also helps others who depend on us and appreciate our contributions. Ultimately, work reflects our dignity, which is both derived from and affirmed by our labor.
Power of Sharing
The third thing Paul emphasizes in this verse is the power of sharing. Sharing is giving something that we have to someone who needs it.
It is a demonstration of our love and generosity to God, who loves us and gave his Son for us.
Sharing what we have is a gain and a joy. It pleases God, who sees and rewards. It enriches us, who give and receive.
Promise of Blessing
The fourth thing that Paul reveals in this verse is the promise of blessing. Blessing is the favor and grace of God that he bestows on us and through us.
It is the result and reward of living according to God’s will and way. It is the evidence and testimony of God’s presence and power in our lives, and the hope and assurance of God’s future and plan for us.
Conclusion
God wants us to live as His children, who are transformed by His grace and empowered by His Spirit.
He wants us to stop stealing and start working, so that we may have something to share with those in need. He wants us to experience His blessing and be a blessing to others.
