Upper Loft Meditation - Hebrews 12:2

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:2

What a tremendous contrast, joy verses shame.

Jesus sees the fulfillment of the promise of God, the joy of eternal communion with the Father. The humiliation and suffering of the cross was but for a moment in comparison with the fellowship with the Father forever. This should be our perspective, because we have the same promise. This is the very request of Jesus. “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” - John 17:24

“The greatest act of love that has ever been performed was sustained by the joy of hope.” (Piper) Because of the joy set before us, you can endure all the suffering the world can throw at you. You are loved by the Father and by Jesus.

The Holy Spirit manifests the Father’s love upon you in many and various ways. One way is to strengthen you with the hope that is yours in Christ Jesus. The pain and suffering may still be there, but underneath it all the joy and hope of the Father’s love remains.

“I’m absolutely convinced that nothing - nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable - absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” - (Romans 8:39 - MSG)

This is why we are to fix our eyes on Jesus.

Crisis in Orissa

This past month, a slew of atrocities have ravaged Orissa. According to the EFI, thousands of persecuted Christians are in relief camps. Between 40,000 and 50,000 fled to jungles or have been unaccounted for. The international media has barely seemed to notice. But, as a friend writes, “Worse than the faces missing in the news, worse by far, are those now missing in Orissa: the mothers and fathers who won’t come home” and the many child casualties. Persecution has also taken place in Karnataka, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) and in Delhi. A musician friend in Bangalore tells me that many pastors in Bangalore are also in hiding. Since the persecution hasn’t been in the media very much, it seems that these believers are not as important to the world as entertainment, presidential elections, and the latest on the global economy.

According to the BBC, up to 500,000 people were stranded by the recent floods in the Indian state of Bihar. They could spend the next 6 months in temporary camps (read, “homeless”). Thousands more have been displaced in Assam and Bangladesh. And, hundreds of thousands of displaced Indians and Bangladeshis are threatened by disease and starvation. In all, more than 3 million have just become displaced by the flood (news.bbc.co.uk). This is Bihar’s worst flooding in 50 years… UNICEF has reported that there is now an outbreak of diarrhea in many relief camps. Reuters has seen fighting break out by people who fight to “lay their hands on air-dropped food”.

Earlier this month, Vogue India came under fire for using some of India’s poorest for a luxury fashion photo shoot. The August Issue’s feature used these rag-clad “models” (aka Dalits/untouchables) to display items such as a $10,000 (400,000 RS) Hermes Birkin bag, a $200 (8,000 RS) Burberry umbrella, a Fendi designer bib (on a poverty-stricken infant), and more. Vogue India’s editor defended the shoot; she was captured by the “immense beauty, innocence, and freshness” of the subject’s faces; others have called the shoot “complete callousness to genuine suffering”. P.K. Varma, author of The Great Indian Middle Class, stated that the Vogue shoot highlighted “how India’s increasingly wealthy elite enjoyed its privileges without sparing a care for the poor around them” (independent.co.uk.nytimes.com).

In 1 Corinthians 12:26, we read that if one part of the body suffers, all the other parts share its suffering. Let’s “join in the suffering” by lifting up those who suffer in our prayers.

Upper Loft Meditation - Zephaniah 3

“The Lord your God is in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” - Zephaniah 3:17

The third chapter in Zephaniah contains a dramatic dichotomy, judgment plays out as the prelude to restoration and purification both in Israel and among the nations. In the closing part of this chapter, the prophet sings of the future reign of the Lord, His victory over His enemies, and His love for and presence with His people. The church may sing this song now in celebration of Christ’s victory on the cross and in anticipation of HIs triumph when He returns.

Verse 17 contains the response of God towards our worship. This verse has three key points:

“He will rejoice over you with gladness” - This delight and rejoicing is based in the character of God who “delights in mercy”. (Micah 7:18)

“He will quiet you with His love” - This phrase “quiet you” may also be interpreted “is quiet” or “rests”. In the larger picture, God has been revealed as the Warrior who is “mighty to save.” This image is now quieted by victory and the loving relationship between God and His people. The Lord’s purging and transforming work of grace creates a renewed people who acknowledge His rule and trust in His name.

“He will rejoice over you with singing” - God’s response to our worship is to sing a song to us. And since we, as His children, are made in His image, then that song has been placed in our hearts to enable us to respond to God.

Have you sung a song to God today?

Palabras de Aliento - Hebreos 12

“Fijemos la mirada en Jesús, el iniciador y perfeccionador de nuestra fe, quien por el gozo que le esperaba, soportó la cruz, menospreciando la vergüenza que ella significaba, y ahora está sentado a la derecha del trono de Dios..” – Hebreos 12:2

¿Por qué es el cuidado de nuestra fe tan importante? Es un regalo que hemos recibido de Dios. Es a través de fe que recibiremos bendición, esperanza, y nuestra herencia eterna.

Fe require cuidado y alimentación. Fe es como un presente que debe ser abierto y puesto a buen uso. Si nuestra fe no es nutrida, comenzará a encongerse como un músculo. Nuestra fe debe ser ejercitada.

El escritor en Hebreos 12 nos exhorta a mirar atentamente a Jesús. El es el autor y fundador de nuestra fe. El es el perfeccionador de nuestra fe. Jesús vivió su vida por fe desde el principio, desde ir al templo a dialogar con la élite religiosa hasta ir a la cruz en nuestro lugar.

Lo que es fantástico acerca de esta perspectiva es que Jesús vivio su vida completamente por la fe. El es un modelo de fe. “Porque no tenemos un sumo sacerdote incapaz de compadecerse de nuestras debilidades, sino uno que ha sido tentado en todo de la misma manera que nosotros, aunque sin pecado.” (Hebreos 4:15) Thayer habla de Jesús como “uno que ha eregido en su propia persona la fe para su perfección y  ha establecido ante nosotros el mayor ejemplo de fe” (Wuest)

Mientras ves a Jesús, ¿De qué manera está él hoy modelando la fe para ti? Si no lo sabes, pregúntale a Jesús que te muestre como puedes ejercitar tu fe este día.

Upper Loft Meditation - Hebrews 12

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:2

Why is the care of our faith so very important? It is a gift we have received from God. It is through faith that we will receive blessing, hope, and our eternal inheritance.

Faith requires care and feeding. Faith is like a present that must be unwrapped and put to good use. If our faith is not nurtured, it will start to shrink like a muscle. Our faith must be exercised.

The writer in Hebrews 12 exhorts us to look intently on Jesus. He is the author and founder of our faith. He is the perfecter of our faith. Jesus lived his life by faith from the very beginning, from going to the temple to dialogue wiht the religious elite to going to the cross on our behalf.

What is fantastic about this perspective is that Jesus lived his life fully by faith. He is a model of faith. “One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin.” (Heb. 4:15) Thayer speaks of Jesus as “one who has in his own person raised faith to its perfection and so set before us the highest example of faith.” (Wuest)

As you look at Jesus, in what way is He modeling faith for you today? If you do not know, ask Jesus to show you how you can exercise your faith today.

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