As the rain and snow

“Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold,
    and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.
Egypt was glad when they departed,
    for dread of them had fallen upon it.

He spread a cloud for a covering,
    and fire to give light by night.
They asked, and he brought quail,
    and gave them bread from heaven in abundance.
He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
    it flowed through the desert like a river.
For he remembered his holy promise,
    and Abraham, his servant.

So he brought his people out with joy,
    his chosen ones with singing.
And he gave them the lands of the nations,
    and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples’ toil,
that they might keep his statutes
    and observe his laws.
Praise the Lord!”

“Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress,
    when he heard their cry.
For their sake he remembered his covenant,
    and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.” Psalm 105:37-45; 106:44-45

For God, to remember was not just to bring to mind, but always to act within His economy of time. The thought served as impulse to serve and fulfill His promises. God constantly remembered His friend Abraham and what He had pledged to him, and over generations unfolded His plan with preciseness and power to His people. He executed with love and protection, light and sustenance, all according to His character and word. He watched over His own for good, and a future, giving them joy, and lands, and cause to praise. In darkness, distress, and confusion, He remembered them with His abiding presence, and His covenant with unassailable love. (Genesis 8:1-3; 12:1-3; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23)

God remembers us too. In perfection and exquisite care, He executes His promises to us with surety, order, and divine pace. When shocked by a turn of events, we might wonder whether He knows or cares. We might wander to a far country of loneliness or poor choices and feel lost and forgotten. Circumstances may be tumultuous or painful or confusing, and He seems silent.

But the Lord sees all and is intricately involved in all our ways to fulfill His plans for us. Do we trust Him for this? Do we rue a slow or distant promise, or choose to be expectant at every step? How might we consume our minds with Him over our agenda and timetable so we are more alert to the glory He scatters along His way? (Psalm 11:4; 37:23-24; 138:8; 139:1-3; Jeremiah 29:11)

For us, is remembering God’s promises only a static mental exercise or rote repetition in song, or is it an active verb? How are we acting on His certain word, standing on and walking in His promises as our own? When we fail to remember God’s goodness and generosity, we can turn inward and rebel, or angry at unfulfilled wants. When we actively remember who He is and all He has done, we are spontaneously moved to vibrant gratitude, praise, and love. We respond in reverence, obedience, and hope because we cannot not react to His grace-filled activity toward us. (Psalm 106:6-7)

Lord, thank You for always remembering me. May I remember You and what You have done and will do, and so live with vitality, expectancy, and praise.

“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation… 

“By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise,.. living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.” Hebrews 11:1-2,4-10

“Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead...

“Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works… Was not Abraham justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? Faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works…—and he was called a friend of God…  Faith apart from works is dead.” James 2:17-18,21-23,26b

The heroes described in this passage were commended for decisions and lifestyles that aligned with God’s purposes and sure hope in His promises. None were commended for acts in a vacuum, but because the decisions they made and the paths they traveled were dependent on God’s will and calling. (Hebrews 11:11-31)

Faith that commends us to God is rooted in Him alone. By very nature, faith is not something we manufacture or must find within ourselves to exercise. It is a gift from God, grounded in who He is and what He has said. (Ephesians 2:8)

How well does our present faith commend us? Are we in a season of spiritual drought, frustrated at our lack of gumption to muster up faith on our own? Have we been too independent, too self-dependent, and neglected the Lord? Where have we been gullible to the world’s mantra that we just need more faith to make things happen? Have we lost our grounding in the Captain of our salvation, the Author and Perfecter of our faith? Where, other than Him and His promises, have we put our hope? (Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 12:2)

If we would own and demonstrate faith that’s commended by God, we must get in step with these heroes, fix our eyes on Jesus and His promises, and run our race with endurance. Regardless of potholes and detours, doubts and fears, temptations and opposition, faith exercised is faith made strong. Indeed, God proves Himself over and over. (Hebrews 12:1–2)

Lord, teach me to walk by faith in Your way, at Your tempo, for Your glory.

“By a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

“And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

‘This is the covenant that I will make with them
    after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws on their hearts,
    and write them on their minds,’

“then he adds,

‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’

“Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,  and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:14-25

The writer set outs the basis for his coming admonition by stating the reality of Christ’s finished work and backing it up with the Lord’s living words. In Christ we are forgiven, and given access to God. The Holy Spirit indwells all believers and bears witness to His word. The confidence he describes is unshakable because it is rooted in Christ’s single perfect sacrifice. This is a solid foundation and impetus for rich and genuine communion with the Lord and faithful living in His world.

Confidence: the quality or state of being certain of your abilities or of having trust in people, plans, or the future; a feeling or consciousness of one’s powers or of reliance on one’s circumstances

A Christian’s confidence comes not from certain abilities or awareness of personal capability, but from Christ’s power and our trust in Him. The world sees and is driven very differently. Since our confidence is made possible by and comes from our Savior, we can live out faith distinctly from the world while living very much in it.

We can avail ourselves of open access to God’s throne, praying boldly with full assurance of faith. Regularly draw near in fellowship, confession, seeking His will and wisdom, and interceding for others in concentrated, earnest prayer. We can hold fast our confession when disparaged for our devotion or asked for the reason for our hope, speaking in the confidence of what is true. We can maintain strong bonds of fellowship, mutual love, and service to others. (Ephesians 6:18-20; 2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Peter 3:15)

How are we doing in these areas of prayer, witness, and encouragement? How will we put into practice afresh the confidence we own because of our faith in Christ? As we live, Jesus serves as great high priest, ever interceding for us and welcoming us to His throne at any time. (Hebrews 4:16; 7:25; Romans 8:34)

Father, daily remind me of my confidence so I live boldly for You.

“‘Woe to those who are at ease in Zion,
    and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria…
You put far away the day of disaster
    and bring near the seat of violence.

“‘Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory
    and stretch themselves out on their couches,
and eat lambs from the flock
    and calves from the midst of the stall,
who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp
    and like David invent for themselves instruments of music,
who drink wine in bowls
    and anoint themselves with the finest oils,
    but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!
Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile,
    and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away.’

“The Lord God has sworn by himself, declares the Lord, the God of hosts:

“‘I abhor the pride of Jacob
    and hate his strongholds.'” Amos 6:1a,3-8a

The prophet’s condemnation for selfish living is stark and sure. Those at ease are those oblivious to God’s highness and insensitive to His world because their priorities are consumed with self. Ears clogged with self-congratulation and eyes that see only with lust lead to hearts that grow callous to God’s word and will.

In a madding world swirling with demands, pulling at limited resources, interrupting our schedule, and agitating our Feng shui, our flesh can tend toward withdrawal and ease. I need, I want, my desires, my bucket list, self care. Turning in on self narrows our view of wider causes and distorts our perception of what is true and important.

We seek security in the mixed religion of Samaria as idol fetishes and strange affections intermingle with our devotion to the Lord. We can no longer distinguish truth from lies. We overindulge in entertainment and luxury by falling for alluring advertising and shutting off our senses to outside needs. We melt into idleness and idols because we’re consumed with self-protection and comfort. And we’re never fulfilled. The Lord abhors attitudes and actions that establish such cold, dispassionate strongholds against His kingdom ways. (2 Kings 17:24-33)

Our Suffering Savior will not stand for indifference and indulgence, a heartbeat and lifestyle that is opposite of His. He announces woe while in mercy offering transformation. Will we take it? As we submit to sanctification, His Spirit undoes what comes naturally apart from Christ and replaces it, perhaps slowly but in grace surely, with godly mindset and choices. He can replace greediness of soul with generosity that truly satisfies. (Isaiah 53:3-6; Mark 10:45)

How and where do I spend my time and resources? When does consulting God and patterning my decisions by His word come into play? As I humble myself and set aside selfish impulses, where has He redirected my desire? How can I begin to lavish my time, attention, and spending on His kingdom agenda? With whom will I be extravagant in encouragement, praise, love, and compassion? Where can He multiply my generosity? Spending ourselves for the Lord bears eternal, joyous return. (Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 6:38; Colossians 3:1-2)

Father, swallow my deepest heart desire in all that is of You, so I indulge only in Your grace and ways and word and will, and spend what You’ve entrusted me on others and for Your glory.

“The gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their kinsmen,.. in charge of the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent,.. keepers of the entrance…  So they and their sons were in charge of the gates of the house of the Lord, that is, the house of the tent, as guards. The gatekeepers were on the four sides, east, west, north, and south… The four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted to be over the chambers and the treasures of the house of God. And they lodged around the house of God, for on them lay the duty of watching, and they had charge of opening it every morning.

“Some of them had charge of the utensils of service,.. others were appointed over the furniture and all the holy utensils,.. the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the incense, and the spices…  Also some of their kinsmen of the Kohathites had charge of the showbread, to prepare it every Sabbath.” 1 Chronicles 9:17,19,23-24,26-29,32

Varied were the assigned duties of Israel’s priests, mighty men for the work of service of the house of God. The gatekeepers were keepers of the thresholds in this office of impeccable trust, guardians of the entrances and chambers and sacred contents. They were entrusted with the duty of watching, the importance and vitality of their work evidenced in the careful recording of it. (1 Chronicles 9:13)

Every place of worship that proclaims the true God is a place to be kept. As members of churches, we each have responsibilities to guard our gates and treasures. East, west, north, south- from every direction will come temptation to sloth and spiritual malaise, insidious false teaching, temptation to gossip and divisiveness, disingenuous relationships and immorality. Every member is given the trust of guarding, maintaining, watching, protecting, reinforcing. (1 Corinthians 5:9-13; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6; 2 Timothy 2:14-18; 4:3-4; 1 Peter 5:8-10; 2 Peter 2:1)

How committed are we to the unity, purity, and health of our churches? How well do we watch? Do we recognize the danger of specific intruders like divisiveness, complaining, complacency? How alert are we to their destructive presence, and how can we counteract them? Is there gossip to dispel, griping to quell, weakness to address, a need to fill? In what area(s) of service is the Lord employing us to protect sound teaching, steward resources, or promote growth?

In our own lives, how vigilant are we with the gates to the Spirit’s temple? A pure church is made up of members made righteous by Christ and constantly cleansed through careful soul inspection and confession that maintains individual communion. Are we participating in church as those washed clean, unencumbered by secret sin or festering resentment? Where have pride, greed, selfishness poisoned our attitudes toward fellow believers or the church as a whole, so we pollute the threshold? How will we deal with these deterrents to wholesome, fulsome worship and unity in fellowship? (Psalm 32:1-8; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 6:16)

The Lord calls His people to watch and serve, and enables those duties as able Helper. How will we keep this trust today?

Lord, help me vigorously, joyfully keep Your gates, to the building up of Your church and praise of Your resplendent glory.

“I will extol you, my God and King,
    and bless your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you
    and praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
    and his greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall commend your works to another,
    and shall declare your mighty acts.
On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
    and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
    and I will declare your greatness.
They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
    and shall sing aloud of your righteousness…

All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
    and all your saints shall bless you!
They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
    and tell of your power,
to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

The Lord is faithful in all his words
    and kind in all his works…

My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
    and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.” Psalm 145:1-7,10-13,21

David lived in the grit and tumble of responsibility, conflict, and passion. He also had a deep relationship with his Maker, and his high view of God constantly lifted his soul above the daily quagmire to the heavenlies. Whatever his urgencies and commitments and competition for attention, his lens was the Lord’s excellence. In the midst of life’s noise, his ongoing song articulated God’s fame for all to know.

Beholding, pondering, meditating on God’s splendor and majesty move the senses that were created to praise Him. One who takes time and focus to marvel and contemplate will fill with rapturous applause of heart and mind that must be expressed. Joy becomes an imperative to extol, and praise, and declare to saints and generations the glorious excellencies of the everlasting God.

When do I take time in quiet to marvel at the Lord God, and in concentrated prayer to exalt Him for His greatness, faithfulness, and wondrous works? What changes do I need to make in resolve, or schedule, to make that happen? Where have I recently beheld His hand in a changed attitude, an answer to prayer, wisdom imparted, inspiration quickened, impatience softened, a promise kept, or the explosion of color in a new day? How am I translating the gratitude in my heart into melodious worship that pleases Him? (Psalm 141:2; Hebrews 13:15; Revelation 8:3-4)

Think about the measure of words used in a day. Are my interactions with others pregnant with babble about myself, be it information or advising or boasting? How often do I speak instead of my Lord, and use my words to communicate with others what marvelous things He has done? With whom do I share His delights and power and beauties? How am I declaring His abundant might and dominion to the next generation? How might my messages inspire others to wonder at His love, creativity, and care? How might I translate His graces and purposeful kingdom rule into a message of salvation, that others want to know Him as I do?

Lord God, keep me meditating all You are, proclaiming Your loveliness, and praising Your goodness, and so bless Your high and holy name.

“Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
    I will sing praises to my God while I have my being…

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord his God,
who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
   who executes justice for the oppressed,
    who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;
   the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
    the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the sojourners;
    he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
    but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

The Lord will reign forever,..
    to all generations.
Praise the Lord!” Psalm 146:1-2,5-10

The psalmist’s soul wells up and spills over with praise as he ponders the works and ongoing work of his God. Not only had He created the heavens and earth, but He abides, constantly keeping faith, upholding and furthering His promises. As energetic help and hope, He at once executes justice, feeds, frees, illumines, lifts, and loves. He hovers and hems in, watching over to guide and protect, upholding to comfort and sustain. There is nothing the Lord neglects, yet He never wearies nor is confused. What a God! (Isaiah 40:28)

In the mire of conflict and demands, we need daily pause and refocus to take in God’s very present, sublime involvement. There is no urgency He does not see, no catastrophe He does not rule, no problem He cannot solve. He who created the rolling spheres is the Potentate of time and worthy of our trust. (Psalm 46:1)

O Christian, do we realize God’s power and the bounty He affords? Do we relish the security of His keeping, and the nourishment He provides? How freely are we living and serving, unfettered from shame, unweighted by regret? How do His love and lifting buoy our spirits and sustain our hours? Will we trust Him for justice and seek Him for insight? Will we delight in all He is and does and praise Him forever? (Romans 12:17-19; Hebrews 9:14)

How differently can I take on today and assess the future if I trust God’s abiding? For what divine activity will I depend on Him this day? For what will I sing His praise?

“Jesus! what a Strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him;
tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my Strength, my vict’ry wins…

Jesus! what a Help in sorrow!
While the billows o’er me roll,
even when my heart is breaking,
He, my Comfort, helps my soul…

Jesus! what a Guide and Keeper!
While the tempest still is high,
storms about me, night o’ertakes me,
He, my Pilot, hears my cry…

Jesus! I do now receive Him,
more than all in Him I find;
He hath granted me forgiveness;
I am His, and He is mine!
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving;
He is with me to the end.” ~J. Wilbur Chapman (1910)

Lord, cause me daily to marvel, praise, go forth, and rest in all You wondrously, faithfully do.

“Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end,  will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.  Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory...

“When one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:16-18

The Shekinah glory was a constant for Israel in the wilderness and the tent of meeting, yet it did not ever appear exactly the same one day to the next. Always present, ever changing. And once the Prince of glory came and died and was raised, He ushered in a new glory that can be ours in salvation. (Exodus 40:34-38; Isaiah 4:5-6)

As the earth spins and years come and pass, the nothing new under the sun of every day is never the same. Physically and practically life is dynamic, not static, and spiritually in the unseen realm the Lord is constantly changing us. Sometimes we resist that changing, preferring how I am and how things are, thank you. But the soul set on Christ will welcome and rejoice in God’s transforming work from the inside out, and will see His glory in it. (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

Where is the Lord’s Spirit prompting transformation, and what are we doing about it? Are we stuck in neutral, stagnant or complacent, or moving forward with the Lord? Is there any inward or outward evidence of our being changed from glory to glory? What would our co-workers and loved ones say?

What aspects of our character are becoming more pleasing, more reflective of Jesus? What changes in desire, refinements of behavior, or softening of hard edges and speech have taken place? What impulses and reactions and habitual practices need His work, and how willing are we to admit and submit to it? Where can we yield today to be made more like Jesus, and so portray and exude our Maker’s glory?

“Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heav’n to earth come down,
fix in us Thy humble dwelling;
all Thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love Thou art;
visit us with Thy salvation;
enter every trembling heart.

Finish then, Thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see Thy great salvation
perfectly restored in Thee.
Changed from glory into glory,
till in heav’n we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before Thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.” ~Charles Wesley (1747)

Lord, sweep me up in Your bundle of vibrant, dynamic life, changing me to be more like You every day so I reflect Your glory. (1 Samuel 25:29)

“When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.  [He] commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam.., and Achbor.., and Shaphan.., and Asaiah.., saying,  ‘Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written…’

“Then the king sent, and all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem were gathered to him. [He] went up to the house of the Lord, and with him the men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and prophets, all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord. The king stood and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and testimonies and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant.

“The king commanded Hilkiah the high priest… to bring out of the temple of the Lord all the vessels made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron and carried their ashes to Bethel. And he deposed the priests whom the kings of Judah had ordained to make offerings in the high places..; those also who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon and constellations… And he brought out the Asherah from the house of the Lord, outside Jerusalem,.. and burned it… and beat it to dust… And he broke down the houses of the male cult prostitutes.., where the women wove hangings for the Asherah.” 2 Kings 22:11-13; 23:1-7

It was the Book of the Law that gripped and shook King Josiah. Not only was it good, but it was the word of the unchanging, covenant-keeping God. Its tenets struck deep, with conviction, and begged a mutual commitment. Josiah’s humble confession and public covenant compelled its keeping. (Hebrews 4:12)

The reason we remain stagnant spiritually and otherwise is that we never move off complacency. A wish or want might flit by, but until we’ve committed we’ll likely not make any significant changes. Intuition might nudge that something needs be done, but flesh says I’m fine as I am, and have always been.

A covenant with the immutable, gracious God sets us in the right direction and inspires growth and obedience. It carries us through challenging and changing seasons by securing heart devotion. We struggle with weaknesses of our flesh, but the tether to an unchanging God secures His standard and intercession. As we put away destructive practices, we gradually replace them with good. Every bit of keeping fosters more and stronger keeping. (2 Kings 23:21-25; Romans 8:31-34)

What niggling habits and strange gods do we tolerate? Have we discerned godless inclinations, and boldly removed the high places of ego and greed we fondle with selfish affection? When we covenant to obey, the Lord gives grace and wisdom and help. (2 Kings 23:10-16; Hebrews 4:16)

Father, in gratitude for Your steadfast love and grace, fix my commitment and obedience to You, and for Your glory.

“He holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

“For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.  He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.  For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

“Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,  a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.” Hebrews 7:24-8:2

The permanent and forever High Priest, Jesus, alone saves completely, to the uttermost, by His limitless perfection. He whose death interceded for ours continues to intercede on our behalf, pleading before His Father from His right hand. The all in all gave His all, His faultless blood, to make us spotless and holy.

Yet how easy it is for us to live half-heartedly in the comparatives. Go with gusto, then gripe and grouse. Give generously, but give in to greed. Devote time and effort, but withhold some pet places. Believe in God, but avoid surrender. What a stark contrast we are to our excellent, wholly sacrificial Savior!

If we really believe Christ’s priesthood is permanent, why do we hide in shame and live in constant defeat? If it is true Christ is always praying for us, why do we fret and fear? If He has once for all put our sin and its power away, why do we keep yielding to temptation? What difference can it make in our attitude toward sin and daily life if we took Jesus’s superlatives literally? Permanent forever. Highly exalted. Perfect sacrifice. Unceasing intercession. High. Holy. True.

How would it change our worship if we rejoiced in the always and everlastings of our infallible Savior instead of focusing on temporal troubles and needs? What magnificence, excellence, resplendence of the high King have we witnessed recently? What fresh praise will we offer to our all in all for His perfect blood and saving, keeping power?

“I hear the Savior say,
‘Thy strength indeed is small,
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.’

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy pow’r and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.

For nothing good have I
Where-by Thy grace to claim;
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

And when, before the throne,
I stand in Him complete,
‘Jesus died my soul to save,’
My lips shall still repeat.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.” ~Elvina M. Hall (1865)

Lord, let me never forget Your astounding supremacy and excellent, eternal, salvation, and so live exalting You, alone worthy of the highest honor and praise.