The Truth, Honestly.

So this is going to be a short one.

A few days ago.. Ok maybe a week or two I ran across this verse: "The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." -Psalm 145:18.

What does it mean to "call in truth?"

What does it mean? It's a good question. I guess to answer that question you need to think about what truth is... I think in most instances when we think about speaking the truth it means to be honest.. So, when this verse says that the Lord is near to all who "call on him in truth," I believe the Psalmist is telling us to call on him with honesty!

Could this mean that we are to call out, to cry out to God with honesty on our hearts and on our lips? To lay our hearts out, to be honest with our struggles? Are we to be "straight up" with God? No facades, no sugar coating? YES!

I think this is a beautiful promise! When we are humbled to come before God and just say "God, I am scared. God I need you... and I sin in this, this and this way. I Think wrongly in this way. Sometimes I don't trust you! I love you though, and I'm trying.. God I need you so bad!!" The promise we have is that the Lord is "near" to all who "call in truth" or as I believe those who are honest when God. Not that He doesn't know all these things already.. But He is concerned with our hearts, because He is a personal being. God wants us to tell Him what is up with us.. It's like when a child breaks a vase and the parent says... ok, who broke this vase?? The parent knows it was the child.. But they ask because they want their beautiful child to tell them on their own!

This is why we are to call out to God in truth. God wants us to tell him the truth on our own.. And His promise is that He'll be near to us. He'll protect us and watch over us. He'll comfort us in His arms. He is a Father.. An amazing gracious Father!!

Christ Knows ALL Our Temptations!

Ok Ok... It's about time!

Gosh, I'm sorry. I suck at keeping up my blog! Please accept my deepest apologies!

So While is was in Israel I was reading through Hebrews and as I read Heb. 4:15-16 then, these verses just jumped out at me. I think maybe because at that time the fact that I definitely needed Jesus' help with my temptations to sin was clearly evident to me.. Something that as time goes in becomes even clearer. I was on a long bus ride so I had some time and decided to look a little deeper into these two verses. And that time is where I got the bulk what is in this blog. But then about a week ago, my Friend Isaac posted that verse on his status on Facebook and so I was prompted to look at it again.. And Now I guess I just felt like it's probably time to put it into a blog!

So, here's the verse- Hebrews 4:15-16:

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

1st: You notice that we have a promise of help when we are being tempted to sin.

Then we have the question: Wy does He have authority over sin?
1st: Because He IS God incarnate.
2nd: Because Christ humbled himself and became a man, he had to suffer every temptation like we do. He knows exactly what we are going through (you read this in Phil. 2), he knows our suffering because He has endured it! Since he triumphed over the temptation to sin, he has the authority over sin.

So the next question is: Jesus humbled himself to become fully man, so, being fully man, how did Jesus overcome sin?
1. As a man he had potential to sin. Some people think that it wasn't possible for Jesus to sin. in Latin the term is "Non posse peccare" but that isn't true.. It wasn't impossible for Jesus to sin.. But it is possible for him not to sin. The term is "Posse non peccare".. Meaning that he had potential to sin, but he was able to not sin.. He was able not to sin because he had direct communion with God the Father and was empowered and strengthened.
Now, because of Christ's death, resurrection and ascension we have received God's grace and The Holy Spirit who through God's grace welcomes us into the family.. Into relationship and fellowship with the Father. Through this relationship and community with the Trinity we too are strengthened and empowered by God to fight temptation.

Jesus stands holding our hand and he pulls us into this relationship and he makes it possible.

So, how are we supposed to respond to this?
1. Allow the Holy Spirit to work to empower us.. In John and Acts the Holy Spirit is talked about as a Helper.. He helps us.
2. Trust- Trust that God has given us authority over temptation. Believe it!
3. Act in this belief- Walk in God promise that we will find help to resist temptation... Put on the shoes and walk in them. Start living in a way that suggests that we believe what is written in this passage!
4. Take the practical step of having someone to be accountable with!

That's just how I worked through it.. A person could probably spend many many hours diving into these verses.. They're very rich verses! As is the whole book of Hebrews!

My trip was fantastic BTW! Keep me in your prayers as I prepare mentally, spiritually and financially to go out one more time! In the Fall I will be going back to Switzerland for another round of DTS(Discipleship Training School). This time I will be a staff member!!!! Woo.. But seriously.. pray for me. Haha

Thanks,

Josh!