Well Pleasing to a
Perfect God |
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Elder
Phillip N. Conley |
Hebrews 13:16, "But
to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such
sacrifices God is well pleased."
This
morning, our broken, fallen world seems to slip day by day
further into the clutches of darkness. Even looking at the
denominational Christian world - as opposed to the reprobate
ungodliness of the world in general - things are slipping
that were steadfast in days gone by. How many professing
Christians could only be called nominal at best? To be a
Christian is to literally be "Christlike." How Christlike
is it not to pray without ceasing as He did? Do we resemble
Christ when our bodies are not presented regularly in
worship as His was? He referenced His own Book repeatedly,
and does it resemble Him when our knowledge of His Book is
but mere fragments and crumbs? Broken creatures we are, but
He has endowed us with the power and ability to do better.
Christian deportment seizes upon this opportunity and
ability to emulate the Master in our lives to His glory.
One of
the stark reminders that I have every day is what a great
sinner I am. This is not a proud statement but an objective
declaration of fact based on years of observation. As a
lifelong attendee of God's house with many years of Bible
study coupled with it, another stark reminder comes
brilliantly to the surface that shows just how much grace
outshines and exceeds sin. When you read and study God's
word, it becomes obvious and apparent that God is perfect
and demands perfection. What was the problem with the law
given to Moses? Was it an inherent problem in God's law?
No, for Paul tells us in Hebrews 8 that the fault was with
the people not the law given. God's law demanded
perfect obedience, and imperfect people failed that
injunction repeatedly - as we still do today. So, what
reminder do we have as disciples of the Lamb that outshines
the great sinners that we are?
In our
study verse, Paul is concluding his rich treatise of Hebrews
by giving the closing arguments about why our worship in
this era and age is better than the worship of the Old
Testament days. He references in Verse 10 of this chapter
what we have today that they had "no right" to in their day.
All the order of worship then pales in comparison to the
order of worship today. Reason? Christ has come and
fulfilled all that the old order pointed to, and now today
we can look back with thanksgiving and appreciation for His
work giving glory to His name. (Verses 13-15) These
sacrifices and offerings are simple in thought, but our
fallen nature that we still wrestle makes the application
difficult so many times. We feed the old flesh with all of
its affections and wicked desires. Whether lust, envy,
bitterness, pride, etc. we find ways to nurture these
infernal weeds rather than fostering the care of
righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost in God's
kingdom. (Romans 14:17)
However,
when we put forth the effort to put down the old man and his
affections and put on the new man, we find ourselves in a
blessed condition wherein we have true fellowship with our
God and His dear people. This bond and experience far
outshines any earthly experience we could hope to have. The
view outstrips the gaze from the highest natural mountain.
The happiness it engenders exceeds the highest earthly
pleasure. When God comes down by His Spirit to anoint our
preaching, eat at the table with us, and whisper sweet peace
with His still, small voice, we find a scene that renders
peace in a chaotic world, joy in the midst of suffering, and
the revived hope of a better world to come. These
experiences come when we offer sacrifices and offerings to
Him as Paul here declares. Our doing good and communicating
these things brings such scenes to view. To communicate in
this way literally means to live it. We do not just say it.
Rather, it tattoos itself with a lasting imprint upon our
lives. People who know us see us as joyful, peaceable people
who know and love Him and His family.
If you
kind reader have experienced such scenes as here described,
you understand that words cannot capture the whole of the
experience. To try to tell someone about it seems futile,
which is why the 1st century invitation "Come and see" is
still so relevant and applicable today. But think back upon
those times. Think of the preparations of the heart that
preceded them. Think of the effort that went on while
engaged in them. Whether it was study, prayer, and
meditation beforehand or singing, prayer, and attentiveness
while in them, how perfect were your sacrifices and
offerings? How good has your study ever been? How good has
your worship ever attained? No honest minister ever says he
preached a perfect sermon. No honest member of the Lord's
church believes their local assembly is perfect. We still
have imperfections and problems that plague us, even in the
best of beautiful situations in Zion.
God has
not changed. He still demands perfection, and as such, we
still owe it to Him. Do we deliver? Our only hope is that
Jesus delivered it on our behalf so that we would be blessed
to live with Him forever. And yet, consider the grace for
today. As you study today, pray today, meditate upon His
goodness today, none of it is perfect. When next you meet
in His house to worship Him publicly, none of that will be
perfect. Is this what a perfect God deserves? Should such
meager offerings be acceptable to Him? I would reckon that
most of us have standards for others that are less than
perfect that we get distressed about when they are not met.
No one likes to be let down.& nbsp; Sometimes we take it
badly when we think someone is capable of more and yet not
giving it. God knows exactly what we are capable of giving
and how much we do not do. He knows how much better our
service could be than it is. Friends, here is the heart of
the gracious observation from a lifelong churchgoer and
Bible student.
Knowing
all these things and what He is not getting from us, Paul
here tells us that God is well pleased with these efforts.
Not just pleased. Notice the specific nature of it. God is
"well pleased" with real thank offerings and sacrifices of
praise. When we in honest hearts give Him praise for His
mercy and grace, God is well pleased. When we render thanks
for the great work that Christ made on our behalf, God is
well pleased. When we resolve ourselves to do better than
we have been doing, God is well pleased. When we forgive
those that have wronged us, God is well pleased. When
we strive above all other enterprises in our lives to shine
forth the light of Christ to bless others, God is well
pleased. Every time we make a decision that is truly
Christian, God is well pleased, for it reflects back an
image akin to His Son. Does God deserve more than we have
ever given Him? Absolutely! And yet, His grace is so noble
to broken creatures to visit us so richly with His
pleasure! I do not know about you, but such a thought of
God's continual visitation with His people here and regular
condescension to men of low estate makes me desire as the
songwriter said, "Want to love Him more." A perfect God
will never get perfect praise from His people this side of
glory, and yet He is well pleased with efforts that we
strive to give Him according to His pattern. Wow!
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