The fine line between good and best

Today I spent some time reading the book of Hebrews. I commented to Lyn that there is a fine line between Christian and kingdom, between law and grace, between man’s way and God’s way. The facts about relationship with God through Jesus are right, are good, are essential. But for living life, they are not enough. The law is also good: the precepts, the principles, the ways of God…these are excellent, but on their own they only emphasize our need of something more. Best practices, human logic, intelligent thought, considered opinion…thesetoo are good, but they are not enough to please God.

There is a fine line, but there is also a vast chasm between good and best, between rational and obedient. The writer of Hebrews expresses it well as he spoke of the nation of Israel. They had information but they lacked inspiration. They analyzed the facts, but failed to mix them with faith. “…the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith”

We believe we have heard a message. In fact, we are overwhelmed by the extent of the prayers, the prophecies, the dreams, the visions and the Scriptures that have been received and given concerning a place. But we can take all of that and lay it on the desk of human logic and say, “We have a stretching but reasonable way to proceed with purchasing a property.” And for some, this may be fine. But for us, we want to hold out for more. Hebrews also says, “For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.” We don’t just want the house that man built: we want to see something so over the top that all will have to acknowledge, “God did this for his own glory. He built this house.”

Hebrews 4:9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.

Doing life God’s way means resting from doing it through our own work, our human effort, scheming or ingenuity. This is hard to grasp sometimes because we are made in God’s image. God works, we like to work to make things happen, and it is a lot of fun to co-create with God. But there is a fine line between working with God, and working to ‘help God out’ or make stuff happen on his behalf…especially just before he does things in his better way. (King Saul knew all about sacrificing the best on the altar of the immediate.)

We are a complex bundle of thoughts, feelings, passions, desires, motives and actions, all wrapped up in the integration of our body, soul and spirit, so much so that it can be hard to fathom what we are doing “in faith” versus through our own volition. “Well, Brett” I hear you ask, “if it is a fine line and the issues are complex, how do we know what side of the line we are on?” Read on.

12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

The Word quickened by the Spirit cuts through everything and lays it bare before the Father. And of course the Father knows whether we will settle for doing things consistent with even his principles, his precepts, his laws, his ways, but without the mixed-in faith that holds out for the very, very best. He knows, and he informs us of what he knows. (Psalm 25:14 “The Lord confides in those who fear him.”)

Finally, the truth of Hebrews 6:10 gave us added vigor to stand for the best. Many of you know that Lyn and I have not been hanging around coffee shops in America schmoozing people with deep pockets in hopes of cajoling them into giving towards the property. True, we have periodically shared the vision with folks outside our core community. But pressing in for a mini-campus has not detracted from us doing the job we are called to do. Between us we have done something like 40 trips since May. We have visited many past clients, prayed, preached, taught, wept with, laughed with and been mutually encouraged by people in the US, South Africa, India, Indonesia and Nigeria. As I visited a company in Benoni, South Africa, and thought for a moment about whether I shouldn’t be back in the US “fund raising” for the property God whispered to me, “You do what you are meant to do, and I will do what I do.”

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” Hebrews 6:10

Friends, God is just. We prayed this verse back to God this morning. Lyn and I stood and remembered your prayers, your words, your acts of service, your faith-seeds and added the ingredients that Hebrews doled out to us of faith and hope and patience, and we put them in a figurative mixing bowl and stirred them all together in prayer, and presented them in faith as an offering to the Father “behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.” (Heb 6:19,20) So, let’s praise God that in these pressing remaining days, because he will not forget our collective work, he will do what he does…which is always above and beyond.

“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” (Hebrews 10:35,36)

PS: Lyn says, “If you have read to the end of this, please email me at lynj@inst.net — you deserve a prize!”

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Comments

[Lina]

I read it to the end. =)