Lent, Day 23: THE CENTERPIECE OF EVERYTHING WE BELIEVE

Scripture:   Hebrews 3:1-6 

Focus on the Word

In The Message paraphrase of Hebrews 3:1-6 we are challenged to

Take a good hard look at Jesus. He’s the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave him to do. Moses was also faithful, but Jesus gets far more honor. A builder is more valuable than a building any day. Every house has a builder, but the Builder behind them all is God. Moses did a good job in God’s house, but it was all servant work, getting things ready for what was to come. Christ as Son is in charge of the house.  Now, if we can only keep a firm grip on this bold confidence, we’re the house!

"Jesus is the centerpiece of everything we believe."  Because Jesus is who He is, and because we believe in Him, we are called to "keep a firm grip on this bold confidence."  In keeping a firm grip God models through us that we are His house, the house where "Jesus gets far more honor."  Jesus "is in charge of the house," and "in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28, NIV).

  

In Christ-centered faith it is when people let God be God in their lives they see the dramatic new reality God has in store.  We don’t worship a principle, a theology, a doctrine, or an ideology.  Rather, by grace we are drawn to a person, Jesus.  In Him we see who God really is. We see God not as the unknown but as the one who in Jesus makes Himself known, so known that renewal is always at hand.

In Lent we revisit what it means to keep a firm grip on the bold confidence we have in Jesus.  We take a good hard look at Jesus.  We keep coming to Him because He really is the centerpiece of everything we believe.  We keep drawing near to the throne of grace with a prayer in our soul, 

Just as I am, without one plea, 

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee. 

O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Today’s Prayer

Lord, if you withdraw your hand, there is no grace. If you cease to guide us, we have no wisdom. If you no longer defend us, we have no courage. If you do not strengthen us, our chastity is vulnerable. If you do not keep a holy watch over us, our watchfulness cannot protect us. By ourselves we sink, we perish; when you are with us, we are uplifted, we live. We are shaky, you make us firm.  We are lukewarm, you inflame us.    

-- Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471)