| Sat Jan 5 | am: 2, 110 pm: 29, 98 | am: Joshua 1:1-9 pm: Isa 66:18-23 | am: Heb 11:32-12:2 pm: Rom 15:7-13 | John 15:1-6 |
John Wesley in his sermon "The Scripture Way of Salvation" (#43) Reminds us that wen we receive Christ, we receive him in all his offices:
- Prophet - differing from the earlier prophets of the Hebrews in being revealer in both word and deed, the Incarnate Word
- Priest - mediator who enters the holy of holies, intercedes for us, and becomes for us sin
- King - ruler, the King of the Jews from birth to crucifixion in earthly form, and according to the Revelation will come again as King of Kings and Lord of Lord
Each time I leave our room, I am reminded by the words on the door. Placed there on vinyl strips by my grandchildren who have the same words over their front door. "I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened or dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
Under the words are two lions: the ones that lie in my den. Each lion carries one statement. The first is "write" - I am now doing that every day - one lion at bay. The other carries a number 135. A long ways from the 215-222 where my weight balances from month to month. Yesterday, we put the "Lose It" app on my phone. Oops, missed my calorie goal yesterday. Today I face the lion again.
Not only God speaking to Joshua and Daniel in the lion's den, but "so great a cloud of witnesses" set forth by Paul to remind us that others have fought the lions and won. "Let us run with perseverance the race set before us."
Encouragement. Hope. Hope that brings joy and peace in the present and expectation of the fully realized kingdom of God in the future.
Prayer is the gymnasium of the soul.
Lord, I write everyday, help me learn to eat only enough to sustain. Help me tame the lion of food for comfort. And please, could we talk about the gym with the heated pool we pay for every month another day?
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