A Foundation of Grace: Moses, Joshua, and Jesus

Photo courtesy of Travis Longmore at Lighstock

Here's something interesting to think about. When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they were led by Joshua. Moses was not allowed to go. Why was that? I think sometimes we think God was harsh for not allowing Moses to go in, since he had led them that whole way. But I think there is a bigger picture here.

Joshua is a type of Christ. In Hebrew his name is "Yehoshua," which means, "the Lord is salvation." He led the Israelites into the Promised Land. It was a land of great blessings for them, that they did not work for.

To me this sounds like Jesus. Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, and also means "the Lord is salvation" or "Yahweh saves."

Jesus leads us into our Promised Land, which is life in Christ. It is a land flowing with milk and honey, a land we didn’t work for, full of the richest blessings that Jesus paid for with his life.

So, again, why couldn’t Moses go into the Promised Land with the Israelites? If you remember, once during the Gospels Jesus took Peter, James, and John up onto a high mountain. Elijah and Moses appeared and started talking with Jesus. Moses is a picture of the law, and Elijah is a picture of the prophets.

While they were talking, this happened:

Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, I will put up three shelters— one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”…Matthew 17:4-5 (BSB)

The reason Moses couldn’t go into the Promised Land is because the law cannot go in with you to your Promised Land in Christ. Moses was a picture of the law, even in the Old Testament account. Joshua, a type of Jesus led the Israelites in, just as Jesus leads us as Believers into our Promised Land.

Romans 6:14 says,

For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. (NKJV)

Isn’t it beautiful that God put this picture for us in this Old Testament account of us going into the Promised Land without the law?

To read more in the series, please join me here, at A Foundation of Grace.

Jesus' Conversations with Women: The Water Jar

I have been thinking about the woman at the well that is found, in John 4. Mainly I have been thinking about her water jar. That water jar represented shame to her. The Bible says it was the sixth hour when Jesus sat down at the well. That would have been about noon. Then comes the woman to draw water.

Coming to the well at this time of the day would have been unusual. The job of drawing water was the job of a slave or women, and they would have done it earlier in the day when it was cooler, so this woman was coming to the well when she could avoid other people.

Her tone seemed a little sharp when she talked to Jesus, and we can tell that she was brave when speaking with Him. But she carried that shame because she avoided those who would shame her.

They have a conversation, she and Jesus, and discuss theological things. He offers her living water They discuss Jacob who built the well. His words tell her he knows her and what has happened to her in her life. And then they come to the most pivotal point.

Jesus tells her He is the Messiah. He reveals His true nature to her, and what He wants to do for her.

And she leaves her water jar.

She leaves the thing that is a representation of her shame. She lets it go, runs away, and tells other people about Him.

I believe, that when we all have a true encounter with the living Jesus, we will do the same. It will cause us to let go and leave our shame. We will leave all those things that have been holding us back, with Him, and we will run and tell others about Him.

He wanted her to come to know Him, That was His purpose in talking to her and still is His purpose with us.

The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”

Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why are You talking with her?”

The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” Then they went out of the city and came to Him.-John 4:25-30 (NKJV) 

My prayer is that we would all continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Him,

Beth

Faith Comes When You Hear About Grace

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.-Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)

Faith is the evidence of things not seen. If you can see it, you don't need faith for it.

Oftentimes, when we talk about faith, people will feel condemned, like it is something they have to muster up. Faith comes when you hear something and believe it.

In Romans, Paul tells us how faith comes. So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.-Romans 10:17 (NLT)

In the Gospels, we see stories of people hearing about Jesus, and coming to Him. One of my favorites is about the woman with issue of blood. I especially like the story in Mark's Gospel.

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”
But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”-Mark 5:25-34 (NKJV)


The Bible says she had been that way for a long time, twelve years. She hadn't been hearing about Jesus during that time. She had been looking for help elsewhere. But when she started hearing stories about Jesus, faith in Him arose in her heart. And she received her miracle.

But there is still one more piece that is a part of this story. Grace. That woman, under law, was not supposed to come in contact with other people. She was considered unclean. So, I believe that not only did she hear that Jesus would heal her. She heard that it was safe to be in His presence. She heard that He would not condemn her but love her. She heard that she was forgiven for whatever was potentially holding her in bondage. She heard that He was a healer.

So, that's what we need to hear, stories about Jesus, stories that build our faith in Him, and what He has done for us. We need to hear stories of His grace for us and that He is a healer.

We don't need to hear people's opinions, or about ourselves-those things aren't faith builders. We need to hear about Jesus, just like she did, just like it says in Romans 10:17 and that will change what we believe.

We need to hear it until it roots up all the weeds. We need to heart it until it becomes as real as the next breath we take.

You and I are no different than that woman with the issue of blood. He is saying the same things to you as He did to hear. "Daughter, your faith has made you well. God in peace and be healed of your affliction."


For by grace you have been saved (sozo-saved, healed, preserved, rescued ) through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,-Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)

Jesus' Conversations With Women: Martha and the Resurrection

Jesus had many theological conversations with women. For the last few days, I have been thinking about his dialogue with Martha in John 11. Martha gets a bad rap sometimes. We first see her in Luke 10, verses 38-42. In this chapter, she is making preparations for a meal, while her sister Mary sits at Jesus’ feet.

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”-Luke 10:38-42 (NKJV)
Luke's Gospel tells us she is distracted by much serving. The word distracted makes me think at some point she had been doing what Mary was doing, or perhaps it means that she also should have been sitting with her.

The next time we see her is in John chapter 11 after her brother Lazarus has died. She and Mary send a message to Jesus that Lazarus is sick, but he doesn’t make it there before Lazarus dies. When Jesus is getting ready to enter the village, Martha hears he is coming, and goes out to meet him. This is the dialogue that follows:

So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”-John 11:17-27 (NKJV)

This is an amazing conversation and foundational to our lives as Believers. At the beginning of their dialogue, Martha expresses her pain that Jesus was not there when Lazarus was sick, but she goes on to demonstrate her faith in him.

Based on her words, it seems as though Martha has been transformed. No longer do we see the huffy woman in Luke 10 who is perturbed about all her serving. She is a new Martha. It seems as though she has been doing some sitting at Jesus’ feet as well, and she has become the Martha that she was always meant to be.

What caused the change in her? Maybe the answer is found in the conversation itself. They start out talking about Lazarus, but then switch to talking about who Jesus is!

When we first see her in Luke 10, she has her eyes on herself and all that she has to do. In John 11, she has her eyes on Jesus. He even goes on to teach her more in this moment. He switches her focus from in the future, to right now. Jesus says,

I am the resurrection and the life.

He is the resurrection (in the future) and the life (right now). Right now. In this moment. He is “I am.” The word life in that sentence is the Greek word “zoe.” Strong’s Concordance defines it as meaning “life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence.”

And then Martha confesses what ever person who has ever entered or will enter the kingdom has said in their heart and with their mouth,

Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.-John 11:17

She focuses her attention on Jesus now. In the moment. And then she receives a miracle. Jesus raises her brother from death.

Something else interesting to note is this event took place shortly before Passover. In John 12, we get to see Jesus and Martha together in Bethany again. Jesus would soon be entombed just as Lazarus was, and he would also be raised again! To prepare for this, Mary anoints Jesus’ feet, and we see Martha serving again. This time there is no protest to Mary being at the feet of Jesus again, just the accomplishment of peaceful service.

As we get ready to celebrate Resurrection Sunday, and always, let us remember to focus our attention on Jesus in the now. In our everyday lives, in each and every situation we face, may the words that He spoke to Martha, go deep down in our hearts,

I Am the Resurrection and the Life.

Many blessings to you as you continue to grow in the knowledge of Him,
Beth

Every Believer Has a Ministry

Ministry is not a place you arrive at. It is something already happening, moment by moment, day by day. Every single believer on the planet has a ministry right now. You don't need another person to affirm you or send you. Jesus already said go! (See Mark 16: 15 and 2 Corinthians 5:18.)

There is somebody in your world right now that needs to hear the about Jesus. They need to hear and know that God loves them and they are already forgiven of their sins. They just need to know it, believe it and give their hearts to Him.

It only takes a moment to become a new creation and be transferred from the darkness to light.

I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me. -Acts 26:17-18

Salvation

In the Bible in John chapter 3, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

So, how does someone become born again?

Romans 10:8-13 tells us.

"But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”


Jesus came into the world as a man. He was tortured, beaten, and bruised and nailed by Roman soldiers to a cross to put him to death. But it was all for you and me. After three days of being sealed in a tomb, He was raised to life by the power of God. If you believe this to be truth, and that He did it for you, simply talk to God right now.

You can pray, "Jesus, I ask you to come into my life and make me a new person. I believe you died on the cross and were raised again. I confess you now as Lord. Thank you for making me a new creation. Amen!"

If you prayed that prayer, I encourage you find a church that believes the Bible and start attending so you can spend time with other believers that can encourage you in your faith. Many blessings to you on this new journey!

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

 

 

“There are many who struggle to survive in life, many who have been used and abused in the name of love, many who have been sacrificed on altars of pleasure and “freedom.”  But the freedom the world offers is, in reality, false.  Too many have awakened one day to discover they are in bondage, and they have no idea how to escape.  It is for people such as these that I wrote Redeeming Love-people who fight, as I did, to be their own gods, only to find in the end that they are lost, desperate, and terribly alone.  I want to bring the truth to those trapped in lies and darkness, to tell that that God is there, He is real, and He loves them-no matter what.”

-A Note From Francine Rivers, Redeeming Love

 

This may very well be one of the shortest reviews I have ever written (or maybe not) for one of the longest books I have read in some time.  I had been aware of this book for a while, but had never picked it up to read it.  When it became a book review choice, I was intrigued, but then was very excited to read it once I read the description.

Redeeming Love is a work of fiction by Francine Rivers based on the Biblical account of Hosea and his marriage to a prostitute.   In this story, Rivers tells the story of Angel, a prostitute, sold into it as a child.  Throughout the course of her story, just like the story of Hosea and Gomer, which is an Old Testament picture of Christ and the Church, we get to see God drawing her back to Himself.

I liked this book.  It was very emotional, and a wonderful picture of how much God loves us and how He draws us to Him through the love found in His son, JESUS.   I did not want to put it down because I wanted to see how it ended, although I already had an idea. 

That being said, this book is somewhat graphic due to the nature of its content.  The subject material of prostitution is dealt with discreetly, but you are not left to wonder about what happened.  I had a difficult time with those passages.  This book is also a love story between Angel and Michael, a man whom God uses to draw her to Himself.  *Spoiler *There are several love scenes between them as well, which are discreet, but heated.

While I was reading, I asked several of my friends if they had read the book, and everyone that responded that they had said they liked it.  One friend said she would not let her unmarried daughter read it and I agree.  If I were to give a book a rating, this one would be “R” because of the content even though it is Christian fiction. Sorry Francine!  I think the subject matter could be understood by 18+, but it will awaken feelings that are better left undisturbed unless you are married.  I would recommend this book to anybody who wants a better understanding of how much God loves us.

One final thought that I might share is that this book has stirred my heart even more toward women who have experienced sexual abuse in whatever its form.  God longs to redeem and restore all the enemy has stolen, even the pain in our hearts.

With much love, I hope you know the One who wants to redeem you.

Beth

For more about Francine Rivers, and her book Redeeming Love, go here.

 

Disclaimer-I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah as part of free books for bloggers program.  I was not required to give a favorable review.  The thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.