Outside the Camp

Here is a concept and a passage from the Bible that I would expect would be unfamiliar to most people. In Hebrews 13, beginning in verse 11, the passage is talking about the fact that the sacrificial animals in the Old Testament, under the old law of the Jews, were taken "outside the camp" and burned. The blood was used for sacrifice by the High Priest, then the body of the animal was taken outside the camp.

Next the passage says, "Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate." This refers to the fact that Jesus was crucified outside the city, up on the hill of Calvary, "outside the gate." Jesus was an outsider, of no value to those who crucified Him, just as the body of the animal was under the old Jewish law.

Then the verse 13 says, "Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach." This would indicate that we, as His followers, will not be accepted either. Just as the world hated Jesus, they will hate us. Just as He was out of step with the rest of the world then, we are to be out of step now. Just as He was "outside the camp," we are to be outsiders as well.

Then, in very fitting language, the verse 14 says, "For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come." We are seeking a city that is beyond this world. We are just passing through, with no real roots here. As Christians, we are already Spiritual people, and heading for that home that has permanent foundations (not a literal home, perhaps), a heavenly home.

Let's all be there. Let's truly commit ourselves to Him. Thanks for reading! Your friend, mike

Apostles

Why don't we have Apostles today?

Jesus had 12 Apostles with Him. Then Judas betrayed Him leaving 11. Just before ascending into heaven, Jesus told His Apostles to wait in Jerusalem for power to come upon them, which it did in Acts 2. But in Acts 1, while waiting in Jerusalem, the Apostles appointed a twelfth man, selected from 2 possibilities. Acts 1:15-26 tells us how and why they did this appointment and gives us a clue as to why we don't have Apostles today.

The reason for appointing a twelfth man is given in verse 20. It had been prophesied in Psalms (69:25 & 109:8) that this would happen and another should "take his office." The Apostles knew about this prophecy and carried out the appointment.

It is interesting to note that the qualifications of being an Apostle are stated clearly here in Acts 1:21-22. "Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us. beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection." For a man to be an Apostle, he had to have been a continual eye-witness of Jesus. All of the eye-witnesses died out and now we just read about them.

Remember the words of Jesus in John 20:29, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." That is you and me. We didn't get to see Jesus on the earth; but we believe those who did, the eye-witnesses who reported the Good News to us.

Thanks for joining me here. Please keep reading each week! And may God bless you!

Slow to Speak

Ok, so this blog is slow being posted due to SMD. That is Severe Mental Degradation. But only 2 days late, here it is:

In Ecclesiastes 5, it says, "Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth. And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on the earth. Therefore let your words be few." Now there is some good advice.

Jesus said in Matthew 5: 37, "..let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No' be 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one." The "evil one" is after us all the time and certainly in the speech area.

Note James 1:19, "..let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;"

God's wisdom is so much greater than ours; we know that we need to be listening to His wisdom and letting it change our lives. Thanks for reading............and see you next week....my dear friend!

Bible Names

Here is a bit of information on some key names in the Bible:

JEHOVAH--The name of God--The Jews of the OT were afraid to even say the name of God for fear of incurring His wrath. This likely came from a misunderstanding of the passage in their law, Leviticus 24:16, that said, "And whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death." Jewish tradition developed where only the High Priest could pronounce "Jehovah" once a year as he entered the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle. But God doesn't care if we say His name, IF we do it with respect. The 3rd of the 10 commandments in Exodus 20 says, "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain." Vain is not negative; vain means "empty, without purpose." Jesus in the Lord's prayer said, "Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed by Your name." Thus, we must not use God's name in an empty way, as a common expression. Everyday we hear, "Oh God" or OMG, and such expressions, not in a negative way, but in an empty way, a vain way. We cannot do this! God said such would not be held "blameless" (Exodus 20:7).

CHRIST-- "the Anointed"--Greek for the Hebrew word Messiah

JESUS-- Greek for "Joshua" in Hebrew; a name

Christian--"like Christ"

Let's honor the name of God, the Father, and Jesus; and wear the name of "Christian" with
honor. Thanks for reading. Check in next week.