WE HAVE AN ALTAR!

The people of God are blessed with a degree of participation never known before the glorification of Christ Jesus. In salvation, we become capable of imbibing the Divine Nature--a requisite to eternal life.

"Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come." (Heb 13:9-14).

Devotion 3 of 12

WHAT IS GOOD

Our text clearly implies that spiritual stability involves sifting what we hear, refusing to give hear to doctrines that do not blend with God's revealed purpose. "It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace . . . " (NIV). Hearts cannot be strengthened by varied and novel doctrines. They may appeal to the intellect, but they cannot establish the heart. What is more, unless the heart is established, there is no hope of overcoming our adversary, the devil. Vacillating disciples soon fall by the way because they have "no root in themselves" (Matt 13:6; Mark 4:6,17; Lk 8:13).

Some people find it difficult to talk about grace. May this never be said of you. Grace establishes and fortifies the heart, enabling it to be strong and consistent when assaulted by the evil one, or enjoying the serenity of favor with men. The heart cannot be properly established by routine! Behavioral disciplines may appear wise to men, but they are ineffective in the life of faith.

Grace connects men with heaven, and thus with Divine strength. Grace is accessible to men because Jesus brought it (John 1:17). Lest you be tempted to imagine grace is sparse and ineffective, remember, "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Rom 5:20). Grace "reigns" through the righteousness of God "to bring eternal life" (Rom 5:21, NIV). It is not weak and inefficient as the legalist imagines. It does not promote sin, but empowers men to say "No!" to worldly passions (Tit 2:11-12).

If consistency and stability are be found in professed believers, they must "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psa 34:8, NASB). Those so blessed "understand the grace of God in truth" (Col 1:6). They know it is "the true grace of God wherein they stand" (1 Pet 5:12). A heart that is "established" is one that can "stand against the wiles of the devil" (Eph 6:10-11). It is one that can "draw nigh" to God confidently and expectantly (Heb 10:22). These realities cannot be appropriated apart from the grace of God. The less grace is known, the less ability there is to draw nigh unto God and resist the devil.

It is "GOOD" that the heart be established with grace, and not with meats--various outward routines and disciplines. Such things did not profit those going before us, and they will not bring benefit to us. If it is a firm and unwavering heart that you desire, it can only come by grace.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I do desire an established heart--one that does not waver, and remains firmly fixed on the Lord Jesus. Through Him I ask for grace to obtain and maintain that kind of heart.

-- Tomorrow: WHAT IS NOT GOOD --