In homogenized milk, the fat-rich cream molecules are dispersed throughout the skim milk so that the liquid is all the same. Knowing God’s wide, deep, high, and long love, made available to me by Jesus, is the rich cream of my life. God does not want me to allow the cream of His love and presence to rise to the top, just to be seen by others. He wants me to keep the richness of His love homogenized into everything that I say and do — all the same thing.
Similarly, a word study of the meaning of “profess” in the following verse brought a surprising lesson about the nature of praise.
Hebrews 13:15 – Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. (NIV)
The Greek word “homo-logeo” literally means “speak the same thing”, and can also be translated “confess”. When I put that meaning back into Hebrews 13:15, I saw that a sacrifice of praise is the fruit of lips that openly “speak the same thing” as His name. “Name” represents the title and dignity of the Lord and everything implied in His authority, character, rank, majesty, power, excellence, and attributes.
We are called to use our lips to openly and continually “speak the same thing” as Jesus’ dignity, authority, rank, majesty, power, excellence, and tender, cherishing, compassionate, loving-kind, merciful character. This verse instructs us to give (or sacrifice) our attention to the Lord, and to discern what Jesus is saying and say it too. This implies being “on the same wavelength” as Jesus, or being kindred spirits with Him.
We can know that we are saying the same thing as Jesus does by watching to see if we produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV). If we come short of the Lord’s expectation, then “if we confess (same Greek word, “homo-logeo”) our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins” and give us a re-start (1 John 1:9 NIV).
Don’t you think all that is good news?
Prayer: Father, we give You thanks. You love us and provide an infinite number of merciful re-starts. In the name of Christ, we ask You to enable us to speak the same thing as Jesus. Help us to mature to Your high calling for us made possible by Your Son and the activity of the Holy Spirit in us. Amen.
Desboro, Ontario, Canada
Thanks to PresbyCan Daily Devotional