Month: June 2024

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Christ the True God

Jesus is our Atonement

Hebrews 9 Christ Our Sacrifice

Recalling the battle where the Philistines captured the Ark and their fear. The Hebrews author gives us a graphic picture of what it must have looked like and why they were so afraid. They had said unwittingly, a god is in our presence yet they turned not to the Holy God but to their false god, Dagon. Men clearly are blind to the power of the true God! Three times God revealed His power to them that they might turn to Him but they chose not. 

Now the Hebrews author turns our attention to the true sacrifice of Jesus who entered, not the earthly structure made by men’s hands, but blessed by the Lord, but to the heavenly tabernacle by his death. “For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us”[Heb 9:24] Unlike the false god of the Philistines, our Savior is a true God who now intercedes for us to the Holy Father. 

Be true to the True God, our Living and Interceding Savior, Jesus Christ! 

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The Good News!

Share the good news

Hebrews 8 Won’t it be wonderful!

The author of Hebrews wants us to look ahead and understand what the New Covenant will be like. It will be wonderful because God will write His Law the heart, there will be no more sacrificial offerings for Jesus has done it once for all. “And I will write them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” [Heb 8:10] Again He says: “For I will be merciful to their iniquities, And I will remember their sins no more.” [Heb 8:12] 

 Yes it will be wonderful and I can’t wait! How about you?

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Melchizedek and Christ

Hebrews 7 Christ a Priest Forever!

The author continues to present Christ as superior to all and in this chapter he presents him as priest forever because he sacrificed himself for us. The example he gives us is the person of Melchizedek who has no beginning and no ending and as he said, he is like the Son of Man, Christ Jesus himself. In order to help his readers see this perfection, he gives us the example of Abraham who returning from the slaughter of the evil kings received a blessing from Melchizedek and in turn Abraham gave him a tenth of the spoils. 

How beautiful is this example for us who are NT Christians to see how when we are about the business of God, He blesses us and in turn we offer a tenth of our spoils to honor him who has no beginning and no ending. Also, this Jesus now sits in the heaven with God Almighty and intercedes for us when we have needs. 

Consider this blessed reader as you are called to honor the one who suffered for you. 

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Get Busy!

You are chosen

Hebrews 6 Sluggish again?

Do you remember being reminded not once but several times to clean your room as a kid?  The Hebrews author seems to be sending that same signal to the readers; stop being sluggish! Hebrews 5 and 6 use the same word, so he is pointing fingers at them and wanting them to get busy!

The second thing the Hebrews author warns against is apostasy which is a denial and turning back from Christ. It means you were on the right path, but chose to step off the path into the world of darkness rather than staying on the path of the eternal light. The author reminds the reader that by doing this you are: “crucifying the Son of God for themselves all over again and holding him up to contempt.” [Heb 6:6] How tragic! Jesus came to remove the darkness and to now choose the opposing path must grieve His heart. He sacrificed his life but they are choosing to be like Judas by selling their gift of salvation for a pittance. 

Beloved, this should not be! His advice is this: “so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.” [Heb 6:12]  So what is keeping you from fulfilling your duty? Are you sluggish again? 

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Are you sluggish or energized?

Hebrews 5 How is your hearing today?

The author of Hebrews chastises the reader with these words: “On this topic we have much to say, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become sluggish in hearing.” [Heb 5:11] Could this be said of us? Sluggish has the connotation of dull, lacking understanding. 

Today earnestly yearn to hear, understand and apply the truths of this book to your life. Remember the two warnings already spoken: drifting  and disbelief. Let’s not add dull to that list. I love the energizer bunny commercial which shows we must be charged up to do the work and so it is with biblical understanding. We must be charged up with the power of the Holy Spirit so that when we face Christ we can say as John wrote: “I glorified you on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”  [Jn 17:4] Can we emulate Christ and can we say these same words for ourselves as Christ said them of Himself?                   

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Spiritual warfare

Stay alert

Ps 56 and 57 I don’t know about you but I have experienced true spiritual warfare and it seems like the Psalmist has as well. He takes pen to paper and records what this is like. Listen to his words which graphically describes what this is like when you are in the throes of the battle. One author wondered if Daniel had remembered these words while he lay amongst the lions. 

I am surrounded by lions;

I lie down among those who want to devour me,

men whose teeth are spears and arrows,

whose tongues are sharp swords.

Sometimes that is how I feel when I am in the midst of the words and actions of Satan who seeks to kill and destroy. His words to me are like those spears and arrows but my God is greater. The psalmist asked what can men do to me? The Hebrews author noted this as well: “so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” [Heb 13:6] This is how we face those battles. 

O Exalted One, come alongside each of us who are your children today and be our sword to wield against our foes. 

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What is our goal?

God has revealed His glory

Hebrews 4 Jesus our High Priest

The author continues to press onward challenging us to walk circumspectly and to be faithful to Jesus and God. Thus he wrote: “For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.”  [Heb 4:15-16] 

Where is my focus today? Where is yours? Is it on being faithful and obedient to the One who has called you and me out of darkness?  The words of Jesus ring forth: “I glorified you on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” [Jn 17:4] Is this our goal and our prayer? Are we glorifying God or self? Are we about the business of completing the work that He has called us to do? 

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Are you faithful?

Hebrews 3 The writer has told his readers that Jesus is creator unlike angelic beings. They are still wandering and need more instruction. He now turns to  his illustration of Moses and to the reasons they are not to worship him. He was a servant in God’s House but Jesus is the Son in God’s House. To show them the thinking, he uses the illustration of the architect and the product. The architect merely sketches the building but the end product of a new house reveals what the plans were on paper. 

Again the author uses the second illustration to show how God is not pleased with His people. He brought them out of bondage, He fed them manna in the wilderness, gave them water to drink from the rock and protected them from their enemies. And what did they do with those gifts but murmur! Therefore, after 40 yrs. God said, they are not committed and therefore they shall not enter my rest. 

Where are you today in your spiritual walk? Be forewarned from these examples. Honor Jesus and be grateful for what God has done for you. 

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Be Faithful!

Hebrews 2 Do not neglect…

The writer is reminding his readers that as believers we can easily allow other things to enter our minds and thoughts so we must be careful to not neglect being in the Word, praying and sharing. Jesus came and lived on earth as a human never neglecting to meet with his Father about the business of these who have been given to His care. We must follow His example. 

Jesus lowered himself, leaving heaven and all of its glory to live and die for the sins of mankind. He willingly chose to do that for our benefit, being made a little lower than the angels but the Father crowned him with honor and glory for his sacrifice. It is because of that, we must be diligent to remain steadfast and immovable always abounding in the work of the Lord. “For it was fitting for him, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” [Heb 2:10] 

Reader, be diligent! 

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Whom do you worship?

Hebrews 1 The author of Hebrews is unknown but his words resonate from centuries long ago; Jesus is the Creator and Sustainer of all. He is to be worshipped and not angels. Angels are ministering spirits to all those who have inherited salvation “But when he again brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him!”[Heb 1:6]. 

He makes his angels winds and his ministers a flame of fire,” but of the Son he says,“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and a righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom.” [Heb 1:7-8] 

Today take time to worship the One who is the Son of God and not angels. 

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