Category: Hebrews Devotionals

Categories
Hebrews Devotionals

Encouraging and exhorting one another

Hebrews

Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.

But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception. (Hebrews 3:12-13)

I was just thinking today how important it is, especially in these times, to encourage and exhort each other as Christians.

We live in times when moral decay is spreading like gangrene throughout society, and it is easy for we ourselves to start hardening our hearts to what God says about sin.

All you have to do is look at TV programs nowadays and see what is being pushed into our faces as “normal sexual behavior,” whether it is heterosexual or homosexual.

The same can be said for the things the media and society around us call “being on the right side of history.”

But just as dangerous, Christians can look at society and start to lose hope that God is truly in control.

Either way, our faith in God begins to dissipate.

And so the writer of Hebrews tells us to “encourage each other daily…so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.”

One of the most important exhortations we can give each other is found in verse 15.

Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.

The problem with a lot of us, is not that we don’t hear his voice. It’s that we harden our hearts to it. And the more we harden our hearts to his voice, the more difficult it becomes to hear it.

So one of the things we need to encourage each other to do the most is to soak ourselves in God’s truth.

And when God speaks to our hearts, we must encourage each other to not make excuses or to whine or moan as the Israelites did in the desert, but to soften our hearts to him and listen.

As brothers and sisters in Christ, let us make it a point each day to exhort and encourage each other in this way.

Who can you encourage and exhort today?

Categories
Hebrews Devotionals

Trusting the Lord and heeding his voice.

Hebrews

The danger of reading the Bible one chapter at a time is that you can lose the overall message of what is being said.

And the overall message of Hebrews  is to put your trust in the Lord, paying heed his voice.

As I mentioned in an earlier article, there were Jews that were tempted to turn their backs on Christ, and to go back to Judaism because of the persecution they were facing.

So from the very beginning of this letter, the author urges the people to heed the Lord’s voice. And when we say “Heed the Lord’s voice,” we’re talking about God in Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The writer of Hebrews spends the whole first chapter talking about how though God spoke through the prophets in the Old Testament, Jesus is the final word, testified to by God the Father and the Holy Spirit.

For that reason, we are to heed Jesus and not drift away from him (2:2-4).

And he gives us warning from the Holy Spirit in chapter 3 and 4,

Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. (Hebrews 3:7-8, 15, 4:7).

Why? Because apart from Jesus, we will never find true rest. Rather we will be condemned for all eternity. (3:12, 16-19).

The author of Hebrews then warns us against having dull or lazy ears, and thus being immature. (5:11-6:3, 9-12)

All this leads to the climax in chapters 10-12.

He says in chapter 10 that people who disregarded the word of God given to Moses were put to death.

How much more should one who disregards Jesus? These people trample not only on what Jesus said concerning salvation, but all he did to accomplish it.

And so the writer warns, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

But then he encourages us, “Hang in there. Don’t turn back. For if you endure, if you will continue to trust God and heed his voice, you will be saved.”

Chapter 11 then goes into a whole list of people who did just that, some of whom who did so under great pressure, even to the point of death. And as we saw yesterday, God testified of them all, “These are the ones who please me.”

And so the writer concludes in chapter 12, “You see all these people who came before you. They trusted God. They heeded Jesus, the final word, the source and perfecter of our faith.

“Do the same. Consider Jesus and all he did for you on the cross.

“And when the Lord disciplines you by letting you go through trials, don’t get bitter or angry. Trust him. Believe that he truly wants your best.”

He then says to this tired, persecuted people.

Therefore, strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but healed instead. (Hebrews 12:13).

Finally, after more instruction and exhortation, he concludes with this word.

Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus — the great Shepherd of the sheep — through the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21)

So, beloved people of God, whatever you may be going through, whatever trials or heartache, trust the Lord. Heed his voice. And you will find rest.

Categories
Hebrews Devotionals

Commended

Hebrews

As I read this passage, the word “approved” or in some translations “commended” strikes me. You see it in Hebrews 11:2, 4, 5, and 38.

The word also has the idea of someone testifying to something. The question is, “who is testifying” and “what are they saying?”

The answer in Hebrews is clear: God is testifying concerning his people. And he says, “These people please me.”

On what basis does he say that?

Not for their actions, at least not primarily. But for their faith.

God testifies of them “These people please me, not because they are perfect, but because they trust me.”

They trusted that God was truly there and would reward them if they seek him. They believed that regardless of what was being offered to them by others, God had something better for them. (Hebrews 11:6, 15-16, 24-26, 35, 40).

They didn’t see this world as their permanent home. Rather, they saw themselves as foreigners, as temporary residents.

As a result, when they faced suffering and even death, they still kept trusting God and following him.

These are the people God commended. These are the people of whom God said, “They please me.”

It makes me think, “What does God say of me? What does he testify about me?”

We stand before a cloud of witnesses, all of whom stand approved of before God. Will we stand with them some day?

Lord God, like those who came before me, I am not perfect. I stand by your grace alone.

But let my life be marked by a deep trust in you. And may the day come when you will say of me also, “Bruce was one who pleased me.”

Categories
Hebrews Devotionals

Better

Hebrews

It’s worth noting that the letter to the Hebrews were written to Jews who because of persecution by their own people, were being tempted to turn their backs on Jesus and return to Judaism.

And so the whole theme throughout this letter is that in Jesus we have something better, superior to anything Judaism had to offer.

You actually see that word several times.

In Jesus, we have a better hope (7:19), a better covenant (7:22; 8:6) that is based on better promises (8:6). As a result Jesus has a superior ministry to that of the Levitical priests (8:6).

Not only that, he himself is a better priest because he is sinless and lives forever, in contrast to priests that were sinful and ultimately died (7:23-28).

He ministers in a greater and more perfect tabernacle (9:11).

And the sacrifice he offered was better than any bull or goat (9:23), because his sacrifice actually could cleanse our hearts and consciences before God.

The sacrifices of bulls and goats couldn’t do that. That’s why the priests’ work in offering sacrifices never stopped.

But after Jesus offered himself on the cross, he sat down at the right hand of God. (9:9-10, 13-14, 10:4-12, 14)

In the tabernacle, only priests could enter the Holy Place, and only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place. (9:1-8)

But now, we who belong to Jesus have access into the holy places and our Father who dwells there. (10:19)

Best of all, our relationship does not depend on how faithful we are to him. It depends on his faithfulness to us. (Hebrews 8:10-13, 10:23).

That’s why we can have confidence before him. Not because of who we are. But because of who he is.

So what?

I can put it no better than the writer to the Hebrews.

Therefore brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus–he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through is flesh)–, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodes washed in pure water.

Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. (10:19-23)

Categories
Hebrews Devotionals

The reason for our hope

Hebrews

Sometimes, because of our weakness, we wonder if God can truly accept us as his children. We look at all our sins and failures, and as a result, our faith starts to shake.

But thankfully, our salvation is not based on our performance, nor on our feelings. What is it based on? God’s unchangeable purpose and his oath.

We see the purpose God had in mind from the beginning of time in Romans 8:29-30, to make a people who are like his Son. And that purpose doesn’t change. He foreknew us, he predestined us, he called us, he justified us, and he glorifies us.

That was the promise God was making to Abraham. That through Abraham, God would make a people that belonged to Himself. And that is not only the Jews, but us. (Romans 4:16-17).

For that reason, Jesus went into the inner sanctuary before God the Father, carrying the blood he shed on the cross. And now he intercedes for us as a sympathetic high priest. (Hebrews 2:17-18, 4:14-16).

So if you’re ever feeling like your faith is shaking, remember that Jesus himself is our anchor of hope that we truly belong to God.  For what God promised, what God had purposed from the beginning, is accomplished not by what we do, but by what Jesus did and does for us even now. 

Let us rest our hope, then, not in ourselves, but in Jesus. He alone is the anchor of our hope.

 

 

Categories
Hebrews Devotionals

The reason for our hope

Hebrews

We saw in my last post that in Jesus we find rest because Jesus himself finished the work of salvation for us.

And in these chapters (and for that matter, in the previous chapters as well), the author of Hebrews expands on that idea, giving us the reason for our hope.

Ultimately, the reason is found in chapter 9, verse 26.

But now [Jesus] has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself.

And the writer of Hebrews says that by that one sacrifice, we have now been sanctified, made pure and right before God (10:10).

We don’t have to somehow clean ourselves up before God before he’ll accept us. Jesus has already made us clean in the Father’s sight, and he remembers our sins no more (Hebrews 10:17).

That’s the reason for our boldness before the Father. We can walk right into the presence of God without fear because we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus (10:19-23).

At least, that’s how we should be.

Do you ever feel, however, that you’re not good enough? That you are somehow still stained before the Father?

Do you feel ashamed to stand before him? Do you feel there’s something more that you should have to do.

The writer of Hebrews makes it clear: You are forgiven. And where sins is forgiven, there is no longer any offering that must be made for your sin (10:18).

Not by Jesus. Not by any priest or pastor. And not by you. It’s all done.

So rest. Throw away your feelings of guilt and inadequacy. God accepts you not for what you have done, but because of what Jesus has done for you.

No, you don’t deserve his love. No one does. But God has set his love on you.

Think on that. Meditate on that. Believe it.

And enter his rest.

Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Categories
Hebrews Devotionals

Striving…to rest

Hebrews

I’ve been reading these chapters over and over, and as I do, I wonder, how much do we rest in Jesus?

The writer of Hebrews says,

Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people. For the person who has entered his rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from his.

Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:9-11)

So many people still act as if they somehow have to prove themselves to God. For many, they think that God is pleased with that attitude.

But actually, God calls it sin. He calls it disobedience.

Why?

Because God’s work of salvation is already done.

Just as God rested after creating the heavens and the earth, when Jesus finished his work on the cross, ushering in the path towards a new creation for us all, he sat down on the Father’s side…and rested.

There are no more sacrifices he needs to make, unlike the priests of the Old Testament who had to continually make sacrifices year after year. When Jesus died on the cross, he cried out, “It is finished.”

And it is that rest that we are called to enter into. A rest instituted by Jesus because of what he did on the cross.

For us to say, “But I still don’t feel right before God. I need to do something more to prove myself,” does not please God, it insults him. And it spits on the cross of Christ and all he did for us.

We’re saying, “Jesus, I know you said the work of salvation is finished. But I don’t believe you. I have to do something more to earn the Father’s favor.”

It’s that kind of distrust in what God said that led to a whole generation of Israelites perishing in the wilderness. They never did enter the rest God had planned for them.

And so the Holy Spirit tells us,

Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. (Hebrews 3:7-8)

And again,

Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:11)

So let us not insult Jesus by telling him, “What you did is not enough.”

Because of what Jesus did, he is now the source of our salvation. (5:9)

What he did is enough.

So let us trust. And let us rest.

To do anything else is nothing short of disobedience.

Categories
Hebrews Devotionals

Ignoring the word of Jesus

Hebrews

In my last post, we saw how Paul told Timothy, “Remember Jesus Christ.”

Here we see similar words by the author of Hebrews: “Consider Jesus.” (Hebrews 3:1)

I have probably read Hebrews dozens of times, but as I’ve been reading it through this time, I’m starting to see what the author is saying more clearly.

I’ve always seen how he was talking about the superiority of Christ: to angels, to Moses, to the priests, to the animal sacrifices.

But this time, something else struck me even more strongly: Why was the writer of Hebrews talking about all this?

I’ve mentioned in my first blog postings on Hebrews, that the book of Hebrews was written by a Hebrews (Jew) to the Hebrews, telling them to stop acting like Hebrews and start acting like Christians.

In other words, because of persecution, these Jews were being tempted to go back to their old Jewish rituals in order to obtain their salvation. But the only way to do so would be to turn their backs on Jesus and his message of salvation.

And that was the main point of all that the writer of Hebrews was warning against in these four chapters (and for the rest of the book for that matter.)

In chapter 1, the writer says,

Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. (Hebrews 1:1)

He then lists the qualifications of Jesus:

  1. He is the heir of all things.
  2. He is the creator of the universe.
  3. He is the radiance of God’s glory.
  4. He is the exact expression of God’s nature.
  5. He sustains all things by his powerful word.
  6. He was confirmed by the Father as God’s Son.
  7. All the angels worship him.
  8. His throne will last forever.
  9. He is flawless in justice and  righteousness.
  10. He is eternal.
  11. All things are put under his rule.

And it is because Jesus is all these things, the writer of Hebrews says this,

For this reason, we must pay attention all the more to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away. (Hebrews 2:1)

Why? Because if the law which was brought to Moses by angels was binding and required obedience on pain of punishment, how much more is the word of Jesus binding on us and requires our obedience?

How do we dare ignore the message of salvation he brings.

And the writer makes it clear that it was Jesus himself that spoke of this salvation that we have, right after his resurrection from the dead. (Luke 24:44-47)

The apostles then testified to that same message. (Acts 2:22-39, among other places.)

For that matter, God in Trinity attested to this message that Jesus brought: the Father through signs and wonders, and the Holy Spirit through the distribution of his gifts.

In chapter 3, the writer then points out that Jesus is the Son over God’s house, and that we ourselves our God’s house.

The implication? That we are answerable to Jesus. And we are to obey him.

And then here’s the kicker. The writer quotes Psalm 95, something that clearly refers to Yahweh, and applies it to Jesus.

Today, if you hear his (Jesus’) voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion…(Hebrews 3:7-8)

In the desert, they tested Jesus, and so Jesus swore to them in his wrath, “They will never enter my rest.” (3:11)

No less than three times in chapters 3 and 4 does the writer reiterate, “Don’t harden your heart to Jesus’ voice. For if you do, you will never enter his rest.”

And so the writer encourages us,

Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people. For the person who has entered his rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from his.

Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:9-11)

But then he warns us,

For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow.

It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account. (4:12-13)

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Jesus himself is called “the Word of God” by John.

And the writer of Hebrews warns us: we cannot simply ignore him. For everything is exposed before him and we will give an account to him for what we’ve done.

And again, the main point of this whole passage is Jesus’ specific word on the way of salvation. There is no other way but through him.

So many people want to say that there must be other ways. That God wouldn’t be so narrow as to limit the way of salvation to Jesus.

But there is no rest or peace apart from Christ. There is no salvation apart from him. And if you choose to ignore him and his message of salvation, only his wrath remains.

As John put it,

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. (John 3:36)

How about you? What will you do with the word of Jesus?