Hebrews – Be Still…

Hebrews 4:1-16 – Promised Rest

If you’re the parent of young children, you know the word “rest” sounds like a distant memory. It’s fleeting for you, and you wonder if you’ll ever be able to rest again. If it’s not burning the candle at both ends to get it all done each day, it’s lying awake at night worrying about something. But that rest is only a glimpse of the rest our author describes, the rest God promises and hopes for us.

Have you made an intentional attempt at resting each week? God set the prime example for us when he created the world and then rested. God knew we would benefit so much from rest. More importantly, God wanted us to stay close to Him, and this gift of rest is meant to keep us connected to our Creator. Our author has some startling things to say about our resting. Continue reading “Hebrews 4:1-16 – Promised Rest”

Hebrews 3:1-19 – Are You a Rebel?

Read Hebrews 3:1-19

As you read through Hebrews, it’s helpful to remember that the author is writing to Jews who have recently become followers of Christ. They would be very familiar with the history of their people and the Holy Scriptures that existed at that time. We’ll see lots of Old Testament references. For us, reading these references in the New Testament inspires us as Scripture points to itself over and over again.

In particular, we see here talk of Moses, the great hero of faith. Moses had done great things, but he was only a servant of God. Jesus, on the other hand, was the Redeemer and Creator, and his position of authority could not be equaled. Keeping that hierarchy straight is important, just like remembering that the universe does not hold the power; it is the Creator of that universe who deserves our worship and praise. Continue reading “Hebrews 3:1-19 – Are You a Rebel?”

Hebrews 2:1-18 – Are You Adrift?

Read Hebrews 2:1-18

Do you ever feel far from God? It’s in those moments when we have drifted away for some reason, distracted from focusing on God’s grace and power. The author here reminds us how easily we can drift away from God if we aren’t careful. God’s message never changes, and we need to cling to it. When coming off a faith “high,” we can be especially prone to these drifts when reality starts to close in around us.

Pondering over how God could care for us, mere mortals, continues for us. As quoted here from Psalm 8, this wonder extends to the majesty of God and his creation. We are blessed to be made by God, loved by God, and instructed by God. If you ever need a dose of awestruck wonder about who God is and what he has done, read Psalm 8. Continue reading “Hebrews 2:1-18 – Are You Adrift?”

Hebrews 1:1-14 – Meet Jesus

Read Hebrews 1:1-14

We are not in one of the gospels, and yet here we meet Jesus and learn more about him. When we see Jesus, we see God. “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God.” To know Jesus is to know God.

The author of Hebrews is unknown or unverified, but scholars do agree that the author had a good grasp of the Old Testament and who Jesus was. It is unlikely that the author was one of the original twelve disciples. We may pick up more clues along the way, but there must be a reason his identity is not given. The authority of God and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit are still present in a mighty way. Continue reading “Hebrews 1:1-14 – Meet Jesus”

Hebrews 1:1-4 – God’s Son

Read Hebrews 1:1-4

Revealing Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, in the opening verses of Hebrews, would have been shocking to his fellow Jews. The book of Hebrews was written as encouragement to Jewish converts to Christianity in the early church. They would have been facing many challenges to stay true and not fall back into their comfortable Jewish traditions.

The same counsel that helped those Jewish Christians can help us today navigate all the mixed messages we encounter in this world. Jesus is God’s Son. Period. Jesus was many things, but being the Son of God was the highest honor and speaks volumes of Jesus’ identity. Continue reading “Hebrews 1:1-4 – God’s Son”