Hebrews – Page 13 – Be Still…

Hebrews 3:7-19 – Time to Rest

Sabbath rest. What does that mean to you? God worked and worked for six days to create everything that exists, and then he rested on the 7th day. He wants us to rest as well, keeping a day holy and reserved for him. How many of us do what God is asking of us? If we’re working a job 5 days a week, our weekends are precious, and we use the time to get stuff done. How could we ever just sit around and spend time with God? That’s what he wants.

Our passage says, “don’t harden your hearts.” We don’t want to be like those disobedient children in the wilderness who turned from God and refused to do what God told them to do. They were never going to enter rest with God. I don’t know about you, but I’m not crazy about having God upset with me. Will he be upset if I do some work on my day of Sabbath rest? I’ll have to ask him someday. Continue reading “Hebrews 3:7-19 – Time to Rest”

Hebrews 3:1-6 – We Are The Church

Read Hebrews 3:1-6

We have seen the author speaking to the supremacy of Jesus in these first few chapters. However, today the focus shifts to Moses. For the new Jewish believer (the original audience of this Book), Moses was a very important figure in Jewish tradition. It was Moses who was used by God to free their people from slavery as they were led to the promised land. I don’t believe this text was meant in any way to downplay Moses as the hero he was. Yet, we see again that Jesus’ power is greater than what we can already fathom.

The focus then shifts to God’s whole house, the church, and who is in charge. We are the church. Moses was a servant just as are we. Jesus built the church and is in charge of the church. It’s up to us to serve and to “keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.” Sometimes that can be hard when the world closes in around us. Continue reading “Hebrews 3:1-6 – We Are The Church”

Hebrews 2:10-18 – We are God’s Children

Read Hebrews 2:10-18

Jesus is the Son of God, but we are God’s children. We have been redeemed through Jesus’ death and resurrection. What does that mean to you?

We are indeed human beings with human weaknesses, failures, struggles, and limitations. Jesus became one of us so he could understand and so that we could trust him. The illustration used in yesterday’s reading about the birds is still fresh in my mind.

I have enjoyed many years of recovery ministry, and verse 18 has always been special to me. “Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.” Jesus stands ready to be our friend and help us through whatever storm we are facing. Continue reading “Hebrews 2:10-18 – We are God’s Children”

Hebrews 2:5-9 – Jesus Suffered For Me

Read Hebrews 2:5-9

We talk about how Jesus is man and God. It’s not that he is “part man” and “part God.” He is fully human and fully God. This is one of those examples where our limited brains cannot conceive the depth of this truth. Either you are one or the other, how can you be both?

A very, very simple example is that I am a mother and I am a daughter. I am not just “part” mom, I am a mom. I am not just “part” daughter, I am fully my parent’s daughter. This example doesn’t begin to speak to the intricacy of Jesus’ humanity and deity. What we need to remember is that Jesus became one of us so that he could experience what we go through firsthand. Continue reading “Hebrews 2:5-9 – Jesus Suffered For Me”

Hebrews 2:1-4 – Drifting Away

Read Hebrews 2:1-4

Have you had times in your life when you have felt far from Jesus? Maybe you’re still searching to know him more and longing for a deeper connection. We are living in a time when there is so much evil trying to take control. It is sometimes unsafe to even proclaim the name of Jesus. It’s sad when we see how Christians seem to have to refrain from any reference to faith. Take for instance school music programs or public displays. How many times do we even see lawsuits being filed because we upset someone who was not a Christian that shared our beliefs?

We need to take the words of Scripture seriously. Today’s reading starts with these words, “So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.” There are answers, promises, and directions for life within the pages of Scripture, and we must cling to that truth as we live our lives. If we allow the temptations and ways of the world to infiltrate our beliefs and values, we will soon be selling our souls to the devil (so to speak). Continue reading “Hebrews 2:1-4 – Drifting Away”