Re: Verse reading–Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-10 (day four)
Verse 14 – “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” Confession…what exactly is this confession we are to hold to? Our side notes reference us back to Hebrews 3:1 where the writer of Hebrews exhorts us to “consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.” Let’s go back another layer…look at John 17:3. In Jesus’ High Priestly prayer, He says, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” This verse gives us the confession. It answers the question of who Jesus is…He is sent from God. He was sent from God as our High Priest. After His death on the cross, the veil in the Temple was rent. Jesus opened for us access to the Father! We are to hold fast to the work of Christ that restored our standing before God!
Seriously
Re: Verse reading–Hebrews 4:14-5:10 (Day Three)
“He was heard because of his reverent submission.” Until one fears God, prayer is a placebo. It might be eloquent. It might be solemn. One might even really mean it. But until one approaches God with the understanding that though he is love, he is also dangerous, prayer will accomplish nothing except to bring a little comfort to the mind—and that only temporarily. Our Lord took God seriously. And God heard him.
Undercover Boss
Re: Verse reading–Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-10 (day two)
I am not a huge fan of reality TV, but I will confess there a few shows that I have seen that I would perhaps consider watching more than once. Have you seen “Undercover Boss”? This is the show where the CEO of a company goes around the country to different franchises dressed incognito so that he/she can get a better picture of what it is like to work the line, to handle the merchandise, to talk with employees and customers. The boss gains a great deal of insight into his employees’ needs. This servant/leader model creates a new appreciation for corporate head side to empathize with the human element.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that we have a Savior who was an “Undercover Messiah” for 30 years. Isn’t that incredible? Think of it, for 30 years he walked and talked with us, ate, worked, learned all so that He could say to us; “I understand”. Then after he revealed himself, he took the ultimate step, he suffered and died…all for us.
When I need counsel, I am always comforted to know someone else has walked this journey and understands my pain. Jesus opens his arms every day as we take our lives to him and he says, “I understand, I’ve been there too, and with my help you’ll make it through this.”
Our High Priest
Re: Verse reading–Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-10 (day one)
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” (v 4:14) It would be hard to find a more universally respected figure in the ancient world than the Jewish High Priest. White robes flowing. Having gone through a process of purification. He appeared in public every Passover to enter into the “Holy of Holies” and present the offering before God, symbolizing the promise of atonement. There is One who deserves more respect. Much more. When Jesus “disappeared” into heaven, as the High Priest disappeared by passing through the Temple veil, He did a similar and superior work. He successfully represented the needs of sinful people before a Holy God. Our study this week will make use of this powerful image. Can you see (eyes of faith) the Lord still there before the throne of God faithfully interceding for you?
Is unbelief evil?
Re: Verse reading–Hebrews 3:7-19; 4:1-13 (day seven)
“Take care, brothers, that there not be in any one of you an EVIL, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.” (3:12) Is unbelief evil? Most don’t think so. Part of sin’s deceptiveness. ( See v 13.) Sin whispers that we are morally free to say “yes” or “no” to God without liability. We are victims, not rebels. To believe this lie, rather than God, is to side with evil. It is an insult to God. He DESERVES to be trusted. It is evil in essence AND outcome. Hebrews 3 tells how the children of Israel failed to enter God’s rest because of unbelief. Warning! It is no small matter to stop trusting God. Even after years of faithful obedience, the results are devastating. Christ is the “Alpha and the Omega”. People who are in Christ both “start and finish” this race. It is evil to never trust God. . .even worse to start and then stop.
Time of testing
Re: Verse reading–Hebrews 3:7-19; 4:1-13 (day six)
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in. . .the time of testing in the desert, when your fathers tested Me. (3:8-9) When we were in school, our teachers gave us tests. Their purpose was not to cause stress or to make us fail. They simply wanted us to learn and were willing to apply the threat of failure as a motivation. Our Heavenly Teacher does the same. To help us learn the lessons of life, He allows stress/challenge/danger in the hope that we will turn to Him and find Him sufficient for all things. THE lesson! Failure in this moment amounts to “hardening” of the heart. An unwillingness to trust/obey, a stubborn self-sufficiency that just ” wants out” of the present pain. These earn us a big “F”. The danger is not that God puts us to the test. The danger is that we, sometimes, return the favor.
Grabbing the Gospel
Re: Verse reading–Hebrews 3:7-4:13 (day five)
Only twice in the entire book of Hebrews does the author use the verb, “to believe” (although he’ll use the noun, “faith” or “belief” thirty-two times). Like a carpenter driving in an extra nail to hold the board securely in place, the author slams home the point that it is those who believe the good news who find rest not just those who hear the good news (4:2). It‘s not enough to be around people of faith. We must become a person of faith. It’s not enough to inherit a tradition of faith. We must take hold of it ourselves. As Jacob grabbed the Angel of the Lord and demanded a blessing before he released him (Genesis 32:24-26), so we must grab hold of the claims of the gospel and not let go until our lives are utterly transformed. Transforming faith is an active faith. The bad news is some will miss the “rest” offered by the gospel because they simply stood still. The good news is the promise to “enter the rest” is secure for all who believe.
Today
Re: Verse reading–Hebrews 3:1-4:13 (day four)
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” While you have today, you can begin to count on Jesus Christ–the only one who can teach you to live an eternal kind of life. While you are alive in this life, you can decide to hear him, to get to know him. You might not have much, but you have today.
Walk By Faith
Re: Verse reading–Hebrews 3:7-4:13 (day three)
Moses was faithful in all his house as a servant and was worthy of honor. Jesus was faithful to Him who appointed Him and is worthy of greater honor. The writer of Hebrews, in verse 12, says, “Take care, Brethren, that there not be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.” He is talking about being faithful. We are to be faithful, and to encourage one another to be faithful. Verse 13 says “so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” It is faith that keeps us ‘in Christ’. It is faith that holds us fast in our assurance of Christ. There is no greater sadness than for a person to hear the gospel, but not unite it with faith. They do not find the rest promised by God, but rather they fall through disobedience. The key is faith. Because of Christ, we can hold fast to our confession. Walk by faith!
Rebellion and rest
RE Verse reading–Hebrews 3:7-19 (day one)
“Do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion. . .I declared in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ” (v 8, 11) One of the great promises of the Scripture is rest found in God. A sense of peace. The ability to look with confidence on the present and the future. An absence of anxiety. When Jesus said, “Come unto me, and I will give you rest”(Matthew 11:28), He implied something more than just physical approach. Only as our coming to Christ includes surrender does it bring the promised peace to the soul. The Bible says that rebellion in every heart is a reality we all must face. “We do not want this man to reign over us” say the characters in one of Jesus’ parables. (Luke 19:14) Sad. My anxiety will be proportionate to my need for control. When I come to Christ, and call Him Lord, rest comes! It is a promise.