Saturday, May 7: Hebrews 9-

Hebrews 9 is one of those chapters with many stopping points. Like a scenic highway, there were any number of places to “pull over and take in the view.”

Despite the plethora of meditative moments, I was struck by verse 7: But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. And within this sentence it was the last clause (which I bolded above) that caused me to pause.

The sacrifice of the high priest was only for sins committed in ignorance. That is a frightening thought. What about all the sins committed willfully: lying words, cheating actions, thievery, not keeping the Sabbath, dishonoring parents? I could run through each of the Ten Commandments and then there were all the other Levitical laws.

Yikes! Only sins of ignorance forgiven.  That’s a frightening proposition as I think about it. It would cover much of my problem but certainly not all of it!

When the writer said in the last chapter that the New Covenant was far superior to the Old, he wasn’t exaggerating.

Thanks be to God I am a child of the New Covenant!

Lord God Almighty, thank Your for the New Covenant, a new and better way. Jesus, thank You for entering into the heavenly tabernacle by Your own blood, once and for all doing away with the need for repeated sacrifice by Your own blood!

Praise be to You, Lord Jesus Christ… My Lord! Amen.

 

Friday, May 6: Hebrews 8- Left hanging

 

Ugh!  Today was one of those readings that ended too soon. It points to a new covenant that  explains the new covenant is far superior to the old one (6). It tells us that the old covenant is obsolete and will disappear (13), but it never explains the new covenant. It feels a bit frustrating…

Now I know that Bible chapters are arbitrary.  Someone added the chapters and verses long after the books were written to help people study, note and find things in the Bible, so I could read on and I did actually peek into chapter 9. But then I decided to sit in chapter 8, what might God speak to me about today?

I seemed to be drawn to the opening of verse 8: But God found fault with the people and said: … The problem is people.  We are imperfect. We want our way.  Our basic default position is to look out for ourselves. That doesn’t sound terrible as I write it, but inevitability what I want will conflict with what someone else wants.  Sin is knocking at the door and will likely bite one or both of us…

The basic problem with the old covenant is that the human heart was not changed, just rules instituted to curb and rein in the sin filled actions of human hearts. Earlier this year in reading the OT we came across priests who abused their position by stealing sacrifices for themselves. Even the ones charged with keeping order and preserving the truth were fallen. We read that after years the Book of the Law was found. God’s Word had been lost even within the community of faith. God’s people abandoned God’s Word.

The people-problem was personal… individuals (all individuals) constantly and repeatedly fell short of God’s Law. And the ‘people-problem’ was corporate because the collective ‘people of God’ were fallen and turned a ‘blind eye’ when evil was tolerated…

Even though I don’t like having to wait for the Good News of the New Covenant, it was spiritually helpful for me to realize how deep the problem was that we humans were in. We humans were doomed and without hope, unless God intervened!... which God did in Christ. The Good News will follow tomorrow.

Lord God, I was utterly lost without Jesus. I didn’t know it at the time but I was completely and utterly lost. Thank You for stepping in and for instituting the New Covenant.

Lord, as I ponder chapter 8, I am left realizing how desperate my spiritual situation was.  Thanks be to You, O God, that chapter 8 isn’t the end of the story… that there is more… that there is Jesus. Alleluia! Amen.

 

Thursday, May 5: Hebrews 7- Jesus the new priest of God

 

There maybe some elements of this chapter that are not readily understandable to the Gentile mind, but the gist is wonderfully clear by the end of the chapter. Jesus is the new High Priest who presides over the new and better way to connect to God.  And this new way is permanent and will not change.

The former regulation is set aside … and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. Because of this oath, … Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. …because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself (18-27).

Jesus is the answer for our disconnection from God. In fact, He is the perfect answer. He is God’s permanent solution to our human problem of disconnection from God.

This begs the question, have you connected with God through Jesus? Have you sought Jesus and sworn allegiance to Him as the Mediator… the One who stands between you and God, the One who connects you with God? That is, after all, what a priest does. A priest represents God to people and people to God…

Jesus is the perfect and only solution to our disconnection from God.  So ask yourself, “Have you connected with God through Jesus?”

Lord, I pray that as people sit with this chapter and consider Jesus, Your perfect answer to our problem, that they will put their hope and trust in Jesus.

And God Almighty, I pray that the manner in which I live today reflects my faith in and love for Jesus as my Lord and Savior and the one who intercedes for me and saves me completely. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Wednesday, May 4: Hebrews 6- Are you a land of crops or thistles?

Some land just can’t seem to produce good crops. When we visited the Dakotas, it was obvious why the US gave land-grants to people to move and farm there even into the 1900’s. As we traveled we learned that few of the grantees lasted the mandatory three years because the weather was so harsh and the land so difficult to produce a livable crop.

Hebrews uses a land analogy in verses 7-8 to encourage believers to grow in their faith. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

It may seem elementary but God invites us to regularly inspect our lives. Writer after writer challenge us to look within and see if we are growing in Jesus. Interestingly, the Hebrews analogy suggests that the fruit of our lives is verification of our faith.

So back to my opening question: Are you a land of crops or thistles? I believe it was Lloyd Ogilvie who asked a similar question, “If you were on trial for being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

A question worthy of contemplation…

Lord, I can easily justify my life.  So I ask You, how would You evaluate my life? Lord, help me to increase the evidence of my life that I am a follower of Yours… in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Tuesday, May 3: Hebrews 5- Are you growing???

 

The final warning in this chapter (11-14) made the wheels in my mind turn. Are you growing in your understanding and faith in Jesus? Are you growing?

By this time you ought to be teachers… That’s a pretty hard hitting phrase. As I mull on this, I am not sure the writer is suggesting that everyone should become a teacher.  However, he is clearly making the point that we should all grow to the point where we can stand on our own in The Word.

How are you doing? Are you growing? Am I growing? That God’s devotional nugget/challenge for today.

I was about to head off to the rest of my day when a follow-up question struck me. Do I have a growth plan? Hmmm… that pushes this meditation to another level.

I invite you to ponder that question as well. What’s your plan for growing deep and living more faithfully for Jesus? Think about it…

Jesus, thanks for Your challenge today. Please don’t let me grow complacent.  Challenge me by Your Spirit to go deeper and grow stronger in You. Amen.

 

Monday, May 2: Hebrews 4- Faith a necessary component.

Three bullets from this chapter got to me. I pondered each one for a moment before moving on in my reading. Bullet 1- from verses 2-3 - I will say more in a moment. Bullet 2 was verse 12-13 about the power and effectiveness of God’s Word. And bullet 3, Jesus, our great High Priest, tempted yet without sin and who invites us to God’s throne of grace (14-16). All are worthy of thought, reflection and comment.

For today’s writing, I focus on the first bullet. For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Now we who have believed enter that rest, … (2-3).

The hearing of the Gospel message needs to be combined with a person’s faith in order for it to take root and produce any fruit.

Faith and belief express the same reality. In the verses above, the writer sets up a contrast between ‘we’ and ‘they.’ He writes that we have God’s rest because we believe. But they received no value from the preaching of the gospel because ‘they’ didn’t combine it with faith.

God’s Gospel, God’s Good News, is ripe with value and promise and blessing.  Oh my it is! My life bears witness to 30⁺ years of fruit from God’s Good News. However it takes more than merely reading the Bible or sitting in church. A person must believe in Jesus, putting their faith and trust in Jesus. Hearing God’s Word only provides value when it is combined with faith.

Have you put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, God’s Son? Think about it.

O, God, I pray that everyone who reads this simple thought will combine hearing of Your Word with faith and so find Your peace, Your love and Your rest in and through Jesus. Amen. 

 

 

 

Saturday, April 30: Hebrews 3- Fix your thoughts on Jesus

Devotionally the opening sentence attached to my heart as God’s prompting for me today. Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess (1). Immediately I began to think practically about how to fix my thoughts on Jesus today.

As a Saturday I typically don’t set an alarm, but was up with the sun at 6:30 anyway and the first thing I did was my Bible reading as I ate breakfast. So that means I have all day to fix my thoughts on Jesus. I began to think through my day…

I have some errands.  How do I fix my thoughts on Jesus as I run to this store and do this and that? I often listen to the radio as I drive in the car, maybe news items that catch my fancy can be prompters for prayer? Hmmm. As I interact with folks on my errands, I can keep an ear open to ways I can express love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control (the fruit of the Spirit Gal 5:22-23). This would help me keep my thoughts fixed on Jesus.

Back home as I do my chores and later relax with my family, I could live these same fruits out with them. I fix my thoughts on Jesus when I bow to pray over each meal.

Since it is Sat. night, I usually do some message review for Sunday that helps me fix my thoughts on Jesus. I could pray a quiet blessing prayer for each family member as I climb into bed…

With a little thought I can remember to fix my thoughts on Jesus. If it can work for me, it can work for you. How will you fix your thoughts on Jesus today?

Thanks, Jesus, for these simple and practical thoughts about keeping my life centered in You today as I enter my day.  Now, please help me to do these things. Amen.