Category: Hebrews

Final Reminders

Job 16-17

Psalm 97

Hebrews 13

-Devotion by Paula Kirkpatrick (originally posted for SeekGrowLove on Oct 27, 2021)

When children finish high school, and they go off to college or to live on their own for the first time, those frenzied final weeks before leaving are usually a flurry of activities.  To-do lists are checked off and then added to, last minute shopping trips become a daily occurrence, and packing everything needed seems an impossible task.  Finally, the day arrives, and the slightly panicked parents are often confronted with this stark realization:  did I prepare them sufficiently for the challenges they will face in life?  And so ensues final reminders, gentle warnings, and many sentences starting with “Don’t forget,” or “Remember.”  The parents want the best experience for their children at college and in life.

The writer of Hebrews also desires the best outcome for his dear readers, his spiritual children, as he finishes his letter.  Of course, that best outcome is eternal life in the Kingdom of God.  Thus, Hebrews 13 concludes with straightforward instruction to reach this prize.

Consider the direct instructions found in verses 1-7, and the reasons WHY these instructions are important.  

  • “Keep on loving each other as brothers”
  • “Do not neglect hospitality to strangers—(WHY?)—”for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”
  • “Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are badly treated—(WHY?) – since you yourselves also are in the body.”
  •  “Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; – (WHY?) – for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.”
  • “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; – (WHY?) – for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you.”
  • “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; – (WHY?) – considering the result of their way of life, imitate their faith.”

Verse 17 goes hand in hand with verse 7.  “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, – (WHY?) – because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.”

Hebrews 13:8 can be a stand-alone statement and beloved promise, easy to memorize (and it should be) and underlined in your Bible.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

What an assurance to us that Jesus has not changed and will not change—he is our Savior and coming King.  Perhaps the writer felt a plain statement of our basic hope was warranted after his beginning list of directives. 

Building on that simple reassurance, verse 9 warns the early Christians and us today, not to “be carried away by varied and strange teachings,” just as parents might advise their departing children—stay true to your foundation, the principles of your upbringing.  It is firm, it is solid, it will keep you grounded. 

Now, remember our reading from Hebrews 10 a few days ago. 

“But He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God,waiting from that time onward until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” (Heb. 10:12-14)

Continuing in Hebrews 13, verses 15-16 should be OUR response for this sacrifice. 

 “Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips praising His name.  And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

Our Salvation Gift from God:

Jesus—ONE SACRIFICE for all time

Our Response:

CONTINUAL SACRIFICE of

  • Praise
  • Doing good
  • Sharing

As the end of verse 16 says, “for with such SACRIFICES God is pleased.”

The writer concludes with a benediction or ending prayer in verses 20 and 21 that sums up his thoughts in this chapter. 

“Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

This prayer serves as the perfect final reminder for young adults off to college, and for each one of us. 

Reflection Questions

  1. What reminders would you pass on to your children (biological, adopted and spiritual children)? What spiritual instruction do you want them to hear one more time?
  2. What did you need to hear again (or for the first time) from Hebrews 13?
  3. What do you love about Jesus’ once for all sacrifice? What will your continual sacrifice look like today?

Prayer

“Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

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Looking Unto Jesus the Captain of Our Salvation

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith
Job 14-15
Psalm 96
Hebrews 12

-Devotion by Tom Siderius (MI)

We just returned from General Conference in Atlanta and wonderful fellowship with all the people that were there.  The theme of the conference is “Pillars and Pathways”.  As we read the eleventh chapter of Hebrews yesterday, we were shown what the pillars of faith from the Old Testament had stood for and with.  The pillars of our faith run back to Abraham who believed God and it was counted for righteousness because of his faith.  As we begin chapter twelve the focus turns to the central theme of the whole Old Testament.  All this faithfulness from the believer in the OT brought us to Christ who is the perfect representative of the Father who formed him and filled him with the holy spirit giving him power to do God’s will.

Look together at the first verses of chapter 12:

Hebrews 12:1-3(NLT) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

The direction of our walk following Christ is a straight path of endurance that we follow as our champion and captain of salvation goes before us showing us the way to walk.  The path he has given us is straight and direct, going to the Father God that has called us to a life of faith and service.

Matthew 6:22(NKJV) The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.

What we focus our eyes and our mind on will be the things that come into our thoughts and hearts.  The word “good” in verse Matt 6:22 can also be translated as “simple” or “straight”.  When our eye is looking “straight” at our champion, and we follow him in this race of life our path will be straight and our way direct.  Following Jesus is a simple path, he has shown us the way.  For our lives, families, fellowships and churches the path has been given to us by the pillars of our faith, and Jesus Christ has shown us the path to follow. 

When our eye is simple, following Jesus, our whole life will be filled with the light of God’s presence and fellowship with us.

Psalms 96:1-4(NLT) Sing a new song to the LORD!
Let the whole earth sing to the LORD!
2 Sing to the LORD; praise his name.
Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.
3 Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.
Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.
4 Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise!

Psalms 96:11-13(NLT) Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice!
Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
12 Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!
Let the trees of the forest sing for joy
13 before the LORD, for he is coming!
He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with justice,
and the nations with his truth.

All the peoples of the earth will be judged by the Word of God spoken to us by the pillars of our faith, and by our Savior Jesus Christ. 

Reflection Questions

  1. What Old Testament pillars of faith do you love to look to for example, encouragement and instruction? Who in your life has been a pillar of faith for you, teaching you the wonderful words of God and what to do with them?
  2. What do you love about Jesus? What have you learned from him? How would you describe the path he is setting before you?
  3. Would you describe your eyesight as good, simple and straight, following Jesus to the Father? Is anything clouding your vision or is anything in your peripheral vision distracting you from good, simple and straight vision following Jesus? How can you improve your eyesight?

Prayer

Father God, we reach out to follow your champion of faith that is before us.  Make our eyes and hearts straight to follow him.  Give us this day the bread of our need and keep us from turning to the right or left away from You.  We sing Your praises from our hearts of joy that You have given us.  In the name of the champion of our faith, Jesus Christ we pray.

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Title Deed to Our Hope

Job 12-13

Psalm 96

Hebrews 11

-Devotion by Tom Siderius(MI)

Hebrews 11:1-3(NLT) Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. 2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.
3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

Hebrews 11:1(AMP) Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].

Faith is our complete believing trust in the Word of God and it’s truth. It  comes from mixing the personal believing of our hearts with the trustworthy and perfect words which God has given for us to know and understand.  When we completely trust the Word in our hearts then we will act in accordance with that trust.  This is why the Amplified Bible shows the phrase “title deed” to things prayed for and hoped for.

If I have the title deed for my farm in my hands do I have the farm in my hands?  No it is impossible to have the farm that way.  But the reality is that when we have the deed with Tom and Sandy written on it, with no lien or obligations connected with it, we have the farm.

This is the way that we trust God in our hearts and then receive the promise for the things that God has made.  Ephesians 1 gives us another assurance of God’s plan.

Ephesians 1:4-5(NLT) Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

God chose you before the foundation of the earth!  Wow!! And it says that it gave Him great pleasure to save you in Christ. Double Wow!!  Then we get a guarantee even better.

Ephesians 1:13-14(NLT) And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

Have you believed God in your heart about what God has testified about Christ?

Did you receive the gift of holy spirit when you believed and became God’s child?

What does that mean for your life?

We have received the title deed and seal of promise to the future hope of Christ’s rulership and kingdom to come.  You have the proof in your hands that what God has said will come to pass in the future.  The faithful of the past all believed this and received the same sure promises. Please read Hebrews 11 for the rest of the story.

Hebrews 11:13-16(NLT) All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. 14 Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. 15 If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. 16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

The title deed we have received is the deed to a future with God and a place to live in righteousness and peace with our Savior Jesus Christ and his and our Father God.  As you go from here be the child of God that you are with all the rights and privileges that come from the trust that God is faithful to that which He has promised and performed.

Reflection Questions

See Questions above – and also – Where do you keep your title deed of faith?

Are you excited by the future hope you have received?

Prayer

Father please be with us this day, and we thank you for the bread of our need as we walk with You.  Thank you for the kingdom to come, that what You have promised will come to pass.  Please give us living hearts of faith and trust in You in all we do.  God bless the prayer and works of our lives to honor You.  Love in Christ, your children

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Every High Priest

Esther 9-10

Psalm 93

*Hebrews 5

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            Hebrews 5 is a critical chapter in the Bible that gives us a better understanding of the Christ, and really leans in to the explanation that Jesus is now our high priest.  Hebrews 5-8 really focuses in on this topic, but to my mind one of the most important bits of understanding that’s normally quickly brushed past is right at the beginning of chapter 5, in v1-5 it states: “1For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God… 4And no one takes this honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. 5In this way also Christ did not glorify Himself to become a high priest…” (LSB).

            So where is every high priest taken from? From among men.  Who then calls them out from among men to fulfill that role? They receive the position when they are called by God.  We are very blessed to have the simple understanding that there is one (1) God (Deut 6:4, Mark 12:29) and that there is one (1) mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim 2:5).  So when we read that God has called His high priest out from among men, it’s a very simple and straightforward understanding.  Allow me to elaborate.

            To be the high priest or the Messiah, according to scriptures and prophecy, it is a requirement to be a man.  We know that Jesus was a man because he told us so (John 8:40), because that’s what his best friends understood (Matt 16:16, Acts 2:22), and because that’s what God told us, as was prophesied from the beginning (Gen 3:15, Deut 18:18, 2 Sam 7:12, Ps 89:19 to name just a few).  This is not a “mere man”, but the chosen man to redeem, judge, and rule the entirety of humanity (Acts 17: 24-31), chosen by God.  This is the man through whom  the singular sin of Adam which cursed all humanity would be removed (Romans 5:15).  As Christians we like to say that Jesus (Yeshua) rules in our hearts, but we also know that one day he will also physically rule over our bodies, in the kingdom.  

            We see from Hebrews 5 that Jesus is our high priest, and also The Christ (the anointed one, or, the king).  This was prophesied as happening in both Psalms 110 and Zechariah 6 where the Messiah would be “a king and a high priest”.  This is the first time historically that these two positions are consolidated, another fulfillment of prophecies which grants an even higher status to Jesus, which partially explains the phrase “crowned with many crowns” in Rev 19:12.   This is a huge deal.  We know from Hebrews 5:1-5 that God Himself selects the high priest from among the people, but who anoints the king?

            1 Samuel 10:1 states (REV translation) “1Then Samuel took the vial of oil and poured it on Saul’s head, and kissed him and said, “Is it not that Yahweh has anointed you to be ruler over his inheritance?”.  So who anointed Saul?  While we can see that while it was Samuel’s hand that poured out the oil over Saul’s head, it was God who commanded it and then Samuel clearly says to Saul that “Yahweh has anointed you”.

            In 2 Kings 9:1-3 it says (REV) “1Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, “Tuck your cloak under your belt and take this vial of oil in your hand and go to Ramoth-gilead.2When you arrive there, find Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi; and when you have come, have him rise up from among his brothers and take him to an inner room.3Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head and say, ‘This is what Yahweh says: “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’ Then open the door and flee; do not linger.” So who anointed Jehu?  According to “one of the sons of the prophets” that Elisha sent, the one who physically poured the oil over Jehu’s head, Yahweh has anointed him king.  Over and over again, repeatedly in scripture, we see that God sends an agent to anoint the man that He has chosen to be king.  It is Yahweh God who ultimately anoints the king, even if it is His agent that carries out the actual pouring out of the oil.  God does regularly interact with His creation through agents, though.

            This perfectly aligns with  1 Corinthians 11:3, which breaks down exactly and in no uncertain terms the “corporate flowchart” of the Christian believer: “3But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man…and God is the head of Christ.” (LSB).  Jesus the Christ is our king, the king anointed and chosen by God, and God is Himself in authority over our king (unless you’ve got a very imaginative alternate reading of that verse).  Who anoints the king? God does.

            To say that God has become the Anointed One (as many Christians today do) is to completely misunderstand:  God has no need to be anointed, He is already the Most High God, the Creator and Sustainer of all life, He already is the highest and most exalted authority and being in existence.  Yahweh God is the one who anoints (or, causes to be anointed by an agent) the king, thereby granting that king the authority of rule over a kingdom, but that anointed king is still in every way subservient to the Most High God Yahweh.  Anointer, anointee: there’s a very clear delineation of authority, and the power that the latter has is granted by the former.  Jesus is, according to all of scripture, “The Christ” or “The Anointed One”, so who is he anointed by? Again, GOD.

            In much the same manner, it is God who chooses the high priest from among men, and the purpose of that high priest is to act as a mediator between God and humanity, to reconcile the Creator with His creation.  That’s why it’s a requirement that the high priest be a human. This is all a very important understanding to be able to interpret scripture properly: if you are trying to adjust the lens of an orthodox traditional understanding of the nature of God and of His Christ, you will be tweaking the lenses all day and still may never get a clear picture. 

            Do you know what’s even more important though? Listening to the king and high priest that God has appointed.  Many times we get so caught up in our theology, and our correct understanding of it, that we aren’t focusing on what our king actually says.  I am fully convinced that everything that any person needs to know about salvation and how to attain it can be found in Matt 5-8.  Every now and then, go back through and read all the red letters (assuming you’ve got a red letter version).  While it’s very important to understand the nature of the scriptures that we read,  it’s even more important to try and follow what it says (and that’s a fair bit more difficult, if we’re being honest). Read Matt 5-8 again, and see if you agree:  everything that any person needs to know about salvation and how to attain it can be found in Matt 5-8.  Test it out, see what you think. 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

  1. Have you given much though to the responsibilities of a high priest/king, and the importance of having those positions combined?
  2. What is a “son of man” ?
  3. Which is more important: a proper understanding of who Jesus is, or a humble attempt to do what he said?  Why?

PRAYER

 Father God, thank you for life, breath, and all things.  Please circumcise our hearts, and grant us the wisdom to listen to and live out the words of Your chosen king.  Please help us to see the world through holy eyes, and to be servants who please you.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God…

Esther 7-8

Psalm 92

*Hebrews 4

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            Today I’d like to challenge you a bit, and ask you to examine some things that you believe traditionally.  I think tradition is a fine thing, for the most part, and helps to give a certain amount of structure in our worship and daily routines in general.  I think scripture is an even finer thing, and should be the guidebook of our life: the word of God given to men as a template by which we should structure ourselves.  Both are important, I just give more weight when comparing them to scripture (since the traditions of men are rather flexible and change constantly); but the word of God is “living and active, sharper than any 2 edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12).  Out of love I’m going to do my best not to be too passionate, so I’m touching this very lightly, but please check it out for yourself.

            The thing is; sometimes our traditions can be good, and sometimes our traditions can be silly.  For instance: when we’re crossing the street here in America, the “tradition” is to stop and look both ways to make sure the way is clear.  This isn’t a “law” as such, but is what is considered a “rule” of tradition, and it’s a good one: countless injuries have been avoided by following this simple tradition.  It just makes sense.  There are hundreds of these in play every day that we don’t even stop to consider anymore because, well, it’s tradition and it just works, so there has to be a good reason, right?

            Here are some rather interesting traditions that are still active in our world, and some of them raised my eyebrow a bit when I researched them.  In Madagascar, the Malagasy people exhume the bodies of their ancestors every 5-7 years, wrap them in silk shrouds, and dance with the corpses around the tomb to live music (this is called “Famadihana”).  In Brazil, young men of the Satere-Mawe tribe wear woven gloves filled with live “bullet ants” for 10 minutes, 20 times (200 minutes total), as a coming-of-age ceremony, enduring stings that are compared to being shot by a bullet.  In Cooper’s Hill, England, a 7-9 pound cheese wheel is rolled down a steep uneven hill and chased frantically by participants in the event, frequently breaking bones and incurring serious injuries (there are videos of this that are…quite educational, incidentally).  In the Karnataka region of India, infants born after the parents vow devotion to the Sri Santeswar temple are thrown from the roof of the temple into the waiting arms of their parents below, who believe the ritual brings good luck (as long as you can catch).

            In the church, we have some fine traditions as well, some of which have been handed down for hundreds or thousands of years: the longer a group is around, the more traditions they come up with.  Some of these are very useful for organization and structure, and some of these could possibly be considered a little bit silly when compared with scripture.  The problem is, as humans, we tend to just keep on doing what’s familiar.  It’s interesting to note historically that moving the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday (the “glorious day of the Sun”) occured around the same time (Mar 7, 321 AD, look up the “Edict of Constantine”) for the purpose of unifying the empire  and from the same source that we got other popular traditions, like the theory of the trinity for instance.  Remember that the Bereans were commended because they questioned what they had been told, and sought out and compared the teachings with scripture to come to a conclusion.

            Today I’d like to offer you the opportunity to re-examine the Sabbath.  This can be a very polarizing and divisive thing, and I know for a fact that churches have split over the topic.  Let’s establish some ground rules before you dig: this is for your personal edification, not a call to revise corporate worship.  I live in Knoxville TN and I am here to tell you, if you are blessed enough by God to have found a group of mostly like-minded worshippers who believe even 80% like you do, praise God and thank Him every day for such a blessing.  We need to focus on unity, not necessarily uniformity (we don’t always have to believe the same exact thing, but we should be united in our focus and our purpose).  I’m a member of the Unitarian Christian Alliance for that reason (among others):  there are a great number of folks in that group who have slightly different beliefs on some various things than I do, but we share a common understanding of the important bits and agree that this is more important than pushing any specific particular.  Let’s embrace that mindset, in humility.

            I grew up going to church every Sunday with my parents.  Statistically, you probably did too.  I still go to church every Sunday, but I’ve also started honoring the Sabbath.  I came to this on my own, by reading scripture.  When I compared verses like Gen 2:3, Ex 20:8-11, Matt 5:17, and then today’s reading of Heb 4:9, and then read the frequency of the topic throughout scripture, it convicted me in my heart that I should also honor the Sabbath.  So, on Saturdays now I don’t do any work, don’t buy stuff, and try to read the bible and focus on God for the entire day.  On Sabbath, I rest.  I still go to church every Sunday too, that’s my “corporate” time with God, but the Sabbath is my personal time with God: not a burden but a gift.

            Do I think that everybody needs to believe the exact same thing as I do? Nope, not even close.  We must each with fear and trembling work out our own salvation (Phil 2:12).  Am I saying that if you come to a different understanding that you should march up to your pastor and demand that worship be done on Saturdays now instead of Sunday?  May the God in heaven forbid it, no, that’s not even close to what I’m saying.  What I want you to do is simply this: examine what you believe and why, and compare it to scripture.  If you still believe the same way, great!  If you believe differently, that’s fine too.  This is a personal journey, I don’t want to change the corporate structure of worship, but I would like us each to strive to change our hearts towards God.

            Look at it this way: irregardless of your specific belief in the topic of the Sabbath, if you were to take a specific day (Saturday) and devote it to seeking to get personally closer to God, what’s the downside?  At worst you lose some productivity/shopping/garage sale time; compare that against potential gain.  Cost vs Value, that seems to me to be a positive net outcome. Conversely, what if you’ve been wrong about the importance of the Sabbath?

            I have had people who are better than me, some of my former professors and current relatives, that have argued (sometimes passionately) with me about my belief.  There have been some very good arguments made, but here’s the thing: it’s my belief, and I came to it through reading scripture and praying. I don’t mind if you disagree, but I feel as if God has led me in a specific direction and if you disagree, should I listen to men or to God? (Acts 5:29). 

            I absolutely and certainly do not wish to cause division within the body of Christ, there’s already been enough of that.  What I do want (and want you to do as well) is to seek God with my whole heart.  I want to please God, and I acknowledge with great humility that I’m a very imperfect being, doing the best I can to worship and please a perfect God.  “So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God” (Heb 4:9, LSB), and as people of God, I invite you to join me in it.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Have you ever given this much thought? Why or why not?
  2. Are there any traditions in your church that are different than other groups? What are they, and how did they come about?
  3. The Sabbath is listed as one of the 10 commandments.  Why do you think that is, and do you think it applies to Christians today? Why or why not?

PRAYER

Father God, please lead us and grant us wisdom.  Forgive us of our many shortcomings, and help us to be servants who please you.  Thank you for the many blessings that you have given us.  Place a deep love for all of our brothers and sisters in our heart.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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Greater than Moses

Esther 5-6

Psalms 92

*Hebrews 3

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)

            It should be pointed out that to the Jewish folks, Moses (Moshe) was a Really Big Deal.  Moses is a big deal to any of the “Children of the Book”, and Christians and Muslims alike regard Moses as a man who spoke God’s words to the people, a prophet who God performed miracles through.  All of the prophets were highly revered but to the Jewish people though, the people who Moses led out of slavery, the people who witnessed miracles performed by God through the man, the people who witnessed him going in to speak with God until his face actually glowed, he was a really, really, big deal.  Like, 5 out of 5 stars in all the reviews, just top notch.  Best Guy Ever.

            Let’s review quickly: Moses, old guy with a beard.  Not really a big talker.  Happily tending his flock out in the middle of nowhere when God* starts to have a conversation with the guy from a burning bush and then tells him that he’s going to be the agent by which God frees His chosen people, the Israelites.  A little bit of whining, God loops in his brother Aaron to assist, then off they go back to the land of Egypt.  “Give me my people”, “No”, plague plague plague plague (x10), then “ok, you and your people get out”.  Run away, “wait, now who’s going to do all the manual  labor?”, pursuit, miraculous escape through the sea, followed by immediate miraculous destruction of pursuing army by same sea. Wandering, whining, miracles, manna, more whining, there’s the promised land go get it,  “we’re a’scared”, wander wander wander (x40yrs), there’s the promised land go get it, “ok, but can we stop wandering?” and right about then Moses dies.  That very brief, highly summarized review of Moses took place in the latter third of his life, covering the time when he was 80-120 years old, the 40 years directly prior to his passing.

            Moses was an incredibly Big Deal, he gave the people The Law, and lots of good advice on how to act (which went largely ignored until they were forcibly reminded), and God performed miraculous signs through him.  God used Moses to do all of these things, and had a unique and special relationship with Moses unlike any man before or after (until Jesus came).  Moses gave the definitive books of the Torah to the Israelites, faithfully recording what God spoke and was a faithful servant who was “more humble than any man was on the face of the earth” (Num 12:3) even despite all of the great deeds listed above.  The level of respect and reverence that later generations of Israelites had and have for Moses can not be overstated.      

            That’s why it is such a big deal in Hebrews 3 when the author says “Moses, yea, super guy, but Jesus?  He’s better.” (Heb 3:3, painfully paraphrased).  This is being written specifically to convince the Jewish folks that Yeshua the Nazarene (you know, Jesus of Nazareth) was The Christ, the Messiah prophesied long ago by the prophets (including Moses, see Dt 18:18).  This guy, he’s really important because with no disrespect to brother Moses (again, 5 out of 5 stars, super guy); Moses was as a servant, but this Jesus guy is as a son.  Both came and were servants of God, both came and spoke the words God told them to, both saved a whole bunch of people; but Moses came to save and restore the Israelites, but Jesus came to save and restore the entire earth, and all of it’s people**.

            In Heb 3:1-2 it clearly states that we have a High Priest (Jesus) who is faithful to Him who appointed him, as Moses also was faithful.  God appointed Jesus as High Priest.  Where do we get the High Priest from though?  Heb 5:1 says “from men”, and and Psalms 89:19 says “from among the people”.  In Heb 1:2, it states “His son, whom He appointed heir of all things…”.  Over and over we see very clearly that God has appointed Jesus, as His son, as our High Priest, as The Messiah.  To clarify the pecking order, our corporate flow chart, “For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.”(Heb 3:4) and it then goes on to clarify “but Christ was faithful as a son over his house-whose house we are…” in Heb 3:6.  God built everything, and appointed Christ heir  to inherit it, as a reward for his obedience.  Listen: if you already own something (Ps 24:1), you don’t need to appoint yourself as the heir to it.  If you already have full supreme power, you don’t need to anoint yourself as king.  You’re already in charge of everything.  We all agree that “Christ” means “the anointed one”.  Anointed by who? Well, the “builder of all things is God”.  The heir that God anointed and appointed is Christ.  It’s pretty straightforward, if you base your doctrine exclusively on scripture, and not tradition.

            This is a pretty basic and undeniable understanding of scripture.  We miss out on a lot of opportunities to talk to Jewish folks (God’s chosen people, see above) about the Messiah as Christians because of a lot of the theories and convoluted explanations that are so exasperatingly confusing and contradictory are now held to be doctrine by a huge number of our brothers and sisters.  Even worse, we miss out on a lot of opportunities to be obedient to our King and to our (and his) God, when we harden our hearts and don’t listen when we hear his voice. (Heb 3:15).  One last thought I’d like to put forth today: both Moses and Jesus were exceptionally humble men, who not only obeyed God’s word and performed miracles, but did so obediently and sometimes in opposition to what they wanted to do personally.  These are the true “church fathers”, the one’s that we should listen to,  our role models, and our examples of how to please our God.

*-Moses talked to God.  Weeeell actually, Moses talked to God’s agent, the angel God sent.  See Ex 3:2-4 and contrast v2 with v4, it’s the first unquestionable documented example that God uses agents to interact with His creation, and that when these agents (shaliah) speak God’s words, they speak with the full authority of God (and so are often called God, because as His agent they’re representing His authority).  This is well understood in Jewish culture and literature and is common throughout scripture.  See also Ex 20:21-22 for another specific example, and note as well the approximately 40 times or so that Jesus says that “God sent me” in the book of John alone, which the Jewish  people understood to mean “he speaks with the authority of God because God sent him”, not anything else super confusing that may have been suggested later.  Lots of people “saw God” (or His agent) particularly in the OT, but 1 John 4:12 states clearly that “No one has ever seen God”, and this is confirmed in 1 Tim 6:15-16, ergo, anytime that happened it was most likely either in a dream, vision, or an agent that God sent.

**Jesus came to restore the entire earth.  Weeeeell actually, initially he came specifically (and exclusively) to “restore the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt 15:24).  Gentiles were given the favor and opportunity for salvation specifically because some of the chosen people of God (the Israelites) rejected him, and also because God had planned to do it this way: to the Jew first, then to all of the nations of the earth.  Acts 10 starts the beginning of gentiles receiving salvation, well after Jesus had ascended and finished his earthly ministry, so if you’re a “dog of a gentile” try not to get too arrogant about it.  If we do make it into the kingdom, we’ll probably end up being the janitor or “fetchers of wood”, if we’re lucky.  Let’s be humble.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Why do we, as gentile dogs who are grafted on to the root while other (and arguably better) branches are pruned, ever become arrogant about our salvation when considering the humbleness of both Moses and Jesus (who were much more important than we’ll ever be)? (Yes, I know it’s a leading question, consider it though)
  2. Have you ever considered how highly favored you are, if you are a member of the body of Christ, a child of God?  Just reflect on that for a moment, don’t take it for granted!
  3. Isn’t God amazing? He told us in the beginning the plan (Gen 3:15), we just didn’t understand it.

PRAYER

Father God, thank you for providing a way for the rest of us, I am humbled and awed that you did.  Please lead us, forgive us when we fall short, and teach us the way to salvation.  In Jesus name, Amen.

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Difficult Texts (?)

*Esther 1-2

Psalm 91

*Hebrews 1

-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (IN)

            Hebrews 1 is one of those chapters that’s often used by our brothers and sisters with a more “complex” understanding of God as a proof text, and we’ll look at it closely today and with love in our hearts acknowledge the few instances that could seem to point to a more difficult reading, while also examining the majority of the verses that tend to point toward a more simple reading, verse by verse.  I was once told by a man I love as a father that “To take any verse by itself as a basis for one’s theology is a mistake.  The entirety of scripture should be weighed and measured and the most likely reasonable interpretation based on all scriptures should be the preferred understanding.”  With that in mind, and keeping also in mind that we are all human and fall short of the glory and wisdom of God, let’s proceed.  I’ll be using the ESV translation primarily, since it’s a pretty mainstream “standard” version that lots of folks use.

Hebrews 1:1- Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,   There’s really nothing difficult in interpretation here, but I did want to point out the constantly recurring scriptural theme and concept of God interacting with His creation through “agents” or “shaliah”: the prophets, in this instance.

Heb 1:2- but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. We now see that same concept of agency (or shaliah) applied to Jesus (in the same exact sense as the prophets) for God to speak to us, the son whom God “appointed heir of all things”.  This is a double point for our specific understanding, because Jesus is being used as an agent (by God) to speak to men, and God has appointed him “heir of all things” (ie, Jesus received that position because God gave it to him).  The “through whom also he created the world” is a bit problematic on first reading, but I’d like to point out that the actual word for “world” is “aeonas“, which is more applicable to an “age” or “time”.  This word is used 102-128 times in scripture (depending on the manuscripts used) and about half of that time in your bible it’s translated as “age”.  The actual strongs translation is: From the same as aei; properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity; by implication, the world; specially a Messianic period. It really depends on your translational bias, so while we can acknowledge in fairness that this could be a difficult text, it seems more likely when considering the entirety of the verse to indicate the simpler understanding that God created this current “age” through Christ.

Heb 1:3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,  (ESV)

This is the verse that “more complex” interpreting folks lean into and go “aha! There it is!”, but I’d suggest that the translational bias slip is showing again.  The word for radiance here is “apaugasma” (A light flashing forth (from)) which implies a reflection of light rather than an origin.  The “exact imprint” is translated from the word “charakter” (From the same as charax; a graver, i.e. engraving, the figure stamped, i.e. An exact copy or representation) and could be (and is) also translated as reflection or image in different versions.  It should be noted that being the image of something precludes you actually being that something generally, but let’s look at a few other mainstream translations and compare:

(NASB) And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high

(NET) The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

The elephant in the room, of course (for our more “complex” interpretation folks) is: if Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (God), and if you believe that Jesus is literally God (and not God’s agent), then is God currently literally sitting beside Himself?  That’s confusing, and would on the face of it contradict Deut 6:4 and Mark 12:29-31.  I personally opt for a simpler reading, and think the NET translation did a better holistic job of translating into english (this time).

Heb 1:4 -Heb 1:7  are pretty non-controversial, so for the sake of brevity I’ll skip a commentary.

Heb 1:8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.

Right now, our more “complex” interpretation brothers are going: “Aha!  There!  It clearly says “but of the Son” and then “Your throne, “O God”!”, THERE IT IS!”.  Granted, that could be a difficult text, by itself, particularly if you are thinking like a modern day English speaking person and assume that the bible was written originally in English (it was not).  Dig a little in the original languages, and you’ll see there’s a very good reason there are multiple translations in English.  I would propose that to the ancient Jewish mind, any throne or kingdom that God establishes is God’s throne or kingdom, regardless of whom God chooses to rule it.  It’s understood (and stated) that the authority to rule is granted by God, and the one who is sent by God acts with the authority of His name and on His behalf (shaliah).  This simpler and culturally accurate reading seems like a much better reading particularly when you combine it with the following verse below:

Heb 1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”

Because the Most High God, by definition, doesn’t have a God.  He is the “Most High God” (it’s in the name).  Jesus did have a God (John 20:17).  We see further that “God has anointed you”…do you recall what “Christ” means?  It’s simply, “The Anointed”: anointed by God, your God.  God is the anointer, Jesus is the anointee.  God is the ultimate authority and power, and He has appointed (see v2) the Christ as the heir of all things.  It’s a much simpler and less confusing reading.

Heb 1:10 And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;

The “and” here above indicates a transition in subject, we’re now speaking of God again, the creator of heaven and earth, as the following verses also seem to indicate.

            Heb 1:11-11:14 are also pretty straightforward, so for the sake of brevity again, I’ll skip a commentary.  So looking back over the fullness of Heb 1, I personally don’t find anything with such a difficult reading that I feel the need to alter my beliefs.  Any texts that I’ve heard used as proof texts to espouse a different doctrine have variant readings that seem simpler and to make more sense, taken holistically.  Please keep in mind, I’m just a human being so I absolutely accept that I could be mistaken.  I sit under the authority of scripture and not over it, but digging into these scriptures and examining them closely I feel about 90% confident that I have made a correct interpretation in this instance.  I think it’s important to deeply search the scriptures and to be honest with yourself with what you find.

            Before we leave today, I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least give a polite nod to our Esther reading, because Esther 1-2 is what I’ve mentally labelled in my mind “The Cautionary Tale of Queen Vashti” as an example of how not to act.  We have been given great blessings and favor undeservedly by our God, let’s make sure we don’t get demoted due to our own arrogance and self importance, and removed from our position (Like Queen Vashti was).

REFLECTION QUESTION

When you read scriptures, do you rush through it quickly or dig deep and compare translations and alternate meanings or complexities? Why?

PRAYER

Father God, thank you for giving us Your word.  Please grant us the wisdom to understand what You have spoken, and the sense to listen.  In Jesus name, amen.

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Draw Near & Spur On

Hebrews 10-13

Devotion by John Tullis (OH)

It is easy to get discouraged.  It happens all the time.  As Christians, Christmas is a special time of year.  Our hearts turn to the Christ child and the miracle that is the birth of God’s son.  While this gives us hope, we live in a fast paced, difficult world.  All around us people are hurting.  Evil seems to grow every day.  Unbelievers ask us “Where is your Jesus”?  Before long, we find ourselves depressed and doubting the goodness of God.  At least I do.

The writer of Hebrews knew there would be days like this.  That is why he spent so much time writing in his letter to the Hebrews that “we can have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus” (we can go before God Himself through our prayers)…so let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings… (Hebrews 10:19-22a).  The wise writer knew that the people of God were hurting.  He continues by encouraging them to “consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but ENCOURAGING one another… (10:24).

Sometimes the Christmas season can be lonely.  We remember Christmas’ of long ago and the fun we shared with people that we loved.  Parents, brothers and sisters, friends…perhaps gone now and only existing within our hearts.  As children of God, we can trust in the incredible hope that is found only in Jesus.  It is our duty, to help each other and encourage each other to keep on living…and loving.  Each of us pushing each other onwards towards good deeds – and new, happy memories.

In this Christmas season, my hope is that you dear reader will remember the love of Christ, the forgiveness and grace of the Father, and the promise of the coming Kingdom of God.

Questions for Discussion:

  1. Who might you “spur on to love and good deeds” this Christmas season? (10:24)
  2. What does it mean to “persevere” in the faith? (Hebrews 10:36)
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Not Just Clean on the Outside

Hebrews 7-9

Devotion by John Tullis (OH)

When I was a kid, I often had to do the dishes.  I was not a fan of having to take time to soak the dishes and scrub them, inside and out.  One time, I decided to save time and only cleaned the outside of the cups.  They looked super clean!  I put the cups away and everything looked clean and ready for the next meal.  Later, when my Mom pulled a cup from the cabinet, it looked nice and clean.  But the inside was a mess.  Milk had spoiled in the cup and was caked along the bottom.  She was not very happy and found the cup to be completely unusable.  I had to pull all the cups out and get the job done the right way!

In the Old Testament, God’s people were instructed to offer sacrifices to God.  These sacrifices of animals, grain, and oil were expressions of devotion to God, addressed sin, and maintained covenant relationship between God and Israel.  Animals were burned on an altar symbolizing total surrender to God.  Sometimes, animal blood was applied to the altar.  In this case, the offering was a sin offering – usually a lamb.

The writer of Hebrews compares the offerings of the Old Testament with the new offering through the death of Jesus Christ.  Hebrews 9:11-14 tells us that “the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean”.  They became sanctified – set apart for God’s special use – because of the spilled blood of an animal.  However, people were only ceremonially clean on the outside of their body.  They were now clean to worship God and come before Him, but on the inside sin would return.  Again and again, people would have to continually offer animals in sacrifice to God to maintain their ceremonial purity before Him. 

Jesus, as the sinless, perfect, lamb of God is clean on the inside as well as the outside.  In other words, after His resurrection, He was able to ascend to Heaven and sit at the right hand of God because of His perfect, redeeming blood.  Since He died and was resurrected in perfection (because He was always perfect), he could now spend eternity with His Father in Heaven!  Jesus had no sin, so He did not need to be “saved from sin” like you and me.  The very blood of Jesus, shed on the cross for you and for me, is the blood that makes us clean on the inside (Hebrews 9:14).  No longer do we have to make sacrifices repeatedly.  He died for us, once and for all (1 Peter 3:18, Romans 6:10, 1 John 2:2).  Hebrews 9:15 teaches us that Jesus is the perfect mediator of a NEW covenant (not like the Old Testament…).  Those who put their faith in Him may “receive the promised eternal inheritance – now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant” (Hebrews 9:15).  Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  We are now “clean” on the outside and inside.  Like one of my cups  – finally spotless and useful for the Kingdom of God.

Questions for Discussion:

  1. Why did God want blood as payment for sin? (Hebrews 9:22)
  2. Why does Jesus appear for us in God’s presence? (Hebrews 9:24)
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Sharp!

Hebrews 4-6

When my son was a little boy, he asked for a pocketknife for Christmas.  He was interested with those who could take a piece of wood or a stick and whittle it into a figure or an animal.  Watching an experienced woodworker use a little knife to create amazing little figures was fascinating to a young boy.   

Of course, I got him his first pocketknife, and we talked about how it was very sharp.  We talked about how to hold the knife and how to begin the process of whittling away.  I warned him not to put his finger on the blade and to respect it.  Of course, the first thing he did was rub his finger across the blade – and cut himself.  Just a slight bump against the blade and the cut was deep enough to draw blood – and a few tears. 

The writer of the book of Hebrews describes the Word of God as being sharper than any type of edged weapon (4:12).  Like a pocketknife, it can cut deep – deep into the mind and heart of the believer.  God’s Word judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Like an impartial judge sitting on the judgement seat, the Word of God judges what is within us.  The Word of God judges if we are resting in God’s grace or in human works.  We can work hard and perform many good deeds for ministry.  But those good deeds will not save us.  Only the grace of God through faith in Jesus can save us from our sin.  We can fool other people, but the Word of God makes it very plain that we cannot fool God.  He will judge us rightly and with justice.  If our faith is in Christ, we will find a sympathetic savior, who while tempted in every way, did not sin.  He is perfect – and wants us to trust in His father as He did.  The Word of God makes it very plain – our salvation is through grace by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).  We cannot pretend to “earn” our way into God’s Kingdom.  His Word testifies to the truth – that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6) and trusting in him allows us to receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).   

Remember to honor and obey God’s Word.  While it contains the awesome message of salvation, it also opens our lives up to the all-knowing, all seeing eyes of God.  Sharp indeed! 

Questions for Discussion: 

  1. How could Jesus experience EVERY temptation?  (4:15) 
  1. How is God’s throne a throne of Grace? (4:16) 
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