tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306176222024-02-08T06:17:40.774-06:00Momentum MinstriesMichael Burns, Minister, Fox Valley Church of ChristMBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.comBlogger885125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-90235404621465889302013-02-27T06:04:00.002-06:002013-02-27T06:04:49.224-06:00Hebrews 13:18-25
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear
conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge
you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Benediction and Final Greetings<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of
the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great
Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will,
and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be
glory for ever and ever. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">22 Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word
of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been
released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">24 Greet all your leaders and all the Lord’s people.
Those from Italy send you their greetings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">25 Grace be with you all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over the past few years I have found myself with many
opportunities to travel for ministry purposes both within the United States and
outside of the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have taken
most of those trips with my wife but have taken quite a few without her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t really like being gone without my
wife, but I have gotten somewhat used to the process of traveling alone and am
now fairly comfortable with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it
wasn’t always that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we first
started to fly and travel a lot, she always went with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And while I would prepare lessons that I was
going to preach and take care of myself in that way, my wife would take care of
all of the travel details.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would set
up the tickets and the trip, take care of reservations, carry the needed
information, and pretty much handle all of the travel, transportation, and
lodging details along the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I
suddenly had to go on a trip without her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had never done that before and was a bit nervous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I was leaving, though, she handed me a
folder and told me that whenever someone asked me for information that it would
be in that folder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first test was at
the airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They asked me for my
confirmation number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know it
but I opened the folder, just grabbed the top paper, handed it to the clerk and
asked if that was what they needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was and I was in business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That process
continued to happen at the car rental place, the hotel, and throughout the
week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My wife had thought through
everything I would need, and the order in which I would need it, and had
completely equipped that folder with everything that would be necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to go on the trip alone but she had
prepared everything and I was able to make it through the entire trip without
any problems.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the book of Hebrews, the author has called his
readers to re-focus their hearts and lives on Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is the superior mediator who has brought
about the superior covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is the
one that we must all follow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had
blazed the trail for them to travel down and they needed to stay faithful to
that path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even when the going got
tough, they needed to keep going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
were on a long and sometimes difficult journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But as the writer brings his lesson to a close he gives them one final
flurry of encouragement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The way might
look daunting and maybe even too difficult, but they must avoid that urge to
give up and quit because God had equipped them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Regardless of how difficult it seemed, they needn’t worry because God
had fully equipped them with everything they would ever need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would continue to provide for them and
makes sure they had everything they would require to complete their journey.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As the writer moves into his final thoughts, he urges
the audience to pray for their leaders, a group that would include the author
himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a tendency to assume
that when someone requests prayer it is because something has gone wrong but
that doesn’t always need to be the case, and probably was not the case
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants prayer to bolster his
desire to live a life that is honorable to God and among God’s people in every
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact his “desire” is a little
stronger than this translation lets on and could probably be better rendered
“We are sure that we have a clear conscience and are firmly determined to live
honorably in every way.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Praying for one
another shows support and unity and leaders need just as much, if not more prayer
from those they lead than the flock needs prayer from their leaders.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The writer is no pie-eyed optimist, however.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows that it is easy for Christians to
agree to pray for someone and then not follow through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of us, I’m sure, have been guilty of
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And while it may just be an honest
slip of the mind on occasion, we need to be careful with our promises and watch
out that we are not becoming hypocritical, saying that we will pray for someone
when we have virtually no intention of doing so and make little to no attempt
to actually remember to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
writer asks them twice to pray for him, urging them to do so, and particularly
to pray that he will be able to come encourage them sometime in the near
future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The center of this final greeting, comes in verses
20-21.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author hasn’t made the
resurrection of Christ a focal point of his lesson to this point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has assumed it, though, allowing it to
serve as the backdrop to the sacrificial death death of Jesus and his ascending
to the heavenly sanctuary to serve as our eternal high priest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, it is the resurrection of Christ
that gives meaning and power to the actual crucifixion and makes possible the
state of Jesus serving as the superior high priest of the New Covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this great blessing, though, he directly
hits upon the resurrection, something that was a core foundational topic for
the early church (Heb. 6: 2).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact in
these two verses, Hebrews teaches us seven important aspects about God and his
relationship with his people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">First, he is the God of peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The word “peace” used here means much more
than just absence of disharmony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
means wholeness, completeness, harmony, and fulfillment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a lasting peace which the world knows
nothing of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is a God of wholeness
and harmony and he wants that for his people as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Second, he has brought about an eternal covenant with
his people that can never be broken because it has been established by the very
life force, the blood, of his unique and only Son, Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many other contracts and covenants are
temporary, unreliable, and constantly in need of renewing but not the one with
that we have in Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Third, this was all made possible by Jesus’ resurrection
from the dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the seminal moment
in all of history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is what vindicated
Jesus’ death on the cross and showed him to be the true high priest, and it is
the source of the great Christian hope of being resurrected with our savior one
day, just as God has promised.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fourth, Jesus is the Great Shepherd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is the undisputed head of the body and
leaders should always keep that mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Leaders do have an important role but it must always be in service to
the Great Shepherd and the Flock not themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This also reminds us, however, that the body
of Christ are like a flock of sheep and they do need shepherds to lead
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need the Great Shepherd and we
also need to allow ourselves to be influenced and led by the under-shepherds
(Heb. 13:17).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fifth, through the life of Christ, God has equipped us
with everything we need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is so easy
to spend time worrying about whether we will be able to stay faithful, or
capable of growing spiritually, or up to the task of evangelizing the lost, or leading
in God’s church, or any number of other things to which God has called us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we must trust our Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would not call us to do something that he
did not equip us for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worry is a sign of
trusting in ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peace comes from
trusting that God has the power and ability to work through us in whatever
situations we might find ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sixth, through Jesus Christ, God will work in us so that
we can please him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we must trust in
him and rely on the life of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only
then will we walk in the Spirit and be able to please God through our faith in
the life of Christ (Rom. 8:5-8; Hebrews 11:6).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally, God has done us this to bring glory to
himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we live the path that God
has marked out for us in Christ Jesus, he will equip us to do the most fitting
thing that we can ever do with our lives; we can bring glory to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we surrender to the Great Shepherd and
live the resurrected life of Christ we will find ourselves growing in the
desire and ability to bring glory to God in whatever we do (1 Cor. 10:31).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As the letter winds to a close, Hebrews reminds the
readers that this has been just a brief letter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It may not seem that way to us, but by the standards of the day, it was
a rather short exhortation of this type.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There have been several places scattered throughout the lesson in which
the author hinted that he might have much more to say were he not trying to be
brief, and although we might wish to have those expanded teachings available to
us, we must trust that God has given us everything we need to be faithful and
grow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The final greetings display the true heart of
Christianity that are built on God’s family and his grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The greeting that comes from “those from
Italy,” likely refers to those that had fled Rome years earlier and had not
returned, but were instead living at the location of the author.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is striking that the final word for them, is not “get
it together,” nor is it “obey the Lord and your leaders and stop playing
around.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, the final blessing is that
“grace” be upon them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is God’s grace
that is like a stream flowing through the desert that would enable them to
continue on and finish the race that God had marked out for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it is God’s same grace flowing through
our lives that will enable us to finish the race as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The journey has been marked out and God has prepared in
advance everything that you need to complete it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you willing to begin?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you have already begun are you willing
to persevere and trust that no matter how difficult the going might get, that
God has provided for you and will ensure that you finish if you just trust him.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-1930817457182784962013-02-18T08:22:00.002-06:002013-02-18T08:22:14.449-06:00Hebrews 13:7-17
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to
you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange
teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating
ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. 10 We have an
altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the
Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp.
12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy
through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the
disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are
looking for the city that is to come.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to
God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices
God is pleased.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their
authority, 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.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We live in a world that is in a constant state of
flux.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems that everything changes
and quite quickly as a matter of fact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Clothing styles, hair styles, popular products, political views, you
name it, it is ever-changing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One need
look no further than your high school yearbook to see how quickly styles
change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can recall being in high
school just a little over twenty years ago and enjoying going to the new video
stores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first, my town of about
60,000 people had just one video store that I can remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pretty soon, however, there were stores everywhere
and they were always crowded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were
extremely popular and started to get bigger and fancier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, just as quickly as VHS tapes came on
the scene and became the center of the entertainment lives of society in some
ways, technology changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly DVD’s
were all the rage and the video stores became even more popular. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then one day I saw a little red vending
machine box that was distributing movies, doing the same job that these video
stores were doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Combined with the
availability of movies via the internet, video stores were suddenly
dinosaurs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the matter of one
generation they went from not existing to the kings of the world, and now it is
difficult to find a video store that is still open these days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things change quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The world didn’t change at quite that dramatic of a pace
for the original audience of Hebrews but it did still change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least their attitudes towards Christ
seemed to be shifting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that is
something of the point that the writer of Hebrews wants to bring home as he
starts to draw his letter to a close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were once a thriving and sacrificial community despite the huge
odds against them and the stiff persecution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But many had faltered and now their knees were starting to feel
week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole letter has been centered
around getting them fixated back on Jesus, who he is, and the superior nature
of a relationship with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is still
the same Jesus that were once so willing to sacrifice for and so willing to do
anything for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world around them had
changed and perhaps the persecution had grown stiffer, but they had apparently changed
some too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, Jesus is God and he never
changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is unwaveringly as deserving
of the loyalty now that they once gave him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And the gospel to which they were called?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, that’s the same too because Jesus is
the embodiment of that gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They once
had undivided loyalty to Jesus and his gospel and they need to maintain that
loyalty to the unchanging Messiah if they were going to finish the race strong.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As the author brings his incredible lesson to a close,
he calls them to remember their leaders who initially preached the gospel to
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They should recall what was
preached and why they responded to it which would in turn motivate them to do
the things that they did at first; to reinvigorate the convictions that they
once held.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They should also consider the
outcome of their way of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The word
rendered “outcome” here was a figure of speech that referred to “closing out”
or “finishing” and it appears that his point is that those who first shared the
gospel with them had died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they should
ponder the sincerity of their faith and perseverance and see that it was not in
vain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The word that was preached to them
then was the same gospel that some were abandoning now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gospel hadn’t changed, they had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gospel hadn’t lost its power, they had
lost their nerve.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But all they need to do is to consider Jesus
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is unchanging and the power
of his life and his gospel have never changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since God is the only being that never changes, this was surely a high
description of their Lord and Savior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
was none other than God and so to abandon him meant to abandon God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the logic here shouldn’t be missed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author is saying that when they accepted
the gospel they did so because they knew it to be true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To abandon it now would not mean that the
gospel had changed or was no longer effective; something that perhaps they were
starting to think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus Christ never
changes and neither does his word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So if
they walked away from the faith now it would be a devastating commentary on their
own faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They would not be leaving one
thing for something better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They would
be leaving the only thing worth having because they refused to hold on to it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is the unchanging nature of Christ and the gospel
that can cause Hebrews to exhort the readers not to be carried away by all
kinds of strange teachings, evidently including ancient Judaism in that
category as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot overstate
the challenge of that statement at the time this was written, even after three
or four decades of Christianity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judaism
was still a major influence on the lives of Jewish Christians and formerly
God-fearing Gentiles (Gentiles that observed parts of Judaism without becoming
circumcised among other things) that had become Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Judaism had now been moved into the
category of religion with the coming of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was now a choice between the grace of God found in the life of Christ
and everything else, including the Jewish Temple system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our author is about to give one more go at demonstrating
the superiority of Christ to all other options and he does so here by outlining
four advantages that Christians have that would be lost if they lost their grip
and returned to Judaism or turned to any other savior other than Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first is that we have an altar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author does not directly state what that
altar is, but he is most likely referring to the Cross (or the Lord’s Supper
which represents the Cross).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who
remain in the life of Christ can enter into and serve in the true tabernacle,
the heavenly one, through the blood of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those that don’t remain faithful to Christ, however, have no altar and
no way to enter into that tabernacle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The second, that he is our disgrace to bear, is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a little more complicated point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The point is that even during the Old
Covenant the blood of animals purified the Holy of Holies but they were first
sacrificed outside of the community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the same way, Jesus made his people holy through his own blood but he was also taken
outside of the “camp,” which was the city gate of Jerusalem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that picture the writer sees a helpful
comparison for the Christian life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
was exiled outside of the gate and crucified like a man scorned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was the intention of those that wanted
him dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they didn’t realize that
they were doing to him what was rightly done with a cleansing sacrifice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, we need not be ashamed of how Christ
died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the same way, when the readers
of this letter were being shamed, persecuted, and rejected they could take
comfort in knowing that this was the price to pay for being part of Christ’s
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It shouldn’t bring them shame,
though, but the comfort of knowing that they were simply bearing the same
disgrace for the benefit of others that Jesus bore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were truly living his life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The third advantage is that Christians have a city that
is to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can get caught up
building our own castles that won’t last very long or focus on the Kingdom of
God which will last for eternity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
only city that will last is God’s Kingdom and that is the only one that makes
sense to seek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taking a return to the
physical Jerusalem and its impressive Temple would not be a smart move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This point would have become even more
powerful just a few years later when the Temple was destroyed by the Roman
army.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The final element is that through Jesus Christ we have a
sacrifice to offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only Christians can
now offer a sacrifice that God truly wants because we have entered into the
only sacrifice that will ever be needed, the death, burial, and resurrection of
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lips that confess that Jesus is
Lord and call on his name (Rom. 10:9, 13) by being baptized into his life (Rom.
10:13; Acts 22:16) and a life that responds to that mercy (Titus 3:4-8) by
doing good and sharing all that God has given us with others is the sacrifice
that God is looking for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only in Christ
do we have that and only in Christ can we please God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Verse 17 seems to hint that some of the problem was that
they were no longer listening to their current leaders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In verse 7 he called them to recall and hold
to the teaching of their first leaders, the ones that had called them to the
gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now he he encourages them to
listen to their current leaders who were no doubt teaching and exhorting them
to stay faithful to Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They should,
he says, “have confidence” or “obey” their leaders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 1984 NIV used the term “obey” while the
newer NIV version’s “have confidence” probably better captures the essence of
the passage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another good way of
understanding the term is to “allow yourself to be influenced by.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In their struggle, they had forgotten to
listen to those leading them in Christ, and in so doing were rejecting the
message that they had converted to when they first heard the gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What benefit is it, after all, to constantly
disregard, fight against, and refuse to have confidence in or be influenced by
one’s leaders?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One should never follow
blindly, but as long as the leaders are teaching the same core gospel that was
preached to them at first, they should trust them and have confidence in what
their leaders were saying over and above their circumstances or emotions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is easy to let the wind and waves of life come and
throw us about and change our convictions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But we must always remember that we have a mediator who has never
changed and never will change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He made
the final sacrifice for us and that is all that we will ever need if we just trust
it to the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Does your commitment to the Kingdom of God and the
Gospel of Jesus look that same as it always has?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is your zeal for God and his church every bit
as much as it used to be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certainly our
situations in life can change and that may impact certain things in our life,
but it should never change our loyalty, commitment and zeal to God’s
Kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If things have changed over the
years perhaps it’s time to ask yourself if the Gospel has changed or have you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-81841832003044723402013-02-15T07:13:00.002-06:002013-02-15T07:13:11.495-06:00Hebrews 13:1-6
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">13</span></b><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 8pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">
</span><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Keep on loving one another
as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for
by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 3
Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in
prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage
bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. 5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have,
because God has said,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Never will I leave you;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>never will I
forsake you.”[a]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6 So we say with confidence,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What can mere
mortals do to me?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The ancient Jews had a brilliant system, associated with
their marriage ceremonies, known as the Ketubah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t be certain that the Ketubah was
practiced in biblical times but a form of it very likely may have been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Ketubah is a contract of sorts that describes
in detail what life will be like for a married couple during their marriage and
as they develop into a family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are
quite different in modern times than they were in ancient times but back in
ancient times they would basically describe the various important elements that
a husband would perform and maintain as part of the family that he was creating
through this marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would
highlight the things that would characterize their family and marriage,
describe his duties and obligations, and give general protections for the
rights of the bride-to-be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a
clever idea and one that I wonder if it wouldn’t be helpful in more marriages
today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am certainly not claiming that this section of Hebrews
is a modified Ketubah contract or even based on one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it does carry something of that flavor to
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The writer has gone to great lengths
to show us just exactly who Jesus is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
is the promised Messiah and the superior mediator between God and man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is far superior to the Law, to Moses, to
angels, and to anything else we could ever put in that place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is our great high priest who will serve
unflinchingly in that role forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
is the one who deserves and demands unshakeable loyalty, and when we give that,
we will find that he will enable us to stay faithful to him despite the difficult
circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has, as the author
mentions in chapter 12, made us part of God’s family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we understand all that Christ is, what
he has done for us through his blood, and the fact that he has called us into
the family of God, then we should realize that this should have some major
implications.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what this last
chapter is all about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might seem a
bit disjointed or that it randomly jumps about, and in some senses it does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it has the feel of a description of the
important things that we need to know as we enter or choose to remain faithful
to God’s family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s almost like a
reading of a Ketubah contract where we are being reminded of the most important
aspects of our life in the family of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Above all, though, we must keep in mind the understanding of who Jesus is
that this lesson from the book of Hebrews has given us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For if we keep our eyes fixed on him, all of
the rest will fall into place quite naturally.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first verse in this section flows quite comfortably
from the discussion of chapter 12 concerning being part of God’s family and one
of his children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The challenging times
that the recipients of this letter were going through should not cause them to
think that they were outside of God’s will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the contrary, they should realize that God was disciplining and
training them as his children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God was
lovingly teaching them to be his family and to grow into the image of the
supreme son, Jesus the Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As God’s children, then, we are no mere collection of
religious adherents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are to be a
family and bind ourselves together as such.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are to be, above all else, a loving family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And although that would include feeling and
showing affection for one another as our brothers and sisters in Christ, that
is not the main thrust of the idea behind the biblical word “love” when it
comes to the family of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
primary idea is to act loyally towards and care for one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, scholar NT Wright suggests that
verse 1 be translated “Let the family continue to care for one another.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sentiment is dead on, but I would shy
away from a translation of this verse that fails to include the word
“love.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we really understand who God
is and that he has called us not to be members of a religion but members of his
family, then it only makes sense that we are to love one another and take care
of one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Religions don’t need to
do that, families do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the clearest indicators of biblical love for one
another was caring for and showing hospitality to one another (you can see that
if you do a New Testament study and see how often discussions of loving
brothers and sisters is followed by an example to provide for one another and
give hospitality to one another).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hospitality was an important part of the ancient world and it should be
continued and taken even a step higher in the family of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the gospel was to spread around the world
then disciples would have to go and travel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They should be cared for and shown hospitality when they do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that family hospitality should be a way
of life that would extend to anyone in need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The author then brings to mind the ultimate biblical and cultural
example of hospitality, that of Abraham who showed hospitality to three
strangers, not knowing that they were angels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The author’s point here is likely not that if believers generously bring
people into our home, care for their needs, and show them hospitality that we
just might be inviting in some angels without knowing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His point was that Abraham showed indiscriminate
hospitality and was blessed by having angels as his guests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the same way, when we show lavish and
generous hospitality and care for others, we will very likely receive
unforeseen benefits from doing so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
is not only the inherent benefit of being generous but when we constantly show
love, generosity, and hospitality as a way of life, our household and all those
in it will benefit beyond our wildest imagination.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another important aspect of life in God’s family is the
need to remember those in prison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
all due respect to those that engage in ministries that go into prisons and
reach out to the prisoners (I certainly believe that this is a noble ministry
in which to engage), this is not what Hebrews is referring to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Christian community frequently
experienced persecution, expulsions, and imprisonment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul urged his readers not to be ashamed of
his chains (2 Tim. 2:16) and praised Onesiphorus for coming to refresh him in
prison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, the early
Christians were well known for caring for one another in prison, interring
themselves so that prisoners did not have to be the only Christians locked up,
and even taking the place of less physically capable brothers or sisters that
were prisoners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In short, Hebrews was
urging them to continue that behavior and to truly be a community that shared
identity and honor with one another, realizing that when one part suffers, we
all suffer (1 Cor. 12:25-26).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The common thread in all of these reminders, of course,
is selflessness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we understand who
the Messiah truly is and what he is calling us to be as his people, then we
will embrace a lifestyle of self-sacrifice, self-control, and putting the
interests of others ahead of our own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Loving one another demands that, as do hospitality and remembering those
in prison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But so does keeping the
marriage bed pure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were two
extremes in the pagan world that were assaulting the marriage bed and both
appealed to selfishness in different ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The first was the call to indulgence and self-pleasure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the encouragement of having extra
relationships outside of marriage, including the Temple cults witch often
engaged in ritual prostitution and orgies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the other extreme was the ascetic view that encouraged people to
truly be happy by avoiding any physical pleasure, including marital sex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In doing so, some types of people found
personal happiness by training themselves to not have needs or desires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both were self-focused and Hebrews calls for
God’s people to avoid both extremes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
adulterers and immoral were obviously sinful and God would deal with that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The marriage bed should be kept pure but it
should also be attended and “kept” (“the marriage bed” was a figure of speech
denoting marital sex).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Selfishly
depriving one’s spouse because of some newly cherished philosophy was not the
way of self-sacrifice for God’s people either.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another area that will display the family ethic of
self-sacrifice is that of money and possessions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christians should constantly be on guard
against the greed and materialism that so characterize the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guard against this greed and love for
money and possessions, however, is not to adopt a lifestyle of pointless and
abject poverty but, once again has to do with understanding the nature of
Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Money is not evil, but the love
of money is. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should not seek money
but we should not seek poverty either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What we should seek is the Kingdom of God and his righteousness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we do<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>that, money and wealth will take their proper roles in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All of this self-less living hinges on our understanding
of Jesus and God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The writer
demonstrates this with two quotes from the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 31:6 in
verse 5 and Psalm 118:6-7 in verse 6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When we understand that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever,
and that God is our relentless helper, we need not be afraid of what the world
can do to us or be attracted by it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is our understanding of God that informs us as to what type of people we ought
to be and then sustains as we seek to live lives that look radically different
from the world around us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When those outside of the Christian community of which
you are a part look at your life, what do they see?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do they notice that your life is radically
different?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do they see you living as a
selfless member of a group of people that understand that they are family
through Christ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which of the areas
mentioned in this passage today is a struggle for you in which you really need
to grow?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are you going to do about
it?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 8pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> </span></o:p></div>
MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-1981408324880493732013-02-11T08:05:00.002-06:002013-02-11T08:05:07.779-06:00Hebrews 12:18-29
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched
and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet
blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no
further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was
commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to
death.”[c] 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with
fear.”[d]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the
living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands
of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names
are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits
of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and
to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If
they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much
less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that
time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will
shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”[e] 27 The words “once more”
indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that
what cannot be shaken may remain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that
cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with
reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many years ago now we were able to purchase a new
vehicle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the first new car that
we had ever had and it was pretty cool to have something that was brand new in
every way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And our response to it was as
you might expect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wanted to do
everything in our power to keep it as nice, and clean, and new as
possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the first several months,
I cleaned it out constantly and we were very careful to not bring in any food
or do anything that might mess it up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But as time wears on, you begin to get more comfortable and take an
object like that for granted more and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I won’t bore you with the whole process but if you fast-forward a few
years, all of that new car reverence and awe had worn away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We regularly ate in the car when we had to,
we used it as a work vehicle when need be, we moved things in it, and so
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pretty soon the vehicle was not
exactly a beater, but it was certainly not in pristine shape any more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I suppose that the processes that we go through with
things like that are fine and maybe even healthy, but there are times when we
can do something similar and it is not so healthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We might start out in a relationship really
respecting someone immensely but then as we get to know them better, we go
beyond just being more familiar with them and we start to take them for
granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is decidedly not healthy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In a sense, this is what the author of Hebrews is
warning us against here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, Jesus is
the mediator of a far better covenant than the Old one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, he will give us one more memorable
picture in this section to drive that point home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yes, the New Covenant has replaced the
Old Covenantal system of fear and obedience with the ability to be confident
and bold as we approach the throne of grace; thanks to the blood of Christ
which has allowed us entry into the life of the Kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there is a human tendency to at first be
grateful for God’s grace and mercy that is poured out in the New Covenant but
then to drift over time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pretty soon, it
is God’s grace that can allow some to grow too relaxed and to abuse the
freedoms that we have been given in the Kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can forget to be thankful and to continue
to approach God with the reverence and awe that he so richly deserves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the heart of this whole section is comparison and
contrast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like trying to explain to
a young child who has never seen a zebra before what a zebra is like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than starting from scratch you might
compare and contrast the zebra with a horse and a tiger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In certain ways, it is like each of those
animals, while in other ways they are very different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Comparison and contrasting things helps us to
understand something new based on the information that we already have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is why there is so much comparison and
contrast in this sermon called Hebrews between the New and Old Covenants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a teacher using a wonderful technique
to help us understand the New Covenant and Kingdom that we have in Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To start this comparison and contrast, the author takes
us first to Mt. Sinai (although he never actually says “Mt. Sinai,” it is clear
that this is what he is thinking about).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That mountain was a fearsome thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The people could not even come near because they had no standing on
which to draw near to the magnificent presence of a holy and almighty God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mt. Sinai was terrifying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone who dealt with it without the proper
fear and reverence were sure to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even Moses trembled with fear, knowing that he was hardly worthy to go
into the presence of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The author of Hebrews is using Mt. Sinai to represent
the Law and the Old Covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
full of laws and requirements which would train the people, if followed
precisely, to at least approach holiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yet, they never could and God knew that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, that was kind of the point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God was showing human beings that what we really need to reconcile our
relationship with him could never be done through our own abilities or
efforts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We needed something new;
something that only God could do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
is why, under the Old Covenant, drawing near to God was a fearful and
terrifying thing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But he doesn’t draw that picture to mind just to scare
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, understanding that picture
more clearly should steady our legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
we haven’t traveled to that mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
have come to an entirely different mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have come to the serene beauty and peace of Mount Zion, which of
course represents the Kingdom of God as is available in the New Covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We now have a new mediator, who through his
own blood, has blazed a trail that seemed impossible to go down
previously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We no longer have to keep
our distance in fear and trembling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
can enter into God’s presence and do so with boldness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are the recipients of a new and better
covenant and can stand with confidence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When you really stop to think about that, it is stunning in its scope
and implications.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can now do
regularly what could never even be thought of before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can enter into God’s presence with the
assurance that we belong there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This New Covenant is far superior to the Old Covenant,
but there is also a danger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is human
nature to grow accustomed to things and even begin to take them for
granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Human beings have learned how
to control and use things like fire and electricity but they can still be quite
dangerous things if not respected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
New Covenant is all about forgiveness, grace, and access to God in Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s precisely where human nature can
become so dangerous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s easy to slack
off a bit and start to take things for granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What we used to approach with incredible reverence and thanksgiving can
easily become commonplace and ordinary in our own minds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That is why the writer gives us two very important
warnings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first is a negative
command that comes in verse 25 as he urges us to “not refuse him who
speaks.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, God has made incredible
new arrangements in Christ for us to have access to him but we had best not
forget that we are still dealing with a holy and almighty God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more we understand about God, the more we
appreciate him and grow in maturity, and the more we have access to his
presence, the more that we should increase our reverence and awe for him, not
decrease in those things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should show
even more reverence for God’s commands under than the New Covenant than did
those under the Old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do not live in
constant danger of being struck down like those at Mt. Sinai were but that
should drive us all the more to respect and honor God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After all, the impact and effect of Mt. Sinai was
limited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God’s Kingdom now is far
more threatening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mt. Sinai shook those
around it for a short time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mt. Zion
will will shake the earth and the heavens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s not that holiness doesn’t matter under the New Covenant, but that a
new way has been found to draw near to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God’s holiness is still every bit as dangerous as it ever was when
trifled with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And one day, at the
resurrection and return of Christ, that holiness will shake everything, so that
whatever is temporary, second-rate, and unholy will shake off and fall
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the new creation that is
coming and that chapters 11 and 12 have been pointing to all along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But the author has one more warning for us, and this one
is a positive action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Let us be
thankful and so worship God acceptably.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The HCSB translates that phrase more correctly, I believe: “Let us hold
on to grace.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, we have
received this incredible Kingdom and access to God through the grace of Christ
so let us hold on to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us cling to
it so that we can approach him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But let
us continue to approach him in the manner that he deserves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us not treat casually that which is
holy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is still a consuming
fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He may have given us new access to
that fire, but as we all know, if you play around with fire you will get
burned.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is certainly worthy of taking some extra time in
consideration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps we have stopped
taking our shoes off when we walk onto the holy ground and have started to
treat the holy with a casualness that it doesn’t deserve and won’t tolerate for
long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you take God for granted?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you approach him with little sense of
holiness and reverence?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you worship
him with indifference?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As bibilical
commentator, Charles Swindoll once wisely observed, “When we stop taking our
shoes off before the burning bush, it is we who change—not the bush.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you take your approach to God and his presence every
bit as seriously now as you always have?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or have you drifted a bit in your reverence and awe for God and his
Kingdom?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have, what is the
solution offered in this passage to get things straightened out?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-67198745645894110812013-02-06T06:50:00.000-06:002013-02-06T06:50:03.708-06:00Hebrews 12:12-17
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak
knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,”[b] so that the lame may not be
disabled, but rather healed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Warning and Encouragement<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and
to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one
falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause
trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless
like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.
17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was
rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change
what he had done.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love listening to great pep-talk speeches from great
athletic coaches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are few things
in life more inspiring than watching a coach rally a team around him,
especially one that has taken a bit of a beating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They might have stumbled into the locker room
at halftime after having been knocked around a bit, but the great coach can
gird up his team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will address their
wounds and prepare them for the next round of battle in a way that inspires
them to give greater effort and believe that they do have a chance at victory
if they will only stand strong and believe in the coach and themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my all-time favorite speeches of that
type actually comes not from the world of sports but from the classic movie
“Independence Day.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After having been
nearly annihilated in the first two days of being attacked by malevolent alien
forces, a rag-tag group of humans is pieced together to make a last stab effort
at a counter attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that speech the
President of what is left of the United States urges them to “not give up
without a fight,” and to not “go gently into that good night.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will be a glorious new independence day
for the whole world, he tells them, if they will just strengthen themselves and
fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, they are all inspired
and they go on to win the day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are several places throughout the Bible where God
gives his people great pep talks as well, and this passage from Hebrews 12 is
one of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the great pep talks
allude to other great moments in history or quote from other important moments
(as the above pep talk did), and this one in Hebrews is no different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The recipients of the letter have gone
through tough times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have been
persecuted, they have seen many falter in their faith, and some were on the
verge of giving up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that’s the last
thing they should do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Victory is in
sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord will prevail, and his
people with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they only will hold
strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In encouraging them, the author
hails back to the days of Isaiah when he wrote to a people who were discouraged
because of their tough situation and called them to hope and believe in the
coming justice and provision of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
hearkening back to Isaiah 35, the promise is similar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God will provide if they just continue to hold
on and be faithful:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Strengthen the weak hands, steady the shaking
knees!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Say to the cowardly: “Be strong;
do not fear!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is your God; vengeance
is coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s retribution is coming;
He will save you.” . . . A road will be there and a way; it will be called the
Holy Way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The unclean will not travel on
it, but it will be for the one who walks the path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the fool will not go astray. </span></i><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">— Isaiah 35:3-8<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, they have been through tough times, says the author
of Hebrews, and yes, it is the Lord disciplining and training them to make them
stronger, and treating them lovingly as his sons, but they need to hold
steady.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They might feel weak and not up
to the task of remaining faithful but if they would but follow the Lord’s level
paths of holiness, it will result in healing rather than harm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Father is not a distant God who has no
idea of the struggles that we go through on a regular basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He intimately knows what we are experiencing,
but he also knows what his people need and so he gives us each a cross to
bear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want to make sure that we don’t
cut that cross down a bit to make it more manageable, only to come to a canyon
that needs crossing later and find out that the cross was just the right length
to put across the chasm and walk to the other side, only now it is too
short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God uses the struggles to bring
healing and strength and to prepare us, not to disable us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The call to be holy and avoid worldliness that dominates
verses 14 to 17 then is of vital importance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Worldliness and lack of perseverance are cancers that can seep in and
destroy a family of believers before they even know what ails them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peace and holiness are not just nice perks or
extra options to be tacked onto a Christina community that is going really well
and looking to be extra mature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are
essential elements that will help guard against complacency, worldliness, and
laziness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A body of believers, after
all, is either growing spiritually or it is dying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is either progressing and advancing in
holiness or it is rotting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thus, our author gives the believers to whom he is
writing five spiritual dynamics that should be a regular part of their
spiritual life as the people of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
first is that they must make every effort to live in peace with everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This would apply to both within and without
the body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus called his people to be
peacemakers (Matt. 5:9) and to constantly seek to love even the most difficult
people (Matt. 5:43-47).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christians are
to make every effort to live in peace and biblical love with one another (Col.
3:14 ), making sure that we keep that as a top priority over the things that
usually take precedence like our own preferences, feelings, and emotions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we are also to love our enemies and be at
peace with them, at least as much as it depends on us (Rom. 12:18).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Christian is to love all and be at peace,
but we can only control our actions and cannot force others to love us
back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It still remains true, however,
that the only way that a Christian has to destroy their enemy is to love them
until they are their friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A community
that truly embraces peace will be well on its way to remaining strong.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But it cannot just be about peace for that could get
one-sided and sentimental in a hurry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
must also strive for the second dynamic of a Christian community which is to be
a holy community where sin is taken seriously and we so love the body of Christ
that we are not about to tolerate sin within our midst.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When mixed appropriately with peace-making
and love, this becomes a powerful combination that keeps God’s people strong
and pure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The third dynamic is to see to it that no one falls
short of the grace of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the
role of the community to see to it that each member grows into complete
maturity in Christ and is not taken down by sin (Col. 1:28-29).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author has warned of this problem of
falling short of what God has in store for us (Heb. 4:1; 6:4-6; 10:26-31).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s grace that is given to us in the life
of Christ is a free gift that we can never earn but it is also demanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to accept it we must set everything
else aside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Failure to do so will result
in our falling short and missing out on the life that God desires for his
people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The fourth dynamic is an allusion to Deuteronomy 29:18
.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we are positively seeking peace
and holiness and ensuring that none fall short of God’s grace, we need to be on
extra guard against bitter roots that could pop up and poison the body of
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living together as the family of
God definitely has its challenges which can put great stress on our unity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When those tests come, and they will, we must
remember that we are seeking peace and holiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must remember that we can easily get
irritated with one another and that Satan will constantly seek to destroy our
unity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When little shoots of dissension
come up we must go after them immediately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If not, “a little sleep, a little slumber,” a little looking the other
way, and the field will be overgrown with weeds faster than we can imagine
(Prov. 24:30-34).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The final dynamic is to see to it that worldliness, such
as immorality and godlessness are not accepted within God’s family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Esau is a perfect picture of that
worldliness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sold his inheritance in
God’s promised family for momentary pleasure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He traded an eternal birthright for a fleeting bowl of soup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rejecting the inheritance that we have as
members of God’s family can have dire consequences as Esau found out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Esau sold out when things got a little
difficult and discovered that there was no repentance that would reverse what
he had done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a stern warning for
those growing weary in their faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those that sell out their portion of the inheritance in God’s family
will find nothing but sadness and rejection if they think that they can reject
the family of the Messiah and somehow still be accepted back by the Father one
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is essentially the same
warning the author issued in chapter 6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There simply is no other way, no other repentance, no other acceptance
into the family of God other than entering in through the life of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rejecting that path or growing weary and
giving up in it is a a supremely dangerous way to go.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In a Christian world today where we are so often told
that we need do nothing accept raise our hands up, tilt our heads back and let
God’s blessings flow into our lives, Hebrews says something very
different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remaining faithful will
require some work on our part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
requires seeking after peace and holiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It demands that we remain in God’s grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it expects us to be on the guard against
bitter roots and worldliness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are
the things that will help us to stand firm and stay on the level path.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you see all five elements of spiritual growth
mentioned in this passage in your own Christian community?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you see all five elements in your own
spiritual life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In which areas do you
need to grow or work extra hard to maintain?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-69476572392540846682013-01-30T06:39:00.001-06:002013-01-30T06:39:23.902-06:00Hebrews 12:4-11
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet
resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely
forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses
his son? It says,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and do not
lose heart when he rebukes you,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and he
chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[a]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as
his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you
are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not
legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had
human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more
should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for
a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in
order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the
time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness
and peace for those who have been trained by it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was absolutely stunned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in my fourth year of college and had
begun to truly take my studies seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was giving every class my best effort and really had finally gained a
good perspective and my need to work hard in my classes and how that was going
to relate to my success in life after college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In response to that, I was getting excellent grades, something that I
could not always say during my first two years of college, or as I have come to
know them, “the lazy years.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had just
completed a paper that I had worked quite hard on and thought it was a pretty
good effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when my paper came back
from the professor it was marked with a “B”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I could not believe it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Especially when I began to see the grades that my friends around me got.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several friends, whose papers I had read,
received “A’s” for doing much less work than I had done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And to be quite frank, at the time I didn’t
think their papers were as good as mine and neither did they.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I simply could not understand why I had
been given the grade that I had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My initial reaction was to feel that obviously my
professor did not like me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had
always seemed to grade me a little lower than my peers and I had shaken it off
but this felt too far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt that it
had become apparent now and out in the light that she just preferred others in
the class over me and I became convinced that she actually did not want me to
succeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, being the calm and
collected young fellow that I was at the time, I balled the paper up and whilst
staring at her the entire time, I walked over, demonstratively threw the paper
in the trash, and stormed out of the class.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Later that night the professor called me to apologize,
but not for the reason that I thought (despite the fact that I should have been
the one apologizing).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was not
apologizing for having a grudge against me and grading me down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She apologized for not explaining herself
sooner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went on to tell me that she
had indeed been grading my papers at a different standard from my peers but
that it was because she saw great potential in me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wanted to help make me a better writer
and researcher by grading my work at a graduate level rather than as the
under-graduate student that I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now,
the fairness of that decision is not for me to discuss here, but the point is
that what I thought was her lack of interest or affection towards me was
actually the opposite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was trying to
train me and make me stronger and better.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Certainly with all that the community of Christians in
Rome (if our theory that Hebrews was written to the church in Rome is correct),
we could easily understand if they were tempted to grow weary and start to
think that perhaps God didn’t care about or love them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why else would he allow them to be constantly
thrown into prisons, have their property confiscated, lose their positions in
society, be ostracized, and see so many of their number walk away?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely they had been taught that the world
had persecuted Jesus and it would do the same to his people, but the strength
of that conviction had grown fuzzy over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The realities and harshness of their life in
Christ had begun to wear them down.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is one of the reasons that they needed to keep
their eyes fixed on Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus was, of
course, the perfect Son of God but he also knows what it’s like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can serve as an example for those that are
going through trials because he has been there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He faced up to the worst persecution that Satan and the world can offer
and he remained faithful to the will of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He had suffered trials and persecution at the hands of sinful people
just as they had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They could draw strength
and encouragement from the fact that he had endured faithfully and the outcome
was positive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, Jesus suffered but
there was no question that he was God’s beloved son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only could they identify with Jesus’
suffering, they could also take heart in the fact that, although severe, there
struggles were not on the level of what Jesus endured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had yet to shed their own blood and die,
although the author doesn’t remove the possibility that that might take place
one day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In verses 5-6 the author quotes from Proverbs 3 and
offers a mild rebuke for them in the process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Had they forgotten the comforting and encouraging rebuke from the
Proverbs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had they failed to apply that
principle to their lives when they most needed it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord disciplines those he loves and
considers as his children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was true
of Jesus, whom we have already been told in 5:8, learned the fullness of being
obedient to God’s will only by enduring through suffering (not in the sense of
learning something that he did not know but in the sense of experiencing
something that can only be fully experienced through a specific element—thus,
Jesus could only discover complete obedience as a human to doing God’s will by
doing so through suffering).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their
suffering was not a sign of God’s displeasure or lack of concern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather they should understand that God was
allowing them to be trained to bring them to full maturity (James 1:2-3).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God was treating them as any loving father
would.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you were to go a public place and see a child running
completely amok and the adult that was accompanying them doing nothing about
it, you might start to wonder if the parent was an abysmally poor parent, or
perhaps he was not the child’s father at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is why Proverbs 13:24 urges us to remember that the one who
neglects discipline does not truly love their child in the full sense of the
word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fathers who care about their
children, their own lives, and society at large will discipline and train their
children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will allow difficult circumstances
and obstacles to come into the life of their child so that they can learn to
overcome those things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The proper response to hardship is not to see it as
punishment or abandonment, but to see at as the loving actions of a loving
Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord does not directly
discipline and train those that are not his children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing that God has a purpose in the trials
that we go through are what change sheer grief into pure joy in the same way
that knowing that an incredibly challenging workout is making us stronger and
more fit changes the experience from a torturous one to something that we can
enjoy in a strange sort of way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
the knowledge of the purpose of the pain that changes everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even human fathers that everyone respects know that they
must bring or allow hardship into their children’s lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is the ultimate Father and he certainly
knows that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reality is that children
who never suffer loss, hardship, or trial become incredibly lazy, spoiled, and
immature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As God’s children we might be
tempted to desire that nothing but blessing and goodness come into our lives
(and some have made a great deal of money and fame for themselves claiming that
this is what God wants for us too), but we have to realize just how truly
counter-productive and dangerous spiritually that would actually be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we never faced trial how would we
grow?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Growth is born through adversity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our goal as Christians is not to “make it to
heaven” and avoid the most amount of struggle that we possibly can in the
process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our goal as a Christian is to
become like Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That takes growth,
training, and discipline and those things can only come through trial,
struggle, and persecution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is through the fire that we will learn Christ-like
obedience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is why Hebrews asserts
that God trains us for our own good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s not because he is inattentive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s quite the opposite, in fact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God trains us in “order that we may share in his holiness.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we go through hardships and struggles,
perhaps rather than asking “why, God,” we should ask what God is trying to
teach us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God knows what we need to go
through and learn and when the storms come (the storms that we create for
ourselves through sin and disobedience are another matter entirely) we can be
comforted with the knowledge that God knows that the refinement that we will
receive from that trial is better for us than if we went through no trial at
all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now that doesn’t mean that we can simply change our mindset
and suddenly everything will become rose pedals and ginger snaps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trials are still hard, and challenging, and
painful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will test our faith, our
resolve, and our endurance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the
whole point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is only when we are weak
and persevere that we gain strength.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These times of discipline will not be pleasant, but we can count them as
joy, as James 1 says, because we know that God is at work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trial is not bigger than God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pain is not bigger than the lesson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And nothing is bigger than God’s love for his
sons and daughters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">What struggles or trials are you going through in your
life right now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have been tempted to be
angry at God for allowing them and wonder why he would do such a thing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or have you taken some time to contemplate
what might be trying to teach you through these circumstances?</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-22374112855575987612013-01-30T06:38:00.001-06:002013-01-30T06:38:43.829-06:00Hebrews 12:1-3<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span _yuid="yui_3_1_1_2_1359549460257122" style="color: #383536; font-size: 14pt;">12</span><span style="color: #383536;">
</span><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;">Therefore, since we are
surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that
hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance
the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and
perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning
its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him
who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and
lose heart.</span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig
Deeper</span></span></b>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Running a long
endurance race, like a marathon is no easy task.<span> </span>In fact, the
Greek word used in this passage for race is the root word from which we get our
word “agony.”<span> </span>No matter how well trained you are, a long distance
race is going to be painful and require endurance.<span> </span>Anything that
helps to keep one focused on the race and motivated through the course of an
event that has many emotional ups and downs is greatly appreciated and, dare I
say, necessary.<span> </span>This past month I decided to compete in another
marathon event and even though I have completed many before, each one is
difficult and there were several times throughout the race where my mind toyed
with the idea of quitting.<span> </span>One of the things that is encouraging
and keeps the runners motivated and going throughout the race is the great crowd
of spectators that line the streets all through the course of the race.<span>
</span>As encouraging as that can be, however, that begins to lost its
motivation after a time.<span> </span>What really begins to motivate me,
though, as I start to tread through the last mile or two of the race are those
that have finished ahead of me.<span> </span>There’s usually not a lot of them
yet at that point, but peppered throughout the last mile or so are those that
have already finished the race.<span> </span>They could go off and enjoy their
accomplishment but instead they come back down the course and cheer on those
that are still running.<span> </span>Just seeing those that have already
completed the course and knowing that, yes it can be done and soon I will be
joining them, is a powerful motivator.</span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is that type of
motivation upon which Paul draws for an effective analogy of the rigors of the
Christian life.<span> </span>The author drew on imagery that would have been
quite familiar in the Roman world to which he was writing.<span> </span>These
people took their athletics seriously.<span> </span>Physical training was a
vitally important aspect of life in the Empire of Rome.<span> </span>Biblical
historian, Everett Ferguson, in his work <i>Backgrounds of Early
Christianity</i>, says that:</span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Foot races were held
in the stadium.<span> </span>Several of these <i>stadia</i> still survive with
their starting and finish lines (cf. The mark or goal in Phil. 3:14).<span>
</span>The Greek stadia accommodated spectators on the grassy slopes on each
side of the flat running surfaces.</span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The major sports were
running, boxing, the pankration (an all-out combination of boxing, wrestling,
and kicking in which no holds were barred except for biting and gouging), and
the pentathlon (which included running, long-jumping, throwing the discus,
throwing the javelin, and wrestling.”<span> </span></span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The author of Hebrews
was signaling to his audience that this was walk day in the park.<span>
</span>The Christian life was like one of those agonizing endurance
races.<span> </span>In order for them to finish they needed to prepare
properly, run correctly, endure, and finish strong.<span> </span>Otherwise they
would grow weary and not finish the race.</span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first thing that
they would need is the proper motivation.<span> </span>This could be
done.<span> </span>To live a life of faith without quitting and throwing in the
towel had already been done.<span> </span>The stadium was filled with those
that had already run and completed the race.<span> </span>They are there,
figuratively cheering us on and motivating us to not only start our lives of
faith but to finish.<span> </span>This will help at those times when we start
to wonder if the path is too difficult and we begin to contemplate giving
up.</span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next thing that
we need is to warm-up properly.<span> </span>Before a long-distance race now
days runners drop all of their gear off in little bags before they even start
the race.<span> </span>You don’t want anything you don’t need.<span> </span>I
once had a friend who insisted on starting a long race with a camel-back water
holder on his back.<span> </span>We tried to tell him that there would be
plenty of liquid stations along the way and that he should drop it off at the
gear check table but he brought it anyway.<span> </span>Soon, he found it to be
cumbersome and heavy and wished that he had not brought it.<span> </span>As
Christians we are to throw off the things that hinder us.<span> </span>These
are often things that weigh us down like past hurts, anxieties, worry,<span>
</span>laziness, procrastination, and the like. <span> </span>We really need
to throw those things off before we start but if we haven’t then we need to
emulate runners who start out a race wearing warm clothing because of chilly
temperatures, only to start shedding those clothes along the route as the
temperatures rise.</span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But we are also to
throw off the sin that so easily entangles us.<span> </span>These are often
mind-sets like selfishness, greed, the desire to do my own will, pride, the
unwillingness to give up my hyper-individualism, unchecked lust, and many, many
other things.<span> </span>Trying to run the race of faith without casting away
those things that can pull at our hearts is like trying to run a marathon
through a cavalcade of fishing nets.<span> </span>One of them will eventually
trip you up.<span> </span>The reality of these two “warm-up instructions” is
that there are certain things in life that will have to be rejected and
discarded if we are to run effectively.</span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we continue on the
race, we have to have an attitude of endurance.<span> </span>Let me ask an
important question.<span> </span>What determines when you stop running a
race?<span> </span>As simple as that sounds, it is vital to know and understand
the answer.<span> </span>Being tired does not determines when we stop
running.<span> </span>A little temporary pain does not determine when we stop
running.<span> </span>For the truly committed, even an injury does not
determine when we stop running.<span> </span>And certainly, growing mentally
weary cannot determine when we stop running.<span> </span>For the true runner,
the finish line is the only thing that determines when we stop.<span> </span>So
it is for those that have entered into the race of a faithful life.<span>
</span>Obstacles cannot deter us and we cannot allow discouragements to diminish
our hope.<span> </span>We must have the conviction that absolutely nothing will
stop us until we reach that finish line.<span> </span>It is only then that we
can let our feet stop moving.</span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But it takes more
than just endurance.<span> </span>Proper technique is vital as well.<span>
</span>Even great runners, will severely hurt themselves, if not completely ruin
their race, without safe techniques.<span> </span>Hebrews tells us that the
proper technique for the faith runner is to keep our heads up and focused on
Jesus.<span> </span>He, after all, is not only the perfect motivator, but he is
also the author and perfecter of the race.<span> </span>He already ran the
perfect endurance race.<span> </span>He showed us how to go through the most
trying of circumstances, even shameful death on a cross, and to do so because he
kept focused on the joy of completing his race.<span> </span>In so doing he
made the life of the New Creation available to us, and then sat down at the
right hand of God.<span> </span>If we take our eyes off of him we will veer off
course.<span> </span>He is the pioneer or trailblazer of our faith (Heb.
2:10).<span> </span>Not only did he finish the race and beckon us to follow him
but he cut the only path that will lead us to the finish line.<span>
</span>Believe me, there are few things worse in a long-distance race than to
realize that you have taken a wrong turn and gone off of the proper path.<span>
</span>We must keep our concentration and gaze fixed upon Jesus.</span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span _yuid="yui_3_1_1_2_1359549460257125" style="font-family: Calibri;">Many runners in long-distance races will
put on headphones and listen to music to keep their minds off of the agony of
the race.<span> </span>As faith runners we are urged to set our minds on what
Jesus endured for us.<span> </span>In so doing, we will take our minds off of
our own aches and pains and realize, in the course of events, that we have
probably not endured anything even close to what Jesus endured for us.<span>
</span>He kept his eye on the joy of the Father and as we focus on that it will
keep us focused on the joy of our Lord and Savior.</span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As you run the course
marked out before us in faith, always get ready properly by throwing off all
that could hinder or entangle you.<span> </span>Keep running with perseverance,
knowing that at some point it is going to get painful.<span> </span>There’s no
way around that.<span> </span>It just simply is that way and knowing it and
accepting it now is invaluable.<span> </span>The pain will come but we can
endure.<span> </span>If you keep your eyes focused on Jesus and not on yourself
you will finish the race.<span> </span>After all, there is a stadium full of
those who have already done it, and they are cheering you on.</span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional
Thought</span></span></b>
<div class="yiv864015663MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are you trying to run
this endurance race of faith with things that hinder and entangle you?<span>
</span>What mindsets or unnecessary attitudes are you caring with you that you
need to drop or change?<span> </span>What sin have you been dragging along that
you need to throw to the side?<span> </span>How can you stay focused on Jesus
through this race and how will that help you to finish strong?</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-57831027987342149082013-01-23T06:39:00.001-06:002013-01-23T06:39:42.174-06:00Hebrews 11:32-39<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell
about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the
prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and
gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of
the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to
strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women
received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were
tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better
resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and
imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[e] they were sawed in two;
they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins,
destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They
wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of
them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better
for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over the years I have really grown to love running in
marathons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is truly my favorite
physical activity these days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently I
completed another marathon and had a great time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finished with my personal best time and,
although it wasn’t a perfect race, I was pretty happy with how I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was pushing pretty hard most of the race
and there were a few times that I felt like quitting but I kept going and
finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the finish line my youngest
son came up to me and said, “Dad, did you win the race?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned to him and in all of my confidence
and wisdom I said, “well you see son, marathons like this are not the type of
races that you we saw at the Olympics during the track and field.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I continued, “Marathons are not about winning
and losing and being successful based on that standard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marathons are about endurance, personal
achievement, and finishing what you started.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Every person,” I reasoned, “is competing with themselves so success is
very different in a marathon, rather than just looking at concepts like winning
or losing or finishing first.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
sure that this would help him to see the transcendent nature of competing against
oneself in a marathon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But instead my
son tilted his head, looked at me with a look of disdain that communicated that
he had already thoroughly discredited everything about which I had just waxed
so eloquent, and said, “so, you lost.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What my little cherub failed to understand is that the
standard of success in a local marathon is not finishing first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really does have to do with
finishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he can grasp that concept
he will see that everyone who finished that race was successful whether it took
them 2 ½ hours or 6 hours, or anything in between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we close out the eleventh chapter of Hebrews we
should have come fully to terms with the idea that God has radically shifted
the idea of what success is in his kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is a cataclysmic shift that changes everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We humans tend to wander through our lives
constantly wondering what it’s all about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What is the purpose of life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why
am I here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is a successful
life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we read passages like the
section today, it starts to become clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God is not interested in success from a worldly perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being rich, powerful, or famous means nothing
to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is not looking for success
but for faithfulness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone who is
faithful to God is a success in the only eyes that matter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we turn to the text, verse 32 is another of those
moments in Hebrews where the author, like any good teacher or preacher
occasionally does, hints that there is much more that he could say on the topic
but will cut it in interest of time or space available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are left to wonder longingly at what great
teaching he might have unveiled had he felt that he had the time, but are
comforted by the fact that the Holy Spirit certainly inspired our author to
include the necessary details.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This section offers a good summary of people that faced
incredible challenges and overcame them all through faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some conquered the unconquerable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others did the impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still others saw incredible miracles, such as
Daniel in the lion’s den.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the
people or incidents listed are named directly while others are only alluded
to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These were people, however that
stood the test in faith and as a result saw their area of weakness become
strength, because where we are weak and allow God to work, we become mighty
beyond anything we could ever ask or imagine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There were women like the widow of Zarephath and the woman of Shunem who
received their sons back from the dead through the prophets Elijah and Elisha
respectively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there were also many
others who did not fare so well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
experienced great victories through their faith, but the faith of others saw
them tortured, beaten, stoned, sawed in two, and killed in many horrific ways.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what is the point of all that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would some receive great victories
through faith while others went through genuinely horrible experiences?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does that seem to make any sense at all?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certainly the author gives us the first
answer to those questions directly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
were all looking towards a better resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were living according to the promises of God that were largely
unseen as yet, rather than living for the temporal promises that the world
tries to muster up but on which it can never seem to deliver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, the great miraculous moments as well as
the times of harrowing and relentless faith in the face of persecution and
death both derive their strength from the same source.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They both come from faith that God will be
true to his promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The key that God
is looking for is not brilliant “victory” at every turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s not how God judges success or what he
wants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is looking for
faithfulness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is looking for those
that take him at his word when promised resurrection for his people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or as Hebrews put it in 11:6, faith is both
believing that God exists and that “he rewards those who earnestly seek
him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The amazing thing is that many in this list did not even
have the full revelation or all of the facts regarding what God would do one
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Early on in the times covered by
the Old Testament, resurrection is something that is only hinted at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not until the time of prophets such as
Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel that God began to flesh out his promises regarding
resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simply knowing that God
promised to reward those that were faithful was enough for these great
vanguards of the faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But there is more here that we are to see than just the
idea that some experienced great miracles and others endured incredible
persecution because they were focused on the inheritance to come (as important
as that is).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What the author of Hebrews
is making clear is that their willingness to live by faith was not only
evidence that God would one day restore all things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact that they were faithful, combined
with the faithful lives of the Christians at the time that Hebrews was written
(and beyond), were actually proof of that age to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These faith-people lived at odds with the
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They lived lives that were out of
tune with the present age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They lived by
the values of the coming resurrection age and made that their reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world around them lived as though the
present age was all there ever was, all there is, and all there ever will
be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God gave them the ability and
strength to live by the power and values of the future age, which proved their
faith to be true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not circular
reasoning mind you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact is that
people claiming faith in a coming age and truly being able to live their lives
out as samples of the power of that coming age, clearly serves as proof that
the coming age is real and has begun to break into the present age even now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Therein lies the purpose for living these radical lives
of faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They both demonstrate our
belief in God’s promises of resurrection but they also serve as powerful
evidence that the future age has already begun to break in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is all about faith in the promises of
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some, we are told, escaped the edge
of the sword through faith while others felt the end of the sword through that
same kind of faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The measure of their
lives could not be taken in the things that the world valued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some were great conquerors and rulers, others
were outcasts and the persecuted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
mattered was not the results of their life or the “success” as the world would
define it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What mattered was that they
remained faithful to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In fact, they all died without so much as having even
received the ultimate promises that God gave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some of them saw small manifestations of the fruit of following God but
some saw nothing but hardship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The harsh
reality is that either comfort or persecution; rule or subjugation; power or
complete impotence, can all pull us away from faith in God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The important part is not whether we taste of
the great power or the great persecution but in whether or not we are
demonstrating faith in God’s promises.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what does it mean for 21st century Christians to live
by faith?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means to live as though we
really believe that God’s resurrection age is the reality by which we order our
lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means that we live by a time
when there will be no evil and no hate so we become a people that know only the
language of love and forgiveness (see passages such as Luke 6:27-39).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means that even though the world is mired
in darkness right now that we don’t accept that darkness as the reality of
life, but rather we recognize that the daylight from the sun is already on the
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot yet see the resurrection
age but we can begin to live by its power right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can embrace it as more of a reality than
what we see and what the world around us values.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can, in short, live our lives as though
spending eternity with Jesus and his people in the resurrection is all that
will matter one day soon and so it is all that matters now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Is your faith built on God’s promises of resurrection
and his faithfulness to those promises?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or does it often hinge on things going the way you would like them
to?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would you continue to have the same
rock-solid faith in God if you were one of those that faced the business end of
the sword?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you demonstrating faith
in God’s promises despite your circumstances or is your faith all too connected
to your circumstances?</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-46871317443978428862013-01-21T08:24:00.002-06:002013-01-21T08:24:25.737-06:00Hebrews 11:23-31
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months
after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not
afraid of the king’s edict.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be
known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with
the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He
regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures
of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left
Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is
invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so
that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on
dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army
had marched around them for seven days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed
the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The other day I came across a scene that has become
increasingly common in our world today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was in a store shopping and was surrounded by seemingly normal people
that were quite busy going about their business and filling up their carts with
the items that they needed to take home with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was all rather quiet, mundane, and had a
certain rhythm to it until suddenly someone started walking up behind me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were talking in a rather loud and
animated fashion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As they passed by on
my left I realized that they seemed to be in a rather heated conversation, or
at least a very emotional one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But to my
surprise, they had no phone that I could see and no one was close to them
except for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After my initial moment
of being startled I looked at them, thinking perhaps they were somehow agitated
and speaking to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They glanced at me
and continued talking but then walked past, still speaking and carrying
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A moment later I saw them again,
standing in an aisle, talking in a very animated way that involved their whole
body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began to wonder if I wasn’t
witnessing the mental breakdown of some poor individual here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I walked by they continued to talk but
this time turned their body so I could suddenly see the side of them that had
been obscured from my vision as they walked by me the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is when I noticed an extremely small
bluetooth-type device in their ear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
it all made sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I could not see
or hear was that they were having a phone conversation with someone else.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s amazing how quickly people can look strange and
even crazy when they can hear or see something that you cannot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It changes their environment and context so
that what they experience is entirely different than what those around them are
experiencing and suddenly behavior that is quite rational when considered in full
context, seems quite irrational.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
a bit of how it is when we live by faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although we cannot see the promises and future of God with our physical
eyes, we see them with our spiritual minds and we believe them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This causes us to live in a very different
reality and context than those around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Which, of course, makes those that truly live by faith look to the world
around us like perhaps we have caught a case of the crazies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living by faith on the promises of God
radically changes what we fear, what we value, what we go after in life, and
what we desire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is though we see
something that others cannot and it seems quite nuts from the perspective of
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s the truth of faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your life doesn’t look a bit odd,
bordering on the insane to those that don’t live by faith then perhaps it’s not
faith by which you are living.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As Hebrews continues to gives examples of those that
lived by radical faith in God despite appearances and the circumstances around
them, he comes to the time of Moses and Joshua when those that were living by
faith definitely acted in ways that seem crazy from a worldly perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were living as though they could see
something that no one else could, because, in fact, they could in a sense.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first example from this section is that of Moses’
parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might not seem like a great
act of faith to keep your child from harm but it must have been because they
were apparently the only people that had the courage to even try it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine how intimidated parents must have
been to not be willing to fight back or try to stop their infants from being
slaughtered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, the Pharaoh of the
time must have made enough threats, and been willing to carry them out, so that
the parents saw the consequences of trying to keep their children alive as
worse than letting them be killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Moses’ parents were somehow different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are not told how, but they knew that Moses was different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God had plans for him and they saw that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That caused them to be willing to risk the
dire consequences of going against the mighty Pharaoh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It led them to not be afraid of what everyone
else lived in mortal fear of.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Their faith passed on to their son even though he grew
up in the Pharaoh’s household.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
trained up in the best of Egyptian schools and had a life of ease and comfort
ahead of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is likely that he was
already a fairly well known royal and may have even been somewhat of an
Egyptian military hero.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not many people
in their right mind would pass up the fame, fortune, power, and ease that was
available to the son of Pharaoh’s daughter in the most powerful and wealthy
country in the world at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
could have had everything and yet he walked away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would he do such a seemingly crazy
thing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Due to his faith in God he could
see things that those around him could not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It surely made Moses look crazy, but was he?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because of his faith, Moses made three incredible
decisions that are outlined here in chapter 11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By faith, Moses decided to turn down the trappings of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had a choice between being known as the
son of Pharaoh’s daughter, a respected member of the royal “great house,” or to
be numbered among the lowly Hebrew slaves and servants that were looked down
upon by the Egyptian society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who would
choose the reviled and humbled rather than the high and mighty?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone with faith in God’s promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although Moses was raised and educated in
Pharaoh’s house, God had also worked so that his birth mother was his nanny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She obviously taught him of the great and
mighty promises of God for his people and the world and Moses chose to
demonstrate faith in those promises over and against the best that the world
had to offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could have argued that
he could do much more for his people by staying in Pharaoh’s house, but Moses
chose raw faith over sugared reasoning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Living by faith will always call us to give up the pomp and pride of the
world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By faith, Moses left the familiar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was certainly afraid of being discovered
after killing an Egyptian while defending a fellow Hebrew, but Moses could have
stayed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could have stayed in Egypt
and started a slaves’ revolt against Pharaoh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, by faith, he realized that it was not yet God’s timing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So he left Egypt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That must have been a difficult decision with
a man who had such a passion for defending his people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trusting in God’s promises often means a
great deal of patience and Moses learned that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By faith, Moses was willing to do strange things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can easily read of him smearing blood on
the doorposts at the time of the Passover and not think much of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this would have been an exceedingly
strange thing to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have a highly
educated Egyptian who grew up in the height of luxury willing to trust God and
get his hands dirty, smearing blood on a doorpost, believing that it would save
people through obedience to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
strange this must have seemed to him, to the Egyptians, and to even his fellow
Israelites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to mention, that
Egyptians reviled sheep and shepherds and saw them as an uncouth and dirty
animal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet here was Moses willing to go
elbow-deep in blood because God had made promises and Moses was ready to put
his life and reputation on the line for those promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having faith will often call us to the
strange and unusual; to things that seem downright stupid from the perspective
of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we are willing to live by faith, however, we will
tend to find that God acts on our behalf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It won’t always be in the types of miraculous ways that are described in
verses 29-31, but it will happen nonetheless. What we can learn from these
examples, though, is that if they had not remained faithful to God’s promises,
they would have missed out on the incredible things that God did in their
lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Israelites walked through the
Red Sea, but they would have never been there if they hadn’t stepped out on
faith and believed God’s promises that he would protect them as part of his
plan for the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joshua’s army saw
the walls of Jericho fall after doing nothing more than march around them but
they would never have experienced the earth-shattering roar of the falling
walls if they had not acted in obedience on God’s word and started walking in
faith, regardless of how crazy it seemed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Imagine Rahab’s surprise when all of the walls of the city fell around
her, except for her house which was situated at the top of the city walls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She would not have witnessed that if she had
not decided to act in faith that God’s promises were not just for the Jews but
all that would live in trust of him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What we discover is that living by faith takes extreme
trust in God and his word, but it demands much of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To truly live by faith we have to refuse what
the world has to offer and let faith overcome our feelings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have to be willing to leave the comfortable
and familiar and let faith overcome our desire for security.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have to have the courage to do the unusual
and let faith overcome our fear.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">At the heart of living by faith is trust in God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A life of faith is the evidence of our trust
in God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What evidence is there in your
life of your trust in God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we were to
lay out the balance of your life for display, would we see more evidence of
trust in God or a lack of trust in him?</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-42201707350573767452013-01-18T07:43:00.002-06:002013-01-18T07:43:13.809-06:00Hebrews 11:17-22
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac
as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one
and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that
your offspring will be reckoned.”[c] 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even
raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from
death.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to
their future.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of
Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about
the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the
burial of his bones.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We hear a lot about faith these days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The evangelical Christian world is almost
obsessed with faith in God and faith in Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that faith is a bad thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course it is everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem that I see, however, is how much
people talk about about faith but how little they seem to understand what
biblical faith actually is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is
often called faith these days is really more something like belief and
intellectual agreement with something than it is genuine biblical faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s the difference?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think an incident from the life of famed
acrobat Charles Blondin in the 19th century demonstrates the difference quite
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blondin gained great fame by
performing feats such as crossing Niagara Falls on a tightrope, often even
doing so blindfolded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After finishing a
tightrope trek while pushing across a bag of cement in a wheelbarrow while
blindfolded, a reporter came up to congratulate him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the story goes, Blondin asked the man, “Do
you believe I can do anything on a tightrope?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Why, yes, Mr. Blondin,” the reporter answered. “After what I’ve
witnessed today, I believe you can do anything.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blondin then inquired, “Do you believe that I
could put a man in this wheelbarrow, a man who has never been on a tightrope
before, and push him across Niagara Falls?” “Why, absolutely,” the reporter
replied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blondin then looked at the
reporter and said, “Good, then why don’t you get in?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evidently, the reporter decline the offer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That, my friends, is the difference between belief and
faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Belief is to agree that Blondin
could do something amazing when he claimed that he could push anything across a
great chasm on a tightrope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith is
actually living as though you believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The same goes with biblical faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is not just believing that God did something great in the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is living today and tomorrow in complete
obedience based on God’s promises and his word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Much of what passes for faith today focuses on the past, what God has
done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But true faith takes God’s word
and then focuses on the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
laser-focused on God being faithful in the future to his promises.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s why God allows us to go through tests and
trials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not about God not knowing
how Abraham would respond but belief cannot become faith without an opportunity
to act or not act on what God has said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It comes down to whether we will believe what God has said, or if we
will believe what we think and see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is the quandary in which Abraham found
himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God had given him great promises
about blessing him through his descendants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He even made it quite clear throughout Abraham’s life that Abraham was
not to go out and engineer his own own path to fulfilling God’s promises of an
heir that would turn into a great nation-family that consisted of all nations
and through whom the whole world would be blessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything that God had promised Abraham
rested on the shoulders of that young man, Isaac.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what was Abraham to think when God had
asked him to sacrifice the only son that would ever receive Abraham’s full
inheritance, and could thus rightly be called his “one and only son”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What God was asking Abraham to do was not
unheard of in the ancient world where sacrificing a son to the gods was a
regular occurrence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, one could
say that God was asking Abraham to trust him as much as the pagans trusted
their gods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter of one’s beliefs
it could not have been easy to sacrifice your own child to a god, but for
Abraham it was even more difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Every promise that God had given Abraham was dependant on the well-being
and long-life of Isaac.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without Isaac
how could God’s promises possibly be fulfilled?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And if God is not faithful to his promises then how can he truly be
considered God?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God’s test for Abraham was not some cruel joke on his
part but was an opportunity for Abraham to establish and strengthen his
faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the way it is with tests
like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They not only reveal
weaknesses of our faith but they also serve as opportunities to strengthen
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So why must our faith be
tested?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because it is based on the
future, and that is the whole point of this chapter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If faith is simply based on what God did in
the past, then it doesn’t really need to be tested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But our faith is based on the promises of
God’s family one day living with him in the resurrection age of the restored
heaven and earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because it is
future-based, that means that God’s promises for his people are something that
we cannot see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must learn to cling to
God’s word and promises, and believe him despite the fact that we don’t see
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Abraham’s test was certainly a
stiff one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had lived a life of
trusting God rather than what he had experienced or seen in his life and now
this would really put that trust to the test.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Would he trust God when everything was on the line?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 Corinthians 4:8-9 indicates that there are four levels
of testing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul says “We are hard
pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first level, hard pressed, is the normal
everyday type of pressure and irritating circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second level, perplexed, is when we don’t
quite know where to go or how to get out of our circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The third level, persecuted, is a bit more intense
than the first two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might feel hard
pressed and stressed if you are on a run and need to get back to your house in
10 minutes but are 12 minutes away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
might feel perplexed if you realize that you are lost and don’t know how to get
back home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But being persecuted is like
turning around and realizing that while on your run, a lion is chasing you and
closing in fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fourth level,
struck down, is surely the type that Abraham was facing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It refers to being completely rejected or
torn down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most precious thing he
had, his son of promise, was being seemingly taken away from and his response
would reveal everything about his trust in God and whether his faith would be
destroyed or stand strong.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But Paul’s conclusion in 2 Corinthians 4 demonstrates
truth faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite all of the trials
and tests that he had experienced, he says, “We always carry around in our body
the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For we who are alive are always being given
over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our
mortal body” (2 Corinthians 4:10-11a).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Paul went through both the mundane pressures of life and terrible trials
because he believed that the resurrection life of Christ would shine
through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was willing to die to self
and live a life that made no sense from a worldly perspective because he
believed in God’s promises that those who die to themselves now and live by the
values of the resurrection will receive the inheritance of resurrection through
Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He learned to live as
though God’s promises were true despite the mounting evidence that living the
life of Christ brought nothing but more trials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Paul lived a life of faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And so did Abraham.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He had learned to live as though God’s promises were true (Rom.
4:21).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How strong had Abraham’s faith in
God’s promises become?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was so sure
that God would be faithful to his word that he reasoned that even if he did
sacrifice Isaac from the dead, God would just bring him back from the
dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So Abraham was willing to obey God
and sacrifice his son because he was so willing to live his life as though
God’s promises were worthy of being trusted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the process he not only strengthened his faith but he learned that
God would never ask someone to sacrifice their own son as the other gods
supposedly do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be around two
thousand years before God fully revealed that not only does he not ask his
people to sacrifice their own sons, he would do what he would not ask Abraham to
do by sacrificing his one and only son so that the promises that he gave to his
people could be fully realized.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The other three examples given in this section are no
mere afterthoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are evidence
that Abraham not only had true faith but that he passed on that faith through
the family that God had promised him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>None of them were perfect in their holiness, not by a long shot, but
they did demonstrate faith in God’s promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They lived for a future that they could not see based solely on God’s word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isaac went against conventional wisdom and
blessed his younger son rather than the stronger, older son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And even when he realized that he had done so
by mistake, he trusted that God was at work and would not change his blessing
because of his faith in God’s will and promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jacob blessed Joseph’s sons and again
confirmed a life of living for the promises that God had given rather than the
immediate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph demonstrated that too
had put his trust in the future based on God’s word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than seeing himself as a permanent
resident of Egypt, a place where he had done quite well for himself, he looked
ahead and asked that his bones be carried along with God’s people when they
continued to be carried along by God’s promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph, in other words, valued God’s promises
more than he did the idea of being revered and buried as a great Egyptian
(something that was so venerated in their culture that we continue to be
fascinated today with the powerful and mighty Egyptians that were buried).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Faith is not some mental exercise that can be limited to
agreeing with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does not primarily
look back but ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not focused
on what God has done (although that does play an important part) but on what
God will do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps when God’s people
can truly grasp that and really live as though God’s promises of resurrection
are true, can we take our place alongside our forefathers that are listed in
this great hall of faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps then,
and only then, can we achieve the full impact of being God’s people that he
intends for us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Do you truly live by faith?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you base the form an function of your life
on God’s promises of resurrection one day or do you still struggle mightily
with focusing on the things that you can see?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What can you do to take your gaze off of the things that you can see and
begin to order the aspects of your life according to what cannot be seen?</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-67024324039003275652013-01-09T06:33:00.002-06:002013-01-09T06:33:37.371-06:00Hebrews 11:1-6
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">11 </span></b><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Now
faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
2 This is what the ancients were commended for.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at
God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain
did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his
offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he
did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him
away.”[a] For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to
him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek
him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before I took up running as a bit of an amateur pastime,
I was quite intimidated by the idea of ever running a marathon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed rather undoable and something that
was nothing more than a bit of craziness that would cause me a great deal of
pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After taking up running as a hobby
and doing it for several years, my thoughts hadn’t changed that much on the
topic of marathons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then I started
to talk to people who had run them and learn from them and realize not only
that it was possible for regular people to do but that there is a great deal of
challenge, and yes, even fun involved in running a marathon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I decided to try one and I haven’t quit
running them since.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That little bit of
motivation spurred me on to believe that I could achieve running a marathon and
I have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the last few years, though,
I’ve begun to look at some of the ultra-marathons that are out there, whether
it be the 56-mile Comrades in Durban, South Africa or one of the 100-mile races
closer to home; I’m intrigued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I was
also a bit intimidated again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea
seemed daunting and somewhat impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That is until I started to meet people who have completed one of those
endurance races.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their example and the
tips that they have provided me along the way are just what I need to be able
to complete one of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven’t run
one yet, but I’m pretty sure I will one day, thanks in large part to their example
and encouragement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chapter 11 of Hebrews is, of course, one of the most
famous chapters in all of the New Testament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is often referred to as the “Hall of Fame of Faith,” and rightly
so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a chronological summary of
many of the great examples from the Old Testament of people who lived
incredible lives of faith based solely on the promises of God rather than on
anything that they could tangibly see, or anything that they received in their
lifetime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And although there is much
more in this chapter than just a bunch of good examples, it is chock full of
encouraging examples of those who lived by faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It serves as a motivator and little slices of
encouragement from those that have gone on ahead and completed the race and now
stand in the stadium waiting for us to pick up and start the race and finish it
ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">First things must go first, however.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before we can look at great and inspiring
lives of faith it is necessary that we take a moment to consider what faith
is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the righteous ones will live by
faith, as our author has reminded us in the previous chapter, then we need to
know what faith is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is, he says, “the
confidence in what we hope for.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it
is more than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also “the
assurance about what we do not see.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
definition leaves no room for some squishy self-defined concept of faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The word “rendered “confidence” can be
translated in two directions: it either means “evidence” and “guarantee” or it
means something like “title deed.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Either way, the point is clear that faith is the thing that brings
confidence to our hope and gives assurance despite the fact that we have not
seen that for which we hope.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is where we must be on guard against the modern
tendency towards post-modernism (where my truth is truth) and defining concepts
in a way that pleases us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The “hope”
here is not anything that we wish for and this is, quite frankly, missed by
most commentators of this passage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Hope” in the book of Hebrews, and in fact, the New Testament as a
whole, and the early Christian community virtually always referred to the
coming resurrection age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God had
promised resurrection and those that believed those promises would have to live
by faith in them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is this faith in God’s promises that turns hope from
a vague wish into a reality to be lived out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And a reality to be lived out is exactly what faith is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Romans 4:18-21, Paul defines Abraham’s
faith as the action of him living as though God’s promises were true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith, then, is not the act of deciding
whatever we wish to hope for and then believing that God will come through for
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith is holding to what God has
promised and then living as though that promise were absolutely true, primarily
in the case of the resurrection that he has promised for those in Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means that I can’t have biblical faith
in getting a specific job, finding a spouse, or having a specific person come
to conversion to Christ (although Philippians 4 certainly confirms that we can
pray for those things) because God has not promised any of of those things
specifically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith, simply put, is
living according to God’s promises, even though we have not seen them
materialize yet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thus, when Hebrews says that hope is the confidence of
what we hope for and the assurance about what we don’t see, it refers
specifically to the great hope of resurrection that God has promised to those
who would die to themselves and entrust themselves to the life of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Believing that in Christ God has given us access
right now to the life of the age to come that will appear fully at the time of
the resurrection is what brings animation to our life and is the basis of how
we live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith is living as though we
are already in God’s future and ordering our lives by the values of the
resurrection age rather than the present age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The ancients lived for the promise of God’s age to come and were
commended for it, even though they did not have the advantage of ever seeing
the partial fulfillment of those promises that came through the life of Christ;
promises that we have seen and that guarantee that the rest of God’s promises
will surely be realized.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hebrews thus, begins to take us through a brief history
of the need for faith in God’s promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It starts in verse 3 with the creation and will go through to chapter 12
with the new creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It starts by
going through the Old Covenant and will culminate in the coming of the New
Covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is by believing God’s word
that we know that the universe was formed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Certainly none of us were there to witness it and so we must take by
faith (in God’s word) the fact that the physical universe has not always
existed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behind what can be seen, the
created universe, stands the eternal God who made it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must believe God’s word that this is the
case, although the sheer logic of the existence of creation further bolsters
God’s word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How so?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simply put, if the universe had a beginning
(and even most atheists will agree with that) then something outside of the
physical universe of time and space must have caused it to exist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So if the cause was outside of physical
matter then it must be something non-physical, or what we would call spiritual:
which would seem to be the God who has given his word that he is the creator of
the universe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">From the very beginning of the creation, then, faith was
the language of having a relationship with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Abel was commended to a relationship with God while Cain was rejected
because Abel had faith and Cain did not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The writer of Hebrews doesn’t detail how or in what way Abel had faith
and Cain did not, and neither does Genesis make it overt either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The point of our author may have simply been
that God’s word declares that his righteous people will live by faith, and
because Abel was considered righteous, that was the identification card that he
had faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Abel’s life and actions
continue to carry on to this day because he lived by faith in the promises of
God to live in eternity with his people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That is why a life of faith and labors of faith will carry on forever
and cause Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:58 to declare that “your labors in the Lord
are not in vain.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Enoch, a biblical figure that was highly respected by
first century Jews, was no exception to the faith factor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was one of two men in history that was
taken directly by God; and why? Because he lived by faith and that faith
pleased God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enoch pleased God by his
faith, says the writer of Hebrews, and that’s important because it is
impossible to please God without faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Again, we must stress that this is not a vague post-modern type of faith
that is a theoretical agreement with certain biblical truths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kind of faith that pleases God is a life
that is lived unswervingly according to the word and will of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That is why the author lays out two aspects of faith in
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fist aspect is the most common,
that we must believe that God exists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many people today stop right there as though as long as they believe
that God exists, even if they pay a little lip service on occasion to him and
his Son, then they consider themselves in relationship with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they far too often forget the second
part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith not only demands that we
believe that God exists but that “he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words we must believe both that God
exists and is God, and we must live our lives as though his promises of the
reward of resurrection are true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we
believe God’s word, that faith will be reflected in lives that reject the empty
promises of the present age and strive constantly to embody God’s will and the
life of the age to come in the real world in which we live and struggle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">In what things do you really have faith?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does that faith have an impact on how you
live each day?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you truly living by
the values of the age to come because you believe that God’s promises are true?</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-5621587336405707192013-01-07T06:28:00.001-06:002013-01-07T06:28:39.486-06:00Hebrews 10:32-39
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em>I'm truly sorry for it having been
so long between devotionals. Between trips to Africa, moving, and taking
on new responsibilities, and projects I just had to lay something down for a
little while. We will now pick up and complete Hebrews. Thanks to
those that kept bugging me about getting this done.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">32 Remember those earlier days
after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of
suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at
other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You
suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of
your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting
possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly
rewarded.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">36 You need to persevere so that
when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37
For,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“In just a little while,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>he who is coming will come<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and will not delay.”[f] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">38 And,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“But my righteous[g] one will live
by faith. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I take no pleasure<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>in the one who shrinks back.”[h] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">39
But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those
who have faith and are saved.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the most striking moments in
history, at least in my opinion, is a little known event that took place on a
slave trading ship just off of the coast of Cuba in the early 19th
century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A man who would come to be
known as Joseph Cinque was chained up on that ship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had been taken by force from his home in
Western Africa and had suffered through the unspeakably inhumane treatment and
conditions of a Trans-Atlantic slave ship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Cinque had been taken to a slave fortress on the coast of Africa and
then interred on the slave ship where he had seen horrendous things, including
over a hundred slaves simply thrown into the ocean in order to lighten the load
on the ship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A mind-boggling number of
slaves died on those Trans-Atlantic trips and they were so ghastly that some
have reported that to this day sharks follow along the patterns of the slave
ships because they had come to be trained to do so over a hundred years ago by
the constant availability of bodies that were thrown overboard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After surviving the long voyage to Cuba,
Cinque was sold at auction with a group of other slaves and put on a Cuban
slave trading ship known as “La Amistad.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While on that ship, Cinque escaped and led the other slaves to overthrow
their captors and take possession of the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Eventually they were captured and brought to New York, being put on
trial for insurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Much of this is chronicled in the
movie “The Amistad,” (the historical accuracy of that film is pretty good but a
bit shaky at certain points).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
movie there is a scene between Cinque and his lawyer where Cinque tries to
explain that he is not any kind of hero.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The other Africans were calling Cinque their leader and he was known as
a great man because he had killed a lion back in his home village and saved the
other villagers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cinque says that he was
no hero, rather he got lucky in killing the lion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lawyer, with a sly grin of admiration on
his face, says that he would agree with Cinque if it hadn’t been for the other
lion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cinque looks puzzled, but then the
lawyer explains that “La Amistad” was the second “lion” that he had slain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cinque’s greatness was proven by his previous
and repeated behaviors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there was a
question about his character and what he would do in the future, the lawyer
felt that was answered by the pattern of his previous behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had shown himself to be a leader and the
lawyer was confident that he was up to the task in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Perhaps questions had arisen in the
mind of some as to whether or not the church being written to here was up to
the challenges facing them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were
being persecuted and were likely looking down the barrel at more to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some had walked away, and life was just
getting harder for the Christians that remained faithful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Were they up to the task?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would they remain faithful to Christ and his
family?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would they be among those who
would shrink back from their faith?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Obviously the writer of Hebrews hoped that that would not be the case,
but his feelings went beyond just blind hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He had a certain amount of confidence because of their past
behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had already faced the
lion and come out with their faith intact, and they needed to realize that this
was evidence that they would remain faithful and able to face whatever was yet
to come their way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Often times when people are
struggling or growing weary, reminding them of previous strength can be
encouraging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not that the author
wanted them to live off of their deeds of the past, rather he wanted them to be
reminded of who they were in Christ and what they had already endured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted them to see that they could stand
up to the challenges of the future because of what they had already endured in
the past.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They had embraced the life of
Christ, dying to themselves and leaving behind the way of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had entered into Christ, knowing that
his life was indeed the only way to the Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They boldly declared to the world at their baptism that they were
repenting of their sin and giving their fully loyalty to the family of
Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They did this knowing that it
would likely cost them dearly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would
cost them their physical families in many cases, their inheritances, their
position in society, their jobs, and much more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In fact, the description of the
early days of their faith fit quite well with the circumstances faced by the
Christians in Rome, and provides further evidence that this letter was indeed
originally written to the church in Rome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They had “endured a great conflict full of suffering.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had been exposed to public ridicule, insults,
and repeated persecutions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At other
times, when some individuals weren’t experiencing persecution themselves, they
took the bold step of standing by those who were being targeted, ignoring the
instinct to “keep your nose out of trouble” when the trouble is not aimed
directly at you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They had been thrown in prison and
suffered with those who had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This likely
refers to the early Christian practice of joining other Christians who had been
put into prison so that they would not have to suffer alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are, in fact, reports from the second
century of some Christians taking the place of older or less healthy Christians
in prison (an acceptable practice at the time), and many accounts of brothers
and sisters willingly turning themselves into prison to be taken as prisoners
so as to strengthen those who were already imprisoned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the kind of people that this letter
was addressed to.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Life had not been easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had even been through the confiscation
of their property, presumably referring to the events of 49 AD when the Emperor
Claudius had Jews and Jewish Christians expelled from Rome and the property of
many of the Christians who left and those who remained had been taken from
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only did they endure that,
they did it with joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They knew that
they were suffering for the sake of Christ and that was worth it to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Times were tough, to say the least, but they
had remained faithful through it all because they knew the inheritance of the
resurrection age was far better than anything the world could offer or take
away from them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They had survived the first lion
and now it seemed to be coming around again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But they needed to remember those days and what motivated them to endure
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That would be their beacon of
light so that they did not grow weary and throw away their confidence in God’s
promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has promised the
inheritance of the age to come to those who remain faithful to Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has, however, called us to begin to live
by the values of that age right now which will put us at direct odds with the
world and bring persecution down upon a people who are dedicated to live such a
radical life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They would need to
persevere in doing God’s will so that they would receive those promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God would deliver on his promises without a
doubt if they would just continue to live as though those promises were true.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To further their encouragement,
Hebrews turns to Habakkuk 2:3,4<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in
verses 37 and 38.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Habakkuk was written
to remind people to wait for God’s promises faithfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would respond to his promises and his true
people would respond by living by faith no matter what the circumstances seemed
to be around them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God would indeed
intervene on behalf of those who trusted in him and waited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The point of Habakkuk is that when
everything seems to be lost and God nowhere to be found, that his true people
will be the ones holding firm to his promises, continuing to live by
faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the coming of the Messiah,
God had finally and faithfully delivered on every promise (1 Cor. 1:20). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Two responses to God have been
clearly laid out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are those who
shrink back and those who have faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The outcomes of those two paths is very different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who shrink back will be judged and
destroyed while those who would walk in faith would be saved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fulfillment of these ongoing paths would
be demonstrated in a very tangible way in 70 AD during the destruction of
Jerusalem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who trusted in their own
wisdom and path, thinking that war with Rome would bring them freedom and cause
God to act on behalf of Israel, were destroyed during the devastating
destruction of the Temple and the surrounding city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>History records, however, that the Christians
in Jerusalem heeded the warnings of Jesus concerning this event (Matt. 24, Mark
13, Luke 21) and fled Jerusalem, and as a result, none of them died in the
resulting violence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was a very real
picture of those who would trust in Judaism or some other path and those who
would trust in the way of Christ alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The difference in those choices would result in either destruction or
salvation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Having laid out the clear
distinction between a life of responding to the external circumstances and a
life of faith, the author is confident that they will respond in continued
faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had shown that kind of faith
before during trying times and Hebrews is sure that they would again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author doesn’t directly mention it, but
would surely agree with the modern saying that “the best predictor of future behavior
is past performance.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our author
believed that to be true in this case as he confidently states that Christians
do “not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, “ but in fact we are
part of “those who have faith and are saved.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like a radio station that is tuned into the proper channel and begins to
ring loud and clear, when Christians turn from the world’s channel and tune
into the life of Christ what comes out is a crystal clear life of faith and
loyalty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Display<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Are
you struggling through any difficulties and trials in your walk of faith right
now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you made it faithfully through
such situations in the past by relying on God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Spend some time recalling those past situations and what you did to make
it through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then pray that God will give
you the same strength and demonstration of faith to meet your current
challenge.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> </span></o:p></div>
MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-51845622666505863672012-08-03T06:15:00.002-06:002012-08-03T06:15:50.932-06:00Hebrews 10:25-31<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have
received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only
a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the
enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on
the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think
someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who
has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them,
and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is
mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d] and again, “The Lord will judge his
people.”[e] 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have you ever lost something and then begin to search
frantically for it because you’re short on time and need to find it
quickly?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that I have certainly
done that many times in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
funny how when this happens the first thing we tend to do is to think about the
places that our lost item cannot be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once we have safely ruled out those places either because we just know
that it cannot be there or because we have already searched there in our haste
and can now rule that area out, we decide that we don’t need to look in those
places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance, the other day my
youngest son lost an item that was important to him and could not find it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He immediately came to me for help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After thinking about it for a moment I
suggested that perhaps he had left this favorite jacket of his down at our
church’s building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well he knew that
simply could not be because he had never taken this item down there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of that he was certain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we began to look all over the house and in
our vehicles and spent a great deal of time in so doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually we gave up and had to resign
ourselves to the fact that his beloved jacket might be gone for ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next day I went down to the building to
do a little work and as soon as I walked into the building, there it was draped
over a back pew in the sanctuary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
one place he had rejected as possible was the precise place that we found the
jacket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can certainly be foolish to
“know” that something cannot be found somewhere only to be proven wrong
later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But doesn’t it seem like we tend
to find our lost items in the one place you knew that it couldn’t be an awful
lot.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Life is like that in things much bigger than just a lost
jacket or some misplaced keys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our world
seems full of people that have already determined that “four” cannot be the
answer and then scramble around in life trying to discover what the answer to
“two plus two” is, all the while waxing eloquent and impressing one another
with their vast intelligence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
problem is that the answer is “four” and no matter how intelligent they
convince themselves that they are, they will never find the actual answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everywhere I look I see this phenomenon of
people who have already determined, for a variety of reasons, that Jesus is not
the answer to life that they seek and they arbitrarily reject him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The devastating problem with that is that he
is the only answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They then struggle
through life looking for answers to the meaning and purpose of life having already
rejected the answer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The writer of Hebrews, though, has found an even sadder
group than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was writing to a
group of people that had embraced Christ as truth and had begun to live the
life to which he called his disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They had been part of his people and embraced the resurrection life of
the people of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they had found it
challenging to say the least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had
watched many of their own number cave into the ongoing daily struggle and the
persecutions and walk away from Christ and his people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of them were still wavering with making
the same short-sighted decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, as
the writer explains in this section, that would be a tragic mistake of monumental
proportions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“If we deliberately keep on sinning,” says Hebrews,
“after we have received the knowledge of the truth,” then the only thing left
is “fearful expectation of judgment” because there is no sacrifice for sin for
left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is truly a frightening
sentence and was no doubt intended as such, but it can have rather dangerous
implications if we don’t read it carefully in context.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a warning of that we only need to look to
many in the 3rd and 4th centuries who developed a doctrine of delaying baptism
to their death beds because of the very point of not reading this passage in
its proper context.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They read this
passage universally rather than applying it appropriately within its context
and began to fear that any sin committed after one’s baptism would leave one
locked outside of the forgiveness of Christ with nothing to look forward to
except the frightening judgment of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So they began to wait until just before death to be baptized into
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But the author has carefully defined for us already the
sin to which he is referring in the previous section.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is talking of the one who has drawn near
to God and become part of his people but has failed to hold unswervingly to
that truth and abandoned God’s family due to the persecutions and struggles
that had come as part and parcel of a life in Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were giving up meeting together and
returning, in many cases, to their old religions (whether that was Judaism or
even some of their old pagan beliefs).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The writer then was warning those who were disciples who
were thinking of giving up on Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
had already made clear that Christ was the superior and ultimately the only
true sacrifice for sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would that
mean then, if someone abandoned his life and his community of believers, which
was the setting and context for that life to be lived out?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would mean that there was no other path,
no other sacrifice for sin that was available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus was it and if he was rejected they had better be clear that the
way of Judaism or the pagan gods offered no sacrifice for sin that would bring
them into forgiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is another way
of saying precisely what Jesus declared in John 14:6 when he said that he was
“the way, the truth, and the life” and that the only way to the Father was
through him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The context was specifically aimed at those who were in
danger of apostasy and abandoning their faith when things got tough, and it is
important to not begin to think that this applies to any sin that believers
might stumble into and become racked with fear of being cast out of God’s
kingdom for the tiniest of infractions. The author does not refer generally to
the sins that we will commit after entering into Christ but the deliberate
choice to abandon that life for our own way or some other path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although very few Christians these days (at
least in the Western world for right now) will find themselves abandoning the
faith due to persecution, there is still a cogent warning in this passage for
us because there are other reasons that we abandon our faith and begin to seek
our own way or other ways of the wisdom of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those that are toying with that concept,
the point is clear: There is no sacrifice for sin left other than
Christ’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two plus two will always equal
four and the only way to find forgiveness of sin is to abide in the life of
Christ no matter how uncomfortable we might find it from a worldly perspective.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This may not be a popular message in the world
today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only way to salvation is
Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you reject that or embrace it and then
abandon it, then the only thing left is the image of the raging fire that will
consume those that set themselves up as God’s enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At a certain point God will grant the wishes
of those that choose to reject him or else human will does not matter all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, God respects human choice so
much that he will honor the decision of those that reject him but they will
face the consequences of those choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or as scholar NT Wright so eloquently puts it “If there is no place in
God’s world of justice and mercy for someone who has systematically ordered
their life so as to become an embodiment of injustice and malice, then there
must come a point where—unless God is going to declare that human choices were
just a game and didn’t matter after all—God endorses the choices that his human
creatures have made.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The author then makes a logical connection to show that
this is only right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of his readers
would have argued that anyone who willingly rejected the Law of Moses would
face the stern consequences of sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
that was true and deserved, then how much more just is it that those that
walked away from the Son of God, trampling him underfoot, and treating his
sacrificed blood as something to be treated with disdain, will face the
consequences of those actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
violators of the inferior Covenant faced judgment, how much more fitting that
the violators of the superior Covenant would as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To do so, after all says the author, is not
some victimless crime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a direct
insult of the Spirit of grace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In verse 30, the author demonstrates the serious nature
of this situation by quoting from two different places in the Song of Moses of
Deuteronomy 32, a passage in which Moses warned Israel by showing them what
God’s judgment looked like upon a people who had turned from him and walked
away from covenant with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s
response to their abandonment of him would be to allow them to experience the
searing judgment of trusting in themselves rather than God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The principles that were true then were just
as true of those who deserted the life of Christ for an easier or seemingly
more comfortable path.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the end of this longer section, in verse 39, the
author summarizes two groups of people: Those who shrink back, and those who
have faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In verse 32-38, he will
address those who have faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this
passage is a severe warning for those who would shrink back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a dreadful thing, he says, using a word
that communicated the concept of sheer terror, to fall into the hands of a
living God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The choice is clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can either face the unwavering judgment of
God on our own merits based on our own wisdom of how to live our lives, or we
can put our faith in the life of Christ and be judged according to the perfect
life of the high priest who already sits in the presence of the Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The choice was theirs to make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It remains the same choice that we have to
make today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t make it lightly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Are you ever tempted to think of following Christ and
remaining loyal to his people as too difficult or something that you are just
not sure you want to do anymore?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
does it help to be reminded of the stark reality that there is no other
sacrifice for sin, no other way to salvation?</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-79692146407778776362012-07-25T04:52:00.002-06:002012-07-25T04:52:13.452-06:00Hebrews 10:19-25<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next posting won’t be
until a week from today due to an upcoming trip to Wichita, Kansas for a
teaching weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A Call to Persevere in Faith<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have
confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and
living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since
we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a
sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts
sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed
with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who
promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on
toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in
the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see
the Day approaching. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I while back I had the somewhat amusing experience of
talking to a wonderfully godly young man who was a little confused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had been dating a fantastic Christian
young woman for awhile but he was starting to have doubts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were getting to a point in their
relationship where he had to make a choice and he knew it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was firmly committed to wanting to follow
God’s will in his life as best as he could understand it and this was
challenging for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was particularly
torn as to whether he should ask the young lady to marry him or just make a
change in their relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had
nothing to do, really, with how he felt about her but he was concerned and
didn’t feel that he was sure that their relationship was going to glorify God
and bring him closer to God or whether it would distract him and keep him from
doing the big things for God that he was hoping to be able to accomplish in his
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I appreciated his
concerns I felt that he was missing a few things in his thinking process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was looking at the potential problems that
could arise and was forgetting to look at the wonderful things about this young
lady and the relationship that they had and could continue to build with God
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t tell him much other
than to think about how he really felt about this young lady and whether she
was worth giving the rest of his life to, creating a partnership where they
would seek to bring glory to God with their life together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once he took some time to think through how
incredible this young lady really is, his decision became pretty clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted to draw near to her for the rest of
his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He woke up and quickly asked
this young lady to be his wife.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course the details are very different but the
sentiment behind this section of Hebrews is much the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author of Hebrews was addressing a group
of people who had become unsure about their relationship with Jesus as members
of his family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many had left, life was
hard, and many more had started to wonder if they really wanted to be part of
this family for the rest of their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Should they remain faithful or would it be best to just break things
off?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In wake of that, Hebrews has
carefully called its readers to take a step back and think through just who
Jesus is and what he has done for all of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It calls the reader to squarely look at the superiority of Jesus Christ
from many different angles and realize that one would be foolish to walk away
from that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author is confident that
once we take some time to think it all through, the decision will become
clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we truly understand who
Jesus is we will want to draw near to God without ceasing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the clear purpose of this section as
the author draws together many strands of his grand tapestry that he has been
weaving together and finally takes a step back and allows us to see it in all
its glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn’t give us much time
to stand there and admire what he has shown us though, as he quickly calls the
reader to make the right decision and take the right action based on who Jesus
is and what he has done.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The words “therefore” and “since” in verse 19 are
incredibly important markers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They tell
us that the author is finally ready to draw together and sum up all of his
arguments up to this point and is about to start drawing some firm and clear
conclusions based on his findings about Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Therefore” is a signal word that tells us that what he is about to say
is the directly related conclusion and outcome of what has gone before, points
that he will begin to lay out clearly in verse 22.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the word “since” tells us that he is
about to sum up in a very concise manner what the “therefore” points to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, verses 19-21 are a brief and
powerful summary of what “therefore” is built upon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The God-became-human Jesus Christ has, through the
sacrifice of his body, opened a new way that ran directly through a
curtain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That might sound a little
puzzling to us but it would have been a stunning claim to a first-century
reader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The curtain to which this makes
reference is the one that protected and kept people out of the holy of
holies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a massively thick and
heavy curtain that had little in common with the curtain that might cover your
window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This no doubt alludes to the
fact that this mighty curtain tore in two at the very moment that Christ died
upon the Cross, which was a clear signal from God that the death of Cross had
done something that was never possible before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What was that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It gave human
beings the possibility of access into the Most Holy Place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, it gave us confidence to enter into
the presence of God, not just a fearful hope that we wouldn’t be struck down
for such a petulant act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But how does
one gain access into this Most Holy Place?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Through the body, or in other words, the life of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But Jesus didn’t just blaze this incredible trail as a
result of his superior life and sacrifice and then leave us to it on our
own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He continues to serve over the
family of God, the house of God, as our high priest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is a significant point both because it
means that Jesus continues to mediate on our behalf and lead us spiritually,
but also because it stresses that Christ made the way for us into God’s family
not a religion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must avoid the
language of the “high priest” to put the idea of a classic religion in our
minds and realize the point that is actually being made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christ acted as our priest for the purpose of
bringing us into the household of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We then turn to the ramifications of what Christ
did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t just want to look at
Christ’s life and get a warm gooey feeling about how awesome it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It calls us to some specific
realizations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author calls us to two
specific actions and then gives us two practical ways that we can actually take
those actions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first practical action is to draw near to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That should be the response of the wise
person who has considered the ramifications of Jesus and the New Covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this is no vague,
do-it-yourself-however-you-want sort of drawing near to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It involves doing so with a sincere heart to
obey God and his word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It involves doing
so in assurance knowing that taking faith in the life of Christ will bring us
into relationship with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It Involves
having our hearts sprinkled, or in other words, cleansed, with the sacrificial
blood of Christ in an act that cleanses us from a guilty conscience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That internal cleansing and transformation is
the very thing that the Old Covenant and no other religion can ever bring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only Christ alone can do that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And finally, it involves having our bodies
washed with pure water, a clear reference to the water baptism that allows us
to enter into the life of Christ (Gal. 3:26-29; Rom. 6:1-4), have our sin
forgiven (Acts 2:38), and be saved (1 Peter 3:20; Titus 3:4-7).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The second practical action flows from the first and is
a bit of an exhortation as well as a warning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If we are going to draw near to God then it only makes sense to hold to
him unswervingly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, God is
faithful and so should we be as people who professed Jesus as Lord and embraced
the hope of the resurrection life as both a reality to be lived now and
something that will come fully in the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The encouragement and warning here are the same: Stay faithful because God
is faithful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God will hold up his end of
things, but at our baptism we pledged to God to be loyal to him and obedient to
his word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is nothing short of sad
when people pledge fidelity to God and then abandon that pledge when things get
difficult whether it be persecution for being a Christian, a rough marriage, or
the temptation of being successful in the eyes of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It never ceases to amaze me how many people
profess the hope of being the people of God’s age to come who then flippantly
throw that off and act selfishly just because the going grew rough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us, says the author, hold unswervingly
and draw near to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is in our
control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But how do we do that practically?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is where the next two admonishments come
into play.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Virtually every Christian that bothers with actually
being a Christian wouldn’t argue with the fact that they would like to draw
near to God and hold unswervingly to our commitment in Christ, but how?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there a way that we can move forward with
beginning to do that on a practical level?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The answer from Hebrews is “yes” in two different ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first is to consider constantly how we
might continue to spur one another toward love and good deeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, let us strive to motivate one
another towards living the reality of Christian life in action and not just in
theory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mark of so many modern
church groups is to consider their spiritual life a personal<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>things that is “none of my business” but the
biblical call here is quite different from that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The life of Christ is a team sport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The writer of Hebrews envisions a community
that looks out for one another and calls each other to the high standard of
living in response to superiority of Christ and the incredible opportunity of
living that he has offered to those who would trust in his life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The second element flows from the first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A community under pressure and persecution
would find great temptation in drifting from one another and not gathering
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would have helped them stay
under the radar and just been much easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But it would have belied their true devotion to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Scriptures know nothing of a people that
claim to be loyal to God but show none to one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most Christians today don’t have to deal with
this type of situation, rather we find excuse to give up meeting together due
to personal issues, professional ambitions, anxiety about providing for the
necessities in life, personal ease, comfort, and lack of discipline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is not to say that simply encouraging
one another in the life of Christ and remaining loyal to one another above all
else is the sum total of the Christian life or even that those things alone
will keep us faithful, but they are indispensable elements of a faithful life
in Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The author has stated his case clearly to this
point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is superior to anything
else that we can follow in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has
torn the veil that separates fallen humanity from our God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would do well to stop and understand all
of that but to go beyond that as well and consider the ramifications of all of
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus really is our high priest
and king of the world and that should provoke us to draw near to God and not
let go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, like the original
recipients of this letter, we must learn that the clearest measure of our devotion
to God and Christ is our devotion to our fellow brother and sister in Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt 0in; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 John 4:19-21 gives us the clear principle that how we
treat other Christians is the clearest indicator of how we truly feel about
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If someone were to judge you love
for God, your loyalty to God, your devotion to God, etc., by your love,
loyalty, and devotion to God’s family how would that turn out?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do those areas of your life with other
believers say about your true devotion to God?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-46814471516486526512012-07-23T07:25:00.002-06:002012-07-23T07:25:48.518-06:00Hebrews 10:11-18<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his
religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can
never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one
sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that
time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice
he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this.
First he says:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">16 “This is the covenant I will make with them<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>after that
time, says the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will put my laws in their hearts,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and I will
write them on their minds.”[b] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">17 Then he adds:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Their sins and lawless acts<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will
remember no more.”[c] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin
is no longer necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I never cared too much for the idea of wrestling while
growing up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, I loved to wrestle with
my dad when I was younger and that kind of roughhousing, but once I got into
the older grades of school where they had wrestling teams and such, I never had
the slightest inclination to actually be on a wrestling team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I don’t know a whole lot about wrestling
and I’ve never been to a live wrestling match in my life, but I do enjoy
watching Olympic wrestling when it rolls around every four years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact there are many sports that I don’t
seem to care much for most of the time but for whatever reason I enjoy watching
them during the Olympics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few years
back I was watching a gold medal match between an American wrestler and a
combatant from another country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had
watched this American wrestler go through the many rounds of competition where
he had wrestled against opponent after opponent and defeated them all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This match was to be his toughest test,
though, and it was for the gold medal of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I honestly cannot recall now whether he won
or lost that match but what I do remember was what seemed like a very odd
gesture to me at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Following the
match, the American wrestler sat down on the middle of the mat and he took off
his shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then left his wrestling
shoes standing upright in the middle of the ring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a bit confusing and I wondered if he
was protesting something or what was going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was then that the television announcers explained that this was a
common symbolic gesture in the world of wrestling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It meant to signify that he was retiring as a
wrestler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had gone through the many
battles but he was now done as a combatant and leaving his shoes in the ring
signified that it was over for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was actually kind of a neat gesture and one that has obviously burned its way
into my memory.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The author of Hebrews has gone to great lengths to bring
to mind the practice, meaning, and efficacy of the Old Covenant sacrificial
system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has brought to mind all of
the pomp and circumstance of the ritual sacrifices that took place in the
Temple day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the hundreds of years of the
existence of the Temple and Tabernacle a seemingly endless parade of
sacrificial animals had come forward to have their time on the altar as a
sacrifice for the sins of God’s people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The priest would do his work day after day after day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It never stopped because as soon as one
sacrifice was made, the next one was already needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So they would continue this work in the
Temple without ever stopping.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Temple was an interesting place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was full of symbolic pieces of
furniture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had tables, and levers,
and altars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had rooms, curtains, and
precious relics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But with all of the
impressive items and pieces of furniture that appeared in the Temple, there was
one piece of furniture that was never prescribed to be in the Temple; one piece
of furniture that could never be found in the Temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you imagine what it was?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was simply a chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no official priestly chair to be
found anywhere in the Temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the
important thing is to understand why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do
you have a guess?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you ever wondered
about that?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In our world people sit down while working all the time,
but it was not so much that way in the ancient world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most people were on their feet all day and so
sitting became a symbol for completing your work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author’s point here in Hebrews is a
stunning one that we should not soon forget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The priests of the Temple came day after day and offered sacrifice after
sacrifice in a never-ending cycle of sin and temporary atonement but Jesus, the
ultimate high priest did something that no priest had ever done in the Temple
before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something that when understood
fully should put to rest any thoughts of returning to Judaism or turning to any
other way in life other than Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
high priest went into the true Temple in the presence of God after offering his
own body and blood as a sacrifice and did something that no priest had ever
done. . . he sat down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The implications of that are earth shattering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t just sit down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sat down at the right hand of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The work of sacrificing and atoning for sin
was over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The final sacrifice had been
made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will never be another
sacrifice made for sin because there is no need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will never have to do anything to earn our
forgiveness because that work has been completed and Jesus symbolically sits on
his throne.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All we have to do is to
trust his work and enter into his life where we can accept his sacrifice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But for me at least, and presumably in the mind of our
author that brings up a question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the
work of forgiveness is done and Jesus is ruling and sitting at the right hand
of God then why is life so tough for his people?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure the first century Christians might
have wondered from time to time why they were subject to random persecution and
hardship if Jesus had really done all all of this and his work was
complete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The simple answer, says
Hebrews, is that the work was done, Jesus was sitting down, but now he
patiently waits while the ramifications of that victory take hold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’ work really is done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He really is the rightful king of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He really is making those in him holy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But right now all of that is true in the
heavenly realm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our job is to have faith
and live in that reality despite living in a world that hasn’t seen the
ramifications of all of that yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
called, to borrow Paul’s words from 2 Corinthians 5:7, to live by faith in all
of that and know it’s true rather than by sight.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the meantime we can celebrate and bask in the
incredible reality that God has done everything that he promised in his
word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has delivered the New Covenant
with his people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has sat down at the
right hand of God, he is waiting for God to put his victory in effect in the
earthly realm, making his enemies his footstool, an obvious allusion to Psalm
110 (which is the fourth time that the author makes mention of this, the most
quoted Old Testament passage in the entire New Testament).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has, of course, all been part of his
ongoing exposition of Jeremiah 31, to which he explicitly returns in verses 16
and 17.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The author began considering on Jeremiah 31 back in
chapter 8 and brings it to a close here by highlighting two great benefits that
have come as a result of the final sacrifice made by Jesus, the high
priest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His first section, in verse 16,
zeroes in on the idea that God had promised to write his laws on the heart and
mind of his people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s ultimate plan
for his people was not to have a geographic nation of people that were defined
by physical boundaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God did not want
his final covenant to consist of a people who were controlled and conformed by
an external law and who were born into the status of the covenant people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But with Christ that has all changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The New Covenant has come and the work has
been completed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has created a
kingdom of people that have chosen to be part of this kingdom by laying down
their own lives and entering into his people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No one is born into this Covenant and conformed to it by external
means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are transformed from
within.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is so superior to the old
way that it should be obvious to all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The second benefit is, quite frankly, even more
incredible than the first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Under the New
Covenant, the sins of God’s people have been wiped clean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God will not “remember” them, meaning he will
not take action against them and will act as though they never happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That could never be said of the Old Covenant
sacrifices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of it like this: after
a sacrifice under the Old Covenant, the priest had to remain standing in the
earthly Temple, so to speak, and begin to make preparations for the next
sacrifice because the previous one had already fallen short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But under the New Covenant the sacrifice had
been made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The work was done
forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Under the old system there was
a never ending cycle of sin, sacrifice, sin sacrifice, and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But now that cycle was done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One sacrifice was made and forgiveness was
available forever that would never wear out and would never be rescinded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christ has done it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No wonder while hanging on the Cross he
mustered enough strength to triumphantly utter “it is finished.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glory be to God!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes Christ has made the ultimate sacrifice for sin that
renders all other options unnecessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That is truly something to celebrate but it is also something to ponder
deeply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to go beyond just
celebration and grasp the deeper meanings of working out that forgiveness in
our own lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of being a disciple
of Christ means to work through what it means to be truly forgiven and dwelling
in God’s grace but it also means to be spurned on towards holiness as a
result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we don’t match God’s
forgiveness with his call to respond to it in gratitude and a desire to embrace
the holiness of Christ then we become like petulant children who declare by our
lives and disobedience that we still want our way but without the fear of being
punished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The significance of Jesus’
sacrifice should move us far beyond that immature response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should drive us to embrace the deeply
stunning truth that Christ has made a way for us forever, and now it us up to
us to walk in that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has sat down
in completion of his work and now we must enjoy the fruit of his labor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">What does pursuing holiness in your own life mean for
you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you responded to Christ’s
incredible sacrifice with a pursuit of holiness in your own life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How is the Holy Spirit convicting you today
to pursue holiness fright now?</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-30085040100140411332012-07-20T04:44:00.001-06:002012-07-20T04:44:32.805-06:00Hebrews 10:1-10<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are
coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same
sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near
to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the
worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt
guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4
It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but a body you
prepared for me; <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you were not
pleased.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the
scroll —<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have come to
do your will, my God.’”[a] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt
offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”
—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I
am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the
second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of
the body of Jesus Christ once for all. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you know me well at all, you probably know that I
don’t like bats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, that’s not quite
accurate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not that I don’t like
bats. . . I absolutely abhor and despise them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are truly some of the creepiest creatures that I have ever laid
eyes on and I’m fairly convinced that they were not part of God’s original creation
but must be a result of the Fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
that might be debatable, the fact remains that I do not care to be anywhere
near the vicinity of these little dark minions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why the vitriol against bats you might wonder?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While growing up we lived in a beautiful old
house in an old neighborhood that was filled with massive trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The neighborhood was a bat haven and we
occasionally would get bats in the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let’s just say that this was enough cause me to hate bats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every year, however, there seemed to be a
ritual of trying to plug up holes and take precautions to make sure that we
would have no bats in the house that summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was always a time of hope and joy for me that was quickly plunged
back into reality with the appearance of the first bat in the house of each
summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was always evidence that
despite his best efforts, the work of my father had failed to keep us bat free
for another year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Year after year he
went through this ritual of climbing into the attic to plug up holes, making
sure that all the windows were tight, that there were no holes in the screens,
and so on, but it never worked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
kept coming back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is, until the
year after I left for college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
parents phoned me to inform me that they had finally “bitten the bullet” and
paid to have professionals come in and “bat-proof” the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was a more costly option but it turned
out to be the right one because it was effective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bats getting into the house stopped
immediately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll leave aside
legitimate questions about why my parents waited until after I moved out the
house to make such a move, but the point is clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bat experts had solved the problem
once-and-for-all and their solution was shown to be superior because they
haven’t had to come back and repeat the process again and again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although we might have forgotten by this point, the
author of Hebrews is still unpacking his exposition of Jeremiah 31 that
stretches all the way back to chapter 8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God had always promised a new and better Covenant and now in Christ it
had come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His continuing point is that
the New Covenant is superior, among many other reasons, because it was only
needed once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bat solution that my
parents paid for was superior because it didn’t need to happen every year but
it’s not permanent in the sense that it will never be needed again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross was
superior to the yearly Temple sacrifices because it will never have to be
repeated for all of eternity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To further
his point in this section, the author, while still ultimately discussing
Jeremiah 31, will turn to Psalm 40 within that discussion to make his point
crystal clear.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before that, however, he crystallizes the thought that
the Law was never anything more than a shadow of what was to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn’t mean that somehow the Law was part
of quasi-reality in relation to the “reality” of heavenly things as some
Platonists of the day might have claimed but that the Law was not the ultimate
promise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the menu that pointed to
the meal, but not the meal itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
could provide descriptions and pictures of the meal but you don’t get full by
looking at a menu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For that you need the
meal itself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The author highlights two shortcomings of the Law in
this regard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first limitation is
that the Law can never make anyone perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of course that doesn’t refer to moral perfection but to
“completeness.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Law could conform a
person’s exterior life but it could never transform a person from within and
truly cleanse their conscience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It could
not make one truly become more like God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The second limitation is that the Law could never take
away sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is why the sacrifices had
to continue day after day, year after year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is impossible, says Hebrews, for the blood of bulls and goats to take
away sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sacrifices of the Temple
might have seemed immediate and had the effect of making one feel better for a
time but the harsh reality of their ineffectiveness were on display for
everyone as soon as preparations for the next sacrifice had to be made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reason is that the sacrifices of the Old
Covenant were never meant to take away sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were always meant as a picture and shadow of Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were always meant to be the menu and not
the meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was a particularly
important point for a community that had seen many of their own struggle with
the idea of returning to Judaism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
would be as silly as walking away from a meal and going back to looking at a
menu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The writer places the sacrifices in their proper context
by turning to Psalm 40, from which he quotes in verses 5-7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Psalm gets at a point that became
increasingly clear in the Old Testament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Namely that God did not ultimately desire animal sacrifices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were a temporary teaching tool but
nothing more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although God had
prescribed the sacrifices to teach his people of their need for the perfect
sacrifice, he continued to remind them that he desired their hearts in
obedience more than mere sacrifice (1 Sam. 15:22; Ps. 50:8-10; Isa. 1:10-13;
Jer. 7:21-24; Hos. 6:6).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The sacrifice of Jesus stood in contrast to the ritual
animal sacrifices in two profound ways that forever resulted in the superiority
of Christ’s sacrifice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first was
that in contrast to animal sacrifice, Jesus offered his own body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In using Psalm 40, the author of Hebrews
brings out an idea that becomes clear in the context of Jesus’ death on the
Cross but that would have been virtually impossible to understand before
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was God’s will to give his Son
a human body in the Incarnation, knowing full well that it was that life that
would be laid down as the great sacrifice that all others merely pictured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The second contrast to animal sacrifice that was
significant about the death of Jesus is that there was a will involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sacrificial animals could, at best, stand
compliantly and submit to being sacrificed because they didn’t know any better
but no one could argue that they were willingly giving up their lives as a
sacrifice for others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reality is
that animals were sacrificed against their will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that is not true of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He came in the flesh as a human being to do
the will of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that is precisely
the point where human beings got into trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God made humans in his image, meaning to reflect and represent his will
into the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave human beings
their own free will but that included the choice to reflect God’s perfect will
into his creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the purpose
for which humans were made, but sadly human beings chose to exalt our own will
over God’s, an act which is called “sin.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That all started, of course, in the Garden of Eden when human beings
chose their own will over God’s, but each human has continued that sinful
rebellion in our own right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, the
act of doing our own will is what separated us from God in the first place and
it continues to be the problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
came to reverse that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His primary
purpose as a human was to come and do God’s will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as humans had sinned by doing their own
will in the Garden, Jesus came to reverse that by going into another Garden
(Gethsemane) and willingly doing God’s will rather than his own human
will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus completed the will of God at the expense of his
own life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He willingly laid down his
life as a sacrifice, showing his sacrifice to be far superior to anything that
could be offered up under the Old Covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That perfect sacrifice immediately rendered the previous inferior
sacrifices unnecessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the meal
comes you don’t need the menu anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once my parent’s house had been bat-proofed there was no need for the
yearly “plug-the-holes” mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
once Jesus had willingly laid down his own life as the sacrifice for sin, the
entire system of the Old Covenant could be put down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was no longer needed and no longer
effective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might have an external
appeal, but the true internal work of cleansing from sin had come.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Through Jesus’ submission to the will of the Father,
something had been accomplished that could never ever happen under the Old
Covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who accept and abide in
the sacrifice and life of Christ can be made holy once-and-for-all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, we can be “sanctified” or
“set apart” for our intended purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
Christ, we are enabled to begin the transformational process of being restored
to the image of God and to reflect his will into the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Law could point out sin and set someone
apart as a law breaker but it could never set someone apart to be holy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only Christ could do that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Truly Christ is not just the only high priest
worth having but is also the only sacrifice for sin that we will ever
need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glory be to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">One of the major elements of Jesus’ life was to do the
will of God and enable us to do the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Have you truly embraced the mission of laying down your own life and
taking up the life of Christ so that your life really is about God’s will and
not your own?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are the biggest areas
of struggle for you when it comes to surrendering your own will and embracing
God’s?</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-3453831070060474002012-07-18T07:27:00.003-06:002012-07-18T07:27:24.709-06:00Hebrews 9:23-28<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the
heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things
themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a
sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he
entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he
enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters
the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ
would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has
appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the
sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after
that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins
of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring
salvation to those who are waiting for him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Back when I was a teenager my parents decided one year
that we were going to take a vacation to Denver to visit my Aunt and her
family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we weren’t going to fly out
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, that would have been too
easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They decided that we were going to
drive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first I did not want to drive
for that long, but once we got going it was a lot of fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We drove at a relaxed pace and stopped often
on the way to see many cool places along the route that you would completely miss
if you were flying; places like Ronald Reagan’s boyhood home in Illinois, the
Corn Palace in Nebraska, and the Badlands in South Dakota.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we started to head out West, though, I
noticed that every so often we would pass a sign or billboard urging us to come
visit a place called Wall Drugs and pointing the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This seemed a bit odd because we started
seeing these signs many hundreds of miles before we got anywhere near this
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was all quite curious to me
because I had no clue as to what Wall Drugs might be or why it merited so many
signs pointing the way, but I assumed that it must be something pretty
good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents would not lessen the
mystery at all and only said that we were eventually going to get there and
that I would really like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we
continued on our journey and I noticed that as we left more miles in our wake
and got closer, the frequency of the sings began to increase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no idea how many signs we saw on that
trip but there were a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But do you
want to take a guess as to when I stopped seeing the signs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was when we arrived at Wall Drug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we were there, it was a pretty cool
place. . . odd. . . but cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there
were no more signs pointing the way to Wall Drug or enticing us to go visit
because we were already there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course the primary theme of the entire book of
Hebrews has to do with the superiority of Christ, and one major aspect of that
is on display here in this passage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
sacrifices of the Old Testament were inferior to the sacrifice of Christ in
that they needed to be repeated over and over again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t that they were entirely symbolic
(although that was certainly an aspect), nor were they completely
ineffective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reality is that they
were signs that were pointing to the need for the true and eternal sacrifice of
God himself through Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were
many signs pointing to Wall Drug but only one Wall Drug itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similarly, there were many signs pointing to
the destination of Christ but only one destination and it would be silly to
keep driving around looking at the signs rather than staying at your final
destination.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the previous section, the point was made quite
clearly that Old Covenant required the use of blood for purification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The earthly elements of the Tabernacle needed
purification by external means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as
we follow along with the author’s train of thought we understand that hearts of
those who believe in the life of Christ demand a different kind of purification
before God that external and earthly means simply could never atone for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Old Covenant consisted of many sacrifices
because they pointed to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ and that required a
whole host of copies and shadows to serve as copies of the complete sacrifice
of the Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This host of earthly sacrifices
could never accomplish what the heavenly one did because that was not their
role and it would be a tragic mistake to ever think that anything other than
Christ’s blood could accomplish what it did.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The priestly work of Christ was not limited to the
earthly realm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He entered into heaven
itself, meaning not so much “a place” put the presence of God (Jews and early
Christians thought of heaven as the presence of God more than a specific place
or some type of celestial city).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Aaronic priests could but enter the earthly Temple and even then only once a
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this is what some of the body
of Christ was thinking of returning to?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Christ did far more than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
was able to enter into the very presence of the Father on the behalf of his
people and to do so permanently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Verse
24 speaks literally of the fact that Jesus appears before God’s face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was such a monumental thing in the
Jewish thought that Isaiah even says that the angels in God’s presence covered
their faces (Isaiah 6:2).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To appear
directly before God’s face was something no human being could withstand and
yet, there was Jesus, dwelling forever in that very presence, directly before
his face, and doing so in order to mediate on our behalf.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This sacrifice was superior, among other reasons, says
verse 25 because it was final and voluntary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Levitical priests had to return each year, carrying blood that was
not their own from an animal who hardly volunteered for the job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christ had to enter but one time and the
sacrifice was intentional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His life was
not taken, it was surrendered for the sin of the world (Luke 22:42).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sacrifice was so complete, in fact, that
it brought the previous age to a point of culmination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His sacrifice, in other words, was like a
wedding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might commemorate or
remember a wedding in some way, but there is only one wedding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the whole point of a wedding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is such a final act that it would be silly
and even offensive to to get married again each year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole point of a wedding is that it is
final and brings all previous elements (such as engagement) that pointed to the
marriage to a close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was the power
of Jesus’ death on the Cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t
just superior to the Old Covenant age, it fulfilled that age and brought it to
an end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Old Covenant, complete with
it’s repetitive sacrifices was no longer needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If Christ’s sacrifice was on an equal level with the
priestly sacrifices that Jews had grown so accustomed to then he would had to
have suffered repeatedly since the beginning of the world to make atonement over
and over again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Christ appeared at a
specific point in history to be a sacrifice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a once-for-all, non-repeatable event as Christ voluntarily
offered himself as a sacrifice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
effect of that sacrifice was that sin was finally dealt with permanently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It does certainly seem, at times, that the writer of
Hebrews was being very thorough to the point of being repetitive but that is
intentional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted his audience to
see every little detail of the superiority of Christ and his sacrifice so that
they could truly understand the overwhelming significance of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When one truly grasps the superior nature of
Christ and the New Covenant, the temptation to wilt under the pressure of
persecution of any type, and drift away from the Messiah quickly fades
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, when the two covenants
are stacked up against one another, the thought of leaving the New for the Old
seems downright ridiculous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chapter nine comes to a close with a contrast between
the death of human beings and the death of Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Human beings, says our author, die once and
then they face judgment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is a
reality that cannot be escaped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Death
cannot be avoided but will come to every human being (unless God specifically
chooses otherwise).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the same token,
standing before God, so to speak, to face judgment is something that cannot be
avoided.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also implied in that
statement in verse 27 that once people die, they cannot come back as ghosts, or
reincarnate or any such thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They face
only the judgment of eternal separation from God or eternal life of the
resurrection (this is one reason that the Bible consistently forbids talking to
the “dead,” as the apparitions that people often think are their departed loved
ones are actually demons presenting themselves as such--which is why the Old
Testament often refers to demons as “familiar spirits,” because they pretend to
be those familiar to us).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This stands in
stark opposition to the Epicurean philosophers of the day that would hold to
the idea of “eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our world holds to similar philosophies as we
hear mottos like “You only live once, enjoy life while you can.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The biblical mindset, however, stands against
that reminding believers that we need to take action bearing in mind constantly
that we will face judgment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was
surely a poignant reminder for those struggling with remaining faithful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just as humans die once (which, as previously alluded
to, rules out any doctrines of re-incarnation) and then face judgment, Christ
was sacrificed once, the result of which took away the sins of all those who
would trust in his life and enter into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When Christ appears again, though, it will not be to bear sin or face
judgment, but to bring the salvation of the resurrection age to those who wait
for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The final imagery in this passage comes from an
inspiration which Jewish readers would have been very familiar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The high priest, on the Day of Atonement,
would go into the holy of holies with the sacrificial blood to make atonement
for the people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would then come out
verifying for the people that the ritual of forgiveness had been performed and
now was ready to be lived out and worked out by the people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His point is that now, the superior high
priest has gone into the heavenly sanctuary and made the grand and final
atonement for sin., opening up the resurrection life to those in Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Currently (for both them and us), believers
are still eagerly anticipating his re-appearance when the reality of the
forgiveness will be worked out and take tangible shape in a renewed world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When that time comes, no more work of
atonement will be needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Jesus
does return it will be solely for the purpose of brining final salvation to his
people as we are transformed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>into the
people of the new creation (Phil. 3:20-21; 1 John 3:2).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Spend some time today meditating on the realities of
both the imminent return of Christ to his creation and our subsequent
transformation into those who have attained the resurrection and the life of
that age to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does focusing on
these truths inform and dictate your actions today?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-32705295450117949472012-06-29T07:45:00.003-06:002012-06-29T07:45:58.921-06:00Hebrews 9:15-22<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We will take a two-week break from the devotionals
whilst my family and I are in San Antonio for some time together and the World
Discipleship Summit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks for your
understanding.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new
covenant, that those who are called 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. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">16 In the case of a will,[d] it is necessary to prove
the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when
somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.
18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.
19 When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he
took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of
hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20 He said, “This is the
blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”[e] 21 In the same
way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its
ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed
with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The young man had come to visit a marriage counselor
because he was in desperate grief over the state of his marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had married the woman of his dreams just
four years ago, less than a year after graduating from college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things started out okay but they quickly
turned sour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He discovered that his wife
was just not the person that he thought she was, and of course had no idea that
in the mind of his new wife, he was not the same man that she thought she was
marrying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first year had been a
constant struggle although they didn’t argue much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As time went on they simply began to drift
from one another in their hearts and eventually got to a point where they
barely talked and didn’t care that much about or for one another anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is when things took a turn for the worse
and the young man noticed that they began to argue frequently and his wife
became rather spiteful and vindictive and often seemed to try to hurt or
humiliate him when she had the chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As a means of last resort, he had come to see a highly recommended
marriage specialist to see if anything could be done to save their fragile
marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After listening to all of the
problems that they were mired in, the counselor got up, slowly walked out of
the room and closed the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a
puzzling absence of several minutes, the counselor returned with a laminated
card that was about the size of a half-sheet of paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without a word the counselor handed the young
man the card, thanked him for coming in, and turned around and left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the counselor gone, the man looked down
at the card and realized that it was a list of twenty rules for not getting
yourself into a bad marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the
back side were the ten warning signs of a clunker marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dismayed and feeling worse, the young man
left the office with little intention of ever returning.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course a bunch of rules of how to stay out of a bad
marriage and warning signs of such a marriage do very little good to someone
stuck in one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They offer no actual
solution or way out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a little like
stumbling upon a man trapped in a narrow fifteen -foot hole in the ground and
dropping down a sheet of safety tips for how to avoid falling into holes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It only accuses and points out the problem
without offering any hope or actual salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In some very real ways, that was the problem of the Old
Testament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It pointed out the problems
and even highlighted the condition that fallen humanity was in, but never
offered a permanent solution to a fallen humanity and could never do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But imagine if the young man in the above
scenario, got home and noticed very small lettering on the back of the card at
the bottom that informed him that if he would come back in next week, steps
would be taken to immediately heal his marriage permanently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you think he would return the next
week?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or do you think he would cling to
that card and just keep reading the steps of the things that he didn’t do and
that had caused him to be mired in this mess in the first place?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Law and the Old Covenant were good and
right but they could only show the problem and could not provide a permanent
cure to one who was already fallen and sinful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They could tell you how to avoid a ditch but incapable of throwing down
a rope to pull you out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That is why there was a need for a new covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was a vital point of understanding both
for Jews who had not yet believed and for Jewish Christians who were weakening
in their resolve to trust in Christ to understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus Christ came to do what no Old Covenant
priest could do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a mediator, to
be certain, but so were the Levitical priests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The difference was that he was both mediator of a New Covenant and the
ransom that brought that Covenant about and set the captive free from their
sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was the prescription and not
just the description of the problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The idea of “covenant” is obviously central to this
passage but a slight difficulty arises in verses 16 and 17, where the same word
for “covenant” is used in those verses as is used in the rest of the section,
but it is translated “will.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems
likely that Hebrews is intentionally playing off of the double meaning of a
word that can mean both “covenant” and “will”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is much to attract us to this possibility because using the double
meanings of words to make a point was a favorite technique of Alexandrian
scholars in the first century (and if Apollos of Alexandria was the author of
Hebrews then that would make sense).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
this was the intent then, this would have been considered a rather clever
exposition of Scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this
understanding, the author is telling us that the first Covenant is an
arrangement that is similar to a will in that it must be enacted with blood, as
a will is only enacted with death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
point is that the death and bloodshed of Christ served as the necessary means
to enact the Covenant and the will between God and humanity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The simple conclusion was that Jesus had to
die in order for the Covenant to be enacted (This is a vital point for those
that would argue the lack of necessity of being baptized into the life of
Christ for the forgiveness of sin based on the instance of salvation coming to
the “thief on the cross,” who was never baptized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, as Jesus had yet to die, the New
Covenant had yet to be enacted and so his salvation at the time was an Old
Covenant salvation.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The substance behind the idea of life and blood being a
necessity for atonement comes from Leviticus 17:11, which states “ For the life
of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for
yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s
life.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was true in the Old
Covenant, is equally true in the New.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Moses enacted the first Covenant with the blood of animals
which served as a substitute sacrifice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But it pointed to the need for a very real sacrifice of blood to bring
about a covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As verse 22 states
clearly, “the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and
without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This verse brings to mind not only Leviticus
17:11 but the confirmation of Christ himself of this truth: “This is my blood
of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins”
(Matthew 26:28).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This all reminds us of
two truths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first is that sin is
truly a terrible offense that demands a high price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second is that forgiveness is expensive
because of the high cost of sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
blood of Christ, the Son of God, is not cheap thing and without his blood there
is no forgiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The point of all of this is that the sacrifice and blood
of animals was a tragic outpouring of blood and life that was brought about by
the sin of human beings in their rebellion against God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The blood of those animals signified that the
outpouring of life was necessary to deal with sin, though, was pointing to a
deeper truth: those sacrifices weren’t the end in themselves but signposts to
the shocking, self-sacrificing love of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A covenant, like a will, could only come into force through death and
sacrifice and it was the self-sacrifice of Christ that brought about this New
Covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The blood of all of those
animals under the Old Covenant symbolized and pointed ahead to the greatest
sacrifice of all, God’s own sacrifice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is not as though the blood of animals was pointing
ahead to a time when humans would actually have to pay the penalty of their own
sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, those sacrifices were teaching
about the severity of sin and the sacrifice needed to atone for those sins, but
that sacrifice would come from God himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As mind-blowing as it sounds, God would shed his own blood as a payment
for the rebellion enacted against himself, the innocent party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before Jesus’ death on the Cross, of course,
no one would have or could have imagined that God would become human and give
his own life, shedding his own blood and in so doing, all of the symbols and
signs would find the reality in the only way that they ever really could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The redemption of God’s people came at the highest
price imaginable, that of the blood of Jesus Christ (Acts 20:28).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“Without the shedding of blood, there is no
forgiveness.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sin is so severe an offense that is requires
a life to atone for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are no
loopholes, no other ways around it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sin
cannot be overlooked by good behavior or good works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only way that eternal redemption could be
brought about was through the self-sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No amount of ceremony, religion, good
behavior, priestly activity, or animal sacrifice will do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no space here for
self-sufficiency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus alone solved a
problem that we created and salvation is found in him alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That should give us pause as we consider the
significance of the New Covenant and the meaning of the death of Christ and how
we should respond in our own own lives.</span><span style="color: #348990; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">It is important to remind ourselves often of the fact
that our salvation rests on the sacrifice and blood of Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How often in our Christian lives, though, do
we forget that and start to become self-sufficient rather than completely
relying upon God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take some time to
assess yourself today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you truly rely
upon God for everything in your life or do you tend to forget that without the
blood of Christ we have nothing?</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-71994518789212290072012-06-25T07:12:00.002-06:002012-06-25T07:12:50.397-06:00Hebrews 9:11-14<br />
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<b><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Blood of Christ<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good
things that are now already here,[a] he went through the greater and more
perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a
part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and
calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus
obtaining[b] eternal redemption. 13 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. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of
Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God,
cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,[c] so that we may serve
the living God! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It seems to be a fairly obvious point these days that we
live in a time where symbol is valued over substance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As long as you have good intentions or say
the right things, little attention seems to be paid to whether your ideas work
or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That certainly seems to be the
case in the political world, but it has spread far beyond that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have become a society that is satisfied
with giving every kid in a sports league a trophy because it symbolizes their
achievement, never stopping to think that if everyone gets a trophy it no
longer means anything, and the symbolism of a trophy is pointless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feeling good has replaced being good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The examples of this are far too numerous to consider
all of them but they are on display nearly everywhere we look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We take a group of teens and ask them to eat
nothing but rice for a week or to sleep in a cardboard box for a weekend in the
name of raising their awareness of the plight of others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As nice as such symbolic efforts might be, we
must be clear that they don’t really change anything, if (as is most often the
case these days) no subsequent and sustained action is taken in response to the
symbolic act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The participants walk away
convinced that they are more in touch and better equipped to help but the
reality is they have accomplished nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m not arguing that raising awareness cannot be a valuable tool at
times, but it is no replacement for action, and that’s usually what happens in
our world today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Facebook and other social media sites have become
bastions of this symbolism over substance phenomenon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everywhere you look you see solicitations to
“like” someone’s status, or share a picture of a victim of some terrible crime,
or an appeal to sign up for this petition so that we can stop this latest
atrocity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As wonderful as those causes
might be, and aside from the fact that many of those things are nothing more
than scams, those things accomplish nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The people feel better but they have done nothing more than engage in
empty symbolism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing captures that
more clearly than the recent KONY ‘12 campaign (my apologies if you don’t know
what that is).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This campaign quickly
became the popular rage on the internet with people flocking to “raise
awareness” of the atrocities committed by this Ugandan warlord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People raised a few bucks and increased
awareness and then sat back without ever considering that what they were doing
will very likely not have any impact because the situation over there is
incredibly complex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also never
considered that what they were engaging in could likely create more problems
than they help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what does that
matter?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As long as we feel better,
that’s all that matters, right?.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is just a huge difference between symbolism and
substance, and it is that difference that lies at the heart of this
passage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Old Covenant was a good
thing and certainly God gave it to his people as<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>means for them to enter into relationship
with him, but the message that he was constantly sending them at the same was
that it was symbolic. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It never
accomplished, and never could accomplish, God’s ultimate plan for his
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Old Covenant was full of
symbolic actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The priest put on all
the right clothes and went through ceremonial cleansing and the like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Animals would be brought forth and
sacrificed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There blood would be
sprinkled in all of the right places as they entered into the earthly
Tabernacle in the wilderness, and the Temple in Jerusalem after that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every year on the Day of Atonement, the
priest would enter into the Most Holy Place and make atonement before God for
the sin of all the people, including himself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s not to say that all of that had no effect at
all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It did, to a degree, but at the
heart of it all, it was symbolic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
pointed to the sin that God’s people had and their desperate need for that sin
to be removed so that they could truly enter into God’s presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The blood of an unblemished sacrifice was
necessary in order to enact this needed forgiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, the whole Old Covenant sacrificial
system was only a symbol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is why
the procedures of the Old Covenant had to be repeated over and over again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was merely a symbol, with little in the
way of the substance that was needed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The reason that it was symbolic and didn’t get to the
heart of the need is that it was all external and the real problem was
internal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem with sin is that
is a blemish on our consciences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sin
causes our hearts to be separated from God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And while the Old Covenant system pointed to an internal cleansing that
would bring true transformation, it could never bring it about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is why the Old Testament prophets
repeatedly commanded God’s people to embrace the heart of serving God through
actions of mercy and love, rather than just going through the external motions
of the sacrificial system.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus Christ, however, was not about symbolism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was the real deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was all substance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was the High Priest that brought everything
that the Old Covenant and the old priesthood could only anticipate and point
to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t walk into the earthly
Tabernacle and engage in those good, but wholly symbolic sacrifices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was the true sacrifice and he went into
the true heavenly Most Holy Place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
brought about true redemption, true forgiveness, and true completion of God’s
Covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was not symbolism but was
what God’s people had been waiting for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And because it was the real substance it brought about an eternal
redemption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was nothing more that
anyone had to wait for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ultimate and
final sacrifice had come.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But the appeal of any symbolic act is that it makes the
participant feel better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Symbolic acts
are<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tangible as they are usually
designed to help someone see a picture in a very emotional way of the real
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, symbols can be extremely
powerful and effective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is why God
used symbolism so often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is
dangerous when we start to value the symbol over the substance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as engaging in symbolic acts that make
us feel better but don’t change anything is problematic, how much more so when
God’s people were considering abandoning the substance of the New Covenant and
returning to the symbolic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had an
appeal, of course, as symbols always do because you could touch it and see it
and feel that emotional connection but that’s all the Old Covenant could ever
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Only Jesus could bring about true redemption that would
last and that enacted the internal transformation that is needed in order to be
reconciled to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is one of the
big reasons that those who reject Christ and mock him never understand what
coming to Christ is all about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are
stuck on the external and, thus, will never come in contact with the internal
solution that only entering into Covenant with God through the blood of Christ
can bring about.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">External cleaning has some value, of course, and the Old
Covenant certainly brought that about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But Jesus Christ was superior because he replaced the temporary symbol
with a permanent reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact there
are three important aspects about this that we have alluded to already but
should take the time to delineate specifically.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">First, Christ’s sacrifice was offered in the heavenly
Temple through the eternal Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
not as though the writer is arguing that the heavenly realm is real while the
physical realm is an inferior shadow realm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But the reality is that the physical separation between the physical
realm and the heavenly realm was a result and a symbol of the more important
spiritual separation that occurred as a result of sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, only Christ could enter into the
spiritual realm and bring about the true work of redemption that was needed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Second, the sacrifice was not that of an animal but was
his own blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is something that an
Old Covenant priest would never be able to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The sacrifice had to be unblemished and only the Messiah could present
himself as an adequate sacrifice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
shocking as that might have seemed for a priest to sacrifice himself, it was
the only means to bring about eternal redemption.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Third, this sacrifice was perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the real substance and that meant that
the effects of that sacrifice were eternal and could never be made null and
void.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Finding out that we have the real thing and not just a
symbol should be a cause for true celebration and joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No longer do we have to wait or hope or
struggle with guilt and shame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The real
has come and our sin has been redeemed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have eternal forgiveness and can celebrate in that forever.</span><span style="color: #348990; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Under the temporary atonement of the Old Covenant, God
called his people to act in mercy and love for others in response to the grace
and mercy that he had shown for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How much greater should our response be as a result of receiving the
ultimate and permanent act of grace and mercy in the life of Jesus Christ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What will your response be to the permanent
forgiveness of your sin be this week?</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-799174373358362432012-06-15T07:15:00.000-06:002012-06-15T07:15:05.104-06:00Hebrews 7:1-10<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">7</span><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">
This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham
returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him
a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of
righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without
father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life,
resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch
Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants
of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people —that is, from
their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6
This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a
tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt
the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected
by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.
9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through
Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of
his ancestor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have the pleasure and privilege of having a wife who
is fun, loving, kind, hard-working, and incredibly smart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She works as a nurse in a critical care unit
at a big hospital in our area and she is very good at what she does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She goes through incredibly difficult
circumstances daily on her job and handles them with grace and a deep sense of
care for each patient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she often
comes home and will try to tell me some incredible story that took place on her
unit or fill me in on the ongoing saga of a patient struggling to regain their
health (while always strictly observing patient confidentiality).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That might not sound that bad but there is a
challenge in there for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the
time I don’t have the foggiest clue of what she’s talking about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might grasp that there was a conflict over
method of care between two nurses, or a doctor is trying some new method that a
nurse doesn’t like, or various things like that, but she tends to use the
proper medical terms for conditions and treatments and completely loses
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get a vague idea of the story that
she is trying to tell me but if you were to ask me to explain to someone else
what she just told me I wouldn’t have a chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not only do I not understand many of the terms and words she uses, I
don’t think I could even spell most of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What I have discovered, however, is that when I ask her to clarify a few
things or remind her to put it in simple English for me then I can usually
follow along quite nicely and get a pretty good idea of what she is trying to
convey to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have discovered, much to
my delight, that once I got an understanding of the culture at the hospital and
get a feel for some of the procedures and expectations, and once I can actually
recognize and know the meaning of a few basic terms, the stories are quite
engrossing and interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On top of
that, being able to understand what my wife is actually talking about helps
open a whole new window of understanding and appreciation for her on my part.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The book of Hebrews is widely accepted to be one of the
more difficult books in the New Testament to read and fully understand, and
this passage on Melchizedek certainly ranks up there as perhaps the most
difficult passage to decipher in the whole book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, it is pretty common for someone to
refer to this section on Melchizedek if someone wants to make a joke about
someone preaching on something that no one understands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reason that this passage can be so
difficult is not that there is no value in it for us and it is not that there
was something wrong with the author who was so smart that he just went off
prattling on about things that no one would have or could have really
understood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem is that we are
not familiar with the world of priests, Temples, tithes, sacrifices, and so
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only are we not familiar with
Melchizedek, most of us would probably have trouble spelling his name without
looking and an even harder time pronouncing his name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we have to add to that the fact that the
writer, particularly in this section, engages in a style of writing and logic
with which we are wholly unfamiliar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
sum of all of that leads us to find passages like this quite a mystery and we
start to treat them like the commercials in a recorded television program,
nothing more than something to skip over quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if we slow down, take the time to learn a
few basic principles and terms, just like my wife’s stories, we will find that
they are treasure troves of interesting and important information in the goal
to help us understand the superiority of Jesus in his role as high priest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Three times already Hebrews has mentioned Melchizedek
(5:6; 10; 6:20) and that the Messiah is a priest in the order of the same
name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now he is finally ready to unpack
that statement and unfurl the significance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Melchizedek is a rather shadowy figure who is mentioned just twice in
the Old Testament and is referred to by no other New Testament authors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalm 110, a messianic Psalm which was much
beloved and studied by the early Christians and a passage to which the author
of Hebrews has already turned several times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Psalm 110 is a majestic Psalm that looks forward to the rule of the
Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yahweh calls the Messiah “lord”
and tells him to sit in his throne room with him until he has made the enemies
of the Messiah a footstool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yahweh will
not change his mind in giving the Messiah the scepter of power and dominion,
declares the Psalmist, precisely because the Messiah is “a priest forever in
the order of Melchizedek.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was a
strange prophecy both because of the relative obscurity of Melchizedek and
because of the absolute rarity of mixing the roles of king and priest in
Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The only other mention of Melchizedek in the Old
Testament comes in Genesis 14 as Abraham returns from a successful foray to
retrieve his nephew Lot from a collection of kings who stormed into Sodom,
among other places, and took Lot and his entire household as captives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The king of Salem, Melchizedek, approached
Abraham (then Abram), gave him bread and wine, blessed him, and Abraham
responded by giving him a tenth of everything that he captured in the
conquest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s all we know about
Melchizedek, just three short verses in Genesis and the stunning prophecy in
Psalm 110 that the Messiah would reign forever in his priestly order.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before we begin to understand this passage at all, and
the author of Hebrews’ comments on Melchizedek we must understand a fairly
common technique of understanding the Torah and the other Scriptures in the Old
Testament that were common in Jewish circles in the first century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They read the stories in the Torah as though
they were a self-sustained world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
something was not written in the text then it had no interpretive reality in
the real world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So if a text does not
say that someone died, then in the world of textual interpretation, they did
not die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To look at the passage in
Genesis with that eye helps us greatly to understand what Hebrews is
saying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to the text of
Genesis, Melchizedek just appears on the scene as a high priest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He precedes the Law and the Aaronic
priesthood and so has no connection to them and is not bound by them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the world of the text, Melchizedek has no
parents and did not come upon his priesthood through any specific lineage or
any other means, and it never came to an end because it does not record him
dying and passing it on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He simply was
the king of Salem (ancient Jerusalem) and the priest of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know nothing more about him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This allowed the Psalmist, through the
inspiration of the Spirit, to declare that God had used that enigmatic scene to
foreshadow and teach something vital about the coming Messiah and his role.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The passages concerning Melchizedek are so mysterious
that it has led some to declare that Melchizedek was not just a type or a
foreshadowing of the Messiah but was actually the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ
himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given the austerity with which
Hebrews treats the priest that might seem attractive but is really not
necessary, and is not at all the point of the author.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he wanted to say that Jesus was
Melchizedek he would have just said so, but he doesn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Melchizedek wasn’t Christ, but he did bear
some important resemblances to him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In some important ways, the Melchizedek of the text (not
necessarily the Melchizedek of real life) foreshadowed the priestly vocation of
the Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This priesthood was not
based on lineage, a prestigious pedigree, or the Law but was based solely on
the assumed appointment by God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
both the “king of righteousness” and “the king of peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In those ways, he resembled the Son of God
and pointed to his Messiah-ship and priesthood which was also appointed by God
apart from the Law or the order of Aaron.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Messiah too was the king of peace and righteousness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, Just as the Melchizedek of the
text was a priestly order forever (because in the text his priesthood had no
beginning and no end) so this character of the text pointed to the Messiah that
would rule as the high priest for God’s people forever.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Having established that there were two completely
separate priestly orders established by God, Hebrews sets about in verses 4-10
to show that the one, the order of Melchizedek which pointed to the Messiah,
was far superior to Aaron’s priestly order, just as the Messiah was superior to
every aspect of the Old Testament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Specifically we are given four distinct aspects of the superiority of
the Melchizedekian priesthood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first
is that Abraham gave him a tenth of his spoils.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since the Aaronic priesthood traced its lineage back to Abraham it was
significant that Abraham humbled himself before Melchizedek’s priesthood and
gave a tithe of reverence to God by giving it to Melchizedek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, Melchizedek spoke a blessing over the
one who was the recipient of God’s promises, showing that he was superior in
his access and ability to confer blessings directly from God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Abraham received blessings from God but
Melchizedek gave them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Third, Levi who
was the ancestor of the Aaronic priesthood gave his homage and tithe, in
effect, to Melchizedek because he was still “in the body of his ancestor.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author tacitly admits that this point
might be stretching it a bit, as he says “one might even say,” but he no doubt
felt that his overall point was still quite sound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, the Melchizedekian priesthood is
superior because his order does not come to an end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Melchizedek of the text did not die and
end his reign (using the same “world of the text” logic that led Jews to assume
that God continued to rest from his initial work of physical creation because
there was no end drawn to his resting in the seventh day of creation in Genesis
2) just as the Messiah’s reign will never end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are three big conclusions that can be drawn at
this point, then, based on what we have already learned about this order of
Melchizedek to which Jesus was the ultimate fulfillment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, this priestly order was superior and
eternal which was in sharp contrast to the priesthood of Aaron which was
limited by the physical realm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second,
it meant that the Temple and the corresponding priesthood of the Temple were
unnecessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t need the picture
of a beautiful landscape when you are standing right in front of the real
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Third, Complete confidence and
faith could be placed in Jesus as the true high priest that would go on without
end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no need to look to the
Levitical priesthood of the Law because it was inferior, temporary, and of a
different order than the Scriptures themselves pointed to as the priesthood of
the Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Messiah had arrived and
those who really wanted to be God’s people had better take notice and cling to
him as their one and only priest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
issues become pressing for us because, although we may not be tempted to turn
to the Levitical priesthood we still need to cling to the Messiah as our high
priest, our only means of access to God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">As we read and study Hebrews it is vital to always keep
the practical aspects on our heart and not get lost in the majesty of the deep
teaching itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing that Jesus is
our eternal high priest in the order of Melchizedek matters in keeping us
focused and faithful in the kingdom of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Spend some time today focusing on just why this aspect of Jesus is so
important and what it means in your daily walk as a disciple.</span><span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-63482062314232952732012-06-15T07:14:00.003-06:002012-06-15T07:14:54.783-06:00Hebrews 8:7-13<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7
For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would
have been sought for another. 8 But God found fault with the people and
said[b]:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The
days are coming, declares the Lord,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>when I will make a new covenant <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">with
the people of Israel<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and with the people of Judah.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9
It will not be like the covenant<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made with their ancestors <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">when
I took them by the hand<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to lead them out of Egypt,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">because
they did not remain faithful to my covenant,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and I turned away from them,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">declares
the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10
This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>after that time, declares the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I
will put my laws in their minds<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and write them on their hearts. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I
will be their God,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and they will be my people. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11
No longer will they teach their neighbor,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">because
they will all know me, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from the least of them to the greatest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">12
For I will forgive their wickedness<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
will remember their sins no more. ”[c] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">13
By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is
obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most
people that I know that are married first went through a period of engagement before
they were actually married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have seen
people remain in the state of being engaged to be married for as much as
several years and as little as two months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The period of engagement is an incredible time where a couple commits to
one another deeply, yet at the same time looks forward to the marriage itself
and begins to prepare for that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Traditionally, the period of engagement is a wonderful time of
commitment and building relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are wonderful advantages to being engaged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is an exciting period where people begin
the process of meshing their lives together and preparing to spend the rest of
their lives as one flesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This period of
engagement anticipates and points forward, of course, to the time when the
couple will be married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a very real
sense, the engagement in our culture (at least American culture) is a type of
covenant relationship (or maybe a pre-covenant relationship, so to speak) but
it points to a greater one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
certain privileges and advantages in which an engaged couple cannot, or at
least should not if they are following God’s will, participate in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those things come with the greater covenant
of marriage to which their engagement points.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Speaking
for myself, I enjoyed my time of engagement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was wonderful and exciting, but I enjoy being married even more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love my wife and I love my marriage and I
love the covenant of marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet,
there are times when things can get rough and we have to work very hard in our
marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At no time, however, have I
ever considered the thought of stepping out of the marriage and returning to
the period of just being engaged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t
get me wrong, as I said, our engagement was a great time, but marriage is
better and even when things have been a little rough at times (and they’ve
never been all that rough to be honest), I have never started to think that it
would be better to just go back to being engaged and lose the privileges of
marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That would be crazy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And
yet, in some very real parallels, that is what Hebrews wants to warn those
struggling in their faith to stay away from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some had hit the rocky and difficult time in their covenant with Christ
and rather than remaining faithful and working through the issues by reminding
themselves just how incredible it was to be in covenant with him, they had
walked away and returned, in many cases, to their Jewish beliefs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was tantamount to dissolving a marriage
and going back to being engaged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it
was just as crazy in the mind of the author of Hebrews.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In
what ways was this like leaving a marriage and going back to the pre-marriage
state?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, the Old Covenant was not
exactly like an engagement in that it was a very real covenant relationship with
Israel, not just a state before the real covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it was never designed to be the
once-for-all, definitive and permanent covenant between God and his
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One might think so, of course,
if they read some of the Covenant language from the Old Testament that talks
about God creating a Covenant forever with his people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On one hand, that was absolutely true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But on the other hand, God had always pointed
ahead to the fact that he had a better Covenant in mind that he wanted for his
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That God would always have a
Covenant with his people was the eternal part; the specific aspects of the Old
Covenant, however, were never to be eternal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When a couple gets married, you see, it doesn’t break the covenant of
their engagement, it fulfills it and brings it into a better covenant
state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what God wanted for his
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wasn’t breaking the Old
Covenant, but he was bringing them in the better Covenant state that he had
always promised.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That
is precisely why our author turns to Jeremiah 31 in this section.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throughout this sermon/lesson, the writer has
systematically expounded about certain Old Testament passages to make his point
concerning the superiority of Christ and his Covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In chapters 3 and 4 the focus was on Psalm 95
as the author urged his readers not to harden their hearts like the Exodus
generation and the people of David’s day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then in chapters 5 through the beginning of 8, the attention turned to
Palm 110, as the author basically taught through the Messianic and practical significance
of that important Psalm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now he turns to
Jeremiah 31 (and will continue to discuss it through the end of chapter 10), a
passage where God promises that one day he will establish a New Covenant with
his people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The central theme of all of
these passages is that while God had established something good with Israel, he
promised something better yet to come; not all that unlike a an engaged couple
being promised that there is something better yet to come in the covenant of
marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In
fact his quote from Jeremiah 31 is the longest New Testament quote of an Old
Testament passage in the entire Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And just as the promise of an eternal priesthood in the order of
Melchizedek pointed to the fact that the old priesthood was inferior and thus,
obsolete, so the promise of a new covenant meant that the old was inferior and
just as obsolete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not as though
God was simply nullifying the Old Covenant, however.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was fulfilling the Old Covenant through
the coming of something better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as
a caterpillar does not die when it transforms into a butterfly and an
engagement is not broken but becomes something better when that couple is
married, so the Old Covenant was transformed into a better Covenant.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
context of Jeremiah 31 included the comforting words of Yaweh through his
prophet for a struggling people who would be returning from exile in
Babylon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had been faithless to the
Covenant with their God and had paid the price as he removed his hedge of
protection from them and allowed them to taste the bitter brew of disobedience
to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was the problem with the
Old Covenant, points out the writer of Hebrews.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It wasn’t that the Old Covenant was bad as though God had intentionally
given the people a skunk just for laughs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The problem was that it didn’t enable the people to transform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t allow them to truly escape the
slavery of sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was inadequate for
the permanent needs of humanity and that is exactly what God wanted his people
to learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted them to enjoy the
first Covenant but to look forward to the ultimate Covenant every bit as much
as he did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, he promised them that a
day was coming when he would bring about that better Covenant.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This
new Covenant would be with the people of Israel, and that was certainly true,
because as the Gospel writers go to great lengths to demonstrate, Jesus was the
true and valid representative of Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In a sense, he became Israel, God’s Son, and is the recipient of all of
the promises given to Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
Covenant would engulf and surpass the Old Covenant in an even greater way than
a marriage engulfs and surpasses an engagement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This Covenant would ensure Covenant faithfulness on the part of God’s
people because their status would not be balanced on temporal things like the
Law and the Levitical Priesthood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
would be based on Jesus Christ himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He is faithful to the Covenant and because we can lay down our lives and
enter into his, we are allowed to enjoy the covenant faithfulness of the life
of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jeremiah
goes on to describe the differences between the Old Covenant and the New
Covenant in broad strokes, and the differences are stark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The difference is so striking that they are
less like the differences between an engagement and a marriage and more like
the betrothal period of an arranged marriage and the actual marriage that is
the result of love, choice, passion, and commitment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No longer would people simply be born into
the Covenant without really knowing who the Lord is and having to be taught to
be obedient to it by parents, the priesthood, and the rest of the society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No longer, in other words, would it be a
religion where people were called to be conformed externally by the rule of the
Law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this New Covenant, God’s people
would respond to God’s call and choose to enter into his family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will know the Lord, every one of them,
because they will have exercised faith in the life of Christ and embraced the
new life that he offered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that New
Covenant, sin wouldn’t just be covered over by animal sacrifices that could
only picture true forgiveness of sin without ever actually giving it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Christ, sin is erased from God’s memory,
not meaning that God will have a true memory lapse but that he will not act on
the deserved consequences of sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
New Covenant that God was promising, sin would truly be forgiven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is something that the Old Covenant could
never offer and could never, ever achieve.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hebrews
draws this section to a close by making a point that should be obvious now and
is very similar to the one he made about the redundancy of the Old Covenant
priesthood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as God, in pointing to
a new priesthood, made the old one obsolete, so in promising a New Covenant he
made the Old Covenant equally obsolete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once your married, you don’t need to be engaged anymore and now that the
readers of Hebrews were members of the New Covenant, to return to the old and
obsolete one where sin could never be fully forgiven would be crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be to cling to what was to soon
disappear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To cling to it would be to
lose sight of reality, it would be foolish, and indeed it would be idolatrous
by exalting the Old over what God had always promised for his people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Most
of us are probably not tempted to walk away from the New Covenant in order to
return to the Old Covenant, but I think that many of us can be tempted, from
time to time, to leave our marriage with God in order to return to the revelry
of our old lives before we entered into Covenant with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spend some time contemplating how this
passage helps you during times like those when you are tempted.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-22792610412564409722012-06-15T07:14:00.002-06:002012-06-15T07:14:32.585-06:00Hebrews 9:1-10<div>
Due to our annual Camp Burns next week, where we have 20 pre-teen and teen
boys stay at our house for a spiritual and physical boot camp, I will be unable
to post any devotionals next week.</div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 16pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">9</span><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">
Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly
sanctuary. 2 A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and
the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3 Behind
the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4 which had the golden
altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained
the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of
the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the
atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail
now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered
regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 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. 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy
Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still
functioning. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the
gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the
worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial
washings —external regulations applying until the time of the new
order.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My youngest son recently began taking lessons in Tae Kwon Do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He enjoys going a great deal and is doing
pretty well so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a routine
and discipline to learning the art of Tae Kwon Do which he appreciates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The school itself is well-run and has
friendly instructors who are not only well-versed in teaching Tae Kwon Do, they
also expect and demand respect, honor, and integrity on the part of the
students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As part of that, there is a
whole system of hierarchy inherent into the martial arts that is rather
ritualized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those that have attained the
level of black belt, for instance, have greater privileges and responsibilities
that go along with their higher rank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They can do things that not all students can do, they stand in the front
of line-ups while the lower ranks stand in the back, and so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also have a changing room that is only
accessible to those of that rank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other
students are not ever allowed to even go into that room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I appreciate the whole idea of that because
it serves as a powerful illustration and reminder for the younger students like
my son that they have much more to work for and attain to yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t have access to that room but that
is really just a picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a living
illustration that they don’t yet have a high-ranking belt; they haven’t put in
all the work necessary yet to have access to that level of belt, that level of
respect, and that level of honor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
the fact that some can go in there also serves as a picture to them that some
day they might be able to go into that room
themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In a sense, that was one of the purposes of the Tabernacle and
Temple under the Old Covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
certainly served an important function during those times in and of themselves,
and were, in a very real sense, the center of life in ancient Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they also served as a powerful picture or
illustration of the then current state of affairs between God and his
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Israelites would have
understood that of course and heartily agreed with that assessment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What they did not seem to fully realize was
that the system of having the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place not only
signified the state between God and men at the time but also was a picture of
what was to come under the New Covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was an illustration that the readers of Hebrews needed to understand
because it was a picture of what was now available in
Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At first blush, following the author’s line of thinking from the
last words of chapter 8 to the beginning of chapter 9, seems a bit
disconnected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author just completed
a long quote from Jeremiah, pointing ahead to God’s promise of the New Covenant
and the fact that those promises had now been fulfilled in Christ, the
fulfillment of the better Covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
then does it make sense that he immediately launches into a detailed discussion
of the procedures of the Tabernacle?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
author himself will answer that question, but let’s try to follow along with his
point first.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He has already laid out the idea that there are, in a sense, two
covenants, although he will imply throughout the coming chapters that the second
Covenant is really a fulfillment of and a bettering of the first Covenant rather
than simply a replacement as though the second were something entirely new from
the first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That first Covenant was full
of regulations and specific stipulations for how God expected his people to come
into his presence through the Tabernacle (and eventually the Temple which would
replace the Tabernacle).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As the writer begins to mention the Tabernacle, he briefly
describes the set up, the furniture, and some of the important items found
inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were two inner rooms that
were considered sacred and cordoned off from the rest of the Tabernacle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first was called the Holy Place and it
contained the lampstand and a table with the showbread on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there was a second curtain which closed
off the Most Holy Place, or what was also called the Holy of Holies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That room contained the golden altar of
incense and the Ark of the Covenant, which held a jar of manna from the
Wilderness, Aaron’s staff, and the copies of the stone tablets of the
Covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Covering the Ark was the lid
crowned with cherubim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The purpose for
the detail beyond just giving a clear mental picture of the two rooms is
unknown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as the author lays out all
of those details, he stops in the middle of his thought and says that there is
no place for a discussion of those details.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We can only imagine that the author felt that there was significance in
those things but these were some of those deeper details of the faith that his
readers were not quite ready for yet in their state of spiritual
immaturity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must also conclude that
the Holy Spirit felt that the bulk of those details, as interesting as they
might be, was unnecessary for us to know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, we must humbly follow along with the author as much as we would like
to know the rest of his thoughts on these matters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He avoided the temptation to stray too far off track, however, and
zeros in on the point he is making.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the Holy place, only the priests could enter into that part of the Tabernacle
and carry on their ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And only
the high priest<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>could enter into the
Most Holy Place and that was only allowed once a year by God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition to that, the priest could only
enter after the shedding of blood and making an offering, albeit a temporary
one, for the sin of the people and himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Most Holy Place was virtually closed to God’s people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They could never enter into that inner room
and connect with God’s presence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Verse 9, then, is the key to following the logic of this
section.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why all of this discussion
about the Tabernacle on the heels of talking about the superiority of the New
Covenant?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was because the whole
process was used by the Holy Spirit to provide an illustration for God’s people
from which to learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The existence of
the two rooms was a picture of the two Covenants and their accompanying access
to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the first room, only the
priests could enter but even they could not go into the second room
directly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They only had access to it by
means of being represented by the high priest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was a picture of the two covenants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The high priest, Jesus, had gone into the Most Holy Place and provided
the blood and sacrifice so that all of God’s people could have access to God
through him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Old Covenant was
pictured by all of the external ceremonies performed in the Holy Place but the
New Covenant was pictured by the high priestly access to the Most Holy
Place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of Jesus and his work to
bring about the New Covenant, all of Jesus’ people could have access to God’s
Most Holy presence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No priest of the Tabernacle or the Temple<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>would get the chance to go into the Holy of
Holies and pass it up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course that
would not have been an option for the average priest, but they certainly would
not have been given the sanctioned opportunity to go in there and decide instead
to just be satisfied with the Holy Place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The author doesn’t directly make that point, but that is his
implication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the two rooms of the
Tabernacle were a picture of the two Covenants, then belonging to the second
Covenant, where God’s people had direct access to the throne room of God through
Jesus Christ and deciding to return to the first room, the first Covenant would
be ridiculous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be to walk away
from the real thing and embrace the shadow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Those
in Christ had indeed been allowed to enter into the Most Holy Place through the
advent of the New Covenant and they needed to be quite clear about what they had
and what they would be giving up if they took their eyes off of Jesus and grew
weary in their faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We too can get
distracted by so many things in our lives that are far less substantial than the
Old Covenant itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The writer of
Hebrews was implying that leaving Christ would be like walking out of the Most
Holy Place and going back to the Holy Place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For us, though, it can be much more like strolling out of the Most Holy
Place, striding out of the Temple grounds and boldly jumping into a mud
pit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is vitally important that we
keep our gaze fixed on the superiority of Christ and his Covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is not just greater than the Old Covenant
but is far greater than worldly success, comfort, leisure, or anything else that
the world can try to distract us with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In that truth we find one of the great themes that lies just beneath the
surface throughout the book of Hebrews, but which will finally burst forth on
the scene in chapter 12: Keep you eyes fixed on Jesus as the only one that can
truly bring you into the presence of God.</span><span style="color: #348990; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">What
process do you have in your life to help you assess whether or not you have kept
your eyes focused on Jesus and the wonderful benefits of his Covenant?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe you’re constantly assessing yourself
against the Word of God, or through prayer, or with the input of other
Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever the means or
combination of methods, when was the last time you really made sure that your
eyes were still focused on Jesus and that your life matched where you think your
eyes are?</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-35420424304300438512012-05-25T05:54:00.001-06:002012-05-25T05:54:02.392-06:00Hebrews 6:13-20<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Th<b>e Certainty of God’s Promise</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was
no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will
surely bless you and give you many descendants.”[d] 15 And so after waiting
patiently, Abraham received what was promised. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and
the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God
wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of
what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by
two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have
fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We
have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner
sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on
our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I was a younger man and in college I regularly had
to take a nearly twelve hour trip back and forth between my college campus and
my hometown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I nearly always took that
journey alone and was quite proud of the fact that I could make that trip as
efficiently as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a stop
that was almost half-way on the route and it had a gas station and fast food
restaurant right off the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t
have to really get off of anyway highway, I just pulled into one driveway and
could refuel, grab some food, and run into the restroom all in one stop and
then get right back onto the road quite easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In minutes I would be back on my merry way without having lost anytime
at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now when I take trips it’s a bit more complicated
because I have children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems that
no matter how much I plan out trips to our various destinations they never go
according to plan in a nice, neat little package like they used to back then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Invariably, just as we are really starting to
make some good time, one of my children, although usually the youngest these
days, will declare that they need to go to the bathroom, and quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My first instinct is to tell them to hold it
because I don’t want to change my route and there’s just no convenient spot to
pull over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then I can feel that look
from the other side of the car from my wife indicating her subtle but rather
intense desire that I should find somewhere to pull over and allow our little
cherub to relieve himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doing so at
unplanned times is usually a bit of a pain, which is why I don’t like to, but I
will dutifully pull off the highway onto an off-ramp, search for a gas station
or some other such place, make our necessary stop, and then get back on the
on-ramp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of that just to get back to
where left off a while before that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s not that the author of Hebrews had to use the
bathroom and it hasn’t even been inconvenient or unnecessary, but he did take
us on a bit of detour beginning back in chapter 5 just as he was in the middle
of discussing Jesus being our superior and ultimate high priest and explaining
the importance of him being of the order of Melchizedek rather than Aaron.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This detour included a fairly harsh rebuke
and call for the community of believers to wake up and begin to strive for
maturity in their Christian faith rather than struggling with basic infantile
type questions like were they going to follow Christ at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had urged them to not become dull and lazy
and to cling to the promises that God has made to those in Christ, namely the
resurrection life and the ability to stay faithful to it based on God’s power
and justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s got a few more things
to say to encourage them about those promises but we are now on the on-ramp and
getting back towards where we started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, by the end of this passage we will be at the very same point
that we left off when we began our detour and will be ready to move forward in
the point about the Messiah becoming a high priest forever, in the order of
Melchizedek.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the previous section Hebrews exhorted the readers to
keep moving towards the promises that God had given to his people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, those promises were something of an
issue in the first century between Christians and Jews.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Jews claimed that they were really God’s
people because they were the keepers of the promises of God and if God wasn’t
faithful to his promises to Israel then he was not really God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Christians, on the other hand, argued
that only in the Messiah could the promises of God be fulfilled (2 Cor.
2:10).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They declared that the Messiah
was the representative of God’s people, Israel, and that he was now the gate to
God’s people and his promises as the true Israel, and that Jews and Gentiles
alike would have to enter through that gate in order to claim possession of
God’s promises.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So if they were going to be the people of promise then
it was important that they held firmly to those promises and remained faithful
to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For first century Christians,
then, especially a group that included a lot of Jewish Christians, it makes a
great deal of sense for the author to turn to Abraham as the classic example of
someone remaining faithful to God’s promises despite difficult
circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God had promised Abraham that he would have one mighty
family that would consists of all nations and that would be blessed by
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that were to happen, however, he
would need descendants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After exhibiting
and learning a great deal of faith in seeing his son of that promise finally
born, Abraham must have been rocked in his faith when God told him to take
Isaac and sacrifice him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Child sacrifice
was not uncommon among the pagan religions of Abraham’s day, and in essence,
God was saying, “do you trust me as much as the pagans trust their lifeless
gods?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Abraham acted on that faith and
received the fulfillment of his blessings; not during his lifetime, as chapter
11 will make clear, but he received them nonetheless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His actions in taking Isaac to the brink of
sacrifice before being stopped by God demonstrates the fact that faith was not
some vague act of mental agreement but was defined by living and acting as
though God’s promises were true and he would fulfill them despite how unlikely
it seemed based on circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
is what faith is.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was common practice of the day to verify an oath by
swearing by someone greater than yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God wanted to make it as clear as possible in Abraham’s world of
understanding, so he swore an oath while making his promises to Abraham.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was just one problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jews would often swear by the name of God to
verify their oaths, but in God’s case he is the ultimate authority and standard
of truth so there was no one greater by which to swear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God then swore by his own name (Gen. 22:16)
in promising that he would indeed bring about the family of blessing from
Abraham’s descendants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t do this
because he needed to but so that Abraham could be doubly sure that God truly
would fulfill his promises to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God’s promise to Abraham was doubly secure, then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only could Abraham rely on the promise
just because the nature of God is unchanging and completely trustworthy, but
God went above and beyond the call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just
relying on his nature alone would have been enough, for God cannot lie and has
absolutely no need to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But to help
Abraham out, he also made an oath, and repeated that oath to his descendants
that he would indeed fulfill his promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just as surely as we can rely on God’s nature, we can also rely on God’s
oaths and promises, so now there were two things that cannot be changed,
shaken, or disqualified that were confirming that having hope in God’s promises
was reliable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The author here implies two things that would have been
a little more obvious to the first audience than it probably is to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first is that those promises made to
Abraham were now in their possession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just as Isaac was the child of promise and Ishmael was not, and just as
Jacob was the child of promise and Esau was not, so Jesus had become the one
and only child of promise and Israel, the firstborn (Ex. 4:22) had not (Paul
discusses all of this in Romans 9).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
all of God’s promises to Israel were faithfully and justly administered in the
Messiah, and that meant that those faithful to him were receiving the
promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second thing is that the
promises of God to bring about a blessed family of all nations had taken shape
in the Messiah and now their great hope in those promises had moved passed
waiting for the coming of the promises and on to the ultimate and final
fulfillment of them all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was the
time when God would dwell finally and fully with his people forever in the
resurrection age of eternal life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is what the Christians were waiting for and hoping in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And they had an even greater visible marker of the
guarantee of those promises than Abraham did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Abraham had God’s word and his character, enough to be sure, but those
in Christ have a further confirmation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We need not grow weary or lazy in living out our faith that we really
reign with God as his people in the age to come, despite all appearances to the
contrary in the present age, because we have an anchor that is firmly planted
in the throne room, the inner sanctuary of the real heavenly Temple and not
just in some earthly representation of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus is our forerunner or the firstfruits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has gone ahead into the resurrection where
humans dwell in God’s presence and is holding our spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is acting as our mediator and high priest,
ensuring that those who remain faithful to him will indeed join him in that
resurrection age when he returns to make all things new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is, in fact, our high priest forever, in
the order of Melchizedek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And with that,
we have now arrived at the same spot where we turned off, and are now ready to
continue on our journey.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When the audience of this letter was struggling
spiritually the author called upon them to really focus on the person and
character of Jesus Christ and his superiority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When they did that, he knew that they would remain faithful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you are going through hard times
spiritually, what do you focus on?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do
you focus on the situation, your feelings, your emotions, how to relieve the
situation, or do you meditate on the person and character of Jesus Christ and
hold steady? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-48925982096164371742012-05-23T04:53:00.002-06:002012-05-23T04:53:07.367-06:00Hebrews 6:9-12<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are
convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with
salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you
have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We
want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you
hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to
imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We moved away from Milwaukee some years ago now but we
are still able to get back to our old hometown every now and again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently, though, we went through town and
went into an area that we used to drive through frequently but haven’t really
been through since we moved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The area
lies a short distance from where we used to live in our first five years in
Milwaukee, and is very near Miller Park where the Milwaukee Brewers play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During those years it was really quite an
eyesore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The area was full of old
granaries and buildings that had been allowed to decay into near ruin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everywhere you looked was a mass of rusting
metal structures that soared several stories into the sky, unkempt fields, and
overgrown parking lots and the such.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
really was an ugly few blocks to drive through until you got closer to the
stadium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During our last five years in
Milwaukee, however, we moved to the other side of town and didn’t go through
that area nearly as much, although we’d still drive through every so
often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During that period I noticed a
slow and steady plan seemed to be afoot to knock down, blow up, and get rid of
much of the blight of that area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
wasn’t a whole lot of rebuilding of anything going on but, I thought to myself,
“at least they’re knocking down the ugly stuff.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I found myself driving through that area
the other day for the first time in about five years, though, I could not
believe my eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of the old eyesores
were gone and the area was completely built up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was teeming with shiny new businesses, pristine strip malls, and
beautiful landscaping everywhere you looked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It truly looked like a completely different place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It became clear that there was a greater
purpose to busting up the old neighborhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was so that they could build it up to its full potential.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On a small scale, that is something of what the author
of Hebrews is up to in chapters 5 and 6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He has just completed one of the harshest rebukes found in the New
Testament, chiding them for allowing themselves to be potential prey to spiritual
laziness and dullness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet at no point
do we get that sense that he was being cruel or blasting them just for the sake
of letting off a little steam or cutting them down to size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a purpose to the deconstruction
that he was doing in the previous passages, which now becomes clear in this
section as the tone takes a dramatic turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now that the dangers have been addressed directly and head-on, he can
get to the business of encouraging and building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had potential to be so much more than
those who would turn back and abandon the Messiah and his people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, his true belief was that wasn’t who they
were at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had stood next to him
and stared at the blight that they could become if they weren’t careful, but
now it was time to build themselves into the beautiful structure that God
intended for them to be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The tough things had to be said to warn them and let
them know of the dangerous road down which they could head if they weren’t
careful, but the author was convinced that they would heed his warnings and not
fall into the trap that some had already fallen prey to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were his “dear friends” or “beloved”
(which is the only time that phrase is used in the book of Hebrews) and he is
confident that they will do better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Surely the writer of Hebrews did want to be frank and straightforward
with those that he loved but he also wasn’t trying to needlessly beat up a
group of people that were facing difficult circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s time for a little rebuilding and so he
turns to affirmation and encouragement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These are elements that are incredibly vital to the Christian
community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, some psychologists
believe that appreciation is one of, if not the strongest, human need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to be affirmed and appreciated by
others and that’s exactly what Hebrews does in this section.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is the very needs for affirmation and appreciation
that led the author of the Proverbs to write:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your
power to act” (Prov. 3:27).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That concept
is certainly as true of kind and encouraging words as any other kind of
tangible help that others might need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Encouraging others, a consistent theme throughout Hebrews, is beneficial
both to the receiver and the giver, which is why Proverbs 11:27 says: “One
person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes
to poverty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A generous person will
prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The writer of Hebrews had certainly embraced
the loving approach of Proverbs 27:17 which declares that friends should
sharpen one another as iron sharpens iron and that of Proverbs 27:6 which
reminds us that wounds from a friend can be trusted, but it is the enemy that
multiplies kisses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it was time now
to move on to encouragement and positive reinforcement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hebrews wasn’t just holding out blind, wishful thinking
to speak positively of the future that lays ahead of the audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has great reason for his great confidence
in their steadfastness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The basis for
his confidence lies in God’s justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God will remember and continue to bless their work and the love that
they had constantly shown to one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If this letter was indeed written to the church in Rome, as we have
supposed, then that would fit quite nicely with the reputation that the church
in Rome continued to maintain throughout the first century where Ignatius
described the Roman church as “having the presidency of love,”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and into the second century, where Dionysius,
the church leader in Corinth, said that the church in Rome had always led the
way “in doing good for one another, sending contributions to churches in need,
relieving the poverty of the needy, and ministering to those in difficult
situations.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, the picture painted
in verse 10 is what the Christian family is supposed to look like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a community devoted to God and engaging
in the hard work of demonstrating that devotion through loving others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is what God wants from and for his
people and we should not miss the point that the love shown to one another is,
in God’s eyes, done to and for him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God will continue to bless the community in their labor,
which is why the writer ties in their loving work to the justice of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here he has struck that perfect, and
sometimes difficult to understand, balance between God’s grace and faithfulness
and our own hard work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certainly God
will provide for his people and given them the means to remain faithful but
that faithfulness will always be seen in our actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is why it is necessary for God’s people
to both be active in sharing our love and doing good works but in also
constantly recognizing that the strength and grace to do so comes from
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s people certainly are created
for good works which he has prepared in advance for us to do (Eph. 2:10).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is this balance that led Paul declare in 1
Corinthians 15:10 that he had worked harder than anyone to advance the gospel,
but reminds his readers that it was not through his own effort but by the grace
of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what is the proper balance between resting in God’s
grace and faithfulness to see us through to the end and the constant biblical
call to good works and laboring in the Lord?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think the proper balance is beautifully on display in Philippians
3:16: “Only let us live up to what we have already attained.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we over-stress the “live up to” part we
will be full of guilt and constantly pushing ourselves according to our own
strength to do more and get better results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the other hand, if we over-emphasize the “already attained” portion
then we endanger ourselves in becoming lazy and undisciplined and actually
failing to show appreciation to God for what he has done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, God has declared us as his people, and
yes we do need to show evidence of that in our lives as we love others and work
for the advancement of God’s rule and his kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is, of course, the looming danger that he has
already covered: that we can so spurn God’s grace and become so unappreciative
and dull that we take our eyes completely off of Christ and willingly wander
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is why Hebrews urges his
readers to stay diligent in living up to the status that they have been given
as God’s people until the very end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rather than becoming lazy and letting go as some apparently already had
among the family of believers, he wanted them to look at some of the great
examples of those who remained faithful to God and would partake in the
inheritance (the positive examples are something he will mention briefly in the
next section and then draw out more fully in chapter 11).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What they needed to understand and what we cannot miss
is that feelings are unreliable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a
runner only ran and trained when they felt like it there would be no great
runners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we wait until we feel like
it to work hard and be consistent in loving others or giving of our time and
energy to God’s people, or serving in a ministry then it will never
happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our feelings don’t matter when
it comes to this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does matter is
God’s call to stand firm to the end in loving him and loving others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">What encouragement do you find today from the author of
Hebrews words of affirmation to his audience?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why is it important to balance the affirmation that God will not forget
us with the need to be diligent?</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30617622.post-12103730364944768412012-05-21T05:43:00.002-06:002012-05-21T05:43:15.397-06:00Hebrews 6:1-8<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings
about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation
of repentance from acts that lead to death,[a] and of faith in God, 2
instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the
dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4 It is impossible for those who have once been
enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy
Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the
coming age 6 and who have fallen[c] away, to be brought back to repentance. To
their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him
to public disgrace. 7 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. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger
of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dig Deeper<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recently I was going to a location that I had never been
to before and, unfortunately I didn’t have my GPS with me, so I had to try to
figure out how to find the building I was looking for on my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was looking for a particular road to turn
on and couldn’t find it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a time I
became convinced that I was heading the wrong way and so I turned around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I talked myself into the fact that when I had
turned onto the road that I was currently on that I had turned the wrong way,
so I turned around and headed back the other way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had traveled almost a mile on that road so
I had to go back the mile, then go through the intersection heading in the
opposite direction and begin searching for the road that I wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem that I didn’t realize at that
moment was that I had been going the right direction in the first place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, as I found out later, the road I was
looking for was only a few blocks beyond the point where I gave up and turned
around to head in the other direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The reality was that I had given up on the right way, becoming convinced
that it was not the right way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned
around and started in the wrong direction, thinking that I would find my
destination in the other direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
could have headed in that other direction for hours and would never have found
where I was going because I had already given up going in the right direction.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br />
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This passage in Hebrews must surely be considered among
the more hotly debated and easily misunderstood passages in the entire
Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the heart of this passage is
the confounding statement that seems, at first glance, to be saying that once
someone falls away from their discipleship that they can never be
restored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that what Hebrews was
saying to his first audience?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did he
really intend to say that you get but one chance at this life in Christ and if
you stumble away once, then don’t bother trying to come back?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or was that not exactly what the author was
driving across to his first audience?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When we take this passage within the entirety of the context of the
letter and consider carefully what the author actually says, we will see that
his point not all that different from the above illustration.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br />
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the midst of a majestic section showing how Jesus is
the superior high priest that God had always promised his people and that he
was not just superior to the Aaronic priesthood but completely different from them,
coming from the line of Melchizedek, the author of Hebrews broke in to face a
harsh reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The deeper truths he
wanted to teach them about the identity of the Messiah and how that worked out
in their life of faith, he couldn’t because they had grown spiritually
dull.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had taken their eyes off of
the important things like who Jesus was and what he was trying to accomplish in
and through them, and were focusing on other things such as the persecutions
that they were facing and the pressure to return to their old lives outside of
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author chided his audience
as only a good friend could do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
should be teachers who were delving deeply into God’s word, living it our in
their lives, and sharing those truths with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But instead they were struggling with baby
Christian issues like staying faithful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How can you move onto maturity if you’re still struggling with basic
things?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can you learn to drive a car
when you still haven’t learned to walk?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In challenging them, he urged them to leave the basics
of becoming a Christian and mentioned six specific areas, calling them the
elementary teachings, which was a way of saying the basic principles or the
ABC’s of the faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first area is
the repentance that they entered into when they chose the life of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To understand the author’s line of thinking
we have to realize that for them, repentance was more than just an act, it was
a new way of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was another way of
saying “dying to one’s self.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To enter
into the repentance of Christ was to leave the way of life that led to death
and go in the other direction towards the life of the age to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second and third areas were inseparable
from one another and deeply connected to the first: faith in God and baptism.
To have faith was to demonstrate their repentance and embrace the life of
Christ, trusting in it and entering into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Their baptisms were the point when they entered into that life of
repentance (Some newer translations have changed “baptisms” here to “ritual
washings” claiming that the plural state of the word might indicate that the
author was referring to the different cleansing rituals of the Jews, but the
simpler solution is simply to realize that he is addressing the community as a
whole so to refer to instructions about their “baptisms” makes sense).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Closely on the heals of repentance, faith,
and baptism came the fourth area, that of the laying on of hands, which
probably referred both the early Christian practice of laying hands on a newly
baptized person, accepting them into the community and the apostolic practice
of passing on miraculous gifts of the Spirit through the laying on of hands.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The final two areas referred to the basic beliefs and
core doctrines of the early Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The resurrection of the dead, which was the great hope of the Christian
faith and the “eternal judgment,” which would probably be better translated
“the judgment of the coming age.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
resurrection and the time when God would judge the present age while ushering
in his eternal age were both future hopes but also realities that the early
Christians believed they were to be living out now, showing the world what that
age looked like (or at least of hint of that age).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t think the author’s point was, as is often times
assumed, to criticize his audience for doing lessons about these basic things
over and over again and never moving past these basic principles or
salvation-type sermons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps there
was an element of that, but it seems more likely that the author was shaming them
by pointing out that they were struggling with remaining faithful to the life
of Christ into which they had entered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His point would be like telling a teenager who didn’t want to do their
homework that it was time to move past potty training and their ABC’s and get
it together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they were mature
spiritually they would not be struggling with such an idea of being faithful to
Christ and would be moving onto to maturity in their life of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That they were struggling with being faithful
demonstrated that they had never moved past a true understanding of the basic
beliefs of the Christian family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
high time to move on to mature issues of Christian faithfulness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This was important stuff, though, because one who has
walked in the life of Christ and then turned the other way would not find
repentance anywhere else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The debates on
this section usually fall somewhere in between two extremes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One on end are those who do word gymnastics
to claim that the author is not intending to say that someone can genuinely be
a Christian and then walk away from their faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other extreme are those like 2nd
century church leader Tertullian who erroneously began to argue that Hebrews
was saying that if someone sinned after their baptism that they were excluded
from Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This led some to embrace
the idea of putting off their baptisms until their death bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what is the author trying to say here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there a better middle ground that we can
find that is closer to the author’s original intent?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I believe there is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>First, Hebrews describes the initial entry and walk in the life of
Christ in five respects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who have
been enlightened (early Christian language for baptism and entering into the
life of Christ); those who have tasted of the heavenly gift of the eternal life
found in Christ; those who have shared in or “partnered” with the Holy Spirit
and the transforming work that he begins in the life of each baptized believer;
those who have eaten from the meal of obedience to the word of God and done the
will of God; and those who have seen the transformational power of the life of
the coming age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At every stage it is
clear that the writer is describing someone who had truly been part of the life
of the age to come, a true Christian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
is not, as some claim, describing a person who has only “dabbled” in
Christianity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Keep in mind that he was writing to a community where
some had already abandoned Christ, denouncing him and returning to Judaism or
other such beliefs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others were
struggling with making that same mistake, so the author wanted to be clear what
the result of that is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to be
clear that by using the term “fallen away” he was most likely referring to
those who have fallen into apostasy, meaning that they denounced Christ and
returned to their former way of life, thinking that they could still somehow be
God’s people without Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once they
have gone down that road their is no repentance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In making the decision to abandon Christ and
leave his people they were declaring that they could find another path to God,
another repentance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hebrews is not
speaking here of people who have grown weak in their struggle against sin and
drifted off in their resolve to live a holy life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He speaks of those who entered into the
repentance found alone in the life of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once they turn away from that and turn to another “repentance” that they
supposed could be found in the works of the law or some pagan religion, all
hope was gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no repentance
except that found in Christ so if they denounced that and left, the idea that
they could be brought back to repentance through some other means was a
fantasy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They couldn’t reject repentance
and then somehow be brought back to it through another means.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not only would leaving Christ and his people be turning
around and looking for their destination in the wrong direction, it meant that
they would be crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to
public shame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, they would
be joining the ranks of those that had rejected Christ during his lifetime,
putting him up on the cross of shame to die the death of one cursed by
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had to hear in the starkest
terms possible and realize that they weren’t just taking a rest from a weary
journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To leave the life of Christ
because they no longer wished to suffer for him meant to join the ranks of the
very ones who put him to death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that
would be a true tragedy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.05in 0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He finishes off the point by putting it in agricultural
terms that would have been more familiar to those in the agrarian societies of
the first century (and uses a great deal of imagery from Isaiah 5 as
well).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like land that takes in the rain
and produces a good crop are those that remained faithful to the life of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But those that turned to other ways thinking
that they could find repentance there, would be like land that took in the rain
and produced nothing but thorns and thistles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the end, all that can be done is to burn out the land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The warning that they are given to remain
faithful to their life in Christ is stark and direct and should cause us to do
a great deal of thinking ourselves, but it’s not all doom and gloom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, there was great hope on the horizon,
and it is to that that the author will turn next.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20201f; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Devotional Thought<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #383536; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The author of Hebrews strongly exhorted his readers to
move past struggling with issues of remaining faithful to God and his people,
citing those as the types of things that infants deal with, not mature
Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you truly settled those
things in your mind and moved on to growing spiritual and continuing the
process of spiritually maturing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
does the author suggest being able to do so to those that are struggling with
the basics of their faith?</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>MBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01798583547192088971noreply@blogger.com0