SEPTEMBER 30 – - – Hebrews 4:14-5:10
In this passage there’s a lot to see, but there is one distinct point; we are a sinners that must be cleansed by sacrifice, and Jesus out of love became our everlasting sacrifice. He went through all the things that we did and probably more, he had parents that probably told him you can’t do this you have to do that just like we do. He had siblings that probably pushed his buttons just like a lot of us do. He was even tempted by satin, just like we are, and he stayed strong and pure through out every second of all of this. So as he was perfect in every way and we were sinning and falling short in the eyes of God, and Jesus saw what we had coming and instead of letting us get what we deserved he said give me all of their punishments, beat me for it and let them go. He loves us enough to go through horrible torture so we wouldn’t have to, and he did it out of love.
So in this next week I challenge you to stand up for him, it’s the least we can do after all that he has done for us, so read your bible and know the pages so when someone comes and starts doing wrong we know where and why they shouldn’t do it, and pray for God to help you and give you strength to stand up to that person who is doing bad stuff, cause when you really think about it, he loves us and he took that punishment and when you don’t do what God tells us to, he’s sitting there begging us to do right because he paid for us to go into heaven so he could enjoy it with us, but if we don’t take advantage of it and go, then he paid for nothing.
- Ethan Hill
SEPTEMBER 29 – - – Hebrews 4:1-13
As we read these verses we are reminded of His promise of rest, but we are also told that in verse three “So I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest”. First of all, when I first read this I was completely confused! But I came to understand it in a sense that we haven’t finished our work yet, and we have not completed what we were made for. So if you think about it in real life, you wouldn’t really see a “good” worker stopping when he was about to finish just to rest – in full understanding that the worker was a GOOD worker, we should all try to be good workers, although we may fail, and we will most likely, we need to always be striving to do our best! But we also need spiritual rest, meaning we should rest in what we learn from God, preparing us for the next day. Really, we just need to Rest, or I guess you could say Trust; that God is in control.
So this passage is a reminder that we shouldn’t be stopping when we are about three fourths of the way done, we need to finish our purpose on this earth. Choosing while we are still busy, to Rest in the fact that God is in Control. And one day we can rest eternally with Christ.
SEPTEMBER 28 – - – Hebrews 3
In Hebrews chapter three I read that obedience is a key element, and we need to open our eyes and hearts to what God is telling us to do. For example, there are consequences for ignoring what God is calling us to do. The Israelites were in the wilderness for forty years because of their disobedience, and they never got to enter the Promised Land. We need to always remember that we are not in charge of our lives, but God is in charge. If we become in charge of our own lives and ignore God, there will be many consequences. This is why we need to fellowship with other believers and bring each other up in the Lord.
- Grace Walker
SEPTEMBER 27 – - – Hebrews 2
“Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” – Hebrews 2:1
Take a Plunge With Me… I want you to join me on a brief trip to the coast today; that’s right, we’re going to THE BEACH! The trip we’re taking won’t cost you a thing, because we’re not really going anywhere… just bear with me, because I am sure that all of us have experienced what Hebrews chapter two uses as a physical illustration of what happens to us spiritually.
Have you ever DRIFTED…?
It happens so SUBTLY doesn’t it. Your out in the water with a friend, jumping, splashing & spazing; and when you look up you realize that you are a long way from where you ought to be, you’re a long way from where you once were. If it would have been a sudden pull on your body, or one massive rouge wave that pushed you so far from where you were swimming it wouldn’t have been something you could have missed; but Drifting doesn’t work that way does it!? It’s a subtle push, a gentle slide; and spiritually speaking – that’s exactly how it works with us! You may look up now, and consider “spiritual things” only to realize that you are so far from where you should be in your relationship with Jesus, so far from where you once were; and it didn’t just happen over night did it? It was a slow, subtle process.
Why did it happen you ask… well think about Drifting in the Physical realm again. There you are at the beach, realizing that you’ve drifted. What’s to blame? What caused it? Well, there’s a current that is pushing against you, just like this world that is contrary to God. But you could have kept yourself from being caught in that current and pushed down the beach if only you had STAYED MOTIVATED – just like in your relationship with Jesus! If you lose motivation, if you lose direction, if you lose sight of where your point of reference on the beach (your goal; heaven)… then you will drift far from where you should be with Jesus!
But is there a solution to Drifting…? Sure there is! In fact, it’s simple. Hebrews 2:1 tells us that if you are drifting then you need to “give the more earnest heed” – in today’s vernacular; you need to pay closer attention! Really, you need to fight your tendency to become CASUAL as a Christian, because you’ll slowly drift until you realize that you are now a Carnally Minded Christian; one who no longer Values God & the Things of God above what this world has to offer.
Take some Inventory Spiritually Today… have you drifted from where you should be, from where you once were with the Lord? Can I remind you that He’s worth fighting for! Don’t lose sight of your goal; you’ve begun well, JUST FINISH STRONG!
- Trevor
SEPTEMBER 26 – - – Hebrews 1
What do you Really Know about God? What can you Really be Certain of?
We live in a World that has what seems like a million different idea’s about What God is Like. And with so many opinions, it doesn’t take long to realize that not everyone can be right; but the question is, how do we know who is wrong? Some say He’s a moody old man, some say He’s hiding in the Tree’s, some say He looks a lot like the genie from Aladdin, others say He’s not a He at all… but what can we be sure of?
Regardless of what Tom Cruise is saying, or the Book of Mormon is teaching, you can know that The Bible that has withstood scrutiny for nearly two thousand years, and continues to silence it’s critics & scoffers… says that everything you want to know about God, you can learn by looking at Jesus!
That’s what Hebrews 1:3 tells us; Jesus is the express image of the Father. It means the exact duplication; it’s actually the world they would use to describe the process of minting a coin (duplicating it). You would stamp the heated metal, so that each coin would be identical; because it was cut from the same mold. So too with Jesus! Everything we know of His heart, everything we read of His compassion, every time we see Him forgive and restore; we can apply those things to God who is not seen – because Jesus is the express image of the Father! There is so much you can learn about God that is concealed, by looking at Jesus who is revealed – just like if I were to conceal a coin behind my back and then show you another coin cut from the same mold; you could be sure about so much regarding that which was concealed, by looking at that which is revealed.
I wonder about people who Don’t Read of Jesus’ Patients with those who let Him down, who have never heard of His compassion over even those who nailed Him to the Cross; evidenced in His constant muttering, oh Father, Forgive them, they don’t even realize what’s really happening. I wonder what they think of God…? The only things they are learning about What He is Like is from what they see in you! …from what they see you do, how they see you respond, how they hear talk, when they see you seek revenge rather then extending forgiveness. Who is God according to Your Life’s Example!?
SEPTEMBER 25 – - – Philemon
And tell me again WHY I should FORGIVE!?
I wise individual once told me that we are Most Like God, When We Forgive! I would have to agree with him; after all, Forgiveness was not just man’s greatest need, it was God’s greatest work! But I’ve often wondered why it can be so hard for all of us (myself included) to extend forgiveness to others. We received it freely, without measure, having done absolutely nothing to deserve it. Here in Paul’s Letter are a few things to Keep in Mind about Why We Need to Forgive Others.
Paul writes from a prison cell appealing to an old friend, to accept a run away slave that had wronged him (his master). In doing so he takes the time to remind this friend that HE OWED HIM HIS OWN LIFE; Paul was the one that had shared the Gospel with this man, so in a sense, he was indebted to him for all of eternity (V19). So how is it then that he would withhold forgiveness from this man for something that was small, insignificant, & temporary? And it’s true for you too! You have been forgiven an insurmountable debt. One that would effect you for all of eternity. Yet the harsh words they said, the mean look she gave, or the overbearing attitude they have was but for a moment and so insignificant in comparison to the debt we were forgiven!
But they have to ask for it, they need to beg for it… I want them to do something to earn my forgivenessyou say. Paul, anticipating the thoughts of his old friend informs him that any debt this man owed him, or any wrong he had done to him – would be made right by the hands of Paul. He was willing to step in between the two in order to bring them together again, and if need be; pay any debts that were owed (V17-19). And isn’t that just what Jesus has done for us with the Father! He stood in the gap, and allowed his hands to be pierced, his back to be beaten, His head to bear the crown of thorns – He said if he has wronged you or owes you anything, put that on my account. And now Jesus would say to you; even though they aren’t asking, I am… even though they aren’t offering to pay, to make it right; I am…I have paid for their sin, just as I Paid for Yours!
As if what Paul had reminded this distant friend of wasn’t enough, he then informs his friend that he would soon stop in (once released from prison), just to check on how things were going; and no doubt to see if he was willing to forgive his run away slave (V22). What a reminder for us! Jesus has promised that at an hour you do not expect, He will return. As a Master who has entrusted His affairs in the hands of us, His Stewards; He will soon drop in to see how we, who have been given so much, have chosen to invest it.
So the question is… Are You Who Have Been Forgiven Much, chosing to forgive others? Are you being a Steward of the Forgiveness He has Extended & Entrusted to you?
- Trevor
September 24 – - – Colossians 4:2-18
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person .” v.6
It takes a great effort to have your speech to be gracious. Effort in that you must be thoughtful of what you say. I find myself in too many problems because I speak and then think. The apostle is stating that because of the desire to have our speech be gracious that we develop a natural response to people. We begin to develop this ability to think and then respond out of truth. This begins with the desire to have your speech seasoned with salt that you are able to share the same joy that you have in Christ with others.
