Today’s Reading: 1 John 1:1 – 2:6

We are down to our last few New Testament letters, all written by the apostle John, who often described himself as the disciple Jesus loved. He felt the love of Jesus so strongly and it comes out in his writings. John is believed to have been the only one of Jesus’ disciples still alive at this point and the only one to die of old age or natural causes.

The Bible does not tell us how each disciple died but information has been pieced together from other historical documents and legends. Like Paul, Peter was martyred in Rome during the reign of Nero (Paul was beheaded and Peter was crucified upside down by his request). Andrew took the gospel to what is now the Soviet Union, Turkey, Asia Minor and Greece, where he was crucified. Thomas took the gospel to Syria and India, where the spears of four soldiers took his life. Philip took the gospel to North Africa and Asia Minor, where he was cruelly put to death by a Roman proconsul who was angry that Philip had converted his wife to Christianity.

Some say Matthew was not martyred while others say he was stabbed in Ethiopia. There are varying accounts of how Bartholomew died, all stories of his martyrdom for the gospel. James is believed to have been stoned and clubbed to death, while Simon the Zealot was killed when he refused to worship the sun god. Matthias, the disciple who replaced Judas, was burned to death. [http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1-300/whatever-happened-to-the-twelve-apostles-11629558.html]

All of these men gave their lives for the sake of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. They were just common men who knew what it was to be loved by Jesus and were passionate about spreading Jesus’ message of salvation — no matter what. Their life was a response to His love. They had walked with him and talked with him, so they were willing to die for him.

GOD IS LIGHT.

John’s message, like the messages of Paul and Peter, speaks strongly of salvation and holiness. There is no darkness in God because God is light. This speaks to the holiness of God and the holiness that he calls each one of us to. If you say you have fellowship with God but continue living in spiritual darkness, you are not walking in the light of God.

But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. – 1 John 1:7-10

GOD IS HOLY.

John is saying that God is holy – He is light and there is no darkness in Him at all. God does not sin and cannot sin because He is the definition of holiness. So, we cannot say that we have fellowship with God if we willfully keep sinning because sin separates us from God. Sin in our lives is spiritual darkness and God is light.

We are all sinners. But, here’s the good news – the message the disciples were willing to die in order to spread: We do not have to continue living in sin. We have a choice. God not only forgives us of our sins, He also cleanses us from all wickedness. He does a work in our lives and in our hearts, making us into a new creation. We are no longer slaves to sin but have been given the Spirit. Instead of giving into our sinful urgings, we can give into the urgings of the Spirit (Romans 8). It is then that we are able to experience fellowship with God – living in the light, as God is in the light.

LIVE IN THE LIGHT AND WALK IN HIS HOLINESS.

We have all sinned (1:8) and, because we are human, we are imperfect. But, when we live by the Spirit, the Spirit speaks to us when attitudes are creeping in or when our words are not pleasing to God. We have a choice in that moment to yield to the urging of the Spirit and not continue with our sinful attitude. We can stop speaking immediately or humbly apologize for what has already been said. Or we can ignore the Spirit and give into our sinful urgings. That is when we sin and that is when we choose spiritual darkness that separates us from God. God is holy and He is calling us to be holy, just as He is equipping us with His Spirit in order to live a holy life.

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. – 1 John 2:1-6

To live as Jesus did — that’s a tall order. That is what the disciples did. They lived as Jesus lived and they died as Jesus died, willingly giving their lives for the sake of the advancement of God’s Kingdom. And we are all called to live for God in obedience – whatever He asks us to do. I’m so thankful that I am not on my own to complete this assignment.

Thank you, Jesus, for being my advocate – my truly righteous sacrifice. I choose today to respond to your love in obedience to the Holy Spirit. My desire is to live IN You instead of living FOR me. May I be a conduit of your light in the midst of the spiritual darkness of this world, and may your righteousness be evident in my life — not for my glory but for yours. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Jude

In this next letter, we hear from another sibling of Jesus who struggled to believe in who Jesus was until after Jesus was resurrected from the dead. Jude humbly introduces himself as a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. He is now a devoted brother and follower of Jesus, and is concerned about the direction the church is headed.

False teaching had made its way into the church and Jude wrote a short letter to point them back to the basics of their faith and back to holy living. He reminded them in his introduction that they have been called by God, who loves them and keeps them safe in the care of Jesus Christ. He encouraged them to be there for each other during this difficult time, to be concerned about their brothers in Christ, and to encourage them to stay true to their faith.

Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all to his holy people. I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. – Jude 3-4a

DEFEND THE FAITH

Jude also urged the church to defend the faith God had entrusted to His holy people. There were people in the church saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives, but Jude was warning them not to believe this false teaching. He used several examples of how God’s people were punished for their sins:
1. After rescuing the nation of Israel from Egypt, Jesus later destroyed those who did not remain faithful (v.5).
2. The angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God had given them are being kept securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment (v.6).
3. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire for their immorality and sexual perversion (v.7).

Jude described these people as following their own natural instincts instead of following God’s Spirit within them (v.10,19). Those who want to redefine God’s expectations of a godly life are like “dangerous reefs” that can shipwreck us or like “shameless shepherds” who care only for themselves. They are like “clouds blowing…wild waves of the sea…wandering stars.”

They are like trees in autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots. – Jude 12b

DEFEND THE FAITH

When we begin to embrace a theology that ignores God’s call to righteousness, our roots begin to pull away from the vine. Instead of humbly submitting to what His word defines as sin, we begin to put our faith in our own instincts instead of the truth found in scriptures. Our hearts are moved with compassion and love toward those who are caught up in sin, and we use mercy as an excuse to embrace their sin rather than help them find freedom from it. But if their sin will lead them to separation from God, how is it mercy to encourage it?

And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives. – Jude 22-23

Now that’s mercy! Do not just write off nominal Christians and those who have completely turned away from the faith. Let your heart respond to their weakness and reach out to rescue them from the path they are headed down. In other words, love the sinner even while hating the sin they are living in. And care enough about the believer who is settling for less than all God has for them to invite them to truly encounter God.

Jude also makes it clear that we are not to be judgmental. Even Michael, the mightiest of all of the angels, left judgment in the hands of God (v.9). Jude’s prayer for the church was that God would give them more and more mercy, peace, and love (v.2). But Jude also made it clear that we can show mercy towards others without redefining the role of grace in the sinner’s life.

But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love. – Jude v.20-21

DEFEND THE FAITH

Jude’s warned the church that there would be scoffers whose purpose in life was to satisfy their own ungodly desires, creating divisions among those in the church (v.18). John had a similar warning for the Church in his third letter: Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God. – 3 John 11

Father God, we thank you for the truth we have found in scripture this morning. We thank you for the grace we experience through the redemption made possible through Jesus, even though we do not deserve it. We place our confidence in the power of your Spirit to help us overcome sin in our lives, rather than settling for less than the life to which you have called us. God, we pray for the Church today. We see evidence of this kind of false teaching and the divisions it is causing across congregations and denominations, and we pray for mercy for the Church. Lord, we humbly pray that all believers will submit to your authority, showing mercy to others while allowing you to be the One who defines sin. We ask for you to reveal your truth to every heart, healing the divisions in the Church and keeping your leaders rooted in your truth. Amen.

All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen. – Jude 25

Today’s Reading: Hebrews 13

ENDURE IN YOUR LOVE FOR OTHERS.

Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were also there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. – Hebrews 13:1-3

Be authentic in your love for others. Be sympathetic with their situation instead of judging their situation. Consider what they must be going through, and keep on loving them as if they were family.

ENDURE IN YOUR MARRIAGE.

Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. – Hebrews 13:4

ENDURE IN YOUR CONFIDENCE IN GOD.

Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” – Hebrews 13:5-6

Do not put your confidence in the things of this world that do not last, but keep your focus on Jesus, who is the same yesterday, today and forever (13:8). Look at the example set before you of the saints and teachers — people God has placed in your life to answer your questions and cheer you on to your eternal reward.

ENDURE WITH THE HOPE OF HEAVEN

For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a CONTINUAL sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. –- Hebrews 13:14-16

How do we do this?
How do we live this kind of generous and holy life?
It seems impossible to endure through everything life throws at us.
It seems unlikely that we can meet this high mark.
It is impossible without God’s help.
God, who is unshakable.
Jesus, who is the same yesterday, today and forever.
The Spirit, who daily guides us and produces righteousness inside of us.
HE will equip you.
HE will produce in you every good thing that is pleasing to God.

Now may the God of peace –
Who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,
The great Shepherd of the sheep,
And ratified an eternal covenant with his blood –
May he equip you with all you need for doing his will.
May he produce in you,
Through the power of Jesus Christ,
Every good thing that is pleasing to him.
All glory to him forever and ever! Amen. – Hebrews 13:20-21

God, we thank you for all we have learned about you as we have soaked in the truth found in Hebrews. Our hearts are grateful for the gift of your Son, and the sacrifice that paid for our sins once and for all. We are forever changed because of the access we now have to you. Thank you for the power of your written word that encourages us and gives us examples of those who walked in faith through difficult situations. We pray that you will give us the endurance we need to run the race you have set before us with our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Amen.

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. – Hebrews 4:14-16

Today’s Reading: Hebrews 12:5-29

So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. – Hebrews 12:12-13

The writer of Hebrews challenges his readers to ENDURE God’s discipline; to not give up when He corrects you because he loves you as a Father loves His child. Instead come away from God’s discipline stronger, more determined than ever to help others grow stronger as well.

For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening – it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. – Hebrews 12:10-11

LIVE A LIFE OF ENDURANCE

We endure God’s discipline so that we might share in His holiness, which looks like this: Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many (Hebrews 12:14-15).

The writer of Hebrews points us to the example of Esau and his response to God’s discipline. Let’s look again to this story of rivalry between brothers, focusing on Esau’s response to the discipline that could have drawn him closer to his Heavenly Father.

Abel offered his VERY BEST to God when he prepared his sacrifice. He did not see it as a waste to gather together the best of what he had and give it to God, but He gave in faith – trusting and considering it a privilege to give his best to God.

Abel was the second son born to Adam and Eve, born after his brother Cain. Abel became a shepherd while his brother, Cain, became a farmer. When it was time for the harvest, Cain gathered together some of his crops and gave them to the Lord as a gift. His labor produced crops — that’s what he did and so that’s what he had to give to God. That wasn’t the problem. The Lord rejected Cain’s gift because Cain did not offer his best to God, which is what God required.

Second, celebrate the Festival of Harvest, when you bring me the first crops of your harvest…As you harvest your crops, bring the VERY BEST of the first harvest to the house of the Lord your God. – Exodus 23:16,19a

Abel, who was a shepherd, gathered together all of his firstborn lambs from his flock. Imagine taking special care to know what sheep have given birth for the very first time and setting these lambs aside in order to recognize them as special. Abel then selected the VERY BEST of his firstborn lambs from his flock and gave his offering to the Lord, who accepted Abel’s gift because it was his VERY BEST.

Cain reacted poorly. In jealousy, he became angry and “looked dejected.” In other words, he was pouting. God saw that Cain was angry and feeling sorry for himself. He gave Cain a very stern warning, a warning that if heeded would have changed the course of Cain’s life forever. Instead, he let his anger be self-serving, bringing a curse upon himself. He had a choice, just as we do, and Cain chose to hold onto his anger.

“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.

Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?”

“I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”

But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood. No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.” – Genesis 4:6-12

God’s warning is also for us. Watch out for sin, jealousy, anger, self-pity! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and become its master before it becomes yours! Submit to God’s discipline in your life and allow it to make you stronger.

Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking…
Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is UNSHAKABLE, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire. – Hebrews 12:25a, 28-29

Today’s Reading: Hebrews 12:1-5; Psalm 22

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. – Hebrews 12:1

RUN THE RACE WITH ENDURANCE.

I love the word ENDURANCE. When I hear it, I think of courage and strength even in the most difficult of situations. I think of a determination to not give up but to finish strong. And what does a runner do if they want to run their fastest and cross the finish line? They take off everything that could possibly weigh them down. Even if it is not against the rules, even if others are doing it successfully, if it is inhibiting my pace, I must shed it. Even if it is not listed in the ten commandments, even if there is not a bible verse that strongly prohibits it, I must avoid it if the Holy Spirit is warning me of its unhealthy affect on my life.

What is God telling you to strip away because it is slowing you down? Perhaps it is a relationship or a job; maybe it is a hobby or even an unhealthy habit. What if there is something I am putting in my body that is compromising my health, limiting my availability to the many ways in which God wants to use me today. Or maybe it is my earthly possessions that have distracted me from God’s call on my life. The writer of Hebrews has great advice for how to run this race God has set before us.

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. – Hebrews 12:2a

IF IT SLOWS YOU DOWN OR TRIPS YOU UP, GET RID OF IT!

We need to get rid of everything that is distracting us from our purpose in life and focus our eyes fully on Jesus. Get rid of that which is slowing you down and the sin that is tripping you up! Consider all that Jesus suffered on the cross so that you do not have to live a life of struggle against sin. Consider the victory our Champion displayed when he conquered death and rose from the grave. Jesus, who initiated our faith, wants to perfect our faith.

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. – Hebrews 11:6

Let’s consider again the crowd of witnesses the writer of Hebrews is referring to, and all that they shed in order to give their lives fully to God.
Abel intentionally gave the best of his harvest to God.
Enoch lived a life that pleased the Lord.
Noah received a righteousness that comes by faith.
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob placed their faith in the inheritance that God promised them.
Sarah believed God would keep His promise.
Joseph believed that God would rescue His people from Egypt.
Moses kept his eyes on the One who is invisible.
The people of Israel walked through the Red Sea on dry ground, and marched around Jericho until God caused the walls of the city to fall.
Rahab hid the spies, and then spent the rest of her life living among God’s people.
Gideon reduced his army so that God would get the glory.
David trusted in God, stepping into his royal calling.
Daniel kept his allegiance to God and the mouths of lions were closed.

Our ancestors trusted in you,
and you rescued them.
They cried out to you and were saved.
They trusted in you and were never disgraced. – Psalm 22:4-5

If they can do it, so can you. If God was faithful in their life, He will be faithful in yours. If God sets your feet on a path that requires faith, run with endurance the race marked out for you! Ask the Spirit to reveal if there is anything in your life that is slowing down your growth or keeping you from being fully focused on Jesus — the Champion of your faith!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. – Hebrews 12:1

Today’s Reading: Hebrews 11:17-40

By faith, Abel…by faith, Enoch…by faith, Noah…by faith, Abraham…by faith, Sarah…

By faith, Abraham obeyed God even when it did not make sense, even when it broke his heart to do so. He had waited for so long to be a father, and now God was asking him to sacrifice the fulfillment of God’s promise of a son. It did not make sense that God would want him to do it, but Abraham trusted in the God who could raise Isaac back to life again. Abraham had received the promise that he would have many descendants through Isaac, so he held tight to that promise while not letting it keep him from obediently responding to what God was asking him to do.

By faith, Isaac spoke blessings over both of his sons, Jacob and Esau. In the same way, Jacob blessed each of Joseph’s sons. As Joseph was dying, he spoke hope over the entire people of Israel — that they would leave Egypt someday. He knew God had used him to spare God’s people from starvation and death, and by faith, he trusted that God would use someone else to get them to the land promised to Abraham.

By faith, Amram and Jochebed hid their baby boy for three months. Pharoah had commanded that all of the newborn Hebrew boys be thrown into the Nile River, but Moses’ parents knew that their son was special and needed to live. By faith, they placed him in a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch, placing it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. By faith, they watched as the daughter of Pharoah found their son and adopted him as her own. Even though she was unable to raise her son, God gave Jochebed more time with him as the princess hired her to nurse the baby.

By faith, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter, and chose to share in the oppression of God’s people instead of the worldly pleasures available to him in the palace. Because of his faith, God used Moses to rescue His people from Egypt.

He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. – Hebrews 11:26-27

By faith, Moses told the people to sprinkle the blood of the Passover lamb on their doorposts so that the angel of death who not kill their firstborn sons. By faith, Moses placed his staff in the Red Sea and watched as God provided dry land for the people of Israel to escape the Egyptian army that was pressing in on them.

By faith, Joshua led the people of Israel around the fortified city of Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down. By faith, Rahab was not destroyed in that battle, even though she was a prostitute.

How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death.

But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. – Hebrews 11:32-38

I have so much to learn from the faith of those who have come before us. Like Abraham, I can respond to God’s instructions in obedience. Like Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, I can speak a message of hope over others while also intentionally speaking blessings over my family. By faith, I can obey God rather than man, and I can trust God with the future of my girls. I can keep my eyes on the invisible God, trusting in Him for both my protection and my provision.

When God’s instructions do not make sense to me, I will obey. When people criticize my faith and mock the righteousness to which God is calling me, I can keep my eyes focused on my eternal reward. No matter how I am mistreated or persecuted, I will cling to my faith in God, knowing that He is faithful to keep His promises.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. – Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

What is your faith story? Who inspires you and who will you inspire? I encourage you to take time today to soak in the beautiful examples of faith provided through the scriptures but also lived out among us. Consider what story will be told of you. By faith, ______…

Today’s Reading: Hebrews 11:1-16

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. – Hebrews 11:1-2

As we read in chapter 10 yesterday, God is not asking us to create a holiness of our own or to reach for perfection by human strength. If we try to do that, we have missed out on the role of our perfect High Priest, who wants to daily strengthen our faith and increase our hope. Faith is not something we can muster up on our own, it is a gift God gives us when we ask Him for it. He will give us the faith we need to persevere, to endure patiently, to step into His presence with sincere hearts fully trusting Him.

The writer of Hebrews then took the time to pull examples from the history of God’s people in order to encourage readers to use the faith God had given us to endure whatever we may face. Look to God for strength in the difficult times, just as those who came before us have done. Have faith in any circumstance, and hold tight to the God who loves you and never leaves you!

By faith, we believe God created the entire universe simply by commanding its existence. We believe this world did not appear accidentally but through the words of a holy Creator who said “let there be” and there was.

By faith, Abel gathered together the best of what he had and offered it to God while his brother, Cain, chose to keep the best for himself and give God less. Abel’s offering reflected a heart of righteousness, and God was pleased. By faith, I am reminded that all I have comes from God and it belongs to Him. There is nothing I have that is worth hanging onto tighter than my relationship with God.

By faith, Enoch was known for being a person who lived to please God. When he was sixty-five years old, the Lord blessed him with a son. From that day on, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God. Enoch lived to be 365 years old and then one day he disappeared, because God took him (Genesis 5:21-24). Enoch’s story reminds me that God wants to be a part of my every moment. God is pleased when we live in close fellowship with him. It also reminds me that waiting for God’s blessings can increase my faith in Him.

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. – Hebrews 11:6

By faith, Noah obeyed God when warned that something was about to happen — something that had never happened before. God gave him a big assignment and he responded in obedience, doing everything exactly how God had commanded him to. When God’s heart was broken by the extent of human wickedness on earth, Noah found favor with the Lord (Genesis 6). By faith, I can live the kind of life that stands out in contrast to the disobedience and disregard of this sinful world.

By faith, Abraham responded in obedience to God’s call, leaving everything he knew in order to set out on a journey with an unknown destination. And when he arrived to the land God had promised him, he continued to live by faith because the promise of God’s blessings was still unseen. You see, Abraham did not live for earthly gain but was confidently looking forward to his eternal home — a city designed and built by God (Hebrews 11:10).

By faith, Sarah believed that God would keep his promise. Even though she was barren and old, Sarah experienced the miracle of God’s promise of a son, and from that son a whole nation was born — a nation so large that God compared them to the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Life does not always make sense, but I can trust that God has a bigger plan at work. I can rest today knowing that I serve a God who has my tomorrows.

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

By faith, they saw the fulfillment of God’s promise in the distance and they welcomed it. They died still believing that God keeps His promises. They lived life as if they were on a journey towards God, not as if they had already arrived. They lived light on their feet, as foreigners and nomads here on earth. I am choosing to stop and soak in these testimonies this morning. I want their life of faith to strengthen mine; I want to be changed by the examples of this cloud of witnesses.

What is God trying to say to you today? If you have not heard from him yet, read through the stories of faith in Hebrews 11 and trust Him to speak into your own story. Ask God for more faith for today, believing He is the God who keeps His promises.

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. – Hebrews 10:35-36

Today’s Reading: Hebrews 10:11-39

For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. – Hebrews 10:10

The old covenant called for the priests to make the same sacrifices day after day, but Jesus offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for our sins — a sacrifice that was good for all time (10:12). Because of this one offering, Jesus forever made perfect those who are being made holy (10:14). This new covenant made possible through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ has been placed in our hearts and written on our minds (10:16). Our sins have been forgiven!

And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices. – Hebrews 10:18

By his death, Jesus opened the curtain to the Most Holy Place, creating a new and life-giving way. We no longer have to go to the priest, asking him to offer sacrifices on our behalf to appease the God whom we have sinned against. No, we now have access to go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts, confessing our sins and fully trusting in the power of the blood of Jesus to forgive our sins (10:22). We can experience freedom from the regrets of our past and freedom from the power of sin that daily entices us to go back to our old ways.

HOLD ON TO YOUR FAITH AND LET GO OF YOUR SIN.

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. – Hebrews 10:23-25

God’s plan is for those of us who are working for Him and showing our love for Him to KEEP ON LOVING others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what we hope for will come true. His plan is that we would not become spiritually dull or indifferent but that we would follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their FAITH and ENDURANCE (6:10-12). He is calling us to persevere through the difficulties of this world so that we can enjoy all that God has prepared for us in heaven.

Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. – Hebrews 10:26-29

Those are some of the strongest verses you will read in the New Testament, and we need to take them seriously. Through the blood of Jesus, this new covenant allows us to live in relationship with God. It does not promise that we will not be subject to ridicule or suffering, but it does require that we remain faithful no matter what life in this imperfect world brings us. It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God if we have disregarded the blood of the covenant and have ignored the promptings of the Holy Spirit (10:31), but it is a wonderful thing to fall into the arms of a loving God who has far better things waiting for those of us who remain faithful to the covenant relationship we have begun with God — things that will last forever (10:34).

LIVE OUT YOUR FAITH AND LET HIM MAKE YOU HOLY.

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. – Hebrews 10:35-36

The message of Hebrews 10 puts a new perspective on our decision of whether or not to live life for ourselves or to live life for God. How can we live out the kind of faith that God requires? We do not have to reach perfection by human strength; we do not have to produce an earthly attempt at holiness. If we try to do that, we have missed out on the role of our perfect High Priest, who wants to daily strengthen our faith and increase our hope.

TRUST IN THE LORD AND HOLD TIGHTLY TO HOPE.

How do we do this? How do we continue trusting in the Lord, holding tightly to the hope we have. It requires faith. Just like holiness, faith is not something we can muster up on our own, it is a gift God gives us when we ask Him for it. He will give us the faith we need to persevere, to endure patiently, to step into His presence with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. And when faith is a gift from God, it is PERFECT FAITH!

The writer of Hebrews is calling us to hold on to our faith and endure through the difficult times, just as those who came before us have done. They set an incredible example for us of what it means to have faith in any circumstance and how to hold on tight to the God who loves us and never leaves us! Let’s spend the next few days soaking in the testimonies of Hebrews 11, and asking God to increase our faith in Him.

Today’s Reading: Hebrews 9:1 – 10:10

The first covenant provided regulations for worship, as well as a place to worship. Following the Lord’s instructions, the people built a Tabernacle with two rooms. The first room was called the Holy Place, and this is where the priests would perform their religious duties. Behind a curtain there was a second room called the Most Holy Place, and only the High Priest could enter this room and only once a year.

And he always offered blood for his own sins and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use. – Hebrews 9:7b-8

The gifts and sacrifices presented by the priests were able to fulfill the requirements of God, but they were not able to cleanse the consciences of God’s people. The blood of the sacrificed animals could cleanse the people from ceremonial impurity, but the blood of Jesus Christ purifies our consciences from all of our sins so that we can be reconciled to God. This allows us to authentically worship God from a place of forgiveness and restoration.

So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood – not the blood of goats and calves – he entered the Most Holy Place ONCE FOR ALL TIME and secured our redemption forever. – Hebrews 9:11-12

Jesus Christ offered himself to God as the PERFECT sacrifice for our sins (9:14). Then the PERFECT sacrifice became our PERFECT High Priest, mediating a new covenant between God and man. Because of his death on the cross, we can be set free from the penalty of our sins; because of the new covenant Jesus mediated, we can receive the eternal inheritance that God has promised to the redeemed (9:15).

For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. – Hebrews 9:22b

This is why Moses used the blood of calves and goats to confirm the first covenant that God had made with His people. But this was only a human effort to replicate a heavenly ceremony. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals (9:23).

The old covenant involved the shedding of animals’ blood and had to be repeated on certain days and at certain ceremonies. Even then, the cleansing from those sacrifices was not perfect, not permanent and not capable of taking away feelings of guilt (10:1-2). If an annual sacrifice had been necessary, Jesus would have had to die again and again, but His blood was more powerful than that of animals.

JESUS’ BLOOD WAS SO PURE AND HIS SACRIFICE SO PERFECT THAT IT TOOK CARE OF THE NEED FOR BLOOD TO BE SHED ONCE AND FOR ALL!

But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice. And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. – Hebrews 9:26b-28

JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS — WHY WOULD WE REJECT THIS SALVATION BY CONTINUING IN SIN?

God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of Jesus (10:10). So, if God’s plan is for us to be holy, which is possible because of the blood of Jesus, what happens if we choose to continue in sin rather than walk in holiness? What happens if we continue to give in to the urgings of the sinful nature instead of giving in to the urgings of the Spirit God has given us?

The writer of Hebrews talks about those who have repented of their sins, experienced all of the wonderful things a relationship with God has to offer, including the Holy Spirit, but then reject the Son of God. The writer says, “by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame” (Hebrews 6:6). How heartbreaking!

God’s plan is for those of us who are working for Him to KEEP on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what we hope for will come true. His plan is that we would not become spiritually dull or indifferent but that we would follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their FAITH and ENDURANCE (6:10-12).

Oh God, we hold tight to the hope that lies before us – the hope given through this new covenant made possible by the death of your Son, the perfect sacrifice. Lord, we desire to let go of our own plans and all this world offers and cling to You and You only. Thank you for this hope that we have in You. It is a trustworthy anchor for our souls, giving us the faith and endurance to keep on loving and to keep on serving (6:18-19). Amen.

Today’s Reading: Hebrews 8

Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven. There he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle, the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands. – Hebrews 8:1-2

A FAR BETTER TABERNACLE WITH FAR BETTER MATERIALS

And since every high priest is required to offer gifts and sacrifices, our High Priest must make an offering, too. If he were here on earth, he would not even be a priest, since there already are priests who offer the gifts required by the law. They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: “Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.” – Hebrews 8:3-5

God gave Moses instructions to build a place of worship that would mirror the heavenly Tabernacle. Moses followed the pattern carefully, but the earthly Tabernacle would pale in comparison because it was made with earthly materials and by human hands. In the same way, God gave Aaron instructions for the priestly duties carried out in the earthly Tabernacle. Their obedience would provide for the short-term atonement of sins and the worship of God, but it would be a mere shadow of the real place of worship in heaven.

A FAR BETTER SYSTEM WITH FAR BETTER WORSHIP

But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is FAR superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a FAR better covenant with God, based on better promises. – Hebrew 8:6

Wow! That’s exciting! We have probably all read through the book of Hebrews before, but this verse has the potential to breathe new life into our day if we take the time to ponder it again. As the angels said, this is good news that brings great joy! Jesus negotiated a new agreement or a new covenant with God on our behalf, and it has made all the difference in the world to us.

A FAR BETTER COVENANT WITH FAR BETTER PROMISES

God keeps His promises so “better promises” does not say He did not keep His original promises. The problem was that the old covenant written on stones was broken by God’s people, not by Him. Now there is a new covenant, written not on stones but in our minds and on our hearts, declaring that we are God’s people — that He is our God (8:7-10). This was made possible by the blood of Jesus, our High Priest.

“But this is the new covenant I will make
with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their minds,
and I will write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
And they will not need to teach their neighbors,
nor will they need to teach their relatives,
saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’
For everyone, from the least to the greatest,
will know me already.
And I will forgive their wickedness,
and I will never again remember their sins.” – Hebrews 8:10-12

A FAR BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH FAR BETTER ACCESS

By his death on the cross, Jesus closed the distance between the Heavenly Father and His earthly creation. We no longer have to go through an earthly priesthood to gain an audience with our Creator. We are known by Him and have access to a personal relationship with our Lord. He is our God and we are His people, with the words of God filling our minds and the promises of God written on our hearts. When we accept the gift of salvation made perfect through the perfect sacrifice of our perfect High Priest, our sins are forgiven. Our past is no longer held against us, but we are made new by a far better covenant relationship with God.

Our hearts are overwhelmed with gratitude this morning as we sit at your feet, Lord. Thank you for the reminder of who you are and what you have done for us. We are so unworthy of the blessings of your perfection, yet you allow us to know you; we are so unworthy of your attention, and yet you grant us audience to your holiness. Thank you for this reminder today. Thank you for your love and for the forgiveness we experience through the gift of your Son. Amen.