Category: Hebrews

Light

.Reading time 6 minutes.




In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”  And there was evening, and there was morning – the first day. (Gen.1:1, 3, 5).   In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…In him was life, and that life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.  (John 1:1, 4-5). 

I have set my rainbow in the clouds and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. … Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.  (Gen. 9:13, 16).  And there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it – A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne – From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.  Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing.  (Rev. 4:2, 3, 5).  

As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him … When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces.  On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram. (Gen. 15:12, 17-18).   From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire.  That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire.  (Num. 9:15-16).  On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast.  Everyone in the camp trembled…Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire.  The smoke billowed up from I like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. … The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. (Ex. 19:16, 18, 20).  You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 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 – But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God.  You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.  You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. – Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”  (Heb. 18-19, 22-24, 28-29). They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.  (Acts 2:3-4).  You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  In the same way, let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  (Matt. 5:14-16).  

There he was transfigured before them.  His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.  (Matt. 17:2).  His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.  (Rev. 1:16).  I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True – His eyes are like blazing fire.”  (Rev. 19:11, 12).  There will be no more night.  They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.  (Rev. 22:5). 

What ways did God’s light manifest in these verses?  What does John 1:1, 4-5 say God’s light is?  Where does it say this light shines?  How has God’s light revealed parts of your heart to you?  How does Hebrews 12:18-29 admonish us to worship God because He is a consuming fire?  In what ways do you worship God?  What is your attitude in worship?  How did the passages in Matthew and Revelation talk of Jesus’ face and eyes?  What does this signify?  How will God’s people at the conclusion of history see?

Worried … Still

.Reading time 3 minutes.

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head.  Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked will I depart.  The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.’ (Job 1:20).  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”  (Daniel 3:16-18).  Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him. (Job 13:15). Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.  (Romans 5: 3-5).  Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.  (1 Peter 1:13, emphasis added).  Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  This is what the ancients were commended for.  (Hebr. 11:1-2).  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.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. … Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  (Hebr. 12:1-3, emphasis added).

Have I mentioned, I’m worried?  I try not to be frightened and anxious, but I lose perspective so easily.  Some things here on earth seem so big and important.  If you, like me, are worried — if you fear for the future.  That things might get hard.  If you fear for others — perhaps those in your care, I pray that the reminders above would be concrete, piercing reminders and encouragement to stand firm.  Stand firm, friends, fixing your eyes on Jesus Christ.

Prayer

.Reading time 4 minutes.

Jubilee, Noah, Caleb and I ran to the grocery store the other day.  It was sunny out, and beautiful but for some intermittent, rather gusty wind.  I don’t remember why, but Jubilee complained about the wind.

Noah declared, “I’m going to praise now.”

“Dear God, pwease stop the wind.  Amen.”

After a moment, Jubilee remarked, “hey Noah, that actually worked!”

I recently received a rather swift, unexpected and obvious answer to prayer.  The answer caught me off-guard and has been very good, but hard.  (The usual mark of God’s hand, right?)  In the wake of dealing with this answered prayer, I keep trying to fit more circumstances into the obvious.  Cram more into the providence of God than He perhaps means.

I spent my younger years overspiritualizing many circumstances.  Looking for miracles under every bush and at every turn, expecting things to magically work out.  My middler years I spent at the other extreme for a Christian, never expecting or inviting God to actually speak to me about most things — determined to do what I set out to do.

God has been using motherhood to soften my heart so that I can again hear His voice in my circumstances.  He has been showing me His glory in the mundane.  Teaching me obedience in the tedious, hard things that nobody sees or gives me credit for.

And here I am, surprised by an answered prayer, certain that it occurred, and wondering how much of “everything else” is likewise an answer to this prayer in this arena of my life.

Things probably won’t tie up in a neat bow, as I see it, on this side of heaven.  God is so big that for everything to work out in a way that I comprehend it would not actually be good.  As I continue to struggle on, I’m trying to pray (and live) with a heart in the right posture before the Lord.  I’m trying to figure out what obedience in all things looks like, and just do that.  And I’m resisting the temptation to over-spiritualize things while simultaneously resisting the temptation to deny that God might do a miracle.

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see, this is what the ancients were commended for … 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 perserverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who, for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of God the father.”  Hebrews 11:1; 12:1-4

“Therefore, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink.  For your heavenly Father knows you need these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be given to you as well.”  Matthew 6.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28

Faith

.Reading time 9 minutes.

I love this passage of scripture. Last night, as I was reading it, I was worried about various clients and cases at work and it just washed my mind clean, focusing my daily struggles on what matters in eternity.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

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.

By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offering. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death – he could no be found because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 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.

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save him family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

By faith Abraham, even though he was past age–and Sarah herself was barren–was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of a country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country–a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did recive Isaac back from death.

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Isrealites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.

By faith Moses’ parents hid him three months after he was born because they saw he was not an ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

By Faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 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. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 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. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated–the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

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. Let us fix out eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 11-12:3