DECEMBER 20, 2021 READINGS... Hebrews 11:1- 12:29
I love the theme of the book of Hebrews…that Jesus is the fulfillment of all that was taught through the Old Testament “shadows” given by God. Now that Jesus has come, there is no longer any need to trust in those things that were given to bring us to God. Faith is God’s gift to us that we might know Him, and that we might continue to follow Him. Hebrews 11:1 gives us a definition of faith… notice this definition drives us to completely rely on God for all things…for God knows, and God is able. I like to say that faith is our response to God’s initiative. In faith God is always the first mover…as God moves and works in our life we are called to respond to Him biblically…that is faith. Chapter 11 of Hebrews is referred to as the “Hall of Faith”. We see that down through history that faith is God’s required way for His followers to relate to Him. Though we humans don’t do this perfectly…we have a patient Heavenly Father who provides what we need to respond to Him in any circumstance. Abel to Rahab, David, and the prophets…all people responded and related to God by faith. The last part of this Scripture reminds us that even those who lost everything because of their faith…did so by their faith. It also reminds us that God honors those who respond by faith, and though we have modern days teachers who teach an unbiblical, prosperity driven “faith” …we know that successful faith is seen not in the human results, or getting something from God, but in trusting and obeying God.
Chapter 12 begins with encouraging us to keep the faith. There are so many that have gone before us and kept the faith…we have been given the same call. Don’t sell your faith for anything on this earth…anything this earth offers you or me, is a mere bowl of porridge…their offer is always a bad deal. The writer of Hebrews tells us that God disciplines His wayward children because He loves, and because we are His. His discipline shows that He cares about us…and that He wants the best for us. His care in discipline is always for correction, and that we might experience God’s very best in this life. We are called to live in peace, and work at living a holy life…for only those who are holy will see God. Keep your birthright as a child of God, and be thankful for the incredible Kingdom that you are part of in Christ Jesus that is unshakable. We are to worship the Lord in holy fear and awe. We have an awesome and fearsome God, who is a consuming fire!
Please share your thoughts from today’s readings.
TOMORROW’S READINGS… Hebrews 13:1-25 & 1 Peter 1:1-2:3
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