Showing posts with label Hebrews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hebrews. Show all posts

Friday 21 February 2020

Praying Through God’s Word: Hebrews

Hebrews 1:1-2:9
We thank You, Lord, for Your Son, Jesus Christ. He is our Lord.  He came from heaven, where He is worshipped by angels (Hebrews 1:6). He is our Saviour. He came to earth where “He suffered death, so that, by the grace of God, He might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). Help us, Lord, to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus – to catch a glimpse of His heavenly glory and His saving grace.
Hebrews 2:10-3:19
We thank You, Lord, that You invite us to become Your “children” (Hebrews 2:13) – through faith in Your Son, Jesus (John 1:12). When we hear Your voice, calling us to come to Jesus, help us to open our hearts to Your love (Hebrews 3:7,15) – and receive Your Son as our Saviour.
Hebrews 4:1-5:10
When, Lord, You speak Your Word to us, You say to us, “Do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7). These are words that we need to keep on hearing – again and again. This may not be what we like to hear – but it’s what we need to hear. Help us to hear what You’re saying, to pray for Your “mercy” and “grace” (Hebrews 4:15-16), and to receive Your “eternal salvation” (Hebrews 5:9).
Hebrews 5:11-6:20
You call us, Lord, to “go on to maturity” (Hebrews 6:1). You’re showing us that there’s a very real “difference between good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14). You’re calling us to leave sin behind (Romans 6:1-2) – and to press on to “the better things that belong to salvation” ((Hebrews 6:9). Help us to hear what You’re saying to us – Don’t become “sluggish” (Hebrews 6:12); “Take care that you don’t become “worthless and near to being cursed” (Hebrews 6:8); Pray for “earnestness in realizing the full assurance of hope until the end” (Hebrews 6:11). Help us, Lord, to listen to You, to learn from You, and to live for You.
Hebrews 7:1-28
“See how great he is!” (Hebrews 7:4). We read these words, Lord, and we think of Jesus. He’s the greatest man who ever lived. He’s so much more than a great man. He’s Your Son. He’s our Saviour. Thank You, Lord, for Jesus. Help us to come to Him and receive His great salvation.
Hebrews 8:1-9:14
“I will make a new covenant with you” (Jeremiah 31:31-34) – We thank You, Lord,for this great promise of love. You have fulfilled Your promise. “The new covenant in Jesus’ blood” (Matthew 26:28) is “a better covenant” – it is “much more excellent than the old covenant” (Hebrews 8:5-6). Thank You, Lord, for Jesus, our great Saviour. He has died for us so that we might receive His “eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12).
Hebrews 9:15-10:18
We look back, Lord, to what Jesus has done for us – “He loved us and gave Himself for us” (Galatians 2:20). When we remember what Jesus has done for us, help us to look forward to what He will do for us: “As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). Help us to pray, “Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).
Hebrews 10:19-11:16
Life is good. Eternal life is better. Help us, Lord, to thank You for the good things You’ve given to us – in this earthly life. Help us, also, to look beyond this world. Give to us a real “longing for a better country – a heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:16). Help us to appreciate Your gift of “abundant life” – and to look forward to our full enjoyment of “eternal life” (John 10:10; 1 John 5:11).
Hebrews 11:17-12:2
Help us, Lord, not only to rejoice in the comfort of Your Word. Help us, also, to respond to the challenge of Your Word.
Hebrews 12:3–29
Help us, Lord, to seek “the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). May we not be content with the ‘holiness’ of the Pharisee – “God, I thank You that I am not like other men … “(Luke 18:11-120. That’s not holiness. That’s hypocrisy. Teach us that true holiness emerges out of real humility – “God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13). Teach us to pray for Your salvation – and, then, to seek the holiness which is grounded in Your salvation. This is “the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
Hebrews 13:1-25
Let Your love flow. May we know that we are loved. May we show Your love. Lord, You have welcomed us. Help us to give “a friendly welcome” to others (Hebrews 11:31).  You reached out to us when we were “strangers” (Galatians 2:12). Help us “to show hospitality to strangers” (Hebrews 13:1).

Friday 10 January 2020

Jesus - The Good Shepherd, The Great Shepherd, The Chief Shepherd

* Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd who died on the cross for us – “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
* Jesus Christ is the Great Shepherd who rose from the dead for us – “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, 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” (Hebrews 13:20-21).
* Jesus Christ is the Chief Shepherd who is coming again for us – “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away” (1 Peter 5:2-4).

Friday 29 November 2019

Faith - Leading On To Holiness

Let us never forget the importance of faith and holiness – 'without faith it is impossible to please God ... without holiness no-one will see the Lord' (Hebrews 11:6; 12:14). We are to 'live holy and godly lives' – 'make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love ... if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ'. In all of this, let us never forget to give all the glory to our Saviour – 'To Him be glory both now and for ever!' (2 Peter 3:11; 1:5-11; 3:18).

Friday 25 October 2019

"The living God" (Hebrews 12:22)

 * He is the God who is life. He is the God who gives life.
 * He is the eternal God. He gives us eternal life.

Tuesday 15 October 2019

God is faithful. He will never fail us. His love is everlasting love.

Genesis 12:1-3 (related reading - Hebrews 6:13-20)

Our concern is not so much with Abraham as the God of Abraham. The story of Abraham is both the story of Abraham's weakness and the story of God's grace and power. We see the grace of God revealed in the promises of God. We see the power of God, as He fulfils His promises.
The promise, given to Abraham, has three parts: (a) personal - "I will bless you"; (b) national - "I will make of you a great nation"; (c) universal - By  you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
As the fulfilment of God's promise moves forward from Abraham to Israel to Christ, we hear God's Word speaking to us. "I will bless you."
As we receive the blessing of God's salvation, we discover how faithful God is, in His love for us. God is the everlasting God. He is carrying out His purpose - the purpose of His unchanged, unchanging and unchangeable love. This purpose is expressed in His promises. His promises have been fulfilled in Christ. His promises are offered to us today. These promises, summed up in the simple yet rich and full words, "I will bless you", express "the unchangeable character of His purpose"(Hebrew 6:17). We know that God will not fail us. He will not let us down. He will not forsake us. He will not leave us. We know this, not only because of the promises given to Abraham. We know that God is faithful in His love, because of the Cross of Christ, who is "the sure and steadfast anchor of the soul" (Hebrews 6:19).
As we discover the faithfulness of God, we find ourselves drawn to Him, drawn by His love; attracted to Him - not with a shallow and superficial attraction  but with a deep devotion and a heartfelt loving loyalty: "He Himself hath sworn, I on His oath depend: I shall, on eagle's wings upborne, to heaven ascend; I shall behold His face, I shall His power adore, and sing the wonders of His grace forevermore."

Wednesday 12 December 2018

Encourage One Another ...

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good works, 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" (Hebrews 10:24-25).

It's great that we are able to encourage one another in the Lord. Hebrews 10:25 speaks about "the assembling of ourselves together" and "exhorting one another." Each of us has a particular ministry of encouragement to those with whom we are gathered together to worship the Lord. It is a privilege to be able to share something of this ministry of encouragement with other people. We encourage one another in the Lord when we gather together for worship (Hebrews 10:25). The preaching of Christ strengthens our faith (Romans 10:17). What a great encouragement it is to know that "God is pleased through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21). What happens in the place of worship is important - but it's not the be-all and end-all. There's more than worship in the Lord's House. There's life outside of the place of worship. In the world - That's where we're to live a life of "love and good works" (Hebrews 10:24). If, when we're in the place of worship, we start thinking that this is all that there is - an hour on a Sunday, we've got it all wrong. When our worship ends, our witness begins. Our witness is more than words. It's living the life of a believer. In the world - This is where we see how real our worship is.

A Great Salvation - And A Grave Warning

Refusal to come to Christ for salvation leads to judgment: ‘How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?’ (Hebrews 2:3).

Thursday 29 November 2018

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

We look back to the past. We say, “That was then. That’s old.” We live in the present. We say, “This is now. This is new.” We shouldn’t be too quick to dismiss the past. Jesus Christ belongs to the past. He also speaks to us in the present. He is preparing us for God’s eternal future.   
We read the Story of Jesus. We rejoice in His love. We say, “The old, old story – It is ever new. The old, old story – Praise the Lord! It’s true!” It’s true! That’s why it’s still God’s “new song.”
There will always be people who refuse to trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour. Will they silence us? Will we fail our Lord because we’re afraid of what people will say about us? Let’s be like Paul. Let’s defy our critics. Let’s keep on saying, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). 
Jesus is calling us on to His future. He's not merely a figure from the past. He is “Jesus Christ, risen from the dead” (Hebrews 13:8). Jesus Christ, the risen Saviour, the living Lord, stands at the centre of our future. He does not only speak to us from the past. He also speaks to us from the future. What is He saying to us? How will He affect our present way of living? Jesus speaks to us from the future. He calls us on to heaven, but He does not turn us into dreamers who are so “heavenly-minded” that we’re not learning to serve the Lord right now. We sing of our heavenly hope: “On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise, and the glory of His resurrection share; when His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies, and the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.” What is to be our present response to this glorious hope? - “Let us labour for the Master from the dawn till setting sun. Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care. Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done, and the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.”

Past grace is no guarantee of present growth.

Past grace is no guarantee of present growth. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, ‘the Author and Finisher of our faith' (Hebrews 12: 2).

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