Hebrews_13

Scripture

Hebrews 13:8

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

 

Observation

The author stresses in the verse prior to this one love and trust in one another and in the leaders of the church. They reminds the readers of the importance of keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, and while things on earth may change, Jesus never does.

 

Understanding

God is faithful, no matter the amount of times we change.

I can’t tell you how many times I change my mind within the first few hours of waking up, let alone the whole day. “No I’m not going to get out bed, but I need a degree to get a job… this top or this one, no I think I’ll go with a flannel… should I turn the alarm off or go back to sleep… toast or eggs for breakfast, both, but I had that yesterday… maybe if I just sit on my bed a little longer the seconds will slow down too…” This all goes through my head and I haven’t even gotten up to turn on the light in my bedroom. Yet if anyone was to question my competence, I would tell them with complete confidence that I trust my own opinion and I am somewhat confident in my abilities. Even though I can barely decide whether or not I should get out of bed! People can say all they want about my morning decisions, but there’s one thing I would hope that people will say of me long after I take my last breath: that I was convinced of the faithfulness and goodness of God, that I followed Him no matter what through every season of my life.

Because I know that surely God had has followed me. He has been the one thing in this life that has been the most consistent and constant thing. Something that actually blows my mind is the fact that it doesn’t matter how many times we change, God doesn’t. He’s the one thing that doesn’t have to evolve or adapt to circumstances, instead our circumstances should bend to His will and way. Yet somewhere we’ve swapped this way of thinking. We’ve told ourselves “I have to get with the times or I’ll be left behind,” but it isn’t worth it! Not then and not now and not ever. Why? “Because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”Honestly someone should make that a sign or something ;)

 

Life Application

Focus on the one thing.

Paul puts it this way in Philippians 3:13-14—

13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

We can trust in the assurance that God never changes, so we must therefore focus our attention on the one thing that will remain long after we are gone. The past is gone and the new is coming, let’s strain for the prize that is heavenward and not one bound by the earth.

-Allison Khan

Hebrews 12

Scripture

 

Hebrews‬ ‭12:4-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

“In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

‭‭

Observation-What does it say?

 

The author speaks about perseverance of faith, fixing our eyes on Jesus so that we don’t grow weary and lose heart and the importance of discipline from our Heavenly Father.

 

Understanding-What does it mean?

 

Loving discipline doesn’t destroy. It builds up.

 

Perseverance in faith comes through fixing our eyes on Jesus and also training. Part of that training comes in the form of discipline to build our faith and trust in the One who loves us with an everlasting love.

 

Life Application

 

Love is not only in the form of grace. It is also in the form of discipline.

 

I’m sure all of us have heard the quote, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

I like verse 4 that says, “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.” Obviously, that verse is talking about Jesus and being encouraged to persevere because Jesus had to endure so much more for us.

 

I went through a period of my faith where I can confidently say I was undergoing discipline from my Heavenly Father as a result of rebellion. It was so hard, that the sin wasn’t even worth the the cost and the consequences of that rebellion. God was teaching me a lesson. Even though I felt He was really hard on me, I was comforted by the Holy Spirit telling me that God loves me so much and that’s why He’s disciplining me this way. I am His beloved child. He had/has plans for my life that will be hindered if I continue in the path of rebellion.

 

Anyhow, the discipline didn’t pull me away from the Lord. It actually trained me, strengthened my faith and deepened my relationship with Jesus. I learned from it. It’s because of how lovingly He did it. He was with me through it all and I never doubted His love for me.

 

Let’s talk about it in terms of working out. When we are at the gym getting stronger, it hurts at first because we are not used to the discipline and new pressure being put on our bodies and muscles to grow it. BUT, the weights start getting lighter and we are able to lift more because we’ve embraced the pain for a short while and our muscles have developed what they call “muscle memory” to it.

 

If you are currently undergoing discipline from our Heavenly Father, usually in the form of consequences from sin and also testing of character, embrace it! God loves you. If you are a parent or a teacher or responsible for another human being in another form, I don’t have to explain this further. We want the best for our kids and that’s why we discipline them in love.

I’d rather be disciplined by my Heavenly Father than neglected by Him.

 

Thank You Lord that You love us so much that You don’t neglect us and throw us away when we rebel or sin against You. Thank You that You care so much about us that You stay involved as a loving parent. It hurts when we undergo discipline and even testing of character, but I know the end results will “produce a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” as Your Word says. It also produces deeper trust in You as our Heavenly Father. I Love you Jesus. Thank You loving me first though. Amen.

 

-Michelle Gaddi

 

 

Hebrews_11

Scripture

Hebrews 11:1, 32-34

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 

…

³² And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, ³³ who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, ³⁴ 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.

Observation

Hebrews Chapter 10 closes out with the recommendation of the grace of faith and a life of faith to avoid apostasy – or abandonment of their religious belief.

Chapter 11 brings us to the actions of faith…with plenty of incredible, God-filled stories to back it up.

Understanding

This seems like a chapter to be read on the daily…reminders of all the faith filled lives that have gone before and the transformative work that God did through them.  But, first, a reminder of what faith is…

“…confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Faith is believing – with boldness and trust – in God for unseen, the unknown.

It starts with first understanding and believing that this crazy, big, complicated Earth we live on, the stars and galaxies we see…the entire universe, was formed at God’s command (v 3).

But the chapter shares story after story – so much so that the author “doesn’t have time” to share all of them – of faith in action.  Faith that…

-        Took humans from this earth without experiencing death

-        Please God

-        Saved Noah, his family and the animals from the flood (something they’d never experienced before)

-        Brought Abraham to the promised land

-        Gave life in a barren womb

-        Created descendants “as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore” from a man, “as good as dead”

-        Saved lives

-        Brought healing

-        Brought blessings

-        Brought Moses, from abandoned child to freer of slaves

-        Created dry land in the middle of the Red Sea

-        Brought down the walls of Jericho

-        Saved a prostitute

-        Rose people from the dead

-        …conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, ³⁴ 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. (v 33-34)

Life Application

'Cause I gotta' have faithI gotta' have faithBecause I gotta' have faith, faith, faithI got to have faith, faith, faith

Hard not to read about faith and not sing George Michael in your brain. [But his lyrics are not quite in line with the message of the day. Lol.]

What are the things that build your faith?  What are the ways that God has shown up and shown Himself real to you? 

May we meditate on these things.  May we repeat them because we believe them…or repeat them until we believe them.  May we live with faith, a faith that resonates so deeply within that it MUST turn into action. 

To check out the discussion or to join in click here.