Hebrews 5-8.10.22
Scripture
Hebrews 5:12 NLT
“You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.”
Observation-What does it say?
In this particular epistle to the Hebrews, the author is urging the people into spiritual growth. It seems they have been believers of Christ for some time now, but they seem to be stuck dealing with the same spiritual issues. The author compares them to “babies”, still in need of milk, not knowing how to do right. They should be maturing in their faith, eating the “solid food”, knowing the difference between right and wrong, which will continue to help them grow and get stronger with their walk with God. It’s time for them to grow up!
Understanding-What does it mean?
The study of God’s Word is more about transformation, than information.
Have you ever met someone who knows the Bible inside and out? They can tell you the history behind it, they even have scriptures memorized, and yet their lifestyle doesn’t reflect anything the Bible teaches? They may even claim to be a Christian for over 20 years, but it seems they have been “repeating the same grade” for 20 years. Shouldn’t we expect someone who has been walking with God for that long to be living a certain way? That is why the author of this passage gives such a great illustration by comparing these people to babies. Me being a parent myself, I would expect my kids to be walking by a certain age, talking by a certain age, and you better believe they should be potty trained at a certain age! If they aren’t, I may begin to question if something was seriously wrong with them. The same should be said in our spiritual development. It should be something we are continuously growing and learning from. It should be a constant, life learning and growing experience we need, as we share with others until God calls us home.
“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”-James 1:22-25
Life Application
Bring on the meat and potatoes!
I’m reminded of my own kids with this. They are so comfortable with eating their plain cheeseburgers, plain cheese pizza, or their mac and cheese with chicken nuggets. I try to have them venture out, try some different foods. One day, they took me up on my offer. They wanted a bite from my ribeye steak. I hesitantly let them get a piece. I saw their eyes brighten up, as they engulfed it, looking for more! Their eyes were now opened to so much more (better things) than they were so used to. All they had to do was step out and give it a try. I believe it’s the same way in our spiritual growth. We can get so comfortable doing the same thing, going through the same motions. God has so much more planned for us. His plan for us isn’t to be stagnant in our faith. He wants us to continuously grow. Just like any parent, you want to see your kid become the fully matured person you know they can be. There is so much more out there for us if we would just step out in faith and follow. Yes, it can be a little scary stepping into something new, trying something that you’ve never tried before. But I find peace and comfort knowing this: God loves me. God is always with me. God wants to give me His best. All I have to do is trust and follow Him. The best is yet to come!
-Moses Gaddi
Hebrews 4-8.9.22
SCRIPTURE:
Hebrews 4:7b
"Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts."
OBSERVATION:
The Lord had promised the Israelites that He would lead them into the the promised land, and He assured them of total victory if they would trust Him, but after Moses had instructed twelve chosen men to go spy out the land, ten of them came back with many reasons why they shouldn't enter in. They were fearful because of the GIANT SIZED problems they saw, and their fear caused them to forget God's promise; that He would help them and guide them. The ten voices became the majority rule! So, God declared on oath in His anger, "They shall never enter My rest."
Even though God had led them out of slavery, brought them through the desert, fed them, protected them, and had performed great miracles, they disobeyed God because of their fear! He had brought them so close to reaching their goal, but because they had lost sight of the Lord and His promises, they became afraid and lost out!
UNDERSTANDING:
God's works have been finished since the creation of the world. On the seventh day God rested from all His works. This rest wasn't because God had gotten tired. It's a foretaste of the eternal rest we will all receive to those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus. God calls us personally; "Today if you hear My voice, do not harden your hearts".
Fear and pride are two things that keep us from trusting God and entering into His promise of rest, but the more we get to know God, the more we will discover His great love for us, and we will come to realize how much He desires that we trust Him, rest in Him, and stop trying to earn our way into heaven by trusting in our good works to be saved!
LIFE APPLICATION:
Thank You God for inviting me to enter into Your rest. I pray my heart will always be soft and pliable before You. I have found such peace and joy which has carried me through each and every day as I have trusted in You. I pray the giant sized problems I face would not cause me to fear or forget Your promises, but that I will trust and rely on Your help and guidance to bring me safely through this life - to my eternal rest with You!
-Robin Orefice
Psalm 45-8.8.22
Scripture
Psalms 45:10-11 NIV
“Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention: Forget your people and your father’s house. Let the king be enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.”
Observation-What does it say?
This Psalm is a wedding song! It is also “a prophecy of Messiah the Prince, and points to him as a Bridegroom espousing the church to himself, and as a King ruling in it, and for it.” (Reference: Matthew Henry’s commentary on Christianity.com)
Understanding-What does it mean?
Marriage is a picture of Christ’s relationship with the Church.
Christ is the Husband (bridegroom) and the Church is the Bride. We forsake ALL others after getting married because after vows, we become ONE flesh and make a commitment for life with our spouse. The same goes with our relationship with Jesus. We need to be ALL in, not just partially in, for our Lord is a jealous God and does not want anyone or anything to come between us and Him.
Life Application
Have we forsaken all others and things for our Groom (Christ)?
Moses and I purposefully invest in our marriage by setting aside time to date each other (without kids) in order to keep the spark alive! We try to do this at least 2 times a month in order to reconnect. With how busy we are with work, household responsibilities, kids, ministry, hobbies and family/friends, it’s so important that we don’t lose our connection with one another because of life.
On the flip side with our faith, are we putting the same time and investment into our relationship with Jesus as we did in the beginning? We need to remind ourselves of the fire in the beginning of our faith and go back to our First Love. We must be reminded of our testimonies to reignite that spark, the same way we need to remember what we love about our spouses in order to keep pressing forward as a couple. This Wedding Psalm is a great reminder to make our First Love (Jesus) our FIRST priority and not just the leftovers of our schedule.
Dear Lord, thank You for always being with us. I pray that You would help us keep You at the forefront of our lives and not just be the afterthought. May our schedules bow down to our time with You and not vice versa. Amen.
-Michelle Gaddi