[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (KD) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]
HEBREWS
1
The
message of Hebrews: Christianity is better than anything. So, don’t ever think
of de-conversion. 😉
HEBREWS
2:1-3
"Therefore
we must give the more EARNEST HEED to the things we have HEARD, lest we DRIFT
AWAY. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every
transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we ESCAPE if
we NEGLECT so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the
Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him"
I
was listening to Jonathan Osteen, son of Joel Osteen this morning. I couldn't
bear it. Osteen God is not the God of the Bible. I was so saddened to see
thousands of professing Christians commenting, "It blesses my heart so
much, I need to hear this, thank you pastor Osteen, may God continue to use
you."
Salvation
comes from hearing the Gospel. Gospel (good news) presumes that there has been
bad news.
Our
world today does not know the bad news, that we are under the wrath of God, so
good news is not good news unless we are gripped by the bad news!
Let's
stand firm and continue to profess that we were and are still wretched sinners
always needing the grace of God lest we drift away.
HEBREWS
3:6
"but
Christ as a Son over His own house, whose HOUSE we are IF we hold fast the
confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm TO THE END."
Scripture
has compared us [church] to many things, body, field, and here, house.
While
some people are busy building the physical church building, let's be busy
building the spiritual house of God too, which is helping one another grow in faith,
truth, grace, love, and godliness!
And
it includes if-clause, "if we hold fast . . . to the end." Not
to give up! 🙏
HEBREWS
4
Rest
(v1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11)
What's
Rest? Contextually, it means Salvation — peace with God, acceptable before God,
pleasing to God, no hard labor to please God (v10).
A
true Christian is saved by God, and has entered the rest of God. God is pleased
with Him, no matter what!
In
Manipur, a primary school teacher (council Oja) is a legitimate teacher and
draws a regular salary, but many of them never teach any student.
Legitimately
(legally, positionally) we have entered the rest of God, and unlike the council
Oja, practically, we must strive to enter that rest (to please God with fear
and trembling) (v11).
What
an assurance! What a motivation!
HEBREWS
5:8-9
"Though
He was a Son, yet He LEARNED OBEDIENCE by the things which he suffered. And
having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation TO ALL WHO
OBEY HIM"
One
single act of disobedience has plunged humanity into the damnation of God. How
many times have I disobeyed God??
Thanks
be to Jesus; His obedience was to substitute my disobedience! Now, God sees me
as an obedient child of God in Christ.
However,
practically, I must seek and strive to obey Him as affirmed in verse 9.
HEBREWS
6:19
"This
hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which
enters the Presence behind the veil"
We
used to say ‘hope’ and ‘hopefully’ for things we aren't sure about. Like,
"Hopefully, I get a job within 2 years!" Or "I hope you are
doing well!"
The
biblical hope is totally the opposite. It is a sure thing. It will never fail.
Not only sure, but it is also steadfast. It never wavers. It is firm. It keeps
hoping even when time goes by. Actually, it becomes more hopeful as time goes
by.
That's
true! I am more sure of my faith and love for Christ than before. I am more
sure of my Savior’s love for me than before. I am more sure of the Sovereignty
of God than before!
All
because of God because He is a sure and unfailing God. Blessed be Your name, O
my God! 🙏
HEBREWS
7
I
love Hebrews 7
The
writer of Hebrews did a wonderful, infallible, inspired exposition on Ps.110:4
to present Jesus as the perfect priest.
While
a prophet is somebody telling us about God, a priest is somebody telling
(pleading) God about us. Jesus is both a prophet and a priest. He tells us
about God, and He also pleads with God on our behalf. If and since Jesus is my
priest, I shall in all situations win the case against the accusations of the
devil.
I
remember a story about a police constable who went for Election Duty. He was a
staunch supporter of former Deputy CM of Manipur, Gaikhangam. When he heard the
news that Gaikhangam had won the election again, he fled from his duty and went
home. His superior warned him of suspension for indiscipline. He replied,
"You can take me out (suspend) hundred times, and my MLA will put me back
hundred times. So, I am gona celebrate his victory" and went away.
While
that guy's action is not commendable, his faith in his MLA is commendable.
Jesus is powerful and better than Gaikhangam, and He will win all the cases the
devil brought in the court of a holy God.
HEBREWS
8:4
"For
if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who
offer the gifts according to the law"
Isn't
it great that Jesus has left us behind and went to heaven? 😇🙏
Romans
8:34: "Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore
is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession
for us."
HEBREWS
9
I
always love v22, 27, 13-14.
I
love how the writer of Hebrews describes the religiosity of non-believers, dead
works.
Reading
Hebrews 9 reminds me what a holy God we serve! Forget about heaven, even on
earth, only one person [High Priest] was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place.
That is also only once a year. He must enter with fear and trembling,
confessing his own sins and the sins of all. That’s why, it is said that the
High Priest went in with a rope tight on his waist that in case he dropped dead
in the presence of a holy God, the congregation can drag him out without
entering that place.
And
many professing Christians think God tolerates our sins! 🙏😰😰
HEBREWS
10:19-25
Assurance
of Salvation is the birthright of every Christian.
I
am assured because of what Christ has done (past) (1-18) and because of what He
is doing now (present) (Romans 8:34).
HEBREWS
11
—Reflection—
Hmm!
Faith is not only the power that saves us from the judgment to come. It is also
the strength to go through all sufferings.
Faith
is also well demonstrated in times of adversity, suffering, and persecution!
Also,
Hebrews11's faith is not the thing of this world. In fact, we lose here and
(to) gain in that prepared city!
Oh!
Faithfulness! What a journey! What a battle! What a loss! But how beautiful in
the sight of the God of that eternal city!
HEBREWS
12
God
will discipline us when a Christian sins because He loves us.
Disciplining
is hard and painful (v11). If we enjoy sin, and if we see no chastisement of
God in our life, we must pray that God makes us fearful.
But
all of us are sinners even as Christian. So, we must learn to discern what the
chastening of God is. It might be unanswered prayer, inconveniences, troubles
from inside and outside, etc.
And
God has ordained confession, repentance, perseverance in faith, importune in
prayer to be the means to go through chastisement, sins, and all the walks of
our life.
God
will discipline us but will never forsake us. God will discipline us but will
never crush us. Because He disciplines us for holy living, He doesn't punish us,
unleashing His wrath upon us. Jesus has borne that wrath already.
What
a comfort! Lord, may I take joy in Your correction!
Btw,
sin is not just murder, immorality. Even worrying is a sin.
HEBREWS
13
Reflection on Church Leaders:
Three
times, the writer of Hebrews points his readers to the leaders of the church:
v7.
Remember those who rule over you...., and imitate them
v17.
Obey those who rule over you....,
v24.
Greet all those who rule over you,
The
book of Timothy, Titus, and even Peter have instructions on how a pastor should
behave, but Hebrews 13 reminds us how church members should think of their
pastors! Interesting balance!