Concluding Exhortations: Hebrews 13:1-25

I always enjoy reading the final portion of a book. I really like how Paul includes some of the important teachings and reminders at the very end so that it basically summarizes what was said in the rest of the book.

Hebrews 13:1

Keep on loving each other as brothers.

The first verse is as simple as that. Treat other people as how you want others to treat you. Treat them as though they were all a child of God. Although some people haven't experienced God's love yet, there is always that possibility where they can see God's work through you and how you are with others.

Hebrews 13:5

Keep your lives free from the live of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

This is so powerful. We do not have to worry about anything on this Earth because God is sufficient. He provides all things in times of need. He clearly said that He will never forsake us. He will always be there. We need to appreciate the things we have rather than yearn for things we do not have (That was one of the reminders that God placed in my heart after going to Guatemala). It relates very well to verse 6.

Hebrews 13:6

So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

There's nothing we should be afraid of... not even how others see us, think about us, or whether they judge us. We are seen as beautiful, growing children in the eyes of our Heavenly Father. There is nothing to be afraid of.

Hebrews 13:15-16

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-- the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Look around you. Everything was through the provision of our Lord. This includes our personal salvation through his son Jesus whom He also sent to the earth to save us. God, I love you and praise you for all things. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! May I continue growing in faith so that I can reflect You to everyone. My life goal is to continue growing and developing all these Godly traits of You and Jesus... to do good for everyone and share the Gospel to others so that they too can see how awesome You are and how you've brought me to where I am now. :)

Warning Against Refusing God: Hebrews 12:14-29

Hebrews 12:14-16

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.

In addition to leading our own life towards God, we also have a responsibility of keeping our bothers and sisters on track on their path as well. We must watch out for them and help them overcome any stumbling blocks in their life as well. With the commandment "love your neighbour as yourself", our love to our brothers and sisters in Christ should be a willing heart to serve them and correcting them when they've fallen or have made mistakes.

Hebrews 12:25

See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?

God is in control of the Earth. God always guides you in the right direction. When you've been convicted to do something, or say something.... do it. It is always for your well-being. If you choose to disobey the Lord and do not listen to what He tells you, then we've definitely been taken over by Satan by disobeying our Heavenly Father. The worst possible thing to have happen would be the Lord barring us from Heaven, from the home that we will soon be in. The thought of that is so morbid and sad.

So look to the bright side. Help others grow in their faith as you are trying with your own. Through all of it, take time to listen to the Lord and follow what He has said to you. :)

God Disciplines His Sons: Hebrews 12:1-13

I'm on a roll having found my third favourite passage in Hebrews!

Hebrews 12:2-3

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition form sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Our eyes should be set on Jesus at all times. If it weren't for Him, we would be consumed by sin and would be living in a dark world. It it weren't for Him, we would feel the wrath of God for the wrongdoings of man. He took it all on Himself on the cross and through Jesus, God forgave us. Jesus gives us new life full of spirit and energy so that we will not be tired of running this spiritual race.

How do we explain our struggles, pain, sorrow, trials, challenges, obstacles? This is God rebuking us. He is teaching us life lessons through the hard way (by punishment at times) because we are his children. He definitely knows me well because it is through these tough times when I fully grasp the reason why these events are happening and it shows what God is trying to tell me.

Hebrews 12:7

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?

It's great to have a Father who can discipline me so that I can grow and become more rooted in my faith. Even now, with my biological father, he has disciplined me well in a way that I know school is important (but not the most important) and have to work hard if I want to have a good life in the future... I know that smoking and drugs are bad for my health and I shouldn't even try in the first place...I know that preventing me from going to the mall with friends until Gr.10 was so that I won't become materialistic and a money spender. God does the same thing. Through these times that may be painful, He uses it so that He can produce in us a righteous attitude and a lifestyle where we continuously strive to be more like His perfect son Jesus.

Hebrews 12:10

Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, 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.

By Faith: Hebrews 11:1-40

Wow. Happy to announce that this is my second favourite passage in Hebrews. (Can't wait to share this with my housemates later tonight!)

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

This is what our faith in God is like. We do not see God, we cannot feel God. It is very hard to hear God because we've been so accustomed to hearing ourselves or the voice of Satan. However, when we continue to believe that God is with us wherever we go and watches over us in whatever we do, this is love. This is faith.

I love all these examples. It really emphasizes the importance of our faith in God... and what's common in all of these examples of Noah, Jacob, Moses and all the other righteous men that were mentioned? They believed in God and his magnificence. They believed in the works of wonder that He can do and the promises that they will receive not in this world, but in the heavenly realm that we will soon reside in.

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

If we don't fully believe that there is a God... or even have a very small doubt of whether He is there or not, then we won't end up fully living our lives for Him. If we are not 100% devoted to Him, it easily instills in us that wicked thought of why we're living for Him in the first place. A domino effect can take place. We would begin to rely on ourselves (thinking that God is not there to give us the strength and wisdom), we get prideful of ourselves in accomplishments and successes, we sin more thinking that it doesn't really matter because God isn't really there. FALSE. God is there. God is watching. God is leading us towards Him. We need to continue seeking him earnestly and with a passion for His name (reference from Consuming Fire by Tim Hughes... awesome worship song!). With this attitude we can exemplify Him and we can be a living testimony to others of how God (although we can't see/feel Him) has done amazing things in our life through His unconditional love and grace. Imagine how others around us would see us. It is very possible that they too may experience and be open to God's love through our persevering example of being Christ-like.

Hebrews 11:13

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

The truly good things, treasures, and enduring promises is in Heaven, in God's domain. I look forward to it. However, it is important not plant yourself deeply in this world now. The worldly things like fame, money, career don't last. We can't take any of it with us to the abode of the Lord. As Francis Chan stated, we need to look at the picture. Our life with God for eternity is much longer and more significant than our miniscule, short life on Earth. Let go of the materials of this world and seek after the real treasure.

Hebrews 11:40

God has planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

God has great gifts and blessings in store for us. It's only with him that these gifts are made perfect and put to its greatest use and potential.

Have faith. Let go of this world. Seek after the Lord and His kingdom. Yearn for the real treasure that waits with the Lord.

A Call to Persevere: Hebrews 10:19-39

I have found my first favourite passage in Hebrews!

These 5 verses sums up the beauty of Jesus' work. As I try to read between the lines to figure out what God wants to tell me through this passage.... all I can feel is the lovelovelove that Jesus has for me.

Hebrews 10:19-25

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Jesus is the only way, the one way to God, to Heaven, to my real home. The metaphor of the curtain being His body was a good one. We were hidden away and covered by our disgusting sin, but Jesus was able to pull off the covers. He opened the curtains so that we may see what our lives our like without being bogged down and covered by sin.

I am very glad that I am not one of those people who get tired of meeting up with people. Obviously, not just for the social reasons... but also to keep each other accountable, to catch up with how our walks have been with God, how we've been living out our faith as Christ followers. I enjoy hanging out for these very reasons, so I don't have to worry about getting tired of that haha.

This passage is just getting better and better.

Verse 29 brings it home hard.

Hebrews 10:29

How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

How come I still sin? Yes, because I so easily fall into Satan's traps and cave under his temptations. I need to remember this verse. Jesus, the Son of God, the blood of the covenant that sanctifies me, the Spirit of grace... if I say I love Him as I do, why do I still sin and break His heart? Why.

Hebrews 10:34

You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.

So true. What's better than eternity with the Lord and Jesus, living with other brothers and sisters in the awesome place called Heaven, not having to worry of sin because we'll be stripped free from it, living an eternal life of love and praise to the Lord. Nothing in this temporary world lasts.

To end off...

Hebrews 10:39

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed but of those who believe and are saved.

I will not shrink back. :)

Christ's Sacrifice Once for All: Hebrews 10:1-18

The very first verse really stands out to me.

Hebrews 10:1

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming-- not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.

These commandments that we follow and this law of freedom that we abide gives us a small glimpse of what our everlasting life with the Lord will be like in the days to come. Can you imagine living without sin? I definitely can't. We're always tempted to stray away from the path that God has set out for us but as we put the effort in to live a life that is as sinless as possible, we can get a feel of the life that Jesus led himself... so loving, so good. Just like a shadow, we don't actually see the real, more awesome thing.

It's sad to realize that there's nothing that I can do to be perfect and free of sin. However, as Paul wrote here and he constantly reminds us, Jesus took it all on himself, and He was the sacrifice once for all. I'm free of my sin. I can glorify my God all I want. That's amazing. Jesus, You're amazing.

Hebrews 10:9-10

Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy hrough the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

This is so encouraging.

Hebrews 10:13-14

Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Jesus has always wanted the best for you. As it says in the verse, Jesus wants Satan and wants all sin to be able to bow before Him, to submit, to be a slave to Him. Through his sacrifice He continues to help us become as perfect as He is, as we are sanctified in this life here. His unconditional love is exemplified through these 2 verses. Think about what He has been doing in your life and what He can do. Wow. In awe of you, my Lord.

We've been forgiven. There is no need for us to sacrifice anything for our sins. God, you are sovereign and may You reign in us.

The Blood of Christ: Hebrews 9:11-28

I haven't posted in a while.... a bad sign because it also means I haven't been doing my devos lately.

School had consumed my life this past term... I think too much that it has become one of my idols. I've already addressed this to other brothers and sisters who can keep me accountable for it and I told myself that this change of attitude will definitely start today.

This passage was a good wake-up call for me.

*note to self. tabernacle: a fixed or movable habitation, typically of light construction

I'm going to try doing today's devo systematically... by going through each individual verse and seeing what I can get out of each.

Christ came as a high priest for us. We know that priests are suppose to be the way to God, the mediator between God and His people. Jesus was definitely the great high priest who, through his sacrifice on the cross, has granted us this privilege to communicate with God and forgiveness from God for our sins.

Jesus, entering this wicked world as a humble man, was able to gain access to God's glorious kingdom as he sacrificed himself for the humanity. His blood was spilt for me and for you. Jesus now sits at the right hand of the throne of God... and I will continue praising Him and thanking Him for what He did for me over 2000 years ago.

What is gift is greater than Jesus, offering himself to God so that our consciences our cleansed, simply so that we may continue serving the Living God? It's amazing. Nothing beats that.

Hebrews 9:15

For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance-- now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

Free from the bondage of sin, I look forward the life that I have with God, for eternity. It reminds me of one of Francis Chan's sermons, about how this temporary life here on Earth is miniscule and so short compared to the time that I will have with God. The comfort and luxuries of this life should be put second to what's waiting for us in the coming future.... a life with God. However it all starts out with how you portray yourself to others, how you live your everyday life, how you serve God and how you reflect yourself as a Christ follower. We're always going to fall short of the glory of God and sin but because Jesus has set us free from it, we have that ability to pick ourselves up and continue on our way... all we have to do is to continue to bring everything back to the cross and to bring all glory back to God.

Hebrews 9:28

so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

We wait upon the Lord for at the second coming of Jesus, He will take those who follow and have faith in Him to heaven. In the meantime, may I continue to glorify You. May I continue to serve you with a humble heart.