With Reverence and Godly Fear

In Heb 12.28, this morning (well, afternoon, I had a redeye from LAX to TPA). The writer to Hebrews says that our desire ought to be to receive the grace of God so that we may serve God "with reverence and godly fear." It's interesting that he connects grace with the ability to serve. Our service comes from the grace that God provides and it should be marked by reverence and godly fear. Our culture tends to play down the reverence and godly fear stuff and we like to approach God as if he were our buddy, buddy friend (witness the rap song lyrics: "Who's in the house? J.C."). We fall short here, I think because our age does not understand the weightiness of God and the gravity of serving him. How do I know this weightiness? I certainly didn't figure it out myself. The very next words penned from the author of Hebrews: "For our God is a consuming fire."

Be Like Abraham, not Like Mike

I'm reading in Heb 6.15, this morning where the writer to Hebrews sets up Abraham as an example of patient endurance. "After he had patiently endured," comments the author, "he obtained the promise" (speaking of Isaac, the promised heir).

The word that the KJV translates "patiently endured," is a word that BDAG says means: "to remain tranquil while waiting." After Abraham's failed machinations to bring about God's promise from his own plan, he "patiently endured" the wait for the promised heir.

The author of Hebrews points out Abraham's example because he wants to teach us a lesson. "Be like Abraham," he says. "As he patiently waited for the fulfillment of God's promise, you also wait for the fulfillment of God's promise that you will enter his rest." Indeed some of the most soaring and inspiring words that the author pens are in this section. God swore by an oath in order that "we might have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us" (vs. 18, KJV). "Which hope we have as an anchor for the soul, both sure and steadfast" (vs. 19, KJV).

O Christian, be like Abraham!

Heed or Drift

The writer of Hebrews (whoever that may be) gives us a warning in Heb 2.1. He says "give...earnest heed to the thing which we have heard." If we do not give heed to what we have heard (that is to the gospel of our salvation), then we will be in danger of drifting away. In other words, if we don't give heed we will drift, or as the KJV puts it: We will "let them slip."

This is a warning that Hebrews repeats over and over. Don't neglect salvation lest you drift away from it and find out that you have left the faith.

Our Gracious God

I love Heb 4.14 in the NLT: So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. It's a rather stunning truth that we can come to the Creator of the universe boldly; this would be something akin to an ant coming to an elephant boldly. Such is the nature of our gracious God; he wants us to come boldly. What do we find there? Mercy and grace when we need it most. God is adept at giving us just what we need, just when we need it (and not a moment sooner usually).

Prayer: May I, Lord, come boldly to your throne. You are the gracious God. You promise mercy and grace. You will give what you promise.

A True Heart

In Hebrews 10.22, the writer tells us to draw near (to Christ) with a true heart. I like that. The word true means "genuine," or "not false." In other words we must not fake it. It does no good to draw near to Christ while faking it, only a true heart will suffice.

Of course we are left with the question, "Do I have a true heart, a devoted heart, a passionate heart, an undivided heart?"

Why the Failure of the First Covenant?

The writer to Hebrews states very clearly that the first covenant was faulty. I read this and ask myself the question, "What happened? Did God make a mistake? If God is perfection, why did he institute an imperfect covenant?"

I believe the answer to that is contained in John Sailhamer's new book The Meaning of the Pentateuch. He says that the first covenant was instituted to demonstrate that we couldn't reconcile with God through adherence to his law because it is too high for us; we cannot attain it. This sets the stage for God ripping through the fabric of time and history in Christ. His covenant is perfect and will last.

Be Gentle, Mature Christian. Be Gentle

In Hebrews 5. 2, this morning where the author of Hebrews says that the human high priest could deal gently with the ignorant and wayward because he understood that he too was prone to human weakness and failure. It's a beautiful reference to how we go about reaching those who are ignorant (without knowledge is the greek work) and deceived (again is the greek word).

Gentle is probably not an accurate definition of this difficult to translate word. A full explanation of the word would seem to be to deal moderately with people. In other words, not to be either too harsh, or so gentle that those who are ignorant and wayward do not understand that they need to change.

The point I want to take from the passage is that we approach people who need to change with humility because we understand our own tendency to wander and fail.

Naked and Exposed

Before God, according to Heb 4.13. All of us. There is no creature in all of creation that lives without God knowing all things about it/him/her. It is all the more frightening that the God to whom we are naked and exposed is also the God to whom we must all give account. It seems to me that, at this point, we have two options. We can go along our merry way and give no thought to the fact that we will one day give account to God; or, we can rest upon grace and say, "I am definitely going to give account to God one day, which makes me all the more grateful for grace!" Personally, I choose option 2.

He who is most fearful of God's wrath is least likely to experience it. Matthew Henry

When Pride is Okay

In Hebrews 3.6 this morning where the author of Hebrews says “we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.” The Greek literally says the pride of our hope. It is an interesting construction because we do not normally associate pride with anything good in the Christian faith, which is probably exactly why the author used that expression. He wants to get our attention.

We can have pride in regards to our hope that God will do what he said; that Christ will return; that he has prepared a place for us; and that when we die we will be forever with him. The word translated pride does not mean the act of boasting, it means something that one can boast about. We can have pride in our hope, not because we generate it, and so indirectly we have pride in ourselves, but because it rests on God's promises so by being proud of his promises we glorify him.

The obvious question then is, do we have pride in our hope that God will do all that he promised and how does this pride manifest itself in our lives?

Hardened By Sin

The writer of Hebrews warns in Heb 3.13-14, for his readers not to become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. This is such a dangerous trap. I do what I want to, and the more I do it, the less real God becomes. This is something which Dietrich Bonhoeffer saw clearly. He once wrote, "When lust takes control, then God becomes unreal." Just so. Beware, Oh Christ-follower that you do not become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Beware, O my heart, that you do not become hardened by the deceifulness of sin.